The Only One » cth [en]

6. jade was not on a date

I silently close the front door behind me, before taking my shoes off.

I tiptoe my way through the living room before I notice that the kitchen light is on.

Carefully I take a sneak peak inside.

I screech as I take my hand to my chest.

"What is wrong with you guys?" I whisper loudly, since it's almost midnight.

"Just having dinner, lil cous'." Ash answers putting both his hands together. And so do his two friends.

The three are sitting at the table, with nothing on it by the way, eyeing me with a look I know more than well.

"Well, I didn't know you guys were on such a strict diet that you can only eat air. Please, don't let me stop you. Bonne appétit."

I turn to leave but I honestly knew better than that.

"Have you had dinner?" I hear Luke's voice and I roll my eyes.

I sigh and I sit in front of them.

"Okay, you guys are fucking creepy. Each of you has the right to ask one question and that's it."

"What was dinner?" Luke asks not taking his eyes off mine.

"Are you serious?" I cross my arms. Better for me. It could be an embarrassing question. "Noodles."

"Do they eat with sticks?" Michael smirks and I sink further in the chair.

What is wrong with them?

"Mike, he's not chinese. You really don't know how to take advantage of a question." my cousin punches his friends lightly and I thank god my family is smart. "Did you get the answer to what you wanted to ask?"

Ash's question surprises me the most. But I don't let it show. Instead I lie. "Yes. My turn. How did you guys become friends with Calum?" I wouldn't ask this to Calum himself because I was afraid of what the answer was gonna be. Michael's voice confirms my suspicions.

"Nice change of subject." he chuckles "The same way they're friends with me."

Ashton, Luke and Michael have been friends since as long I can remember. Which is since preparatory.

Luke Hemmings and his family were my uncle and aunt's neighbour so he and Ash had always got along. When they started third grade they started talking about a guy that got picked on at school for being strange. Then he started showing around and suddenly Michael Clifford and his family were also part of ours. He surely was peculiar. But Luke and Ash never cared how he acted neither did they care that people started picking on them as well.

"We've been friends for a while now but when he came around you were never home. That day you started talking about how he was-"

I knew where the conversation was headed so I was very fast at covering my cousin's mouth.

" He's so into you." Michael teases.

"Shut up. He is not. I'm going to my bedroom. You guys can all piss off." I let them know and I say my goodbyes to them.

When I'm finally laying in my bed I let a huge grin take over my face.

I let my mind get flooded with the memories from this afternoon and night, only partly.

Calum gave me the address which was really hard to find because his house is in a sketchy alley.

When I finally got there, his sister, whose name is Mali-Koa but rathers to be called just Mali or so I've learned, opened the door for me.

His parents were both there and they were strangely kind.

Calum said they were just showing off. He also said Mali didn't even live there anymore, she lives with her flatmate Ashley, who he thinks that might be more than just an ordinary flatmate.

"It takes a lot of courage and patience to be able to live with other person if you think about it, Jade."

His family insisted in playing Monopoly, to which he apologized countless times. I said I didn't mind because it's one of my favourite games. Everyone thinks it's boring but I find it stress relieving.

I wasn't exactly sure how Calum would play it but I didn't ask.

I discovered that it was invented a braille version of the game. His mother, Joy, works in a company that develops board games. So they have all kind of games in braille. I didn't even know that was a thing.

That sure is a fun family. They are always joking around.

"I'm sorry if they're being too cheerful. I think it's their way of coping with the fact we can't be the perfect family." the asiatic looking boy lets me in his bedroom. I find it amazing how he knows all the exact coordinates of the things and places. He doesn't even reach out for the wall. I always do that when I want to go to the bathroom during the night. Maybe I'm just not used to being in the dark.

"Don't say that. You're the only person I know that would think being cheerful is a flaw."

They invited me to stay for dinner. Actually they insisted. I, on the other hand, was terrified I'd something so awkward it would change the way they see me. And I said that one thing.

"Do you have a dog or something?" I ask when David, his dad, goes to get the bowls.

Joy laughs and Calum smiles fondly and I just want to hide inside a hole, for a change.

"I wish I could. They are way more helpful than a stupid cane and well, they're fluffy. But I'm allergic."

Thank god they weren't offended. I always seem to be saying the wrong things.

There was a time where David insisted he would take me home but I assured them it was fine, I had my car.

They seemed so happy to have someone around. Even though that from what I got Ash and the others have been there a couple times.

I feel my eyelids getting heavy and I ignore the fact I'm still in my outside clothes. I take off my jeans without getting up and I close my eyes.

"I'm really glad you came." Calum whispers at the door, so his family won't hear I suppose.

"Me too. I'm really proud my behaviour was socially acceptable." I joke, which makes him smile. His little dimples are really cute.

I turn around to leave when his voice stops me.

"And, Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't let anyone tell you what you should be. You're amazing just like that."