Lucas walks in front of us with his arms crossed over his chest. I don't have to look at his face to know that he is puffed up.
I don't understand why he wanted to take us to the shopping mall, since he now thinks he feels like a fifth wheel, even though he's the most important one here, since he has the money.
- Are we going to walk like this for a long time? I'm starving. What is he looking for? - I mutter to Felix, who is holding my hand.
- Favorite clothes store," he replies to me, then turns to Lucas. - Brother, can we eat something first? Aren't you hungry?
The brunet turns to face us and scans us with his eyes.
- Los Angeles sucks. This mall doesn't have half the stores that New York has. I have to leave here as soon as possible," he announces, acting like a puffed-up boy who didn't get a lollipop. - And you guys would just eat it. You don't do anything useful. You just eat, sleep and chirp to each other like doves. Furthermore, you guys are boring.
Lucas is undoubtedly not in the mood today and probably wanted to improve it for himself by buying new things at his favorite store. What I don't understand is why he took us here with him if we are in his way.
- And you do nothing but whine," Felix bites back at him.
- What do you want to eat? - He changes the subject, looking at us like annoying flies. - Because I'm craving fast food.
- It sounded like you asked us what we wanted to eat because it was the right thing to do, but you decided for yourself anyway, and we have to obey you. - Felix snorts under his breath.
- He who has the money has the power," he claims spitefully.
- So lead the way, King Lucas," I say sarcastically. He squints and I can see that he is biting his tongue to avoid saying something cruel in the presence of his younger brother, as a result of which he sends me a forced smile.
It's pretty funny that the gentleman is craving McDonald's. We place our order on the tablet, then sit down at a vacant table.
I look around and notice that there are not many people. Looking at the company, it seems to me that we are the oldest ones in the place.
While waiting for our order number, I look at Felix, who, resting his chin on his hand, looks ahead. His eyes still look happy, no longer have that depth of sadness, of confusion. He seems normal, as if he has finally found himself in real life, no longer stuck in his illusions.
I'm glad he's finally himself. He has the right medication to help him, people by his side who are most important to him.
No longer a teenager with a personality disorder that caused hallucinations in his head, he has also dealt with the depression that followed withdrawal from psychotropic drugs.
This is the real Felix, he is the same as the boy I met when I was ten years old and defended against aggressive classmates from an older class.
This is Felix, who should have been like this all his life, but the lack of proper treatment and the neglect of his parents, and worse, making his disease worse, led to me narrowly missing losing him.
I hate his mother with all my heart and feel like killing her for showing up just now, when he has recovered and is himself. If this woman makes his condition deteriorate again, if she shows herself to him, even if only through her eyes, I don't know if I will be able to control myself.
She is the main reason for the whole nightmare he is going through.
- Isn't that our number?
I snap out of my thoughts and look in the direction of order pickup. I nod and poke Lucas on the shoulder, telling him to get up, but he is staring at his phone.
- Can't you manage to take two trays? I'm busy," he claims.
- How can you be such a lazy person.... - I declare, then turn to Felix. - Let's go, let's bring him this order, since he paid.
My eyes begin to shine with happiness when I notice who is working here.
- Hi, Hannah. Do you have a new job?
My peer looks surprised to see us. She looks at me and Felix, then shifts her gaze to the table where Lucas is sitting, and a diabolical smile appears on her face.
- What a small world it is, good to see you guys. Are you all right? - She asks, giving us an order. - I don't have a choice, I have to work here, since a certain moron has made me jobless and destitute.
- You're right, Lucas is a complete moron," Felix claims.
- I happen to be entitled to a break right now, so if you don't mind, I'll join you for a while," Hannah declares, once again looking in the direction of the table where Lucas is sitting.
- We're waiting, I hope you'll give this moron a whirl," I say, taking the tray. Felix takes the other two, then we return to the table.
- What's taking so long? - Lucas is incredibly whiny today. I'd love to nail him if he wasn't the only option for me to be around Felix.
He puts the phone down for a moment to put the straw in the plastic cup of cola, then loses himself in the cell phone screen again.
- Can you be more friendly since we have been living together for a while?
