Chapter 10

THEY HAD SPENT THE ENTIRE REST OF THE DAY playing video games, and then by nightfall Alex had been called back to his own room to sleep. “Goodnight, Alex,”

“Goodnight, mom.”

Alex woke up to the sound of the television reporter talking about the incident the day before. “The oil tanker explosion has caused widespread panic, with more and more authorities coming in, some people even caught sight of, what they say, a monster. Though most believe this to be a hoax, there have been more and more government vehicles on sight.”

Alex sat up, “What are we gonna do now?”

“We’re going to order plane tickets to Paris, stat. I don’t feel safe here anymore.” Sara replied curtly. “But the earliest plane ticket we can book isn’t until the day after tomorrow.”

“And…?”

“And from now on no more sightseeing or whatever macho crap you and the others have been doing.”

“What!? We’ve only been here for two days and only visited two places! Both of which were cut short.”

“Just stay here! Okay? Maybe go to some restaurant or something! But don’t- just be careful.”

Harold’s gonna take them somewhere unsafe! Her mind cried. Alex sat up, his dad hadn’t taken them anywhere yet, he was curious where he would take them now. He was also curious about this mind-reading ability he had. Something he had experimented with while he and Harold were walking through the narrow streets of downtown Venice later that afternoon. The thoughts Alex heard weren’t unusual, I need to buy bread. 

I’m gonna be late! 

Damn kids.

I can’t wait!

He even listened in on the thoughts of a golden retriever that had loped past, but all he saw was a perverse fantasy of tennis balls and the sudden irresistible urge to jam one into his mouth. Thankfully, Alex backed out immediately before he actually did.
Harold was still taking him to someplace “Dangerous”, according to Sara. Harold was still talking about some nonsense about the whole thing being a hoax and Alex wasn’t paying attention at all. He suddenly sensed surprise in Harold’s mind as he suddenly stopped talking. “Huh, look at that!” Harold nodded to the forward left direction. “Isn’t that your best friend Sam?”

Harold was right, in both questions. Sam had become his best friend, and he was standing right there, laughing with Jason over something on his phone. Harold strided over to them calling out some incoherent greeting to get their attention. Sam’s head whipped around and, upon seeing Alex, gave a bright smile, his blonde hair glistened in the sunlight, blue and green eyes beamed at him.

Alex felt something flutter in his stomach, oh my god, Sam looks… Gorgeous. Alex could almost see the halo glowing above his head. “Hey, Alex!” Sam ran up to greet him,

“Uh-um… H-hey there, Sam! Er… How are you doing?”

“Here, look at this.” Sam held up the phone to Alex, “This is my cousin, five going onto fifteen, hell bent on mansplaining to my uncle why he should buy him ten thousand robux.”

Alex looked at the screen, he gradually forgot about the butterflies in his stomach as he and Sam laughed at the little boy unsuccessfully tried to convince his father.

“Man, it’s hot today.” Alex groaned,

“Not for me.”

“It’s because your hair is blonde, so it doesn’t attract light and heat.”

“Have you ever had a family member who’s hair color isn’t brown?”

“I come from a line of brunettes, okay?”

Harold and Jason were sitting outside a cafe to talk, hiding in the shade from the heat that had already gone to the triple digits. “Why don’t you two go and have fun? He and I want to talk alone.”

Jason said after both Sam and Alex stared at them awkwardly.