The A.I. Protoforms

Chapter Six: Dinner

Jensi and Ivan returned to Jensi's house later that night. Jensi explained to his mother that he was just having a friend over. His mom was a bit surprised and skeptical at first, but eventually just accepted it. Jensi felt released that she didn't try and ask more questions. He had no idea how he would ever explain any of this to his mom without sounding like a lunatic. Further making her blame Ivan and then drifting off into a rabbit hole of worries that she did every once in a while, ever since his dad passed away.

Jensi brought Ivan to his messy room that he hadn't been in for a day or two. He told his mom that he had stayed at Ivans, another lie. He was on a roll and prayed he wouldn't have to anymore. His mom was a bit worried at first about the death that was now widely known and on the news.

Ivan looked around his room. Jensi looked at him to try and read what he was feeling but saw nothing but a blank expression.

"So...." Jensi eventually said to break the silence. "You mind sleeping on the floor?"

Ivan looked at him and laughed, of course not. Anything is better than sleeping at my house with a murderer running around."

Jensi nodded and laid down on his bed, however, as soon as he closed his eyes, his brain went straight into a spiral of thoughts. He hadn't thought about the murderer in a while, and wondered how close exactly Rose and Amaya lived and if the murderer knew where he lived.....

These dark thoughts soon drifted him off to sleep.

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He awoke from a deep sleep to Ivan shaking him and calling his name.

"Jensi!!" He said in his normal excited tone of voice. "I have an idea!"

It took Jensi to recollect his thoughts and slowly remember everything that had happened. He shuddered and looked at Ivan.

"An idea about what?" He asked in confusion.

"An idea of how I could make it up to Amaya! We should all three go to dinner as friends."

Jensi actually hated that idea, but decided not to tell Ivan his thoughts. He, yet again, reluctantly agreed and walked with Ivan to his car. He had asked Ivan if he wanted to change or wear any of his clothes, but Ivan refused and so Jensi changed into a nicer pair of jeans and a polo shirt. He told his mom that they were going to get food, by which she replied that he didn't like her cooking, which he politely disagreed and rushed out the door before she could say anything else.

He texted Amaya, whose phone number he got after she met them at the school. She then also accepted reluctantly, which made Ivan even more excited that he would finally get to apologize formally and hopefully get their friendship back on track.

They arrived and parked beside her in the O'Charley's parking lot. She got out, nodded at them and they walked in.

Once inside they sat down, ordered drinks, and ordered food in very small portions, very quickly.

Ivan cleared his throat. "So, Amaya, as I'm sure you're very aware of, this was my idea. I wanted to formally apologize to you-"

He was cut short as the food arrived they sat in silence and thanked the waiter. After he left, Amaya finally spoke.

"Ivan, you don't have to apologize to me, I know that you meant nothing by what you were saying, I am just very emotional during this time as I'm sure you are aware of."

Ivan looked surprised but relieved, from Jensi's point of view. He could never exactly fully read Ivan unless he was super excited, which was most of the time. Times like this is when Jensi starts to question whether he could actually read anyone.

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They got in their cars and headed home. Jensi decided to follow Amaya to her house, due to the events of the evening. They weren't exactly sure where Ivan was gonna go, but they decided to control one thing at a time.

Amaya pulled into her driveway and Jensi parked behind her. Her dad was supposedly home also, but these days nobody was safe. Jensi was actually starting to wonder why she was staying at this house. It clearly wasn't safe. And what worried him further was the fact that the police of all people would let them come back.

She promised Jensi that she would come back out to let them know she was fine, but she hadn't come back yet. It had been five minutes and she hadn't returned.

Jensi thought he might be overreacting just a bit, but decided to go in to see her, with some motivation from Ivan, knowing that she would probably be super upset about it, due to her being extremely independent. But as he got out of a car he watched the door open. He was about to sigh a relief but then he noticed that two people in black suits were waiting behind the door.

He started to panic as they walked towards him and Ivan at a very brisk pace.