Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Samu's pov
Samuel was leaning back on the counter, looking tiredly at people dancing and kissing in the middle of the dance floor before the view caused a lump in his throat. The drink in his right hand gave him the relief he needed, even if it wasn't enough.
Knowing that he would finish high school, even if it took him another year of his life to study, had been the only news that cheered him up in the last few weeks.
Even more when he saw that this time, he would have his friends, Rebekah, Omar, Ander, Guzman, even Cayetana, beside him for whatever awaited them.
But as the first week of school went by, although he was doing well in almost all subjects for the first time and his friendship with the whole group, but mainly Guzman, was growing stronger, there was something missing.
Samuel felt it every time he got home and didn't see Nano sprawled on the couch or smell his mother's cigarette, which was soon followed by a hug or a kiss on the forehead from the latter.
Samu
Or the moment he woke up and thought he smelled her perfume on his pillow, holding and stroking it like it hadn't been months since she had slept beside him.
When he walked down the halls and saw a blonde girl walking by or with her back to him, stupidly making his heart beat faster, before he realized it wasn't her.
That it couldn't be Carla.
Because she was a long way from there. Taking her time to herself and probably becoming an even more successful woman than she already was, just like Lu and Nadia.
That little time they had before she was gone was the best of his life and he would never forget it. So Samuel was happy for her, he really was.
After all, how couldn't he be? He loved her, and letting Carla go, being glad and supporting her decision was the only way to show it now.
Samu
His brother had already been acquitted of the charges against him and although he and his mother decided to stay a few million kilometers from their home, so that they could live in peace and start over, Samuel was also happy for them.
Unfortunately, this didn't change the fact that his life seemed a little more empty without the girl he loved and his family. As ironic as that was since all he could focus before was justice for Marina’s death.
And with each passing day, with no messages from Carla and only a few calls from his mother, Samuel felt as if they weren’t coming back, because simply, not even he thought this was the best for any of them.
It was just not worth it. They deserved better and weren't obligated to talk to him at all.
Samu
What made him wonder if maybe it wasn’t time for him to learn to let go, to allow himself to forget. Anyone could see that someone like Carla deserved better and his family was only involved in all this because of him.
The best was that they stayed away and were happy without him.
Or maybe that was just the bad thoughts coming from the back of his mind because of the fact that he was drunk. Like, really drunk.
Well, it didn’t matter.
He would be fine as long as they were anyway.
The drink burning as it went down his throat ensured that to his mind.
“Hey, Samu!" Guzman's voice took him out of his thoughts as the other approached, putting an arm around his shoulders before asking. “What's the problem?”
“What?” He questioned, his tone more defensive than he would have liked.
Samuel hoped his friend hadn't noticed how he was drinking more than he used to. Guzman would needlessly worry, and he didn't want that.
“I've been calling you for a few minutes, joder," Guzman said worriedly and a bit angrily while Samuel continued to look ahead, preferring only to glance at his friend.
“What happened?” Guzman whispered a few inches from his ear, pulling his head closer with his hand now holding Samuel's back of the neck.
“Nothing.” He said with a fake little smile, taking the rest of his drink before turning to the counter and putting the glass on top, causing Guzman to lean sideways next to him, their elbows touching.
“What did you want to tell me, Guzman?” Samuel questioned absently, asking the bartender that this night wasn’t Omar, another two glasses of drink.
His friend didn’t seem convinced with his answer but he still responded.
“Omar and Ander just left with Rebekah and Cayetana, so I came to ask if you want to go with me. I can give you a ride,” Guzman grabbed the second glass before Samuel could, putting it in front of him and a little bit away from Samuel.
The act bothered him, for sure, but a sudden fear of his friend realizing what he didn't want him to know hit him, getting him nervous. He didn't want to disappoint anyone else important to him.
Not Guzman.
Not after everything they've been through together.
But Samuel also wanted a few more drinks. He wanted to numb the irrational pain, that for no reason pulsed with his heart.
No, he needed that.
"There's no need, Guzman, you can go." He said nonchalantly, couldn't bear to give another fake smile. "I'll leave in an hour or two".
No, he wouldn't. It was a blatant lie since he didn't even know how he was going to get home.
And he didn't care, not at all. This was clearly shown when he drank the drink in his hand, a momentary relief that only made his desire for more stronger.
Ordering three more shots, he crossed his hands and ignored the way Guzman's brow furrowed, but couldn't do so a few seconds later.
Not when his friend held his upper arm with his right hand the moment he went to drink one of the shots as soon as the bartender put them on the counter.
"It's enough for now, Samu, come with me," Guzman advised with a soft look but a firm grip. "Tomorrow we have to go to school and hangover doesn't match algebra class, don't you think?".
