"LUIGI'S IS A CHAIN?" I exclaimed when we got out of Neymar's car. "You've got to be kidding me!"
Neymar grinned. "I remember what a good time we had there your second night in Granja Comary and I wanted to do that again."
"That's amazing." I said as we walked inside. Indeed it had been a good night. Sure he was still Juninho then, but it was the night we had gotten to know each other, without pressure and expectations and it had been wonderful.
"If you would follow me." The maître said and led us to a sole table in a balcony that overlooked all of Brasília.
"We are on a hill?" I asked looking down the balcony.
"Yes." Neymar said, standing next to me. "I ordered us some red wine."
"Perfect."
"I'm glad. I didn't want you to think it was too much."
"The wine?"
"No, no. The whole thing. I know you like simple things."
"But my boyfriend is extravagant and I like indulging him once in a while."
"Is that so? That means you'll come on my boat too?" He teased me but before I could answer he pressed his lips on mine.
I heard noise behind me and realized a waiter had brought our food. Neymar took my hand and led me to the table, taking my chair out for me to sit.
"Thank you." I told him.
We began eating and everything was as delicious as last time. We were both in a good mood and chatting, forgetting all about everything and everyone else.
"So who do you think it is? The mole." I asked as I put my fork down, feeling stuffed.
"An assistant coach? It can't be a player."
"Who has access to this information?" I wondered out loud.
"It depends. But it's a lot more people that you'd think."
"Really? Well I hope they find him soon."
"Yeah. Before it becomes a real problem." Neymar said thoughtfully.
"So how do you feel about the game with Cameroon?"
"Oddly I feel very positive."
"And that's odd?" I teased him. "You're generally positive."
"Yeah but... before the last game I didn't feel like myself... I guess all that stuff with us and Alex..."
I nodded suddenly feeling sad, thinking about it. I was messing with his game, which was the last thing I ever wanted to happen. I guess that's the reason players leave their families and girlfriends to come to Granja Comary. To avoid distractions. And here we were, so shamelessly going out on a date the day before the game. If anyone saw us it would be a media nightmare. I'd be a persona non grata, Neymar would be accused of not taking the competition seriously and Scolari would be blamed for not being able to discipline his players. I imagined how disappointed he'd be in me if he knew, the same day he told me he trusted me.
"What is it?" Neymar asked, seeing the change in my mood.
"Neymar... we are being so irresponsible."
"What do you mean?"
"We shouldn't be here. You should be having an early night, to get ready for tomorrow."
"It's better to get to spend my time with you instead of lying awake in my bed thinking about the game."
"Is it though? I can't be the reason—"
"The only reason you are, is the reason I'm happy. Don't blame yourself for things that aren't your responsibility or fault. And who's to say we won't kick ass tomorrow? Usually the blame game starts after the loss, not before."
"Despite the result, you and I both know—"
"You and I both know that you won't be in Brazil forever. And as a matter of fact neither will I. And before you say it, no I'm not putting you before the World Cup. But I can't put it before you either."
For a moment I was speechless at the ease and the sincerity with which he just told me how the dream he had since he was a kid wasn't more important that I am. And then I realized I shouldn't be afraid of the repercussions because at the end of the day he was more important to me than an internship.
"Okay." I whispered. "You're right, I..."
"You panicked. I know, it's what you do." He said, finally cracking a smile. "You panic and you can't think clearly and even though you know the reasons I have to explain them to you again to make you relax."
"You do know me well." I said, feeling myself relax. I loved how he had this soothing quality about him, this calming aura that made my fears dissolve into thin air.
"You doubt it? I know you borderline on neurotic."
"Ha ha." I said ironically before I leaned across the table to kiss him.
~*~
I woke up in the morning with the sun on my face and a light breeze coming from the open window. Climbing out of bed I texted Neymar to wake him up. We had decided not to stay in the same room, to keep up appearances at least just a little bit.
I got dressed quickly and went down for breakfast. I was a little late as it was, so I grabbed some toast and located Neymar and the others quickly and joined them.
"Morning guys." I said when I sat down.
"Morning Liv." They all said in unison.
"Neymar here was just telling me about your date yesterday." David whispered in my ear. "It was a success, I gather."
"Why wouldn't it be? No, it was great. It was actually the best."
"I'm glad to hear." David told me when my phone rang.
"Hang on." I said, looking at the caller id. "Hey Marina." I said, picking up. "You sure? Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah, I will let them know. Sure. Yeah, okay."
"What's going on?" Neymar asked me.
"Marina isn't coming to the game." I said, standing up.
"Why not?" David asked me.
"I suppose she's not feeling good. I'm gonna go check on her, before we go, okay? I wanna make sure she'll be alright."
"Okay, go. We'll tell Scolari and Jones." David said.
I hurried back up and knocked on Marina's door. "You didn't have to come up. I told you, I'm fine." She said when she opened the door.
"You don't look it."
"Gee, thanks Liv."
"Do you want me to stay with you?"
"No." She said quickly. "Seriously, no. I'm fine, I'm just tired."
"I'm worried about you."
"Don't be. I just need to sleep it off. Since you're here, could you tell Bernard—"
"Tell Bernard? Why won't you tell him yourself?"
"You don't even know what I was going to say!"
"Whatever it is, he's your boyfriend."
"Okay Liv, thanks for the help!"
"Marina don't get mad. I just think... you shouldn't push Bernard away... He loves you."
"Look, you should go, or you'll miss the bus."
I looked at my phone and she was right. "Okay, I'm going. If you need anything, call me. And I'll tell Bernard you were tired."
"Thank you."
~
"Thanks for letting me know Liv." Bernard told me and turned around to leave abruptly.
"What's his deal?" Hulk who was just approaching asked.
"Long story." I said as Scolari and the rest of the coaches finally came down.
"Ready everyone?" Scolari asked as we gathered at the entrance of the hotel, ready to head outside. Without waiting for an answer he pushed the door open and we walked as fast as we could, through the sea of flashes and cameras, towards the team bus.
"Look at you, you're a pro!" Dani yelled from behind me. And indeed, I almost was.
"I don't understand why we can't get on the bus in the parking lot and we have to endure all this."
"Just for the press."
«Lovely." I said, settling on a seat by the window. Neymar sat next to me. I gave him a quizzical look.
"Since Marina isn't here... I figured it wouldn't be that bad."
I nodded. The coaches didn't seem puzzled or even paying us any attention. I realized it didn't seem weird to them to see us together. We practiced together after all, they must assume we'd become friends.
A few seats ahead of us I saw Peter sitting by himself. Neymar followed my gaze: "He's been iced out, I think, since the whole thing with Dani happened."
"Apparently a football team is a lot like high school."
"Oh, you're just figuring this out now?" Neymar teased me. "I'll talk to Dani." He continued when he saw the look on my face.
"Thank you." I said, squeezing his hand discreetly.
"You know, unless it all goes to hell today and Peter along with the rest of you is shipped back with the red-eye."
"Oh God. That was cheerful. Try to be a little more optimistic please. You aren't underdogs after all. You're favorites to win!"
"That isn't always a good thing. And being in Brazil just adds fuel to the fire."
"Understandable. But we're not talking about any team and we're talking about any player. It's Brazil and you're Neymar. And that changes everything." I told him the same time the bus came to a halt at the stadium.
It was time.