Bienvenue From Hell, Mon Amour

“I’m really worried Geri, she’s been sitting there for the past 3 hours since I got her from the airport, just staring, I don’t even think she’s blinked yet. I’ve never seen her like this over a guy, a guy Gerard! Sergio is just a guy, but when he gets back he’ll be a dead guy, he broke my best friend! Real and La Seleccion better start looking for a new right back.” I could see Addison shaking Gerard out of the corner of my eye while they both watched me from their deck. Any other time, what Addy said would’ve made me laugh beyond control, but not today, not as I sat in the sand, staring at the ocean in Barcelona while he was with her, in Paris. I let a tear slide down my cheek, not bothering to move to wipe it away.

Dicen que el amor es hecho en París, bien yo espero matanzas de París ellos los dos. (They say love is made in Paris, well I hope Paris kills them both.)

I think you’re living in denial
Oh can’t you see she’s pretty wild
And every night I pray, that you don’t knock her up
Cause I still want to be the mother of your child

It’s been a week since Sergio and I decided to end things, it was more his decision than mine. I knew it was because he was scared of commitment, it upset me that he couldn’t talk to me about it and instead decided to end our relationship. I could tell he felt differently after Geri proposed to Addy, he thought I would start pushing him, but I wasn’t going to, he still left. I did the whole recluse thing that whole week inour house, Sergio had been gone for some Real business that week, so he wasn’t home, but as soon as I knew he was coming back, I flew over to Addison in Barcelona, not wanting him to see me this way, especially after the news I heard about him going to France for a bit. She also insisted that I come over because I wasn’t safe being alone, I had already injured my hand punching the mirror in our bathroom. Staying with my best friend was the only option I had at this point, not that it was a bad one, but I hated others seeing me like this, especially since I wasn’t just staying with her, but her fiancé, Gerard, as well.

They say “l'amour est a Paris”
So she’s planned a little trip to France.
While she’s in anxious anticipation
I really hope you have a horrible vacation.

I watched a couple walking hand in hand down the shoreline, heading past Geri and Addy’s house. I couldn’t keep the silence in any longer; I had been quiet since I’d gotten here. I kicked my legs and slammed my fists in the sand as I let out a nice scream of frustration thinking about Sergio and I walking, fingers laced, only to have that image ripped in half to reveal Sergio and that girl walking down the Champs-Élysées in Paris, hand in hand. The couple that were walking past looked at me oddly and I just glared at them as I stood up, dusting the sand off of my body and heading inside my best friends house. I by-passed Geri and Addison standing by the balcony door on the deck, Gerard’s arm around Addison’s waist. Geri gave me a reassuring smile while Addy just gave me a sympathetic one. I brushed past, walking into the house and heading straight for the freezer to grab some ice cream. I grabbed a spoon, hearing the two of them walk in and slide the glass door shut. I went around the counter and into the living room, sitting right in front of the television, carton of ice cream ready to be devoured in front of me. I turned on the screen, hearing Geri set his feet up on the table I was leaning on. I let out a deep sigh as his face flashed right on the screen, showing him smiling, getting on the plane with that girl. I silently repeated to myself as I swallowed the spoon of ice cream I had just placed in my mouth. “I will not break anything in Addy’s house, I will not break anything in Addy’s house…” I repeated this under my breath until I heard Gerard clear his throat.

“You can throw that bowl…my mother got it for us, and I really don’t like it.” I turned to Geri as he gave me a smile, getting up to grab the crystal bowl that sat atop one of the tables in the corner of the room. I turned to see Addison in the kitchen, probably making dinner. Geri handed me the bowl and winked, tilting his head towards the balcony. “Come on, I’ll go with you.” I took the bowl in my hand, holding it like a child. We walked outside, Gerard telling Addy that he was going to talk to me outside. She smiled at him and turned back to the stove. We walked around the deck to an area behind the house by the pool that had a concrete ground, knowing the bowl wouldn’t break if I threw it at the sand. “I’ll clean up the mess, you just break it, I know with Sergio he can be stupid at times, and I’m sure it helps if you break something.” I smiled up at Geri, nodding. I looked back down at the bowl in my bandaged hand, feeling a jolt of pain remembering how it felt to break the mirror in our bathroom. I held the bowl above my head and lunged it towards the ground as hard as I could, hearing a satisfying shatter and little crystals flying everywhere. I smiled a wide grin as I looked back at Gerard who had placed his hand on my shoulder. “Feel a bit better?” I nodded again, not up for talking and gently hugged him. He sloppily hung his arms around me, letting them drop when I pulled away. “Come on, I think Addison made a quick dinner tonight, and we can watch a movie so we don’t have to see anything on t.v. I walked behind Geri as we entered the house to a flustered Addison.

