Damaged (Rúben Dias)

Chapter 7

Rúben's POV

On days when I have too much on my head, doing an extra session at the gym does wonders for me. So here I am now. A whole half an hour of peace...until that peace is interrupted.

"Your phone has been ringing", tells me one of the guys from the gym. "It's an unknown number so probably spam but maybe it's an emergency".

He shrugs and passes me the phone. I don't recognize the number at all. And when it rings again, I pick up to find out what's going on.

"Hello?"

"Hi. This is Rúben, right?"

The voice sounds familiar but... "Yeah, who is this?"

"Dani".

Oh. I sit up as if she could see me and try to think of what to say. She's calling me? I didn't expect that to happen. I was worried she wouldn't even notice the note I left on her notebook.

"Did something happen?"

"No, it's all good. I...I needed to tell you something".

"Yes...".

"Don't get too excited".

Too late for that. "Why?"

"I need your help".

Dani asking for help. Asking me for help! I thought hell would freeze over before that happened.

"What kind of help?"

"It's something for uni. Too long to explain on the phone. Could we...just meet soon and uhh...talk about it?"

"Of course. I'll be home in 40. We could meet there".

"Sure. I'm at the library, so not far away. See you then".

She hangs up quickly and I immediately add her number to my contacts.

"I'll see you tomorrow".

"You didn't finish your session".

"Yeah. It's fine", I mumble while picking up my things.

"You never leave before finishing. Are you ok?"

"Never been better!"

He gives me a weird look and I just laugh and leave. I need to get home and shower before Dani shows up.

I can't help but wonder why she would need my help for her uni assignments. She's studying law, which isn't related to football at all. As far as I know anyway. She's the smart one, not me.

I'm about to find out because she's finally here. Nice to see her back to full health after how she scared me last time. Though I kind of miss the cute Harry Potter pajamas.

"Come in".

"Thank you".

"Let's sit at the dining table so you have space to put your books or whatever there".

She nods and sits down before looking up at me. She looks so...insecure? That's not my Dani. Wait. Do I think of her as my Dani now? I'm so pathetic.

"It's kind of a weird request but I wouldn't ask you if there was another option".

I snort. "I guessed as much".

"So...we basically have to study a contract but the more complex it is, the more likely I am to have more to write about and well, I want a good grade so", she shrugs.

"You need to see my contract at City, then?"

"Ideally. But the ones you have for sponsors could work too".