#pedrigonzalez

she was so real for that

Chapter 5

"She slipped on water", Gavi said dismissively.

"You can't expect me to believe that, be serious", Pedri pushed, a certain edge in his voice. Gavi noticed it.

"Why're you so pressed about it?", He asked.

Pedri walked to the bed, standing in front of me. "Bro, 16 cameras just captured your kiss, aren't you concerned about your reputation? You know how they can literally tear you to pieces right?". He looked at me, "And you? Don't you have anything to say for yourself?". "Why should she have to say anything?", Gavi intervened, "We kissed, a few people saw it. And so what? I'm not a kid, Pedri, I have the right to have a personal life. Outside of football".

Pedri sighed in exasperation, a vein popping out on his forehead, displaying his irritation. "It really was accidental. See, the water's still there", I explained, pointing at the spilled water. "He'd fallen off the bed, and well, seeing as how I'd hit him before, it was my fault, I was just trying to help him". My words seemed to be taking some effect, because Pedri's vein soon disappeared. "It's not like I'd want to kiss her anyway", Gavi mumbled. My head snapped back to him. His arrogant expression made me want to choke him for a minute.

"Don't mind him", Pedri said, rubbing my back. I shrugged. These things usually didn't affect me anyway. "I should get going, I need to get some coffee".

"I can come with you", Pedri offered. He was literally the sweet guy I'd ever met.

"Why?", Gavi questioned, narrowing his eyes. "Do you guys have something going on? My God, is that why you were so mad about that kiss, isn't that right Pedri?".

"You need to shut up before I knock you into a coma, I swear to God, don't push my buttons", Pedri replied, irritation dripping from his tone. "I need to get some things too", He explained, turning to me. I nodded, walking to the door.

"Hello? I'm a patient?! Isn't it your job to ask me what I want?", Gavi yelled. Pedri rolled his eyes. "Yes, my dear sick patient, what would you like from the vending machine?".

"A coke with respect would be well appreciated"

"Yeah whatever", Pedri smiled, before shutting the door behind him.

I smiled internally. Their brotherhood wasn't just for the cameras on field. "You two seem close", I remarked. "Kind of..yeah...I mean, with the way he is, in the pitch, I mean, he needs someone to chaperone him", Pedri laughed, "But yes, we are close".

 I nodded

"So, tell me about yourself, we didn't have the time for that earlier", He said, pressing the elevator button down to the ground floor. "Well... there's not much to know about me", I replied, as the elevator began moving. "Family..?", He persisted.

"I don't like to talk about them", I answered, my tone telling him to shut up.

"Sorry"

The rest of the elevator ride grew awkward after that, with him talking about random things at time to try and diffuse the situation. It seemed like an eternity before the doors finally opened and we stepped out, walking to the cafeteria. Quickly buying the things we needed, we began to walk out.

"Pedri?! Is that Pedri?!! Those people really didn't lie!!"

Pedri froze. I looked ahead. A group of girls were squealing and pointing at a random guy who had his back turned on them. "We need to run".

And so we ran.

I followed him like Mary's lamb, not seeing where we were heading, as the surroundings blurred, with me trying to follow him right. I couldn't keep up with my footballer companion and that was the day I realized how unfit I was. By the time we stopped, I was wheezing. When my head finally stopped spinning, I looked around. We were in a parking lot. "I think we should get going, this place isn't safe for tonight", He said taking out his phone. "Wh-ere?", I gasped. "You'll see".

An Uber arrived a few minutes later. "Hotel?", The driver asked, obviously knowing Pedri. "What? We can't just-"

'But we can, and we need to. After those pictures go viral, I assure you, you will get attacked by groupies, so unless you're planning to get your face scratched by a group of angry obsessive girs, I suggest you come with me". "But Gavi...?". Pedri's face fell. "And I've got my friend too, William will wonder about my whereabouts", I added. "Text your friend, I'll explain the situation to Gavi, he'll understand. In fact, you know what? Sit inside, I'll call him, okay?".

I agreed, getting into the car.

"It's not easy dating a famous lad, is it?", The driver chuckled.

 "What?"

