Confusion | Erik Durm + Marco Reus

"Are you gonna talk to her?" Mats asked, grinning.

Erik looked at his teammate, "I don't know. I don't even think I can find her anymore."

Only minutes ago, Erik scored Borussia Dortmund's last minute goal against Bayer Leverkusen. While he was celebrating, his eyes met another girl's, and he couldn't get her off his mind. After the game, he told his teammates (it was a much better idea in his head).

"Our little Erik's growing up," Roman teased.

"Hang in there, we'll try to help," Marco grinned.

Before Pierre could say anything, Erik cut him off. "Pierre, your ideas are crap."

The locker room exploded into laughter before everybody decided to shower.

****

"ERIK!" Marco and Sven greeted Erik during the morning of their next training session.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Is this her?" Marco showed him a picture.

The picture was taken the other day, when Erik had scored. There she was in her yellow-and-black jersey, cheering. She looked as beautiful as he remembered.

"Um, yeah," he said, conscious of himself turning red. "How--how'd you, um..."

"Mats told us exactly what you told him," Sven said. "How she looked and stuff."

"How'd you know that was her?" Erik asked.

They shrugged. "Lucky guess." Sven said.

"Oh, and, Erik," Marco said, "I've gotta tell you something about her."

"What?" Erik asked.

"She's my best friend," Marco told him.

Erik panicked. "Shoot, sorry Marco. I, um, I didn't know."

"She's my best friend," Marco repeated, "not girlfriend. I can ask her to go out with you."

"Hell no!" Erik said. "That's gonna make me sound creepy."

"It's not like you aren't," Sven grinned, earning a dirty look from Erik.

"She's siiiingle!" Marco sang.

"Oh man," Erik covered his face.

"OK, OK," Marco said, "I'm gonna tell her you like her. If you guys end up together, you owe me... um, I'll think about that. If not, then I owe you something of your choice."

Erik looked at his teammate. "OK, fine."

"But if you hurt her--"

"OI, REUS, BENDER, DURM!" Klopp blew his whistle at the three. "Training's gonna start! Come over here!"

As they were about to jog over, Erik stopped Marco. "Marco! What's her name?"

Marco looked back at him.

"Emma."

****

Emma picked up her buzzing phone. Her best friend's name popped up on the screen, and she accepted the call.

"Hey," he said once he heard her pick up.

"Hi Marco," Emma greeted. "What is it?"

"Can I come by later?" he asked. "I've loads to tell you."

She thought about it. "Alright. You can come at eight."

"Oh, thanks," Marco said, "I'll see you then, liebe."