Chapter 10 Expense

Alexi was sitting in a white utility van. It had no identifiable symbols or logos. I assumed it was borrowed.

I parked behind the building so my car wouldn't be seen.

Alexi had the radio on the local classical station.

"What's the plan?" I asked as I settled into the van.

"Ugh well we are going to drive into Seattle, and after Rictor and Dalton have their little meeting we grab Dalton, beat the shit out of him till he gives us any new info."

"Okay but what if he doesn't talk?"

"Ah see that's where you come in. Can you think of anybody that wouldn't be scared shitless with you in the same room."

"Well. I guess you have a point. But I don't get why it would work on this guy."

" Listen kid, the details about what you did in the Midwest and New York have been spread pretty far. Besides everyone knows Jaxon Stone runs the West Coast now. This joker will spill everything to us."

"And you are sure that this guy is connected to Julius?"

"Oh without a doubt. I heard from Lorenzo, who used to play craps with Scottie Big, who is Rictor's cousin, that Dalton was Julius's largest supplier of mil grade weapons."

"So if Rictor and Dalton are meeting it has to be on Julius's behalf."

"Bingo."

Alexi pulled onto the 101 North and we were off to commit our first west coast abduction.

The drive took about three hours. I nodded off after the first thirty minutes of listening to Alexi's Bulgarian Opera.

I was wandering through the forests. I kept looking back behind me. There was streaks of light and laughter. It was an icy sound. I looked down and I had blood all over me. I don't think it was mine though. I kept stumbling through the dark forest looking for an exit. It was like a damn maze. The laughter kept getting closer. I was running from whatever it was. I looked behind myself one more time and that's when I ran into something solid. I hit it so hard I fell backwards. I stared up at Edythe, though she was covered in blood. It was terrifying. She wasn't hurt. She was laughing. That's when she lunged at me.

I woke up with a jump. A car horn was blaring. I realized I was with Alexi in the van stuck in Seattle traffic.

"Good you are up. We are almost there."

"I pulled my phone out. Edythe had sent me a text message.

"Hey partner, would you like me to pick you up in the morning? Gas is a finite resource we have to do our part." -Edythe

She was being weird. I guess this was her way of asking me to hangout. I had no reason to want to drive until later in the day when I would be going to the movies with the guys.

"Yes, that will work for me. I publicly condemned fossil fuels." -Jaxon

I pushed my phone back into my pocket. Alexi had just parked the car, outside of a shabby little brick building.

"And now we wait." Alexi said.

He pulled out a flask and took a swig of it and passed it to me. Pure Russian vodka.

We waited about forty-five minutes. Then people started to file out of the building. Alexi perked up.

"That's him, the one in the black jacket."

Dalton walked to a grey sedan. He peeled out of there. Alexi tailed him three car lengths behind. We drove to a parking garage for a hotel. This would work.

"Alright let me out here. I'll go into the parking deck on foot. You follow and box his car in. I'll sneak up behind him."

Alexi nodded.

I got out of the van and walked through the crowd on the sidewalk. I pulled the hood up to conceal myself more. I slipped into the building and made my way down into the parking deck. It took a bit to find Dalton's car but I spotted it as he was parking.

Alexi wheeled the van behind the car and I ran behind the front of the car. Dalton froze. I grabbed him in the head and slammed his head against his car. He went lemp. Alexi opened the side door and I threw him in. I zip tied his hand and feet together. Alexi drove to a warehouse on the harbor.

I slapped Dalton hard in the face.

"Wake up you cocksucker."

I kept slapping him till he came to. He panicked.

"WHAT THE FUCK!"

I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him up.

"You are going to tell us what you and Rictor talked about!" I yelled at Dalton.

"FUCK YOU! You can go to hell!"

I punched him in his stomach. "Tell me you little fucker or I'll start snapping fingers!"

I straightened up. I pulled out a pair of pliers.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Do you know who I am?!"

Alexi grabbed him by his neck.

"You better wisen up comrade. You are talking to the Devil of Chicago."

Dalton stared blank face at me.

"You are Jaxon Stone?"

I nodded.

"I didn't mean any disrespect ."

"I'll forgive this if you tell us what you and Rictor discussed."

"Okay, okay. Rictor wants a large shipment. It dwarfs whatever I've done."

I looked at Alexi.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"No nothing I swear."

"Okay." I punched Dalton in the face to knock him out.

"If Rictor is getting weapons and munitions, he must be gearing up for a fight." Alexi mumbled.

I nodded. "But who does he want to fight?"

"We are the only fighting force in the area."

"Yeah but Rictor wouldn't dare. I think he's being directed by Julius."

"It makes sense. I imagine Julius is going to try and reclaim his territory."

I nodded.

Alexi and I got back into Forks around midnight. I was exhausted. The idea of ditching tomorrow skipped through my mind but that would prevent me from spending the day with Edythe. That wasn't ideal for me.

I slowly walked up my steps and pulled my clothes off, tossing my phone onto my bed. I walked into the bathroom and splashed warm water in my face and brushed my teeth.

I walked to the bed and layed down. I hadn't checked my phone in a few hours. Edythe had sent a message a two hours ago.

Jaxon I will pick you up around 7:15. -Edythe

I smiled.

Okay. See you then. -Jaxon

I layed the phone down and closed my eyes.

Flashing light. Screams. Gunshots.

I was running through the woods. No, I was chasing someone. It was a target. They kept shooting back at me, but I didn't stop. They were my target. I had to eliminate them. The chase wouldn't end it never did when I had a target. They turned. It was Julius and he had Edythe by the neck. I stopped. Julius smiled and snapped her neck.

"NO!" I yelled.

The compound alarm was blaring. There was an intruder. I jumped out of the bed and I grabbed my pistol out of the nightstand. The house was still dark. Streams of light poured in from the compound. One reason I went with an open concept was because I could see the entire place in one scan. I swept the house and made my way outside. There was nothing. I sighed and walked back into the house. I laid the gun down on the island. The stove clock read 4:47 am. Well I wasn't going back to bed anytime soon. I spent the next hour and half going through a grueling workout. I ran eight miles and then did a circuit with my weights and combat rope. I ended the workout with some boxing. My tank top was soaked by the time 6:45 rolled around.

Edythe would be here in thirty minutes. I took a quick shower and dressed in some faded black jeans, a grey shirt, and a heavy pea coat for the cold. I checked my watch. Edythe would be here in ten minutes.

I didn't think I would need my bag so I just grabbed a pen and the worksheet Edythe and I had prepared the previous day. I couldn't stop smiling, I got to spend the day with her. My phone buzzed.

