Hi there. Here's the new chapter. Thank your for the reviews, I love feedback. I'm sorry this update took 3 weeks but school isn't a piece of cake for anyone.

In this chapter you will not see much of Hermione. Let's say that this is just a preparation-chapter. I hope you like it.

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Paths – Chapter 8 – Not expecting this

This is amazing.

And this is one of the reasons it doesn't bother me so much when I have to water the plants in our backyard. I always take advantage of this to get my feet dirty with mud. Connecting with the Mother Earth and all of that. Feeling like an element in the nature. It's relaxing and gives my mind a break. And when I start to enjoy the emptiness in my mind, it ends.

Tomorrow, Hermione and I will be at Mark's house for that get together he planned and I've been thinking a lot about it. It's Hermione's fault. She's been asking me what kind of things we talk about and what kind of things we do and that was all I needed to know for sure that she was a novice in this kind of social events.

Sometimes it looked like she was nervous and didn't want to go. I had to lie (something that is becoming frequent lately) and say to her that they were expecting me to bring a friend and it'll be kind of disappointing if I arrived there alone. Since then, she only wants to know details.

Her father came last night to talk with me, giving my mom some excuse about needing "help from a young man". I was worried that he knew about the invitation and didn't approve. On the contrary, he thought that it was a perfect opportunity for Hermione. "It'll take her mind out of the things that are bothering her", he said "and maybe she'll learn how to be a normal teenager." After that, he gave me some money for gas and other necessities we might need. It made me feel bad. This not something I'm being forced to do. He doesn't have to pay me.

"Luke!"

I turn around startled and the hose escapes from my hands, dancing on the ground, watering me. After some seconds of following it and making a fool of myself, I approach the tap and turn the water off. Embarrassing!

"Sorry if I startled you!" She says and I divert my eyes from my wet clothes and look at her. She is leaning from her bedroom window and has her hair pulled in a bun.

"It's fine. Thanks for waking me up!" I say smiling and squinting my eyes because of the morning sun. I walk to the side of our backyard that it's closer to her house and lean on the fence.

"Are you barefoot?"

"Hmm, yes." I look at my feet, all muddy and probably looking disgusting. "Sorry."

"Sorry? You're at your own house, Luke. I was just asking." She smiles and I get distracted when she puts a strand of her hair behind her ear. That's the sweetest thing a girl can do.

"Yeah, you're right. So, how are you feeling today?"

I've never thought that we'll be so close in less than a week but I guess that living next to each other helped that a lot. Well, we're not best friends and we don't share a secrets like long-time friends do. Hmm, if we think about that awkward moment in the bookstore… Stop thinking about that! It's dangerous!

"I'm feeling well, thanks for asking." She says nicely.

She's been answering this every time I ask her. I'm always hopping that someday she tells me the truth. I know she's worried. I know she misses her friends. I know that she can't have a good night's sleep. I noticed that three days ago, during one of my bathroom trips. It was 3 a.m. and she was fully awake, reading. I remember that I decided to wait until she got tired and went back to sleep, but that never happened. Mostly because I fell asleep first.

"That's good!" for now. "So, Hermione, Michael and I are thinking about visiting the pond in the park. He has this new remote control boat that he want's to try and, well, you could join us. What do you think?"

"Oh, thanks." She says looking down. "Unfortunately I'm going to spend the day in London, with my mother. Sorry."

"Hermione, don't worry. You need a break of me anyways. I've been dragging you around to my favourite places and you never complained. Today it's your "day-off". Enjoy it." I say, trying to give her an honest smile.

I'm not going to lie: I'm disappointed. I was going to ask her about her love life. Why? Because, yesterday, she asked about mine. And today was the perfect day to ask her about it. The subject is still fresh.

"Oh shut up. If it wasn't for you, I would be really bored!"

"I don't think so. Another bloke would pass by, notice you, and make an effort to know you and be your friend. By now, your would be having fun with him."

She looks at me suspiciously.

"Is that what you did, Luke?" Oh damn…

"What? No! I mean: I noticed you but-"

"Calm down, I was only joking." She laughs. "Well, I've to go. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, of course. Have a nice day in London!" I say, still blushing. After so many times, I've been used to the feeling.

"Thank you. Bye Luke." She waves and then closes her window, smiling. She's so delicate in everything she does. Even when she has to struggle a little with the window lock.

"I thought you we're dead!"

"Liar! You thought I was angry with you! Annie told me!"

We are fuming, challenging each other. When Mark arrived he scared me a lot because I'm not used to see him so angry.

"Yeah, it's truth! And do you know why she knows that? Because she answered the bloody phone! Where were you? Every time I tried to speak with you, you weren't at home! Damn it Luke!"

I feel like he is overreacting with the situation but he is right. I haven't seen him since last week.

"Calm down…"

"Calm down? You're joking! What kind of friend are you? Annie told me about the girl she saw with you! I don't really care about that bird but if you wanted time to spend with her, you could have told me!"

"Let me explain…"

He searches my face and gets straight, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Alright. What do you have to say?" A couple years ago, I would get a bruise on my face. I see the effort he did. Mark doesn't enjoy a friend's betrayal. We've been through a lot of things since we were 10 years old and spending one week without talking to him with any excuse is the worst thing I could to him.

"It's her, the neighbour."

He blinks a lot of times with his mouth open, surprised.

"What the hell, Luke! And what has stopped you of notifying me that?" he says, hitting my shoulder with his fist. "Wait a minute..." he looks outside, to the Granger's side, "The pretty neighbour? The one who just moved next to you? How is that possible?"

