1.3

There were four of them sitting around the table at Wendy's. Haven and Pixie had gone over and invited and brought along Petra. And Edyn said she would be waiting at Wendy's.

"What's that?" Petra asked.

Edyn had gotten the add-on card and passed it to Haven.

"Meal card," Pixie answered. "Gets him free teacakes. And pastries for you. And sandwiches for me. Nice, isn't it?"

"Yes," Petra nodded, grinning excitedly. "So cool. Where's mine?"

"You want one?" Haven asked.

"Yes. You have one. I want one too."

"You can just keep mine."

"But then, how would you have free teacakes?"

"Hmm. Right. So, what do you think?"

"You have one. Edyn has one."

"I don't," Pixie said.

"So the two of us should get one each too," Petra said.

"Okay. Let's get the both of you one each," Haven said.

Petra smiled happily. Pixie grinned hungrily. Haven smiled lovingly. And Edyn spoke doubtfully.

"Why did you want me to give you one if you can get it by yourself?"

"Free is better," Haven said simply.

Pixie and Petra nodded seriously. Edyn wondered if she was the one who was weird.

"Anyway," Edyn said, shaking her head. "I got the picture. Gavel's schedule. What are we going to do?"

Haven looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"We've done what was asked," Petra explained. "Help. That's all. Not plans."

"Oh," Haven said. "Yes. Help. And we've helped."

"Really? Can't you give more?"

"I can," Petra offered. "Do I get a meal card then?"

Edyn hadn't met Petra until today. She'd heard of her, of course. She knew of all four of the Orion family's children. Especially since she was so deeply in love with the eldest. And she'd heard of their reputations. Petra was said to be more like Haven. She was even most fond of her second brother. Edyn could see the words weren't false at all.

"Sure enough, you are his favourite sister," Edyn murmured, loud enough for the rest to hear as well.

"Of course," Petra said proudly. "I am the best. Brother is the best. I have to be the favourite."

"Alright," Edyn said, smiling very, very warmly. "I'll get you a card. Let me guess, you want it from me because free is better."

"Free is better," Petra repeated.

They placed their orders. A grilled cheese sandwich for Pixie. A slice of honey chocolate teacake with iced lemon tea for Haven. Almond and hazelnut pastry for Petra. A bagel and an espresso with whipped cream and hazelnut syrup for Edyn. And a matcha pastry to share between all of them. And Edyn got another add-on card as well, for Petra. Pixie said she was happy sharing Haven's card, so they didn't have to get another. And then, they got talking. At least, Petra and Edyn did.

"He already knows you have his schedule," Petra said.

Edyn was shocked. And showed it on her face, with her eyes open wide and her lips drawing an almost perfect circle.

"How?" Edyn asked.

"Petey saw brother leaving eldest brother's room. Asked what he was doing? Brother said he was stealing. And today during breakfast, Petey asked again. Brother asked if eldest brother wanted to know. And said it. He stole eldest brother's schedule."

"Wow. So, he knows."

"Which is why, don't even think of creating a coincidental meeting, or anything of the sort," Petra continued. "The moment you show yourself where eldest brother is, he will know you got the schedule from brother. And eldest brother is rather cold to such things. You might as well be honest. Don't say anything. Don't offer an explanation. Just join him, wherever. Smile. And be quiet. Eldest brother doesn't like it when I'm quiet in front of him."

"That's just you Petra," Pixie said.

"Yeah," Haven said. "He is just fine when I am sitting in front of him for hours without making a sound."

"That's just you too," Pixie said.

"Yeah," Petra said. Then, to Edyn, she said, "Then, I guess you can just speak. Whatever it is the two of you speak about. Don't bother with hellos and all. Just begin speaking. Eldest brother likes to follow rules. He will have to look at you."

"How old are you really?" Edyn asked.

"Eleven," Petra said. "I know what you're thinking. I'm so awesome. I just grew up faster, and better. I have an awesome brother."

"We are both awesome," Haven said.

Pixie didn't even flinch at the siblings' play. Edyn, however, was witnessing it for the very first time, and she wasn't sure what expression to wear on the face.

*

Edyn decided she wouldn't think too much. That was the recipe for indecisiveness. Instead, she fully submitted to impulsiveness. She let her hands pick the clothes in the morning. Blue denim skirt stopping midway between her knees and ankles, and a loose fitting white button up blouse. Seemed just fine at first glance, and a little alluring on further inspection. Just right for the day.

She had two classes in the morning and one later in the afternoon. Gavel had one in the morning and on immediately after lunch. According to his schedule, he was having lunch with someone called DZ at a restaurant not far from the campus. The time would make it more appropriately labelled brunch, assuming he skipped on breakfast. But knowing Gavel, it would be an early lunch. She was skipping the second class of the morning, to crash Gavel's appointment.