I'm outside. Come out when you are ready. -Edythe

Showtime. I walked out of the house, the door locked itself. Edythe was sitting in her car. I opened the door and I got hit with this blast of hot air.

"Are you cold or something?" I asked.

She looked at me puzzled. "No I thought you might be, since the temperature is in the teens today."

I laughed. "Yeah but it's like a mid July day in your car." I said turning the vent away from me as I got into the car.

"Sorry I didn't notice." She turned the fan down.

"So are you ready for the field trip?" I asked

"Yes. It should be a rather joyful outing."

She started driving towards the school. Her driving still put me on edge.

"What are you listening to?" I asked as I turned the volume up. Nocturnes by DeBussy began playing on the car stereo.

Edythe looked at me like she was embarrassed.

"Good choice. Have you ever seen Nocturnes performed?" I asked. I had ulterior motives behind my questions. She enjoyed music and I could take her to performances and concerts.

"Yes, I saw the Orchestre National de France."

"Wow. Does your family travel a lot?"

"It was a gift from my father. He has always supported my musical ambitions." She said smiling. I could tell she was very close to her dad. I would keep that in mind.

We were almost at school.

"Have you ever been to the Orchestre National de France?" She asked.

"No. But I have heard it rivals the British Symphony."

"I would say it surpasses."

"You have seen both?"

"Numerous times."

I nodded.

"Do you enjoy opera?"

"Yes, I do." She said with a laugh.

"What."

"It's nothing. I just wouldn't have taken you for a classical lover."

"I have an old soul." I sighed out. It was the truth. My mind felt ancient sometimes.

We pulled into Edythe's normal parking spot, beside a red BMW. I guessed it was one of her siblings.

We didn't have to report to the bus till eight and it was only seven-twenty-eight. Edythe was a speed demon. I imagined her parents have paid for a few speeding tickets, but who was I to judge.

I turned to look at Edythe. She was wearing blue jeans, a cream colored sweater and an army green jacket with a grey hood. She looked breathtaking. One thing I knew is this was going to be a good day. It was a complete one-eighty, I smiled.

I turned my gaze back out to the parking lot. I had never been on a school bus before.

"Are you okay?" Edythe asked.

I snapped my head to her. I didn't know what my expression looked like right at this moment.

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"It's going to sound stupid, but I have never been on a school bus."

"Ever?" She asked.

"Not once."

"Did you not go to a primary school when you were younger?"

"No, my father insisted on private tutors. Looking back on it I wish he hadn't. But I understand why he went that route."

"So this high school experience really is new to you."

"Yeah, I mean the school work and the people interactions are normal but the day-to-day is pretty new. It's pretty tedious some days."

She looked down at her hands like she was irritated.

"What's wrong?"

She looked back at me. "I could have been nicer the last few months. I didn't really anticipate you adjusting to your new life here."

I laughed. "You don't have to worry about anything. Trust me I get why, it's not the first time someone has stopped talking to me because of the press or whatever. I feel like a spotlight sometimes, shining at people and drawing moths from tabloids. It's just a part of the curse of being famous." My voice went monotone.

"Has your life always been so public?" She asked sympathetically.

"More or less. It got worse as I got older. I blame social media, and people becoming fascinated with big business owners. I mean it's not like I'm not human, I do the same things everyone else does."

I looked at Edythe. She was smiling, dimples on full display, it froze me.

"You really think you live a normal life?" She asked.

"More or less."

She giggled. "Jaxon, you drive around in a car that costs the same as a house. Now there is nothing wrong with that but, you have to see that some people would take interest in your lifestyle."

I just sat there. I wasn't used to people calling me on my shit. People usually just agreed with me or wouldn't speak up against me. I liked that she did. She was a confident person and pretty wise for her age.

Edythe had pulled out the map of BioDome. It was a large facility, about eleven acres of greenhouses and labs. It was also placed in a large tree farm.

She laid the map on the console.

"So I think we should work our way around in a counterclockwise motion, so we can get to all of the designated exhibitions."

She was biting down on the sharpie she had marked the map with. God this girl couldn't be real.

She looked up at me. "Does that sound good?"

"Yeah. How many exhibits do we have to check off?"

"Twenty-six."

Edythe's phone started buzzing. She looked down at it and she looked irritated.

"One second."

She turned and answered the phone.

"What is it Archie?"

I pulled my phone out so I wasn't intentionally listening to her conversation. I needed to check my email to see if Trish had prepared the documents I had requested. Like always Trish had excelled at what I had asked.

"No Archie, I had already told you no last night."

I smiled to myself. It seemed that all siblings had arguments. The thought made me slightly miss my brother and sister.

"Whatever Archie there isn't even a point in arguing with you is there?"

"Bye." She laid her phone down on top of the map. She closed her eyes and laid her head back against the headrest.

I chuckled. She was cute when she was annoyed.

Her eyes snapped open and she turned her head to me. She had a smile forming.

"Would you believe me when I said Archie isn't even being super annoying today?"

"I guess he wants you to do something."

"Yeah kinda. It's hard to explain but he is really persistent."

She then looked out the window to the buses and then at the car clock.

"I think we need to go to the bus now."

I turned my gaze out the window. People were gathering. I sighed. I would have liked to stayed in this car with Edythe all day. I could lose myself in our conversations. There weren't many people I enjoyed talking with. But I got to spend the day with her.

"Yeah I guess you are right."

"I usually am." She said grinning.

That grin could make my heart stop.

We both got out of her car and walked our way over to the bus where our fellow students had begun to gather. Mikayla and Jeremy were talking loudly in the crowd, I could hear them from almost thirty feet away. I knew that people would definitely notice that Edythe and I drove together. I glanced over at her. She was looking as confident and gorgeous as ever.

"Hey Jaxon, come over here!" Mikayla yelled at me.

I looked down at Edythe. She looked slightly irritated. I guess Mikayla wasn't Edythe's favorite person. Edythe turned and looked up at me, she shrugged and walked over to my friends. I knew at this moment that I would blow off my friends for this girl. What were these feelings Edythe stirred in me?

Jeremy's eyes widen at the sight of Edythe walking with me.

"Ugh hey Jaxon. Are you ready for this snooze fest?" Jeremy asked.

I shrugged. "I think it's going to be a pretty interesting day."

I restrained myself from smiling. Today was going to be interesting for me, I had a valid reason to spend the day with Edythe. I was not going to pay much attention to the actual school work we had to do, hopefully that wouldn't annoy Edythe.

had walked over.

"Okay guys let's load up. You need to sit with your lab partners. Second period load in the "A" bus and fourth period load in the "B" bus."

Edythe and I walked over to our assigned bus. The inside of the bus was what I had imagined. There was an advantage to this bus. The seats had just enough room for us to sit but we would be really close to one another.

