" And voila, " Enid proudly said waving at the table filled with way too much food. Most of it was, what I had cooked in the time she'd been away.
" Are we expecting guests?" I took a seat at the table while Laira took hers opposite Enid.
" Well, there are four of us now. I assume that Mason would be here shortly, and you know him," Enid amusedly said giving me a knowing look, and winked at me. Enid was in an awfully chirpy mood. Queenieborough, did wonders for Enid. It happened every time she went to visit her friend. I briefly wondered if the air was different.
" I'm hungry," I grumbled and spooned some beef bourguignon onto my plate. There was a good chance that Mason might not come for dinner. That thought made my heart squeeze, and it made me wonder. Where do we go from there?
" Understandably," Enid sighed, " Go ahead," She added and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was half past six, and knowing his little habit of time-watching, that confirmed my suspicions.
" Please, Laira help yourself, " Enid encouraged, when Laira just stared at her plate.
" Thank you for putting this together, " I said before taking a bite, but grimaced at the texture, and the taste of the casserole. It tasted off.
" Not a problem dear," Enid paused and frowned at me," Is everything alright? You're making a face," She added and looked at my plate then hers.
" Does your food taste a little bit off?" I curiously asked looking between Laira and Enid.
" No, it tastes fine. Why? " Laira asked and spooned some of my food, to taste it.
Smacking her lips, she shrugged, " Tastes just like mine," She casually said, pushing her plate in front of me," Here, take mine," She took my plate and began eating, with furrowed brows.
I refrained from frowning when I ate some of her food and concluded that there was no difference between mine and hers. Needless to say, my day wasn't going well, at all.
" I'll just have something else," I pushed the plate away and turned my attention to the potato salad, and bread. Thankfully, that tasted very much the same as I remembered. I munched on that with little to no appetite.
" So, how was your week in Queenieborough?" I asked, trying to distract myself. The dull pain in my chest hadn't subsided, my eyes began to prick when my eyes fell on the empty chair at the end of the table.
" It was wonderful," Enid beamed, " We baked, well, Livy did anyway. I just watched it. We went out for drinks with some of her friends. We signed up for a dance competition, and went for walks," Enid wistfully sighed," We had our nails done, messages," I stopped listening, after a little while, and focused my attention on the empty chair. I wondered how his date with Ava went. And if things between us will ever be the same.
" Sounds like you had a great time, Miss Pinslow. Isn't that right Lily?" Laira's little remark was enough to drag me out of my musings.
I mustered a meek smile," Yes, sounds like it. I'm glad that you did. Maybe I will join you on your next visit," I would have moved to a different county at that point. Wherever I looked, there was a memory of Mason, of us attached to it. Of a moment when Mason and I, had shared something. I wasn't quite sure what any of it meant, at that point in time.
" Of course. You can come too, Laira," Enid beamed, overjoyed with the idea.
" I would love to, Miss Pinslow. Thank you for the invitation," Lara shyly replied, and smiled.
" Oh, don't be silly, dear. The more, the merrier, " Enid wholeheartedly giggled and patted my hand.
" Eat, dear," Enid urged, making me look down at my plate, and made me realise that I had only taken a morsel, and hadn't even touched the bread.
Smiling, I nodded and stiffly took a few more bites of potato salad. I didn't feel like, eating. I felt horribly off.
"Whenever you are ready," I broke the silence and looked at Laira who took her last bite. I need to have some fresh air. I needed something, anything to keep my mind off him.
" I'll clean up, first and then we can go," I added as I stood up, and followed the routine as I always did since the day of my punishment.
" You have barely touched your food" Enid noted with furrowed brows and locked eyes with me.
" Lily, you don't seem like your usual self," She worriedly added, " Did something happen while I was away? And what are those on your arms? It looked as if you have rolled in shards of glass," And the heavy interrogation began. Oh, boy. I was in trouble. I couldn't explain any of it, even if I tried.
" It happened last night while we were out," Laira jumped to my rescue, " A bottle was too close to the fire and it exploded," A sound explanation, I thought.
" And there was something in the punch, so I will feel a little bit off for a few days, " I completed the lie with a smile, in an attempt to stop Enid in her tracks.
" I see, " Enid hummed, narrowing her eyes at me," I hope you are telling the truth. If something, other than what you are saying has happened, is best that you tell me now," Enid sighed," You're young and it's not uncommon for girls your age they find themselves in sticky situations. I can help, but only if you are being honest with me," She finished her thoughts, looking between me and Laira. How could I? I felt guilty all the way to my bones for having lied to her. I swallowed the knot in my throat and wiped the boobs of sweat on my lip.
" No, no," I tittered, trying to sound as casual as possible," No one has gotten into any serious trouble, other than the usual impulsive, impetuous decisions. No need to worry, " I said, as I took my plate to the sink, to clear the leftovers. I was seriously pushing my luck.
" Alright dear," She sighed and carried on eating her dinner at a snail's pace as she had done since I had known her. Relieved that she had accepted the explanation, I carried on clearing the table, avoiding her inquisitive eyes. Enid was perceptive, and I knew she would eventually catch onto me.
" Thank you for dinner, Miss Pinslow, " Laira picked up the last few things off the table and placed them on the kitchen counter, for me to clear them away.
" You don't mind if we leave," I asked as I picked up the keys from the bowl, and stopped to hear her answer.
" Visiting Livy has been great, but I feel like I need a holiday after days of always doing something. Go ahead, dear. I will be fine," Enid amusedly said, and carried on munching her food.
" Goodbye Miss Pinslow, " Laira said as she made her way towards the door.
" Goodbye, dear. Don't be a stranger," Enid replied as we slipped out of the kitchen.