*****
Dusk approached so fast, all except for Xander, were seated at the living room, listening to Mia's narration about everything. This left Zane and Raquel mind boggling.
She ranted and raved, refusing to accept whatever Mia had said. She was so noisy that Kora became annoyed and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, Toby and her daughter followed her.
"All this shit is bogus, okay, I.. y'all playing me. So we living among vamps witches and pyrexes? And you expect me to fit in pretending to be one of the night creatures? Absolutely not. My father will find me soon, even if its costs him a stupid portal. He'd find me at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean if he wanted to," she made a fuss.
The cold feeling came again, and they immediately knew whom it was. He sat at the dining and Raquel rushed to seat next to him. Their eyes met and Raquel felt her heart pound heavily.
"Hi," she started. Xander was thinking whether to answer her or not. He had to admit he disliked the girl ever since he was her chauffeur. She was really mean and harsh to him for no reason. He hummed in response, not sparing her a glance. He wondered what the hell the bratty human wanted.
She blushed hard, her cheeks turning red, she pulled her hair back, and leaned closer to him. "Am Raquel, am glad to meet you, uh can we be friends?" normally, she'd never hit on a guy, they were in fact the ones chasing after her, but he was different, so she didn't mind.
He turned to look at her blankly. "I don't think I need friends in my life," this made Raquel happy. Was he perhaps saying they should date indirectly, she grinned and Xander furrowed his brows. He then realized she was so close to him. Kora entered the dining with a tray of food, and glowered at the human.
This girl, who the hell does she think she is? Xander is meant for Mayana only.
Kora observed Xander, he remained relaxed, as usual. She put the food on the table, and Mia helped her, everyone settled at the dining. "Its okay, I understand," she said and they were all surprised she had already began a conversation with Xander.
"Mayana, sit here instead," Kora intentionally made her sit next to Xander on his left side, while Raquel was on his right, "I like to sit at the farthest," Kora lied.
Their supper was rather quiet, and of course, Mia didn't forget to feed Toby. "You," Raquel snapped her fingers at Kora, "why did you call Mia Mayana? I hope you don't change my name to a horrible one too. Call her whatever you want but not me." she rolled her eyes.
"You are not Mayana?" Sophie asked disappointedly and she nodded, but told them all to be calling her Mayana.
"I have never seen this type of food before, doesn't taste bad but I hope I don't get belly aches, who knows in what conditions this food has been made. Strange creatures with strange foods," she ate consciously as if the food was poisoned. Luckily, Kora didn't lose her temper and continued eating.
"Raquel please, you should thank Kora, or else starve yourself to death," Zane was clearly angry, he was the nicest person Mia knew, and he wouldn't bear to see witness unfairness. "Am just saying, not a lie though," she fletcherized. She then stood up and went to the kitchen, she had an idea. She took a glass poured water in it, and sashayed back to the dining. When she reached her seat, she pretended to trip, and Xander sensed. Before she fell on him, he reflexively held her wrist that held the glass, and the other hand around her waist, her hand was on his tout chest. Their faces were so close to each other, that made Zane uncomfortable. Her face visibly turned red in front of everyone.
"Raquel, are you okay?" Mia stood up worriedly. Xander stared at the shameless human, she obviously faked the whole thing. What did she want from him? He still had no idea. He helped her stand and she muttered a thank you, biting her lower lip.
"Am fine, just tripped," she told Mia.
After supper, Kora had to assign them rooms. But there were only 4 of them while they were 7 in total. Luckily, the rooms were huge enough. Mia and Raquel in the first room, Kora would be with her daughter, Xander alone since he hated people and was the one who paid for construction of the house, Zane and Liam together, and Toby too in their room.
They had to agree who would sleep on the bed and who on the futon beds.
***
"Am taking the bed, obviously," Raquel said and Mia didn't retort, as expected. "Also, I shall be using the bathtub, you the shower."
"Why," Mia had to ask.
"Because if you use it, it will become dirty and I wouldn't be able to use it anymore. I don't like sharing things." Raquel then opened the closet to find a lot of clothes and ornaments, she gasped. "All these yours?" she asked Mia and she nodded.
"I need to buy clothes, tomorrow, you are taking me exactly where you bought these."
Mia took a shower and wore her pajamas.
After Raquel was sound asleep, she went out of the room and knocked to a room on the second floor, but there was no answer. She turned the door knob and entered. She heard the shower, and sat on his bed, waiting for him.
He came out soon, his long shoulder length hair sticking onto his neck. His towel had been tied to his waist, revealing his muscular torso. She had never seen a man half naked like that moment. Xander saw her and narrowed his eyes. Out of shyness, she shut her eyes tightly, as if never wanting to open them again.
He walked until to where she was, Mia inhaled the nice and manly scent that wafted from him. "What has brought you here," he said looking at the girl with a bunny pajama, he was amused how she looked like a baby.
"I want to sincerely apologize."
"Will you be apologizing with your eyes shut?"
"Wear something so I can open my eyes." she bit her lower lip.
"Am not naked." he folded his arms.
"I..Know, but still..." she heard him opening the drawer, and then told her to open her eyes.
He had put on a vest and a pair of shorts.
"Am sorry Xander. I will never go against you. If you need me to do anything for you just ask," she stood up to go but he stopped her.
"Wait, what changed your mind," he scratched his head and Mia saw he still had their friendship bracelet. She smiled absentmindedly, so he still cared about her after all? If it weren't for Zane, hers would be in the trash, never to be seen again.
"Why are you smiling?" he was used to seeing her smile often,and he wanted to know this time what made her so happy.
She came back to her senses, and clutched her wrist. "Uh, nothing changed my mind, just thought maybe you were right and came back."
"You just had to come with them," Mia knew what he was talking about.
"It was an accident, the portal accidentally engulfed them all, they walked in suddenly to my room, and that's how we ended up here." she said half truth, knowing very well Liam was going with her.
"Also, will you take Raquel tomorrow to buy clothes?"
"Kora will do that, and you are not to go out. Dracula is still looking for you."
"What if I want to walk and refresh myself, get some vitamin D from the sun." she had to be stubborn, she couldn't bear the house monotony.
"Just ask me," he turned to go to the drawer when Mia spotted something on his back. She scurried towards him and placed her dainty hand on the mark. However, he turned and grabbed her wrist. "Am sorry, I didn't mean to...Do you have a kit so I could wrap up the wound before bacteria penetrate," it was a huge fresh wound.
"No, would you excuse me now?" Mia's ears turned red with embarrassment and she quickly left the room without turning back.
****
Kora and Xander planned step by step their next strategies, while Zane, Liam and Raquel explored a little bit in the new world. It was not far off different from the human world. Raquel complained of everything, no signal, no WiFi, no cars...an endless list.
***
One afternoon Zane entered the kitchen and heard:
"I think we should set up Mayana, she doesn't have to know, this would actually work." It was Kora.
"I'll see," the familiar male voice answered.