She looked back at me.

"Do you want the window or the aisle?" She asked.

"You can have the window."

She smiled and sat down. I sat next to her, trying to give her as much room as possible not to be acting like a creep. The class was jumping with excitement, I was thrilled to be out of the school building, doubled that I was spending the day with Edythe. The ancient Diesel engine of the bus roared to life, it was almost deafening.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out begrudgingly. It was Dave.

"Hey hotshot, I'm in Seattle, want to grab drinks and go do something? I was thinking we could catch a Seahawks game." -David

I shook my head, smiling.

"Yeah man sounds like a plan I'll call you later. Also I might need a favor later but I'll let you know if I will need it." -Jaxon

Just as I laid my phone down, the bus hit the mother of all potholes, the bus driver hit the breaks. My phone went airborne and I was going to hit my face on the seat. But something pushed me back against the seat, like a brace. I looked down and Edythe's hand was pushing against my chest. In her other hand she was holding my phone. I met her look. For a split second we were alone. Then the noise from the other students groaning distracted me. Edythe's hand moved off of my chest. She handed me my phone.

"Thanks." I said taking it, I put it in my jacket pocket.

She nodded.

Man this girl was strong and the reflexes she had, it was impressive. I turned my head a little to look at her more. I could fake that I was staring out the window. She was looking down at her hands. There was no way to explain how she held my entire weight back against the seat, especially with the momentum that the bus had sent me. Either she was one hundred percent muscle or I didn't weigh almost two hundred pounds.

She couldn't weigh a buck ten soaking wet. She was almost five foot five. It wasn't important. The rest of the bus was chatting and goofing off. It would take almost two hours.

"So what are you planning to do for Christmas break?" Edythe asked.

It was completely out of the blue.

"I don't really know. I might go back to New York."

"I thought you had been telling people you were going to New York."

I leaned in so to make sure no one else was listening.

"Yeah I just told those girls that so they would stop asking me to that dance."

I leaned back, Edythe smirked.

"I figured."

"What do you mean?"

"There was gossip going around in the girls locker room, that you had been using New York as an excuse."

"Is it that obvious?"

She nodded.

I bit my thumb. I needed a new excuse.

"So what are you and your family doing for Christmas?"

"Probably just going to spend time with the family, might read some books I've been wanting to get into." She said smiling.

I smiled. It pleased me that she would be happy. It was getting close to the time I needed to make a decision about what I was going to do for Christmas.

Edythe and I talked the whole way to the facility. She was so charming and intelligent. We talked about music and cars. She really was a car enthusiast, surprisingly enough.

The facility came into view, it was a series of white dome shaped buildings situated in a large evergreen tree farm. There weren't as many cars in the parking lot, which was a little odd. The buses parked near the sidewalk. All the students began to fill out the buses. I let Edythe out ahead of me. Everyone was stiff from the long drive. Once we were off the bus Edythe and I drifted to the back of the crowd. was busy counting people and looking at a clipboard, this didn't look like she was in her element. Everyone was chatting amongst themselves. I noticed someone walking toward our crowd from the main facility building. He was a short guy in a large puff jacket. His long hair was unkept and he looked exhausted. He was obviously nervous and in distress.

"Oh this is a problem." Edythe mumbled.

I looked down at her.

"What is?" I asked.

She looked embarrassed. "Oh it looks like that man is about to deliver some bad news." She shrugged.

I nodded and I began to walk over to the man and . I like to be in the loop with most situations.

"Are you kidding me!" exclaimed.

"I'm sorry. We have been trying to relocate projects and we are in a liquidation process. We had completely forgotten the field trip you had scheduled months ago. I am deeply embarrassed." The man said. He looked miserable.

"Well what am I supposed to do? We just drove almost two hours here." said, obviously pissed off.

"I don't know what to tell you. But with our funding being cut I can not allow the facility to be open to the public." The man said.

Shit that meant I wouldn't get to spend the day alone with Edythe. What could I do then it hit me.

I had gotten close enough to and the man.

"Excuse me. , can I speak with. What's your name?" I asked. The whole crowd had gone silent when had yelled so I had most of everyone's attention now, including a pissed off and the man.

He looked at me annoyed. "My name is Dr Brandon Kempt. I'm the owner of BioDome kid."

I smirked. I raised my hand to shake his. "Nice to meet you Brandon. I'm Jaxon Stone."

He looked at me and for a second he looked like something wasn't clicking. Then his eyes went wide.

"You aren't the Jaxon Stone of StoneTech are you?"

I nodded.

We had the entire crowd's attention now. Edythe had followed me to and Brandon.

"Where were you getting your funding from?" I asked.

"The Bixxton Enterprise." I hate that company, they copy our designs and projects with inferior mock offs

"Ugh them. How much was your monthly payment from "BE"?"

"Around forty-five thousand."

I looked shocked. That was a low ball number. BE obviously didn't believe in this project. I pulled my phone out and called Trish. I turned the speaker on so Brandon could hear. I looked around, I had everyone's attention now.

The phone line picked up. "Trish, it's Jaxon."

"Yes , what can I do for you?" Trish asked.

"I'm going to bring BioDome on board. I need you to wire three million dollars as a first initial deposit from my personal account to BioDome."

Brandon gasped. A few people looked shocked. Edythe was staring at me stunned. looked amazed.

"Okay I'll issue the wire right away. Is there anything else you need?"

The facilities cafeteria was probably closed.

"Trish send a caterer to the BioDome facility. Also transfer me to Dave's office."

"Will do."

The phone went silent as the call was being transferred.

"Hey hotshot, what's up." My brother asked.

I rolled my eyes. Edythe's shoulders moved up and down like she was giggling.

"I need you to prepare the acquisition documents for the BioDome Research Project."

"Will do. Do you want the normal ST A2 forms?"

"Yeah that will be fine. Thanks." I hung the phone up.

Everyone was just staring at me. Brandon was just standing there with his mouth open.

" , StoneTech would gladly offer BioDome a position to continue your research with the intention that your research will be utilized in StoneTech's agricultural projects in Kenya and Iraq. StoneTech will supply funding and resources immediately after you sign the contract."

Brandon stared blankly and then began to nod. "Yes that sounds amazing ."

I smiled. "Great. Now would you give my friends and I the tour of the facility?" I asked.

"Oh yeah of course." He said loudly. "If everyone one would follow me into the building I'll get everything ready."

Everyone followed . I stood still staring at my newly acquired facility. I smiled to myself, I love business, I loved buying stuff that I knew would have an impact and I had a plan forming to utilize BioDome for my GreenHouse projects. Edythe walked in front of me, immediately snapping me out of my thoughts.

