Just Friends (17 page)

“I’m going to miss you guys.” I said to them.

We separated away from each other swiftly and shook hands before we all started weeping.

The car roared into life as I turned on the ignition. The car hadn’t moved an inch, and I was already in love with it. Eleanor shuffled herself onto the passenger seat as I entered the address into the navigation system.

“Ready to go?” I asked Eleanor.

She nodded with a bright face. Then I remembered Ethan saying there was something else in the boot for me. I slid out of the car and clicked it open. Laid amongst the boot were several pairs of
Nike
running shoes and bottoms. “
He knows me too well,
”
I said to myself. I returned to the driver’s seat.

“Ethan said to be careful.” Eleanor said, peering down at her phone.

I’m sure Ethan was saying something super cute like
I love you baby girl, see you soon.
I wanted to snatch her phone off her and throw it out of the car window. I beeped the horn as we departed from alongside the station. As weird as it may sound, I will miss that place. I’d spent so much time that it had started to feel like home. We popped back to the hotel to collect our things before rushing back to the car. I was in that much of a rush I almost forgot Ethan’s clock. I had to sprint back inside and collect it.

As Eleanor and I cruised along in my wonderful new car, I thought to myself, what should I spend my earnings on? Jewellery? Clothes? Invest it? I don’t want anything. Maybe get a house in England, but Ethan has that taken care of, too. I’m not sure what inspired him to purchase an apartment in New York, but I’m glad he did. I’ve always wanted to visit New York, now I’m going to live there! It’ll be a test for me to survive without my family. I’ve managed three months so far and survived. I really want to see them, though. They said they’d visit during the holidays when Madeline finished school. I miss Madeline so much. I want to squeeze her and plat her hair.

As I gazed out of the window, a suggestion popped into my mind. Why don’t I hire, Leonard Phillips, the magician Ethan grew up watching. He could help me solve how Ethan switched seats with me in the car. Leonard Phillips wasn’t a magician on a kid’s television show who’d pull a rabbit from his hat. He performed ridiculous stunts. Like burying himself underground in a coffin or hanging himself upside down from a rope over a tank of sharks and then setting the rope on fire. I know this because Ethan use to make me watch Leonard’s shows all the time. Every Saturday at eight o’clock. We never missed one. We were only eleven or twelve. Leonard was the only magician who made Ethan really think about how he did his tricks. He figured them out after a day or two. We’d watch the show Saturday and by Monday afternoon, when he walked me home, he’d explain how they were done. I always found it fascinating listening to his explanations. Leonard must have given his wife a heart attack every time he performed. Her blood pressure must have been off the scales. I’m sure after a discussion, he’d be able to help me. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I grabbed my phone and text Stanley while we waited amongst the queue of cars. I figured he would know someone who knew Leonard.

August 28
th

NEW MESSAGE FROM STANLEY

Hey August. Why the sudden interest in such magician? Surprise for the love of your life, perhaps? I’ve given my friend who knows his agent your details. I’m sure they’ll be in contact soon. S x

T
oday is my first full day in my new apartment. It is the most luxurious place I’ve ever set foot in. I pull up outside in my car. A man, dressed all smart, takes my keys and parks my car for me. Another man in a suit then opens the door for me and they call me the elevator. Out of twenty-four floors, our apartment is the sixteenth. Coincidental isn’t it? Each apartment takes up a whole level so they’re big. You walk along a spotless hallway to your door, opening it with your key. Entering the apartment is like entering another world, filled with beautiful colours, turquoise and white mainly. To your left, behind the centre island granite block, is the kitchen. Equipped with loads of ovens, stoves and utensils. The kitchen will be disappointed when I make scrambled egg on toast. As you walk forward to the open living room you will find an eleven-seated L-shaped black sofa, positioned infront of a sixty-inch television. You’ll encounter a staircase to your left. A wonderful, winding pearl white staircase. After you encountered this staircase. There is a balcony stretching out the full length of the apartment. You go out a door before the staircase on your left, or you can walk straight through the living room to the other door. But I won’t be going out there much because I’m afraid of heights. At night I could maybe go out onto it, because at night I can’t really see what’s below me. But during the day it’s a definite no go. Walking up the wonderful, winding staircase you’ll find three bedrooms. Ethan had already called dibs on the biggest room. That’s fair since he paid for everything and, dare I say it, he will be having Eleanor over to stay. The apartment is full of furniture, but it lacks things to make it feel like home. Adding Ethan’s clock and my photo frames to the mantelpiece helped a little, but I still need to bring things over from home. Maybe now would be a good time to mention we have a gym upstairs. I only poked my head around the corner, but it has plenty of equipment in it. My bed feels like heaven, too. It’s so soft.

