Waves of Destiny (Twisted Wonderland)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

When Jade and I returned to school, I did not want to return to Ramshackle Dorm where my friends waited to interrogate me. So, instead, Jade took me to the botanical garden, where he showed me the mushrooms he was growing and I helped him plant the new ones. All the while, he went on and on about this particular hobby. I did not find it all that interesting in and of itself, but I was fascinated with the way Jade clearly loved it. The look on his face was a far cry from the calculating one he usually had that made me think he was plotting something.

"There are enough mushrooms here of the right type for me to make a stew," Jade said after awhile. "Would you care to join me, prefect?"

I smiled at him. "Sure. Sounds good to me." I took this as a good sign that he was warming up to me - and if I had to be completely honest, I was warming up to him too. It seemed Floyd knew what he was talking about after all.

I followed him to the Mostro Lounge. It was still well before opening time and neither Floyd nor Azul were in sight, so no one bothered us as we made out way to the kitchen. I watched Jade as he made the stew. I offered to help, but he insisted he could handle it alone. It did smell pretty good, and it made me hungry. When I tried to steal a bit, Jade pushed me away and scolded me with a smirk.

Finally, when the stew was just about ready, he insisted I take a seat out in the dining area. I had not made it two steps towards the nearest table before Floyd nearly tackle me to the ground in a hug. "Shrimpy, you're back!" he exclaimed. "Where's Jade?"

I smiled as I hugged him back. "He's making us something to eat."

"Ohoho! So it went well?" Floyd let go of me only to put an arm around my shoulder.

"Yeah, it went really well. We had fun."

"Good!"

A second later, Jade emerged from the kitchen, two bowls on a tray balanced on his left hand. "Ah, Floyd, would you care to join us?" he asked.

"You got mushrooms in there?"

"Why, yes."

"No thanks!" Floyd withdrew his arm and took several large steps away from me.

"Not a fan?" I said as I took a seat at the table.

"Nope!"

Jade set the bowls on the table and then sat across from me. "Go ahead," he said, motioning to my bowl."

I did not need to be told twice. I picked up a spoon, dipped it in the stew, blew on it, and then put it in my mouth. I knew my face must have lit up. "Jade, this is amazing!"

Jade smiled. "I am pleased you like it, Ona."

"Me too!" said Floyd, who was hovering over out table. "You'll eat all the mushroom stuff he makes, right, Shrimpy?"

"Yes, won't you?" Jade said with a look I may have perceived as innocent if I did not know better.

I shrugged. "Yeah, sure. I can't pass up free, tasty food."

"Azul, guess what?!" Floyd all but shouted as Azul entered the room. "Ona is going to eat all of Jade's mushrooms!"

"That is good news," Azul said with a smirk that told me he was up to something. "Would you mind if I put that in a contract?"

"Yes, I would mind!" I said. "Why would I need a contract for something I want to do? Am I missing something here?"

"Do not mind them," said Jade. "They are not as generous with their time as you. They are quite mean, but I know you will eat everything, prefect."