"What made you buy this?" Edythe asked. I couldn't get the direction she was going to take this by the tone of her voice.

"When we made our project outline yesterday, the business sounded like a smart investment for ST." I said with as much obliviousness as I could muster

Her grin turned smug. "Is that the only reason you would spend three millions dollars on this?"

I sighed. "You got me. If I had not bought it we would have to go back to school. This way we can stay here the rest of the day and all that other business stuff I said." I grinned.

"Mhmm. But still three million dollars is quite a bit of money just to pay to stay out of school for the day."

I laughed. "If you only knew half the things I've wasted money on, this would be like a pebble on top of a mountain."

Edythe smiled. We walked into the facility and caught up with the group. Mrs Banner was waiting for us.

"Jaxon dear thank you so much, the day was almost ruined." She said beaming.

"No problem at all." I said. "It would have been a shame if this place's research was used to help people. That is what StoneTech is all about."

"Well anywho you two better get started on the project."

Edythe and I walked around the facility. It was impressive. The entire building was one big greenhouse. It was almost a comfortable temperature inside the building. There was so much vegetation, tropical plants. Vegetables that couldn't even survive in this climate were in this place. This was a smart investment.

"Okay we have almost everything, we just need to go find the ecogenerator." Edythe said as she put her phone in her pocket.

I nodded. We walked in companionable silence to the lab that housed the ecogenerator. This is what I had been excited to see. It was a rather large device that took in sunlight energy and quintupled the output energy, It was rather genius. The machine was placed in the center of the room and has large wires coming out of it running up the walls to the solar panel on the roof. The monitors surrounding the device read the outputs and the cooling conditions of the machine. The attendants in the lab coats were reading a gauge on the machine.

"So do you think this will replace fossil fuels?" Edythe asked me.

I shrugged. "It has the potential too but it's still petty early to tell. I'd like to think so but honestly I'm a little skeptical that it will happen in the our life time."

I turned my attention to the monitors. I wanted to know more about the machine. It looked odd to me like there was something amiss in the design to me.

I walked closer to the machine. "Jaxon, what are you doing?" Edythe asked.

"Hey kid, stay away from that." One of the lab techs said to me.

A blinking device on the output cord had caught my attention.

"What is this inhibitor for?"

"What?" The lab tech walked over to me.

"Oh that it's to control the energy output we don't have a real way to store the entire amount of energy that the ecogenerator can produce. So we have to dappen the amount."

I nodded. "Will you call down here please.?"

"Kid who do you think you are making orders like that?"

I laughed. "I'm your new boss. I just bought this facility an hour ago."

The intern's mouth dropped. "I'll get Dr Kempt right now." He ran off out of the lab to hunt down Kempt.

"Why you do want to see Dr Kempt."

"Because I want to take this inhibitor off today."

""Ok and why do you need to Kempt for that?"

I need to know what the core element of the power source for this device is."

Edythe nodded. "Is that important?"

"Yeah, if it is what I think they used I want this thing decommissioned."

She has walked closer to me. "Why is it that dangerous?"

"If they used a nuclear based element this device with the output that this monitor says it could have it is a sitting nuclear bomb just waiting to blow up."

Edythe's eyes went wide. "So you're telling me that his device that we are five feet from is a bomb?"

"It could be. If it is, I'll have it taken to a StoneTech weapons facility."

"You have a weapon facility?"

I turned and nodded. "Yeah ST has multiple government contracts and projects."

I probably shouldn't say much more about that. A lot of the stuff in development at the weapon shop is highly confidential.

The intern returned with and Mrs Banner. Great.

"Oh I see you found the jewel of our research."

He was fishing for some praise. But the fool had built a bomb that could destroy the northern part of the state, he is lucky I don't fire him from his own company.

"Dr I want to know if you can take the inhibitor off the ecogenerator right now." I said without a slight ounce of emotion.

"Ugh well we can't do that. The device isn't designed for that."

"Okay well why not. The inhibitor is an add on to the design, it was a later modification. Correct?"

"Yes it was." answered.

"Okay then why does it exist in the first place?"

"Well the energy output for the device was more than we had anticipated so we need to dampen the output so it wouldn't compromise the core."

"Okay but why fear the core being compromised, if the device truly works as you designed it, then it could in theory be put on a loop. A portion of the energy would be siphoned off and injected back into the device as power."

and both stared at me for my idea. But it was really just bait to see if Kempt would disclose the core element to tell me I was wrong that it couldn't function that way because they switched the element from the original element curium.

Edythe stood by me with a sly smile, she looked like she had my game figured out. If she had then she was bright. Well I knew she was bright but she would definitely be beyond her years.

"Well that wouldn't work because the core is designed for that currently. It had to be altered."

"What do you mean by altered?" I was getting tired of the run around.

"We exchanged the original core element curium for radium."

Bingo. My face took its natural smug and cold look.

"So you are telling me that you built a device that is able to magnify its energy output but the output is so intense that if it was for the little inhibitor it would compromise the radium core and do what exactly?"

It dawned on Kempt that I knew what it meant and I just made him explain that he knowingly built a nuclear weapon.

"It would blow up."

I pulled my phone out and called Trish

"Jaxon, what can I help you with?"

"I need you to arrange transportation for a nuclear powered device to the shop. Inform the thermal research team that they have a new project that will take precedence when the device arrives at their facility."

"Will do. How critical is the device? What kind of transport doesn't it require?"

"Insulated and with a full security detail. I don't want this thing ending up in the wrong hands again. Also did Kempt sign the agreement paperwork?"

"Yes sir he did. It's been processed and the acquisition has been completed in a record time." Trish said.

"Ok sweet." I hung up the phone.

I turned and faced Kempt, Edythe and Mrs Banner.

"You can't just take my device." Kempt said rather rudely.

"Well as a matter of fact I can as of two hours ago when I bought your business including this nuclear bomb you built."

Mrs Banners face fell to horror as she realized what I had deduced just moments ago.

Kempt just stared at me like he wanted to hit me.

"Kempt I would suggest you start packing your office, before I call the secretary of homeland security and talk with her about your projects."

"You fucking arrogant rich asshole. You can't just fire me from my own company!" He said angryly.

"You mean my company. You keep forgetting that."

"Whoa hold on that contract was for monetary funding only, you and Stonetech have no power to make decisions or take BioDome property."

I laughed. Edythe and looked at me like I was crazy. Kempt just looked like he was steaming.

"You clearly didn't read the whole thing. As part of the conditions BioDome and you accepted when you signed the binding contract, is that BioDome and all its property, intellectual and physical, staff and assets are now available and managed by StoneTech. It is stated like three times in the contract actually so the selling party is absolutely aware of it." I said with just enough smugness.

