Chapter 4: Emrys's P.O.V.
1843 Words
"Alright, invite the kids from school today. By the time you get home, everything will be set up. Make sure it's cleaned up before I get back on Monday. Or don't, whatever. Stavros can always hire someone to do it." Rebecca said before skipping off towards her room.
I shook my head before going into the kitchen. I let go of the swinging door and inhaled deeply. A smile spread across my face as I smelled the delicious food.
"Please tell me that's fried tomatoes I smell," I said, hopeful.
Ellie turned her head to beam at me.
"I made all your favorites," she told me. "Friend tomatoes, Cornish potato cakes, and toast with avocado."
"Well, now I'm excited for the day," I said as I walked to the table where Ellie had everything sitting out.
"I'd be more excited if there was something like bacon or sausage. Or even eggs," Duncan complained.
Ellie swatted the back of his head and I snorted.
"Emrys doesn't eat meat, remember?" She gritted out.
"Yeah, like a true weirdo," Duncan muttered.
"I just don't like the idea of eating an animal, but you can cook your own breakfast meat, Duncan." I said with a laugh.
Duncan gave me a pointed look.
"It's alright," Ellie said, placing a piping hot plate of steaming disgusting sausages in front of Duncan. "I knew you'd be upset."
"You are an angel, honestly," Duncan praised, before he started digging in.
Ellie rolled her eyes as she sat across the table from me. She began piling food on her plate as I shoved a fried tomato in my mouth. This little girl really is the best cook.
"So," I said after I swallowed. "Rebecca told me she's leaving for the weekend."
"Oh, with Stavros surely," Duncan said in a mocking voice.
Ellie giggled.
"Oh Stavros, you treat me so well. Take me to Paris to shop." She said, continuing with that mocking voice like Duncan.
"Shall we just buy the whole country, my love?" Duncan continued.
"Oh Stavros, a country? Take me now," Ellie said before bursting into laughter.
I shook my head at them.
"Anyway," I said. "She told me that he's taking her somewhere, and she won't be back until Monday."
"Should we properly celebrate your birthday then?" Ellie asked.
"Movie night?" Duncan suggested. "We can stay up all night long. Watch the scariest movies. Ellie can cook dinner, and maybe we can get some ice cream?"
"Actually, I did already get ice cream cups for us, and I'm making a cake as well." Ellie replied.
I shot a wide smile her way.
"That sounds really nice, actually. Way better than what Rebecca suggested." I said with an eye roll.
"Rebecca suggested something?" Duncan asked.
I looked up to see him and Ellie looking at me with surprised expressions.
"You guys know Rebecca, she was just trying to see what Stavros was willing to do. She told him it was my birthday. I guess he planned a party? I don't know." I told them. "Apparently, everything is going to be set up by the time we get home. Rebecca told me to invite everyone from school."
"She told you... to throw a raging high school party?" Ellie asked unbelievably.
I shrugged.
"Guess so," I replied.
"Oh my god! We have to!" Duncan exclaimed. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
My eyes snapped up again. Duncan started going on and on about inviting all the pretty girls in our grade. Ellie just sat there quietly eating as Duncan went on and on. Mine and Ellie's eyes connected, and I could see it clearly there.
Ellie wants this party too. None of us have ever had an experience like that. Ellie is so young though. Would she even like a high school party?
This is a disaster.
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"This is all going very well. I've never been so excited about a party in my life." Duncan whispered excitedly.
Duncan has been like this all day. School is halfway through, and he's already invited the entire school. At least twenty people have come up to me today to tell me how excited they are. I don't even think anyone knows it's technically a birthday party.
I'm happy that Duncan is so excited though. I'm only doing this for him and Ellie. I definitely don't want a party like this. I didn't think that Ellie and Duncan would either, but I should have known better.
I would rather be alone, or with just my two friends at home. I don't need to be popular, or be accepted by anyone. I would rather spend my time with animals or in the forest than with other people. I just... never feel like I fit in.
I don't belong here. And by here, I mean anywhere. No one else is like me. No one gets me. It's all very lonely.
And now I have to attend a party tonight.
"Hey Emrys."
I looked up to see Ava sitting down at the desk in front of me.
On instinct, I straightened up in my seat.
Ava is the most popular girl in our grade. She's hot, kind, and she plays lacrosse. I've noticed Ava before, but I notice a lot of girls here. I just... never pay them much mind, and they never actually talk to me. Especially not someone as hot and popular as Ava.
"Uh, h-hi Ava," I replied.
