Ruben and Carla have grown apart. With Ruben's career taking off he leaves Portugal to live the life of his dreams, breaking Carla's heart doing so. Years later, upon his return home, Ruben learns that Carla has moved on, happily engaged to another man, but not any man, Ruben's childhood bully João Mendes.

Enjoy!

It was good to be back home. Although he loved Manchester, Ruben didn't feel like there was another place where he could truly relax like he did at home in Portugal. It's where he had his core, his family and friends.

"You must meet Santina, a lovely girl. You remember Santina, don't you Ruben?"

He had barely gotten to unpack his suitcase before his mother had him escort her to the market, introducing him to every girl she thought eligible to become his future wife.

"Mamãe." Ruben sighed. "I'm sure she's lovely, but can we just let Simba poop and go home." Simba, the family Caniche, looked tempted to do her business underneath someone's fruit stand if Ruben didn't get him out of there soon.

"Fine." His mother said. "Just let me say hello to Gloria."

Ruben tagged along, with Simba trailing his steps. The Fernandez family owned a salon in town. For years it had been the only hair salon in Portugal that Ruben allowed to touch his hair. He was very picky as a child, some people even went on to call him sick. However, back then Ruben found it intimidating having strangers touch him. However, the Fernandez' were like family.

"Gloria!" Ruben's mother exclaimed, to which a woman carrying scissors turned around and frowned. "Bernadette?"

"Gloria! Long time no see. Look who I brought."

Ruben trailed into the salon behind his mother. There were only women occupying the chairs and if Ruben wasn't mistaken they were all looking at him with nothing but cheer disgust.

"Ruben?" Gloria said, her initial frown now a half hearted smile. "You're...here?"

"Olá senhora Fernandez." Ruben smiled. He smiled because she reminded him of her, of Carla. Her resemblance to her mother was impeccable.

"You're....here." She repeated.

"Isn't it lovely?" Ruben's mother budged in. "Ruben is preparing for his tournament with Portugal this summer and decided to surprise us."

"How...lovely." Senhora Fernandez mumbled, eyeing Ruben skeptically.

"How about you Gloria?"

"Me?" She frowned. Ruben's mother tended to get a little overexcited when he came to visit. It was a little embarrassing, he thought. But then again it was his mother who was simply proud of her son and what he had achieved with his life.

"Yes, you. I heard your sister was in town, are you having a little family gathering of your own?"

"Oh, yes. I guess you can say that."

"Really, does that mean Carla is back in town as well?"

Ruben stiffened besides his mother. Senhora Fernandez looked to have done the same. "Actually, no." She said, clearing her throat. "Carla couldn't make it this year."

"No? What a shame." His mother said. Even Ruben felt something falter within him. He hadn't seen Carla in years. He thought about her often though, sometimes too often. And he hadn't forgotten, he would never forget their promises to each other. When the time came, if the time came, he would ask her to be his wife. Ruben was certain that he would.

"But you know how it is." Senhora Fernandez said, still with the same serious demeanor. "Carla is very busy these days, with the planning of her wedding and all..."

"What?" Ruben exclaimed, or perhaps it was his mother.

"Little Carla is getting married? I had no idea." She gasped. "Shame on you Gloria, you never tell me anything these days."

Senhora Fernandez's eyes darted at Ruben who looked a bit lost for a moment.

"Did you hear that Ruben?" His mother said, nudging him back to life.

"Huh?"

"Little Carla is getting married. Oh how time flies. I remember when the two of you used to play around the house when we still lived on the south side, don't you remember Ruben, how you and Carla used to play?"

He remembers alright. How could he forget?

The first time Ruben met Carla Fernandez was in the fifth grade. His father had gotten a new job and Ruben and his family had just moved to town. Ruben and his brother Ivan were expected to start school right away and Ruben still recalled his brothers speech on their way there:

"Remember, if any of the kids give you trouble for being the new kid, just call on me and I'll take care of it."

