-4-
"I'll leave my room open 'til sunrise for you..."
"I love sunrises,"
Alvaro's mouth slid into a small smile of recognition as she rested her head on the railings. It was sunrise in Valencia, and after much persuasion, Harley had agreed to travel with the team on one of their away fixtures. Thankfully for him. Although he had been anxious about leaving her alone, he knew deep down that his intentions weren't completely selfish too. He placed his mug down on the tiled floor and stood up, sliding his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder, "That's a total girl thing to say."
Her body vibrated against his as she laughed, "I am a girl. A total girl. You'd be worried if I told you I liked burping and farting and... darts."
"Farting?" He scrunched his face up, "I haven't heard somebody call it that since I shared a flat with Stevie G. And not everybody likes darts, you know?"
"Nobody likes darts," She replied, "It's boring."
"I'm glad you came," His arms slid further around her maintaining a protective stance, "I know it's a big deal for you."
"I used to love coming here," She bit her lip, "Valencia is one of my all time favourite places."
"I'm not going to take offence to that," He scoffed,
"I said one of," She pointed out,
"What's the other place?" He asked,
She laughed, "That's for me to know and you to possibly find out another time."
"You're mean," He pouted, "I hate suspense."
"Suspense is what keeps us alive, Arbie," She spun around, a dreamy expression in her eyes, "It's what makes us live."
"Really? Because I thought that was vital organs," He grinned,
She slapped his chest playfully and he laughed, "You're such a boy. There's no romanticism in your heart."
"Oh I can be plenty romantic," He replied, "I'll have you know I'm just full of surprises."
"Yeah?" She raised an eyebrow, "Prove it."
"I don't have to prove myself to you Davis," He poked his tongue out to her, "I know I'm a catch."
She pouted, "Who on earth told you that, dear?"
"You're right," His head drooped, "I suck."
She giggled, "You will suffice, I suppose."
"I'll do?" He asked with a cheeky smile, "Wouldn't want to settle, would we?"
"I suppose you're okay," She shrugged,
He gasped grabbing her in a headlock making her shriek, "What was that?"
"Have mercy!" She laughed hysterically.
He let go of her, straightening her hair out and placing a kiss on her forehead, "Don't ever change, Har."
*
"OH WHAT?! REF COME ON!"
Harley cringed as her hormonal friend jumped up and down, fists raised in the air aggressively stomping mercilessly.
"Sanna honey," Camila spoke, "You're guna cave the stadium stands in."
"Don't be a girl Camila!" Sanna spat, "That's literally impossible."
Camila held her hands up looking towards Harley before continuing her conversation with Mariyah Garcia to the side of her, "I swear I wasn't THAT bad when I was pregnant with the twins."
"How about you sit down, huh?" Harley suggested, "Baby Xanna can't be too happy with being forced to do jumping jacks right now."
Sanna slumped down in her seat crossing her arms, "The referee's a-"
Her rant was drowned out by a child nearby blowing a whistle in their ears.
"Jesus kid!" Sanna spat turning to the family behind them, "Sort your brat out, huh?"
In return, the mother started speaking in hurried spanish before making a tutting noise.
"I don't think she likes your tone," Harley deadpanned,
"The thing is," Sanna took a sip of espresso, "They're blaming hormones..."
"-I know. Fools," Harley ran a hand through her hair, "Do they not know who you are? Crazy, out of control, american, fiancee type person of Xabi Alonso."
Sanna smirked, "I'm glad you could come Har. Lord knows I'd have died having to sit with the Stepford Wives over there alone."
"You know funnily enough that's exactly what Arbie said when he asked me," Harley laughed,
Sanna raised an eyebrow, "Arbie? Isn't someone getting a little cosy?"
She slumped her shoulders, "It's not like that."
"So you haven't been sharing a room?" Sanna asked,
Her cheeks flushed, "Maybe... but it was nothing- He's just- it's nice spending time with him. He's... a gentleman."
"He is," Sanna nodded, "I can vouch for that but, you know, it's not my place to say but-"
"But?"
Sanna bit her lip, "He's been hurt before. Just... be careful with him. He's more vulnerable than you might think."
"I'd never hurt him," Harley replied defensively.
Was she being insane? There was no way in hell she would ever harm Alvaro, and she didn't understand who ever could dream of it...
"I know you never would intentionally," Sanna nodded, "But nobody ever hurts people intentionally... unless you're a twat."
"Am I a twat?" Harley asked,
"No," Sanna shook her head, "I know you're not a twat."
"Thanks San," Harley raised an eyebrow, "I guess you're not a twat either."
"Hooray for not being twats." Sanna beamed, her eyes scanning the pitch again, "Uh-oh."
"What?" Harley followed her gaze and felt her heart drop in her chest. A crowd of players had made a circle around an unnamed player and were currently kicking up a fuss while a referee was trying in vain to step in and address the fuss. The player could be seen clutching his leg in agony as other players moved.
"Who is it?
I can't see him! Sanna, where's-"
She ran a shaky hand through her hair as her heart hammered against her ribcage.
"Come with me," Sanna grabbed her hand and before she could protest she was being pulled through the crowds and down towards the tunnel, "Stay here."
"Where are you going?" Harley squawked, "What the... Sanna!"
"Why are you here?!" A tall man asked, "You shouldn't even be here. Tunnel is out of bounds for fans PERIOD, let alone for- Mierde, Sanna!"
"Who is it Jorge?" Sanna asked, "Don't you lie to me or so help me god."
"It wasn't Xabi," Jorge shook his head, "It was..." His eyes met Harley's, "Who is this?"
"Was it him?" Harley asked, "Was it Arbie?"
Jorge seemed to be stalling for a moment. He seemed a proud Spanish man, and he also seemed ridiculously infuriating making Harley just want to strangle him for information. If this was what had gone through the WAG of Eduardo's when he had sustained that dreadful injury then she made a mental note to hug her should she ever meet her.
"Tell her Jorge," Sanna pressed,
He gave her a small nod in the form of an answer.
"How bad are we speaking?"
"It's... bad," Jorge replied,
She felt her knees go weak underneath her and she raised a hand to her mouth, "Please... you have to let me see him."
"I'm not sure I can do-"
"PLEASE!" Harley pleaded, "Let me see him. I have to-"
"Harley babe," Sanna sighed, "You have to let them do their job."
"Harley?" Jorge asked,
She turned to him and nodded frantically.
"The same Harley he was calling for when he came around?"
