Broken

Chapter 41

"So where's Xavier and Jacob?" I ask to try to distract myself from Evan.

"The guy asked him to stay back for a second." Levi says.

"What guy?"

"The head guy...I never got his name...Evan, did he mention it?"

I look at Evan. He just shakes his head, continuing to look at the ground.

"Oh, that's weird. It was probably on a name plate or something on his desk and we just missed it." Levi continues.

My eyes remain on Evan. I nudge his arm. "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm fine." He murmurs.

I narrow my eyes. He didn't look fine. I might be misinterpreting things but he sits next to me like he wants to start talking but then he keeps the cold wall up in between us.

"Why did Xavier have to stay back?" Thia asks.

"Private conversation? I don't know. He just said to-"

Suddenly, Ty comes running towards us shouting, "I'm here! I'm here!"

I try to hold in my laughter as he frantically runs to get to us. When he finally arrives, he was out of breath and rested his hands on his knees.

"Okay let's here it, what did you break?" Thia questions.

Ty holds up one finger to signal he needed to break for a second. "I didn't break anything."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"Zero?"

"Zip."

Still skeptical, Thia asks, "Then where did you go?"

"Um-you know, just around the town, explored the shops and houses and stuff."

"And stuff? What kind of stuff? There isn't much else here."

Ty scratches the back of his head. "Uh-well they have some pretty cool trees here too so I looked at them for a while too."

Trees? Something was going on.

Thia rolls her eyes. "I swear Ty, if you broke something-"

"I didn't, I promise!"

The door to the house opens and Xavier strolls out. I look for signs of distress or worry but he looked completely calm. I guess I had nothing to worry about.

"All good?" Thia asks him.

"Yeah. You guys can stay in a hotel in the west wing of the town. I would let you stay at my place but I don't think all of you will fit." Xavier says, slightly chuckling.

"I don't have money on me..." I say.

He waves his hand at me as if to brush off my statement. "Don't worry about it. I got connections."

"We'll stay in partners but that will mean someone is going to have to stay on their own." Thia says.

"I can fit one person at my house." Xavier adds.

Ty steps forward. "I'll go with Xavier. You guys can go to the hotel."

I wasn't sure if something was up with him or he just wanted to get away from Thia's questioning...or both.

Thia slings an arm around my shoulders. "Girls in one room. Boys in another."

Good. That would be awkward if I was alone with Levi or Evan...especially Evan since he's not talking to me.