Golden, downtown Heatherfield
Sunday 19:00

"Ok, so does anyone else hate when Hippie-Head gets like that?" asked a very exasperated Irma, mere seconds before she took a big bite from her burger. "I mean, he justh sath a few vague thingth an totally ignorth our quethionth."

"Irma, we've been over this before: we chew our food and then we talk."

Irma quickly gulped her food down and threw a smirk Cornelia's direction.

"What? Not going to comment on my physical appearance or posture or anything? You're going soft, babe."

"Oh, there are plenty of things I can say…um…well, your hair is just awful, you have ketchup and barbeque sauce splattered ALL over your clothes and your earrings are atrocious." Irma's mouth dropped open in shock as Cornelia leaned in.

"And you're breaking out."

Cornelia leaned back, folded her arms across her chest and sent the smirk right back at her friend, who looked like she was on the verge of tears. But, to her friend's astonishment, Irma collected herself and grinned over at Cornelia.

"Love pointing out my flaws don't you, Corny?"

Cornelia nodded.

"Wait wait wait!"

Irma glanced over at Hay Lin with bored eyes. The Asian girl wore a look that clearly said I-Am-So-Not-Buying-This.

"You're telling me that Cornelia said just about the meanest things she's ever said to you and you're ok with it?"

"Of course I am, Hay Hay; I mean, who really needs self-esteem? Feeling good about yourself is totally over-hyped."

Hay Lin raised an eyebrow, a skeptical look on her face.

"Not buying it?" asked Irma.

Hay Lin shook her head and mouthed the word no. Irma shifted her gaze over to Cornelia; the blond had both her elbows on the top of the booth and looked a little too smug for Irma's taste. The brunette leaned in close.

"Oh yeah, Corny? Well you have a scar."

At these words, Cornelia instantly brought her hand up to her face, trying to cover up the three inch diagonal scar; the only remains after her healing session with the Oracle. Taranee, being naturally empathetic, put her arm on her friend's shoulder.

"Corny, are you OK?"

Cornelia reached up and grabbed Taranee's hand as she shook her head. She shot Irma a look as her eyes welled up.

"Too mean." She managed to choke out.

Irma rolled her eyes. "Oh please, what you said was way meaner."

"That may be so, but at least I couldn't help getting this scar-"

"Oh, you mean because I can totally help breaking out?"

"Well if you took care of your skin you co-"

"Alright guys…cool it!" interjected Taranee, her hand still covering Cornelia's shoulder. "You're both gorgeous." Both girls began to smile, but Taranee was not done.

"Irma, you know perfectly well how Cornelia got that scar and she doesn't need you reminding her about it. And Cornelia, you know that Irma doesn't exactly have the highest self esteem, so lay off."

Both girls hung their heads before they sprung up and pointed at each other.

"Cornelia, I'm-"started Irma.

"Irma, I'm sorry I made fun of your stupid face." Cornelia practically shouted. "I win!" she proclaimed as she slapped the table to make her point.

"You know, Corny, it doesn't count if your apology includes another insult." pouted Irma. "But…thanks."

"Anytime."

Hay Lin chose that moment to, rather loudly, clear her throat. Both girls, and Taranee, looked over at their Asian friend. Hay Lin lifted her glass of water off of the table and glanced over each of her friends.

"Guys, I know she isn't here, but I'd like to toast Will, because if she hadn't shown up back there, I might not be here right now."

As the words left her mouth, the joyous atmosphere around the table seemed to evaporate faster than water did when Irma willed it to. The three seated Guardians slowly lifted their glasses and clinked them with Hay Lin's. They each drank; hesitantly at first. As Hay Lin lowered her glass back to the table, Taranee voiced what she knew was on everyone's mind.

"Does anyone know exactly why Will isn't here?"

As soon as Taranee said this, she, as well and Hay Lin and Cornelia, turned and eyed Irma. The brunette stared right back at them, the confusion she felt clear in her eyes.

"What?" She asked, beginning to fear that she had a rather large pimple on her nose. Unconsciously she raised a hand to her face and felt around. Taranee hesitantly began to speak.

