Let Me Be Your Hero

“¡Adonia! ¿Dónde el infierno es usted? ¡La cena está mejor lista!” (Adonia! Where the hell are you? Dinner better be ready!) Adonia shot up out of my arms as I slowly woke up next to her. She began to run around her room, grabbing a few things and shoving them in her bag real quickly, that was when I heard him yell clearly, knowing why she was rushing. “¡ADONIA!”

“Geri, we have to go!” She harshly whispered. I headed towards the balcony as she followed, first shutting her bedroom door. I could hear footsteps on the stairs and knew we were running out of time. Adonia was the first to jump across. I pulled her curtains closed behind me and shut the balcony door, jumping behind her. She jumped on my bed while I closed my balcony door. I shut it just as her father pulled the curtains open on her side with a shocked look as he saw my face. I smiled up at him as he opened her balcony door. I could hear him yelling at me, something about me not getting away with this, but I ignored it and closed my curtains on his red face, hoping he would lean over the balcony and fall over. I walked over to Adonia who was shaking from fear. “Did he look really upset?” She asked below a whisper once I got her to calm down a bit. I stroked her hair as I rocked her back and forth in my arms as we sat on my bed.

“Not as mad as I’ve seen him before…I think he was more hungry than mad.” I smiled at her, but she didn’t return the gesture, instead she just dug her head deeper into my side, if that was possible, and wrapped her arms around me. She soon fell asleep like that, so I laid her down in my bed, placing the covers over her. I pulled the photo out of my pocket, I had grabbed it as we rushed to get out of her room. I placed it next to a photo of us on my nightstand, sighing. It was late at night now and I wasn’t a bit tired, but I had training early tomorrow morning. I grabbed the extra blanket that was at the end of my bed and fell asleep on the floor with the television on in the background…the only thought running through my head before I fell asleep was how I was going to tell Adonia my news, and get her to come with me.

+++

I woke up to the sound of music lightly playing in my room. I got up and searched for the source, finding Adonia in the bathroom, pulling her hair up in a ponytail as she sang along to a slow song. She turned towards me smiling as I walked up to her, I guess she chose not to think about last night as she got ready for her day. “Morning Gerard, come on, dance with me.” Her smile growing, she walked over to me and grabbed one of my hands as I placed the other on her hip. She rested her head on my chest as I lightly laughed at us dancing in the middle of my room. “Don’t laugh, we have to practice anyways, your Barca banquet is tomorrow night.” I stopped dancing, causing her to look up at me. “Don’t tell me you forgot…you forgot didn’t you! It’s not even my banquet, it’s yours!” She started laughing as she backed away, shaking her head. “We’ll worry about it later, go get ready, we have to leave soon or you’ll be late!” She pushed me in the bathroom and shut the door, leaving me to get ready.

Would you dance, if I asked you to dance.
Would you run, and never look back.
Would you cry, if you saw me crying.
Would you save my soul tonight.

+++

The whole ride to school, Adonia talked about the banquet that was to take place tomorrow night. I was silent the whole time, too busy thinking of how I would tell Adonia my news, that I was leaving to England because I signed to play with Manchester United, and I wanted her to come with me. “Geri…Geri! Are you listening?” I shook my head clear of my thoughts and turned to her with a confused look.

“It’s just a banquet…we dress up and go eat, nothing to it…right?” She gave me a knowing smile and let out a sigh.

“You weren’t listening, were you?”

“They’re the same every year Adonia; boring. You keep me company, and as long as you’re going, then I could care less how the whole night goes.” I stopped the car, letting her get out at the front of the school.

“Whatever Geri, we can go home later and I’ll make sure all your things are ready for tomorrow, we both know your mother never has time to do anything.” She smiled and blew me a kiss. I sent one back and drove off towards the training grounds. I’ll tell her at the banquet, no, after the banquet, when we get home. We can sit on the porch swing in front of my house, she loves sitting there and watching the stars, it’ll be the perfect time.

+++

“What color did you get your dress again?” I asked as I dug through my closet to find my Barca tie and blazer. If I lost this tie, I was dead, it was a simple tie, just the maroon and blue Barcelona stripes, but it was a part of our uniform: the blazer and the slacks. I already gave the slacks to Adonia, who was in the process of ironing them, now I just had to find the blazer and tie.

