When He Calls (Moons of Nibiru - Book #1)

chpt - 11: a black and white world

this chapter is a bit short, but important nonetheless 😶

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RAIN WAS OFTEN NOWADAYS AND LEFT the sewers overflowing and streets flooding with water.

"Oh my goodness, that was amazing." said Mrs. Parrish as Noah took away their plates. Dinner was a chicken casserole unlike any Father Cometa's guests had eaten before. Ryan and Caitlin helped him clear the table. They were in a hurry, because for dessert it was lemon meringue pie with a crunchy cookie crust.

"I took up cooking classes as a teenager." Father Cometa said, rubbing the back of his neck. "My father claimed that a man who could cook was worthy of a woman."

"I think your father might have been a bit mistaken." said Mrs. Parrish, nodding at her husband. He laughed awkwardly.

In the kitchen, Noah was carefully cutting the pie while Caitlin grabbed the dessert plates. Ryan looked out the window at the dark and wet world beyond the glass.

"This doesn't feel like summer." he said. "It's more rain and clouds than sunshine and blue skies."

"The sun's gonna be more social next week, says the weatherman." Caitlin told him.

"It better be." Ryan sighed. "I kinda miss the Loch."

A knock on the front door was heard through the pitter-patter of rain outside.

Ryan pulled back the curtains by the window to look at whoever was outside.

"Who would be dumb enough to walk in this rain?" they heard Father Cometa ask from inside the living room.

Ryan left the kitchen to see who was at the door, considering Caitlin and Noah were preoccupied with setting the table for dessert and the grownups were still busy with chitchatting.

The person knocked again just as Ryan came to open it. Brendon's pale face came to view when the living room light fell onto him. He wore a black hoodie that covered his head, ripped jeans that complimented his combat boots. His clothes were shimmering with raindrops, meaning he walked all the way.

"Dude, what the hell are you doing here in this weather?" Ryan asked as he backed away to let Brendon in. "Did you walk in the rain?"

"No, I just came from showering with my clothes on." Brendon said as he removed his hood.

"Brendon, what a nice surprise." said Father Cometa when he saw Brendon from the other room. Brendon gave him a look Ryan couldn't decipher.

"Brendon, what brings you here?" asked Caitlin when she and Noah came into the dining room to lay down the desserts.

"Would you like some pie?" Father Cometa offered as Caitlin placed the dessert in front of him.

Brendon kindly declined. "I'm just here to give Ryan something. It couldn't wait until tomorrow, so I rushed here before the rain got worse." He looked to Ryan and nodded with his head to direct Ryan elsewhere; someplace more private.

Ryan understood the gesture and brought Brendon to the upstairs corridor.

"What did you wanna give me?" Ryan asked him, his voice lowered, following Brendon's request for discretion.

His friend looked around them first, paranoid to eavesdroppers. "I'm gonna be gone a while." said Brendon, turning back to Ryan. "My parents wanna take a break from Marbel for a little bit. However, someone asked me to give Noah a gift before I leave."

"A gift? For Noah?" Ryan asked suspiciously. "Should Olivia be worried?"

"I'm not gay, dude." Brendon said. "Someone gave me something to give to Noah. He's busy, so I can't give it to him directly. Noah has to then give it to Father Cometa."

"Why all the extra steps?" Ryan asked. "Why not just give it to Father Cometa and be done with it?"

Brendon shook his head. "I was instructed to give it to Noah. He then has to give it to his dad himself."

"Very weird and specific instructions." Ryan said, raising an eyebrow. "Who gave you whatever you need to give Noah?"

"Don't worry about it." said Brendon. "Just make sure Noah gets it, and don't tell him I gave it. Just tell him to give it to his dad."

Ryan was hesitant at first, contemplating. "Okay." he said. "Gimme the gift."

Ѻ Ѻ

Brendon ran out into the rain after giving Ryan the 'package' and bidding goodnight. He would have loved a slice of lemon meringue, but he had someone waiting for him.

Parked across the street, a few houses away from the Cometa residence, was a grey van waiting impatiently for Brendon.

Brendon came to the passenger side window and knocked. The tinted glass lowered and Togo's face was shown.

"You done?" asked the bald man. He may have been shorter than Brendon, but his arms and chest were bigger.

"Yah, I gave it to him." said Brendon, his voice hard to hear over the increase in raindrops. "Now what?"

"Now — you go home, kid, and we go home." said Togo. Their entire conversation and he didn't look at Brendon. "Sleep well, and keep your phone on. You never know when the boss might need you."

Brendon nodded and watched them drive away. He shivered with his clothes drenched. Wiping his face clean of rainwater, Brendon turned and hurried home.

***

what is brendon up to?? 😋