It was after midnight when people started coming back. We had just finished watching the second movie when David opened the door and came in.

"Oh what do we have here?" He said sounding amused. "I thought you were with the others lady!" He told me.

"Nah, I left with Thiago." I told him. "The others aren't back yet?"

"They are coming. So what are you three stooges doing?"

"Just finished the second Harry Potter movie. To be continued tomorrow." Neymar said.

"You started a movie marathon without me?" He said as he sat himself between Thiago and me on the couch.

"You were on a date." I commented.

"You can't hold that against me!" He said accusingly but then he smiled.

"So how was it?"

"Great. Amazing. My Sarah is back." He said gazing at the ceiling dreamily.

"Someone had a little too much to drink." Neymar said.

"And we have practice in the morning." Thiago added. "Let's go curly. I'll take you to your room."

Thiago helped David up as Neymar held the door for them.

"Don't be naughty while the cat is gone." David said. "On second thought, you better be." He said winking as Neymar shut the door behind them.

I laughed. "Oh drunk David is one for the centuries."

"Yeah he's a good drunk. Especially now that things with Sarah are good again."

"Yeah can you believe it? This morning things were so different. A lot can happen in a day."

"Too much sometimes." He commented.

"The scavenger hunt seems like years ago. Things change so quickly."

 "Especially between us." He added.

"What do you mean?"

"Well... When I was Juninho things were different, weren't they? I was an ass for what I did, I know that, but in a way... It was freeing I guess."

"I've been in your world for some time now and seeing what you go through when it comes to privacy, I understand why you took the chance to be someone else when you could. I don't like it, I certainly didn't enjoy it but I understand it."

He nodded. "It was easier. It was..."

"It was better. Juninho wasn't carrying a country on his shoulders."

"I can deal with the pressure. I am used to it."

"Well you're playing for Barcelona! I am guessing you have to be!"

"But even before that. I was a part of this world since I was a kid and football is everything for me. So it wasn't a weight on my shoulders, I didn't see it like that. I still don't. But I do believe that when you have a talent you do have the duty to see it through. The duty to yourself. To make something of yourself."

"That's very noble and brave."

"But you don't agree?" He asked me.

"No I do. I just... I don't think I am that brave." I admitted.

"But I think you are. You just don't know it yet."

He rested his back on the sofa but opened his arm and without thought I moved closer to him and rested my head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around me and I closed my eyes.

My heart was beating fast and I tried to relax. I had the urge to feel the beat of his heart and I put my hand on his chest. After a while I felt like our hearts synchronized. I could stay there forever, I thought. I wish I'd stay there forever.

We did stay there for quite some time until the door opened again. I opened my eyes to see who entered but didn't move away from Neymar and neither did he.

The lights opened and Bernard and Marina entered. They were kissing and giggling.

"Hello!" Marina said when she saw us, her face surprised. I straightened up.

"Hey." Neymar answered.

"C'mon Mari, we don't want to intrude." Bernard told Marina grabbing her by the waist.

"You aren't." I said. "We fell asleep after watching a movie." I lied. I most definitely had been wide awake.

"Yeah we should go to bed, we have practice tomorrow." Neymar said to no one in particular. He removed his hand from my back and I felt like a part of me was gone. He stood up and I quickly followed.

"I'll see you in the morning." Marina said, meaning she'd spend the night at Bernard's again. "Oh Liv, Alex was looking for you."

"He was?"

"Yeah I told him you'd be asleep."

"Okay thanks. See you in the morning." I said closing the door behind me.

"Alex. Do you like him?" Neymar asked me.

"He is great." I said evasively.

"You didn't answer."

"What's it to you?" I asked casually.

"Nothing." He said quickly. "Goodnight Livvie." He said when we reached my room.

Standing on my tiptoes I gave him a quick hug but he wrapped his hands around me tight. We were so close, our bodies touching, our faces inches apart. I looked at his piercing eyes and his beautiful lips. I literally couldn't take my eyes off him. He leaned towards me and I felt his hot breath on my neck. His lips touched my cheek briefly and then he gracefully let go. "Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams." I said, almost out of breath.

I closed the door behind me and stayed still for a few seconds to slow my heart beat.

When I woke up in the morning I saw Marina changing clothes.

"Morning." I said.

"Morning." She replied. "Get up or you'll miss breakfast." She said.

I went for a quick shower and when I got back she was waiting for me.

"Liv we have to talk." She said.

"What is it? Is everything okay with Bernard?" I asked her.

"Yes. Things with Bernard are great. It's you I am worried about."

"Worried? About me?" I asked in disbelief. "Why?"

"I talked to Alex yesterday. He seems to be under the impression that you two are together."

"Okay..." I said processing this. Alex wasn't off base but I wasn't so sure I could call him my boyfriend.

