It All Started with a Book

page 8 | just friends

It was fun observing the way the trio talked. Every few minutes one of them would burst out in laughter, and I would be lying if I said that it wasn't contagious. We had just finished eating at a food truck that served delicious food, and Carlos was kind enough to actually pay for all that we ordered.

I tried to tell him that I could pay for the food I ordered myself to lessen what Carlos had to pay for everyone else, but Nathan told me Carlos really enjoyed treating his friends – especially when it came to spending on food. So I complied, but mentally made a note to pay Carlos back before I leave.

I reminded myself of the price of the meal he paid for, as I thanked Carlos for his kind gesture.

Nathan was so excited when it came to the rides, that it made me feel that he had been reliving some very fond childhood memories ever since we stepped foot into the town fair. Despite the first few instances that we had met, Nathan was actually a good conversationalist, and talking with him somehow made me avid with chatting as well.

"A few years ago, I rode that rollercoaster right after eating a heavy lunch, and trust me – that did not go well," Nathan said it with amusement. 

I laughed, replying, "You can spare the details that happened after the ride."

I managed to actually strike up a conversation with Caitlin, in courtesy of Nathan's surprisingly well skills in communication. She spoke with an air of confidence, but she wasn't arrogant for her confidence was like proving one's self-worth, and I admired that in her. She smiled frequently when she spoke and I found out that she was really interested in photography, to which she showed me pictures she took from her phone.

"Wow," I said in amazement, walking in the same pace as her. "The photos look amazing."

"Thank you," she returned. "I don't really show the photographs I take to anyone, let alone Nathan and my twin, and it's nice to know that you like them. I mean, I aspire to be a photojournalist, so everyone's got to start somewhere, right?"

"Right," I agreed.

The day at the fair mainly consisted of bonding with the trio, playing at the booths, and riding the fair attractions. Carlos was currently holding a medium sized stuffed dog after winning in a ring toss game, so one of us was on the verge of exploding with happiness.

Carlos apparently adored dogs.

While the twins went to buy some cotton candy, I was staring up into the summer sky. It bugged me to know that the days were quickly passing by, and I had made two new friends in the process.

I tried not to mark the days I had left – but I couldn't for I had stopped by the calendar hanging on my room door before leaving this morning.

I turned my head down, relaxing my eyes from the bright glare of the vivid blue sky. Perhaps I needed to tell Nathan that I wasn't staying permanently. I looked towards him, whose attention was directed towards a certain girl with blond hair accompanying her twin. Something irked within me, but I knew that his gaze was not of any negative feelings.

Oh, I thought. He likes her.

I walked up to Nathan, and his gaze broke away from Caitlin. "Yes, Adeline? Is everything alright?"

I rubbed my right arm, avoiding his green eyes. "Yeah, everything's fine."

A silence enveloped us again. I wasn't certain why, but silence became a constant thing between us and it was comforting. Nathan and I could be considered friends, taking into account the number of days we had spent together at the library. And yet everything seemed like yesterday.