II. Week Seven: Departure and Secrets

  Xeq kissed Zamer and gave her one last hug. He already told his brother of his ware abouts and need to stop at Mikey’s to check on the kid on the way, then back. The flight was early but Mikey was still eight hours ahead so Xeq might be able to catch him after school.

  Turning away to head back to his home, Zamer took Xeq’s hand. “Wait.”

  Xeq sighed. “Yes?” He questioned as he turned to face her.

  “You have your watch set to our time?” Zamer asked.

  Xeq nodded. “Why, what else would it be set to, London’s time?”

  Zamer mustered a laugh. “Comedian now are you?” Zamer smiled. “No, you have to be back her by the weekend. I know you said you’ll be there and be back but you have to remember, we’re going to have a special guest coming to town this weekend and it’s only right, as my fiancé, to be sitting at the table with me.”

  Xeq sighed. “I’m not royalty but your Phoenix job is your deal why do I always have to be there?”

  Giving Xeq a hard look, Zamer sighed. “Because if you don’t then who else is going to protect me from being abducted every time we have a special guest?”

  “You have a special guest every week!” Xeq groaned. “What makes this one any more special?”

  Zamer shrugged. “My mother wants you and your brother over for that night. I’ll worry about telling your brother. All I want from you is to promise you’ll be here on time.”

  Xeq huffed. “What if I have jet lag, get here early enough, but sleep through it?”

  Zamer rolled her eyes. “Uh huh.” She nodded.

  “Considering you’re going into the ‘future' I don’t think you’ll run out of any time at all and you should have plenty of time to sleep but no more excuses.” Zamer’s voice started to raise. “I love you, and I need you to be here. Besides, my mother wants to you here too.” Zamer shrugged. “If mama’s not happy nobody’s happy.”

  “Ain’t that the truth.” Xeq smirked. “Okay. I won’t come crashing in this time…” Xeq half joked. There was a time where he had forgotten and literally crashed into her window from flying so fast, he got her a better looking window in replacement anyway but he still regretted it.

  “Come home safely, okay?” Zamer smiled.

  Xeq nodded. “I won’t be long.”

  “Did you tell him to bring back some money while he’s at it?”! Snarled Zamer’s father.

  Xeq grinned and yelled back. “Course, how much you needin’?”

  “One hundred thousand yuan, boy!” Zamer’s father yelled back.

  Xeq laughed. “Alright, Dad, what are we betting on?”

  Pushing past his daughter, Zamer’s father crossed his arms and looked Xeq dead in the eyes. “Betting that you can’t make that much by the time you get back and if you don’t, you’re washing the dishes for the next month.”

  Xeq grinned. “You-“

  “And no one’s going to clean them until you get here, boy.”

  Xeq raised an eyebrow. “And how exactly are you going to stop the two woman of your household to not do the dishes?”

  The old man snickered. “Bah! You bring home that much and I’ll tell you a little something I know about your kind. How about that?”

  Obviously catching Xeq’s interest, the old man grinned. “Deal?”

  Xeq shrugged. “I don’t need that much money.”

  “I said Yuans, boy, do you know how much that is in this country?”

  Raising an eyebrow, Xeq shrugged again. “No clue.”

  “About sixteen thousand.” Zamer’s father nodded proudly.

  Xeq eyed the old man. “That’s how much the library needs to expand…”

  “That’s right.” Zamer’s father grinned. “So do you want this city to lack any more knowledge than it already does?”

  “With me and my brother as dragons to watch over the city, Zamer as The Phoenix that gets visitors non stopped, and the commotion about that hydra…” Xeq frowned. “I’d say we’re a pretty busy town to have the one library.”

  “You’re still doing the dishes when you come ‘round if you don’t get that money, boy.” Zamer’s father said, going back inside.

  Xeq grinned. “Your dad sure does like me.”

  Zamer smirked. “He likes to threaten you and you like to bark back.” Zamer shook her head. “Now get going before it takes longer for you to get back.” Zamer ushered.

  Xeq nodded, watching him head off, Zamer sighed. “A hundred thousand yuan?” Zamer crossed her arms. “Seriously?”

  With google pulled up on his phone, Zamer’s father laughed. “Don’t worry, we don’t have visitors everyday.

==

  School didn’t feel too bad until Flint and Gywne showed up keeping a distance from each other. Did they have an argument or was this an act? Vile didn’t know anything about their relationship so he decided to let one of them spill it, as if Gywne hadn’t already.

  “Planning anything for the weekend?” Vile asked looking down at his phone to check for updates.

  “Only one.” Flint grinned, sitting next to him. Gwyne sat on the opposite side.

  “Which is?” Vile questioned, an eyebrow raised.

  “My cousin’s coming down.” Flint smirked, “from New York.”

  Vile nodded and then scanned his memory for anything about New York that he should know. “Why is he coming down for the weekend? Is he in school?”

  Flint nodded. “Yea. But he said it was urgent so he’ll be coming down. He has a bit of a temper when it comes to people like you so I’m hoping we can do something on Sunday.”

  Glancing at Flint, Vile give a small nod and Flint gave it back in assurance. This had to do with what set them off. What could do that anyway? Flint was Vile’s best friend but deep down inside, aside from Gywne, there was something that angered him. Vile sighed. “Looks like we’ll be hanging out Sunday then?”

  Flint nodded. “It’s a lot to ask.” He shrugged. “But since we can’t hang out can you take Gwyne out somewhere nice for us?” Flint smirked and Vile stared at Flint confused.

  “If that’s what you want us to do.” Vile shrugged.

  “It’d make me more than happy.” Flint winked and Gwyne’s arms crossed in protest.

  “Ah.” Flint rose as his cell phone went off. “Two against one. You two are going on a date while I deal with this cousin business okay?”

  Frowning, Gywne looked down at the table. Stepping outside, Flint answered his phone. “It’s a bad time right now…” He muffled.

  “I’m picking up readings in your area. What is the meaning of this?”