The Edmund situation

After composing myself, soothed by Edmund's comforting presence, we settled beneath the old tree. I found myself constantly captivated by his features. His tousled auburn hair, those entrancing green-blue eyes, the solemnity of his expression, the chiseled perfection of his skin —he was majestic. In another world, I would crown him king and pledge my undying loyalty. As our friendship deepened, my infatuation grew. I began to question how much longer I could maintain this facade; the emotional and physical distance between us. My breathing and heartbeat quickened as my thoughts wandered, causing a rising sense of restlessness. A few deep breaths later, I managed to settle myself. He was observing me intently.

"Are you sure you're okay now, Levi?" His voice pulled me back to reality. His perpetual concern and care for my well-being touched me as gently as a caress.

"I'm fine, I assure you. This place has somehow become my favorite spot," I responded, referring to this secluded grove I had discovered by chance so long ago —a place where a fawn had once interrupted my solitude and despair, whose unique perennial plant offered a place of thought and peace. We sat in the dappled shade of the tree, against its trunk, with a respectful distance between us. I sometimes wondered why he continuously kept that limit. "The safe distance," I referred to it. On more than one occasion, I thought I saw him catching himself, as though he longed to reach out to me but held back. Was he concerned about what others might think if they saw us together? I quickly dismissed that thought. We'd been alone together many times, and still, he seemed restrained. I also considered whether he might be questioning his sexuality or, even worse, his feelings towards me. A lump formed in my throat as I looked down, listening to him talk about a new piece of music he'd composed. He explained how it originated from the very core of his being.

"The music, it came from deep within me. I can't fully explain it," he said, seemingly amazed by his own creative process. "It felt as though I was merely the vessel. There's some work I could accomplish once and once only, probably this is it,"

"I can't wait for you to hear it, Levi," he added. I looked up at him, the encroaching twilight casting my face into shadows as I returned his smile. I was genuinely happy for his passion and dedication to his interests.

I decided to brighten the mood by showing Edmund some photos I had on my phone that I took with my professional camera. Some were of my friends and me on campus, and others were of my pets. To my surprise, I discovered he loved dogs, as well. I would have never expected this from him; he seemed so aloof with everyone that I never thought he'd be a dog lover. After the emotional turbulence of earlier, a sense of tranquility settled within me. I was with Edmund; that was all that mattered in that moment. We were safe and content in our now shared grove —it belonged as much to me as it did to him, from now on. It was ours.

Suddenly, a realization struck me. "Edmund!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with alarm. "We haven't done any work on our research. I'm so sorry, it's all my fault." Guilt twisted in my stomach. Remorse is an odd feeling; it compels you to do things you wouldn't normally consider.

"I know," he said, his voice reassuring and comforting. "But your feelings were more important than some school research." He raised his hand, seeming to reach towards my face, but then he suddenly stopped himself, just half an inch away. "Sorry," he muttered, and we both turned aside. Why did he stop? I longed to feel the gentle brush of his hand against my skin.

"Why did you stop?" I found myself asking, my voice laced with a hint of self-consciousness and a wave of sadness, immediately after.

"It's not appropriate," he replied, hugging his left knee while his back rested against the oak tree's trunk. Sensing his discomfort, I decided to let the subject drop and steered the conversation back to our school project. As the conversation flowed, the orange hues of twilight began to creep in, signaling it was time to go.

We returned to the library, agreeing it was best if we got some of today's work done before the day ended. We spent a few hours there until it was closing time. He walked with me along the winding trail towards the Apartments' gate, then he would continued on to the parking lot where he had left his car.

When we reached the gate, an awkward silence fell between us until Edmund broke it. "Remember, we'll find a way for you to contact your brother while you're here," he assured me, his eyes conveying a sincerity that eased all my worries. I was touched by his inclusion of himself in the plan; it seemed we were now a team. Filled with a rush of pure ecstasy. I didn't pause to gauge his reaction or to question whether he'd approve. It was my turn now, my chance, and I seized the moment.

I closed the gap between us, looked into his eyes, and pulled him into a tight hug. "Thank you, Edmund," I whispered in his ear. "I won't forget this." I felt him stiffen, then relax and hug me back, as though I had caught him off guard. Of course, I had. As we broke our embrace, he simply nodded, turned around, and walked towards his car, with one hand in his right pocket. I was yet to visit his home —a place I was now eager to see. I made a mental note to bring it up next time we were together.

