Burn slow

Chapter 10| Wonder of the world

Guys! I wanna say thank you for staying with me!  I am celebrating the first thousand of views and I prepared for you quite a big chapter. I hope you will love it!

P.S. the song is for a general "mood" of the chapter. I was listening to it while writing :)

xoxo
Oryna

Update:
Guys, I attached the link to the song "Sugar" by Maroon 5 but I am not sure if you can see that because for some reason in the uploaded version of the chapter I see nothing, but it the editing page I do see the song. Could you please let me know in the comments if you see the song?
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POV Wednesday

We entered a cafe in the corner of the street the visitors of which could be counted on fingers so that place worked for me.

It was a bright sweet two-storey cafe and I felt a lump in the throat: too much colour. The walls were azure like the poison that killed Garrett Gates and the couches were beige like skin of a living person. The round wooden tables were scattered around the floor and four tremendous square windows let in lots of light to the room that made me squeeze into the couch when we took a table. The only good thing was that the top floor where Xavier and I got up was absolutely free from other people.

My eyes explored the room again and I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. I wasn't sure where it came from. Maybe it was just my gastritis. Or a sudden insight that this café reminded me of "Weathervane" from which the transparent thread directly led to Tyler. I immediately wrinkled feeling strong self-disgust having caught myself thinking about him again.

Xavier's voice interrupted my train of thought:
- What would you like? It's on me, by the way, - Xavier smirked and fixed his eyes on the menu.
- I am not going to order anything, - I turned my head to the window pretending I was peering at people in the street. I buried my glance in the crowd outside.
- Are you sure? - Xavier got strained so I assuredly nodded. I grasped the nettle to look naturally and let no one know my thoughts.
The order was placed and while we were waiting for it Xavier asked:
- What did you see in your vision?
I had to expect this question but I was caught off guard anyways. I fidgeted on the coach:
- I saw a tall woman with golden thick hair and big doe blue eyes. There was a tattoo of a spider on her wrist, quite similar to which you drew at Thornhill's class. And... she held a child, a boy.
- Did you see my mom? - Xavier squinted peering into my eyes like he was making an attempt to see my vision through them. Then he took his phone out of the pocket and showed me an old picture:
- Yes, that was the woman I saw, - once I confirmed this fact, an avalanche of pain grew up in Xavier's eyes forthwith.
- Did you see anything else? - Xavier trying to keep his emotions at bay folded a napkin.
There was one more thing that was important for Xavier to know. But I caught Xavier's eyes again and saw him still drowning in that snowy cold pain. So I bit my tongue.
However, Thorpe turned out to be more discerning then I expected:
- What is that?
- Nothing, - one more lie from my side. Xavier was still looking at the corner of the folder which pocked out of my sweater. Then he raised eyes on me and I kicked back. - Turn away.
Xavier confusedly harried up to fulfil my request.
I hastily took out the folder and then started talking as a sign that Xavier could turn to me back:
- I noticed your surname and got the vision as soon as I touched this folder. Then I decided to take it with me because something important can be inside.
Xavier opened the folder and his eyes got frozen. He peered at the page with the photo of his mother:
- What does Polish have to do with my mother's death? She died 8 years ago in a car crash.
- We need to figure it out.
Xavier put the folder at the middle of the table us both to be able to study new lead but that was incredibly uncomfortable so he scooched over closer to the window silently inviting me to sit near him, and that was what I did.
- Here it is said that mom died driving a black BMW. But she had her personal driver Bob who drove her cherry Mercedes.
- Can we talk to Bob? - I asked immediately as we just got a new character in this tangled story.
- I guess we can. I will try to get his contacts.
- Deal.

Neither of us knew what to add, our next step was outlined but at this very point there was nothing more to do; awkward silence choked us but likely we were saved by a signal that Xavier's order was ready so he had to go to the ground floor to get it. In a couple of minutes Xavier got back with a cheeseburger, French fries, and coffee:
- I got quad for you. I would just feel bad if I ate and you had nothing.
- Thank you, - I was bewildered how he found out which coffee I prefer. Xavier and I had got distracted from the dark thoughts. Thorpe asked reaching for the cheeseburger: - Are you sure you don't want to eat?
My glance sprang on the rosy buns of the cheeseburger which were just out of the oven. Processed cheese reclined on juicy meat the scent of which infatuated me and made me feel dizzy. The leaves of fresh lettuce peeked out the buns like they were waving to me and that all made it impossible to take my eyes off the cheeseburger, and I just moved a cup of coffee closer.

I didn't answer Xavier's question, just swallowed, so he asked again:
- Did you eat today?
I looked at Xavier having pursed my lips.
His eyebrows skyrocketed.
- Did you eat yesterday?
I continued looking at Xavier saying nothing. His eyes got widen and weird fusion of incomprehension and disapproval appeared on his face.
- That's yours, - he pushed the plates to me.
- I don't want to eat, - I lied.
- Why?
- No appetite.
- Okay, - Xavier frowned and after short pause leaned back in the couch having decided "to take a detour". - Let's try French fries first. I won't be able to eat the whole plate by myself so I have to plead you for help. Maybe you will even like the barbecue sauce.
After a long period of time, thanks to our adventures, I did get hungry so my fingers reached for French potatoes quicker then I ordered myself not to do that. And that was delicious.

Xavier was away again for several minutes. I finished the whole plate of French fries by myself peering at the cheeseburger, that now was in jeopardy.
Xavier got back quickly bringing with him one more cheeseburger and one plate with French fries.
- It's just in case you change your mind about some lunch.
My eyes looked at Xavier and then snapped to the food.
- I'm glad that the process has started and you won't starve to death, - Xavier noticed the empty plate.
- I will give you money back, - I promised looking at the food.
- Don't be silly. I just do care that you feel well. - Xavier put the tray on the table. - I even could get the cutlery for you. No way Wednesday Addams eats a cheeseburger without a knife and a fork.

I astonishedly stared at Xavier observing how he was moving the plates, the cutlery and napkins closer to me and couldn't take eyes off him. His olive eyes. His angular jaws. His long fingers.
- Thank you, - I lowered my eyes and Xavier finished.
- Not at all.
We started eating and it was the most delicious meal I have had since I got back from Nevermore.

I moved the plate with French fries closer to Xavier. He looked at me with puzzlement:
- Help yourself.
- Wednesday Addams being nice? I am witnessing the eighth wonder of the world.
- It's just because I had eaten the whole plate of your French fries. I am returning a debt back. I am for fairness.
- You shouldn't give anything back, - Xavier slightly smiled.
- Just take French fries, - I frowned.
- Okay, - Xavier smiled and did what I asked looking at my confused grumpy face.
We almost finished eating when I saw that the crowd in the street became tremendous.
- What is that? - I reached for the window to see better.
- As far as I'm aware it's a festival of death, - Xavier's face was close to mine so I rushed to lean back. - Want to participate?
- No. Just to dig around.

"I am going to the festival with Xavier", - this thought popped up quickly and was banished even faster then appeared.