the exchange student [isco]

tres: first day

"Are you sure with that shirt, kid?" Diego asked Isco one more time as they were about to enter the school. Isco looked down at his Real Madrid jersey and nodded, "I'm sure." He said happily.

Diego chuckled and shot him a smile, "Okay then. It's your funeral." He said before sprinting towards the front door to catch up with the rest of his friends.

Isco turned towards Della and then at his shirt, then back up at her. "Is it that bad?" he asked. Della shot him a tiny smile and shook her head, brushing some of her hair back from her face. "No, it's not. It's just not everyday that you see someone wearing a Madrid jersey anywhere in Barcelona."

Isco shrugged and murmured something within the lines of 'it's okay, San Iker will protect me.'

"So, anyway," Della said, "You haven't gotten your schedule, right?" she asked him. Isco shook his head and Della pushed open the doors for the both of them. "Well, you can get it from the guidance counselor's office – I can take you there." Della offered before moving to lead Isco to the guidance counselor's office when Marc suddenly swooped in from nowhere, "No need, Della. I can take him there myself."

Almost immediately, everyone in the halls turned their attention towards the three of them. Probably it was because 1. Isco was wearing a Real Madrid jersey or 2. Marc Bartra was talking to them.

"I'm not digging the jersey," Marc grimaced, "Did you wear this on a dare?"

Isco groaned and rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Bartra? You too?" he huffed. Marc laughed and threw his arm around Isco, "Hey, maybe 3 months in Barcelona can convert your little Madridista brain into a culé one." Marc smirked, making Isco smile back, "Never."

Della awkwardly watched as Marc brought Isco to the guidance counselor's office, talking rather loudly and making the hallways even louder than it already was.

"The counselor will love you, he loves weird kids."

"I'm not weird, am I?"

"Bro, look at your shirt."

They were soon away from Della's earshot and she walked towards her class when she saw her best friend waving at her. He had his leg on the desk she usually sat on and she quickly rushed over to him.

"Hey, Chris." Della smiled. Chris got his leg off her desk and Della sat down next to him, "Bitches are still trying to get your seat. Don't worry, I warded them off." He told Della with a grin.

"Why, thank you."

"And someone nearly spilled some of their juice on my shirt – please – this is designer and if anybody touches it, they'll end up dead."

"Or in the dry cleaner's." Della joked.

Chris basically could be the love child of Anna Wintour and Giorgio Armani. His closet looked better than Della's and he never hesitated in telling people what he thought about their outfit.

Be it good or bad.

That was actually how Della and Chris became best friends – Della accidentally spilled a drink on her shirt and Chris told her 'it's okay, it was an ugly shirt anyway.'

"So, did the exchange student come?"

Della nodded, "His name is Isco," she said, "And apparently he's Marc Bartra's new BFF."

Chris pouted and threw his pencil at a random kid in the class, "Boo. No one stands a chance against Marc Bartra."

+

Della walked towards the cafeteria and bought a sandwich and a drink before leaving and walking outside towards the football pitch.

Since Della and Chris didn't have the same lunch times, she often went out to the small free space beside the football pitch and spent time there by herself. Usually some nice girls from her Geometry class would join her and they'd talk and some other times she'd just sit alone with a book.

Spotting the tree she usually sat at, she dropped down and crossed her legs before leaning on the trunk. Just as she was about to open her water, someone called her name making her drop it in surprise.

Isco walked from behind the tree and smiled at her before siting down next to her too. "Hey, why are you sitting all by yourself?" he asked. He had a sandwich and a drink too so it must've been his lunchtime.

"My best friend is having class," she answered, "I usually sit out here on Mondays anyway. What are you doing here? I figured you'd be playing football with the rest." She said, nodding towards the pitch where Marc was playing with the rest of his friends.

Isco shook his head and gulped down his water, "Thought I'd just chill out for a while."

Della leaned back against the tree and awkwardly took a bite of the sandwich she was eating. It was silent between the two of them between the crinkles of the paper wrapper and the sound of water in the bottle.

"Why did you come to Barcelona? Isn't it like – I don't know – a nightmare for Madridista's?" Della abruptly asked Isco, making him look at her quickly. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, "I heard that the training camps here were amazing and I'm gonna need all the help I can get if I want Real Madrid to notice me."

The only person Della knew that was so motivated to get noticed was Marc Bartra – but she knew for a fact that Marc definitely wouldn't go to another city (especially one that he hated) to get better which was maybe why she was starting to like Isco better.

"You really think they are going to notice you?" Della asked innocently, staring up at him. Isco nodded and fiddled with the hem of his Madrid jersey. "Yeah. Why not? They send scouts out to find new players every few months in Madrid and maybe if I tried hard enough and played good enough, they'd take me."

Della stared at him in amazement and just nodded. "Have you always wanted to play football?" she asked him. Isco smirked at her and even chuckled a bit, "You're full of questions, aren't you?"

Della's cheeks tinted red and she quickly looked down at her hands. "Sorry, I'll shut up. No, I'll go. I'm done anyway." She said before picking up her trash and her book and her water.

"Wait, no!" Isco said before lightly taking her wrist so she didn't leave. Della's eyes flickered from his hand to his chocolate brown eyes. "I didn't mean it like that, I like you," Isco said but stopped short in his tracks, "Your questions. I like your questions."

Della reluctantly sat back down and leaned against the tree again. "Yeah, I guess I've always wanted to play football. Since I was a kid, all I wanted were these cool football boots so I could show off and play with my friends every day...but it wasn't so easy." He said with a frown, making Della awkwardly look at him to make sure he wasn't crying.

"My dad lost his job when I was young and we were really under fire for a while. It took him a long time to get a new stable job but my parents did everything they could to make sure that I was still happy even though we were running thin on money," he explained, "Then little me realized that football pays a lot so I guess that motivated me way more to play better and get noticed by Real - so my parents wouldn't have to worry about money or anything anymore."

Della stared at him amazed and she actually contemplated on grabbing him and giving him the tightest hug ever but he'd probably elbow her in the face and break her cheekbones.

"That's amazing, Isco," Della beamed at him, "I'm sure Real will notice you one day and you'll be a great player there – even though I'll probably hate you."

Isco threw his head back and laughed loudly before looking at her again. "Thanks, Fernandez. I'll send you a gift basket when I'm rich and famous."

"Ha-ha. You're lucky I like you or this water would've already been thrown at you."

//

wow this was long

so i totally made up isco's backstory but eh

so i hope you liked this chapter :) please vote + comment and tell me what you think !! <3

happy reading lovelies!xx