why not?

chapter 5: a night

chapter 5: a night 

Tristain's POV

What is happening to me? I'm so happy to finally be close to Lila. All through university, and high school at that, wanted me to be theirs. I turned them down like a good boy because I couldn't lie to them: my heart was with another.

James and I walk through the door like champions. Lila isn't at the table, only Dad. Cate's reading a book and leaning against the counter top. When she sees us walk in, she puts it away.

"It took you long enough! Breakfast is ready" she heats up the omlets and oatmeals that are in the pans while James and I sit down.

"Are the others still asleep?" I ask.

"Lila's woken up but Cara and Reed are still asleep"

"Ah" I feel a thrill at hearing Lila's name. I've got it bad.

"About those books you needed" I say to James, "I'll mail them as soon as I can once I get home"

"Thanks mate" he says, "We definitely have to go back to your beach house for the summer. Right Mum?"

"Of course, I miss that place so much! I'd love to move back to England, but Dad's got work here" Cara looks sad when she gives us our breakfast. I feel sad too. I really want them to move back to their old flat, which is in the same building as ours.

"I hope you can move back soon" I say, "We miss you guys an awful lot"

"I know you do" says a lofty voice from the stairs.

"Shut up" says James, annoyed. His back faces her, and I see her giggle at his rudeness. She looks so pretty, even when wearing what I think must be James' old silk shorts and his shirt. Her neck looks long and creamy when she ties her hair back into a messy bun like that. I want to kiss it.

"When are the reservations for?" she asks, looking between the both of us. 

"Seven" says James, looking through his phone with great focus, "My party's at six, if you were going to ask"

"Oh. Okay then" she says. "Tristain and I are going to play chess, and we'll see once and for all who's the real champion!" A challenge echoes in her voice.

"I beat you last time, admit that I am the true champion"

"I was rushed! It was bedtime and I lost on purpose"

"Right"

"Well! Once I beat you tonight, we'll be even"

"If you beat me" I say confidently, "I mean, it won't be a surprise if I do"

"Yes it will" she pouts. Cara smiles.

"You're like the nicer brother sibling that Lila never had" she tells me. Brother. Maybe I was, but I think it sounds more like flirting.

I've flirted before, because it was fun,  but it never meant anything. I've never had a serious girlfriend. Well...there was Jaz. But she hated that I never bonked (British term for 'having sex') her, so she broke up with me. I wanted my first time to be with someone I loved, not some trash bag.

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say Auntie" I smile. "What are we all going to do until seven?"

"We'll just relax today. Tomorrow we're going to drive up to rent a cabin up in Helen, Georgia and stay for a few nights. It's truly a lovely place. We'll spend Buddhmas there" she reports. I had been the one to come up with Buddhmas, haha.

The decorations from yesterday are still up. I had expected we spent Buddhmas here, but apparently not.

Lila looks excited.