Once More. | Manuel Neuer

Chapter Six.

The restaurant was nothing short of fancy. The tables were clad in champagne coloured cloths and expensive looking cutlery. Soft piano music played in the background as waiters rushed around in fancy suits. Well, as fancy as a waiters suit can get.

Mesut guided Arabella towards the back of the room, a smile evident on his face.
Arabella's knees were ready to give up as she felt like throwing up. This was a bad idea, she thought.

The table was circled by young excited footballers who were all laughing at what could only be presumed was a joke that one of them had cracked.
"Hey!" Mesut excitedly shot forward, greeting his friend. All the boys greeted him back with an equal amount of excitement.
However, when Arabella appeared behind him, the table fell silent.
It was hard for Arabella to not just turn around and run, and if it wasn't for the fact that Mesut had quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulder she probably would have done just that.
"This is my boo Arabella," he introduced her.

But everyone already knew who she was, and Arabella knew that they did. Hell, she knew half of the guys from two years ago.

Mesut guided her to an empty chair, next to the man she recognized as Mario, and sat down on her left side.
Slowly the chatter from the men started again, but Arabella kept quiet.
Mesut was quickly engrossed in a conversation with Thomas and seemed to have forgotten about the girl next to him.

"It's been a while."
Arabella looked up to see Bastian, who sat on the oposite side of the table. He smiled timidly at her, a smile she returned.
"I'm sorry," she spoke. Her voice was barely a whisper, showing off how fearful she was.
"How have you been?" Bastian asked, ignoring her apology.
"I've been alright, how about you?"
The small talk of the two quickly grabbed the interest of Mario and the two men seated next to Bastian.
"I've been good, I'm playing in England now," Bastian stated.
Arabella grinned. "Playing for the enemy now, are we?"
Bastian smirked and placed his hand over his heart in an offended manor.
"Why, Ara, that hurt!"
Arabella smiled at him mentioning her nickname, it was a sign to her that her and Bastian were okay. Her nerves faded away slightly and she relaxed a little. It helped to know that there were at least two people who didn't hate her.

"Are you the girl Manuel always whines about?"
Arabella looked to her right to see Mario looking at her with a frown. His face soon controrted into a painful expression as he groaned in pain. She looked to her front again, only to see Bastian sending him a warning glare.
"Why would you do that!? These legs are important, you know?" Mario groaned.
Bastian just shrugged. "Serves you right for being a dipshit."

Fifteen minutes forward and Arabella had fallen into a nice coversation with Bastian and Mesut. She was sipping a glass of white wine as the three talked about what they had been doing these past two years.

"Hey guys!"

Arabella felt all the blood drain from her face, and cold sweat broke out over her entire body as she froze.
She could recognise that voice anywhere, even in a crowd with millions of people.
She sat frozen, her face towards Mesut, away from the man who just greeted everyone.
Mesut looked in Arabella's panicked eyes and soothingly grabbed her hand as he mouthed useless apologies.

Manuel, who had just walked in, frowned as his gaze fell upon the silhouette of a woman. She was facing Mesut as they held each others hands. His gaze then slid around the table and he was met by countless of awkward looks and nervous coughs.
Soon Manuel started to connect the dots but he refused to acknowledge it. He was not going to get his hopes up, only for the unknown female to turn around and crush him once more.
No, the countless times he had thought he had seen her only for it to be someone else, he knew better by now.

"Ara, just face him," Mesut whispered as he watched his best friend literally tremble with fear. Her deer-like eyes stood wide with panic as she shook her head.
Mario, who felt sorry for her, softly put his hand on her shoulder. A gesture which only caused more confusion with Manuel. What was going on!?

The silence was interrupted when Mesut cleared his throat.
"Manuel, hey, nice to see you here, pal!" He grinned. The grin was forced, even a blind man could see that, and it suddenly made Manuel feel very un-welcome.
"I'm sorry, I-I thought I was invited too," Manuel stuttered.
"Of course you are, don't be stupid!" Mesut continued as he squeezed Arabella's hand.

"Oh, okay. Is your lady friend alright?" Manuel asked with concern. The girl hadn't moved a centimetre since he got here and he was starting to worry for her.
"Oh, yes, she's fine!" Mesut said all too quickly and Arabella wanted to murder him then and there. Instead of giving her a way out by saying 'no, in fact she feels very ill' or anything in that direction Mesut forced her to stay put with his words.

So Arabella did the only thing that was left in her options. She straightened her back and slowly turned around to face Manuel.