Bella drives me to Walmart for the card. Her stupid jokes and us singing with her playlist helps in lighting up the mood.
"You're okay right?" She asks as the car stops smoothly. Her eyes suddenly shining with intense concern.
I smile warmly and nod.
To be very honest, these little things don't bother me that much anymore. Things like these have somehow become a part of my normal routine and I've become used to it. This may sound like a bad thing, but a person like me who definitely has a lot of it still in store can really use such a bad habit.
Walking through the aisles stocked with shining products, my attention starts wandering around the place. But then Bella reminds me of the motive of the visit and we go straight to our destination.
"Hi, um. I need a new card." I say to the young guy sitting on the counter with a cap holding his mess of dirty blonde hairs and his eyes buried deep in his phone. He suddenly looks up at us and smiles promptly.
"Sure." He slides his chair with a push at the counter to reach the pile of colourful packets and slides back to us in the same fashion quite impressively. "Here, have a look."
"No, anything is fine," I say picking one of the few packets up in my hand.
"Okay perfect. Your ID please?"
"Yes of course," I add hastily as I fumble in my purse to take my documents out. "Please check if this will do."
He picks my ID up in his hand and examines it for a minute. I share a look with Bella but she shrugs it off.
"Hmmm. I was guessing it but I was still in a little doubt." The guy finally says as he punches some details in the system. "So we finally meet. Easter Brown, Eric's twin sister right?" He asks with an excited smile making his blue eyes shine brighter.
His mood lightens mine up too. "Mhmm. Looks like you hit the bullseye. Hope I didn't keep you waiting for long?"
"Yeah, right." He chuckles and I join him nonchalantly. "Here's your card, should be activated in ten minutes or so. But you can contact me on this if you face any issue." He scribbles some digits on a paper and hands it to me.
Bella looks at me with raised eyebrows and a suppressed smile. I only roll my eyes. "Are you really giving me your numerals? Instead of just the shop's contact?" I ask in a cunning tone.
"Well Easter, I have yours. It's only fair you have mine too." He winks and another smile makes its way to my lips.
"Right. Um-"
"Rob. Robert Fence."
"Right. Rob. Robert Fence. Great meeting you." I nod my head slightly as a goodbye.
"Same here. Will see you around?" He says more like a question.
"Sure I guess," I add before I walk away with Bella's wrist.
"You're still smiling." Bella points out as I buckle up my seat belt and I switch the smile off instantly, realising how broad it actually was.
"What? No." I say bluntly.
"No, it's okay. It's a good thing. Just that it's been a while since I've seen you with that smile. I like it." She puts the keys in, bringing the car to life.
"Yeah. Whatever. I was just being good." I defend my flirty behaviour.
"No yeah. Of course. I don't mind. I like it. He's a good guy." She adds as the car hits the road taking us back home.
"Hmm. Good guy." I raise an eyebrow suspiciously. "How do you know that?"
"I know of course. I'm a cheerleader, he's a football player. And he's in some of my classes too."
"Really. I don't think I've ever seen him before." I say while my fingers punch in Eric's number on my phone which I remember on my tongue tip.
"You don't see anyone. That's completely not new. In fact, he shares a class or two with you too."
"Hmm maybe," I mumble as I play with the little piece of paper holding Robert's number.
"Just save it already." She nudges me and I shoot her a glare but then I obey and save his contact too.
Bella drops me and drives off. Entering the main gate, I notice the presence of Mom's car in the lot. It reminds me that she was supposed to be late tonight. I shrug at my thoughts and typing a quick text to Bella, I walk up to the front gate. Before my foot crosses the threshold, I hear some disturbing noises coming from my left. I retreat my step and slowly start walking towards the sound.
It's Eric, talking furiously with someone in the backyard. His pressing voice making it clear how hard he's trying to not yell.
"No listen, you stay away from her got it? Don't you dare look at her." Eric yells in the phone in a whisper making me frown my eyebrows as I try to guess the noun for the pronouns.
"I'm telling you this again. You got what you asked for. Don't drag her in this." His words sound threatening even to me. His attitude reminds me of my dad and the thought only sends a shiver down my spine.
He waits, listening to whatever the other person is saying until his fist clenches tight and he speaks again.
"No, listen. You're not going to tell her anything. You're not going to fucking talk to my sister. And don't you ever dare show up at my place." My heart stops at the word. 'Sister'. It cannot be anyone but me that he's referring to or that the other person is threatening Eric about. Realising the importance of the conversation, I bring my attention back to it.
Eric chuckles humourlessly before saying his last warning. "You come here and I'll see how you go back in one piece."
Eric hangs upon the person and turns around. I duck just in time to avoid getting caught and my breath stops in my lungs. After hearing his footsteps fade into nothingness, I stand back up slowly.
