It’s only a week until school’s over and the summer break starts. You’re not going on vacation, so you hope that you and your friends can hang out a lot.
It’s Monday and the teachers are preparing you for the last test of your study. If you pass this test, you will finally get the paper that will give you the chance to build a career. The future still doesn’t appeal to you, since you’ll probably have to do without Danielle. When the teachers are repeating something learned earlier this year, Danielle says she doesn’t understand the subject. The teacher explains it again, but again to no avail.
“I’m not going to explain it again, Danielle,” the teacher says.
“But I can’t pass the test if I don’t understand this part,” Danielle calmly answers, knowing that the teacher will have to find a solution.
“Michael!” she suddenly says. “Come sit next to Danielle end explain it to her.”
You do as your told and as all the students start to fill in some exercises, you sit next to Danielle to explain the part that she doesn’t understand. She’s not faking it and it takes you until the end of class to explain it to her. It was a long day and it’s almost dinner time. You’re hungry and you know that, when you leave school now, you’ll miss the bus and it will take at least two hours to get home.
“Michael,” Danielle says. “You can eat at my place.”
“I don’t know,” you answer.
“Please,” Danielle says as tears fill her eyes. She wants to add something but doesn’t.
You nod at her and she smiles a little, still trying to contain her emotions. As the two of you leave the classroom and walk through the building, you don’t say anything. When you arrive on the deserted parking lot, however, it’s impossible for you to stay quiet.
“What do you want?” you mumble.
“Please, not here,” Danielle says, barely able to speak because of the emotions running through her body. “I want to apologize, but please not here.”
You continue to walk to her car and drive to her apartment. When you enter, you can see that Danielle has arranged something. Her apartment is cleaner than it’s ever been and you can see some groceries on the kitchen counter. She’s definitely going to cook something special.
“You don’t have to do that,” you tell her as you point at the groceries.
“Yes I do. I’ve been terrible to you,” she answers as she walks straight into the kitchen and gets something from the fridge.
“Go watch some TV,” she says as she shows you your favourite drink in her hand and grabs a glass. “I know there’s football on, I’ve already put the right channel on.”
“If you want to apologize, then talk to me. Don’t treat me like some sort of king, because I’m not one. I’ve made mistakes as well.”
“I will talk, but please, let me say sorry the way I want to,” Danielle begs.
Reluctantly you stop your resistance. It’s clear that Danielle has planned this and wants to stick to her plan. Although you dislike her treating you like this, you enjoy it as well. It’s great that she wants to apologize and that she’s going to serve you the best she can, but it’s wrong that she’s the one doing everything, while you made mistakes as well.
You put on the TV, which indeed is on a channel showing a football match, and Danielle brings you your drink. Her fear and sadness are replaced by a little bit of joy (probably because she knows this will make it all up) and determination to win you back. It’s not going to be difficult for her to do so.
She starts to cook and after a while she walks to you to refill your empty glass. You didn’t even asked for it, but it seems like Danielle is even more determined to win you back than you initially thought. That thought gets confirmed again when Danielle asks you a question.
“How are they playing?” she asks. “I read that their star player is back today.”
You are surprised to hear her say that. She’s never been a fan of football.
“Danielle,” you sigh. “Did you try to learn about football to get me back? You don’t have to do that. I know you don’t like it, you don’t have to try to like it to get me back.”
“No,” she lies. “I accidentally clicked on the article about this match earlier.”
Danielle quickly walks back to the kitchen. You’re afraid that you might have upset her, but as you look at her you see that she is focussed on the food. The smell is nice and you get even more hungry. When it’s half-time you decide to take a look. You stand up and walk towards Danielle, but she spots you.
“Don’t look!” she says. “I want it to be a surprise.”
“Danielle, you don’t have to do all this. Let’s just talk,” you say.
“No, we’ll talk later,” she says as she walks in your direction. “Now stop complaining and sit down on the couch. The half-time analysis is about the begin, you wouldn’t want to miss it.”
She seems to know what she is talking about, because it’s true. The analysis starts and you always like watching those.
