Clouds of Violet

Chapter Fifteen

Tuesday, September 16th, 9:33

The search for Alora starts in less than an hour.

Zara and I are sitting at Ben and Martha's, which is not far from where we're all meeting up. Sheriff Hudson told everyone to meet him outside the station at ten o'clock sharp. Of course, most of the girls at our school are going just to see Sheriff Hudson and his unbelievably perfect hair and pretty eyes.

Zara slurps her iced coffee, her eyes brightening as she looks over my shoulder. She smiles and I turn around to see Aaron walking toward us, hands in pockets and head down. I roll my eyes as he reaches our table.

"You're here," Zara grins. "I thought you were sick."

"You're done projectile vomiting?" I say.

"Yeah, that," he says. "I felt better so I thought I'd...you know, help look for Al."

"What's with the nicknames?" I say. "Don't you hate Alora?"

"I don't hate her," he says firmly. "I just think she's annoying. Which she is. But we have a day off, I have nothing better to do and she's my friend." He shrugs. "I guess that's why I'm here."

"Ahh, well Max and Ezra are burritos from that one Mexican place," I say. "You can go there till the search starts."

"Actually," Aaron begins. He pulls a chair from another table and sits down at ours. "I thought I'd dine with you guys."

"So you want me to third wheel your guys' date?" I say, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Sky, I was kinda hoping you would leave us alone," Zara says, curling her lips into a thin line. She squeezes Aaron's hand and I internally gag.

"Yeah, maybe you could join Ezra and Max at that one Mexican place." Aaron smiles at me and I kick his foot under the table.

"Y'know what, Mexican sounds pretty good right now," I say, grabbing my coffee off the table as I stand. "I've been craving some quesadillas for a while now. Try not to have too much fun, you two." I even giggle a little as I leave the shop.

Well, on the bright side, at least I don't have to pay.

***

Max and I are stuffing our mouths with quesadillas as Ezra judgementally watches us, while he eats his burrito elegantly.

"You two are animals," he says. "At least wipe your mouths with a napkin."

"Can we not even eat in peace?" Max whines; little tortilla bits fly out of his mouth. "Fuck, that's perfectly good food gone to waste."

"Max, your aunt works here, right?" I ask.

"She owns the fucking thing," Max says, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"Does that mean we get free food?"

"I mean, I get free food every time I come here," he says proudly. "Being the favourite nephew and all."

"Aren't you the only nephew?" Ezra says. "Your cousins are all girls and you don't have a brother."

"It counts," Max says. "Anyways, I can ask her to give you guys free meals. Just tip because she doesn't shit money."

"I hope she doesn't," Ezra says. "That would be horrifying,"

I laugh, almost choking on my quesadilla.