In A Day Or Two

Chapter 3: The Trip

"You really sure you won't give her to me?" Edmund whispered while we were driving into the busy part of town. Xia was in the back seat, quietly watching the scenery pass.

"I can give you good-looking godchildren in less than a year," Edmund continued smugly. "She's a 10 for me." He leaned back in the passenger seat and winked at me like some rom-com extra who thought he was the main character.

Pffft. Jerk.

"Shut up, Edmund. One more shitty word and I'll kick your ugly ass outta my car." I hissed through my teeth, trying to keep my voice low. I glanced up at the rearview mirror to see if Xia heard anything. Her face was unreadable.

"Alright, alright." Edmund raised his hands like a man surrendering to the police and sighed dramatically. "You never let me have fun."

"That's because your version of fun gets you in jail."

"Details, details..." he muttered.

When we finally reached the busy market, Xia's face lit up in a way I'd only seen at sunset by the bay — her smile wide, bright, like the world wasn't as heavy as it had been moments ago. We browsed different stores, greeted old acquaintances, and eventually ended up at Mr. Jack's small café. We sat there to rest before heading home, the warm smell of coffee and bread wrapping around us.

"So, Xia," Edmund started, sipping his latte like he was about to drop the question of the year, "any plans on staying here forever?"

"Forever sounds lovely... but that's too long for me," she said softly, eyes on her teacup.

I stopped mid-sip, my coffee cooling in my hands. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She hesitated, then gave a small shrug. "I'm staying until I can go somewhere permanent and peaceful." Her gaze drifted out the window, away from us.

"Dude, you sound like you're dying," Edmund blurted, his laugh breaking the air like a badly timed drumbeat.

Then — crack! The teacup slipped from Xia's hands and shattered on the floor, tea splashing across her white jeans. Her eyes froze wide, something sharp and raw flashing in them before she blinked it away so fast I almost doubted I'd seen it.

"Oh god!" she stood abruptly, looking down at the mess. "I'm so, so sorry." She bent to pick up the shards, but Mr. Jack appeared instantly, broom in one hand and a rusted dustpan in the other.

"If I were you, I'd step back from the fragments," he said kindly.

"I'll pay for the damages—" she began.

"Nah, it's just a cup. I've got hundreds."

"But—"

"Let it go, young lady. You don't even have a job to pay for it."

"I can work for you—" she tried again, voice stubborn.

Before she could dig herself deeper, Edmund cleared his throat in that everyone's-watching-us-now way. I touched Xia's shoulder, nodding that it was fine. She nodded back, still looking troubled.

"Well, Xia," Edmund leaned forward with a smirk, "you can work for me. I already have a job for you."

I narrowed my eyes. "What job exactly, Edmund?"

"Oh, you know... midnight jobs. Graveyard shift." He grinned like a cat about to get slapped.

"What will I be doing?" Xia asked innocently.

"God—don't mind him. He's sick." I cut in before Edmund could speak. The image that popped into my head made me want to bleach my own brain.

By the time we left the café, Edmund was still pestering Xia with his "job offer" like a persistent mosquito, so I made him switch seats. Now he was snoring in the back while Xia sat in the passenger seat, quiet, watching the rain.