After 7 months, I don't have an excuse. But I can honestly tell that I tried to write but every time I opened Word, I was at loss. A lot of drafts but all of them were just...wrong.

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Paths – Chapter 13 – Her Friends

"So… you're joining us tonight, aren't you?"

Annie is looking at us expectantly, rubbing her hands against each other. Being together almost everyday for the last few days hasn't been enough and she decided to organize a trip to a lake just 15 miles from our town. Barbecue, beers, a bonfire and maybe some swimming. It sounded appealing and the British weather has been helpful this week.

Hermione is beside me with a beer that she hasn't touched since Renan put it in her hands. I was slightly surprised to see her chatting with Mark without one of them looking too tense but I guess that talking about people they used to go to school with is an easy topic of conversation, specially after spending the last days together when the group decided to hang out. Still, I can see him staring at her sometimes, as if waiting for something to happen and I can't really understand why he does it.

Now, something is bothering me. Since that day we went to the park, Hermione never mentioned her friends again. I thought that she wanted me to meet them! I remember asking her the same day if she was thinking about inviting them but she reminded me how her father wouldn't approve it, since he wasn't 'very fond of them', as she put it.

"- need Luke to go with us!"

Jack saying my name brings me back to the conversation and I remember that I have to answer Annie.

"Who needs me?" I ask instead.

"No, I said that Hermione doesn't need you in order to go with us to the lake tonight. We're not dangerous." He says, smirking at her.

"Well, I suppose. But I want to go too so you're out of luck mate."

Renan starts making fun of Jack. The truth is, I'm not really worried about Jack making a move on Hermione. He just likes to say things like that.

"Ok, so it's sorted." Annie said, clapping her hands. "We are eight so we need two cars. I can volunteer my brother's car, since he's still in Greece with his friends and if anything happens, I'll have 3 days to erase any evidence of use. Or I just blackmail him. "

I can feel most of us rolling her eyes at her.

"I don't think that what he did in the girl's bathroom of his school is still something you can use to blackmail him. It was years ago!" Mark says, scoffing.

"Oh for goodness sake! Really Mark? Do you really believe that my 21-year-old brother is bothered about people knowing that he touched some girl's breasts when he was 15? I have more material than that."

Hermione was looking at Annie with an amused expression.

"Well, I don't think that you should use your brother's car. We can use mine's and Luke's" suggested Rachel.

"Wow, who says that my car was on option?"

"Luke, your car is always an option because it's the only car that never stopped in the middle of the road" Renan pointed out, before taking a big gulp of his beer.

"Ok. Just please; tell me in advance who's going with me. I don't want to waste time like when we went to Brighton."

They start discussing between themselves, Annie pointing out geographical proximity to each others houses and that we have to meet up in the gas station just outside our town.

"And Hermione is going with me." I suddenly say loudly, receiving a thumbs up from Annie. "Your parent's know of this night plans, right?" I ask Hermione.

"Yes, I told them the same day. My father didn't bother you a about it?"

"No, not this time."

"Good. If I'm honest, I'm surprised that he wasn't against our day in London this past Tuesday."

Yes! The day in London. I remember seeing Hermione telling her parents about our plans to visit the city and the way her father was looking at here whilst asking us where we intended to go and visit. When we left her house, I asked her half joking if he was afraid of her running away. Hermione told me that I wasn't very far from the truth, although she would never do it.

Without asking, I knew that her father trusted me to keep an eye of her but honestly, I didn't feel like controlling every move of her anymore. What kind of friend does that? So, when he asked me how was our day, I refrained from saying that Hermione and I were not together for almost an hour, when she had to take care of some of things. At the time, I expected her to come back with the friends she wanted to introduce to me. She ended up returning alone but looking satisfied.

"All right then, Camille, Mark and Hermione are going with Luke. We'll meet up at the gas station at 5:30" Annie said finally.

The sun was two or three hours from setting and it was still warm, for British standards. The lake was enormous and since we arrived, Mark has been moaning about not bringing his kayak even though I pointed out to him that I don't have what's necessary to bring it in the roof of my car.

We already set Renan's grill, and decided to be manly about it, forbidding the girls to get near it, so now they're just chatting. Hermione has been looking anxious since we left her house, in a positive way. But I don't think that it is because of tonight's plans.

"When, Luke?"

I stop looking at the girls and turn around, facing Jack.

"When what?"

"When are you going to ask Hermione on a date or something?"

