This Isn't Wonderland

Chapter Eleven

I haven't been to Jammin Java in about a week but still, when I walked in and was hit with the smell of coffee beans, fresh lemons, and smoke - the stage kind, not the cigarette kind - it all felt foreign to me.

Holdon sat at a table with his face looking expressionless as his eyes followed words on a page to his book. Jaclyn lead me over and when he noticed us, he smiled and was quick to get on his feet. He enveloped the two of us in a hug and I didn't refuse. I actually wrapped my arms around both of them as well, to their surprise as well as mine.

"This is new." Holdon mumbled, taking a step back with a grin on his lips. I rolled my eyes but still cracked a smile. I sat down and sat crossed legged, my back against the wall. We sat in the corner we have since we first discovered this place.

"How was dress shopping?" Holdon asked, and I gave him props for trying to act like he cared.

Jaclyn's smile dropped - at least her real one - as a fake, sorrowful one took over. My smile faltered as well.

"It was okay, we're going to keep looking though." She shrugged, and I gave Holdon a look when he caught my eye that told him to take this conversation no further.

He sighed, nodding his head once. "Okay then. Sydney and I already have our suits so we're all good to go. Now we're just waiting for you girls."

The three of us got hold of our beverages and then sat back down, starting a conversation about completely random things from memories back in England that Holdon shared to the best poems we've heard here.

Jaclyn is a fan of slam-poetry for some reason that I can't think of. Holdon assumes it's because she never shares her feelings of anger so the poems she hears that involve yelling and screaming always put her at ease.

In the middle of Holdon and I discussing the possibilities of a new Ghost Busters movie, Jaclyn stood up - with difficulties because of the many pillows surroundng us - and explained that Sydney was here, waiting outside. When I heard this my body tensed and while I thought about running to the bathroom to hide like I had once, or simply leaving, my concious told me that I should stay. I deserve to be here and why not give him a chance?

He truly hasn't done anything wrong to me.

Except steal my two best friends-

But he truly hasn't...Holdon and Jaclyn can be friends with whomever they want. I was just jealous. And why can't we add another member to our trio? Then, of course, it wouldn't be a trio anymore.

Not a second later, Jaclyn and Sydney began their journey over to where Holdon and I sat. My eyes trailed up and down the long haired boy and for some reason he looked different. His skin held a sick palor and deep, purple bags held up his eyes. I frowned, though of course not wanting to embarass him, stopped frowning and looked calmly at him even though my insides were screaming.

Why did he look like that? I had many questions about this boy.

"Hello, Holdon, Cary." Sydney said, nodding his head at both of us. I returned the gesture with the smallest of smiles as he had done. He wore a dark blue shirt as well as a pair of dark blue jeans. His plain black vans were torn up and I wasn't surprised in the least.

"How are you?" Holdon asked, smiling over at the boy and he gave a shrug. "I'm fine, and you?" Sydney replied, and my eyes didn't leave him for one second. Except I did notice how closely Jaclyn was sitting to Sydney and it even made me uncomortable, knowing that he didn't want that but Jaclyn was oblivious.

No one would break it to her, except I probably should after we leave this cafe.

"I'm great, thank you. Oh, do you want anything to drink? A hot chocolate or something?" Holdon asked, just as he was about to stand up.