Forbidden - Pedro Pascal

Chapter 13: "what are you doing here?"

The faint hushing of traffic outside my open window soothed me, but it seemed I couldn't sleep. I swung my legs out of bed and wandered over to my balcony, leaning over the railings and lighting my cigarette. My eyes felt heavy, and my body weak, as I watched the red glow of the crawling traffic wind through the backstreets below me. My apartment was on the fourth floor, so there was a good view from this height.

The lights on the Eiffel Tower far in the distance fizzled out, so I knew it must be past midnight.

Warm strong arms surrounded me suddenly, and he pressed a kiss on my bare shoulder as he hugged me from behind. He ran his hands down to my thighs, stroking them up and down lightly.

"Come back to bed baby," Pedro whispered, and I nodded, flicking out my cigarette as he led me back, our fingers interlaced.

I fell into his warm chest and he pushed me onto my back, sitting on top of me and leaving a trail of kisses from my neck up to my lips. The curls on his forehead tickled mine as he traced my lips with his finger, and he disappeared into nothingness.

-

Opening my eyes, light streamed in through my curtains and a breeze flew through the window from the balcony. I rolled onto my side, hugging myself in my empty bed; I couldn't seem to stop thinking of Pedro, and now he had made his way into my dreams.

Had I done the wrong thing? I stopped reading the articles, it was too much, and I blocked all the reporters trying to get in touch with me for interviews, but now I wasn't seeing anything, it didn't feel as overwhelming. I longed for him, and screamed into my pillow in frustration, angrily getting up to shower and go along with my day.

After a trip to the gym and two classes taught, my phone buzzed. I held my breath; but it was Enya.

-Hey, wanna go for dinner tonight? I wanna get you out. Love ya

A wave of disappointment flooded over me in hopes it was Pedro, but I had heard nothing from him for 2 days.

-Yeah sure sounds great, I'll see u later, love u too

I texted back slowly, making my way out of the studio and heading home to get ready.

Enya met me in a small restaurant near the city centre, and we sat outside in the warm evening watching people bustling by over the cobblestones.

"So, how are you doing babe?" She looked at me reproachfully, swallowing a mouthful of her food. I bit my lip.

"I'm struggling I can't lie," I answered, stuffing some food into my mouth to diffuse my feelings.

"Maybe you rushed into the breakup? I mean, me and Oscar aren't official or anything but I just stay off the internet, my insta is private and try to ignore the harassment. It's been a few days and already it's starting to calm down; people will forget about it,"

"I don't care too much about the stuff they're saying about me, but about Pedro? Dating rumours with someone of my age seems so controversial to them, I can't bear to ruin his life for this." My eyes welled up a little and I blinked the tears away, sniffing awkwardly.

"Let's say I do.. regret it.. and I want him back, but he hasn't even called. In fact he didn't say anything. So maybe he thinks it's not worth it," I mumbled, taking a gulp of my wine.

She chewed on her nail, her brown eyes clouded, deep in thought.

"No, he's crazy about you I just know it. Maybe he's just giving it time,"

We moved into the bar after our meal, sipping on cocktails. I began to feel a little better, and glanced lovingly at Enya, who was ordering us some more drinks. Her hair was tied half up in a white ribbon, her curly bangs framing her face. She was so beautiful, and I didn't want to imagine what I would do without her.

"Excusez moi, les filles," a french man, tall with dark stubble and glittering green eyes stood aside us, rubbing his neck and grinning. His friends were over the other side of the bar, leaning to watch him and nudging each other.

Enya looked at me, eyes widened; her french was minimal.

"Sorry, we're not interested. I'm-" I answered in french but faltered; I went to say I was taken, but that wasn't the case anymore.

Luckily he got the message, rolling his eyes and muttering as he crawled back to his seat.

"Cmon, let's go home," Enya wrapped her arm around my waist and we wandered through the quieting streets.

After dropping her at her hotel, I made the rest of the way back on my own, trying to distract myself from my thoughts by humming a tune.

I put on my record player when I got home after getting changed and showered, trying to dance around a little to cheer myself up. Chica watched me from the sunken arm chair and I scooped her into my arms, burying my face in her fur. It had started to pour with rain outside, and it rattled against my windows.

The buzz of my doorbell spooked me, and Chica ran off into the kitchen. I wondered if it was Enya deciding to have an impromptu sleepover because she felt sorry for me.

When I opened my door, there stood the last person I ever expected to be there, panting and soaking wet from the weather, a bunch of wilting roses in his hand.

My jaw hung open.

"Pedro?"