First love (Pedri & Eric García)

Chapter 21

This time, waking up next to Eric wasn't weird. It was perfect. Laia kept looking up at him, trying to memorize every inch of his face again. It had been a while since she got to be this close to Eric for so long.

"Good morning".

"Morning", said Laia, cuddling closer to Eric and hiding her face on his neck. He smiled before kissing her head.

"I can't believe you're here".

"I know. It feels like a dream I don't want to wake up from".

Laia laughed when she noticed a little pinch on her thigh.

"Not sleeping, right?"

"No", she told him, staring into his eyes. "This is very real".

Laia put her clothes back on and went downstairs with Eric. His parents were already in the kitchen and couldn't believe what they were seeing either.

"Laia?"

"What are you doing here?"

"We're giving this another chance", said Eric, showing them their hands that were intertwined.

Eric's parents couldn't be happier. They had always loved Laia and were so sad when their break up happened. So they walked to where Laia was standing to hug her.

"Welcome back to the family", said Eric's dad before patting his son's arm. "Do you want a coffee for your breakfast, Laia?"

"Yes, thank you".

"Does Ali know?", asked his mum.

"She knows we were hanging out again", explains Laia. "But not that we are together".

"I better tell her now or she'll kill me".

They all laughed while Eric texted his sister to let her know the good news.

"How did this happen, then?"

"Well", started Eric. "Laia and I saw each other again and could tell we still had feelings for each other. So we were spending time together to see what happened and she showed up here last night to tell me she wanted this. And I want this too so...".

"Sorry I showed up unannounced", said Laia. "I didn't plan on sleeping here but it was late and I was tired...".

"No need for excuses, Laia. You aren't 17 anymore and you're always welcome here".

"Thank you".

"What are you planning on doing then? With Eric being in Girona and all that?"

"Ehh...", Laia looked at Eric and realised they hadn't thought about that. "Well, he'll be back from his loan soon so we won't be able to do much until we know where he'll play".

"It's hopefully back to Barcelona or staying in Girona", told them Eric. "So it should be ok. I won't be far".

"Yeah. Whatever happens, we'll find a way to make it work".

Laia looked at Eric and he could see the sincerity on her face. This wasn't another Manchester situation. This was them 5 years older and not going to allow anything to separate them again.

But the season wasn't over. So a few days later, Laia went back to Girona to see Eric play. If the team won, they'd qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the history of the club. So it was a pretty big day.

After a not-so-great start, the substitutions the manager made changed the match completely and Girona got the win they needed. The whole stadium started to jump and scream and Laia joined them. She still was a Barça fan but...how could she not be happy seeing all these people celebrating? And, most importantly, seeing Eric's happiness while congratulating his teammates when the match was over.

The players kept celebrating and trying to do interviews, even though it was so loud they could barely hear the journalists asking them questions. But then, they moved to where the families were sitting. The first ones to run to the pitch were the little kids but the rest of the family members joined them too. And that included the players' partners.

"You coming?", asked Eric, knowing Laia wasn't a big fan of the attention she would get if she was seen with a player.

But this was different. She hadn't been there for him when he won league titles. She had seen him winning and celebrating with his teammates, which included Pedri too, but she hadn't been there. And that felt wrong.

"Congrats!!", she screamed in Eric's ear while he lifted her, spinning both of them around a couple of times. "You played so well. I'm really proud of you".

"Yeah?"

Laia nodded before kissing Eric. She could notice the way Eric's eyes shined after hearing her words.

"I love you, Champions League boy".

"I love you more. But the best thing I got this season isn't the qualification. It's having you back to celebrate these big moments together. It means so much more".

"I know. And we'll celebrate a lot more in the future".

"Promise?"

"Promise".

**

Pedri had been wondering why Laia ignored him the last few days. He tried texting and calling but there was no response. It was so odd. Laia never ghosted him like that but maybe the pressure of the choice had gotten to her. He could tell she looked very anxious the last few times they met so...

"Have you seen it yet?"

It was Ferran who was asking Pedri. They were both at the dressing room in the training centre, getting ready to go out and do a quick training session. So what was it Pedri had to see? The training schedule or...

"See what?"

"Ok then...I was waiting for them to tell you first but now you'll find out anyway so...".

Pedri took the phone his friend was giving him and saw the photo of Eric and Laia together. They were on the pitch after the match kissing in the middle of the celebrations. Pedri could notice his eyes burning but tried to blink away the tears. Now it all made sense.

"I guess that's why she didn't answer any of my messages".

"Yeah. Well, now you know".

"They deserve each other", he said, almost hissing and giving the phone back.

Pedri wanted to feel rage. He wanted to hate Eric and Laia. But he didn't. He just felt sadness. He had lost the only woman he'd ever loved.