Forked Roads Back

29 - TESSA

"DINNER ON ME TONIGHT?" Jamie asks when we're half way home.

I shake my head. "Is it okay if we stay in? I can cook. I haven't been back in a few days and I really miss Nelly."

"Of course," he nods. "Has it really been a few days?" I nod and he raises his eyebrows. "Jeez, it's been so full on with work and assignments that I feel like I haven't really lifted my head up."

"I'm the same. I've been looking forward to this long break for ages. My brain needs a well-deserved break."

"You can say that again. At least you can have one. I have this bloody internship."

I turn to look at him. He may sound like he's annoyed by it but I can see the childish excitement in his eyes. This internship is important to him and he can't hide that kind of excitement from me.

"What are Will and Nelly doing over the summer? Will always does something fun."

"You know, I'm not sure actually. We can ask them. I'd say Will will probably be going back to Australia at some point... Nelly might follow him out there. Not sure."

We round the corner to my road and spot Will and Nelly in the distance unloading a number of shopping bags from the car.

I wave at Nelly and she waves back, waiting until we get closer before shouting to tell us to grab a bag. When I see what's in the bags, I groan.

"A party?" I ask. Maybe we should go out for dinner.

She shakes his head. "Nope,  just us. Intense pizza making and movie night. We're planning a Star Wars marathon. You in?"

"Hell yes, we're in," Jamie says for us, smiling as he takes three bags all at once and follows Will into the house.

Forty minutes later, the four of us are in our pyjamas, Star Wars Episode I is set up to play and we're all piling toppings onto our mini pizzas. As they're mini, we each have three. Mine are a barbecue chicken, a meat feast-esque and a margarita and sweetcorn. Jamie goes for meat, meat and then more meat, whereas Will and Nelly opt just to make art with theirs, throwing on as many mis-match toppings as possible. Once everyone's are completed, we put the first batch in the oven and take a seat at the table to wait for them to cook.

"What you doing for summer Nel?" I ask, taking a pile of Pringles in my hand, despite my pizza in the oven.

"I'm just at home. Helping sis with Holly now that she's back at work." She smiles and an image of Ellie comes back to the forefront of my mind, as well as Jamie's reaction. I can feel his mood darkening next to me, but I try to ignore it and hope it blows over before it becomes too much.

"Aw! That sounds amazing. She must be six months now right? Holly was born two months before Ellie."

"Yep! And growing so fast. I swear each weekend I don't see her, she's grown like four inches." She sighs. "I envy my sister for all the time she gets with her."

"I'm the same with Ellie," I agree.

Nelly smiles. "I can't wait to be a mum."

At that comment, Jamie makes a noise that is a combination of a laugh and a snort. The whole room goes silent as our three heads all turn to look at him.

He looks between us and just shrugs. This is where I usually just change the subject to get him out of these moods, but Nelly looks pissed off. And, to be honest, I am too. It was uncalled for, and not to mention extremely rude.

"What's so funny about me wanting to be a mum?" Nelly asks, not finding what Jamie was laughing at funny at all.

Again, Jamie shakes his head. "Nothing."