Just Friends (19 page)

September 13
th

I
’ve had the best time with my Mum and Madeline. I wish they could’ve stayed for longer, ten days wasn’t enough. It’s a shame Madeline has school.

“Thank you.” I whispered to Mum as I hugged her goodbye.

Ethan enjoyed having them over, too. He disappeared most nights with Eleanor so we didn’t see him much during the evenings. When he wasn’t with Eleanor, he was taking Madeline to the ice cream parlour. It’s her new favourite place in the entire world. Ethan hated admitting it, but he was tired of eating ice cream. Apparently, Madeline spent so much time in there that they named an ice cream flavour after her. I’m sure they called it
obsessed
or
lunatic for ice cream
. I bet she thought it was the coolest thing ever, having her own ice cream. I wish I had an ice cream flavour named after me, but then again, I have an apartment in New York named after me. So as far as getting things named after you, I was kicking her ass. “Bye Madeline,” I said, covering her in kisses. She giggled and clung to my neck.

“Ready to go?” Ethan asked, opening the apartment door. He wasn’t wearing a tie today, which is unusual. Very unusual. He insisted on driving them back to the airport.

A date has officially been set to start filming his new show in Los Angeles for two weeks. Not only is he going to be gone for two weeks, he’ll be on the other side of the country. He’s leaving on the twentieth and returns on the fifth of October. He’s only doing five episodes as a trial run. It’s going to be like a hand held camera view. I’m guessing it’s a really good quality one if it’s going on TV. But you will almost feel like a member of the crowd watching him. That’s how he described it. Ethan being gone gives me time to bring Max over here and spend time with him. Ethan asked if I wouldn’t mind Eleanor staying with me while he’s away. Which will be… great.

I’m glad Ethan’s been given this opportunity. He deserved his dream more than anyone. He dedicated his life to magic, literally. I don’t want him to be gone for too long, and suddenly he moves to LA and leaves me alone. Our careers forcing us to go our separate ways. That’s what scares me the most, losing him.

September 19
th

E
than had another nightmare in the early hours of this morning. I was downstairs raiding the fridge when I heard him shout my name. I dropped my milkshake and sprinted upstairs to his room. I burst in to find him sat upright with his head in his hands.

“Are you ok?” I asked, flustered and out of breath.

“This nightmare is driving me insane!”

I closed the door and turned on his bedside lamp. I snuggled alongside him in bed and put my arm around him.

“Ethan, what’s going on? What aren’t you telling me? You know what happened last time you kept things from me.” I said, rubbing his shoulder with my thumb.

He kept his head in his hands and sighed. “I’m back in Max’s truck. I’m sat in the passenger seat. The 4x4 is heading straight for me and smashes into the car. And then I wake up.”

As I gazed into his eyes they appeared possessed. He was so shaken by it, and he was covered in sweat.

I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’m here.”

We laid back and he rested his head on my stomach. I ran my fingers through his hair until he fell asleep.

Since I was trapped underneath Ethan, I stayed with him. I didn’t want to disrupt his sleep. It was a slight shock to be woken up by Eleanor. Her eyes beaming down upon me with rage, maybe because were we sharing a bed and he was still asleep on me. I slid out from underneath him and stood up.

“Morning.” I whispered to her.

“What were you doing?” She whispered back.

“He had a nightmare during the night, so I stayed with him.”

She nodded suspiciously and then sat alongside him in bed, nudging him awake. “Baby, wake up, baby.” She said.

I felt like screaming,
Just call him Ethan, you idiot!
Does she really need to call him baby? Really?

I left them be and walked out of the room. Eleanor had popped over to help Ethan pack since he’s leaving tomorrow. Normally that would be my job, but I guess she’s beaten me to it since she’s now a higher authority in Ethan’s life.

NEW EMAIL FROM LEONARD PHILLIPS

Dear Miss Bishop,

My agent, Mary, forwarded your email onto me. Forgive me. It’s been a while since anyone has contacted me for business. So this friend of yours, Ethan, switched seats with you in a car crash? And he’s been a magician for the majority of his life? This sounds like an interesting act given the time he had to complete it, but I’m always up for a challenge. Since my Granddaughter is a latest fan of yours from all the magazines she reads, I’ll do it for free if you send her an autograph or something nice. It would really put a smile on her face. Send me all the details you can about locations and times. I have friends who will track down the CCTV footage. It won’t be easy, but I won’t know until I have seen the footage.

Best Regards, Leonard.

