Ch.24: Departure.

"Man, we haven't even spent any time together now that I think about it.."

"That's your fault tho. I made plans. You just decided that spending time with your girlfriend was more important than spending quality time with me."

"True."

Ryan sighed, taking the extended book out from Clay's hand. "Moving to japan... I honestly don't know what to think of it. Atleast you'll be surrounded by cute girls.." Ryan scanned the book and listed it as [Available].

"I guess so. Anyways, you aren't gonna be heartbroken from this, right?"

Ryan paused for a second then continued doing what he was doing. "Uhm, to be honest, yeah. I mean, I obviously have Kyra and she makes me happy, but seeing my best friend move away...

Anyone would be sad, wouldn't they? You're sad that you're not gonna see me again for a while, aren't you?"

"Yeah.."

Clay meant it, he really did, but his blank face and monotone answer said otherwise. Seeing this, Ryan couldn't help but sigh and say, "Oh, well.

We can still talk over the phone and stuff. Even when we're here at the library, we don't always speak face to face, so it shouldn't really be any different from before, right?"

"Yeah, you're right. That's perfect.."

Just then, the sound of honking could be heard from outside the store. Looking back, you could see Clay's family in the car, waving for him to hurry and wrap things up.

They were rushing him becuase well, he's been talking to Ryan for the past hour and they just had to sit there and wait.

They were on their way to the airport and Ryan's book store happened to be on the way, and knowing this, Clay thought that this would be the perfect time to say his goodbyes.

"I guess it's about time we say our goodbyes then.." Ryan came around the counter and looked down at Clay. A younger version of Clay overlapped with the current, bringing a smile to Ryan's face.

"You were such a nerd, Clay. Spending all those afternoons just hanging around here and reading. Should've been out with your friends, partying and whatnot.."

Clay laughed as he shook his head. "But you know what, I'm sorta glad that you spent your time here..." Ryan placed his right hand on Clay's left shoulder.

"Seeing you so immersed in books brought a smile to my face. You were so focused and captivated by the world of history which really intrigued me since you were so young at the time.

I thought that if you could do it, learning despite your age I mean, then I could do it too. I'm not gonna lie to you or anyone else when I say that I only started working here for the pay.

But after meeting you, I couldn't stay away from this place. Always wanting to learn, always wanting to know more.

For that, I really do thank you Clay. I could go as far as saying that your my motivation for being an author. Because if you didn't spend those days in here reading constantly on end, I would have never became the person that I am.

Thank You."

Ryan really appreciated him, even if the reason for appreciation is something as little as just being there. Just being in the library and reading truly sparked Ryan's interest in books.

"I...didn't know that.."

He wasn't good with expressing his emotions outwardly, but on the inside, he was happy. Happy to know he made an impact on someones life, even before had these powers.

It goes to show Clay that he been could have inspired people, even if he didn't have powers before.

'Before I gained powers, before the coma, I didn't think much of my life. I was quite literally a nobody. I was considered smart, but was too lazy to do anything with those smarts.

Instead I decided to indulge on something that was seemingly impossible instead of using what I had to help others.

But I guess...I was able to help someone. Even while being totally helpless, I..was able to help someone..'

"Yeah, man. Heha, now you'll be thinking about me for the whole ride.."

"You made it weird man.."

Ryan laughed and said, "Have fun dude. You can read all you want to over there, but please, try to enjoy yourself. Cute girls, video games, cute girls..."

"Okay, okay, I get it. You want me to meet someone and I will, jeez.."

"Glad you caught my drift. Well, then Clay, I'll talk to you later, alright? Goodbyes are hard and I don't wanna drag this out any longer than it should, so.."

"Yeah.."

Before walking off, Clay reached into his coat's pocket and pulled something out. "Here." Clay said and Ryan stared at his palm. On it, a black and yellow toy car.

"Isn't this one of your collectables?"

"Yep."

