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Chapter 13- Cat's POV

I was jerked forward slightly, accidentally letting out a noise of surprise, as the plane touched down, bouncing along the tarmac runway. Leo laughed, his eyes closed and his head resting against the window- only just being torn from the grip of sleep that had taken him for almost the whole flight. 

"Are we in Mexico?" I questioned stupidly. Leo's eyes opened. He raised an eyebrow.

"No. We're obviously still in Barcelona despite the forever-long flight," he responded sarcastically. I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out at him, to which he winked back at me. 

"So... I can have mojitos here, right? Like proper ones. And tacos and fajitas," I said, thinking aloud. "God, I love Mexico! I've always wanted to come here!" 

"The perks of being my girlfriend," Leo muttered playfully. I grinned at him before turning my attention to the landscape outside the plane. Albeit we were in an airport but I could still make out the greenary that bordered the plane-modified land. There was no point in ignoring my excitement. I squealed, clapping my hands together, and beaming as if it was my first holiday ever. 

This was going to be good.

Leo paid the taxi driver and the two of us climbed out of the car, stretching like we had been cramped in a box for years. It was a relief to finally be able to shake off my stiff limbs. I wasn't used to flights that seemed like they'd last for eternity. 

We were met in the hotel foyer by Luis Enrique and the rest of the Barcelona players who had been called for duty. Enrique smiled at me, shaking my hand, before moving on to Leo and exchanging some conversation. I left the two of them to talk and joined the team. Neymar flashed me a thumbs-up and Pedro got up from his seat and pulled me in for a tight hug. 

"How've you been?" he asked instantly. I hadn't seen any of the players, apart from Leo, since the eventful training session. I shrugged in answer, sitting on the edge of the table in the circle of occupied armchairs, leaning my suitcase against my legs. 

"Alright, I guess." I said shortly. Pedro nodded, lips set in a firm line, as he took in my appearance.

"You look shattered," he noted. I laughed a little. "I hope Leo hasn't been keeping you up all night."

"Oh no, don't worry. I tire him out quickly enough," I answered, my eyes trailing to the man in question as he joined us. Pedro grinned and slapped his team mate on the back, throwing a wink in my direction, and went to talk to Enrique. Leo sat down in the seat Pedro had abandoned, sighing heavily.

"What were you two talking about?" he asked me, leaning forwards. 

"You, mi amor," I replied shortly. He shot me an incredolous look, to which I only smiled. 

Later that night, the team set off to start a  pre-match training session. Enrique said I was welcome to join but I told him I would rather stay back and catch up on some rest before we went out for a meal afterwards.

They had been gone for an hour or so. I decided to go exploring around the hotel. It was fancy, to say the least. Soft gold furnishings etcetera. The kind of place you'd only expect a team as rich and brilliant as Barcelona to accommodate when they were away from home. 

I came across a large ballroom, which was surprisingly empty except for a member of staff who I assumed was there just to supervise any visitors like me who came upon the room. There was a stage at one end of the room, a grand piano set atop it, and a massive golden chandelier hung in the centre of the ceiling. 

Definitely fancy.

I walked around, observing the subtle yet beautiful decor, running my fingertips along the walls, until I came to a door near the stage that had the word Instrumentos embossed in gold across its front.

The member of staff approached me upon noticing my pause. Her name badge read Alina Constalavos. She was pretty; olive skinned and dark haired. "Ah yes, the instruments are within here. Do you play?"

I nodded. "I play a little guitar. Do you have any?"

"Of course!" she laughed. "Would you like to borrow one?"

I nodded again and watched as she produced a ring of keys, searching them momentarily for the one that fit, and opened the door. Inside there was a wide range of different instruments; guitars of all sorts, a drum kit, woodwind, brass, piano. The room was larger than it looked on the outside. 

I chose a slim acoustic guitar, tuning it using a device that hung on a rack by the door. Alina smiled at me as I exited, closing the door behind me. "Perhaps you would like to play here? I would very much like to hear you. Although you may take it to your room, if you wish."

"I'll play it here," I said, stepping up on the stage and borrowing the stool from under the piano. Alina watched me as I began to strum the chords to Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer. Her eyes lit up in recognition at the tune and she clapped her hands. 

"You like them too?" I asked, stopping for a moment. She nodded animatedly. "Well then, this song is for you."

I played the tune that was all to familiar to my fingers from ages of practice, singing the words that came to me as easy as breathing. I was guilty to admit that I got carried away and soon launched into all the songs I knew by the band I loved as much as Barcelona. 

I had just finished off Nickelback's Rock Star when I heard a collective round of applause. My head jerked up. The room was no longer empty. 

At the back of the crowd of people that had gathered when I was lost in song stood FC Barcelona, all of them whooping and cheering and calling my name. Leo beamed at me proudly from across the room. I rose nervously to my feet, bowing hesitantly, before scurrying off the stage- handing my guitar to Alina who gave me a quick, appreciative hug- and practically sprinted out of the room. 

A hand grabbed hold of my own when I was halfway down the corridor, almost to the foyer. 

"Wait up!" A breathless, familiar voice laughed. I spun around, a little too abruptly, knocking us both over. I groaned at the pain of the impact, doing everything possible to stop myself from meeting Leo's eyes.

"Hey," he said, brushing my hair out of my face and helping me back up to my feet. "I didn't know you could play guitar or sing like that."

"It's not something many people know about me," I muttered, rubbing my arm sheepishly. Leo smiled.

"Well I think it's now something the whole world knows," he said softly, running his thumb across my cheek. I widened my eyes.

"How?!" I spluttered, staggering backwards. I felt sick and lightheaded. Oh no.

"Did you not see all of the cameras on you?" Leo chuckled, trying to pull me back to him. I shook my head, snatching my hand back and rubbing it tentatively. His smile dissolved into a frown. "What's wrong?"

"Ii didn't even realise I had company until I finished! I don't want the whole world to know me!" I cried, splaying my hands in exasperation. "I thought I had done well with dodging the paparazzi that's been stalking me now I'm with you, but this is something else!"

"Cat-"

"I'm going back to my room." I said shortly, brushing him off. I hurried down the rest of the corridor, breaking out into the foyer, and making for the stairs- taking them two at a time.

I pulled out the key-card for the room, only managing to unlock the door after six desperate swipes and a hundred muttered curses. I ran into the bathroom, locking the door, and collapsed into the bath- turning on the cold shower. I had to calm myself down.

The world can't know me. He'll find me. He'll come for me again. 

I can't stay here.