Work in Progress

Chapter 32: Doubts

*SAM'S POV*

Bike rides with Eli are the best. We take twice as long which means I get to hug her twice as long too. We went to the yogurt shop for breakfast, then Eli wanted to go to the bookstore to see if they had the edition she was looking for.

When we entered, an elderly woman greeted us. I remember seeing her last time also when Eli first gave me a ride home.

"Eli, dear, you're just in time. Guess what got delivered yesterday?" She says in a raspy voice.

"No way?!" Eli's eyes were bright with excitement as she ran off to the classics aisle. I couldn't help but laugh after her.

"You must be Eli's friend. I'm Mrs. Lam. It's so good to see Eli bring a friend around. She usually just comes alone and is a very shy dear. That's the most energy I've seen in her." Mrs. Lam takes my hand and leads me to where Eli was probably dancing like a little child.

"I'm Sam. Yeah, she takes a while to warm up." We had now reached Eli and we both laughed seeing her clutching a book to her chest with a wide grin on her face.

"I'll take one of these please." It was Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The cover had a simple art with a bridge overlooking water and the main characters on it.

"Haven't you read that already?" I ask her, remembering how she gushed over Mr. Darcy.

"Yeah, but I got the whole collection, which isn't really travel friendly. I want one that I can carry around easily."

"Ooh a book is always good when you're travelling. I remember when I was in my thirties --you'd be surprised that was the time I only got into books-- I always had one with me and I'd never missed a day when I..." Mrs. Lam went on with her story as we check-out Eli's book. We left the store, Eli smiling at her bag that held the book, and me smiling at Eli.

Next, we went to the mini mall just window shopping. We went inside a few stores and I bought some accessories and a dress (the dress Eli had picked herself). When we got hungry, we went to the food court for a quick bite. I ate a chicken salad and Eli ate two corn dogs.

"What? I biked us here and will bike us back. I need the energy," she says defensively when she notices me watching her.

"Hey, I'm not saying anything," I laugh. I really was just noticing how her eyes lit up every time she took a bite.

It was still early so I convinced Eli to go to her place instead. We were now on the couch, Eli laying down with her head on my lap and reading her new book, while I scrolled on my phone and twirled her hair with my fingers. It was a quiet afternoon. Until that is, someone knocks on her door. We didn't pay attention to it at first since the first knock was quiet enough to pass as a random noise. But the second knock was more definitive.

"Are you expecting someone?" I ask Eli, looking down from my phone.

"No," she looks at me equally surprised. She gets up and walks to the door, scratching her head, confused. I propped myself around to see who it was and when Eli opened the door, a shriek greeted her and she was suddenly attacked with a hug.

"SURPRISE!!!! OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S YOU! LOOK AT YOU!" A girl with the same tan features and black hair (only hers was as long as mine) as Eli spins her around to get a good look.

"Tera, what are you doing here? How'd you know where I lived? I don't remember giving you my address..." Eli smiles at her which surprises me because it was a warm smile, the kind you give to friends or family.

"Well, I know your general address so when I found out I'd be near I thought I'd surprise you and ask Aunt Tessa. So? Are you surprised?!" She was way too chirpy for my liking.

"Yeah... umm. Definitely. We weren't expecting any guests today."

"We?" Tera looks behind Eli and sees me sitting on the couch watching them.

"Hi," I wave, not really friendly but not cold either.

"Oh. Did I come at the wrong time?" She smirks at Eli.

"No, my friend was just about to leave." I quickly shot Eli a look but she was already walking towards me and grabbing the paper bag with my things then my hand and dragging me to the door.

"I'll just have to bring her home. I'll be back in a few. Make yourself at home."

"What the hell was that?!" We were outside now and I was glaring at Eli refusing to get on her bike.

"That was just Tera. She's an old friend. From way before the accident." Eli explains.

"So why do I have to leave?" I demand from her.

"I panicked." She gives a nervous laugh and scratches her neck. "I felt like a teenager being caught doing something bad."

"What?" I laugh at her, my anger dissipating seeing at how embarrassed she looked. "We weren't doing anything. We never do anything." I tease her.

"Yeah, I guess so," she laughs also. "Listen, Tera can be a handful sometimes and I don't really want to tiptoe between the two of you--"

"What's there to tiptoe about?"

"Nothing. It's just--. Can you go home for now? I'll see you tomorrow." She was looking at me with puppy eyes so obviously I couldn't refuse.

"Fine."

When we got to my house I asked, "Is she staying with you? She had a suitcase with her."

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Where's she going to sleep?"

"The couch of course."

"Somehow she doesn't strike me as the couch type."

"My couch is comfortable enough for her." As if sensing my worries, Eli takes my hand and says, "You have nothing to worry about. Okay?"

I told Eli I'll be fine but really I was hella worried and jealous. Here was this person who knew Eli more than I did, who knew her before the accident, was with her during it, and still even after it. I couldn't help but think I was nothing but a small blip in Eli's life.