For a moment after stepping out of Rey’s ‘place of work’ I was quite surprised and pleasantly so, to realize that it’s still sun up.

The deep underground obsession with these gangs is not something I can truly relate with given my love for the sky and all the celestial beings living within it.

Speaking of which.

“I’ve got to go meet up with Paige, she’ll want to know how this went.” I explain to Austin, now clothe in a black top that doesn’t look too much like his right fit given how his muscles still bulge.

He stares down at me with a pitiful look, one that has been fixed on me since we stepped out of Rey’s place. I’m not sure what he thinks of me but I’m sure it doesn’t do me any good.

“That’s irrelevant, you’re with the crew now and you’ve got a deadline.” His eyes fall on the clean yellow armband that’s been adorn over the sleeve of my grey jacket.

I got the band to mark me as one of their own, I’m not supposed to take it off either, unless given the say so. Rex already had something similar, but it seems Rey wasn’t quite satisfied with the simple scarf he wore and had him wear a bright yellow jacket.

It’s almost a bit too much, but I’m certain Rey doesn’t feel that way.

“I really have to get back to her though, are any of the places we’re shaking down on the way to Prism Motel?” I try to negotiate but Austin doesn’t seem to care much for excuses.

His lip’s part to undoubtably rebuff me once again but Rex speaks first.

“Oh just let the kid go off to his girlfriend, Austin.”

Girlfriend? He thinks we’re together? Is that what we look like?

Austin grunts and faces Rex, surprisingly despite having the towering man puff up towards him, Rex doesn’t shrink in his boots like I’d expect him to.

Instead, he continues, “It’s not like he has anything on us, hasn’t taken any cash or guns either, just walked in and spat some words.”

Austin snarls at this, “He knows our base, that may not seem important to you but it’s important to me, and everyone else in there.”

Rex looks slightly offended, but he doesn’t acknowledge the call out, “If we’re hit by the Suppressors or some wannabe goodie two shoes in the police then we know who snitched, and we know how to find him.”

They do?

Rex snorts, my confusion must have played out clear as day on my face, “Prism Motel? You didn’t even have to be asked.”

Kepler’s Brains!

Austin, on the edge of fuming is rather satisfied with this, he glares at me and it’s obvious what he’s saying. ‘We know where you live.’

“I don’t care if your girl is preggers, get back here in an hour or I’ll come get you myself. We have orders.” He enunciates this by waving the receipt Rey wrote on.

Rex shrugs, not disagreeing, “See ya in an hour, Vern.”

I nod at the two and take my leave holding back an annoyed, frustrated scream reserved for Rex.

While I’m glad he showed Austin that I’m not a threat to him or his boss, I would have rather had him speak out like he did when I was struggling to breath under the zapping glare of his cousin.

Picked out such a convenient time not to be a coward, Rex.

Nevertheless, I put aside my annoyance at my poor pick of an inside man and focus on getting to my destination. Fortunately, Xoxia is plagued with several trikes, catching one going my way is an easy feat.

***

Whilst I travelled to my current position; the gates of Prism motel, my mind wandered as the wind billowed through my hair and my eyes passed over buildings.

What would happen if I paused time while in a moving vehicle?

I haven’t gotten my answer yet, mostly because I’m far too fearful to go from 70mph to a full stop. I’ve been witness to many accidents living in Xoxia, and vehicular accidents, rapid collisions, they don’t look pretty.

Despite not testing it, I figure it wouldn’t be a pretty idea to pause time while travelling at such rapid speeds. I know enough to understand that either absolutely nothing happens thanks to some mumbo jumbo with my powers or I keep moving at the same speed I was before the vehicle became subject to my powers influence.

For the moment, I’ve decided not to try it out. Although, I have manufactured some ideas on how I could use my powers and physics, to catapult myself into the air and in some respect, fly.

Can’t wait to tell Paige all about it…that, and the news of our allegiance to Invincibill’s gang.

Stepping into the building and greeting the receptionist, I can’t help the overwhelming feeling of dread that comes with the thought.

Paige could’ve been right. We should have just left, left and never looked back. But…

Why did I bring us back into a gang all over again?

And now I feel as though, this new affiliation will bring all but the peace I truly need, the peace Paige needs.

There weren’t any other options. Not like we could have left and started up a business. We’d be shut down and throw into orphanages or gifted to the Suppressors.

Maybe this is our only real choice left, I just hav-

“Hey!” I’m shaken out of my deep thoughts by the piercing, annoyed voice of the receptionist. He’s a blue haired, punk looking boy, not much older than either Paige or I.

“Sorry, I was-”

He rolls his eyes, “Yeah, I could tell. Your roommate is by the pool anyway.”

I blink and turn to the open back of the Motel where the pool and other condiment stands that really weren’t manned by anyone gathered.

“Thank you.” He doesn’t seem to hear this, headphones firmly back in place over his ears.

Tired but not defeated I head out to the pool, quietly wondering what Paige would be doing in it at this time of day when the sun is slowly beginning to set.

I find her soaking with three other people, one male and the others female. The four look like they’re having a party.

Music blasts out of their speakers, bottles of wine – or juice hopefully – lie empty by the side of the pool and they’re all in swimsuits.

I notice rather quickly just how touching and excited the guy is near Paige.

I mean…I can’t say I wouldn’t be…Ugh! Not the point.

“Paige.” I call out, but soon learn the sound of giggles, laughter, gossip and popular, catchy music drown out my voice efficiently.

Taking a step closer, careful not to stand too close to the edge of the pool, I call out again and louder, “Paige!”

She hears me this time, in fact they all do. Their heads whip to face me and the reaction that appears tells me all I need to know about what our interaction is going to be like.

Not as cordial as Paige would hope, certainly not with the colour adorning my arm.