Not a secret anymore •Marco Reus / Lionel Messi•

Chapter 20

Thursday

I was standing behind the reception counter sipping my water. You know, I wonder how come that people are looking for a hotel to stay in on Thursday. Don't they have a job? Don't they have to work? I saw a guy coming closer and so I put the glass away. "Good afternoon. Can I help you?" I asked and he chuckled. Is there anything funny, you idiot? "Actually no. I'm here to deliver something." he said and I nodded. "You can give it to me and I'll send the bellboy to deliver it." I said and he shrugged. "I don't think you'll need the bellboy." he said and gave me a bouquet of 4 white and 3 red roses. "W-what's this?" I asked and he giggled. "According to my boss, you are Ana, aren't you?" he asked and I nodded. "Yes, I am. Who's it from?" I asked and he smirked. "That's something I can't say. Would you sign this?" he asked and gave me a paper where I placed my autograph. "Thanks. Bye." he said and left. Okay, who is this from? Lionel? Marco? Who?!

.....

"Hello." I heard somebody saying and so I looked up from the notebook. "Thanks God." I groaned and Amanda giggled. "Busy day?" she asked and I sighed. "More than busy." I said and she laughed. I was walking away when she called my name. "Is this yours?" she asked and held up the bouquet. I took it and continued my way to my room. I opened it and placed the bouquet with the vase on the table. I don't like it. I mean, it's beautiful, but I don't know who it's from.

I walked to the door to see who was knocking on it. "Hey." Lionel said and I stepped aside to allow him stepping it. "Hi." I said and closed the door behind him. "What a nice bouquet." Leo said and I bit my lip. Is it from him? "Uum...yeah." I said while rubbing my arm. "Nervous?" he asked and pointed on my arm. I stopped rubbing it and chuckled lightly. "No. I...do...do you know who it is from?" I asked and he furrowed his eyebrows. "Those flowers?" he asked and I nodded. "I..I thought that you bought it." he said and I giggled. "Y-yeah. I...I bought it. It was empty here." I said and started walking to my bedroom quickly to avoid any questions about it. "We are going to your place, right?" I asked and he nodded.

.....

Who is the bouquet from? It...it would be silly if it's from Marco. Why would he call to Barcelona to send me flowers? No...no no...It isn't from Marco. It can't be. "Ana." Lionel patted on my thigh. I looked at him and put on a smile. "Have you heard a word?" he asked and I shook my head. "No. Sorry." I said and he tilted his head. "Are you fine?" he asked and I nodded. "Yes. I'm fine. I was just thinking." I said and he smiled. "Thinkng about what?" he asked and I shrugged. "Everything." I said quickly. "Everything?" he asked and I nodded. "Yeah. Doesn't it happen to you? That you're thinking about everything?" I asked and he giggled. "Well, it does. But my mind's been too occupied by one thing lately." he said and I furrowed my eyebrows. "Football?" I asked and he laughed. "No. You." he said and my heart started racing. "W-what?" I asked and he sat closer. "You've been on my mind since the first moment I saw you." he said huskily and I gulped. Ana think of something! Anything! He started leaning in and the only thing I was able to do was watching him getting closer to me. He placed his lips on mine and some kind of reflex made me close my eyes. Forget about Marco. Forget! Leo pulled away and cupped my cheeks. "I like you so much." he said and I smiled lightly glad to hear that somebody can like me.

9 pm

I unlocked the door of my room and stepped in. After placing the keys on the table I realized that the light is on. "Sofia?" I called, but didn't get any answer. "Hello?" I called while stepping into the living room. Marco. "Annie." he said and stood up. He started walking closer, but I took a quick step back. "Don't." I breathed out and he stopped walking. "You...you look scared." he said and the first tear fell down my cheek. "Why are you here?" I cried. "Because you keep ignoring me." he said and I shook my head. "That's for a reason, Marco." I said and he took a step closer. "Leave." I said and he shook his head. "Not now. I'm leaving at midnight." he said and I took a step aside to be further from him. My heart is aching just as back in Dortmund. "Ana, let's..sit down. We need to talk." he said and I shook my head. I've realized something. I love him way too much. And I can be controlled easily by him. But not anymore. Not again.

