Fabio's POV
I walk up the stairs to see if Julie is okay. When I hear her talking to Yara.
"I think Fabio is scared to be alone with me. I mean, I've been raped. Every man would be scared to do or say anything. And I've had or still have cancer, what if he falls too deep and I die. I'm fragile, I get it", I hear her say. I try to blink away the tears that are coming, but some make their way down my face. Does she really believes that? Do I make her feel that way? I want to be alone with her. But I can't just say no to everyone.
"That's bullshit", I hear Yara say, crying. Why is she crying? "He's already in too deep. He loves you. Everyone can see that. And I've been there, if you don't spend time together, you will both regret that". What does she mean with 'I've been there'.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't say this stuff to you", Julie almost whispers. Yara suddenly walks out, past me, down the stairs. She has tears in her eyes and looks pretty broken. I follow her down to make sure she doesn't walk out front and does something stupid.
She walks out back and sits on the terrace.
"Hey, you okay?", I sit down next to her.
"You should make sure your girlfriend is okay", she sounds broken.
"Why are you crying?", I decide to ignore her words.
"If Michael was still here, I would be with him every minute of the day", she continues. "But he isn't. She is, you know", she looks up into my eyes, "she's still here. Why are you so distant to her. Why do you invite everyone over. You just need to be there for her. With her"
"Michael was your boyfriend?", I ask after a few moments of silence.
She nods, "He died. But she isn't dead. And she probably won't die anytime soon. Her cancer is gone, it's 99,9% sure. I know how scared you were when she was brought in last week and that she didn't wake up right away. But she's here. And she's healing"
My tears start to fall down my cheeks again. She's right, I know she is. But I'm just really scared.
"You say I shouldn't invite more people to stay. But she invited you.. she's doing the same", I say a little confused.
"Yes, but she didn't invite me because it would be good for me. She says she did, but when I told her you two should be alone. She said that if we leave, there will be other friends coming over, or you will visit them. She said, you can't do peace and quiet"
"She said that? She really thinks that?", Shit, I screwed up. She believes I don't want and I can't be alone with her. "I think she did invite you because it would be good for you though. She isn't selfish and she never would ask you to stay because it would be better for her. Please believe that", I tell Yara.
"Would it be okay for you if you were staying here with Tony tomorrow and maybe tomorrow night? I think I need to have a day with my girlfriend"
She nods, "I think so too. Go check on her, I don't know if she's feeling okay"
I stand and walk back to the stairs. I see Tony sitting on the couch, awake now.
"Hey, is it okay if we don't do a training session tomorrow? I need to spent the day with Julie", I say looking down. I don't like to let people down.
"I've had enough training for the rest of summer break. Maybe I'll go relax at the spa", he really isn't used to this kind of training.
"If you go, take Yara with you. She could use a massage and some relaxing. They can put it on my tab", I go back up the stairs in search for my beautiful girlfriend.
I find her in the new walk in closet. She's busy unpacking her suitcase. I can see she has been crying, she can probably see that I've been crying. She doesn't look up, but knows I'm there. "I've asked my mom to send my stuff to my house. I'll be going home next week to sort through it and I'll sent some things here, if that's okay for you?"
"Ma Chérie", my voice is hoarse and uneven. Not like it normally is. Julie looks up surprised. "Please sit down", she does as I ask and I sit down on the ground in front of her.
"I.. I heard you talking to Yara, earlier", I say slowly, "and I've just talked to Yara"
"I shouldn't have said those things. I'm sorry. I should apologise to her too", she stands.
"Please sit down", I say. I look down to the ground. "I think I should apologise to you. I give you the feeling I don't want to be alone with you. But that's not true. I'm really bad at letting people down, I guess"
"I've made all these plans months ago. And I don't want to cancel them and let all those people down"
I look up and see Julie with her head in her hands.
"Ma Chérie, talk to me", I softly stroke the back of her head.
"It's nothing. Just a headache", she mumbles, she looks up, not looking in my eyes.
"It's more than that"
"I just feel like I'm a burden in your busy, planned life. Maybe we should just put this on hold or something. I can join Yara on the same plane back home. Than you can continue your planned, busy break like normal"
No. No, no, no. "You want a break?", I feel my heart break.
"Maybe", she looks the other way.
"If you want that, we should. But it breaks my heart", I sit with my head on my knees for a few seconds.
Julie doesn't say anything else.
I slowly stand on my feet again. "I wanted to spend the day with you tomorrow. Just the two of us. But you don't have to, if you don't want to"
I walk to our room. Well, maybe just my room. Take some clean boxers and take a long hot shower. I don't know how to fix this. I don't know if I can.
