.uno.

It had been a successful first year for James Rodriguez with Real Madrid, which was why he couldn't understand that his second year with them had so many ups and downs. There had even been more downs than ups, the way that he--and the rest of the world--saw it. He had been able to play in what he considered the best team in the world, met many of his football idols, and was now once again called up to represent his country at an important tournament. In another month's time, he would be in the United States, defending the colors of his country with nothing but pride and honor. But with a couple of weeks to kill before then, his friends from the national team were able to convince him to go to Mexico with them. It was the nicest vacation spot within a small distance to the tournament's host country, where he knew he would be able to get his mind off all the negative things that had happened over the year.

After having just separated from his wife Daniela, who had been his first love and the mother of his daughter, he needed a good distraction. He and Daniela had only recently been able to accept what was the inevitable end to their relationship, and it wasn't easy. They had tried to keep the relationship alive as long as possible, if not for them, for their little Salome. Their daughter Salome was still just a baby and James couldn't stomach the fact that he wouldn't get to see her every day like he used to. That was the one thing he really regretted about his separation from Daniela, the fact that Salome would still have him, but it wouldn't be the same anymore. He was terribly afraid of missing all the most important moments in her life.

While Daniela was planning to return to Colombia permanently with their daughter, James and his friends from the national team planned to party on the beaches of Nayarit for two weeks before taking the party back up north to the United States before they would have to report to pre tournament practices. Those two weeks in Mexico were ones he planned to enjoy to the fullest because in the United States, he knew he would be under constant watch by the media because of all the attention the tournament was getting.

In a country as big as Mexico, he knew he could easily lose the paparazzi.

Then he would meet up with Daniela and Salome before the start of the tournament so that he could spend some time with his daughter. He was glad that he and Daniela had taken things calmly, with both sides agreeing that it was time for their marriage to end. It was because of that mutual agreement that his wife was travelling to the United States for the tournament. That, and the fact that her brother would be participating, of course.

Another thing that worried James was how David would react upon hearing the news. Daniela didn't have the courage to tell him yet. He was a very friendly person, and an overall great guy, but when it came to Daniela he was very overprotective of his sister. 

James remembered when he and Daniela started dating when they were teenagers back in Colombia, David had eyes everywhere and always seemed to find out where they were, what they were doing, and who they were with. 

Now that they were married David had toned it down a bit, but he was still very protective of Daniela, which Jamed didn't mind so much anymore. Family was family.

He met up with his friends at the airport and boarded the plane--first class, away from the crowds.

It was a flight from Madrid to Mexico, with one stop, for twenty five hours. James dreaded the flight more than anything else because after that he would have only time to focus on his vacation. The only thing that served to console him was the thought of getting away from it all, including his problems with his marriage, and his problems on the team. It had all seemed to be happening at the same time and though he didn't think it the best idea to run away from his problems, he thought that taking a break from them was definitely something he could do.

Daniela had dropped him off at the airport with Salome. Despite the fact that their marriage was on the rocks and very near--if not already at its end, they still cared for and respected each other. Daniela felt like she needed the space too, and Colombia would be her place to get away from everything.

After saying goodbye to Daniela and Salome--his entire world and reason for living--James went in search of his friends from the national team. He would be going with Juan, who had been invited by some of their team mates who were a part of the Liga MX: Edwin Cardona and Stefan Medina. Cardona would be making the trip with his family, while the three others would be able to attend the various parties on the sandy beaches of Nayarit.

James boarded the plane with Juan, who had travelled to Madrid from Italy just a few days prior so that he and James could travel together. They sat together and immediately started making conversation. Juan was the more excited of the two to be spending a part of his summer in Mexico. James was at first worried about leaving Salome for two weeks, in addition to the month that he would be at the tournament. But he trusted Daniela. Even though their relationship was over, he trusted that she was a wonderful woman and a great mother to their small daughter.

The twenty five hour trip was a killer one for the two footballers.

James felt as though it had been even longer than twenty five hours, and that was considering that he had slept through eight hours of it, and spent the other sixteen hours watching movies or scrolling through his social media accounts. He would get up every few hours to stretch or go to the bathroom. Though it had been a one stop flight, the stop had been in the American state of Texas, which wasn't all that far from Nayarit when considering that they had boarded the airplane in Madrid. 

When they arrived at the Amado Nervo International Airport, the Colombian footballers were relieved to say the least. Edwin and Stefan were at the airport waiting for them, and greeted their team mates with smiles and friendly hand shakes. 

