Great Expectations

Family

"Wait, are you serious?" Xana asked with urgency, upon hearing that her hard work paid off. She wasn't just going into the first team because of her name. She did it on her own, and they still wanted her.

"Yes, but let's see what they have to say to your father and I. You know the club has been struggling financially. His spot on the team is at risk, we don't want to get your hopes up." Her mother explained to her as calmly as possible. Knowing the possibility of having to leave Barcelona truly affects her husband and daughter. She didn't want her daughter to get over emotional, if there was a chance bad news that followed.

"Barcelona is my home, mama. I don't think I can just get up and leave" she exclaims with passion. She lays back effortlessly on the couch, contemplating many emotions at once. Her mother scooted closer to her, to give comfort. "I have no doubt in my mind, you will play for Barca" she pulls her daughter into her, wrapping her arm tightly around her shoulder. Xana gives in, never finding anything but safe in her mother's arms. She had blessed to have such a strong foundation with both parents.

Barcelona truly was her home, despite having Argentine roots. She was Catalan, this was her place. All those times traveling out of the country for visitations to Argentina or for any other competitions her father had. No where else felt like, here.

Thiago comes out to the living room, noticing that the house was too quiet. A young boy used to her older sisters ruckus of music coming from her room. The constant thumbing he heard outside his wall from Mateo kicking the ball into the wall or the cries of his 2 year old brother Ciro.

The living room was bright, vibrant but the only darkness the room held was tension. Thiago even being as young as he was, understood that there was something wrong... with his sister. Despite sharing an 8 year age difference with his older sister, they were still very close. He walked over to the other side of the room, where his sister had her head on their mom's shoulder. Her eyebrows were scrunched, like she was in thought.

"What's wrong Ana" he addressed her the way he always did since he could talk. He couldn't pronounce the 'sha' when he was young. He laid half way on top of her to give her a strong hug, even when she didn't respond right away.

"The first team want to sign me"

"That's awesome!.. wait so then why are you sad" his voice turns quieter even after his excitement. Xana always being as honest as she could being an older sister. Even when she would accidentally hit him with the ball, hurried to get him to stop crying by bribing him. Even when she indeed.. did not give him the candy she promised if he stopped crying.

"They have to talk to Papa first" she runs her fingers through his hair as he lays his head on her chest. Both unknowingly leaning their weight on their mom, but she would never mind.

"But Papa will let you! He knows you love futbol!" He removed his head from her chest to look up at her. She chuckles slightly knowing he's still too young to understand the truth about playing professional football. How it's mostly a business before futbol. "We we will have to see buddy"

"Hey! I want to hug Xana too!" The six year old who just walked in to the unplanned family meeting, shouts as he jumps into the minimal space available. Xana winces a little since the little guy had no awareness of how rugged he can be.

Ciro gets up from his play area noticing the loud commotion Mateo made. Watching the family cuddled up, he decides he wanted to join. That was until he saw a mini football on the corner of the sofa. The family watched as he mad a split second decision, evidently choosing ball.

"Of course he would" Xana comments as they laugh.
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The day was getting older, the kitchen smelled like food. The kids were outside playing with each other as they waited for their father to arrive from his meeting. Antonela was setting the table with plates and cups, calling for them to come in and wash their hands. She heard her noise coming from the garage, knowing that was her husband. She walked outside to quickly shout at them one more time. Xana being the only one to listen, does a quick kick up to grab the ball. Knowing that if it was back down on the ground, Mateo would have tried to slide tackle into her. He was always the most bold one out of the three boys.

He was also the first one to protest.

"Calm down! Mom said to go inside already" she snaps back, and they all walk back inside to see their parents hugging. The way Xana's dad looked over at her, she felt that pit in her stomach since further. When they pulled away, her dad did his best to hide whatever news he came with. Lifting the youngest boy up in his arms, followed by Mateo giving him a quick hug before he started talking about what he learned today. Thiago ever being the most reserved collected one of the boys, gave his dad a quick kiss to the cheek followed by a hug and never failing to move to stand between both parents.

Xana stood at a distance, she was anxious and hated waiting for anything. She wanted answers now, and she needed to know now if she was going to be going to the first team. After Messi put down the squirming boy, he walked over to his daughter. He opened his arms to her, never one to be shy from hugging her dad. She embraced him back, and he patted her back. "Everything's going to be okay" he moved to face her, laying a kiss on her forehead. His beard scratched a little causing her to push him away lightly as they both chuckled.

Even with his comforting words, she still felt a little anxious. She trusted her father's words, no doubt. He has always been her biggest supporter, always having the best intentions for her career. Since she was 12, she's been playing at La Maisa. Since then her father would take the initiative to make decisions with her, now he had just this last one. After this, she was going to understand the other side of just playing futbol. He needed to get her an agent, someone who has skill and knowledge in the business world of this beautiful sport.

"Okay, can we eat now?" Mateo breaks the little moment, as always in character time.