The Zodiacs

Chapter 4

I enter my room slamming the door behind me and throw my bag to the side of my room. I fall onto my bed for its comfort. I put my hands to hide my face for a quick moment to help clear my head. That was a long day.

Carrie enters our room and I almost didn't hear her.

"Hey Val," Carrie looks at me suspiciously. "Are you okay?"

I turn to face her. "Yeah just tired." She takes a seat beside my bed and squeezes my hand comfortingly.

"Alright, I'm going to help Sophia in the garden. Join us if you want." Carrie smiles warmly at me and leaves.

I sigh and get up to check my phone.

Flashback

"I don't think we started off right. Hello, I'm Octavius."

My heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, I know that." I say to him uninterestedly and continue staring aimlessly at the words in my book trying to ignore him.

He chuckles and-

Forget about him. I sit up and walk towards Lyon's room. I stare at his door awkwardly then finally knock on it. Nobody opens the door so I knock again and I hear shuffling. The door finally opens abruptly and I jump up slightly.

"Oh, Lyon," I say startled slightly but gain back my composure. He looks down at me annoyed and he pushes his hair back. His white tee was obviously wrinkled and his nicely kept blonde hair was disheveled.

I seem to forgot what I was going to ask him. "Right. Wanna help in the garden? It'll be fun" I ask him.
,
"Not right now I'm busy Val" he replies even more annoyed than before.

"But you're the one who said we should hang out more. Come on!" Something is bothering him and I will find out what.

"Val, I said no," but before I can say anything he closes the door on my face. I wonder what's wrong with him. I walk away and head downstairs. I pass the living room when I hear the door slam, Lyon just left. Where's he off to? It's not my problem right now but I'll find out what's bothering him later. I head to the garden.

Sophia and Carrie are working on the garden and I help them out. Hours go by and I decide to head in. It's 6 o'clock. There's nothing much to do here so I think I'll head out.

"Carrie! I'm going to moonlight cafe want anything?", I ask her.

"Ooo get me their chocolate chip muffin",she replies .

"Alright. I'll be back in an hour", I reply. I grab the keys off the hook and go outside. The sun's about to go down. I go over to the car and start it up. I reverse out the driveway and start driving to the cafe when I see a sign that says the road to he cafe is under construction.

Damn it. I was looking forward to their hot chocolate. I guess I have to go somewhere else. I make a right turn and drive to a small coffee shop that's further away from the house. Fifteen minutes later I finally reach the place. I was about to go in when I saw Lyon through the window.

What's he doing here? I enter the coffee shop and start walking over to his table. He's sitting at back corner.

I think he's waiting for someone. But who? I was halfway there when I saw someone sit down with him. I take a seat quickly nearby to hear the conversation.

Why am I spying on him? I should just leave. I was about to get up when I saw the person sitting with Lyon turn around slightly. Octavius. I quickly grab one of the menus to cover my face.

What's he doing here? I peek above the menu. Do they know each other? Lyon doesn't normally make friends with humans.

" What are you doing here?" I hear Lyon ask angrily to Octavius.

Octavius chuckles. "Just here to see you of course". Octavius takes a sip from his drink. This is creepy. I should really go.

"Just stay away from her", Lyon says. I'm drawn back to the conversation.

"Or what" Octavius smiles. He's having fun messing with Lyon. "I'll stay away but the real question is if she can stay away from me?" Lyon was about to reply back but Octavius interrupts him. "You wasted my time long enough by calling me here, I have to go"

Lyon looks defeated and stays where he is with his head down. I see Octavius leave the cafe and it's my chance to leave as well before Lyon sees me. I quickly get up and head to my car. Lyon is going to come out soon and see me I struggle to put my key in the keyhole. I finally unlock the car and open the door slightly when it's slammed closed. I see a hand on the door.

Oh zodiac queen. I've been caught. Lyon found me and he's going to get mad at me. I'm done for. I turn around slowly and my eyes widen at the person before me.

"How much of it did you hear?", Octavius ask. Now I'm trapped between his hands.

"N-nothing", I stutter.

"Mmm.. you know I saw you sitting at the table near us. Did you really thing that you could hide from me?"

"I-I please don't tell Lyon", I ask of him. He can't tell him. He continues looking at me like he's studying me. He takes him arms away.

"I won't" I sigh in relief.

"Thank--",he interrupts me.

"On one condition. You be my partner for the photography assignment"

I stare at him blankly. That's it? That's what he wants? He'll be quiet if I just be his partner in photography but something feels wrong with that like I'm making a deal with the devil. But he's not the devil if he's asking for something simple.

"Yeah, I'll be your partner just don't tell Lyon I was here"

"Good. Now you better get going you don't want Lyon to see you do you?"

I quickly get in my car. I reverse my car and leave the Parking lot. I wait for the car in front of me to exit. I look at my rear mirror and see Octavius still standing at the spot with a wicked grin. Maybe I did make a deal with the devil.