After a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast, we moved into the living room to continue hanging out. Casimir escaped, claiming he had chores to do, and Azar went with him, thankfully. I was still mad at them, and I'm sure Azar wanted to get Casimir alone so he could ask him about my new talent for understanding Terrarish.

"It's too bad the boys had to work," Zola commented. "No, don't miss the power-up!"

"Where is it?!" I shouted, gripping the controller tighter. We were taking turns playing a side-scrolling adventure game and were currently stuck on a difficult level.

"Jump!" Zola cried out, waving her arms as she watched the screen.

"Look out!" Sunita gasped, but it was too late. I had accidentally shot a docile monster, which wouldn't attack unless you did first. A trap that I had been warned about when I first started the level.

"Aw, I told you not to attack the cat monster," Zola groaned. I handed her the controller as the continue screen popped up, we only had 3 lives left.

"I know, I'm sorry," I muttered as I leaned back onto the couch. I yawned loudly, thinking that I was ready for a nap.

Maayan leaned into me, their head resting on my shoulder. "You did good and you got farther than last time."

"I suppose."

Sunita glanced down at her watch and made a small face. "Zola, we should get going soon if you want to get back in time for your date."

"Date?!" I cried out, glancing over at Zola. "You scheduled a date for today?" She was concentrating on the video game, so she ignored my stares.

"AJ is always busy, I take whatever days I can get," Zola sniffed, glancing over at me with a smile.

"He better be really hot," I grumbled.

"He's cute," Sunita whispered, "and huge."

I laughed out loud because Sunita looked so embarrassed by her comment that I found it adorable. Zola tsked at her, her attention still on the game.

"Do you have a picture?" Maayan asked curiously.

"Oh yes, a picture of the happy couple!" I echoed, poking Zola in her side.

"I did have one, but then my phone got run over by a car," she replied with a shrug.

"I'm sorry, what? When did this happen?"

"Ah dang it! So close," Zola lamented, throwing up her hands at the TV screen. Her character had died again, inches from the end of the level. "What did you say?"

"You said your phone got run over by a car," I reminded her, my eyebrows raised.

"It's nothing, I dropped it into the street, and crack, boom, bye phone."

"That sucks," I commented lamely.

Zola shrugged, turning off the game. "What can you do? It's not like I dropped it on purpose. I was due for an upgrade anyway."

"So no photo?" Maayan queried.

"No," Zola said bitterly. "That boy is so shy. I don't see why. He's gorgeous." She got up and began packing her video game system back into its box.

"A mystery," I whispered, grinning over at Maayan, who smiled back at me.

Sunita moved to help, picking up games as she spoke. "Maybe he was teased as a child, so he has low self-esteem?"

"Okay, now I'm really curious to meet this guy," I declared. "Can I come with you on your date?"

Zola laughed. "Fat chance, Massey!"

"He has really long, amazing dreadlocks," Sunita recalled. "He's also very tall."

"Very tall, huge, amazing dreadlocks," I listed. "Okay, got it."

"I promise to introduce you when I'm ready," Zola said, shooting me an embarrassed look.

"Just remember to invite me to the wedding," I sighed, slumping down on the couch.

Maayan gasped in shock. "You're getting married?"

"What, no, Maya! She's joking," Zola spat out, her face crimson.

We all laughed and finished cleaning up, packing up their bags in my bedroom as well. I smiled as we went outside because it was a bright and sunny afternoon, which cut down on the late autumn chill. As we were loading up the truck, Azar walked over, offering his assistance.

"Let me ride with you to the station," he said, jumping into the back of the truck before I could object.

"No fair! I wanna go too," Maayan cried out. I had told the lunar fairy they had to stay behind because there was only room in the truck for three. Azar beckoned them closer, whispering something in Maayan's ear.

"We'll be fine, I'm just dropping them off at the station," I reasoned. "I'll be right back."

"Azar can go with you! I just remembered something I have to do," Maayan chirped. They hugged Sunita and Zola before running off toward the back of the house. I shook my head as they went, glancing over at Azar, who was now settled comfortably, his arm leaning over the edge of the truck bed.