A shudder escapes my lungs as I find myself safe and undetected. Turning around I walk back to the threshold I abandoned earlier and enter the house, my mind completely occupied by the broken bits of the dreadful conversation that I just overheard.
Drowned deep in my thoughts, I don't realise when I walk straight into someone until the push makes me stumble back a few steps.
"Easter. Where's your mind?" Mom's partially irritated, partially tensed voice tells me it is her that I walked into. I take a breath of relief.
"I'm so sorry mom. I was just thinking and- Are you- are you hurt?" I ask examining her left foot that seems sprained in those sharp edgy heels
"No sweets. I'm fine. Just be attentive when you walk okay?"
"Yes mom," I reply and with a nod, she walks away. "Um, mom-"
"Yes?"
I turn around on my shoes. "Didn't you say you were going to be late today?"
"Yes. Yes, I did. But things changed. We're actually having a little trouble at-" her hand reaches her temple rubbing it back and forth. "-actually you go freshen up okay? We'll have a family dinner today. We have something to tell you both."
I only find it suitable to agree and walk away. Pushing her any further is only going to prove worse. The exhausted look doesn't really suit her and I don't want to add any more lines there.
When done with my homework and a little self-study to maintain my scholarly reputation, I start scrolling through my newsfeed and just like any other day, I soon find myself scrolling Dan's Instagram account. The same pictures, the same quotes. I notice a decrease in the number of followers from the last time I checked and it stings me. The thought that how easy it is for anyone to forget him. Like he was never there at all.
After a few minutes of a click here and click there, I find my fingers sliding across the social media of a certain blue-eyed guy whose most pictures include a fluffy ginger cat. @rob.n.fency, the creativity in the username impresses me and for no particular reason, I don't go back. Instead, I tap to open a black and white aesthetic picture of him showcasing his sharp jawline, which I definitely didn't notice earlier at the store, and the same ginger cat.
The icon at the bottom left corner indicates that someone is tagged in the post and I click on it to know who. A name tag pops up on the cat that reads @robs.fency. With a curious frown, I tap on the tag and it takes me to another account by the name 'Fency the Cat'. A smile breaks off on my lips in amusement as I scroll down across hundreds of awesome pictures of the same ginger cat.
My useless scrolling is interrupted by a text notification. I click on it.
Bella
Yes
Reached.
Safe and sound.
She replies to my text asking her to let me know when she reaches home.
Easter
GoodSee you tomorrow.
Bella
Pick you up at 7?
Easter
No.I'll meet you at school.
I decide to not trouble her so much and drive myself if I get the permission or just get a driver. Another text pings bringing my attention back to the phone.
Bella
Wow.
So now you don't even want me to drive you.
You're fast.
It takes me a minute to realise what she means to say. But when I do, I can't help but roll my eyes to myself.
Easter
Yeah.As if.
I decide to let it go like that. But before I think more about Robert and his cat another thought, hits me. Eric's conversation.
I wonder if I should tell Bella about it. Hiding anything from her is not my motive but this has nothing to do with her. She's already carrying all the burden of stress and concern when it comes to me, and that too for nothing in return. Adding more to it only makes zero sense.
And I hardly know anything about it, about the context of the conversation or about the person on the other side of the call. I don't know what the person wants to tell me and I don't even know why me. I can let Bella know once I find out more.
The dinner table stays silent as we eat silently. Not addressing each other, not smiling at each other. Eric is obviously not being very nice to me hence it doesn't even bother me much. But the strained looks on the other two faces definitely do.
"Ahem." Dad clears his throat and we all direct our attention to him. "I- no. We, have something to tell you both."
Mom nods in agreement. "We've been working on something lately. Something big." She adds. The anticipation hits me and as if on cue, I turn to Eric only to find him do the same. We exchange an uncomfortable look after looking back at our parents.
"We're extending our business to a new market segment. The Marron Inc. is entering hotel business by the name, The Marron Hotels." My eyes widen with every other phrase as he unfolds the news on an enthusiastic note.
"Wow, dad. That's great news." Eric says instantly with genuine excitement in his voice.
"Yeah. Congratulations Mom, Dad. It's awesome." A wide smile spreads on my lips and looking at their kids' reaction our parents beam up too.
"Yeah. Thanks love. It's all for you two." Mom brushes my cheek softly.
"So, tomorrow, we have a function. A party you can say, where we announce it. We're inviting most of the biggest investors and business tycoons and if it goes smoothly, it will help us earn a good investment for the business." Dad states, back in a serious tone.
"And you both have to be there and keep a good picture so the future of the business looks in good hands to the investors. Right?" Mom asks solemnly.
