Never Let Go (Of Me) • Ferran Torres

Chapter 41: Gas Station Pickup

🎶 Marchin On — OneRepublic 🎶

"Please, please, please, pick up" I whined into my phone, but heard the voicemail beep shortly after. Fuck. It was the day before Christmas Eve and I was standing at a gas station on the outskirts of Madrid with a suitcase in one hand and my phone with a battery percentage of 19% in the other - time was running out. On top of that, my wallet was stolen on the metro and I still had to block all my cards. But the most pressing issue I currently had was how the fuck I would return to Barcelona - the only roof over my head that I had left to not freeze to death at Christmas.

My options were running out: my brother was on an "I need to find myself"-trip in New Zealand, Sara's parents were on a cruise and herself and Dan had flown to Dubai for a last big holiday before their wedding. She was probably sitting by some pool, enjoying a cocktail with her phone without reach, which was why she probably wasn't answering.

"FUCK" I cursed out loud, and some customers refuelling their cars turned around to look at me weirdly. I was trying to hold back tears and stomped my foot angrily on the ground.
"Cata?" I heard a way too familiar voice behind me. No, please not.
"What the hell are you doing in Madrid?" I asked when I turned around to see Ferran standing in front of me with his Audi parked at a gas pump.
"I could ask you the same thing" he replied, raising his eyebrows at me.

"If you really want to know, I went knocking at my Dad's new place first, the door being opened by his picture perfect new step-daughter, telling me that there was no place at the Christmas table for me. Then I drove to my Mum's and found her shit high, making out with her boyfriend in only her underwear - so I packed my suitcase with some more of my stuff I still had there and wanted to go back to Barcelona. But I ordered an air fryer a few days ago because my stove isn't working and my apartment almost caught fire three times because of that. But I forgot about it and PayPal debited it on my card today leaving me with no money on my bank account to return to my place and ensure that I won't freeze off at this gas station for Christmas" I told him and ended with a fake smile.

"Oh God" he mumbled, his eyes widening. "And Carlos is leaving you here all alone?!" he asked, kind of bewildered.
"We... ended... us... a few days ago" I muttered and looked at the ground, biting my lip.
"Oh... I'm sorry" he mumbled.
"You're not" I chuckled and looked at him amusedly.
"Ok, I'm not." he replied and let out a small laugh. "Come on" he said and took my suitcase, walking back to his car. He put it in the trunk before opening the passenger door for me as I still stood there, not grasping what was going on.
"You need a written invite or what?" he asked and I rolled my eyes, sitting down in the car.

He walked over to the driver's seat and sat down before starting the engine and starting to drive.
"So, what were you doing in Madrid? Visiting a new flame?" I teased him, but actually, I was serious.
"Nope, I'm... trying to get better. For me, there's only you, but I'm not what you deserve. I was here for an Adidas shoot" he replied casually, as if what he said wasn't a big deal at all. It was for me though.

"I already told you what I think of you at Pedri's birthday" I scoffed and crossed my arms in front of my chest as we were driving onto the highway.
"That's why I kept my distance. I thought you were happy with him" he mumbled and I rolled my eyes. Pathetic.
"Wait a minute, the exit to Barcelona was there!" I almost yelled.
"I know, but I'm driving home to Valencia for Christmas" he shrugged.
"And what about me?!" I shrieked.
"You're welcome to celebrate with us" he replied and accelerated up to an illegal 180km/h.

"Oh, with your friend Joan, whom you recently seem to agree so much with?" I spat.
"I'm... sorry about that. I was hurt and angry. I know you, Cata..." he mumbled.
"Oh wow... An apology! Who would have thought!" I snapped and turned around to look outside the car window. He had apparently put on a Taylor Swift playlist, as one song after the other of hers was playing through the speakers - currently Haunted.

"Come on, come on, don't leave me like this - I thought I had you figured out - Can't breathe whenever you're gone" he sang along, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, acting as if nothing strange was going on here. I rolled my eyes for the billionth time since I stepped into this car and just waited for the song to be over. Next up was All Too Well, much better.
"And I was thinking on the drive down, any time now - He's gonna say it's love, you never called it what it was" I sang along now, turning my head to stare him down while Taylor continued singing.

"Well maybe we got lost in translation - Maybe I asked for too much - But maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up - Running scared, I was there - I remember it all too well" he continued and I pressed the button to play the next song.
"Oh stop being so dramatic" I huffed.
"Oh this one's great" he chuckled. "You're not my homeland anymore - So what am I defending now? - You were my town - Now I'm in exile seeing you out" he sang along with Bon Iver.
"This is going to be a long drive" I groaned and closed my eyes, hoping to be able to ignore him and the music.

————————————————

"Ferri!" Arantxa shouted through the kitchen window as we parked the car in the driveway of his house in Valencia and she came running out the door to greet her beloved brother while I remained seated in the car, not knowing what to do or say. The siblings hugged tightly, until Ari noticed me.
"Cata?" she asked incredulously and I pushed the car door open. "Oh my gosh! You're finally together! I'm so happy!" she shrieked and hugged me tightly with me freezing before I patted her back awkwardly.
"Actually, we're not" I clarified as I loosened the embrace. "Your brother is a pain in the ass" I said and gave her a fake smile.

She tilted her head and looked at me confusedly and Ferran sighed as he unloaded my suitcase and walked inside his house.
"Ferran!" his mum greeted him happily and his stepdad also came over to hug him.
"Yeah, so... Cata's staying for Christmas - no weird questions about us please. Can she sleep with you, Ari?" Ferran asked in a monotonous voice.
"Sure" she replied and nodded. "But if you want to sleep in his room, I won't snitch" she giggled quietly into my ear.
"Yeah, no chance" I muttered and walked upstairs with her.