He knew that look of concern very well even though it had rarely been directed at him. It meant that Guzman wouldn't let go, not until he stopped and left this club.
That was how his friend was, for Ander and for Polo before. Puta mierda, he was like that even when the other was dying, Guzman wouldn't leave his side.
And Samuel had it too, but he was going to ruin it at some point. So why not now?
"Do you want to know what I think, Guzman?" He asked sarcastically, taking the other's hand away from his upper arm before turning to face him.
"I think you should leave me the fuck alone," Samuel snarled, picking up one of the drinks while maintaining eye contact, he drank a shot and set the glass on the counter.
"And that you should get out of here. Now." Samuel drank the second and third shots at once and did the same with them, feeling the burning and dizziness taking him for a second along with the feeling of numbness.
It was good, but not enough.
Facing Guzman, he saw his friend clench his teeth but not move, a wide variety of emotions passing through his expression and making it impossible for him to decipher. Or maybe he was too drunk to even see things properly.
It didn't matter, just that he got his friend out of there.
Then as a last attempt, he approached Guzman until his breasts were almost touching and took the drink that the other had taken from him before.
Samuel looked deep into his friend's eyes as he slowly drank the shot, daring him to do something until he finished and tapped the glass on the counter.
"And you know what, Guzman?" Samuel scoffed, patting his friend’s shoulder twice before bringing his mouth close to his ear.
"I think you should mind your own business from now on. It's not worth it. You better get this in your head while you can." He warned with a sad smile, glancing one last time at Guzman before turning and walking towards the bathroom, staggering and with his stomach churning.
Samuel hoped that Guzman wouldn't follow him and just leave. He didn't want to see what he would find in his friend's eyes and words.
All the disappointment, pain and anger, all because of him. He really was an asshole, wasn't he? The hypocrite, annoying kind of asshole, and maybe that’s what he deserved after everything.
Guzmán pov
He fisted his hands and clenched his teeth when Samuel gave him a sad smile before walking past him and staggering through the club, probably to the bathroom. Guzman glanced at the glasses on the counter with annoyance and concern, but also melancholy.
It hurt. Samu's last words were like stabs in his heart, hurting more than any punch would do.
But they also reminded him of when he was sinking into the same liquid as his friend, acting just like him. The burning and relieving of drinks were easing the pain of losing his sister and finding out about his father's crimes, making him go back to it every night.
The shots seemed to be his only way out of everything that was going on in those days. The more he drank, the more he needed it, and luckily he had seen that it had become addictive before something really bad happened.
Guzman managed to stop. He managed to do that in time, but Ander didn’t.
His friend sank deeper into the drink, trying to assuage his guilt and pain, and thus pushing the limits every time, until his body couldn't take it.
And Guzman had let that happen.
Maybe his friend could even have told the truth about Polo earlier if he had paid more attention to his situation, but Guzman made his choices.
It had been his fault for not seeing the signs, for practically ignoring Ander in favor of justice for his sister, and ending up forgetting those he loved and were still alive.
He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Not this time and not with Samu.
Someone he didn't want to lose too, that he couldn't even remember the time that they hated each other, so much that he cared for the other now. Guzman wouldn’t allow the same to happen to Samu, not while he could do something about it, be able to stop the other.
He had to act before it was too late.
Turning around, Guzman walked towards the bathroom, passing the crowd and trying to get there as fast as he could. He entered it, immediately smelling a strong smell of vomit coming from the cabins, which wasn’t uncommon but still made his instincts sound like sirens in his mind.
Looking in each cabin, Guzman reached the last and saw that someone had vomited in the toilet, seeming to quickly walk away from it. Samu could have just been here, probably too drunk to even think about what to do after throwing all the contents out of his stomach.
He needed to find him.
Analyzing the sinks, he saw that one of the taps was a little open and the floor around it was wet. So Samu had at least washed his face but by what he could see, the rest of his shirt as well. His friend must have been in a very bad situation when he left here.
He needed to find him before he could cause problems for himself.
Guzman looked at the two exits from the bathroom, the one on the right leading to the other side of the dance floor and the one on the left to the VIP area.
He really hoped Samu hadn't gone to the last one, but something told him that this was exactly the path he had taken.
Crossing the left corridor, Guzman arrived in the VIP and private areas of the club that he and the others had free access to because of Omar. A place that had been renovated and expanded after what happened there.
Polo's murder. The death of his friend and Marina's killer.
No, he had no time for this, he couldn't go that way now.
Guzman hadn't come here yet, only Ander had been here because Omar brought him but he intended to bring Samu, Cayetana and Rebecca next week.