I spun around, happy with myself, and took in the imposing structure across Melian's Ave. The university Housing Buildings loomed ahead, their facades as daunting as ever. Yet, I walked towards them, reassured by the knowledge that Jacob would be waiting for me.

As I entered the building, the receptionist thankfully kept to herself, allowing me to pass unhindered and unnoticed. The dim lights hinted that it was unusual for students to come in at this late hour. I ascended the stairs to the third floor, the ominous sign of "C305" hanging on the door. I approached the card until I heard a click. I opened the door and stepped in, once inside, the warmth of the room enveloped me on this cold night, despite the unpleasant odour of sweat and stale cheese that permeated the air. The sound of short music clips filled the room, indicating Jacob was likely engrossed in TikToks. I shrugged off my overcoat and hung it in the closet, then kicked off my shoes and flopped onto my bed.

"Hey brother, how are you?" he asked, a clear tone of dissatisfaction in his voice. "Did you two kiss yet?" His question carried a cocky undertone. What was he trying to prove with this? We both knew Edmund and I were just friends, for now at least. He also knew that he'd be one of the first people I'd tell.

"Hello, Jacob. I see you're concerned. I'm fine. And no, of course, we haven't kissed," I responded, trying to sound courteous, hoping that would assuage him. However, I had a feeling this wouldn't end so quickly. He watched a few more TikToks before finally speaking again.

"I've been meaning to talk to you for a long time. I've been trying to delay it because I figured you had a lot on your plate, and the girls already talked to you about this. We're all skeptical regarding this guy; we're concerned he might end up hurting your feelings. And I don't want to see you get hurt. You've been returning to the dorm very late recently, and while I know I'm not anyone to dictate your schedule, I worry because you've become a special friend in my life," he explained, his initial tone of anger shifting to a more empathetic and affectionate one.

I was, of course, moved by his display of worry and care, but I couldn't help feeling slightly upset. Perhaps I was indeed reading too much into Edmund's feelings, but it seemed like they were doing the same in the opposite way. It's always been speculation since Edmund hadn't opened up to me about his feelings yet, and they were simply worried because they had never interacted with him. I was starting to think that they felt personally offended by his distance and aloofness towards them, which I could understand. However, I believed this issue would be solved and after we all talk together tomorrow, I hoped everything would be settled and they would see they had nothing to worry about.

"Just don't make him your personal source of happiness, he won't be able to live up to that expectation and it's not a good experience to go through, Levi. Trust me," Jacob added, unyieldingly solemn. Sometimes, I wondered where he got all this wisdom from. Jacob ranges from having smelly feet and snoring loudly, to sporadically having these bursts of wisdom all of a sudden. After a moment of contemplation, I decided to tell him about the gathering with Edmund tomorrow, hoping that with his charisma and charm, he could do the impossible and convince them they had nothing to worry about. "Where do you get all this wisdom from?" I asked him.

"I have my moments," he responded.

"Actually Jake, about that, I talked to him. He said he's open to meeting you and the girls. He understood it was upsetting all of us, and fortunately, he agreed," I told him. He lay in bed, trying to appear nonchalant. His expression changed, and he looked pleased. I felt, immediately, relieved; this seemed to have done the trick.

"Okay, dude. I hope so, but there's something else I wanted to talk to you about," he said, his brow furrowing slightly. "I miss my friend. It's been a really long time since we hung out, outside of this dorm. I barely see you anymore; you get back so late, and I'm usually asleep by then…" I decided to interrupt him then. He had made a valid point. I had been neglecting my friend, even though I had tried my best to balance having Edmund in my life. A sense of remorse washed over me.

"I know, Jake. I've been trying my best, but I guess sometimes that's just not enough. I'll make more of an effort to be here. Do you need help with school, or would you like to watch a show together?" I asked him, eagerly awaiting his response.