" Don't be shy, I understand it all", He continued, "But he's a good guy, never seen him with a girl before".

"I think you've misunderstood", I replied.

"Don't think I'm dumb, girl, I've been driving people since taxis were introduced, I've seen all types of people and I know what they're doing and feeling, even if they try to hide it, I do".

"Well, you've got it wrong about me"

"About you, not him"

Before I could ask him what he meant by that, Pedri returned. "Let's get going", He said, putting on a mask.

"Is everything okay", I asked.

He was breathing heavy, like he was angry and his mask made it harder for me to make out what he was thinking of. "Pedri, you're sweating, are you okay?".

He nodded.

Chapter 4

"So, while I was knocked out on drugs, you were having the time of your life with some footballer?!"

I could sense the hostility in his tone and I couldn't exactly blame him.

"Look, it was Pedri Gonzalez, okay? I couldn't help myself!! Plus, it was he, who asked for my number", I replied, holding my head.

Will's never ending questions and sarcastic remarks hadn't stopped since I'd told him about my interaction with Pedri. His shoulders stiffened the moment I stepped into his room, smiling and all that, and I could see it was getting to his nerves.

"So what now? You're like, into him or something?", Will asked bluntly.

My eyebrows scrunched in irritation as I stared at him. He seemed unfazed. "So? What is it?", He kept prodding. "It's not like that, Will. You're making it out to be way bigger than it is and you know it", I huffed, "Why can't you just be happy for me? I just met someone I really admire and you need to ruin it for me with all....this".

"Admire? Evelyn, you-"

"I'm going to get some coffee", I said abruptly, getting up. I couldn't handle Will's bullshit anymore. It was unlike him. "Yeah, run from the situation, why don't you", He called after me, as I closed the door behind me. "What's got into him?", I thought.

"Fuck".

I stopped my tracks. It sounded like someone was in pain.

I looked around. Not a soul was in sight. "Is anyone there?", I called out, holding my phone close to my chest. "C-can you get in here", someone said, his voice raspy, as though he was struggling to breathe. My feet followed the voice as I stepped into Room 408.

"Gavi", I whispered.

He was on the floor, wheezing from exhaustion. He must've been trying to get up by himself for some time. "You?", He whispered, his breath laboring. "I-i heard you calling so I-um came in to check". Droplets of sweat were covering his face, which was distorted in agony. I quickly placed my phone in my jacket pocket, before stepping near him.

 I looked at him before touching him, I'd flung a phone at him the first time we met, which wasn't exactly the best way to meet and greet new people.  I could see a bit of hesitation in his eyes, before he finally let me prop him up against the nightstand. His breathing was still shallow and he was sweating yet shivering, most likely due to having laid on the floor for so long. "Do you want water?", I asked, reaching for the bottle of water on the nightstand. He nodded, his eyes cast down, his body still not moving much except for moving up and down from breathing.  "Say Aahh", I instructed, opening the bottle cap. "What?", He asked, looking at me, confused. "Aahh", I replied, demonstration how to open the mouth wide. He continued to look at me weirdly, and then I remembered he wasn't a kid I was babysitting, making me duck my head in embarrassment.

"Sorry", I murmured, holding out the bottle to him. He gave me another weird look. "Look, I don't know how to do this thing, Okay? I've never had to help a grown person drink water", I stated. "Just...put it in my mouth", he said at last, sounding as though he was growing tired of me, and I couldn't exactly blame him for it. 

"Slow down, you're choking me", he spluttered, water spraying out of his mouth. Spraying everywhere on me. I opened my eyes and stared at him, once the water finally stopped. There was an uncomfortable silence and I could tell it was as awkward for him as it was for me. In a way, it felt comical, almost.

"I'm sorry", I said finally, "Let's get you on the bed, you're shivering". My brain wasn't working properly and it didn't cross my mind that I should be angry at the guy for literally spraying me with his mouth water.

I closed the distance between us and held my hands around his waist, carefully lifting him up. He refused to hold me so it made it harder for me to lift his body, because well, he's a footballer. A well built one at that.