It was weird receiving that email from Leonard. I watched his show growing up, and now we’re going to be doing business together. Even though I was never a
huge
fan of his it was still cool to receive an email from him! All I need now is a letter from
Scooby-Doo
and my list would be complete. I sent Leonard an email regarding all the details I knew about the crash. I wasn’t much help, but he said he’d make do with it. Max has planned to arrive on the twenty-first. Ethan agreed Max could stay for a month or two. I’m glad he’s coming. I’m sure he would be more than happy to help me keep Eleanor entertained due to the fact he adores her. I’m sure he envies Ethan sincerely.

September 20
th

E
leanor couldn’t keep her hands off Ethan as she said goodbye to him this morning. I practically had to drag her off him so I could hug him and say goodbye myself. He was wearing the black tie with his initials in I bought him for his birthday this year. I focused down at his bag, the more I stared at it the more saddened I became. He raised my chin with his finger and his eyes looked into mine. We didn’t saying anything we just looked at each other. I forgot Eleanor was standing right next to us so I gave him a firm hug to avoid her becoming suspicious. He kissed the top of my head as he always does and let go of me. It was sad watching him leave. But he’ll be doing the thing he loves, and he’ll only be gone for two weeks. I’d be more upset if it were two months. I offered to drive Ethan to the airport, but he preferred driving himself. Then he just left, leaving Eleanor and I staring at the door. We sat in silence for at least five minutes.

“Chinese?” I asked, I was starving, and I’d been craving one.

“You read my mind. I’ll order now.” Eleanor said, reaching for her phone. Within thirty minutes of me asking, our living room was filled with Chinese food. I insisted we sat and watched Eleanor’s film
Hard Luck
to brighten the mood. She made mental notes on herself as she watched.

“My ass looks so small on that shot. I need to squat more, don’t I?” Eleanor asked, picking at her nails.

I stared at her behind on the screen, maybe for too long.

“Um… I’m not sure I should comment on that subject. Kinda weird isn’t it?” She scrunched her face at me and shuffled her bottom on the sofa. “I’m gonna head upstairs and do some squats. Coming?”

I was eating noodles, and I considered carrying on watching the rest of the film. I swallowed them and nodded. I placed the box of noodles onto the table and followed her upstairs. I suppose joining her in the gym would be more beneficial than sat watching a movie and eating noodles.

September 21
st

E
leanor and I were sat having breakfast, finishing the film we started last night. Five minutes after it finished a knock came at the door.

“I’ll get it.” Eleanor shouted, running over to the door like an excited toddler. She swung the door open to reveal Max stood with his mouth ajar. He stared at her for a good seven to ten seconds before I shouted, “Max, I thought I was picking you up from the airport?” Max said nothing. He remained in his stare.

“Hi.” she said enthusiastically, “I’m Eleanor.” Max grinned.

“H-h-h-hi-hi,” he replied.

“Smooth Max.” I said with a mouthful of cereal. He stepped inside and scanned the apartment in wonder.

“What happened to picking you up from the airport?” I asked.

Max returned his sight to Eleanor. “Can I have a hug?”

“Sure.” She said opening her arms.

Max dropped his bags and wrapped his arms around her. I bet you all the money in the world he smelt her hair. He definitely smelt her hair.

“Max, time to let her go, bud.” I said.

“Oh hey August.” He said, walking over and fist bumping me.

“Anyway, I’m gonna get ready.” Eleanor said, disappearing upstairs.

Max tilted his head as he watched her go upstairs.

“Could you make it any more obvious, Max?” I punched him in the arm to regain his attention.

“Would it be weird if I asked her to marry me?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “You’ve been here thirty seconds. Maybe when she knows who you are and wait until she isn’t in a relationship with Ethan before doing so?”

He nodded. “Good idea,” he began to walk upstairs. I was beginning to regret my remark of complimenting his intelligence. “I’ll ask her which room is mine.” I laughed because I knew this was either going to be a nightmare or loads of fun.

September 29
th

M
ax and Eleanor are inseparable. It’s like they’re the ones in the relationship. They clicked from the second they met. Obviously, they’re not kissing or sleeping together, but they understand each other’s humour. They’ve barely spoken to me over the past few days. It’s like I’m invisible. I hope Ethan realises this when he returns. That they make a cute couple, and that August; his smoking hot best friend is the better choice for him.

NEW EMAIL FROM LEONARD PHILLIPS

Dear Miss Bishop,

I have returned from Italy. I shall begin right away on your demands. The thing that is taking the most time is finding the camera footage, but I’ll get ahold of them.