Love's Requiem

“So can you bring me back one of those hats?” Jack asked me over the phone.

“What hat?”

“You know the fur hats?”

“Oh of course, sure any thing else you want?” I asked him writing down the hat on my list of things I had to buy in Russia.

“Real legit vodka.”

“It’s amazing how everyone of you said that.”

“Even Alex?”

“Uh”

“You’re not talking to him are you?”

“Well I am, but well its complicated,”

“You’re still upset that he had the balls to bring Lisa to your place?”

“If you know all the answers, why do you ask?”

“Look I’m pretty sure they’re not together. I mean I think that he only did that to try and make you jealous.”

“When are you going to stop sticking up for him?”

“When he stops being an ass and you and him get married or something?”

“So I take it when pigs fly?”

“Maybe Marky can bring the shirts to life…” He mumbled.

“Anyway, I got to go and see my parents for dinner and to leave Zita off. I’ll talk to you in a
week.” I told him.

“Okay Bella, have fun and have a safe flight.”

“Will do, bye Jack.” I said hanging up and heading to get ready for my parent’s house.

“Can you like get me autographs of everyone but Niko and Luka?” Niko asked me while we were eating.

“If it doesn’t embarrass Niko in doing so, sure.” I smirked

“I can’t believe you’re meeting Bilic before me.”

“I can’t believe her and Niko are back together again.” My Mom mumbled.

“I can’t believe she’s actually with a real Hrvati now.” My dad went on.

So, when my brother found out what had happened between Alex and I he may have spilt the beans on everything. Needless to say, they expected it and were only slightly disappointed.

“Niko and I are not together, we’re just friends that’s all.” I said correcting them.

I heard my mom mumble to my dad in Croatian, followed by the two of them chuckling as they brought out coffee.

“Is Jesse driving you tonight?”

“Nope, he left this morning for Texas. I’m taking a cab.”

“Bullshit, I’ll drive you. What time is the flight?”

“9:05”

“Well it’s 5 now, so I take it we should be getting a move on don’t you think?”

“Okay, okay.” I chuckled as we finished out cake and helped my mom clean up the table.

“Have fun Bella,” My mom said giving me a kiss on my forehead, and a tight hug.

“Stay safe, call us when you get there.” My dad added, hugging me tightly.

“Will do, I love you take care of my dog.” I told them as Niko and I left.

Niko followed me home in his car while I drove back in mine. Traffic wasn’t bad surprisingly, so I didn’t have to rush when I got back in.

“You’re not really going to wear that on the plane are you?” Niko asked while I was rolling
my bags out of my room.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you have at least 12 hours of travel time on a cramped plane and you want to
wear heels, and some girly outfit?”

“I see your point, I will be right back.” I told him darting for my room as I heard him laugh to himself.

I quickly changed in to black sweatpants, a dark pink long sleeved shirt, as well as a purple hoodie, and a pair of comfortable sneakers.

“Better now?” I asked my brother as I came out pulling a black beanie over my messy hair.

“You tell me,”

“Does feel more comfy to not be in any super tight clothing.” I nodded as I wrapped a scarf around my neck, put on my coat, and threw my backpack over my shoulder as we headed
out.

In a matter of hours I was on my flight to London, slowly falling asleep to the sounds of Radiohead on my ipod.

“You seem well rested.” Niko smiled as I hugged him after heading out of my gate.

“7 and a half hours of sleep will do that, how are you?” I asked him, as he leaned down and gave me a kiss.

“A little more optimistic now.” He smiled.

“Is Luka at the gate already?” I asked him, as he took my hand as we headed to our gate.

“Yup, holding us seats.”

“Is there anyone else with him?”

“Bilic is flying from Split.” He chuckled.

“I wasn’t just inquiring about him.” I told him making him laugh. “I’ve never been to Russia
before.”

“I think you’re going to like it.” He nodded as I saw Luka’s head over a seat in the waiting area.

“Mr. Big head!” I shouted in Croatian as Niko and I sat with him.

“There she is,” Luka smiled giving me a tight hug. “How was the flight here?”

“Good, good, how are you?” I asked him.

“Can’t complain, will be better once we get there and we’re in the hotel so I can sleep before training.”

“What?” I asked confused looking at Niko.

“Because we have the game tomorrow, we have to have two small training sessions this afternoon, and tomorrow morning.” Niko explained.

“So what do I do while you’re there?” I asked.

“Hang out with the wives if there are any.” Luka chuckled.

“Great,” I said sarcastically.

“Isabella, I have to go you know that.” He told me.

“No, it’s fine I’ll probably sleep and shop or something.” I assured him, trying to be positive.

“Come on Isabella, maybe I can sneak you in to training.” Luka joked.

“That should be interesting.” I laughed, as they began boarding our flight.

Niko slept for the flight, while Luka and I played card games and hang man.

“So how was Christmas with him?” Luka asked me quietly.

“Really good, has he said anything about it?” I asked curious if he had fun or not.

“Barely shuts up about it, lately.”

“Good, I hoped he had a good time.”

“Do you love him?”

“Of course I do.”

“You know what I mean,”

“I don’t know, I mean being with him makes everything good again, without him everything starts to crash around me at times.”

“All I needed to know,” He smirked with a nod.

“Vanish any of those ideas you have in that big head of yours.” I warned him.

“You know all these comments about my head being big really hurts my self esteem.”

“You really expect me to believe that?”

“It was worth a shot.” He chuckled.

Three hours later, we landed in Moscow, and man was my teeth chattering from the cold. We checked in to the hotel and headed to the room to get settled in before we headed to see if any of their teammates had arrived yet. The room Niko and I were in, was down the hall from Luka’s.

“So I’ll come back here when I finished settling in, okay?” Luka asked as we walked off the elevator.

“Yes sir, Mr. Big head.” I told him, making Niko chuckle.