Judge My Skills, Not Me

Chapter 6: Don't Hurt Yourself Princess

As Camp Nou came into view, Cristina's nervousness heightened. She took a deep breath and fiddled with her necklace. "Hey, don't hurl on my seats back there," Scott said half-heartedly and Cristina laughed. "Don't worry kiddo, I'm sure everything will be fine." Scott pulled up to the front of the stadium. Reporters and paparazzi filled the front outside. Scott turned to her from his seat, "Ready to kick ass, kiddo."

Cristina smiled, "Kick ass and take names! Let's do this!" Scott gave her one last reassuring smile before opening his door and running to open Cristina's. The press was stunned as Cristina jumped out of the car. A GIRL?! The new Barça member is a GIRL?!

Cristina smirked to herself and felt more fired up. Mr. Bartomeu walked outside to greet her at the door along with some other people from the FC Barcelona Board. Cristina shook hands with him, and they headed inside.

"This place is beautiful!" Cristina said as they were walking around. They walked toward the pitch and Cristina fell in love. She looked around the field and felt the rush of excitement run through her veins. It was all green grass other than the corner of the pitch that was being used for what looked to be a video. She saw a couple of players were there based on their shirts, but she couldn't see their faces.

"To conclude our tour, this is the futbol pitch," Mr. Bartomeu said as he was handed the jersey Cristina would use for the press, "And this is your official Barça shirt." The shirt had just her name on the back, 'C. Diaz', without a number. She posed for the picture.

The guys took a break from the video they were making for the Barça YouTube channel. Only Lionel, Neymar, Xavi, Gerard, and Marc had to go, and they were surprised that the newbie would be announced today. "Hey Leo let's practice some passes," Neymar said as he grabbed a ball from production.

"Fine but don't do long-distance shots because of the press over there," Leo said as he backed up a bit. They passed the ball around and, as usual, Neymar didn't listen and sent the ball flying to exactly where Leo told him not to kick it. The ball rolled all the way to Cristina's heel as the pictures were over. She looked down at it. Leo wondered why an assistant was on the field but he shrugged it off.

"I'm guessing this is yours," Cristina said as she picked the ball up.

"Yeah sorry, my friend's kind of a dick and did exactly the opposite of what I told him to," Leo chuckled as he walked closer. As she picked up the ball he decided it was a good idea to make a comment, "Hey don't hurt yourself."

Cristina chuckled as she took off her heels. Leo looked puzzled as Mr. Bartomeu walked toward them and smirked. Cristina looked toward Neymar and passed the ball with perfection. Leo's jaw hit the floor. "I think I'm good but thanks for asking," she said in a snappy tone, "But please don't hurt yourself, princess." She walked away, heals in her hand and swaying her hips, as Mr. Bartomeu led her inside for the formal press conference. Mr. Bartomeu smirked at Lionel and walked inside. Lionel's mind was racing, 'That's the newbie?!'

As Cristina put on her heels and walked into the press room cameras flashed everywhere. She walked on the stage at the front. She sat in the seat in the dead center of the table. Luis And Mr. Bartomeu joined her at the table and the conference started. Reporters shot their hands up as questions were taken.

"Joseph, why are you signing a female to the male team? Why not the female team?"

"Well, we found that Cristina is one of the best players at the moment and thought we needed her on the team, plain and simple, but we also realized that this was a chance for not only Cristina to break barriers but also Barça. We have been known as an 'old school club' and thought we should progress not only us but futbol itself."

"Luis, how does this new signing affect your starter squad?"

"Cristina is a fantastic player and has many great qualities we want to enforce on the pitch, but this is different for her. The male teams do get a lot more games and feel pressure as well and we need to adjust her to that rigorous schedule. When we do, I can see her in the starting eleven in the first couple of games for the season."

"Cristina, what makes you so special?"

That question angered Cristina quite a bit, "Well to begin with I just won two world cups so some may say that's quite an accomplishment," some reporters laughed while others had serious expressions. "But the main thing that makes me as you would say 'so special' is that, although I have more obstacles than most of the other members to be here, I'm determined to be in this squad and make an impact."

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Hello, my lovely reader!

So sorry for leaving you guys for so long I got caught up with schoolwork. Finally, Leo and Cristina meet in this chapter and I'm so excited for the rest of this book. I know it sounds a bit harsh when they first met but don't worry. Anyways hope to write more and publish sooner!