*The Chronicles of F.R.E.E. Atania's Knight - Raquel Festow* Part 1

Chapter 23 - Working Progress

*Ruth Watson POV*

I kept Rebecca distracted on the way back to the hotel because we were walking beside the main road, which was still busy at this time of night. I wanted to talk to Darren, who had been acting weird since we saw him comforting Rebecca on the curb, but that can wait until we're back in the hotel.
Today had been a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement, angry, heartbroken, blind fury, anguish, unbelievably happy and now I practically feel like I'm back to my old self again.
Being in the car with Harry had been my favourite part of the day. He came to pick us up from Tooting, then went to Croydon so I could collect Dragonwrath and we could drop Theo off. It had looked like quite a few people had attempted to remove Dragonwrath when we turned up to collect it. There was earth dug up all around it, and the police had even roped it off. There had even been a crowd surrounding it, looking at it curiously. It was quite amusing when I marched up, picked it up and slipped the baldric over myself, bowed to the crowd then sauntered back to the car with Harry, Hunter and Raquel. It kind of backfired though, when Raquel bowed to them too, thinking it was how you said goodbye to a huge crowd of people.
We reached the hotel just as they were locking the doors, which was a close call. We trudged up the stairs to our rooms and Natalia and Rebecca quietly went into their room, wishing us good night.
I turned round to start talking to Darren, but he had already disappeared into the room. Frowning, I went inside and locked the door behind me before walking to the bed and seeing him climb in and turn away from me. I was taken aback. Had I done something?
I got undressed before climbing in and turning off the light. I reached my arm over his waist and pulled myself to him, hoping for him to give away what was bugging him by his reaction. I got no response. Ok, this was not good.
"Darren, what's the matter?" I asked, soothingly, caressing his stomach with my thumb as I held him close.
Darren didn't respond again. I furrowed my brow.
"It's about our argument earlier isn't it?" I sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lose it like that. I feel so guilty that I ever even compared you to Alpin. You're million times the man he ever was and you're mine. I have-"
"Am I really?" Darren snapped angrily, turning over abruptly in the bed. "Am I really yours? Or is Harry your new toy?"
"What?!" I blanched. "How-How could you ever ask me that?!"
"You two seemed pretty fucking close in the car. Not surprising, really, after you watched him confess his love for you the night before!" Darren threw the covers off him and started putting his clothes on. The room was dimly lit thanks to the street lamps and very thin curtains of the hotel room.
"Wait, Darren! That wasn't him in the video! That was Chris!" I cried out, leaping out of bed myself to stop him putting on his shoes. "Harry is Chris's brother."
Darren stopped. "So you went for his brother instead?"
I gaped at his dimly lit face. "I beg your pardon? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Chris unavailable or something? So you ended up going for the next best thing?" He was trying to hurt me back after this morning, and it sure did. Deeply.
"Darren, Chris is dead..." I barely managed to whisper.
I saw his shadow freeze. "What do you mean?" He asked slowly, his voice sounding strained as he realised he had gone too far.
"Chris... Died shortly after that video was made. I was friends with both him and Harry before Astrovia. They were there the day I got taken away." I spoke slowly, trying desperately to keep my cool and not break down again.
"What happened to him?" Darren made his way back to me and started rubbing my shoulders, comfortingly, with both of his hands.
"He didn't want to go on anymore." I replied, my own voice shocking me at how nonchalant it came out.
I couldn't see Darren's face because he was facing me and not the curtain, but judging by the way he tensed, his mouth was agape and his eyes wide.
"Baby... I... I'm so sorry..." He whispered in shocked guilt.
I put my hand on his cheek. "Harry is the only thing I have left of him. I didn't love him, at least I don't think I did, but he was still special, and always will be. I love you, though, Darren. I always have and I always will!" I said, full of genuine sincerity. "I would never choose someone else over you, because to me, there is no one better than you."
Darren stayed still for a moment before he suddenly pulled me to him by my shoulders and clashed his lips against mine. His kisses were so fiercly passionate, shivers ran down my spine with anticipation of what was soon going to follow. In fact, it was so hot, I was surprised we didn't burst into flames.
I fumbled with his trouser button to get them back off him again and let them slack to the floor without breaking our heated saliva exchange. We only broke apart when he stepped out of his trousers while he picked me up so I could wrap my legs around him and press our naked bodies together, desperately. I couldn't help but moan, longingly, as I felt his hardness pressing up against me. The kissing picked up in intensity, if that was even possible, and Darren walked us both to the end of the bed before hoisting me up further and letting us fall down onto the bed.
