"A grape flavored kiss.... A boy on your lips...."
Eddie doesn't know what to do when he finally meets Gareth's other best friend. Gareth talks both of them up to each other yet it takes almost a decade to meet...
Do they actually know each other?
W...
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Driving away from the Dive we were all silent. I was thinking about all the times I had patched up Ellie, her first fight and the tears she shed. I had always been there, now over the past few months the hole in your gut from giving her space was taking its toll.
Best Friends. What does that even mean? She was now leaning on Eddie, giving you the space you wanted. Did you want to start thinking about what Gareth wanted? Maybe Eddie was right, maybe you had been too involved with Ellie. What does your world look like with her less in it?
I sighed then looked over at Robin, she was quiet, which for Robin was strange. I took a breath, "alright, talk."
"I was waiting for you to say something first! Did you know she could fight like that?" Robin's eyes were big, and you just smiled.
"I know she can fight, yes." I looked in the rear-view mirror, Mattie was looking out the window. Something was wrong but you couldn't put a finger on it. You needed to thank her tomorrow, this newfound friendship, being able to rely on one another was something you really liked. You hoped she liked it too, that you could help her out when things got difficult.
Robin was babbling now about how fun it was to hang out during the campaign, something about Ellie being hot, then another thing about Tiff teaching her about the match. You didn't really pay attention; you were in your own head.
"Gareth?" My attention is suddenly pulled to the small girl in the backseat, "I don't know where to go." She bit her lip nervously, and I wanted to stop the car, I wanted to give her all my attention.
What is this feeling?
"What do you mean?" Robin had turned in her seat. I nodded for Mattie to continue.
"It's too late for me to go home. If I ...." She stopped and I could see her thinking about her next words. Oh no, you didn't think about the consequences, the real world of Mattie, what was she walking back into, you were so worried about yourself and Ellie. This was your world and now you had added these other people into it, but what did that mean for her.
Robin didn't wait, "if you what Mattie?"
"If I go home now, I won't be able to get into the house. I don't want to wake her." She hesitated and I started to process what she said, this information was new.
"The Carvers didn't give you a spare key?" I asked the question softly, already knowing the answer.
"No, I'm not welcome unless they know I will be home." Mattie looked back out the window and you knew you had to figure out where to take her. You look over at Robin and she nods, "she can come with me."
"You sure Robin? My mom works late so she can always stay in my guest room." I knew full well that would be a story or explanation your mother would demand in the morning, but she would understand once you said it was for Ellie's friend.
