Chapter 5

"So Xavier,"he said, watching Xavier walk toward the table and sit in a chair. "My name is Ryder, and well," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. Clearly he did not want to be here, but he was going to do what he could before his partner showed up get as much out of the way as he could. "How about you tell me where you are from?" asking trying to break the ice.

"Listen me and Willow come from Floridia we met in the high school that we both attended and now, we both just really want to go back home. To have everything like it was before all of this" Xavier said. He didn't mean to sound rude, but he wasn't in the mood for getting to know anyone right now. Having Willow go into another room sometimes had him on edge and it made it hard to concentrate. 

"Okay, that's okay" Ryder said, holding up his hands in defense. He wasn't about to start something that he'd have to end,"Tell me about Floridia, and I'll tell you where I come from."

"We lived in a place called Sarasota, and there are so many beaches to go to, one that I always liked was next to a huge boardwalk and had a ton of old things that you could buy. I got my Abuelo things from there all the time," Xavier smiled as he recalled the many hours he spent looking through all the vendors' wares.

"Your grandfather, he is Spanish?"

"Yeah both he and my abuela came to America a long time ago, they liked all that old-world crap," he said leaning back. Xavier as frustrated as he got with his Abuelo really he just wanted him here right now and he'd give up just about anything. He just missed talking to him. "One time, it was funny, I tried to get them something from the mall. He got mad saying how it was full of devil magic, and how I needed to get rid of it. Our house was a horrible place to be for two weeks while we dealt with him."

"You really love him don't you?" Ryder asked. Xavier just nodded, he looked like he was near tears from all the memories"Okay, it's okay, try and keep yourself here," Ryder said, snapping his fingers in front of him. "Now I will tell you where I come from," Ryder said and he had a bit of pride to him as he spoke, "I am from the old country, I believe they now call it England."

"So you're what a vampire or something?" Xavier said, trying not to laugh or anything.

"No, I am one of the woodland spirits," Ryder said, looking at him, his eyes flashed violet for a second before going back to the dull brown that they were before. This caused Xavier to jump out of his chair. "Jumpy, little one are we," Ryder laughed. " Know that I'd never hurt 'ya. Me and my mate are just going to help 'ya" Ryder said and he gave him a wink.

"So how old are you?" Xavier asked finally getting his voice back. He had also got back to the chair, though it was now a little farther away from Ryder than before.

"Well, tell him you show off," Anna said in the background. "If you're going to show him what you are, you may as well tell him that much, but I thought you stopped counting a while back." She was in the doorway with her arms crossed. "and also can you try and talk a little normal right now."

"Awwww Anna you know how much I love 'ya"Ryder said looking hurt. Anna just rolled her eyes at him. She wouldn't have any of this, especially in her house.

"Xavier his birthday is next month, and he'll be 1131, or at least last I checked," Anna said uncrossing her arms she came over to talk to the two of them. "Xavier I have a question and it's not about what you will get this joker for his birthday next month," Anna looked at him, "did something happen to you guys on the way here?" Anna asked. Xavier looked confused, then worried. Anna stared at him like she was interrogating him "Aside the shower thing which I am sure affected both of you what happened," Anna was trying to get answers, but it was like trying to get into Fort Knox" Willow has a lot of bruises on her, and by the way you have been acting towards her I don't think you gave them to her but we need to know did something happen to you guys."

"Uhh..it started with the kids who thought I was spending too much time with her so they attacked her. Which is why I started walking her to and from school every day," Xavier clenched his fists as the memories came back. "So when the petty things didn't work they just thought of worse things to do," Xavier said looking away. "She even got hit by a car, which now that I think about it, she should be dead, with all the things that were done to her. It's crazy, everything that happened to her, but then nothing really happened like that to me and after a while, I wished that it would because she looked like a Smurf and I would feel really sick like I was the one who was hurt. It got to the point that she was just too scared and didn't want to go into town anymore, except when I would take her to the boardwalk. Her parents even got mad because nothing was being done about it, but then what could be done? Then she got shoved in the locker room with me it blew up that's when we ran off. It took us three months to get up here and the only reason we came here was cause some girl in a stall at a truck stop said you could help" Xavier said starting to get mad."Now can you help us or do we have the wrong place? If we have the wrong place..."

"Settle down now, she'll be fine and of course, she's not going to die," Ryder said, pushing him into a chair, "If you think we are here to hurt 'ya, well, no, we aren't, "Ryder said rubbing his nose. This was not in his job description.

"Ryder, when are you going to be talking normally again?" Anna asked, this made Ryder shrug his shoulders. "Now I told you before nobody is going to hurt you while you are here, and with what you have just said I know what's wrong," Anna said. She didn't look too happy about this though. "Xavier we are sorry about this but you are not going to be able to go home." This made Xavier move from the chair. He backed away from her like she had a disease, "Now Xavier listen if we send you back they will keep it up till it's both of you that's looking like that. Now believe it or not she will be fine, you will be fine and all you have to do is trust us and do not worry. Please."

"But we have friends, our parents," Xavier looked like he had just come back from war and was expecting someone to be waiting for him but they weren't there. To not be able to see anyone he loved ever again killed him, but then he thought of what his so-called friends did to him. Maybe he could at least send a letter telling his family he was alright. He might not be able to see them, but he could talk to them, there was e-mail, phones, and all of that. It may not be the same, but it was something. "Can we send them a letter or call them or something, our parents, I really miss mine and I think Willow's family would like to at least know she's okay."

"I don't know right now, but at least for now let's keep silent and we will see what we can do. In the meantime show me to the lass so I can see these battle wounds" Ryder said.

"Wait, what, what are you going to do?" Xavier said anxiety growing in him. "He's not going to do something to her." Xavier was on his feet in less than five seconds.

"Remember what I said about meself?" Ryder asked, he just stood not moving. "I have the gift of healing, it comes in handy, especially now I bet. Why not come and make sure I don't hurt her" Ryder said and while he was being harmless Xavier just shook his head and started to run his hands through his hair, he then sat back down in a chair to wait for Ryder to get back.