Parting Letters

Chapter 5 : Meet Greet

I am standing right behind her. There's only two feet of distance between us. She is still lying soundlessly and I really wonder if I should disturb her or not. Isla came downstairs, heading right to the room sitting on the opposite side. She was about to speak before I gestured to her to keep quiet. She smirked - immediately understanding my motive : to get her by surprise.

"MhrmmmmMhrmmmm", I make a sound. No response.

"Isla, didn't you go to bring Theo? Is he not coming?", Hanah speaks. Her voice tired.

So she is awake plus waiting for me. The affectionate content makes me giddy which makes it harder to not smile.

"Isla, where is he?", Hanah whines.

"Look behind you. He is standing there."

Shock tonality is heard from her voice, "What?! He is standing behind me?!"

"MHRMMMMMMMHRMMMMMM", this time I make the pitch high.

She immediately turned around, surprise plastered all over her face. Her sleepy eyes I assume now wide awake.

I smile, "Hi." Giving a small wave.

She is blinking non stop, unable to contain her surprise.

Her eyes narrow, "Am I dreaming?"

"Were you asleep before?"

"No...... .but I am sleepy so might be hallucinating."

"Well.....one of you pinch her then.", I motioned to the children. One of the toddlers pulled her hair.

"Oww!", Hanah shrieks.

"Now is it believable?"

She giggles her signature giggle which is music to my ears.

"I guess. Let me start from the beginning.", she soothes down her hair, "Unbeliveableeeeeee!!!! Theodore Green! No way that is you. Like no way! You......you......you changed."

"Changed how?" If only you knew.

"Weeeellll.....for starters you are not that baaad looking. You lost weight? And your voice.......my it's different! I mean obviously boys' voices change when they grow up but still. I only remember your childlike one therefore it's a new thing to get used to."

"Uh.......I will take all those as compliments. And I lost weight? I myself have no idea. You on the other hand gained weight! Like how is that possible?!" She used to eat so little before for which her body was very skinny compared to our whole family. Even her mother was worried about it sometimes. She was constantly weak due to being underweight.

"Thanks to heavy gymnastics and dancing I eat now. Better than before. Also follow a proper diet. Surprising I know notwithstanding, I get hungry all the time."

"You also dyed your hair, got a nose piercing, just as you wanted."

"Yep. I am glad I got to fulfill my wishes."

"Am glad for you as well. Though I preferred your natural hair, nevertheless with this new change you look more beautiful."

Her chubby cheeks reddened, "Thanks." Do I have any kind of effect on her or is it just my head playing games?

"You are handsome too. You are really handsome."

I smirk wistfully, "That's something I know. Don't have to remind me."

"I changed my mind. You are awful."

"Nuh uh! What's already said is said. You can't change that."

She rolls her eyes then breaks out into a smile. She proceeds to hug me but at the end moment stops : her right hand clenching into fist. I wonder the serendipitous behavior furthermore what's causing it. If it was me I could have understood considering I didn't even make the first move but her - it's unforeseen. I look back to see Mrs. Easton grinning towards us. Either it's my fear of her or I sense a malice hidden behind those eyes. Is it because of her that Hanah hesitated to hug me? Except she is looking on the floor, lost in her own thoughts. Or maybe she knows that her mother is watching us hence being cautious.