Episode 5: Reunion

The guy gave a mocking laugh. "Why would anyone mistake me for Larry?"

He seemed dangerous and for some reason, a little pitiful.

"You are a Hurst." His face turned into hard lines. All sense of mockery gone.

"How can you tell?" he asked.

All my senses were telling me to be careful with my next words. I wanted to point out the obvious resemblance between him and his parents but instead I said, "The same way you could tell that I'm a Bluebud."

The hard lines in his face disappeared and a smile slipped his lips. "If you are looking for Larry, I know where to find him."

A bit cautious at first but I decided to follow him. If worst came to worst, I had my pepper spray in my slimbag. After yesterday's experience, I couldn't afford to go anywhere without it.

We walked for a bit through the dark woods beside the pond and then I heard voices. What were they planning out here in the dark? Race to a graveyard?

"Alfie's here," a guy called seeing us approach, "Finally. You got a guest, I see." I didn't need to see his face to know what his expression would be like. I was already regretting it.

"Ella!" someone exclaimed running to me and crushing me into a hug. Larry. He had grown a lot. He was taller than me now but his face still held the boyish innocence. "I heard you'd be moving back, I didn't know you already had. I am so glad to see you."

"Me too," I said. I heard the guy who greeted us whisper to Alfie, "I thought she was yours. Oughtta hurt." Alfie gestured of being heartbroken.

I saw a girl come out of the crowd towards me. She didn't seem too pleased that I was there. "Hey," she said to me. "I heard you had got back but I thought it was just a rumour." This was Joanne, my bestfriend till I was twelve. She had grown more beautiful than when I last saw her. Beautiful and elegant.

"I am glad it's not a rumour," Larry interrupted us. He genuinely looked glad. "You're coming with us, right?"

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To the falls by the woods," Larry sounded hopeful.

"Her parents will be worried," Joanne strongly disapproved. She was right but she was being a bitch.

"Ofcourse, she is coming," Alfie said firmly.

"Count me in" I said and they cheered. Ofcourse, I knew I was gonna regret it but I just couldn't believe Joanne was being so mean to me.

Everyone got on their bikes. I rode on the back of Alfie's since Joanne was on the back of Larry's and we raced out in the darkness of the night, the cold wind cutting through our faces. It felt so good, so dangerous, so reckless. It reminded me of the time Joanne, Larry and I used to go hiking on the hills behind our tree house. Our parents had told us not to just like now but when we were together we felt like we could overcome anything. My eyes felt teary. Could have been the wind or Joanne's behaviour. I shoved the thought away and took in the chill of the wind and the scent of the night. In the darkness, away from a dazzling party, I felt alive.