"What, he didn't do it already?" Renan asks, as if shocked.

"I never told you that I wanted to date her!"

"Seriously Luke, we never tell each other that we want to date a girl. We just do…"Jack points out.

I start chewing my lower lip, thinking. I haven't asked Hermione on a date because I still think that it's too soon. Plus, the way our relationship started make things harder. It's not that I don't think about it, after all, she is interesting to talk with and quite pretty. And sometimes I see that she has a really mature side and I appreciate that.

"I don't know what you lads are thinking but she isn't into Luke so, I'd just forget it." Mark stated, interrupting my thoughts.

I quickly look at him and his face doesn't show that he was making fun of me. He was checking the charcoal like nothing had happened.

"Wow, are you serious? How do you know?" Renan asked intrigued.

Mark raised his head and looked at us as if it was obvious.

"She doesn't make an effort to please Luke, so clearly she isn't into him. Now Luke, you can still try to asker her on a date or something, but I wouldn't be very optimistic…"

I wanted to feel offended but I couldn't, because the way Mark was talking made me wonder if he knew something that he didn't want to let out.

"If you feel uncomfortable with the idea of me dating her just because you used to be classmates 8 years ago, you can tell me. But honestly, I don't know what's your problem with-" I started to ramble, feeling a bit pissed at him before he interrupted me.

"No Luke, I'm not jealous. I don't even care if you date her. I'm just saying that at the moment, that's not what she wants."

We look at each other: me trying to get what he was saying and he trying to make me understand without words...

"Ok… I'm completely lost. Mark, months ago you said that Luke needed a girlfriend. What changed?" Renan asked

"Oh, nothing changed. But this girl is different and I know that Luke can't handle her…" He turned around to the lake, picking some rocks and throwing them into the water.

Renan and Jack exchanged worried looks before looking at me. I was so embarrassed and bothered with Mark's words that I couldn't look back at them.

"And you can? Just fuck off, Mark!" I yelled. I then remembered that we weren't alone and noticed my friends looking at me. When looking for the person that was the reason behind this argument, I couldn't find her.

"Where's Hermione?" I muttered to Camille, after approaching her. I tried to avoid Rachel and Annie's looks.

"I saw her going that way." She replied, pointed to the far right. " She wanted to see the camping part of the lake."

I start to go to the same place but Annie blocked me.

"Hey Luke, can you help us with the bonfire?

"I'm sorry Annie." I said, trying to get her out of my way. "I have to find Hermione."

"Why? She isn't lost and we wont have the food ready for another hour! Just leave her alone for a minute and help us with this, since you used to be a boy scout. You know how I am. I could start a real fire in here."

"You know her Luke. Annie is very capable of burning this out even though we're just beside water." Rachel stated.

"We're close to trees too, so I wouldn't risk it." Camille pointed out, looking around.

I gave up and decided to help them. Sometimes I would take a look at the boys, having a laugh together, and my anger towards Mike came back in full force. He thinks that he is a Hermione expert just because they know each other since they were kids! Last week he wasn't even comfortable around her so, what changed? And every time they were together, I was around, and I haven't noticed anything that made me think that now they were close friends who knew each other so well.

After almost half an hour we can finally see some flames, strong enough to handle the rest of the night and at the same time, we start to barbecue some sausages and hamburgers. Jack already brought the picnic cooler with some drinks and I feel relieved that Rachel and I are the ones driving, since we don't mind not drinking alcohol every time it's available.

Suddenly I see Hermione coming in our direction, in a quick pace, and I approach her.

"Hey, where did you go?"

"Oh! I just went for a walk around the place. Hum, where's Annie, I need to ask her- ah, there's she is!" and quickly goes towards her.

While I'm wondering why she is so, I don't know, nervous, I see her whispering to Annie. I start to think that maybe is some girl business she needs help with when I only see Annie nodding and talking with a smile. Quickly Hermione turns around and runs towards the trees.

"Well, there's still some sausages in the grill but what's already cooked is enough for al of us."

I decide to sit beside Camille, crossing my legs and sometimes checking the place where Hermione went.

"Still mad at me?" Mark muttered in my ear. I decide to ignore him. "I shouldn't have said that in front of other people, but you know that I'd be the last person to say something like that. "

I raise myself to get a bottle of water from the cooler and when I get to my sit he approaches me again.

"And this isn't about being jealous or anything. She's not my type. Too much brains." He finishes, chuckling.