After the fourth time of me trying to lift him up and not being able to move him, after he used his hands LITERAL anchors, I gave up. Huffing in exhaustion, I sat beside him. He was still shivering, and as much as I wanted to leave his ass freezing on the marble floor, I decided to pull the blanket, which was half on the bed still and cover him with it, making sure to get it under his calves and thighs as well. He had closed his eyes, his breathing finally a bit stable.

I decided to try and lift him up one more time.

"Listen, I need you to put your hands around my neck, okay? I know we didn't have the best introduction and I'm sorry for hitting you, but look, I'm trying to help".

He eyed me suspiciously. 'Why?".

"What?"

"Why're you helping me?Like, you've got some secret agenda or something? Are you a journalist?"

'What- No! I felt bad seeing you on the floor, okay? Like any normal human, I wanted to help. You were wheezing I mean-". I stopped, noticing his face grow darker. I understood then, he was one of those people who didn't like being or feeling indebted to other people. 'I meant to say, you got injured because of me in the first place, so...I felt responsible". This lightened him a little.

I stood up, stretched a little before bending down. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I whispered, "Now, put your hands around my neck and I'll lift you, okay?". Taking in a sharp breath, I jerked him up, and surprisingly managed to get his butt on the bed. He seemed to finally be relaxed as well, because the moment he got seated on the bed, he crashed his torso on it. Carefully lifting his legs up as well, and positioning his body to be laid comfortably, I finally took a breath of relief.

Picking up the blanket, I shook it for dust before carefully spreading it over Gavi's figure. He was still sweating and shivering. "You want anything?", I asked, awkwardly stepping back slowly,  suddenly being all too aware of how there was nothing else to be done or said . "Tuck me in", He whispered, I could see it was as awkward for him as it was for me. I nodded before retracing my steps towards him,  only to slip on the water that he'd spouted out of his mouth earlier.

His lips felt hot, fuzzy and electrifying. I could feel his heart beating like a drum, and I was pretty sure he was feeling the mine the same. His dark eyes searched mine like I did his, neither of us understanding what was going on.

Until

"I tried to stop them but they just barged in as soon as they spotted me, I'm sorry, I-"

Gavi and me, both turned to look at Pedri standing at the door, with reporters and journalists  behind him. Camera flashes grew more aggressive as I froze like a deer in headlights. Gavi pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arm around my head, hiding it. His chest felt hot and was barely moving from the shallow breathing, and possibly the kiss.

Kiss. I'd just kissed Pablo Gavi.

 I buried my face in his chest in embarrassment. "Get..get them out", He said weakly. I understood it was to Pedri, after I heard him calling for the security and helping them get the unwanted group of people, out of the room.

Gavi finally let go of me. I sat up, my hair disheveled.

Chapter 6

"And welcome", Pedri said lightly, rubbing his shoes before entering the room, "Like it?".

I copied his actions before entering.

"It's....nice", I replied, hiding my real broke ass reaction.

"You can make yourself at home, I need to go make some calls, be back in a minute".

I explored the room, after my host left.

It was gigantic to say the least. I walked around the room in awe.

There was a dining table right next to the window which oversaw the ocean, a king sized bed a few feet away from it with fluffed up pillows sitting on it. I walked to it, softly touching the material. Across the bed, on the right was a closet with robes and clothes, a few which were Pedri's. It seemed like he'd been staying in the hotel for quite a while. On the left was a ceiling to floor window, with giant curtains on either side, which made it look like a magical entrance to some enchanted land. I touched the window pane, it's cool surface soothing me. Everything seemed surreal. How was I in a hospital , looking after Will, and then in some 5 star hotel with one of the most sought after footballers of the century, in the matter of a few hours? Everything felt surreal. I closed my eyes, sighing deeply.

"You like it here?", Pedri asked. I turned around, as he took out a couple of plastic containers from the mini fridge. "Yeah, especially with the ocean waves moaning"

"Moaning?", He chuckled.

"You know what I meant", I replied, my face burning.

"Let's not talk about that before we eat", He said, a  sweet smile breaking on his face. 