BANG!
The bed legs broke underneath us and we bounced onto the floor in a heap. I landed harshly on the edge of the bed, causing an agonising pain to shoot through my spine and me to cry out.
"Are you okay?" Darren asked, anxiously, quickly getting off me.
"Yeahhh... no. That's done something to my back." I groaned, placing my palm against the lowest part of my back.
"Ok, hold on, I'll take a look."
Before he could move anywhere the front door crashed open, flooding the room with light from the hallway. Rebecca and Natalia were standing there in their night dresses, their swords raised, ready to attack.
"Oh my..." Rebecca glimpsed us both naked and spun around immediately, her back now facing us, she covered her face with her free hand.
"THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" I screamed, frantically reaching up and trying to pull the covers over me, but they were caught under something.
Natalia was staring at us, unashamedly, her eyes lingering on Darren then me, then over to the broken bed. She looked amazed with this whole situation.
"I didn't know people from Earth got so violent during their Vollangs." She said in awe.
Rebecca fell to her knees, laughing so hard, no sound was able to come out.
"JUST GET OUT!" Darren bellowed, stuck where he was in the hallway, bent over with his hands covering himself.
Natalia reached round to close the door, but the door had been kicked clean off the hinges. It was completely broken and we were now stuck in plain view of the hall, with a broken door and nothing to cover us to hide our nakedness.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I breathed out in horrified disbelief.
"Rebecca, I think we may have a problem here..." Natalia looked down at her wife who was rolling around.
"Is everything ok?" Came a voice down the hallway.
"FINE!" I screamed out in a blind panic, desperately tugging at the bedsheets again to gain some coverage. "WE'RE ALL FINE! NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!"
"Are you sure? We heard a bang..."
"WE'RE FINE!!!" I lost my temper with the nosey neighbour.
Natalia and Rebecca were looking at the nosey fucker down the hallway and giving her filthy looks to keep her away. I grabbed hold of Darren's trousers and threw them at him.
He caught them and put them on before leaving to arrange another room. How he was going to do that was beyond me, but he had to try. I stretched out my foot, trying to grab my dress, but Natalia came storming into the room, despite my protests, and removed her own night dress and pulling it over my head. I covered my eyes, to which I heard Rebecca grunt in approval.
"Natalia! You need to wear this! I could just wear my dress!" I snapped.
"If you only wore that dress, everyone would be able to look up your... what did you call it? Breakfast?" Natalia straightened up, ignoring the fact that she was naked. But then again, to her, it was natural. Rebecca started laughing again.
My face gaped in humilated horror. This was not happening right now!
"Seriously?!" I gaped.
"Yeah, it was a bit too short whenever you bent over." Rebecca smirked.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" I snarled at her, my face now permanently stained red.
Rebecca shrugged. "I thought it was the norm on your Realm. You didn't look like those other women we see with things disappearing up their arses and tight fabric clinging to their chests..." She trailed off, watching as Natalia walked past her to go and get some clothes on. Once their door shut behind Natalia, Rebecca snapped back into focus. "So what you decided to wear was quite modest."
"What about what Natalia chose to wear?" I spat back, trying to turn the awkwardness around.
Rebecca smirked. "She chose that especially for me because she knew I'd like it."
Darren then appeared, looking mortified, rubbing the fingertips of his forefinger and his thumb back and forth across his forehead.
"They've given us another room... Eventually. After they stopped laughing."
Rebecca threw her head back and howled with laughter.
Darren shot her a disapproving look before continuing. "I said we'll pay for the damage. I don't think we'll be continuing our stay here though."
I shook my head. No. I didn't want to stay here at all tonight, I just wanted to get out of there. I got up and picked up my bag, before casting a wary look at Rebecca and Darren at the door.
"I'm just..." I pointed into the ensuite to explain where I was going and got dressed in super sonic speed. I looked down and realised I had put on my shirt and rich, deep red skirt that I had been given in Ozryn. A gentle smile stretched across my lips at the memory with Goodwin that Raquel reminded me about today. Or rather, yesterday. I looked at my watch. It was now four thirty in the morning. I sighed and left the ensuite. Darren stared at me.
"What now?" I whined, I could really do with no more embarrassment today.
"Nothing." He shut his mouth, smiling and shook his head. "You just look gorgeous in that. Reminds me of that evening at Dean's."
