I couldn't believe that not only did Lee just admit to wanting to date Jill, but that Sydney - of all people - was going along with it!
"So you're just going to let her go off all alone?" I asked her incredulously.
I really expected an Alchemist to have a lot more reservations about Jill and Lee going out. For different reasons than me, but that's not the point.
She looked like she wasn't even truly paying attention to me and was finally thinking it all through.
"Well, she can't even leave campus. Not without me."
Wait, what?
"Whoa," I said, taking a step closer towards her. "If you get to come along as a chaperone, so do I."
There was no way I was missing an opportunity to observe them together. I've never had a sibling and have never really been the protective kind, but Jill is too sweet and innocent to be taken advantage of. I'm keeping an eye on Lee as much as possible.
Sydney looked at me, exasperated. "If we both go, then Eddie will want to as well. Doesn't sound like much of a date."
That actually sounds perfect to me. I can keep an eye on them while also having some fun. Mini golf should be fun, right? Actually, I'd take anything as long as it gets me out of this house for a bit. I'm looking forward to it already.
"So?" I gave her my signature smile, sure to piss off any alchemist. "Think of it as less of a date than a faux family outing. One that will entertain me while protecting her virtue."
Oh, it was working. She seemed so incredibly annoyed. I wondered if I could get her to break her perfect little alchemist routine.
She put her hands on her hips and it took everything in me not to crack a pleased smile.
Wait, has that streak of purple always been in her aura? I hadn't really noticed it before but it was getting brighter as she turned to me. Fascinating. To say I was intrigued would be an understatement.
"Adrian, we're focusing on Jill here. This isn't about your personal entertainment."
"Not true," I said, enjoying her reaction too much. "Everything's about my personal entertainment."
There was something about her bright aura, that damn purple streak, and her full attention being on me that turned off my mental filter. "The world is my stage. Keep it up - you're becoming a star performer in the show."
Before she could respond, Lee asked if we wanted to be alone - I had honestly forgotten he was in the room. I almost huffed at his interruption.
I didn't take my eyes off Sydney, so I noticed how she flushed an admittedly cute shade of pink and seemed surprised to have allowed herself to react that way. The purple streak in her aura dimmed and was overshadowed by the gold, but it was still very much there.