"Back there in Kandrakar…you were…oh how can I put this...you were the only one of us…um…intact enough to talk to her."

Irma lowered her gaze; she took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Well…to tell the truth…we didn't do a lot of talking. At least, Will and I didn't. Your Grandma practically stole her from me, Hay Hay. And I'm glad she did; I was about to tell her to appreciate the fact that at least that…that..." Irma snapped her fingers "… Ak's'l person didn't announce that he was her father or something. How messed up is that? She was crying her eyes out and I was about to crack a joke."

In the silence that followed, Hay Lin reached across the table and took her best friends hand, sandwiching it between her own.

"It's just how you deal with stress, Irma. Honestly, I'm surprised you were even about to think of a joke."

Irma looked away. "Actually, Hay, it wasn't as hard as you'd think. I mean, as much as I hate to admit it, I was so sure the Oracle could save you, and that just made me feel…good."

A silence fell over the table; a silence which was broken by Taranee's cell phone. She flipped it open and put it to her ear. The other girls leaned in, but they could only hear one side of the conversation.

"Hello...Yeah, almost…about 5 minutes…ok, see you then."

Taranee flipped her phone closed and set it on the table.

"Does anyone want a ride home? Peter's picking me up in five."

Hay Lin, Cornelia and Irma exchanged looks before answering as one.

"Please."

Vandom residence
Sunday 19:30

Even though she had had a reasonably successful day, Susan Vandom wanted nothing more than to take a long, hot shower, make dinner for herself and her little girl and then spend the remainder of the evening curled up with a good book. She cringed as the old front door of their apartment creaked ever so slightly as she pushed it open. She closed and locked it behind her before bending over, setting down her bag of groceries and unlacing her tennis shoes; she casually kicked them off, picked up her shopping bag and walked through the apartment to the kitchen, where she set the bag down.

She crossed through the apartment a second time, making a right and heading down the hall. As she passed by Will's room, Susan's curiosity got the better of her; she put her ear to her daughter's door, just to see if Will was home. Of all the noises she had expected to hear through that door, the unmistakable sound of someone sobbing was not one of them.

Susan raised a hand and tentatively knocked on the door. The sobbing almost instantly quieted, and her daughter's voice carried through the door.

"Go away!"

Susan knocked again; this time with different results.

"Come in."

Susan turned the knob and opened the door; she took in the scene before her in a glance. Her daughter was lying on her bed, clutching one of her many stuffed frogs to her chest and silently crying into it.

"Go away, mom."

Susan sighed; sometimes Will could be so difficult. Despite the fact that their last conversation had gone completely awry, Susan was not about to literally and metaphorically turn her back when her daughter looked like she desperately needed someone, even if said daughter was telling her to go away. Susan crossed to the bed and sat down at the far end. Slowly, Will raised her head and turned to face her mother. Susan gasped; the skin around Will's eyes was red and puffy from crying and there were two wet streaks running down her cheeks. Susan could not remember seeing her little girl in this state since her friends back in Fadden Hills had rejected her.

Taking her mother completely by surprise, Will suddenly threw herself into Susan's lap and began sobbing anew. Unconsciously, Susan reached down and began to run her fingers through Will's hair; something she used to do whenever her daughter had come to her with a bruised knee or scrapped elbow. She reached her other hand down and cupped her daughter's chin; she slowly raised Will's head until her sadness swollen eyes met Susan's own.

"What's wrong, honey? You can tell me."

Will wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and began to speak; Susan kept the comforting hand on her daughter's head.

"My f-friends hate me!" she sobbed before throwing herself at her mother again.

Susan held the crying girl and did her best to comfort her. She had a hunch that what Will really needed was someone to listen to her. A few moments later, her suspicions were confirmed as Will began to speak again, her voice muffled.

"They were counting on me and I let them down! I'm such a bad friend!"

Susan began to rub her daughter's back.

"Shhhh; no you aren't, Will. Your friends love you, sweetie…and so do I."

