CHAPTER 55: FEW DAYS TO HOLIDAYS

Chapter 55

JULIAN POLE

Jace called me early this morning. Like way too early. My phone started buzzing beside my pillow and at first I thought it was my parents being annoying. But when I checked the screen and saw his name I felt my whole chest warm up. I picked up fast and said good morning in this sleepy voice that definitely did not sound cute.

"Good morning," I mumbled.

"Beautiful morning to you too little bear. I wanted to hear your voice," he said. "Did I wake you?"

I was smiling like an idiot. "No, I was just about to get up," I lied.

"I miss you, Baby," he said.

"I miss you too."

"You sound exhausted. Did you sleep okay?" he asked.

I said yes even if that was a lie because I swear I keep waking up every night thinking too much about the rumors and the car that was tailing us. But I did not want to stress him so I kept quiet about that part.

Jace talked for a bit. Nothing serious. Just small stuff. Stuff that should not make me blush but somehow it did. Then he told me to text him when I get to school. "Text me when you get to campus, okay?" he said.

"I will," I promised.

After the call I stayed holding my phone for a minute like some lovesick cartoon character. Luka walked in and saw me smiling.

"You look stupid," he said.

"You’re just jealous," I countered.

"Yeah, maybe a little," he admitted. Then he pulled me out of bed. "Come on. We need to get ready or we’ll be late," he insisted.

We showered together because it saves time and also because Luka is dramatic when he has to wait for hot water. After that we changed and went downstairs where Rico had already set the table. He made coffee and fried eggs because that has turned into our exam breakfast. I was still thinking about Jace while I ate and Luka kept nudging me. "Seriously, calm down. You’re grinning like a maniac," Luka whispered.

Rico just looked at me like he knew everything and did not even say anything. He is weird like that.

Today was the last exam. The one everyone hates. Four hours long. A brain killer.

When we got to campus the air felt different. Like this was the last boss battle. Students were sitting outside the hall breathing like they were about to jump into the ocean. Some girl was crying in the corner. Some guy was saying he would blame the school if he failed. Typical morning.

We said good luck to each other and separated into our different classrooms.

"Good luck, both of you. See you on the other side," I said.

"We’ll be waiting," Luka replied.

Drama Queen.

I kept thinking about how in a few hours I would be free. Like actually free. No more exams for months. And then winter break and then Jace. I tried not to smile too much because the professor looked at me weird.

The exam was long and boring. Halfway through I thought I would fall asleep. At some point my pencil fell to the floor and the sound felt like a gunshot in the quiet room. The girl beside me jumped.

"Sorry," I mouthed quietly.

She glared at me like I ruined her entire life.

After four hours they finally said we could stop writing. I swear I almost cried. I walked out and saw Luka already waiting. He looked dead but also proud.

"We’re done!" he yelled softly, then hugged me.

Then Rico showed up and hugged us too. When that small group hug happened we all breathed out at the same time. We were done. Like fully done. I felt this weird relief all over my body. They were saying the same thing.

"I’m so relieved," Luka sighed.

"Me too, I swear. I feel like I can finally breathe," Rico added.

"I definitely passed," I said. "No doubt about it." Even if we were lying it was fine.

We started walking out of the hall hand in hand like when we were kids. People probably looked at us but we did not care. It felt nice. Like we were still those three dumb boys who used to run around the neighborhood thinking we would be astronauts or rock stars. We walked all the way to the campus gate still talking.

That was when I decided to tell them.

"Guys, guys," I said, and they both turned to me. I stopped walking and they stopped too. I felt nervous for some reason. Maybe because they would think I was insane.

"I’m going to spend winter vacation at Jace’s place," I announced.

Their faces did not even drop the way I expected. Luka just blinked like he was waiting for me to continue. Rico raised his brow.

"Why do you look so scared?" Luka asked.

"I thought you’d say it was a stupid idea," I admitted.

But they did not. Instead Luka actually looked relieved. "Oh, thank God. I didn’t want to spend Christmas with my family anyway," he said. He explained that everyone was acting weird and tense and quiet.

Rico said the same thing. "The whole house felt like a funeral home for the past few days," he said.

