Sacrifice of the Heart 1 of 2

[tempered-rose.livejournal.com]

Title: The Sacrifice of the Heart, Part 1 of 2
Characters: Bojan Krkic, Pep Guardiola, Lionel Messi, OFC {Spain NT members in 2nd part along with Real squad}
Rating: PG-13
Words: 1680
A/N: I told nicole811 that I would write another one of these and so here I did. I know I could be working on my NaNo but, well…this popped out first. Um…it’s the fictional me again. And fictional me can do anything ;-) Why it is written in third-person when it’s me, I don’t know. But it is. Based on very recent events where I had to make a really big decision and it was VERY hard for me to do.



She was biting her thumbnail, anxiously watching the match. For a few moments she thought she knew what a traitor that was caught felt like. She had felt that way for a few weeks now, if not a few months.

Inside the biggest stadium in all of Europe, the sons of Barcelona were celebrating a win over Mallorca. The match had been a fairly easy glide for Barça, but the eyes of Spain and most of the world, were on the other great city in Spain. Madrid.

With every pass, every dive, and thankfully every save, she watched her other favorite team attempt to conquer the Vicente Calderon stadium. She watched in serious anxiety as half time approached. The match was in Real Madrid’s control, a two-zero cushion. Normally, she would not be concerned; but this wasn’t just another Spanish team. This was Atletico. This was the derby. They wouldn’t give up in their own stadium.

“You’ll have to choose soon.” The voice calls her back to the present and in the doorway stands the celebrated and distinguished Pep Guardiola.

“I know.” She says in a very pained voice. The truth was, she was avoiding the decision as much as possible. She did not want to have to make the choice. “I just…can’t.”

Pep invites himself into the room as Real scores a third goal. “Obviously, I cannot tell you who to choose. I would love it if you supported us and become a culé. However, I see how much this hurts you; I can only imagine the anxiety it causes.”

He hesitantly rests a hand on her shoulder as his eyes bore deep into hers. “The choice will present itself in time. If you choose your beloved Madrid, I can say it was an honest pleasure having you with us for the time you were. But if you choose Barcelona, I hope to see many more of those good times.”

She smiled sadly and nodded once. She had had fun, a lot of fun, while she had stayed in Barcelona. They treated each other like family around here. In Madrid they did as well, but not to the extent that Barça did. Perhaps that was what she missed the most, or perhaps it was the sense of displacement that had come over the club since the new names had been signed and huge sums of money had been transferred.

“Besides, you would make a certain young man very happy.” Pep winked and started for the door as the halftime whistle was blown in far away Madrid.

“Certain young man…” She repeated in English, thinking aloud in her native tongue. “Who are you talking about?” She asked Pep’s back. Pep turned and smirked at her before continuing out. “He’s the devil.”

She spared another look at the highlights in Madrid before she sighed and left the quiet room off the room adjacent to the locker room. She scratched at her head to relieve an itch as she caught sight of Messi.

“Hi Leo.” She calls softly and he smiles at her. “You did very well tonight.”

“Gracias.” He says with another smile.

“Good luck with Argentina.” She means it; she will be cheering for Spain, but she still wished him luck.

“Gracias, good luck to Spain as well.”

“Well, with a wizard playing for Argentina, we’ll need a little bit of magic.” She winks and he laughs.

“I’m sure you will do fi—hi Bojan.” Leo stops mid-word and greets his friend.

She looks over her shoulder and sees the shy boy staying by the door of the locker room. She smiles at him sweetly. “Hi Bojan.”

He seems to get a prod of energy at that and smiles brilliantly at the pair. “Hi Sarah. Hi Leo.”

She watches him approach for a second before turning back to Lionel. “Whatever the result, it’s going to be a great match.”

Leo smiles and agrees. “You’ll be there to see it…?”

“Of course.” She smiles brightly. “Somebody has to make sure that the squad is mothered around a bit.” She winks and laughs. “Well, I guess I had better get going. I have to make sure I have everything ready to go back to Madrid anyway.”

Bojan’s smile disappears instantly. “You’re leaving?”

“Well not today, but yes I am.” She started walking in the direction of the exit but stopped. She gets a confused look on her face and tilts her head. “You already knew that though…”

It seems to click for Bojan that she is talking about the National match. He recovers the same way a barefooted person tries to gain traction on ice. “Oh yeah, I did. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.”

