A few days had past and everything seemed to be getting back to normal.

Kerith was distracted with some new project he was working on, so I got a chance to get out of the house with the guise of 'grocery shopping.'

It was hard to figure out which of the two of us were more mentally unstable at this point.

Enterting the cool of the Grocery store on the hot summer day, I draped a basket over my arm, I headed for the coldest section, looking at some Yogurt.

"I see fate deemed fair to bring us together once more."

I turned to see a smiling face behind a long blue fringe.

"Oblio!"

"You remembered my name, I'm touched." He didn't sound it though, he sounded snarky.

I didn't like the way he was looking at me.

"What do you want?" I snapped.

His expression changed instantly.

"I didn't mean to startle you." He said gently. "I think some force out there is trying to tell us something."

"Like what?" I demanded. What was he getting at?

"We'll never understand unless we try to figure it out, the universe is not our plaything to be demanded answers of, it is an incredible ancient force that is pure power and might."

My phone went off. Kerith.

I pulled out my phone and answered it without taking my eyes off Oblio.

"Hey bro."

"Jaryn? I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention when you said you were going out, do you want me to meet up with you?"

Why this sudden need to not leave me alone. I didn't like it.

"It's alright, I'm with a friend." I said calmly.

Oblio smiled. Kerith didn't.

"What are you talking about?" He asked annoyed.

Whoops. I forgot, we didn't have any friends.

"Who's there?" He demanded. Why was he angry all of a sudden?

"A guy I met at a coffee shop." Oh God, why did I just say that.

"A GUY you met at a COFFEE SHOP!" Kerith was defiently freaking out. "I'm coming RIGHT NOW. Where are you?"

"Grocery store. I told you before I left." Now it was my turn to be annoyed.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm on my way, hold on." He hung up the phone.

So did I.

Oblio didn't blink.

"You should get out of here." I told Oblio. Why was I protecting him?

"Why's that?" He asked.

"My brother's on his way over here."

"Is that something I should be worried about?" He asked curiously.

"If you're still here when he get's here, he'll try and kill you." I said seriously.

"Is he always this over-protective?" Oblio asked.

"Yes." Why are we having this conversation, why aren't you leaving?

"I'm glad to know you have my best interests at heart."

I wanted to argue with him, but I couldn't. For whatever reason, I didn't want Kerith to hurt him.

"I should go now, we'll meet again. I know this now."

He evaporated into the people around him like steam. I blinked and he was gone, what?

"Jaryn!" I looked up and Kerith was there, frightened and out of breath. Did he run here?

"Hello Brother." I said unenthuiastically. He gave me a once-over.

"Are you hurt? You can't go around talking to strangers like that!"

"I'm fine."

"We can order in groceries, there's no reason for you to put yourself in danger like this." He said.

What danger? But the words wouldn't come. Something vital had shut off.

Kerith wrestled my shopping basket away from me without protest and lead me out of the store.

This was getting increasingly bizarre. I took a long look at the world around me as he led me home.

I wasn't sure if I would ever get to see it again.