Kempt turned on his heel and walked out the lab.

"Make sure you are off company property within the hour" I yelled after him.

"Did you really just fire him?" Edythe asked to break the silence.

"Yes." I said. Turning to .

" I personally believe we shouldn't mention this room to the rest of the students and more importantly the school faculty. It might go off the wrong way with some of them."

"Jaxon dear, I believe you are right. It will our three's little secret. I think I'm going to go to the other side of the facility to check on the other groups." said, turning to walk out of the lab.

I turned back to look at the machine. This is a moronic oversight in judgment. Kempt could have caused a Chernobyl level disaster in the Northwest.

"Is your life always this exciting?" Edythe asked me.

I smiled to myself. If she only knew the other half.

"No, not really. Can't say I've ever been face to face with a nuclear bomb. This is a new one even for me."

"How long till you henchmen arrive to collect this machine?"

"Probably in an hour. We can go finish our assignment and get lunch. The caterers have to be here by now."

Edythe looked back at the machine. I could tell that it was causing her some distress. I had to do something to take her mind off of it.

"Come on, we have to get this research done so we can have the best presentation."

She looked up at me and grinned shyly. We walked back toward the greenhouses. It didn't take us long to finish. We were way ahead of everyone else so we had plenty of time to wander the hallways of BioDome.

"So any big plans for the week?" Edythe asked.

"No, besides tonight I'm going to see a movie."

"Oh that sounds fun. Which one?"

"That Krampus movie. Jeremy and Allen picked it."

Edythe looked shocked. "Oh so it's not a movie date, just a guys night out."

I looked down at her surprised. Where had she gotten the idea that I was taking someone out for a date.

"Yeah, just a guys night. I'm just tagging along for the movie. Jeremy, Allen, and Logan are buying their corsages for the winter formal."

"What are you going to do while they do that?"

"I think I'll meet them at the movie so I don't have to sit and wait on them at the flower shop."

"Not overly socal are you?" Edythe said with a wicked grin.

She was making fun of me.

"I've been known to have antisocial tendencies at times."

"Well you hardly ever talk to anyone at school, even at lunch."

I looked down at her. She had the most sincere look on her face.

"And how do you know I don't talk to anyone at lunch?"

She looked embarrassed. "Well it's pretty obvious. I mean your lunch table is by far the loudest so it's hard not to look over there. But anyway any time I've looked over there I've noticed that you are either reading or on your phone."

I shook my head. "Well I talk to Jeremy and Allen every now and then."

"Only out of obligation when they try to talk with you."

"What do you mean by try. No one here really tries to talk to me anymore." I asked.

"Jaxon, you are kind of intimidating to approach. And you can't blame people. You are their age and already hyper successful."

"Okay, well still I'm just a regular guy, I do all the same stuff you or anybody else does. I just have different hobbies."

Edythe laughed and I don't know why, what I said wasn't even funny.

"We will have to agree to disagree on that. Looks like you were right, the caterers are here."

I hadn't noticed we had made it to the side parking area. There were at least six food trucks and pastries. Trish never disappointed, she probably picked a little bit of everything. It also meant that she would have sent requests for some of my favorites. I was on a new mission of finding a Philly Steak with onion rings pronto.

I made my way to what looked like an Italian themed truck and ordered my food. Edythe was beside me.

"What would you like?" I asked Edythe.

"Oh I'm not hungry. I had a big breakfast." She said.

I turned my head to the side. She was so small she needed to eat something.

"Seriously. You need to eat something. We have been on the go all day."

"Jaxon I appreciate the concern but I'm on a rather strict diet so I'm good. But thank you." She said with a smile.

I shrugged. It wasn't my business so I left it alone. But for some reason it kept nagging at me the fact I had never once seen her eat anything. I had spent plenty of time observing her and her family. They all never ate from their school lunch though they would order food. It was weird and slightly a waste of food. But it wasn't for me to judge.

"Here sir." The truck attendant said, handing me my sandwich.

I took it gladly. I turned back to Edythe and we walked over to a picnic bench and sat down alone. I sat there eating, it was probably the best sandwich I had recently. Edythe was looking at her phone. She looked irritated again, I had no idea why and I was pretty sure it wasn't me. She laid the phone down and closed her eyes. I took the opportunity to really look at her. Man she was gorgeous. If I had to compare her to anyone it had to be Aphrodite, because there was no mortal that could even come close to Edythe's perfection. Her auburn hair was the most intense shade I had ever seen. The way her facial features were so even it was scary. If I hadn't known better, I'd guess she wasn't real. Her eyes opened and they met mine. Her eyes were darker than they had been the previous day. She broke our eye contact, staring past me and her face smiled upwards.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I believe you have a visitor." She said nodding past me.

"What?" I said looking behind me.

I quickly spotted my brother. Walking towards Edythe and I. He was in a black suit with a matching pea coat. His business-like attire didn't match the shit eating grin he wore. I stood up as he got closer.

"What's up hotshot?" David said loudly.

I sighed and shook my head. "Nothing much twinkle-toes." I said smiling at my older brother.

He walked up to me and we had a brief hug. It had been three months since we had seen each other. Though David was eight years older than I, we were still best friends. I couldn't ask for a better brother.

"Damn kid you've grown more. Really filling out in the shoulders." He patted me on the right shoulder.

He looked past me, noticing Edythe. His face didn't waver from his trademark grin. He stepped closer slightly. Something about his demeanor changed, like he was nervous. It was only slightly and I was sure it was nothing. Dave never acted anything but confident and collected.

He extended his hand to Edythe. "Please excuse my rude little brother for not introducing us. I'm David Stone."

I sighed. "Edythe, David. David, Edythe."

"It's nice to meet you David." Edythe said while shaking David's hand.

"Likewise. Would you mind if I steal this jerk for a bit?"

"Go ahead. He's all yours."

"Come on hotshot." David said walking to the building.

I frowned and looked at Edythe. "I'll be right back."

She nodded. I followed after my brother. He was standing behind the building so we were alone. I had no clue what he had to talk about.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"It's nice to see you too."

"Sorry but I'm sort of preoccupied if you couldn't tell."

"I can see that. Having fun with on your little field trip aren't you."

I grinned.

"You must like this girl to spend an hours worth of money on this research facility." He said gesturing to the site.

I shrugged. "It does have some benefits to our agricultural projects. Besides that it came with a nuclear weapon."

"What now?" David's eyes went wide.

"The former owner built an energy magnifier that has a nuclear core that wasn't in the original design. So I accidentally bought a nuclear bomb." I shrugged.

"So that's why Trish sent a hazmat team out here. Is it serious like we need to shut the facility down and send everyone home?" Dave asked.

"No, it should be fine. Besides, the field trip is almost over." I said.

