The Return Of Time

Chapter Twelve: Pressing Issues

"So, Emrys, you wanna talk about how you gazed at Gaia in the stands the entire time after you finished the race? And how you brought her to you with telekinesis?"

Emrys stopped laughing instantly, and straightened, his face suddenly bright red, "So?"

"So?" Dex laughed, "If that doesn't scream 'I'm desperately in love with you', I don't know what does."

"Wh-What are you talking about? I don't-"

"Yes, yes you do," Dex said triumphantly, "there's no denying it!"

The younger elf's face grew from embarrassment to a knowing expression, "Oh yeah? Then I guess there's no denying the fact that while you were under infliction, you were playing with the back straps of Biana's dress? Quite scandalous if you ask me. Let's hope the press didn't get a shot of that, or Alden will never let you talk to her again."

"That's not true," he crossed his arms, "that didn't happen, and even if it did, Alden is reasonable."

Emrys swiftly grabbed the imparter back with a smirk, "So... If I texted Gaia now... and she told Biana... you'd be able to confirm that it's not true?"

Fear jolted Dex forward as he attempted to grab the imparter out of Emrys's hands, "No no no no! Seriously, there's no need for that! Biana does not need to hear about this!"

"What's stopping me?"

He thought for a second before answering, "The goodness of your heart? Your love for your Emrian?" When Emrys didn't seem convinced, Dex cracked out the big guns, "The fact that I can light leap back to Iridecesy right now and tell Gaia that you're madly in love with her even though you've only known eachother for a few weeks. Man, that'd be embarrassing."

Emrys jumped back, "You wouldn't..."

Dex pulled out his pathfinder to Iridecesy, "Try me."

Emrys held his hands up in surrender, "Fine. I won't tell if you won't tell."

Eyeing him suspiciously, Dex lowered the pathfinder, "Deal."

Without hesitation, Emrys grabbed it and started running. Dex swore, and ran after him, starting an epic chase that would leave both of them disgustingly sweaty, laying on the floor trying to get some air in truce.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

That night, when Biana was changing into her pjs, she noticed there were a few machine oil stains on her back, particularly on the straps of her dress... The stains were an array of shapes, from little dots to rounded smears... but she didn't even ask herself how it happened and just finished getting ready, distracting herself from what happened with what she would say to the press on Monday.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

The next afternoon, there was a celebration party at Dracovern, and Biana was talking with Dex at the edge of the room when her longtime ex-best friend stomped over with a younger girl in tow. "I'm getting a little deja vu,' Dex whispered in her ear just before Maruca was in earshot.

"Where's your Emrianee?" Maruca demanded.

"Who's asking, and why?" Dex asked casually, teasing her as he leaned against the wall.

"Maruca," she spat, "you know who I am, don't play dumb. He should be disqualified! He's under age!"

"Yet he still managed to beat you," Biana mused, nursing her spiced Zeta Berry punch with a small smile.

Maruca wheeled on her, "No one asked you, you annoying ditz."

"WHOA there," Dex pushed himself off the wall, frowning, "that's uncalled for. If you can't play nice, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."