Alex closed the door behind him when he left and I collapsed on the couch once again, wondering how things could go from disaster to great in a matter of a day and then back again.

The door opened and to my relief David got inside.

"How is he?"

"He's alright." He told me, sitting next to me. "Alex?"

"He is fine. Except he broke up with me."

"You're kidding right?"

"I wish... Let's not talk about it." I said, relaxing back on the couch. Most of all I wanted to sleep. "Um, do you think I could go see Neymar?"

"Maybe it's not the best idea..."

"Great, he hates me too."

"No, it's not that. He is... You'll talk to him in the morning."

"In that case... I'm going to bed. Hopefully I'll fall asleep right away, but I don't think I'll be that lucky."

"Alright. I'll see you in the morning." He said, giving me a hug. "And before I forget, tomorrow afternoon you are coming to Rio with me and Sarah."

"No, no David I don't want to spoil your date..."

"Sarah asked me to tell you. Not ask you, tell you." He said winking at me.

"Alright." I smiled.

I returned back to my room and as I had predicted I couldn't fall asleep. I almost felt numb, and the truth was that I didn't want to process what happened. Because if I did, then I would have to deal with how I felt about it too.

I heard a screech as my door opened. It was dark in my room and in the hallway so I could only make out a shadow.

"Who is it?" I asked, suddenly alert.

The shadow moved towards me and kneeled besides my bed. "It's me." Neymar said.

"Jesus Neymar! You scared the shit out of me!"

"I'm sorry." He said as I searched for the light switch. "No, don't."

"Is it that bad?" I asked.

"My face? No, no, it's not that." He said. Somehow he found my hand in the dark and placed his on top of it. I felt butterflies in my stomach, but my self-control took over and I removed my hand gently. "Ouch." Neymar said. "That hurt way more than the punch."

"Neymar..."

"It's okay. It didn't hurt nearly as much as the fact that you didn't come see me at all. I know you said we should keep our distance but..."

"David told me I shouldn't." I said quickly.

"He did?" He considered it for a second. "He was probably right, but I couldn't help myself."

"How are you?" I asked him.

"I'm great, really." He said.

"I'm so sorry for everything."

"Nothing that happened was your fault."

"Why does it seem like we keep saying that to one another? Like every other day?"

"I have no clue. Honestly. Scooch over."

"Neymar why are you here?" I asked him, as he tried to get comfortable on my bed. This wasn't good.

"Didn't we say we'll continue our Harry Potter marathon?"

"What?" I asked, before I remembered what he was talking about. "And where is Thiago then?"

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we watch it without him."

"Really?" I asked, searching for the light switch again. I switched it on and looked at him. His left eye was black and swollen, he could barely hold it open. "Oh Neymar..." I said, taking his face in my hands.

"It's alright."

"Does it hurt? I'm so, so, sorry. Alex was inexcusable."

"You told him about Juninho Liv. He was mad. I get it."

"I only did it to make him understand there is nothing going on between you and me. So that he'd know we weren't sneaking around behind his back."

He removed my hands gently. He sat up straight and turned his back on me.

 "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. I just... I wasn't aware of that."

"What do you mean? You explained it to Bruna too, right?"

"I explained it to Bruna quite well." He said, a tone of sarcasm in his voice. I didn't want to push it.

"Well that's good. But... we have to keep our distance from each other." I said. It hurt me to say it, but it was the right thing to do. And not just because of Alex but because I was no good for him. I had too much baggage and in the short amount of time I knew him, I could see that being around him was not good for him.

"This again!" He said frustrated. "I don't get why we have to do that!"

"How could Alex trust me again if we don't? How could Bruna trust you?"

"I don't care!" he shouted standing up.

"But I do!" I almost yelled.

He finally turned around to look at me.

"I see. Alright then, have it your way."

"Don't be mad please."

"I am not mad." He said. "I just... I wouldn't give you up for anyone. But it seems you won't do the same for me."

As he left I whispered: "I am only giving you up for you. Because you deserve better." But it was so quiet I didn't even hear it.

