More than Friends (Neymar Jr. Fanfic)

II. Chapter 1: Barcelona

Neymar's POV:

"Hey, you alright man?" I snapped out of my trance when I felt a familiar hand tap my head. Everyone else was busy talking, playing around or on their phones, while I had made a nook for myself on Messi's couch. The entire Barcelona squad was over at Messi's house tonight to play Fifa and celebrate yet another victory. I should be celebrating with them, but I can't bring myself to celebrate anything right now.

I should've forgotten about her the moment Marianna shut the door in my face. I should have let her go when I heard the heart moniter go dead. But I didn't; and now because of that I'm suffering.

"I'm fine," I muttered, biting my thumb nails. I adjusted the hat on my head and peered out of Messi's window. The view was perfect from here: you could see almost every building in Catalonia from all the way up here.

"Do you see that?" Marc asked pointing out the window. My eyes traveled towards where his finger pointed and I stared as fireworks lit up the dark starry night; red and blue for the colors of Barça's jersey. It seemed as if everyone in Catalonia was celebrating our win.

Rosa would have loved this.

I could feel Messi's eyes on me. "I said I was fine," I told him, unable to obtain the reassurance I was hoping for. "I'm fine", I had told Rafa. "I'll be okay," I tried to tell Pai. "It doesn't even matter anymore," is what I couldn't stop telling myself.

But I knew it wasn't true.

She was miles and miles away back home in Brazil, probably with her siblings. It was one thing to lose her, it was another to have her lose you. My existence was almost completely wiped from her mind; and I couldn't imagine where I would be without her.

"It's been a long, dreary three months and I get that. But the longer you hold on to that, the more upset you're going to be." Messi patted me on the back to console me. "I think she would have been proud if you just let her go."

As much as I didn't want it to be true, he had a point. Even though it was my fault, whatever happened to her happened for a reason, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

*************

Rosalina's POV:

The Library in the Universitat de Barcelona was probably one of the largest structures at the college, right after the Historic building. What made the library super creepy was the stone medieval vibe that I got from the old books and the architecture.

I shivered, the freezing October air pulling the moisture from my face and stuffed my fingers into my pockets. I had felt cold before, but after adjusting to the Brazilian heat I think it was safe to say that this Spain was cold as shit. I walked through a hallway and a pair of open double doors that led into the main space. Normally students flooded the library, talking and doing their homework. The environment was pretty calm most of the time. Like everything else at the University, the library was old, stuffy, and pretentious.

Bookshelves lined either side of the main aisle before it opened up into an area filled with long tables. There was a cart towards the left that solf coffee, pastries and other beverages. I kept walking until I reached the checkout counter that stood out in the center of the library. Benedict Alvarez, the head librarian, stood out the counter feverishly typing away at the computer in front of him. He was around mid-height, green eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses. I must admit, despite being a total pain in the ass his hair was almost always on point for a 40 year-old guy who spend most of his time either scolding students or studying the artifacts here.

I had taken up a job here to save up for Marianna's future college funds. Even though I was away, I wanted to do everything I could to help her out. I had already perfected the art of cleaning out after people, how hard was shelving a few books, right?