Right after breakfast and Landon's arrival from Ridgeton the next day, everyone converged in the deserted motel basement that we'd cleaned up a few days earlier. We all agreed that today was going to be centred on coming up with the plan that granted us access to Zavlon, more specifically into the Tunnels, and the tech that would help us fight, defend against and get past the Yunies to the students and the lab.

   Landon was able to acquire several books for Rav which contained more information on thousands of alien species, including the Yunies.

"Thanks." Rav gave him a tight grin as he took the book from Landon's hands.

   That, plus digital Alien Studies textbooks Rav already had all this while, was supposed to be a big help. But not just to Rav.

"Is it possible that I can take pictures of the books now?" Camila asked Rav. "Knowing more about the Yunies would be a big help in planning our strategies for sneaking into Zavlon Academia."

   It was then that I realised the books could actually be useful to me as well. In my coining and designing of the possible weapons we could use against the Yunies, I needed to make sure I was able to come up with gadgets that stood a chance against them. Reading through the books could help me create weapons that could actually be impactful on those aliens.

   But not so much as to kill them. I hoped.

   Kind of.

   Dorian also mentioned that he would need the books too. He, based on his experience in the Robotics Club, had tasked himself with the design of protective headgear and body suits that shielded us from any attacks by the Yunies or their weapons.

"It'll be really helpful to know the extent of the Yunitides' weight, strength and other qualities of theirs that will aid in my selection of the right materials and ideas while designing the gear and suits," he explained further.

   Eventually, since I was the only one without my phone or other devices, the books were left with me after everyone else took pictures of their desired pages.

   Rav and Camila didn't waste any time. After deciding that it was probably for the best for them to combine his knowledge with her future plans for much faster results, they headed for her room.

   Leaving me, Landon and Dorian.

"I'm gonna go," Dorian, as if on cue, mumbled.

"Great!" Landon said, walking over to me and slinging an arm over my shoulder. "It'll just be me and Beth, then."

   The reaction that overtook Dorian's face could have easily been missed by anyone.

   But not me.

   Even though it was only a little over a second, it was enough for me to recognize the look he had on. Dorian had seemed as though the thought of me being alone with Landon hadn't sunk in until it was just mentioned.

   The expression his face had assumed at Landon's words could be described as being between taken aback and dagger-like.

   That shouldn't make me feel things, especially since my last words to him were anything but kind and we hadn't really spoken since.

   Snapping out of reality, I noticed that Dorian's gaze had shifted to Landon's arm, still over my shoulder. His throat boobed as he took a large swallow, with a locked jaw following soon after.

   This really shouldn't make me feel things... oh, who was I kidding?! It did! I'd just gotten the sign I needed to know that Dorian didn't hate me. That maybe, we could still—

"I'm gonna go." And with those gruff-filled words, Dorian's footsteps were the only sounds that echoed throughout the basement as he darted toward the exit. Seconds later, the door slammed shut.

   Or not.

   I sighed away my previous optimism.

   And then there were two.

***

   Turns out I didn't have to worry about being with Landon in the basement. The next few hours were spent in peace and quiet.

   From the seat I'd claimed in one of the old beanbags, most of my time consisted of being preoccupied with reading the Yunitide books and expressing the weapon ideas I'd thought of so far into sketches on the pages of my notebook.

   Landon was at the table in the centre of the room. With reference to the books as well and the first few sketches I showed him, he was browsing through the dark web for any specific machine parts for the weapon parts that could not be found in Ridgeton's Mini Haven, the junkyard. Like laser activators and well-functioning shockers.

   At least that's what he was doing the last time I checked.

   To be honest, the five possible weapons I designed and the constant reading of Yunitide history and anatomy was making me feel burnt out.

   Hidden within my notebook was a comic book that I managed to sneak into the basement after one of my bathroom breaks. The past fifteen minutes were spent reading and rereading. Fortunately, my quick hands picked up a book I wasn't bored with just yet.

   But honestly, who was I kidding? I would even read the blurred out words on the box of the expired cereal at home if it meant not speaking to Lan—

   A sudden jerk of my hands yanked me from my thoughts. I stared down to realise they were both empty, then up to see Landon standing right in front me.

   With both books now in his grasp.

"Hey!"

"You know, avoiding me doesn't mean I'll magically disappear," he said.

"I'm not," The response from me came out strained as I rose from the beanbag, facing him when I stood on my feet. "I'm not avoiding you."

   The smile that spread across his face was an indication that he could see right through my lie.

   My terribly-spoken, meek-faced lie.

"Beth, we're going to have to talk about us at some point." Landon flung his arms to gesture around the empty basement. "Since we're the only ones here, why can't some point be... well, now."

"Do we really, though?" I asked, reaching for my books in his hold. "Do we really have to talk about this?"

"Yes," Landon's tone became firmer as he lifted the books over my head. "We do."

