Introductions

"BGV 115 has yet to respond to contact attempts by air traffic controllers and other civilian aircrafts. According to—"

As the news presenter droned on, the poor kid stared back at Adeline, uncomprehending. 'It's because of the television,' she concluded (wrongly). 'It's so damn loud he can't hear me.'

"—radars, BGV 115 has deviated from its original route and appears to be heading towards Ranai, an uninhabited island off the coast of Natonia."

With a sigh, Adeline leaned in a little and was hit with the unwelcome view of the cashier's greasy and pimply forehead. "Can you," she repeated, a smidge louder this time, "turn off the news? It's pissing me off."

All she got in response was stares. From the cashier, the diners, and even the guests walking by. 

Even from Rhys and the two beautiful women beside him.

'Seems like a slow one,' Adeline grumbled inwardly, oblivious to the fact that she's now the center of everyone's attention. People were not even angry, just taken aback by her audacity. "Can I see your manager? This is unacceptable."

"Uhh, Addy? Addy."

"Oh! Hi, Rhys!" The sight of the tall, well-built man with piercing purple eyes holding a brown food tray—yes, exactly like the ones in fast food restaurants—was enough to lift Adeline's mood. The cashier was momentarily saved from her fury.

Her mood only improved when her eyes landed on his companions. "And these are?"

"This," Rhys gestured towards the petite blondie on his right, "is my wife, Iris."

Iris and Adeline exchanged delighted waves.

"And this is my wife, Dahlia." The lady on his left, also petite and also blonde—but her hair had been highlighted with a soft pink that turned it a luscious shade of rose gold—was more reserved. She gave Adeline a shy nod. Adeline adjusted her wave accordingly while making sure she still came across as friendly. 

"Oh, silly me. I must have forgotten my manners. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Adeline Haugh. You can call me Addy."

"Hi, Addy! Rhys has told us so much about you!" Iris exclaimed. "You're so pretty! I can't believe," she sighed dramatically, "he didn't tell us that! Please, if you don't have any plans, come eat with us."

"I suppose," Adeline laughed, "I'm not pretty enough to catch his attention. Not when he has you two beauties. He's told me so much about both of you too!"

As the women made instant besties out of each other, Rhys detached himself from the group and snuck to the counter to ensure that the cashier's salvation could last. "Lower the volume. Just a little will do. Do it when she's looking. Don't worry, I'll handle the rest. You can turn it back up later when she's not paying attention or gone."

The teenager—still out of the loop, because Adeline was not wrong, only an asshole about it—merely nodded dumbly along and obeyed. 

Adeline rolled her eyes when she saw the volume decreasing on the screen, but—as Rhys had predicted—she was sufficiently appeased. The matter was dropped and quickly forgotten as Iris took Adeline by her hand and led her to an empty table.

Rhys returned with the condiments, acting as naturally as he could. Iris and Dahlia were not the jealous sort, and usually he would not need an explanation for his little detour, but it's better to be prepared than not. 

To his relief, only Dahlia seemed to have noticed his absence. Adeline and Iris were engrossed in conversation. Rhys unobtrusively slotted himself beside the quieter Dahlia and began deboning the fish.

"We still haven't thanked you yet! It's thanks to you that we get to visit Natonia together," Iris said.

"I should be thanking you instead. I'm sorry it's so last-minute, and I'm certain that you were greatly inconvenienced, but I really, really needed Rhys. I was in a bit of a pickle that I couldn't get out on my own," Adeline replied lightly, hoping her anxiety did not show. Rhys was a college friend, but his spouses were still only acquaintances. She did not want to burden them with her troubles more than necessary.

"Oh, don't say that! We're very thankful. It's rare for us to have the opportunity to travel together. It's difficult to coordinate between three people with different schedules. Besides," Iris smacked Rhys's bicep playfully, "it's even rarer for anyone to need him so urgently. I'm sure he's glad to be useful."

"Darling, you know I love you too," he murmured while scooping some fish (now boneless) to Dahlia's plate. His response elicited peals of laughter. Even Dahlia raised her hand to hide her giggles. 

Adeline propped one arm on the table to support her head as she wistfully observed this scene of domestic happiness. It's something she had found herself wishing for from time to time, but not with Micah. 

Micah had been more attentive than Rhys, but his attentiveness was flamboyant and subservient and came with implicit conditions attached. She enjoyed the attention without allowing herself to—as Iris and Dahlia could—feel secure in it. 

Because she had always known that his niceness was meant for Lady Welland, not Adeline.

"It is feared that the pilots of BGV 115 have been incapacitated. The aircraft is still cruising towards Ranai, which has an abandoned air base built by the Belgarvian military six decades ago."

The news presenter's familiar monotony snapped Adeline back to the present. 'Great! I can't shop for shoes or make new friends without being guilt-tripped by reminders of how people's lives are in danger while I engage in my frivolities! News flash! People die every single fucking day.'

She stood up, ready to complain, but she caught sight of Dahlia's pale face. "Dahlia, are you quite alright?"

Dahlia tried to nod, only to be seized by the urge to retch. Rhys soothed her as Iris rushed off, leaving Adeline unsure of what to do with herself.

Iris returned just in time, handing a plastic bag to Dahlia, who accepted it as if it's the thing she wanted most in this life, and then proceeded to puke into it. 

"We're expecting," Iris explained to a horrified Adeline.