Aka. "Destination Anywhere", "The Boy and Girl from County Bavaria"... After a very intense year in Würzburg (Germany), I'm back in Salamanca. I probably won't have that many experiences to write, but there's always an excuse to post a new entry!

18.

Surprisingly, she survived the whole drive without throwing up. Flo's niece playing on the back seat was the only background sound for most of it. Sharon couldn't wait to get home and go back to sleep. Hopefully she would recover completely after getting some quality rest. On the other hand, she still couldn't get some of her ex-lover's words off her head and feel a strong respect for her that made her feel ashamed of herself.
"I'm sorry for everything I did to you" she said in a tiny voice.
Flo didn't turn to face her, keeping her eyes on the road. Sally's chanting filled the silence until her aunt finally spoke.
"Don't you think that apology arrives a few months too late?"
Sharon's gaze dropped. Apparently, timing was not one of her strengths. It was the same as with Johanna back when she started her relationship with Marco, but the redhead forgave her eventually. Flo had proven that she had a heart of gold, but Sharon knew everyone has a limit.
"It doesn't matter anymore, does it?" Flo continued "I've forgiven you either way. I mean, if there's something in the world I hate, it's being lied to. You really hurt me. But spite and revenge are not quite my style. In fact, seeing you so wasted last night, I felt horrible for you and couldn't stop wondering why someone would do that. I came to the conclusion that you must have been going through really hard times."
"Like you wouldn't believe" Sharon sighed "But it serves me right. You get what you give, and I haven't exactly been a saint. At least in my love life."
The traffic lights turned red. As she stopped the car for a moment, Flo finally looked at Sharon. There was compassion in her blue eyes.
"Well... we all make mistakes."
"Yeah, well... some mistakes are worse than others" the Dutch girl said "I shouldn't complain if I end up alone my whole life. I brought this on myself."
"You're not-"
"Please, don't try to comfort me, alright?" tears were beginning to redden those warm brown eyes "Everyone keeps saying that I will find the love of my life sooner or later, but I'm tired of waiting. I've decided to give up on everyone."
"Sharon..." Flo tried to interrupt softly.
"No! I don't want to hear anything else, ok?" she sniffled "I screwed everything up myself. First I ruined things with you because I didn't want any commitment and then I met the most amazing guy in the world... and it turns out I'm completely gay. I should finally accept that the right person for me doesn't exist."
"They exist. You still haven't found them" the other woman pointed out.
"Yeah, right" Sharon snorted "That's what everyone says! What if there's no-one for me? What if I already found them and let them go?"
"That's impossible, Sharon" Flo rolled her eyes "If you believe in destiny and that there's a person out there for you, they will turn up. And if you let them go once, they will come back to you because it's just meant to be."
She had to stay silent. There was no way she could refute her argument. Or maybe, for once, she did want to believe it. The car pulled up in front of her house.
"There we are" Flora announced.
"Thanks for the ride" Sharon said softly "And for everything."
"Hey, it's fine" she flashed her a lovely smile "And don't worry anymore. You'll get what you want - but first you need to know what you want."
"You make it sound so simple..."
"It is simple. Now just sleep the hangover away, it will do you good. And if you need anything, I believe you still have my number."
The taller girl kissed her cheek sweetly. After whispering some words of goodbye to her and her niece, Sharon went back home, suddenly feeling a lot better in spite of the hangover symptoms that still remained. Right when she was pushing the door open, the telephone began ringing. With every step hammering inside her head, she hurried to pick it up.
"Yes?"
"Hey Shaz, it's Johanna" a cheerful voice replied on the other side "I was wondering if you could come over..."
"Actually, it's not the best moment, Jo. But I'm free tomorrow, maybe-"
"It's kind of important..."
When Johanna used that phrase, she meant it. Remembering one of her last encounters with her, Sharon imagined what it could be about. Trying to chase away the temptation a big soft bed meant to her, she said:
"I'll be there in about half an hour."
"Ok, see you!"
It was Marco who opened the door. When she saw how many people were there, it confirmed her suspicion that it was indeed something very important. Probably something related to babies. Marco, Cristina and Alex were occupying the couch, so she had to take one of the hassocks, like Martin did. She was informed that the hostess was in the bathroom, so the meeting hadn't started yet.
"Maybe we should get some beers and popcorn?" Cristina suggested between giggles.
"Hey, this is serious!" Martin told her off, yet the grin on his face gave him away.
Sharon and Marco exchanged a look. Definitely, those guys had no clue what was going on. In fact, it occurred to her that she didn't even know whether she had told Marco. Perhaps she was revealing it to all the important people in her life all at once, and she was including her so that no-one would suspect that she had been the first one to know. Alex, on the other hand, had a faraway look on her face. The way she was biting her nails showed concern. In a way, it was exciting for her, too. Suddenly her tiredness vanished.
In the meantime, Johanna washed her hands. As she looked up, she studied her mirror reflection. Her eyes inevitably travelled to her stomach, its flatness and her thin waistline emphasized by a tight shirt. She caressed it, thinking of what was growing within. Then she took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom, ready to speak to her friends.