Dave laughed. "Hard to believe you are in high school now. A year ago you were working 70 hour weeks and well doing other stuff." His last word trailed off.

I sighed. "Yeah, tell me about it."

"So since I'm in town for the week do you wanna catch the Seahawks game on Sunday?"

I nodded. "Yeah that sounds like fun. I would hang tonight but I have plans with some of the guys from school."

"Oh so you are making friends here, we'll besides that Edythe girl."

"Why does everyone think I'm a social outcast."

Dave just stared at me. "Well you are. You literally used to only talk to that AI you programmed, Alexi, or Trish."

"I talked to other people." I said sharply.

Dave's face lost any trace of his happy demeanor.

"Yeah and those people got you in jail multiple times. You know for someone as smart as you you'd think you would make smarter decisions."

"Dave I don't need this lecture again it stuck the last time."

"It's my job as your older brother to make sure you keep your shit together."

I sighed. "Whatever I have to get back. Edythe and I have a project to plan."

And just like that Dave's happy go lucky attitude was back. "Alright hotshot I'll text you about Sunday. Have fun with your girlfriend."

I shook my head. "We are just friends." I yelled after him. He walked to the back of a black ST SUV.

I walked back to Edythe who for some reason had an almost identical grin that Dave was sporting.

"You know you and your brother are like carbon copies." Edythe said when I finally sat down at our table.

"Yeah I know, you should see Dave and I with our dad. It's ire how close we all look to one another."

"Well anyway your brother seems nice."

I laughed. Everyone loved David. His personality was just naturally warm, the opposite of my natural personality.

"That's what everyone says about him."

Edythe smiled and then I noticed she had our notes out. She had been writing all day. I slid closer to her side to look at the notebook. She had such distinctive writing, some elegant form of cursive like a computer generated font. Her notes were highly detailed.

"So I guess we need to decide what aspect of the facility we want to focus our research around." I said.

She nodded. "I was thinking we could focus on the bioengineered compost and nitro soil injections."

"Yeah that sounds like a good idea. Definitely not the ecogenerator." I said with a dry laugh.

"Do we wanna make a poster or a PowerPoint?"

"PowerPoint. We can knock that out in an afternoon." I said.

She frowned at me.

"What's wrong."

"I don't like computers that much. I don't have the patience for them."

"That's okay I can do the computer stuff you did all the note taking today so that way it will be fair."

"Okay that will work. When do you want to start?"

"We can start tomorrow or this weekend. Whatever works for you."

"Okay this weekend will work then."

"Cool it's a date then." I said with a slight grin. I should honestly give it some thought about taking Edythe on a date. But what would she like? Maybe dinner but she did say she is on a strict diet.

Edythe's dimples popped out and I think she was blushing. This girl was so adorable it was scary.

I watched walk toward the crowd of students. It looked like almost everyone was finished and eating lunch. It was probably about time to be heading back to the school. I check my watch. It was one-thirty-two, it would take two hours to get back. I had another hour and half to kill when we got back to the school. Oh Edythe would have to drive me home so maybe we could hang for a bit or start the project. I looked at Edythe. She was staring at me and I couldn't judge the look she had on her face.

"Jaxon, what is your favorite movie?" Edythe asked out of the blue. I guess the silence got to her finally.

"Return of the Jedi." I said with the most monotone voice I could muster to show the severity of my devotion to Star Wars movies.

She smiled. "I would have guessed "Empire Strikes Back."

"Nah that one is good but the Return in my opinion is my favorite. Actually though in terms might have to say Revenge of the Sith is the best Star Wars movie."

Edythe laughed and shook her head.

"You know I'm right. Star Wars is no laughing matter."

"You have to be one of the most diversified people I have ever met. You first identify a nuclear bomb in moments just by looking at the device and now you are defending Star Wars movies like you are a regular seventeen year old."

I shrugged. "I'm a walking contradiction. I guess I'm not a regular seventeen year old." My voice cutting off. I wasn't a normal guy, I was a gangster to put it frankly. I sighed.

Edythe's expression changed for a split second of guilt. But then it was back to her smile.

"So what about you? What's your favorite movie?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Probably the original Tarzan the Ape Man movie. I saw it in the theater." She said without a thought.

"Oh cool like at a classic movie night?"

She looked puzzled and then she nodded. "Yeah the theater was doing a classics promotion. Have you seen it before?"

"Yeah I used to watch old stuff like that with my granddad. He liked Banza, the little house on the prairie, and stuff like that."

"Oh so you are well versed in classic films and tv shows."

"Oh totally. I am a force to be reckoned with at a trivia night."

Edythe laughed. It was quickly becoming my favorite sound.

I was about to ask Edythe a question when Mrs. Banner whistled to get everyone's attention.

"Alright gang let's get on the buses. On the buses."

I sighed. At least I had the bus ride back to spend with Edythe.

Edythe stood and I followed her to the bus. We sat in the same seat we had on the drive up. Edythe took the window again. I settled into my seat. The rest of the students slowly filed on. Once it was loaded the bus driver started the ancient Diesel engine, I winced my head was starting to hurt really bad.

"You okay?" Edythe asked. Her voice sounded panicked.

"Yeah my head just hurts."

"Does this happen a lot?"

"I mean about as often as everyone else I guess. It's probably just the temperature difference that we went through today being in that humid green house facility and then being out here in the cold."

"Well, are you going to be okay?" She said, not sounding completely calmed down.

"I'll be okay. I think I'm just gonna rest my eyes for a bit."

"Oh okay. You can sleep with all this noise?"

"I've slept through worse." I said with a grin. I hated not spend the time talking to Edythe but I was running on fumes. I had only gotten three hours of sleep so I was exhausted.

I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes. Hopefully I wouldn't have a nightmare.

Water hitting glass. It's raining, I'm driving. I'm laughing. There's music in the background. Edythe's laughing. There's a golden film over the image like it's heavenly. The scene is so serene.

A humming pulled me from my nap. It was Edythe. It sounded like she was humming a lullaby. I opened my eyes. Edythe was gazing at me.

"That's nice."

"Mhmm?"

"Your humming, it's relaxing." I mumbled as I stretched.

"Is that so. I don't think I've ever had that compliment before." She said softly.

Edythe was staring at me weirdly. I wondered if I sleep talked or something.

"Did I talk while I was asleep?" I asked.

"No, not that I noticed." She said, I swear I detect a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Great, I didn't do anything weird while I was napping." I said trying to sound funny.

"Well you did rest your head on my shoulder for most of your nap."

Shit. That is a dick move in my opinion.

"Oh damn. I'm sorry you should have kicked my bum self off of you." I said.

