Dreams Can Come True

2. Apologies

The streets of the city were still quiet as Bill and I walked hand in hand. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the buildings, but my thoughts were far from calm. We had arranged to meet Alissa at a charming bistro, a place that exuded a certain serenity, a refuge where we hoped to express the apologies needed to heal hurt feelings. Bill, noticing my nervousness, gently squeezed my hand. "Just be yourself," he whispered encouragingly.
The door of the bistro tinkled softly as we stepped inside. The warm light enveloped us as we took in the cozy atmosphere of the small eatery. The scent of freshly ground coffee beans and pastries wafted through the air, but it was the tension that caught our attention. Alissa was already seated at a table by the window, her gaze lost in the streets outside. She wore an unassuming outfit, but the circles under her eyes and the faint traces of tears on her cheeks spoke volumes. Her eyes met ours as we approached, and she tried to summon a smile, but the pain was unmistakable.
We took our seats opposite her at the table, the chairs sliding noiselessly across the tiled floor. It was a moment of contemplation before Bill began his apologies. "Alissa," he began, his eyes determined on hers, "I want to offer my sincere apologies for the confusion and pain I've caused. I truly regret not having had the courage to share the truth with you earlier."
The silence that followed filled the space, and I felt a knot form in my stomach. My eyes sought Alissa's, waiting for her reaction amid the subdued ambiance of the bistro.

The interior of the bistro felt like a silent witness to the emotional twists and turns unfolding. Alissa looked at Bill with a gaze that spoke more than her words ever could. "I actually always knew that you still had feelings for Elise," she spoke calmly. "The way you looked at her gave it away." Her gaze shifted from Bill to me, and I felt like prey under her penetrating eyes.
"But you, Elise," she began, her voice piercing. "I thought that by keeping you as a friend, you would never run off with my love. But actually, you're just thinking about yourself, aren't you?" Her words cut through the air, and I could hear the pain in her voice. I felt terrible as I shamefully looked down at the ground, unsure how to respond. The other Elise had once again shown her worst side.
Alissa looked back at Bill, her eyes probing. "So, are you back together now, or how am I supposed to see this?" Bill nodded briefly as he reached for my hand under the table. A thousand butterflies surged through my body, even though it wasn't the moment to feel these butterflies.
Suddenly, Alissa stood up, and Bill tried to stop her. "Alissa, let's talk about it," he pleaded, but she resolutely shook her head. "No, Bill, I have nothing more to say to you two. You deserve each other." She threw a €10 note on the table and left, the door of the bistro closing softly behind her. I looked at Bill uncomfortably, but he reassuringly stroked my leg and said, "That wasn't easy."

On the way home, in the quiet streets illuminated by the faint rays of the street lamps, I cautiously asked Bill if there were still people angry with Elise. We slowed our pace, and Bill looked me straight in the eye. His eyes reflected the faint light, and a furrow appeared on his forehead. "Well, yeah, maybe Georg and Gustav are a bit angry with you," he confessed finally.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Why?" I asked, not understanding why they would be angry.
"They know about the contract Elise made with David," Bill revealed, his voice heavy with the burden of this secret. "And they're not happy about it." A deep sigh escaped my lips. Of course not. It was understandable that something like this would cause discontent. I wanted to continue walking, drowning my thoughts in the complexity of the situation, but Bill grabbed my hand, causing me to stop and look at him.
"But don't worry, Elise," he reassured me with a comforting smile. "When they see how happy you make me, they'll quickly change their minds." His words brought a smile to my face and a glimmer of hope in my heart. Together, we continued our way home, hand in hand, and deeply in love.

When Bill and I arrived at Tom and Bill's apartment, we were greeted by the surprised looks of Georg, Gustav, and Andreas, who were sitting in the living room. They looked up from their conversation and stared at us as we entered.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room, and I felt the tension rise as we became the center of their attention. Georg and Gustav exchanged meaningful looks, as if having a silent discussion about what to say.
"Hey, guys," greeted Bill, his tone slightly awkward as he held my hand tightly. The looks of Georg, Gustav, and Andreas shifted from Bill to me, and I felt scrutinized.
Georg broke the silence. "What's going on here?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of irritation.
Bill took the lead, his voice determined but peaceful. "I understand you have questions, and we're here to answer them."
Georg furrowed his brows and asked directly, "What happened with the contract Elise made with David? And why did nobody here know anything about it?"
"I was a bitch," I said in a calm tone. "But I've learned a lot from this and truly regret it."
Bill took back the word and explained, "Elise and I have decided to move forward together." He looked at the boys, his gaze determined.
There was an uncomfortable silence, during which the boys seemed to consider what to do with this new information. It was at that moment that Andreas turned his attention to Georg. "Have you heard from the girl you met during last night's outing?" he asked.
Georg looked up, surprised by the sudden change of subject. "No, nothing yet," he replied. "I'm waiting for her message."
The tension in the room lessened slightly, and Bill spoke up again. "We understand this is confusing, but Elise is here to stay. We hope you can support us."
Tom added, "She makes Bill happy, and that's all that matters."
Slowly but surely, understanding seemed to dawn in the eyes of Georg, Gustav, and Andreas. There was a moment of silence, during which the boys looked at each other, exchanged a nod of approval, and ultimately it seemed that they agreed with our decision.