24 hour cycle // Solby AU (DC)

=- 11 -=

"Did I hear someone say the bookstore?" I shouted tripping down the stairs throwing a hoodie over my messy bed head. I had been upstairs after just waking up when Kats voice has travelled up the stairs mentioning the one place Sam always goes.

"Jesus Christ Colby you have super bat hearing or some shit?" Jake joked placing a hand on his chest as I bumped into him, not knowing he was at the very bottom.

"Sorry," I bashfully muttered, "why do you need to go bookstore? And can I come?" I batted my eyelashes at Kat making her laugh and link hands with Devyn.

"We have to go and get the newer book for our elements," she rolled her eyes as she spoke "apparently we have more requirements we have to do that the council have added and well instead of getting the books shipped here,"

"Which would make sense," Devyn added quickly.

"They got the sent to the bookstore and we have to pick them up since Sarah can't travel," Kat sighed making me laugh slightly.

"Again, can I come?" The duo sent a nod my way before we left, the heavy door slamming shut behind up. We all walked the familiar path down to the market place and around the corner until the building popped into view. We stepped in, me holding the door for the girls, the bell above ringing. Almost as soon as the sound chimes Sarah's head was popping over a stack of books, a wide smile on her face.

"Cole!" She cheered wiping her hands down on the apron she wears before walking over to me and wrapping her arms tightly around me.

"Hi grandma," I muttered wrapping my own arms around her. "This is Kat and Devyn," I introduced the girls as we stepped apart, Sarah's soft eyes studying the girls.

"Elements," she stated "earth and nature," I nodded to confirm her statement. "I guess you're here for the book," the duo behind me sent her a quick nod making her head towards the back, muttering soft words under her breath.

"Ok, that was-," Kat started before cutting herself off.

"Grandma has a sixth sense if you would, she can tell the main elements from other people. Something about being a career for our parents generation and having to collect them. So the council gave her these 'powers' you could say so she could easily spot them and find them," I quickly summed up to the confused girls as Sarah walked back out, a printer copy of the book they already have.

"Most of the information should be the same, just a few chapters and points have been added," she said handing the leather bound book to Devyn. Theirs were decorated in silver details, a tall tree with roots growing under the soil. A thin brown piece of string sealed the heavy book shut dangling down slightly.

"Now Cole," she turned and faced me "why did you not tell me about your partner boy," she yelled slapping me on the back of the head gently. I felt my cheeks heat up as I looked down at the floor, scuffing the soles of my shoes against the ground. "Unless my daughter had another child I didn't know about,"

"No grandma, I'm still the only child and well yeah that was Sam," I laughed looking up at her through my eyelashes. "He doesn't know he's an element,"

"Wait why? I'm sure anyone even glancing at the boy could tell," she explained making me softly smile as Kat spoke.

"That's the thing Sarah, his parents never told him, made him think we are bad people, and well that meant he never associated with us at school, never went to the academy," Sarah sighed after Kat spoke.

"That's his parents for you, made me always hide that book whenever he was due to come up when he got closer to the age," she took a single finger and pushed her glasses further up her nose. "Guess I just happened to leave it out in a place he would see," she winked at me making me chuckle slightly.

"Always the matchmaker grandma,"

"That's my job son. Now you two," she turned towards Kat and Devyn pointing a skinny finger their way. "I need to speak to you two about some private things the council spoke about. Cole, will you be fine here?" I nodded at the smaller female as she led Kat and Devyn towards the back.

I ran my fingers across the many spines of books stacked up beside me, my eyes focusing on all the cursive and fancy looking words. A single ding from the bell made my head snap up and am instant smile fall on my face.

"Sam,"

"Colby," I smiled at the smaller blonde as he let his hand fall from the door handle slightly slapping his thigh. He was wearing a baby blue sweater, nearly the same colour as his eyes and white jeans again. His usual black glasses sat high on his nose, reflecting the light from above as he walked towards me. "I missed you," he frowned pushing his bottom lip light slightly to form a pout, his eyes looking up at me.

I smiled softly at the sight before nodding and looking down at his figure,

"I missed you to Sam," his cheeks flared up slightly as his eyes darted around desperate for something else to focus on apart from me. I slowly reached out and grabbed his hand gently, lacing my fingers with him watching him closely to make sure I didn't scare him away.

His body seemed to instantly tense before calming down, his shoulders relaxing almost instantly.

"Are you ok?" I quizzed the boy seeing him nod in my direction before taking his free hand and ruffling his hair up slightly. My eyes focused on the sight and the smile never seemed to leave my face.

"I'm completely fine Colby," he breathed out before walking to one of the book stacks next to us ultimately dragging me since he never dropped my hand. "Where's Sarah anyway? She always pops up whenever I'm here,"

"Oh my grandma," I laughed "she's talking to my friends in the back,"

"Wait you're related to Sarah?" Sam asked wide eyed making me nod slowly unsure why that's the only point he picked up on. "She never mentioned she was related to you," he muttered under his breath making me chuckle slightly, a ball of light and happiness filling me.

"Were you two talking about me Sammy?" I cooed slightly making him let out a small gasp.

"No! Erm, maybe," he blushed looking down at the ground his hand leaving mine to hold his other arm as embarrassment seemed to flood and fill his blood.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way Sammy," I muttered rubbing his arm gently letting the nickname spill past my lips once more. "I was just curious since she never tends to mention me to anyone," He tilted his head in my direction making me sigh "main elements Sammy. Everyone knows me," he simply nodded at me before giving the books his full attention again.

"Who are the people you were with before Sarah robbed them?" He questioned making me raise an eyebrow at him. "I saw them while I was building up the courage to step in,"

"Two of the other elements. Earth and nature," I smiled down at him watching him nod,

"So they aren't the really scary one?"

"Who?" I now tilted my head at him confused on who he was speaking about.

"Fire," he whispered frantically looking around as if even saying his name would make something happen.

"Jakes an actual sweetheart. He's a bit goofy but isn't bad," I summed up "did your parents tell you that?"

"They've told me loads of stories Colby about water and fire," he admitted sheepishly making me sigh.

"I promise you they aren't like them stories,"  I promised the boy making him nod. "Do you maybe want to come over and meet them properly? I promise you'll be fine and I won't leave your side. If you get to uncomfortable since I probably know some of the stories you were told, we will head straight up to my room ok?" He looked behind me around my arm as footsteps sounded behind us alerting me Kat and Devyn had arrived.

After a sigh, and a nod slowly we were all heading back to the Traphouse, me and Sam walking close together behind Kat and Devyn. I just hope this doesn't scare him way too much.

=-.-=.