"Take care of it, how?" Ruben wondered. However, back then his brother was known for never backing out of a fight. Ruben was the opposite and often stood by as his dad held his brother accountable for starting trouble at school.

"Don't worry about it Ruby." His brother said, tousling his hair and sending Ruben on his way.

Ruben hated school, mostly because at that age he had buck teeth and was terribly shy to show them off. Not speaking was the best way to hide them, so for a long period, before he got braces, Ruben withdrew to only speaking when spoken to. However, it was mostly the teachers that would ask him questions, other students ignored him completely, seemingly because they thought that he was strange, that is, until the day Ruben met Carla.

"I forgot my pen, can I have one of yours?"

"Huh?"

Ruben kept his head down for the majority of his classes, avoiding any kind of eye contact with his teachers and classmates. On this particular day however, a pat on his shoulder forced him to meet the eye of a bright eyed girl.

"I'll give it back to you, pinky swear." She had turned in her chair, waving her finger in Ruben's face.

"I don't.....I don't know what that means?" He stammered.

"You've never pinky sweared before?"

Heat rose to Ruben's face. "No." Even more heat scold his cheeks as Carla leaned forward, grabbing his hand. "Like this." She said and forced Ruben's left pinky to unfold. "My cousins says a pinky swear can't be broken, ever."

"Ever?"

"No. That means I'll give you your pen back right after class, deal?"

"Okay." Ruben grabbed a spare one out of his case, handing it over with trembling hands.

"Thanks Ruben." She said, to which he perked up. He was left staring at the back of Carla's head for the remainder of that class, as he could not take his eyes off of the only person at school who had called him by his name, smiling at him as if it was a joy speaking to him.

"Where are you going Dias?"

"Yeah, why in such a rush Dias?"

Ruben's brother was right about some boys wanting to give him trouble. Perhaps Ivan was aware of what a target Ruben was in the earlier stages of his life, when he did not have the courage to stand up for himself. On the same day he met Carla he was also introduced to the school bully João Mendez and his friends. They chased him on his way home, calling him names such as dysfunctional and mentally Ill. Luckily Ruben was fast and got away, however, he got home and did not know how to deal with his frustration other than to repeatedly kick a ball into the backyard fence. This Behavior worried his mother. Ruben's father, however, understood to let him be. It wasn't until later that the two of them thought of signing Ruben up for the local football team, until then there would be many afternoon's where he found himself in the pursuit of kicking down the backyard fence.

"Ruben, honey, there is someone at the door for you."

Except for being introduced to his middle school bully that day, Ruben had also been introduced to his best friend and later his first love. Out of sheer joy and surprise, his mother invited the girl from next door inside, and in Ruben's case it had been the first time someone had come over to seek him up.

"I couldn't find you at school." Carla smiled, a smile that mended all pain that he had locked up inside. "Here's your pen." She said, handing it over to him, keeping her promise. "We're neighbors." She added. "Perhaps we can walk together to school tomorrow?"

Ruben's lips were dry as he struggled to speak, he was terribly embarrassed and sweaty from kicking the ball against the fence. Luckily his mother came to the rescue.

"He would love that! You're such a sweet girl, so well mannered."

"Oh, thank you Senhora Dias." She waved. "I'll see you tomorrow Ruben."

Tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. That day was truly the beginning of their story, The beginning of Carla and Ruben's love story.

"If you don't mind me asking...." Ruben's mother said, as the news of Carla's engagement certainly fueled her curiosity. Ruben however, was getting impatient. A need to escape Senhora Fernandez salon and kick a ball against something, anything.

"Ask away." Senhora Fernandez said, perhaps knowing exactly what questions his mother sought the answers to.

"Who is she marrying, little Carla I mean?"

Ruben didn't know whether to stay or run away, nevertheless his feet wouldn't budge as Senhora Fernandez carved a crooked smile, undoubtedly directed at him. "João Mendez." She said, the words like shattering glass to Ruben's ears.

"I see." His mother nodded. Ruben however, found no words to cope. He needed to see Carla and he needed to see her now.

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