Love's Requiem

“I have an interview but afterwards I’ll pick you up from the hotel.” Niko told me before he headed in to the locker rooms.

“Come big head, we must flee before anyone tries to jump me for his shirt.” I told Luka as we headed out of the stadium with the guys.

“So Belly now what?” Vinny asked me.

“Now we go back to the hotel, you all can do whatever the hell you want.” I laughed as we headed to the van.

“Driving with me?” Luka asked me in Croatian.

“Nah, I’ll see you later at Niko’s.” I told him, giving him a hug as he headed in the opposite direction.

I hopped in the van, while everyone talked to one another about the game and whatever else until we got back to the hotel. Once we were back at the hotel, Rian and Zack decided to go see a movie and go shopping. Jack and Vinny were talking with the other bands to see if they wanted to go out, and Alex was hovering over me as I started packing everything up just incase I decided to stay an Niko’s tonight again.

“I thought we’re not leaving till tomorrow morning?” Alex asked me looking up from his laptop.

“We are.” I said quickly packing up my backpack.

“So why are you packing everything up now its only 7.”

“Rather get it done and over with.”

“So do you know where we’re going tonight?”

“I know where I’m going tonight, I don’t know where Jack is planning on going.” I replied laying out clothes to change in to.

“And where is that?”

“Seeing Luka and Niko one more time before we leave.” I explained, as I grabbed my
clothes and headed in to the bathroom to change and get ready before he could come up with a smart-ass remark.

I really only changed my shirt, I kept the same jeans on and changed in to a light pink blouse, along with a black cardigan so I wouldn’t freeze. I was in the middle of switching out of my sneakers in to a pair of heels just as my phone began to buzz on the nightstand.

“See ya.” I said quickly grabbing my bag, phone, and jacket as I ran out of the room.

“Belly! We were just going to get you, where are you going all dressed up?” Vinny asked as I bumped in to him and Jack.

“See the goons before we leave.” I explained.

“Have fun!” I heard the both of them shout to me as I headed to the elevator.

“So have you made a shrine with the dick’s shirt yet?” Niko asked me in Croatian, as I got in to his car and kissed his cheek.

“Someone being a sore loser?” I chuckled, “Or just sore that he asked me out for drink?”

“He would have used you Isabella, you deserve more than that and you know it.” He told me, as I noticed he wasn’t joking around anymore.

“It really pissed you off didn’t it?” I asked confused.

“He’s a scumbag, you’re getting hurt enough by Alex you don’t need his bullshit on top of that. Now can we please change the subject?” He asked me.

“You played good today Niko, I was so proud of you.” I smiled as I put my hand on his knee.

“I could hear you screeching from across the field.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Did you have fun?”

“Of course, the first soccer game I went to with Luka since almost a year ago.” I smiled. “And I rooted for you.” I added.

“I saw, I saw.” He nodded.

“Luka took pictures cause he couldn’t believe I was wearing a Portsmouth shirt.”

“I still can’t, if you wanted one I could have actually have given you one of mine.”

“Nonsense! Besides, I think Frankie gave that to me for Christmas or my birthday.” I said trying to remember.

“Frankie?”

“He’s in Jesse’s band.”

“Oh,” He nodded.

We small talked until we arrived back at his apartment, just as we had gotten out of the car we saw Luka drive up the street as well.

“Maybe he’s a psychic. I mean that would explain why his head is so big wouldn’t it?” I suggested making Niko crack up as he put an arm around me while we waited outside the building for Luka.

“Don’t you look nice?” Luka joked as we got in to Niko’s apartment and I took off my jacket
and put my bag down.

“I figured we were going out, so I changed.” I shrugged.

The two of them looked at each other and laughed.

“What?” I asked sitting on the arm of the couch folding my arms.

“We’re staying in tonight Isabella.”

“But I’m hung- I’m cooking aren’t I?” I exclaimed.

“Hey you have to pay up for getting in to a game for free and your friends as well.” Niko smirked as I shook my head and headed in to the kitchen.

We cracked open a bottle of wine, and of course put on some Gogol Bordello as the three of us began catching up, joking around and of course cooking dinner together.

“So let me get this straight you fell of a dinosaur, and hit your chin?” Luka asked me while we were eating and I was explaining how I messed up my chin on the last tour.

“Yes, what is there not to understand?” I exclaimed pouring Niko and myself more wine.

“Maybe the fact that there are no more dinosaurs!” Niko exclaimed.

“Hey that’s not what Jurassic Park said!” I told them making them laugh, “It was a statue, we had went to go play Mini- golf and they had a dinosaur statue.”

“That now clears it all up.” Luka nodded, “How’s your brother doing?”

“Fine, annoying as ever.” I mumbled rolling my eyes. “When you both going to come see me in New York?” I asked them.

“Never.” Niko and Luka both said at the same time.

“You both suck.” I mumbled.

Around midnight, Luka decided it was time to head home.

“Isabella you need a ride back?” Luka asked me while he was getting his coat on.

“I think I’m going to stay a little later, I’m not ready to go back yet.” I told him.

“I offered, I’ll probably stop by in the morning to see you before you leave.” He told me giving me a tight hug. “You two crazy kids have fun.” He joked as he left.

“So Isabella, I’ve spent three straight days with you. Is there anything else going on that we haven’t talked about yet?” Niko joked as we sat on his couch and changed the song he had playing on his ipod.

“Well I didn’t tell you that as soon as I get to New York I’m planning to change my name to Bill and under go a sex change.” I told him in a serious tone as I looked through his ipod for something to put on.

“I always knew inside you there was a man.”

“That’s what she said.” I mumbled laughing.

“So how are you doing since last night?” He asked me seriously.

“I’m over it, like if this is what he’s going to do every time he gets mad at me he’s not worth it.”

“Could not have said it better myself.” He nodded, “Which reminds me, I have something for you.” He added getting up and headed to his room quickly coming back.

“No more presents!” I exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, this one was free.” He chuckled as he handed me a CD, “It kicks the one you
made me’s ass.” He laughed.

“I bet.” I said sarcastically as I put it on the coffee table. “Do you have training tomorrow?”

“Nope.” He answered me as I closed my eyes and let my head go against the couch.

“You don’t have a game either, right?”

“Nope.”

“Can I stay here tonight then?”

“Of course.” I heard him say as I felt him move hair off of my forehead, and kiss it softly.

“Niko?” I asked quietly, “Can we be together now?”

“You know we can’t.”

“I know I don’t want to leave you, that’s what I know.” I told him opening my eyes and looking at him.

“You’re still hurting.”

“No, don’t give me that.” I said shaking my head.

“We’re not having this conversation Isabella.” He told me shaking his head.

“I started looking for transfers to management companies here.” I confessed.

“I’m not letting you do this, end of discussion.” He said shaking his head.

“So what? I’m just supposed to ignore the fact that when I’m away from you it doesn’t feel right? I’m just supposed to keep going after a guy that plays mind games with me?”

“Why must we have this conversation? Why can’t we just have a good night together before you leave?”

“Because I don’t want to leave!” I exclaimed, as he shut me up by kissing me. “I hate when you do that.” I mumbled after he pulled away a few seconds later.

“It shuts you up, and calms you down.” He smirked, as he pulled me in to another kiss.