where the water meets the moon | e.d.

thirty-six

ethan

she's truly here in the flesh, looking as happy as ever. i can't help but think her time in california went okay, and she'll be back to normal.

back to letting me know that she loves me.

"so, just follow the girls up and i'll see you soon?" i ask, looking down at kendall pressed into my side.

she smiles up at me. "yep."

i let her go and watch as she follows cressida and addy to the elevators while evan and i continue getting our room keys. there was a mix up in the system, and they accidentally gave our room away to someone else, but they have another available.

"so," evan says to me.

i raise my eyebrows. "what?"

"she seems nice."

"oh, kendall?" i smile. "yeah. she is."

he nods, but doesn't look too convinced.

i'm so terrified that no one is going to like her, even though the only one who has a reason not to is addison, because of all that i've told her about some problems and flaws. but knowing her, i'm sure they're already braiding each other's hair already.

i check the watch on my wrist and see that it's a little past 4:30 pm, so the next time i see her will probably be at dinner. maybe i could stop by her room before, though.

evan and i are on the sixth floor, room 14. we load all of our suitcases into the room and claim beds, but something feels slightly off with me.

and i have a feeling it has something to do with the look on addy's face when she saw kendall. what does that mean?

"hey, i'm going to shower before dinner," i call out to evan, who's messing with the blinds.

"okay. don't care."

the bathroom is sleek and nice, but with a slight beach vibe. complimentary shampoos and soaps line the counter, and i smell them.

great. more old lady soap.

i strip naked and turn on the shower and wait for it to heat up, all while thinking of kendall. i really hope she adjusts well.

while i lather shampoo in my hair, i try to avoid thinking of the one person who is really trying to test my mind right now.

addison.

stop. you have to stop.

i shake my head, splattering some suds on the glass shower door and finish up my bathroom routine.

the first dinner night i would assume to be dressier than the others, so i wrap a towel around my waist and catch evan already asleep on his bed with the tv on.

we've literally been here for ten minutes. how is he already out?

i pick out a dress casual outfit of tapered grey pants and a plain black t shirt and go back into the bathroom to dry my hair and change.