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?” you ask Danielle. “Maybe set the table?”
“No, I’ll do it all myself.”
Soon after, when the second half has started, Danielle starts to put bowls on the table. You can’t see what’s in them and you decide not to take a peak. The next time Danielle walks to the table, she’s carrying two plates filled with soup.
“Would you like to eat in front of the TV so you can continue watching the match?” she asks.
“No,” you answer. “You’re trying so hard, I’m not going to let some football match ruin our evening.
Danielle smiles when she hears you say ‘our evening’ and puts the plates on the table. You turn off the TV and sit opposite Danielle.
“Tomato soup with vegetables, all made by myself,” she says proudly.
“It sure smells great,” you compliment her.
The two of you start to eat the soup. It’s hot but incredibly delicious. In the bowls there are pieces of French bread to go with the soup.
“Hmmm that’s great,” you moan. “Absolutely delicious.”
Danielle blushes and thanks you for the compliment. When you and Danielle finish she stands up and picks up the plates.
“Danielle,” you say. “I want to apologize for…”
“No!” Danielle says, interrupting you. “We’ll stick to my plan,” she laughs. “It will take some time until the rest is finished, but I recorded that talking show that you like so much.”
“If there’s any way I can help…” you say as you stand up.
“Nope,” she says as she’s focusing on cooking again.
You turn on the TV again and you are just in time to see the last part of the game. You watch the last five minutes and then watch the recorded show. After half an hour Danielle tells you that dinner is almost finished and asks you to get back to the table. You do as she asks you and sit down. Danielle brings the plates to you and you’re surprised to see your favourite meal on them.
“How did you know…?” you stammer.
“I asked your mother,” Danielle answers. “How does it taste?”
You take a bite from the meal and the moment you taste it, all you can do is close your eyes and enjoy the taste. When you’ve finished your bite, you open your eyes again to see Danielle smiling.
“I guess that means it’s good?” she laughs.
“Perfect.”
“Even better than when your mom makes it?”
“Definitely.”
Danielle blushes but at the same time you can see the pride in her eyes. And rightly so. The soup was amazingly good, but this meal is the best you’ve ever had. During the time you eat you make small talk. You mostly talk about what the two of you did since you broke up. The answer is the same for you and Danielle, the two of you have watched a lot of movies and series. You probably both hide that you’ve been crying even more.
When the two of you are finished, you are filled to the limit. You stand up and pick up the plates but Danielle stops you.
“I insist,” you say.
Danielle lets you clean up and continues to sip on her wine. When you sit back down, Danielle looks more serious.
“Michael,” she starts. “The last weeks have been terrible. I’ve missed you so much. I started to watch football and was hoping we could make small talk about the matches at school, but I was afraid to talk to you. I didn’t want to risk upsetting you even more,” she cries.
“It’s okay, we’re here together now, aren’t we?” is all you manage to come up with.
“I was wrong,” Danielle continues. “I said that you didn’t do anything, but that wasn’t true. You did a lot and I was an ungrateful bitch, but the death of my aunt was so hard for me to deal with. I know it’s no excuse to treat you so bad, but I couldn’t help it.”
“It’s okay,” you tell her, trying to comfort her, but Danielle keeps apologizing.
“I should have given you attention. I should have kissed you more. I should have taken care of your needs like any good girlfriend would do,” she sobs, holding her head in her hands, unable to look you in your eyes. “I’m worthless without you, you mean so much to me. I need you here with me, I need you.”
You stand up and walk to Danielle. You put your hands on her shoulders and kiss her on her head.
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. And you weren’t completely wrong. I shouldn’t have stayed in bed as much as I did and I should have helped you more,” you say as Danielle continues sobbing. “I’m sorry for that, but if you want us to stay together as well, then we will.”
“So you’ll forgive me?” she asks.
“On one condition.”
“What is it? I’ll do anything,” Danielle says.
“I’ll forgive you, if you forgive me.”
“I will,” she says as she gets up. “I forgive you.”
With that you lean in for a kiss. You kiss passionately for a while, enjoying being close to each other again.