Love's Requiem

“Are you kidding me?” I exclaimed in English.

“No, we’re not.” Niko said simply as he headed for the pathway leading towards the lake.

“I don’t understand.” I told him going back to speaking Croatian. “Why is it just you and I?”

“Because I know you’re still stubborn and it’d take me forever to just get you to talk to me about everything that happened.” He told me as I jogged to catch up too him.

“I’m so sick of talking about what happened! Luka picked my brain all yesterday, can’t you get the answers from him?” I
asked. “And you have a wife now why does this all matter?”

“You seem to think that all you meant to me was a girlfriend, but you were more than that.” He told me. “You were the girl of my dreams and my best friend.”

“We’re going to have to talk about it aren’t we?” I sighed.

“We have to.”

“Fine.” I said giving in. “Where do you want to start?”

“How about you tell me how your third year of high school went?”

“Boring, I think I broke my nose that year.” I frowned. “That also was the year I started helping out Jesse and the guys with Emmure, that summer.”

“Doing what?”

“I started off doing some roadie work I mean I couldn’t do a whole lot because I didn’t get my license till the following
fall. And then I think also we started trying to get merch together for them.”

“Okay, how was your last year of high school?”

“When I wasn’t in school I was driving to near by states and cities with the guys to play shows, and sell merch. I also
had started my own little booking thing to get some extra cash. I graduated then did two years of a community college getting a degree in music and that was it. I started doing full time touring, signed with a management firm worked with
them from the time I was 19 till I was 21. Now I’m on a different one doing full time tour managing for Alex’s band.”

“Busy, aren’t we?”

“You have no idea, how about you how was your third year?”

“Sucked, focused on football over anything, my last year was the same until I signed with Dinamo, played for them-“ He
began but I cut him off.

“Until you went to play for Split and now Portsmouth.” I finished. “Just because I left, didn’t mean I never checked on you both.” I added.

“Well now that we’ve covered everything we missed now let’s talk about everything else.” He smirked as we sat down on an empty bench.

“It’s not like a I have a choice.” I sighed.

“Why couldn’t you have just told me?” He asked me, staring in to my eyes.

“I was scared.”

“Of what?”

“Hurting you, losing you, which I still ended up doing.”

“Two years I beat myself up over why you left. I tried to think of every scenario. When your parents would come for the holidays I’d ask about you and I’ll I’d get was she’s on the road.”

“I’m sorry Niko.”

“If I forgive you this time, can you not run away anymore?” He asked me.

“I promise.” I told him.

“Good,” He smiled, and then pulled me in to a bone-crushing hug. “You have no idea how much I missed you Isabella.”

“I know Niko.” I told him as I ran my hand through his hair. “I missed you too.”

“So how about we go and meet Luka back at your Baka’s?” he asked me.

“Seeing as I can’t feel my ass that would be lovely.” I told him, making him laugh.

Of course as we finally got back to my grandma’s Luka was there already probably inside talking with Niko, my brother and Alex if he was up.

“What time is it?” I asked him, as I unlocked the door with the spare keys my grandma had given me.

“Almost noon.”

“So there’s a good shot he’s not up yet.” As we walked in to find Luka and Niko, eating breakfast in the living room while
watching TV.

“Have a nice walk?” Luka asked me.

“You suck!” I shouted taking off my coat and jumping on him.

“Bella?” I heard Alex’s voice from the stairs.

“Living room!” I shouted, still play hitting Luka.

“Its so cute how you think you’re stronger than me.” Luka laughed as he flung me to the floor.

“I don’t have to stand for this!” I laughed. “Baka!” I screeched as Alex came in to the living room dressed and still
looking tired.

“What is she doing now?” Alex laughed sitting next to my brother on the smaller couch.

“What is it Isabella?” My grandma asked coming in the room.

“Baka, Luka threw me! I think I hurt my foot, look, look!” I pouted pointing to my oddly angled ankle, while I heard Niko,
my brother translate to Alex what I was saying.

“I knew there was a reason I let you in.” My grandma told Luka and ruffled up his hair, making my mouth slack open.

“What?” I exclaimed making everyone laugh. “That’s it Modric you’re going down, as soon as I go upstairs and change
because these clothes smell like cabbage!” I exclaimed getting up.

“I thought I smelt sarma.” Niko joked.

“You too Kranjcar!” I added as I ran up the stairs.

I ran up pulling on a new pair of jeans and my pull over 7 angels 7 plagues hoodie, a black beanie as well as a new dark blue jeans, and my blue, white and black Nike's,before I went running back down the stairs.

“You have to match your sneakers with your clothes?” Luka exclaimed.

“Duh.” I said simply as I ran in the basement to find a soccer ball.

“I though you hated it down there?” Alex shouted down to me while he was eating in the kitchen.

“I do, but revenge is better than fear!” I exclaimed running back up with one.

“Oh Jesus Christ what are you up to now?” He exclaimed with a mouthful of food.

“One, proving a point. Two, not so sure yet but I’ll think of something.” I rambled, making him laugh.

“Niko! Luka! Come out, come out where ever you are?” I shouted as I headed to the back door that lead to the yard.

Pretty soon Alex, Niko, and Luka came outside, my brother was busy looking for my camera from what Alex told me.

“Your really think you’re still better than us?” Niko asked me in English.

“Don’t think, I know.” I huffed while I free styled with the ball.

“Fine then,” He smirked, “Three goals to win, Luka’s the goalie.”

“Bring it.” I smiled, shooting the ball to him as he blocked it with his upper body and caught it with his foot.

And thus began Niko, Luka and I playing soccer in my grandma’s snowy yard. We were playing for maybe 20 minutes and I had two goals as opposed to Niko’s one.

“Come on Niko are you letting me win or something?” I huffed trying to get the ball from him.

“You wish.” He laughed, making a goal. “Tie.”

After another ten minutes I scored another goal winning.

“In your face! Maybe you should give me Bilic’s number so I can try out for the national team.” I boasted as we retreated inside.

“Very funny.” Niko said sarcastically as we all grabbed something to drink.

“Jesus Bella, I never knew you were such a jock.” Alex laughed, as I hugged him.

“What you just saw was history, two of the finest Croatian soccer players were just owned by their friend.” I told him catching my breath.

“They let you win.” My brother chuckled as we all sat around the table and started talking.