6 Moving In

When Adeline left, she immediately called Emilie.

"What's up Adeline?" Emilie said when she picked up the phone.

"You live alone, right?" Adeline asked.

"Divorced already?" Emilie guessed, "Man, Sirius is going to be disappointed. He was really looking forward to arguing."

"Not much competition in the courtroom is there?"

"Not really." Emilie confirmed, "If you need a place to stay, you could live with me. Only thing is you have to take care of food."

"Thank you so much Emilie! I owe you one."Adeline said in delight.

"My birthday is coming up so if you could make me a cake, then the debt is repaid."

"Of course. Red velvet?"

"You got it! If you're going to move in, today is going to be the best day since I haven't got anything planned." Emile said. "I can't wait to show you my new apartment. I got it last month and was planning on getting a roommate since it was kinda lonely but now you came along and everything is perfect." she chirped happily.

"Alright," Adeline was glad that their relationship was getting on the right track this time. When she got the time, she was going to set things right with her family next. "Text me the address and I'll be there as soon as I buy some stuff."

"See you later!" Emilie said and hung up.

Adeline's phone vibrated a few seconds later with a text message alert. Emilie's apartment was right in the center of the city. Rent must be huge, Adeline thought. But how fitting for our school's gossip queen be to be at the center of everything.

She made a couple of trips to different stores and bought enough ingredients to make a feast fit for ten kings. Lugging all that stuff on the subway was something she hoped never to experience again. I don't want to be married to Leo again, Adeline thought, but man it felt nice to have a car and driver to help you get places and carry things for you.

Panting and with sore arms, Adeline finally made it to Emilie's doorstep and rang the bell. Adeline heard pattering footsteps and then the door swung open.

"Hey!" Emilie pulled her into the apartment and then noticed the bags of food on the floor outside. "For me?" she asked as her eyes lit up.

"Kind of." Adeline began bringing them into the kitchen. "If you could invite Sirius, this is my way of saying sorry for getting his hopes up."

"I'll give you a tour first and then call him." Emilie said as they set down the last of the bags on the counter-tops.

She led Adeline around the rather large and bright apartment. She could see hints of Emilie's personality from the plants that decorated various surfaces.

"And here is your room." Emilie said and opened the door across from her room.

Adeline's eyes widened when she saw the bolts of fabric hanging around the room and the desk that had all her papers neatly stacked. "How did you..?"

"I kept in contact with your parents and when they heard you were going to stay with me, they sent all this stuff over." Emilie explained. "And my friends that work with shipping helped me get it here before you moved in."

Adeline was in awe at her friend's social circle and influence. "Thank you!" she said and pulled Emilie into a bone-crushing hug.

"No problem." Emilie croaked out and patted Adeline on the back.

Releasing her, Adeline turned to look at her room and soon to be studio once more before heading to the kitchen to cook.

"That reminds me," Emilie said as she watched Adeline slice tomatoes, "I thought you weren't going to divorce Leo until he learned how to cook?"

Adeline shuddered, "Never say Leo and cooking in the same sentence. It was a disaster."

Emilie was trying to probe for more details before the ringing doorbell distracted her. "Oh it must be Sirius!" she said and ran for the door.

Adeline was too focused on the pot in front of her to turn around but she thought she heard a dog barking. She didn't think too much of it until she heard panting next to her. Glancing down, she saw a large black dog looking expectantly at the cooking food.

"Awww!" she cooed and put down her stirring spoon to pet the dog.

"Hope you don't mind that I brought my dog." a male voice that Adeline guessed was Sirius could be heard from the living room.

"Oh it's no problem." Emilie said. As much as she was a cat person, dogs were cute and therefore also deserved her love and attention.

The both of them went into the kitchen and Sirius let out a low whistle at the spread of food on the counter.

"Nero!" Sirius called when he saw the black dog begging for food. "Come here."

The dog gave him a look that clearly communicated, "You don't have food to offer me. I won't move." before turning his puppy dog eyes onto Adeline.

"He can digest human food." Sirius said when he saw Adeline's will wavering in the face of the puppy dog eyes. Nero heard the words and immediately jumped so his paws were on the counter and Adeline fed some of the food to him, which he gobbled down happily.

Emilie rummaged through a drawerand pulled out a bag of dog treats. She rattled it and attempted to get Nero's attention. He didn't even glance over, as if mere dog treats were beneath him.

Disappointed,Emilie could only put down the treats and pet Nero as a consolation. He seemed to enjoy the pets as his tail started thumping on the floor and his eyes closed in bliss.

Adeline gave him a pat before returning her attention to the food that was about to boil over.

Sirius walked over and inspected the pot. "What are you making?" he asked.

"A beef stew." Adeline said, stirring the pot.

"Potatoes?" Sirius asked in anticipation.

"You got it." Adeline said and scooped up a chunk of red potato as proof. "The best food."

Nero rolled onto his back and demanded belly scratches from Emilie who loved sinking her hands into the thick fur.

"And it is done." Adeline said as she turned off the fire and ladled four bowls of stew. She brought them to the counter and set one down on the floor for Nero.

Sirius and Emilie pulled out stools and dug in without ceremony. Adeline grabbed a plate as well and for a few minutes there was only silence as they dug into the food.

"This is really good Adeline." Emilie said.

"Agreed" Sirius said.

Nero barked.