Sweet Delora

Chapter ten

The bus ride to Jericho was short as ever. Enid practically bouncing with excitement next to me the whole way.

Our bus was one of the last to reach the town, so students fill the streets, our purple uniforms clearly separating us from the rest.

Not Xavier though, the boy's stood in front of a white wall. I hug Enid goodbye before walking over to him. 

"Why you staring at a blank wall?" I whisper in his ear, going on my tiptoes to reach. "It wasn't blank last outreach day." He tells me, a little pissed off. 

"What'd you get?" I ask, changing the topic. "Weathervane, Ajax wouldn't switch with me." He says, his mood not getting any better. 

"Good thing he didn't." I tell him starting to walk away. "I like Ajax but spending the whole day with him." I continue as Xavier chases after me. "Exhausting."

"Wait, you got-"

"Yep." I tell him popping the P. "What did Ajax get though?" I ask, not for me but Enid. "That creepy antique store." Xavier tells me slightly shuddering at the thought of that store alone. "Thanks."

"Wait why-" Xavier goes to asks but I cut him off. "Just, put in a good word for Enid with him, please." I chuckle, running off to the town's center to try and find Enid.

"Welcome, welcome Nevermore Academy." I hear the Mayor say and I stop beside the bleachers, trying to find Enid in the crowd. "Now, on behalf of the entire Jericho community, we are so pleased to have you all here today."

"Your generosity and hard work are truly... Outreachous." The mayor jokes not getting a single laugh as Xavier joins me by my side. 

Weems walks up the the mayor, stopping beside him before turning to the rest of us. "Okay everyone. We will see you back here at 1 o'clock for lunch."

"Enjoy!" She claps, sending all the students out of the bleachers. "Let's get this over with." Xavier says, waiting for me so we can walk together. "I just gotta talk to Enid, I'll meet you there." I tell him and after giving his arm a squeeze, I jog off to find Enid.

I find her and Wednesday having a standoff. "What's up?" I ask, joining the two. "She wants me to switch for that creepy store." Enid whimpers making Wednesday roll her eyes. "Why?" I ask my cousin.

"I need Pilgrim World." She tells me making my eyebrows furrow. "Why?" I ask again. "After the shit their workers pulled with us you wanna work with them?"

"I'd rather stick a long pin in my ear." Wednesday says making Enid's eyes go wide. Wednesday pulls out the book she stole from the Nightshade's library, opening it to the page with Crackstone and us. "They have to have something about Crackstone there."

"This is not a fair trade." Enid complains inserting herself back into the conversation. "Actually, I'll have you know a special snake boy is also volunteering there." I tell the girl who's face drops. "Really?" She almost shouts at me. "Xavier told me, he will also be putting in a good word."

"Omg, thank you thank you thank you!" She squeals, taking the pamphlet from Wednesday and giving me a hug before running off. "Have fun Nes." I tell my cousin, walking off to the Weathervane.

I walk into the café the bell ringing alerting Tyler to my presence. "Let me guess, a latte to go?" The boy asks as I reach the counter. "A latte to stay, you're stuck with me till one."

Tyler smiles as I slip my bag off, unzipping it. "Forgot to give this back." I say pulling out his sweater. "Oh yeah, thanks." He tells me taking it from me.

Someone clearing their throat makes me jump. Xavier's stood behind us, in the Weathervane uniform. "Well don't you look cute." I chuckle, making the boys face soften.

"Where do I get one of those?" I ask Tyler who glances between Xavier and I before answering. "They're in the back, down that hall. You can change in there too." I nod, walking off to the back, missing the boy's glaring match.

After getting changed I walk back out in the uniform. "So, boss, what's the plan?" I ask Tyler leaning on the counter beside Xavier. "Well I'll teach you how to make the drinks that Xavier rings up?" He says unsure.

"Perfect." I say, clapping my hands together. "Get your pretty face behind that counter." I tell Xavier who does all he's told with a smirk on his face.

Tyler taught me how to work the expresso machine when Weems walks in asking Xavier for a black coffee. Tyler makes it and hands it to the taller woman who walks over and sits in a booth.

Ms. Thornhill is our next customer coming up to the counter. "Matcha latte ma'am?" Tyler asks, leaving me to talk to her. "Just a donut, Tyler." She tells him and he rings her up.

I grab the donut, handing it to her on a plate. "Thank you, sweetheart." Ms. Thornhill says, taking the plate and her change before walking over to Principle Weems.

"How do I make the top pretty?" I ask Tyler, glaring down at the blob of milk that's supposed to be a heart. Tyler laughs at me, walking away from Xavier who glares at the back of his head.

Tyler's hand cover mine, moving my hand over a new cup making a heart in the mug. "That's honestly impressive." I tell him, putting jug of milk down.

Tyler's hand is still on mine when a pain in my head starts. "Are you feeling okay?" I ask the boy who's face twist into a look of confusion. "I got magic hands, can I?" I ask, hovering my hands over his chest, gaining the attention of Xavier. 

"Sure?" Tyler says, unsure of what's happening. I gently place my hands on his chest and close my eyes.

Fear runs through my hands, the headache getting worse. My body gets weak and my knees collapse under me. I fall into Tyler who's quick to catch me.

Thankfully I don't lose consciousness. "Tyler just-." I try to speak but that makes it worse. "Let go." I mutter, trying to push myself away, he doesn't either cause he can't hear me or cause he doesn't want to.

"Dude, back off." Xavier snaps, shoving Tyler away, making me lose my balance and fall into the taller boy. "Del what happened?" Xavier asks, wrapping his arms around my waist to sturdy me.

His question grabs the attention of Ms. Thornhill and Principle Weems, along with the mayor who they were just talking to. I grasp onto Xavier's wrist, closing my eyes and leaning against him.

"Ms. Addams are you alright?" Principle Weems asks from in front of the counter. Warmth floods through my body and surprisingly I feel better pretty quick. "Yeah, uh." I say staying in Xavier's arms. 

"You might want to see a doctor, Tyler." I tell the boy as Xavier leads me out from behind the counter.  "Last time I reacted like that it was to a dead man." I mutter, sitting down in the chair the mayor brought out. 

I place my head in my hands, rubbing my eyes. "Are you alright Delora?" Ms. Thornhill asks, clearly distressed. "Yeah, don't worry I actually feel fine." I tell the two woman, glancing between them.

"Did I uh- cause that?" Tyler asks, placing a glass of water on the table beside me. "No, no." I tell him, trying to convince both of us. "I'm still learning my powers." I say before taking a sip of water.

After a lot of convincing I finally managed to persuade Principle Weems that I was alright the older woman leaving soon after.

I'm in the back when I hear the bell ring deciding to check it out once I'm finished folding the boxes in front of me.

I finish the pile and walk out, seeing my cousin leaving the store. "What'd Wednesday want?" I ask Tyler who shrugs. "She's chasing monsters in the woods."

"What?

"She wanted to know where the original Pilgrim meeting house was." Tyler explains, wiping down a table. "She's going alone?" I ask, panic rising in my chest. "Well, she kinda insisted that she went alone."

I sigh, taking off my apron. "Delora wha-"

"Xavier can you cover for me?" I ask the boy, tossing the apron in the back. "Course, where are you going?" Xavier asks as he puts down dirty mugs. "Tyler will explain."

 I change in the back room before running out of the room and the café before taking off into the woods.

Stay safe, love y'all and don't be silent readers!!!!