Chapter 13: Three months
Chilly days passed and still yet, Draco warmed up a bit. The others ignored him most of the times. Most of the times. Alex was still very rude and commented everything about Draco in a degrading manner. The only time for him to breathe was when everyone had to work. Unfortunately it was Sunday and everyone stayed at home but luckily enough in their rooms while Edenia just gave Draco a crash-course on the most important muggle artefacts and terms that they came across but there was this one particular thing that Draco just did not understand.
"Explain this again please."
"It's a Computer. And it is connected to what we call Internet. You have to imagine the Internet like...some sort of space where people can go while actually staying where they are. There is so much you can do; I couldn't explain it with a couple of words. For example, we can go shopping, stay in touch with friends all over the world and send messages to them within seconds or research on whatever we want, the Internet is like an open world without boundaries...to most people at least." Said Edenia and Draco just shook his head in disbelief when he looked at the large screen and the keyboard.
"Wait, did you say shop?!"
"Yes. There are websites where you can buy things depending on what you are looking for. Tyle is always buying music online and well, Alex gets music too...just...in a different way." She sighed when she thought of that one time when Alex had to pay a lot of money because of illegal downloading. Draco only seemed even more confused but that's when Edenia decided to not further talk about it. Instead, she asked.
"Are you hungry? We could order some food. I think it's my turn to cook but I really don't want to."
"How do you order food?" Draco frowned and scratched his head but Edenia held up a device. "With a telephone. Hold on, I'll get a card." She got up and walked over to Alex because he hoarded all of them.
"Ordering again? Come on Nia, you always order when it's your turn to cook." Said Tyle as he walked on out of his room once Edenia knocked and informed him, doing the same with Emily.
"Actually we could be ordering all week! Who cares! Better than some lame pasta..." Smirked Alex at Emily but she just huffed and didn't comment.
"We could pick Paulo's Pizza Palace today." Alex spoke.
"No we had Paulo's lasts time!" Whined Emily and suggested instead "I'm up for something Mexican. Anyone?" but nobody gave an encouraged response.
"Edenia. You choose." Said Tyle and all of them sat down on the couch.
"Hmm..." She thought a bit and looked at Draco. "Is there something specific you want?"
"I'm fine with eating anything, really." He said and Alex tried to swallow a nasty comment but seemed surprisingly calm when Draco too suggested picking Paulo's because it sounded interesting.
About half an hour later, the food arrived all fresh and hot and the lot was still comfortable on the couch, not bothering to sit at the table. Alex got himself a family sized pizza with way too much pepperoni spread all over it and slapped Emily's hand away that tried to reach for a piece when she didn't seem too satisfied with her salad which was a part of her diet. Draco and Edenia both shared a large Margarita and Tyle decided to have some risotto.
"And then! Hahahah! I told him to look in the basement!" Roared Alex and all of them bursted out laughing. Everyone was in such a good mood, they all joked around and the girls laughed and giggled and added their own stories. Draco observed everyone meanwhile and noticed his mouth twitching every so often until at some point he just had to laugh as well. Slowly, very slowly, he began to understand how Edenia lived and why she was ever so satisfied with her life.
The most exciting of days was spent on Monday evening. They decided to go to the movies together and watch this action-thriller thing Draco already forgot the name of. He followed everyone outside and noticed they all stopped in front of this large metal box.
"It's a car." Said Edenia.
"My car." Added Alex as he passed by and opened the door to sit behind the wheel. Tyle sat next to him on the passenger seat and the rest took the seats in the back.
"Don't worry." Said Edenia as she glanced at Draco's insecure face. "We will get there safely."
"DRIVE! DRIVE YOU UGLY PIECE OF SHIT!" Growled Alex and waved at a man in a blue car in front of him.
"WHO GAVE YOU YOUR LICENSE? DID YOU WIN IT ON THE LOTTERY?" He cussed and honked loudly when a woman tried to cut him the next passage.
"YEAH PUNK! I AM TALKING TO YOU! OR DO YOU SEE ANY OTHER IDIOT ON THE STREET BECAUSE I DON'T!" He screamed out of the window at a motorbike.
Draco exhaled deeply when he survived this hell ride. Stepping out of the car, he had to squint shut his eyes. He was absolutely swamped with all the different lights in the city and weird other traffic things with noise and music coming from all over. It almost made him dizzy. They arrived there at the "movies" and the scent of popcorn dragged everyone inside a dimmed room after paying. The blonde couldn't believe his eyes. Muggles were all sitting in a dark room to stare at a red curtain? He didn't understand. Edenia sat down between Draco and Tyle and rolled her eyes when Alex squished himself around some people with way too many nachos in his hands to carry; losing half of them on his way to a seat next to Emily and arrived just in time. The red curtain pulled away and revealed the largest of screens Draco has ever seen. The one in the living room was a complete joke compared to this.
