Lilia grins, leaning closer. “Is he as attractive in real life as he is on the news?” she asks, a mischievous glint in her eye. Before Bea can respond, Lilia turns to me, eyebrows wiggling. “He’s a spokesperson too, you know.”
Bea nudges Lilia’s shoulder. “Stop it,” she says, though a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips. Her expression quickly sobers, though, her voice dropping. “He’s terrifying.”
I’m about to agree, before my gaze shifts across the lunch hall, landing on a figure sitting alone at a table. Kym. She’s hunched over slightly, her shoulders tight, her head down.
An idea sparks within me then, and I turn to Bea and Lilia with a hopeful expression. “What if we invite Kym to sit with us?” I suggest, turning back to Bea and Lilia. “She looks like she could use some company.”
Bea and Lilia exchange a look, and Bea’s lips twitch into a soft smile. “Why not? It couldn’t hurt,” she says.
I’m excited when I call out Kym’s name. She startles when I do, her head snapping up as if she’s been caught doing something she shouldn’t. When it becomes clear she has no plans to leave her seat, I hurriedly make my way over.
“Would you like to sit with us?” I ask, though I’m not even sure she can hear me with those big headphones she has on.
I conclude she can’t and hastily gesture to my ears, which finally gets a response, albeit not straight away.
“Yes?” she asks, slightly impatiently, pulling her headphones down so they rest on her neck.
“You wear those headphones all the time?” I say instead, slightly intimidated by the blank look on her pale face.
“It can be exhausting,” she admits, her foxy eyes distant and thoughtful, “talking to people.”
For a moment I just stare at her, trying to figure her out, but then I simply nod. “It’s a hassle. When people don’t listen,” I say. “I’ll listen.”
I watch as her eyes narrow, just slightly, and I wonder what it is that makes her so wary. But then, slowly, she neatly places all her belongings in her backpack, stands up, and without waiting for me, walks over to our table.
I smile in triumph.
“Hi,” Bea greets her warmly. “I’m Bea. Nice to meet you.”
“And I’m Lilia.”
Kym maintains the most perfect posture I think I’ve ever seen as she takes a seat beside me. “I’m Kym,” she says calmly.
“Your necklace is so gorgeous!” Bea gasps. “Where did you get it?” she asks, her tone genuinely curious.
Kym’s hand moves to the ring resting on the chain, her fingers brushing it lightly. “It’s from my mother,” she says, her voice steady but distant. “It’s not that special. Everyone in the family has one.”
“Ooo, cool! So you have siblings then?” Lilia asks, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “Do you have a lot? I’ve always wanted more siblings.”
Bea cuts in, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Not all siblings are like Dawn, Lilia,” she teases. Then, turning to Kym, she adds, “Dawn’s her little sister. She’s a little angel.”
I smile at that.
Kym nods faintly. “I only have one sibling,” she says, her voice quieter now. For the first time, her confidence falters. Her gaze drops, and she suddenly seems very interested in the food on her tray, her fingers absently toying with the edge of her plate.
Lilia leans forward, resting her chin in her hand. “Brother or sister?” she asks.
Kym meets her gaze, and there’s a flicker of hesitation before she answers. “Older brother.”
“Oh, Bea might know him then,” Lilia says brightly. “She knows everyone.”
Bea rolls her eyes. “She’s exaggerating.”
Kym glances between us, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Um,” she starts, clearly uncomfortable. Before she can say more, I interject.
“It’s okay,” I say gently. “You don’t need to say.”
Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, it’s like she knows I already know. Before turning her gaze away from me, and to therest of the table. “It’s Will,” she says finally, her voice quiet but firm.