"No reason to apologize. I didn't mind at all." She said. Her voice was so soft and yet so luring.

I didn't know how to respond to that. I mean how do I. No one has ever made me speechless but Edythe Cullen has the ability to do that very such task. Thank god we were friends again.

Edythe's dimple popped out as she smiled. One of her rare full teeth smiles. I was stunned by her utter perfection. I was finally able to think of a sentence to change the subject.

"So how long until we are back at the school?"

"About thirty minutes give or take."

"Jeez I was out for over an hour."

"Do you get enough sleep at night?" Edythe asked, sounding more like a doctor than a student.

"Most nights I do, I just had business stuff to do yesterday and I was up late."

"That sounds tedious."

The order stuff was tedious, but actual StoneTech was fun to me and interesting.

"It's like anything else, it just becomes part of you. Besides, the benefits of having the knowledge I have from my dealings with my family's company are irreplaceable."

"So you enjoy being a business mogul?"

"Yes I definitely do. There isn't an aspect of business that I don't enjoy. Well the useless meetings and paperwork is a drag, I'd much rather be putting a deal together or in my workshop researching something."

"What is your official title at StoneTech?"

"I'm the chief of Research and Development."

"Chief? But you are still seventeen. Don't take this the wrong way but wouldn't there be more qualified people for that position." Edythe said, sounded flabbergasted.

"Yeah but this seventeen year old holds three honorary degrees from MIT."

Edythe looked shocked. "You are a polymath aren't you?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

"What degrees do you hold?" Edythe asked.

"I have a degree in physics, mechanical and electrical engineering."

Edythe shook her head in I guess amazement. I didn't tell people this kinda info often. It was my turn for some questions.

"What colleges do you have your eye on?" I asked.

"Well I think the University of Alaska is pretty nice. Washington university is obviously on the list, I'm pushing for Dartmouth."

"What's your desired field of study?"

"I think I would like to pursue medicine."

She obviously got this idea from her mother. She must have a great deal of admiration for her adoptive mother. She would definitely make an excellent doctor. I could see Edythe as doctor. Possibly a pediatric doctor, she is so kind and gentle, not to mention incredibly intelligent.

"I can see that."

"Really."

"I'd trust you to be my doctor." I said. I meant it. She smiled, dimples on full display.

"While you were napping I gave it some thought. Would you like to come over this weekend, to my house and work on the project?" She asked. She looked nervous like I'd say no. She clearly hadn't noticed the effect she has on me.

I smiled. "Yeah that would be cool. I guess some time on Saturday?"

"Come over after lunch. I'll text you my address tonight."

"Okay cool." I was excited to see we're Edythe lived. I wondered how her siblings would feel about me coming over, but it was for a school project so it wasn't like I was really going over to her house for a date.

We were back in the Fork town limits. We'd be back at the school in a few minutes. The school would be dismissing soon.

My head felt a lot better. It barely hurt. I realized Edythe had gradually slid closer to me, probably when I was asleep. She did say I had rested my head on her shoulder while I was asleep. She hadn't minded, maybe she even got closer so I'd be more comfortable, if so she was truly a compassionate person.

The bus pulled into the parking lot. Once it was stopped I stood up and let Edythe out in front of me. She smiled at me and walked ahead. I pulled my phone out to check if I had any new messages. Dave had sent a text and Trish an email.

"Jax I got the ST box reserved for the Sunday game. Hey I'm going to bring Lindsey, you should ask Edythe if she would like to come with us." David

That was a pretty good idea. I didn't know if she liked football or sports. Also did she want to spend time with me outside of this project. I guess I would have to ask her. Would it be a date, it could sorta be. We could drive up to Seattle in the Mclaren and watch the game.

"I'll ask her. Thanks." Jaxon.

I put my phone in my pocket, Edythe was stepping off the bus. I followed her and we walked to her Volvo. Her siblings were gathered around her car and the BMW. All of them looked chill, well except Royal. I couldn't figure out his problem, but it didn't matter.

"Hey Edy. How was the field trip." Her tall brunette sister asked.

Edythe shrugged. We had made our way to them and the cars. I stood behind Edythe, it felt right to stand where I was.

"It was okay. The facility was really interesting. Oh and Jaxon bought it while we were there so there's that." She said it without much emotion.

They all looked at me shocked.

"You bought that research facility?" Edythe's blonde sister asked.

"Yeah. The place was closed, it lost its funding so I stepped in."

Royal stepped closer to us looking me dead in the eyes. He obviously had some problem with me.

"So is that what you do, you just take whatever you want when you want?" He said with some attitude.

"Royal!" Edythe snapped. "You need to back up."

I didn't take my gaze off him.

I laid my hand on Edythe's shoulder. She looked like she was going to tear his head off. She froze when I laid my hand on her arm. She was freezing cold. Its was weird, but I had this issue to fix now.

"It's okay Edythe." I said. She looked up at me. I looked back at Royal.

"The facility was going to liquidate its research and projects. If I didn't do something, all that work and the good the technology that was developed there would have been gone in an instant. It's better I buy and utilize the facility to help less fortunate people." I said never breaking my contact from Royal's pissed glaze.

Archie finally spoke up. "So you are going to do what with the research?"

"It will be utilized in StoneTech's evergreen initiative in Africa and Iran. We are creating greenhouses with increased plant yield to help decrease hunger in developing countries."

Edythe looked up at me. She looked proud for some reason. Royal looked even more pissed. He sulked into the driver's seat of the BMW.

All her other siblings remained indifferent.

"Edy, when will you be home?" Eleanor asked.

"Probably in about an hour. I'm going to drop Jaxon off at his place then I'll be home."

"Okay see you then." Eleanor then looked at me. "See yah Jaxon." I nodded. I guess she was warming up to me.

The rest of Edythe's siblings filed into the red bmw. Edythe looked pissed. She shook her head and walked to the driver's door. I got into the car and buckled up, I knew Edythe's driving method now petal to the metal.

We were out of the parking lot and speeding down the streets of Fork when she started talking again.

"I'm sorry about Royal. He can be a bit of a jackass." She sounded sad and still a little pissed."

I laughed. "It's okay you don't have to apologize. Trust me I've dealt with worse, that didn't even hit my meter for a bad situation."

Edythe frowned at me.

"Though what is his deal? I've never spoken a word to him."

"He is concerned that if I keep involving myself with you, that my family will end up on a magazine or something."

I frowned. I didn't want to go back to the cold shoulder routine. What could I do.

"Don't worry, my legal team has threatened heavy legal action on any paparazzi and tabloids from setting foot in the region." I said. I was pissed. I had bought ten of the fifteen tabloids that ran the photo of Edythe and I. Those magazines were now closed and it's employees were terminated.

