7
Jessica opened her eyes, and saw the other side of the bed was empty and cold. She yawned and tugged on a dressing gown, padding into the living room.
"Tim, come to bed, already."
Tim pointed at the TV, and drank a beer, "Check this out."
She sighed and sat beside him on the sofa. Jessica inhaled.
"We should talk. If you're awake, you can talk."
Tim wound an arm around her and she nestled closer to him. The commercials faded away, and the programme resumed to a montage of fast-paced shots, paint splash logos and shots of Neuschwanstein castle.
"God, your breath stinks," Jessica grimaced, and pointed, "Look at that sweat shirt. You still have it, don't you?"
"Never attended Harvard in my life. Hey, you're not in any of these shots."
"Uh, yes, I am," Jessica wriggled closer, and Tim smirked, "You see, there I am getting off the bus into Munich. My mom marched us straight to C&A to buy dirndls."
"Us?"
"Me and Jenn."
The programme showed a montage of fairs and rollercoasters and stalls, with lights and fast action.
"You still have it?" Tim glanced.
"The dirndl? It won't fit me now, Tim."
"I remember - " Tim chuckled, "I remember you tied it wrong. And all those big German dudes in lederhosen came onto you like flies on shit."
Jessica shrugged.
"Jenn looked better in hers. Besides, they were more interested in the camera crew. More people than you'd expect thought we were just groupies."
Tim swigged his beer, eyeing it and rattling it, "Those were the days."
Jessica stood up and cleared her throat.
"Come on. That's all in the past."
Tim chuckled, "Sure is. Look at Young Tim! Man, that dude was buff. And look at Young Jessie! The day you picked me, was the day the crew stopped eyeing you up every time you drove to the castle."
Jessica snorted.
"Oh, please. Anyway, once Missy came onto the scene, you all leapt for cushions to put over your laps."
"Speaking of?"
"You'll have to pace yourself."
Jessica winced in the slats of sunlight through the curtains, and got up to wander into the kitchen. The smell of bacon and eggs made her smile, and Tim's crutches clacked as he moved around.
"Don't think it's a regular thing," Tim opened the cutlery drawer, and passed Jessica a pair, "Once I'm back, I'll settle for your cooking every day."
"I was taught by a professional," Jessica smiled, sitting on the barstool.
Tim opened a drawer and pulled out some papers, and Jessica froze.
"I took a look at the insurance," Tim began, "I'll make some calls, check in if they're tryin' to pull a fast one on us."
Jessie exhaled.
"It's just the cost of the treatment, that's what it is - "
"Babe - I love ya, but you gotta not take people at face value. Trust me, I got this."
Jessica drummed her fingers on the table, and nodded. They ate breakfast together, and Jessica washed up while Tim jiggled the mouse out of standby. She saw, over Tim's shoulder when she collected his plate, the incognito tabs which he was quick to exit out of.
"Yo - yo - yo," Tim waved to the webcam, "Nieratko, my man, how're they hangin'?"
Jessica glanced out the window to the grimy pool, and padded into the bedroom and wrapped the sheets around her. She scrolled through her Kindle while the dog yip-yapped at Tim. She sighed, and lay back on the pillows, and heard Tim's laughter and conversation, and picked up her phone on the bedside table.
"You sound tired," Missy answered, after a pause, "Do you need a massage? I'll send Brianna your way for a haircut in return - she always asks me to babysit her kid."
Jessica rubbed her eyes and opened her bedside drawer and pulled out a brochure.
"I'm going stir crazy inside this house. How about going for a visit to your old alma mater?"