Every once in a while, he noticed that Edenia ducked a little when something too exciting for her nerves happened and she leaned closer to Tyle without being aware of it, it seemed. But Tyle was aware of it; rubbed the part of her back that he could reach and at one point even kissed her temple. Draco turned his face away to further concentrate on the movie but everyone noticed that, for the rest of the evening, he had not said a single word anymore.
Tuesday morning was very quiet. Emily left the house at five in the morning, Alex at seven and Tyle around eight. Draco had to sleep on the couch, so he always knew when someone would be leaving. The downside of it was that he was awake. To be exact, he did not even sleep. He rubbed his eyes and glanced over to Edenia's room, wondering when she would get up. Bored out of his mind, he got up and walked over to her room and opened the door, just checking if by any chance, she did not sleep anymore. But she did, cuddled into a ball in her bed. He looked around her room; liked it. Everything was white and mint green and created a very soothing and soft atmosphere. He walked closer to her white-wooded bed and sat down by the edge of it and stared at the sleeping figure, but his eyes wandered around and stopped at this wall full of pictures. He got up and walked closer to it and saw that they all showed moments of their friendship. One picture showed the four friends sitting around a fire and tents in the background; maybe they were camping. Another picture showed a gleefully laughing Emily drawing with a black pen on a seemingly asleep Alex's face. The last picture Draco's eyes rested on was a smiling Tyle who stood on a wooden bridge deep in the nature showing most of the riverside and forest as its landscape. Draco felt his eyes narrowing at the male and he turned around to Edenia but she was still asleep. He walked over to her yet again and sat down on the edge of her bed once more, stared at her but after some moments decided to leave.
"Draco?" Came a voice from behind when he was almost out of the door. He turned around and smiled faintly. "I didn't mean to wake you up, sorry."
"Are you okay?" She asked and sat up on her knees on the bed, tilting her head to the side when he didn't answer within the time range that made it authentic when saying that he was okay.
"Yes." He then answered and looked away, was on his way out again but Edenia stopped him. "Come here please..." She said and patted the spot next to her. Draco inhaled deeply but sat down, facing her.
"Is it because you miss home?" She asked softly. Actually she swore to herself that she would never ask him this, fearing he would miss exactly those people she detested, unable to help him with that homesickness. But he shook his head.
"No...well. Of course to some extent. I don't know when I will be seeing them again. Or if...at all..." He sighed and Edenia rubbed his shoulder a little.
"You...you are really happy here, aren't you...?" He asked and the girl seemed confused. "They treat you good. So much better than...than the Slytherins..." He lowered his head a little and bit his bottom lip.
"But can you find all the happiness you...you are looking for? Here? With him..." He asked but his eyes widened, not wanting to say this at all.
"Him? Do you mean Alex? I told you there is nothing." She giggled and leaned back but Draco looked at her in another way.
"You mean Tyle?" He nodded and Edenia didn't say anything for a bit.
"We dated once" she then confessed and Draco frowned widely.
"But it just didn't work." She went on.
"Why not?" "Tyle is a gentleman. He treats everyone right, with the amount of respect they deserve. He is a very, very good friend and you can always count on him. But...I guess he was a tad too perfect for me, you know? It's difficult to explain." Said Edenia with a small smile. "And...He is fine with letting you go?" He shook his head and added. "I wouldn't be okay with that." But again, he frowned and quickly corrected. "If I were him, I mean."
Edenia snickered and said. "That's one of the reasons why I said he is too perfect. He is fair, always doing the right thing. Of course I would have wished for him to fight for me at some point. But that's just not him, you know?" She snickered. "I think he would have been sorted into Hufflepuff at Hogwarts." And she laughed a little at the thought of it. Draco chuckled lowly, but he did not share the same opinion. Gryffindor, definitely a Gryffindor, he thought and again, his eyes narrowed just a slight bit. The rest of the day was okay as everyone did not exactly talk a lot. The afternoon, however, held a surprise.
"Guys. Food is ready." Said Edenia and glanced to the oven and pulled out the large form of lasagna. If something could help Alex up his bottom from the couch, it was food. Everyone sat down, ready to enjoy their meals in silence; until Emily gasped and pointed to Draco before he could shove the fork into his mouth.
"HIDE!" She screeched up and everyone jumped, Alex accidentally threw some bit of lasagna on Tyle's face.
"What's up?!" Asked Edenia as everyone stood.
"I just saw Patty's car!" Yelped Emily hastily and everyone gasped. Of course!
"In the closet!" Said Tyle.
"In the oven..." Mumbled Alex, earning an annoyed glance from Edenia but Alex just shrugged it off when Draco was stuffed into Tyle's closet just in time and the door opened.
"Hey folks! Ohhh! This smells good!" Cheered Patty and Emily pointed to the lasagna in an offering way, then glanced to Draco's plate and everyone mentally slapped their hands to their foreheads.
