Pov: I still miss this book
More cece content!
Also long chapter, so sorry
(not really sorry)
———
Celia pov (🙀)
"Mom I'm nervous for tonight, dad doesn't like him." I say as I walk in the kitchen, yawning.
Early training will be the death of me. There's no reason to train at 7:30 am.
"He doesn't not like him, it's just weird to see our daughter with a boy." She shrugs as I lean against the counter.
"I like Enzo, he's a good kid, and not just because he plays for Madrid and I've known him since he was my mascot, but he really is a good kid." Jude says as I look at him. "Besides his little reputation."
"Convince dad that." I say as Jude laughs, "I'm serious."
"He's not going to not like him." Mom insists as I give her a look.
"Mom, we both know that's a lie." I mumble as she sighs.
"I'll talk to him and tell him to not do anything dumb, how does that sound?" She questions as I nod quickly, "okay I'll be back."
"Ce I think you're worried about nothing." Charlotte says as I pull out a stool, sitting down as I cross my arms, turning and looking at all of them sitting at the table.
"If anything Pedri will make a big deal about it though, he's kind of dramatic if you think about it." Gavi says as I frown, looking at my phone quickly.
"You're the oldest so you get to figure out how they react first." Ansu says as I sigh.
"At least you know Tate is supportive and nice about it." Pablo shrugs, "but I guess that's just her in general so I don't know if that's good to use as an example." He adds as mom walks back in the kitchen, rolling her eyes.
"Looks like it went well." Isabelle jokes as mom shakes her head.
"Pisses me off sometimes." She mumbles as she goes to the fridge, grabbing out a bottle of water, "he says you're too young to date."
"I'm 17, almost 18." I frown as she shrugs.
"I don't know what to tell you Cece, he'll think that no matter how old you are." She says as I sigh.
"You and dad dated for the first time at 16." I mutter.
"But we dated seriously at 19 and 20." She counters, "so he'll probably think you can't date until that age either."
"That's so unfair." I say as she shrugs.
"I don't know what to say Ce, he doesn't listen to me as it is so there's not much I can do." She frowns as I get up off my stool.
"Is he in your guys' room?" I ask as she nods, "I'll be back." I go down the hallway and knock on the door slightly, "dad?"
"Yeah, pollito?" He asks as I walk in, crossing my arms.
"I'm too young?" I question as he laughs.
"Don't you want to focus on football?" He asks as I shrug.
"You dated mom and were able to still play football, who's to say I can't do that too?" I ask.
"I was older than you are now, it's easier to balance when you're older." He says as I frown, "plus you're already dealing with a lot with all of the media stuff going on, I don't want you to add more to your plate." He adds.
"Dad," I mumble as I give him a look, "I know I'm your first kid and it seems kind of inevitable to be protective, but I'm old enough to make decisions for myself and you don't have to be so protective when it comes to this subject."
"I just don't want you to get distracted, it's hard enough to be playing at this level and if you add more to your plate I think it's just going to be stressful." He explains as I shake my head no.
"He lives in Madrid anyways so it's not like we'll be able to properly date, it's more of just you guys meeting him and getting to know him." I say as he sighs.
"You know what, fine. Do whatever you want, you're old enough to make your own decisions." He mumbles as I lean my head back.
"I don't want you to be mad at me though, clearly you care if you're making a big deal about it." I mumble as he shakes his head.
"I don't care."
"Uncle Gavi was right, you are dramatic." I scoff as I begin walking out of the room.
"Do not walk out after that sentence." He says sternly as I cross my arms, turning around. "Lose the attitude real quick, okay? I don't care if you're tired and that's what this attitude is about, but do not make it our problem too."
"Okay." I say under my breath as I look down.
Mom getting mad at me for something is one thing, but when dad does it's usually worse. To be fair mom doesn't get mad a lot, but dad definitely is the one I try to avoid making mad. He doesn't do anything bad, I just know making him mad is when I really mess up.
"Celia I see the media about him, of course I'm not going to be happy about my daughter talking to a boy who's known for sleeping around because he plays football." He explains as I clench my jaw.
"He doesn't sleep around." I mumble as he tilts his head slightly.
"No?" He asks as I shake my head, "Jude only likes him because he's known him for nearly 10 years, we all know about what he does though, and I'm not sure why you can't see it."
"Dad, please." I say quietly. "You and mom always say I have to learn from my mistakes, right?" I question as he nods slightly, "so you have to let me get to the point of potentially making mistakes, before I can learn from anything."
"Not when it comes to this." He says as he crosses his arms.
