Umbra

Chapter Seven

"Hey Lili, over here!" a voice chanted in the corner of her ear as she gripped tightly onto her tray. It was Rachael Blair sitting smugly along with Amina, Aimee and Nadine, a slender girl with a boyish frame and auburn hair, Gracelynn had learned wasn't all too partial to social interaction.

Then Lucca caught her eye, as his hand saluted in the air to welcome her over, along with what appeared to be a highly drunk Mia.

And then of course there was Zeph, who had his body laid out on the chair suavely and effortlessly with Ceire fiddling with a pasta salad across the table.

The choice became simple enough: she'd spread her time out, socialising with each group. She walked carefully over to Rachael Blair, the closest table and signalled 'two minutes' to Lucca. The words she told him the previous night seemed to ring with him, as no unnecessary abuse what hollered.

As she sat down, she noticed each of the girls' faces beaming with anticipation, watching on at her, as if she were queen of the pride.

"So?" Aimee droned on.

"So what?" Gracelynn played out trying to get the greatest build up possible.

"Zeph, you damn girl." Amina play smacked the side of her face as if she had lost her mind during her sleep.

"I can't even begin to explain it," A smile beamed onto her face as she chewed at a mouthful of baguette leading to a not-so-flattering face. "He had candles everywhere, rose petals scattered on the bed."

"No way!"

"Shut up."

"I cannot believe this!"

These were the precise reactions she was expecting; gobsmacked, puzzled, surprised, happy. All except for Nadine who held a modest, pleasant look upon her face at all times.

"We watched Gone with the Wind and I swear, it was the most romantic moment of my life. I- I've never been quite so happy. There was a small mishap with someone throwing a stone in at Zeph, which left a cut and knocked a candle over, but we sorted that out soon enough."

"Oh my god Lili, a fire?" Rachael Blair screeched.

"No, I got a pillow to it quickly and I cleaned his wound up and-"

"Oh my, just like Florence Nightingale!" Rachael Blair slipped in, blossoming her theatrical reaction.

"Then we danced to Vera Lynn and... and I was so happy." Her face by now was a warm puce from the blushing, but somehow she didn't care.

They continued with the mindless and light gossiping while eating, that left Gracelynn feeling wanted. They included her in every aspect giving commentaries here and there in spots, she was not sure about. Of course, Mia was a discussed topic. How she would flee classes to go make out with her boyfriend, not under the bleachers, but his office, the head teachers office. Apparently it has become quite the scandal. However, it couldn't flee her mind that once upon a time she lived a similar, destructive lifestyle. But that was the past.

They finished of their lunch and sat for several minutes for an opportunity to discuss topics of interest. It seemed like the right moment for her to leave them to the heated conversation, to talk with Lucca, and so excused herself to head towards him.

"Lucca." She bolted up behind her cousin and gave him a hug around the neck.

"Gracie, you okay?" He said turning up to her with a fresh, wholesome grin.

"Are you sure she's your cousin, Lucca?" Niall sat down a few seats looking thoroughly pleased with his provocative joke. Gracelynn let her grip become loose as she felt her insides squirm; Lucca looked not at all pleased. His smile turned to a scowl and Niall's obnoxious confidence floated into some distant land.