11:47 PM
Lucas stares at his phone.
"Yeah. Who's asking?"
There's a pause. Then the voice responds, calm and professional with a slight French accent.
"My name is Julien Marchand. I'm the head of recruitment for Léon FC."
Lucas's heart stops.
"We've been monitoring you for some time, Lucas. Your work ethic, your technical ability, your mentality we believe you have the potential to develop into something special."
Lucas sits up in bed, his hands shaking.
"We'd like to offer you a contract. A professional contract with Léon FC."
Silence.
"Are you still there?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm here."
"Good. Now, I need to be clear about the structure of the deal. We want to sign you to Léon, but we believe a loan spell would benefit your development. We'd send you to Montclair SC for one season. They play in Ligue 2. You'd get regular first-team football, then return to us."
Lucas's mind is racing.
"Léon FC. France. A loan. First-team football, This is real?"
"Very real. We'll send the details through tomorrow. But Lucas we need an answer within 72 hours. Montclair's season starts soon, and we need to move quickly."
"I... I understand."
"Good. We'll be in touch."
The line goes dead.
Lucas sits in the darkness, staring at nothing.
Léon FC.
They want me.
Next Morning Kitchen Table
Lucas barely slept. He sits at the table, the email open on his phone.
FROM: Julien Marchand — Léon FCSUBJECT: Contract Proposal — Lucas Santos
He reads it over and over.
6-year contract with Léon FC.1-year loan to Montclair SC.Salary: €1,200/week (rising to €2,500 after loan period).
It's real.
The front door opens.
"Lucas? You up?"
It's Aunt Marie his mother's younger sister. She arrived from abroad two weeks ago to stay with them.
She walks into the kitchen, sees his face.
"What's wrong?"
Lucas looks up.
"I... I got an offer. From Léon FC."
Marie's eyes widen.
She sits down across from him.
"That's incredible, Lucas."
"They want to loan me to another team first. In France. For a year."
Marie studies his face.
"And you're scared."
He nods.
"What if I'm not good enough? What if I go there and fail?"
Marie reaches across the table, taking his hand.
"Your mother would've been so proud of you, you know that?"
Lucas's throat tightens.
"I wish she was here."
"Me too, love. Me too."
She squeezes his hand.
"But she's not. And you have to make this decision without her. So ask yourself what would make her proud? Playing it safe? Or chasing your dream?"
Lucas says nothing.
Marie stands.
"Talk to Rico. He'll help you figure this out."
Rico's Office — Afternoon
Lucas sits across from Rico, the contract printed out on the table between them.
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Rico reads it carefully, his face unreadable.
Finally, he looks up.
"This is a good offer, Lucas."
"I know."
"But it's France. You'd be alone. New country, new language, new everything."
"I know."
Rico leans back, rubbing his face.
"And if the loan doesn't go well... if you struggle... Léon might not take you back."
Lucas's stomach twists.
"I know."
Silence.
Rico stares at the contract, then at Lucas.
"What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you."
Rico sighs.
"Lucas... this is your decision. But I need to be honest with you if you go, I can't be in two places at once. Klaus is in England, You'd be in France. I'd have to choose where to be."
Lucas feels a knot form in his chest.
"You'd stay with Klaus."
"I didn't say that."
"But you would."
Rico's jaw tightens.
"Don't put words in my mouth. I'm trying to figure this out just like you are."
Lucas looks away.
"What if I fail? What if I go there and I'm not good enough?"
Rico's voice softens.
"Then you fail. But at least you tried."
Later That Evening — Phone Call
Rico calls Klaus.
"Hey, son. Got a minute?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Lucas got an offer. From Léon FC."
Silence.
"Léon? As in... the Léon?"
"Yeah. They want to sign him and loan him to Montclair for a year."
Klaus's voice hardens.
"And?"
Rico: "And... if he takes it, I'll need to go with him. Help him settle in."
"Of course you will."
"Klaus—"
"No, it's fine. It's always about Lucas, isn't it?"
"That's not fair."
