Something's cooking?

"Now what?" Jiya asked as she let the honey cover up her pancake. Later, she would add some butter as a top-up. Her way of eating pancakes.

"We leave…" Alex tried to swallow, "After breakfast."

"How?" she sounded dire, "And I still have some questions left."

"You will know…" he gulped, "When we go. As for questions, you can ask them whenever and wherever you want."

"She is a curious one", Mom said, "You should know."

"Obviously", Alex nodded at Jiya, "I know."

Jiya, for now, paid no attention to the conversation between her Mom and Alex and paid attention to stuffing pancakes. Who knew if she would get to eat such delicacies in that freak of a place? She half expected Alex to answer her thoughts. But it seemed to her that he had not heard her at all. She wondered if she was being ignored as she jabbed a piece of pancake with her fork.

No one is ignoring you, Alex replied in her head.

Jiya slowly turned to look at him. He was busy stuffing pancakes as well. As if expecting her stare, Jiya heard him in her head.

I will hear anything that is directed at me or concerns my attention without being directed. Not more, not less.

Jiya turned away, giving a timid nod as chewed with interest.

Alex is such a freak! She thought in her head as if to try Alex.

No wonder, she heard him in her head.

What? He echoed.

Jiya pursed her lips to hide her smile.

Behave and respect, he said telepathically.

As if I would! Jiya thought back sarcastically and gave him a sly grin.

He squinted at her before she heard him in his head, You better would.

As if noticing the silent exchange between them, Mom gave an awkward cough, "Better finish up quickly."

Jiya broke the gaze and stuffed the last bits of pancake in her mouth.

"Yummy as always!" she muttered as she licked her lips.

"I packed some more for you", Mom said with a warm smile.

"Perfect!" Jiya gave her Mom a thumbs-up.

Mom took away the plates and Jiya helped them clean up. As she was arranging the plates to dry up, she heard Alex in her mind.

You should work more. You are getting fatter.

Jiya glared at him from across the table before thinking back, I like me better!

Well, I can't shield you if you are too fat, you know? Alex thought back sarcastically.

You don't have to, Jiya thought back. She was annoyed to the point of crushing the plates, which she otherwise couldn't. She would better smack his face with a punch. For she had a ring on her right forefinger.

You would smack me? Alex widened his eyes with mock surprise as he propped up his chin on his left palm.

Yes, if I have to, Jiya frowned.

Good, then. Learning some hand-to-hand combat will give you a good exercise and make you slim, Alex grinned his usual way.

Jiya rolled her eyes in response and turned her head a bit to make sure her Mom was not noticing.

A scent hit her nostrils. Jiya sniffed with surprise, realizing that it was emanating from her Mom. It implied that something mischievous was going on inside her head. She inched closer and tried to hear her thoughts. She backed away when she realized what it was. Her Mom was ruthless enough to think that something was cooking between her and Alex!

Something's cooking, eh? Alex smirked at her. Jiya raised her brows in surprise, before looking away. She felt her cheeks burn. By now, stuff was taken care of, and Jiya sat down her chair and slowly stretched her arms.

"Why don't you dress up?" Alex said beside her. He had his nose buried in a book, an old looking one.

"Smizards can do magic tricks?" Instead of answering, Jiya hurled back a question of her own.

"You mean this?" Alex looked up at her and waved the book in front of her, "No, we don't. Neither do you. I just carry it anywhere I go. It's my favorite."

Jiya raised an eyebrow and gave a nod. Then, she stood up, "I will go dress up."

"Good", he said without looking up.

---

Approximately ten minutes later, Alex saw Jiya come out of her room wearing a dress with white and blue stripes. It perfectly covered her collarbones and extended from her shoulder blades and stop near her elbows. The dress perfectly flowed near her knees. It perfectly revealed her feminine curves. Her bob cut hair was pulled into a neat ponytail, while a few strands of hair that escaped her holder, swayed gently in the air. Over her dress, she wore a dark blue half sweater, buttoned up to her chest. Also, she wearing a pair of caramel-colored, short furry boots.

Alex parted his lips, but nothing came out. He closed them and looked away. She was beautiful and he knew it. He saw it and believed it. And for the next parts, he would prefer not to think about it. He sighed, refraining his thoughts to trail further.

But the next moment, a delicious scent hit his nostrils and a sweet warmth coursed through his body. He realized that Jiya was standing close to him. Too close, he knew. He turned a little and glanced at the hem of her dress, expecting her to say something.

"I am ready", she said, "Are we leaving yet?"

"Yes", Alex nodded without looking up. He closed the book he was reading and slipped it in one of his cloak pockets.

"Are you okay?" Jiya placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

His breath hitched and his body tensed. He never initiated contact before. Delight filled his heart, but also fear. He stood up abruptly and looked at her. She raised her head to look at him. She was taller than her Mom, but her head only reached his shoulder blade.

"Let's go", he said, as he rushed past her. He decided it was better to change his form.

Because he was afraid of letting his thoughts get out of control.