I'd always been strict about where I stood with the idea of me dating someone shot-gun, but every time this man smiled, the ice around my heart melted a little, and his frequent sweet smiling wasn't helping.

"I miss my Mom while eating", Pedri stated, before snapping his head at me, as though to make sure he didn't want to trigger something within me. "She must be an amazing cook", I answered, smiling a little. "She'd always make a huge fuss about me not eating properly when I was young, it's become a sort of reason she blames for the thin body I had when I first began with football". I could see he loved his Mother a lot, and my heart hurt yearning for my own, for the first time in years. "Last Friday, when I was leaving, she actually cried a bit", He chuckled, "She's very emotional at times, my Mom, but that's because I'm still her baby, no matter how old I get, she never stops babying me. Sit on the bed". I obliged.

"She loves me to bits and hates it when I have to travel back to Barcelona alone", He explained, bringing the food in two paper plates. For once, I was genuinely interested in someone's family,someone's mother, and I knew Pedri could see that. "She prays for me non stop before every match, at least that's what my brother tells me", He said, sitting beside me on the bed. His carefree self and simply and childlike language was intriguing and for the first time in forever, I felt myself being strongly drawn to a guy.

"And did you know-"

The ringing of his phone interrupted him, much to his annoyance, as he grabbed it from the night stand before answering. A couple of yeses and a "I'll tell her", later, he faced me.

"I forgot to tell you but you may have to stay with me for a while, the groupies and journalists have surrounded your flat building, apparently", He explained biting into the food.

"What?"

"It's pretty common, especially when it comes to possible romantic partners of young players, you know, but this should die down in a few days".

"You seem to be very used to it"

"I am. Well...sort of, I've seen teammates get stalked by crazy people, they don't respect boundaries and within our close social circle, we don't consider them fans. They're simply obsessed psychopaths".

I nodded thoughtfully, chewing my food. Being a celebrity was hard, I'd realized that when I had to hide my face from the cameras and when I had to run from a seemingly safe place for my safety. Fan girls were harder to deal with, than Fan boys, and I shuddered thinking about the hate and backlash I'd receive for just being spotted with Pedri.

What about Gavi?  My conscience purred.

I shook my head hard. I didn't want to think about it.

"You're not from here,I assume?", Pedri questioned. I looked up at him. "Yeah, originally, but I've stayed here for about 10 years". "Your parents?".

I could see he just wanted to get to know me, but it was hurting me to think about them. "They left the country as soon as I turned 16".

"Who're you staying with right now then?"

"Mandy, well..Amanda, she became my legal guardian after I chose to stay behind"

"She's your relative?"

"Nah, we're just friends, I met her a when I was 14"

"Then, if she's your guardian she's a bit old to be called a friend, don't you think?"

"She just turned 21 this year, so not that old" 

Amanda.

I got up and immediately scrambled for my phone, digging into my jacket pocket.

17 missed calls from Mandy. 33 unread texts.

I could feel her anger radiating off of the phone.

I excused myself quickly before getting into the bathroom.

"What the FUCK, Evelyn?!! Where are you!!", She screamed, as soon as she picked up the phone. "Sorry...I had some things come up", I murmured. "Don't lie, Pinocchio, the pictures are ALL OVER THE INTERNET".

"What pictures?"

"Don't play dumb, how could you kiss Pablo Gavi and not tell ME?!!"

I rubbed my forehead in exasperation. "Look, everything happened really fast and I need to-"

A loud thud stopped me ,mid sentence, followed by angry shouts.

"Hello? Evie?", Mandy spoke from the other side. "I'll call you later, I'm fine. Take care of William", I whispered before cutting the call.

I slowly opened the bathroom door as the voices grew louder.

"How could you do that to me?!!"

My heart beat fast as I grabbed a vase which stood on the table beside the door. I peeked around the corner. Pedri was laying on the ground, rolled in carpet, as a guy kicked him continuously. I jumped out, holding the vase above my head, prepared to smash a head, as the guy turned around.

His fiery eyes locked into mine as he grabbed my wrist, snatching the vase with his other hand before throwing it on the bed.

"Gavi", I whispered, my voice trailing off.