It had been a really good idea that Omar had for the reopening of the club. It wasn't quite his friend's boyfriend style, that being said by himself, but the intention was to attract the attention of customers who paid well to be there.
And it was working.
There were several spaces lined up on the left wall, divided by darkened glass partitions with chandeliers above them that barely lit it up. The view overlooked the dance floor, which was separated from this area only by small stairs and stone balconies, which served as an entrance to the space.
In each private space there were oval leather upholstered benches, with small cushions and a large round table in the middle. The most expensive and desired drinks were brought here as soon as the rich customers asked, as well as the security guards, who were in greater numbers for obvious reasons.
Yeah, Omar really outdid himself, since even though the materials and layout chosen were advised by Valerio, he had made it all happen.
That night there were several clients in that area, men and women dancing in the areas near the dance floor or probably kissing in the private spaces. He passed them, analyzing every part of the place to try to find his friend as he walked.
But it was a voice coming louder from one of the spaces that caught his attention.
Joder. Guzman clearly recognized that voice.
Samu.
Following the muffled sound of Samu's voice through the beat of the song, he approached the bottom of the VIP area and, consequently, the last private space.
This was the largest and most expensive, looking more like an open room and with a view of the rest of this area and the others, available for up to ten people.
His friend was struggling to stay upright while shouting, cursing and pointing at three guys around their age who were standing in front of him and stopping him from leaving. And although Guzman couldn't see them well, they were certainly taller and more muscular than Samu.
Mierda. Why did Samu had to be such an idiot?
"Qué te den, putos! I already told you to get out of my way or else I'm going to make you three do it!" Samu shouted, staggering forward and causing the two guys at the edges to threaten to attack him, only to be stopped by the middle one, who extended his arms in front of them.
Guzman walked quickly until he was behind his friend, turning him so that the other was facing him.
Holding Samu's upper arm tightly with his left hand and the back of his neck with the right one, he looked into his unfocused eyes and face still wet with a few drops of water that reflected the lights from the chandeliers.
"Samu, stop!" He exclaimed with anger and concern, not letting his friend get rid of his grips when he tried to and hissed at him.
"Let me go, carajo! You shouldn't be here, Guzman, vá a la mierda." His friend tried again to get away, but besides being too drunk to even move his limbs right, Guzman was stronger than him and wouldn't do what he said.
He ignored the looks and attention he was receiving from the three men. His biggest and only focus now was Samu, nothing else mattered at that moment.
"Samu, I said stop!" Guzman snarled a little louder, squeezing his friend's neck tightly but not hard enough to choke him. This seemed to have the desired effect, because Samu immediately was less tense, his eyes not so unfocused.
"Guzman, mierda… Why are you here?" Samu whispered confused, looking as lost as an abandoned puppy and not so aggressive like before.
"I told you to come with me, you should know that I don't give up easily," He gave a small reassuring smile, relaxing his grip a little bit. "Why did you think I wouldn't come?"
"Y-you shouldn't." Samu stammered confusedly, placing his right hand on his shoulder and the left on Guzman's arm that held his.
"You should do like them. It’s easier that way," His friend whimpered, despair rooted in his voice.
"Them?" Guzman asked even though he already had an idea of the answer. Samu was talking about Carla and his family. He knew that his friend wasn't dealing very well with the marquise leaving and his family settling in another country.
“Carla. My mother. Nano. They all left, for the better. You should, too,” Samu whispered with a sad look, hiding his face between the junction of Guzman's neck and shoulder and grabbing the sides of his shirt.
He couldn't say that he completely understood Samu's situation, but he certainly got what it was like to feel that something was missing in his life.
Someone, actually. How it was like to wake up each morning and realize that you wouldn't see that person, or in his case, people.
Marina was dead, and all Guzman could do was remember her, while Nadia wouldn't be back anytime soon, and all he had to do was support her and wait.
Either way, neither option exactly brought him happiness. Just being able to still be Nadia's boyfriend was great, but it would never compare to holding and actually being by her side.
But the closest relationship he was developing with Ander, Omar, Cayetana, Rebecca and Samu had made it better. The latter, despite not realizing it, kept his anger and pain in check, and now it was his turn to do the same.
“I won’t leave you, Samu. I got you, let it go, I got you.” Guzman whispered in his ear, stroking the hair on the back of his head and rubbing imaginary circles on his back.
He didn't care when he felt the sensation of warm tears wetting his shirt, which only intensified after his words.
This could probably also be the effect of being as drunk as his friend was, emotions running high, but he liked to think he was the only one Samu trusted to let see him like this.