“I found the tie…it was under your dresser.” Adonia walked up to me in my closet with the tie in hand. “And here’s the blazer.” She said as she grabbed the coat that I had just looked at. How did I miss the Barcelona patch on that one? I just smiled at her and left my closet only to get pushed back in by her. “You have to find the right shoes now. Black.” I rolled my eyes and started looking through the bottom of my closet.

“This is why I need you around, you see!” I yelled from the closet again.

“I know, I don’t think you could survive without me actually.” I scoffed at her statement, knowing she was only messing around…but she was right, I’d have a very hard time without her. “Alright, everything’s set for tomorrow.” She said smiling as she placed my clothes neatly on my chair in the corner of the room. I placed my shoes that I found by the clothes under the chair and put the ironing board away while Adonia set away the iron itself.

“You didn’t tell me what color your dress is yet.” I bounced on my bed as I sat facing her standing at my dresser.

“Maroon, to match your colors.” I grabbed her arms and pulled her down on the bed next to me, both of us laughing.

“You’re so smart with your perfect planning.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me as she quietly replied.

“Thanks for asking me to go with you, Gerard.” I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her back.

“Of course, Doni. I couldn’t imagine asking anyone else…and I couldn’t leave you alone to have fun while I’m bored to tears at the banquet.” I laughed as she pulled back, still smiling.

“Whatever, you could’ve had fun with the guys and other girls.”

“Never.” I gave her a smirk as she got up and grabbed her bag, walking towards the balcony. I dropped my smirk as she pulled the curtains aside and went to unlock the window to go to her room. I got up and reached for her arm. “Don’t go, Adonia, please. Just stay, we can sleep in, and I’ll make us food when we wake up, and we can get ready for the banquet, please.” I was gripping her hand a bit tight at this point and I noticed as her arm looked like it was losing circulation. I loosened my grip and let my hand drop from her arm to her hand, gently pulling her back. It looked like she was thinking about it, but she finally let out a sigh of defeat and dropped her bag by the window.

“He probably won’t even notice I’m gone.” She said as I walked us over to the bed. She sat under the covers as I sat atop of them, turning the television on for us to watch. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as she leaned her head against me. I breathed in that warm vanilla scent and let my head lean back in thought as Adonia continued to stare at the television.

+++

I woke up to distant shouting. I looked over at my bed, wondering when I had moved to the floor to sleep, to find Adonia huddled in the corner, her knees hugged against her chest. That’s when I heard the shouting again and a noise as if something was thrown against a wall. I saw Adonia flinch and whimper. I got up and pulled my shirt on off the floor, walking towards her. “Shh, shh, Doni, he’s not here, don’t worry.” She nodded slowly as I smoothed her hair back. I walked over to the window, pulling the curtain open slightly so I could see across. He had opened her curtain wide, the window still shut, but I could see him clearly, seeing as he had turned her light on, he was throwing around objects in her room against the wall and cursing, slurring really. I watched as he threw her lamp. Another crash and a whimper from Adonia. I turned to look at her from the window, still huddled in the corner. I turned back to her room, watching her father attempt to pick up her little nightstand by her bed, only to grab his back from the weight. He finally decided to give up as he sat on her bed, breathing heavily. He took her pillow and threw it at her window, the last thing he did before I watched him pass out and roll onto the floor…drunk idiot. I walked over to my bed and sat in it, cradling Adonia in my arms while she stared on into a daze. “Adonia, you’re safe, I’m here. He can’t hurt you. Yo le dije que yo no permitiría que nada suceder a usted. Mi querido, descanse justo, por favor. El no le puede conseguir ahora.” (I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you. My darling, just rest, please. He can't get you now.) I placed my hand on the side of her head, leaning her head against me, rocking her back and forth in a soothing manner. I couldn’t understand how anyone else in the neighborhood could sleep through all that noise. Maybe it was because I was accustomed to waking up to it to help Adonia, whatever it was, it needed to stop, for Adonia’s peace of mind, and safety.

+++

“Don’t come in yet! I have to zip it up first!” Adonia yelled from the bathroom as I stood outside the door, wanting to see her dress. We woke up midday; I didn’t mention anything about what happened in the middle of the night knowing that Adonia would talk about it if she wanted to. We went out to eat, making sure we had wasted enough time outside to ensure that her father had left the house. When we returned back home, I helped her clean the mess in her room and gather her things for the night. I was currently dressed…waiting for Adonia to finish getting ready so we could leave.

