Ch. 8

Jack and Mia stand at the snack bar and together eat a portion of French fries with currywurst. “I know my friends wouldn't be too enthusiastic about this news, but I didn't expect the rush. I'm sorry, Jack. I should have talked to them about it before you see them again. Whatever I would have done if you hadn't rushed past unannounced. "

"What's this? An allusion? Do I have to send an SMS beforehand when I am nearby? Mia, I thought we were friends and friends visit each other at work or go out to eat together. I didn't do anything wrong. Well, I admit that we are still at the beginning of our new friendship, but ... I miss you. "

Jack is watching Mia closely. He needs to know what she thinks of him. He must be able to feel her in his arms again. He has to taste her lips again, but there is still a long way to go and hopefully he has not ruined himself with this rash act.

"Jack ... I miss you too, but this is all so strange and new. It takes time and trust to rebuild what was between us and to remain friends. It doesn't go from one day to the next as you might think. Besides, this is not just about us. Our friends also have a say. Normally I would say that it is none of your friends' business who you team up with, but this has a story that is not easy to forget and I don't want that either. I haven't told Kim yet that we will meet again and understand. I haven't informed Lola either. Think about Finn and Sophia, our whole circle of friends is involved here and has helped and supported us. What do you think they will say when they see us strolling the streets together again or find us at home in front of the TV? You can forget a friendly hug. "

He knows that his deeds are not exactly heroic, but now a little light has dawned on him and he knows what terrible mistakes he has made. Choosing Summer was a better decision for him a few weeks ago, but now he understands that it's not just about the fire in a relationship. You have to be able to talk about everything, you shouldn't be afraid to express your opinion and to be put out the door. Together they should be able to remain silent and communicate with eyes. There should be a connection so that they know when something is wrong with the other. The sex life should definitely be there, not like his and Summer's relationship is more of a platonic nature. You should be able to let go while making love. Let your soul dangle freely without having to worry that it will be crushed at any moment. The sex should show different facets. Sometimes it is intense and full of love, other times they play and there is a lot of laughter. Jack wishes that and he thinks he has found it too, now all he has to do is win the woman of his dreams before they will spend the rest of their lives happy and satisfied.

“Okay, I understand your reasons, but why do you have a say in the matter between us? We have to be able to live with our decision! "

"Because they patched me up." Mia's green eyes look at him. “They are the ones who have supported me lately and have not let me out of their sight. You are the reason I stand tall today. You have become my family. That's why you have a right to interfere here, Jack. ”Her tone is determined, the expression on her face.

"Mia, I know that you felt really bad because of me and I would undo everything I had to do to prevent that, but it happened and I can only apologize for it again and again. I'm really sorry that I hurt you so much and if you want me to, I'll face the judgment of the other people. "" Thank you, Jack. That means a lot to me. ”, The smile she gives him makes his heart beat faster. What is he, an idiot in love who gets shaky legs with a simple smile?

“I'd better go. We write to each other! Bye, Jack! “, She leans forward and gives him another short hug. Taking a deep breath to remember her scent, he is delighted that Mia willingly hug him. "Bye, Mia!" He whispers and lets her go again. He can only hope that she will come back to him.

At home, a deathly pale buzzer awaits him and is trying to get up from the sofa. "Wait, I'll help you. You look like death himself. “, Summer rolls his eyes and moans. “That's exactly what you want to hear at moments like this. Thanks. “, Jack helps her to lie down in his bed. Then he feels her temperature. "Funny. You don't have any elevated temperature and you're not particularly cold either. Are you sure it's a flu? “, She nods with closed eyes. “I don't know what else it should be. I'm so sick and I can't keep my food down for long. The only thing my stomach could take in the last few days were sandwich cucumbers. In addition, it always takes a while for me to show the fever. "

“So better not to soup. Do you want me to bring you some pickles? Maybe something to drink? Have you already taken something against it? ", Jack starts to worry. Fever is always a sign of improvement that his patient does not show here. "No, they won't help anyway." He shakes his head in frustration. "Summer, I'll get you a pill now and you will swallow it because it can make you feel sick." Before he can get up, Summer pulls him back by his arm. “I won't take it. These things are pure chemistry and they don't cure you flu in and of themselves, they just alleviate the symptoms that is no solution. She has never been before and I won't start swallowing pills now just because you think it's a good idea. "He had no idea that she is so against pharmacy. What does he still not know about her? "Okay, okay. I'll get you a glass of cucumber now and brew you a tea that should soothe your stomach. ”He slowly moves backwards out of the room. Shortly before he reached the door he heard her mumble: "Thank you!"

