Chapter 10 : Lincoln (Past)

After twenty uneventful minutes, Lincoln found himself in front of Naomi's doorstep. Her front yard was a spectacular blend between ancient green and futuristic white even to this day the blend looked beautiful the way it suited the environment of the neighbourhood, yet also adding its own touch. "Oh yeah." Lincoln told himself, "She lives in the woods."

It was around noon and that's when the house was at its most beautiful state with its bright aura and design matching perfectly with the sun, it was an ingenious design and everybody knew it. Even though it had barely anything artificial, it was all organic, no flower holograms with sprayed on scent or robot butterflies that were the trend these days. Every time he would set foot on her lawn, it would be as if he travels back in time. "It's my favourite, and will always be." And he went to ring the house's doorbell.

After a few seconds, he could hear faint footsteps on the other side and then the door was opened by Naomi herself. "Yes?" She asked without a proper greeting. Lincoln sighed and decided to do it, "Hey." Lincoln said with a genuine smile, he loved seeing Naomi, and already knew why. Seeing how Lincoln didn't like the way she greeted him, she gave a small pout and looked away. "Hi." She managed to say.

Naomi was beautiful, with her unusual yet natural purple hair and emerald green eyes. She was always the moody type of the group and only talked when needed, which was very little.

Lincoln didn't enter the house immediately like he'd done with Destry and decided to wait until Naomi invited him. Which never happened as long as Lincoln remembered. Unsure of what to say to her, Lincoln fidgeted with his knuckles. Naomi then tilted her head, as if repeating her question. This put Lincoln at ease, at least she was interested. Naomi just stood there playing with her hair, then raised her eyebrows when Lincoln finally said something.

"We decided to form a club. It was a sudden idea after I and Dexter renovated a cave, we fell into during our last hiking trip. I know it was random, but I liked that cave. So, we did just that. It's more of a hideout now, and we already got Destry to join and thought to invite the others too. I was thinking of you-" Lincoln said but was cut off. "No." She said, much to his dismay. That was quick. Lincoln thought to himself. "Why not?" He asked. Naomi shrugged, "It's a waste of time." She said with a smug look. "No, it isn't anything like that. We were a group anyways so having a place to hang out just adds to it right?" Lincoln explained, he knew he made a point, but also knew it wasn't enough.

"There's nothing wrong with how the things are now."

"It's much better when we're a club, we could do all sorts of things and even have fun."

"I don't do fun."

"Come on is there anything we could do to make you join?"

"Leave me alone Lincoln."

"Anything. I'll do anything, just come. I don't want you left out like this." Lincoln said he wasn't sure why he wanted Naomi to join so badly. But he knew it would be better. "Anything?" She asked, and Lincoln sighed. There it is. I already know what she'll ask. I'm so dead. He nodded slowly, hoping it was something else.

"Okay then, a piggyback ride to your 'hideout' would do the job. I'm tired today." Naomi said with a stretch and a yawn. "W-what? No! It's too far, took me like forty minutes just to get here. You can't expect me to carry you all the way there." Lincoln replied, Urgh I knew it.

He didn't necessarily hate doing this, but he didn't want to show he liked it. He also wasn't ready to take her that far, what would become of his shoulders if he does.

Naomi moved a strand of hair in front of her to the back, Lincoln found this action of hers attractive. "Okay then. I'll see you later Lincoln." She said and turned to enter the house. "Wait! We can do something else instead. Come on my shoulders would die!" Lincoln said he was on the verge of laughing. "If I don't get a ride, I won't join," Naomi said with finality. "Okay fine! I'll call this an exercise then. But just this once." Lincoln said with a sigh of defeat. Naomi shrugged, "I'm always tired." She replied.

Lincoln sighed again and bent down for her to climb on, like a horse for its owner. "Climb on then," Lincoln said and she got on, her hands clasped around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist. "Hold tight," He added and raced along the path to the mountains.

After a thirty-minute mark, he reached the mountains and circled them. He breathed rapidly and bent down, Naomi slowly got off, making Lincoln miss the contact a little. He found the face to the secret doorway and tapped on the rock. He continued painting, his shoulders felt so light now. She was almost as tall as Lincoln, making it even harder to carry her. The cold helped with his sweating problem; he didn't know what he would've done had it been summer instead.

The rock slowly parted for them, and if Naomi was impressed, she was doing a great job at hiding it. She wanted to become an inventor, so something like this would impress her a lot. Lincoln was also good with technology, they both created something for their friends that helped them with communicating with each other.

They called it the Group Comms. It is a contact lens that had a screen in it, and this screen can be controlled with their fingers. They wear a semi-glove cloth, which they can tap and swipe to control the screen they see with the contacts. They also wear tiny earbuds which have great sound quality, but cannot be seen by others and also do not affect what Lincoln hears in real-time. All this connect to the lens they were, the earbuds helping with calls and listening to music. Lincoln got his one fixed shortly after the hiking accident.

