Never Let Go (Of Me) • Ferran Torres

Chapter 10: Celebrating the Team

🎶 Baila Morena (with Luny Tunes, Noriega) - Remix — Hector & Tito, Luny Tunes, Noriega 🎶

Sara and I arrived at the party location, which was a small club just rented out last minute for players, staff and their families to celebrate tonight. Dan had told us to just come as we are, everyone was still wearing their tracksuits from the game and it wasn't going to be a huge celebration anyways, as there were still some league games to go and the players would only have one day off tomorrow.

My best friend quickly scanned the room for her boyfriend and when she had apparently found him, she dragged me along behind her until we arrived at a group of guys. I recognised Pedri and Gavi from our infamous encounter at the training grounds a few months ago.
"MY LOVE!" Dan shouted when he saw his girlfriend and kissed her hungrily in front of everyone. Oh my gosh. The boys laughed, with them another very cute girl, she must be De Jong's girlfriend as she was standing next to him and grabbing his arm.

"Oi! Manchester girl! Long time no see!" Pedri greeted me and I just nodded, pressing my lips into an awkward smile.
"Stop lying, you see her every day at the training center" Gavi mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear.
"Sorry, what?" I asked him and he looked at me petrified, as if it was the first time a girl talked to him.
"Your poster hangs just... at the entrance... You know, the... bikini one" Pedri explained and I wanted to vanish into thin air now. All these guys seeing my almost naked body every day - oh gosh, I needed a drink.

I hurried to the bar and tried ordering a gin tonic, but the barkeeper only eyed me weirdly, not taking my order.
"You have to speak in Catalan" I heard a familiar voice next to me and turned my head to see Ferran, looking very... lifeless and beaten down. He didn't look like a winner would look, like his teammates were currently looking.
"I... I can't speak Catalan" I admitted and he raised his eyebrows.
"Then you'll have a hard time here" he just said and waved the barkeeper over to him. He told him something and the guy immediately nodded, taking a glance at me before hurrying to prepare whatever Ferran had told him.

"You're not from Catalonia" I stated, looking at Ferran.
"Valencian and Catalan are basically almost the same" he replied and I nodded, turning my head away, to the barkeeper, who had just placed a gin tonic in front of me.
"Gràcies" I snarled at him, it was more or less the only word I knew, and I just heard Ferran snickering next to me.
"This is awful, you really need to learn it. I could teach you" he offered and I raised my eyebrows.
"Where's Sira?" I asked with a challenging look, but his face fell instead of giving me a witty clapback.

"We broke up" he just said and downed his drink, gesturing at the barkeeper to bring him one more.
"Oh, I'm so sor-" I started, but he cut me off as there was a giddy feeling inside me.
"Hey! You're wearing my shirt!" he exclaimed as he looked at my back.
"Yeah, you're seeing me in a bit more clothing today" I chuckled and he laughed.
"I didn't want to give you a comment on that... I thought it would have been douchey if I did" he replied and gave me a soft smile.
"It kinda would have been, so thank you. Your friend Pedri was less diplomatic" I told him and he clenched his jaw.
"That little rat. I bet he came to the training center at night just to wank off in front of that poster" he growled and now it was my turn to laugh.
"Well, that's not something one could accuse you of" I chuckled and winked at him, but his expression remained serious.

There was some silence for a few seconds, until I decided to speak up again.
"Anyways, now that I wouldn't be getting in the way of... anything, or... better said, anyone... If you were serious with that Catalan offer, I'd like to take it. I actually like it here" I said and his lips curled a bit upwards into a smile.
"Sure, now that the season is over I'll have some more time" he replied.
"Cool" I said and nodded. "Oh, by the way, how's it going with that therapist I sent you?" I asked curiously.
"Um... I... kind of haven't talked to him yet... But I'll definitely do that these days, now that..." he started and I knew what he was going to say, but he didn't dare to say it out loud yet. Apparently this breakup had taken a toll on him.
"Yeah... That sounds good. You always have to put yourself first in the end" I sighed.

"Is that why you came to Barcelona?" he asked.
"I didn't have much of a choice" I sighed.
"You want to tell me?" he asked, sounding cautious and I nodded, tears pricking in my eyes. When I talked with him, I actually got the feeling that he was listening - of course Sara and Dan did too, but they had a lot on their plates too - with Ferran, it felt different, just like that night in Manchester.
"Yeah... But not here. Maybe sometime when we meet up for Catalan tutoring..." I chuckled.
"Sounds good" he replied and smiled at me.

"YO! What are you two talking about?" Eric Garcia shouted at us as he slung his arm around his friend, interrupting our moment.
"This and that" Ferran quickly mumbled.
"Nice! By the way, you look so good on that Calzedonia poster, Lina, it's just - mega" he commented and I felt awkward when he said that.
"Stop that. You're making her feel uncomfortable! Grow up or have you never seen a girl in a bikini before?!" Ferran said angrily to his best friend.
"Chill! I was just complimenting her! My gosh, don't go all crazy again. You need to sort out your emotions after all your girlfriend drama" Eric snarled at him, and now it was my turn to defend Ferran.

"Hey! Leave him alone! He's clearly still unwell after whatever went down and doesn't need your comments" I exclaimed and both guys were looking at me surprisedly.
"Linaaaaa! No talking to taken guys we said!!" Sara slurred as she bumped into me.
"He-" I started, but Ferran was quicker.
"Why is my relationship status suddenly more talked about than the fact that we're league winners?!" he shouted and a smile formed on his face as we all cheered on him and I hit my fist on the bar counter. Eric ordered shots for the four of us and we downed them all, shaking off the strong taste.

Some others approached the boys and I took a few steps back, knowing that tonight was about the team celebrating, so Sara and I just retired to a corner from where we could observe all the action while downing one drink after the other.
"Time to go, girlies" Dan suddenly announced as he stood in front of us. Sara and I both pouted, but when he reminded us of tomorrow being Monday, we both panicked and followed him.

"Shoot... you guys go ahead and grab a taxi, I have to pick up my jacket at the wardrobe" I told them and they nodded, walking outside while I gave the coat guy my small ticket.
"I didn't get the chance to tell you that my name looks good on you" I heard Ferran suddenly say behind me.
"Go away, you're drunk and heartbroken" I chuckled and playfully shoved him away.
"That's how you know I'm telling the truth" he replied and we looked at each other for a few seconds. It felt like we were in a time machine, being transported two years back.

"Anyways, we should do our first lesson this week. And you should totally come to the parade, I'm sure Dan will text you the details" he said as the wardrobe guy handed me my jacket. I was about to take it, but Ferran was quicker and held it up to help me put it on.
"Good night, Cata" he said quietly, but emphasising his nickname for me, now that he knew that it was basically only his.
"Good night, Ferri" I replied and his lips twitched into a smile before I walked away from him, however not forgetting to turn around mid-way gone and shooting him a small wave.