Heartfelt Transitions [First Draft]

Sixth

"Yeah, please, just go already, James!" Elara admonished. Even through the call, I could see at the back of my mind the face she must be making. The face on how overbearing of a brother I could be in her eyes.

"Okay, lock the door and–"

"I know," she cut me off. "Lock the door, check the stove, and all other sixty nine instructio–"

"Elara Rosemonde."

"It's just a number!" my sister said. "Where was this hush when you gave me the bird and bees talk?"

I let out a laugh, shaking my head at the memory. I understood it was natural for her to be embarrassed when I gave her that talk, but did I really have any other choice?

"Go and have fun. I will take care of things here, don't worry."

"Yeah, and I will be back before evening, alright?"

"Come after dinner," she said. "10, 11– no one's here to put a curfew on you. Please enjoy yourself. Oh also?"

"Yeah?"

"That girl who's been distracting you will be there?"

I could hear the sly grin dripping through Elara's tone.

My sister was, much to my displeasure, part of the 'jump to conclusions' gang. And this was one of her hurried conclusions. One of her wrong conclusions.

"No girl has been distracting me," I firmly said, trying to employ my best no-nonsense tone. "So I don't know what you are talking about. It's just a couple of friends."

"And the distraction is one of them, go for it! Bye!"

With that, she hung up.

Apparently, my tone still needed some work done.

Sighing with a smile, I slipped my phone into the pocket and entered the classroom back.

The final bell had rung twenty minutes and the class was empty, except the three friends of mine having cornered the girl who had been distrac–

No.

No girl has been distracting me.

Four friends.

"And hey! It will be fun! Five of us!" Victoria was sitting beside her, using her best convincing-pleading tone to sway.

Despite me having informed my sister I wasn't going to be home early today, we still hadn't come down to convincing the one person for whose presence I had agreed upon this 'outing'.

Adaira sat rigid. "You guys are all close, have a good time, all of you. I think I will just get in the way. I will be going home."

"How do people get close? By spending time together! Going out. Having fun."

"Victoria," I interrupted. "If she doesn't want to go, we can't force her."

Isabelle who was sitting on the desk nodded in silent agreement. Ryan sighed, arms folded against his chest.

Victoria sank further down into her chair.

Having said that...

I wouldn't force her for a single thing if she didn't want to, but I could read she didn't not want to do this.

Turning to Adaira, I gave her a soft smile. A smile I was pretty sure she had a sweet spot for.

And she reacted in that way.

The way she always did when I gave this smile.

The right fist clenching, tongue clicking in a 'tch' gesture, gaze diverting away and a slight red on cheeks.