"Sorry about that" I said as I got to them.
"Oh that's no problem. Take your time and look cool like always" Alex said and when I looked at her she laughed awkwardly and said "Did I just say that? I meant take your time its cool"
With that she turned around "Nice house you've got here"
"Oh, thanks?"
I knew at this stage convincing them would be hard so I might just as well avoid the topic.
"So...um-why are two here?"
"Oh yeah, about that" Alex turned back to us and dipped her hand into her pocket "we came here cause I wanted to return this to Tyson"
"Tyson?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. Here" with that said she stretched out her open palm to him. I didn't know Tyson had something like that. I wondered when he had gotten it, and when he had even met with Alex to lend her something.
He took it and I asked him.
"What's that?"
"Its obviously a pendant Tyler"
"I can see that, Tyson! I didn't mean what is that as in what is that I meant what is that as in what is that"
He went silent for a moment.
"What?" He said with an utterly confused look and I knew I didn't get through to him. I didn't even get through to myself.
"Just forget it"
"By the way, this...is a really lovely pendant which I, do not remember ever seeing, buying, owning or even lending you one. Do you mind expanding things a little?" Tyson said and Alex replied him.
"You didn't give that to me. Your grandpa did. He told me to give it to you. He also said when you see it you'll know what to do"
From grandpa? I wonder what it's for, I thought and waited for Tyson to explain what it was but when I looked at him I let out a sigh of disbelief. He had the dumbest expression of I-have-no-idea-what-you're-talking-about look.
"Also that's not a pendant, its a key" Alex said and I looked at her, back at Tyson's hand then back at her.
Okay now I was confused.
I looked back at Tyson's hand thinking I had made a mistake but I was definitely looking at a pendant.
"Alex, you gave them the wrong thing. Where's the key?" Erica asked her and I thought she had made a mistake but now it was Alex's turn to look confused.
"What are you talking about? I just gave him the key"
"No, you gave him a pendant" Erica said as she took the pendant from Tyson and waved it right in front of Alex face.
"How can you say that when you're waving the key that way in your hand?"
"I can say that cause I am waving it in my hand! Its a pendant!"
Alex took hold of the pendant and looked even more confused. Her gaze moved from one of us to another.
"You mean...you guys don't see the key I'm holding?"
"Its still a pendant no matter how long I look at it" I said as I was still staring at the pendant like it would slowly become a key by staring long at it.
She gently pulled at her index finger knuckle with her teeth.
I couldn't understand why she was seeing a key when we were all looking at a pendant.
"Alex, did my grandpa not tell you anything else about it?"
She stared at me like she was deep in thought then she cleared her throat and said "No"
"This is tough" Tyson sighed and said to Alex "Thanks for getting this to me anyway"
"Uh-sure. Well we...better get going"
"Wait" Tyson said "Give me a minute"
With that he ran off almost stepping on the shards of the broken mug.
"I better get that" I said and went to get the sweeper. I knew what Tyson had in mind, but like everyone else I knew they wouldn't be able to see anything, although I found myself wishing they could...or at least Alex could.
"Its just a five in a hundred chance" I muttered to myself and went back to pack up the broken mug.
Tyson came back with the bottle in his hand then pulled out the rolled up paper. I knew there was no chance they could read it but I was also curious. I stood and watched either way.
He spread out the paper in front of them and asked "What do you see?"
Erica and Alex looked at each other then back at Tyson then they both said at the same time.
"It's blank"
"A map"
They both looked at each other and said again.
"It's blank"
"A map"
I saw Alex look as confused as ever then Erica said "You sure you okay?"
"I thought I was but now I don't" she said but I could understand what was going on and honestly it was the biggest shock I'd had in three weeks.
"so what is this about?" Erica asked but it seemed they had just caught on to Tyson's surprised face.
He looked up and shouted "Yes!" He looked back at Alex with a grin "You really see a map?"
She stared at it carefully again and said "y-yeah?"
He grabbed her hand and she flinched "it's you! You're the one!".
I could get why he was so excited, he's been searching for two years with no progress but at the moment I knew he was starting to freak them out. I walked up to him and tightened my hold on his wrist as I carefully separated his from Alex.
"Sorry. He got a little excited" I smiled at Alex and widened my eyes at Tyson "calm your horse Tyson"
"But its her Tyler" he squealed and looked at Alex "You must have the third mark"
"What is that?" Erica asked.
Alex placed her hand on her waist and shifted to her side then she sighed and said "I don't know what he's talking about"
I knew that pose. And it completely gave her out. She still does that?
"My grandpa gave you this pendant right?. Didn't he tell you anything else?" Tyson asked
"No"
"What? Then...how about this? Do you have anything like this on you?" He pulled up his shirt and exposed the mark on the right side of his belly. Normally I would have smacked him on the head for showing people and freaking them out, but at this point I knew it was okay.
"Whoa! Cool" Erica said
"I know right? It brings out my abs and it makes me look..."
"Tyson"
"Sorry" he said and got back to the point. "Well...have you?" Tyson asked again and she shook her head
"I still don't know..." She stopped and looked at me.
I wondered why she had stopped but I was more curious about why she was denying it. Just then it occurred to me again that she had met my grandpa. Knowing him, he had probably scared the living day light out of her.
He had done the same to me.
I sighed at the thought and was just about to tell Tyson to give her some time when she said.
"Okay fine. I have the third mark" she admitted and Tyson grinned again "but...I won't be coming with you"
Tyson's grin dissolved and he asked "w-why?"
"You're gonna have to leave without me because I'm not coming. I'm only here 'cause I thought I at least had to get that key to you"
"That's not true. We have to leave with you. We're going nowhere without you"
"Why won't you leave without her?" Erica asked
"Its not that we won't but rather we can't" He said and further explained "You said you see a key when we see a pendant. Now you say you see a map. She can't see it, I can't see it, Tyler can't see it, but you can"
"So basically, you're our eyes. Without you we can't even start the journey. Its like going on a trip for the first time without having a tour guide or a map. Or like driving for the first time with your eyes closed. Or like cooking with no fire. Or like having a phone with no signal. Or like..."
"...Okay Tyson I think they get it" I said.
Someone had to stop him or he would go on.
"Sorry" he said "This map is our lead to get to where we're going. you're the only one who can get us there"
Alex still didn't look convinced.
"Come on Tyler say something" Tyson tapped me to back him up.
"Well. Actually I'm with Alex on this one. Its her choice to make and she actually needs to think about it" I said and Tyson scowled at me, but I was being honest.
"Thanks Tyler. That helped a lot" I felt the sarcasm slap me real hard on the cheek. He looked back at Alex "Ignore what he just said. I know you're going to take this better than he did"
"Well forgive me for not being a total idiot who would gladly spread out his arms to death in high school like you did" I said knowing what he had implied.
I really didn't take it any better than she did.
"What is she taking better than he is?" Erica asked.
"Getting his mark" Tyson replied. Alex and Erica both looked at me.
"You have a mark!?" Alex asked in a loud voice
"Uh yeah" I said and raised my index and middle finger "I've got the second mark"