The Secrets of the Aorta Ruins

Chapter Twenty Two

Gwen looked up at her with a smile as she joined them at the table, Kris and Dare trying to hold back a laugh. Dare seemed a lot closer to giving in than Kris was. Becca was completely lost as to what the joke was. She was sure she must have missed it before she had come down the stairs. No one said anything for a moment, leaving Becca in her confusion.

"Are all the kids tucked into bed?" Kris finally asked her. That was all it took for Dare to loose whatever contest they were having and laughed first. Gwen and Kris weren't too far behind and it was hard to tell who had actually given in first. They all must have known that Becca wasn't going to be able to resist the cute children and would be the one putting them to bed for the night. Everyone had known but her it seemed, she had figured she had a good chance.

"Uh yes, they are. Dora's hair is done. The boys got their bed time story," she answered honestly. This only seemed to increase their laughter further. Gwen was relatively contained by now, but smiling from ear to ear.

"Yes, we figured you would end up reading the bed time story too," she answered. The boys were beginning to settle down some, at least enough to be able to rejoin the conversation.

"Dora volunteered me to the boys apparently, and I just couldn't say no,"

"Yea we guessed as much," Dare said exchanging a look with Kris, both seeming close to laughter again.

"Anyway, I wanted to thank you both again for allowing me to stay for part of my break. It is nice to get out of the castle and see somewhere new," Becca said, deciding it was a good time to change the conversation before they all began laughing at her again.

"New? You've never been to Eruz before?" Kris asked her surprised while Gwen watched curiously.

"No, I've never gotten to travel outside of Aldenmoore before I got sent to Ravenwood,"

"Bah, that's the most boring place of them all too! Dare you must show her the sites tomorrow!" Kris said, nudging Dare in the side. He had meant to do it gently, but Dare still winced. He tried to play it off cool but Becca saw through it and it was her turn to giggle at his expense.

"Yeah, I was planning on it one of the days she was here before she went back. Although there isn't really much to see her guys..." he said, still not thinking too much of his homeland.

"Well, perhaps not to you Darezot, but to someone who has never been here before I'm sure we have a few things that may be interesting or new." Gwen encouraged as Becca nodded her head.

"Anyway, Becca, we're glad you came downstairs. We wanted to apologize to yo-" he interrupted himself when he saw the firm look Gwen was giving him, quickly correcting himself before continuing on. "I mean I wanted to apologize to you. I shouldn't have assumed you and Dare were dating. You're just the first girl he's brought home and we had been told he had aske-"

"Ok, Kris, that's enough! Thank you! Please stop talking now!" It was Dare that had interrupted his stepdad that time. Becca couldn't help but giggle again.

"It's all worked out now Kris. Besides, I'm not sure he would have ever asked me on his own," she said only half joking. However, she also knew it may have been true. He had been so shy about the entire situation and often wouldn't even talk about the girl he liked when Becca tried to ask him about how that was going.

"Ok, I'm glad that's out of the way and taken care of now," Kris said, breathing a sigh of relief. Becca was too, the conversations about it were awkward and getting worse each time it was brought up.

"So, where do you plan on taking our guest first tomorrow?" Gwen asked curiously.

"On a date," Dare answered proudly. It was obvious by the look Gwen and Kris exchanged that wasn't what she had meant by the question and yet they both still smiled at his answer.