Across the Hall (girlxgirl)

twenty-five

• N a y a •

To kill time while I waited for Ember I found myself at our outside table, pencil in hand as I focused on my latest drawing. With everything going on I was starting to neglect my only healthy coping mechanism and I didn't want it to show, so I worked whenever I could, even if it was just for a few minutes.

"What are you doing out here my love?" My mum asked, twirling my loose hair as she appeared next to me, a warm grey cardigan wrapped around her. "I thought you and Ember had left already." She hummed as she sat, trying to peer over at my sketch of delicate hands on black and ivory piano keys.

"I'm just waiting for Ember to get ready." I shrugged as I closed my sketchbook as casually as possible without blushing in embarrassment. I didn't like people seeing what I drew, especially when it was so obvious who it was supposed to be. "We should be leaving soon."

"Okay, I was just checking." My mum smiled. "You did a great job with the gift for Ember, I'm so glad she has a friend like you. Your dad and I used to be so worried about her, she's always so quiet and withdrawn- but not so much when she's with you, you seem to bring her out of a shell a little. You're a good friend Naya. We're so proud of you, and the way you've been handling all of this, I know it hasn't been easy." My mum said soothingly, comfortingly rubbing my back when it wasn't needed- I liked being Ember's friend.

The more Ember let me in the more I wanted to know, she was my enigma and I wanted to know everything about her. I already knew she didn't like gifts, that was obvious. The surprised look on her face when she got all flustered and blushed in embarrassment when someone did something nice for her? I loved it, especially when her eyes would catch mine and she'd pretend to look annoyed- well I liked to think she was pretending. That's why I got Ember a gift, that's why I made sure to always pay- I liked getting under her skin.

But there was probably a different reason for that.

That's why when she let it slip that it was her birthday I knew I had to take advantage, I even made sure to get her another gift, one just from me just so I could see that look again.

"It's okay Mum, like you said, she's my friend so I don't mind." I cleared my throat, unable to tell her the truth, that I had an ulterior motive for it all.

"Are you ready to go Naya?" Ember asked, interrupting us from the doorway as my mum and I turned to face her. My mum spoke first since the sight of the redhead hadn't robbed her of the ability to speak, but me on the other hand? I could barely form a single word.

"Wow Ember, you look beautiful!" My mum beamed, and she was right. Ember stood in front of us dressed in a short black skirt, a small slit in the side exposing her leg further and a tight green halter top that cut low in the front. Her hair was pulled back in a half-up-half-down style as her makeup was lightly done, silver jewellery dawning her ears, neck and a few of her fingers.

"Thanks, Aunty Amara." She blushed before her blue and hazel eyes turned to me. "Are you ready to go?" She asked again and this time I nodded, jumping up from the table and almost capsizing the thing in the process.

"Yeah, let me just get my stuff and then we can go." I smiled before I grabbed my sketchbook and escaped upstairs for a minute. I tried to calm my beating heart before I made my way back down but it didn't work because the second I saw Ember waiting for me, my heart was going crazy again.

"Have fun and be safe girls!" My mum gushed as she hugged us goodbye and we promised to be on our best behaviour before I led us out to my car.

"So are you going to tell me where you're taking me?" Ember asked as soon as we hopped in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.