That night after Serco left me at my house I laid in bed staring at the ceiling. I don't even know the last time it was that I blinked. Fairytales don't come true. They're supposed to be fabrications, things made up to entertain, or manipulate children. As a child, my mom told me many stories about guardians befriending humans. In those stories, the guardians themselves seemed very human and tangible, more real than any guardian in real life. This is why I believed those stories had no truth in them. Infaniyans see protecting humans as a means to an end... Humans act as bait for their enemies and when that bait is taken they take that opportunity to capture and destroy the lured Afarion. That is the only reason they guard us and outside of that, they want nothing more to do with humans. So their kind, actually, interacting with humans is almost completely unheard of in real life. Yet today... Serco talked to me... he thanked me and apologized to me and held my hand. He did so while looking straight into my eyes... the eyes of a human. I raised my hand and stared at it for a few seconds. My palm is still pinker than usual and there was a lingering heat from when he touched it. I didn't imagine it... maybe I'm not real... maybe my whole life is a fairytale. Shocking me from my thoughts was my cell phone suddenly blared to life. I panicked and began scrambling to answer it,
"Hello?" I greeted while wiping my tired eyes.
"You left me! How could you?!" It was Nacina. I sighed then smiled faintly.
"I'm sorry... you just seemed to be having so much fun ... and I was really tired." I replied. It was a half truth, I feel like the only person who really wanted me there was Nacina and that thought alone made me feel really lonely.
"Well let me know what's going on first! I was worried something might've happened to you." She stated in that big sisterly way she always does.
"I'm really sorry... I won't do it again, I promise." I replied.
"Yeah, you better not... Where are you right now?" She inquired.
"I'm home..." I answered. She was quiet for a little while then she said,
"Alright... since it's late I'll just see you tomorrow." I opened my mouth to reply instinctively with "Okay" but then I remembered what had just happened.
"I'm sorry... I have plans tomorrow." I answered. I've never had plans that didn't involve Nacina so of course she was surprised.
"What?! Really? Did you meet someone at the party or something?" She investigated.
"No... nothing like that." I replied.
"Is it Will? Are you going somewhere with him?" She asked, her interest levels were rising quickly.
"Well... no, not tomorrow," I replied, feeling a bit nervous for some reason.
"Did he ask you out though? He's completely into you, you know." She commented.
"Well.. next weekend we're hanging out as friends... I don't think he likes me that way." I replied. Nacina groaned.
"Yes, he does! How dense can you be?!" She declared.
"No he doesn't... he barely knows me. Also, why would someone like him like me?" I retorted defensively. I don't know why but I was starting to feel irritated. I've never even considered Will in that way and the very thought of him liking me caused nausea.
"He doesn't have to know you well to like you!... plus you're in the same class, I can definitely tell he's interested." Nacina's voice was full of confidence but I found her words hard to believe.
"Can we please change the subject?" I requested. Nacina playfully changed the subject by saying,
"Alright fine... so what are you doing tomorrow?"
"I don't know yet... but I made plans and I'm not sure how long it'll take," I answered. Nacina hummed on the other end of the phone then she finally replied.
"Alright... just let me know the details when you're done tomorrow." She stated.
"Okay, I will," I might not actually be able to tell her anything, though.
"Anyways, I'm going to bed so I'll talk with you later. Love you." She added while yawning.
"Okay, love you too, goodnight," I replied. After that, she hung up. I then laid back on my bed and re-began staring at the ceiling. Wow... I have plans tomorrow. I can hardly convince myself that it's true
When I woke up the next day it suddenly struck me, I never exchanged contact information with Serco! Is he just going to suddenly show up at my house? That sounds horrible, what will my mom say? No even worse what will she ask me, and how do I answer her? 'I'm going somewhere with this guy, we're not friends, nor lovers, and I don't know where we're going or even when we'll get back!' I wonder if she will accept that? Probably not... My gut is leaning towards the answer of "no". When I went downstairs mom was on the living room couch, reading a book, with a coffee mug in her hand. I made myself a bowl of cereal while going through the possible things to say to her when Serco arrives. Is it okay if I tell other people his name, or is that a secret between us... can I say he's the guardian? I really don't want to freak my mom out but I hate lying and I don't know what's confidential and what's not! After breakfast, I decided to get dressed and sit on the porch. When he shows up we can just discuss what to tell my mom, this is a good plan... no it is a great plan!
"Good morning." It was a voice I'm still not used to but no longer have trouble recognizing.
"Hey, Serco." I greeted, as he entered through my front gate. I noticed differences in his appearance more clearly in the light. His eyes usually glow but now they're a dim reddish-brown and his hair was curly at the ends but laid straight near the roots, unlike when I saw him fighting before, it was relaxed. His facial structure was the same. Most importantly his wings were gone. "You look... like a human," I said, not knowing what else to say.
"Well... this is just how I look powered down." He explained. I wanted to ask more but I have my priorities straight.
"Before we leave... what should I say to my mom?" I asked, hoping he'd have the magical answer. He only shrugged and offered
"Say you're hanging out with a friend."
"I don't have many friends, she won't buy it," I replied. He sighed then said,
"I'll talk to her then." That's when walked past me to enter my house and with me frantically following close behind him.
"Hey," Serco began and when my mom looked up he continued. "I am your daughter's friend. I want to spend time with her today. Is that okay?"
"... What's your name, your parent's name, your net worth, your future ambitions, and what are your plans for my daughter?" Mom countered. I looked frantically between the two of them,
"I will only answer one of those questions... I want to make your daughter happy, I want to give her a day she'll never forget and possibly become better friends in the process." He stated very formally. Mom looked straight-faced at first but then she cracked a smile.
"You're awfully serious... fine... Just be back before dark." She's so lax! "If you are Akina's friend, I'm sure you're trustworthy." Are we friends? Mom looked at me and I smiled weakly. "But before you go you must at least tell me your name." She commanded. Serco sighed then answered,
"Shion." He lied!? I guess his real name is a secret, after all. She nodded and accepted that then she looked at me.
"Text me when you get there. Keep your location on." I nodded then Serco grabbed my hand and gently led me outside... It was a good 2 minutes before I thought to pull my hand away... I thought about it but decided against it.