A couple months passed since Itra moved to the Forgotten City. In the meantime, Gentrei had to sort things out with her friends. The whole situation between her love triangle between Injaius and Harry came to a simple close. Injaius was considerate enough to respect Gentrei’s relationship. Harry, with his absolute kindness, understood Injaius’s feelings. He supported their friendship, and both Harry and Gentrei started going to the table where Gentrei’s other friends sat. I never followed, and instead continued sitting at the same table as always.

Once Spring Break started creeping closer, I got an email from a familiar address. Itra sent it. For the Spring Break, her family would be visiting. She asked whether I was free to meet up. The second I read her message, I broke into a smile. I was excited. Correction, I became hopeful. I wanted to see Itra again.

With Harry too busy with Gentrei’s friends, I decided to bother Iter about my exciting news. He never ate with us, but I always knew where to find him in the lunchroom. Seated as close to the exit as possible, I found Iter surrounded by a flock of intellectual-looking people. He put his book down after glancing at me.

“Illate? What’s with that goofy smile?” he questioned.

“Itra’s visiting over the break!” I cheered, “We agreed to meet at the Tairean Public Park.”

“The park?” Iter paused before continuing, “Are you sure that’s a good idea? It’s cold.”

“Oh…you’re right, I should have thought of that.” Dread coated my former energy.

“You should pick somewhere indoors,” Iter suggested, “depending on what you’re doing, maybe a restaurant, mall, or library would work out. Maybe even your house.”

“My house?!” I balked, “I can’t imagine she’d have much fun there…”

“What, is it super bland? Off-putting? Loud?” Iter asked, “You can’t just clean it up or something?”

“Well…I’ve never invited anyone over before,” I explained, “I don’t know how to entertain guests or anything.”

“Really? Well, it’s nothing so serious,” Iter claimed, “are you planning on anything?”

“I’m thinking of showing her some of my new stories,” I shared, “I feel like having some of her input on them would help.”

“You don’t want my input, I’m guessing?” Iter teased, “My lessons aren’t enough for you?”

“Oh, no, they’re great, it’s just…” I searched for the proper words to say. “I just like Itra’s teaching.”

“I’m sure you do,” Iter responded, “anyways, is there any other reason you came to talk to me? Where’s Harry and Gentrei?”

“They’re hanging out with Gentrei’s other friends,” I answered, “I just stayed behind.”

“Why, afraid of them?” Iter questioned, “Are they not your friends too?”

“I don’t really know them,” I reasoned, “I doubt I’d contribute anything to their conversation anyway.”

“We’re writers, Illate,” Iter pointed out, “we’re masters of dialogue, in a technical sense.”

“I guess…” I mumbled, “maybe next time, I’ll go along with them.”

“That’s the spirit. I’m sure Gentrei’s friends would like you,” Iter assured, “they’re pretty lively.”

I parted ways with Iter once I successfully shared my excitement about Itra’s visit. He made a good point about going with Gentrei and Harry, but I still couldn’t go along with them. After all, Gentrei’s initial impression of being scary was inherited by her friends.

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Deciding to change my plans with Itra, I quickly emailed her about the park being too cold. Because I didn’t want to suggest coming to my house very intensely, I asked her opinion of going to the public library, the Hangman Cafe, along with my home. Her reply came almost immediately. She must have paid a lot of attention to her emails.

“I’d love to see what your house is like,” she said.

So, the plan was made. Itra would come over to my house. I sent her my address through email, and our plan became set in stone.

For the rest of the day, I simply thought about what kinds of things Itra and I could do. Sharing my writing would be one thing, but I wondered what kind of things Itra would like. I wanted to be as prepared as possible for when Itra came over.

For the most preparation possible, I thought of who to ask. My sister Elliot didn’t invite people over, like me. Harry, the kindest person I knew, might have a few good ideas. But Gentrei, who had a larger group of friends, might have had more experience.

While I had reluctance to approach her and her other friends, I needed to know how to entertain guests. Sucking up my fear and pride, I decided to approach Gentrei and her friends after school.

In a medium circle, Gentrei chatted with her four friends. Harry was nowhere in sight, so he must have gone home. Knowing I could talk with him any other time, I took bold steps in Gentrei’s direction.

“Oh, Illate.” Gentrei turned, being the first to notice me.

“Hey,” I greeted, making an awkward glance in the direction of her other friends. I never remembered their names except for Injaius.

“Who’s this?” asked a blond-haired girl. She stood a couple heads above Gentrei, which put her at a pretty average height.

“You don’t remember Illate?” asked Gentrei, “I told you about him before, right?”

“He’s the wimpy kid Gentrei complains about all the time,” explained a well-dressed guy. “Nice to meet you, I’m Nero.”

Being offered his hand, I shook it. He looked me straight in the eye, with a strong grip. My gaze kind of wavered, but I tried to keep up with his professionalism.

Without a word, Injaius waved at me. We already knew each other.

“You seem like a fun person to know,” said Gentrei’s blond-haired friend, “I’m Harriet. This is Kerosene.”

“Kerosene?” I turned to whom she pushed my direction.

In-between Harriet and Gentrei, Kerosene fell in the middle, by size.

She looked at me with dead eyes, behind her black-haired bangs, and her first words to me were, “Don’t make a joke about me being burnable fuel.”

Kerosene is a fuel source, like an oil, used for burning. I remember my father needing to fill lamps with them, whenever we went out in the dark, when my sister and I were little.

“Okay…Kerosene.” I maintained eye contact with her.

“...” Kerosene kept silent, but she also never looked away.

“So, did you need anything?” Gentrei asked me, “Harry left a little while ago.”

“Erm…I was actually coming to you for advice,” I explained. “I’m inviting a friend over for the first time, and I don’t know what I should do to prepare.”

“Oh, really?” Gentrei questioned, “Well, I guess…you should clean and make your house presentable?”

“Right…” I nodded. “I kind of knew that part though. I’m wondering what activities I can do with her.”

“Activities? With a friend?” Harriet contributed, “Are you planning something romantic?”

“N-no!” I denied, “we’re only friends.”

Injaius suggested, “maybe you can do something with food. Eat, or maybe prepare something together.”

“Oh yeah, that would be nice,” Gentrei agreed, “Bring me all your extras.”

“Your question is kind of vague,” Nero pitched in, “honestly, we have nothing to do with your friend. You should ask her yourself. Either way, you understand things better than us. Just keep in mind that you should treat your guests with respect.”

“U-understood,” I replied, barely keeping up with the barrage of answers from Gentrei’s talkative friends.

“You guys are making him uncomfortable,” Kerosene interrupted, “don’t keep barraging him with your words.”

“Oh, sorry,” Harriet apologized immediately, “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable…”

“I’m okay,” I assured them, “but I need to go home now…see you guys another time?”

“Of course,” Nero nodded.

Feeling comfortable enough to leave, I made my way home. Without Harry to protect me from their extrovertedness, I was shaken. At least Injaius and Gentrei knew me.

I wasn’t any more sure about how to prepare activities with Itra, but I at least decided I wouldn’t need to ask anyone else. Itra knew me, after all, and I knew her. I was excited to see her, but I knew things would work out when she arrived.