Pau's POV
The ball rolls perfectly to my feet as I shift into position, blocking Balde's advance. My shoulders tighten as he tries to break past, but I nudge the ball cleanly away, my body moving on instinct. Drills like these are second nature now, yet every sharp turn and pass feels weighted with the importance of tomorrow's game.
El Clásico. It's more than a match—it's a war.
I feint left, sending the ball to Gavi, and let out a breath as the whistle blows. Coach shouts something about keeping the tempo high, but my focus splinters, drawn to the edge of the training ground where Cesca stands.
She's holding a clipboard, her head tilted as she talks to one of the staff. Her laugh carries faintly on the wind, and even from here, I can see the slight crinkle by her eyes. My chest tightens. She's been in my corner for months now, but something about the way she looks at me—like I'm already winning no matter what—makes tomorrow's stakes feel even higher.
"Cubarsí!" Alejandro's voice yanks me back into the present. He gestures toward the ball, raising an eyebrow. "You daydreaming, or what?"
I wave him off, smirking. "Just waiting for you to do something useful."
He grins and sends the ball my way, the game resuming. Still, as I pivot and trap the ball under my cleat, my thoughts keep drifting to Cesca. Tomorrow is massive, but part of me knows it's not just about the rivalry, the glory, or the points.
It's about playing for something bigger. For her.
Cesca's POV
The air smells faintly of grass and the rubber from the turf, a mix that I've come to associate with Barcelona's training ground. Normally, I'd feel perfectly at home here, but today, the energy buzzing through the place makes it hard to stay still. Everyone's on edge.
I glance up from my clipboard and spot Pau in the middle of a drill. He's locked in, his every movement fluid and precise, but I know him well enough to notice the moments where his focus wavers. Like now, when he glances toward me, his gaze lingering just a second too long.
"Cesca!"
I turn to find Celeste walking toward me, a bag of oranges slung over one arm. She's grinning, her hair tied back in a ponytail, looking as effortless as ever.
"Caught you staring," she teases, nudging me with her elbow.
"I wasn't staring," I lie, feeling my cheeks heat up.
"Sure." She hands me the bag, her grin widening. "You know Hector's been watching him like a hawk all practice, right? It's kind of hilarious."
I glance toward the field where Hector is lining up for a free-kick drill. He doesn't look particularly bothered—if anything, he seems more focused on showing off.
"Hector's too busy trying to impress Robert to worry about Pau," I say, earning a laugh from Celeste.
"True. Although, knowing Hector, he'll find time to lecture you both later."
Pau's POV
After practice, the team huddles up for a final pep talk. Coach's voice booms across the field as he goes over tomorrow's tactics, but my mind keeps wandering. By the time we break, I'm itching to find Cesca.
I spot her near the benches, adjusting a stack of water bottles. She looks up as I approach, her smile soft but teasing.
"Shouldn't you be recovering?" she asks, her tone mock-stern.
YOU ARE READING
Fortified -Pau Cubarsí-
FanfictionFrancesca Fort Garcia, Hector Fort's younger sister, has always been close to her brothers teammates. From when he was just starting in La Masia, to when he started with the First team. But what happens when Pau Cubarsí, a new player from La Masia...
