#ale

Today, Maya wasn’t on the first team’s Training. She was here with her Barça B teammates, many of whom had begun treating her differently. Especially Carla.

From the moment warm-ups began, Carla had been snippy. She rolled her eyes during stretches and snapped at teammates, clearly annoyed that Maya — the one who had “moved on” to train with the stars — was still captaining them.

And when Julia, one of the newest players on the squad, misplaced a pass during rondo, Carla exploded.

“For God’s sake, do you even know how to play football?” she barked, loud enough for the staff on the sidelines to wince.

Julia shrank, her face turning crimson.

Maya stopped dead in her tracks and strode across the pitch.

“Carla, that’s enough,” she said firmly. “There’s no need to humiliate anyone.”

Carla turned, sneering. “Why do you care? You’re barely one of us anymore.”

“I care because I’m your captain,” Maya snapped. “And Julia is part of this team, just like you. You don’t get to treat people like trash.”

“Oh look, here comes Queen Maya,” Carla said, arms crossed. “Training with the big girls, living with Putellas herself… Must be nice being special.”

Maya’s breath caught, but she didn’t back down.

“Being special doesn't mean stepping on people. You’ve been cruel all week, and if you want to act like a leader, start by acting like a decent human being.”

Carla stepped in closer. “Or what?”

Maya stepped forward too, unflinching, fists clenched.

The tension crackled in the air. Then another voice cut through it.

“Hey! Maya chica — enough.”

Vicky López walked over in full gear. Having just finished a first-team session, she’d come by to greet her old squad. Now, her face was serious, voice low but firm as she gently took Maya’s arm.

“¿En serio? I leave five minutes early and y’all start a novela sin avisarme.” Lamine was walking over with a water bottle in hand. He raised an eyebrow at the scene.

“What happened?” he asked Vicky, glancing at the frozen standoff.

“Carla being Carla,” Vicky muttered.

Carla rolled her eyes. “Stay out of it, Lamine.”

“No me meto… unless Maya’s about to throw hands,” he said, grinning. “Then I gotta know who I’m betting on.”

Carla laughed bitterly. “She  walks around she’s some saint. Newsflash — you’re not untouchable, Maya.”

“I never said I was, But better than you I know I am. But I sure as hell won’t let you drag others down just because you’re bitter.”

“what did you just say” Carla asked

“ you heard very well” maya  muttered

Carla stepped closer. “Say that again.”

“with pleasure”

 “Stop. Ven aquí ahora.” Vicky said pulling her away from carla 

“But she—”

“Now,” Vicky insisted

“Cool,” he said with a nod. Then, turning toward Carla: “You done yelling at kids or should I call Alexia?”

“¿Qué?” Carla blinked.

“I’ve got her number, just saying,” he shrugged, not even trying to hide the smirk. “She’d love to hear about this.”

Vicky leaned in to Maya, barely hiding her laugh. “I’m so using that next time.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Maya mumbled, but she was smiling now — just barely.

Maya allowed herself to be led away with vicky and lamine . Behind them, the pitch murmured with whispers. Carla turned and stormed off toward the water station.

Vicky guided Maya to the edge of the field and sat with her on the bench.

“You good?” Lamine asked Maya, eyebrows raised.

“Yeah,” she said, finally exhaling. “She needed to hear it,” Maya muttered, still fired up.

“She did. But not like that,” Vicky replied calmly. “Tú eres capitana, no justiciera, But there’s a line, Maya. You crossed it.”

“She was bullying Julia. If I hadn’t said something, no one would’ve.”

“I know. I remember how she used to be. But you’re not just any player. You’re someone the younger ones look up to — someone the first team notices. You lead with your voice, yes. But more importantly with your choices.”

Maya sat in silence for a long time, teeth pressed against her lip.

“I just hate seeing good people treated badly,” she said at last.

“I do too,” Vicky replied. “And that’s exactly why we need captains like you. But you’ve got to know when to speak, and how.”

Later that evening, word reached the senior staff. And from there… Alexia.

—

Maya came home after training to find Alexia in the living room, arms crossed, shoulders tense, her jaw locked in that familiar way. Olga was nearby, sensing something bad before words even started.

