Welcome to My World

Chapter 31 Ellis' POV {A New Nickname}

We still weren't able to squeeze exactly what happened out of Rayllum- Rayla and Callum yet, so As and I were talking about Xadia. I kept thinking about my dad. I wondered what he was doing. Did he still remember me? And what about Lujanne? Did anything happen at the Moon Nexus yet? Was Phoe-Phoe ok?

"Elle." Ez says patiently. Elle. Huh. Only my mom called me that, before she disappeared. "I was saying, we need to set things up."

"Yeah, but I don't like how slow we're going." I reply. "Time moves twice as fast in Xadia, so who knows what's happened by the time we get back!"

"We can use this opportunity to approach them about it."

"We need to tell them straight away!" I protest.

"No, they'll start avoiding us, then it will be harder!"

"Yes, but innocent lives in Xadia could be going by the minute!"

Ez threw up his hands. "We have to do this right. Otherwise it won't work at all."

"Fine." I sighed. "Until after Christmas, whatever that is."

Ez nodded. "If only we had more time."

Callum glanced over at us. Wait, where'd he come from? "Remind me, where are you guys from again?"

"Afri-" Ez started to say.

"Xadia." I interrupted. Ez shot me a wide-eyed glance.

Callum looked confused. "Pretty sure that's not a country..."

Ez pulled me away before I could elaborate. "Ellis!"

I sigh. "I tried! I was being honest!"

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Later, we sit in the canteen, watching Callum and his friends. Rayla's sitting with someone I don't know, and they seem to be arguing. Does she know about what happened in the rain? Now isn't the time to press her. Even we know that. Ez, however, is convinced that we use this part to tell Rayla about Xadia.

I look closely at the girl. She has Hatty Patter style glasses, and brown hair. Her blue eyes are glinting as she waves her hands around expressively. Rayla gives up and storms out of the canteen. Ez nods to me, and I slip after her. He stays there, watching Callum and his jerky friends. Humph. And that (Use your imagination) of a girl, Genelyn.

I can't believe that he falls for her. Practically every girl knows what happens in the locker rooms. If he'd just believe me... Besides, according to Ez, they have to go back into Xadia they same way they went out. Meaning, as really good friends, and Rayla having a crush on him. He explained why, but it went in one ear and out the other. I've never been really good about all that magic mumbo jumbo.

The power's out, so I have no problem creeping after Rayla. She's so lost in her own thoughts that she doesn't even check behind her as usual. I pad after her, my boots making no sound. Where is she going?

She walked through halls, without a pattern. Where, where, where?

I was considering the possibilities when she spoke. "Why are you following me, Ellis?"

I froze. "How did you..."

Rayla shrugged, and I caught up to her. "Well, um, Rayla, what's up?"

She turns to look me in the eye, amythest meeting coco. "You know what's up." She says flatly.

"No, I don't." I reply truthfully. "Cause you and Callum refuse to tell me."

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. I'll tell you what happened."