Let Me Love You | Toni Kroos

Chapter 9 - Scream It Out Loud

Gabi's POV

Exactly six months had passed since Toni kissed me that night under my room window, but my parents and Amelie still suspected nothing – or at least I thought they didn't. And neither did Elisa and Bertha, although they still asked incessantly about Toni, or as they liked to call him, mysterious neighbour guy.

"Can you have dinner with us today?" Elisa whined. "You've been so 'busy' recently."

"Okay, okay," I said, laughing. "I'll eat with you guys."

They hooked their arms in mine as we walked along, talking about school in general and the guys in school – since both of them were still single, their guy radar was still on, and I had to turn mine half-on in order for them to not suspect anything.

I knew I had to tell them someday. I couldn't keep our relationship secret, not from them and definitely not from my family.

"Oh, my God, Gabi and I saw this really cute guy in socio today," Bertha said. "I think he's new, or something."

"Yeah, he's okay," I said.

"Okay?!" Bertha exclaimed. "He's more than okay. I'd climb that like a tree."

"BERTHA!" Elisa and I yelled at the same time.

"What?" she stared at us. "Damn it, guys. I'm not as attractive as Gabi. Guys go chasing after her. I have to chase guys."

"Yeah, Gabi," Elisa nudged me and laughed. "You've got to choose one so all the others can be available to us."

"I don't like any of them," I said, feeling my cheeks flush with heat.

"Aww, you're as red as a beet," Bertha slapped me playfully. "Do you like someone? Who is it?"

"No one that you guys know," I said, desperately trying to change the subject. "What are we eating?"

Toni's POV

I stood up as I saw Gabi and her friends appear around the corner. I didn't know them, I'd never talked to them before, and I was only here for Gabi, so I hadn't expected her to have company.

I shrugged as they approached. It was too late to turn back. Gabi's eyes widened as she saw me standing there. "Hey," I said as she stopped in front of me, the two other girls stopping beside her.

"Hi," she said, her eyes still open wide, staring at me. "Um...why are you here?"

"Who is he?" I saw one of Gabi's friends mouth to the other, who shrugged.

"I...um...I was passing by."

A knowing smile crept across Gabi's face. She stepped forward and pulled me to the side, talking softly so her friends wouldn't hear. "No, what are you doing here? I'm going for dinner with my friends."

"Oh," I said, feeling my heart sink. "I...I thought we could go for dinner together."

"Just us?" a look of confusion crossed her eyes, before she realised. "Oh, my God. It's our monthsary."

"Yeah," I said. "But it's okay, I'll just see you at home." I smiled, turned her around and pushed her back towards her friends. "See you, Gabi."

"No, hey," she grabbed my arm and pulled me to stand next to her. "This is Elisa, and Bertha," she said, pointing to her friends, who smiled at me curiously. Then she slid her hand down my arm so that her fingers rested comfortably in between mine. She gave my hand a gentle squeeze and looked up at me, her eyes full of joy.

"Elisa, Bertha," she said. "This is Toni. My boyfriend."

"BOYFRIEND?!" the both of them screamed at the same time, and then they stepped forward and started punching Gabi gently on her shoulders.

"Gabi, you never told us!" the girl named Bertha said. "Is he your mysterious neighbour guy?"

"I'm guessing you're not having dinner with us again," Elisa said.

"Sorry," Gabi said, giggling and leaning on my shoulder.

"Awwwwwwwww," Elisa said as Gabi wrapped her arms around my waist. "Okay, okay, now go before I start puking."

"I'll still be watching," Bertha said as Gabi turned around and dragged me along. We walked a short distance before turning back, only to see that the both of them were trying to follow us discreetly.

"Sorry about that," Gabi said.

"It's okay," I laughed. "Why did you suddenly decide to tell them?"

"Because I'm proud," she said. "I'm proud to call you my boyfriend."

I smiled, and turned her around so I could kiss her. I heard voices coming from behind us, going "awwww" softly, and I turned to see Elisa and Bertha trying to hide behind a bush.

"Stop it!" Gabi yelled at them, and they threw their arms in the air, turned around, and walked in the other direction.

We stopped when we reached the front of Gabi's house, so that she could pop inside and leave her things before we headed out together. She walked halfway to the front door before turning and running back, grabbing my hand and pulling me along with her.

"Let's tell them," her eyes gleamed eagerly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," she said. "I don't know why I ever thought I shouldn't."

As luck would have it, her parents were already home, sitting on the couch and chatting, as Amelie emerged from the kitchen stuffing her mouth with chips. "Amelie, come here," Gabi called. "I have something to tell you guys."

She waited until all three of them were on the couch, staring curiously at us, before she grabbed my hand again. "Um..." she hesitated, not sure how to say it. "We're together."

Smiles appeared on her parents' faces, but Amelie rolled her eyes and stared at Gabi in disbelief. "Is that it?" she asked. "I've known for ages. She cries after every assist you make, you know? And every goal you score. She's a huge mess for you, Toni."

"Shut up, Amelie."

"And that day when you were 'sick,' and I went to check on you, and Toni –"

"AMELIE!" Gabi screamed, her cheeks flushed red.

"How long has this been going on?" Mrs. Meiser asked calmly, as if her two daughters weren't about to launch a war in front of her.

I smiled as Gabi and Amelie continued making looks at each other. "Exactly six months," I replied.

Their parents stood up and gave me encouraging pats on the shoulder. "Good job, kid," her dad said. "It's not easy for Gabi to fall for someone."

"Dad!"

"Are you going out for dinner?" her mum asked, and I nodded. "Enjoy yourself, okay?"

Gabi pulled me out the door. "Alone at last," she sighed.

"Remember the last time we were alone?" I asked, waggling my eyebrows at her.

"Toni!" she whined. "Not you, too."

"I can't help myself, you're so gorgeous."

"Look who's talking," she said, laughing. She looked up at me with her big blue eyes, suddenly filled with relief. Relief that she finally didn't have to hide our relationship anymore.

"Do you really?" I asked her. "Cry after every assist or goal?"

"Yeah," she whispered, looking down in embarrassment. "Yeah, I do."

I touched her chin so she'd look up at me. "Thank you so much, Gabriele."

"Stop thanking me," she said. "I'm a train wreck."

"Baby," I mumbled, leaning over to kiss her.

She smiled against my lips. "I'm your number one fan."

"And I'm your...I'm yours. Just that. I'm just yours. I'll always be."

And just as I'd always promised, I knew I'd always be there for her, especially now that it was out. I'd give her any support she needed, to make sure she never got hurt, to make sure she was always happy. I'd always try to give her happiness; the happiness she deserved so much. It didn't matter what I had to do. I'd do it for Gabriele.