Well, if it weren't for the three male presences within three feet of them. He looked up and saw that two of them were staring at them with impassive expressions.
The guy that Samu was threatening seemed more relaxed but one of those who tried to attack his friend, standing by the right side of the first, still looked tense and alert. Meanwhile, behind them, the third was talking on the phone.
Immediately, the thought that they could be calling security guards by the number the club gave in case of an emergency crossed his mind.
Guzman couldn't let them do that, even if he had to pay a good amount of money for it.
Joder, Samu.
A few seconds passed and he soon felt Samu snoring softly on his shoulder, those shots and the mental stress really should have worn him out.
He ignored them, wrapping his arms around his friend's torso, Guzman reclined him on the large upholstered bench behind them. Like that, he placed him half-seated and with his head leaned on the partition so he could resolve the situation.
Turning to face the three, he analyzed the guys as much as he could in low light.
The one on the phone was the tallest among them, even more than Guzman. He was wearing a slim blue suit and a watch on the right wrist, social shoes and his muscular body stood out in the clothes he wore.
As far as Guzman could see, he had dark facial hair and features, straight black hair that wasn't very long. He looked like one of the businessmen he met but also younger.
The guy who was on the right and now had his arms crossed, was the shortest among the three but he certainly couldn't be considered as short as Samu. He wore a green shirt and a black jacket, nice shoes, tight dark blue jeans and had a lean muscular body.
He had dark brown hair and stubbles, a nice jawline and light brown eyes, but he still looked a lot like the other one.
Maybe brothers?
Now, the one that had been threatened was completely different from the other two. He wore a black button down shirt, rolled up sleeves, dark jeans and nice shoes. His face had smooth features and few facial hair, slightly long wavy reddish brown hair, freckles running down from his cheeks to the neck and green eyes.
That's when Guzman saw it, the bruise starting to form in the guy's left eye. Puta mierda, Samu, what the hell did you do?
“Look, I'm sorry for my him but you don't have to call security.” Guzman started calmly, a curious look in the eyes from the one in the middle while the shorter one's narrowed.
Nadia would be proud of him for talking and not threatening or shouting at them.
“We can solve this here, no one but us needs to know what happened.” He said and caught a glimpse of the taller guy stopping to talk on the phone, but still not hanging up.
It seemed that now he had their full attention.
“Your friend hit our brother, don't you think it's fair that we must know why we shouldn't call security and make sure he gets kicked out of here for that?” The guy in the jacket asked dryly, making the one next to him roll his eyes.
Yeah, Guzman didn't expect all of them to be brothers, but the one Samu hit reminded him of Marina when he overreacted in her opinion.
Ironic that he only missed those little things after losing her.
“As I said, I'm really sorry and I'm sure my friend will be too when he is... less drunk. And I can pay the amount you ask for, I can send it to your account. In return, you don't call security and we don't even need to see each other again.” Guzman offered and shrugged, not caring how much he would have to pay for this to be just between them.
He had seen what that damned video of Nadia doing what everyone does had damaged her school life. And only one drunk Samu being dragged by security guards out of the club could be an excuse for Las Encinas to kick him out again.
He wouldn't let that happen, money wouldn't be an issue, not after his family got a lot of it back.
“Are you sure it is a good decision?” The deep voice came from the taller guy, who had said something on the phone before hanging up and approaching the other side of the one in the middle, “We could ask for a very high sum in exchange for our silence, Mr.-”
“Guzman. Only Guzman.” He said, because even though he was stupid enough to give his first name, the chance of them finding out who he was without his last name was still low.
“And yes, I'm sure of what I'm doing. I can pay, so just tell me how much and I leave with my friend.” Guzman asked harshly, taking his cell phone out of his pocket to make the bank transfer.
“No.” The one in the middle said suddenly, interrupting what the shortest among them would say and getting an angry look from him as well as a confused one from Guzman.
“It's cool, Guzman, I was the one who got hurt and I say it was nothing.” He looked between his brothers and rested his arms on them, then looked at him with a soft look, “Just take care of your friend and don't let that happen again, other people may not be so understanding."
“Gracias. I'll do it.” Guzman thanked him and gave a small smile, putting his phone in his pocket and turning around.
He put his hands under Samu's arms and lifted him up, maneuvering his friend so that he had an arm around his waist and another holding Samu’s wrist, who had an arm around his shoulders.
“Hmmm.” Samu grunted and leaned his head against his chest, looking half awake but still very drunk, making him grin.
Idiota. But one that was one of the best things in his life in the last years.
So, guys, if you can please comment and tell me what do you think. If you want it to be a long fanfic or just a short one, your opinion matters to me and it's what will help me decide what I will write or not in the future😊.