The search of a dream ( Thomas Muller FF)

Chapter 10 - By the pool

16 June 2014, Campo Bahia

It was midnight when the national team landed in Porto Seguro, once more. They had a very successful first World Cup match; no one could predict what actually happen on the pitch.

Germany didn't just win the match with one goal, but with four and...against Portugal. Everyone was pretty much excited; if they could beat Portugal like that, they could beat other big national teams. Thomas was very proud of himself, despite being knock on the pitch by Pepe, who got a red card right after, he had manage not to score just one but three of Germany four goals. He was the hat-trick guy, and the first hat trick of the 2014 World Cup was his. Germany had showed a supreme form and send a message to the other teams, they were out there for more...this was just the beginning.

"Now that's how football should be played," Toni said excited while they got out of the plane. It was late, but everyone still wanted to celebrate a little, they deserved.

Thomas sighed, " Yeah, one hell of a match."

"Yeah, those guys didn't even stand a chance. I haven't seen them play that bad since a long time," Toni muttered.

"Ronaldo is playing injured, that was very notable on the pitch and than two of their guys went out injured. It's not their World Cup, they have a very weak team in comparing to the 2012 Euro," Thomas stated his point of view, " but what the heck, that doesn't concerned us. We're not Portuguese, we are Germans!"

Toni laughed, " Ghana get ready, your next!!!"

They went on the bus and minutes later they had arrive to their hotel. Everyone went to put their things in the rooms and than they came back to the place where they had their daily meals. They were going to eat and celebrate a little. By celebration it meant that they were allowed to drink one beer or two. It would be stupid if they went wild, there was no point in doing that, after all it was just the first match of the group stages.

"Where's Lenny," Thomas asked Lukas, soon he got in the dinning room. She had come with them on the plane and was supposed to be here with all of them.

Lukas shrugged, still not used to Thomas calling Lena by her nickname, " Last time I saw her, she was by the pool"

"You sure," Thomas asked, not very convinced.

"Yes, she was talking on the phone with someone. Looked like a serious talk," Lukas stated, before putting some food on his plate.

Thomas sighed, " Ok, I'll go find her either way."

"Aren't you going to eat first? The hat-trick hero shouldn't be food deprived," Lukas joked.

Thomas laughed, " Don't worry, I'm not going to be food deprived. I'll eat later."

Thomas left the room and went to find Lenny, he saw the Klose kids on the way, talking excitingly about the chance of Germany be crown the best team of the world. The little twins were very happy and congratulate once more Thomas for his goals, Thomas smiled and thank them before continue his way to the pool.

When he got there, he looked carefully. It looked like no one was there, he was going to go back to dinner to ask another person her where about, when he finally spotted her.

She was sat in one the pool lawn chairs, her heels were on the floor next to the chair and she had her phone in her hands as she looked to the pool. She seemed to be in deep thought about something serious.

Thomas sat next to her; he stood silent for some time while watching her. He had never seen her like this. She looked in pain.

"Are you ok," Thomas asked her concerned.

Lena took a deep breath, before turning her face to him. Her eyes were red from crying, "No..."

Thomas had never seen her like this, she looked completely shattered, but with what? He was still getting to know her; he didn't have any clue to why was she like this.

"What happen? Why are you crying," Thomas asked her, softly. He need to know why was she like this.

She swallowed a little, looking again at the pool, " I got a call from home, it was my mom. Ugh, a couple of months ago my granddad was diagnosed with lung cancer...it was expected since he smoked like no one I had ever met, but he is still my granddad and the only father figure I had in my life. I thought he was getting better..." She cried once more, before continue talking, " He was taken to the hospital last night, his condition got worse."

Thomas was taken aback for a moment; he didn't know that and seeing her cry hurt him so much. In that moment he knew one thing, he hated seeing her cry...he prefer fighting all the time like they used to, then see her cry.

"I'm sorry Lenny," he started saying. Thomas put his arms over her as she let herself lay in his comfort and warm. Lena put her head in his shoulder.

She smiled a little between tears, " You don't need to be sorry, Thomas. It's not your fault, it happens when you don't listen to the doctors recommendations."

"Do you want to talk to Sky or the federation about this, maybe you can go back home to see him," he suggested, whispering while he traced his fingers along her upper arm.

Lena shook her head, " No, at least not right now. If he doesn't get better then I'll talk to them. Until then I don't want to bother them, plus my granddad would be very mad with me if I came back home while the World Cup was still happening."

Thomas laughed lightly, " I see his a very demanding guy."

Lena sat up straight, missing the warm of Thomas embraced. She smiled a little. It was the first time she was smiling since her mom's phone call, " He is, I think that's why I like football so much, he's really passionate about it...back in his glory days he used to coach a fifth league football team."

"Nice, I see the love for this sport really runs deep in the family," he commented. Him talking with her was making her more distracted about that phone call and her crying had stopped.

Lena nodded her head, " Yes it does," than he felt her trembling.

"Is everything ok?" Thomas asked concerned.

She sighed, " Yeah...I'm just cold."

Thomas took his red national team jacket and gave it to her. Lena smiled and put the jacket on, hugging it closer to her body.

"Thanks"

"Your welcome. I think its time to get inside," Thomas said getting up from the lawn chair, she needed to cheer up and nothing was better then a good German beer.

"No...I..." she said hesitant, while she tried to clean her face with her hands.

Thomas cut her, " That's not an answer, they are all inside having a late dinner and you know what they allow us to drink today?"

Lena rolled her eyes, " Let me guess...beer." It was very predictable.

"Yes, we can have one or two...so move your ass," he ordered her, half joking and half serious.

Lena stood up, " Ok, ok, so you know...I can drink more than that!"

"Hey, don't make me jealous. That's unfair!" Thomas protested.