Chapter 5: Chapter Five- Garden Gnome
"Guys over here.", Jeremiah waves us over to a lunch table in the cafeteria. Yes you read right I said us and cafeteria in one sentence. Peppy has started to hang out with us again. I guess she listened to me when I finally decided to have the talk with her about time and willingness to heal. She seems to be doing a lot better, and I am really happy that all of our relationships has come out stronger because of this. We all decided to try something new and test the waters. Ever since Jeremiah started hanging out with us, a lot of our bullies have left us alone. We decided to put this to the test and try to hang out in the cafeteria. Hopefully this doesn't back fire and none of us end up getting hurt.
We make our way towards Jay expecting the worst, but we're suprised when we are left alone. No one has tried tripping us nor have we been called any inappropriate names, which I am really thankful for. "Well would you look at that. God really does answer prayers." Peppy says once we reach the lunch table. "Indeed He does. Hi Jay." I say. "Hi beautiful besties. How are you guys doing this fine day? " Jay responds. "Buttering us up I see. What's the occasion if I may ask?" I say, suspicious of his behavior. "Oh nothing just really happy to have you both back in my life.", he says smiling at Peepy. "Me too." she smiles.
The rest of the day goes by normally. Well the new normal anyways. I'm literally over the moon because Peppy and Jay have started talking to each other again. My heart is happy and feels at peace again. Before we know it the school day is over and so is our exams and school year. I am so exhausted, my body has never craved contact with my bed like this before. If I had the choice I would have went into hibernation. Then again going into hibernation isn't that good of an idea, kind of reminds me of the time our hamster Mr Squeaks was found in his cage unresponsive and cold in winter and we assumed he was dead only to have the zombie hamster dig himself out of the burial hole while Kean and I were having his funeral and paying our last respects. Who would have thought hamsters actually hibernated.
I bid my fellow weirdos goodbye and promise to meet up with them over the holidays as I get into Niki's car. "So how was school?" she asks once my weirdos make their way to Jay's car. "Exhausting. I can't wait to go home. I could eat for a whole village and I could really go for a sleeping beauty styled nap.", I say being my over dramatic self. "Well once Kean gets here we need to rush home. Mom and dad said that they have to discuss something important with us.", she says and when I turn to look at her puzzled she just shrugs her shoulders and we drive off as soon as Kean joins us.
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"What's going on?" I hear Nikkita say besides me. We squeeze our way through the boxes in the passage. Making our way to the lounge where our parents are seated on the couch, we notice a man dressed in a suit siting opposite them on the single couch. "Honey! You guys are home early! Great!" my mother then turns to the man and introduces him as Mr Abbott, her boss. When he turns to greet us I see that he is no older than my father, with his bald shinny head, tall frame and full grown beard. I bet he could braid that thing and it would still reach his ankles, okay so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit but it looks long and weird, it kind of makes him look like a garden gnome.
I try not to stare at the intimidating man whose presence practically screams power and ask my parents about what has been bothering me this whole time " Why are our things in boxes?" My parents share a knowing look and asks us to sit down. " I know this is short notice and very unexpected but Mr Abbott came here today to inform me that I have been promoted" " That's great mom! Congratulations" we all say and get up to hug her. Her smile flatters though as she continues "With this promotion comes a new office based in another country. And I know that you kids wouldn't want to leave behind the lives that you have here but think of all the opportunities and new friends you can make!", my mother tries to convince us. "Well it's fine by me", I say " Me too.", my stooge follows " I'm happy for you mom.", Nikkita is the last to say and even though her voice gives away no emotion I can see that she is anything but happy. "When do we leave? Where are we going?" Kean asks excitedly. "We leave tomorrow as it's is best that I get there as soon as possible and we are going to the Netherlands specifically Amsterdam" my mom say beaming. I hear a sharp intake of breath and when I turn to see what happened Nikkita stands up "Well it was nice meeting you Mr Abbott but if you would all please excuse me I need to sort out a few things." And with that said she leaves the room and climbs up the stairs heading straight for her bedroom we all then hear her bedroom door shut and I look at my mother sympathetically.
"I'll just go make sure she is okay. It was nice meeting you Mr Abbott." I proceed to take the stairs two at a time and walk towards her room. "Nikki? Can I come in?" I say knocking. The door opens and standing behind it Nikkita looks at me with glossy eyes, trying to hold it together. "Come here.", as soon as I say that she is in my arms sobbing. I rub her back in soothing gestures and guide us to her bed. When we manage to sit down her body starts shaking and she crys some more, we sit like that for a while, her crying on my shoulder and me comforting her. It isn't until I hear her sniffle that I pull back a little "What's wrong Nikki?", I eventually ask. "We're moving so far away and Nikesh and I just started getting serious." she says between sniffles. I honestly don't see her problem but then again I haven't ever been in a relationship before so it's not like I can really relate. I encourage her to continue,"I just don't think I would be able to handle long distance. I mean we've been together for 2 years and he is my best friend. I see him everyday. Only seeing him occasionally is going to kill me. I honestly don't think I'm emotionally ready, besides I doubt we would even work. What if he finds someone he likes or someone who is better than me. Nikesh is the only guy I've ever let in and I'm afraid that now with this sudden move all our hard work would be in vain." I sit patiently waiting for her to finish her rant. "You trust Nikesh don't you?", I say after much consideration. "I do but-...", she beings but I cut her off satisfied with her first two words. "But what? I don't see any problem?", I say matter of factly. " Jassy, the problem is that we are all human and humans make mistakes sometimes. If he messes up when I'm not around I don't think I'd ever find it in myself to forgive him." "Oh, I now see the problem. But I mean come on. He loves you. And he respects you enough to not do anything stupid that would risk him losing you.", I try to point out. "You really think so?" She says all hopeful, she looks so innocent and cute I feel like just reaching over and pinching her cheeks, I refrain from doing so though because I know that I would most probably end up in a body cast, instead I say "I know so." And I give her one of my award winning smiles.