Cave, unspecified location
20:00 Earth time

A'k'sl opened his eyes tentatively; his head gave an almighty throb as he reached down and began to slowly push himself into a sitting position. He played his eyes quickly over his surroundings; to his great astonishment, he no longer lay under the tree where he had been…killed by the Guardian of Earth. In fact, he didn't even seem to be outside. He stood up, his head giving another screaming protest as he did so. A'k'sl took a cautionary sniff; there was no human stink in the air…and something about the odor of the place made him feel…safe.

He uttered a sharp bark, which echoed through the cave. To his very great surprise, an answering growl, not just an echo, reached his ears, which perked up. What appeared to be a human male in his late fifties entered through a doorway. But this, A'k'sl knew, was no man. The other Cranal raised a hand in greeting; he spoke in a low voice as deep as the ocean itself.

"I didn't think that you would wake today, young one. Stronger than you look, eh?"

A'k'sl didn't answer; his mouth hanging slightly open in disbelief. The older Cranal raised an eyebrow.

"What's the matter, boy? Don't tell me you thought you were the last?"

A'k'sl closed his mouth; though he didn't like being referred to as "boy", he decided to let it slide.

Finally he spoke…"Where have you been for these past few centuries?"

"I've been hiding out, as, I imagine, you have."

A'k'sl nodded his head. "I'd heard rumors about another…but I never believed them."

He looked around before voicing his other question. "How did I get here?"

"Ah, now we can get down to it; I found you, boy…on the human world, Earth."

A'k'sl gave a snort of disbelief. "You have the whole universe to play around in and you just happened to find me? Have you been following me, droopy whiskers?"

"Droopy whiskers? You mind your tongue before I mind it for you, cubling!"

A'k'sl gave a small growl and made to leap at the older Cranal. He was suddenly jerked back in mid-leap; he looked down and saw that his foot had sunk into the hard limestone of the cave floor. He glanced back in time to see the older Cranal's eyes shift from deep emerald to the grayish brown they had been before. All the fight rushed out of A'k'sl as realization dawned on him…this must be…

"…a warlock! You…you're a warlock!"

The older Cranal smirked. "Not as stupid as you look, eh boy?"

A'k'sl gave another growl, but, remembering what happened last time, cut it short. He bowed his head ever so slightly.

"Sorry about the insult, I…haven't seen another…in quite a while…"

The warlock nodded. "I'm sorry as well; not used to having company…my name is Drex, friend."

"A'k'sl…wait…THE Drex?"

Drex nodded. A'k'sl felt a grin spread over his face.

"Oh this is great! My brother and I used to love…" A'k'sl feel silent…before "Well, when he was alive anyway."

Drex merely smiled; he turned and beckoned A'k'sl to follow him. "Come and eat, young one. Mayhaps you can tell me about your brother."

Golden
20:15 PM

As soon as Irma excused herself to go to the bathroom, Taranee beckoned her two friends to lean towards her. Exchanging confused looks, Cornelia and Hay Lin moved their heads closer to the center of the table. Taranee spoke in a low, urgent voice.

"Listen girls, the real reason Peter is coming to get me is so that we can be sure that Irma gets home safe tonight. I…just have a bad feeling about her walking home, even if we're all with her."

Both girls nodded instantly. Cornelia put a comforting hand on Taranee's shoulder. "Considering all the crazy stuff that's happened today, I don't blame you, T."

What followed was an uncomfortable silence in which Taranee kept glancing out of the window, as if someone wishing to do Irma harm was standing outside of the diner. Suddenly her phone vibrated; she flipped it open and read the text message.

"Peter's here, girls. Hay, would you get Irma?"

The Asian girl nodded.

"Great. Come on, Corny."

"How many times have I…"

"…asked us not to call you that? More than I can count."

Laughing, the two girls exited the eatery and walked towards Peter's car. As they approached, the elder Cook got out of the car and leaned against it, with his arms on the roof, so he could talk to them.

"Hey, girls; All ready to go then?"

Taranee nodded. "As soon as Irma and Hay Lin get here." She took a step towards the passenger side, but stopped. Someone was already sitting there.

"Hi, Joel."

