deep blue eyes // Antoine Griezmann

Chapter 43 - Here

I don't think I could say anything bad about Lucas Hernandez. He is simply a nice guy- nothing more and nothing less.

Well, when we get to picking up Dembele, he definitely stands out as a very interesting person. It seems to me that all four of them- Lucas Hernandez, Mbappe, Antoine, and Dembele are all relatively close friends. By context clues, I learn that in elementary school, the four of them were friends stuck together like glue- they were always hanging out with one another. I find it really sweet that they still remain close friends, despite school changes and moves.

Dembele brings laughter to everyone in the car. He's a charismatic guy who kids around, joking a lot, with his pleasant smile, loose long sleeve shirt, and sporty matching shorts. The rest of the car ride is spent joking around and having fun. Why, even Mbappe takes his headphones off!

Then we make it to the place, after some hours that seem shorter than they really were.. There are already two cars parked outside the house.

The house. It is wonderful. Amazing. Huge. It overlooks a beautiful sparkling body of water that the sun is reflecting off of in the evening air. It is so nice and warm here- back home there was still the slight bite of the cold that just hadn't fully left yet. The house looks huge and modern and... I'm excited. So excited. There are other houses along the beach, but none are very close to ours. If you walk up, far off the beach, there is a tourist town. There is a nice nature walk up to it, so the noises of drunk people and loud cars aren't right with us down here. The sound of the water and the birds mostly drowns it out. The sand is completely soft, and all of the beach space in front of this house is privately ours for this week. On the other side of the house, there is an outdoor pool, too, although I don't know why anyone would want to use that when they could go swimming in the natural water just as easily, right outside the house.

When I get out of the car, I can't help but throw my arms around Antoine, laughing.

He steps back in confusion, almost dropping the bags he's holding before saying with a confused smile and laugh, "What is it?"

"Antoine, this place is gorgeous! Thank you so much! This upcoming week is going to be so fun!"

"Oh, Sage," he smiles, hugging me back with his bags. "You're welcome. It's my pleasure. But we haven't even done anything yet. We haven't even gone in yet. Save your thanks for later, right?"

I smile up at him. "Right," I giggle.

The five of us knock on the door when we realise the key isn't where the owners said it would be. So we assume that when Foden, Lloris, and Giroud came, they took it in. Their cars make us assume they are here.

Phil Foden opens the door. His eyes fall on me first. Then Antoine. Then Dembele. Then Hernandez. Then, finally, Mbappe. He's wearing a very, very tight black long sleeve Puma shirt, black Nike sweatpants, and white Nike shoes. He smiles, holding the door open to us, teasing, "You guys were late."

For some reason, as I look at him, I know it is mean, but I can't help but think about how out of place he seems with us. I don't know, though... Maybe, I could be seen as out of place with this group of guys, too. In someone's eyes.

As we walk in, hauling our bags, he pats each of our shoulders. He leaves his hand on my shoulder for a second too long, then takes my bag out of my hand, saying, "I can get that."

I clear my throat, not really knowing what to do at his actions, so I simply say, "Uh, thanks, Foden. That is... very kind."

"Of course," he smiles, showing off his white straight teeth. I don't know how I feel about him... He has never done anything bad, has he? No, I don't think so... But... Oh, I don't know. I really don't know. I don't know about Phil Foden.

I watch as Antoine very briefly glances at Foden's gentlemanly way, but looks away quickly, saying, "Well, Sage, take a look around. What do you think of the inside of the building?"

It is stunning. Huge. The more rooms I go to, the more amazed I become. Beautiful architecture. Impressive decor. Nice colors. Good aesthetics. Comfortable furniture. Enough room. Not too cluttered, but not too empty, either. When I come back to the kitchen, where all the guys are, I walk straight up to Antoine and give him a kiss on the lips, mid-sentence, not caring one bit about what he was talking about, just needing to do that.

He laughs, kissing me back, and then pulls away, not too big on, apparently, making out with his girlfriend right in front of six of his guy friends. That's okay. Completely understandable. He still grins at me, though, with those sparkling deep blue eyes, and says teasingly, in a softer tone, "You're very romantic all of the sudden. Why don't you sit down with us and have a bite to eat for dinner?"

I smile at him, using my eyes, like he always does. He still doesn't fail to enchant me. Make the blood rush to my head. Wake up the butterflies within me. I just want to place my hands on him and his on me, and kiss him. Hug him. Be with him. Enjoy the wonder of who he is.

"I'm romantic because I can't believe you'd do all this for us, and get us this house. It is your freaking birthday, Antoine. You really did not have to, you know." I sit down next to Antoine and Lloris, grabbing some of the food off of the plate in the middle of the table.

"The greatest gift, Sage, is to be able to spend time with you, and other people who mean a lot to me. The gift from you to me is coming on this. No matter how much it seems I'm doing for you, I feel the most gifted, simply by being able to be with you."

I grin broadly. "Antoine," I ask. "How come you're so perfect, huh?"