"I can't win this conversation can I?" I ask as he shakes his head with a smile.
"Nope." He grins as I sigh.
"Great." I mumble as I walk out of their room and I go down the hallway to the kitchen.
"Went well, huh?" Mom asks as I give her a look.
"Literally Tate reincarnated with that look." Alejandro says quietly.
"Actually so valid, Tate would give us that look, and she also scarily looks like Tate." Pablo whispers.
"It's like she's my mom." I say as Jude gasps.
"And she's sassy like Tate when she's annoyed." Jude says and I can't help but laugh. "And she can't stay annoyed, just like Tate." He adds as I sit back down on my stool, putting my chin in my hands.
"Jude, does Enzo sleep around?" I question as I look at him and he clicks his tongue.
"He's a good kid besides the fact he occasionally sleeps around." Jude says as I sigh.
"I can't win."
"Ce, just get ready for training and you can think about it later." Mom says as I get off the stool, going upstairs to my room.
I quickly change into my training clothes before I check my phone and I put it in my pocket before I go back downstairs. "Mimi what did you end up doing with my bag?" I question as I go in the living room and she turns to look at me.
"I put it away in the closet since you can't manage to do that." She says as she points at the closet by the door and I roll my eyes, "you're welcome!"
She's sassy today.
"Thanks." I mumble as I go back in the kitchen and they all look at me.
"Come straight home after training because you'll need to get cleaned up before we fly out." Mom says as she points at me and I nod.
"Got it." I say as she tosses me my water bottle.
"I love you, I'll see you in a few hours."
"I love you." I say quietly as I back up, "bye everyone." I add as I wave quick, going to the front door. "Bye Mi!" I call out, waiting for a response.
"Bye Ce!" She yells as I smile before walking out of the house, going down the driveway to Nadia's car as she's waiting for me.
"Hey." She smiles as I get in.
"I really don't want to train today." I mumble as I buckle and she gives me a look.
"You're too young to think about retirement." She says quietly as I laugh, shaking my head.
"I hate that you made me laugh, I want to be mad." I say as I cross my arms.
"Hey that's what I'm here for, a good laugh and making you not mad." She says as she reaches over, pinching my cheek slightly as I swat her hands away.
"You're the worst."
"Aw you love me, don't lie to yourself." She shrugs as I look out the window.
"Yeah, yeah."
—
"You really weren't lying when you said you don't want to train today." Nadia says as she stands next to me as we're waiting for our turn in a drill. "Nerves for the award ceremony tonight?"
I shake my head as I glance at her, "Everyone is against Enzo, especially my dad and I don't want to make a decision that they won't like." I say as I put my hands on my hips, watching a few of the other girls do the drill.
"I mean I get why, he kind of has a reputation." She shrugs as she gets called up and she does the drill quick as I watch her.
"I know, but it's annoying." I mumble as she passes me quick going to the back of the line before I do the drill, finishing with a shot that goes in upper right corner as a few of my teammates hoot as I laugh.
"Nice shot Cruz." One of the trainers calls out as I wave quick before going back over to Nadia.
"I mean it is tough to have to make a decision about it, like you either take the risk of him living up to his reputation, or you just ignore your feelings towards him." She shrugs as I lean my head back.
"See, I don't know what to pick, and that stresses me out." I scoff as I quickly take my hair out of a ponytail and retying it tighter this time.
"I mean no one can make the decision for you, right? Whether they support it or are against it, it's your decision at the end of the day and you have to be fully in for whichever you choose." She explains as I nod.
"Maybe it's just a sign that they're being so protective, maybe they know how it'll go and they're trying to spare me being upset." I suggest as she laughs.
"I think they're just protective over you in general, there's no denying that. Like you're the oldest so you're the first one they're experiencing it with, but honestly you're helping out Mila, Emilio and Rio for when they start dating, because your parents will be used to it." She says as I frown.
"If my pain of trying to figure out what to do helps them in the long run, I'll take it as a win." I mumble as she smiles slightly.
"I mean you talk to him everyday, right?" She asks as I nod, before she does the drill again, "so that means at least something." She adds as she passes me.
I do the drill again and I end up hitting the post as I put my hands behind my head, walking back over to Nadia, "I'm so sick of today. Makes me not even want to go to the award ceremony either."
She looks at her watch quick, "only a few more minutes." She confirms as I sigh. "Just don't be a perfectionist and you'll learn to not care about missing or hitting the post."
"Easier said than done, I feel like being a perfectionist is written in my DNA." I scoff.
"It's because you try to live up to your dad." She suggests as I give her a look.
