FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 9 :: I'll be here, waiting for you

The silence in the hotel room was deafening. Gavi, curled up on the bed with a book he couldn't focus on, felt the weight of Pedri's absence pressing down on him. They hadn't spoken since their argument, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. Gavi had tried to reach out, to apologize, but Pedri had simply retreated into himself, his usual playful banter replaced by a stony silence.

The days that followed were a blur of training, meals, and forced smiles. Gavi found himself constantly looking for Pedri, his eyes scanning the crowded hallways and training pitches. He felt a pang of guilt every time he saw Pedri talking to someone else, a small part of him wishing he could just reach out and pull him close.

One evening, Gavi found himself wandering into the hotel kitchen, drawn by the aroma of freshly baked bread. He was about to grab a slice when he saw Pedri standing by the coffee machine, his back to him.

Gavi hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't sure what to say, what to do. He just wanted to make things right.

"Pedri?" he asked, his voice a mere whisper.

Pedri turned, his face a mask of indifference. He stared at Gavi for a moment, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"What?" he asked, his voice flat and emotionless.

Gavi swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. "I... I just wanted to say..." he began, his words catching in his throat.

Pedri sighed, a wave of frustration washing over his face. "Just say it, Gavi."

Gavi took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I shouldn't have said those things. I was just... I don't know what I was thinking."

Pedri remained silent, his gaze unwavering. Gavi felt a wave of panic rise in his chest. He didn't know what to do, how to break through the wall Pedri had built around himself.

"I just... I miss you," he finally blurted out, his voice barely a whisper. "I miss talking to you, laughing with you. I miss everything."

Pedri's eyes softened, a flicker of emotion crossing his face. He took a step closer, his gaze intense.

"I miss you too," he said, his voice low and husky. "But I need you to understand... I need you to be honest with me. With yourself."

Gavi nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he had to be honest, with Pedri, with himself. He had to stop running from his feelings, from the truth that was staring him in the face.

"I'm trying," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm trying to figure it all out."

Pedri reached out, his hand gently cupping Gavi's cheek. His thumb traced the outline of Gavi's jaw, sending a shiver down his spine. Gavi leaned into the touch, the warmth of Pedri's hand a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

"I know," Pedri said, his voice soft and reassuring. "And I'll be here, waiting for you."

Gavi looked into Pedri's eyes, the familiar warmth returning to his gaze. He knew he had a long way to go, a lot of things to figure out. But in that moment, all he could think about was the feeling of Pedri's hand on his cheek, the promise of understanding in his eyes. He knew, somehow, that they would be alright.

They stood there for a moment, the silence between them no longer oppressive, but filled with unspoken understanding. Gavi felt a weight lift from his shoulders, the tension easing as the first cracks appeared in the wall that had separated them.