Chapter 13
Kai stood at the front of an entrance to a house and knocked on it, then waited for the owner to open it. Kai took out from his pocket a bunch of coins, then counted again how much he had earned yet.
„55 Kroner only," Kai commented putting it back. „I don't think this is bad so far,"
The door opened up, revealing the owner of the place to be a middle-aged man in a business suit.
„Wait a second, I gotta attend this person on the door," Stated the man, which was phoning, then he looked down at Kai which smiled a little surprised at the man's neutral facial expression.
„Good day Sir. My name is Kai and I'm offering my service to people around the town to do any sort of jobs, you're not able to do because of lack of time or any other reason,"
„Really?" Asked the businessman. „Get there to the garage door, I'll have to take care of this client and I'll give you one job I've been postponing for a while,"
„Sure, I'll be waiting," Kai responded, then made his way to the closed garage door as the man disappeared into the house. „This guy looks pretty wealthy. If he passes by more than 20 Kroner, that would be great,"
The businessman came out of the house and hold a remote controller in his hand to open the door of the building to reveal inside the garage a family van and a Sports coupe, making Kai drop his mouth at seeing the shorter vehicle.
„Have you ever washed a car?" Asked the man making Kai shake his head.
„Not yet" Responded Kai. „But it's not that hard I believe,"
„No, of course not. I show you, which product you'll have to use to put in the water and you wash it with a sponge. To make it easier for you on the cleaning of the ground, I'll take the cars out. If you do a great job, you'll receive 50 Kroner," Told the Businessman. „You're probably going to take a little while on this,"
„I'll give my best, sir," Kai commented making the man nod, which led Kai into the garage to a locker, where he contained materials for the vehicles.
After school, Gerda was being accompanied by Rose and Juleka to the second floor, where the art classroom was located. In the classroom, they encountered a few foreign students and recognized only Alix Kubdel and Nathaniel Kurtzberg, which were in the same class.
„This is where we spend together the time after school when we're done with homework or want to take a break from school." Rose explained making Gerda nod.
„There you see Alix working on her wall with the graffitis and Nathaniel is working on his comic with the help of Marc from Mrs. Mendeleiev's class," Commented Rose watching Gerda approach the two boys, then looked at Nathaniel doing the work while Marc simply watched it.
„My brother also used to draw a lot before," Gerda commented making Marc smile, which glanced up at the girl and back to the sketches.
„Marc and Nathaniel were introduced to each other because of Marinette. She knew Nathaniel sucked at story writing and Marc was the opposite of it, so she introduced them together," Rose told making Gerda nod.
„I've read many books in my life. I don't have any problem in coming up with stories," Gerda stated seeing Nathaniel look up at her and nod, while Marc just glanced at the two.
„I'm…..kind of helping him out already," Stated Marc a little tensed, then Gerda nod.
„Don't worry, I won't interfere between your work," Gerda commented, then she looked at the other students, which were occupied with other things.
„Okay, so do you want to stay here with us?" Asked Rose. „I planned to work on the designs to Luka's band Kitty Section and Juleka had in her mind to work on a music text,"
„I haven't gotten anything to do here," Mentioned Gerda making Rose nod.
„You can start something or just hang here with us," Rose suggested.
„Or look what everyone else is doing?" Added Juleka making Gerda nod, then she looked at one student, that was cross-stitching a landscape image and Gerda looked at it astonished.
„Nath, can you hand me the green color?" Asked Alix looking at the two boys on the table, then Marc grabbed the can first and threw it at Alix before Nathaniel did.
„Oh thanks," Commented Nathaniel getting up from the chair. „Hey I have to go to the restroom,"
„I'll go too. I was supposed to go before chem classes," Mentioned Marc earning a nod from the redhead, which walked out along with the redhead heading to the boy's restrooms disappearing into it.
On the same floor, Rollan came along with Luka and Wayhem chatting.
„I'm sorry, I and Juleka were supposed to meet in art class to work on a song together we started last Sunday. Next time," Answered Luka making Wayhem nod.
„What about you, Rollan?" Asked the brunette. „You have to stay with us. We want to get to know your athletic side better,"
„You know I never have done any sort of sports, besides the only thing I've done in the past was sword fighting and running. I have only done that in order to become a hero to my people, the problem is I never made it to stop anyone from robbing,"
„Well, you could work on yourself and become good at basketball. Cause you've got the talent," Commented Wayhem making Rollan smile.
