Chicago Fire FanFic (English)

Chapter 73

Caleb had been home for a few days and his pain was almost gone.

Today he spent the afternoon with his friends at Navy Pier. "And? Are you already busy, packing?" Mila asked. "It would be nice. I haven't done anything yet. The only thing I've done so far is bought my new school supplies and technology equipment." Caleb said. "And when do you want to pack? After all, it's only 9 weeks or so left." Nigel said. "Yeah, I know." Caleb said, falling backwards onto the grass. The 9 friends looked at each other. "Uh, Caleb. Is everything okay?" Blake asked. "I don't know." Caleb said. "Is there anything we can do for you?" Annabelle asked. "I think that's the nervousness that's starting to show itself now." Caleb said and sat up again. "But if something happens, you get in touch. Not that you're falling back into old patterns." Tiffany said. "No worries. I have left this life behind me. At least I think so." Caleb said. "Come on. We'll go to the mall and see what else you might need." Bailey said. "I make you another suggestion. We go to the mall and just look around. Otherwise, my parents will kill me because they wanted to take me shopping." Caleb said. "All right." Bailey said. They drove to the Walmart Supercenter and looked around the different departments. "You know what. We can buy a few souvenirs. I have a little money with me and there's a little bit on my card too." Caleb said. "Excellent. Then let's go." his friends said. Caleb bought some magnets, keychains and a small snow globe. Then they sat down in Starbucks. "Now tell me. Do you have any information you can tell us?" Talia asked. "What do you want to know?" Caleb asked, taking a sip of his Cool Lime Refresher. "For example. Do you already know who you're in the room with?" Liam asked. "There are six of us. Josh from England, Carlos from Spain, Felix from Germany, Pedro from Brazil, Emiliano from Mexico and me from the USA." Caleb said. "Cool. Are you actually the only American?" Zane asked. "No. There are two more Americans." Caleb said. "Ok. And do you know where the two of them come from in the USA?" Zane asked. "Yup." Caleb said and took another sip. "And can you tell us too?" Nigel asked. "The two of them also come from Chicago. Their names are Michael and Jason and we played in the club together back then." Caleb said. "That's cool. Do you know anyone else from before? You always went to that international summer soccer camp back then, right?" Liam asked. "Yes two. Niran from Thailand and Noah from Switzerland." Caleb said. "Cool. What else?" Liam asked. "Otherwise, all I know is that our room must be huge. We have a lot of space. Tyler, my supervisor, said that each of us would get a large magnetic board and that we would also have enough space for photos, posters, etc. I'll see everything else when I'm there." Caleb said. "But that sounds good." Tiffany said. "Yes, I agree. I will then send you pictures and videos. You can also follow us on Insta." Caleb said and showed them the Insta page. "Can you say anything else? Like what your daily routine will be like?" Tiffany asked. "The daily routine should be such that we have training every morning from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Then school until 12:00. Then on Monday and Tuesday we have free time until the evening and then training again from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, we have afternoon training from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday we only have morning training. We have Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays off." Caleb explained. "But these are great times. This gives you time to explore the campus and Dubai." Liam said. "Exactly." Caleb said. Then his phone vibrated. "What's wrong?" Liam asked. "Just my dad. He wants to know if we happen to be at the mall." Caleb said. "Why? Is there another shopping trip?" Annabelle asked. Caleb just shrugged and finished his Cool Lime Refresher. "I have no idea. But from the sounds of it, maybe." Caleb said, writing to his dad. A few seconds later the answer came. "Yep, there's another shopping trip. Mom and Dad will be here in about 15 minutes." Caleb said. After visiting Starbucks, the friends said goodbye and Caleb waited for his parents in front of the main entrance. "Hey, how was your afternoon?" Stella asked when she and Kelly arrived. "Great...Wait, can I put this in the car?" Caleb asked before Kelly locked the car. "What do you have there?" Kelly asked and opened the door again. "Just a few little things. Magnets and keychains." Caleb said, throwing the shopping bag into the back seat. "Aha." Kelly said, shaking his head. Caleb rolled his eyes and closed the car door again. "And? What do we do?" Caleb asked. "We thought we could now look for suitcases, hand luggage and travel essentials." Stella said. "Ok. Then I can start packing later." Caleb said. "And we finally know what else you need." Kelly said and locked the car again. "Come on then." Stella said. The three went back inside and into the travel goods department. "What did you think you were going to do?" Kelly asked, looking at the various suitcases. "Oh well. Since I'm allowed to take more luggage with me than I first thought, I have to think about how to pack it myself." Caleb said. They purchased 5 suitcases and 5 pieces of carry-on luggage. They also bought a new toiletry bag, neck pillow, luggage straps and a set of 10 luggage tags. "What else do you have on your errand list?" Stella asked as they packed the groceries into the trunk. "Not much anymore. I already have most of it." Caleb said, opening the list on his phone. "So. I can delete the luggage now...ok, what do you want? First the expensive stuff or the general stuff?" Caleb asked. "Let's do the expensive stuff first. After that we'll see what's left." Kelly said. "Good. Then I wrote down here; an e-reader, new soccer equipment and a camera that I can also use to film." Caleb said. "Didn't you get new soccer equipment?" Stella asked. "Yes. But I need new soccer boots. Mine are slowly running out now." Caleb said. "Okay, I suggest we start with the camera. We'll take a look after that." Kelly said. "What? Now?" Caleb asked in surprise and looked at his watch. "Yes, why not. It's now 2:30 p.m., the kids are in good hands at home and you also have the right to spend time alone with us." Stella said. "Aha. Just before I go to Dubai, I get the right to spend time with my parents." Caleb said with a mischievous smile. "Is everything okay?" asked Kelly. "Yes. Somehow I'm more nervous than I thought." Caleb said. Kelly put his arm around Caleb's shoulders. "Come on. We're going to have a nice afternoon and then the nervousness will be forgotten." Stella smiled. Caleb nodded and they went back inside. In the electronics department they looked at the various cameras and got advice. Caleb decided on a small digital camera that you can use to make great videos and that you can even take with you into the water. They bought an e-reader at the bookstore and then went for a quick bite to eat. "As soon as we get home, I'll start packing. Most of my new teammates have already started or even finished packing." Caleb said. "Do you need help getting things together?" Stella asked. "I do not think so. Otherwise, I'll scream." Caleb joked. After the short break, they got new soccer shoes and shin guards and then drove home.

