Second Glance // Benjamin Pavard

XVII

I wake up early and try to get out of the bed without waking Ben, but I noticed I couldn't move.

For a second I thought this was some sort of sleep paralysis thing and I was still unconscious, but I look down to see Ben's hands wrapped around me, not letting me go.

I try to wriggle free, but Ben notices and pulls me even closer to him.

I lay in his arms for a few more minutes, looking at him while he slept. The curls of his hair just slightly disheveled.

I move one more time before permanently waking him up.

" Ugh," He groans, " Quelle heure est-il?"

" I don't know, I can't see anything because you won't let me go," I whisper to him.

" You're just going to have to deal with that Lili," He replies.

" Ben you have to let me go, we have things to do today."

His hold on me tightens and it was obvious he enjoyed knowing he was the strongest.

I sigh giving up in defeat. " Didier is going to be pissed whenever you're late to training," I tell him.

Kylian then knocks on the door and tells Ben to hurry up because they had to leave in two hours.

Ben lets me go and then says," Don't think you won that, now come on."

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Kylian looks at me and asks one more time " You sure you want to stay by yourself?"

" Oui, it's not like you can skip training. I'll be fine, Je promets."

" They both look at me like I was lying, which I wasn't.

" Ok," Kylian sighs before locking me in.

I look around the house. They were going to be gone for three hours and I didn't have much to do.

I noticed that Kylian's house was a little unorganized, so I decided to clean up a bit.

I turn on some music and start in the kitchen.

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I stop the music when I hear my phone going off.

I look at the caller ID - it was Stefan. Fuck.

Hello my favorite brother.

Stefan was very blunt and to the point. Did Damon leave you alone in Paris?

He already knew the answer and he hated when I lied to him so I told him the truth. Yeah, he did. And he checked us out of the hotel whenever I wasn't even there, so I didn't have anywhere to stay.

He was silent for a minute, probably processing everything.

I'm going to kill him.

Stefan, don't do that, he'll haunt you forever.

I got a brief laugh before Stefan continued on. Where are you staying?

At a friends.

Are you okay? Lili, be honest.

I'm fine and I'm not staying on the streets, I'm okay and I'll be home in a few days.

I hear him mutter something else about killing Damon before I hang up.

I lay my phone on the counter before starting the music and resuming my cleaning.

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I was sitting on the couch whenever Kylian and Ben came back.

" Why does it smell like lemons?" They both ask.

" It's a candle."

" Lili." Kylian says.

I look over to him and see his surprised face.

" You cleaned."

I laugh. " Of course. Did you think I was going to sit here all day and do nothing?"

He looks at me and smiles," I would have."

Kylian walks into the kitchen to go make himself something to eat and Ben comes and sits beside me.

" How was training?" I ask

" Bien, are you ready for the game?"

" Oui, but it's you who should be ready for the game," I tell him.

" I am," He says looking down at me.

I glance up and catch his eye.

I stare up at him and his hand brushes my cheek before reaching up to move the hair away from my face.

We were lost in each others eyes and the tension was growing by the second.

Ben leans his head to match the level of mine before Kylian walks into the room.

He clears his throat, " You guys good?"

We seperate from each other and I sigh. If it wasn't Damon ruining something, it was someone else.

I nod my head, scooting over so Kylian could sit down.

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I went into the bedroom, finally ready to get some sleep. It was way past late and both Kylian and Ben had gone to bed early.

I get in bed quietly, not wanting to wake Ben if he was asleep, which he should be.

" It's late," He said after I pulled the blanket over me.

I turn to face him. " Yeah, it is, and you have an important match that's technically today. You need to get some rest."

" I could say the same to you," He replies. I could tell he was smiling.

After a minutes pause he asks me," Is there any way I can get you to wear a jersey with my number on it?"

I couldn't, obviously. I was here for Germany, not France. I didn't know how to let him down easily.

" I don't even own yours," I say softly. I hoped he got the message.

" I can get you one before the match starts." He says hopefully.

He obviously did not get it.

" Ummmm."

" Lili, Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?"

" Well, I'm only here to represent Germany, and don't get me wrong I love France, but I'm here for Julian and Thilo and Serge and the whole team. "

Ben doesn't say anything and I think I may have offended him.

" Benjamin?"

" Liliana?"

" You okay?"

" Oui, I guess I'll just have to wait until we have a friendly that isn't against Germany and then you can wear the magnifique numéro deux."

I smile at him, you sure are patient."

" I'll wait forever for you."

I try to block out his words as he pulls me close to him. As Ben's warmth envelops me I start to wonder what he actually thinks about this.

~~~~~~~~~ a/n: Just wanted to say I'm still shocked that Rachel and Ben broke up. I don't know if they'll get back together; what do you think?