"Isn't it? I'm here, Dad. I'm actually playing professional football. But the second Lucas gets an offer, you're ready to drop everything and fly to France."
"Klaus, you're 18. You're settled. Lucas is 17, moving to a foreign country alone—"
"And I wasn't alone when I moved to Harwich? You think that was easy?"
Rico's voice rises.
"I was there for you! I helped you through every step of that move!"
"Yeah, and now you're leaving."
Silence.
Klaus takes a breath.
"Look... I'll be fine. I don't need you here. Go with Lucas."
"Klaus—"
"I mean it. I've got training anyway."
"At least talk to him. He's your brother."
"No."
"Klaus—"
"I said no, Dad. I've got to go."
Click.
Rico sits there, staring at his phone.
That Night Lucas sits on the back step, staring at the stars.
The door opens.
Emma sits down beside him.
"Heard you got an offer."
"Yeah."
"Big one."
"Yeah."
She nudges him.
"So why do you look like someone just told you Christmas is canceled?"
Lucas laughs bitterly.
"Because I'm scared, Em. What if I go there and I'm terrible? What if I let everyone down?"
Emma looks at him.
"And what if you don't go? What if you stay here, safe, and spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if?'"
Lucas says nothing.
"You've been training alone every night for months. You've been grinding when no one was watching. You think Léon FC just randomly picked your name out of a hat? They see something in you, Lucas. Maybe it's time you saw it too."
Lucas looks at her.
"What if I fail?"
"Then you fail. But at least you'll fail knowing you gave it everything."
She stands, ruffling his hair.
"Stop being a coward. Take the offer."
And she walks back inside.
Lucas sits there.
Then Aunt Marie comes out, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders.
"You know what your mum used to say?"
Lucas looks up.
"'Regret hurts more than failure ever will.'"
She kisses the top of his head.
"Whatever you decide, we're proud of you."
Lucas sits there for a long moment.
Then he pulls out his phone.
And types an email.
"I accept."
One Week Later — Airport
Lucas and Rico stand at the departure gate.
Aunt Marie hugs Lucas tight, tears in her eyes.
"You're so much like her, you know. Brave. Stubborn. A fighter."
"Thanks, Aunt Marie."
"Call me every week. I mean it."
"I will."
Emma punches his arm.
Lucas grins.
He looks around.
Klaus isn't here.
Rico notices.
"He wanted to come. He just... couldn't."
Lucas nods.
"I know."
Léon FC Headquarters — France
Lucas sits in a sleek, modern conference room.
Julien Marchand is there, along with Léon's Director of Football and a translator.
The contract is laid out in front of him.
Julien speaks:
"This is a five-year deal. Year one, you go to Montclair on loan. You play, you develop, you prove yourself. If you perform well, you return to Léon and compete for a spot in the first team."
"And if I don't perform?"
Julien's expression doesn't change.
"Then we reassess. But Lucas we wouldn't have signed you if we didn't believe in you."
Lucas picks up the pen.
His hand shakes.
Then he signs.
Léon FC — Social Media
??? OFFICIAL: Léon FC signs 17-year-old Brzillian winger Lucas Santos on a five-year deal!
Welcome to the family, Lucas! ??? #LéonFC
The photo shows Lucas holding up the Léon shirt.
Number 49.
Next few days.
Montclair SC — Social Media
??? OFFICIAL: Lucas Santos joins Montclair SC on a season-long loan from Léon FC!
Welcome, Lucas! ??? #MontclairSC
The photo shows Lucas in the green and black kit.
Number 21.
Lucas stands in his new apartment in Montclair, staring at the kit hanging on the wall.
His phone buzzes.
A text from Emma:
"Told you. Now go be great."
He smiles.
Then another text.
From Klaus:
"Good luck."
Lucas stares at it.
Types back:
"Thanks."
Then adds:
"Miss you."
Three dots appear.
Then disappear.
No response.
Lucas locks his phone.
Looks at the kit.
Number 21.
Time to prove I belong.
END OF CHAPTER 5
