Chapter 5: Elysian

I wake up with a headache. I sit up and Luci is sitting across from me. She looks pissed.

"You fill her up on drinks so you can stay over. Is that it?"

" I didn't know I swear."

"You take me for a fool toothpick?"

"No, Luci it's okay. It's my fault." Lezlie's walking down the stairs with a blanket wrapped around herself. I get up to help her.

"You okay?" I ask her.

"Yeah, just a little hungover."

"What do you reme-"

"All of it. Man, I'm so sorry. I forced myself on you and said some stupid things and now you're here at my house. And I'm such an idi-"

"Look, dude, it's fine. I'm flattered but like. I don't know man."

"You two do realize I'm still here right?" To be honest I forgot Luci existed for a minute there.

"I'm going to my room. You're off the hook Q-tip." 

Lezlie's on the couch, looking somber. I've gotta do something. I hate seeing people like this.

"Hey, you got any pancake batter?"

"yeah, cupboard."  She says without batting an eye. I grab some eggs and some milk. And I start baking. She snaps out of it. She looks at me with teary eyes.

"Whoa whoa whoa, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

"I just, I haven't had a homemade breakfast since, well since-" she cuts herself.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'd understand."

She sighs.

"I'm light skin, so there must be another ethnicity besides Jamaican. I don't know the full story but when I was three, my mother left me and Luci with our dad. I don't know where she is and if she's even alive. Dad doesn't like talking about it."

I gesture for a hug. She comes in and holds me tight.

"Please don't let me go"

"I won't."

"I never knew my dad. He died a couple of months before I was born. I don't know much about him. Not even what he looks like. All I know is he left me a gift for my 18th birthday. I'm not going to say I know how you feel, because I don't. No one really will. But I 100% will be here for you if you need me to." I give her a big ol smile. She smiles right back.  She thinks about something for a bit, then turns to me.

"I don't show anyone this. But I trust you."

She takes off a contact. What once was a green pupil is actually blue.

"I have heterochromia. My blue eye isn't the right color. I've had it since I was born. I wanted to fit in, so I always put contacts on."

"Well, I think it's pretty. I don't think you should fit in. Be yourself, look like you were meant to look."

"Hey, Jacob?"

"Yeah?"

"Aren't you forgetting your pancakes?

"Oh no, I have a technique. I can make them in 5 minutes. They're already done."

"Are you even human????"

"Not at all."

I have a feeling things will never be the same.