Chapter 7

I'm not gonna lie, that email scared me. I don't know what else I can do... I'm dead?! I guess I did disappear for One hundred years but, I'm still shocked.

"What's wrong?" RJ asked, he was eating pizza with one hand with his feet propped up on the coffee table, I handed him the laptop wordlessly and he said, "Oh." After reading my dilemma

"That's it?! Oh?" I shouted, and he shrugged.

"I get it. What else am I supposed to say?" He looked irritated at that point,

"I..." I took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm sorry, you're right." My apology seemed to fluster him, "You... you're an Infaniyan too... maybe you can help me enter the Embassy, to prove I'm alive."

"I can't." He answered quickly. All my hope of going home was dashed right then,

"You... why not? Are you banished or something??!" He didn't answer. His name and the sleeve tattoo of fire running up his arm are clear signs that he's one of my people, so why can't he help me... is he a criminal, should I be afraid?

"That's not your business, Just know I can't help you." He stated frowning at me then he left the room. Time passed and I stopped expecting him to come back so I walked around the house. There was a full bathroom across from the stairs and the kitchen was massive, 5 different people could prepare food in there comfortably. I had barely left the living room, if I still had to pretend to be human I would've found the bathroom 2 days ago. I do need a bath... I assume RJ won't be mad if I take a shower. After I showered I put back on my tattered school uniform... counter-productive, I know but I don't have any money or any clothes. After that, I dried off and began searching online for a place that donates clothes nearby. The closest place was 5 miles away and they started giving clothes away at 6 AM and ended at 9 AM... I guess I'll need to get up early... I wiped the dirt and grass stains off as well as I could with a wet paper towel and washed my face before leaving the next morning. It took almost 2 hours to walk there. I made it at exactly 6 but there was already a long line of people, some looked worse off than me. Food donations were also available but when I said I didn't need that I was ushered ahead to another, shorter, line. No one asked me for my ID or who I was, they merely handed me a bag and informed me I could only take 6 items. I found 5 dresses and 1 pair of shoes my size, thankfully they didn't look too worn, then I walked back to RJ's house. He was waiting outside when I got home, his eyebrows were furrowed as if he was upset but then he looked at the bag in my arms, sighed, and went inside without a word, leaving the door ajar for me to follow.

When I woke up the next morning I couldn't wait to put on another outfit, so I put on the blue sundress I chose yesterday, which was covered in many tiny white flowers, I also put on the shoes I picked which were brown sandals. There was a small hole in the dress and I could tell it was faded, somewhat but it's nice to have something clean. I'm glad to be out of my uniform, it's so dirty now, and some of the buttons are broken. I still need to buy new underwear and pajamas, but that'll have to wait for a new day. When I exited the bathroom RJ was standing not even 5 feet away from the door. He had on a grumpy face,

"What's wrong." I inquired. He looked at me and he looked even angrier but if I didn't know any better I'd say he was also blushing.

"... Follow me." He began walking away, I hesitated for a moment before following him up the stairs. He led me to a room on the right, very close to the staircase. RJ pointed to the door. "You... sleep here for now." Then he walked away before I could look at his face. I opened the door. The comforter on the king-sized bed was pink, with a white canopy overhead. There were lace white curtains matching the canopy, a white dresser, and a wardrobe. I walked around inside and opened the wardrobe to find clothes, my size. This wasn't a storage room... this wasn't an afterthought. He had to have decorated this room with me in mind. on the bed was the laptop he gave me with a sticky note saying "The door locks from the inside" Oh wow... RJ is so awkward. This is the nicest room I've ever had. My room at home was tiny, with a twin-sized bed, nothing but beige sheets, no curtains, just the books I was required to read for school but the walls were painted neon purple. Do I even deserve something like this? I pondered for a minute then decided to check the dresser. Inside were socks and underwear, still in the packaging, and one drawer was full of nightgowns. I had felt like Raijian was merely tolerating me but... this seems like a grand gesture for someone you just tolerate, or am I wrong? Is this his way of telling me, it's okay for me to stay here?

Raijian always orders food for us, even though the fridge and pantry are stocked... maybe I can repay him a little bit by cooking dinner tonight. I decided to make curry and rice. Since it'll last a few days and I have a lot of practice cooking it. Around the time I finished RJ came downstairs he was on the phone laughing,

"I'm surprised no one died." He stated with a laugh in his voice to the mystery person on the phone then he paused and looked at me. I was cleaning up the kitchen. RJ isn't the neatest person, sometimes he just flings his clothes or shoes off as soon as he gets home or leaves food on the counter. It had never dawned on me to help him, but it should have. His stray jackets were now hanging on the coat rack, Disgarded shirts were now folded neatly on the edge of the coffee table, all surfaces were wiped down and all trash was thrown away. He was scanning the room so I'm sure he noticed. "Zai... I have to go, I have a guest... No I don't like them more than you, you freakin idiot..." The person on the phone said something else causing RJ to laugh and then say "Bye" as he hung up. "Snowe... you cooked dinner?" I nodded.