"But then I saw you with Neymar. Last night."

"We are just friends."

"Please don't lie to me. You know I am on your side no matter what. And I was in the same spot with Peter and Bernard."

"I'm not lying to you. He has a girlfriend, you met her, remember?"

"Has anyone told Neymar that? Because I've seen him around her and I've seen him around you. Yesterday in the parking lot he was acting like a jealous boyfriend."

"He wasn't." I said quickly.

"And yesterday night... Don't deny it."

"Look Marina... There is something I haven't told you. It will help you make sense of this but..."

"What is it?" She asked sitting on my bed.

I took a deep breath. "Remember Juninho?" I asked her.

"The ghost boyfriend? Yeah."

"He was neither of those things. But as it turned out... Juninho was Neymar."

"What are you talking about?" She asked me, her eyes wide.

"When we came here I had no idea who Neymar was. And I met him one day and when he realized I didn't know him he introduced himself as Juninho."

"Wow. You're lying?"

"I wish I was. We went out together, on a date and with the others but I didn't find out the truth until..."

"The first practice." She cut me. "That's why you were so fucked up then. We were all so worried!"

I nodded.

"That son of a bitch! Have you forgiven him?"

"I did. Recently."

"And do you like him?"

"Yeah... I do. But he has his girlfriend and things between us are always so damn difficult. I mean only David and Thiago know about the whole thing and now you and Sarah. And when we are alone, like yesterday on the scavenger hunt things were so good between us but when we are in public..."

"You act like strangers?" She asked.

"Yeah. It's kind of painful really."

"And where does Alex fit in all this?" She asked me.

"Alex is... amazing really. He is thoughtful and kind and he always treats me good. And I like him... but I would be lying if I said..."

"Yeah, I get it. Just like me with Bernard and Peter."

"Minus a girlfriend." I commented.

"This is all so weird. I mean Neymar looks like he likes you."

"He wouldn't be dating Bruna if he did though, would he?"

"And what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I mean I don't want to take advantage of Alex. The last thing I want is to hurt him."

"But you don't love him."

"I could."

"Then maybe you should try with him."

I nodded.

"C'mon let's go."

When we went out to the football fields I took a seat in the bench since I wouldn't be joining the practice today due to my ankle.

"Here you go beautiful." Alex said. He was carrying my computer for me and he set it down next to me.

"Thanks." I said. "Did you have a good time yesterday?" I asked him.

"It was alright. It would have been better if you were there."

I smiled.

"Olivia? Hello!"

"Bruna? Hi." I said surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Since I am in Rio for another day I thought I might watch the practice." She said sitting next to me.

"Um, this is Alex. Alex this is Bruna." I said.

"Hey. I am Neymar's girlfriend." She said shaking his hand.

"Nice to meet you. I should go back." Alex said. He turned around to make sure no one was paying attention to us and gave me a peck on the lips before he left.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Bruna asked excited. Her mood had improved in a millisecond and I realized that even if Neymar said she didn't read the tabloids she was very relieved to see there was no truth to them.

"Yeah." I said. It would be better not to reveal the complicated history.

"Oh that's so nice. He is a cutie!" She said.

The boys had stopped running and the attackers came in field 4 along with coach Coto. When Neymar saw me and Bruna his eyes turned wide.

"I didn't know you were coming." He told her.

She gave him a smile that seemed a little too forced.

"Neymar!" Coto yelled and he left to join the rest of them quickly.

They started running the drills and Coto came and joined me as we run the simulations.

"We are getting great results from Neymar's sensor." I said as I showed him the screen.

He nodded.

"I don't know how to explain it, it seems like there is less planning, less thought about the movement, which sounds like a bad thing but it's actually a good thing." I said. "Like he does everything on instinct."

"Isn't that what talent is measured on?" Coto asked.

"He has great instincts." I agreed. From the corner of my eye I saw Bruna glaring at me.

When the drills ended it was time for a full game but we had a half hour break first. Since the game would be on field 4 everyone came to the bench for some water and rest.

When David spotted me and Bruna he shot me a puzzled look but came to join us.

"So I had this great idea." Bruna started and I already didn't like the sound of it.

"What's that?" Neymar asked her.

"We should go on a couples dinner tonight."

"Couples dinner?" David asked.

"Yes. You and Sarah, me and Neymar, and Olivia and Alex."

David and I exchanged horrified looks.

"Olivia and Alex?" Neymar asked.

"Yeah baby, you didn't know?" Bruna asked.

Neymar looked from her to me, an angry look on his face. I wasn't sure it was because of his girlfriend's idea or because she said Alex and I were a couple.

"So, what do you say?" Bruna asked, giving Neymar a look.

"Sure." He finally said.

"I will have to check with Sarah..."

"Okay then, it is settled! Tonight!"