“Eleanor suggested we have a party here soon, so we can make some new friends.” Ethan said as we sat eating our cereal on the sofa. He was wearing the pizza tie I bought him for our fourth Christmas together. It’s like his tie is a huge weirdly shaped slice of pizza, topped with pepperoni.

“Do we need to make new friends?” I groaned.

“We can’t isolate ourselves from everyone for the rest of our lives, August.”

I stared at him. Eleanor is turning into his wife.

“Did Eleanor tell you about the television agency?” He asked.

I raised my eyebrow at him. “What about it?”

He ate a spoon full of cereal. “They want me to do a television programme. Street magic, things like that. Eleanor told me to show her friend who owns the television company a magic trick or two. Well I did five, and he liked what he saw and he said the show would have potential and would hardly cost anything to make. Meaning good profit for them.”

I was happy for him, but I could already sense him drifting away. He’ll vanish off somewhere, leaving me behind in the apartment alone.

“Sounds great.” I muttered. Our eyes met. I quickly looked away. I grabbed his empty bowl and walked over to the kitchen. I placed the bowls in the dishwasher and when I raised my head from behind the side, he had gone. I sighed.
What
’
s wrong with me?
Not even I knew the answer. Ethan must think I’m being a right arse. He’s given me everything, and now I’m showing no interest in what he’s doing. Having his own show is such a big deal and I made out that I wasn’t interested at all. I called my Mum in hope hearing a familiar voice might enlighten my spirit.

“Hi, sweetie”

“Hey, do you want to come to New York?”

“I thought you’d never ask! Madeline and I have been waiting for your call!”

“Are you being serious?”

“Yes, I’m being serious. We’ve been waiting for your call to let us know that you’re settled in, sweetie. Madeline really wants to come visit!”

“When are you going to come?”

“Well, we can be over within a few days. I’ll have to run it past your Father first. Is something wrong?”

“I just need to see a familiar face, that’s all.”

“What’s wrong with Ethan?”

“Nothing. He’s going to be with Eleanor, isn’t he?”

“Oh honey, I’m sorry. We’ll be over as soon as we can, ok?”

“Ok.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I called Max straight after.

“What’s up bro?”

“Not much, you?”

“Other than sat in my room, reading all day, absolutely nothing. I’m on my seventh book at this moment in time.”

“Max that’s pretty concerning you should consider going outside.”

“I would, but the skin might melt off my body if I do so.”

“If you say so. Listen, the reason I am calling you is I’ll need an assistant type person soon with all this publicity coming in, aren’t I? “

“Right…”

“Do you want to do it?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“Why not find a proper one?”

“Because I don’t know any or anyone. You’re my friend and you’re fairly intelligent. I’m guessing all you need to do is answer emails and arrange interviews and stuff for me. I doubt you will be busy for a while. I’ll find a proper one after Christmas because no one will know who I am until November.”

“Interesting proposal you’re offering me here. Where will I stay?”

“Well my Mum and sister are visiting within the next week. After they leave you can stay with us until you find somewhere? It depends if you get a visa sorted or not.”

“Have you spoke with Ethan about this?”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine with it.”

“This is the worst job offer I’ve ever been given. I’ll take it.”

“Excellent. Arrange yourself a flight in two or three week’s time. I’ll pay for your flight if you let me know how much it is.”

“I’m already searching for them and applying for my visa.”

“Perfect. Bye, bro.”

“Bye dude, speak to you soon.”

September 1
st

NEW EMAIL FROM MARY CADDICK

Miss Bishop,

I’ve been passed your details from Stanley Tennant. He informed me that you wished to discuss something with Mr. Phillips? Leonard is currently away on holiday, but if you’d like to send me what it is you’re after, I can forward the message to him. These past few years he’s not interested in television or films, but I was assured this was a personal matter?

Kindest Regards, Mary.

NEW EMAIL FROM AUGUST BISHOP

Hi Mary,

Thank you for emailing me! My friend Ethan is a magician. You won’t have heard of him, but he will have his own TV show soon! A few months back we were involved in a car crash. I was sat in the front passenger seat. Ethan was sat in the back seat of my friend’s truck. A 4x4 appeared out of nowhere and slammed into my side of the vehicle. When I woke in hospital, my friend and I realised Ethan somehow managed to switch seats with me, and suffered the injuries I should have suffered. We both didn’t see him do it. This event has been playing on my mind for a while now. I’m sure you can understand why. Ethan refuses to tell me how he did it. I want Leonard to help me solve how he did it. Ethan and I grew up watching him and we admire him profoundly, I couldn’t think of anyone else to help me solve this matter. If you could forward this email to him I would deeply appreciate it.

Thanks, August.

I felt like a spy secretly doing undercover business as I typed out the email. I most definitely didn’t want Ethan to find out. Otherwise my job as a spy could be flushed down the toilet.

September 2
nd

NEW MESSAGE FROM MUM

We’re boarding the plane now. See u soon. Love u. xxxxx