"Leave." I said and wiped my tears away. "Annie, I...I want you to come back to Dortmund. With me." he said and my heart bounced. "W-why?" I asked and he held up his hand so that I could take it, but I shook my head. "Why?" I repeated firmly and he bit his lip. "Because I want you there. I need you." he said and the tears came out. "Because you want me there as a friend." I whispered and he sighed. "An, I...I need time around you to find out." he said and I raised my eyebrows. "Find out?" I asked and he nodded. "Find out if...if I love you too." he said and I ran to the hall. He grabbed me from behind and I pulled away quickly. Don't be controlled again. "Ana, listen to me." he said and I shook my head. Opening the door, I took all the power I had and put it into the sentence I was about to say. "If you aren't leaving, then I am." I said and he shook his head. "You used to say that you love me." he said and I sobbed. I still love you. "Yeah. I do." I said and he nodded. "Then give me the time." he said and I shook my head. "If I come back and you find out that you don't love me, all that will happen is that you will throw me away." I said and he shook his head. "That would never happen." he said and I chuckled sadly.

"No? Then what would you do?" I asked and saw that his chest is moving up&down quickly. "Marco, you don't love me. If you love me, you'd have already found out." I said and sobbed. "I don't wanna lose my friend." he said and rubbed his face when he realized that he's just admitted not wanting to lose a friend. "I didn't mean it." he said and I smiled sadly. "Marco leave. Please leave." I cried and he shook his head. He shut the door closed and pressed me against it. "Ana, give me time. Come with me and we will figure this out." he said and I shook my head. "Ana." he said and I shook my head. I tried to push him away, but he's way too strong. "You love me. Then show me by giving me the time around you." he said and I shook my head. "Ana." he said and grabbed my wrist. It hurts. "Marco, let go." I said and he shook his head. "You know that I dislike losing important people." he said and I nodded. "It hurts." I said and he caressed my cheek. "I feel something. I just...those feelings need to grow." he said and I shook my head. "Leave Marco. Please." I cried and heard that somebody tried to open the door. I moved quickly to allow Sofia step in. "Good evening." she said. I had taken my wallet before running away. I don't understand him. Why did he travel here? Just to tell me that his feelings need to grow?!

.....

I dialed Leo's number while taking deep breaths and freezing. "Ana?" he answered. "Yeah. Leo? I...I'm standing in front of your house." I said and sobbed. "Could you open?" I asked. "Y-yeah. Wait." he said and so I had waited for about a minute before he opened the door. "Ana, what's wrong?" he asked and I smiled at seeing him in his shorts. I stepped in his house and hugged him quickly. I just need somebody to rely on. I need to feel that somebody is here for me. "An, what is going on?" he asked, but instead of answering I only hugged him tighter. "Nothing bad." I mumbled and felt that he had started rubbing my back. "Why are you crying then?" he asked and I pulled away. "Don't ask me. Please." I said and he caressed my cheek. "Later. I'll ask you later." he said and I nodded. "Can I stay here tonight?" I asked and he nodded. "Yeah." he said and led me to the guest room while not letting go of my hand. "My room is there." he said and pointed on a door. "Do you need a T-shirt?" he asked and I bit my lip. "Yes, please." I said and he nodded.

"Good?" Leo asked when I stepped out of the bathroom dressed in his T-shirt. "Leo...thank you. For letting me stay." I said and sat down on the bed next to him. "Will you tell me why you were crying?" he asked and I shook my head. "Not now." I whispered and he nodded. "Okay. Later." he said and I nodded. He kissed my cheek and stood up. "Good night, An." he said and I smiled lightly. "Thank you." I said and he nodded. Marco why are you doing this to me?

×I'm so so so sorry that I didn't update yesterday as I promised. I was at the doctor's for most of the day, and so there was no energy left ytd. Hope you understand.
×Marco came to Barcelona! But once again he doesn't wanna lose his 'friend'
×Get ready for Chapter 24. Something biiig will happen. Excited?
×Thanks for your votes and comments you left :-)