He turns to me, curious and with a mischievous smile.

"How is what possible? I did what you suggest me to do!" I'm offended… and surprised too. Honestly, I've never thought that I'd be this far with a girl without Mark's help.

"Finally! Luke, you're officially a men!" and then he screams, punching the air, as if Manchester just scored a goal.

I'm glad that he isn't angry with me anymore. And I have the confirmation when he gives me a hug, patting my back. Three seconds later, he withdraws, still holding me by my shoulders and scanning me.

"Wait. You're not a man if didn't do it. Did you do it?" he asks me slowly.

I take two seconds to understand what is he talking about. When I do, I drop my head and release a long breath. He can't be serious…

"Hey hey! Don't worry. You're Lucky Luke! If you were lucky enough to get to know her in such short time, you'll be lucky for that too!"

"Damn Mark. Shut up and let me explain you everything."

We head to my bedroom and he makes himself confortable in my bed.

"So, you introduced yourself like the good neighbour you are and then…" he asks expectantly.

I start to select in my head what I should say to him. I don't think that the agreement Mr. Granger and I did is something I should talk about, specially with Mark.

"It's simple: I offered to show her around, since she doesn't know a lot in our town."

"Nice. So, in this last week, you've been like a tourist guide to her."

"Yeah, I guess so." I say, smiling.

"Luke! That isn't good!" he says, rising from the bed. "You have to show her that you're more than that: you're a man. She has to feel that she's lucky when she's with you, not the opposite!"

"I'm not like you!"

"I know you aren't, but I was expecting more!"

"I'm trying to take things slow!"

"Well, alright then. Tell me: is she the one your bringing tomorrow to my house?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I'm warning you: don't be surprised if any of the lads ends up with her in one of the bedrooms."

And this is why I never missed Mark in this last week. I know, I was busy and charmed with Hermione too, but the way he acts when he wants me to agree with him, is vile.

"She's not like that." I say through my gritted teeth.

"Luke, I'm not talking about her. I'm talking about the other blokes that will be there. You know how they are. New girls are new meat for the predator. You remember, a couple years ago when Rachel arrived, don't you? It was mad!"

I do remember. She was "something new" in our circle of friends and three of the boys tried to date her, including Mark. And it wasn't because of her, it was just about their masculine pride: who had the best approach, who was the best at flirting… it was tense.

"Listen, I'm just telling you that tomorrow, you should be 'the guy who brought me here' and not 'Jack's friend who is my neighbour.' You know how capable Jack is."

"Don't worry, now I can say that we are more than neighbours. We are friends." I say but I'm worried about the things Jack is capable of.

"She told you that?"

"Actually, she told Annie…"

"Oh, that's good, I suppose" he says, scratching his chin.

I start staring at the floor. I remember when I was excited about spending the night with her. Being with someone at night isn't the same as being with someone during the daytime and I would like to test that with Hermione. Maybe we could get a little intimate. Nothing much. I would be happy with a hug. I never gave her one.

"Do you think that it's enough? Being her friend?"

"I guess. But you sort of need to mark your territory around her. Do you understand?"

"I don't want to be like that. I can tell that she doesn't enjoy that type of behaviour."

He sighs and sits in my bed, starting to play with my pillows.

"Oh fine. Let me see…" he looks at the pillow, looking for something. "Oh, I know. I'll just say to them that you are interested in her. It's simple and truth."

"Hmm, alright."

"If anything, we'll ask Annie to "protect" her. No one can get through Annie, you know…"

I laugh because it's truth. When we decide to adventure in pubs and some older guys start to approach the girls and they aren't in the mood, Annie does the service. Because: 1) She can be scary when arguing. 2) If a girl prevents a guy approach, they normally respect that. If a guy prevents another guy approach, usually it ends in violence.

"Thanks for the help Mark. I just want her to have a good time. Maybe she'll decide to stay forever."

"I hope so! We need more girls to balance things in our group and you need a girlfriend."

"Do you think so?"

"Yeah, since her arrival you started to behave like a normal person. Do you know how many times you surprised me this afternoon? A lot. I've never seen you so worried about someone's opinion before. Luke, you asked me if it was enough being her friend! Me! That's so lame... She's making you lose control of the things you say, or think, or whatever. I should be worried but I can't be, because I'm finally seeing that my best friend isn't a robot."

And now I'm surprised because I've never seen Mark being so honest about anything. He's not making fun of me. He is really amazed. And now I understand why he is my best friend.

He pats me on the shoulder, embarrassed.

"Oh damn! We look like two girls, talking about our feelings! How lame. It's your fault. Or maybe it's her fault. Wait? What's her name again?"

How is it possible that I never mentioned her name?

"Annie told me that she had an unusual name and she didn't remember it. So tell me, what's her name? I need to know. She deserves and award for messing you up and without her name I can't do it." He asks me, elbowing my ribs, making me feel embarrassed.

"It's Hermione. Her name is Hermione." I say proudly.

The playful smile in Mark's face disappears in an instant.

"How old is she?" he asks hoarsely. Something tells me that he already knows.

I'm confused about his reaction and it takes a while until I answer him.

"Eighteen." I say searching his face.

And since I was watching carefully his face, I can tell the exact moment when is face becomes pale and he forgets to breathe.

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In the next chapter we'll see how the things will go at Mark's house. At the moment I'm having some issues with the characters and the new ones but nothing impossible. Just takes a lot of patience :).

Don't be shy and review or ask me anything.