Chapter 38

Lauren's crew met up at lunch on Friday to talk about what they had learned. And as it turned out the guys confirmed her suspicions that apparently the teachers were not allowed to tell them anything directly. She guessed the Muses had a little more wiggle room and that was why she and Zach had the most to share.

Was it wrong of her to feel smug about knowing more than anyone else, if it was she didn't want to be right? She happily delivered the news that the answers may lay with Ray's relatives. He was shocked to learn they could have anything to do with it, but agreed to introduce Lauren and sit in on the discussion if it would help them find out more.

When Zach said he was coming Lauren blanched.

Given how awkward it was yesterday when they had waited just a few short minutes together for Clio to find the books. She couldn't imagine the more than hour long trip by bus and cable car – cringe worthy was an insignificant descriptor. The journey from Outer Richmond to Russian Hills would be torturous.

How was she going to tell him she'd rather poke herself in the eye with a red hot poker without really saying it to him?

But in the end she decided on subterfuge rather than churlishness, "Sorry Zach, Quinn already said he'd come with me. Didn't you?" Her eyes implored him to answer yes.

"Yeah, she asked me this morning. We're even making a day of it. I'm packing a picnic for us to have at Russian Hills Park.

She could kiss Quinn, he had no idea that he'd rescued her from a very awkward Saturday. When she turned to Zach to say, 'oh well maybe next time or something equally as pithy, her big stupid grin fell right off her face at the expression on his.

Zach was literally apoplectic. His jaw was clenched so tight it looked like he was going to shatter his teeth. He obviously hated being left out of the loop. Well too bad, soooooo sad she thought childishly.

Lauren did a great imitation of a fish out of water though when Zach said with forced cheerfulness and a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

"Great I'm coming with."

Lauren eyes darted to Quinn for help.

"Hey haven't you ever heard 'two's company three a crowd'?" Quinn asked pointedly.

"Yeah . . . haven't you ever heard two heads are better than one? Well three have got to be even better." Zach bit out.

Zach had moved in to Quinn's personal space and was staring down at him menacingly.

Quinn started to growl and said, "Back off Angel Boy!"

Zach looked like he had been slapped at the mention of her pet name for him. It twisted her guts too.

She decided to throw him a bone, pardon the pun, given the dog fight about to happen.

"Look there's no reason we can't all go together," she said with such a loud sigh that not even the most guileless child would believe her.

"Great I'll meet you guys at the 38th and Geary Blvd bus stop at 11am."

"Quinn draped his arm around her shoulder and said with a devious smile and a wink at her.

"It's a date."

She couldn't be certain but she could swear she heard Zach grinding his teeth as he walked away.

***********************************************

Lauren had tossed and turned all Friday night at the prospect of hanging out with the two hot headed guys. It had taken her ages to fall asleep; she was even so tired the next morning that she nearly slept in.

She'd hit the snooze button one too many times and ended up having to dress and head right out without breakfast or a shower. The day was starting out great already and it got even better when she spied Zach waiting at the designated spot looking like he'd been up for hours with no Quinn in sight.

Was it too late to turn around and fake bubonic plague or something? Just then Zach looked up seeming to have read her thoughts and she thought shit too late, and also: shit had he just read her thoughts?

Damn this magical world really sucked sometimes. When he seemed to hide a smile it was confirmed that the shithead was reading her mind. So she thought as loudly as she could 'That's right shithead you heard me right Angel Boy get the fuck out of my head' and gave him an angry look.

Zach seemed to recoil from her and had the nerve to look injured.

But Lauren wasn't falling for the injured puppy routine; she deliberately used her meditation techniques and emptied her head and threw up an image of a brick wall like she'd be taught.

She was doing a mighty fine job of keeping her thoughts to herself that was until she saw Quinn, and his nearly six foot athletic frame stuffed in too tight black skinny jeans, a grey v-neck tee, a a pair of white vans, and a sexy black leather bomber. He sauntered towards them like he didn't have a care in the world. She envied him for that.

He also had a red backpack slung over one shoulder with what she guessed was their picnic lunch. Her mouth started to water at the prospect and her stomach growled noisily, and she couldn't help the grin that split her face at the sight of him.

Just then she heard a sharp intake of breath from beside her. Her eyes darted to the side to glance surreptitiously toward the strange choking sound to find that Zach was glancing back and forth at her and Quinn and looking like someone had just sacked him. WTF!

What was his problem?

Not wanting to figure it out she left the enclosure and went to greet 'happy go lucky Quinn' who already had a big smile just waiting for her. He was so much easier to deal with then the new Zach who was touchy af and as serious as shit.

She could smell the tuna fish from where she stood in front of him. Thank you Fae senses.

"Are those sandwiches in your bag, or are you just happy to see me?"

"Wow you hungry already Nash?"

"Yeah I missed breakfast, my alarms not working so great."

