Unbreakable Bonds

Chapter 45

"Mami? We are back!" Alba yelled out as soon as we walked through the front door. We both slipped our shoes off and I left my suitcase by the door.

"In the kitchen mijas", Eli yelled back to us. As we walked through I noticed Lexi wasn't anywhere to be seen. Maybe she was in the kitchen too?

"Ah Anastasia you're home." She pulled me in for a tight hug, kissing my cheeks, "it feels like a long time since I saw you. You will stay for dinner yes?"

"I think I might just talk to lex and then go home? It's been a big few days and I haven't been sleeping the best. I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry my girl, you need to take care of yourself too. She's in her old room." Eli gave me another hug.

"Thank you." I started to walk away before Eli called out again.

"Ana? Do whatever you need to do for your career. We will look after her, and you." I nodded my head. Genuinely annoyed with the discourse that was happening.

Walking up the stairs to Alexia's old room reminded me of when she first bought her apartment and the fight we had then, but this felt different. Almost like it was the end.

"Alexia?" I knocked on the door and walked in. She was lying on the bed, face pressed into the pillows. Body under the blankets. "Hey Lex."

"Why are you here?" Her eyes were so red and puffy, her voice was hoarse from all the crying.

"I am here to take you home. To our home. Together. Because I am not leaving. So vamos, let's go please."

"No."

"No? What do you mean no?"

"I am staying here."

"I am too tired to argue with you. You should have be told me that and I would've gone back with Jenni and Ronnie. I'll see you whenever." I threw my hands up and groaned. Considering I had barely slept in the last two weeks and played yesterday, I am exhausted.

"Walk away that's what you do best!" Her voice was getting louder.

"For fuck sake Alexia! I'm not going to break up with you. Why won't you understand that!"

"Fine. If you won't break up with me, then I'll break up with you. We are done Ana. Now you can freely go to England and live the life you want." Well that hurt. The tears started.

"Hey! Stop yelling." Eli had come in, furious after hearing what Alexia said.

"You're being mean. I'll be at home once you've sorted your shit out." Once I turned around, I was face to face with Eli and Alba. Both looking at me with heartbreak and pity in their eyes.

It took me a minute to stabilise myself enough to put my shoes back on. I grabbed my wallet and keys then my suitcase and opened the front door.

"Ana, Cari, wait. I will drive you." Eli grabbed her own keys and shoes and unlocked the car. It was a half an hour drive from Eli house in Mollet del Valleś to the apartment. Did I want to go to the apartment? Not particularly but I also didn't want to face J or Ronnie right now.

"Thank you for bringing me here Eli. I am sorry for yelling, she's just not listening and it's frustrating me."

"I have no doubt that Alba is ripping shreds into her right now. I know that if you want to leave, you will talk to Alexia about it. I also know she doesn't tell me what's going on in that head of hers so if you have any insight, that would be great."

"I know she would never leave Barca, this is her home and she will never leave. I don't want her too. Alexia is Barca and Barca is alexia. I also think she puts this insane amount of pressure on herself. She has this imagine of herself that she needs to uphold. For the fans, the media, the club, but it's slowly destroying her. Sure she's playing  the best football or her career, but at what cost?"

"I know. You have done nothing wrong mija." Eli grabbed my hands, giving them a squeeze, "Alexia is the one in the wrong here and I will make sure she knows and she fixes it. You're my daughter as much as Alexia and Alba are. Don't forget that ok?" She wiped the tears from my cheeks, giving me a kiss on the head and letting me go.

The exhaustion from the past two weeks seemed to catch up to me very quickly. As soon as I got inside I emptied my suitcase and threw the dirty clothes into the washing machine, deciding it would be easier to just strip in front of the machine then in the bathroom, I did that. Starting the machine before making my way into the bathroom. A very hot shower is exactly what I needed right now.

By the time I finished my shower, it was only half three in the afternoon, all I wanted to do was cry myself to sleep and then eat as much ice cream as I could stomach.

I did not cry myself to sleep, but I did cry. For hours. Until I literally couldn't cry anymore tears because I was so dehydrated. When I checked my phone it said 11pm, meaning I had spent the last six and a half hours crying. I wasn't even crying because Alexia broke up with me, mainly because I knew she didn't mean it. I was crying because of how this whole situation happened and everyone's thoughts on it. It was a lot.

By 1am my eyes started to grow heavy. Throwing my almost dead phone towards the end of the bed, I fell asleep. The lack of sleep, travel, and exhaustion from crying caused me to sleep for the next 13 hours. I missed training, more importantly I didn't tell anyone i wasn't coming.

The pounding on the front door woke me in a panic, I went to pick up my phone groaning when I realised it was flat. The pounding continued.

"Jesus Christ! I'm coming!" I ripped the door open only to be face with Mapi. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you serious Sia! It's 2.30 in the afternoon! You missed training and didn't tell anyone!"

"Fuck. My phone went flat overnight and yesterday was a shit day so I went to bed early." Lie.

"Ale told us what happened Sia." Mapi placed her hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Then pushed her way in, and started pacing around the living room.

"Maria, you're going to put a hole in the floor. I am fine. Everything is fine."

"No! Everything is not fine! How could you say that!" Mapi wasn't usually one to yell so I was caught off guard. 

"You and Alexia have broken up. You were supposed to be together forever. If you two, who are perfect for each other, can't last then how are me and Ing-" she shook her head to stop herself.

"She may have said that we broke up, but I don't agree. She just needs some time to figure her head out. As for you and Ingrid, when she comes to Barcelona it'll be easier. You aren't even officially together yet."

"Alexia told you?" She groaned but stopped pacing.

"Alexia and I don't keep secrets. You know this." I threw myself on the couch, patting the spot next to me.

"What are you going to do?" She sat next to me, putting her arm around my shoulder.

"I don't know Maps."

"Maybe just tell her you're alive? Oh wait, I'll do it."

We stayed like that for an hour before she had to leave. She gave me a kiss on the temple and promised she'd help figure it all out.

I had no idea what to do or how to fix this. I'd be fine to stay at Barcelona. I could spend the rest of my career here if that meant I'd have a future with Alexia. She was more important than a stupid game.