18 When good friends have your back

She has now effectively dug a hole she can't get out of. What should she do? She can't possibly bring her friends to Thorin's ever-changing magical home. No lie can mask the fact that Thorin's home is magical and not from this realm. And who is to say Thorin or Jessica won't just tell her friends the truth if she brought them back to Thorin's place.

Imagine, either one of them nonchalantly saying "Oh, Zi Mei is here to produce heirs," to her friends. It would be a horrible facepalming moment.

"It's not my house. My employers are very private, I can't be bringing people there," she said, hoping this will be enough to stave them off.

"At the very least, show us where the place is? We promise, we will not go inside or sneak in or peek inside," Darren said. "Just let us stand outside, heck, even 500 metres away is good enough,"

She is screaming in frustration internally by now. Why won't they let up? Maybe they are better off brainwashed and going on with life without remembering her.

"Like I said…it is a very confidential project and my employers are very private people…just maybe, let me ask them first?" she said.

"You won't even tell us what 'confidential' project it is and not even show us where it is…are you sure you're not doing something illegal?" Sheena asked, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed into slits.

"Are you sure you are not in trouble? It's not the loansharks is it?" Jazzmine asked in her soft voice.

"The loansharks! They came over this morning and the poor new tenants at your old place got a scare of their lives," Darren said. "Since they are still looking for you…it's not them…right? You aren't working for them, right?" he asked.

This she can reply honestly.

"No, of course not! I am now working on repaying the debt, I am sure I will be able to do it very soon," she said.

This raised even more suspicions.

"What sort of job pays that much? The loansharks told me your father owed half a million dollars and since he missed a few payments, it's more than that!" Darren said.

She wanted to slap herself and her mouth for running away from her. Ugh. Now she has to cover up with more lies.

"No, I mean…I am working on paying the instalment payments…not the full amount…haha…that's ridiculous," she said.

"Oh…poor Mei…I wish I could help you but we are all poor college students," Jazzmine said. She stretched over and gave her a hug. She took out her purse and started digging then she placed a couple hundred dollars on the table.

"I did save up some of my pocket money so that's all I had left," she said. "I know it's not much…but hopefully, it helps a bit,"

Zi Mei is touched. Jazzmine has a heart of gold and is always so kind. She is always the one rescuing stray animals by the street and finding homes for the kittens and puppies she rescued. Sheena too started digging through her purse and she placed a few crumpled fifties on the table.

"Here, that's about 300 I think…I was saving it up for that designer dress I was eying but hey, who needs a designer dress when I am already so hot," she said. She pushed it towards Zi Mei.

"Since we are all doing there, here," it is now Darren's turn. He took out a wad of bills and handed it to her. It has to be a few thousand dollars there. "It's about 4,000 there…I saved up from the part time work I was doing on and off," he said.

Zi Mei is so touched, tears filled her eyes. She wiped them away quickly. She take back her rash thought of wishing their memories were wiped by Thorin. Her friends are the best. She didn't know how to tell them that she doesn't really need money now. Not with the contract she signed with Thorin. After tonight…if she can get over her fear of actually doing it with the dragon…she will be a millionaire. It would also seem suspicious if she didn't take the money her friends offered her.

What should she do now?

"I can't…I can't take your money…" she said and tried to push the money back to them. "I mean..you saved up the money for something, certainly not to give it to me to pay those loansharks for a debt that was not even mine!"

All three of them insisted that she must take it.

"At least, it could help you get them off your back temporarily," Darren said. He took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Look, I am getting another part time job which pays quite well, I will help you with the repayment okay?" he offered sincerely.

Sheena started making kissing sounds.

"Oooo….how romantic…get a room you two," she said teasingly.

Darren dropped Zi Mei's hand immediately and blushed. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Zi Mei needs all the help she could get," he said defensively.

"Honestly, it is time the two of you get together, don't you think?" Sheena said. "I mean, look at you, you grew up together and you are so close, you are practically married,"

She wriggled her eyebrows.

"Have you two kissed already?" she asked suggestively.

This time both Zi Mei and Darren blushed in embarrassment. Zi Mei has had a growing crush for Darren in recent months, the thought of kissing him filled her with…nothing. She wasn't even excited at the thought of kissing Darren anymore. She was only embarrassed that Sheena is teasing them about kissing.

"C'mon, Darren. It is time you tell her how you feel! Be a man, please," Sheena continued.

Zi Mei looked at Sheena, startled. How does Sheena knows how Darren felt about her? Has Darren been confiding in Sheena? So, could it be that they could eventually develop feelings for each other?

Sheena saw her expression. She gave her a wink.

"Don't worry…Darren wasn't sharing his deep dark secrets with me…I sort of guessed…just look at his puppy dog eyes whenever he looks at you," she said.

Darren's face is now beet red and he was looking everywhere but at the three girls seated with him.

"Sheena, honestly, don't embarrass Darren," Jazzmine admonished Sheena.

Sheena suddenly stood up and grabbed Jazzmine's hand. She dragged her up.

"Come, let's give the lovebirds some room to confess and kiss," she made kissing sounds again and laughed. Then she and Jazzmine were heading out of the cafe. "Call us when you've kissed and make out and got a room…or before that, whichever," Sheena called just before the door closed behind her.

They left behind an uncomfortable silence. Zi Mei doesn't know what to say. She can't exactly tell Darren she used to have a crush on him but it seemed to have disappeared. Dissipated. When she look at his handsome profile, all she could think of was that he has been a good friend to her all these years. A wonderful supportive friend. A brother she never had. She didn't harbour any romantic feelings for him. She imagined kissing him and it didn't make her pulse race or her heart thump.

Not like when she was with Thorin. At the thought of the gorgeous dragon, her heart thumped and she remembered how he had touched her intimately just a mere hour earlier. She flushed at how she had practically let him touch her at her most private part and get her off so easily. Shaking that thought out of her mind, she looked at Darren again.

He was looking down and seemed to be gathering his thoughts. She hoped he didn't really have any feelings for her. She wouldn't know how to turn him down without hurting him. It would destroy their friendship. Besides, it would be so complicated now. She doesn't need more complications. Being a mistress and baby making slave to an ancient dragon is enough complication in her life for now.

"So…err…Sheena thinks she's hilarious," he finally said and rolled his eyes. "Told you I don't like her, she tends to just mess things up," he said.

Zi Mei was relieved. Glad that Darren wasn't going to confess after all. It would certainly mess things up and mess up the dynamics of their friendship. As it is, it is hanging on a delicate balance. Then again, she is glad that Sheena had somehow changed the topic and they did not press her to show them where she 'works' and what sort of 'job' she does.

"Well, that's Sheena for you, haha…"she replied. The air is still filled with an uncomfortable silence and tension. She stared at the stacks of money still on the table in front of her.

"Look, Darren, I really appreciate your help but I really can't accept this," she pushed his stack of money back to him. "That's a lot of money and it must have taken you a long time to save this sum, please take it back," she said.

"No no..take it please Zi Mei, I want to be able to help you," he said and pushed it back to her.

"No, no, Darren, please, I can't," she pushed it back.

"Hmm…while this is all very interesting, I think it is time you get back Zi Mei," Thorin was suddenly standing before them, startling both of them.

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