I nod in agreement and Eric does the same.
"Sure mom, totally," I say.
"Yeah. In fact, we can miss school tomorrow and help you out with the organisation." Eric offers.
Mom and dad share a warm look before dad speaks. "It's okay, you both don't have to do that. We can use an extra set of hands if you're fine with it though. But Easter only has to get ready into a pretty girl and steal the show."
I blush up faintly as we all break into a short-lived chuckle and continue to finish our dinner silently once again.
Mom sends me my dress and other accessories for tomorrow's event. A navy blue off-shoulder gown with a deep revealing back. I set it properly in my wardrobe and throw myself on the bed to sleep deciding to deal with it tomorrow.
I unlock my phone one last time before drifting off to sleep. A few notifications buzz on my skin, but my attention is grabbed by a certain text from a peculiar contact. With an unconscious smile on my lips, I tap on the chat to open it.
SIM Card Guy
Just checking if the card got activated in time, Easter;)
Easter
Thanks for checking, Robert.
Not waiting for his reply, I lock the phone back and place it on my nightstand. To my own surprise, sleep blankets me sooner than ever in a long time.
"Mom, um-" I try to sound as fresh and alert as I can next morning. "Can I drive myself to school today?"
She hands me the glass of juice and I take it. "Sure, why not?"
"Thank you so-"
"No mom. She can't. She-" Eric turns to look at me and I don't fail to shoot him a death glare. "She'll hurt herself. She's not ready."
"What am I not ready for Eric? I'm just as ready as you are, and now that I don't even have my phone, I don't think there is anything driving me crazy anymore." I snap at him in irritation and it hits him successfully. After a minute of struggle, he recovers.
"Driver will drive you, you don't need to drive yourself, and you don't have to go to school today at all. Stay home."
I frown hard at his stupid suggestion. I turn to mom for defence but she's already busy with her phone and soon gets up from the table, leaving us both to ourselves.
Instead of replying to him, I decide to let him blabber. Gulping down the content of my glass, I get up from the table and swinging my bag on my shoulders, I make way to the door.
"Wait, Easter." I don't stop but he soon catches up with me and blocks my way.
"Let me go, Eric. I don't wanna argue with you first day in the morning." I snap at him with a bored expression.
"Trust me. I have just the same feeling boiling in my heart. So better just go back to your room and cut it off."
"And why do you think I'll oblige?" I cock my head and annoyance increases in his eyes.
"Easter, I'm saying this for your good. Don't go to school today. I won't be there and someone can-"
"Okay, that's all. I'm leaving. See you later." I announce and storm out of the door with the car keys.
Anger keeps fuming in my veins as I drive down the roads of the town. I hit the gas, and the car accelerates against the morning breeze. The sharp contrast calms my nerves down a little and by the time I reach school, Eric is almost out of my mind.
Bella meets me near my locker and greets me with a smile. I frown in confusion but give her the smile back.
"What's up?" I ask her brightly to match her mood.
"Nothing much. What about you? Anything new?" She raises her eyebrows at the last words making me frown more.
"Nothing new, but yeah. We have a party today. I'm sure you're invited with your family."
"Yes, I am." She confirms as we start making our way to our homeroom. "So who's your date?" She asks.
"Date?" I ask abruptly. "I didn't know I need a date."
"But you do. It says there in the invitation card."
"Hmm. No problem. I have you." I shrug nonchalantly finding no point in the entire conversation.
"No Easter. You're the host. You cannot go around without a proper date." She whines next to me. "You have to have a date."
"Oh my God Bella, where do I find a date from in one day?" I wave my hand in the air in annoyance and turn to look at her.
She doesn't reply, instead, she slowly tilts her head sideways and smiles a crooked grin. "Dates are always there. Just keep your eyes open and you may hit the bullseye."
I open my eyes wide in realisation as I get her reference. Shaking my head in disbelief, I turn away from her and start walking once again.
"By the way, he's in our homeroom too." She calls out from behind me.
And indeed, I find him sitting in one of the chairs at the back of our homeroom. I turn around and for some reason, I rush quickly to my seat. When the period ends, I leave first and make way to my next class hurriedly.
SIM Card Guy
Do you usually ignore people like this?
Easter
Um-No.
SIM Card Guy
I see
I am getting this special treatment why?
His words tingle something in me. Maybe, a chance of a new friendship. The thought warms me up. I can definitely do with a new friend. Bella, I'm sure is tired of taking all my shit alone.
EasterI can make it up to uMeet me in the cafeteria today?
Locking the phone I put it back in my jeans pocket. Anticipation warms up my blood. For the first time in a long time, I'm taking a step in allowing myself to walk into a new friendship. And I cannot help but contemplate a hundred ways in which it can go wrong.