"Thanks a lot to all of you for coming" she started, sitting on the edge of the coffee table in the absence of a better place.
"Jo, if you wanted to rehearse your graduation speech, there was no need to call and tell us to come over like it was a matter of life and death" Martin joked.
They all laughed, some of them nervously. Johanna was thankful for the silly interruption. It surely helped her calm down a little.
"No, I do have something important to tell you all" she said "Well, some of you already know, but... Marco and I are expecting a baby."
Sharon didn't know whether to pretend she was surprised by the news or not. Marco blushed slightly. Alex looked down. Only Martin and Cristina, as she had expected, gasped.
"You're prego?" Martin exclaimed.
"Oh my god! Seriously?" Cristina's eyes were twice her size, and the excitement seemed to bring out her Italian accent.
"Yes" the redhead continued, fighting the blush on her cheeks "I thought you should all know, as you're some of our best friends and" she turned to Cristina "Well, you live with us, so this sort of affects you too."
"Wow..." was all the tiny brunette could say.
"Wait a second!" Martin looked at Marco suspiciously "You mean you were involved in this stuff, too? And you couldn't even give us a hint of what it could be about?!"
Before Marco could answer, Johanna went on.
"Mart, this is not about me being pregnant. It's about... what we're going to do about it."
"Don't tell me you're selling the kid in the black market!" the computer expert gasped.
"Sssh!" Alex nudged him "Stop being silly!"
Johanna smiled thankfully to her best friend besides Marco and Sharon. Then she cleared her throat and went back to her speech.
"It wasn't easy to make this decision, so I really need your support..."
Sharon bit her lip gently. That phrase could mean anything. Yet for some reason, the first thing that came to her mind was abortion, and it scared her. Perhaps because it sounded like she was about to do something rather controversial.
"First of all, you should know that I've considered all possibilities. I informed myself and read a lot about abortion, all the different kinds of adoption, childcare... and to be honest, all of them scared me a lot. See, I've pretty much just reached the legal age to drink alcohol, still haven't finished my studies and barely have time to take care of myself properly, let alone a baby... But then I started thinking. This semester will be over in a few weeks. I'm two months pregnant, which means the baby would be born at the end of November more or less" she calculated "In the next two semesters I'll be writing my thesis, so that means no lectures. I'll only have to meet my tutor once or twice a month, so I can work from home. And I'd have the summer holiday in between to take it easy or even find myself a job and start earning some money" looking at the puzzled faces in front of her, Johanna decided to speak more clearly "All this speech was just to say that in the end I've decided to have the baby and keep it."
The whole room fell silent. Martin was the first one to speak, jaw almost touching the floor.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes" the young Austrian responded "I'm probably not ready yet, but... who is, anyway? Marco and I already talked about it and he was determined to help me with whatever I chose, so I won't be alone in this."
"And we'll all help you" Sharon completed "We'll be there for anything you need."
"Thank you" Johanna smiled "I knew I could count on all of you too."
"Definitely!" Martin agreed "Wow! That's a really mature decision! I wouldn't have expected it."
"Wow, congratulations! I can't believe it!" Cristina released a nervous giggle "I just have something to ask you. Am I getting kicked out of this place after the baby is born?"
"No, not at all, don't worry" the redhead explained "I've also thought about that. On the Little Europe website there are some houses for families which are quite affordable, so we'd move to one before the time arrives. If we're lucky finding it, you might actually have the house all to yourself for a while. Otherwise, you might have to deal with the baby until we can move somewhere else, but we'd find a solution. Maybe use my room or something."
The Italian girl seemed pretty satisfied with the answer. Yet the strongest reaction was, obviously, the father's. Marco didn't say a word. He simply stood up and kissed his girlfriend passionately. A general ‘awww' filled the place. Then Alex was the next one to talk.
"Congratulations to you two!" she grinned "To be honest, I already knew about the pregnancy and your doubts, but I was sure you would do the right thing. That's why I brought this" she opened her bag and took out a bottle "Alcohol-free champagne, so we can all toast to our new nephew or niece!"
And the celebration began. They all enjoyed the beverage and congratulated the soon-to-be parents. Of course, Johanna was annoyed with all the usual questions. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl? What would you like it to be? Did you tell your family in Austria? But she seemed truly happy to get that attention.
A bit overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Marco decided to get some fresh air, so he stepped outside to the balcony. He was a bit surprised to see that he wasn't alone. Cristina was out there, smoking. She was the only one in the flat who did, so she was often confined there. Releasing a puff, she offered him the package.
"Want one?"
"Thanks" he smiled, taking it.
"Didn't know you smoked" she said as she lit his cigarette up.
"I don't" he replied "Except on very special occasions."
"Oh, this is definitely one of those" she nodded "I guess that means you're very happy."
"I am."
Cristina smiled, looking ahead of herself. She took one more drag.
"I would be so terrified" she commented "I really can't see myself with a kid at the moment. I'm far too wild."
Marco leaned against the rail, hypnotized by the smoke.
"I'm not. I've dreamt of this moment for a long time."