When We Met

When I locked eyes with Cecile, the hairs on my back all stood on one end. I didn't know what to expect. Well, at least I told Frank I loved him, I thought to myself as I watched her clench her teeth. Mom and dad know I love them. As she drew closer, I moved back, hoping the kitchen was big enough to put some distance between us. I had never seen Cecile as one to lose her temper or be violent. I hoped she wouldn't prove me wrong.

"You-," she hissed, making me wince a little. Her eyes glowed with fury as she pointed at me, her face deep red with evident hatred. 

"You come in here not more than a few months ago, get all comfy with everyone and act like you run this place, like you're the mother queen or something, stealing all my friends! Who do you think you are?!" she seethed.

"I-I-..."

"Don't even waste your breath, Elle. It's not fair what you've done to me. You started by stealing my best friend, Anne. As if that was not enough, you went ahead and even stole her other best friend Ryan...."

" What the-" Ryan exclaimed, confused.

"Now you have Kim too. Who's next, Friend Magnet!?" She asked rhetorically.

As she ranted on, I felt as though she was talking about a simple commodity when she used the term stealing. Like all her friends were some bunch of jewellery in a box waiting for me to just grab and go. She was accusing me of something I wouldn't classify as theft. I don't think friends can be stolen. I'd say this 'stealing' was more of an expansion of the circle- or a reduction. I mean, we can lose friends, and these friends can make friends, but I wouldn't accuse them of theft. People change. However, in this case, Cecile was wrong.

"Cecile, you got it all wrong. I had no intention of doing all of that. When I came here with Frank that night Ryan accidentally soaked me in coffee, I never knew we would be part of this loving family.  Since we were quite new to the university, it was a great relief to find people to hang out with. And that is what we did. You welcomed us so well and even allowed us to be part of your band. I couldn't find my way around on my own, and that's why Anne and I hung out a lot. As for Ryan-"

My breath was caught in my throat. I threw one glance at him only to see him smiling at me. I turned back to Cecile, her face still red with anger.

"As for Ryan, he's just fun to be around. A silly but amazing friend. Kimberly has helped me bond more with you guys as a band and as a family. Everyone basically, even Dimitri, Ivan and Dave- and you, you guys are like the best friends ever. Cecile, I didn't mean to do this to you, and I'm sorry if that is how you took it..."

The expression on her face did not change much. I could tell she was admitting that she was wrong, but she was sure not to show it. I took one look around at everyone present in the room. Dimitri, Ivan and David had returned in the middle of our argument. Anne and Ryan were in the living room. Kim was at the kitchen counter.

"You still took them away from me," she whispered, a little less confident than before.

"Well, if that's how you see it, I think it's best if I leave," I replied, slowly placing the glass I was holding on the counter surface.

"No!" Someone shouted from the living room. I quickly lifted my head to see where it came from. It was Ryan.

"I mean, no. You can't just leave Elle. This is a matter we can solve. All we need to do is to come to a common understanding. We are all mature now ...probably hitting 19 or 20. I'm sure we can do that, right?"

I looked at Cecile, who looked back at me, her eyes full of resentment. 

"I guess we can, if Cecile is okay with it," I said.