"I don't care anymore, it was a hard time trying to avoid you. If my photo is in a magazine then it will just be that. Like you said it did blow over quickly. Twenty-four hour media is a quick mess isn't it." She said laughing at her own joke.

"Yeah but still they're vultures." If I could just deal with them the other way. I smiled to myself. Then regret filled my chest. The real me didn't deserve to sit in this car with Edythe or even talk with her. My crimes were severe. But I couldn't stop myself.

We were pulling into my compound. I pulled my phone out and opened the gate and the garage door. Edythe pulled into the building.

I got out of the car and Edythe did too. She looked down the rows of cars. Two were on the lifts. She was smiling.

"TAV lights please." I said the lights turned on and the house came to life.

"Yes sir. Would you like me to lower the lifts?" Edythe looked up amazed and was smiling.

"Yes please." The car lifts began to lower. My hellcat and hotrod lowered. Edythe walked over to the hotrod. She was all smiles and dimples. It was the best memory I think I had in this place so far.

"Did you get her running?" Edythe asked.

I smiled and walked over, opened the door and sat down. The V8 engine roared to life. I revved the engine. It was a loud and robust sound. Edythe laughed with excitement. I turned the fun machine off.

"It's running for the most part. Still needs a few mods and then it will be ready to hit the streets."

"She is gorgeous. Jaxon you have out done yourself."

Edythe walked over to the hellcat.

"I didn't take you for a challenger kinda guy." Edythe said.

"I'm not. It's just the hellcats are an insane car to drive, so that puts this beast in my alley. I prefer a camaro though in all honesty."

She nodded and then she caught sight of my bikes. She frowned.

"We walked over to them. My Harley was sitting pretty. It had been months since I had ridden and it would be a while till the weather permitted good weather to go for a ride here.

Edythe was eyeballing my crotch rocket.

"What kind of bike is this?" She finally asked.

"It's a MV Agusta F4CC."

She nodded, still giving the bike the stink eye.

"You don't like bikes do you?"

"I don't really have a preference. My mom has a thing against street bikes, you know with her being a surgeon."

"Yeah they can be dangerous but that's fun part."

"Are you an adrenaline junkie?"

I thought for a minute. Some people would call me that. My sister Lexi would definitely label me an adrenaline junkie.

"Sorta." I shrugged.

Edythe walked around my garage for a few more minutes, admiring my car collection. I just watched. She was so graceful, her movements were so precise. She spun and looked up at me.

"So are these all your favorites?" Edythe asked. She was standing near my AMG.

I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. These are what I picked to bring out here. I have more back in New York."

Edythe's eyes brighten up more than they were.

"You have more than this?"

I chuckled. "I have a mechanic and body shop in New York. Most of my cars are in a warehouse there."

Edythe started looking around the open house. I did too. The warehouse had been furnished before I moved here. It was inspired by my penthouse in New York. Trish had over sought most of the remodel and the decor. It had all the stuff I wanted and no space wasn't utilized.

"Someone likes grays and blacks." Edythe said messing with one of the throw blankets on the sofa.

"It doesn't go out of style."

"Sir the automac has the fabricated parts for the hotrod ready." TAV informed.

Edythe was looking at me. I smiled. "Wanna see something cool?"

Edythe nodded. We walked over to my work area. The automac was cooling off. I grabbed a leather welding glove to pick up the tray from the machine.

"TAV. Eject the tray."

"Yes Sir."

The machine opened and the foundation tray slid out.

"What is this thing?" Edythe asked.

I layed the tray down on a table. The engine part was still hot.

"This is a fabricator. It is similar to a three-D printer, just on a larger scale."

"Did you design it?" Edythe asked.

I nodded.

"Jaxon, what is your IQ?"

I laughed. "Never had a test before, I'd say one-sixty."

Edythe nodded. "And the AI. Is that your creation too."

"Yeah, that's TAV. He is an advanced artificial intelligence system that runs all of the parameters that I have designed to operate my house and is integrated to operate any device or system I design."

Edythe nodded.

We walked over to my kitchen. That's when I remembered that Edythe hadn't eaten at the facility.

"Hey are you hungry? I could make you something."

Edythe smiled up at me. "Thank you but I'm good."

I shook my head. "You haven't eaten since this morning. You have to be starving." I said.

She raised her hands and shook her head. "No really. I'm good. I'll eat when I get home, I'm a picky eater."

I sighed. I should probably let her get home. She has to be starving. At that second I really looked at Edythe. She was incredibly thin. Not skinny, just thin, because she had an excellent shape. There might be the chance she has an eating disorder, but it wasn't my place to say anything, yet at least. I knew her mother would notice, with her being a doctor and everything.

My phone buzzed. It was Jeremy. I was silently hoping the movie was canceled and then I'd conjure up something to do with Edythe, who I had a hunch wouldn't mind.

Jaxon the Krampus movie is bucked up. Go figure. Anyway we got tickets for Blade instead. Hope you like vampire movies. -Jeremy

"Shit." I said before I caught it.

"Everything okay?" Edythe asked. I looked up. Her face was tight with concern.

"Yeah it's nothing. The movie we are seeing tonight is fully seated. We are going to see Blade instead."

Edythe smirked. "Do you like monster movies Jaxon?"

I shrugged. They never really scared me. There were real things in this world that scared me, like myself.

"It's something to watch I guess." I said. I really wasn't feeling like going to the movies in general.

Edythe was studying me for something.

"Jaxon you might want the be getting on the road. Port Angeles is quite the drive."

I nodded. She was right. It was past the time I wanted to leave, but there was something about her that made me want to ditch my friends.

We walked to her car. "I'll see you tomorrow Jaxon. Don't forget this weekend we are working on the project on Saturday."

"I'll definitely remember." I smiled. Thats when I remembered about the football game and Dave.

Edythe was sitting in her car.

"Hey one thing. Are you busy this Sunday?"

"No, I don't have anything going on."

I rubbed my neck. "My brother wants me to go to a Seahawks game. He's bringing his girlfriend. I was wondering if you would want to go with me. We have a box and everything."

Edythe beamed up at me. I was pretty sure she would say yes. "That sounds like fun Jaxon. Thank you, I'll gladly go with you."

"Cool." That was the only word I could conjure.

Edythe smiled, dimples on full display.

"I'll see you tomorrow Jaxon." She closed her car door and the garage opened. She drove out of the compound and away from me. My day was made. I spent it with Edythe, I bought a company. Edythe said yes to Sunday. Now if I could just keep my Order business away from Edythe. I wondered how my dad and Dave do it. I made up my mind to ask Dave about this on Sunday.

My McClaren was sitting pretty and it would also help make up the time to Port Angeles.