Chapter 41 - 39 - If I’m Free

Chapter 41: Chapter 39 - If I’m Free

Rafael’s first combination with Loïc Vautrin broke down before the attack reached the penalty area.

Caron had received possession near midfield when both strikers checked toward him. With Rafael and Vautrin occupying the same space between midfield and defence, neither was available to threaten the centre-backs, and Caron played into Vautrin’s feet.

The senior striker returned the ball and turned toward goal, only to find Rafael moving into the same channel. By the time Rafael adjusted his run, Vasseur had stepped across and intercepted.

The assistant coach called for another ball, and the exercise continued.

Saturday’s victory over Differdange had earned Rafael another opportunity in the two-forward shape, although this time Renaud was working with a different group and Vautrin had taken his place.

The difference was apparent almost immediately.

Renaud was comfortable occupying the centre-backs while Rafael moved around him. Vautrin preferred to leave the defensive line himself, receiving between midfield and defence before arriving late inside the penalty area.

Rafael had played alongside forwards like that during his first career, but he had known their habits well enough to anticipate when they would come short or attack the space behind.

He was still learning Vautrin’s movements, while the senior striker already had established combinations with Caron and the other first-team midfielders.

The next attack developed down the right, where Perrin carried possession toward the corner of the penalty area. Rafael held his position against Vasseur, expecting Vautrin to move underneath him, but the senior striker attacked the same channel Rafael had been preparing to use.

Rafael changed direction and came short, although Caron’s passing lane had already closed.

Vautrin glanced over as they recovered.

"You were coming for that?"

"I thought you were going underneath."

"Not with Noah that high. I was going across the defender."

Rafael nodded. "I’ll hold the line if you make that run again."

"Yeah, just give me a shout if you’re going instead."

They returned to position as the next ball came into play.

Rafael stayed higher on the following attack, but Vautrin checked short and returned Caron’s pass before Rafael had anticipated where the next ball would arrive. He adjusted to receive it, only for his first touch to carry the ball too far ahead of him, allowing Vasseur to step across and clear.

"Again," the assistant called.

The next few attempts were better without producing anything decisive. Rafael varied when he came short and when he threatened behind, while Vautrin occasionally held his position to give him room. Their timing remained imperfect, and another promising move ended when they both attacked the same channel.

The assistant eventually called an end to the block and sent the players toward the recovery area.

Vautrin pulled off his bib and took a drink while Rafael collected a bottle from the crate beside the pitch.

"How’s it been playing with Mat?" Vautrin asked.

"Good. We had a decent game together on Saturday."

"I saw some of it. He’s happy enough staying up there while you come short."

"Most of the time, yeah."

Vautrin glanced back toward the pitch. "I won’t always stay there. Caron’s used to finding me underneath when Noah gets forward."

"I noticed. I’ll call it earlier next time."

"Good. We’ll have another go at it."

Rafael nodded and finished his drink before following the other players toward the changing building.

The coaches had already moved on to the next group, leaving the partnership assessment unresolved. Rafael had no objection to that, particularly when one session was hardly enough to establish whether he and Vautrin could develop the understanding he had begun building with Renaud.

After showering, Rafael collected his bag and checked his phone before leaving Frescaty.

Lucas had sent him a message.

You haven’t forgotten about tonight, have you?

Rafael opened the conversation.

The gathering had been arranged before their examinations, back when Lucas was still trying to convince his parents to let him travel during the summer. Rafael remembered saying he would come if football allowed it, although he had hardly looked at the group conversation since then.

He opened the programme the club had sent him and checked the following morning’s arrangements. Nothing required him to return to Frescaty that evening.

Haven’t forgotten. I’ll be there.

Lucas replied almost immediately.

Good. Hugo said he’d believe it when he saw you.

Rafael smiled before putting his phone away and heading home.

By the time Rafael reached the small square near the river that evening, Lucas was already sitting at a table with Hugo and Maxime.

Several other students from their year had gathered nearby, sharing food and playing music through a portable speaker. Rafael recognised a few of them before Lucas spotted him approaching and raised a hand.

"Rafa! Over here."

Maxime moved his bag from the empty chair beside him.

"All right, mate? Sit down. Hugo’s been trying to get us to play for about twenty minutes."

"Because somebody keeps interrupting," Hugo said, glancing toward Lucas as he shuffled the cards.