“Vamos Adonia!” I called from behind the door. I heard shuffling, her heels clicking on the floor, and a few curse words being muttered that a normal lady should never let slip out. I chuckled knowing that Adonia was normal lady. The door swung open, having me stumble a bit as I was leaning on the door. My eyes grew wide as I took in the figure standing before me. She wasbeautiful gorgeous. Her hair was in wavy curls, halfway pinned back, but to the side, letting them drop down over her right shoulder, her bangs swept down and feel to the side of her face. The bruise that was on her face had faded, and whatever was left of it was covered under the light make up she had brushed on. The dressed hugged her curves and fell long, trailing just a bit behind her, her silver heels standing out at the slit in the front of her dress that was cut from just a bit above her knee. She gave me a sideways smirk as she walked over to me, pushing my chin up with her hand.

“No drooling, Geri. Vamos.” I hadn’t even noticed that my jaw had dropped. I quickly followed Adonia out the door for my car. I found it a bit hard trying to concentrate on the road ahead of me when Doni was sitting right next to me looking the way she did. I kept turning towards her, smiling, she would just chuckle and tell me to pay attention to the road.

+++

The banquet was fun, I couldn’t help but to laugh at Cesc and Lionel’s faces when they saw Adonia, it was wonderful rubbing it in their faces that she was my best friend. I parked my car in the driveway as we both got out. “Come on Doni, let’s just swing, look at the stars.” She smiled, nodding and walking over to the porch swing with me. The lights in both of our houses were off, so we knew no one would be bothered by us. It took me a few minutes until I decided to finally speak, opening my mouth; only to close it and rethink the way I wanted to word what I was about to say.

“Just say it Geri.” She let out a little laugh as she finally turned to me. I looked at her; confused as to how she knew I wanted to tell her something. “You’re my best friend, I know when you have something on your mind, I’ve been patient, waiting for you to tell me, so go ahead.” I turned to her and took her hand in mine. She took the time to turn her body to face me, knowing this was important from my expression. Her smile dropped, wondering what I needed to say.

“Adonia, I’ve been signed to Manchester United, and I’m going to be leaving soon.” I couldn’t finish everything I wanted to say because I noticed her lower lip quiver and tears started streaming down her face.

“¿Usted me deja?” (You’re leaving me?) She quietly asked. I shook my head quickly, taking her face in my hands, wiping the tears away.

“¡Nunca! Yo…Adonia…yo…yo no sé cómo vivir sin usted…no puedo…yo quiero que vengas conmigo.” (Never! I…Adonia…I…I don’t know how to live without you…I can’t…I want you to come with me.) I looked at her, pleading. She placed a hand over her mouth. Shock, confusion, happiness, sadness…all of these emotions crossing her face as I stared on, waiting for a response. When she continued to stay silent, I knew she was fighting a battle in her head to decide, and I wasn’t going to push her. I still had time before I had to leave, but I wanted her to say yes…I don’t know what I would do if she said no. I sighed, shaking my head, knowing nothing more would happen tonight. “I still have time Doni, just please, think about it, we can talk about it tomorrow, but I want you to come with me…I…te amo. Te quiero en mi vida durante mucho tiempo. Quiero que sea el mío.” (I love you. I want you in my life for a long time. I want you to be mine.) I not only confessed that I wanted her to move with me to Manchester, but that I loved her, more than friends, and needed her to be mine, I wanted her to be mine. I didn’t know what to think as her eyes moved to mine, still shocked. All I could do was look into her eyes, only to be pushed back when her lips collided with mine. I closed my eyes, relaxing into the kiss, realizing that she felt the same way. She slowly pulled away as I opened my eyes. My hand that was on the side of her face found its way to her lips, tracing over them lightly with my fingers as she shivered under my touch. Letting a smile play at her lips, a little chuckle escaping as well.

Would you tremble if I touched your lips?
Would you laugh, oh please tell me this
Now would you die, for the one you love
Or hold me in your arms tonight.

“Te amo Geri.” She smiled wider and got up from the swing. “I’ll let you know in the morning, I have a lot of thinking to do.” I nodded, a small smile playing at my lips; thinking that at least one thing was answered. I watched her walk to her door and go inside the house. Once I saw her bedroom light turn on, I entered my house and went up to my room, changing my clothes and going to bed, ready to see what she decides tomorrow morning.