Forehead Kisses (ONGOING)

Part Ten

     "Of all the words that have sprouted out of my magical mouth, all you heard was Pembleton?" she raised a brow. "Were you even listening?"

     "Sorry." I put the empty can on the table and sat on a chair. Retty sat a moment later. She was facing me at the opposite side of the table. "Anyway, he said he had lunch with a friend-" she then narrowed her eyes on me. "Wait. Since when have you been interested in hearing about this Sev Pembleton?" She looked me in the eye and I think I just swallowed all my saliva in one gulp.

     She stood up and went beside me. She eyed me for a while. Then she chuckled. "It's funny... how you came into my head when he was talking about it." I'm starting to sweat because Retty just started pacing around the table. It kinda feels like one one those detective scenes where the suspect sits quietly in the interrogation room while the sleuth asks all these questions under one light source. It's always surprising how Retty could change the atmosphere from makeshift heaven to inner hell.

     "Is it even possible that you, Elizabeth Damont West, daughter of a world renowned photographer, could be dating a young and famous song writer such as Severus Pembleton?" She slammed a hand on the table in front of me. I pursed my lips. "Say, where have you been when I texted you that I couldn't come?"

     I'm a terrible liar. I really am. But I have to try answering her or she'll go bananas on me and start annoying me. One time, I ate her sandwich and she asked me if I saw it. I ignored her as usual then she just sulked around me for a month and shot these come-near-me-and -I'll-kill-you glares every time I try to go near her. And I'd be like 'Okaaay'. 

     "Nowhere... I-I came home."

     She looked below the table and then looked back at me. "Then why are you still wearing your favorite blue outdoor converse? It's strange cause you're a slippers girl when you're indoors."

     "I uh... I came home... BUT-" I raised a finger. "I took some photos in the park. Yeah in the park. The park first and then back home." I'm really trying not to tremble while putting on a smile.

     I suck.

    "Okay. Can your camera vouch for that?" she asked. 

     My camera? I took a photo of Sev in my camera. She's going to find out. Speaking of my camera... where is it? Retracing where it probably would be... I shot a grim look at Retty because it hit me. I left it on the bench. In the garden at the back of the restaurant when I curled like a dead centipede.

     Stupid, stupid, stupid Elizabeth!

     I stood up, ignoring Retty. "I need to go back," I charged towards the coat rack and grabbed my coat and an umbrella. It was raining cats and dogs outside.

    "Go back where?"

     "To the restaurant"

     "What restaurant?"

     "The one where Sev and I had lunch in. I left my camera there. In the garden." 

     Under the pouring rain.

     Retty blocked my way to the door. "Aha! So you're the friend he's been talking about then!?" she exclaimed. "Yes, OK." I tried pushing her aside. "I knew it!" her voice filled with the satisfaction of finding me out. I reached for the knob but she blocked my hand. Geez!

    "Whoa. Lizzy! Hold your horses! There's a storm, Liz. You can't just go out there now!" she warned.

     Well... that's exactly what I'm trying to do. 

    "But the weather was just fine this afternoon," I complained.

     "Two words, Lizzy." She raised two fingers in front of me now. "Climate....Change" At the same moment, the rain became stronger as raindrops pattered on the windows. I turned around and took off the coat. The restaurant would probably be filled with a lot of people anyway. Defeated and hopeless, I sat on the couch. Retty sat beside me. "Look. I know how much that camera means to you. Let's just hope someone saw it and kept in dry." She stroke my back.

     Scott gave me that camera. It was a present back when I turned 18. It really meant something to me. It's the only thing I have of him. The only reminder of him and I just lost it. Poof! Just like that. I'm such a lousy gir-... ex- girlfriend. I went to my room and just packed my things for the trip.

     I'm sure everything would be fine once I get home to Dallas.