“Where’s the bowl your mother gave us? I need it for the soup.” Geri looked away, never able to look anyone in the eyes or in the face when he was hiding something or lying, and I just shrugged my shoulders. “It’s alright, you were bound to break something, at least you chose something I wasn’t madly in love with.” We both let out a sigh of relief as we sat around the dinner table, Addison deciding to just bring the pot of soup to the table rather than pouring it in a bowl. I fell asleep during the movie and couldn’t help but to dream about Sergio in Paris, but it was a happy dream because I dreamt that everything was going wrong for him while he was there because he was honestly miserable without me.

And so you think of me when you arrive
Hope the French fleas eat you both alive
And your room smells
And the toilet doesn’t flush
And the locals treat you mean
And the service takes too long

Cause I’m fragile, and you broke my heart in two
But you just smile like it’s all the same to you, to you.

”I love you.”

“I love you too, mi amor. I promise, I will never leave you. You’re the only one I want in this life. Mi vida es completa con ti.” (My life is complete with you.) He replied before he kissed my stomach. I pulled at his hair, sending him climbing back up my body to kiss my lips. I tangled my fingers in his hair as he moved his kisses from my lips to my forehead and down to my neck. I flipped him over on our bed, lying on top as he rested his hands at my waist.

I sat up in bed in the guest room I was staying in down the hall from Addison’s room. I looked in the mirror sitting on the dresser across from the bed. There was a body missing next to me, and no matter how much I wanted to hate him, I couldn’t, I just wanted him back…but I didn’t…did I?

When you learn your lesson
Come back like a prodigal son
Read the big sign at the airport
Bienvenue from Hell, mon amour

Where did you get the ability
To make fake promises to me?
You are exactly like a politician
Need everyone’s approval just to see if you’re doing right.

And I hope you freeze under the Eiffel Tower
So you end up throwing in the towel.

I looked at the clock seeing it was 10 in the morning, knowing that Addy was probably downstairs already, and Gerard had left for his training for the day. I got up and got ready, heading downstairs soon after. “Morning, Mar. Sleep well? I had Geri take you upstairs, hope that’s fine, you looked uncomfortable on the floor.”

“Yeah, thanks nena.” She smiled and brought me a plate of chocolate chip pancakes, making me smile up at her while I took a seat at the kitchen counter.

“I know they’re your favorite.”

“You’re trying to make me happy, aren’t you?”

“And forget about him.” She turned to me, bringing a cup of orange juice. My smile dropped a bit as I played with the pancakes on my plate, thinking of how Sergio used to wake up earlier than me on his days off from training and make me breakfast.

“It’s going to be hard with his face everywhere I turn, and every little thing reminding me of him.”

“Six years is a long time to be with someone. I didn’t think he was that scared of commitment, and Geri proposing was no push at all to him, I just don’t understand…” She trailed off as I finally took a bite of my food.

“Was it that obvious that was the reason? How did he get over me so fast though? That chick has probably been working him nonstop at the stadium, she is the PR for Real anyways, she has access to him whenever she wants.”

“I highly doubt he’s over you. I know guys like Sergio, he probably didn’t give that girl the time of day, and when you guys split, he needed something to fill that gap, trust me, it’s a huge gap to fill, but he needed something for the time being, and knowing that she was into him and that he wouldn’t have to try with her, he went ahead and got her. That just has to be it.” I nodded thinking her theory was probably correct, Addy was always right.

