Chapter Eight

Hey guyyyyss we're back in business! Yes my laptop is fixed, thank God the hard drive was not harmed meaning I recovered everthing. So we should be fine now. This  chapter is dedicated to carmzZz90 I know your birthday already passed but this one's for you. Thanks for voting and commenting, I appreciate your support so so very much!!!

Michael shook his head, "Don't fall for it man."

Sapphie punched him in the arm, "Shut up."

Then she smiled at Kylian, "so what do you say?"

Kylian's eyes narrowed. Ignoring Sapphie's question, he spoke to the teenager instead.

"Why?"

"Cause even though she doesn't do football, she's going to smoke your ninja turtle a—" Sapphie nudged Michael with her shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "I mean behind. She's going to smoke your behind."

"Seriously, video games should be like... her super power or something." He added.

"She'll give you a run for your money dude." Piped up Caleb.

Kylian smirked at her, "In that case, I want her to prove it."

Michael shrugged, "Hey, it's your funeral."

Kylian scooted over to make space for her between himself and Caleb.

"If I win, I'll still go. But, you'll have to prove to me you weren't lying about 'The Attic'."

"Deal."

***

Fifteen minutes later Kylian was staring at the TV screen, his mouth gaping wide while the boys danced about them as if they were the ones who'd won.

"I told you not to fall for it." Michael slapped Kylian's shoulder.

"The difficulty level was—How did you do that?" He blinked.

Kylian stared at the TV screen again as if to make sure she truly had beaten them.

"It's a super power." She shrugged, feigning innocence, "I'd have to like... kill you if I told you." She winked at him and got up.

"So that's how it's going to be huh?" he got up with a sigh and placed the game console on the coffee table.

Later, after Kylian had said his goodbyes and thanked everyone, he let Sapphie lead him out of their apartment and into the quiet night. The streets were mostly empty but he still put on the cap he'd stuffed into his jacket pocket.

He could never be too sure no one would recognise him. So far had been having a great night and he wanted it to stay that way.

Though a cap wasn't really practical to use at night, it was the fastest and easiest way to keep himself from being recognised. He made sure his eyes and nose wear covered before they stepped out of the building.

"I still don't get it, what am did I miss?"

"You got beat by a girl in FIFA. There's a first time for everything, Kiki." She purposefully used his nickname.

"Come on. What's your trick? There's got to be a trick."

"I don't have a trick, you of all people should know that playing football in real-life is different from the video game."

"Not that different. Real-life strategies, game plans. They all still apply."

"Yes, but I just happen to know how the video game works better than you do."

He gave her a confused look. Sapphie laughed at his expression. They stopped on the sidewalk and waited for his driver.

"I'm sort of a video game fanatic. My dream was always to study game development and end up working for Electronic Arts. I mean...it still is."

She kicked away a twig and continued staring at the pavement.

"What changed?" he asked. For a while she remained quiet and he could see from the far off look in her eyes she was reliving some memory. She remained quiet for so long he thought either she hadn't heard him or she chose to simply ignore the topic. Either way, he'd decided to drop the subject when she finally answered him.

"Everything." She was looking him in the eye when she said that word. But she quickly looked away again, clearing her throat as she did so. Out of curiosity, he wanted to ask more about that but she quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway, I just want to thank you again for doing this Kylian, it meant the world to both Cale and Michael that he got to meet you."

Kylian looked at her for a second, then decided to play along.

For now, though.

"Honestly Sapphie, it was my pleasure. You have a great family, and I'm not just saying that."

She laughed, "Even though we ended up ambushing your entire night and schooling you in your favourite game? By the way, that win means I'll have bragging rights."

Kylian groaned.

"Yes, even then. Besides, I had no plans tonight so it was a win-win situation."

She looked at him for a while, smiling.

"I can't help but wonder what your brothers are like though."

"When we get together as a family it's always feels just... right. In a way like we're complete. We always have a great time and it's always loud."

"In fact, the more I think about it, they're not much different from yours—besides my family being bigger."

"Oh yeah? You guys fight about who's glass got point five millimetres less apple juice than the others?"

He burst out laughing.

"If anything, your brothers might be tamer than we were when we were growing up. It was World War III every other day at our house."

"Really?" she laughed.

"Yeah. Growing up I absolutely loved tiramisu and so this other night—I think I was a little older than Caleb, our mom made tiramisu for dessert. For the life of me, I can never remember what the occasion was. But what I do remember was that Jires had eaten too much that night so he decided to keep his for the next morning—only I got to it first."

"Oh no," she cupped her mouth, "I'm almost afraid to ask what happened next."