What has she just caught. Jack doesn't believe it's a common flu. The flu manifests itself in a very different way. In deep thought he straightened everything and almost ignored the ringing of his cell phone. He answers without looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?" "Hey, Jack! I wanted to ask you if you are still in the office? ", Finn can be heard on the other end of the line. “I broke up an hour earlier today. Summer is feeling really bad and I don't know what she's caught. “, Jack clamps the cell phone between his ear and shoulder and carefully lifts the tray to bring it to Summer. "I'm sorry man. I actually wanted to invite you to dinner with us tomorrow. ”“ That won't work. But you can come over on Wednesday. The office closes at noon. ”“ That sounds perfect. Nice that this is cleared up between us again. I didn't even know who to tease all the time. ", He puts everything down on the bedside table and quietly goes again. Summer is sleeping.

Jack and Finn fool around a little before they hang up. He should also slowly build a bed on the sofa.

#

Mia stands in front of her mirror and applies make-up more carefully than usual. She is nervous because yesterday evening she invited her three best friends to spend lunch with her in her restaurant.

Lola wasn't particularly pleased to hear from her in the middle of the night because she just came back from Bavaria and hasn't slept for 24 hours, but she said yes. Sophia wanted to talk to her anyway because she had some disturbing news and Kim is relieved that she is behaving like a civilized being again. Let's see if she can say that in a few hours.

Since it took her so long in the bathroom, there is no time for breakfast. She'll just have to steal something from the kitchen at home. She crosses the streets with a hasty step so as not to be late too. Mona earned this privilege for this week.

“Tomorrow, everyone. What's on the plan? ”, As expected, her colleague has not yet arrived and the girls are chatting in the kitchen. “We're going to eat something again. After all, should we become independent or not? If you mother us here too, it will unfortunately not work! The other half of us are in the common room, taking care of the children, ”if that isn't progress. It's been true, Mona and she are now and then a little too motherly to her protégés. Fortunately, the young mothers have already developed such a mechanism themselves and can reprimand them from time to time. That shows that you are doing everything right.

She hears the other employees, whom she never sees and who work the night shifts, that they are a bit dismissive. They do not engage in conversation and act as if they are patients who cannot hear them. Mia can't understand how they can take it. She couldn't refuse the sweet babies and inquisitive mothers a wish.

"What is there? And can I get something from it? ”, Several heads turn in their direction. "You know what we will ask in return!", Selina answers her. Oh yes, the questioning about her new old friendship with Jack is still open to discussion. "I Agree! But I would like a lookup if I want one. ”The heads are put together and the teenagers weigh the pros and cons of this deal. You have become a real team. Mia is proud of each of them. Tina nods in her direction. "To start. We want to hear first how it went yesterday. ", So bossy. The black-haired woman thinks briefly, smiling. "We ate something at the snack bar, argued about his appearance here and made a truce as well as promising that we would take the whole thing slowly.", The faces of their counterparts all have the same expression. This honest-more-you-don't-have-to-say? - expression. “I want my breakfast. I cannot give a satisfactory report on an empty stomach. "

In silence, she receives a plate with a boiled egg, rolls and cold cuts. Mia cleans the egg in seconds while she cuts and toppings the bun. "Go ahead, Mia. We're all waiting here and have other things to do than watch you sling." No rush! ”, She bites with relish into one half that she has equipped with ham. Sarah rolls her eyes. She swallows slowly and looks everyone in the eye. “Jack and I got off to a humble start in this relationship that almost collapsed on this show. It took me a while, as you know, to deal with this whole thing. Now we are both ready to try again with each other and not on the relationship line, we change tracks and get on the train of friendship. And that is the situation right now. We got on and the train makes its first stop when confronted. This train has a long way to go with many stops, but Jack and I are willing to endure it and look forward to our destination. Maybe we'll get off again and let the train pass us by, but that's not what we're thinking about. We want to do that and for that I need all the support we can get. There will be stations for which we cannot prepare ourselves and which we cannot contest without the help of others. ", She bites off again and gives everyone a smile. "So can I count on?"