"Oh." I thought for a moment. "The night I kneed you in the bollocks?" I asked him, biting my lip to hide my smirk.
His smile disappeared. "I forgot that had shortly followed afterwards." He mumbled, walking past to start packing our things away.
I shoved everything back into my bag and hoisted Dragonwrath onto my back. "I'm going to head straight to Deans. She'll likely be up by now prepping the cafe."
Darren's face fell. "I was hoping we could continue..."
"I'm still here you know." Rebecca's voice came from the open doorway.
I snorted and went round the corner with my bag now over my shoulder. "Why are you still here?"
"I was going to find out what your new room was so I knew where to find you in case something happened, but if you're going to Sharon's, I might as well join you." She shrugged and went back inside to get dressed.
I turned back to Darren. "You go back to bed for another couple of hours."
Darren pouted. "Ok, fine." He picked up his shirt and bags. "I'll have to attack you later."
I giggled and beckoned him towards me. He gave me a lustful smile and slowly came round the now broken end of the bed, stopping merely inches away from me.
"I'm very much looking forward to it." I whispered seductively, pushing my face forwards so my lips brushed against his as I spoke.
He moaned, frustratingly and pulled me into a mind blowing kiss, our tongues battling against each other, hungrily.
"Ready to go?" Rebecca's voice came from the broken doorway.
We broke apart, giving each other a longing smile.
"Yeah, she's ready." Darren sighed, stretching his smile at me and winking.
We turned to walk out of the doorway to the hall.
"I'll see you later, alright?" He said, leaning in and pecking me on the cheek. "I love you."
"Love you too, sexy." I purred, wiggling my eyebrows at him.
He laughed and turned up the corridor towards the new room. I turned to Rebecca, who was standing there watching with a big smirk on her face.
"What?" I asked, my smile fading.
"Oh nothing. Just it's been a very bizarre few days since arriving here." She shrugged, spinning on her heel to go back down the stairs and leave, I followed close behind. "But, apart from being hit by a metal box and constantly worried about people disappearing, I have quite enjoyed myself." She snapped her head to look at me, pulling an evil grin. "All at your expense, of course." She laughed and jumped over the railing to land at the bottom of the stairs.
I rolled my eyes and walked down, not feeling awake enough to follow her lead. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she was waiting there, holding the door open.
The lady at the checking in desk gave us both a huge grin and a wave, which Rebecca mirrored back exactly, but I gave her a coy smile and just raised my hand. The heat spreading across my cheeks as I walked out into the car park.
We walked along the main road, which only had buses and lorries driving along it at this time in the morning, heading for the high street. It was now five in the morning and some people were walking towards the train station, beginning their journey to work. The sun had just started to rise and bathe everything with its rays, making the street lamps switch off automatically.
Rebecca was in a very good mood, with a skip in her step and whistling a cheerful melody. We got into the high street and I started looking in the shop windows of the clothing stores. We were supposed to go shopping today as Rebecca was having to wear her armour due to her newest outfit being... dirty. I considered it a good idea to stay local today after yesterday's traumatic events, so thought the high street where Dean's cafe was would be perfect. I turned to tell Rebecca the idea, but she wasn't next to me.
I spun around, panicking but saw Rebecca, her face flat against a window of one of the shops, mesmerised by something. I chuckled with relief and went over.
"What you seen?" I asked.
Rebecca snapped her head round to look at me, her face lit up with excitement. "You have pianos here!" She exclaimed, pressing her face back against the window. She pointed at the Grand Piano behind some keyboards. "I want that one."
I snorted and shook my head. She was like a kid at Christmas seeing all the presents in the shops, putting together their wish list for Santa. I look a closer look at the grand piano. Twelve thousand?! Yeah, no chance.
"Err, Beccs. Those pianos are expensive. Asuna actually didn't give us enough to be able to buy it." I said, putting a consoling hand on her shoulder.
She stared at me in disbelief. "You said she gave you too much..." Her voice sounded heartreakingly disappointed.
"We'll come back and find a different one for you." I promised her. "Pianos like that are expensive and where would we put it? How would we take it back?"
She peeled herself off the window, gazing longingly at the grand piano. "Ok. Good point. I'd love to get that home somehow. That'd sound amazing I bet." She cast one last look at it, before tearing herself away reluctantly, and heading slowly to Dean's cafe. "You do realise, if Natalia decides to go nuts today on her shopping spree, I am hiding in there."
I smiled. "I'll happily pay the owner to babysit you." I replied.