"He knew what was really important to me. So, he targeted that. I had this absolute favourite pair of all my sneakers—these Air Max 1s and in the middle of the night, while we were sleeping he hid them."

Kylian shook his head, laughing at the memory, "Man, I loved those things. I wore them to school every day, cleaned them every day, basically took care of them like the apple of my eye."

"Please don't tell me you got into a big fight."

A feeling of disappointment pinched her heart when she saw Gabriel long up with the car. The story was just getting good.

"What do you think?" he lifted a brow, "I hid his Beckham autographed cleats and it literally started World War III that day. Mom had to apologize to the neighbours. It was worth the punishment she dished us though, because he gave them back."

His laugh came out loud and rich as he got into his car.

"Seriously, Sapphie I enjoyed myself. Only one thing remains."

"What's that?" She asked.

"How will I ever know you didn't lie about this 'mysterious attic'?"

She smirked.

"I guess you'll have to win against me in FIFA to find out."

"Whoa," he lifted his brows, "such bold words from a person who won one game."

Sapphie laughed as she started walking backwards away from his car.

"Haters will always hate. Don't lose your sleep tonight over it, I know I won't."

"We'll see about that."

***

The first eighteen weeks of the season went mostly well for Paris Saint-Germain who won twelve out of sixteen of their UEFA Champions League matches. Kylian only saw Sapphie occasionally. Either they would talk for a bit whenever she came around to help with the equipment during training, or when she passed by while the guys were in the gym. Sometimes, when she left a little later than usual, he'd stop by her office for a little chat on his way out.

So much time moved that before they knew it, the first leg of the season was almost over and every one would be breaking for the Christmas holidays.

The team had travelled for another domestic match, an away game against Marseille. After that match, the following day, they'd be catching a late morning flight back to Paris. But until then, the guys gathered in Marcos and Marco's room, celebrating their win against Marseille over drinks and a tournament of sorts.

Next to Achraf, Kylian was relaxing with a cold glass of Sauternes. Everyone was watching Sergio and Presnel play against each other and Sergio had just scored to make the goal line one-zero with only thirty minutes left on the clock (game time). When the noise from the celebrations had died down, Kylian could sense his best mate occasionally stealing glances his way. He ignored him, choosing to let him speak his mind when he was ready. This only took Ach about ten seconds to do.

"I'm surprised." He said, then took a drink from his Red bull can.

"With what?" Kylian purposefully kept his gaze on the screen.

"I thought you would have invited Sapphira over. Since you know, you have a thing for her."

Okay, that got his attention. He whipped his head around to stare at his best friend.

"I do not have a thing for her. We're just friends."

Ach turned to his right, "Ney? If I say to you the words, PSG crush. What comes to your mind?"

Neymar thought for a moment before grinning, "Oh, the thing Kiki has for Sapphira?"

"See?"

"Guys, Sapphie and I are just—"

"... friends, yeah right." Ach rolled his eyes.

"Everyone sees the way you look at her dude. You even act different whenever she rolls up during practice." Ney said over Ach's shoulder.

"Right?!"

He wanted to deny it. The last thing he wanted was for the guys to start making fun of him or creating any kind of awkward moments between him and Sapphie. But now knowing that Achraf and Ney were on to him? He knew they'd never let it go.

Kylian sighed, "Okay fine, you win. So maybe I... like her. So what?"

"Invite her over man." Said Neymar.

Ach nodded, "Right. Think about it. This might be your last chance to see her before Christmas break starts, she could be travelling you know. You might as well take advantage of it."

"What if she doesn't want to come. I doubt she'll really enjoy being the only girl in the room." Asked Kylian.

Ach shrugged, "Sapphira's cool, she's used to the guys."

"Stop making excuses and just text her. You'll never know for sure until you try."

"Okay," Kylian said.

He retrieved his phone from the pocket of his basketball shorts and quickly typed the message, 'Me and the guys are hanging out in Marco's room for drinks and FIFA. Thought you'd be interested.' He added a wink emoji and switched off the screen before either of them could read it and voice their suggestions as to how he should have phrased it. He didn't want to over think anything.

About two seconds later, his phone buzzed with her reply. His heart skipped a bit as excitement started to fizzle in his veins.

'I see what you're doing, but I'll bite. Be there in five and you guys better have a prize for when I win.'

Kylian pocketed his phone as a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I'm guessing she said yes?"

"Shut up," He shook his head but couldn't hide his smile even when he tried.

Five minutes later there was a knock on the door. Kylian tried to play it cool when he offered to open it. He found Sapphie's radiant face smiling up at him.

"Hey."

"Hi." He grinned back. She was so pretty, he thought.