„Sure, if you don't mind. I need to go to the toilet,"
„Sure we're waiting down at the court for you," Mentioned Wayhem and walked off, then Rollan opened the door spotting at the end of the room five urinals, and the second and fourth urinal was taken by the two students Nathaniel and Marc. Rollan walked to the middle, then adjusted himself on the urinal, so he could do his job.
„Hey," Greeted Rollan the two boys, then both guys stared at Rollan a little annoyed. „What? Am I using it wrong?" Asked Rollan looking at Nathaniel, which shrugged his shoulders slightly.
„Yes, but actually no," Responded Marc making Rollan furrow his right eyebrow confused.
„I don't get it,"
„Marc, I think he's that other person, that was found along with Gerda on ice," Commented Nathaniel, then Rollan looked at the redhead and nodded.
„You know Gerda?" Asked Rollan curious.
„She's in my class," Responded Nathaniel.
„Okay and what's with this thing you're telling is right or wrong?"
„It's a rule that men have for the restrooms. It's not really written in any law book or anything, but it's a rule," Explained Nathaniel, „Don't ask me how this became a thing, we just all do it that way,"
„Is it because everyone is afraid to be judged?" Questioned Rollan making Nathaniel frown.
„Hey don't look down!" Ordered Nathaniel annoyed, shrieking Rollan.
„I'm looking at your eyes," Assured Rollan confused making Nathaniel feel embarrassed.
„Keep your eyes away from me, please. I'm feeling uncomfortable," Warned the redhead, making Rollan puff and look down at himself.
„ Lo Siento," Apologized Rollan, then noticed Marc leave to wash his hands leaving him back with Nathaniel. Rollan pondered about the awkward silence between the two and had an idea on how to spice it up a little. „Wanna hear a bathroom joke?" Asked the Spaniard, making the redhead roll his eyes. „How many people does it take to make the bathroom smell?…..Just a phew!" Responded Rollan watching Nathaniel sink his head back annoyed.
„Are you serious?" Complained Nathaniel making Rollan chuckle a little abashed noticing, Nathaniel didn't like it at all.
„You didn't like it? Oh….."Commented Rollan rolling his eyes down, then furrowed his eyebrows and moved his eyes to the opposite side, where no one stood. „My look now was an accident, but I think there's something wrong with…..uh…..you know,"
„I'm circumcised! Just stop being inappropriate!" Barked Nathaniel leaving the Spaniard back to add soap to his hands. „I'm gonna wash my hands in the art class, don't worry," Nathaniel told Marc, which nodded and opened the door for the friend to leave together.
„Maybe I should have stayed silent," Rollan commented leaving the urinal to wash his hands, then made his way out of the restroom.
He passed by the corridor, then encountered Gerda walking out of the classroom with Juleka, then both noticed Rollan come along, which stopped by the two girls.
„Hey Gerda," Greeted the Spaniard, then he spotted Nathaniel sit down along with Marc, then the short boy frowned looking at the Spaniard, which grinned and stepped away from the door, making Gerda furrow her eyebrows, then look at the boys, which were now trying to work on the comic.
„Uh did something happen?" Asked Gerda looking at Rollan, which shrugged his shoulders.
„I think when more people share the restroom we shouldn't be closer to each other I think. Or not make bathroom jokes. I didn't mean to offend them, I had no idea, anything of what I did was wrong though,"
„That must have been a misunderstanding. They sure will understand, if you talk to them about it. Not right now, but maybe tomorrow,"
„I don't mean anything bad to them or anyone else, I just want to get along," Rollan commented making Gerda nod. „I wasn't quite another student's favorite, even when I wasn't even being mean or hurting anyone physically,"
„Don't worry Rollan, it's just our third day here. We'll get the hand out of it with the time," Promised Gerda placing her hand on his shoulder, making him smile a little. Rollan then noticed Gerda's wreath, thereafter mentioned it.
„You're wearing your wreath again I see," Rollan commented making Gerda smile.
„I am. Thanks for bringing it back to me," Gerda responded. „You know….this wreath was a birthday gift to me from Kai when I turned 16. This is the only thing I've got from him now and I'm glad, that I could have it back,"
„I'm glad it made you happy," Commented Rollan earning a nod from Gerda. Juleka noticed Gerda smiling at the tall boy, then she nudged the friend gently on the shoulder and the blonde looked at Juleka.
„We promised Rose to get us all snacks," Juleka mentioned making Gerda nod.
„I have to go up to the cafeteria," Gerda mentioned making Rollan nod.
