Standing across the street from Jerry's house, after the warm fuzzy feeling of accomplishment fades, I'm left with the discouraging thought that we're no closer to figuring out a way to get Xalale home than we were before coming here. I express this regret to Xalale who's finally cooled down.

   "So this has been a wasted trip into town," I sigh.

   "Hm."

   Silence lingers between us, filling in the empty gaps.

  "Oh yeah," Digging deep in my pocket, I pull out his ring to present to him. "Here's your ring back."

   "Thank you."

   He takes back the ring, sliding it back on his finger, but I notice the change in mood. From anger to, maybe, melancholy. This experience left a bitter taste for both of us, but especially him I'm sure.

   Shoving my hands into my jeans, I think of what to say that'll ease this gloomy mood.

  "You wanna go now?" I ask.

  The direction in which he's been staring off at is nothing but a sparse patch of trees and craggy grass. Finally, he looks away- not at me, I note- and begins to mutter an agreement, already walking.

   We travel in silence the whole journey back, me glancing over at him every so often to see if the solemn mood that has settled over him has lifted. Each time, the results remain the same and I go back to looking down at the asphalt.

   The only thing that breaks the silence is when I look up to glance over at him when we're just about to reach the house and I notice the car in the driveway. It's my mom's. I forgot she only worked half day today. This definitely adds a level of complication I wasn't anticipating. Xalale only stops once noticing my abrupt pause.

   "Um, we might have to sneak in again," I begin, already dreading the idea of having to do that a second time. "We have to be cautious, though. My mom's extremely observant."

    Receiving no response, I assume he's cool with this and begin walking toward the house again, only to be stopped, this time, by Xalale. Looking back in question, I await what he has to say.

   "We need to talk," He moves passed me to the woods instead of the trailer.

   "Alright."

    I'm not sure what he wants to talk about, but I follow anyway. It gives us time away from the house and the possibility of my mom spotting us.

    As we walk side by side into the woods, I don't immediately inquire about the reason behind this walk and talk, but it eats at me the further we wander through the woods. I don't want to push him, seeing how his nerves are now, but I would like answers soon.

   "So...what are we out here for?" My curiosity gets the better of me.

   Upon receiving no response, I let the question hang until he decides to answer it. From the way he stops, I expect him to answer, but we merely stand there, him not even looking at me.

   "Got anything on your mind?"

    Again, I don't want to push him, but he can't expect me to read his mind every time something comes up. Communication actually takes verbal effort from both sides.

   Finally, he meets my eyes.

   "I don't know how to begin."

   "Start from the beginning." Cliché but it fits the bill.

   I don't want my expressions to give me away in this conversation since it seems he's confiding in me about something major, so I maintain a- hopefully- understanding face.

   He begins walking again, looking straight ahead now, with me catching up.

   "There was a girl I knew when I was younger- we were close friends- her name was Emmony."

   I definitely have heard that name come from him before, in his sleep- I'm sure of it. I continue to listen attentively.

   "I knew her since I could remember. She was three years older in age than me but I enjoyed her friendship nonetheless," A momentary pause that quickly ends. "Then when we got older we didn't see each other as often until I was fourteen. After that, we saw each other more regularly than we had before."

   The soft crunch of leaves underfoot and the warm summer breeze that cooled nothing down were the only sounds in the woods at this time. I wait patiently for him to continue his story about this girl Emmony, rather intrigued by her, but I sense we've hit a wall, so I attempt to tear it down.

   "Why are you telling me about her? Does she have anything to do with getting you home?"

   From what Jerry had said, it sounded like Emmony and Xalale were once something more than friends but, judging from the situation of him giving her the knife, he broke it off. That name was never mentioned at all when I was in Edalirwen. Grant it, Aelita's name never came into the picture either, but I just never assumed there was someone else before.

   Noticing he's stopped again, I pause in my tracks, turning to face him.

   "You know," I start, slowly. "You can tell me whatever- I won't tell, I promise. I have no one to tell it to."

   Now that's a lie, but it's a lie that has some truth to it.

   "Do you believe someone's spirit can be in another person's body. Like the spirit of a child's in a body of a man's?"

   "What?" Where does this come from?

   "Just answer the question." He presses.

   "What does reincarnation have to do with that girl, Emmony?" I'm baffled.

   "Just answer the question."

   Finally, I just go along with whatever he's going on about.

   "I don't know. I never thought about it. It sounds kinda scary, though, being trapped in somebody else's body."

