Episode 38

***Wilhelmina***

Wilhelmina sighed. When was she going to see Cole again? Had she ever gone this long without seeing his face?

She sighed before entering the gym.

Eiran was in the corner of the room doing pull-ups. His grandfather was watching from a nearby chair.

"Please be careful," Wilhelmina said.

"I'm alright," Eiran said.

She took a breath. "Let's get some fresh air. It stinks in here."

"It doesn't smell that bad."

She handed Eiran his crutches. "Go to take a shower."

"Does that mean Cole said yes?"

Wilhelmina shook her head. "No, he said that a friend got sick."

Eiran frowned. "Wonder if they're more important than me. Well, I don't need the guy!"

Cole used to check up on Eiran every day when he was first hurt, but lately he hadn't. Was it because he was busy with a new piece? No, Cole wasn't one to put work before friends.

Maybe Wilhelmina needed to have a talk with Cole later. She couldn't understand what was going through his mind anymore.

Fawn poked her head into the room. "Eir, do you need help?"

"Grandma, I'm a grown man!"

Fawn giggled. "But you'll always be my baby. I did used to change your diapers."

Rowan heaved himself out of his chair. "I'll help him."

Fawn raised her eyebrows. "Dear, you have a broken arm."

Wilhelmina frowned. That boy had to be stopped before he hurt anyone else.

Rowan showed off his bandaged arm. "Exactly, I need help, too."

She frowned as she watched Eiran hobble towards the showers with his grandfather. He had come a long way, but still... it shouldn't have happened to him. He was just checking on her.

When Wilhelmina peered into the hallway, Dietrich was lugging a stack of books around.

"Dietrich! Eir and I are going for a walk. Would you like to come with us?"

Dietrich smiled. "Sure, just let me put these books away."

Wilhelmina nodded. "Sure. We aren't leaving just yet, so take your time."

Eiran looked so much better when he came out of the shower.

"Where did you want to go, princess?"

Wilhelmina glared at him. She took a breath. "Where did you want to go?"

"You should decide."

"Eiran, you're not working! Even if you were, you're allowed to have an opinion."

Dietrich put a hand on Eiran's shoulder. "When was the last time you had a vacation? This might have come about because of bad circumstances, but you should still try to enjoy it."

Eiran hung his head. "I-"

Dietrich smiled. "Why don't we go to the park? We could grab something to eat on the way there."

"Allow me to take you there," Rowan said.

Fawn sighed. "You're just as bad as your grandson!"

Wilhelmina turned her back to the couple. "Rowan, you're off-duty. We'll be going now."

Fawn ran after them. "You don't need someone to drive you?"

Wilhelmina smiled. "I'd like to drive, so we'll be fine."

"Please call me if you need anything then."

"We will." Wilhelmina ruffled her brother's hair. "Why don't you invite Elise?"

Dietrich's cheeks reddened. "I did."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's like a double date!" Eiran's face reddened. "Wait, I didn't mean it like that."

Wilhelmina sighed. "I know. Plus, I like Cole." She glanced at her little brother. "Does she have any preferences for food? I don't expect you chuckleheads to make up your minds."

"Let's go to the market and get something," her brother suggested.

"Alright." Wilhelmina opened the front passenger door for Eiran. "Ask Elise where she is. We'll pick her up first."

"She's at her house."

When they got to Elise's house, Dietrich opened the door for her.

The boy smiled. "You look nice today, Ellie."

"I didn't even do that much."

"We're stopping by the grocery store to get something to eat. Is there anything particular you'd like to eat?"

Elise shook her head. "You guys can decide. I'm the guest."

Wilhelmina shook her head. I guess I have to decide...

When they got to the store, Wilhelmina got out and opened the door for Eiran.

"I'll get the cart," Elise said. "Eiran is going to have a fit if one of you does it."

Eiran sighed. "Honestly, I'd like to do that myself."

"Do you want to fall?" Wilhelmina asked.

"Let's go," Dietrich said.

Eiran blinked. "What about sandwiches?"

"Though, sandwiches aren't usually filling. We should get something else to go with it like potato salad or some chips," Dietrich said.

"You can get chips if you want," Wilhelmina said. "I'm going to buy potato salad."

"Why don't you and Eiran get the potato salad and drinks?" Dietrich smiled. "Ellie and I will get the sandwich stuff and chips."

Wilhelmina nodded.

The couple walked away.

"Let's get the potato salad first," she said.

Eiran smiled. "Sounds good."

After they did that, they passed by an aisle with a bunch of jars. Cole was inspecting two of them.

Eiran grinned. "Cole, so you did decide to come!"