"To be honest, I kinda need both. But it's late, and I would really just prefer to just watch a movie now," he said, his brows were still furrowed. I grabbed my iPad from my bedside table, and he came over to my bed. I scooted over, and we watched "The Girl with All the Gifts." Despite its unsettling ending, it was a pretty good zombie movie, in my opinion. We fell asleep during the course of watching a second movie. I was so tired that I didn't mind Jacob's loud grunts, snoring, and thrashing about in my bed. Still, I remember my dreams being altered due to these noises resonating in my ear while I slept. In one dream, I was being chased by this snoring noise; it approached me whenever I stopped moving. However, whenever I ran, the ground would shake, until I was swallowed by quicksand, until I woke with a start. When I fell asleep again, I dreamt of Edmund trying to approach me. But the closer he got, the farther away he seemed to be. I kept shouting his name, but no sound ever came from me. All he said while walking away was, "Stay away, Levi." When I woke up, it was already day. I shook Jacob until he got scared and sat up loudly, exclaiming, "What happened!?" I explained calmly, in a soothing tone, that we needed to get ready for breakfast.

I checked my phone and noticed a message in our friends' group chat. The girls were asking if we wanted to join them for breakfast before school. I thought it was a wonderful idea, giving us an opportunity to talk about Edmund. The second message was from Edmund himself. It seemed he woke early because he had sent it at half-past six, saying "Good morning, Levi." I imitated his nearly British, overly formal accent in my mind until I couldn't hold back a chuckle anymore. "What's so funny?" Jacob asked, looking at me intently.

"Hey, the girls are asking if we want to join them for breakfast," I said, gauging Jacob's reaction. He seemed enthusiastic about the idea, which was a relief, since it was still pretty early and I figured he would have wanted to sleep more. I started my usual morning routine: shower, teeth, hair. Staring at my reflection, I wondered what Edmund saw in me. I was far from athletic and didn't think I had any particular stand-out features. I was too slender to pass for athletic, and furthermore, I had no interest in sports. Skinny, pasty, average — that's how I saw myself. My pale blue eyes were probably the only notable trait.

After leaving the bathroom, I decided on an all-black ensemble for the day: a simple black shirt, a striped black jacket, black jeans, and matching shoes. I didn't feel vibrant today.

Jake looked me up and down, curiosity and amusement etched on his face. "Did somebody die?" he quipped.

"Not yet," I replied sarcastically, attempting a smile but falling short. "Just not feeling very colorful today."

"Everything is going to be fine. You know that, right Levi?" he reassured me, probably picking up on my mood.

We made our way to the fifth-floor restaurant. As usual, the restaurant area was bustling with students of all ages. The usual aroma of waffles, hot chocolate, and coffee greeted us as we stepped through the door. I picked a table near the window while we waited for the girls, who I assumed would be along shortly.

I approached the windows panels that overlooked campus and took a moment to appreciate the campus view. The once-lush summer forest was now a canvas of orange and brown, leaves scattered everywhere. This was the time of the year when the groundskeepers were bustling with work. In the far distance, the Pantheon library was barely visible. I could also make out the Humanities Department building, the rear of the main university building where I had first entered so long ago, and the parking spaces off to the side of it. It was a stunning sight, and given the hefty tuition, it should be.

Jessica and Aimee entered the restaurant, adding a splash of color to my monochrome morning. Jessica looked gracious and vibrant in a pink blouse and blue jeans. The opposite of me, how ironic! Her long, dark brown hair cascading down her back, up to her waist. She had a naturally attractive, feminine aura that I knew many boys admired. Aimee, on the other hand, was different. A bit plump with round features and shoulder-length black hair, she had a more modest appeal. Her walk had a hesitant quality to it, but she still exuded a comforting confidence.

I waved at them, my all-black outfit standing out among the crowd. I took a seat in the armchair. I hadn't gotten any food yet, wanting to chat with them first. Jacob rejoined me as I headed over to where the girls were selecting their breakfast. "Hey, Aimee! Hi, Jess!" I greeted them with a grin, running a hand through my hair.

"'Mood, dude," Jessica replied, acknowledging my monochromatic outfit.

"Yeah," I replied, avoiding her gaze. Suddenly, uncomfortable.

After selecting our food, we returned to the table where Jacob was waiting. The conversation flowed, covering a variety of topics. Jessica passionately discussed the latest fashion trends as dictated by Vogue. Aimee shared the good news about her progress in overcoming anorexia and the positive impact it had on her parents. Jacob, predictably, spent most of the time discussing the Buffalos and football in general.

Suddenly, I felt a kick under the table. I shot Jacob a confused look, only to find him motioning towards the girls. I realized he was signaling for me to discuss "the Edmund situation".

