Songbird

Chapter 23 ~ Stars

Jace leaned against his bathroom counter, tending to his wound. The first aid kit was out and open beside him. He bandaged his side and cleared away the blood and soot. He had bruises and cuts over his body in other places from his fight with Craton, but mostly he was just concerned with the knife wound.

There was a knock at the door.

"Yeah?"

Isaac came in, Devin on his heels.

"I can't believe you got yourself stabbed again..." said Isaac, shaking his head. "Second time this year already."

Jace shook his head. "Tell me about it."

Isaac grinned, then said, "Really, though, you doing okay?"

"I'm good." Jace smiled. "Hey, can you do me a favor?" he asked Devin.

"Of course!" responded Devin, scooting past Isaac and coming into the small bathroom. His eager eyes were locked onto Jace's.

"I want to meet everyone for dinner tonight," said Jace. "I figured you could text them. I'll give you the address..."

That night, after everyone had slept and rested the entire day away, they gathered outside in the cold. A small Italian restaurant stood before them on the busy city street.

Jace went up to City and hugged her. His tightly bandaged side held up relatively well this time.

"Is this the same place you took me..."

"On our first date? The very same," said Jace, grinning down at his Felicity.

She smiled warmly. Snowflakes fell onto her eyelashes and in her hair. "Well, I'm starving!" she said.

Tim, Jace, Isaac, Devin, Wesley, City, and Audrey sat down at a big round table.

As they got their food and began eating, it was as though they hadn't just gone through the whole Craton ordeal. They laughed and joked, talked about their day, discussed plans for the future.

Then Devin looked to Tim.

"How was the ride back with the Uber driver?" asked Devin.

"Oh, you mean Brian?" asked Tim.

The guys at the table exchanged glances. They had never learned the driver's name.

"Yeah... Brian..." said Isaac.

"He was fantastic! Talked the entire ride into the city about how much fun he'd had last night," said Tim. "He went on and on about never having anything like this in his life before, how it was worth every penny he didn't get from all the driving."

"Oh no, we didn't pay him!" exclaimed Devin, eyebrows fused together in worry.

"Ah man," said Isaac, leaning back in his chair. "I'll miss that grumpy old chap."

They laughed and continued eating until Tim spoke up again.

"You all will be happy to know that all my buddies made it out alive," said Tim.

"Good to hear!" said Wesley.

Tim nodded. "Some more hurt than others, nothing too serious. They're expected to make full recoveries. They're tough."

"If they're anything like you, we know they are," said Isaac, a half smile on his face.

"I still can't believe you guys came after us like that," commented Jace, shaking his head. "I thought for sure I was a goner when I left with Craton..."

"You know, you could've given us any sort of warning," said Isaac, pointing his fork at Jace. "Running off and turning yourself in was stupid."