Ziva shoved her arms through her coat impatiently, sighing heavily as she did so. She really was in no mood for a Scrabble game tonight but she knew she must go - she had missed more than enough of them the past month or so. Amelia and Francisca's text messages had informed her of such. Multiple times. It was all because of work, so it couldn't be helped. But now she had no such excuse, even if her sofa and a good book was a much more attractive activity tonight. No. She had already told Amelia and, even worse, Francisca that she was free. Knowing those two, if she called off now they would come to her apartment and literally drag her to the game. They were infuriating like that. And she was not thinking that fondly like she usually would do. It really was annoying of them. But they would do it and she didn't feel like having their injuries on her conscious so she was going.
Wow, that was very dramatic sounding but she was tired and she didn't really care right now.
No. It would be no good to think like that. There was no point in being grumpy - she was seeing her friends. And she was going to enjoy herself. She was. Scrabble was fun.
She checked herself in the mirror and nodded approvingly at the reflection. That was a put together face with no trace of the tiredness she felt. Perfect.
It was Francisca's turn to host the game and that was maybe the best part of the evening - she always did make the best snacks. You could smell them from the end of her driveway. Oh, there was something spicy today. Hopefully Raphael would stay away from them this time. He really could not handle his spice.
"Ziva!" the energetic greeting came as she was ushered in.
There was a torrent of chatter as they all caught up with each other. There was plenty for Ziva to catch up on but it all sort of washed over her. The notable thing was Liu's absence and it wasn't down to exams or other college related things, no, she had now returned to China. But that was old news to everyone here except for her. It had happened weeks ago. But Ziva hadn't had her adjustment period like they had so it was all fresh to her. She kept on expecting to see the younger girl right there, arguing with Raphael and beating everyone. Ziva did not like people leaving even if she was very used to not being able to say goodbye. Just because she was used to it did not mean that she had to like it. And she didn't like it.
Actually she disliked it far more than she expected. After all, it wasn't like she had been overly close to Liu. They didn't really have that much in common but she still found herself really missing the girl.
Maybe it was because this was America and in America she had come to expect people to stay? For people not to disappear. Things were constant in America. And she had gotten lax. Used to it. You should never get used to things, Ziva ought to know that by now. Getting used to things meant that you you less aware of things. Which was also never good.
It was just best if she simply did not focus on things in tbe past. Things she couldnt change. And yes, she was talking about more than Liu there.
The more recent news was that Amelia's children had decided that trying to build their own tree house was a good idea. The ensuing trip to the Emergency Room made it quite apparent that it wasn't. Raphael had managed to lose two of his sketchbooks and he was convinced spies had taken them.
"It was that no-good Collisworth, I know it!"
Which meant absolutely nothing to any of them but at the indignant look on his face they all nodded sympathetically.
And Francisca finally managed to get her family around for a meal. She was very satisfied about that.
Ziva had very little to add to this gossip, viewing recent events at work as inappropriate conversation. She deflected all queries with "It was just a lot of back to back cases." Which wasn't a lie.
Finally everyone was satisfied that they had caught up with everyone's essays and settled down to the game. Ziva looked at her tiles with disinterest, unable to come up with the competitive spirit that she usually had.
"Oh, ho, ho," Raphael chuckled to himself.
With a sigh, Ziva started thinking of words. Maybe once she got started she would find it fun. Hopefully.
She was not really finding it fun but she was also not feeling annoyed at every little thing either. So, progress? Though, Francisca and Raphael had yet to argue so maybe that was it.
On that note, the game had progressed completely in English. Not even a muttered comment under someone's breath was in their native tongue. Something everyone was guilty of doing, herself included. Well, not exactly her native tongue but another language. Cursing in Russian was always satisfying. But nothing of the sort had happened tonight.
"You're turn, Ziva," Francisca said, giving her a nudge.
Ziva jumped, having not paid much attention to the progress of the game at all.
"Sorry?"
"I've gone," her American friend explained.
"And she did not get many points," Raphael said smugly.
"Hush, you. I still have time."
"Yes, time to lose spectacularly, as usual."
"Oh, I'll win."
"Not even in your dreams."
Ziva used their banter as a cover for her to look at the board properly. Again, she hadn't been paying much attention, just putting down easy words that didn't require much thought.
Of course, now that she chose to pay attention, she did not have any good letters. Why did it always work like that? She had probably wasted letters in her previous turns.