I finally leave her alone after a few minutes giving her time to gather herself and make the dreaded phone call to Nikesh. As I walk to my bedroom on the other side of the hall I hear noise coming from Keans room and when I knock and enter I see he is packing his model trains away into their respective boxes. "Need help?", I offer, talk about once in a lifetime. It's as if today is just full of surprises. "Sure." He says smiling.
"So how do you feel about the move?", I try to make conversation. "I feel okay I guess. I mean it sucks to think that I would most likely never see my friends again but at the same time I don't mind making new ones. I generally enjoy talking to people and it's not hard for me to fit in, you know." "I can totally relate." I say over enthusiastically, he thankfully doesn't pick this up. "And you? How do you feel about the big move?" he redirects my question at me. "I don't mind it really. It's not like I have anything to loose here anyways, it will really suck though that I won't get to spend so much time with Jeremiah and Penelope but they'll live. I just really hope this new beginning isn't a disastrous one. Peppy and Jay mean the world to me and it would kill me if I had to leave this all behind for something not even worth it.", I say saddened by the thought of leaving my chicken nugget devouring goofballs behind. "Yeah, I can't relate.", he replies looking at me weirdly as tears start to fill my eyes.
After that we stay in his room silently packing away all his model trains and man, does this boy have a lot of them. How does he manage to have a social life and build all these at the same time? I can barely make friends and all I do is read and listen to music, with the ocassional stuff my face until I pass out activity.
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After a few minutes I finally leave his room feeling extremely hungry and thirsty. I make my way to the kitchen and see that my mom has already made sandwiches and grab about 4 and pour a glass of mango and orange juice to satisfy my thirst. I immediately gobble everything up and head to the lounge grabbing one more sandwich just in case. I notice that Mr Abbott has left and I hear hushed whispers coming from the lounge. When I walk in my parents immediately stop talking and looking at me. "Jass is everything okay?", my dad says in a unusually high pitched voice. "Yeah dad, everything is cool. Just wanted to come down to get something to eat. You guys can continue with your conversation though, don't mind me.", I say growing even more suspicious when my mom clears her throat. " No it's okay we were just making last minute arrangements. And they are all sorted out now.", my mom says.
I look out the window and see a moving truck, different from the rest, loaded with huge crates. "You guys have only managed to load one truck? Where did all that stuff come from anyways, all the boxes are still in the house.", I say pointing out the weirdness of the situation. "Oh, all that is stuff from the basement. All my work stuff I've collected over the years. Magazines and things from sponsors hoping to butter me up to get good reviews.", my mom says cooling playing off my suspicion.
She has a fair explanation although something still seems really off, I just hope this move benefits all of us.
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Nikesh, Jay and Peppy all join us for dinner later that day and it feels like old times "I can't wait for you to come visit us in December. Just imagine how fun it would be. We could go skating and make snowmen and snow angels...." Nikkita goes on and on, we have been talking about Nikesh coming to stay with us during the holidays so I guess you could say the talk I had with Nikkita earlier paid off as they're finally going to give the long distance thing a try. "You guys better not forget about me, or I swear I'll come back and hit you with boiled egg filled socks in your sleep. Do not test my patience.", I say trying to convey how I am feeling about leaving them behind in my own messed up way. Jay and Peppy just look at me and laugh, "We will never forget you butthead. Your name will forever be engraved in our hearts. And if that's not convincing enough I'll get it tattooed on my right buttcheek, my favorite of the two." ,Peppy says conveying her feelings on her own messed up way.
My father didn't seem too happy about Nikesh coming until Nikki reassured him that Nikesh will most probably stay with Kean or in the guest room as it is his girlfriends parents house and he respects them. My mother on the other hand is overjoyed as she adores Nikesh and treats him like an elder son. Small talk was made throughout the rest of the dinner but I couldn't help but think of the mysterious truck loaded with crates. Apparently most of our things are already there and the house is already furnished so we don't have to worry about unpacking much.
After we have dessert, blueberry cheesecake and ice cream, we all help pack up and head to our rooms to give Nikesh and Nikkita privacy. I wave goodbye to Peppy and Jay as they drive off into the night. After an hour of talking Nikesh heads home and I hear Nikkita walk up the stairs, instead of her going to her room she walks straight into mine, with puffy eyes she asks "Can I sleep with you tonight. I really need someone to be with me tonight.", she asks all puffy eyed.","Okay, but if you dare get snot on my pillow cases I'll put dead fish in yours." I say moving to the right side of the bed, giving her space to join me on the bed.
The second her head hits the pillow she is knocked out but that night I lay awake too anxious for what tomorrow might hold.
A/N
We are finally on the right track people. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Big things are to be expected in the coming chapters so brace yourself.
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