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I get to work as Helen gives Kate some instructions. We’ve made this pie so many times that I can do it in my sleep. I pretty much work on auto-pilot, and Helen and I move in sync. She adds small amounts of butter while I use two forks to work it through the dry ingredients. We learned long ago that the mixture gets too warm if we use our hands.
Kate slams the apples down on the counter and glares at both Helen and me. “Looks like you don’t even need or want my help.”
I shake my head just like Helen does, but Kate’s expression tells me nothing we say will placate her now. Lately her temper has been a bit weird and I’m not sure what to make of it.
She grabs her phone from the counter and turns towards the door. “I’m going to Gabby’s house,” she tells us. I drop the forks and wipe my hands on my skirt.
“Kate, no, please. Just stay and help us. It’ll be so much fun,” I tell her, my tone pleading. Kate shakes her head and looks from me to her mother.
“Nope, thanks. You two have fun,” she says, her eyes flashing with bitterness. I don’t know what to do — should I follow her or should I let her go? I move to chase her, but Helen grabs my hand and shakes her head.
“I’ll talk to her, Milly. Just let her be for now. You know as well as I do you won’t be able to talk any sense into her when she’s mad.”
I nod and take the fork she’s handing me. My heart is in agony. It feels like my friendship with Kate keeps getting worse and I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. I don’t want to lose her, and I have no idea how to hold on to her when she pushes me away so vehemently. She’s been hanging out with Gabby more and more often, and the more time she spends with her, the more she seems to resent me. The distance between us seems to increase every day, and I’m terrified she’ll soon be out of reach.
Chapter 23
Emilia
I walk into the Clarke’s house and sigh inwardly. Gabby and Kate are both sitting at the dining table with Kate. These days Gabby is here more often than not, and she usually makes me feel like the odd one out. The two of them look up when I walk in, and Gabby looks particularly disappointed to see me. It’s obvious that she was expecting Carter instead.
Helen smiles when she spots me and waves me over. I join her in the kitchen and wash my hands before helping her with dinner.
“How was school, sweetie?” she asks.
“It was good.”
My grades are the same, but everything feels different lately. More often than not Kate is ditching me for Gabby and I’ve started to feel lonely at school. Thankfully, Carter keeps a good eye on me and hangs out with me every once in a while. We’ve been careful to stay within the boundaries of friendship, but it’s not easy. Every time we’re alone, he looks at me like he wants me.
“Kate’s grades seem to have dropped a little. You guys don’t study together anymore?” Helen asks. I shake my head. We used to have short study sessions every day to keep each other on track, but she’s been skipping those recently. Helen sighs. She looks worried, and I wish I could make her feel better.
“I’ll remind her to study with me,” I say, knowing that my words will fall on deaf ears. Helen smiles gratefully and sighs.
My phone buzzes and I fish it out of my pocket. I bite back a smile when I see that it’s Carter. He’s convinced me to let him hide out in my house in order to avoid Gabby. She’s at the Clarke's almost every day now and takes every single opportunity to hang around. Carter studying at my house was meant to be a one-time thing that has somehow lasted for weeks now. I was hesitant at first, but when I realized how persistent Gabby is, I gave in. Besides, most of the time I’m not even with him, so it doesn’t really matter that much.
Devil: Can you bring me my AP Chemistry book? I forgot to bring it.
Emilia: Where are you?
I don’t know why I even bother asking. I know exactly where he is.
Devil: In your bedroom. I locked my door before I left but you’ve got a key, right?
I chuckle to myself. A couple of years ago Helen put locks on all the bedroom doors to prevent Carter and me from pulling pranks on each other. I copied his bedroom key within weeks, and he always knew, but he never bothered to change the lock. Guess it’s finally coming in handy for him now.
Emilia: I don’t get why you can’t just study in your own bedroom and just lock the door. Or, you know, study at my dining table?
Devil: Last time I studied in my bedroom that viper kept bothering me. Do you really think a locked door will stop her? Besides, I like your bedroom. It’s cozy.
Cozy? Seriously? I roll my eyes and sigh. He keeps making a mess of my desk and my bed. The coziness he’s referring to is really just his mess. There are notes scattered all over my bedroom. At least he helps me look over my homework and helps me study for my own tests. Thanks to Carter, I’ve been acing my essays with ease.
Devil: Can you bring snacks too? I want the Cheez-Its.
Devil: Please.
Emilia: I can’t believe you eat that over-processed crap. I’m not bringing that for you. How about an apple?
I smile to myself and grab the Cheez-Its from the cupboard. I can’t stand them, but Carter adores them. I throw a few packets into my bag without thinking and look up to find Helen looking at me, baffled.
