Romantic dinner and encounter

Alex started to tidy up his room, putting everything back in its place. As he was cleaning, he came across a dragon-shaped pendant—a golden dragon and a black one coiled around each other in a circular pattern, with their wings intertwined. It had been hidden in one of the books that had fallen during the "earthquake." Alex set the pendant on the table, intrigued, and decided to read the book later. After completing the cleaning, he went downstairs to call Jane, who was already waiting by the door with a smile, knowing that food was a powerful motivator.

Jane threw her bag on the sofa, and they left for dinner. The clear night sky was adorned with stars and a bright moon, evoking memories of the dream he'd had. Although the colors were different, the stars and the moon's position felt eerily similar to that dream.

During their walk, Jane wrapped her arm around Alex's, acting as though they were a couple, which caused him to blush. "Mom, stop it, it's embarrassing."

"Oh, look at how much you've grown," she said with a fond smile.

Alex kept looking around, hoping no one would notice their mother-son affection. However, his eyes met Ashe's. She was sitting on her balcony, engrossed in a book. When she saw Alex, she quickly averted her gaze back to her book, pretending she hadn't noticed them.

Their walk didn't last long before they stumbled upon a pizza hut. Alex ordered a large Supreme pizza, while Jane opted for a medium-sized Primo Meats. Both flavors were irresistible, with their rich cheese and tantalizing toppings. Jane only managed two slices before declaring that she couldn't eat any more, but Alex couldn't bear to let the delicious food go to waste, so he continued to indulge.

"Mom, what did Ashe want from you?" Alex asked, his mouth full of pizza.

"Nothing important. She just wanted to apologize for earlier," Jane replied while sipping her soda.

"She's a strange girl," he remarked between bites.

"Cut her some slack. Her father is always busy at the hospital," Jane defended Ashe.

"Whatever. I'm done; I can't eat anymore," Alex said after devouring the entire pizza, three salad plates, and two plates of fries, yet he still hadn't gained a single pound.

"You should say you're done because there's nothing left for you to eat," Jane teased.

"It tastes good," Alex said with a triumphant look.

"Let's go if you can still walk. You have school tomorrow."

They paid the bill and exited the restaurant. The night was chilly, and Jane wrapped her arms around Alex to keep warm. They walked side by side, chatting about various topics. Alex refrained from asking too many questions to avoid making Jane sad, so he reminisced about the things he used to do as a child, or at least the things he could remember about his childhood.

When they arrived home, Alex looked at Ashe's house. She was still on her balcony, now asleep, with her book beside her.

"Mom, wait here for a second," Alex said.

"Where are you going?"

Alex approached her yard and quietly opened the white gate. He climbed the stairs and grabbed a blanket that was lying there, placing it over Ashe to keep her warm. As he glanced at the book she was reading, he realized it was the same book he had on his table. A coincidence? He couldn't be sure. Lost in thought, he didn't notice that Ashe had woken up. She jumped when she felt his hands on her shoulders.

Her hands began to glow, and Alex felt a sudden heat on his chest. She managed to stop herself just in time.

"What are you doing?" Ashe asked, clearly startled.

"Nothing. You looked cold, so I wanted to put the blanket on you," Alex replied.

"Thanks," she said, looking around to ensure no one had seen her. She seemed genuine in her gratitude.

She wasn't the tough girl she portrayed herself to be. The way she had said thanks was different from anything he had seen from her until now. The tough exterior had cracked.

"Aren't your father home yet?" Jane asked from across the street.

"No, he called and said he'll be late," Ashe replied, her tone softening.

"Do you want to come by until he arrives?" Jane offered.

"No thanks, I have some work to do in the house," Ashe declined.

"Are you sure? We're making hot cocoa; Alex loves it."

Alex cringed at the mention of hot cocoa, but he kept quiet.

"These are the moments that everybody hates," Jane said with a knowing smile, "when your family still thinks you're some nine-year-old kid and they must spoil you all the time, just embarrassing you in front of everyone else."

"I'll pass," Ashe said with a smile.

"Thanks, and sorry for before," Ashe said to Alex, looking him in the eyes.

"It's alright," he replied.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," she said, then bent to pick up her book.

As he walked away, Alex noticed the subtle expression on Jane's face. She was hiding something from him, but he didn't want to pry.

"What is it?" he finally asked his mother.

"You have a crush," she said, her smile now visible.

"What are you talking about?"

"You like her, don't you?"

"Mom, drop it. And why do you have to talk about cocoa? Who doesn't love cocoa?"

Jane laughed as she opened the door, tossing her bag on the couch before heading to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

"I'm going to sleep now."

"Goodnight, sweetie."

Alex went upstairs, took off his shirt, and checked his chest. He felt a slight pain where Ashe had touched him, but there was nothing unusual. His shirt had faded in color a bit, but that was it. He grabbed his phone and searched for the latest music news and songs, but there was nothing new. He was full from eating two pizzas, so he had no intention of staying up late. He closed his eyes, slowly succumbing to sleep, and the next thing he knew, his phone's alarm was ringing. It was seven o'clock in the morning.

Alex couldn't afford to be late for his first day at school, so he opened his closet and found a note from Jane attached to some clothes: "Wear these for your first day. I knew you'd wake up late." While he didn't necessarily trust his mother's fashion sense, the outfit was acceptable. He went downstairs and grabbed the bag Jane had prepared for him, along with some lunch money hidden under the remote control in the living room. He locked the door and stood outside, wondering about the location of his new school.