Spaniard

1

"Ella I swear to god if you don't give me my pencil case back right now then I'm going to pinch you so hard you'll cry" said David angrily. I laughed and tossed it high in the air before letting it gently fall back into my hands.
"No you're not because I'll tell your Grandma and she loves me." I laughed back.
"Ella you're going to make me late home." He sighed, placing his hands on his hips. I looked my best friend of 16 years directly in the eyes and smiled. "Give." He smiled back. I tutted and huffed and puffed like a stroppy five year old but eventually gave in and handed over David's pencil case. "Thank you." He smiled, kissing me softly on the cheek. We began to walk home through the village via the docking port, walking along the walls. We were such children when we were together. Everyone knew everyone in our little fishing town of Arguineguin so we made sure to say hello to everybody.
Finally we reached the door of my small house. We'd already passed David's but he insisted he walked me home like he does everyday, even though he was 15 minutes late as it was. My dad opened the door and embraced both me and David and eventually managed to convince the scrawny 16 year old to join us for tea. My dad rang up the Silva's and let them know and they were completely chill with it, our families have been friends for generations.
My mum cooked up some tortillas for us both and we took them to my room to eat while we did our homework.
"So, any thoughts on what you're going to do when the year finishes, after the exams?" I asked as I finished the last page of my science.
"Well, depending on my results, I really don't know. I have no idea at all." David laughed in reply. In fairness neither of us had any idea what we wanted to do. I'd always planned on going into the family business but it's not what I fully dreamed of doing, I really want to become a singer. All my family and friends say that I'm brilliant but, they're supposed to say that, they're family. David on the other hand, dreams of being a footballer for La Furia Roja and a club as well. He's already had the heartbreak of being turned down by both Real Madrid and Barcelona though. "Oh god look at the time already. I'm gonna set off home so I'll see you tomorrow yeah?" He smiled. He bent down and kissed my forehead softly before packing up his things and headed downstairs to says bye to my mum and dad and brothers and sisters. I was the oldest sibling, joint with my twin brother Marco that is.

The next morning I was woke to David bursting through my bedroom door. He jumped on my bed and shook me until I came round.
"ELLA! ELLA! ELLA!" He shouted in my face.
"What?" I moaned, shoving him down next to me.
"I GOT A TRIAL!" He shouted louder.
"Oh my god! Really!? Like seriously!?" I asked in astonishment.
"Yes! For Valencia, a real La Liga team!" He smiled, shaking me side to side. I jumped on top of him and hugged him tightly.
"David I'm so proud of you! When did you find out!?" I asked, finally letting him go.
"When I got home last night all my family were round and I was confused as to why. Turns out a letter had arrived and my mum being my mum had already opened it and it was off the Valencian board of football youth. They want to fly me out on Monday for two weeks of trials!" He smiled ecstatically. My stomach churned inside and my body went hot.
"Two weeks? Wait you mean Monday as in this Monday?" I splurged, trying to calculate the days in my little head. David rolled over onto his side, his smile was infectious to a point I permitted a small grin to creep out.
"Ella isn't it amazing? This is all I've ever dreamed of. Finally I've been noticed - finally I'm going to get my shot!". He sat on my bed, buzzing with excitement, not taking in in the slightest my tone of voice or body language. Don't get me wrong, I was equally ecstatic with the fact that David was finally going to be able to do something with his talent, but I knew what it meant. First he'd go over for the trial, that would be two weeks without seeing him, then he'd be invited out for a second time because he'd sail through the first trial with ease, meaning I would go without him for another couple of weeks, and then eventually they'd just sign him completely and I'd lose him forever. I knew in my head that it was selfish of me to feel like this and be putting myself before my best friend's opportunities - but I couldn't help it.
"Come here you!" He smiled in his soft toe of voice. His outstretched arm reeled me in and I snuggled into his warm body. "I love you you know. I really do. You're my best friend Ella Muñez and you always will be." I felt a small tear dwell in the corner of my eye but swiftly pocketed it back in to avoid having to explain my sadness.
From downstairs I heard a familiar voice hollering for David. His mum, Eva, had come round with Fernando his father to see my mum and dad. David kissed my cheek gently before taking my hand and leading me downstairs.
"Ahhh Bella Ella! And my precious boy!" Bellowed Fernando, his bushy moustache bristling on his top lip. He pulled me into his chest and kissed the top of my head. "Has David told you the good news?". I nodded my head in reply and then falsified a little smile to accompany it. "Dad, dad, calm down!" Laughed David, standing just behind me.
"How can I be calm when my little niño is going to be travelling all over the world with his new football team!" Fernando smiled back. And there was the reality - all over the world.