FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 32 :: I know where he is

The days bled into weeks, each one a painful reminder of Gavi's absence. The training ground felt empty without his infectious energy, his quick wit, his dazzling footwork.  The team, once a vibrant tapestry of talent, now felt like a faded canvas, each player carrying the weight of Gavi's absence.

Pedri and João, once inseparable, found themselves increasingly at odds.  The guilt gnawed at them, a constant undercurrent of tension in their interactions.  They had been so focused on their own ambitions, so caught up in their rivalry, that they had failed to see the signs of Gavi's growing unhappiness.  Now, they were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered friendship, each blaming the other for the rift that had driven Gavi away.

"It's your fault, Pedri," João accused one day, his voice tight with frustration. "You were always so competitive, always trying to outshine him.  You made him feel like he wasn't good enough."

Pedri bristled, his own guilt bubbling to the surface.  "Don't you dare blame me, João!  You were just as bad.  You were always jealous of his talent, always trying to undermine him.  You both pushed him away."

Their argument escalated, fueled by a cocktail of guilt, anger, and fear.  They were trapped in a vicious cycle of blame, unable to see beyond their own pain to acknowledge the damage they had done.

The tension between them reached a breaking point during a particularly grueling training session.  As they struggled to maintain their focus, their frustration spilled over.

"This is all your fault!" João yelled, his voice hoarse with anger.  "If you hadn't been so selfish, Gavi would still be here!"

Pedri lunged at him, his anger boiling over.  "You're the one who was selfish!  You were the one who couldn't handle his talent!"

Their teammates watched in stunned silence as the two friends, once so close, engaged in a brutal physical confrontation.  The coaches intervened, pulling them apart, but the damage was done.  The rift between Pedri and João had widened, a chasm of resentment and anger that threatened to consume them both.

They were both haunted by the ghost of Gavi, his absence a constant reminder of their failings.  They knew they had to make amends, but the path forward seemed shrouded in uncertainty.  The weight of their guilt, the fear of losing their friend forever, threatened to crush them.

The sun beat down on the training pitch as Lewandowski approached Pedri. He looked serious, his brow furrowed. "Pedri," he began, his voice low, "I know where Gavi is."

Pedri's eyes widened. "What? Where?"

"He's at Bellingham and Vinicius' house," Lewandowski said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "They think he's too young, too small to play for Barcelona. They've been keeping him away from training, hiding him."

Pedri's face paled. "But why?"

"They're not afraid," Lewandowski explained, "not of his talent. They don't want to protect him, not really. They think he's a threat to their own positions. They've been trying to keep him down, to make him doubt himself."

Pedri's face hardened. "They're jealous," he said, "They're scared of his talent, of what he could achieve."

"Exactly," Lewandowski said, "That's why I'm telling you. They've been keeping him at their house, a secret hideaway.  I can't tell you the exact address, but I know the area. We can find him."

Pedri's eyes blazed with determination. "We will," he said, "We will find him and bring him back."

"We need to be careful," Lewandowski warned, "They're not going to let him go easily. They're convinced they're doing what's best for the team, even if it means keeping Gavi away from us."

Pedri nodded. "I understand," he said, "We need to be smart, we need to be quick. We have to get Gavi back to where he belongs."

They looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. They knew what they had to do. They had to find Gavi and bring him back to the team. They had to show him that he belonged on the pitch, that he belonged with Barcelona.