Status: Complete

When Does the Pretending End?

Chapter 7- Did I Hear That Right?

Cristiano's Pov

No sooner had the words left my mouth, then a tiny hand crashed against my cheek. I stand shocked as she storms off to her car. Wow for a small girl she has one powerful smack. With my hand to my cheek I turn towards Nuno. He shakes his head and gets into the car. “Couldn’t just buy her a cup of coffee” Nuno grumbles. “She had a point” he continues “poor me for having you as my cousin”. “Jackass” I hear him say.

The following morning I head to training. Yesterday’s incident surely has made the news. I spent most of the night thinking about how crazy everything that had happened. Hugo phoned last night to hear what happened. He couldn’t stop laughing. I didn’t tell him about getting a slap from a girl. I stopped telling the story after the police arrived.

“Morning” I hear as I walk to the changing room. “Hey Wazza, all set for training” I say. “Yeah, my knee should be ok” he says as we walk into the changing room. “Hey Ronnie, I need a favour” Nani pops ups behind us. “Last time I did you a favour I ended up with some of my shirts torn up” I say. “I brought you replacements. Ok I have a friend who has a blonde friend” he grins at me “fancy dinner tonight”. “I’m not sure, I’m trying to stay away from blondes” I grumble as I open my locker. The place falls silent before a burst of laughter erupts. I pull out a black remote toy car with its windows smashed.
“Very funny” I say. “And I thought going couch shopping with Rebecca was a bad day” Rio pipes up. “Mich Richards would want to be careful next derby game” he continues. He holds up the paper “looks like Ronnie here has gone all hero like on us.” ”What” I say grabbing the paper. I begin to read the article. It said how I calmed down a crazy woman who had smashed my car. It even explained how Mich was involved and how he didn’t do anything to stop the incident. Wow from what I was reading I was a saint and Mich was the devil. How the hell did this happen? I think to myself. “Lets head outside boys” Giggs says. I’m about to head out when my phone rings. It’s the police the want me to come down to the station today to “tie up some loose ends”.
After training I decide not to go out for lunch instead head I head straight to the station. My inbox is full with texts from all my family. Word got over to Portugal apparently. “My poor baby, you should have told me what happened. I’m proud you stopped her from hurting someone” one texts read. Máe. She would be proud if I made my bed God love her. “Wrong car, ha ha, it would only happen to you little brother” read Elma’s text.
When I reach the station I see a group of people standing outside. I see Lucy. Tina is hugging her and shouting at her as an older guy pulls her towards a nearby car. Another guy stands behind Lucy. He’s wearing a grey suit and wraps his arm around Lucy’s waist. She leans back into him. I wish I could see her face. She stood in her yellow sundress talking to Elena I think her name was. Lucy turns and I see she looks upset. The guy plants a kiss on her forehead and I clinch my phone in my hand. He looks towards me and I immediately put the phone to my ear. Hell the last thing I needed was an angry boyfriend looking for a fight I thought as I quickly walked into the station’s reception.
An hour later I walk outside to see Lucy and suit guy still talking. She hugs him and he gets into his black Mercedes. She walks to her car and puts her head in her hands as she lays against it. “Should I expect a visit from your boyfriend soon” I say as I approach the car. She looks up and I notice a definite frown appear on her face. “He’s not my boyfriend and I don’t need anyone to defend me, I’m well able to do that myself” she says. “Ya I got that” pointing at my cheek. “You two just look at bit cosy” I continue. “He’s Tina’s’ brother and my boss not that it’s any of your business” she says to me. Not the boyfriend really interesting I think.
“So, they let your friend go” I say to her as I lay against the car. “Her father is taking her to London. Hopefully she’ll get help” she says as she stands up straight no longer leaning against the car. “How are you doing?” I ask. She looks me straight in the eyes and smirks. “Well lets see”…. She begins to pace up and down….”my closet friend has been arrested, is facing jail time, has taken drugs, oh and not for the first time apparently, I’ve barely slept, I’m now covering my boss’s work so he can deal with his sister and to top it all off I had a guy try to treat me like a prostitute” she stops right in front of me “does that answer your question, darling”.
“Feel better after that rant” I say “and I didn’t treat you like a prostitute” I finish I stand looking at her face. “Tell yourself whatever makes you sleep at night” she says her hands crossed against her waist. We stay there in silence for another 10 minutes not talking just watching the world pass by.

“I’ll do it” I hear her say.
♠ ♠ ♠
Has Lucy made the right choice?