"Yeah, so?"
"When people talk to you here they say your name, they're not bringing up your dad or calling you Pedri's daughter. You made a name for yourself Celia, so stop trying to be perfectly like him." She says as I furrow my eyebrows.
"Ouch Nadia, you just full named me."
"Oh shut up." She mumbles as she pushes my shoulder and I immediately push her back as she gasps, "you're on, Cruz." She says as the whistle blows and she begins chasing me around the pitch.
"Enough, enough." One of the trainers laughs as he points as us and Nadia immediately wraps her arm around my shoulder, leaning down.
"Keep it up and you won't get a ride home." She says in my ear with a smile as I pull away from her, before jumping on her back.
"Aw you love me, you wouldn't be able to live with the fact you abandoned me at training." I say as I wrap my arms around her shoulder and she holds onto my legs.
"You're like the worst fake little sister ever." She jokes as I gasp.
"How disrespectful of you Nadia Santos. I'm like the best fake little sister ever, and best friend." I say as we get inside and I get off her back as I give her a side hug. "The best." I add quietly as she pushes me away laughing as I go over to my bench, sitting down and taking off my boots.
I grab my bag as I put on my slides, going over to Nadia as she's checking her phone, "I honestly can't wait to dress up tonight, I don't know about you." She says as she puts it in her pocket and I shrug.
"I like doing it every once in awhile, but not when there's added stress to it like tonight with the awards." I say as we begin heading outside.
"I won last year and it's not that stressful, and since you're in the running this year for golden girl you really have a chance." She says as we get in her car, "but since I won last year I'm announcing it, so technically I'll know first when I open the envelope." She adds as she gives me a look and I laugh.
"Can't wait for you to announce my name." I joke as I buckle my seatbelt.
"Honestly I think everyone knows you're the most likely to get it, even with shitty articles at the end of last season you still performed at a high level, all you Cruz." She says as I smile slightly.
"At least you'll be there with me." I say quietly.
"And your parents, and literally all your uncles." She adds as I shrug.
"I know, but you being there with me is different, because it just shows how much we've grown in the past 8 years we've been playing together, and just our friendship in general." I say as she smiles.
"You're going all soft on me, Cece." She jokes as I shrug, looking out the window.
"It is what it is."
—
"Ce, you ready?" My mom asks as she knocks on the bathroom door and I open it up as she covers her mouth with her hand. "Look at you, you're stunning." She says as as brushes some hair behind my ear.
"I don't know why they gave me this color dress, it's like awkward." I say as I look down at myself.
"I like the plum actually." Charlotte says as Isabelle nods.
"It's cute, Cece." Isabelle agrees as I quickly turn, looking at myself in the mirror.
"Do you know what color Nadia got?" Mom asks as I look at my phone quick.
"Dark green." I say as I set my phone back down, "she said she'll be up in a minute and then we can go down and meet everyone else, yeah?" I question as the 3 of them nod.
"You seem stressed." Isabelle suggests as I look at her quick.
"Oh I'm great, thanks." I mumble as there's a knock on the door and mom goes over to it, opening it up as Nadia walks in.
She whistles at me as I scratch my arm slightly, "you look good, you're stressed for no reason." She says as I throw my hands up.
"I didn't even say anything to you yet, how can I seem stressed?" I question as she shrugs.
"You have an aura about you." She jokes as I scoff.
"You're something else." I mumble as I go over to my bag, taking out a pair of heels as I put them on. "Heels are so gross."
"The ceremony is only a few hours, and you'll be sitting most of it so you don't need to worry about walking around much with them on." Mom says as I stand up straight and Nadia gasps.
"You're like 5'7 now, they grow up so fast." She fake sniffles as I roll my eyes.
"I'm 5'3, so what, not all of us can be 5'8." I mumble as she smiles at me.
"You're sassy when you're stressed." Charlotte says as I go back in the bathroom, putting in earrings.
"She's always sassy actually." Isabelle says as I look at myself in the mirror again before giving myself a nod of approval.
"Everyone is downstairs in the lobby, and then there's some cars waiting for us because all of the Barcelona players are leaving at the same time." Mom says as I nod, grabbing a hand bag quick, putting my phone in it as we walk out of our hotel room.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Nadia says as she walks next to me and I nod, taking a deep breath.
"I'm not that nervous now about the award ceremony, now I'm worried about them meeting Enzo since he's nominated for golden boy." I say quietly as she sucks in a breath.
"Wait that's actually so true, good luck with that, they're going to tear him apart." She scoffs as we get on the elevator.
