Scattered Souls

Chapter 7 - Favor for a Favor

The next morning, I felt like I hadn't gotten enough sleep. Despite waking up early, I still had a restless sleep the night before.

Xypher's statement kept playing on my mind. How did he know I was crushing on Jordan? Did Jordan really have the hots for Alexa? Was he going to declare it? Was I okay with my crush and my best friend being a thing?

I shook myself from my wandering thoughts. Xypher's so called prediction could've been a fluke after all. I mean a freshman having a crush on a senior is quite predictable. I'll admit adding Alexa in the mix was a nice twist, but I doubt it could be much more than that.

However, that didn't do enough to quell the anxious feeling I had in the pit of my stomach.

Even as I walked through the hallway at campus and even as I went to the library to do some of my own research, it's like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

When we sat down in the cafeteria I was mildly relieved. We were already halfway through the day, maybe what Xypher said wouldn't come to pass after all.

"... And I couldn't believe that happened." Alexa was giving us her exaggeration of the events she experienced for the day. Her ability to find excitement in the mundane was one of the main things I loved about her.

"Mind if I intrude?" came Jordan's deep voice.

"Be my guest." Alexa beamed.

After a few moments of simple conversation, Jordan seized the moment.

"So, Alexa, I was wondering if you'd like to catch a movie this weekend? There's a cool horror that's out."

"Sure, I'd love to." she agreed excitedly.

In her defense, she had no idea I'd been crushing on Jordan since the beginning of the year. Heck no one did. Except for Xypher of course. Was he really some kind of fortune teller? Or was it a lucky guess? I have to admit he was quite accurate.

For the rest of the day I focused on anything I possibly could, I even considered auditioning for our annual play, anything to keep my mind off Alexa and Jordan's date this weekend.

Unfortunately for me, my duty as a best friend also included listening to Alexa gush about it. Don't get me wrong, I was excited for her and Alexa was obviously stunning, but a part of me was still bummed that the one guy I was crushing on fancied my best friend.

As soon as I got home, I headed straight to my room and opened up the teapot. More than anything, my mind was exploding with questions for Xypher. How did he do it? How did he make such an accurate prediction? What else can he do?

Much to my dismay, it was Amazing Grace and dancing figurines instead of Xypher that appeared.

I decided to shower and get some work done as I anxiously waited for Xypher to make an appearance.

I was returning to my room after dinner when I heard Strange Enchantment playing. I sat on my bed and waited. A good few minutes later Xypher appeared.

"There you are, finally!" I exclaimed.

"Sounds like someone missed me" he smirked.

"Don't flatter yourself." I retorted. "It's just that I'm still wrapping my head around your prediction."

"How did you know? How could you possibly know? What else can you do? What are you?" the questions just rolled off my tongue.

"I think the more important question here is what can I do to help" he beamed at me.

"Help? With what?" I wondered out loud.

"With your situation of course. I can make it all go away."

"How?"

"Just say the word and it'll be done."

"At a cost of course." he added. "Favor for a favor, darling." he said with a wink.