"We...we heh! Already fixed you a plate, see?" Cheered Edenia and Alex had to suppress a big laugh when Patty sat down smilingly and started to eat, following by the rest of them. "So." She started and asked. "Any news? How's work, Alex?"
"Fine." He responded and Patty looked at Emily.
"How are your preparations for the exams going?"
"I'm really stressed out of my mind but I'm fine."
"When's the first exam?"
"In four weeks. The last exam will be some when by the end of April."
Patty nodded and glanced at Tyle and he said. "University is fine."
"Got results from the last course already?" She asked.
"Yeah. I scored a ten out of ten." He cheered and everyone gasped.
"Why! You didn't even tell us!" Huffed Alex and Tyle shrugged.
"Come on it's nothing special." He said and continued eating. Patty then looked at Edenia but she noticed that she tried to avoid eye contact.
"Edeniaaaa..."
"No I didn't find a job yet." Whined Edenia slightly but added. "And I haven't decided whether I want to start muggle education or not...I don't know..."
"Dear, time is flying, you might want to decide very soon, alright? Try." Patty smiled in an assuring manner.
"Alright." Said Edenia and smiled back lightly. Patty always understood. Edenia told her about what happened but she did not exactly go into as much details as she did with her friends. Patty knew that the wizarding world was at war and she also knew that Edenia left for that reason. But that was about all the girl told her. When Patty left an hour later, Draco was let out of the closet but this game continued each Tuesday for the upcoming weeks.
Things grew to be a little more pleasant. By the end of March, everyone got so used to Draco that he became a part of their life and the atmosphere changed, like the season, from very cold to pleasantly warm. Alex and Draco started to get along a little more and it seemed that they got along perfectly fine in front of the Playstation.
"Damnit you're good!" Grumbled Alex when Draco got ahead of him during a car race. A fact that Emily could only find a frown for. Nobody got ahead of Alex, not ever.
"Alex! Get up now! We are hungry! It's your turn to cook!" Hissed Emily.
"Are you nuts? I can't! I'm winning a game right here. You cook."
"Like hell I will! Get. Up. Now!"
"Nah uh no. I won't." He mused but laughed when Draco's car almost crashed against him.
"Whoo! That was close! Alright, alright! Yeah I'm about to win! I'm first! Hahaha! Just a few meters and-"
And suddenly the TV was black. Draco seemed confused and Alex's eyes widened in shock, he held the controller tightly and spun his head towards Emily who had the remote in her hands. Only Alex's face was slightly more unamused than hers and Draco realized that it was now only a matter of time when the ticking bomb in Alex's head would explode.
Edenia woke up from a nap and followed the loud yelling in the living room. She walked out groggily and stood against the doorframe, followed by Tyle who did the same the other second. Both of them stared at the bickering Alex and Emily, the unable-to-do-something Draco, then at each other and sighed heavily.
It took Alex exactly four days to speak to Emily again.
When April rushed by and Edenia, Draco, Alex and Tyle sat outside on the balcony and chatted about the latest events and Draco's hilarious encounter with the microwave, the door opened and in walked Emily. The four of them got up quickly and strolled over to her but frowned gently when they saw Emily's sulking expression. Alex then swung his arm around her.
"Hey...it's okay Em. You can just retake the exam next year, don't worry-"
"I PASSSSSEEEDDDD!" She suddenly screamed and jumped in happy tears and everyone scurried around her to congratulate and give her a hug.
"I think this calls for a party tonight!" Exclaimed Alex and tossed up a beer and luckily for Draco, Tyle had to drive this time as Alex already drank something.
Their evening was fine but it took Draco some time to warm up. The club, as they called it, was completely made out of glass and built in a circular shape and people would dance under the starry night sky. Laser lights shined in all colours and the music was so loud that he could not even compliment Edenia's looks, but he followed the lot to the bar where talking was easier.
"One Sex on the Beach please." Said Edenia to a barkeeper and Draco's mouth gapped open.
"What?!" He growled lowly and she laughed at him.
"It's a cocktail. A drink. They sometimes have funny names."
"Muggles..." He couldn't help but mumble to himself and out of spite, Edenia ordered.
"A Blow Job for my blond friend here." And Alex almost spat out his second beer looking at Draco's red face. They all enjoyed a couple of drinks and good conversations and watched Alex performing some extremely funny and new dance moves when he already had way too much to drink.
"May I?" Asked Tyle when a slow song came up and he held out his hand for Edenia to take, which she did. Draco watched them closely as Tyle held her to his chest and moved to the song. Sipping on his drink, Draco decided to watch somebody else and noticed Emily coming over to him.
"Where's Alex?" He asked her.
"Oh, someone called. I don't know must be something urgent I guess. Hey Nia!" Emily giggled when she walked away from Tyle.
"Ready to go home?" She asked and everyone nodded and Tyle, who had nothing to drink, drove them back safely.
They entered the apartment with roars of laughter at some story but it died out at once when they saw they were not alone in the apartment anymore.
Two visitors sat on the couch.