„Sure, I have to go as well. I promised Wayhem to play with him and the others basketball,"
„Sure, have fun," Wished Gerda watching Rollan move along, then Juleka noticed Gerda smile. Juleka smiled a little noticing, Gerda seemed to have a low interest in the boy.
„Let's go to the cafeteria," Juleka commented making Gerda nod, which walked along with the raven-haired girl on the floor and the blonde took a look from above the railing to see Rollan receive the ball from Wayhem and begin the match with the small group.
Alfida spent an entire day working outside of the village for a rich employee and her last task was to finish collecting the mown grass upon a cartwheel. Alfida moved the cart to the side of the terrace next to the entrance and she walked upstairs to knock on the door.
„Gosh what a day," Alfida commented passing her hand under her bangs to clean up the sweat. „This guy better pass me 200 Kroner for the effort or more of it," Alfida waited for a little while, then pressed the bell, hearing the ring from the inside and she heard a voice, making her smile knowing she was noticed. The door got opened up by a young adult, which looked at the grass and nodded.
„Well done," Complimented the man looking down at Alfida, which smiled and watched the man going to close the door, shocking her, which set her feet between the arc and the door and stared at the adult. „Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! We had a deal, you would pay me 100 Kroner or more from doing all your work," Alfida warned watching the blonde ponder about her words, then shake his head.
„Nope, we didn't" Responded the man.
„Yes, we did! And you know that. You even said that!" Warned Alfida crossing her arms making the man shake his head.
„Did we settle that down on paper or another way?" Questioned the man. „No, we didn't,"
„Hey according to the law, you're allowed to pay me per hour my age's price. That's how other villagers I've asked have done. You even promised me more, why are you lying now?"
„It's your word against mine, dear," Commented the adult tapping the girl on the nose. „Have you got proof to show the others, that I said that?" Asked the blonde. „Huh?"
Alfida growled angry at the man having tricked her out, then she pushed the door back to confront the man, which took a step back from the teenager.
„Listen up blondie, I didn't work myself to death only to be greeted with your stingy attitude. I've cleaned your house, I've washed your car, I've sorted the books inside the bookshelves in alphabetical order, I've mown the grass and collected all of it into that stupid cart. I've been the entire afternoon here doing your dirty work. You either pay me as you promised me in the beginning or I'll have to get the money by myself. And no, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty," Threatened Alfida the tall blonde, which began to laugh at Alfida standing tall for herself.
„From all the teens, that have passed by my house, you were the most hilarious one. Are you really thinking I'm afraid of you?" Asked the man. „You're just a naive kid. Unable to use right words with adults…..If I were you I would learn to show more respect towards older people like me," Told the man looking at Alfida, which frowned and the man approached her with a sly grin. „What do you say?" Asked the man, then Alfida head bumped the man on the nose, causing him to fall down on the ground and Alfida noticed on the back of his pants the wallet. Alfida looked down at the man, which was holding his nose and she frowned and picked up the wallet opening it to remove the few cash bills he had in it, and ran off the house.
„Get back here!" Cried the man angry watching Alfida ran along the sidewalk back into the inner side of the village, where the home of Hendrick was located.
At the flower shop, Hendrick stood together with Orm, Kai, and Luta at the counter together looking at Kai showing them the amount of money he made it to get.
„110 bucks I've got at the moment," Kai said dropping the coins and a cash bill on the table making the senior nod. „Now with Alfida's part, we're able to go there and have a bit of money to survive the first day or two,"
„Then you two can pass by tomorrow at the library again and ask the woman to help you order the two flight tickets," Mentioned Hendrick. „Or we could as well pass by the airport and do it there right away. If you're lucky you can go tomorrow at one point of the day,"
„We'll give it a try," Mentioned Kai, then he shrieked along with Orm as the door of the entrance got smacked back and Alfida ran into the store. „What's going on?" Asked Kai seeing his love interest approach him and the troll.
„We've gotta go now! A guy is looking for me," Warned Alfida. „He warned a guard in a blue suit"
„Warned you?" Orm asked. „Did you steal something?"
„I swear I wasn't stealing this time. I mean I did steal money from a rich snob, because he deserved it after he used me with an empty promise of paying me," Alfida assured. „I've spent the entire day doing all his work and he ends up convincing me, he didn't tell me any of the promises he made,"
„And you just stole him his money?" Questioned Kai shocked.
„I wasn't meant to do that, but I couldn't help myself to do so," Alfida answered taking out the five green cash bills she had in her hand. „There about 250 Kroner. If we would depart tonight he wouldn't find me anymore in this surroundings,"
„Henry, do you think there's a possible way to help Alfida out of this?" Asked Orm. „At least until the coast is clear?"