I look at him and he just raises his eyebrows, as if challenging me to disagree with him. I feel less anger towards him but he still embarrassed me. But he see that he is half forgiven, when he turns his face to the fire with a grin.

"Hey, welcome!"

Annie's sudden greeting caught our attention and all of us looked to the same place she was looking. Hermione was back and with her, two guys, one on each side. The one on her right had black hair and glasses and was wearing greeted us with a hand wave and a smile. The one on her left had red hair and was very pale and very, very tall. His face wasn't so friendly has the previous boy. He looked uncomfortable.

Before I could relate them to the two boys with who she spent this past year with, I see some of my friends already standing up to greet them. I can hear Annie saying something about not worrying about food and drinks, because Hermione had already warned her about two more people joining the group tonight.

I decide to be polite too and approach them. The red headed boy is closer so I give him an hand shake the moment his eyes lay on me.

"Hello, I'm Luke."

"Hey. Hum, I'm Ron."

"Oh, Ron. This is Luke, the o I mentioned before." Hermione says when she sees us.

"Yeah Hermione. I already figured that." He says, smiling at her. That surprises me a little, since he was wearing a serious expression since he arrived.

"And I'm Harry" the boy with black hair says, appearing suddenly and giving me a handshake. "I hope you don't mind Ron and me joining you lot tonight."

"Well, I didn't organize this so I don't have any problem. And Annie is alright with it, so…"

Some seconds go by and it's starts to feel awkward, but Hermione directs them to the bonfire and starts showing them our eating options. Renan and Jack quickly engage in conversation with Harry, talking how the beer they brought is good, despite being cheap. Harry just laughs politely and accepts one, while Ron is seated beside him but looking intently at Hermione, who's helping Camille and Rachel with some folding chairs. Meanwhile, Annie and Mark are keeping an eye on the grill, discussing what's the best technique and what not.

I suddenly feel a bit weird and decide to approach the person who looks less occupied.

"Can I sit here?"

Ron looks surprised but nods. I feel a bit uncomfortable with him, but I want to be nice to her friends.

"So, are you one of her friends from school?"

He looks at me, as if examining my face.

"Yeah, you can say that. We met each other at school. Harry too."

I just nod, not knowing what to say.

"Do you live around here or…?

"No. I live near Devon."

"Oh, that's a bit far."

"Yeah, it is. But we got here rather quickly." He was smirking and looking at the fire. I could tell that he wasn't into this conversation, with is quick answers. Luckily, Annie had all the food cooked and I decided to distract myself with getting a hamburger for me.

Seated between Camille and Mike, the conversation started to flow. We mostly talked about people we knew from school, sharing the latest gossip. Hermione and her friends listened to our stories or talked between themselves. Harry sometimes made some comments and he even talked about a boy in their school who had the weird talent of catching fire to almost anything. The joke got bigger when Jack said that the boy would be a good partner for Annie and from there, insults started to be exchanged, followed by some laughter.

After some time, Hermione and Ron rise and move away from the group. I look at them until I feel Harry looking at me, and that's when I decide to approach him. At this time, Jack's portable stereo is already playing music, with Renan is slightly drunk and asking Camille to dance with him.

"Where did they go?"

"Ron and Hermione? Oh, they just needed to talk."

"Ok. Are you having fun? We are a strange lot."

"Don't worry," he says chuckling, "I've seen weirder."

Harry makes me feel more comfortable. He seems very calm and apparently our weird conversations don't scare him.

"Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"Hermione told me that you're aware of her father intentions of keeping her away from us."

I feel a little nervous but I tell myself to calm down. Harry doesn't know that in the beginning, I had a wrong opinion of them because of Mr. Granger.

"Yes, it's true." I say, not looking at him. "Is something about what happened this past year." Harry quickly turns his head, staring me. "Hermione didn't tell me what happened but I reckon that's why Mr. Granger wants her away from you."

"Yeah, it is. But we're not dangerous or crazy. Just different."

And in this moment I have the confirmation that they aren't gifted like common gifted people.

"You know what? I honestly think that Hermione's too old to have her father approval of her friendships. Maybe he's just behaving like this because it's still to soon or whatever." Harry nods and I pat myself on the back, because maybe this was the right thing to say.

"I think you're right. Maybe we should just give it time. But we miss being with Hermione. We're best friends."

"I can tell that she misses you too."

Seconds after the words left my mouth, Hermione and Ron arrive and sit beside Harry. They look more relaxed. Maybe they had some issues between the two of them and now it's all sorted. After some minutes, Hermione changes place with Harry, sitting beside me.