Cole bit his lip. "Sorry, Ran, but I just came to run an errand. A friend of mine got sick."

Wilhelmina sighed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't want to pass it to you guys." Cole smiled at Eiran. "Sorry for not visiting you. You look better."

"Illness doesn't spread that fast, idiot." She blushed. "Hmph, if you get sick, guess I can care for you."

Cole smiled. "Thanks, Will."

Eiran put his arm around him. "At least come get food to take home?"

Cole patted Eiran's arm. "No thanks, I plan to cook something myself."

This person was lucky, to get to eat Cole's cooking.

Eiran narrowed his eyes at Cole. "Have you gotten better? Last time you cooked for me; you burned the rice."

"Partially! And that's because I became distracted trying to check on the cake."

"Yeah, that was burned too."

Cole gave an exasperated sigh. "I should get home. I'd rather not leave her alone for too long."

Dietrich came up from behind and whispered in her ear, "I wonder if Cole is hiding something."

Wilhelmina frowned. "You sense it too, huh?"

A red-haired girl approached them. "Eiry, how are you?"

Wilhelmina stepped closer to Eiran. "Who is this girl?"

Eiran held a hand toward the girl. "She's a friend. Helped me watch over my little sister."

Elise gawked. "You have a sister?"

Eiran hung his head. "Yeah, a brat called Adele." He gritted his teeth. "One day, she got taken away by men in black robes. I tried to stop them, but..." His hand trembled. "I couldn't."

Elise stepped back. "Black robes?"

Eiran frowned. "Yeah, with an eye on the hood."

Elise looked off in the distance. Her face was pale.

Dietrich pulled Elise to his chest. "You okay, Ellie?"

She let out a shaky breath. "Can we get out of here?"

"Do you need to lay down?" Wilhelmina asked.

"I don't know..."

"Did you get your girlfriend pregnant?"

Dietrich looked like a tomato. "W-what? We haven't done that stuff yet!"

Elise formed a fist. "Feel like punching you right now, Eiran. I'm a lady, not a tramp!"

The girl sighed. "That was a dumb comment, Eiry."

Eiran said, "Hey, don't team up on the guy on crutches!"

The girl giggled.

"Here, let's go back to the car," Dietrich said.

Elise leaned her head against her boyfriend's shoulders. "I'm fine, just hungry. Let's go get something to eat."

"Got the lemons that Mama asked for!" a boy with blond hair and green eyes. He smiled when he saw Wilhelmina. "Oh, hey, Mina II!"

"Hey, fancy seeing you here."

"You know each other?" the girl asked.

"Yeah, I know his dad. He works with my grandma and Eiran's father."

Ray smiled. "Dad is going to have dinner with us tonight."

Wilhelmina giggled. "Don't let us keep you from your dinner then."

The pair then left.

An older man approached them. "Hey, Wilhi."

Wilhelmina grinned. "Grandpa!" She turned to look at the boy. "This boy-"

Ammon waved and gave a shy smile. "Hey, Wilhi. Long time no see."

"What brings you here?" she asked.

"Came with my father to pay a visit." He hung his head. "I'll be going back to Engarda soon, though."

Her grandpa patted his head. "If only Riven would leave you here."

Ammon bit his lip. "He won't. Dad says that I'm needed in Engrada."

Grandpa sighed. "I won't lie, you are indispensable to that world's development."

"Made any friends there?" Dietrich asked.

Ammon smiled. "One, a girl called Natalie. She's fun to play with."

Grandpa smiled. "Wilhi, you should bring your friends to our gathering. Audrey and several other friends of yours will be there too."

"Audrey...?" Dietrich looked like a sheet.

Wilhelmina patted his arm. "Scared?"

"Yeah... That girl isn't fun to play with."

She did used to use Dietrich as a horse when she was a toddler.

"Audrey, huh?" Elise rubbed her head. "Feel like I met her while living on Earth somewhere..."

Ammon grinned. "Want to play with me? I can go get my wagon!"

"Wagon?" Elise snorted. "Aren't you too old?"

Ammon's eyes clouded over. "Guess I am..."

"Elise!" Dietrich snapped.

"What?" She asked.

Wilhelmina ruffled his hair. "Come home. You and I can go for a ride."

Elise shook her head. "That boy reminds me of Alastair..."

"Alastair? Who's that?" Dietrich asked.

Wilhelmina gasped. "Did you say Alastair?"

Elise stepped back. "Y-yeah, why do you ask? Do you know him?"

Wilhelmina narrowed her eyes. "That's the name of the KK who hurt Eiran. Tell me, how do you know him?"

Elise gulped.