First love (Pedri & Eric García)

Chapter 8

Laia was very tired after work. It had been a very long week and she was looking forward to seeing Pedri and getting pampered by him. He would need some pampering too seeing Barça had lost. Laia had only checked the score and the goalscorers. She knew Eric played for Girona and...she didn't want to think too much about it.

When she heard the doorbell, she smiled. She had time to change into something cuter for Pedri and kept making sure the blouse looked good on her way to the door. But she wasn't welcomed by his compliments. He barely looked at her.

"You ok?", she asked, smiling and moving closer to kiss his lips but Pedri moved away from her. "Pedri...".

"Why has Eric sent me a photo of you two kissing? And then more photos of you two together?"

"I...".

"Why didn't you tell me you knew him? You knew he was my friend. Was he another player you hooked up with? Are you collecting us like Pokemon?"

"No, Pedri. Eric and I...we used to date. He was my first boyfriend. My only serious boyfriend but he ended it when he moved to Manchester".

"Were you just using me to get back to him?"

"No".

And it was true. When Laia saw Pedri, she didn't know who he was. It was too dark and he was far away. She could tell he was cute but that was about it. But then, she heard people talking.

"That's Pedri over there".

"Yes, the Barça guy. Says he doesn't like partying but here he is".

Laia knew Pedri like everyone in Spain did. He was the future of Barça and the national team. The Golden Boy. And he was also Eric's friend.

Even 5 years later, Laia still felt hurt by how things ended with Eric. She had to grow up so fast after that. To face reality before she was ready to do it. It helped her in a way but her heart remained broken for years. So when she saw her ex's friend, a part of her thought it could be a good way to punish Eric.

However, that thought didn't evolve because it took 5 seconds for Laia to realise she wouldn't do that. To Eric or to Pedri. Using him for her own little revenge would be sickening. She wasn't that little spoiled 17 year-old girl anymore.

"At first I thought about it but then stopped. That's why I left that first night we met".

"Great".

She could hear the sarcasm in his tone. He didn't get Laia tried to get away from him because when they kissed, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. But she couldn't date Eric's friend, could she?

"You know", continued Pedri. "One of the reasons why I liked you so much was because I thought you weren't going to use me like so many have in the past. But now I wish you would have just been another fame-hungry girl who took advantage of me. It would have hurt me less. At least they're honest".

She didn't miss how he said liked. Past tense. No...she couldn't lose him.

"Pedri, I need you to listen to me, please. When I first saw you I didn't know who you were. It was dark, I had a couple of drinks...you were just a cute guy. But then people started to say your name and...I knew you were friends with Eric and I guess I was still hurt by what he did and thought I could hurt him. But then realised I couldn't do it".

"Yet you did it".

"No! I didn't. But then I hung out with you and...".

"I don't want to see you again, Laia".

"Pedri, please...".

"No!", he screamed and she moved back. She had never seen him angry like that. "You've played with my feelings in a very cruel way. And you could have ruined my friendship with one of my best mates. You're a horrible person, Laia. That's what you are. Not the innocent I hate the fame girl you pretended to be. You didn't want people to see us together because then Eric would find out, right? And it didn't fit your plan yet. Well, I hope you enjoyed this sick game. But I'm out. Go hurt someone else. Preferably no one I know and care about".

"No, Pedri...please".

But her begging didn't work and he soon left the house. Laia ran back to her room to lie down in bed and cry. The last time she cried that much was when Eric broke up with her.

"I should have told him. I should have tried to get him to understand".

But now it was too late. And this also meant Eric knew. And, despite what she might have thought at some point, thinking she had hurt her ex didn't bring any satisfaction. Just more misery.

Laia knew she was playing a dangerous game but getting to know Pedri made it worth it. She wanted to tell him about her past every time they were together. Every time they got closer. But then, she saw him looking at her adoringly and didn't want that to end. Because she knew deep down Pedri would never stay with her after finding out she used to date Eric. After finding out she had lied to him for so long. It was like she was waiting for him to find out on his own. Or for Eric to find out somehow. And now it had happened. Laia didn't know how but the how didn't matter because the result was the same.

She had lost Pedri like she lost Eric 5 years ago. Her heart hadn't finished mending and now it was breaking again. Did she deserve all that pain? Maybe, she thought. Maybe I do.