"So, girls, there's something I wanted to discuss with you," I began, looking away, I felt like I wanted to dig a hole in the ground and hide forever. Their immediate concern was palpable in the environment. "What happened" they chorused in unison.

"Go on, tell them," Jacob encouraged. I was probably delaying it more than I should have, until I finally spoke up.

"Well, it's about Edmund. He's agreed to meet you, guys. I think you'll see he's a good guy after all and that there's nothing to worry about, really," I blurted out. Aimee looked apprehensive but understanding.

"When?" Jessica asked, her unreadable expression worried me a lot for a moment.

"Today at lunch in the cafeteria," I answered. They agreed it was a good idea. "Please, go easy on him. You know he's not good with new people. I don't even know how we became friends in the first place, but please, for me, be kind," I implored, feeling an odd mix of gratitude and concern for Edmund's impending discomfort. I wanted them to understand my appreciation for Edmund's gesture. I didn't want him to endure any discomfort simply because I had asked this of him.

"I really like him, guys," I admitted, my gaze drifting towards the glass panels. As my eyes moistened, I couldn't help but feel an array of emotions flooding within me. A wave of heat washed over my face, and I knew I was blushing. Indeed, I longed for a deeper relationship with Edmund, but I knew patience was crucial. He clearly wasn't ready for more than our current friendship. A knot tightened in my throat at this realization. I repeated to myself, "Just be patient, it's going to be okay," like a mantra until the anxiety subsided.

To my relief, they all assured me they'd make the meeting as pleasant as possible for him. The subject then changed, and I let my worries fade into the background. We didn't have much more time left. When we finished breakfast, we parted ways, because each of us had to leave from our respective buildings. Jacob and I descended the stairs, I noticed I was getting more used to them by now, but they still left me breathless. "It's just a flight of stairs, no big deal,"Jacob quipped, reacting to my exhaustion. "Shut up, Jake," I retorted playfully. Once at the landing, I noticed the numerous students warming up by the fireplace and lounging on the couches. The place was abuzz with the chatter of students. We left the Housing building, and found the girls waiting for us. Crossing Melian's Avenue and the Apartment's gate, we set off towards our classes.

We arrived at the Humanities Department in a rush. With only ten minutes left before our class, and knowing Ms. Anderson's penchant for punctuality, we hurried. Jessica and Jacob waved briskly at us as we diverged towards the Psychology section. Our 10 a.m. subject was "Psychopathology" it was all about exploring problems related to mental health: how to understand them, how to classify them, and how to fix them. As we traversed the corridor, we saw other students waiting for the professor to arrive. Fortunately, we had made it on time. Aimee mingled with another group of students she had befriended, while I stayed back, craning my neck to glimpse the approaching professor over the sea of student heads.

Despite her strictness, Ms. Anderson was a warm and kind-hearted person. However, her loudness was quite notorious. We would often hear her booming voice during breaks when she lectured older students. In our modestly-sized classroom, it could be rather overwhelming.

While scanning the surroundings for Ms. Anderson, a red-headed male student caught my attention from a distance. It took me a moment to recognize him as Edmund. My heart started to race, my breath turned shallow, and a fluttery sensation filled my chest. Excitement washed over me at the sight of him. I was aware he was coming, but seeing him always elicited joy. Leaning against the wall, I tried to calm my racing heart, intending to act nonchalant to capture his attention. I wanted to gauge his reaction to my feigned indifference. I looked away, pretending not to have noticed him.

Meanwhile, Aimee was deeply engrossed in conversation with her friends, their laughter echoing off the corridor walls. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Edmund getting close to me.

"Hello, Levi," he greeted, his formal accent still prominent despite we knew each other well. Unable to contain my excitement, I blurted out, "Hi Edmund!" almost instantly. "Pull yourself together," I mentally chastised myself, "You need to appear more detached."

I cleared my throat and repeated in a detached tone, "Hello, Edmund," mimicking his formal accent.

"So, how are you today? Has anything new happened since last night?" His words were casual, but his eagerness was palpable. He seemed fascinated to know about my well-being and was most likely curious about my friends. Regardless of his outward disinterest in general, I could sense a certain level of nervousness within him, both for me and for what was yet to come. I could see right through him.

"Today, I'm in a bit of a mood. I didn't have very good dreams last night. I was quite anxious about…," I stopped myself, my initial facade crumbling. I hadn't managed to contain my emotions and had just let them slip out.

