The doorbell rings and I jump up to get the pizza we ordered. I grab some paper plates from the kitchen and bring it into the living room. We each take our share of slices of pepperoni and margarita and stare up at the screen from our various positions around our small living room. We mostly eat in silence while the movie plays.
“Can we circle back to the new chapter of Stolen Kingdom? I need to hear what happens to Carmen and Marcus right now,” Scarlett says when she returns from throwing away our garbage.
Since I started writing this series, we have made it a tradition that every new chapter I write, I have to read it out to them out loud. Almost as if it’s our own private book club. This way, I get pestered into writing more and they get the suspense of having to wait. Between chapters, I don’t give them any clues as to what’s coming next until we’re all huddled up on the couch. At first, reading out loud made me feel stupid but they enjoy when I enunciate the voices. It also helps me fill in anything that’s missing when I get to read aloud.
We sit now on the floor of the living room on top of our blankets. Instinctively, Kennedy rests her head in my lap, her frizzy hair tickling my thighs. Scarlett lays across from us, her head propped up in her hands. I pull out my laptop and start reading.
We’re halfway through the chapter before Kennedy insists on taking a stress-induced bathroom break. At the same time she leaves, and Scarlett goes to raid the fridge, my phone lights up with a message from one of my favourite people: Gianna (Gigi) Kowalski.
Since we left high school, Gigi has been working from home as a self-published author of a semi-famous fantasy series called The Last Tear. Gigi hated high school and middle school and, like me with Stolen Kingdom, she was able to use writing as an escape. Except she has actually made it big with her series by being brave enough.
Gigi: Hi Emmy. I have an update on TLT. Are you free?
Me: OMG
Me: I'm with Ken and Scar right now and they’re freaking out over my last chapter, but I'll call u later
Gigi: That’s okay. Just let me know before you call. Mr Dixie is feeling catty today. Also, they have a right to freak out, it was an insane plot twist.
Me: Iconically casual pun. Is he okay?
Gigi: It’s just cat stuff. You know how he gets without his medication.
Me: Oohh, okay. Just like how you get without yours.
Gigi: Only I can make jokes like that, Emmy.
Me: I'm sorry but I can tell ur laughing behind the screen.
Gigi: I did laugh, you’re right. Call me later.
I lock my phone and the girls both come into the room, returning to their previous positions. Scarlett offers me some of my chips, but I shake my head, straightening the laptop on the couch next to me.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Kennedy asks with an amused expression, blinking up from me in my lap. All I have to say is ‘Gigi’ and they both laugh and sigh at the same time. “What’s the update?”
“Not much. I’m going to call her later to talk about The Last Tear,” I reply. “Mr D is sick again.”
“I think he’s constantly poisoning himself so he can get out of her house,” Scarlett says matter-of-factly. “He’s been sick too many times for it to be a coincidence.”
“I agree. When I went for lunch with her last weekend, she told me that he ran away. Again,” Kennedy muses.
We all have very different relationships with Gigi but that’s why she’s such a special friend for us. Even though we’ve known each other our whole lives, whenever we had petty arguments, Gigi was always the one who kept us together. She always pulled us back to each other. If I could find some way to pull away all of her anxieties and get her to live with us, I would do it in a heartbeat. I know how comfortable she is at home and those anxieties are what make Gigi, Gigi.
“Whatever. Whether Mr. Dixie is an undercover spy or not, Gigi loves him with her whole being. It’s not hard being a writer and a cat-mom,” I say defensively.
“I can’t disagree with that,” Scarlett nods. She points to the laptop like an eager child. “Read. Now.”
CHAPTER 5
MILES
Ican’t figure out how I ended up here and why I can’t move away. I was wondering around, trying to find something to do with myself after finishing class. I know I should probably go home and study but as soon as I heard her skates on the ice and the frustrated grunts coming from the rink, I couldn’t look away. Not now. I’ve fallen too deep.
I stand, completely and utterly captivated, watching her glide and turn. She speeds up her pace, does a fancy spin and then comes down hard on the ice, grunting and curling her hands into little fists. Why does it turn me on when she’s angry? She skates towards the end of the rink, holding onto the sides, taking a deep breath before continuing the same routine I’ve seen her do over three times.
I think back to what Xavier said the other night when Wren and I first spoke. As much as I hate to admit it, he was right. I’ve seen her around more often than usual, over the past week. I’ve been dying to speak to her again but each time she’s around she’s either with those two girls or she doesn’t notice me all together. The fact that she’s cold and dismissive only makes me want her more. Something about seeing her here now feels more intimate. Watching somebody dance like this is like peeling back layers of them. Exposing them.
“How long have you been standing there, you weirdo?” she asks, still mid spin. I walk out of my not so hidden hiding place and come into view. I move to the edge of the rink, leaning my forearms on the railing.