She snorted and resumed her whistling, heading down the alley towards the rear entrance of Dean's cafe.
We reached the fire exit and bashed on the door. I was starting to feel extremely tired and my head was foggy, meaning I was unable to concentrate properly.
Clara opened the fire exit and her face lit up when she saw us.
"Relxa!" She cried out, leaping at Rebecca who didn't move fast enough out of the way. "Oh, I'm so glad you're ok."
Rebecca chuckled slightly and awkwardly patted her back. Clara pulled away and grabbed me into a hug too.
"And you. We heard you had all gone to hosp ee tal." She grunted as she squeezed me.
"Yeah, we're all ok." I assured her, pulling away.
"Is Raquel with you?" She beamed.
Rebecca and I froze.
"What? Why would she be with us?" I asked slowly.
Clara shrugged. "She wasn't in her bed this morning." She spoke like it was a good enough explanation for her abscence.
Rebecca and I exchanged anxious looks before both of us pushed past Clara to go inside.
"SHARON!" Rebecca yelled out, marching into the main room where we knew she would be.
Dean and Hewitt were arranging the tables together, preparing the seating for their customers of the day. Dean turned to face us.
"Morning, you two. You're up early?" She gave us a worried look. "What's happened?"
"Where is Raquel?!" Rebecca demanded, storming towards her.
"We don't know. She was sitting down here with Hunter when we went up to bed."
My mouth fell open before snapping shut and I pulled out my phone, calling Hunter's number.
He took a while to answer.
"Hello?" Hunter sounded groggy and sleepy as he answered the call. I could hear rustling, meaning he was in bed.
"Raquel with you?" I asked, bluntly.
He let out a long groan like he was stretching then there was another rustling.
"Relxa?" Came a sleepy female voice.
"RAQUEL! WHAT THE FUCK?!" I screamed down the phone. She was in bed with him?!
She groaned too. "What is it? Is something wrong?" She grunted.
"Yes! You went missing without telling anyone where you had gone!" I snapped, feeling very angry with her.
"I stayed with Hunter. We came back to the tavern where he's staying together."
I froze, my heart starting to race. "Did he give you anything to drink? He didn't try anything did he? Put him on the phone, NOW!" I couldn't think straight. I was terrified that Hunter had taken advantage of the young, naive girl from another Realm.
"No, he didn't. He gave me some delicious water though. I slept on the bench while he slept next to me on the floor." She replied, sleepily.
A wave of guilt coursed through me. This was Hunter! He wouldn't try anything. How could I even think that he would attempt anything like that with her. I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my free hand.
"Watson, what are we doing today?" She asked.
I sighed. "We need to get everyone some clothes to last us until we go back to Secrunerth." I lowered my hand and looked at Rebecca, who let slip a huge yawn.
Dean was looking between the two of us before walking out into the kitchen. I watched her go and spoke to Raquel.
"When are you getting back over here?" I asked, letting out a yawn of my own.
I heard Hunter's voice in the background before Raquel spoke again. "Hunter wants to speak to you." She said simply and there was rustling as she handed over the phone.
"Sorry, Watson. She wanted to see what a pub looked like." He said as soon as he got hold of the phone.
"You still should have told someone!" I told him, sternly. "We were worried something had happened to her."
"Yeah I know. I wouldn't let anything happen to her, I promise." He said, apologetically. "Listen, what were you all up to today?"
"Shopping." I replied, bluntly, rubbing my other eye with my hand and feeling light headed from no sleep. "We need to get them some clothes if we're going to stay here any longer."
"Oh, well..." He sounded awkward, like he had planned something else.
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you planning?" I asked, suspiciously.
"I kind of promised Raquel I'd still take her out for the day. She wanted to see where I lived." He replied.
"No!" I instantly dismissed the idea. "We need to keep her safe, and you have no way of protecting her. She needs to stay with us." Suddenly a spoon was lifted in front of my face, with a red thick fluid on it. I looked round and Dean was giving me a look to say 'you need to take this.'
I rolled my eyes and took the spoonful of Energy Potion, clamping my hand over my mouth to swallow it. Immediately I felt awake and alert so continued speaking energetically.
"You're not armed, we are. Besides, her friends are here." I reasoned.
"Hmmm." I heard the disappointment in his voice. "Ok. I suppose... We'll be there soon, may try and get another couple of hours sleep first."
I nodded. "Okidoke. I'll speak to you later. And Hunter?"
"Mmm?"
