Make It or Break It

Chapter Two: First Meetings

Walking into Cobham Training Centre, Fernando shook his head as he tried to focus on what the day would have in store for him with Richard holding his first official training session with the team.

The Spaniard had spent most of the night arguing with Olalla about him not taking her out to dinner, which had resulted in him sleeping on the couch again for a third time that week.

Fernando sighed as he stepped into the locker room where Richard was talking to John before he looked at the footballer; he frowned knowing that he wouldn’t be needing the Spaniard today.

“You’re in the wrong place Torres,” Richard said sternly making Fernando look at him confused, he looked at his team-mates who shrugged wondering what was going on; today was Richard’s first official day in charge and no one knew what to expect.

“Torres here gets to be the first one of you pansies to have a session with Riley,” Richard announced, some of the players rolled their eyes.

None of them liked the idea of spending an hour a week with the brunette to talk about their problems, they just wanted to focus on football.

“I will admit that I’m surprised that six of you have already made appointments to see Riley,” Richard said as he looked around the room, he had phoned his daughter the night before to see if any of the footballers had approached her in anyway.

He had told Riley not to let them walk all over her and that these sessions would be compulsory until things on the team started to get better.

Fernando sighed as he slipped his backpack back onto his shoulder before nodding at a couple of his friends as he walked back out of the locker room; he wasn’t in the mood to argue with Richard today after his fight with Olalla.

***

Riley smiled as she settled her son down with his colouring book, she wanted to at least have him settled before her first appointment arrived.

The brunette hadn’t been able to get her friend to watch Aiden since she had a doctor’s appointment meaning that Riley had been forced to bring him with her.

Riley was wearing a royal blue top with V-neck in crepe and black skinny jeans paired with black leather ankle boots for her first official day since she knew that she didn’t need to be dressed in a suit apart from when it was a match day.

Riley made sure that everything he could need was in his reach before she bit her lip; she knew her father wasn’t going to be pleasant with the boys but she hoped they wouldn’t take it out on her because she was his daughter.

A soft knock at the door, brought Riley out of her thoughts making her sigh as she realised that this would be her first appointment; she glanced at her son as he continued to colour.

Fernando stepped into the room and looked at her shyly, his brown eyes glanced around the newly decorated office as he tried to recall what had been there before.

“You must be Fernando… let’s step into the next room shall we?” she said leading him away from Aiden who didn’t pay much attention to them leaving; the brunette doubted her son had even noticed that the footballer had entered the room.

Riley closed the door behind her as they entered the therapy room before she signalled for Fernando to sit knowing that she wanted this to go well.

“So Fernando… tell me about yourself?” Riley said as she sat across from him with her note pad; she could see the Spaniard was tense and looked uncomfortable and she wanted him to feel like he could talk with her.

“Fernando… whatever is said in this room is between us, it won’t go any further,” Riley said hoping to ease his mind in some way so he would talk to her, the brunette watched as he set down his bag but he still didn’t look comfortable.

Fernando watched the woman before him, he knew that he had to at least say something but he really didn’t want to talk to a therapist.

“Where did you grow up?” Riley asked trying to make this easier for him, she watched as he eyed her for a moment before he decided to answer the question.

“Fuenlabrada, Madrid,” Fernando said simply, Riley nodded as she listened to him speak; but he didn’t continue since he wanted to finish the session as quickly as possible.

“Really, I have family there,” she said knowing that her paternal family were from that area while her maternal family were from Glasgow; Fernando nodded awkwardly making Riley sigh.

“These sessions tend to go faster if you talk to me Fernando… I’m here to help, you want to talk I’m here to listen,” Riley said. She watched as he took in her words, as silence filled the room.

“I’ve been married for three years to my child-hood sweetheart Olalla… we have two beautiful children, Nora and Leo,” he said hoping that would satisfy her.

Riley nodded, she picked up that there was something currently happening between him and Olalla but didn’t push it, she knew he’d tell her when he was ready.

“Tell me about your children… what are they like?” she asked him, Fernando looked at her oddly wondering why she would want to know something like that.

“I have a son myself,” Riley replied making him nod, though he still seemed uncertain; as if on que Aiden padded into the room and clambered to sit next to his mother.

Fernando stared at the child surprised that he hadn’t spotted him before, Riley sighed knowing that this could probably set her back with Fernando.

Aiden however seemed none the wiser and started to talk happily about his picture until he spotted Fernando, tilting his head curiously at the footballer he spoke.

“Hello I’m Aiden,” he said making the Spaniard smile; Riley looked at him wondering if Aiden was the key to getting Fernando to open up.

“I’m Fernando,” he replied, as the little boy looked at him for a moment; Aiden looked a like a prefect cross between Riley and whoever his father was.

“Why do you have so many pictures on you?” Aiden asked, making Riley widen her eyes as she moved to stop him from speaking but Fernando waved her off, he knew it was just Aiden’s curiosity.

“Because they remind me of all the good things in my life…” Fernando replied making Aiden nod, glanced at his mother he looked at her curiously.

“Is that why you have that drawing?” he asked making Riley choke wondering how he had seen her tattoo, she bite her lip and shook her head making Fernando chuckle.

“Why don’t you go draw a picture for Grandpa?” she asked, blushing lightly and hoping to distract Aiden enough so she could finish her session with Fernando; Aiden nodded before looking at the Spaniard.

“Bye Fernando,” he said as he climbed off the couch and left the room, Fernando chuckled at Riley’s blush because her son had revealed something that private to the Spaniard.

“So what tattoo do you have?” he asked making her roll her eyes.

“I got it in college… my father would lynch me if he knew,” she said making Fernando nod understandingly, but he hadn’t missed that she had avoid his question altogether.

“As you said before whatever is said in this room is between us, it won’t go any further,” he repeated back her words, Riley smiled gratefully; Richard disapproved of tattoos and piercings of any kind but earrings.