To Learn To Fall (Sequel to the Other Side)

Chapter Nineteen

"Wow," I murmured, glancing around. I looked over at Thomas, who was standing by the portal and waiting. "I can't wait to see our—apartment?"

He nodded.

"How—?"

"It's better that you don't find out the answer to that question."

"Thomas Jefferson. Are you doing something illegal?"

"The last I checked, there wasn't a law in New York about manipulating human's minds so you can have somewhere to live."

I opened my mouth to argue, but I didn't get the chance as Angelica stumbled through. She righted herself and glanced around, seemingly unimpressed. "This is New York? It looks just the same as where we left. Are you sure that—"

"Yeah, I'm sure. And just wait, okay? We haven't seen the fun stuff yet."

"There is no place better than New York City," I reassured her.

Thomas snorted. "Well, you haven't seen Paris. Or any other European city for that matter." He met my eye and smiled. "But I suppose New York is alright too."

"Can't wait. Super excited," commented Angelica, but she did seem a little more... relaxed... than usual.

Washington came through next, followed by Lafayette and Eliza and everyone else, and Peggy came through last.

"Well, Thomas, what do we do now?" asked Hercules as we found the walking trail and followed the way down to the park exit.

"Well, I have to go somewhere a little bit away from here."

"Where?" I asked, thinking something close like Maine or New Jersey.

"Saint Kitts and Nevis." He sighed, casting a look at me. How much did he know? "Particularly the latter."

I didn't stop walking, even though the mere mention of the name was enough for the disgusting, sinking feeling in my stomach to rise.

"What is this stuff?" James asked, picking up a handful of snow

"Snow. When the conditions get cold enough, the water vapor in the clouds freezes. Sometimes it makes snow, other times ice falls from the sky and it's horrible and it damages cars."

"That sounds terrible," James said, dropping the snow.

"Has it really been over a year?" I asked quietly, staring at the whiteness that covered the ground as I desperately tried to warm myself up. I walked close to Thomas, so close that our arms almost touched. "I don't think it's been three months."

Thomas shook his head and took hold of my hand. With his touch came a blast of warmth that I had grown so accustomed to.

Divinity, I'm going to miss this when it's gone.

The thought came out of nowhere, but it was so sudden that I almost stopped walking altogether. It was a hundred times more chilling than the cold air surrounding us, but the worst part was that truth echoed through the statement. I let go of Thomas's hand.

"Lex? What's wrong?" Thomas asked in a low voice.

"Lex?" I paused, looking up at him and pushing the horrible thought to the back of my mind.

"Sorry, Alex. I didn't mean—"

"No! It's cute! I like it, but only if you let me come up with a name for you."

"Deal. Anyway, you alright? Is it because of Nevis?"

I nodded, thankful for the excuse. "Yeah. I just never thought I'd be going back there. But I'll be fine, right?" He smiled down at me, and I took a deep breath. "I hate being cold."