I pick up the red apple and throw it in the air. I almost couldn't catch it when I spotted Mariana.
It's been almost a week since the party at Gerard's house and I haven't spoken to the girl who randomly decides to almost kiss me and leave it at that.
I pay for the apple and walk on over to her, as smoothly as possible for her not to notice.
"Shop here often?" I whisper in her ear.
She jumps a little since I frighten her, making me laugh at her reaction as she tightens her grip on her basket full of fruits and vegetables.
"Jesus," she manages to say. "What are you? Stalking me now?"
"Harsh," I say. "First you almost kiss me then never call me back?"
"What was I supposed to say? Wanna try that again?" Mariana asks.
We start walking down the farmer's market side by side as Mariana decides to ignore me.
"Did I do something wrong?" I finally ask.
"No," she frowns. "I shouldn't have tried kissing you."
"Why is that?"
"Because I just met you," she says.
"And?"
"And I just met you," she says as she pays for some green onion and walks to the next stand.
"But you like me don't you?" I try not bumping into some people walking the opposite way.
She begins to laugh at my enthusiasm and asks for a certain type of meat as we reach another stand.
"Do you want me to say yes? Is that what you want?" She asks.
"Only if you mean it," I smile at her.
I was genuinely curious as to what this girl had to say. I've had a crush on her for quite some time now and her almost kissing me last time I saw her confused the hell out of me. I thought she finally came around and liked me, but the distance this girl was keeping was unbearable; maybe she's just playing with me and I need to find out now.
"Neymar," she starts. "The single Barça player. That's new."
"So you're just interested cause I'm single? Want what you can't have?"
"I like you, Neymar," she sighed.
"Once more with feeling," I smiled.
She inched closer to me, standing an inch from my lips.
"I'd kiss you," she whispered. "Cause you clearly want it, but we're standing by the fish."
She stepped away from me and walked down the aisle after that, leaving me behind. I let out a chuckle and shook my head as I went after her.
"Clearly I want it?" I shout after her.
I offered her a ride shortly after and we got in the car with the numerous amount of bags she was supposedly set to carry as she walked home alone.
"Where to?" I ask as I start the car.
"That's kind of a dumb question don't you think?" She speaks after she scoffs.
I just bite my tongue and start driving towards Gerard's. We didn't talk much on the way there, pure silence the majority of the time with the exception of her phone buzzing and her letting out a humorous breath to whatever she read.
"Shak?" I question just before arriving.
"Sergi," she answered.
We got out of the car and I helped her with the majority of the bags as we entered Gerard's place. I followed Mariana into the kitchen and I heard Shakira with Milan before entering.
"Mari!" Shakira cheered. "For Mari."
Milan took the spoonful of soup gladly as he spotted Mariana and I placed the rest of the bags on the counter.
"Neymar!" Shak cheered once again.
"One for Neymar," Mariana sang as she headed towards the fridge.
She took out a water bottle and threw me one, which I caught with no trouble as I said hello to Shak and Milan.
"Surprise, surprise," Shakira said as she finished up feeding Milan and let him out of his high chair.
"I ran into him at the market," Mariana spoke before taking a sip of water and walking on over to the grocery bags. "He said he was staying for dinner."
I parted my lips a bit to intervene as I took in what she just said, but then Shakira began to clap her hands and cheer so I couldn't say no at this point, I couldn't lie and say I was busy.
"Finally!" Shakira spoke as she turned on the faucet to clean the dishes.
Mariana came up to me and began to whisper.
"Shak gets her dinner guest and you get your date," she spoke in a raspy tone.
I gave her a smirk as she backed away a little and began taking the food to the fridge.
I hung out with Gerard in the media room while Mariana and Shakira spent about an hour or so preparing dinner. When the two of us finally got called down to the dining room to go eat we spotted Milan making a mess at the table and I had to sit down quietly as Gerard began to yell at him.
I'm guessing Mariana heard what was going on as she came out there and placed her hands on my shoulders making Gerard turn around and recognize he was overreacting. Shakira called out for him to probably put him in his place for shouting at Milan. The boy just sat there with a sad face, borderline about to cry.
"Excuse him," Mariana spoke as she moved her chair over to mine.
"I've never seen him like that," I admit.
"He seemed tense," Mariana says. "Did you say something to him?"
"Just talking you up," I smile at her making her chuckle and swat my arm.
She pushed her hair back and placed her arm on top of the chair and turned to face me as we waited for the rest of the food and the clear shouting to stop from the kitchen.
"I was just talking about you," I admit.
"He probably got annoyed," she smiled.
We sat there looking at each other for a good minute before she spoke.
"I do kinda like you."
I couldn't help the giant smile creep up on my face. Months with this girl already and she finally feels the same way I do.
"Can I kiss you?" I joke and get a laugh from her.
As Gerard and Shakira come in with food in each of their hands Mariana turns back in her seat and takes the bowls in Shakira's hands.
"Thank you," Shak starts. "Neymar, I want to apologize for Gerard-"
"No, don't worry," I interrupt her. "I couldn't imagine what it's like."
We start to eat and we get well into a fun dinner and I begin to regret never coming over, but I know it's partly because of Mariana.
Gerard jumps up as a loud noise comes from under the table.
"Shit," he grunts and Mariana lets out a loud laugh.
"Are you okay?" I begin to laugh with her.
"I'm good," he sits up and nods.
"You know what," Mariana starts. "I kinda want to see that new sci-fi movie coming out in theaters."
"Oh, the 3D one?" Shakira asks.
"Not in 3D," Mari shakes her head.
"Sounds like a plan for the weekend," Gerard says.
"Yeah, you guys don't mind if Neymar tags along, do you?" Mariana asks. "A double date?"
I bite my lip as Gerard begins to speak.
"Double date?"
"Yeah," Mari states. "Why not?"
Shakira let's out a little laugh then doesn't wipe the smile off her face for anything.
"You two are cute," she keeps on smiling.
Mariana and I turn to look at each other and we share a smile before looking back down at our plates and picking at our food.