Chapter Forty-Four

                                    

                                          


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The day that would be forever imprinted in Veronica Castellano's mind had finally arrived, as the Spanish national team stepped off of the coach and walked into Wellington Stadium. 
Fans shouted from over the barrier, screaming for their favourite players—something about the way that they chanted Veronica's name caused her lips to part, in both confusion and surprise. 
Why would they cheer for me? The brunette berated herself, feeling the weight of the bag on her shoulder become ten times heavier as the pressure returned, "Veronica!"
A small girl yelled out for the Real Madrid captain who turned in her direction. Veronica felt Alexia squeeze her hand subtly as she passed by, glad to see the brunette with a smile across her lips. 
"Hola..." Veronica shyly approached the little girl, who was undoubtedly more nervous than the older woman.
"Hi..." The girl grinned toothily, gesturing towards her Spanish jersey with the number ten on it, "You're my favourite... always." 
Something about the child's innocence caused Veronica's eyes to soften at the cute gesture, chuckling as she was given a black marker to sign the jersey.
"Thank you, it means a lot." The brunette then tousled the young girl's hair eliciting a childish giggle from her, "I'll play for you out there." 
As if it was a secret between the two of them, they nodded with big smiles and high-fived. 
That would be Veronica's calm before the storm. 
The brunette entered the dressing room and began to get changed, until there was a knock at the door and Jorge walked in once everyone was changed into their kit. 
There was one hour to go till kick off.  
Deciding not to make eye contact with the head coach, she busied herself by retying her football boot laces, attempting to block out his voice. 
Until all of the room fell silent as he began to spoke, confusion growing by the second.
"So... You're saying I'm not the captain?" Ivana questioned sadly, removing the armband and begrudgingly placing in Jorge's hand—wondering what she had done wrong, what she had done to deserve that. 
"I'm sorry to tell you and... all of you," Jorge faked an innocent expression which instantly caught Veronica's attention, her eyes narrowing as she knew it was simply a facade... she knew that he was just wearing a mask, "But you have a new captain." 
The women looked at one another, trying to gouge out who it would be. 
Alexia, who was sat beside Veronica, took hold of her girlfriend's hand—secretly supporting her as she anticipated what the head coach would unveil next. 
The Putellas woman was sad that she was no longer the captain, leading her country to the greatness that they deserved... But she understood Veronica and knew that if it would be anyone, it would be her. 
"So, who is it?" Jenni breathed out, rolling her eyes when Jorge turned away, annoyed by his presence—which all of the women related to, the longer that the man stood in their dressing room. 
"One of you visited my office last night and pleaded for the captain role. I told her that Ivana was the captain, but... she didn't care." Jorge's eyes focused on to the brunette, whose face hardened at the lies spewing out of the coach's mouth, "Say hello to your captain, Veronica."
Shocked by this information, all of her teammates turned towards Veronica whose face remained unchanged, and they believed Jorge due to the fact that their new captain didn't fight the confession. 
She looked guilty. 
Also flabbergasted by this information, Alexia released their interlocked hands and felt a pang of betrayal shiver throughout her body, sparing one last glance towards Veronica before standing up and walking to the other side of the dressing room. 
Why would she lie? Alexia asked herself internally, her mind flashing back to the night before when she had consoled the sobbing brunette after she had came back from Jorge's office, Was it all a lie?
"Veronica...? Did you really—?" Esther looked towards her captain from Real Madrid, not believing that this was the truth as it sounded nothing like the Castellano woman. 
Esther knew Veronica more than anyone, and had been playing by her side for many years. If she knew one thing about the brunette, it was that she was loyal... and even more devoted to her teammates. 
All of the women, including Alexia, awaited their captain's response and staring at her apprehensively, hoping that she would deny the claim.
"Jorge is right." 
With that, Veronica stood from the bench and walked out of the dressing room, heading towards the pitch to begin training by herself—knowing that her teammates would eventually follow behind her.
Walking out into a crowd full of Spanish and Costa Rican supporters alike was an eye-opening experience, those who got a view of the Spain captain cheered for the woman. 
And despite everything, Veronica smiled. 
She smiled for the love that was radiating off of their supporters—if she didn't have anything, she knew that her fans would still be there, at the end of the day.
But Veronica was distracted when her teammates exited the tunnel, not sparing their captain a glance and walking past the blushing woman—embarassed by the prior events. 
"Pass the ball in groups," Jorge yelled across the group, unknowing to the fact that Veronica shivered in fear as she realised all of her friends had sorted in to groups, excluding the brunette understandably. 
Until, there was a tap on her shoulder. 
"Ona?" Veronica was bewildered to see the smaller woman, who smiled shyly at the sight of the taller captain. 
"Do you want to pass with me?" The brunette questioned.
"I'm surprised you aren't ignoring me like..." Veronica then looked around and saw that all of the women diverted their attention in the opposite direction, "Everyone else."
At this, the captain released a sigh—knowing that she had messed up this time, if only it wasn't for—
"Ale tried to defend you in the dressing room, we were all shocked." Ona began to laugh as she passed the ball smoothly, ending at the brunette's foot. 
"She did?"
"No one can understand why you did what you did... But, Ale doesn't believe that you wouldn't do it without good reason, and so do I." The defender sympathised, resting her hand on Veronica's arm and rubbed her tan skin.
Unaware of the burning eyes that watched from afar. 
"You don't think I did it?" Veronica's lips parted while feeling her chest begin to warm, at Ona's honesty.
"You're my friend, V." The defender then rested both of her hands on the woman's shoulders, facing them directly towards each other, "Because of that, I hope that you didn't do it." 
Interrupted by the whistle signalling for the teams to return back to the tunnel and change into their match kits, Veronica gulped down the fear that was bubbling in her chest and rising up her throat. 
At some point, that feeling would have to tip over.   
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Seems like Vilda is lying to the girls, and Veronica agreed... But, why? 
Comment who you think was watching Ona and Vero ;)