Fortified -Pau Cubarsí-

20 - the best supporters

The stadium is alive with energy as we make our way to our seats. The excitement in the air is almost tangible, the anticipation building with every passing second. The crowd roars with enthusiasm, and my heart races as I scan the field. There's nothing like the feeling of being at a match, surrounded by the sea of blue and red, the atmosphere thick with excitement.

I'm wearing my FC Barcelona shirt, though it's not the one I'm technically supposed to wear. Instead of Pau's name on the back, I've got 'F.Fort', and while I want to shout about it, I know it's still a bit of a secret. Pau and I haven't made it public yet, so for now, it stays between us.

Celeste, sitting next to me, glances at me with a grin. "Pau's going to crush it tonight," she says, excitement gleaming in her eyes. I feel the same. Every time I watch him play, it's like I'm 12 and watching him for the first time all over again.

"Hector's going to shine too," Anna adds with a wink, sitting down on the other side of me. "It's going to be an epic night."

I smile back at her, my heart swelling with pride for both of them. They've been working so hard, and tonight, I can already tell, is going to be another great performance.

The sound of heels clicking behind me pulls my attention, and I glance over my shoulder to see Mackenzie making her way toward us. She's late as usual, but she looks put together as always—her hair perfect, her outfit sharp. As she slides into the seat next to me, I can't help but notice how out of place she looks next to us. The rest of us are just here to watch the match, but she has an air about her, like she's here for some kind of performance.

"Sorry, I'm late," she says, offering a bright smile. "Gavi was in his zone before the match, and you know how he is. Had to give him a minute."

I nod, trying not to roll my eyes. "It's all good," I reply, offering a tight smile.

Mackenzie settles into her seat, casually pulling out her phone. "You know, it's kind of amazing how Gavi manages to look so effortless. He's got the best trainer, the best schedule. He doesn't even need to try."

I try not to show how much that bothers me. Instead, I just nod and focus on the field. "Must be nice," I mutter.

Mackenzie doesn't seem to notice, or maybe she just doesn't care. She continues scrolling on her phone, occasionally glancing up when the crowd around us goes wild. The match kicks off, and the first few minutes fly by as we all settle into the rhythm of the game. And then bam, the first goal is scored by none other than Lamine.

The ball hits the net, and the stadium explodes in a deafening roar. My heart leaps in my chest as I shoot to my feet, hands in the air, screaming with the rest of the fans around me. Celeste grabs me in a tight hug, laughing and jumping with me.

"Yes!" she yells, her eyes shining with joy. "That's what I'm talking about!"

We high-five Anna, who's jumping up and down, her excitement as contagious as ever. We're all caught in the moment, sharing this incredible rush of adrenaline. My eyes instinctively search the field until I find Pau, standing tall, a wide grin on his face as he looks up at the crowd. His eyes flicker over toward us, and for just a second, I feel like he's only looking at me.

"Look at him," I say, barely able to contain the pride swelling in my chest. "He's so proud of that goal."

Mackenzie slowly claps, clearly trying to look impressed, but there's something about the way she's doing it that doesn't sit right with me. "Cute," she says with a slight smile. "But it's just one goal. I'm sure Gavi would've scored two by now."