Not You

Chapter Ten

"I'm thinking about getting a beer," James spoke aloud but his words were clearly more for himself; he didn't even look at the other three as he decided. "Yep, I'm getting a beer."

"That was quick." Kady laughed, earning herself a grin from the curly-haired boy.

"I'll come with you." Lucas was already pushing his chair out, ready to go order with his best friend. "You girls want one?"

"A beer? Ew, no." Symphony recoiled in disgust and James let out a laugh, reaching down to move a curl that had fallen in her face back behind her ear. Lucas turned to Kady.

"What about you? Surely you like beers, right?"

"Uh-" Kady grimaced, and the two boys laughed. "Not really."

"We can get you girls something else, I suppose." Lucas rolled his eyes like it was a big thing, but the grin on his face showed he didn't mean it. "What do you usually drink? Or do you not want anything at all?"

"Any fruit cocktail will do!" Symphony clapped her hands together one, looking up eagerly at James as he nodded.

"Yeah, same here. Anything that doesn't... taste of alcohol." Kady grimaced again- she couldn't help it.

"You don't like alcohol?" James looked slightly taken aback and Kady frowned.

"Do I look like someone who would?"

"Eh." James grinned; Kady had no idea what that meant.

"What do you usually drink when you're out?" Lucas asked, expression curious.

"I've been eighteen barely a month, Lucas." Kady laughed. "And trust me when I say I haven't been using that month to go out drinking." Mostly been avoiding you. Kady suppressed her laugh; she was not going to voice that thought aloud.

"Right yeah, from what I understood you've mostly used it to avoid me." Lucas shot Kady a grin but she was much too busy being shocked at the two having had the exact same thought to even laugh.

"What did you drink at parties?" James' mouth was slowly curving up into a grin as he looked between Symphony and Kady; it was very obvious he thought he was incredibly funny.

"Ha ha, James." Symphony shook her head with a laugh, swatting his arm once.

"Just go get the drinks." Kady laughed, though it was accompanied by a roll of her eyes.

"I'll get you something good," Lucas assured Kady, smiling down at her before standing and walking away with James. Symphony's gaze was on Kady immediately.

"What did you and James talk about? You looked like you were having fun every time I looked at you but when we came back you looked... odd." Symphony leaned further across the table, closer to Kady who was busy picking at the edge of one of the menus.

"We did have fun. He was telling me all about Lucas when they were kids..." Kady trailed off.

"...And?"

"I don't know. All his memories of him were good- like really good." Kady finally looked up at Symphony, her expression mirroring that of James when she'd mentioned this. "I've never seen Lucas like that- I mean, he's been nice this past month but before that... it was just constant teasing- I just- All my memories of him are bad!" Kady shrunk in her seat when she realised her voice had gotten louder; she snuck a glance at Lucas to make sure he hadn't heard her. Why am I worried about upsetting him?

"You know... I think we just didn't know him well- we judged too quickly." Symphony placed her hand gently on Kady's, smiling reassuringly when Kady met her eyes. "I mean, what's the worst he did? Move the folders in your locker around because you left it unlocked?"