86. Strip Lighting

                                    

                                          

A late drive back to Barcelona after a match meant everyone was a little delirious and lazy, especially with the strip lighting and the music playing. Instead of Patri's upbeat Reggaeton, the back of the train had Kaia's chill English music on, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, SZA, The Neighbourhood, Drake and some other songs scattered in there. 
Kaia and Lucy swapped places on the train so the winger could cuddle into Mapi's side and doze off a little, hood up and head on the blondes shoulder. 
Mapi naturally had to film them when Kaia's eyes began to close slowly, a loving smile painted on her own face as she watched Kaia adorably try to stay awake yet cuddle further into her to get more comfortable. 
She was like a puppy. 
However she was clearly still awake, because when the chorus to Doja Cat's Streets plays, Mapi could hear Kaia mumbling along to the lyrics perfectly.  
Mapi knows it's just a song, but when she hears Kaia whispering 'you the type I want to marry, and keep you merry. I'll put the ring on when you're ready', it makes her think about their future, about when they'll do that. It's a thing she's said a few times now ever since Ibiza, just whenever she's feeling crazy in love, she tells Kaia she's going to marry her. And it always ends with them both blushing and getting all tender. 
She's still sticking to what she told Patri ages ago, that she won't start actually planning anything until after they've hit their one year anniversary which is coming up in just over two weeks. But it doesn't stop her from thinking about it and getting excited to call this sleepy woman on her shoulder hers forever. 
"How's your leg feeling?" Lucy asks the blonde opposite her at the table, also sat back with her Culers hoodie hood up and her glasses on. 
Mapi shakes her head gently because she can't shrug her shoulders. "Bruised and aching but it'll be fine." She assures simply. Thankfully Olga's studs didn't break any skin, but they have left marks that show just how vicious she came in at. 
"She should've been red carded for that challenge." Patri mumbles, also on the verge of sleep but she's aware enough to keep the conversation English for Lucy's sake. 
Lucy laughs ironically. "I think there should've been quite a few red cards." She says shaking her head at the game they just played. She expected it to be violent and full of egotistical individuals, but this was on another level. 
Patri and Mapi both look at each other, sharing a sober look because that game was a lot tougher than usual. And even the players (like Esther and del Castillo) who were there last year seemed to have improved and been motivated by their new teammates. 
Hell, Barça might've lost the game if it weren't for Aitana being brought down in the box late on. 
It was too close for their liking, and they're all aware that Jonatan is going to drag them into a deep analysis meeting tomorrow morning to scrutinise and pick apart their performance so they can learn and improve from it. 
"How many yellow cards were there?" Patri asks teasingly to break any tension that might be brewing. 
Ana chuckles from the other side of the isle, hearing their conversation. "Six for us, seven for them." 
"I think that might be a new league record." Mapi chuckles along with them, again, all of them a little delirious and still trying to process it all. 
They really have competition this year, it's a little worrying, but it's also thrilling. Who doesn't love a good, tight, hard fought game from time to time? 
When they get back to the training grounds, it's pitched black and very late. They lazily drag themselves out of their seats, bruised bodies and a few bruised egos filing down the steps and into the cold nighttime air.