   He appears to be in thought on this, barely paying me any mind when I ask again,

   "What does this have to do with Emmony?"

   Slowly his mind comes down from the clouds, but not to answer my question, instead shaking his head and turning back in the direction of the house.

   "None of this pertains to her. Let's return."

   His back is to me, but I'm surprised my complete bewilderment can't be felt, it's so strong.

   If none of this pertains to her then why bring me out here to talk about her!? Why start talking about her and not finish the story!? Why get so depressed over this than brush it off like last week's news!? Why is he so damn complex!? In fact, why is every one of the male species contrary? One minute they're fine, the next they're mysterious, then they switch like the flip of a coin to some unexplainable emotion. And they think females are moody? From Xalale to Clifford to Ruthford, even Jerry, every guy I come across has so many layers, I can't even fathom keeping up.

   Even so, I take a quick inhale then slowly exhale, pacing myself before starting after him towards the trailer. I don't even bring up the topic again. If he doesn't want to delve into it then why should I?

    "Seriously God. What awful things in my past life have I done to deserve such a confusing existence?"

    I may not fully believe in reincarnation, but I'm beginning to accept the concept of karma.

 We're in luck upon arriving back at the house.

    I enter inside to find out where my mom is and after searching every room, I discover her taking a power nap in her bedroom, knocked out cold.

    It's no problem sneaking inside and getting to my bedroom without any detection. The only problems that might arise are when she wakes up and when my dad gets home, and since it's the weekend, he'll be home earlier which means he's home longer which means we will have to be extra careful not to disturb anything.

   To kill time and better the mood- which I'm sensing is lacking right now- I pull up some funny YouTube videos of animals. I show Xalale, but he's so devoid of humor and finds everything technological inferior that it makes the videos less amusing so I watch by myself. To entertain himself, he goes through my few- and I mean few- selection of books. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch him scan through my most treasured book, and item, Grimm's Fairytales. This seems to be the book that's captured his attention the most and he doesn't disturb me at all. We remain each to our own things until I leave to greet my dad who's home.

   By this time, my mom has woken from her power nap and we both greet my dad who's in good spirits due to, I'm assuming, the fact that the weekend has finally arrived for him. In fact, he's in such high spirits that he announces that we should go out to eat tonight. Not at the family restaurant in town, but forty-five minutes over in Redmund. My mom is on board and any other time, so would I, but Xalale is here (anytime he's added to the mix, he makes things ten times more complicated).

   "How long would we be gone?" I ask, trying not to arouse too much suspicion.

   "However long it takes," My dad shrugs, already moving on. "So where do you think we oughta go? I was thinking BBQ."

   "That sounds perfect," Mom cooed. "Let me freshen up and get my purse."

    The two of them apparently have already finalized this and go off to get ready, leaving me dragging my feet to my room, thinking of how this might play out.

   Xalale is still entranced by my book and barely registers me there until I speak up.

   "Hey, so I'm going to be gone for an hour or two. My parents will be gone too so you don't have to worry about causing too much noise."

   He's hardly paying me any mind. His nose still in the book, not giving me any hints to if he's listening at all. I continue anyway.

   "Like I said, we'll be back in an hour or two so you're free to do whatever I guess. Just don't move anything too noticeable," I sling a messenger purse over my shoulder then inspect myself in the mirror before turning my attention back to Xalale. "There's stuff in the fridge for you to eat. Just don't burn the house down. I would say call me if there are any problems, but you don't know how to work a phone plus I don't have a phone- anymore..."

    I'm talking to myself at this point. Sighing, I turn to the door, pausing before exiting to glance back at him sitting on the floor, occupied with whatever story he's currently on.

   "Okay, bye." I just say it just to add some finality on my side.

    My parents are ready to head out and we leave the house, my dad locking the door, and we pile into my mom's car.

   From the passenger seat, I hear my mom comment, "Oh, I never take the time to notice how healthy and vibrant the forest looks behind the house."

   My mind is mulling over everything that's happened so far today that her comment barely even registers until my dad replies to that, pulling slowly out of the drive.

   "You're right. I always come home so late I never get to admire 'em."

    "Admire them? Behind the- behind the house!?" My attention snaps back to reality as I scramble to catch a glimpse of the treeline behind the house- the one that should have a gaping path of destroyed trees. I don't get the best view since we're backing out, but by the time we reach the end of the drive, I can see with my own two eyes that tall, healthy green trees have replaced the fallen ones once there.

