“Boker Tov, Rex.” I greeted my friend as she answered my phone call. (Translation: Good morning, Rex.)

I wanted to annoy her because it was fun, and it worked. “Boker Tov to you, Erev Tov to me.” she said, and I didn't miss the slight annoyance in her voice. (T: Good morning to you, Good evening to me.)

I giggled, rolling over my stomach. I opened my mouth to respond to that but she was quicker. “Hey, it's only 7:00am there, isn't it? And you're not an early bird. What made you get up early?” she inquired suspiciously.

Yep, that's the reason I called her; I couldn't sleep. Not because I have any insomnia but because of that boy; the boy I saw in the worship session yesterday. I wanted to know who he is because he has left me with these feelings I couldn't manage and to know about him, there's only one possible person who could help me and keep this as a secret at the same time; Rekenzel.

“Where are you now?” I asked her.

“In our community, why?” she asked.

At this moment, I don't want anything more than being in our community with her. You miss her? Yes. You miss your community in Jerusalem? Yes. But the big deal was, I could've met this mysterious boy if I were there. When on Earth did I agreed with my parents to move our trip to December for Christmas? If I had disagreed, I know we would've been there now. And here I am, regretting this as badly as I could.

“Oh, it's nothing, I just asked.” I lied, nervously. Should I really tell this to her? Would she count me silly than I already am?

“Really? I thought you wanted to tell me some secret.” she said casually. “And, you didn't answer my question yet, what made you wake up early today?”

Stubborn head. She wouldn't let it go; and that leaves me no choice than being trapped to spit out everything. She's not somebody who'll let you go once you make her suspicious about something, until you tell her the matter. But on the same hand, she was gentle and loving, who cares for all she loves and moreover, my crime partner. That's the reason I decided to seek her help out of all others I know in Israel. My brother might know this mysterious boy but I can't risk asking him.

I took a deep breath, “I need your help.” I said, “But it's not as you think it is; it's easy, non-risking but might sound silly.” I bit my lip.

“Does that matter? Tell me what help you need; you know I'll do it for you.” she said.

My heart raced as I prepared myself to admit the reason and my nervousness delayed me, “It's stupid though.” I said.

She groaned, “Come on, Hayl, get off it!”

I closed my eyes and held my breath like I used prepare to take any medicines, when I was younger. “I saw this boy with guitar yesterday whom I don't know and I thought you could help me with it. Do you know his name?” I said in a bullet train speed that made my whole body heat up and I kicked my blanket off me.

“Excuse me?!” I bit my bottom lip so hardly as I heard her ask, almost in a silent squeal. “You saw a boy with guitar somewhere whom you don't know and wants me to tell you who it is? What am I? A witch?” she asked and chuckled at the last words on her own joke.

I didn't expect her to catch my words but she did. I've always had the problem of speed-talk but my family and close friends are now very much used to it and no wonder how did she managed to figure it out. But wait, she's missing a point. I meant the boy who played guitar for worship yesterday; not just someone I saw somewhere.

I've already set my foot on the floor and was pacing, but kept my distance from the door. “Nice joke, Rex, but I was talking about the boy who played guitar in worship yesterday.” I said, siting back on my bed, but heart was drumming inside me like crazy.

“What? Hey, don't blame me for that. You didn't even mention a word like worship.” she said.

I didn't? I thought for a second and blushed in embarrassment. Oops.

“Sorry, I was crazy.” I said sheepishly. “Got the point now?”

“Let me get this straight,” she said, sounding more matured than the 13 year old she was. “You saw a boy playing a guitar–”

“Hush!” I cut her off, “Keep your voice down. This is meant to be a secret.” I shushed her.

“Sorry,” she said, “So, you said, you saw a boy playing guitar in our community's worship session yesterday and you want to know who he is because you don't know him. Am I correct?” She sounded like a detective and I rolled my eyes.

“Yes,–”

“But how? I thought you don't watch the sessions.” she said.

“I don't but I did, accidentally while I went to my grandparents yesterday.” I explained.

She hummed, “So, which boy exactly are you talking about? There were more than one, playing guitars.” Rex said.

“Yes, but there was only one, playing acoustic guitar.” I said and felt my heart race again.

“Why do you want to know about him, anyway?” she asked amused.

“So you know him!” I technically let out a loud gasp; only to hear another loud gasp on the other end of line.

“You've got a crush on him!” Rex gasped.

“What? No!” I protested, feeling my cheeks set on fire. Although, I couldn't say what exactly was going on me. All I know is that, this mysterious boy, whoever he is, has been in my mind ever since I saw him yesterday, not even giving me a rest in my sleep. Are these... symptoms of crush?

My friend laughed, “Of course you're crushing on him, girl! Or you wouldn't have exclaimed the protest so pressingly. Did you really thought you could keep that from me?” she teased and began to laugh again.

