Chapter 20.

Lukasz POV

It doesn't take me long to find her. As soon as I look up, there she is, looking radiant as usual and staring right back at me. My chest fills with air, and it feels like my whole body inflates with it as I struggle to get my eyes off of her.

Cecilia seats next to a few of the girls, a warm smile on her face. Even though there's no grand gesture acknowledging each other, I feel connected to her. The fact that she's here for me, with me, is one I've never even dreamed would feel so good.

A small smile for her later, I focus my attention back on the game.

This game against Wolfsburg isn't a particularly important one. We're pretty much set on second place in the league, regardless of the outcome tonight. Of course we don't want to put a mediocre performance, but with the Champions League final looming, the league is hardly on anyone's mind.

For me however, this game means so much more. I am very aware of my situation and of what Klopp and I agreed would be my role tonight, yet I can't contain myself. I won't be able to take it easy today — not while she's watching.

I'll have two weeks to recover from tonight. I want to do this. I need to. The one game that Cecilia comes to see me play is not going to be one with a half assed performance on my part.

We get a good start when Bender serendipitously gets one in on the 5th minute. Unfortunately, it doesn't build up to anything else. It was an effortless try, and we don't manage to create much more after that.

In theory, Wolfsburg shouldn't give us too many problems, but it seems like one of our defender, Felipe Santana's head is far away from this stadium, which opens up a few gaps defensively. I find myself having to stretch to cover for several slips that almost translate to goals before the 30th minute.

I try my best to keep the attack going on the right flank. I want us to secure our 1-0 lead until halftime at least, especially since Klopp insisted I will only play for 60 minutes.

Regardless of how hard I try, I can't cover for Santana every single time, and on the 38th minute, Wolfsburg striker, Perisic, scores right under his foot.

Karma.

Apparently, Perisic is on a vendetta, having had no luck when he played for us. He's out to prove himself, and he does — he's practically unstoppable. He scores again on the 41st and the 43rd, leaving everyone speechless.

I'm pissed.

Felipe is caught napping a couple more times before half time. Mats yells at him on our way to the tunnels, and in our locker rooms, Klopp does a bit of yelling too. I can't do any yelling though, I just try to keep focused on my breathing and on stretching my leg.

Before we go back in, I approach Klopp. There is no way I'd let him sub me off when we're losing 3-1 — not when Cecilia is on those stands, watching me. He agrees to check at the 60 min mark to see how I feel then.

Felipe gets subbed off at half time, and our game shifts positively. Feeling more secure with our defense, I start playing more aggressively on the attack, aided by Reus who shifts to the right and seems intent on making something for this game as well.

It takes a while however, and when the 60th minute comes along, we're still losing 3-1. I pretend I don't hear Klopp the first couple times he calls me. I'm not a good liar, and Klopp knows me very well. Still, when I can't ignore him anymore, I wave him off, signaling I'm okay, in spite of the twinge I've started to feel in my hip, even under the painkillers.

I don't dare to glance at Cecilia now. She knows of my agreement with Klopp, and I am sure she'll disapprove of me playing the whole 90 minutes.

The thing is, after the CL final, I don't know how long I'll be out for, or what chance I will have to play for her… to play at all. So I stay — I stay, and I give it my all.

At least Reus is cooperating. He does not give up either and on the 71st min, he scores through my cross. The kid is amazing. He brings the energy out of nowhere, and on the 88th minute, he wins a free kick and scores it flawlessly.

Everyone seems content with the draw. I, however, am not. I keep trying, keep pushing, but at the final whistle, the game ends 3-3.

I am a bit frustrated but overall okay with the result. I, at least, did my absolute best.

Klopp says a few words while I ice my hip… not that it helps… not today. I can feel it already as I cool down, today is going to hurt, and only a shot will help.

My teammates hover over me. Apparently I outran Manni Bender, which doesn't happen very often, and everyone is making a huge deal out of it. I don't pay much attention to any of it, and once they settle down, I wait for the medic to take care of Reus first — his pulled abs seem to be still bothering him.

I sit with my leg stretched, muscles tense, and my entire body sore. It's all quickly forgotten though when she walks in, flanked by Kayla, and their eyes roam the room. Kay points at Mats, who is at the other side of the room. Cecilia smiles politely at her, but I know that smile — that's not who she was looking for at all.