   I stopped struggling for a minute to stare into his eyes. The defiance that swam within them made me aware that Landon planned on doing this all day if he had to. Unless we talked like he wanted, that is.

   I didn't have time for this. If he wanted to revive what I believed l should have stayed buried, so be it.

"Okay, fine." I sighed, already feeling my fingertips go cold. "After leaving for Germany in Year Seven, you and your family returned to Ridgeton two years ago to spend the Kwanza with your grandparents. And during that time, ..."

   Ugh...I really hated him for making me do this. A part of me knew that I deserved it though. But only a little, I promise!

   Two years ago

   I had been testing out one of my original gadgets all alone at the empty banks of Clearwater River when I was surprised by Landon's sudden appearance.

   Even though we'd attended our district's kindergarten and primary school together, I'd only known Landon for the unflattering nickname, 'Ducky Chucky', he'd earned in Year Three.

   According to some jerk, whose name I—and probably everyone else in Ridgeton High— didn't remember (shocker), Landon apparently ran with his arms positioned like a duck. That coupled with his last name Charles, shortened to Chuck at that time, led to the creation of that horrible name, which unfortunately stuck with him until he moved to Germany.

   But when Landon began questioning me about my tech without feigned or mocking interest, he was no longer 'Ducky Chucky' to me.

   He was someone who seemed genuinely intrigued with every word of my explanation of the gadget. Landon didn't interrupt if he didn't have something nice or curiousity-induced to say.

  By the time I was done talking, I found myself unwilling for him to go just yet. So began my questions about Germany.

   Like I really cared about Germany. But if that meant he'd be around a little longer...

   Before either of us knew it, the skies had darkened, indicating the evening I felt had come far too soon.

   As we rose from the respective patches of grass we'd converted to our seats, Landon offered to help carry my tech and walk me home.

"... and it was during that time that..." The press that Landon's deep-toned voice carried as it repeated my last spoken words tugged me back into the present.

"That... you kissed me."

"I don't know," Landon had a gleam in his eye as he tapped his chin. "That's not how I remember it."

   Against all the heaps of humiliation that sent the strongest waves of heat to, well, every inch of my body, my eyes unglued themselves from the floor to shoot him a hard stare.

"Okay, fine," His locks bounced on his shoulders as he let out a soft chuckle.

"Yeah, I thought so." I rolled my eyes.

   He didn't say anything for a while, only keeping his eyes, which had darkened to an electric blue colour due to the poor lighting in the basement, on mine.

"And what about the day after that? When we accidentally met at Clearwater River again?" Landon whispered, his stare having a gridlock effect now more than ever. "And the day after that? And the day aft—"

"Landon, stop." I shook my head. "Why are you doing this?"

"What do you think?"

"Just don't." I sighed, resting my distraught face into my arms before raising it a few seconds later. "For the next seven days of Kwanzaa, we bumped into each other at Clearwater a lot. We talked, we kissed. A lot. But I specifically remember you telling me that this was probably the last time you were going to come back to Ridgeton. That's why we agreed that whatever we had was going to end the moment you and your family returned to Germany. And if my memory serves me right, the decision we made was mutual. Which is why I'm going to ask again: Why are you doing this?"

"So it really was that easy for you to ignore my calls or texts afterwards, huh?" Impulse made me flinch at the bitter laugh which escaped him. "I'm glad to see you were doing just fine ghosting me."

"What else was I supposed to do?" The heated frustration that etched a frown on my face made my reply several octaves higher. "Landon, you left!"

"I'm here now."

   How he still managed to sound playful was beyond me.

"That's not how it works," I said.

"I know, I know," Landon mumbled, running a hand through his hair as he turned away and exhaled. "Beth, I'm sorry for putting you through this. I've seen you longer than I have in two years. The memories are just taking a minute to calm themselves."

"I get it," I responded with a sigh. "It's not just you who's been going through that."

"You know what this means right?" He grinned.

"Don't."

"Fine. You can't stop me from thinking it though."

"Be my guest."

"Even though it'll make your boyfriend mad?"

   I scoffed at that. Maybe the chances of me and Dorian happening were possible two nights ago, but certainly not now. I was still trying to get over the awkward encounter we had at breakfast.

   For at least fifteen seconds, Dorian and I kept moving in the same direction and bumping into each other in an attempt to give the other space to get to their seat. I'm pretty sure I hadn't helped matters by keeping my gaze on the ground throughout our encounter, but who's pointing fingers?

"Dorian and I aren't... we're just– I mean we're not..."

   I never imagined uttering those barely said words could come with the pain of a blade digging into the most sensitive parts of my body.

"It seems to me that you're free to do whatever you want," he said from my side.

   As Landon faced me, he looked like more words were ever ready to spill from him, although his lips remained sealed. I noticed his eyebrows furrow and unfurrow. His lips assumed a thin, hard line.

   Until its ends lifted as he remarked, "Noted."

A/N: Any ship names for these two🙃?

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