CHAPTER 16: Friends?

Small waves reached up the shore and pulled back sand into the water. The two apprentices rested for a moment, looking at the moon's reflection in the lake. "I don't have friends," said Komo with sad eyes, "And it's so hard to think of you as one, when you're so different than me." Ringing out his blue shirt, Gren added, "I know we do things differently, but that shouldn't-" "It's not that." The interruption caused him to focus completely on his partner. Maybe it was the lake, but it almost looked like tears were forming in her eyes. "You have a perfect family. Your mom and dad love you. They cried when you left...My mom is dead...and my dad's been wrongfully stuck in jail since I was five."

 Komo's voice began to shake. "You know what that does to a little girl?" This new side of the normally tough brawler left Gren unable to answer, so she did instead. "It makes her feel alone. Like no one cares about her...And I know I make it hard to talk to me, but...I don't know how to..." Komo's breathing suddenly became more intense, like she was trying to control herself and failing. However, all of her struggling came to a halt when Gren hugged her. He didn't say a word, and didn't need to. Small drops of tears leaked out of Komo's eyes as she sat still.

The gentle boy sat down next to her and waited a few seconds before saying, "I'm sorry for, you know, dropping you from the ferris wheel." Komo wiped her nose with her wet shirt and replied, "No. I shouldn't have kicked you out the car. It's my fault. I was so stupid...Forgive me?" Gren smiled at his friend, and she back at him. Their hands met and shook in front of the moonlit lake. "Yeah. I forgive you." Both teens shared a laugh and sigh, then their eyes popped wide open. "PERCY'S GONNA KILL US!!"

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Meanwhile, the abandoned car dealership had a returning guest tonight. Krow looked up at the knocking sound at his office door and said, "Come in." The hooded Victor stepped inside, holding the ruffled feather in his fist.