“Eww! Now I have to pick another car.”

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THE WEEK PASSED smoothly for me. Going to school, learning, returning home and etc.

I had planned to sleep in on Saturday but somehow, I found myself waking up at some minutes after midnight.

“Oh no.”I groan, checking the time on my phone.

Why would I wake up by this ungodly hour.

After using the toilet, I slip on my pajamas pants before going down to the kitchen.

All lights are off, but I make out a figure seated on the island.

I approach cautiously. “Who's there?”

“You should be asleep.” Tony raises his head. I barely see his eyes because it's completly dark in here. The only light filtering in through the window is from the security lights outside.

“I needed a glass of water. Why are you seating there like a creepy killer?”

Coming in here, I didn't imagine running into anyone. Tony in particular because he was always the first to wake up.

However, he's behaving rather oddly. I notice his shoulders trembling. “Hey, are you okay?”

I reach out to touch his forehead. It's freaking hot like a pan on fire.

“You're burning up.”

Frantic, I run to where the napkins are and grab one of them. After holding it under the sensor tap, I press it on Tony's forehead. He hisses but his hand shoots up to put the napkin in place.

“Let me call someone.”

Xavier's room is directly opposite mine and I've never had a reason to be in it until now. It's a little dark but I can make out his features.

He's sleeping peacefully in his bed, letting out soft snores which I almost laugh at.

“Xavier.” I whisper, shaking his arm.

He opens his eyes, blinking multiple times.“Mmmh?”

“Tony's burning up. He's in the kitchen and I don't know what else to do.”

That seems to trigger something because Xavier was rushing out of the room before I could realise. He almost knocked me down in his haste.

What is going on?

I head outside, barely making out a set of bouncy red curls disappearing down the stairs.

There's no time to process anything because soon, Diana's driving off with Xavier and Tony in the back seat.

I watch them from the balcony, a hundred percent confused.

“Meow.”Desdemona pushes between my legs and goes to rest on a bouncy chair.

What?

Peeling my eyes away from the cat, I find a nice chair to cushion my back and soon, sleep catches up with me.

I must have slept for a long time because my cheeks are warm and when I open my eyes, the early mrning sun stares right at me and Xavier's sitting in the left hand corner, gently stroking his cat with a hand and the other on his mobile phone.

“I didn't want to bother you.”He states, gazing in my direction.

“How's Tony?”Sitting up is a little tricky because of the kink in my neck.

Xavier sighs. “He's okay. Thanks for last night.”

I wait for a bit, hoping he would go into details about Tony's health but when he returns to staring at his phone, I pick myself off the chair and head inside.

∞∞∞

Sam: i know we've only met  but in case you want to hang out, I'm free. (11:05a.m)

Sam's message came in when I had just left the bathroom from a cold shower. With a hand securing one end of my towel, I type out a response.

hAzE: I barely know anywhere.

Sam: I could maybe show u around.

Oh, I don't know about that but it could work. However, I still needed to know how to weave my way around the town before I start trusting people.

I wouldn't like a repeat of what happened with Levi. I let his good looks get to me and see where that landed me.

hAzE: good morning dad. how about Levi's case?

Dressing up takes me about thirty minutes. I decide to put in an extra effort on my looks.

Today, I settle on a lilac lace top tucked into my high waist ripped jeans skirt that stopped a small way above my knees.

My face nicely done, eyebrows plucked and mascara in place, I head downstairs with a small purse containing my phone, credit card and my handkerchief.

“Going somewhere?”Xavier asks when I had walked past the living room.

“Just to look around.”I explain.

He rises, stretching and setting Desdemona on her couch. “Let me take you.”

My cheeks burn for no apparent reason. “No. Um... I'm actually meeting up with someone.”

Xavier smirks. “I'm still coming.”

I frown at his persistence. “You'd be a third wheel.”

“I don't mind.”

I brood over his offer. If Xavier comes along, I highly doubt Sam would be comfortable around his intimidating persona and I wouldn't want to scare me poor boy away.

However him coming along meant added security, not that I'm suspecting Sam would try anything funny.

Still.

“We could go and see Tony after that.”Xavier grins, triumphant that he took a complete hold of my attention with that statement.

“Blackmailer.” I mumble, waving at him to come along.

He laughs and soon is leading me out of the living room and inside a large garage with several luxury vehicles.

“Take your pick, princessa.”

Shooting him an ugly look, I decided on a Ford SUV because it reminds me of my car at home.

I had asked dad to give the keys to Gemma since I wouldn't be around for a while.