"Welcome to Mexico, my friends." Edwin grinned at them. Though he was the youngest of the group, at only twenty three years of age, he was already married and with children. He had married young like James, but it seemed that his marriage was still doing well. He and his family were currently living in Monterrey, in the northern part of Mexico, where he played for a club called Rayados de Monterrey. Stefan was living near the middle of the country, playing for a team called Tuzos de Pachuca, who had just been crowned champions of the Mexican league after having defeated none other than Rayados at the final.

"Thank you for inviting us." James responded with a smile.

"How's Europe treating you?" Stefan wondered as they now walked in the direction of a waiting car in the parking lot. As they passed people, some snapped pictures, while others approached them for autographs. 

James replied jokingly. "Not nearly as well as Mexico might treat me." But there was a hint of truth to his words.

"Well that's true." Edwin agreed with a chuckle. Since he had arrived in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, the people had been very welcoming with him. He felt right at home, among people who were friendly and made him feel included not only in the team, but in daily life in the metropolitan city of Monterrey. Stefan was quick to nod in agreement. The people of Pachuca had been very welcoming to him as well.

There was just something about any country in Latin America that made him feel at home. They spoke his language, and had many of the same traditions. It was the closest thing to being home than actually being there.

The players got into the car and were taken to a beach side resort where Cardona's wife, two daughters, and their son were already waiting for them in the lobby. The Rayados player rushed to her side and pecked her on the lips before turning to introduce her to his team mates, "This is Stefan, Juan, and James. Los extranjeros," The foreigners, he called them, even though they were all foreigners in Mexico. "wanted somewhere new to vacation at before the start of the tournament, so Stefan and I suggested the beaches of Mexico."

His wife smiled, holding their small child in her arms. "This is our first time visiting Nayarit too, so please bear with us." She explained to the players.

"This is my wife Carolina, our daughters Ana Maria, and Maria Angel, and our son Emiliano." He informed, gesturing to the four that accompanied him.

The other players greeted them before they were led to the front desk to get their room keys. From there, they were taken to their hotel rooms where neither Juan nor James had anymore energy to do anything but sleep. 

James let himself fall into his bed, shoes and all, and let sleep take control of him for the time being.

He didn't wake up until the afternoon of the next day, when he grabbed his phone off the night stand and checked the time. It was around four thirty, and he had missed calls and text from Edwin and Stefan, asking if he and Juan were awake already. The Colombian footballer pushed himself off his bed and dialed his friends' number to call him back. 

It rung for about a minute when Edwin picked up. 

"Finally awake, hijueputa." He chuckled in amusement. "For a moment, my wife and I thought you were dead. We were about ready to call an ambulance."

"Alaverga, hermano. It was a twenty five hour flight, I have some serious fucking jet lag." James replied with a tired argument. He still felt like he needed a little more time to get his rest.

"Stefan and I know the owner of Rayados," Edwin began to explain. "His daughter Maria Paula is spending the summer partying down here in Nayarit, at this hotel which her family owns. She's throwing a huge party tonight, and she wants us all to come."

"Cool." James sighed. He didn't sound nearly as excited as he actually was for that party. "I'll be there. I'm pretty sure Juan will go too."

James could almost picture Edwin winking as he said, "Don't have too much fun though." 

"Are you even allowed to go?" James wondered jokingly over the phone. "You're married."

"I can still go out with friends as long as I behave, and I will." Edwin assured. 

"Is your wife in the room?" James teased with a laugh.

But he knew that Edwin and his wife had a strong relationship, and they trusted each other. It was obvious considering that she was okay with him going to a party with three single friends where there would be alcohol and women, while she would remain in the hotel room with the children. 

"We'll meet you in the lobby at eight." Edwin informed and the two said goodbye.

Now James had about four hours to get something to eat, because he hadn't eaten in a whole day, and he needed to get ready for the party he had been invited to.

-

so guys, just a few things i would like to point out: i dont know if juan cuadrado, james rodriguez, edwin cardona, and stefan medina are all friends. but i made them friends for the sake of this story, bc i needed james to have a reason to go vacation in mexico in the first place. edwin and stefan play in the liga mx and are in the colombian national team. so i connected that for the story.

second, edwin cardona is twenty three and apparently has three kids. but one of them looks WAY TOO OLD to be his. she looks at least twelve. so if she's his, he got it on with someone when he was like ten and that's super hard to believe. so im gonna assume she's adopted, or is the daughter of his wife. but his wife looks pretty young too.

so anyway, i hope you all like the story. i'll try to have another update up soon.

-clary xx