Reese moved in between Roderick and I, wrapping her arms around our shoulders as she did so.

“Yeah, the Jamie Markie concert will be amazing huh?! We’ve just been talking about it too!” Reese replied and looked at me smiling. “Do you want to come with us?”

“Thank you for the offer, I’ve already organised something with my friend Dylan and the others.” I replied.

“Great, that works well for us. I can have some alone time with Reese.” Roderick laughed nuzzling into Reese’s neck, I awkwardly removed myself from the group hug as he did so.

“How can you have ‘alone’ time when you’re with another person?” I asked, he shrugged and we all laughed.

“I’m not big on semantics, I don’t need to use the right terminology for you to know what I mean.” He smiled.

“I sometimes think that you two somehow share the same brain, either that or have telepathetic abilities.” Reese laughed and playfully tapped Roderick on the arm.

“Don’t you mean telepathic?” Roderick said, raising an eyebrow.

“I know what I said.” Reese said, winking back.

Roderick rolled his eyes and laughed.

“Eurgh!” I said, shuddering in disgust. “Imagine sharing a brain with Roderick!”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“If it’s as untidy as his room, you’re in big trouble.” Reese said, laughing again.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Roderick stepped back from us and motioned with his hands in a downward push. “Let’s calm down on the disrespect.”

“C’mon babe, you know I’m only joking. I love your messiness, it’s what makes you so creative.”

“I think Mom would disagree.” I smirked.

“Let’s keep Mom out of this, I don’t think she’s been near my room in years and I would like to keep it that way.” Roderick pouted. “Don’t go conjuring the domestic cleaning spirits by mentioning her name and my room in the same sentence.”

“Maybe those spirits might clean your room for you, although they, like Mom, probably wouldn’t want to go near it either.” I retorted.

“I have wondered the same thing, Ariah.” Reese said, looking at me with mock concern on her face. “Do I step across the threshold into the land of a thousand dirty plates or do I live to see another sunrise?”

“You know, he’s even lovingly named his pile of laundry ‘Mount Washmore’.” I added.

Roderick groaned, slapping his forehead comically at the same time and we all laughed. The banter was definitely helping in dissipating a tiny bit of the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach.

I glanced at the large clock on the wall above the entrance way and realised I was going to be late to class.

“Is it still okay to get a ride with you after school today?” I said hurriedly.

“Sure! I’ve just got a couple of things to do first, but I'll meet you and Reese at the car after you finish basketball practice, okay?” Roderick answered.

“Awesome, thank you!” I gave them both a quick hug and rushed to my locker. Putting my extra books away, I then grabbed the books that I needed for my first class, which was my favourite subject - Math. It was also my Dad’s favourite subject too, he’d always help me with my homework showing me new ways to approach problems and equations.

I sighed wishing with all my heart that he hadn’t disappeared. His calmness had always made me feel safe and I really needed a dose of it right then and there.