Number Nineteen (Mario Götze/Goetze/Gotze)

Chapter Twenty-Two

I don't know about you. But I'm feeling twenty-twooo

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     "Do you want something to eat?" Lio asked me, looking at me quickly and then backa t the road. I shook my head slowly. I was checked out of the hospital, and Lio is taking me home. He keeps offering me stuff and asking me if I'm okay.

I'm not okay (I promise).

But I put on a brave face, and pretended I was fine. I was, physically. The car crash wasn't what was bothering me- Mario's absence was. All my friends filled me in on waht was happening, but Mario's name never came up, and I knew I shouldn't ask, especially in Lio's presence.

        "I just.. I feel repsonsible," Lio said silently. This got my attention.

        "You? How are you responsible?" I asked, confused. It wasn't anybody's fault but mine. I should've put my phone on silent. It wasn't Sarah's fault, I brought this all onto myself on my own.

        "If I hadn't left, you wouldn't-"

        "Just shut up, please. It's not your fault, okay?" I said, somewhat annoyed. Lio looked at me sadly, and continued driving. He had made a big deal out of the fact that I ha been in a car accident, and that he wasn't sure I was ready to get back into one. It's my choice, I had told him multiple times. He didn't want to hear it.

        I won anyways. I'm the girl, I'm always right. That's the way relationships work.

        Lio pulled into a McDonalds, even though I had told him I wasn't hungry.

        "You coming?" he asked as he got out of the car. I let out a reluctant sigh, and followed suite. He closed my door and led me inside. He told me to take a seat and relax, and then ordered for me. Lionel was seriously starting to get on my nerves. I can do things by myself, I don't need a babysitter.

        He came back with a brown bag, and I raised my eyebrows.

        "Where's my food?'

        "They put everything in here."

        I made  a pouty face. I always got a kids' meal. Did he not know that?

        I said nothing, and pulled out chicken nuggets.

        "Honey mustard, right?" Lio said, squeezing it on my nuggets. I grimaced. Ketchup. Always ketchup. It's the only kind of sauce I like.

        I ate all the chicken nuggets that weren't touching the sauce, and left those there for the garbage can. Lio tried to make conversation, but I really wasn't in the mood.

I bet Mario would've known to get me a kids' meal with ketchup.

     Where is he, anyway? I haven't stopped thinking about him since I've awoken. He's drilled into my mind. Nobody cared for me the way he did, nobody touched me like he did. I wanted him. I needed him.

    "Lena? You there?" Lio waved his hadn in front of my face.

     I don't need this.

     "Oh yeah, I'm just a bit tired, that's all," I said and looked over to the door longingly. A minute of staring and Mario didn't appear. I don't know why I thought he would- I doubt he knows where I am.

     THe door did open though, and a man, around eighty, walked in. He had a cane in one hand, and his hands shook as he walked.

     "Hello, welcome to McDonalds. Can I take your order?" the cashier asked. I couldn't help but chuckle as he ordered a kids meal.