I try not to stare as he hugs her, but I can't help the sinking feeling in my stomach. I look down, trying not to intrude, but it takes a monumental effort to do so. How did I manage to look at them before? I honestly don't know anymore.

When I look up, I'm met by astonishing green eyes. On its own, my body shoots up from the bench, forgetting about my hip altogether. The pain that fires from where my hand tightly grips my side, up my back and down my leg, serves as a reminder of my condition.

I try to keep a straight face for her and stand still. It's all in vain though because her eyes immediately show concern. I take a deep breath while she moves closer. As she stands right in front of me, her fruity smell fills the air around me.

She crosses her arms over her chest, cocking her head to the side. "Is that your version of taking it easy?" she asks. She's trying to be mad at me, but her melted green eyes betray her, showing nothing but warmth and concern.

God, how I wish I could hug her right now.

One quick look at everyone around us, I move away from that thought.

"I guess I got a little carried away." I shrug with a smile, trying to be as casual as I can. I just need to get the cortisone shot so I can get through dinner and then hopefully spend some time with her.

She sighs, not amused by my attempt at a joke. "Are you okay?"

My hand leaves my hip and reaches towards her. As subtly as I manage, I run a quick finger down her arm, over the denim of her jacket, desperate for some kind of contact.

"I will be," I say, trying to reign myself in. I did not anticipate that not touching her would be so difficult. "Was your flight okay?"

She nods and looks around, a bit nervous perhaps… distracted, for sure. This isn't easy for her either.

My eyes follow hers as she spots Kayla who is looking right at us.

"We'll catch up over dinner," I offer with a smile, getting her attention back to me.

She smiles back as our eyes meet, trying to communicate everything we can't say with words right now.

"Okay," she says with a tiny nod. Her hand reaches for mine, giving it a little squeeze.

She leaves after our short exchange, and I slump back onto the bench with a grunt.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Fortunately, the time with the medics goes by quickly, despite the pain. They do everything in their power. I even get the cortisone shot, but nothing seems to be really working today, and the constant pain emanating from my hip is barely manageable when I make it to the bus.

Reus is in my seat animatedly chatting with Mats. I make my silent way to them, my full energy and focus solely on walking straight.

When he sees me, Marco shoots up from the seat. "Ah, Piszczu, my man." He gives me a little punch on my shoulder. It's not much, but I still need to suppress a wince. "It's nice to know not EVERYONE on this team plans to slack off before the final." He raises his voice on purpose, so that the whole bus listens. I ease myself into the seat next to Mats, a hand clasping my side, trying anything that helps.

"I hope Ribery was watching," he adds through a laugh. "Actually, I hope he wasn't!"

I look at him as he retreats, smacking Kevin's head on his way. I wonder how he can possibly have so much energy while I am dead on my ass.

"Oh…" Marco comes back, hanging from the seats in front of us. "We're all going out after dinner. You coming?"

I shake my head at Marco automatically, shifting in my seat.

Who would have thought sitting down could be such a curse? I guess it depends how long you've been up, but today… standing hurts, sitting hurts, how do you win with this thing?!

"Cee Cee coming?" Marco turns to ask Mats, and I freeze.

"I don't think so," Mats answers swiftly, unaffected.

"Why not?"

"I think she said she wanted to stay in… I don't know." Mats isn't even looking at Reus as he flips the pages of the magazine in his hands.

"And you're not staying with her?" Reus laughs, looking at me in disbelief.

Fuck.

"I told you already," Mats continues calmly. "We're just friends now."

"Right…" Marco laughs again, gesturing at Mats but still looking at me.

I shift uncomfortably again, but this time pain shoots up my spine, making me wince.

"You okay?" Reus frowns.

I nod, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths.

Shit, this is bad.

"I thought you were getting the shot," Mats turns to me in concern.

"I was… I did. I don't know… It didn't work." I run a hand down my face, and when I open my eyes, Reus is still looking at me, his frown deepening.

"I'm fine," I tell the kid, and he relaxes slightly. As the bus starts moving, he goes back to his seat.

However, I'm not fine. Not even close. The shot obviously didn't work. I should be numb by now, but everything is still hurting… and it will only get worse. I'm not even sure I can get through dinner like this anymore.

"It might just need a bit of time," Mats whispers, patting my knee as I close my eyes again, focus on my breathing, and try as much as I can to relax.

Cecilia is here though — she came because of me. Whether the drugs work or not, I am not missing tonight with her. My brain will just have to work extra hard to numb out the rest.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~