Unexpected Lines.

Finding Home.

“It’s only for a year,” her agent reminded her quietly, tapping the page. “Good salary, fair terms, performance clauses are clean. If it doesn’t feel right, you can walk away. No pressure.”

Kaia nodded, her stomach fluttering. No pressure — and yet the moment felt enormous.

She signed her name with a steady hand. The coach beamed, clapping his hands together. “Perfect.”

A few photos followed — the obligatory handshakes, pen poised over contract, the wide-smile close-up. Kaia shifted awkwardly but managed a grin. Then came the shirt reveal: KAIA-MARIE stamped across the back above a bold 12. She held it up for the cameras, her heart hammering at the weight of it.

“Right,” the coach said finally, his grin turning conspiratorial. “Come on, let’s go meet your new teammates.”

Kaia followed him down the corridor, shirt still clutched in her hands, every step echoing louder in her head.

Inside the training hall, the squad were gathered in a loose semi-circle, boots untied, chatter humming. The coach cleared his throat.

“Ladies, we’ve got a new signing to introduce.” He glanced back at Kaia, gesturing her forward.

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Kaia stepped in. Gasps rippled instantly through the group, heads snapping, voices rising in disbelief.

But it was Alexia’s face that mattered — the wide-eyed shock that melted into something shining, almost disbelieving. She moved first, striding over before Kaia could blink, hands gripping her shoulders before pulling her into a crushing hug.

Kaia laughed against her sister’s chest, relief flooding her. “Surprise.”

One by one, the others followed. Jana was next — soft, warm, and unexpectedly kind, folding Kaia into an embrace with a gentle, “Welcome, de verdad.” Mapi and Ingrid chimed in too, their grins wide and welcoming.

Then Keira and Lucy strolled over, trading a look between them — one Kaia couldn’t quite read — before smiling all the same.

“Good to have you here,” Lucy said.

“Yeah,” Keira added, squeezing her arm. “Fresh start.”

Kaia exhaled, tension bleeding out of her shoulders. She’d done it. She was here.

She tugged at the hem of her training top, nerves fizzing in her stomach as she followed the rest of the squad out onto the pitch. The grass at the Ciutat Esportiva shimmered in the sunlight, the familiar sight of bibs, cones, and stray footballs scattered like confetti.

Alexia lingered at her side, hand brushing her back. “Relax. It’s just football,” she murmured.

Jana jogged up, grinning. “Yeah, come on. You’ll smash it.” She bumped Kaia’s shoulder lightly, her energy easy and infectious.

Kaia chuckled softly, even if the butterflies in her chest weren’t going anywhere. “Easy for you two to say,” she muttered. “I haven’t had a ball at my feet in months.”

“Then we’ll fix that,” Jana said matter-of-factly, already pulling her towards the warm-up circle.

The coach clapped his hands together once the team had gathered. “Before anything, I need to see where everyone’s at physically. Long runs. Stamina test.”

A few groans rippled through the group, but Kaia’s lips twitched into a small smile. Running — this she could do.

The whistle blew, and they were off.