“You can count on me!” Sarah speaks up first. "Me too!", Selina. Daniela, Alexandra, Franziska, Chantal. One after the other they promise to treat Jack nicer.

"Thank you! Now I just have to teach my friends that. "

“Have fun with it.” “Do I hear the sarcasm, Alex? I want to see the optimism dance here. "

Grinning, the plates are prepared for everything and brought to the others. Only Franzi stops next to her for a moment and says: “If you make that clear to the others as well, nothing can go wrong. The metaphor was really good. ”“ Thanks! ”

Mia stays alone in the kitchen and eats the rest. A while later Mona arrives too. "How are you? Did you light his house or pour coffee on the new one? ”She looks totally relaxed and recovered. “Nothing like that. I was out yesterday and enjoyed being admired by the men. ”, Her friend gives her a sexy laugh. “It's so easy to predict what men want. Who else said these beings were not from this planet? I prescribe someone a relationship with an ex. It opens your eyes. ", Wow. This is what Mia calls quick recovery from heartache. “What about our kissing balls? Are you waiting for your meal? ”“ Actually, you did it all by yourself today and are currently eating breakfast in the next room. ”The person opposite opens her eyes in amazement and sneaks out of the room on tiptoe. Mia follows her and watches Mona open the door a crack and spy on the mothers. There is laughter as far as she can judge from the three paces distance she is holding to Mona. Small children make chuckling noises and knives jingle on plates. Everything is going wonderfully.

Mona's face goes very still. Then she realizes the astonishment followed by pride and sadness. Because at this point in development they have to withdraw further and further and only stand on the edge of the action. Little by little they will leave and make way for new pregnant women.

“Stop worrying and come in. You're not as quiet as you might think. ", They are blown. They enter surrendered.

Those who weren't in the kitchen now collect the plates to make them clean. Then everyone wants to hear every detail of Mona's evening and it's funnier than they thought. Who would have thought that her old neighbor who only growled at her would not recognize her and tried to land with her. She would have loved to see this guy's face when she betrayed her name.

Even a pretty good-looking man, if you let the descriptions go through his head, just didn't give up. And Mona says that they really didn't want to give in, but the HOT factor together with the knowledge that he no longer lives with mom changed her mind.

Time goes by quickly and soon you all wish you the best of luck with the upcoming conversation.

They meet at the restaurant that Lola introduced them to and look for a place. “Mia, I have to interrupt you now because ... ahh let's order first. Then I'll open the round. ”“ Okaaaay! As long as I still have my say, you can start too. "

It is ordered and eagerly awaited for Sophia's revelation. Together with the drinks that have just been brought in, Sophia takes a breath and begins. "Well, Finn called Jack yesterday to ask him if they'd like to eat with us today. But he refused because ... Summer seems to be doing pretty badly. But Finn has arranged that we come over to him tomorrow. ”“ And that was so urgent? ”, Kim is confused. "Oh, crap. I forgot to say what exactly Summer did. She is sick and vomits every few hours. No matter what she is her stomach repels it. She does not have a fever and neither does she slimy. There is nothing to see of the chills. “, Mia gets sick. She has a clue what's going on with Summer, all the symptoms point to it. After all, she works with pregnant women all day. “Oh!” “Exactly! That's how I reacted. ", Kim looks back and forth between them. "What? Can you enlighten me? "

“Well, Summer is showing signs of pregnancy. Nausea, vomiting and food intolerance are symptoms that normally occur after ... “, her face loses all color. You can't be serious about that. “Fourth or fifth week of pregnancy”, that was around the time of the finale. Does that mean he slept with Summer and at the same time flirted with her and fooled her? What a bastard, she just forgave him. 'Take a deep breath. Calm down, you've gotten into it and as a normal friend you can't blame him for that. They wanted to finish with the past, 'Mia reminds herself.