“But do I want him back? Do I want him back just so he can run away again?” I looked up at Addison from my plate as she stood in front of me across the counter. She smiled at me, analyzing. She’s always analyzing me, one thing I couldn’t do was lie to her through my expressions or actions, she could read me like a book, see through the bullshit no matter what.

“Yeah, you’d jump on that the second you saw him.” We both laughed as I shook my head.

“I don’t think so, it’s gonna take a little more than his pretty body to get me back.”

“Who are you kidding?!” She practically hollered out with laughter. “No, you’re right, but you’re gonna have a hell of a time fighting the side of you that wants you to say no to him, I can tell you that much.” I nodded, acknowledging that that much was true. “The question is…how long will it take for you to trust him completely again?” I thought about it, knowing that it would take a while, but not as long as Addy was thinking.

Hope you’ll miss me
And someday you’re gonna see
That I put my trust in you
But you turned your back to me

Cause I’m fragile and you broke my heart in two
But you just smile like it’s all the same to you, to you

Addison and I had gone out shopping for the day to get my mind off of Sergio. The only problem was that Sergio also enjoyed shopping with me…there was no escaping him at this point, he was everywhere I turned, but at least in Barcelona, I wasn’t constantly seeing his face on billboards, that was the only thing I was thankful for, that he was pretty much a sworn enemy in this part of the country, and I couldn’t help but to smile at that fact when I would see Geri or Messi’s face on a billboard rather than Sergio’s or Iker’s. After a late lunch we chose to go home, done with the paps following us around, especially asking me why I was in Barcelona when Sergio was in France with another girl or if it was official that Sergio and I were over. I couldn’t help but to cry in the car on the ride back to Addy’s place. “It’s not over and you know it. No llore para Sergio mi querido.” (Don’t cry for Sergio my darling.) I nodded and wiped the tears away as she pulled into the neighborhood.

“You’re right, you’re always right.” She smiled and patted my knee with her free hand.

“And that is why you’re so smart, because you know I’m always right.” I chuckled as she let out a light laugh. “Weird, Gerard’s already home.” Her face scrunched up in confusion, but she soon shrugged it off as we grabbed all the shopping bags from the back of the car. “Geri?” She yelled as we entered the house. There was no answer as she placed her keys on the table at the entrance and we placed our bags down on the floor, walking into the living room to find Gerard pacing in front of the television, chewing on his thumb. “Geri?” Addy questioned again, this time catching his attention as he stopped pacing and turning towards Addison and I. He dropped his hands to his side, walking over to me and placing his hands on my shoulders.

“Sergio’s in Barcelona, Maral. I tried to stall him, he’ll be here any minute, he knows you’re here and he wants to talk to you. I think he’s finally grown up.” Geri said with a slight smile. He found me, and he flew to Barcelona to get me, he hates coming to Barcelona unless it’s for a match. I know it wasn’t hard to guess where I had gone, but still, he came here, to get me.

“Why’d you stall him?” I asked Geri confused. He dropped his hands from my shoulders and had an odd look on his face.

“Actually, I’m not sure…I think it was because I wanted you to know he was here before you just saw him…I think that was it.” What a goofball. I patted him on the arm.

“Thanks Ger.” As if it was meant to be, there was a knock on the door as soon as I had dropped my hand from patting Gerard’s arm. Addison turned to me with wide eyes, her jaw dropping.

“Come on Geri, upstairs we go. Don’t answer the door till you hear me shut the door!” She harshly whispered as the two of them ran up the stairs into their bedroom. I heard the door slam and another knock on the front door. I swung it open while Sergio’s fist was still up, mid knock, ready to accidentally knock me in the face. I flinched back a bit with how close his hand was to my nose, only to earn a chuckle from Sergio as he stood on the front steps with one hand in his pocket.

“Lo siento de espantarle mi amor.” (I’m sorry to scare you my love.) He pulled his hand back down and put it in his pocket, rocking back and forth on his heels. I shook my head free of my thoughts and moved out of the way, inviting him in. He nodded his thanks and walked into the house, looking around as I shut the door behind him. “So, Barcelona?” We both chuckled, I knew he felt uncomfortable here, if any Barca fans noticed him, he’d be dead, never mind that he’s a star for the National Team…he’s still the enemy when La Liga starts and International games end, which is the case right now.