    "How the?" My thoughts immediately go to Xalale. I never knew that his abilities could create things! I'm completely in awe. There were definitely going to be questions when I got back, but I'd be amazed if the words would form on my lips.

   There seems to be so many layers and sides to Xalale that every time I thought I'd figured him out, a new one always emerged.

I should've trusted my parents from the get-go about going out to eat. We end up dining at a very renown BBQ joint that serves plenty of food. So much food none of us can finish it all and we each end up requesting a takeout box. Afterward, my dad must be in a very frivolous spending mood, and we order ice cream from Coldstone which we eat at a scenic viewpoint. I enjoy the view and am relieved it's not like one of those eerie, serial killer hunting grounds people always disappear at.

    These are the moments I live for, spending time with my parents. But this time is different. I can't stay in the moment, let alone enjoy it fully. My mind is like a hamster on a wheel, it simply keeps running and running, but running to the same thought- or person for that matter- Xalale.

   "Stop it!" I mentally scold myself. "He's fine, he's at home and he'll be there when I get back. Calm down."

   But it's not that I'm truly fretting over if he's burned the house down or not (he probably doesn't even know I'm gone), I'm just thinking about him like he's in my head and there's not a point to him being there.

   "Drop these stupid, useless thoughts- he's safe."

    Safe? Why would he not be safe? Why was safe the word choice used?

    "I meant fine."

    God, I'm driving myself insane.

    "Mallory."

    "Huh?" The sound of my name being called breaks me from my train of disillusioned thoughts back to the here and now.

    "You alright, honey?" My mom asks, her brows furrowed with question.

    Letting out a shaky breath, my gaze returning to the outlook, I nod brushing it off.

    "Yeah, my mind's just wandering everywhere."

    "Where to?"

    Staring up at the deep hue blue sky, I shrug, "The same ol' place I suppose."

    "Hmm."

     "Xalale does that a lot." I'm unbelievable.

     Focusing on finishing the rest of my soggy waffle cup, I continue to scold myself in regard to connecting every little thing back to Xalale. The view before me is wasted as well as my parents' conversation throughout the drive back home. They're singing along to some '80s jam, laughing to themselves at their complete inability to sing, which of course causes me to think about my horrid singing voice, which in turn causes me to wonder how Xalale sounds singing.

    I chalk this all up to me being fatigued. I went to bed really late last night and woke up earlier than I prefer. This constant cycle of thinking can easily be explained, but it doesn't make it less irksome. By the time we get home, I wanna march into my room and express my displeasure to Xalale about him being on my mind the whole night- which is illogical in of itself seeing how he's not the one putting these thoughts into my head.

   I do end up being the first one in the house, though, quickly peering into the family room to make sure he's nowhere in sight for my parents to see. My parents are still in a good mood, so they hang out in the family room chattering between themselves about who knows what. They're so engulfed in each other that I'm sure my absence isn't even noted when I disappear to go to my room.

   My worries- or whatever they were- prove to be ill thought since Xalale is still here, back against the side of my bed, deep into another one of the few volumes I have. This time, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

   "Hey," I fling off my purse and plop down next to him, peering over his shoulder to see what page he's currently on. "So where are you at?"

   Thumbing through for a moment, he never takes his eyes off the pages.

   "The stories you shelve are rather peculiar."

   I continue to scan the page, trying to figure out which chapter he's on.

   "Which part are you at?"

   "The characters in these tales are also very odd. If I'm understanding this correctly, there is a confused girl named Alice trapped in a place called Wonderland, who talks to animals like white rabbits and Cheshire cats- whatever that may be," Closing the book, he sets it aside. "I never read such cluttered tales when I was a child."

   I know everyone's entitled to their own opinions, but how can anyone not like Alice in Wonderland? Apparently Xalale. Even I, who loathes reading on a daily basis, loved Alice in Wonderland. Already, I'm picking back up the book, flipping through the pages in pursuit to prove this book's worth.

   "No, no, no, you're just looking at it the wrong way."

   "Then tell me. How am I supposed to look at such nonsense?" There goes that challenging tone of voice that fans my flames even higher.

   Starting on chapter one: Down the Rabbit Hole, I begin to prove my point by reading out loud the chapter.

   It's one thing that I barely read to myself, it's a rare phenomenon that I read aloud to anyone else. It always made me feel too much like a teacher, but in this instance, I want to drive my point home about the excellence of Alice in Wonderland. I even read with expression and emotion for God's sake. Every so often I pause to explain something that he might not get, but he doesn't interrupt with his usual disagreements. By the time I finish chapter one, I shut the book with certainty that one chapter read was all that is needed to explain how great Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is.