„I don't think there's a chance for you to get a ticket out of her right now…...unless you would run the whole way out of the village to the train station and head to any train," Suggested Hendrick. „To be safe I would avoid entering into the cabins where the other people are. Just in case people will recognize you,"
„And where do the trains usually go?" Asked Kai making the senior shrug his shoulders.
„Most of them go around Norway. There's the chance, that you could catch one heading to Sweden, and from there on you could ask someone in a library or anywhere else with access to a computer to help you book a flight to Paris," Suggested Hendrick.
„I think we better go that way, Alfida," Mentioned Kai. „What do you think?"
„Sure. I'm sorry I brought you into this issue,"
„Well I don't think people will arrest me for what you did, but I'm okay. Maybe we're luckier there,"
„Hopefully!" Commented Alfida furrowing her eyebrows and storing her money back in her pocket. „Orm, are you staying?"
„I will just accompany you to the train station to help you not get caught. In the end, I return to Hendrick and head back to the troll kingdom to try to unfreeze King Arrog and his family," Orm explained making the raven-haired boy nod. Luta squeaked and jumped at the shoulder of Kai, then looked at the teens, that glimpsed at Gerda's weasel noticing she offered herself to tag along. „Good idea Luta," Commented Orm, then looked at Hendrick. „Is it okay, if we take the back door?"
„If you're able to climb over the wall, sure," Responded Hendrick. „Just make sure Finn stays inside the garden," Warned the senior earning a nod from the troll, which accompanied Kai and Alfida to the back of the flower shop leaving the senior back.
At the art class, Gerda sat around a table together with Juleka, Luka, and Rose working on different topics. Gerda was cutting out from a sheet with a scissor various forms, then passed a few she had cut out to Rose, which then analyzed where to put.
„You seem very lost in your head, Gerda," Commented Rose looking at the blonde, which shrugged her shoulders.
„Just a little," Responded Gerda. „There's nothing special,"
„Do you want another chocolate bar?" Asked Rose taking out one from her backpack, making the blonde shake her head. „What about a granola bar?" Asked Rose taking out another snack.
„I think Gerda is in love with the new friend of Luka," Commented Julerose quiet.
„You mean Rollan?" Asked Luka earning a nod from his sister. „Okay,"
„I kind of do find him cute," Gerda admitted a little abashed. „I really haven't been so long in a conversation with other boys for so long, besides Rollan the last times. Rollan was different to me. He was more…...open and interested in getting to know me than anyone else before. ,"
„Aww he's another good boy," Commented Rose glad listening to Gerda's phrase, which made Alix chuckle.
„Rollan isn't a dog, Rose," Commented Alix making Luka cackle.
„Nice one, Alix," Complimented Luka. „From the days I have known Rollan, he reminds me a little of Kim,"
„You'll have to introduce him to us. I would really love to get to know him as well," Mentioned Rose making Gerda chuckle.
„Sure, he's down there playing basketball," Mentioned Gerda, then Rose kept glancing at Gerda, which got confused about the blonde's staring. „Uh did I say something wrong?"
„Oh sorry, I was expecting, that you would go down and get him,"
„No, but we can go there to him," Gerda commented making Luka chuckle.
„Come on Rose, go together with her. You're the one, that wants to see him," Luka commented making Rose nod.
„Yeah I think you're right," Responded Rose getting up from the ground and walked along with the taller girl to the railing of the level to see the boys were all gone.
„I think he left," Mentioned Gerda making Rose nod.
„Then we check it out tomorrow,"
„Yeah, he's definitely going to be there tomorrow,"
„Cool," Commented Rose, then heard someone whistle and it was Luka, which got to the door of the classroom.
„Is anyone around?" Asked Luka making the two blondes shake their heads. „Then get in, quick. There's an akuma break out again,"
„Okay, I'm coming," Replied Rose, then Gerda felt someone pull on her shirt and she looked down to see Snowflake, which wanted to warn the holder about the situation.
„I'll be coming later, I have to use the restroom," Gerda commented earning a nod from the two, which got into the classroom. Gerda noticed, that no one was around and ran a few meters away from the door, then stopped waiting for her spirit to leave her. „Okay, is this another crazy mission for us?"
„Don't worry, you got it. It's your second time. Now you're aware how to use it in certain ways and it will be better for you, than the other day,"
„I'll do my best, thank you," Gerda said making the spirit smile, then Gerda exclaimed out her transformation phrase. „Snowflake, Freeze!"