12 LYRIC JaceandIwentourseparatewayswhenwefinishedfromtherestaurant.
WhenIgothome,Iwasmetwithanunpleasantsurprise.Well,notreallyasurprise sinceIknewhedbecoming.ThereinthelivingroomwasRoderick.Exmate.
Hehadbeenbusywithhisphone,butthemomenthesawme,hecouldntlookaway.
Finally,youdidcome.Norarolledhereyes,risingtoherfeet.
Roderickwasstillstaringat me,seemingsurprised.
Iknowyou,hesuddenlymuttered.Fromtheairport.
IwatchedNorasbodylanguagegrowuncomfortable.
Um…Roderick,shesatnexttohim,takinghishand.ThisisLyric.Shesherenow.
So,letsgogetthisoverwith.
Ididnotmisshowtensedshelooked.
Roderickscountenancecloudedwithconfusion.HelookedatNoralikeshewasinsane,thenatme.

Wearinga smile,Iultimatelysaid.Hello,,Roderick.Itsagood thingwefinallymet,becauseIvebeenaseagerasyoutogetthisoverwith.Letsgo.
Iturnedtowardthedoor.Iwasntevengoingtochangeoranything.Iwastoolongingforthat.
Idontunderstand,Rodericksaid,standingup.HowcanshebeLyric?Shes…hechuckled.Shecant- Iwasntbornugly,Rodrick,justincaseyoureforgetting.AllIhadtodowasgetridofmyscar.But,dontworry,itsthe sameLyricstandingbeforeyou.Istillrememberyourfavoritewords:Dontlookatme.Yourfacedisgustsme.GetoutofmyPack.Ishrugged.See?Sameme.
Hiseyeswidenedlikesaucers.ForsomeoneasrigidasRoderick,thesightwasgolden.
Icontinuedtothedoorandsoonopenedit.ButIpausedwhenInoticedRoderickwasntfollowing.
Ihavethingstodo,Roderick.Please,weneedtogetmoving.
Heloweredhisgaze,seeminguncertain.Suddenly,hetookhis phone,tappingonthescreen.
Uh…somethingjustcameup.IIhave togosomewherenow.
Wow.Roderickstuttered.Butwhatthehellwashetalkingabout? Babe,Noradrewclose.Anythingcanwait.Wevebeenwaitingforagesnow.
Itcantwait,henearlyslappedather.Lookingat me,hisgazesoftened.Buttherewasguiltin hiseyes.
Wellfinishthislater,hemutteredandwalkedpastme,outthedoor.
***** Asexpected,NorawasdispleasedwithRodericksdismissal,aswasI.Iwasmorethaneagertogetthisthingpastme.Hourslater,ImetfathertotellhimofmyplansofreturningtoDraconis.Asexpected,hedidnttakeitwell.

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e Youjustgotback,Lyric.Besides,westill havethependingagreementwithDarkspire.
ImnotinterestedinAlphaJarisanymore.Itwasdifficultgettingthewordsout,butIhadto.Imsorry,father,butIreallywanttoleave.
Seeinghimagainhadbroughtmetoomuchpain.Ijust wantedtogobacktomynormallifeinDraconis.
Fathersfacepaled.Icouldnthelpfeelingpityforhim.
Hewasabouttosaysomethingwhentwo guardsrushedin,displayingurgency.
Alpha,theybowed tohim.Wehavecompany.AlphaJarisishere.
Myeyesflaredwideinsurprise.Iwantedtobelieve Ihadntheardclearly,butfathersprangtohisfeet.Shit!Thiswasreal.WescurriedoutsidetofindJarisandtonsofhismensteppingoutoftheircars.Thetwomenfromtherestaurantwerealsopresent.Myjawdropped.WhydoIhaveafeelinghewasheretocausetrouble? AlphaJaris,Fathersteppedforward,delighteSuccessfullyunlocked!pleasantsurprise.Youshouldvetoldmeyou werecoming.Idhavepreparedagrandwelcom Jariseyesfoundmine,andnotforoneseconddidhelookaway.Thatmade meuncomfortableinalotofways.
Theresno needforthat,AlphaBennett.Ididntcome hereforagrandwelcome.Icamehere,hesteppedforward.toheardirectlyfromyourdaughter.
1/2 12 Noraandhermotherwereoutofthehouse,althoughtheykepttheirdistance.
Bythemoon,Ididntlikethisonebit.
Fatherlookedatmewithfurrowedbrows.
Jarisexplained.Yourdaughterheretoldmeshewasnolongerinterested.Hiseyestookonashadowygleam.Igotyourmessage.

Inervouslylickedmylowerlip.Iuh… Canyousayitagain,Lyric?Heambledtowardme.
Helookedfartoointimidatinglikethis.Ifoundmyselfretreating.
Whatmakesyouthinkyoucanactuallyrejectsomeonelikeme? Ipickedoffenseatthat.Oh,soyouretheonlyonewhogettorejectpeople,huh? Lyric,whatsgoingon?Fatherturnedtome.
Now,thereweretoomanyeyesonme.
Jarisfinallystoppedcomingat me,buthisexpressiondidntgetanysofter.
Youcandothis,Lyric.
Ishouldstandbymywordsofnotbeinginterested.Theproblemwas,itwaseasiersayingittohismenthanitwastohim.Staringatthatterrifyinglyhandsomeface,Icouldntbringmyselftogetthewordsout.
Heopenedhispalmandagunwas placedintoit.Okay…whatdidhe- Igaspedwhenheaimed atoneoffatherscarsandtookashot.Thewindowglassshatteredinstantly.
Jaris!Whatsthemeaningofthis!?Fathergrowled.
Forgiveme,AlphaBennett,butIdontthinkImdoinganythingwrong.Ifyourdaughterwillnothonourouragreement,thenIbelieveeverythingyouownnowbelongstome,consideringthedepthofyourdebt.
Heshotatanotherwindow.
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