I could hold you forever II M.Nullings

It was easy to see you'd been crying

~ Enoch PoV ~

Erin turned up to supper a few minutes after the bell, running a hand over their cheek tiredly. Their eyes looked more hollow than usual and their shoulders were a bit more slumped. They look kind of defeated. I wonder if Ophelia's been bothering him again.

Millard turned up with them, a hardback book placed lazily by his side. He places it underneath his usual chair before Erin walks over to his usual seat next to me. I didn't realise they were friends.

"New friend?" I ask as they sit down next to me.

Erin shrugs and leans their head on their hand. "I don't know."

They sound drained.

I smile at them. "Good luck with that. You're doing better than I ever did."

I was in their position a few decades back. They're doing good.

Erin gives me a tired smile in response, staring down at their empty plate. "Maybe so." 

The children in charge of dinner duty today walk out, placing shining, silver dishes with our usual array of suppertime food. A silver bowl of steaming vegetables are placed in front of me, another placed at the other end of the table in front of Miss Peregrine. Today's meat, chicken, is placed at the centre of the table, surrounded by a few small bowls of different sauces. 

The new kid from earlier today is sat a seat away from Miss Peregrine. His name is Jacob, I think. I don't really care.

Erin elbows me gently in the ribs. 

"Who's that?" They whisper.

"Oh, that's Jacob." I respond with a whisper, adding 'Present-timer.' as an afterthought.

He nods slightly, staring at Jacob for a second before looking down at their still-empty plate. 

I reach over and spoon some vegetables onto my plate. 

"Ah, Mr Gleeson," Miss Peregrine starts. "I don't believe you've met Mr Portman."

They shake their head in response. "No, ma'am. I haven't."

Miss Peregrine smiles, which - as usual -  makes Erin falter slightly for some reason. Like he's not used to it.

"Jacob, this is Erin Gleeson. Mr Gleeson, this is Jacob Portman."

Erin gives the American an awkward smile before spooning a pile of carrots and peas onto their plate.

Jacob, however, tries to start up a conversation. "So, uh, Erin...Uh, how come you're not in any of my grandfather's stories? Everyone else is."

Erin flinches, biting their lip before responding. "Uh, I have no clue who your, uhm, grandfather, was it? Yeah, I have no clue who that is...Uhm."

Portman can't take a hint. 

"Why not? Were you not here?"

"No..."

My right hand starts to tense. I already didn't really like him.

"Where were you then?"

"Somewhere else?" Erin replies, not looking up from their plate.

Jacob goes to open his mouth again but decides against it. Finally a good decision.

He's going to cause some issues.