After the episode is over, the living room slowly empties. I stood all episode and got sore legs. When I walk to the sofa I see that the bank is still full with Abby, Julia, James and Ruben sitting on it and I stop trying. Julia notices me looking. I want to say goodnight to Abby and go to my room when Julia starts talking to me. "You can sit on James's lap, he won't mind." She says to challenge me. She gives me a look of; you don't dare. James beams and pats the leg gently. I'd rather sit on a bed of nails than sit on James' lap. Yikes. I look at Abby with a tense look. "Leave her alone, Esmee doesn't want that." Abby says. I'm very happy with her comment, but I do realize that I can't always make Abby pay for everything. "She can talk herself too, or have you lost your tongue, new one?" She almost cackles and I disgusted. Then I decide to just express my thoughts. "I'd rather sit on a bed of nails than on James's lap." And I stamp my foot out of the room. The whole living room gets loose and I hear everyone laughing out loud. "I like her." I hear Julia say, I don't know if she means it or if she's being sarcastic, but for now I'm happy with it. I don't feel like a fight or any enemies.
As I walk up the stairs and take a last look into the living room, I see that Abby is gone. I look around the room but she is nowhere to be seen. Then I suddenly see Julia crawling on James's lap. I can no longer see it and run further up the stairs, not noticing Abby running after me.
When I am at my room door I am suddenly grabbed by my arm. If it turns out to be Julia or James, I will not vouch for the consequences. But to my relief, it's Abby. "That was really cool of your Es!" Abby almost screams. Pretty proud that I bit off, I laugh with her. "Are James and Julia a couple?" I ask. 'No dude, I think Julia just has a boyfriend, or they are in a break for a while. I can't keep up. ' She laughs. Who is her boyfriend then? Someone here in the house? '
"No, some dude who's in her class. They almost always walk together and are often completely giddy in class. ' Say Abby and she makes a dirty face. I think back to the lesson where Julia was doing completely sticky with Jorik. Of course, that Jorik is Julia's boyfriend, to whom I said very awkwardly 'hi' and then said that I thought he was someone else. Now I am almost even more ashamed than when it happened. "Do you want to hear the latest gossip?" Abby suddenly whispers very mysteriously. I nod and that's when she pushes me into my room.