"I can see that," he said, eyeing me up and down, scrutinizing my choice of clothing."I've told you before, it's going to be okay. You have a tendency to always worry too much about things, and I don't mean to sound dismissive by that. Your feelings matter, but were you able to talk to your friends, though?" His question was sincere; I could detect it in the edge of his voice. He always had a subtle way of communicating his thoughts, one of his many talents.

"Yes, we're meeting after lunch. Will you be free? They're quite eager to meet you, actually," I informed him, and he nodded in acknowledgment. To be honest, he didn't seem too thrilled about the prospect, and I knew then that he was doing this solely for me, but it was a step in the right direction, and perhaps they would become friends in a few years' time. We just had to clear this hurdle, and things would get easier for all of us.

Precisely at 10 am, Ms. Anderson arrived. She was a tall, lanky woman with striking orange hair and a deep tan, as though she had just returned from the Maldives. "Alright, class. Everyone inside!" Her voice was too loud for a university setting, attracting a few furtive glances from the college staff. We filed in, and class began.

Aimee, having broken off her profound conversation with her friends, asked if I would mind her sitting with them this time. Edmund seemed rather pleased after overhearing her request and looked at me with a smug grin.

"I suppose you're sitting with me this time. We won't be able to stare…" he trailed off, letting the pause linger. I gave him a bemused shake of my head and laughed softly. What luck! I usually avoided sitting next to Edmund, not wanting Aimee to feel left out; she deserved some of my attention too. But finally, I was getting what I wanted. Maybe, the day was turning out to be not so bad after all. I sat next to him, and because we were too close to comfortably stare at each other, we ended up paying more attention than usual. Perhaps I should try this more often, if I intended to get good grades.

As we listened to Ms. Anderson discuss various mental disorders, I felt a gentle touch on my hand. Looking down, I saw Edmund quickly retracting his hand. "What was that?" I whispered, my cheeks flushing. "Shh, just pay attention," he responded, avoiding my gaze. His actions always seemed to confuse me; I loved these little gestures, but they always left me wanting more. Would I ever get enough of him? The thought lingered and haunted me.

The psychopathology class ended faster than I would have liked, especially considering Edmund's company. Following this class, we were due for lunch in the cafeteria with my friends. Edmund maintained an impassive, unreadable expression, causing me to suspect that he was nervous. His usual self was much less guarded around me. However, I had come to learn that whenever he became completely still like a statue, he would be most likely nervous about something and thinking about all the possibilities to resolve whatever that was troubling him. Right in that instant, he wasn't sitting next to me, in his mind. As Ms. Anderson took attendance, he appeared to be preoccupied with writing in his notebook, his back as straight as an arrow.

"Are you ready, Edmund?" I asked, striving to keep my tone casual as if nothing significant was happening.

"I'm always ready, Levi," he replied, a touch of ominousness in his voice. It was so typically him that I couldn't help but roll my eyes. He noticed and chuckled softly in response.

We stood up, and fortunately for us, Aimee gave us our space. She was quite discreet about these kinds of things; she often recognized when I wanted some alone time with Edmund. This was particularly relevant today, as we were planning to have lunch all together. Despite Edmund's dismissive attitude, the occasion seemed important to all of us. As we strolled down the corridor, Aimee joined her group of friends.

Meanwhile, Edmund filled me in on how his two beautiful dogs were doing at home. He had two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Daisy and Bailey. He explained that he lived quite a distance away in his parents' house. However, due to the school's location and the long commute, his parents had acquired a flat closer to the campus. "This is my chance," I thought to myself, resolved that I had to see his place, at least the apartment where he was currently living. The idea of seeing his family's house was beyond my wildest dreams; I could only imagine a grand manor.

"So… um, we've known each other for months, right?" I asked, feeling so nervous that my palms became clammy.

"Yeah, what's your point?" He inquired, always one to cut straight to the chase. Why am I even taken aback by now?

"In all this time, I've never been to your apartment," I responded, suddenly finding my feet incredibly interesting to avoid his gaze.

"That can be arranged," he replied, locking eyes with me. He had his left eyebrow lifted and a smirk on his face. A sudden ray of hope illuminated my chest. I glanced back at him and grinned broadly, "Really?" A feeling of elation filled me. I hadn't expected him to agree so readily.

