Hey Everyone! Not sure if you all saw my message but I will be posting one chapter a day till Christmas!
Enjoy! :)
I got up feeling tired despite sleeping so much. I might have slept but it was restless sleep. Just a random mix of thoughts and things that happened throughout the day floated in my mind throughout the night. I hated when I woke up like this because my head just didn't feel right.
I got up slowly taking a while to decide whether I should still attempt some sleep or if I should just get out of bed. After a few minutes of wondering, I finally decided since Ibrahim would come pick me up in a while, I might as well go for a shower. Hopefully the warm water would somehow help me think and relax me.
I looked at the time and it was 9:00. He was only picking me up at 11:00 but I couldn't go back to sleep even if I wanted to so I slowly got out of bed. I got into the shower and lost track of time just enjoying the warm water fall all over me. I knew I had to find a way to speak to Cesc, to explain what really happened. I remembered that the game was today and maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to bring it up before that but I couldn't think of any other way I could see him where he couldn't just walk away if he wanted to. If I met him right before the game he would have to talk to me. At least act civil in front of everyone else. I didn't even need much time, just a summarized version that what I said to Daniella was in retaliation to what she had said to me. Well I was trying to convince myself it was that easy.
I was thinking so much I barely noticed how long I really was in the shower. When I got out I looked at the time and saw it was already 9:45. I decided against wearing any white this time since I remembered the bad memories with the coffee. This time I went more simple. I wore a dark washed jeans, a blue flowy top with a silver bolero over. I wore hoop earrings, a long silver necklace and my favorite swatch watch. I didn't wear too much make up more because I wasn't in the mood, so I just put some basics but made sure I still look nice. I finally walked into the kitchen and decided to make a cup of tea. I heard the door of Elena's room open and I saw her smile at me sleepily.
"Hey," she said quietly, "I was going to talk to you when I got back last night but you were sleeping so I didn't want to disturb you."
"You could have, I could barely get sleep anyway," I said while filling the kettle with water. She leaned with her back on the counter and looked at me concerned.
"Are you ok?" she asked me.
"You saw what happened," I told her.
"Yeah, but it was Daniella Jade, we all know you don't normally snap like that." I sighed.
"Even Cesc knows that," she said as an afterthought.
"You didn't see the look he gave me El, it was like he was so disappointed," I said thinking about how his face looked so crestfallen and I shook my head to try and get the image out of my mind.
"Jade, it's not like what you said was ignored," she said. Of course it wasn't. How could anyone ignore what I said yesterday? Even I was surprised at myself at what I had said. I didn't fully regret what I said but at the same time I still feel bad that I said it or more that I was caught saying it.
"Yeah I know that," I said.
"No I mean I think it had an impact on Cesc," she said to me.
"What do you mean?" I asked her wondering what she was referring to.
"Look, we stayed a while after you left but we heard the two of them arguing," she said.
"You mean Daniella and Cesc?" I asked and I felt so bad that I was actually a bit happy to hear that.
"Yeah," she said but I shook my head.
"They were probably talking," I said.
"I don't think so because Cesc was questioning her," Elena said but I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up and I just thought back to the restaurant where he sided with her. This situation was much worse so it was a given that he would take her side.
"Look, as much as it kills me to see Cesc abused by her, I can't do anything if he wants to be with her," I said as she gave me a strange look.
"I just want to explain to him why I said those things though. I don't want him to hate me," I said.
"Jade," Elena paused waiting for me to look at her, "I think we both know that no matter how hard he tried, Cesc could never hate you." I hoped that was true because if it was it meant he could forgive me.
"Really Jade, you shouldn't feel this bad about what you did. You were thinking of him when you told her those things. He should be thanking you," she said and it was very similar to what Ibrahim had told me last night.
"Why do you have a small smile?" she asked me questioningly. I gave her a smile.
"Ibrahim said something very similar last night," I said.
"Oh my gosh! How could I forget! That is why you're looking so nice! He's coming to pick you up right? Right? Am I right?" she asked all excitedly and I laughed at her.
"Yes, he is," I said guiltily.
"So what happened last night, did you guys do-," she said but I cut her off instantly.
"Before you say anything that I don't want to hear, no, nothing happened. He just dropped me off," I said but Elena eyed me.
"What?" I asked her.
"Nothing I just," she said thinking, "I just think you like him more than you think." I gave her a confused look.
"Before he was like an unattainable boyfriend. I mean I never thought you would ever be with him, it is so unrealistic but now that you can actually have a relationship with him, its different," she said and she was right. When I first met Ibrahim I freaked out like any normal fan would do but as the days went by I got used to having him around. Now he was asking me out for a second time.
"You're right but I'm not sure about it I mean-," I said as Elena cut me off.
