The Chase. (Neymar Fanfiction)

Five.

Neymar rolled down the window as he pulled near the back gate of the restaurant. He stuck his head out the window and searched around for her. He was only about two minutes early, but he was so eager to go out he was hoping she would be early as well.

Suddenly he saw the light rush out as someone opened the back door. The petite girl walked out, caramel hair pulled into a high pony hair and some flour stained on the outline of a apron. Neymar curled in his lips trying to hold in his excitement.

She stopped right in front of the gate and just stared at him. She continued to stare blankly at him until a small smile formed on the corner of her lip. "Oye! Are you going to come to the door and get me, football star? Is this your first time taking a girl on a date?" She laughed.

"Uhh.. no..sorry.!" Neymar practically fell out of the car trying to hurry and get to the gate. He wanted everything to be absolutely perfect on this date. He couldn't believe he was making a mistake this early in the night. As he opened the gate he put his hand on his hip, gesturing to escort her to the vehicle.

"Well my my, what a gentleman" she mocked in an Elizabethan tone "much obliged, Mr. Football-Man."

They both laughed nervously.

"I definitely did not expect that" Neymar chuckled. He open the door for her. "Let's go, you're going to love this. I promise."

She climbed in the passenger seat and he closed the door, ran over back to the driver's side, and quickly hopped back into the car.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked.

"Oh, but menina, I believe surprises are the best thing this world has to offer." He smirked.

A big smile spread across her face. "Okay that I can handle."

As they drove down the street there was nothing but silence. Neymar felt his face getting hot. He hated silence, he wanted something to talk about, something to say, something to make her smile again.

"So..." He piped up. "I'm now realizing I don't even know your name, menina."

She slightly shifted uncomfortably, "My name? What's in a name? It's not important."

Neymar put the car back into park. "Are you serious?" He asked in frustration  "a name is one of the most important parts of a person. They say so much about you." He felt like he had been working so hard for what little he had with her.

She raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? So then what's the significance of your name?"

"My name?" He chuckled. "I'm named after my best friend, my father. He used to be a professional footballer when I was a kid, I admired him so much. He's part of the reason I wanted to play football-to be like him. Without him I wouldn't be the man I am today." He found himself a bit tense.

"Vale. Vale. My name is nothing like that at all. It's Marisol." She said.

"Marisol..." He repeated, his shoulders relaxing. "I like it. What does it mean?"

"Well..." She took in a deep breath "it depends on who you ask..." she nervously chuckled "my father always told me it was a shorter name for María Soledad, while my mother always told me it meant sun and sea: mar y sol."

Neymar smiled, "that's deep." And put the car back in drive.

* * *

"Don't tell me we're at the beach!" She joked.

"Fine, I won't tell you." He chuckled.

"It's dark out there, football star, how do I know you're not taking me to my death?" She scoffed.