They laughed as Rachel tried to teach Brimstone how to use chopsticks.
"Okay, so I pick them up and, ah shit", he said as he dropped the noodles in his lap. Finally they gave up on chopsticks and asked the waiter for a fork.
"Thank you", Brimstone said. Rachel looked at him proudly as she could see him living up to what he had promised her. "I will be good".
They left the restaurant and went to the movie theater. They saw the movie and left back to Rachel's dorm. Brimstone yawned as he sat down on the couch.
"Rachel", Brimstone said.
"I'm concerned about something".
"What?", Rachel asked with a worried face.
"Well, I have a power that you didn't know about. When I am hot enough I can hear what is happening in the Underworld. I don't remember if I told you this or not but my dad said he would come back to take over earth, and if I never get mad enough to kill, then what will happen?".
"Something will happen, I promise. You will get your powers back when the time comes".
"I hope your right".
"I am right, I know I am. Hey, straighten up here and listen to me. You get to come to class tomorrow. Surely one of your teachers will really piss you off sometime".
"I don't want someone I like to make me mad".
"Well, maybe they won't. But I promise you when the time is right, your powers will return".
"Yeah, you're right. I'm going to bed, goodnight", Brimstone said as he lay down on the couch. Rachel got his hand and led him into her room.
"Where are we going?", he asked.
"I think you've behaved good enough to sleep in an actual bed. Goodnight", Rachel said as she turned off the light. Brimstone rolled over and hugged to the edge of the bed. He was so nervous about lying this close to her that he was scared to even touch her.
The next morning they got up. Rachel put makeup on Brimstone to cover up his tattoos and they went out the door.
"Hey, what's this?", Brimstone asked as they approached the school gate.
"This is the security building. They have to check our student cards".
"I don't have a card. What will they do to me"?
"I know you don't, that man that came to the dorm the other day. He gave word to everyone that you didn't have to have one just yet. You're basically the star student here right now".
"Oh, that's freezing".
"What? Oh, no Brim, cool. Not freezing", Rachel laughed as she had explained to Brimstone slang terms for this era. Words like "cool" and "dude" and things like that.
"Oh, okay. Cool". Rachel parked the car and got out and they walked over to the entrance of the school. The principal met them outside the door.
"Rachel, Jake. How are you guys", Mr. Potton said.
"we're good", Rachel said. They walked through the door and he gave Brimstone his schedule. first period he had two hours of the history of Greek Mythology. Then for two hours he had music vocal lessons and the remainder of the day he was on the swim team.
Swim team, that will kill me. The water will be too cold.
"Um, sir", he said to Mr. Potton.
"Oh, wow, my boy. I admire your accent. What can I help you with"?
"Sir, I have an extreme pathological fear of bodies of water. Is there any way I can have that class changed"?
"Absolutely. I'll have it changed by tomorrow. At the time for that class, just for today, come to my office and we'll get your paperwork done".
"Okay". And so for the first time in a few days Rachel and Brimstone had to part ways. Brimstone was welcomed into every class of his and everything went great. Until it was time to get his paperwork completed.
"Good afternoon, Jake, how has your day been", Mr. Potton asked.
"It has been wonderful, and yours"?
"It's also been great. I was thinking we could get your paperwork done. It has your basic information. Who your parents are, how your childhood was. Very basic stuff".
"Okay", Brimstone said wondering if he should write his birth mother, Persephone, or his adopted mother, Jacqui from Liverpool.
Brimstone signed all the papers and everything looked very believable. Jacqui Stone, Liverpool, England. Very good childhood. Father left at the time of my birth. Everything was going great until he heard the fire alarm go off and the overhead water dispensers started going off. As soon as the water hit his skin. It was instant throbbing pain. He screamed and ran outside along with the rest of the kids. Trying not to let the water wash the war paint- excuse me- makeup off of his face. He finally made it out and after everyone was accounted for, Mr. Potton asked him why his skin looked burnt.
"I am very sunburned at the moment. Blasted beach last week. I fell asleep on the sand". Mr. Potton could tell this was a lie but he just shrugged it off. That evening after he and Rachel got home, Brimstone fixed pizza and they went to bed. They lay in bed and talked for about three hours until they both were extremely tired.
"Okay, goodnight", Brimstone said.
"Goodnight", Rachel said back. Before they rolled over, their eyes met. And something rushed through Brimstone like he had never felt before. He grabbed his stomach to see if the feeling would leave but it didn't. Rachel leaned her head in closer and then their lips met. Brimstone closed his eyes and kissed her.
"I-I am so sor-", Brimstone started to say but before he could Rachel kissed him again.
"Don't be sorry. Goodnight", she said and rolled over and went to sleep. That night Brimstone dreamed of he and Rachel driving on the beaches of what he could only imagine was California. They were listening to music and Brimstone reached over and kissed her head, then she looked up and kissed him. The next morning when Brimstone woke up, he searched the entire dorm and the surrounding area, but no matter how hard he looked or where he looked. There was no denying this fact...
Rachel was missing.