“So, quieres contarme lo que pasó?” Alexia asked, eyes locked on Maya.

Maya froze. “You heard?”

“I got a call. You nearly started a fight.”

“She humiliated Julia. I stood up.”

“You were about to throw punches! You screamed in her face in front of the whole team!”

“She provoked it!”

Alexia stepped forward. “And you fell for it. You let her drag you down.”

“She’s been disgusting for weeks. Nobody said anything. I did!”

“¡Sí, pero no así! You’re the captain. You’re supposed to rise above, not sink with the ship.”

“I’m not you,” Maya snapped. “I don’t handle things like a polished queen on a stage.”

Alexia’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

“You think I care what people whisper? That I’m riding your shadow?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what you think. That I act out because I’m emotional. Because I’m not disciplined like you.”

Alexia’s voice rose. “You were out of control, Maya. And you don’t even regret it.”

“I regret nothing. I defended someone.”

“Defender doesn’t mean detonating. You're supposed to be smart.”

Maya’s voice cracked. “So now I’m a disappointment?”

Alexia paused, something flickering in her eyes.

“I think you’re still learning. And I think you need to listen.”

“Right,” Maya said coldly. “Because all I do is yell and act without thinking.”

“Maya…”

But Maya was already walking out of the room.

—

The next morning, the silence between the two was unbearable. Olga sat between them, blinking like she’d walked into an alternate universe.

“Okay,” she said finally, “what is going on?”

Neither answered.

“Is this football drama or actual life drama? Because I live here and I’d like subtitles, please.”

both players looked at each other and started arguing  again 

"She was irresponsible and didn't know how to be a captain" the blonde woman said 

"and she's always yelling at me and trying to correct me" the girl said still in disbelief after hearing Alexia's words

“Okay. Stop. ¿Qué pasa aquí? This is not normal.”

Alexia shook her head, turning slightly away.

“She doesn't listen.”

Maya scoffed. “She doesn't understand.”

Olga raised her voice. “¡Basta ya! You two argue like you’re enemies.”

“We’re not enemies,” Alexia murmured. “Just… not aligned right now.”

Maya whispered, “Maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

Silence dropped like thunder.

“Cállate,” Olga said instantly, stepping closer. “You’re family. You don’t get to pretend you’re not just because you’re pissed.”

Neither of them spoke.

Alexia sat down on the couch, shoulders sinking, finally murmuring, “I just wanted to help her grow.”

Maya stood near the door, eyes glossy. “I just wanted someone to say I did the right thing.”

Maya chuckled under her breath.

Olga continued, turning to Alexia, “You love her like she’s yours, and you’re disappointed she acted like… a teenager? Guess what — she’s a teenager.”

Alexia raised an eyebrow. “I never said—”

“You never say it, but we all know. You worry over her more than I worry over my houseplants.”

“And Maya,” Olga said, spinning to face her, “you blew up because you care. But Alexia’s not your enemy. You two are made of the same fire.”

Maya sighed. “I just… I hate it when people act like leadership is silence. Or being passive.”

“You can be strong and kind at the same time,” Olga said. “Either you two take this outside, or I put tape on the floor and you settle it in the kitchen.”

Alexia cracked a smile. Maya rolled her eyes.

“Three goals. That’s it,” Maya said.

“First to three,” Alexia replied. “No fouls. No excuses.”

They walked to the garden with quiet steps. One pass, then another. Slowly, the rhythm returned — foot to ball, breath to air, tension releasing with each touch.

After Maya scored the winning goal, she dropped to the grass with a triumphant grin.

Alexia sat beside her, arms over knees, quiet.

“I wanted to be like you,” Maya said softly. “But maybe I’m just… me.”

“You’re you,” Alexia replied, voice warm. “And that’s exactly what makes you stronger than you think.”

“You were right,” Maya admitted after missing a shot.

Alexia raised an eyebrow. “About?”

“About choosing battles. I didn’t think. I just felt.”

“You felt for the right reasons,” Alexia said. “I just want you to grow into the captain I know you can be.”

Maya leaned back into the grass, heart at ease.

"I love you lexi "

" i also love you peque "

And from the kitchen, Olga called out, “¡Vale! Now can someone do the dishes, por favor?”

They both laughed.