Just as planned, she walked into the restaurant about ten minutes after the time of the appointment. And saw Gavel sitting across the table from a young and beautiful woman in a red dress that seemed to be designed specifically for her. The two were talking and laughing and having a good time.

Why was that so hard to watch?

She sat at the table behind them, so she was directly behind the woman and in front of Gavel, so every time he looked up he saw her. And sure enough, he saw her. Almost immediately. She followed Petra's advice. She looked back, with a tiny smile and a lack of any other expression. And when she saw him falter, ever so slightly but still noticeable because he never faltered, her smile grew every so slightly as well. And a blush born from joy spread over her face.

The woman saw as well. She turned around, met Edyn's eyes, smiled in greeting, turned back around, and spoke to Gavel.

"Friend?"

"Yes," Gavel said. "Families are more friends. And we are in the same college. Edyn Grammare."

"Grammare?" She was surprised. Turned around to look at Edyn once again, and smiled, this time in invitation.

Edyn went over, sat between the two of them.

"Hello. I'm Daisy."

"Hello. I'm Edyn."

"Yes. Gavel told me. You are here for him, aren't you?"

"Yes. No point trying to hide something obvious."

"Agreed."

The two women acted very familiar like they had known each other for a long time even if they weren't friends. And conversation wasn't very difficult.

"Please don't let me interrupt your meeting," Edyn said.

"No, no," Daisy said, waving her hands in denial. "We're actually done." She looked at Gavel, and spoke. "I agree, Gavel. I guess that means we'll speak tomorrow?"

"Yes," Gavel said. "Tomorrow should be fine. I'll make sure everything is ready."

"Good. I look forward to a happy relationship."

Daisy was teasing. Gavel didn't bother replying. Or explaining to Edyn who was shocked. And before Edyn could get a word out, Daisy said goodbye and left. And then, it was just Gavel and Edyn.

"So, Haven," Gavel said.

"Yeah," Edyn said. "Haven stole for me."

"What did you give him?"

"That's between us. Really. So, now what?"

"Let's be clear, shall we?"

He was serious, and the smile might have been absent entirely. It certainly didn't reach his eyes, let alone anywhere deeper.

"Yeah, let's," Edyn said.

Was it because she was still fully submitted to impulsiveness? She wasn't nervous. She wasn't afraid. She was calm. There was a sense of impending finality. And strangely enough, that felt comforting. Like she'd know starting today. There would be no more confusion, no more fear. She would be free. Wasn't that exciting.

"You like me," he said.

"I do," she agreed. She almost said, I did. The words appeared in her head at the exact moment that she spoke the words she did. Was there some unconscious meaning to that?

"I am sorry Edyn. I do not like you. I like you as a person. Maybe as a friend, if we were to become friends. But I feel no affection for you, romantically. And speaking honestly, I do not think I ever will."

She didn't reply for the longest time. And he was patient until she did.

"Okay," she said.

The simple answer was surprising. For the second time in less than an hour, he faltered.

"So," he said.

"So, goodbye, I guess?"

It was the strangest sight. She confessed. He rejected. But he looked troubled. And she was at ease.

"I'll leave then?" he said, slowly.

"Alright," she said. "I think I'll grab a bite. I feel hungry. You go on. I'll see you at college. Or wherever."

"Yeah. At college. Or wherever."

He left. She smiled as if waving in farewell. And then, she went back to the table she first sat at. Asked for the menu. And after ordering, she messaged Pixie and Haven.

"I got turned down. Quick. Easy. Simple. Goodbye first love."

Pixie replied within a minute. "Liar. Your first love was a thousand loves ago."

Edyn sighed, even as she laughed. "This is why I love you, dear sister."

Haven replied not long after. "Good it's over. Wendy's in the evening?"

"The new teacake?" Pixie asked.

"The new teacake," Haven said.

"Are you allowed to message in class?" Edyn asked.

"No," Pixie replied immediately. "Caught. Detention, I guess."

"Definitely," Haven said. "Mr Thorne loves us."

Edyn burst out laughing.

*

At that very moment, Mr Thorne was fuming, the anger turning him red as a ripe tomato. He was teaching when his eyes landed on the two students he least liked. Unsurprisingly, they weren't attentive. Worse still, they were looking down, like they were looking into their phones.

"Haven, Pixie," he hollered. "What are you doing? Are you on your phones right now?"

Haven answered without looking up. "Yes."

"Stop it. Now! On your feet."

The two stood up. And held their phones openly. Even smiling as they typed.

"Enough!" Mr Thorne was never as angry as he was at this moment. He had never seen students more terrible. "Put away your phones. Right this instant."

They sent final messages before putting away the phones.

"Out of the classroom. And detention."

Haven shrugged. Pixie was quiet. And the two walked out.

Seemed like they had finally kicked up a storm too big.