You Before Me |Neymar Jr.|

Chapter 16

Neymar's POV

I woke up from my peaceful nap to the annoying sound of my alarm blaring on the table beside me.

"Shut that stupid thing off," I groaned, turning over to stuff my face in the pillows. I heard a laugh from the other end of the room.

"What's the point of the alarm if you don't wake up when it rings?" my sister asked. I looked up to glare at her, letting out a grumbling noise. She put her hands up, rolling her eyes at me.

"You might want to actually get up. Training's at 5:30."

I sighed, shoving the blanket off the couch onto the floor, earning another distasteful look from Rafaella. I stared back at her, eventually picking up the blanket, making exaggerated actions while putting it back on the couch. Jogging up the stairs, I went into my bathroom and splashed water on my face to get rid of the sleepiness. Grabbing my things and stuffing them into my training bag, I hurried back down and into the garage.

"Natalia's not back yet?" I asked.

"No she went to go get some groceries," Rafa responded. "By the looks of your fridge, someone would think you're broke."

"Ugh, you sound just like Talia," I said. She pulled out onto the road towards the stadium. I decided to let her drive as a nice brother.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"YOU SLOW ASS! I made it here before you did! How are you even a footballer?" Natalia shouted from across the field as I came out of the locker rooms.

"Shut up! I was sleeping!" I shouted back.

"What? It's not even 6!"

"I was tired okay!" I defended. She shook her head and chucked a ball at my head. I caught it before sending it right back. She ducked and it hit Julian straight in the back. He jerked forward, letting out an "ow!"

"Oh my god, look what you did," Natalia scolded, "Are you okay."

Julian nodded, and smiled at Natalia before sticking his tongue out at me. I gave him a sheepish look, mouthing an apology to him. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

"Neymar! Stop daydreaming and get your ass moving!" Tuchel called from across the field. "Those balls aren't going to kick themselves."

The team snickered at his comment making him roll his eyes. 

"Ok, ok, I didn't mean it like that," he said, slapping Kimpembe on the back of his head. 

"Neymar! Collect all the footballs! All of them!"

I let out an animalistic groan, picking up the net bag. I spent the next five minutes picking up soccer balls from every corner of the field, nearly 40 in total. A giggle came from behind me, and I turned to see Natalia. Her phone held up in her hands, recording me. 

"Natalia," I warned. She ignored me, laughing at whatever she'd recorded on her phone. I ran at her, grabbing her up off the ground and heading toward the tunnels. 

"Put me down you connard!"

"Hey! I am not a connard!"

"Then put me down!"

"Fine," I gave in, dropping her back to her feet. 

"Natalia, there's a surprise waiting for you," Tuchel smiled, motioning to the locker room. Natalia gave him a confused look, letting go of my arm. 

"Do you know about this?" she asked. I shook my head. I totally didn't have any idea what this was about. 

"You better not dump Gatorade on me," she sighed, opening the door.  Entering the large locker room, she looked around, trying to figure out what was going on. Everyone was already inside, as Tuchel and I shuffled in the room after her. 

"What," Natalia looked thoroughly confused, "is going on?"

"Natalia," a voice whispered from behind. I turned to see a young man, about my age, dressed in a crisp, navy blue uniform, with clean white cuffs. His eyes twinkled with unshed tears as he gazed at Natalia. At the sound of his voice, her body stiffened, standing completely still. 

"No," she whispered, shaking. "That's impossible. Guys if this is a prank I-I swear."

"Natalia, turn around," I said gently, taking her hand. Her eyes glistened, looking into my eyes. 

"Neymar, it's not real," she whispered, so softly, I only heard. 

"Natalia, please," the man said looking towards her hopefully. Natalia finally turned, a gasp leaving her lips. She ran towards him, jumping into his arms, burying her head into his face. 

"Oh god I missed you so much munchkin," he whispered, hugging her tighter. I smiled at the sight and everyone cheered,  capturing the perfect moment on their phones. 

"When did you get here?! How did you get here?! In Paris?!"

" I heard you were stationed down here and I had some time so I decided to stop by," he explained. Natalia just stared, an awestruck look on her face. 

"Well are you going to introduce me?" he asked, smiling down at her.

"Oh! I literally forgot, sorry. So everyone, this is my brother, Elliot. He is a Marine and he was stationed in Darwin, Australia. You can tell them more," she said motioning to her brother. 

"Yeah so uh, what she said was accurate-"

"Of course it was, I'm your sister, I know everything," Natalia interrupted, making everyone chuckle. 

"Yeah, yeah. I'm 28 years old. I enlisted in the marines when I was 24, right after I finished University here in Paris."

"Wait you went to school here in Paris?" Kylian asked. 

"Yeah l'Université de Paris, Sorbonne."

"That's really cool. So you speak French?" Julian asked. 

"Yes but not as well as this one here. Little miss know-it-all," he nudged his sister. "Our parents lived in Marseilles, that's why we have French names. Well, at least I do. And our last names are Rousseau because our grandparents were from Belgium."

"Oh wow. You gave us more information than Natalia would ever speak in a day," Dani laughed, poking Natalia. 

"Yeah Natalia only talks about herself if asked or necessary. But that doesn't mean she doesn't talk," he added. 

"You bully me too much," she pouted, crossing her arms. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Apologies for the very late update. Double updates next week :). Let me know what you think please. 

Comment, Vote, and Share!

Te amo, 

Mia