prologue.

he knew her as a child; small, sweet, fragile. a girl who was the light of her father's eyes.

the little girl with eyes a deep blue like the ocean and auburn hair styled into a bob with a hair clip on the side sat at one of the benches with a book on her lap, what seemed like a box of crayons in the other. though she was concentrated on her book, she looked impatient as though she didn't want to be there. she looked maybe ten years old, her face had yet to lose the childish roundness.

erik thought to brighten the child's day, but he didn't know how.

he thought hard about it. what could cheer up the little girl? then he remembered. his family had gone to euro disney that weekend, erik was unable to go because of training, and they brought him back some sweets.

a mickey mouse shaped swirled lollipop that he had in his training bag because he was determined to eat it after training, possibly spoiling his appetite that day.

he went back to the locker room to get it and hid it behind himself as he returned to the little girl. some of his team mates were already on the grass, warming up. the little girl looked up and erik caught a small hint of gold tint in her ocean blue eyes. "what are you doing here, little girl?" erik began in a soft tone one often uses when speaking to children. "where are your parents?"

"daddy says i shouldn't talk to strangers." she stated matter-of-factly.

"your dad is a very wise man." erik nodded. "speaking of him...where is he?"

"arabella!" the concerned voice of someone called. as there were no other females in the vicinity, erik automatically assumed the name belonged to the little girl. 

a big smile brightened her face and she jumped up from her spot on the bench to run past erik. "daddy!" she yelled in a voice that was so full of love and even admiration. erik turned just as she passed him to see she hugged a man he knew well. golden blonde hair, thick black rimmed glasses, an authoritative figure which made him straighten up his posture. he was the head coach of the team and the little girl was his daughter. being only sixteen years old, erik felt intimidated by his presence. it didn't help that the head coach was shooting him a glare that if looks could kill...

"uh..." erik coughed. "i wasn't bothering your daughter, sir. i was just wondering why there was a little girl sitting here on her own. i just wanted to help because she looked so bored." producing the large lollipop from behind him, he saw just how the little girl's eyes filled with excitement. "i also thought she might like something sweet. my parents brought it from euro disney." he knew he was rambling, but he also wanted everything to be clear. he offered the candy to the child and she took it happily, muttering a joyful 'thank you'.

the man nodded, "that's fine, erik. i just don't like arabella talking to people she doesn't know. especially when i'm not around."

"i understand." erik assured him. with that he went to join the others for practice.

and for one year he was like an older brother to her, he cared about her. he often left candy or small presents for her on the bench where she filled in her coloring book until one day she just stopped showing up altogether. erik found out she was at another training ground, waiting for her father who was now managing a new team.

it was seven years before he saw her again.

-

okay so just a quick note.

in order for this to make sense, i have altered the universe in which this happens only slightly. jurgen klopp managed FSV Mainz 05 from 2001-2008. Erik Durm played there from about 2010-2012, so the story wouldn't make sense. 

and so i decided to place erik as having been part of the FSV Mainz 05 youth team in 2007, which is one year before klopp resigned. and that ends up making the story valid logically.

so yeah.

there's the prologue.

from the very start our two protagonists met.

chapter one will come no later than next friday because i still have a few things to finish before the end of the semester at the university and those are my priority.

*and yes, i know. the coach's daughter. its been done so many times before. but i hope to make this different that other stories out there. so i hope you all have a nice time reading it.

thank you.

i love you.

-clary xx