"WHAT? At some point I'll still twist the guy's neck. Things are going a little more regulated and then something like that happens. What was he thinking? “, Sophia intervenes. "People! Guys, I don't even know if she's really pregnant. I will speak to her tomorrow and persuade her to take a test, if I have results I will write to you immediately. Until then, keep your mouth shut. ”, Then she looks explicitly at her again. "How do you feel? Can you handle it? "

Now is the perfect time to mention that she and Jack ... “Here comes the food. I am so hungry. You don't believe me. The time of the month is really horrible. “, Kim has already swallowed the first fork, but Sophia is still watching her. "I am fine. I told you that I had finished with it and a child they both had together won't change anything. ”Her friend raises her eyebrows. "Do not look at me like that. So now we come to the real reason for this meeting. ", Kim continues to dig. "Jack and I talked to each other and came to the conclusion that we should try to become friends." A gasp can be heard. Kim choked and tried to get some breath. Sophia's jaw is down. "Honest?! After all, you just forgive him and want to make friends too? ”Sophia underlines her incredulous words with her dancing hands. “You and Jack? Friends !? “, Kim can breathe again. “I don't think this will work. Not because I wouldn't trust you or because there was a lack of trust, but because I saw, like everyone else with a television, what has become of your first friendship. "" That is not a legitimate statement. The show was about flirting and getting closer. We don't intend to do that anymore. ”“ But we know you, Mia. ”, Interjects Sophia. “And I've known you for a long time and I still know how you didn't want to start the journey. I know you didn't mean to fall in love You just wanted to see what happened and then it happened. "

“I've learned a lot. I know we don't belong together and I know how to keep my fingers to me. Besides, if Summer is actually pregnant now, nothing can happen anymore. This will weld her and Jack together. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't push myself between them anymore. "

"Let's hope you know what you are talking about, because even though I really love you and you are part of my family, I will kill Jack if something similar collapses over you.", Kim's gaze is determined and irrevocable. "I'll tell him that next time too, so he'll be careful." I love you too. ”, Mia and Kim don't throw the three words that move the world at everyone's head. When you say it out loud, it means exactly that and nothing less. They love each other and will grow old together, preferably with their dream men, children and grandchildren. They are soul mates, although they are as different as cats and mice, but maybe that's what holds them together like super glue.

"No matter what the future holds for us, I'm on your side.", Sophia puts her hand on Mias. "Thank you!"

#

At the same time Jack is sitting with Finn at the other end of the pedestrian zone in a small café and talking to him about this and that. "Why am I here?" "You are my friend, I need a special reason to spend my lunch break with you ? “, Finn pulls the left brow upwards. “You need it because you always do it that way. Your lunch break is sacred to you and there must be a damn good reason if you don't spend it alone. "

Sometimes he forgets how well Finn actually knows him. "OK! I wanted to discuss this with you before tomorrow because I haven't told Summer about it yet. "

"Are you telling me you're having an affair? I did not expect that. I didn't think you were that guy for a man. ”, His friend shakes his head in disappointment. “No, no, I didn't mean to say that. I'm not having an affair. ", At least not a physical one, if that is not worse. "I wanted to let you know that I am friends with Mia again or that we will at least try.", Finn eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

“I expected that even less. I thought that between you was long gone, stamped and put in the files. Are you sure you can do that? "" We'll try and both will do everything we can to make it work. "" Okay. Count me in. Is that the reason why Mia called Sophia last night? "

"No idea. We didn't talk to each other. ”He leans back. “And when will you tell Max?” He hadn't even thought of that yet. He hasn't had a real conversation with Max since dating Summer. "I'll do that too."

But he will postpone it as long as possible, because he absolutely cannot be enthusiastic about it and his mood has been on a high since the weekend that he does not want to end.