Confusion | Erik Durm + Marco Reus

chapter one

"Yup," she said before hanging up.

Emma had to wait for her heartbeat to slow before being able to work properly. It always began to race hysterically whenever Marco called her 'liebe'. She liked him, she was sure of that. What she wasn't sure of was if Marco felt the same. The endless possibilities of whatever could happen when they met drove her crazy.

****

"Emma!" Marco gave his best friend a hug as she opened the front door, making the butterflies in her stomach go crazy.

"Hey Marco," she smiled at him. "Come in."

She didn't need to lead him inside her apartment--he came by every other week (sometimes even for sleepovers). He came over more often than her family. It was like his second home.

He sat down on her couch. "I've eaten. No worries, liebe."

She sat down beside him and handed him a glass. "What's all this about?" she asked nervously.

"I'm sure you know Erik," Marco sipped from his glass.

She nodded. "He scored against Leverkusen two days ago."

"And you guys sorta, um," he said, "made eye contact or something?"

Emma nodded again. "I guess, yeah."

"He likes you," Marco said, "and he'd love to go out with you. Will you?"

Emma's heart sank. OK, that was a real sign that he didn't like her. He was asking her to date his teammate. If he did like her, would he even allow Erik to touch her?

"I'm flattered," she muttered.

"Come on," Marco grinned. "I saw a few pictures of him on your phone. It's a yes, isn't it?"

Without even thinking, she nodded slowly.

"Great!" he clapped. "I can take you to training someday and you guys can, um, talk."

"Alright," she nodded.

The footballer's phone rang.

"Hallo Mats," Marco picked up.

"Um, yes."

"I'm at Emma's."

"Yeah, her."

"Tournament? Now?"

"Oh, he'll be there?"

"I'll take her with me?"

"OK, I'll be there."

Marco shoved his phone into his pocket. "Boys are having a FIFA tournament, liebe. Would you like to come?"

After a few moments of awkward silence...

"Erik's there. You're coming."

****

Erik was sulking over his loss to Ciro when Marco and Emma entered the room. He tried not to be obvious about having a massive crush on her, and it didn't turn out so well once they introduced themselves to each other.

"Erik!" Marco called, grinning.

Erik stood up and nervously walked over to Marco and Emma.

"Hi," Emma smiled at him. "I'm Emma Holschaft."

Erik smiled back. "I--uh, I'm Durm--I mean, Erik Durm... I'm Erik. You, um, I think I saw you when, um... uh... when I scored."

She tried to stifle a giggle. He was ridiculously adorable as he stood there stuttering.