Somewhere Only We Know • Ruben Dias

Chapter 7: One Step at a Time

🎶 You Found Me — The Fray 🎶

Sophia 🩷
Dad, can you please cover for me tonight and tell Ed I cane home in case he asks?

Dad 🥇
Fine but I expect an explanation tomorrow when you come home for lunch

"Here's a toothbrush" Ruben said as he rummaged through one of his bathroom cabinets.
"Thanks for letting me stay" I told him sincerely.
"Even though I really have no say in your... relationships, I'd be mental to let you go back there to him" he scoffed.
"To be honest, I don't think he's going to notice my absence too much. He usually sleeps at the hospital" I sighed and he raised one eyebrow.
"That guy's not normal" he huffed and started brushing his teeth with his sonic toothbrush while muttering some words to himself that I couldn't understand. Either they were in Portuguese or his mouth was just too full with toothpaste.

When he was done, he walked to his room, to drag out his bedding to the living room.
"No, no, no, you have a game tomorrow, no way you're sleeping on the couch" I protested.
"And no way I'm letting you sleep on the couch after the day you had" he argued back.
"Pillow wall?" I offered and gave him a hopeful look, but he seemed taken aback.

"Are you planning to leave him?" he asked after a few seconds.
"Uh... why are you asking that now?" I asked back, furrowing my eyebrows.
"Because I don't want to sleep in the same bed as a girl that still has her head with another guy. Not with you." he replied and I was surprised at how upright he was being.
"Do you want me to break up with him?" I asked, my mind being all wuzzy with thoughts at the moment.
"Why are you asking me that?" he asked back again, looking at me confusedly.

Because I was used to always ask Ed when I had to take a decision.
"I'm sorry... I've... I just realised that I haven't taken a decision on my own for a long time" I sighed and rubbed my front.
"You've got a horrible taste in men" he joked and pinched my ribs at which I let out a small giggle.
"Horrible taste in relationships. If I told you about my celebrity crushes, you'd probably agree with me with 90% of them" I joked back.

"Pfff, I'm not gay" he huffed.
"Sure you're not. You're a strong, masculine, tough, hunky footballer, no way you would ever admit any guy looks better than you" I teased him and he raised his eyebrows.
"Tell me one guy that looks better than me" he challenged me. Yeah, there is no one. So I decided to tease him.
"Bruno Fernandes" I replied, knowing that this would wind him up.

His face fell and he looked at me as if I was crazy.
"I correct my statement. You have a horrible taste in men and relationships" he said as he shook his head.
"Time for a new start, then" I hummed and he looked at me again with a small smile on his face.
"Good choice. But don't try and come cuddling tonight" he warned me and raised his index finger. Thanks for the firm friendzone, bro.
"You'll be the one coming to cuddle" I scoffed, trying to play his game too.

He walked over to his closet (which was five times as big as mine) and pulled out a t-shirt and some shorts with strings that he thought would fit me.
"It's a 2020 shirt because it was my first washing  attempt here in Manchester and it... shrunk. Got a housekeeper the next morning" he explained and I burst out laughing.
"You never told me that!" I exclaimed and laughed at him.
"Because you would have thought I wasn't a masculine, tough, hunky... how did you describe me again?" he chuckled and I lightly smacked his arm, coming in contact with his rock-hard biceps.

We both settled into his bed and built up a small pillow wall between us that we used to lean on while we chatted, more than for separation.
"What's your comfort movie?" he asked me.
"The first Harry Potter one. It's just so... magical. I'm pretty sure by the way that my Hogwarts letter got lost in the mail" I joked, relieved that I was able to be a bit carefree and cheery. No, it wasn't me that was carefree and cheery, it was Ruben that brought that out in me, even when I was at my lowest.

"You would make a good witch. Which house are you in?" he asked as he bought the movie without thinking on Prime. I winced, thinking about how often I pressed away a million tabs just to watch a movie illegally and not spend 4£ on just buying it.
"I'm a Ravenclaw, but that's easy to guess, what are you?" I asked.
"Same. But it was a close call with Gryffindor back when I did the test" he replied.
"I can see it. You're really disciplined and strive to be your best, but when you play football it's also all about teamwork and achieving it together" I analysed his housing situation.

All movie long, I teased him about how every male character was more handsome than him, even Dumbledore and he was close to losing it, shortly before the end credits started to roll.
"You need some sleep before you get any ideas to talk any more nonsense" he huffed as he switched off his TV and positioned his pillows.
"You're just sour that you don't have a fancy flowing cloak like Snape" I joked.
"Imagine Pep if I show up at the Etihad dressed like a Harry Potter character" he snorted out in laughter and we both continued adding funny comments to that, even if it was so stupid and unserious.

"Good night, Soph. Tomorrow, we tackle the rest of your list" he whispered as the lights were switched off.
"Good night, Ruben" I whispered back. But I couldn't sleep, and it wasn't because of the day's events but because I heard Ruben's deep breaths and it made me insane knowing that he was in my reach but I couldn't touch him. I carefully moved away one pillow, hoping not to wake him, but so that I could see his face when I would turn towards him. And then, I finally found sleep, looking at his peaceful and handsome face.