"Hey, Taranee…Cornelia."

Cornelia simply nodded and waved; whatever reply she made was lost as her two friends walked through the doors of Golden.

"…and then I told him that he could stick his math test up his…"

"IRMA!" said Hay Lin reproachfully, her cheeks flushing red. Both girls burst out laughing; Peter half raised his arm in greeting.

"Hey, you two; I'm sorry, but the four of you are going to have to squeeze into the back seat. Joel called shotgun."

"Joel?" asked Irma, but Hay Lin was already pulling her towards the car. She opened the door and squeezed herself in next to Taranee. When Peter next glanced in his rearview mirror, it was to see four very crowded Guardians. He made what he hoped was a sympathetic gesture.

"Sorry about this, girls, but Joel doesn't live too far away."

As if on cue, the boy in the passenger seat turned around and shot the backseat a grin. He had a tall mat of blond hair, glasses with round lenses, and a neat little goatee. At the sight of him, Irma turned a little red. Peter cleared his throat.

Taranee hurriedly introduced Hay Lin and Irma, who had never met Joel before. Joel's eyes rested on Irma for a fraction of a second before he nodded and turned away. Peter started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. The car was silent until…

"Hey sis, do you remember Ryan Moore?"

Taranee got a dreamy look in her eyes. "Of course I do…why?" she asked suspiciously.

Peter jerked his thumb at Joel.

"Because he's in town with his brother and Goldilocks here invited him to join Cobalt Blue."

"Hey," interjected Joel "I invited him to jam with us, not to join the band."

"Besides," said Taranee "…why shouldn't he? He was always good at singing."

"Who is he?" Hay Lin asked the car in general; Peter took a deep breath and answered her.

"Just a guy back in Sesamo that my sister used to have a thing for," Peter said "…which I did not approve of, by the way." He added, a hint of malice in his voice.

"And I told you, Peter, I don't care if you-"

"Listen, Taranee, you didn't know him like I did."

"Like hell! I knew him-"

"NO! You knew part of him. The things he got up to with that brother of his…"

"I liked his-"

"Look, those two are bad apples…and I don't want you or any of your friends involved with them."

"Peter, you can't just-"

"I know I can't, Taranee, but you're going to have to trust me when I tell you that those two are no good."

"Why? What kinds of things-"

"Never you mind, Taranee. Just…stay away from them."

Silence once again filled the car as the heated argument broke up. Taranee sat in the backseat with her arms crossed over her chest and an angry expression on her face. In front of her, Peter angrily blew a dreadlock out of his face as he gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.

After a few minutes Joel spoke up.

"Why don't we listen to some music? Do you girls like Karmilla?"

Irma leaned forward as far as she could at the mention of her favorite rock star. She reached her hand over the seat and clapped Joel on the shoulder.

"She's my favorite; have you heard her new single?"

"No, I heard that it rocks…"

"It sooo does; I have the CD at my house. Do you-"

"Nah. I need to get home. Next time though, ok?"

"Definitely."

Ten minutes later, Peter pulled up in front of Joel's house. As Joel got out of the car, Peter leaned over and stuck his head out of the open passenger window.

"Listen Joel, what I said to Taranee applies to you too…I want you to keep your distance from Ryan. He can jam with you guys, but he doesn't hang out with us at the beach or anything, got it?"

"Geez, what is your damage, Peter man? What is so bad about this kid?"

"Don't worry about it…just trust me on this…please…"

Joel gave Peter a long, hard look…before…

"Alright, Pete; I'll stay away. For you."

With that, he turned and began to walk towards his house.

"See you at school, Irma." He called over his shoulder. In the backseat, Hay Lin nudged her best friend.

"Someone made an impression."

A/N: Hey everyone. I'm sorry about the whole taking an ass long time to upload. The short short version is that I have been studying abroad in Scotland for 6 months. I can elaborate if anyone is interested. Anyway, I am planning on ending this story and beginning a sequel which picks up right after it ends, as babywhale512 did with her What Price series. Please tell me what you think of this last or 2nd to last chapter.

Cheers,
Quiet Wyatt