"Hey Ivy. I was calling to tell you I decided to stay over at Gianni's house for tonight. I'll be home in the morning, I promise. I love you. Text me before you go to sleep." Leilani said before hanging up the phone. She plopped down on the couch with her head in her hands.
"I want to go home." She said without looking up at Jian. He sat in a chair across the room and sighed.
"Lei," he began, "I know it's all confusing and overwhelming. But trust me- you do not need to be on your own"
"You don't know me, Jian! I'm some girl you read about in the papers-" She began but he interrupted her.
"No you don't understand. Your powers are not something random; they wont go away and their not something to take lightly." Jian said angrily, causing Lei to take a step back. She had touched a nerve, she knew that. She began to notice that something was off, or not how it should be. She hesitated before arguing back.
"If you're hiding something I deserve to know." Lei stood up and began pacing. Her whole life had been filled with unanswered questions and she knew that this was just going to be added to the list.
"People don't just grow powers. I've been doing research- which is what the papers you saw. I don't know why we have powers. All I know is I can't remember anything before the age of 8 and suddenly I'm in a home with a guardian I don't know. Do you remember anything Lei?" Jian questioned her, rubbing his face in his hands. Lei thought for a while. She couldn't remember anything about her childhood. She bit her lip nervously before telling him she couldn't remember.
"There's a reason we're like this. So can you please help me find out why?" Jian no longer seemed to be simply asking, but begging. Lei thought for a minute before nodding her head. She looked over at the horse which was now asleep near the bottom of Jian's chair.
"Well alright, tomorrow we'll start our work. Try to get some rest tonight, you'll need it." Jian stood up and walked to his room without looking at her. Lei curled up on the couch and pulled the blanket from a shelf to cover up with. She laid staring up at the ceiling with a thousand questions racing through her mind, before finally falling into a deep sleep.
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The car ride to Leilani's house was silent except for the static from the radio and the occasional direction. Jian parked the car and they both sat there for a second.
"Alright, let's go." Jian says and begins opening the door. Lei ran her hand through her hair and walked up to the above-average-size house. She reached her hand out and rang the doorbell. Within seconds a copper-headed girl answered the door. They greeted Rayleigh, Ivy's personal shopper, before making their way in. Rayleigh told Lei that Ivy was in her art room. She quickly told Rayleigh goodbye, before walking into the house.
"Just follow me- And don't touch anything. Ivy can tell if any thing is out of place." Lei told Jian and she sees him visibly tense. They walk down the hall and down more halls before they make it to the art room.
"Oh, one more thing," she said catching Jian's attention, "if things go wrong just start reciting T.S. Elliot- it calms her."
Lei pushed the door open, before Jian could back out. Ivy was laying on the ground, obviously breathing, but still causing a bit of panic to stir in Lei. Ivy's head rested on an open book that had wet marks covering most of a page.
"Ivy?" Lei asked, in utter confusion on the situation which she had just walked into. Ivy lifted her head up from the book and looked at Jian and her. Then laid her head back on the book, not bothered that company was in her house.
"She died." were the two words that sent Ivy back into a silent crying. Lei rolled her eyes and began helping Ivy up from the ground. Ivy sat up straight, staring at a wall in utter defeat. Lei picked up the book and handed it back to Ivy.
"It's all going to be okay. Come on; I'll get you some vanilla ice cream to help the wound heal." Lei said and she pulled Ivy to her feet. The three slowly made their way to the kitchen and Lei fixed three bowls of ice cream.
"Pardon me for my inappropriate first impression. I was in a grieving state of mind." Ivy said looking at Jian. He told her it was fine, before taking a seat at the bar beside Ivy. Ivy looked between Jian and Lei; at first confused and then knowingly.
"What are you waiting for, Elle? Introduce me to your friend." Ivy said adding enough emphasis on friend for anyone to realize that she picked up more than was intended.
"I'm Jian, Jian Ely." he said offering Ivy his hand to shake. She gave him a high-five and Lei groaned to herself. Jian looked at Ivy in horror.
"I'm old, but not old enough to settle for a hand shake." Ivy said and Lei closed her eyes. Jian actually let an amused smirk sit on his lips. She knew Ivy was embarrassing, but she'd hoped to herself that Ivy would not be completely cringe worthy. So far Ivy has managed to embarrass Lei in just the first 30 minutes of their trip, way more than she intended the whole trip.
"And if it rains, a closed car at four, And we shall play a game of chess, Pressing lidless eyes and waiting for a knock upon the door," Lei recited to herself, only earning a glare from Ivy.
"Ivy, can I talk to alone for a minute?" Lei asked and walked to the living room with Ivy following behind her.
"You look like you've had a long night, Elle. What's going on?" Ivy said in a hushed tone.
"I'm going to go away for a while, Ivy. I'll call every night to check in, and I don't know how long I will be gone." Lei said before Ivy could protest. She looked Lei up and down then gave her a skeptical nod.
"As long as you call everynight. And I want to know where you are." Ivy said more sternly. Lei agreed and both of the girls went to Lei's room to begin packing.
