"So, did you have fun today?" Asks Mathilda as we walk along the road home from school. She insisted on not leaving me even though we had been together all day at the beach. Usually I would mind this and be really uncomfortable, but not with Mathilda. Huh....
Oh, right, she just asked me a question.
"Of coarse! Who doesn't like the beach? What was your favourite part?"
"Duh....watching John and Allen's little mishap! And floating with you for an hour telling jokes."
I can't deny, I was chuckling about the duo's mishap even, like, 2 hours after it happened!

"Hey Elise, what are you doing this evening?" Mathilda questions. I can see she had a little hopeful gleem in her bright hazel eyes.
"Uh, well, my dad is working late tonight and my mom has a dinner date set up with her new friend, so I've got tonight free! Probably I'll find some leftover popcorn in the freezer for dinner and spend my time reading!"
"Why don't you come on over to my place? You can meet my fam, hang out, eat dinner and then you can borrow a bike and I'll ride home with you! I think I only live about 3 blocks from your house, so it'll be perfect!"
I think the proposition over in my head. That means I will have to talk to a few more people, but i would be spending more time with Mathilda, which I kinda like. Still on the fence about it, I think up a quick answer.
"You know what? Let me call my mom and check if that's fine with her, and if so, I'll come!"
She nods and I take a few steps away from her, then press 'call' under Mom's profile.
"'Lise! What's up? Are you headed home now? Or do you need me to pick you up? Oh gosh, was I supposed to pick you up today?" That is her first reaction when she answers the phone.
"No, mom, we didn't plan on you picking me up today," I hear her let out a relived breath. "But, I called because this girl I've kinda known since the first day of school, Mathilda, asked me over to her house tonight for dinner. I was thinking of saying no, but..."
"No? 'Lise, YES! This is what we've been waiting for! Go on, have some fun, let me know if I have to pick you up after dinner! Love you!"
Beep. I look down at my phone. Call ended.
Oh brother....here goes nothin!

"Dinner it is!" I tell Mathilda, who stood waiting patiently for me.
"Great! Oh, come on, let's go! Only a few streets more!" With that she practically drags me down the street, onto another street and to a beachy style cabin surrounded by tall Southern Red Cedar trees.
"My mom's home, let's go see her first!" Mathilda squeels, jabbing her finger in the direction of a white Hilux pickup parked a few feet from the house.
Whatever you say, ma'am!

Inside the house is beautifully modern, with a fair bit of typical coastal themes. In front of the entrance is a staircase leading to the second floor. To the right of it sits a small sitting room with two single seater wicker couches and a larger two seater pushed against the stairs. On the right wall is a black sofa table with modern white decor scattered across it, and above that, a large camvas of turquoise, aqua and white waves.
To the left of the stairs is a galley style kitchen and dining area. Long white counter tops order two sides of the kitchen as well as high and low cabinets. At the end of the kitchen is a round wooden dining table surrounded by five tall back chairs. From the ceiling hangs a metal light fixture, hung to shed light upon many meals.
The house is gorgeous to say the least.

Standing in the kitchen is a woman who I assume to be Mrs. Frill.
"Mom, this is Elise. Elise, Mom," introduces Mathilda.
"Call me Michelle," she expalains to me giving me a quick but friendly side hug. I like side hugs rather than hand shakes. As of right now.
Michelle does not come across as strict or uptight. Not in the least. She is wearing a black 3/4 sleeve shirt on faded jean capris. Her face is soft and smiling, and her hazel eyes sparkle with life. Across her slightly pink cheeks, flour is smudged, as well as across her nose.

"You are staying for supper I assume?" Michelle asks me, pulling her light brown hair into a messy bun. I nod,"I mean, if that's okay. If not, that's fine, I just...." I quickly tell her.
"No, no," she chuckles, waving her hand at me. "Stay for dinner, it's no problem! Now go have fun with Mathilda. We'll eat at 6:00 of that's fine with you girls."
Mathilda and I both mutter a yes, then she leads me up the stairs to a hallway.