   "So you see," I beam proudly. "It is a very well written and interesting book. I mean, it's a children's book for crying out loud."

   I'm ready for Xalale to bombard me with his countless negative opinions- I know he has them. He's a very opinionated person. But after a few seconds of silence, I look at him, expecting him to debate me on this, but instead he's merely staring at me.

   "So..." I begin. "What are your thoughts on it now?"

   "It's fine."

   "Oh?" I'm surprised by this response. I'm always ready for him to fight me on every little thing, so it's a real surprise that his opinion on the book has changed so flippantly.

   Perhaps I'm more persuasive than I think, or maybe it's because he's distracted at this point, just agreeing with anything I say at this point. His attention deficit is so often now that all I can do is hold back an annoyed sigh and attempt to pull him back down to earth.

  "Weren't you taught that staring was rude?"

  "Hm?"

   I resort to the old snapping of the fingers.

  "Hey, yeah, hello, I'm right here, you're staring like- I don't know- through me."

  This pulls him right back into reality, where I need him to be.

   "I wasn't staring," He replies flatly.

   I scoff, "Yeah, you were. Don't even sit here and lie. Where do you even zone out to?"

   His usual expression of annoyance plays across his face, but the moment he looks at me to respond it's like a switch goes off and he, rather abruptly, glances away, losing whatever he was going to say.

   "Something wrong?" I question, not too sure how to take that reaction. It's one he's never had before so I'm not too keen on how to decipher it.

   There's not a verbal response to my question, just a meager head shake "no". Now I'm a bit self-conscious.

   "What the hell was that? Did I say something wrong? Is he shunning me now? Wouldn't put it past him."

    I stare at him with uncertainty before slowly getting up to collect my night clothes to go change in the bathroom. Glancing back at him from the door, I hesitantly tell him I'll be right back. His actions simply have no rhyme or reason to them, only that they come and go as often as they please.

   By the time I arrive back in the room, he's stand by the window looking out into the night. Something about that triggers my memory about the corrected treeline.

   "You never told me you can create things."

    He glances back at me with a slightly mystified look.

    "The trees in the backyard," I clarify. "You fixed them, right?"

    The confused expression fades away to a blank, indifferent mask, and he faces the window again. Even though he doesn't respond, I know full and well it was him.

   "That's incredible that you can do that," I say, genuinely in awe. "It's like the best of both worlds- destroying and creating."

   It's clear from his silence that he doesn't want to talk too much anymore, so somewhat disappointed, I let the issue drop, rolling onto my bed and taking out my computer. Nothing by the clicks and clacks of me typing away at the keyboard can be heard. The noise outside my door is from my parents, who are snuggled up on the couch watching an action thriller.

   Resting my eyes a bit, I glance away from the screen over at my bedside table. The table itself hasn't captured my attention, but rather the content stored inside. Plucking the small stone from its drawer, I set aside my laptop to inspect it closer.

   "So this little stone is the most important piece of some sinister puzzle, huh?" I sigh a little. "Who woulda thought?"

    My focus is so consumed with the stone, that I nearly miss Xalale staring at me again, but I notice him out of the corner of my eye. He doesn't know that I've noticed him yet, so he keeps watching with an expression void of what thoughts are running through his mind. I let him continue to stare until I pretend to be done with the stone and place it back on the stand. Rapidly, he looks away before I can fully look at him.

   "Well I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted by today," I announce, starting to get under the covers.

   "Hm."

   Before I can get comfortable, I get out of bed one last time to head into the family room to wish my parents a good night. They're still enraptured by the gritty, intense scene happening before them on the screen. Kissing each of them goodnight, I just cross my fingers that they don't peek into my room before hitting the sack themselves- I'll be off my guard and asleep by that time.

   Returning, I can now get comfortable under my covers and flick off the lights- regardless of whether Xalale is ready to go to bed or not. Hearing him get under his covers below me, I figure we've both been worn out by the day's events and need some shut eye. As I lay there staring out at the window for a good five minutes, a realization hits me.

   "If Xalale has powers that can create as well as destroy things, maybe we can work a way to get him home." It might be stretching it, but it's one of the best breaks we've had so far. "Now all I need to do is ask Sephora about it. Just wish I could freely communicate with her."

   Laying there, hopeful of the days to come, I let my mind roam free.