"Luke?" She whispers in my ear.

"Yes?"

"Was my father's description of my friends accurate?"

I look at her and she is smiling. I can tell that having her friends with her was what she needed to feel better.

"Honestly, I don't even know why I was scared." I whisper back.

"Where you really?"

"No, not at all." I say, smirking.

After some minutes looking at the fire, she turns to me again.

"Will you promote them?"

"What do you mean?"

"My father will know that I was with them, Luke."

"What? But I won't tell him!"

"I know, but I will. And he will know that you were with them too."

I start to feel nervous with the possible aftereffects of it but I make myself remember that first, I was never forbidden to be with Ron or Harry and second, I don't give a damn about Mr. Granger issues with them anymore. It's obvious that in the beginning I was more concerned about getting to know Hermione and that's why I was willing to do anything her father wanted for it to happen. But after being deluded for some weeks, I feel that I have another purpose. I don't want to Hermione to go away but if that means that she's with her friends, I'm ok with that. I'd hate if that happened to me. My friends are weird and get on my nerves a lot, but I'd rather have them making fun of me than not having them at all.

"You can count on me, Hermione." And the smile she gave me was the best.

Meanwhile, I see Ron and Harry. The former just took a sip of Harry's beer and it looks like he isn't a fan. Hermione scolds Harry for it and I feel a bit envious of the trio dynamics. It really looks like they having been friends for a long time.

I catch Mark starring at them, especially Hermione, with a curious expression. When Hermione catches his eye, they nod at each other and that seems like what Mark needed because after it he just gets up and joins the group who's dancing.

It's past 2am and we're getting everything in the vehicles. It ended up being a pretty fun night. Hermione friends engaged with my friends really well, although Ron always looked a bit uncomfortable. But maybe he's just shy, but he doesn't really look like it.

"Do you need a ride anywhere?" Annie asks Harry.

"No, we're fine." Harry politely answers.

I find it a strange response and decide look around, searching for another vehicle in the parking lot. There's none beside Rachel's and mine. How are they going to Devon at this time? Trains won't be available until 6 am and still; the nearest train station with intercity trains is 20 miles from here.

Some people start exchanging goodbyes with Harry and Ron and Jack promises that he will find a beer Ron will like. Mark quickly says goodbye to them and I find it strange that in spite of not talking much with them all night, I see in his posture and words that they are not indifferent to him.

We get to the cars and Hermione is the last one entering. When we are driving of, leaving the lake area, Harry and Ron don't leave my rearview mirror until I make the first curve to enter the main road.

At this hour, the thirty-minute drive is very quiet, with the occasional mumbling and re-telling of tonight's events. Hermione is always silent and just answers questions directly at her. We have to wake up Camille when we get to her house and after that, I found it strange that before leaving my car, Mike decided to tell Hermione that her friends were great. He must have seen my face of disbelief in the mirror, but he just ignored me, saying that he would call me the day after.

When we arrive to our street, both our houses are dark.

"So, did they have fun?"

"Ron and Harry? Of course!" She quickly responded, carefully watching at her house. It looked like she was searching for something.

"Ron seemed uncomfortable…"

It takes some seconds until she realises that I said something.

"Oh, he wasn't. He was just tired. Luke, I have to go. Hum, I need to-"

"Don't worry" I interrupt her. "It's late so…I'll see you tomorrow."

The instant I say the last word, she waves at me and enters through her gate. Entering my house, I try to not make any noise when I ascend the stairs and I almost fail when I see that my windows are opened and I have to control the growl of frustration. I'll most likely have bugs sleeping with me tonight.

I put my backpack next to my bed and approach the windows. Before moving them, something makes me stop. Two shadows are just in the corner of Hermione's backyard, in a squatting position beside one of the flowerbeds. I don't move much because, if they're burglars, they'll notice the movement so I just get most of my body behind the curtain. I don't know if I should get downstairs and call the police or just watch them for more time, just to confirm my suspicions.

When I start walking backwards, with the intention of get to the phone, I see Hermione quietly leaving her house. Oh no! Did she saw them? Did they see her? Most likely! Before I could think about leaving my house to help her, I see her running in their direction and when they leave the shadows, I see. Harry and Ron.

Hermione directs them to a small shed her parents have in the backyard and the three enter swiftly.

They couldn't possible be here so quickly, even with a car.

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