"I also made lemonade! It's in the fridge. I think it'll pair well with the spices I chose." He looked in the fridge and then asked,

"Is it spiked?" I rolled my eyes. RJ took the pitcher out and went to the cabinet to grab 2 glasses and pour drinks for both of us. "Thanks." He muttered, I prepared his plate then placed it on the counter, he stared at it and said, "Want to eat this together? We can watch a movie." The word movie made me shudder.

"No... that's fine, I'll eat at the dinner table." I retorted. He stared at me and then said,

"Do you mind if I join you?" I shook my head "No," and he smiled with relief. We sat together quietly but RJ was smiling the whole time, I don't think I've seen him this relaxed since I met him.

The next morning I woke up to yelling. I didn't want to get up because my bed was so comfortable but I rolled out of bed anyway. The voices were coming from downstairs,

"Wow it's clean in here, I'm shocked." The stranger noted,

"If you have an issue say it to my face, none of that passive-aggressive crap," RJ replied,

"I'm sure you know you're usually disgusting. So do I have to state the obvious?" That's when RJ caught the guy in a headlock, and the guest struggled to break free "Aye! Please stop the violence!" He yelled but he sounded amused that's when they looked up and noticed me. The boy's eyes grew big at the sight of me. He was a tone lighter than Raijian, With Black hair and silver eyes. His eyes were sharp like someone from the East and he had an eyebrow piercing on the left brow, 5 piercings in each of his ears, and a lip piercing on the opposite side of his face. Even though they looked vastly different, I couldn't decide who was more handsome between the 2, not that it mattered. "Who is she?" The boy asked, RJ looked up at me and sighed while dropping the guy on the floor.

"That's Snowe... she's staying here for a while." He caught himself with his hands before hitting the hardwood and even as he was falling his eyes stayed locked in my direction. He then pushed himself back up gracefully flipping onto his feet. The man smiled at me brightly saying,

"Hey, I'm Zai!" His aura is very different from Raijian's, and his smile seems honest and kind. It was as if he was glowing, literally lighting up the room just be being there.

"This is my brother," RJ announced. Zai and Rai? I waved at them then Zai yelled,

"Nice nightgown!" His statement brought me back to my senses. What am I wearing? I looked down and noticed my outfit was slightly translucent. Is that what he means?! Did he see through my clothes?! I felt my face heat up with embarrassment so I rushed back upstairs to my room and slammed the door. I didn't come out for the rest of that day, but the next morning I went downstairs and cleaned up the small messes from the day before and baked chocolate chip muffins. I hope RJ likes them... I guess Zai too, since he's here. As if summoned by fresh food, they both arrived in the kitchen as soon as I pulled the muffins from the oven.

"Muffins!" Zai yelled.

"They need to cool off!" I yelled back, gently placing them on the silicone mat on the counter,

"I know how to eat muffins!" He argued back.

"Thanks for breakfast," RJ interjected.

"No problem..." I need to figure out what I can do for him other than this... I'm glad he seems pleased so far. A few minutes later we all stood at the counter with a muffin in hand. After Zai took a bite he started talking,

"I'm going out shopping, you want to come, Snowe?" Zai asked casually, I choked on my muffin slightly, he seemed a lot more social than Raijian, "Well you've been cooking, you know what we need better than me." I regained composure and then I replied,

"Yeah, okay, I get it." Raijian elbowed Zai in the ribs and he shouted,

"What was that for?!" RJ didn't answer he just left the room. An hour later I was dressed, Wearing pants for the first time in my life and a baggy T-shirt. I had on some white sneakers Raijian bought me; how'd he know my shoe size too?... Zai was waiting for me downstairs wearing all Black, A black Jean jacket with matching pants, that were ripped at the knees, and he had on a black shirt that had splatters of Neon green. "Hey!" He greeted me as I came down the stairs and said "... You're... beautiful." I don't know why but I blushed, maybe it's because he's so blunt that it catches me off-guard.

"Thank you..." That compliment came out of nowhere! Where is his head? I'm not even dressed up. He's the second person to call me beautiful... but the first to do it so soon and without any ulterior motives. He opened the door for me and we exited together.

"What did you put in those muffins?" Zai asked as soon as we were out the door.

"Just the normal stuff," I replied, he laughed and asked,

"Is it a secret recipe or something?" I shook my head no, "Then tell me! I'm interested."

"Butter... oil... vanilla extract... a little nutmeg-" He gasped then yelled cheerfully

"That's it! I knew I tasted something different." He smiled at me and hooked our arms together, my heart fluttered. He touches me without hesitation I thought I would feel uncomfortable but Zai's aura seems so pure, that I'm not bothered at all. "Go on! What else was in it?"

"You must like muffins a lot. Are you interested in baking?" I replied, giving him a smile in return,

"No, I just like hearing your voice." There he goes again, jumping over my defenses and striking my heart directly "I do like muffins too, I hope you bake them again." I cleared my throat and recounted the rest of the ingredients and Zai nodded and smiled as if I was telling him an actual interesting story, "I like blueberries, maybe we can add that next time?" He stated after I finished. I nodded and he gave me an overjoyed expression.