"Don't fall out the back," Zola joked as she climbed into the cab. Sunita glanced at me, slightly confused, but got into the truck as well.

I shut the door for them, rounding on Azar with a hushed whisper. "What are you doing?"

"Bodyguard duty," he replied, giving me a mock salute.

"I'll be fine," I insisted, glaring slightly.

Azar paused to stare at me before replying in Terrarish. "You know that's not how this works, Princess."

My eyes narrowed as I stared at him, but secretly I knew he was right. I was still having a hard time accepting this part of my life. I sighed and walked around the front of the car, hopping into the driver's seat. I drove slowly so as not to bounce the fier elemental sitting in the back. I glanced around nervously, looking for the one cop who patrolled our streets, as I did not want to get a ticket for having a passenger in the back. My friends and I parted ways at the station, waving happily as they passed the turnstile. Azar waited until they were out of sight before sticking an okashi in his mouth, pulling out a lighter from his pocket. I sniffed the air curiously; this one smelled like a spicy curry.

"We should get moving," I said, opening up the driver's side door.

"What's your rush?" he asked.

"It's a loading zone for one thing," I replied, pointing at the sign next to the car. He shrugged and took another drag from his okashi before putting it out. We both loaded into the car, and I quickly managed to turn us around so we could head back to the farm. Unfortunately, we ended up getting stuck behind some tourists driving ten miles below the already low-speed limit, so the drive home was incredibly slow. Our mutual, sullen silence just made it seem longer.

"So, Casimir told me about your new ability," Azar finally said.

I laughed bitterly. "Casimir has been talking a lot, it seems." Just not to me, I thought.

"Be nice to the guy," Azar complained. "He has to talk to someone about what's going on with him."

"I suppose," I conceded with a sigh.

"Like you didn't tell Zolaand Sunita about the kiss immediately," he said with a low chuckle.

"It wasn't immediate!" I shot back.

Azar laughed, and I joined in. I guessed we couldn't stay mad at each other for very long. We got caught at one of the few red lights in town, and I bided my time by watching a small crowd of tourists crossing the street. I was betting they were heading for the historic part of the town center to enjoy the sights. A woman raced across the street just before the light changed, so fast it almost appeared as if she were floating. She was wearing a trench coat and had a long white scarf covering her head, and when she turned to look behind herself, I was stunned by her beautiful face. I felt a surge of emotions coming from Azar, which put me on edge immediately.

"What's wrong?!" I spat out, gripping the steering wheel as I glanced over at him. The light had turned green, so I began to roll forward. Azar was staring out the window, his mouth agape, brow furrowed in confusion.

"Stop the car!" he shouted.

"Wait, what? I can't just stop-"

Azar didn't listen, throwing open the door and jumping out onto the sidewalk. I let out a small shriek, as did a random pedestrian who was walking nearby.

"Azar!" I yelped, slamming the brakes on suddenly. The car behind me honked aggressively, and I threw up my arms, frustrated. The fier elemental was gone, so I pulled over into the first empty street parking I could find, ignoring the angry glares of the cars that sped around me. I was frazzled as I turned off the truck, taking a moment to calm myself before I decided to go looking for my runaway guardian. Jeez, what is he thinking? I muttered to myself.

I grabbed my purse and coat, slamming the door shut as I surveyed the street. "Azar?!" I yelled. I only got half a block before I saw him. He turned as I approached, his eyes darting up and down the street. I threw out my arms in an exasperated manner. "What the heck, dude?!"

The fier elemental was still focused on his search and barely registered me as I stopped next to him. I tugged on his sleeve, worried now at his frantic behavior. My hand reached down to touch my Sharky keychain, which I had clipped to the outside of my purse. I wondered if I should call for help.

"Azar, what's wrong?"

"I saw her," he said. "She was right here. I can smell her."

Smell her? I thought, frowning. "What are you talking about?"

"Azar," a soft voice called out.

Azar turned around as the woman I had seen crossing the street moved toward us.

"C-calliope?"