Chapter 24: superficial

„Oh yes, there she is! My favorite girl", Valerio screamed as soon as we entered the club and threw me around.

„Hey", I laughed, „You're in a good mood, I see. That's Ander, my boyfriend."

„Yeah, hey, man. I've heard of you. Lu said something like you're meant to be and have been dating for like a century? No need to worry about me, brother, I don't ruin Em's relationship."

When we heard about Christian's accident, we hurried to the hospital as fast as we could. But he was seriously injured, we couldn't help him in any way possible. Luckily, Carla's dad generously offered him to send him to a better hospital so he could be the old Christian again soon. We couldn't do much for him besides thinking of him and showing mental support.

„She follows me now, I'm not going to follow her. Who does she think she is? Besides, she's already made seven selfies since she's came to this school. You know what? She kind of reminds me of your not so well-feeling Christian Grey", Lu joked when Carla and I walked to her.

„Are you serious?", I raised an eyebrow.

„Showing some compassion wouldn't hurt you", Carla agreed with me.

„Okay, it is too early to make jokes about your friend. I get it."

„His name is Christian, okay? Chris-tian", Carla emphasized.

I didn't even try to talk to Lu like that anymore, she would never have a normal amount of compassion besides for herself.

„You, bitches!", Lu yelled when Carla and I walked by with rolling eyes, „Did you two try to ignore me, Carla, Emilia?"

„Uh, yes", I said easily.

„Seriously? Just because of the one comment about Christian? I swear I would have never said something like that if I had known that he was such an important person to you but none you tells me anything anymore."

„What should we tell you?", Carla spoke up for both of us, „Everything's just a joke to you anyways. You care more about the Instagram picture of the new girl than your friends. And then you talk about how superficial and excessive her life is. But you're so equal. Everything's just a big front and that's why you think about her so much."

„So, I'm superficial, yes? Do you think that, too, Em?", she scoffed, „Don't talk bullshit. I've stayed in a small town with Guzman and his grandparents for three weeks and have helped him to get better. And still, I've called you and sent you messages to ask you how you're feeling. But both of you were lost. You're the ones who pull back. You spent your summer on vacation, Carla and your biggest problem is to decide if you want to fuck Ander or Polo, Em. Oh, don't look at me like that, you're so obvious. What's going on with you? You can talk to me."

„I don't know where I should start, I'm sorry", Carla sighed and left us alone.

„And you?"

„Lu, my brother is in prison and my best friend died. You might forget that just because we were these uniforms."

„Ander's not much of a big help, huh?", her face changed to a warmer expression.

„He became distant, too. I don't know what to do, Lu. The only boys who still talk to me are Polo and Valerio and your brother's not the type of guy who wants to talk about something sad."

„Do you want to come to Cayetana with me?", she smiled holding my hands in hers.

„I think I need some time to think about everything. But thanks, Lu. And sorry about Carla and I. We didn't mean to be so harsh, you know", I regretted.

„I know you, it's alright."

„Hey", Polo greeted us when we arrived at the graveyard, „Have you talked to Guzman?"

„Right now? No, why?"

„He doesn't answer his phone."

„Shouldn't we worry about him? He never ignored a call", I thought loudly.

„I try it again and again. He doesn't accept my calls either", Ander said.

„Call Lu, she'll probably answer", I told Polo taking a look at Laura who thought the same as we did, „She said she would hang out with Cayetana before coming here."

„We've got to bring him here."

„Why? He's having fun."

„Don't you see that he's not alright?", Ander gave Polo a serious look.

Seriously? He cared so much more about his friend than his girlfriend? I mean, she was Guzman's sister and I was just the best friend, I know. But Guzman had so many more people around him. I only had Ander. Samu and Nano were sad, too, and Mamá was angry about Nano's situation. Instead of Ander, Polo was there for me during summer. I didn't show Ander the sadness that I really felt.

„Where are my friends?", Guzman yelled as soon as we entered Cayetana's house, „Hello, boys and Em, how are you? What are you doing? Come here."

I have to admit, it was a wonderful house. But with my brother being in prison, I had bigger problems than compare the sizes of our homes.

„My friends, finally, you're here", he hugged us way too much.

„What did he drink?", Ander asked Lu while we were watching Guzman dance around.

„I've got no idea, Ander, everything! Actually, only the water of the swimming pool is left. I'm excited to see if you can get him away from here."

If only he had drunk the pool water too, I chuckled.

„What? Do you think this is funny?", Ander looked at me angrily.

I was about to say something when Polo defended me, „Man, she just laughed. Don't be so serious."

„Away from here? No, no, no, we're partying", Guzman shouted again but soon stumbled and threw a vase to the ground which broke, „I'm sorry. Was it expensive?"

When Ander talked to Guzman aggressively, Polo and I shared a look and pet the dog. But when our friend threw up, the boys helped him to walk and we left to bring him home.