“Leo where have you been?” Cesc asked his good friend.
“The bathroom,” Leo said simply.
“Oh, I see, I just noticed you were gone for a while,” Cesc said.
“No, I was talking to the others before,” Leo said in a convincing tone.
“Oh,” Cesc said thinking he must have been confused. “Well I was thinking of going to see Jade quickly.”
“The break is over, the coach is already calling us back,” Leo said.
“It’s ok I’ll just be a bit late,” Cesc said.
“You know how he gets, and I have this feeling Jade will come here soon,” Leo said with a smile.
“Ok, I’ll go in the next break,” Cesc said listening to Leo.
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Should I go or shouldn’t I go? I was not too sure how long I should wait before I go to the field. I smiled looking at the jacket. There was a lot of things I didn’t know about Leo, who knew he was so playful? I waited around and before I could take it any longer I decided to walk down to the field. I made sure to walk slowly to increase the amount of time since Leo came to see me. I finally got to the field and smiled. I could make out many small figures all playing with balls. That sounds so wrong. Jade! Why are you thinking like that? I shook my head to get those thoughts out and began walking quietly down the stairs. I could see all the players practicing. I saw Cesc with Pique, they were practicing passing. Pique kept passing the ball so Cesc could head it. It seemed I was very quiet as no one seemed to notice me when I was close to the barrier or so I had thought.
“Jade?” I heard a voice say. I turned to see Ibrahim Afellay looking up at me with an inquisitive face. Remember breathe jade, you can speak to Cesc normally, Leo normally, Alexis, ok well maybe not Alexis, ok you smile like an idiot around him but – just speak Jade! You’re thinking too much, he might think you’re crazy.
“Yes?” I said to him. Yes? That’s what I came up with? I was tempted to hit myself in the face but refrained from doing so. He just nodded slightly.
“So, um, how are you?” I asked him trying to make conversation.
“I’m good, thanks. You?” he asked me back.
“I’m-,” I said but I made the mistake of looking straight into his eyes. I could feel I was silent for a little too long, too mesmerized by them.
“Um, I’m good,” I said closing my eyes and then looking down.
“So what brings you here?” he asked.
“I came to give Leo back his jacket,” I said once again looking at him but this time I avoided full eye contact.
“Again?” he asked.
“No he left another one behind when-,” I said stopping mid-sentence. I was a bit confused as to what to say. Should I say Leo came to visit me? Or would he get suspicious? But wait, why would that even matter?
“When what?” he asked me.
“When-,” I said about to make up an excuse but was saved by someone.
“Jade!” Alexis shouted happily running towards the barrier. Ibrahim turned his head to Alexis in shock. I looked up and saw Cesc a bit behind Alexis smiling at me but it wasn’t for too long as a ball smacked him straight in the face. I looked at Cesc with my mouth open worried if he was ok. He seemed a bit frozen at first and then took his hand and rubbed his face.
“You know her?!” Ibrahim asked Alexis not believing he knew me.
“Of course! Met her at the match!” he said to Afellay.
“So what deal did you make with your mentor?” Alexis asked me with a naughty look.
“What do you mean?” Afellay cut in.
“Don’t you know? She wasn’t allowed here because her mentor said she couldn’t come,” he said explaining it to Ibrahim. Ibrahim kept silent, it almost looked as if he was jealous that he didn’t know that. Jade you and your overanalyzing.
“Actually I didn’t really make a deal,” I said to Alexis, “I came to return Leo’s jacket.”
“I see, well we all missed you,” he said with a dazzling smile and I could feel myself becoming a smiling idiot again.
“Yes, we did,” I heard Ibrahim say. I was confused by this. The last time we met he spoke to me and then acted as if he didn’t really want to know me. Now all of a sudden he was interested?
“Thanks,” I said and for the first time I didn’t say it in a nervous tone to Ibrahim, I was too confused.
“Well you guys better go before the coach shouts at you,” I said to both of them.
“Only if you promise to sit here and watch,” Alexis said eyeing me. I smiled and looked down. Don’t blush Jade! Keep it together. I somehow managed to keep myself looking at least normal on the outside.
“Of course,” I said, “Plus, I can’t go till I have given Leo his jacket.”
“Good,” Alexis said and I watched him go as he went back to join the others. It took me a moment to notice Ibrahim was still here.
“Nice to see you Jade,” Ibrahim said while I looked into his eyes once again. I could almost feel a connection but he chose to turn around quickly and join everyone else. What is going on with him? I was very confused at this point between my feelings and all of theirs. I sat there enjoying the practice but soon I heard the most unexpected voice.
“Miss Avery, what are doing here?” I heard a voice say. Oh no, it was Hector.
“Well, I-,” I began to say.
“I strictly said you are not to come here,” he said sternly.
“I know-,” I said.
“This is a very bad impression you are creating,” he said disapprovingly.
“I-,” I began to say.
“Jade, thank you so much for helping us. You were right about your stats, it really improved my passing accuracy. Leo also said it is really nice of you to return his jacket after you found it,” I heard my savior say.
“You know them?” Hector asked me.
“Of course,” Cesc said, “She is probably one of the most important people here,” he said and I wanted to hug him so badly. He was saving my job. Again.
“I see, well Jade, you can stay for a while but you should get back to work soon,” he said as I nodded professionally but inside I was jumping for joy.
“Good day Mr. Fabregas,” Hector said and he left.
“Seems like I saved your job again,” Cesc said looking at me, “You owe me something.”
“I can’t thank you enough, I-,” I said as Cesc laughed.
“Don’t worry Jade, it’s no big deal, I’m just happy I got to see you today,” he said with a smile.
“Really?” I asked him surprised.
“Well I noticed you weren’t there with the others,” he said.
“Yeah Leo told me that,” I said.
“Wait Leo told you that? But how could he, wait a minute,” Cesc said thinking hard.
“I knew he didn’t go to the bathroom,” he concluded.
“Are you ok by the way?” I asked him concerned. He looked at me confused.
“When you got hit by the ball? It looked a bit painful,” I said to him.
“No, I’m ok,” he said smiling but before I knew it another ball hit him from behind.
“Are you ok?” I asked him worried. I looked up to see none other than Pique and Pedro laughing.
“Good friends I got,” Cesc said rubbing his back as I laughed.
“You should go back to practice, you know, before you get hit again,” I said.
“I guess you’re right but don’t leave too soon ok? After all you get to see the best player in the world,” he said referring to himself.
“I know Messi is simply amazing,” I said teasing him back.
“Hey! I assist his goals!” he said jokingly as he ran back to practice.