Hot, Just Like Me!

'The exit is meters away, I can leave,' Madeline said, trying her best not to obsess over what Adrian and Xavier were possibly thinking.

Whilst she thought they were badmouthing her, what they were actually talking about was how this couldn't have been her on par guessing skills.

'What did you get out of her yesterday?'

'It wasn't an interrogation, Adrian.'

'We spent the entire day together, that's all.'

'Hmm, sure.'

'The Xavier I'd know would've spent the entire day himself. Not spend it with a friend.'

'What are you trying to say here?'

Adrian shook his head.

'Nothing.'

'Oh and I don't think you've realized but we've been staying silent for a couple of minutes now, Madeline's staring at the both of us.

Xavier returned his focus to Madeline.

"How did you know that?" He questioned.

Madeline briefly hesitated before she answered truthfully, "I just knew."

As crazy she sounded, Madeline was telling the truth.

Xavier believed she was, at least.

"Really?" Adrian asked.

Xavier nudged him in the elbow, which was as high he could reach since he was sitting down and Adrian was standing.

"Never mind," Adrian dismissed as he rubbed his elbow.

'Ow,' he thought.

"Are you saying you just guessed what Adrian was about to say and got it completely right?"

Madeline blinked, looking at Adrian.

"You were about to tell Xavier exactly what I said?"

Adrian nodded.

Madeline let out a gasp.

'It's just a coincidence,' she dismissed, before she said to Adrian,

"You're not kidding?"

"I'm not kidding," Adrian confirmed.

"I'd like to test something," Adrian decided.

"You up for it?" He asked Madeline before turning to Xavier to see him nod in approval.

"Sure," Madeline answered, curious to see what'd happen next.

Madeline's surroundings blackened before she returned to where she was.

'Woah, what was that?' She wondered.

She'd seen her and Adrian chatting about something she couldn't completely make out - but overall, she'd gotten the gist of it.

"So I want you to guess what I'm about to say next."

"And it's going to be so unpredictable that you can't possibly guess it unless…"

Madeline looked at him strangely.

"Unless…?"

"You can tell the future," Adrian made a gesture, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I can… what?" Madeline asked, her tone filled with confusion.

"Isn't that going too far with the assumptions?" She blinked, beginning to get a tad bit nervous.

"It could all just be a coincidence."

"Coincidences aren't the answer to everything. They are usually disguises to hinder us from the truth," Xavier reasoned, his curiosity piqued.

"I suppose," Madeline pursed her lips.

When she turned her gaze to Adrian she yelled, "Don't touch that it's burning hot!"

Adrian heeded her warning but it was as though he'd come to sudden realization. Like something had clicked.

"You've been here for hours, surely if this was hot it would've cooled down by now."

Madeline had a burst of confidence.

"Then touch it!"

Adrian - who seemed determined to prove Madeline wrong - touched the kettle.

He retracted his hand almost instantly, wincing.

"Why is it still hot?" He asked.

Xavier mused, "Fascinating."

"Hohoho, so I was right, it's still hot," Madeline chuckled.

"Hot. Just like me," Xavier said aloud.

Adrian and Madeline collectively stared at him.

Just as Madeline was about to say something about Xavier, he told the both of them, "I'm going to leave now, it's humid here."

"You were talking about the atmosphere?" Adrian questioned.

"Did you think I was referring to something else?" Xavier asked in return.

Narrowing her eyes, she nodded at Xavier, signalling he could leave.

"You can leave now."

"I leave when I want to leave," Xavier scoffed, wanting to make a point before he turned away and left.

Madeline frowned. She couldn't believe he'd left her here with Adrian, all because he felt humid.

Where was the Xavier she'd spent time with yesterday?

Xavier had returned to how he usually behaved.

'Hmph, the old Xavier wouldn't have left me here.'

Adrian seemed reluctant to stay so Madeline decided to leave as well.

Briar was likely waiting for her back at her quarters.

And she was certain she could resume things tomorrow. She wouldn't want to keep Briar waiting, as she did yesterday when she'd left her to spend time with Xavier.

"I should probably get going too," Madeline began.

"Briar's probably waiting for me at my room and I don't want to keep her waiting," she said, heading for the door.

Once she bid Adrian goodbye, she left.

Adrian took one look at the door before he looked back at what he was holding.

'That girl is anything but ordinary.'

'Peculiar, I've never seen a case like her ever in my life.'

He stared at the door, wanting to investigate further.

He wouldn't be surprised if it turned out she wasn't human.

After writing something down on his clipboard, Adrian headed for Xavier's office, where he was waiting for him.