As I got ready for practice in the morning I felt anxious. The fact that things with both Neymar and Alex were horrible wasn't helping. I had to talk to Alex, I knew that, try to get him to forgive me. And as for Neymar? I knew he was right. I was giving up the one person I cared most about.

When my phone rang I was startled. It hadn't ringed in so long I almost forgot how it sounded like.

"Little sis!"

"Michael? Hi!" I said when I recognized my brother's voice. It was so good to hear from him.

"When Tobias showed me that video I couldn't believe it!"

"What video?" I asked but then I remembered. "You watched that?"

"Of course I did! Everyone here has seen it! I won't be surprised if it ends up on the local paper!"

"Oh my God."

"It was incredible! I had no idea you started playing again."

"I haven't. Or I have, I..." I started saying.

"Don't feel guilty about it sis. Anyone would jump at the opportunity. And you did good! Scoring and with an assist from Neymar no less!"

"Yeah, he practically served it to me."

"Don't be too modest. So how was it? Is Neymar as good as they say?"

"Oh Michael he's even better. I am actually practicing with him."

"What do you mean?"

"I am helping him, if you can believe it."

"You?"

"Yeah. I know it sounds weird."

"No, no that's not what I meant. I am so glad you are playing again Livvie."

"Me too. I missed it Mikey. So much. I didn't even know."

"Yeah..." He said, lost in his own thoughts. "So, I can't wait to come when the Cup starts. You will introduce me to the players right?"

"Of course. You are gonna love David!"

"David? As in Luiz?"

"Yeah, he's my best friend here!"

"David Luiz is your best friend?"

"Yeah..."

"Wow." He exclaimed.

"I've got to go Mikey, practice is starting soon. I missed you."

"Me too Livvie. See you soon. Love you."

"Love you too big bro.Bye."

When I closed the phone I felt better already. Michael had that effect on me. That horrible thing that had happened to us two years ago didn't make us grow apart. Instead we grew closer.

I walked to the cafeteria starving. Working out all the time had that effect.

"You sure have an appetite lately." David commented when I sat next to him.

I didn't say anything, I only smiled.

"You look happy. You never look happy. Oh my God what is wrong?" David said dramatically dropping his fork.

Thiago laughed.

"Michael called."

"Is that another boyfriend? I can't take this with you anymore!" David continued teasing.

"It's my brother you idiot."

"Oh right. The mysterious brother."

"He isn't mysterious."

"It's in your DNA." Thiago said.

"Thiago, Olivia is very easy to read." Neymar cut in appearing from behind me. His eye was still purple. "She'll be your friend until it makes things hard for her. Then she'll just drop you." He said and left.

"That was harsh." David commented.

"That was fair." I said taking a deep breath.

"I can't keep up with the developments on Olivar anymore!" David said.

"What?" Thiago and I both asked.

"Olivia plus Neymar equals Olivar."

Thiago rolled his eyes.

"Um, hello guys." I heard from behind me again.

I turned around and saw the girl that was holding Neymar's son the other day in practice.

"Hey there Rafa!" David said and everyone stood up to greet her.

"You are Olivia right?" She asked me.

"Yeah." I said.

"I am Neymar's sister, Rafaella. It's so nice to meet you. Neymar has told me so many good things about you."

"Thank you." I said, sure that Neymar saying good things about me was a thing of the past. Never to occur again. "You too."

"I would like to apologize on behalf of my brother." She continued glancing behind her to the table where Neymar and his father sat. Neymar was looking at us angrily. "He didn't mean what he said before."

"Why isn't he apologizing himself?" David asked her.

"He shouldn't." I told David. "It's alright." I told Rafaella.

She nodded and without saying anything else she turned around to leave as Alex came in. When he saw me he averted his gaze and passed by me without even acknowledging me.

"That's fucking great." I said sitting down, suddenly not hungry at all.

Practice flew by quickly, the only shock being Neymar's eye. Those that knew what had happened didn't say anything but to the rest of them Neymar gave a weird story about falling down and hitting his eye in the corner of the dresser in his room. I wasn't sure if the coaches believed him but fortunately no one wanted to push the matter further.

 When the practice ended I went for lunch with David and the others and before I knew it was time for practice with Neymar.