Anyone but you (Fermín López)

Chapter 14

Going from seeing each other almost every day to not being able to do that for a whole week was an absolute nightmare for Fermín and Victoria. But they were also so worried about being seen together if they tried to meet behind everyone's back again.

"Hi Ali!", said Oscar when he opened the door and found his daughter's friend there. "I didn't know you were coming today. Do you want to stay for dinner?"

"No, thank you. I just need Vicky's help".

"With what?"

"A dress. Or maybe a suit. I don't know and that's the issue. I have a little job interview and I'm freaking out over what to wear and nothing looks good so you know...typical girl stuff and I need to go shopping. And Vicky has to come with me".

"Right".

Oscar knew Fermín talked to Alicia. She had called him while he was at training and some of his teammates teased him asking who Alicia was, thinking she could be a girl he was seeing. Obviously, it could be someone else called Alicia but...too much of a coincidence.

"Ali? What are you doing here?", asked Victoria when she saw her friend.

"Can you come shopping with me?"

"Sure...", Victoria looked at her dad, waiting for him to say something.

"Do you need any money, princess? You might see something you like too".

"I'm good. Ali, can you come to my room while I get changed?"

"Yep".

The girls went to Victoria's room and Oscar sighed. She barely talked to him. It seemed to be getting better, and letting her go with Alicia was definitely going to help, but...he didn't want his daughter to hate him. But he wanted to protect her too.

Alicia didn't say anything about her plans for the day until they got to the shopping centre. It was like she was also scared of someone hearing them. But then, instead of walking inside to go to the shops, she took Victoria's hand and walked her to the little park across the road.

"What are you...".

"Hi Vicky".

Hearing Fermín's voice made Victoria's legs feel like jelly. She couldn't believe he was there but finally started to move towards where he was almost hiding.

"I've missed you!", she whispered, holding onto him as tightly as she could.

"I've missed you more. Hey...", Fermín noticed Victoria had started crying. "I'm here now, Vicky. Don't cry, please".

"Sorry. How long do I get to be here with you? I don't want you to go".

"I know", he sighed. "We shouldn't be here long, though. Ali said maybe close to two hours. And then when she's done shopping so the lie is believable, you go have a coffee like usual. So your dad can see you there when he picks you up".

Victoria nodded, leaning forward to kiss Fermín. She missed his kisses so much. But not as much as she missed being in his arms. She felt so safe when he held her.

"Are my dad or my uncle giving you a hard time? Be honest, Fer. I need to know".

"Not really. Your dad mostly ignores me. I see him staring at me sometimes but can't really read his expression. Xavi...ehhh...he told me he was disappointed in me. That hurt".

"I'm sorry".

"But I think he can help us, Vicky. He seems more accepting of the idea of us together. Just didn't like that we lied to him. To them".

"Maybe", she said, placing her head on Fermín's shoulder and closing her eyes. "I thought loving you would be enough for us to be ok. But I guess I was wrong".

"You weren't wrong. Our love is enough. It will be enough. We just need to clean up this mess but...you and I are fine. Nothing changes that, ok?"

"I think my mum might be on our side too".

"Really?", asked Fermín, feeling hopeful.

"Yeah. I can hear my parents arguing and...she's blamed my dad a few times for me being sad. I don't want them to argue but she's right".

"It'll all be fine soon".

There were a few more words shared between them while Alicia was away but they mostly stayed silent. Kissing, smiling, holding onto each other, ...because Fermín was right. Their love was enough. It seemed to heal all their pain.

"Sorry to interrupt. But we gotta go, Vicky".

"Thank you, Ali", said Fermín, hugging his girlfriend's friend when she approached them. "You're doing too much for us. I don't know how we'll repay you for this".

"I'm a romantic", shrugged Alicia. "Just be happy and I'll be happy too".

"You're the best", told her Victoria, being the one who hugged Alicia now. Then she had to turn to face Fermín again. To say goodbye. "I love you. We'll see each other soon".

"I love you too".

Fermín had decided he was going to work even harder and prove to Xavi he deserved a place in the starting eleven. Scoring important goals whenever he was given an opportunity to play was a great way to do it. But there was another good thing about scoring and that was celebrating the goals.

After all his usual celebrations, Fermín looked at the camera and formed a heart with his hands. He knew Victoria was watching and hoped that would make her feel better. That it'd show her he was willing to fight for her. Words whispered where no one could hear them were good, but publicly showing his love for her had a whole different meaning.

Oscar noticed the celebration and put two and two together. The same way he did a week later when Fermín scored another goal and did that same celebration again. It felt like a challenge. But he was playing so well, they couldn't justify dropping him from the team.

And yet, even if things were going well on the pitch, everyone could see something was wrong off the pitch. And if everyone could, his best friend Gavi was obviously the first one to notice.

"What is going on with you?"

Maybe it was time to share the burden with someone else. Victoria had Alicia but who did Fermín have?

"It's...it's about Victoria".

"Who?"

"Victoria...Vicky...our manager's niece, Gavi. Keep up".

"How should I keep up when I don't know what's going on?", complained Gavi, not expecting the next words Fermín was about to mutter.

"We're together".

"What the fuck! Since when?"

"Well...depends on how you want to see it".

"Full story, Fermín. Now!"

It took Fermín a while to update his friend on everything that had happened the last few months but Gavi felt like so many things made sense. Finally.

"Sorry I called her spoiled".

"At least you didn't flirt with her like others...", laughed Fermín.

"I'm glad I didn't. That would have been an uncomfortable moment...but not as uncomfortable as Oscar finding you about to...you know".

"I know, yeah. God! I miss her so much, Pablo".

"What are you planning on doing? See each other while hiding in the park once a month? Wait for her dad to stop hating the idea of you two being together? You need to come up with a plan. It's destroying you two to be away from each other".

"I know...do you have any ideas?"

"No, but I'll let you know if I think of something".

The two friends laughed and Fermín felt a bit better for the first time in a long while. It was good to have someone he could talk to. It was good to have a friend by his side supporting him.

Now he only needed to get his girlfriend back.