TILL WE MEET AGAIN

Chapter 8

Ellie

"Where is Trent?" I ask Marissa when I bump into her.

"Out on the porch." She replies as she slides past me.

I walk out as the voices of the people inside slowly fade. I find Trent on the porch in the middle of a video call.

"Trent!" I call out.

He turns to me. That's when I notice who he is talking to. Maya, his girlfriend. His girlfriend of thirteen years.

"Oh! Hey Maya." I greet. I unconsciously walk over to Trent.

"Ellie! Hi. How are you? Long time no see." She pipes back.

We talk for a few more minutes before she hangs up, promising to call Trent again.

Trent slides his phone into his pocket and walks past me towards the door.

"Trent, can we talk?" I ask. He turns and walks back to me.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"Why are you ignoring me?" I blurt out. No beating around the bush.

"What makes you think I'm ignoring you?" He throws back.

"You haven't said a word to me in days."

"I don't have to speak to you all the time you know that, right?" He replies rudely. That's unlike him.

I go quiet for a minute before I speak again. "Then look me in the eyes and tell me that you are not mad because I am leaving."

He looks down and goes silent for a  while. When he looks back at me, his eyes are filled with fury.

"Not mad?" He scoffs. "Of course I'm mad because you are leaving. Ellie, you are moving. To another continent. How is my brain even supposed to process that?"

"Trent I ..." I start to speak but he cuts me off.

"No, Ellie." He sighs and rakes his hair in frustration.

"I don't know how to do this." He whispers, looking at me with desperation." I don't know how to let you go. You are my sister."

I have never really been a mere cousin to him.

I shrug, trying not to let the tears pooling in my eyes drop. The lump on my throat is so big I cannot speak.

"Come here." He calls out, with his arms open. I walk to him and he wraps his arms around me. I bury head in his chest and remind myself that soon I won't be able to do this.

"Well I don't care whether you are in Africa but you are not allowed to have a boyfriend till you're 35." He reminds me.

I chuckle and roll my teary eyes even though he can't see me. His protectiveness is still going to follow me to Africa.

Someone clears their throat behind us. We turn to look.

"Are you guys done bonding 'cause I would like to borrow her." Col speaks, pointing at me.

"She's all yours." Trent ruffles my hair and releases me.

Col and I walk back into the house. When the door is shut, he turns to me.

"So," he begins. "We have wedding song to rehearse for."

"Oh yes. I totally forgot." I respond. "Aunt Medrine has to be kidding. We are not even professional singers. How are we supposed to do this?"

"Did she look like she was kidding?" Col asks me.

"No." I sigh.

"Come on. Let me show you something."