"And...you're giving it to me?"

"Mh-hm."

"Wow. That's big of you. Thanks.."

It was a small parting gift, but Ryan knew how much Clay valued these toys which in turn made Ryan see how valuable they were.

"Now see ya later kid. You're parents are giving me the stink eye.." Clay slowly nodded, having nothing else to do or say that could get him to stay longer, even if it is for a couple more seconds.

Not wanting to make things harder to accept on his end however, he decided to part. 'Theres these feelings in my head that urge me to stay here. My feelings of this place are just too strong, I guess..'

He really did spend most of his time here. School would get out at 3:35pm, get to the library by 4 and stay there until 8. Of course he'd sometimes hang out with friends, only to fit in though and not be called a loner.

'It's not like I won't be back. I know he'll keep it open for me, so there isn't anything I should worry about..'

He looked back at Ryan then at all the bookshelves. He knew the location of every single book since he's not only helped Ryan organize then by genre, but also read every single book atleast once.

Taking a deep breath then exhaling, he continued walking, going out the front door then to the passenger side of the car. He got in and before getting his ears raped by his mom, he spoke.

"Sorry for taking so long. Ryan just couldn't bare seeing me go.."

His dad put the car into drive and started driving off. "RYAN couldn't bare it? Hmm, okay.." His mothers suspicions were right in that Clay was the one who couldn't bare leaving.

"Well, we're glad you took your time in saying goodbye, right, honey?" Heather nodded with a slight smile. She knew how tough it was to leave something like a friend behind. She had to with her best friend, Milk, who happened to be a cow.

"Just look on the bright side. You'll make tons of new friends! You'll meet new people, go to places you've never been before, see the wonderful culture that you come from, etcetera etcetera.."

There was so much to do, so much to learn and countless things to explore. Heather wanted him to experience all of that since not everyone had the opportunity to travel and learn like he's doing.

"All of that does sound like something I'd look forward to. Amongst other things.."

He looked over towards Eve who had been starring at him the whole time. She had on a pink bonnet and blue dress that went well with her hair and eyes.

She was cute, her mother's genes being ever so clear. "You guys think it's a good idea for her to move around like this when she's so young? I mean, I heard that moving around can cause a sort of decline in social skills and whatnot.."

"Huh...? Clay, you're speaking as if she'll remember this."

His father was right to think and say that. She was only 3. No mere 3 year old could remember something like moving.

"Yeah, but Eve is special, dad. Didn't you say she had her first words like at 7 months or something?"

"That's...true. You did have yours at 5 months, and turned out to be a prodigy, so why we're saying she can't be just as special as you are is kinda weird of us.."

Though he didn't show it on tests or through day-to-day life, Clay was actually pretty knowledgeable.

He did an IQ test on himself and well, let's just say it's basically double that of an average person.

"But still, can you remember something from when you were 3?"

Clay looked away from her and out of the window. They passed through busy streets, filled with people and cars, passed by an amusement park that he went to when he was younger, and then finally said,..

"No."

"Well, there you go. You both are very, very special, but even so, your brains weren't developed enough back then to remember things.

We've all been there, waking up randomly at like six or seven and going on with our lives. That's just how the human brain and mind works.."

Heather nodded, slowly actually realizing that yeah, she just randomly woke up one day and was 6.

Anything before that was a blur. "Well, even if she can't remember anything at this point, imma still make sure that she has fun. Trust me Eve.."

He looked back at her. Her cutesy face attracted his hand to her head and formed a big smile on both of their faces.

"I'll make living in Japan a heaven for you. I'll try to make it so every day is filled with nothing but laughter.."

Still hearing him speak to their daughter like she was old enough to process it was enough to make Kazemi and Heather chuckle. It was also enough to make Eve giggle and clap her hands repeatedly.

After that, they all carried on, talking all the way to the airport about random things that just made time fly by in an instant.