"Oh yeah what's wrong with it?"

"I might have kicked it a few times."

They both chuckled as Quinn rooted around in the bag and was rewarded with an individually wrapped tuna sandwich on whole-wheat.

" I hope you like it? It's my foster mom's specialty? The secret is the green onion and dill." He said as he handed it to her.

Lauren barely got the wrapper off before she started stuffing her face.

Quinn just laughed when she groaned and rolled her eyes to the back of her head in sheer bliss.

"Your mom's a genius, "she affirmed around a mouthful of tuna goodness.

"Here," he handed her a bottle of water out of the bag, "try not to choke."

When she stuffed the remainder of the first half of her sandwich in her mouth and had to work to get her mouth around the large piece.

Quinn's eyes grew wide as he said with a laugh, "Geez Nash does anyone even feed you?"

The grin was wiped from her face so suddenly when it dawned on her that the only people that fed her aside from herself were Zach's parents and that wasn't going to happen anymore.

"Whoa," Quinn jumped in with an, "I was only joking," when he saw her face.

Lauren quickly reprimanded herself. This was supposed to be a fun fact finding mission. Get over it she chided herself, you can't let your world be turned upside down just because one person has decided that you aren't worth knowing.

She faked a smile and said, "Gotcha!" and started poking him in his side until he said.

"Quit it! I'm a sensitive soul," as he batted his lashes at her, which made her really laugh.

They got back to the enclosure just as their bus arrived. Lauren and Quinn took a seat together while Zach occupied the seat in front of them.

Instead of turning around in the seat to sit sideways so he could converse with them he sat looking straight ahead. Wow rude much: was all that Lauren could think! What was the point of insisting he come when he just wanted to pretend they didn't exist?

Lauren tried not to let it bother her as she attempted to carry on a relaxed conversation with Quinn, but it was bothering her! She couldn't relax! She felt like she was pretending to be happy and she wasn't that kind of superficial girl. She hated those kinds of girls that fake laughed, or pretended to be something they weren't.

She knew having this time alone with Zach was going to be awkward, but she wasn't preapred for this.

His sullen silence and Quinn's trying to make up the difference with him pretending that the tension wasn't thick enough to cut with a knife was ten times worse.

She was developing a stress headache and already she couldn't wait for the day to be over.

She couldn't help, but think ruefully that a day alone with funny-easy-go- lucky Quinn might have been fun, but this was torture.

Lauren pulled out her phone and thought Youtube save me.

"Hey Quinn," she asked, "Did you see that funny video with the kittens that climb their owner?"

They ended up watching about a hundred more videos before getting to their destination; they had shared her ear buds for awhile and had laughed their asses off at some of them.

Zach had even gotten into it when she poked him and took out the buds and turned up the volume. He had even laughed with them.

Thank you 'Chewbacca Lady' she'd thought.

Trust a bored housewife to break the ice. They had sat around on the bus for the remainder of the time showing each other videos and looking at trailers for up-and-coming films. She was really looking forward to "Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2"

Finally the bus had trudged up the steep hill on Taylor Street. She loved that about San Francisco. The hills were so steep that the buildings were built nearly sideways -- stacked one on top of the other, so close that not even a shadow could fit between them

The Ryu's lived near the top of the hill a stone's throw from the park in a compact Edwardian brownstone. The historic three-story home had four lovely bay windows with half moon awnings done in red ceramic tiles. The front of it was a pale blue stucco and the windows where done with a traditional white and black trim. The family's little red Volvo leaned crazily to the left on the nearly vertical street. Lauren had never seen a more quaint sight in her whole short life, but she'd bet her last dollar that it would cost a small fortune to own this charming slice of the pie.

She supposed that the Ryu's where some of the first Japanese settlers back in the late 1800's. They would have gotten the land and the building on it for a pittance back then. She had to whistle at the thought of how much it would fetch on the market today.

She nearly tripped over herself staring at the property. Her house was a shack in comparison. Quinn must have noticed her wonder; because he took her by the hand and lead her up the stairs at a jog, and with an anticipatory smile, quickly rang the bell.

When Ray popped his head out the door and yelled run they didn't know what to think, but you quickly learn in the magical world if someone yells run:

YOU RUN!

Author's Note:

Thanks for your patience guys. I'm all moved in now all I have to do is unpack. Unfortunately there was a mix-up with the moving truck rental and I three less hours to get it done, but after some herculean effort from myself and some family members we manged to get it done in time. Needless to sat I'm very achy today, but fortunately no permanent damage is done. I've uploaded an extra long chapter to say thanks.

********************THANKS FOR READING***************

If you liked this chapter Vote, Comment, add this book to your reading list, or suggest it to a friend. I also want to let everyone know I did not make the shortlist for the Wattys, but that's okay we'll get 'em next year. *hugs* My readers are the only accolades I need.