She stops at a surprisingly clean boys room. Mathilda pops her head in the door and asks gently, "Tyrell, want to meet someone?" I hear a bed squeek and feet pad across the floor. Then a small boy, no more than 8 years old, stands in the door way.
"Tyrell, this is Elise," she introduces again.
Tyrell looks up at me with wide, sweet eyes. "Hey Elise! I'm Tyrell, Matt's little bro. Matt has told me lots about you, and I like you even more now that I've met you! And, by the way, Mathilda likes to be called Matt rather than Mathilda because it doesn't sound so girly," At that, I hear Mathilda whisper,"Tyrell" a wee bit annoyed. But I know just by the 2 minutes we've been outside his room, no one can stay mad or annoyed at this cutey for too long.
"We'll, we'll be in my bedroom if you need us," finishes and Mathilda, so it turn toward the door she gestured to and as I do, I hear Tyrell whisper to Mathilda, "She'll be perfect."
I chuckle under my breath. He is the cutest little thing ever!

❇❇❇

The night sky is black. A black hole sprinkled with stars. The stars glint in contrast to the black - ouch, a bug just bit me. So much for the amazing speech going on in my head about the night sky I am gazing at.

Matt and I are laying in the grass by the Frill's back porch, just looking at the stars.
"Shooting star," says Mathilda quietly, pointing to the sky.
Shucks, I missed another one.
"Hey, how about we play 20 Questions?" she asks.
"Sure," I answer slowly. Who knows where this will lead?
"Ok...what's your middle name?" I ask Matt.
"Uh...well, it's uh... you don't want to...I don't like..."
"Ahhhh! Look who's stuttering now!" I taunt, knowing she would tell me anyway.
"Ugh, fine. My middle name is...Zemirya."
"Huh, interesting. Why don't you like it?"
"We'll, first of all, Mathilda Zemirya Frill. Is that weird or what? Second, Zemirya is way to girly for me, just like Mathilda is. That's why I prefer the name Matt."
"Legit answers. Mine is Marie. Not like Mary, though. Marie with the 'R' rolled, like how the French pronounce it."

"What's your favourite quote?" Matt asks.
"Heh, that's an easy one i guess, compared to the question I asked! My fave is 'Don't shine so others can see you, shine so theough you, others can see Him' by C.S Lewis."
"So true. Well, I actually have two favourites. 'Be a Fruit Loop in a world of Cheerios' and 'There are people who would love to have your bad days'."

❇❇❇

"What are you most afraid of?" After asking 19 questions, this is the last one. I'm surprised it hasn't come up before the 20th.
An uncomfortable look comes over Matt's face, but I shrug it off. Eh, she's asked me multiple embarrassing questions, so here is a taste of her own medicine. After waiting a few moments and seeing Mathilda's bright eyes get a scared, then thoughtful look to them, I say gently, "Y-you know, you don't have to tell me if-"
"I'll tell you what I'm most afraid of if you promise to be my friend." She quietly awaits my answer.
"I am your friend. I promise. Just tell me what you're afraid of already."
"Ok, I will. But first, tell me...will you trust me?"
"Will I trust you? On what? It depends, I guess."
"Elise. Will. You. Trust. Me. I need a straight answer, yes or no.
"Yes," I sigh. How had 20 Questions come to a full out interrogation?
"Ok then. I am afraid of losing the place that is most dear to me. And the people who live in that place."
"Where is that place? What'scret about that?" I question, almost in a whisper.
"Its called Amador.

*/ Hey Hey Hey! To all those viewing this, THANK YOU!!
Good book so far? How about the cliff hanger? Let me know what you think! Also, who is just in 💜love💜 with Tyrell? Isn't he the cutest! Anyway, thanks for reading and stay posted!
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- @2005pd, Paige Jacey /*