Just as he was about to respond, we reached the cafeteria. Jacob and Jessica were already waiting for us, while Aimee lagged behind. We were effectively cornered, and there was no avoiding the inevitable meeting now. We decided it was best to get introductions out of the way before picking up our food. As we approached them, I felt a surge of anxiety about their impressions of Edmund.

"Hey guys! How was class today? And this is…," I began to introduce Edmund, but he cut me off, closing the distance between them and extending his hand.

"Hello, I am Edmund Plaintgenet, Levi's best friend. Please excuse me for not meeting with you earlier. It's hard for me to meet new people, but if they're important to Levi, they're important to me," he explained, using the voice reserved for occasions when he wanted to impress and get a certain reaction from someone. It was innocent and gullible. Additionally, when had I become his best friend? The notion was both outrageous and flattering. I suspected that this was some form of jealousy on his part, combined with an intention to differentiate himself from the others. I couldn't help but smile at the thought, finding it endearing that he cared enough to stake his claim. His actions might have been prompted by jealousy, but they also indicated that he valued our relationship. This realization warmed my heart and I couldn't wait to see where our "friendship" would lead us. I could tell all of Jessica's previous skepticism was washed away. Jacob, however, was not so easily convinced. At that moment, Aimee arrived as well, and he told her the same thing with other words. Aimee too fell for his charms. I had warned them that he was indeed mesmerizing and stunning; naturally, they didn't believe me, now they had no other choice.

"Excuse me; as far I knew I am Levi's best friend. After all, we've know him from earlier, right Levi?" Jacob replied, visibly discontented, crossing his arms across his chest. What was this show of who's the other's best friend is supposed to mean? He knew that our friendship went a different road, besides Edmund was just being Edmund. I widened my eyes at him, and he relented. Edmund simply raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, that's alright," Jessica added, sensing the situation as only a girl could and intervening on my behalf, "I understand, it's sometimes difficult to meet new people. I'm Jessica, by the way." She introduced herself, although he was very aware of who each of them was. Aimee and Jake followed her example, but I could tell Jacob was still apprehensive. Edmund and I went to the food stands to pick our meal, while the cafeteria staff was replenishing it. We paid at the e-cashier and returned to our table. Edmund was having sushi, quite sophisticated if you ask me, while I opted for something much simpler: pizza, a reliable go-to meal.

We returned to sit with my friends and I was astonished by the way Edmund was behaving. He was being extremely charming, making both small talk and deep talk when required, laughing and keeping a good impression of them. If Jessica and Aimee had any doubts before, they were erased now. He had won them over with his knowledge. He got to Jessica when he started talking about fashion, Balenziaga, and Gucci. When he showed her his Louis Vuitton wallet, she was captivated. Should I begin to worry about her stealing him away from me? As for Aimee, he won her over through their shared favorite Netflix show. They both loved the same character. He tried the same with Jacob, talking about the Buffaloes. But while Jacob was indeed impressed by his knowledge of football, he remained unconvinced, though changing his attitude to pleasant and friendly. I could tell by his facial expression and by the somewhat constricted way he talked that this was the case. He's usually pretty casual and loose, most of the time.

We finished our meal in peace, having great conversations. After successfully making a good impression on both of the girls, he looked at me inconspicuously and winked. Right at that moment, the food I was eating got stuck in my throat and I had a fit of coughing, while blushing! How ridiculous, I really couldn't help but laugh when I remembered the situation later. We had a great lunch, but we had to wrap it up because it was almost 2 pm and we had to head to another class. I couldn't believe two hours had flown by. I wouldn't see Edmund again during the day and he hadn't said anything about getting together after school in the library.

We stood up, I shook hands with him, including an awkward hug. He was still uncomfortable with physical affection, and we were in a social environment, so he probably wanted to spare us a bad moment. Edmund shook hands with Jessica and Aimee as well. When it was Jacob's turn, he asked him, "Could we speak in private?" I was stunned, what had just happened? Talking in private? Why now? Everything was going perfectly, why did Jacob have to potentially ruin it like that? Edmund nodded and they stepped a few paces away, out of earshot. I felt my mouth fall open, Jacob looked concerned and gesticulative, while Edmund remained composed. They talked for a while, until I saw Jacob smile, "The idiot finally got through to Jacob," I muttered too quietly for the girls to catch. They shook hands and I sighed in relief. Everything had gone alright, after all.