"Never do this again unless you tell us before hand!" I snapped at him.
"Alright. Sorry." He said, sleepily and the phone went down.
I sighed and put my phone into my bag. Rebecca had taken the potion too, and was standing, watching me, with her hands on her hips.
"He's in big trouble, you know!" She told me.
I nodded. "Leave him to me," I assured her. "I'll sort him out." I turned to Dean. "Cheers for that, Dean. I needed that! It's been a hell of a night."
Rebecca burst out laughing. "Oh yes. It's been the best night ever. You see, we heard a loud-"
I launched myself at Rebecca, knocking her to the ground and clamped my hand over her mouth, stopping her from telling the others what had happened. Rebecca tried to protest, but they were muffled against my hand, so she started to try and get away, rolling us over so I was underneath her and clamping her hand over my throat, squeezing.
I started choking and released my hand over her mouth to claw at the hand on my neck. She grinned triumphantly, and got off me.
"Next time I try and share a funny story, don't interrupt!" She jeered.
I sat up, gasping for air and glared at her. "It's personal!" I grunted, lifting my hand to check my neck for any bruising.
"It may have started off like that, but by the end, everyone knew what you two had been up to." Rebecca snorted.
"Because you broke the fucking door!" I snapped at her, furiously.
"You broke the bed!" She argued back, falling back to the floor in laughter.
By now, Dean and Hewitt had gathered what had happened and burst out laughing. Clara though, looked confused.
"What happened?" She asked, looking around at everyone with a perplexed look.
"You're a bit too young." Hewitt said to her, smirking. "Maybe when you're older."
This made Rebecca laugh even more. "Clara-"
Her phone started ringing and she put up a finger, indicating she will continue after she was done.
"Morning, Sugo. You found a way of getting us back yet?" She answered the phone bluntly. She listened to what Asuna was saying and scrunched up her face, looking like she was regretting something. "That... Won't be an option. I... I kind of destroyed that after we got Ruth back to Secrunerth so it couldn't be used again."
I frowned at her, what was she talking about?
"Besides, that would have only taken us to Astrovia. I doubt Raquel would have appreciated being separated from us and facing a pack of Coffinhounds unarmed. But, that's not a bad idea. If we can get Raquel trained up with a sword, then it's a possibility. How long will it take to repair?"
She was talking about the mass portal transmitter in Uiestea! I started shaking my head, immediately.
"No! No fucking way! I'm not having you sending another two thousand people to Astrovia again!" I spat at her angrily.
Rebecca gave me a pleading look. "It may be our only way out of here. We can't risk anyone coming to pick us up and getting stranded along with us, and like fuck I'm waiting another fifty years for the chreek fields to mature so they can make more Bracelets!"
I shook my head again, vehemently. "No!" I shouted in a final tone.
Rebecca scowled. "Fine. Forget it, Sugo. Watson has made it clear she doesn't want to leave!"
I gaped at her when she used my surname. "You really are a selfish bitch, you know that?!" I screamed at her and stormed out of the cafe, pulling out my cigarettes as I went.
I went out of the Fire Exit and lit up, shaking with anger at Rebecca's complete disregard for other people's safety just because she wanted to get back. I wanted to get back too! Did she really think that I was saying no to that idea because I didn't want to leave?!
I blew the smoke out and walked into the alley way so I couldn't be seen by anyone in the kitchen. I wanted to be alone right now. I needed to collect myself.
"Morning, Watson!" I heard from further up the alley.
I couldn't stop the groan that came out and looked up the alley to see who had called out to me. It was Sawyer.
"Morning, Sawyer. You alright?" I said, deflatedly.
Sawyer frowned at my greeting. "You ok?" He grunted.
"Not really. Pissed off with Rebecca. She was actually considering using the Portal Transmitter in Uiestea to transport us back to Astrovia!" I replied, angrily.
"Wow!" Sawyer's eyebrows raised in surprise, obviously not expecting that reply. "She's actually considering it?"
I nodded, furiously. "Can you believe her?! Fucking ridiculous!" I spat, leaning against the wall and puffing on my cigarette. "She's actually that desperate!"
"Hmmm." Sawyer thought for a moment. "Can it be directed at specific people?"
I looked at him, incredulously. "You're not actually agreeing with her!!"
Sawyer shrugged. "Well, if it helps you get back, which I know you do need to, that may be the quickest option. Can the Portal be directed at certain people?" He repeated his question, talking in a calm, calculated voice.