And then they said it all so normally like it made perfect sense that we were going with me. "We’re coming with you, obviously," Luka stated.

"Yeah, that sounds way better," Rico agreed.

I felt warm. Like they understood without me forcing it. We kept talking about what we were going to do there. Stuff like movies and snow and sleeping in and all that soft stuff.

"We can watch all the bad movies and sleep in every day!" Luka cheered.

And while we were talking we reached the bus stop.

Then someone honked behind us.

It was a red car. A nice car. I had no idea what type. I am useless with cars. All I knew was that it was shiny and loud. Rico stared at it.

"That’s a pony car," Rico said, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"A what? Luka asked

"A pony car" Rico repeated

"Do people still drive that kind of car?"

"I think so. And I think that’s Enzo," Rico murmured.

We both looked at him like he had lost his mind but when the window rolled down we saw him.

Enzo. Black sunglasses. Smirk that looked illegal. Hair all messy like he just walked out of a mafia movie.

"Salve, gentlemen," he said, tipping his head out and made this gesture like he expected us to come to him.

We did not move. Not because we were scared. More like because we were confused that he appeared out of nowhere in broad daylight like some vampire.

He got out of the car and walked toward us. That stupid confident walk like the world belonged to him. We just stood there.

"I thought you’d be happy to see me," he commented.

"We thought you died. You never called or texted since Manhattan," I said honestly.

Luka nodded fast. "Seriously, where have you been?"

"I was convinced you vanished forever," Rico confirmed.

Enzo just smiled like he liked hearing that we cared that he vanished. "Oh? You cared?"

"Well, I’m here to make it up to you. Last exam day, right?" Of course he knew. Somehow he always knows everything.

"Hop in. Let’s celebrate," he commanded. And even though every movie we ever watched warned us not to get into a mysterious man’s car we still did. Because it was Enzo and he looked too sure of himself for us to say no.

He took us bowling first. I was terrible. He taught me how to bowl and he kept laughing every time I missed. "No, Julian, you have to let it go," he chuckled, holding my hand to show me how to throw the ball right. The whole time he kept watching me and then he said, "You know, you look like someone I used to know," he said casually.

I asked. "Who?"

"It doesn’t matter," he dismissed. But the way he said it made me wonder.

We played two rounds and Luka kept screaming every time he hit a strike. "Yes! Another strike! I’m a genius!" he yelled. Rico was focused like it was a math problem. Enzo joined and of course he won. He probably bowls like a pro on weekends just for fun.

After that he took us to an escape room. Me and Luka nearly fought because he kept touching things that were not clues. "Luka, stop touching that! It’s not a clue!" I hissed. Rico solved half the puzzles and Enzo solved the other half. I just stood there trying not to scream because the clock was ticking loud and I hate that sound. But we escaped with two minutes left. We came out laughing. Even Rico smiled. And Enzo looked happy watching us.

Then he took us to eat. Proper food. Like real food. I forgot how hungry I was until he put the plate in front of me. We ate everything. And then some more.

On the drive home he kept talking to us like we were old friends. It was weird because I could not tell if he was being nice or if he was studying us. But he kept smiling and asking small questions. "So, tell me everything you guys have been up to," he’d prompt. He also kept glancing at me through the mirror. I did not know what that meant so I ignored it.

When we arrived at home he parked in front of the house.

"I hope you guys had fun today," he said.

"We did," Luka replied happily.

"Thank you, Enzo," Rico added.

"Thank you," I said too.

He looked at me a second longer than normal. Then he told us to be safe and drove off.

When we got inside we went straight upstairs. We were all tired. Enzo had fed us enough to put us to sleep and the day felt long.

"Enzo is such a mystery," Luka said.

"I agree. He’s... a lot," Rico admitted.

"He scares me a little, but he was nice. Sort of. Maybe," I mused. They nodded.

We showered. Then we went to bed without talking too much. I lay there thinking about Jace and Enzo and winter break and everything that is coming. And even if I felt nervous about it I also felt excited.

Then I fell asleep. Quick. Because for the first time in days my mind did not feel heavy.