When they reached the airport, they got their luggage, and was approached by someone who would escort them to a private plane.

'Being the Mayor's best friend has its advantages, I guess. We got a whole private jet to ourselves!'

A jet that would take off in secrecy and land in such as well. Their departure from the Silver City would be as discrete as possible and their arrival in Japan would be too.

They boarded the plane, a flight attendant bowing and saying they could sit anywhere. She was nice looking, enough for his father to stare a second too long and get a chilling gaze from his wife.

"I wanna sit with Kway!"

Eve said, crawling into his lap. Clay was sitting down already, starring out the window when he heard her and looked at her.

"I'm sorry, but you can't, Eve. It isn't safe.." He picked her up and sat her down in the seat to his left, ignoring her rising pout as he put her seatbelt on.

"Okway~.."

Though she was sad about the matter, she was quick to learn that it must've been dangerous to do if her brother was telling her that it was. She only ever heard the truth from him which made his words like that of the law.

'Realized that this is our first plane ride, Eve and I. Also, she's not as excited nor curious as I thought she'd be..'

As he was thinking this, he caught her looking all over like she was finally realizing that she was in an unfamiliar vehicle for the first time.

"You guys doin' alright?"

Kazemi came up and asked, leaning in on the seat and checking Eve's seatbelt.

"Yea!"

"Yeah, we're good dad."

Kazemi smiled and nodded. He kissed Eve on the forehead, and placed his hand on Clay's head before walking off to sit next to Heather.

If Clay and Eve sat in the back right corner of the plane, Heather and Kazemi would be sitting in the top left.

"We'll be taking off shortly. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments."

The flight attendant said as she walked down the spacious aisle, glancing over to see if everyone was wearing their seatbelts. Once confirming that everyone was indeed wearing theirs, she walked over and into the cockpit.

It wasn't long until they heard the voice of the pilot over the intercom, saying his usual speech that's mandatory before taking. Please remain seated, stay out the aisle, etc.

Clay reached into his pocket, taking out his phone and earphones. He plugged his earphone into the phone and played a documentary.

Just before he was about to put his left earphone in, Eve grabbed it out of his hand and said, "I wanna listen!"

Again, her actions surprised him, but not enough to completely shake him. "You sure? I can always get your dolls.." There was a slight shake in plane which Clay and his parents figured meant the plane was starting up.

"No! I.. wanna listen to what Kway is listening to!"

He was listening to a 10 hour documentary that went over one topic.

Biology.

The Study Of Life.

While History had been his favorite thing to dwell into, Biology had been a close second. He felt he needed to learn everything about Biology to understand Immortality and so that's why he chose to study it now and back then as well.

"Well,... okay then.." He simply shrugged it off and helped her place the earbud into her right ear. He put in the other earbud, played the documentary and started looking out the window. The plane was slowly turning and soon, it was going down the takeoff strip.

'16 years. I've been here for 16 years. 17 in a couple of weeks. 20 if you include my coma and my upcoming birthday. Hard to see it all just go away..' He sighed as he closed his eyes.

'Honestly, if it wasn't for these powers or Jasmime, moving would have been a no-go for me. That's obvious though. I'm not good at letting go of things, so when I leave them behind, it hurts, y'know? Can't explain, but it's like a part of me just breaks off and drifts away..'

A small yawn came out from him. He would rub his wet eyes, then stop thinking all together.

With the shaking of the plane and 'exhaustion' built up from testing his self sufficiency, he slowly fell asleep, Eve already following soon after.

They both slept soundly for the next few hours, unbothered by the constant rattling that the plane produced.

When they looked back and saw their kids sleeping peacefully, they felt at ease. They knew they weren't exactly the perfect parents. They knew that. But when they saw Clay and Eve like this, they felt as though they were doing some things right as parents.

"I think we're getting there.."

Kazemi said. Heather was leaning on his shoulders with her eyes closed.

"I think so too. I... think so.. too.."

....