"We're back." Kelly shouted. "Hey. And? Did you find what you were looking for?" Matt asked. "Oh yeah." Caleb said, pointing into the trunk. "Did you shop the whole mall." Matt laughed. "Where are the others?" Stella asked. "Guess." Matt said, crossing his arms. "Pool." Caleb, Kelly and Stella said at the same time. "Bingo." Matt said, helping to carry it in. "Can we leave the suitcases in the garage? I can go and get one by one." Caleb said. "Are you starting to pack now?" Matt asked. "Yes. I have to now. After all, it's 'only' 9 weeks left." Caleb said, taking one of the suitcases with him. "Right now?" Kelly asked. "Oh no. I'm taking the suitcase upstairs now. Put on my swimming trunks and jump into the pool too." Caleb said. They spent the rest of the afternoon outside in the garden.

After an early dinner, Caleb went up to his room to finally startpacking. Caleb packed his newtraining equipment and other clothes into his suitcase while Spiky, Filou andMocha sat on his bed and looked at him sideways and commented on it every nowand then. "Do you want to pack forme?" Caleb asked. Spikyjumped off the bed and lay down in the suitcase. "I'msorry, Spiky. But you can't come withme." Caleb said and stroked him. "Areyou sure you don't need help?" Kelly asked, now standing in the doorway. Calebsat on the bed and fell back. "I'mfreaking out here." Caleb said, desperate. Kellyclosed the door and sat on the bed next to him. "Hey. Comehere." Kelly said, pulling his son up and taking him in his arms. "Willyou help me pack?" Caleb asked. "Sure,of course. Come on." Kellysaid and lifted Spiky out of the suitcase. "Doyou need a few more outfits that you can leave there?" Kelly asked as he pulleda few T-shirts out of the closet. "Istill have that on my list anyway. I canstop by Primark. It's a little cheaperthere." Caleb said and put the shirts in the suitcase. Whenthe first suitcase was fully packed, Caleb collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. Thenthere was a knock on the door and Stella came in. "Well,you two. "How's it going?" Stellaasked. "The first suitcase ispacked. Four more to come. Plus,the hand luggage." Caleb said and got up again. "Kelly. Thelittle ones are slowly getting ready for bed and would like you to stop by fora moment." Stella said. "Yes. I'mcoming." Kelly said and stood up. Kellyleft the room and Caleb rolled the suitcase to the side. "Youthree are sleeping at Caleb's today?" Stella asked the three puppies whowere lying on Caleb's couch. The threebarked briefly. "I'll take that asa yes." Stella said. "I'mgoing to spend all day packing tomorrow." Caleb said. "Canwe help?" Andrew asked, who was now standing in the doorway with Julian. "Sure. Thenyou can each sit on the suitcases so we can close them." Caleb joked. "Do weneed to get anything else?" Stella asked. "Ithink I have everything so far. Maybea few extra outfits so I don't have to lug all my suitcases with me when I gethome." Caleb said. "Wecan do that. But we still needsomeone to drive us." Andrew said. "I'msure Aiko or Elyas will be happy to drive you." Stella said. "Good. Then,we can go to the shopping center tomorrow after breakfast and then get on withpacking." Caleb suggested. Andrewand Julian nodded, said goodnight to Caleb and went to their room. Calebwent into the bathroom, got ready for bed, and then got into bed.