Julia Lelieveld and the fifth element

~27~

I looked at him intently and then at the other four. I actually wanted to ask right away what was going on here. Which Leo had just done, but maybe it was useful to wait a while. I don't know where I got that calmness from, a normal person would be freaking out if this had happened.

"All together?" I knew there was no point in arguing. Because I also wanted to know what the hell was going on here.

"Yes, I think this is the wisest thing to do."

I nodded.

"I live around the corner from here."

"It's better we have some privacy," he said, looking at the other four.

"No one's home, I'm the only one."

Rob looked at me questioningly and then nodded.

"Good, you go ahead of us."

I nodded again and got on the bike. I cycled around Rob and the four others with a bow, they all looked at me a bit suspiciously. I was used to a lot staring, but not that anyone looked at me like that.

I led them to my house. I hoped I was right. It would be very rare if my father were home. He probably wouldn't be home until late tonight.

When our house was in sight, I heaved a small sigh of relief that he wasn't home. That was the first time, I would have preferred that he would be home more often. I opened the garage and put my bike down. I waited for everyone to get out of the car that Rob had parked on the side of the road.

I unlocked the door and stepped from the garage into the house toward the kitchen. When I heard everyone come in I turned around.

"Somebody have a drink?"

They all shook their heads. I shrugged and grabbed myself a bottle of water.

I led them into the living room and pointed to the couch.

"Make yourself comfortable."

They looked a little surprised but sat down.

Leo sat down on the big couch, next to him the girl with the blond short hair sat down. On the other couch, Max sat down with the other girl. Rob took a seat in the big chair. I grabbed a chair from the dining table and sat down next to them. I thought it was wise to sit in such a way that I could see everyone well.

I looked at Rob questioningly. I really didn't feel like starting to talk. It was their turn to come up with an explanation.

"Thanks for the hospitality, Julia," Rob said politely.

"Don't mention it."

And it was quiet again.

"Okay, this is pretty unexpected for us," he said, pointing at all of us. Rob was clearly the spokesperson for their club.

"We thought we were past this stage, but I was wrong."

He seemed to be thinking about something or remembering something.

"Julia, what brings us here is that we're almost convinced you heard the group in the detention room. We would like to know whether that is really the case."

He looked at me expectantly. I didn't know what he'd rather hear. Whether or not it was. I knew this was not the time to lie.

I nodded. "Yes that's right."

I saw the four on the couch look at each other confused. Leo was the first to say something.

"Rob, how can this be? How is it possible?"