Never Leave Again

developments

The plaza at lunchtime is a bright and lively scene. Drenched in sunlight and drowned in conversation, the people of this part of the city settle to eat some food, drink, and gossip as much as they can before they go back to work.

Luckily for us, we don't have an afternoon training session today, and it is the perfect time for Clàudia and I to go on a date. Later on, there is a parade through the city. I doubt we will be talking much then.

We stroll towards our usual restaurant, the same one we went to the night I arrived, hand-in-hand, the rhythmic sound of our footsteps adding to the bustling noise. There is a lot for us to catch up on, really. I have not fully divulged everything from my dinner with Alexia's family three days ago – though I am intending to make good on my promise to Alexia and keep her feelings for Fleur a secret.

"I'm sorry," Clàudia apologises, stopping suddenly, releasing my hand though it does not feel quite right to do so. The place is only metres away, and there is a wall behind us that we have kissed against before. "I'm sorry that I knew and didn't say anything."

That night, when Eli said what she did, I figured it was not surprising for her, gauging that by her lack of shock. "I was slightly annoyed at you," I start, and her face falls. "I don't know how to feel about any of this. I don't know if you telling me or her telling me would have made a difference, but part of me can't help but wonder what would have happened if Eli hadn't said anything. Would you have told me? Or would you have kept it a secret?"

She frowns. "I only realised a few days before the match."

"Days?" I question. "My entire universe has been flipped on its head, and you knew it was going to happen for days?"

"I shouldn't have been the one to tell you."

"You agreed to help me find my father," I remind her, my tone tinged with disappointment and something akin to betrayal.

She sighs softly. "I know, Talia, I know. It was by accident that I found out. I wasn't actively seeking the information, nor was I looking behind your back." There is no way Clàudia could stumble upon the information, though. She would have had to have delved into something or other. You don't just... guess these kinds of things. "I would never do that."

"It seems like you did," I retort sharply, my gaze holding hers with a mixture of accusation and hurt. The words hang in the air, and the light breeze of Barcelona does nothing to carry away the unspoken frustration within them.

Her eyes widen with the realisation that I am serious, and, as if to calm the situation, she places her hands on my hips. The touch is annoyingly grounding, and I'd like to be able to shrug her off but I find it impossible. "I'm sorry," she repeats. "I'm sorry, amor." The apology lingers in the air for a moment before she leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek, a gesture attempting to bridge the gap widening between us.

I melt into the feeling, eyes closing as the warmth from her lips blossoms on my skin. "I'll forgive you," I whisper, not needing to be any louder because of our proximity. "Not now, but later."

"That's all I need," she replies. I nod. She steps back, and I let the breeze brush along my nose, waking me up from the bliss I slip into whenever she is near me. The distance brings a broader view of our surroundings. I squint as a familiar Pomeranian approaches us.

"Is that–?" But Clàudia has surged forwards again, pushing me against the wall, kissing me once more but with a much greater intensity. Unsurprisingly, I open my mouth and allow her insistent tongue in, my arms wrapping around her neck.

As her kiss deepens, the movement of the wind halts, and the world pauses. The feeling is electrifying. To be able to hold this much power, this much emotion, in my hands is something I have never had before. The sensation is thrilling, and the magnetic pull between us erases the tension building just moments ago. Her lips move against mine, and I can feel the sincerity of her apology through the kiss. For such a public place, this moment feels so private.