The interior of the car smells new like it hasn't been used recently. Great!

“This is my favourite although I rarely use it.” Xavier states once we're inside.

I scrunch up my nose, acting disgusted. “Eww! Now I have to pick another car.”

He rolls his eyes and starts the engine. “You're amusing.”

With one last lingering look at me, he changes his focus to driving us to our  destination, an address Sam sent.

∞∞∞

“I'm so glad you could make i...”Sam trails off when he sees Xavier at my rear.

The boy smirks, probably loving the effect he has on Sam. “Oh, don't stop on account. I'll be invisible.”

Annoyed, I jab him in his side. “This place is lovely.” I comment on the beautiful building before us.

Les Magnifiqué.

Judging from the symbols of double-tiered cakes and cupcakes scattered around the transparent windows, I conclude it's a confectionery. Plus the tempting flavour of baked goods. I wish could just run in there and grab everything for myself.

“Hello...”Sam waves at my face.

I blink. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

“Glutton.”Xavier coughs the word into the arm of his shirt.

Glaring at him, I ask Sam to lead the way inside.

“This is my aunt's shop. I often come here to do my schoolwork or play games-”He gestures at the gaming console to the left corner.

At the center of the shop is a long counter that supports all the baked products in transparent glass boxes.

“-sometimes I also help...”

“-to eat up the cakes.”A ginger haired plump woman wearing a lovely blue gown comes into view, smiling at us. She's not plump in that sense, just huge, yet she seems so approachable.

“Aunt Leah..." Sam groans when the woman tackles him into a bear hug.

“Who are your friends? I have not seen them around.”

Xavier snorts.“I'm not his friend.”

I send him a sharp glare. “We are. Don't mind Xavier. Must be the sour pickles he had for lunch. ”

Xavier makes a face but does not dare interrupt.

“Oh dear. Come this way then. ”

Leah leads us to a seating area where customers could sit while waiting for their orders.

“So. What do you like? Pick anything. It's on the house. ”She offers, herding us into our seats, even Sam, but he's quite embarrassed. For what?

I try to protest about taking advantage of her hospitality when we barely know her, but Xavier grabs the menu.

“I'd love a cheese cake. ”

This boy.

∞∞∞

Once were out of Les Magnifique, Xavier drives to the hospital. After a quick check at the nurses' desk, we go in Tony's room.

He's in bed, reading a book that he attempts to hide once he registers our presence.

Too late because Xavier had seized it.

“What part of taking a break don't you understand?”

Tony scoffs. “Sorry dad. Hey, Hazel.”

I take his smile as an encouragement to approach his bed. There are several equipments linked to his body and the heart monitor beeps steadily.

“Hey Tony. How are you feeling?”

“I feel weak, but I'll be fine. Should we tell her?”He glances at his brother.

Xavier shrugs. “It's your choice.”

It's hard to miss the pained expression he wears afterwards.

“You don't have to tell me anything. You're sick. It can happen to anyone at all.”I interject, dodging Tony's pointed stare.

“So, you guys came to visit.”

Xavier snorts. “I didn't want to. Hazel insisted.”

“You're such a horrible liar, Xavier.”I face Tony who's amused. “A friend of mine wanted to hang out, Xavier insisted on tagging along. He bribed me with a visit here, that's why I let him.”

Smirking, Tony gazes at his brother whose cheeks acquire a reddish tinge.

“Fine. I lied.”He scoffs.

From the hospital, we were supposed to go home but Xavier drives straight to a florist shop for some tulips.

Although I'm curious about who they are for, but I figure it's Melissa's.

“I invited Melissa over for dinner tonight. I hope that's okay with you.”He sticks a key in the ignition switch.

“It's your house. Do what you want.”I turn on my phone and attend to a couple of messages.

dad: We're still handling Levi's case. He's at the FBI headquarters. (7:13p.m)

me: that's good then. how are you?

dad: stressing over your mother as usual. she's been a little more whiny lately and irritable. don't tell her that though.

I giggle, remembering the other day when dad said Blake takes after mom in dramatics and mom went emotional.

Pregnancy is a bummer.

me: secret's safe with me, pops.

dad: what are you doing?

I glance at Xavier wondering why he hasn't moved the car yet.

“Hey, what's the matter?”

“It's nothing.” He blinks and sets the car in motion.

me: going home with xavier. his brother is sick and we visited him in the hospital.

dad: ohhh! that sucks. Hey kid, I've got to attend to something right now. I love you.

me: I love you too dad.