Historiah
It's a Saturday. And how did that immediately occur to me on waking up? Simple. The sun is out, and Luke didn't come to drag me off to school. I yawn and go to the bathroom. My eyes meet, well, my eyes in the mirror. And I realise that there's a little more colour in my skin. My eyebags are disappearing slowly, and my lips are a soft, baby pink. I guess living in luxury does that to you. Or perhaps it's just because I've been eating and sleeping better.
I take a bath and put on a baggy shirt and shorts and go to eat. Two lefts, one right, second door down the hall. Slowly committing this huge place to memory. "Good morning, Tori." Luke greets. I pay no mind to it and take a seat, scrolling on my phone. "What's for breakfast?"
"You think of this place as a hotel, don't you?"
"I don't see the difference."
"Of course not." He sighs. "Pancakes, since it's Saturday. Do you like them?"
"I've only had them twice-at the HSA's dorms at Mrs. King's, so I don't really remember what they taste like."
"Well, Märtha's pancakes are the best in the world, so the taste will be burnt into your memory!" Märtha. The head chef. I heard someone mention her name before. "Let's see, then." I reply. "Did you sleep well?" He asks.
"Like a child since you didn't come to yank me out of my bed."
"Happy to know that my services are appreciated."
In five minutes, the attendants come in and serve our dishes. A stack of pancakes sits in front of me. A whiff of sweet strawberries dances in my nose. "Syrup?" Luke offers. I collect the tumbler and pour it on. It falls slowly, meeting each layer and soaking into them. I pick up a fork and cut it at the edge and put it in my mouth.
Have I ever felt such bliss? Surely not in a million years.
Luke
If you told me there are actual stars in her eyes, I'd believe you. "Sweets really are the key to your soul, aren't they?" She ignores me, more like she didn't hear what I said over the fountain of joy in her stomach. Her eyes meet mine. Those siren greens magically turn into does. "You are so introducing me to Märtha." She takes another bite, eating slowly to savour the taste. "Anyway, I have something to tell you." She looks up, then goes back to her food. "We're leaving here tomorrow." At that, her head shoots up. "Where to?" Her eyes have a little bit of fear in them. Completely different from moments ago. "Calm down. We're going to my summer house near the beach. I go every year because some of my family comes here around this time."
"Right..." Her relief relieves me. She probably thought she was going back home. Or worse. "We'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon, so pack up everything you need for a month-long trip." She nods and finishes up her meal.
"Um," She starts. "How exactly are we getting to your beach house?"
"By my helicopter, are you okay with that?"
"No, actually. I get, well, air sick." Is she... embarrassed right now? Rare sight indeed. "That's completely fine, Tori. We can make it a road trip. Is that alright?" I ask. "Yes, it is." She replies. She still looks kind of uncomfortable. "Something on your mind?" "No." She's pressing the nail of her index finger against her thumb. She does that when she's lying. That, I learned from spending time with her, not reading files.
"Now answer again, telling the truth."
"How do you know I'm not telling the truth?"
"Not exactly the answer I was looking for." She pauses, crouches in her seat a little. "I have a question." She lets out. "I'm all ears."
"Would you let me live with you, if all of a sudden, you weren't obliged to do so?" I hadn't expected her to ask something like that. "I-"
"You know what? Don't answer that." She gets up and hurries out of the room before I can finish.
Strange girl.