She nods, not believing him for a second but lets it go. “I’ll see you later guys. Have fun. Play nice with the other kids.”

She turns around and starts for the exit again but not before she hears Messi call Bojan an idiot.



It is at the airport that she sees Bojan again. He came along with Messi to take the same plane as she was. Messi greeted her the same way old friends that have long since become comfortable with each other do.

“Ready to go Sarah?” Messi asks as time comes nearer to an end before boarding. Lionel is sitting beside the window, she was in the middle, and Bojan was on her side. They all watched the planes take off from the window as they waited to be called to board.

“Honey, I was ready to go back as soon as I left.” Her excitement was growing. She was finally going to see Iker in person again, and Raul, and the others. This is why she loved Madrid so much.

“Why did you?” Bojan asks quietly, shyly.

She turns her head and looks at him. “Well you see, there’s this team I like a lot and I decided to come see them.”

“I still can’t believe you like both teams.” Leo says and shakes his head.

She grimaces. “You have no idea how hard it is. I know I have to choose but I just…it’s so hard.”

Her look of sadness matches Bojan’s as another jet takes off.

“I’m going to the bathroom before we leave. I’ll be right back.” Leo excuses himself and heads for the restroom.

She lets out a breath and looks at her hands. “I bet you are going to be bored for a few days.”

“Oh, yeah I guess I will.” Bojan is pulled from his thoughts. She wonders what in the world he is thinking of that could have him so far away when he was sitting right here. Then again, Bo’s always been a little bit of a mystery.

“Well, just think of all the really cool video games you’ll get to play.” She goes for humor and it’s enough for him to crack a smile but nothing more. She takes his lack of humor for the lack of a call-up. “Hey Bojan, I know it sucks that you aren’t getting called up but, it will happen one day.”

He shakes his head; his sadness that had been barely hidden is out in the open now. “Not for me it won’t.”

She turns in her chair to face him and puts a hand on his arm. “It will. You’re too good not to be called up. But right now, there’s a bunch of really good players; they are more experienced.”

“In other words they are older.” Bojan says the word with contempt, as if it burned his throat on the way out.

She sighs and removes her hand from his arm. “Well, yes they are. But they will get older and the better, younger, players will replace them. That’s where you come in. And you will be just as good, if not better, than they are now.”

Bojan’s head comes up for the first time during the whole conversation and opens his mouth to speak but closes it. Finally he comes up with something. “Thank you. You always make me feel better.”

She smiles and nods. “Least I can do for you Bojan. I hate to see you look so sad all the time.”

He looks down again, bashful. When he speaks, it’s very quiet. “I wish you wouldn’t go.”

“I’ll be back.” She says in response.

“That’s not— That’s not what I mean.” Bojan’s voice is very quiet now and she has to strain to hear him.

“Bojan, I can’t choose.” Her voice is full of fear and sadness. “I can’t choose, it is so hard.”

His worried eyes meet her sad ones. He hesitates, as if on the very to say something very important. He struggles for a few moments as if debating to continue or to forget it. “I lo—”

“Sorry, I had to wait.” Leo interrupts and Bojan’s mouth snaps shut as Sarah’s eyes are deflected to the sudden appearance of Leo.

“That’s okay. It’s about time to go anyway.” The speaker system indeed starts calling out the rows of those that need to start boarding. Sarah smiles at Lionel before turning back to Bojan. “You were saying Bo?”

“Nothing.” Bojan is red now and trying to make himself as small as possible.

She finds him rather adorable in this moment and puts her warm hand across his arm and squeezes. “You change your mind and want to tell me, you let me know, okay?”

He nods feebly and she smiles softly at him. “Well, it’s time for us to go. Bojan, you take care of things around the fort, okay?”

Bojan nods, clearly still not recovered enough from his apparent embarrassment earlier.

“Come on, it’s time now.” Leo says reaching for his bag. “See you later Bojan.”

Bojan mumbles a goodbye to his friend and Sarah as they head for the gate. They show their boarding passes and then proceed to get on board. The last thing Sarah sees as she looks back is Bojan watching after them, a sad expression written all over his face.