"Jade, don't worry and just be happy and enjoy ok? You deserve it," she said with a smile.
"By the way what time did he say he's coming?" she asked me.
"Eleven," I told her.
"That's in 5 minutes! You better get your bag and stay ready," she said. I wasn't as nervous as the last time but probably because I was more occupied with the whole Cesc thing.
"How are you feeling?" she asked me.
"Ok," I told her honestly as I saw my phone ring. I saw that it was Ibrahim and I told him I'm coming.
"Enjoy!" Elena said happily.
"I will," I said and I just prayed there was no coffee incident again.
As I walked towards the elevator I slowly began to feel butterflies in my stomach but I was quite sure I would be fine and kept fighting them. As I stepped out though I lost all control and it felt like there were a 1000 butterflies in my stomach.
Ibrahim was standing out of his car wearing a graphic shirt and jeans looking good as ever. I hated that guys barely had to do much to look good but that's not what shocked me. He had a bunch of flowers in his hands and it was absolutely beautiful. I slowly began to walk towards him in shock.
"Hey," he said with a shy smile.
"Hey," I said returning the smile.
"Those are beautiful," I said.
"Oh yeah, these, yeah, they are for you," he said handing them to me. I took them from him and smelt them. They smelt really good and it was just a whole kaleidoscope of colors. Fuchsia, bright yellow, white, blue, indigo and red. All unique flowers in one bunch.
"Thank you," I said looking at him with a big smile. He looked happy at the fact that I liked them and he opened the passenger seat. As I got in he shut it and walked to the other side of the car. He got in, started the car and began driving.
"So I thought we could go to a more relaxed place since last time-," he said not completing the sentence but he didn't need to.
"Yeah, that sounds great," I said.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked and I knew he was referring to the Cesc issue.
"Ok," I told him but at this point I had no clue. I was confused between my happiness and excitement for this date in contrast with the guiltiness and worry I felt with Cesc. I felt my phone vibrate and looked to see I got a text from Nate:
Thanks for telling me you are on date, how kind of you to have filled me in, I mean I only know you my whole life, no big
I gave a small smile and felt a bit guilty for not telling him.
I'm so sorry, you have a right to be annoyed with me. Tell you what, when I get back you'll be the first to know what happened :p
"Who's that?" Ibrahim asked noticing I was texting.
"Just Nate," I said as he nodded. Just then my phone buzzed again.
Ok, but if you don't keep your word, I get your David Villa shirt ;) (I put a wink face but im serious)
I laughed a bit.
"What's so funny?" Ibrahim asked with a smile.
"Nate is annoyed I didn't tell him about," I said pausing, "Us." When I said it out loud it seemed so much more official.
"Us," Ibrahim repeated like he was noticing what that meant now too but then I saw the small smile form on his lips. I quickly replied to Nate.
Touch it and you die.
"Well we're here," he said parking the car and I noticed we had a good view of the beach. He got off the car and opened the door for me. I left my flowers on the seat and got out. There was a small café close by.
"How did you find this place?" I asked looking around at the beautiful scenery.
"My first week here, I walked around and found it," he said simply.
"It's," I said pausing.
"Beautiful?" he asked with a smile as I nodded.
"Come on," he said grabbing my hand. I looked up at him and it seemed like he only realized what he did but I just smiled. We walked into the café and they had a few tables outside overlooking the sea. It was amazing. There was a friendly short woman who came to give us menus, much more informal that our first date but I preferred it.
"Can I get you two anything to drink?" she asked happily.
"I'll have a coffee," Ibrahim said.
"I'll have a latte," I said as she nodded and walked away. From then on we just talked and I forgot about the whole Cesc incident. I actually was taking Elena's advice and I was enjoying myself. I felt more comfortable speaking to Ibrahim as the minutes went by.
"I would love to talk to you more but we have a training session just before the match," he said disappointed.
"What? How come I don't know about it?" I asked him.
"Maybe you don't need to attend it," he said thinking, "It's not a very long one because it's a few hours prior to the game."
"Oh, I see," I said as he stood up.
"I don't want to leave," I said mock whining. He gave me a smile.
"Me neither but I have too," he said. I got up slowly taking my bag.
"Don't worry I'll take you out again," he said as I smiled at him.
"Good to know," I said as we walked towards his car. He opened the door for me and we smiled at each other. I was feeling so happy and I was smiling a lot today. It felt good and I knew it was largely Ibrahim's influence. Ibrahim got in too and began driving back to drop me. I felt like I was floating and I thought nothing could bring me down. I felt my phone vibrate and assumed it was Elena dying for details but I was wrong. It was Cesc:
Jade, we need to talk.
All my feelings of happiness evaporated within a second.