The Walks of Life

Chapter Seventeen

"I cannot get this new kick down!" James growled.

"It would help if you cut your hair," Lloyd rolled his eyes. "Or at least put it up."

"Mom fights with her hair down," James retorted.

"It's also not in her face," Haden answered.

"Good morning," Delilah said as she walked into the training room. Everyone was surprised to see her dressed in her normal black attire. She was still pale but seemed to be fine. "Mr. Garmadon, may I speak with you?"

"Which Mr. Garmadon are you talking about?" Garmadon said as he walked into the training room with Xavier. "There are five of us."

"Six if you call Aiden Mr. Garmadon," Xavier snickered.

Delilah pointed to Haden and Haden raised an eyebrow at her. She remained placid and crossed her arms waiting for him to respond. Normally when someone said Mr. Garmadon they were referring to Lloyd since Garmadon was Sensei Garmadon. Haden beckoned for Delilah to follow him out of the room and she obeyed.

"Mr. Garmadon," Delilah began. "I-"

"Why so formal?" Haden smirked.

"Uh-because," she stuttered. "I need to be leaving. I wanted to know what you wanted me to do to repay you."

"Repay me for what?" Haden raised his eyebrow. "And are you sure you're well enough to leave? And what about Robert?"

"I can handle Robert," Delilah responded sharply.

"Yes, as evidenced by your last encounter with him," Haden rolled his eyes and she glared at him. "I don't get it. He was just a punk in highschool and now he is a deadly assassin?"

"What are you talking about?" Delilah asked incredulously. "How would you have known him in highschool?"

"He is Natalie's ex," Haden raised an eyebrow at her.

"But-" Delilah looked confused. "He is thirty-two."

Now it was Haden's turn to looked shocked and confused. Natalie looked at him questioningly and waited for a response.

"Are we talking about the same Robert?" Delilah finally asked.

"We are definitely talking about the same Robert," Haden nodded. He began to look angry and this startled Delilah even more. Haden looked like he was about to curse up a storm but Aiden walked up and grabbed his leg. He tried to hold his anger in check. "What the he-heck was that sick bas-uh-baseball bat doing with Natalie then?"

"I have no idea?" Delilah shrugged. "How should I know? That was before my current venue of expertise."

"I'm going to find out-Aiden, let go of my pant leg-and let me tell you--Aiden, stop!" Haden sighed and threw his hands up in defeat. Aiden giggled.

"Haden," Delilah touched his arm softly. "I really do appreciate all you've done for me. I want to repay your kindness."

"There is nothing to repay," Haden scooped Aiden up into his arms.

"But-I'm a terrible person," Delilah responded almost too calmly.

"Someone once told my mom, 'We all do wrong at some point but we need the chance to do something right...I don't think you've had very many people think about you instead of themselves,' and they were right about her," Haden explained.

"Who told her that?" Delilah asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Haden teased. His eye twinkled mischievously. "You're always welcome here, Delilah."