“No, Rex, that's not it. I'm not sure if I'm having a crush on him. What if it's normal, that I want to know who he is because out of all others, he's the only one I don't know?” I asked, but I knew, it was a lie, an excuse to escape her.

“Aren't you going to be fourteen? Yet, I think I can know these things than you.” she said.

“That's because it's not you, who's bothered by whatever it is.” I said.

“That proves it,” she giggled, “You just don't realize what's going on with you, I understand that. You're actually having a crush on him, Hailey. An actual crush. If his thoughts are bothering you and you're mildly enjoying it,” here she paused, clicking her tongue thrice before continuing, “You've fallen for him.”

“I don't know, Rex.” I said, rubbing my temples.

“Okay, then. Maybe it's good you don't know his name, if you think you don't have a crush on him.” she said, an I can imagine her smirking wickedly. Little munchkin.

I was taken aback. “No, please, I can't go to anyone else to ask. Come on, what are soul sisters for? Tell me his name.” I practically begged her.

“First, admit your crush.”

“Rekenzel!” I moaned at the stubborn head.

“That's me; but it won't help you.”

I sighed, maybe she's right. I'm having a crush on him. But it feels so silly to say that I've got a crush on someone I don't know at all. And this little stubborn head won't help me unless I admit my feelings.  “Okay, I admit. Yeah, I've got a crush on him.” I said and suddenly felt my cheeks set on fire again.

She giggled victoriously, “Good girl,” she said, “Well, I won't blame you for crushing on him, though. He really is cute.”

I chuckled.

She continued, “But, I want to warn you first.” I frowned. “There are a lot of girls already surrounding him; Naomi being especially one of them.” she paused.

Naomi. Naomi Norganio. The over-smart Brazilian girl I befriended 5 years ago in Jerusalem. She was the possible human-newspaper you'll ever meet. I really never liked her even though she has never been on my nerves, still, I never liked her because of her character towards others. She was friendly; yes, but less godly; she was gorgeous of a model but really annoying. And the thought of her with him –oh what's his name? She hasn't told me yet,– made a spark of jealousy shot down my spine even though I don't know this boy.

Rex continued, “I don't want your feelings to get hurt; so, just keep this in mind and please don't expect every handsome boy you see can be yours. You know what I mean.” she said, and I didn't missed the concern in her voice.

I nodded my head to myself, trying to find my breath as Rex's words made sense to me and I seemed to lose my hope. “So, can you tell me his name?” I asked.

“Rill.” she said.

“Rill?” I asked, “Just Rill?” I asked the same question I was asked by my brother, 7 years ago in that woods, when I told him my name was Avery. I didn't knew I goes by the surname of the Mafia until I read the article of the Mafia breakdown yesterday.

“That’s how they all calls him. I don't know, maybe that's a nickname. And, he's Gideon's cousin.” she said.

Gideon was a friend of my brother from Israel and I knew him too. Rill is Gideon's cousin? And I didn't know? “Really?” I asked surprised, “So, you might know his surname as well.”

“Green. That's the surname if I'm right, if he's Gideon's maternal cousin.” she said before adding, “Don't tell me you're going to look him up on Instagram.” I can imagine her hand on her forehead whilst saying this.

I smiled to myself, “That's exactly what I'm going to do.”

****

Rill Green.

I searched on Instagram immediately as I hung up the call with Rex after we accidentally reached to the topic of the Mafia breakdown. Out of everyone I know, she was the only person I trusted in this world as a human after my brother, enough to share the truth that I'm a runaway girl from Mafia whom my brother took in. Talking about that news pained my heart as I had to talk about my best friend -even though I was happy that she's now safe- and nanny but I forgot that later as I remembered about searching for Rill on Instagram.

Only three accounts appeared with the name or username with Rill Green. First two was –of a same person, in my opinion– a grown up black man. And the third however made me little curious and I clicked on it.

But, it was not him, definitely not the Rill Green I was looking for.

Scrolling through the list of accounts that showed to my search result, there was no other Rill; only Trill, Drill and Brill.

Surely he'd have an Instagram, wouldn't he? Every modern teenagers has social medias. And that's when I remembered my friend Emmeline, who has no permission from her parents to be in any public social media until she's eighteen.

That however made me a bit hopeless and even more disappointing, I failed to find him. Searching for just Rill or Green, was only giving me annoying results and I eventually gave up.

I glanced at the grandfather clock and saw it's 7:40. Dad and Haxsel must be getting ready to leave for work and I felt a tug of guilt for waisting my time here for more than an hour, rather than going down to help Mom in the kitchen.

Mom and dad arrived late home yesterday after the retirement party of dad's friend and hung out together for a date as we told them that they don't have to rush back home. Meanwhile, we, my brother and I had a siblings date of our own after we left our grandparents' home and it was fun.