What can I do if she doesn't want to fix this. If she doesn't give me a chance.
Julie's laying in bed when I walk back in.
"Do you want me to sleep somewhere else?", I hesitate at the door.
"Do you really want to spent a day together?", she looks at me.
I nod, "yeah, I asked Tony to relax a day by himself. He wants to take Yara to the spa. I told them we'll be out all day and maybe night"
"Where are we going?", she sits up slowly. I don't know yet. I have to think of something. In Andorra we can't really do much. We could hike in the mountains, eating out, shopping. But with her health, I don't see her hiking or shopping all day.
"Maybe Barcelona? It's only a two hour drive. We can just enjoy the day, getting some lunch, relaxing on the beach, eating some dinner and getting some nice suite for the night?", I suggest.
I see her hesitating and I sit down on the edge of the bed.
"If you don't feel like it, it's okay. If you want to go home, you can. But just know I really want you to stay and I want to spend time with you. I love you", I tell her softly, I put on my clothes and walk to the door.
"I'm gonna watch some TV. If you need anything just text or call me and I'll come"
I walk down stairs and join Tony and Yara on the couch. They are watching some kind of movie. We don't really talk but it's nice.
After a little while Julie comes down, she's wearing my shirt and shorts. She sits down in front of me, on the lounge part.
"Come", I softly say, opening my legs so she can lay in between them against me. And luckily she does. It instantly relaxes me.
I go with my hand through her hair, twirling curls around my finger. Being careful around the wound.
Suddenly Tony speaks up, "why do you have a bald spot on your head? And a wound?"
My hand freezes on top of her head, and I feel every muscle in Julie's body tense up at the question.
"You don't have to answer, you know that right?", I say softly.
"You are one of Fabio's close friends, so you should know. You know I fainted and was in the hospital, right?", Tony nods, looking cautious at Julie and me. I interlock the fingers of our hands together, squeezing softly.
"Well it was because of a tumor in my brain. I already had treatment for thyroid cancer and they took that out as well. So yeah, that's why I have a bald spot and wound", she sighs, laying her head against my chest.
"Cancer? Really? I get your nerves and protective side now. That's why you were constantly watching your phone these last few days?", He looks at me and I nod.
"I was really scared of losing her, but luckily she's getting better, my strong girl", I say pulling her closer.
"I get that you're not sharing this with everyone. But know that there are people talking. And because of the dizziness and the fainting, people are saying you were or are pregnant with Fabio's baby", Tony says slowly. I knew this, it's all over the Internet. But I haven't talked to Julie about this. And I don't think she's been looking at her phone.
I have been getting messages from Pecco and Luca, and I know they have been texting her as well. And her mom has been texting me every few hours today. And don't get me started on Tom. He's asking for hourly updates and when I don't, he calls.
"They are really saying that?", her face becomes pale and she tries to get out of my grip. "You knew?", she asks me.
"It's all over the Internet. Know that Maider is busy getting the articles down. And I want to make a statement on my social media when you are ready", I say determined. If I already have a plan it maybe is a little bit easier on her.
"But first you have to focus on yourself. Then you need to answer all your friends and family, who messaged you and then it's time for social media"
"But all my social media is open for everyone to see, so who knows what they are saying or doing", she sounds like she's starting to panic.
"I already put all your social media on private. That's all taken care of. So please try to stay calm"
"Sweetheart, breathe. Just focus on breathing. Fabio is taking care of everything for you", Yara says slowly. Julie nods and takes deep breathes in and out.
"It's all gonna be okay, I promise you. Trust me, we're in this together and we'll get through", I whisper in her ear.
"Okay, but can I see it?", she asks in a small voice. Her breathing still heavy but slowly getting back to normal.
"Tonight. When we're in bed, we can look at your phone", I tell her, before pulling her back against me and kissing her cheek. Letting her relax a bit.
"I want to go to Barcelona tomorrow", she whispers after a few minutes. Tony and Yara are back watching the movie. Not paying attention to us.
"I'm glad, me too", I grin, kissing her just below her ear. "Can I book us a hotel?", I ask whispering. I see goosebumps raising on her arms. She nods.
I take my phone and find the website of the W hotel in Barcelona. I've never been, but it's one of the best they say.
"I'll be right back", I whisper before going outside and calling the hotel.
I book the best room available and give them my credit card details.
Inside I sit back down and pull a blanket over Julie and me.
We relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.