I shook my head. "It's directed over a certain area. There's no guarantee it will pick the correct people up, and there's a very high risk of picking up strays again." I shot him a disgusted look.
He thought again. "You won't know unless you try, right?"
I gaped at him. "You know what, Sawyer? You can fuck off too! I don't want to hear you taking her side on this! Piss off!"
"No! Wait, hear me out!" Sawyer said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "If they do it over an area, can they direct it only on Dean's Cafe? Like, only on that one, small location?"
My eyes widened. That was actually a good idea! And what was even better, was the possibility that it would work. My mouth fell open and I stared at him. "Yes..." I replied, slowly in realisation. "Yes, that might work!"
I flicked my half finished cigarette away from me and ran back inside. Rebecca was thankfully still on the phone to Asuna.
"... have you checked my closet? I swear I had my old one stashed away somewhere." She was sounding desperate and looking very disheartened.
I dashed up and snatched the phone from her.
"Asuna! Watson. Fix the machine in Uiestea. Pinpoint it specifically at a certain area in Barking, London. I will send you the address. Let us know when you have finished." I put the phone down.
Rebecca was gaping at me in shock. "What changed your mind?" She asked sourly.
"Sawyer asked if the area where the portal was transmitted could be set to a certain location. If we transmit it over the cafe, and we only have us in there, it will only pick us up!"
Rebecca's eyes widened. "Well, that is an idea, isn't it..." She said in wonder. She looked at Sawyer for a split second before grabbing his face and kissing him on the mouth. "I FUCKING LOVE YOU!" She screamed in delight after she released him.
Sawyer was shell shocked and just staring at her, mouth slightly ajar, frozen in place. After a moment, he snapped his mouth shut, stood up straight and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah... uh. You're welcome..." He stammered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Rebecca hadn't seemed to notice, she was too busy rummaging in her bag for something.
"I hate to be a party pooper, but we'll be opening up soon." Dean said, as kindly as possible.
I nodded. "Course, Dean. Come on Beccs. Let's get out of their way."
Rebecca spun around from her bag to face us. "What? No breakfast?"
Dean chuckled. "Take a seat then." She shook her head, amusingly, and heading into the kitchen.
Hewitt smiled and gestured to a large enough table by the window for us to sit at. "Sit over here. We decided to have a designated reserved table for you all last night."
I gave her a toothy grin and sat by the window, Sawyer sitting opposite, against the wall, Clara sitting next to him and Rebecca sitting next to me, closest to the door. She was still rummaging in her bag, tutting and grumbling to herself.
"What are you looking for?" I asked her, curiously, picking up the menu and taking a look through.
"My book." She replied, absent mindedly.
"What book is that?" I said, thinking that I would try the Breakfast Butty this morning. It sounded incredible. Hash browns, fried eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms and beans all in a french stick.
"It has everything written down in it. How to use the Portal Bracelets, how to use the watches and phones, how to use the Transmittor. Also, how to FIX the transmittor. Thought it's be useful for Sugo, but..." She huffed and sat back, defeatedly putting her bag on the floor. "I can't find it."
"Would Natalia have it? I asked, deciding I would order the same for Rebecca too.
Rebecca shook her head. "No one looks in it but me. It has personal things in there too." She picked up the menu I had been looking at. "I can't read it, so you're going to have to translate."
I pulled the menu out of her hands and put it back. "Trust me, I know what to get you."
Her phone rang again and she pulled it out of her pocket, but didn't answer it. INstead she put the phone, still ringing, on the table and started chaking her pockets.
"HA!" She pulled out a very old, very well used black, hardback notebook. She lifted it and shook it in my face. "Got it!" She then picked up her phone. "Hello, darling."
I rolled my eyes and looked at Sawyer, who was reading the menu. "Do you come here often too?" I asked him.
Sawyer shook his head. "Not as often as Hunter, but we try to for our anniversary and that." He grunted. "Jane loves it here. It's where our little gatherings took place. Every time we came here, we'd sit right here, looking out to the high street hoping you and Hodgson would turn up."
I hung my head. "Sorry. Things are always hectic at FREE. I haven't actually had a day off since I started. This could be considered a working holiday."
"What's it like there?" Clara asked, eagerly, bouncing in her seat.
"Uh, very organised. Everyone knows who they're going on calls with, who to report to, their shifts. It's basically like an office building for warriors and knights." I replied, trying to keep it basic.
"What are the other doppelgangers like?" She pushed her knife and fork out of the way so she could lean forward to hear me better.
