Feathers and Stones

Chapter 17 (Rikki)

"I still don't see why I have to help when I wasn't even involved in the first place" I say from the back of the group as I follow Mandy and her friends through the forest behind Mandy's house.

"Oh stop complaining and help us look." Mandy snaps at me as she and her friends continues to look for Jay, who decided it was a good idea to run off. Why would he run off in the first place?

I groan and choose to ignore the group. The only reason I'm doing this is for Mandy. So far she's the only one I actually like in the group. Well, I guess Tay is okay but she's still annoying at times. Especially when she doesn't shut up

"Should we split up?" Tay suggests, looking at everyone in the group.

"Maybe..." Mandy looks between everyone.

"Hey!" A high pitched voice calls through the trees. We all look over to see Mandy's little sister and her friend running towards us.

"Minka," Mandy calls. She goes over to Minka. "Did you guys find Jay?" she picks some twigs and leaves out from her long, auburn hair. "What happened to you?"

Minka smacks Mandy's hand away "I fell into a bush." She says, "Anyways, Rex found Jay. He told us to go back."

"Why?" Mandy asks. She looks at Rex as he walks over to the group.

"Jay told me he wanted to be alone for a bit." Rex says.

"Is he okay?" Tay asks a bit worried.

"He's fine," Rex says, "just give him some time."

"Okay..." Tay fiddles with her fingers. "I feel bad."

"Tay, it's not your fault." Mandy says as she puts her hand on Tay's shoulder, "C'mon, let's go back." Tay nods and we all head back to the cul-de-sac.

I plop down under the tree in Mandy's front yard and sigh. Mandy comes over and sits next to me. "Hey," she says, "sorry for dragging you into this mess."

"Whatever," I say, "you're lucky I like you."

Mandy gives me and awkward, relieved smile. "Heh, yeah..."

We sit in silence for a moment watching as the others go about with their own business. Minka and her friend are running around in the street while Maison and Tay talk in the grass of Mandy's yard. "What happened anyway?" I eventually ask Mandy.

Mandy glances at me then shakes her head. "It's complicated" she says, "Basically a lot of crap went down."

"Hmm." I look over at Tay, who is rolling around in the grass while Maison tries to calm her down. "What is her deal?"

"Tay?" Mandy asks as she looks at her friend, "Oh don't mind her she's just going through a crisis."

"You're not gonna help her?" I say.

"Nah," Mandy says, "she'll get over it."

"Sis!" Minka calls from down the street.

"Minka, what are you doing?" Mandy asks.

"We want ice cream!" Minka calls.

"Ice cream!" Tay perks up. "I want ice cream!" She looks at Mandy.

Mandy sighs, "guys-..."

"Please?" Minka says with puppy eyes.

"I can take them if you don't want to, Mandy." Maison offers.

"No, I'll come." Mandy says. She stands up and looks down at me. "You wanna come?"

I wave my hand at her. "Go ahead, I might catch up later."

"You sure?" Mandy asks, "It'll give you a chance to better your relationship with everyone."

"I'll join later." I say, "Go on without me."

"Okay..." Mandy says, "See you later then." She walks over to the rest of the group. She turns back to me. "Don't go trying to find Jay just to mess with him." She calls back.

Dang it Mandy.

I groan. "Fine..."

"Good!" She smirks and runs off to join her friends.

Yeah right.

Once they're out of sight I get up and run behind the house and into the forest.

I walk around through the forest keeping my eye out for Jay. I could enhance my senses like I did in the supermarket, but I haven't fully protected that power. Last time I got a bad headache and had to miss dinner. It was steak night too!

I shake my head and continue looking for the blonde pest.

I hear voices nearby. I follow them doing my best to keep quiet so I'm not noticed. I peek out from behind a tree and see Jay talking to a girl from the other side of a fence.

They talked a bit. I didn't really care enough to listen in on what they were saying but it looked like they were getting along well. Once the girl jumps down from the fence and go inside I step up.

"Who was that?" I tease.

Jay whips around. He glares at me. "Why are you here?" He says.

"Mandy asked me to help look for you." I say being completely honest.

"Rikki..."

I raise my right hand "Honest." I say, I put my hand down, "I only offered to help because Mandy's my friend." I walk over to him. "Now, if I may ask, what made you decide to run off in the first place?"

"Why do you care?" Jay asks.

I shrug, "just curious."

"It's none of your business," he says, "now go away and leave me alone."

"Well someone's a grumpy grouch," I say.

"Go away, Rikki." He growls at me.

"Say please." I say, purposely trying to annoy him.

"Go away!" He snaps. He throws something at me. I dodge it and hold out my hand and hold him in the air with my powers.

"Put me down!" He struggles to break free from my hold. "Rikki!"

I giggle. "Let's have some fun!" I say with an innocent smile which eventually turns to a mischievous grin. I let out an evil chuckle as Jay stares at me in horror of what may come.