Be my light in the dark

nine

- He's staring at you.

- I really don't know how he ends up at the same space as we do – I say, and I take a look back to where he is.

- But we can leave, we don't have to be here – Royce say's, always very thoughtful.

- It's okay, he has to stop messing with my head like this – Emeraude fakes a small smile, knowing I'm not that okay with this situation.

- Okay... - she says, showing a completely different smile – there's somebody walking in that you might like – she points to the door and I take a look back to see, nothing more than Dominic.

- You called him? – I ask, looking at her again.

- No! This was supposed to be just us, I didn't know he was coming. Royce, tell her – he laughs, and confirms that she didn't arrange a double date tonight.

- Look who's here – he says, reaching to our table. It is one of those higher, with tall benches, so he is besides it, looking at us at the same level – a night out and you didn't call your best friend? – he is looking at Emeraude.

- You are not my best friend – she immediately says, making me and Royce laugh – and, as you can see, I have better company today – he smiles, shaking hands with Royce and looking at me.

- Hi, new friend – he says.

- Hi – I switch to the bench in front of Royce, so he could sit on mine.

He orders a beer and while he waits, he speaks about football with Royce. Emeraude is making me signs with her head but I end up not understanding them. She grabs her phone, and second later I have a new message to read. From her.

My Lovely Em:

He's so drunk, Mads. And he doesn't stop looking here.

Should I go there and say something?

I don't think so... but he'll end up coming here. You know that.

I know...

I look at her, putting my phone down and taking a look at his table. He is alone, like always, looking, now, at his beer. Our story is 28 years old, that is how long I've known him; but we only have six years of consistent coexisting... that was when I was separated from him. And, now, we meet at random places like today.

- Earth to Madelaine? – Dominic pulls me back to our table.

- Sorry – I look at Emeraude and Royce, both smiling – I was distracted.

- We didn't notice that – Dominic says, and I look at him.

- What are you doing here? Did you put a tracking device on me?

- Oh yes – he giggles – on your neck, right when I was putting another on your car – I smile, forgetting everything I was thinking just a minute ago – what's wrong?

- Nothing.

- You don't seem to be very comfortable here.

- And you think you know me now?

- I've been doing a lot of research on you.

- Have you?

- Not in that creepy and scary way I just made it sound – we both laugh – I see you; you know? I know some things about you, just by looking at the way you move around the studios – he speaks lower than before, I take a look at Emeraude and Royce and they are both speaking too – I can see that you're not yourself today.