Although, Haxsel caught me staring into distance, lost in thoughts often times and was concerned. He asked me if I'm okay, thinking, I was bothered by the news of my best friend. I assured him I'm fine and he didn't brought up the matter again. I was thankful that he didn't because I couldn't lie to my favorite person's face and on the same time I couldn't expect how my brother will react if I tell him that I'm thinking about a boy. Either way, I didn't risk it.

When we arrived home, our parents were already there and unexpectedly, they had heard the Mafia breakdown news and figured out right that it was same Mafia that I ran away from. Dad and mom weren't the only ones who figured the news right, my godfather Michael Elton too.

He was a childhood friend of my dad, who is a gifted doctor; he was the one who treated my bruises and all health problems after I was accepted into the family. As I told dad that I liked him very much and seeing how close we both had become after the treatments, dad asked uncle Mike to be my godfather, which he gladly accepted.

All who knew who I really am was concerned about me and mom asked if I want to see my friend and nanny as my friend has requested. But I knew that's worth risking for my family and I couldn't do it. So I said, I don't want the meeting for now –since she requested in the public, I knew that the reunion will be sent out to the public too,– but only when God wants us to meet.

God.

Is He still in favor with me on what I'm doing now? Does He want me to go after this mysterious Rill or is He frowning over me?

Oh God. I need your help to deal with this.

Since I had already done my morning prayer and Bible reading before I called Rex, I quickly went to bathroom after folding my blanket and unwrinkling the bedsheet. After I was done with my morning chores, I headed down, still in my pajamas.

“Morning mom,” I greeted as I entered the kitchen.

She turned to me with surprise, “Morning love, wow, you're early.” she said and I almost laughed at her surprised tone. “Lost sleep?"

“It's nothing, mom.” I said as I took her place to fry the bacons. “Isn't Jon–”

“Charlie will be coming– oh, hi pumpkin, good morning.” my brother entered the kitchen and greeted me with equal surprised as mom. I wanted argue for calling me pumpkin –which he always does to annoy me. I still don't know why he calls me that; I don't even look like a fat pumpkin!– but I was too busy to work out the sentence he was saying before he saw me and paused.

“Charlie? He's coming?! When?” I asked excited and forgot that I was frying bacons.

Charlie is Haxsel's closest best friend from his old school back in Colorado; more like a brother, even more than Maxell. Maxell don't know that I'm adopted but Charlie knows and promised us that he'll keep it secret with all his life. It was so hard for Charlie especially, when we had to move to Chicago; and he used to visit us on every summer vacation. I loved him very much because he was so sweet in siblings love like my brother. And, it was by seeing the siblings relationship between Charlie and his little sister, my brother wanted a sister and God gave him me. I didn't expect Charlie's arrival news this sooner because it was just the beginning of the vacation while he used to drop by middle time.

“Coming Sunday. But this time, he won't be staying. His cousin will be with him too. They're coming for a housewarming party of their relative; that's why it's early this time.” Haxsel said.

I frowned, “Oh, that's not good.” I said and turned back to the bacons which has started to burn. I quickly turned off the fire and set the pan aside to cool.

“But at least, he's coming. That's all that matters.” mom said, to make my negative mood to be positive.

I smiled at her and turned to my brother, who had his eyes fixed on his phone and was texting. “Is it him? Charlie?” I inquired.

“Mmm,” He hummed, and I even wondered if he heard me. I can't blame him though, I too forget the outside world when I'm focused inside the phone.

“Is this cousin, a girl or boy?” I asked.

“Boy.”

So, he's listening.

“Older or younger than him?” I asked without realizing why am I even asking it.

“Older.”

“Erm... Do you know him, I mean, have you met him before?” I asked again.

“Yeah,”

I felt a bit of annoyance at his short replies that leaves me to ask him questions until I get full details I want to know. “What's his name?” I asked and I heard mom chuckle beside me, shaking her head probably at my brother.

“Nott.”

“Nott Sparrow?” I asked, guessing his surname as I know Charlie's name is Charles Sparrow. So if Nott is his paternal cousin,–

“No, he's Charlie's maternal cousin. Nott Jameson.” my brother finally gave me a long reply, still fiddling with his phone.

Before I could say anything, Haxsel's phone rang, a video call from Charlie. I hurried to my brother as he told me it's Charlie calling, regretting so badly that I didn't change into my normal dress from the pajamas.

Apparently, Charlie was not alone. There was a young man with him who was slightly older than himself, whom he introduced to us as his cousin Nott. Maybe Haxsel have told him that I've been asking who his cousin is and might've thought to introduce him through FaceTime before we actually meet next Sunday.

I waved to the man as Charlie introduced me to him. He seemed kind, good gentleman but what I didn't see was that, he's far different than any man I've met in my life since I became a Houston.

Someone, who's going to give me a nightmare.