Empathy

Chapter Seven

Luckily for me, the family dinner at my grandparents' house was quick and somewhat painless. We left with cake and baked ziti leftovers. We had enough to feed the three of us for a month. Or, that's how it felt like to me.

"Wait," Peri said, stopping me from continuing my story. "How much food did your grandfather give you?"

I chuckled. "I'm honestly not sure, but it was definitely more than Mom, Gemma, and I needed. Italian food is good, but you gotta have it in little snippets," I said, shrugging. "Otherwise the magic of the delicious delicacy is gone and you're just eating to eat." Peri shoved me playfully in the arm. A touch of affection ran up my arm.

The second week of school flew by without anyone touching me and vise versa. I had very little worry about my Empathy from others at the moment because the only feelings I got from anyone right now was joy.

Joy from my friends.

Luna, Peri, and I were sitting in a booth at the "hip, young restaurant" in Ambrose, Casa Palooza. Their words, not mine. I'm honestly not sure what their food is, but it's like a mixture of American and Mexican cuisine with Italian and Greek. Let me just say this, the menu was a huge mess but it worked and tasted great.

The kitty cocktails weren't all that bad either, if I must say so myself.

Peri took a sip from her fake cocktail, raising an eyebrow at me when she was done. "So, Vel, tell me. How was your little date with Aiden Thatcher-Ames?" the blonde asked. I didn't think the thick eyebrow could raise any higher. I was very sadly mistaken.

Luna waved at Peri dismissively. "Petra Williams, leave our dear Marvel alone. We don't need to know the details of everything."

"Except that both of them were very happy after that day," Peri announced. In victory, she took an elegant bite of her gyro, tzatziki sauce dripping out of the pita and splattering everywhere on her plate. Chunks of onions and tomatoes following soon after.

"You are disgusting, Petra Louise Williams," Luna remarked, her face pinched. I laughed as I felt from her anything but disgust. My Eurasian friend was very much enjoying the display that Peri was making. She was happy.

I was happy.

I was very happy.

So happy.

Dinner at Casa Palooza was great. As the three of us made it a tradition to go every second Friday of the month, it was very nice to just talk to my friends about whatever the hell we felt like saying. Of course, each of them brought up Aiden, just to get me talking about the supposed "date" we were on.

We all went our separate ways after Luna dropped us off at our respective households.

I walked over to the front door of my house. Opening it, I saw my mom and Gemma in the living room, yelling at each other.

"Damn it, Gemma! I told you put your dishes away!" Mom yelled, her pale face slowly turning red in her fury.

"I was going to do it!" my sister yelled back, her face not nearly as red as Mom's.

Thank you for the mixed skin, Dad.

Mom huffed, yelling, "Is it too much to ask for a little help? You're not the only one suffering! I can't do everything by myself!"

Gemma walked passed me in an angry stride. Her feet stomped on the floor, making it creak and protest at the amount of force on it. She walked out the very door that I had walked through seconds earlier.

"Where are you going?!"

"Out!" Gemma shouted, slamming the front door shot.

"I'm not done with you, young lady!" Mom yelled. She put her hand to forehead, rubbing an oncoming headache.