River:
Georgia, my girlfriend.
It used to feel a lot smoother on my tongue when I would say it. Now, it’s a little hard to pronounce, a little tough to taste. Georgia and I have been together for a long three years.
We were not much older than fourteen when we started dating, yet we had a good relationship. Now, not so much.
Glimpsing at Lea, I can’t help but feel a little annoyed. She could’ve just said she was going to Nick’s party instead of lying.
The confusing thing is, I’m not entirely sure why I was worried about her in particular. There were plenty of other girls that attended Nick’s party, why only warn her?
In the car, when I brought to light her hard-to-get persona, she seemed quite taken aback, as if I had caught her red-handed. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Lea likes someone, but who can it be?
Nick? Nick…F- -ck, it’s probably Nick.
“Hi, Lea Wilson, right?” Georgia edges past Jake and outstretches her hand towards Lea.
Lea is hesitant, but replies as she shakes Georgia’s hand. “Yeah…”
“Nick’s girl,” Georgia assumes, nodding her head. There is a glint in her eyes, maybe of jealousy?
“I’m not Nick’s girl,” Lea says, simultaneously with me.
“She’s not Nick’s girl,” I state sternly, at the same time as Lea.
Both Lea and Georgia’s eyes flick to me in surprise.
“Well,” Georgia sighs, changing the subject. “How was the party, you did go didn’t you?” She questions her.
“Let’s not talk about the party.” I input.
“Yes, let’s not, otherwise River might lose his balls again,” Jake says, and I give him my evilest glare.
“That bad?” Georgia’s eyebrows knot together; she’s still staring at Lea who is stood quietly between us.
“Uhm…” She mumbles.
“Yes, that bad. Can we go inside?” I insist, pushing Jake into the large living room, leaving Georgia and Lea behind in the doorway. We both glance back at the girls who are following us inside; I halt dead in my tracks when Georgia mutters something to Lea.
“If you haven’t already realized, River hates Nick, and vice versa. They don’t get along, one bit.” Georgia says. “You would think they’d be best friends, right?”
“Would you drop it, there’s nothing wrong between Nick and me,” I interrupt Georgia before she can speak any further.
“Defensive much?” She raises her eyebrows knowingly at me.
“Drop it,” I warn again, squinting my eyes at her.
“How come you hate? If you don’t mind me asking,” Lea’s delicate voice breaks the tension between Georgia and me. My eyes move to find hers.
“I don’t hate him…” The lie trails off my tongue, and I decide to change the subject before Lea can suspect anything. My problem isn’t her problem, or anyone else’s. Clearing my throat, I turn to Georgia. “How did you find this place?”
“When your mum came back home, I told her you disappeared, and she said you might be here,” Georgia explains, making me sigh.
Of course my mother would spill. “Why is this place a secret anyway?” Her eyes scan the spacious living room, which is the first room you see when you enter through the door.
Crackling sounds from the lit fireplace; high above it is the TV that clings to the wall made up of stacks of wood panels.
The house really does blend into the woods – which was our exact intention when the boys and I built it a couple of years ago. Of course we didn’t build it ourselves, but we were heavily involved in the process. This house holds so many memories, good and bad, and is so much for more than just a building, at least that’s how I think of it.
That is why it’s a secret.
“Because…” I reply, not bothering to go into the details. It’s not exactly a secret anymore, anyway. “Would you like a drink?” I offer Lea, who is stood patiently by the open door with her hands knitted together across her abdomen.
“Me?” She points to herself, and I nod. “I’ll have a glass of water please.” She replies politely.
I shift my body in the direction of the kitchen just as Georgia places her hand on my back. “I’ll get it.” She says.
“I need a drink too, but you won’t offer one to me would you?” She raises her eyebrows mockingly, joking of course. “Some boyfriend he is, right Lea?” She laughs before skipping to the kitchen.
For some reason, Georgia is in an unusually good spirit today.
“Georgia’s in a good mood. Lea, you’re lucky today.” Jake chuckles, he’s seated comfortably on the three-seated sofa beside the brown coffee table.
I guess I’m not the only one who realised Georgia’s strange mood.
“What do you mean? She seems nice.” Lea asks, the draft of tonight’s wind blowing into the room through the open door behind her.
“Thank your lucky stars that you haven’t been a victim of one of her cat fights,” Jake claws his hands through the air, imitating what Georgia looks like when she’s extremely pissed off. “You don’t wanna get near her vicious nails when she’s angry, trust me.”
“Shut up Jake,” I laugh, turning to Lea. “She is nice, but she is in a good mood too.”
“I’ll take your word for it, then.” She smiles, and it’s a pretty one.
Lea’s head turns to the figure whose footsteps sound behind her; his face darkened by the night sky and the shadows of the trees, whose branches are swaying gently in the wind.
Just the guy I need right now.
“Ky!” I call to him while digging into my pocket. “Do us a favor and take Georgia home?” I say before throwing my car keys at him.
He catches them with one hand, an annoyed expression on his face.
“Why the hell am I always the taxi man?” He huffs, then realises that Lea is standing right beside him. Shyly, he steps a little to his left to give her more space.
“Because you’re a great friend,” I tell him, amused. In return, I receive an eye roll from him.
“There you go,” Georgia hops back into the living room with two glasses of water and hands one to Lea, who takes it from her with a ‘thank you.’
“Georgia, Ky’s going to take you home, aren’t you?” I gesture to Ky who’s leaning against the open door frame. He nods reluctantly.
“What? Now? Why can’t I stay?” She pouts.
I speak through a sigh, “because it’s late, and you need to get home.” I say in a soothing voice. It does the trick as she lets down her defense and steps closer to me.
“Well, I’ll call you later then?” She asks, hopeful. Receiving my small nod, she cocks her head to the side, steps onto her tiptoes and plants a light kiss on my cheek.
I look at Lea. She isn’t looking at us. Instead, she’s staring down at her hands, which are knotted together – giving Georgia and me our privacy. Jake fake coughs behind us.
“Get a room, please.” He mumbles under his breath.
For a second, and only for a second, I peek at Lea again. She’s smiling, still staring at her hands – probably amused by Jake’s comment.
“Bye Lea.” Georgia waves towards her, flashing what I sense is a forced smile.
I still haven’t told Georgia that Lea and her family are staying at my house. I wonder why she hasn’t asked why Lea’s here anyway.
Pushing Georgia’s idiosyncrasy to the back my mind, I catch Lea’s gaze as Ky closes the door behind him. It’s only now that I’ve taken in her appearance. You can tell she’s wearing makeup – the pink glow from her cheeks and the red-ish lips gives her an angelic look. How she’s standing, as if she’s a bit out of place with an unsure smile, is cute.
All in all, she is a sight for sore eyes. Holding her stare for a few seconds too long seems to make me jumble my words as I search for a sentence to say.
“You wanna take a seat?” I offer her, to which she nods.
I round the coffee table and take a seat at the far end of the sofa opposite Jake, watching as Lea takes the seat beside me, only leaving a person-sized gap between us.
“Guys, you promised an explanation. Wanna spit it out?” Jake leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his fists. His eyes are hungry for information.
I sigh, allowing a smile to form on my lips. “Do you want to explain?” I turn to Lea with a grin; she rolls her eyes in amusement.
“Sure.” She turns to Jake with a subtle smile and begins to explain the story.
When she begins to speak, my phone in my jeans pocket vibrates. Digging in to grab it, I read the message on the home screen – it’s from Georgia.
You never told me Lea was staying at your house. I had to find out from your mum.
I chew at my lip, not knowing how to reply.
**
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