"They're ok. You have Ruby, who's the second Knight. She's a bit of a loner though, very sensitive. Rhianna, she's the Third, she's the most lethal of us all. You don't want to cross her."
"Is it true there's people from all Realms living together there?" She whispered, completely engrossed on what I was telling her. Sawyer was listening with interest too.
"Yes. There's people from Neonia, Cristis, Rulid. We have had a few join us from Earth when I first joined, then there's some from Secrunerth and Uiestea. There's only Natalia and Moreno from Atania though." I added, knowing she was going to ask that next.
Rebecca was finishing off her coversation with Natalia. "Ok. Love you, darling. Get here soon, and don't leave until Darren has met you, alright?" She put the phone down and opened up her little book, flicking through the pages.
"Do all the people from the different Realms get along?" Clara asked.
Rebecca snorted. "Fuck no!"
I nudged her. "Most of them do." I argued.
She gave me an incredulous look. "The twats from Rulid are always bullying the Cristiseans. Your little Earth pals are just as bad."
"No they're not! Your fucking Neonians walk around like they own the place!" I snapped, getting cross.
"Because they've been there the longest. They know how I work things." She said in a justified tone.
I scowled, folding my arms.
"Why aren't there many from Atania?" She asked.
Rebecca gave her an amused look. "You're too peaceful. Fuck knows how long you lot would have lasted on Astrovia."
I suddenly gripped hold of Rebecca's arm in horror.
"What?" Rebecca said, looking worried.
"Those that were transported to Astrovia were spread out all over the place instead of one specific place. Sawyer, Ashdown, Hewitt, and Ryder were transmitted close to Narthwich. The rest of us were in Ozryn." I hissed at her in a panic. "We can't send them to Astrovia for them to get lost in those woods! It's too dangerous."
"We will train them up before we go. It's fine." Rebecca shrugged my concern off, smiling up at Hewitt as she brought over the orange juice in a jug with six glasses.
"And where are we going to do that? There's hardly any places around here that's big enough for us to spar undetected." I put my head in my hands. "They'll be transported to one of the five towns and the only way we can get to them is by walking or running there. What if they come across a Razorsnare? Or a Duskwing?!"
"You," Rebecca said, taking a hand away from my face and gripping hold of it tightly. "Are being just like Ruby. Don't worry so much. We'll work out a way of doing it."
I frowned. How could she be so calm about this?
The cafe door opened and in walked Darren and Natalia. Natalia sat beside Rebecca while Darren sat next to Clara.
"We saw Hunter on the way here. He was with Raquel. Did they spend the night together?" Darren said, looking worried.
Rebecca and I made the same annoyed, scowling faces. "Yes, they did." We both said together.
"That is freaky when you both do that..." Sawyer said, sitting away from the table and leaning back on the back legs of his chair. "Are you always exactly the same?"
"No!" We both answered together.
"They have similarities." Natalia said, casting her eye over the both of us, amused. "For example, their sense of humour is the same. Their tempers are the same. But their interests are completely different."
"They're the most alike out of all of them, I'd say." Darren added. "Rebecca and Watson are always there for each other. Rhianna and Ruby are a species unto themselves, and Raquel... She's uh... the most cheerful I suppose."
"Relxa, everyone!" Came Xavier's voice.
We all looked round and realised it had got a lot busier since Darren and Natalia arrived. We were the only table that still had spare chairs. All the rest were taken. I noticed Mr Grayson was back with his wife. Maybe they came there every morning.
Xavier reached our table, holding a small red box and grinning at Clara. Rebecca and I exchanged bemused looks.
"Rippi Binxiqaazi, Clara!" He said, shyly, holding out the red box to Clara.
Clara screamed into her hands then climbed over Darren to get to Xavier, leaping herself onto him and wrapping her legs around his waist in a full body hug. Everyone, except Natalia and Rebecca, exchanged bewildered looks.
"Rac iai!" She squealed, detaching herself and taking the box, gratefully.
She opened it and gasped, looking up at him in amazement.
"Xavier..." She breathed in gratitude. "It's beautiful."
She pulled out... a daisy chain bracelet.
Sawyer, Darren and I burst out laughing before we could stop ourselves, earning very angry looks from Natalia and Rebecca. Xavier hung his head, looking embarassed and ashamed of himself and Clara was looking at him, upset that he was being teased for his gift.
Rebecca grabbed the scuff of my neck and yanked me towards her, ferociously.
