SEEK AND DESTROY —— CHAPTER ONE
Tummy Hurts

  Having to see or sit aside Anastasia Llorente wasn't exactly something Leilani desired. It's as if she was like a scab on her arm, even if she picks it off it always comes back. It absolutely peeved her, the annoyance gnawed at her from the inside out. It's bad enough that she's forced to play on the same basketball team, she stole her best friend, and now she's got to sit next to her at every game. Since her parents were on holiday and Edi (her other brother) was in bed with a fever, she was alone to support Ale. Well, almost, since the game was against Athletic Club Bilbao, and Nico was injured, he was keeping her company in the stands, which was good since she didn't know much of the player's wives.

Unfortunately, Nico was to her left and Anastasia to her right. Meaning she was stuck between her present and a remainder of her past. The tension was so high, it might even be felt in France. Maybe they even felt it down on the field. Leilani hoped that Gavi saw this, and felt an amount of gut-wrenching guilt. The nasty expression on Leilani's face spoke a million words.
She couldn't even focus on her brother's absolutely great game.

Nico leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Lani, you're worrying me, please don't start a brawl until halftime." 

"She's lucky there's kids around and we play on the same team, because I would've already dragged her ass to Morocco!" Leilani whisper-yelled, side eyeing the girl in question. "Fucking bitches."

The game continued with barça dominating, much to Nico's dismay, and Leilani's delight. The play went to a corner kick in favor of barcelona which put everyone on edge. Raphinha was the one to take the corner and then everything felt as if it began to move in slow motion. The ball was in the air; and right on the spot, Gavi headed it to the back of the net. How great.

Anastasia erupted into wild cheers beside her, Leilani slumped back into her seat. Nico patting her back comfortingly, as Natalia, Raphinha's wife, also cheered for his assist. When Lani thought things couldn't get worse, they always did.

"Oh for goodness sake, end this game already." She sighs annoyedly, clutching her temple. "Out of all people, him? The universe has a vendetta against me." 

Nico chuckles beside her. "You'll be alright, we're going to dinner after this. Italian, your favorite." He reminds her while teasingly poking her cheek and stating that last part in a sing-song voice.

"At last, something good." She smiles fondly. "And you're paying for mine, right?" She hits him with her best puppy dog eyes.

Nico scoffs and looks at her offended. "Yeah, right. In your dreams, Nani."  He stuffs popcorn into his mouth. "And those eyes don't work on me. I'm your best friend, not one of your silly admirers." 

Anastasia's taking selfies beside her, and it feels sort of taunting in a sense. She'll wind up posting this with a picture of Gavi and it'll end up on her feed to taunt her. Suddenly, the crowd begins to hype up, and Leilani suddenly can't seem to care enough about that anymore. Pedri was driving forward towards the box and he shoots but is cleared by a Bilbao defender, meaning another corner. Lewandwoski steps up this time. He takes the corner and this time, Balde is on the spot, and Leilani is slapping Nico's arm erratically.

Alejandro heads it in to make it 4-0. Leilani cheers wildly, screaming 'that's my brother!' While Nico is disappointed at his club's performance. And now it's Anastasia who glares at her bitterly and sulks, but Leilani could care less, her brother just scored a goal and now she feels prouder of the name embedded in the back of her jersey.

Lani sits back down with a sly smirk. "You know; this result screams 'Pay for Lani's dinner' if I say so myself." Lani nudges Nico teasingly.

"Fine, but just this one Nani. Don't make this a regular occurrence." He complains while giving in. "And don't start celebrating or i'll slap you."

The game had ended at 5:00 P.M. and Nico, Alejandro, Leilani, and Lamine had headed out for dinner. They had decided to invite some of the other guys and their wives. Including the two people Lani loathed the most. And now, the table of footballers and wags was more tense than ever. At the very least her best friends were alongside here and Pablo plus Anastasia were at the opposite end of the table. She was giving Ale the cold shoulder, because she knows this was his doing, as he sat with them.

Leilani stabbed her pasta aggressively with the silver fork. "When we go home, i'm gonna throw Ale down the stairs, and then i'm coming for the other two." She stuffed a heavy bite into her mouth.

Lamine snickers at his friend's likely empty threats. "As long as you do it after Nico pays for our dinner. And after we go take a walk."

Nico looks at him puzzled. "Slow down, I only agreed to pay for one of my children, and it's not you buddy."

"Well my parents said—" Lamine tries to retort but is interrupted by Nico launching a piece of lettuce at his face.

Leilani still sits with such a bitter face, picking at her pasta with rage. Even Pedri and Fermin are getting worried. It's evident that she doesn't want to be here and she can feel Pablo's stare burning into her from across the table. Leilani doesn't know this, but him and Anastasia have been going through a rough patch in their relationship. And the past few days, Gavi can't help but think how much he fucked up. He knows Leilani wouldn't forgive him, and it hurts him more than she knows.

Alejandro feels guilty about still being friends with Gavi, but they've been together since boyhood he really can't help it. Of course he loves his sister and understands her side, but cutting off Gavi would just be too awkward. They're friends and teammates. Lani wouldn't admit it, but not having a bond with Gavi anymore hurt. It made her stomach turn with sadness, but it was his fault, so fuck him.

"Nani, forget about them. I mean, you're eating pasta, i'm paying for it, and you're still upset? It's unsettling." Nico stares at Leilani mocking judgement.

Lani scoffs while muttering. "Be quiet Nicolas." She continues. "This was supposed to just be me, you, Ale and Lamine. It's hard to not be upset with those two around."

"I mean really, i'm okay with you guys inviting others, but not them."

Lamine looks at her seriously. "Lani, fuck them. Gavi could never with someone as good as you anyways."

"Are you saying this because you want me to pay for our next dinner." Leilani quirked her brow suspiciously while taking a now calmer dig into her pasta. "I know your tricks you fucking toddler."

Lamine puts his hand over his hurt feigning hurt. "I'm offended that you think so low of me." He straightens up serious again. "Lani, I mean it, you're too good for him, and if he can't see that he lost. Clearly, he doesn't have the best taste."

The whole group takes a moment to stare at Anastasia. Leilani doesn't like to judge girls, she believes everyone is beautiful in their way. But for Anastasia, it's that rotten personality inside of her that makes he's so ugly. Lani knows more than anyone how much of a condescending bitch she is on the inside.

Lani swallows the last of her final bite. "I guess you're right. He's the dumb one." Her gaze is fixated on Gavi, she misses him dearly, but again, he made it clear where his loyalties lied.

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Liked by lamineyamal, jkeey4, and 30,000 others
lanibalde Post-game victory shenanigans (thanks nico for paying for my dinner.)

View all 30,000 comments

nicolas_williams9 you're so welcome btw
↳ lanibalde love youu 🩵

lamineyamal we look so good we ate ykw up ☺️
↳ lanibalde LAMINE BE QUIET
↳ user33 nah we all know who they're throwing shade at 😭

alejandrobalde i don't get included in the post?
↳ lanibalde bitch you pissed me off today 🥱

pedri ngl im kind of scared of you after tonight
↳ lanibalde brother, I am super sorry 😔

user3 generational fumble by gavi
↳ user6 nah fr i could treat her better

user5 her and nico 🤨❓
↳ user44 I mean he's kinda 🤭

user55 anastasia better 🙄
↳ lanination better at what, stealing men😭❓

user70 you're tooo fine 😍
liked by lanibalde

GIA'S CORNER
calm lil first chapter ☺️ (there's def 700 typos) but here we go, anastasia and gavi are my biggest OPPS and I <3 nico williams. that's it, love you bad gyals 🩵