You Better Bring an Umbrella, Vol. 2

Chapter 22: Anticipation

Apologizing in advance for all the breaks in this scene. Without them, this chapter would have been almost 20 pages, which isn't what we're going for in this series

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The silver-studded building loomed far above my head, threatening to push me over if I craned my neck back enough to look at the very top. Warm yellow lights spilled out from some of the spotless, shimmering windows—the eyes of the monster, staring down its prey before it devoured it whole. My gaze fluttered down to the invitation in my hand, the center crease ready to tear itself apart from all the times I opened, closed, and pressed my fingers against the paper. The address neatly printed near the bottom perfectly matched the silver letters against the post in front of me shooting their glare right into my eyes. Deep blue words lined the awning neatly, expecting all those who passed by to bask in the grandeur of their presence.

I turned over my shoulder and glanced toward Luther, Diego, and Vanya, pleading for them to hurry up and come with me. They were having a quiet conversation near the car, the contents of which didn't interest me. Now, I just wanted someone by my side before I opened the completely transparent glass doors, devoid of any scratch or even a single fingerprint, and sealed our fates. I could see into the blindingly white lobby, taking note of the strange sort of paintings lining the walls that led to a group of elevators. Just looking at it caused prickly sensations to poke across my skin, like a brand-new wool sweater, not yet softened by multitudes of washes.

Eventually, Vanya turned her attention back to me, noticing that her sister was begging for help, and she nudged our brothers, who promptly turned around and made their way over to join me. I felt someone squeeze my hand once—I think it may have been Vanya, given how small the other hand was—and with that, the four of us headed into the building. Immediately, we were hit with a blast of arctic air, causing a foreboding shudder to run through all of us at the same time.

Right as I got up the stairs, one of the elevators started to close. Though the socially anxious part of me screamed to just wait, I wasn't willing to waste time. We were meeting with Dad, of all people, and I didn't want to take the risk of running even a second late. No doubt he'd chew us out if that was the case, even if he didn't know who we were.

"Hold that elevator!" I called, picking up my pace and managing to squeeze my hand through the narrowing gap in the elevator door. Right before it slammed shut on me, I pushed it open and stepped inside. I let out a sigh of relief when I realized the other person inside was a certain kid in that same old uniform. "Oh, thank God, you're alive."

I slid off to the side, standing tall behind Five as I waited for the others to arrive. Diego caught up next, followed by Allison, then Klaus, Vanya, and finally, Luther, who stood dead in the center of all of us. Though it was quite a tight fit, and I was pressed directly against the wall thanks to the mass that was Luther's upper body, I felt a strange sense of comfort wrap around me.

"Good," Five muttered. "We're all here."

The doors completely shut us in, and I felt the sudden shake of the elevator moving from where it had been resting. Instinctually, my hands moved to gently rest on my brother's shoulders, offering perhaps the tiniest bit of assurance that this couldn't be all bad.

Following our little talk, Luther and I had gone back to my place, where I let him make some food while I got clean and changed. I even let him use my shower, since it was a thousand times better than Elliott's. However, none of it felt like it was enough. I still didn't feel presentable enough to stand up to Dad's scrutiny.