If You Trust Me - An Onward Fan-Novel

◊ Chapter 7 ◊

Previously on Onward...

The Lightfoot brothers convene in Barley's room to share their findings about the S.S. Medallion. But Ian and Barley soon hit a snag when they disagree on letting Mr. Vance in on the investigation. This leads Barley to hide the medallion away from his brother, and for Ian to storm away in anger—testing their relationship!

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◊ Wanted ◊ 

As the morning sun rose over New Mushroomton, transforming another night into day, a dazed Ian reached for his phone and turned off his alarm. Then sitting up a little, he began to wipe the sleep out of his eyes. Just one peek at the sunlight that shone into his bedroom made the teenage elf remember something. He was meeting with Mr. Vance after school today to discuss the secrets of the S.S. Medallion.

All Ian wanted to do was bury his entire head under his pillow—which he did, of course. Then he groaned. There was no way this examination was going to go the way he wanted it to if he didn't have the actual S.S. Medallion to show to his teacher—and as far as he was concerned, it was all Barley's fault!

He's going to call my bluff, Ian thought. People pretend they have stuff all the time, even though they don't. Mr. Vance is so going to think that about me. He's going to think I don't actually have it!

The younger Lightfoot then removed the pillow that was over his face and held it out to the side. Then he found himself staring up at his bedroom ceiling as he continued to think with a downhearted expression on his face.

He really wanted to see it...and I'm going to let him down...

Meanwhile, Barley—already up and awake—was upstairs passing by Ian's bedroom door. As he did, he stopped right in front of it, and stood there for a moment.

Maybe I should talk to him, the older elf thought. He made a fist to use to knock on the door. But just as he was about to touch it, he heard his mother calling him from downstairs.

"Barley! It's your turn to take out the trash!" she said.

This convinced the older Lightfoot to put his hand down. He let out a sigh. Seconds later, he called back, "coming!" Then he charged down the stairs to take out the garbage at his mother's request.

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It took a little longer than usual for Ian to get up this morning. It was clear to him that he felt nervous about today. But no matter the circumstance, he had to face what was in front of him. So when the teenage elf finally did make his way out of bed, he slipped on a dark gray flannel shirt, jeans, and a pair of sneakers. Then he grabbed his bag with the goal of getting out of the house as soon as he could. Ian decided right then he would just get some food on the way to school today. That way, he wouldn't have to see Barley, his mother, or Colt if the centaur cop happened to come in through the back door.

The younger Lightfoot slowly opened his bedroom door and went through, then he attempted to walk down the hall and down the stairs as quietly as he could so that he wouldn't attract any attention. When the front door to the outside was just within his reach, Ian held out a hand for it, but then he hesitated. He looked over at the kitchen and noticed that both his mother and Barley were in there. Sighing, the youngest elf decided to at least tell the ​​matriarch of the Lightfoot family three what he was planning to do.