When you learn your lesson
Come back like the prodigal son
Read the big sign at the airport
Bienvenue from Hell, mon amour.

I ran into Sergio’s arms as he held them open, welcoming me in. Not a word was spoken; I inhaled his scent as I nuzzled my nose in his chest. I could feel him doing the same as he nuzzled his nose in my hair. “I’m so sorry, I was scared, and I didn’t know what to d-“ I stopped him mid sentence.

“Shh, I know.” I looked up at him from his chest as he looked down at me with a sad face.

“I couldn’t even enjoy France, as soon as I got on the plane, everything went to hell.” I couldn’t help but to smile inside thinking that my dream I had about everything going wrong for Sergio in Paris was actually true. “Some people are just rude.” He whispered as he rested his cheek on the top of my head.

“That’s cause you didn’t go with me.” I teased as I squeezed him tighter around the waist.

“Verdad.” (Truth.) He whispered as he separated us and pulled me towards the living room by my hand. He lied back on the couch, pulling me on top of him. I rested my head on his chest as he stroked my hair. “I didn’t know what to do after Gerard proposed to Addison. I saw the way you looked at them when it happened, you were so enthralled in all of it.”

“Because she’s my best friend, I was happy for her!” I replied back, a little confused as to where he was going with this.

“I know, but you were looking as if you wanted that too, right at that moment. And I can’t imagine being with anyone else, Maral, but I just felt like a lot of pressure was put on me all of a sudden because of that.” I looked up at him, resting my chin on his chest as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Sergio, mi corazón, I’ve been with you for six years, I’m sure I can wait a little longer.” I smiled as he placed his hand on the side of my face.

“You don’t have to.” He pulled his other hand up, holding a ring between his thumb and index finger. I squealed and sat up, lightly bouncing up and down on top of him as my legs still straddled his waist. He placed the ring on my finger , careful not to hurt my bandaged hand, and I grabbed his face between my hands, giving him a longing and passionate kiss.

“Hey! No sex on my couch!” I unlocked our lips, placing my forehead against his, both of us smiling, my hair keeping our faces hidden as it fell around us.

“Te amo nena.” Sergio whispered before kissing my nose. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind, so I sat up to see Addison holding me.

“I said no sex!” She laughed only to be followed by an ear-piercing scream as I held my right hand in front of her face. She quickly hugged me, pulling me off of Sergio and having us land on the floor, rolling around in a hug. “I’m so happy, I knew it would work out, you’re getting married!” She yelled as I just laughed. We stopped and sat up, straightening our clothes as we watched Sergio and Gerard fist bump and smile at each other, Sergio saying something along the lines of ‘thanks for the help’. Addy and I both looked at Geri with surprised faces. Both speaking at the same time.

“Wait, you knew?!” We both pointed at Gerard in astonishment that he had kept the secret. He nodded, smirking at us. Addison was the first to jump on him, playfully punching him while he caught her in mid air, holding her up as she continued to punch him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” She whined.

“Because you would’ve told Mar.” He replied. She stopped and nodded.

“You’re probably right. I can’t keep a secret from her…kinda like Sergio and Fernando, don’t tell either of them anything if you don’t want the other to know.” Addy pointed at me knowingly.

“Oh I already know.” I replied as Sergio pouted and crossed his arms.

“Not true…okay yeah, I would tell Nando.” We all laughed as I walked back into Sergio’s arms on the couch, sitting on his lap while Addison and Geri joined us. Sergio started telling the both of them about how he found the ring, but I was already lost, staring at the ring on my finger and Sergio’s hand that was laced with my left hand. I studied his fingers and memorized the way his body felt against mine. He nonchalantly brought my right hand up to his lips and kissed my injured knuckles as he nodded and listened to Addison talk. I was still engulfed in my thoughts about him. It was good to have him back, and I never wanted to let him go.

When you learn your lesson
Come back like the prodigal son
Read the big sign at the airport
Bienvenue from Hell, mon amour

Passengers with destination
Passengers with destination
Passengers with destination to Hell
Please proceed to your gate
We are ready to board now.