Lucas looked offended. "I was just telling you what my parents said."

"You’ve been telling us since we got here."

Rafael sat beside Maxime and placed his bag beneath the table.

"What did they say?"

Lucas started to answer, but Hugo pushed the deck toward Maxime.

"Can we play first? He’ll still have parents when we’re finished."

Lucas shook his head while Rafael laughed and accepted the cards Hugo dealt him.

They had brought sandwiches, drinks and several packets of snacks, leaving barely enough room for the game. Rafael moved his bottle onto the ground beside his chair before Maxime accused Lucas of looking at Hugo’s cards.

"I wasn’t looking at anything," Lucas said.

"You were leaning across the table."

"Because I couldn’t see what he played."

"Then ask him."

Hugo turned his cards facedown. "Can both of you shut up for a minute?"

Rafael laughed again, and they managed to finish the round without another argument.

The next half-hour passed between cards, food and conversations Rafael had barely participated in since his academy schedule became more demanding.

Hugo mentioned a teacher who had sent their class a message after examinations because somebody had returned a textbook with several pages missing.

Rafael remembered the teacher but had no idea what had happened to the book.

"Someone actually tore pages out?"

Maxime looked over. "You didn’t hear about that?"

"No. What happened?"

"It was in the class group."

"Which one?"

Hugo gave him a look. "Our class group, Rafa."

Lucas started laughing, and Rafael shook his head while Maxime explained that the student’s younger brother had taken the pages for a school project.

They moved on to another classmate’s examination results, a new haircut that Lucas insisted had been a terrible decision, and an argument about the music coming from the other table.

Rafael recognised the people in their stories, although he occasionally needed somebody to explain what had happened before everyone started laughing.

A little later, Maxime offered him the last sandwich.

"You want this?"

Rafael glanced at it. "You’re not eating it?"

"I’ve had two already."

"Thought you were saving one for later."

"I changed my mind."

Rafael took it and thanked him before Maxime asked how training had gone.

"All right. We had an attacking session this morning."

"Still with the first team?"

"Yeah."

Lucas reached for his drink. "They keeping you there when the season starts?"

"They’re keeping me for preseason. After that, they’ll decide."

"Must be harder playing with the older lads."

"Some parts are."

Maxime looked toward him. "Did you get kicked about again?"

"Not today."

"That’s something, then."

Rafael smiled and took another bite of his sandwich while Hugo began dealing the next hand.

The conversation returned to their classmates without anyone asking for a detailed account of Rafael’s training. His friends already knew he was involved with the senior group, and after satisfying their curiosity, they were more interested in discussing what they wanted to do during the summer.

Lucas eventually brought up the trip.

"My parents finally agreed, by the way."

Maxime looked over. "You’ve only told everyone about ten times."

"Rafa hasn’t heard."

Lucas turned toward him.

"The trip. My parents said yes."

Rafael put his cards down. "Oh, nice. When are you going?"

"Next week."

"Where did you settle on?"

Hugo answered while gathering the cards from the previous round.

They discussed the journey and accommodation for a while, with Lucas complaining that his parents had imposed more conditions than he had expected. His mother wanted a phone call when they arrived, while his father had insisted on having the address of the place where they would be staying.

"That’s fair enough," Rafael said.

Lucas looked at him. "You’re supposed to be on my side."

"Your dad wants to know where you’re sleeping."

"He has the address. He’s asked me for it about five times."

Maxime laughed. "Maybe he knows you."

Lucas continued complaining while Hugo dealt another hand, but Rafael was still thinking about the trip.

He remembered them discussing it before their examinations, although nothing had been confirmed then.

"How many of us are going?" he asked.

"Four," Lucas said.

Rafael glanced around the table. "Who’s the fourth?"

Hugo mentioned another classmate from their year.

Rafael knew him, although the boy had not been part of their original conversation about the trip.

"He’s coming with you?"

"Yeah," Hugo answered. "We booked everything last week."

Rafael lowered his cards.

"Wait, I thought you were still sorting out who’s going."

Lucas looked toward him. "We were. That’s why I kept asking you."

"When did you ask?"

"Before exams, and again afterward. You kept saying you didn’t know."

Hugo reached for his drink. "I sent you the details as well. We needed to book the rooms once Lucas got permission."