Ava turned around in her seat, and beamed at me. Dimples poked out of her chubby cheeks. Her deep brown eyes sparkled under the florescent lights. She tossed her long red hair over her shoulder, and started talking to me like we were old friends or something.
"So, I heard about your party tonight, and I am so excited," Ava said. "I wanted to thank you for inviting me."
"Inviting you?" I blurted.
In my defense, I didn't invite anyone.
"Duncan said that you put him in charge of inviting all the pretty girls, and I was number one on your list." She told me with a blush.
My eyes flickered towards Duncan next to me. I raised a brow at him, but he just shrugged. Then he gestured for me to keep going.
"Uhm, well, it's not a party without a bunch of pretty girls, right?" I said.
Ava smiled and giggled.
I leaned up in my seat, resting my elbows on my desk. Ava kept her eyes on me, not moving an inch. Our faces were only a few inches apart.
"But I think you might make all the other girls jealous," I whispered loudly.
Ava giggled again as a blush reddened her cheeks. It made me smile. I think I might actually like making girls giggle.
"I bet you've said that to all of them," Ava replied.
"Nope," I said. "I'm no liar, Ava."
Ava looked deep into my eyes. I think she started to get lost for a second. I could see her eyes glaze over and her breathing change. I wonder if that means she likes me.
Shouldn't I feel something too?
"Well, if that's true, then you might have to stick close to me at the party." Ava said softly. "Ya know, in case the other girls get... too jealous."
"Don't worry about a thing," I said. "I'll be your personal protector for the night."
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"Dude," Duncan said as we started walking home. "Ava... hit on you. You and Ava... were flirting. Ava. Ava Williams. The hottest girl in our grade. The girl that every guy has tried to date, and every single one of them was shot down. You and her. You guys-"
"Alright," I cut him off. "I get it. Ava is hot. She's into me. We flirted. Can you stop already?"
I could see Duncan frown from the corner of my eye, but I ignored it.
"Uh, you okay brotha?" He asked.
"Yeah," I lied.
"Really? Cause... the hottest girl in our grade pretty much just asked you out, and you don't seem... Well, you don't seem as thrilled as I would freaking be." He said.
Duncan is right. I'm not really thrilled at all. I was earlier. Flirting with Ava made me feel good, powerful, wanted. I liked it. But... I don't know. As the day went on, my mood just... changed.
There's a heavy feeling sitting in my gut. I feel like something very bad is going to happen, but... not to me? If that makes any kind of sense. I don't think that whatever bad feeling this is, that it's for me or my friends.
I don't know how to explain it. It just feels like... Like I should be somewhere else. Like I'm needed somewhere else. To help someone during a tragedy.
Who the hell has random feelings like this? It's irritating and frustrating. Like something is missing. Like I should just know what to do or what I'm feeling, but... something isn't letting it all click for me.
I hate being this complicated.
"Look, I'm... excited. Sort of. I just... have this weird feeling." I told my best friend.
"What kinda weird feeling?" He asked. "Like you gotta sh.it?"
I gave him a bored look.
"No, not like that." I said. "It feels like... like I'm needed somewhere. Like something bad is going to happen to someone I know and care about, but I won't make it in time. And it doesn't feel like it's you or Ellie. I mean, who else do I even know enough to care about? It's just all very... frustrating."
I sighed after I finished. Saying it out loud didn't help ease the tension in my gut. I'm still happy that I have someone to talk to about the crazy things that go on with me. I'd be lost without Duncan.
"Maybe this is another one of your abilities," Duncan suggested.
"How do you mean?" I asked.
Duncan shrugged.
"Maybe you can see the future or something. Maybe someone at the party will need you, or we'll walk past a crying kid or something." He said.
"No, this doesn't feel like that," I replied.
"Then what's it feel like?" He asked.
"It feels like..." I trailed off as I searched for the right words. "It feels like I already share a deep connection with this person. Deeper than with you or Ellie. Kind of like... we're... tied together..."
Mates...
Mates? Like friends? Someone I used to know maybe?
Souls...
"Souls?" I mumbled.
"Wait, you think you share a soul connection with this person?" Duncan asked.
Do I think that?
"Yeah..." I replied. "I do."
"Someone from your past maybe? You said you didn't remember anything," he said.
"Must be," I mumbled.
Although, that doesn't feel quite right.
I tried to listen to Duncan ramble as we walked home. My focus was going in and out though. I tried to keep my mind on Ava, hoping it would distract me enough to relax a bit.
Yet somehow, thinking of another girl made me feel unreasonably guilty.
- Writer
