Above

30

Estelle
I put a few water bottles in the car for the long roadtrip ahead of us.
Fran had decided that she wanted to send Luca to the doctor, and when he was little he would go to a special doctor that wouldn't tell anyone that he's part lizard, but she lives on the far side of the city. Which is why Luca, Leeciy, Logan, and I are going with. Luca refused to have Fran there.
"Ready?" The familiar Australian accent rings from behind me.
I flinch, then spin around to look at him. "I don't know what to expect."
"Neither do I." Leeciy says. "But Luca seems pretty excited."
I look over his shoulder at Luca, who was talking happily to Felicity, who was just nodding.
"Hey, um." Leeciy says. "About that whole kiss thing--"
"Can we please not talk about this now?" I ask. "I know it was totally uncalled for but please."
He chews on the inside of his cheek. "Yeah, whatever you want."
I smile softly. "Thanks."
"Hey, go say bye to your kids so we can leave." Logan says, opening the car door.
I turn to Leeciy. "I'll bet Cirus and September are together."
He nods. "I'll walk with you."
We walk together to his house, walking into the living room where Cirus and September were both sitting on the floor around the coffee table, wearing tutus, surrounded by dusty stuffed animals.
"What are you two up to?" Leeciy asks, a smug smirk on his face.
"A tea party." Cirus says. "Would you like to join?"
"We have to leave, we came to say goodbye." Leeciy says.
As if on cue, Cirus looks up at us. "Who's all going?"
"Luca, Logan, Estelle, and I." He answers.
I pat September's head. "I like your skirt."
He rolls his eyes. "I have to wear it to the tea parties, it's basic law."
"What's the penalty?" I ask.
He shrugs. "Cyanide in the your tea."
"Oh." I laugh. "Anyways, we're heading out for the day."
"I heard, drive safe." September says. "Buckle your seatbelt."
"I know." I nod.
He stands and hugs me. "Bye."
"See ya in a bit."
***
The doctor only allowed two people in at once, so Logan suggested Leeciy and I get some lunch, so we did.
The restaurant we ate at was somewhat fancy, but not too fancy that we were underdressed.
"What do you want?" Leeciy asks, gesturing to the menu.
I shrug. "What do you want?"
"The macaroni and cheese." He answers. "It's the only thing that doesn't look awful."
I nod. "Okay, let's both get the mac and cheese."
Our waiter comes over. "Can I take your order?"
Leeciy nods. "Two mac and cheeses."
"Alright, and what drinks?" He asks.
"Water will be fine." Leeciy says.
The waiter nods, writes down our order, then leaves.
"That was awkward." I smirk.
He nods. "Truly."
A guy across the restaurant stands. "Uh, could I have everyone's attention please?"
Everyone turns to look at him.
"My girlfriend and I met working here, and had our first date here. We've been together for four years, so this just feels right." He turns to the girl sitting down. "Lizzie, will you do me a favor and marry me?" He kneels with a small velvet box in his hand.
She nods and everyone cheers.
I turn back to Leeciy. "Well that happened."
"It did." He pauses. "If you were to be proposed to, how would you want it done?"
"I've never really thought of it." I tap my chin. "Somewhere warm, and surrounded with people I care about. How would you propose to someone?"
"Funnily, yet romantically." Leeciy says. "Like a scavanger hunt that leads back home to a party, then I would do it."
I nod. "Pretty similar then."
The waiter comes back with a tray. "Water and macaroni."
"Thanks." Leeciy says.
"I wonder how Luca's doing." I say, pushing my food around with my fork.
"Don't stress too much." Leeciy says. "He'll be fine, besides, Fran said he has broken his arm once before."
***
Luca got an injection, that was supposed to help with the healing process, it made him drowsy so he fell asleep in the car. We almost let him stay asleep in the car when we got back to Willowdale, but it's still freezing so we decided against it.
"I can't wait to sleep in a bed." He murmurs, his head laying sleepily on my shoulder.
"I know, I know." I say, trailing off when we walk onto main street.
The ground was smeared in purple, black, and red blood, bodies scattered around.
"Oh my god." Luca looks away.
"September!" I yell, running in the direction of Leeciy's house.
I trip on a body, falling onto the pavement. Even with the determination running through my veins, I still couldn't gather the strength to get up and run, so I hid my face in my hands and try not to break down.
Running footsteps near, and I feel myself being lifted from the ground.
Leeciy, concern in his eyes, helps me stand.
"Leeciy, what if they're dead?" I ask, my voice cracking. "I'm a terrible person. We should have just stayed with them."
"Hey, c'mon, don't cry." He says, wiping his thumb across my cheek. "Let's find them before we jump to conclusions."
I nod. "Okay, let's find them."
***
We frantically search his house, up and down, but to our dismay, we couldn't find them anywhere.
I bury my face in my hands and try to hold back the tears.
"Estelle." Leeciy says. "We didn't find them."
"I know."
"We didn't find their bodies either, they could be anywhere." Leeciy says.
"They're right here."
Our heads both snap to Mareena, standing next to Cirus, September and Raheel.
Leeciy and I both run to them, squeezing them tight.
"You're welcome, by the way." She says.
"Daddy, what do we do now?" Cirus asks, her usually confident voice quiet.
"We can't stay here." Leeciy says. "Pack up your things, we're all leaving."