Jealousy - Enolive 🧡

Chapter 1 - The New Arrival

Olive was excited for today. There would be a new person coming to live with them at Miss Peregrine's Home for Children. There were already twelve children living there as well as Miss Peregrine. Enoch, Olive, Jake and Emma were the oldest, all of them sixteen years old. Then came Horace at thirteen, Hugh and Fiona were both twelve, Millard was eleven, Bronwyn was nine, the twins were seven and little Claire was the youngest at six. Olive, being one of the oldest, had a responsibility to look after the younger children who were all very fond of her. Emma was her best friend and Enoch - well Enoch was her best friend too. Sadly, that's all they were ever going to be, thought Olive. Even though she may have a crush on him, Enoch would never feel the same way.

Enoch was in a worse mood than usual. There was another person coming to the house today. One extra person to avoid. Enoch wasn't really a 'people person', so to speak, and the only person he enjoyed being around was Olive. She understood him and respected the fact he was unsociable. She was the opposite - always happy and smiling and everyone loved her. Miss Peregrine said that was the reason they got along. Enoch didn't dislike the other children; he just preferred to be alone. He wasn't good at making friends and most of the younger ones were a bit scared of his temper. Apart from Claire. He was very fond of the youngest member and looked after her like a little sister.

Miss Peregrine wanted all of the children to be present in the hallway when the new person arrived, to make the guest feel welcome. Enoch had been through this process too many times already and wanted it to be over as soon as possible. Show your face and then leave. Shutting himself in his room for the rest of the day. Usually Olive would accompany him and they'd spend the day together, but when a new person arrived, it was Olive's job to show them around. Enoch was very protective of Olive and liked having her to himself. Of course, he'd never force her to spend time with him, or stop her playing with the others, but he couldn't help feeling  a pang of jealously whenever anyone else took an interest in her.

When the knock came at the door, Enoch stood halfway down the stairway, the furthest away from the door and the closest to getting back to the sanctuary of his bedroom. The younger ones scattered about in front of the door and in the stairs, talking in hushed voices about what they thought the new person would be like. Olive caught Enoch's eye and smiled at him, before resuming her place next to Miss Peregrine by the door.