1.2

Wasn't an everyday occurrence but certainly wasn't startling. Edyn was visiting a second time in as many days. And try as she might, she couldn't fool the discerning eyes of the adults. She had come for her least favourite cousin. She sat with grandpa, told him stories from today, made him laugh, squeezed some money from the old man's generous wallet, laughed shamelessly under the disapproving gaze of her aunt, asked for spicy noodles for dinner, and then, as if only then remembering, asked about Pixie and reluctantly went to see her younger cousin, as if she was being forced. Unfortunately, she was trying too hard. And because her grandpa and aunt liked were so fond of her, they didn't call her out. The two adults shared a smile and a question with their eyes, an exchange that Edyn managed to catch entirely by accident as she looked around for no particular reason from the middle of the stairs. Blushing from embarrassment, she sped up the remaining stairs and down the hallway to Pixie's room. And inside, she locked the door and sat on the bed across from Pixie who was sitting with a notebook open in front of her and looking at it too, but clearly not reading the words written in there, in her own sloppy handwriting.

"So," Edyn said.

Pixie only then was pulled back from wherever her head took her away to. She was momentarily confused, but not surprised or startled. "So," she repeated.

"Made up your mind?" Edyn pressed.

"About? Oh, wait, yeah. Made up. We'll draw up the contract first, of course."

"Of course."

Pixie flipped pages to the end of the notebook from where she tore out a single page, read it again, possibly the hundredth time, and passed it over.

The title couldn't be clearer, at the top of the page, in the middle. The contract. Underneath were three lines.

For helping you chase Gavel, I agree the payment.

1. Meal card to Wendy's

2. A quarter of your allowance.

"Are you serious?" Edyn asked the question not in her voice but with her eyes.

And Pixie answered with the brightest smile.

"Okay." Edyn gave in. Grabbed the pen from the desk, and signed at the bottom. "You want the money. Who's the card for?"

"Haven."

"Okay." Edyn beamed. If Haven was helping then the meal card was certainly worth it. But she wasn't going to give her card, obviously. And Haven surely thought of that. "I'll get an add-on tomorrow. And the allowance, starting next month?"

"Of course not. Starting this month."

"Greedy evil witch."

"I like witches."

Edyn's frown was perfectly contrasted by Pixie's serene smile.

*

Haven didn't think he needed to wait. Pixie loved money. She'd get the contract signed. And he was really looking forward to the meal card. Not that he couldn't afford Wendy's. But the teacake loaf he didn't pay for was certainly more flavourful than one that he paid for himself, even if only a little and even if it was actually entirely in his head. Whatever. He wasn't one to think too hard over such a thing.

What he needed to do now, was think of a how he could help Edyn. She liked Gavel. And as far as he knew, Gavel wasn't fond of anyone romantically. At least not publicly. It had to be the same privately as well. And assuming that was the case, the best way to help would be making it possible for Edyn to enact coincident encounters, repeatedly. The longer she was in Gavel's eyes, the better the chances of her worming into his heart. And for that, he should give her Gavel's schedule.

That Gavel was so organized made that an almost perfect plan. Haven knew exactly where to look and exactly what to expect. He walked down and across the hallway to Gavel's room, to the closed door.

The children's rooms were on the second floor. And the rooms on the second floor weren't permitted to be locked. Mother's orders. And mother's orders weren't to be questioned, even by father. The children had to be adults to earn the permission. And even though Gavel was an adult, he was nineteen years old this year, he followed the order.

Havel pushed down the handle and the door swung open soundlessly. The inside of Gavel's room was black and white, clean and neat and orderly, exactly what was expected of Gavel. Havel had been inside many times. He had admired all there was to be admired, rejected all that he was told to learn, and complained about all that deserved to be complained about. He strode purposefully to the table that doubled as the study and work desk, because Gavel was an assistant in the president's office, in father's office. He had been an intern even while in high school. And he had earned what was pretty much a permanent position even before starting college. He was earning a double degree, in finance and computers, and working everyday evening. All of which was possible because of Gavel's genius, which was despite all the praise still understated. Havel found what he sought in the first drawer. The scheduler. Gavel wrote in it, even though he fully utilized the power and capability of his phone and computer. Writing to Gavel was meditation. And right now, a saleable commodity. Havel snapped a photograph of the week's schedule, sent it to Pixie, returned things to their right place, and headed out.

As luck would have it, he stepped out of the room and found himself staring at Pete's face showing disapproval.

"What were you doing in there?" Pete questioned.

"Stealing," Havel said, smiling warmly.

"What?!"

Pete was shocked. Haven wasn't one to avoid a question, however troubling, not even at the expense of harming himself, his image. So, it wasn't entirely that his brother answered that shocked Pete. It was the answer itself. He never could get used to how easily his elder brother gave out terrible answers. He didn't think he ever could. And it was a terrible, terrible answer today.

"Yeah," Haven said, nodding. "Anything else?"

"Can't you behave more appropriately?" Pete asked, only anger in his voice.

"How do you mean?" Haven looked truly confused.

"Like an elder brother. Like a younger brother. Like a good brother. Like anything but a disappointment in every way."

"No. I don't think so. No."

"Return whatever it is you stole."

"Hmm. Nope. Sorry."

Pete was angry by now. And it was showing. Pere was quick to anger. And especially with Haven. That was something everyone had tried correcting, then given up, and now simply accepted. Why would they have to be bothered by it when Haven himself wasn't?

"I'm not asking if you can or not," Pete said, the suppressed fury dancing naked in his voice and in his eyes. "I'm telling you to return it."

"And I'm telling you, no," Haven said with the same unaffected nonchalance. He then waved and walked away, humming tunelessly as he returned to his room.

*

"Done!"

Pixie messaged just as Haven fell onto his bed.

"Quick. Good." Haven replied.

"Here."

There was a picture, of the signed contract in the message.

"Edyn said she'd get you an add-on card by tomorrow."

"The money?"

"Already received."

"So, we're going to Wendy's tomorrow."

"Invite Petra?"

"Of course."

"Anyone else?"

"Don't care. Not paying from the card."

"Not paying with my money."

"Guess that answers it."

"See you tomorrow."