"Remember, they're very sensitive about their traditions!" She snarled into my ear. "You're basically taking the piss out of what is seen as a very special and personal gift!"
"But it's daisies!" I hissed back, snorting. "They can be found everywhere. Why didn't get her get a bunch of roses or something?"
"Because it didn't come from the lands!" She whisper yelled back, looking absolutely livid. "When an Atanian hand makes something from the lands, it's basically their way of telling that person that they mean the world to them!"
The realisation hit me like a bus. The poor boy had given his friend the most meaningful gift he could give her and here I was, snickering in a bullying manner, effectively crushing his spirits.
I stopped laughing straight away, so did the boys too, as they had been listening to what Rebecca had been telling me. I stood up and approached Xavier and Clara.
"I'm truly sorry for the way I and my friends have behaved. Your gift was just very unexpected to us. Of course, we have different ways of showing our appreciation to each other, and I will be honoured to show you how we express that affection if you'd like?" I said, bowing slightly, remembering how Raquel had greeted everyone.
Xavier's face relaxed and he nodded at me, smiling, but Clara didn't look convinced. She gave me a bitchy expression before returning to the other side of the table and shoving at Darren to move up a seat so her and Xavier could sit next to each other. I slowly lowered myself back into my seat, feeling incredibly guilty and ashamed with myself.
The door to the cafe opened and Hunter and Raquel came in, laughing with each other and holding hands. Raquel sat next to Natalia facing Xavier and Hunter sat at the end of the table.
They beamed at us, but that soon disappeared then they saw our faces.
Darren, Sawyer and I were looking guilty, Rebecca and Natalia were looking disgusted, Clara was furious and Xavier was looking awkward.
"Fazeebs?" Raquel asked, slowly and suspiciously.
"Ezerez aa pixteci?" Clara asked Raquel through gritted teeth.
Raquel looked at me, before shaking her head back at Clara. "A."
Clara glared at me. "Ezerez makalzic qa Xavier!"
Raquel launched to her feet, looking furiously at me. "WHAT?!"
Rebecca held up her hand towards her, trying to calm her down. "Raquel, remember, they do not understand your traditions. They do things differently here. It just took them by surprise." She said, calmly.
"That's no excuse!" Raquel spat at her, folding her arms and glaring daggers.
"They did apologise, too." Natalia input quietly.
Raquel faltered a little bit, looking to Hunter for advice. Hunter, however, didn't have a bloody clue what was going on.
"What? What happened?" He asked, bewildered, looking around at everyone.
"Your fazeebs have been taking the makalzic out of Xavier's gift for Clara's Binxiqaazi!" She snarled, glaring at Darren and Sawyer now.
Hunter gave her a blank look back. "They what, exactly?"
"They took the piss out of Xavier's birthday gift for Clara!" Rebecca snapped impatiently.
Hunter's eyes widened. "Why? What was it?"
Clara proudly showed him the daisy chain around her wrist. He immediately bit his lip, desperately trying to hold back.
"That's lovely..." He struggled to say.
Darren, Sawyer and I were shaking our heads vehemently at him, telling him not to laugh. He got the hint thankfully, and put on the perfect Polker face. He looked up at Raquel, as innocently as he could.
"They didn't understand, babe. We don't do that here." He said to her.
Raquel's face softened slightly before glaring at us. "One more chance!" She warned us.
I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. I remembered the warning Rebecca had given Dean in the cab when we were on our way to Dean's for the first time.
"I suggest none of you piss Raquel off before we get there. You've seen what happens to people who do. Gerri had a purple Aura, meaning she's dangerous, but that won't stop her turning people who are red or gold." Rebecca had told her.
I didn't want to experience what would happen if she was to turn my Aura green. Hewitt then turned up to take our order.
"Everything alright over here?"
"Just fine!" Raquel replied through gritted teeth, still glaring at me.
"Right... Well..." Hewitt looked around us all perplexed. "Sorry, I wanted to wait until you were all here before I took the order so what are we all having?"
Sawyer ordered a full English, Darren the same, Clara and Xavier requested fruit salad, as did Raquel and Natalia.
"What would you like Rebecca?" Hewitt asked.
Rebecca looked at me.
"She'll have the Breakfast Butty, Hewitt." I said for her.
"Alrighty then. And for you?" Hewitt said, scribbling down Rebecca's order.
"I'm not hungry..." I said, standing up. "I'll meet you guys afterwards."
Without waiting for a response, I walked out of the cafe entrance and into the High street.