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The feeling of bliss was definitely gone when Cassie woke up on December, 26th.
She felt awful.
Cassie was crying all the time. She was crying for stupid reason when she was tired, and also when she wasn't--but when wasn't she?--, and her relatives knew that.
But she felt like crying over Neymar's words was not one of these cases.
'How many guys are you dating at the same time? Are you bringing a different boyfriend every year at your aunt or something?'
She closed her eyes and breathe deeply.
She was hurt.
She was hurt because she didn't expect that from him. They spend quite a lot of time with each other during the last few days, and he was always so joyful and happy for stupid reasons, like reindeer or being called a forceur. He was just never angry or rude or anything. That was just not the Neymar she had in mind. But apparently, he could be that Neymar, she just didn't know that side of him yet.
She had to go to work, anyway, which was pretty good news. That way, she could focus on her last article of the year that was a brainstorming about the positive things that happened to her that year.
Thank God, she couldn't mention all the Neymar part in her work. Either else, she would have wonder if he should have been a part of it or not.
I mean, she had spent an amazing week by his side. And the best Christmas Eve of her life. Including the midnight kiss--kisses, actually--on the roof.
That was the positive part, and she didn't want to think about the negative one anymore.
Just forget about it and get ready for work.
_
The atmosphere in Neymar's apartment was rather cold. When he left for practice, everyone was still sleeping--or pretending to, at least--. But when he came back, they were all here, in the living room, as a pretty happy family--they were all laughing because of something Davi had said, but when Neymar entered the room, Rafaella suddenly stopped laughing and got up.
Neymar frowned, looking at her going in her bedroom and closing the door behind her.
"Is she still mad?" he asked, but it was kind of a rhetorical question. Of course she was. His sister wasn't one to forget and forgive easily. It was quite the contrary.
Nadine sighed--she was still mad as well, but contrary to Rafaella, she didn't want Neymar to know. Yes, to her, Neymar was wrong and he shouldn't act like that, but he was an adult and it was none of her business.
Neymar shook his head and followed Rafaella's step. He knocked at her door and decided to come in since she was not answering.
"What do you want?" she asked, not even looking at him, the annoyance clear in her voice.
"Look, I know you're mad, but--"
"I am and good luck with that."
"What do you want me to say? I shouldn't have say it like that, I admit it."
"So the only thing you regret is the way you said it? Not what you said? Do you realize how fucked up it is?"
"I meant it, Rafa. She went at her aunt with that guy and--"
"Oh my God, stop being fucking jealous! She is dating you, well at least the nice part of you, not him! She is allowed to have friends, for fuck's sake! You're so stubborn!"
She got up and put her phone in her pocket before walking to the door.
"Where are you going? The conversation is not over."
"Oh it is, because you don't wanna accept that you are wrong and I'm tired of arguing with you for nothing. I'm going at Cassie's."
"What? No!"
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna steal your girlfriend," she smiled ironically, and Neymar didn't have time to had anything, because she was gone.
_
When Cassie opened the door, she knew it wasn't Neymar. He was always knocking twice at the door, not five. Well, maybe it was him being mad, but he was not mad anymore, right?
"Hey," Rafaella smiled. When she saw Cassie's scared face, she added, "I'm alone. Completely alone."
"Come in," Cassie struggled, and Rafaella looked around her, looking surprised.
"You don't seem like the kind of person to be Christmas obsessed, so I guess that it's my brother's influence," she laughed, and Cassie nodded, smiling sadly.
"This is all new. I needed to be 'in the Christmas spirit', according to him."
"The guy's in love with Christmas since he was born."
"Really?"
"Mmhm," Rafaella nodded. "Look, I know I can't apology for my brother, but I wanted you to know that he's getting what he deserves from our side. But in case you didn't notice during the last months, he's an ass."
"It's fine," Cassie tried to play it cool.
"You cried, Cassie, and it's completely normal--"
"How do you know that? Did your mom mentioned it in front of him?"
"No, of course not," Rafaella shook her head. "She told Pai and me while Neymar was at training."
"Oh. Okay. I just thought...I don't want him to know that I cried."
"I know," Rafaella smiled, "and I get that, don't worry. So, I'm sorry for what he said. It was awful and I'm sure that he knows deep inside that he doesn't think a word of it."
Cassie smiled.
"Thanks. It's kind of my fault. I never mentioned Romain before even though he's my best friend."
He met Mélissa but I never talk about Romain to him. I'm such a nice friend and person in general!
"He's your boyfriend, Cassie. He's not allowed to talk to anyone like that, especially not to you. Don't try and find excuses for him."
Rafaella smiled.
"Did you just come back from work?"
"Yeah," Cassie nodded. "Do you want something to drink?"
"I'm always in for a cup of coffee," she smiled, and Cassie smiled back.