"Nadia, not helping." I say as she shrugs.
"Being honest is my policy." She grins as I lean against the wall and Isabelle wraps her arm around my shoulder, rubbing her thumb back and forth as I lean my head against her shoulder.
After about 30 seconds the elevator dings and we walk into the lobby as dad and all of the guys are standing and as he sees me he frowns slightly. I immediately go over to him, giving him a hug as he rubs my back, "I'm sorry for this morning, I know I was in the wrong." I say as I wrap my arms around him tighter.
"That's okay, pollito. It's a stressful day for you, early training on top of the ceremony." He whispers as he pulls away from the hug, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Now, we have an award ceremony to get to." He adds as he pinches my cheek slightly and I nod with a smile.
"Let's go!" Jude calls out as we walk out of the hotel, getting into the cars before they start the drive to the venue.
After about 15 minutes we get dropped off at the end of a red carpet and I take a deep breath as Nadia interlocks our arms, "you did this last year too, I don't know why you're so nervous this year." She whispers as we begin walking down the carpet.
"Because I was nominated last year but I definitely wasn't in the running for golden girl, everyone knew you were going to win so it didn't feel as nerve racking." I say as I squeeze her arm tighter and she laughs as dad comes up to me, holding his arm out.
"Just smile, pollito." He says quietly as I make my way in front of the cameras. After a few minutes of pictures and a small interview I make my way inside and I'm immediately greeted by Xavi as he comes over to me, giving me a side hug.
"Congratulations on the nomination." He says as I smile.
"Thank you." I smile as everyone else comes inside, greeting him as I look for Nadia again.
"It's good to see you." Mom says as she hugs Xavi.
"I remember when she was 2 running around the pitch, and now she's nominated for golden girl? Where did the time go?" He asks as mom snickers.
"Tell me about it." She says.
My eyes land on Enzo and I lean my head back before he makes his way over to me, "Hey, Cruz." He says as he gives me a quick hug.
"Hi, Enzo." I say as Jude makes his way over to us, immediately greeting him.
"There he is." Jude says as they both laugh. "Congratulations on the nomination, everyone thinks you have it in the bag." He adds quietly as Enzo smiles.
Mom and dad then make their way over, "I'm Tate, it's good to finally meet you." Mom smiles as she reaches her hand out and they shake hands quick before he looks at dad.
"Mr. González works." Dad says as I sigh, and Enzo nods reluctantly as he reaches his hand out but dad immediately waves at someone else, walking off.
"Sorry about him." I mumble as he laughs.
"No sweat, Cruz, I'll see you after the ceremony?" He questions as I nod. "Bye." He adds as he waves at us and I look at mom.
"Pedri is awfully friendly." Pablo jokes as Nadia makes her way over to us.
"So?" She questions.
"Mr. González." I respond simply as she laughs.
"Yikes." She mumbles as I nod.
"We have to go find our seats." She says as I turn back around, giving mom a quick hug as she kisses my cheek.
"We'll be in there in a bit, I don't know how close we are to you though." Mom says as I squeeze her hand quick, "I love you, Ce."
"I love you, bye guys." I say as I wave at everyone else and Nadia leads me inside and we go find our seats.
After about an hour and a half Nadia slips past me and she makes her way up to the stage getting ready to announce the award. Enzo ended up winning golden boy, but I think that was a given considering his recent form with Madrid.
I quickly look behind me, a few rows back where everyone is sitting and I look at mom and dad as they're holding hands and I look down at their hands, playing with each others fingers.
No matter how much she gets annoyed with him, I will always idolize my parent's relationship. From what I can tell they're the definition of soulmates and nothing can break that, even when dad is being a bit dramatic. She overlooks it, and that is love.
Some people don't get the whole having kids young, but she is genuinely the best mom even if she was only 20 when I was born. And having 4 kids seemed right for them, even if Rio has nearly a 7 year age gap between him and the twins.
Dad finally sees me and he gives me a nod as I take a deep breath, turning back around. I zone out as they do the introductions for the award and I spin my ring around my finger as Nadia opens the envelope, "and the winner is," she begins as she immediately smiles, "Celia Cruz."
I stand up as everyone begins clapping and I make my way up to the stage, taking a deep breath as I rub my hands together out of nerves.
First award of hopefully many, and in a way I'm following in dads, uncle Gavi and uncle Jude's footsteps with this award.
Three golden boys, and now one golden girl.
—
I feel like every few business months I'll write a bonus chap because they're just fun to do, and maybe I'll like do a chap focusing on each kid rather than just cece although she's the og kid