I haven't seen such a puzzled look in him since I met him.
- Do you command me to be friendly towards you because you live in my house? - He points out one word in particular.
- It wouldn't hurt to get along fairly normally. Why do you hate people so much?
- Only you and my parents I hate," he answers me, again forcing that mean smile.
- And you hate me too," says Hannah, who sits down next to him at the table and, without asking, takes him some fries from the tray.
Now it is only Lucas who is upset. I glance at Felix, who is eating in silence, just looking at us.
- And you intrusive nut, what are you doing here? - turns to her, not particularly pleased that she is frequenting his food. - Are you stalking me? Didn't I mention to you that you suffer from Stockholm syndrome? If I had known that I would attract a stalker, I would never have kidnapped you in my life," he adds, then glances at me. - It's all your fault. Are all your friends messed up? This whole Eve is not normal either.
I eat a hamburger, being curious about their chemistry. If Lucas fell in love, he would no longer be so protective of his younger brother, so I would also have peace of mind.
- You usually rotate in the company of people similar to yourself," I answer him with a full mouth.
- When are you leaving for New York? - Hannah doesn't let up, continuing to take Lucas' fries from the tray. He follows her hand with his eyes, feeling like murdering her.
- None of your business," he says through his teeth.
- Didn't you say that next week everything will already be settled? It's literally a few days before we leave Los Angeles," I interjected.
- Can you shut that little flip-flop and not speak? - he turns to me. - A few more words, and you won't go with us.
- I like it when you speak in such a commanding tone," says Hannah, looking at him sideways and biting into a French fry. - When I leave with you, will you also be so bossy towards me?
- You don't entertain me at all. At first, you seemed interesting, now you irritate me because I don't like your company.
Hannah pretends to burble. I admire this girl, and at the same time I feel sorry for her that he happened to catch her eye.
She doesn't know what she's pulling on himself. She is playing with fire.
- Will you go back to work, or should I make you destitute again?
She shrugs her shoulders.
- Rest assured, I'll be leaving with you for New York in a few days anyway.
He hit his own. It's hilarious to watch them from my perspective.
- How can you be such an intrusive woman? I've met many who flocked to me because of my looks and cash, but you cross the line.
- And who said I'm flying on looks and cash? Can't you see the sparks between us? It won't be long before a fire breaks out. I can't help being turned on by temperamental guys. If I could, I would eat you instead of those fries," she declares boldly.
Felix nearly chokes on the Coke he is currently drinking. I pat him on the back, being incredibly amused that there is someone who can talk to Lucas like that.
- You made me completely lose my appetite. You can eat all my dinner," he claims, slipping a tray under her nose. He is even more surprised when she picks at the food with a smile on her face, not even protesting.
Lucas rests his chin on his cheek and watches her from a slant. He looks disgusted by the sight of her.
- What," she asks him, licking her fingers. - Haven't you ever seen a woman eating? Or do you want me to feed you? - she adds, wanting to put a French fry in his mouth. He turns his face away, looking indignant at her behavior.
- With this kind of behavior you do not improve your situation, you make me want to leave Los Angeles as soon as possible.
- Oh, stop it. What you say is different, what you think is different. If you didn't like me, you wouldn't be so eager to give me your lunch. There's no chance. You know I work hard and I'm hungry.
Lucas, who is looking in another direction, smiles at the corner of his mouth. I'm the only one who sees it, but I don't say anything.
- I'm going to look for the bathroom, finish dinner, meet you in the parking lot. - He gets up from his seat, but is not given the chance to leave, because Hannah grabs his hand, smiling charmingly.
- We'll see you again, won't we?
- Certainly not in this life," he answers her, pulling his hand from her grasp, then walks away.
Hannah looks at me, looking pleased with herself.
- And how? Can I tame this beast?
- This is hard for me to say, but he really likes you. Lucas is a tough nut to crack, he has a tough character, but you must have caught his eye a long time ago," I announce. - He's just pretending to be a cold-hearted bastard.
Hannah glances at Felix.
- You used to be such a little devil, and now you are polite as an angel," she turns to him.
- The conclusion is one: Lucas also needs proper treatment," he answers her.