See You Again

XXVII

The canteen was crowded today.

The line was so long I almost chose to starve rather than wait at the back. That's when having motivational friends like Ezra come in handy. He just wouldn't shut up or stop describing the most amazing dishes that were definitely not in the school which made me crazy hungry and we ended up waiting. Waiting for very long.

The others were already there, eating and laughing whilst we suffered. When we finally got there, trays were empty and they were about to leave.

"I'm starving!" Ezra dramatized as he slowly fell on his chair and dropped his head on Emily's shoulder with a pout.

Usually, Emily would have pushed him away, maybe even punch him in the face if given the opportunity but she had been forced to hang out with him since she joined the school, in the classes they had together and in general because Ezra was just annoying and got attached. She was playing with the peas in her untouched food and looked at him with the signature bored look.

"Do you want the rest?" she motioned to her plate.

Ezra immediately sat up and his face lit up "For real? You're such an angel, Emily!"

I couldn't help the eye roll. They were an interesting duo and it never crossed my mind that they would become friends, or as close to it as they are. In my head, just like Kenzie adored Peter, she too would spend her days with him, yet she only tolerated Ezra in small doses and didn't mind us at lunch.

"Emily" I caught her attention, or at least she looked my way "Do you need a ride to the airport? We could go together"

I was really happy today since Kenzie was finally visiting after months. She didn't want to tell me exactly the day she was coming just to piss me off but eventually she gave in and though we didn't agree that I would be getting her, I decided to be a good boyfriend and show up anyway. And who knows, maybe I score extra points for taking her sister.

Vanessa rose an eyebrow "Airport? What are you talking about?"

"Kenzie is coming," I said shortly, waiting for Emily's answer but Vanessa cut her off again.

"Mackie is coming? How did I not know this? Why didn't she tell me?" her voice failed a little. I did not know what was that, the cracks on her confidence, but it sounded a little desperate and incredulous "Why do you know?"

Leah was also looking at me suspiciously but Walt didn't seem to care.

"Oh, she didn't tell you?" Emily mock pouted "Poor Ness, betrayed by her one true love"

Before Vanessa could defend herself, her second in command through herself to the fight "You know all about that, don't you, Emily?"

She just rolled her eyes and turned to me "She already landed by now, didn't you know? Her flight changed, she's probably back at my place by now"

My lips parted in surprise, I had not known of that. Worse, I had no idea where Emily lived.

"I'm done with school for today so I'm going home. Do you want to come?" she asked and I sighed in relief.

I nodded but still with the question on my mind. Why hadn't Kenzie warned me? Maybe she forgot or maybe she didn't find it important as long as she was here.

Emily walked home even when I offered her my driver, so I had to go on foot too. It's not that I hate it, it's just that I'm not used to walking for long distances and thought her house was not nearly as far from school as mine, it was still far.

The house was on the eastern side of the Thames, probably to avoid the Egyptian bad luck (See! I did learn something at school!). It was that yellow mansion I had so many times passed by but never entered. It was just a tall wall full of closed windows born from the end of the sidewalk that followed it for almost the whole street and then bent at the end of it, creating the only visible corner of the rectangular house. The Coldwell household was old and decrepit but it still held the name.