All six of them had this, and Lincoln would've used it to invite Naomi instead, but he knew it wouldn't work.

They stepped inside and the door closed behind them. No one had arrived yet, he figured Dexter was on his way and Destry may still be having troubles getting Ash. "How is it?" Lincoln asked after finally catching his breath. "It's alright," Naomi replied. Lincoln's face fell and he opened his mouth to say something but was cut off. "I like it." She added, and Lincoln smiled. The door opened again, and he was surprised to see all four of them enter.

Ash had snow-white hair, and his eyes were coffee brown. He wasn't much of a talker, but he's a very smart guy. He would always wear a cap and would cover his eyes with it whenever he talks. Sally has brown hair and ocean blue eyes, she was the brightest person in the group and had a crush on Dexter since high school, but it was Dexter who had first confessed. And they've been ever since then.

Ash sat on the couch, while Dexter gave Sally a tour. Ash might've been checking the place out, but Lincoln wouldn't know. Naomi stood up and walked to the door again and started inspecting the technology in it. Lincoln then took a seat across from Ash, he would talk to him later.

To his pleasure, Destry sat next to him, "Hey Lynn, we need to do something. This atmosphere is too boring." Destry complained. "We could have a party like most people do when they create a club," Lincoln suggested. "Good idea!" Destry said before standing up and relaying it to the others. "That'd be fun," Dexter replied, nodding. "I'm in," Ash said, still covering his eyes with the front of his cap. Sally sounded in agreement and Naomi simply nodded.

Lincoln smiled. "Okay then, let's have it tomorrow evening. Me, Dexter, Destry and Sally will make the decorations. Tonight, or tomorrow afternoon, Naomi and Ash could go get the food, just be there half an hour before the party to set up the food." Lincoln said. "We can invite the people from know from college too," Destry suggested. "But won't that mean our hideout being known to everyone?" Sally said with a gasp, her face wouldn't hide her confusion. Ash nodded, "We can instead have a small party here after the big one in Dexter's house." He suggested.

"Wait, that's a good idea," Destry replied with a smirk. "Why my house?" Dexter complained. "It's more of a palace so it'll be enough." Destry chimed in. The others just nodded. "Fine... A party at my house and a small pyjama party here. Fun." Dexter said. "You make it seem more and more like we're babies. Weirdo." Destry said. "You're one to talk," Dexter replied, and Sally giggled in response. Lincoln sighed, "That seems like a good enough plan." He said and Ash nodded.

"Well guys, time to go. I'll come back tomorrow to decorate this place. Since we're having two parties, we need to split up. We can decide that tomorrow. Bye guys." Destry announced and walked out of the cave, Ash followed.

"Well then, I'll be going too then," Dexter said taking Sally's hand. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow," Lincoln said and waited until the couple exited the cave and turned to Naomi. "You going alone or do you want me to walk you home?" Lincoln asked her. She shrugged. Lincoln's face fell. Guess I'm walking her then. He thought to himself.

His ringtone sounded in his ears and his mother's contact appeared in his pane of vision. He swiped his thumb over his index finger to the right to answer the call, and soon after he could hear his mom's voice. "Hey, sweetie." She said she seemed to be in a good mood, Lincoln was too. "Hey, mum. How are you doing?" Lincoln asked, he slowly moved to the corner so he could get more privacy. Naomi just stood next to the door.

"I'm doing good, I'm excited about our 20th Anniversary dinner tomorrow." His mother said giddily. "Oh wow, yeah. Hope you and dad have a great time!" Lincoln said, now a little upset he didn't remember. "Yup, your sister said she's going to her friend's house when we leave. Do you have any plans too?" His mother asked. "Yeah, I do, we're having a party at Dexter's so don't worry about me," Lincoln assured her. "A party? Who's coming?" His mother asked. Lincoln chuckled, "Well a lot of people. I'm not sure how much though." Lincoln replied. "Oh okay. You have fun too then. Also, by the way..." His mother started. "Yeah, mum?" Lincoln asked.

"You barely come home nowadays, how about you come for dinner today?" His mom asked. "I was planning to mum; I'm going to be freer nowadays so don't worry. I'll be there soon, okay?" Lincoln assured her. "Alright, sweetie. I just missed you that's all." His mother said with a sad voice. "I missed you too mum. I'm going to hang up now; I'll see you in an hour." Lincoln said. "Okay, sweetie. Love you." His mother said. "Love you too mum," Lincoln replied and hang-up.

After hanging up he made his way to Naomi. "Did I take too long?" He asked and Naomi shook her head. "Haha alright. Let's go then." Lincoln said and walked out of the cave.