Chapter Seven: A Plan and A Lie

 Andrew's hands rested against the punching bag in their lair. He had been there for about thirty minutes. The lair had a few gym equipment and he made good use of them as he worked out. His sweat was all over his body and on the floor. 

 He looked at the punching bag again, and launched out more blows and kicks. Fred came into the lair and watched him for sometime before he announced his presence with a 'good job there'. 

 Andrew turned to look at him, then returned to the bag. "What do you want?"

 Fred took a seat. "You know, it won't hurt you to be nice to me for at least a week. "

 "Sure it would. You already get on my nerves now that I'm mean. Then what happens when I'm nice?"

 Fred narrowed his eyes on him. "I haven't even done anything."

 Andrew took a break and sighed. "Fine. How was your night? Since you want to be treated like a princess."

 Fred smiled. "I had a wonderful night. Cold. Would have loved it if you were beside me." He smirked. 

 Andrew glared at him. "Don't– never do that again, in your life." He went on with the punching bag. 

 Fred laughed. "It's been a long time since I saw you workout like this. What's the occasion?"

 "Our new mission. I have to be psyched for it. Mentally and physically. I can't afford to run out of energy in Italy."

 "There is no difference between this mission and our previous ones."

 "Yeah. Aside from the fact that we would be going against a whole faction and not just a mere thirty guards."

 Fred slowly nodded. "Well, when you put it like that, it makes sense. "

 "Working out does not substitute for a plan though."

 The boys turned. Hazel stood at the entrance with her tablet in her hands. She walked towards the couch and took a seat beside Fred. 

 "Where's the doctor?" Andrew asked. 

 "Eating." She replied. "I don't think there is any way we can go to Italy without James coming with us. I was going to tell Vade that it will be the four of us coming but I need to hear your thoughts on it."

 "Well, he already knows that the two of us are part of a group called 'Trinity', but he still doesn't know about Fred. I think we should keep it this way, just in case we ever need to pull out the element of surprise."

 Hazel nodded. "That means he's just going to pay for the both of us."

 "Yeah. That also means you can't come with us on Friday. " Andrew said, referring to Fred. 

 "Then when do I join you guys?"

 "Monday." Hazel replied. "Vade said he will have Andrew and I flown to Italy and we shouldn't worry about visas, but that can't be the same for you. So I'll have my secretary handle your visa before then. You will come with James."

 "Why does your boyfriend have an Italian visa? And how is your secretary going to get me one before Monday?"

 Hazel shrugged. "James has visas to a lot of countries and to answer your second question," she turned to Fred, "I am Hazel Coleman. "

 "Pride."

 "Have you told James about the trip?" Andrew asked. 

 "Oh no. It's a duty for all of us." She replied and got up. "Come on. Let's go see him."

 ★. ★. ★. 

 Andrew had always been the perfect liar. They were all gathered in the living room and both Fred and Hazel had decided that Andrew would come up with the lie to tell James, while Hazel would just back him up. 

 "I don't like how you guys are staring at me. " James said. 

 "We are waiting for your reply." Andrew said. 

 "How do you want me to reply? You just came to me and said you guys are traveling to Italy and you want to know if I would come."

 "Yes. So would you come?"

 James turned to Hazel. "Babe, what is all this?"

 She put up her hands. "Don't ask me. I got into this the same way you got into it. "

 "What's happening in Italy?"

 "A cousin of mine is getting married. A distant cousin actually. She's getting married to an Italian guy called Fanel and I and Hazel received an invitation."

 He looked on, not really believing what Andrew said. "A distant cousin of yours?"

 "Yeah. But we were super close when we were younger. So I got an invitation because we were best friends and Hazel got an invitation because, well she's a Coleman. "

 "And what does this have to do with me?"

 "We can come with our plus ones. Fred is my plus one and I figured you wouldn't want Hazel to go Italy for days or maybe weeks and leave you behind here, since you basically came to see her. Of course it's not a must for you to come but I've extended the invitation."

 James turned to Hazel and she shrugged again. "When are we leaving?"

 "Great. So the bride to be already paid for Hazel and I. Both of us would be leaving on Friday. However you and Fred can join us on Monday. Fred doesn't have a visa to Italy but one would be made available for him and you already have. So you can catch us on Monday. "

 "I don't like the idea of going three days after my fiancée is already gone."

 "Well you weren't invited. You are just a plus one. Hazel needs to be there early for the wedding to be a big one. Imagine a Coleman at your wedding. And we can't just leave Fred alone. So you can either wait or not come at all."

 James sighed. He really did not want to argue about the whole thing. He will do it for Hazel. "Fine. I'll see you guys on Monday."

 "That's great. Don't worry about your accommodation or anything like that. Hazel has it covered."

 He looked at her. "Hazel, I think you are doing too much. Hotel accommodations aren't cheap, you know."

 Andrew got up and strolled over to James, then tapped his back. "Relax. Don't worry about anything. She has enough money to do it."

 "If you want, I can also pay for some things."

 Hazel shook her head. "No. It's fine. Everything is fine. Don't stress yourself."

 Andrew nodded with a big smile. "Alright then. Everything is settled. Lady and gentlemen, get your wedding suits ready. Italy is going to be wonderful."

 ★. ★. ★.