Gwen and Chad were walking back home when they saw Phoebe and two other guys coming down from Claudia’s. “Is that who I think it is?” Chad asked.
“What is she doing in mom’s car and who are those people?” Gwen asked. The two of them went to approach Claudia. They greeted her and they could see the anger in her eyes.
“Who allowed Phoebe to go out all alone?”
“She… we… i…” Chad was speechless. He didn’t understand how she left the house. It was then he remembered that this was their plan.
“I have told you two to watch over her. Do you know how dangerous the world is? What if something had happened to her or she got eaten up by a wild beast, uh?”
“We are sorry.” They apologized.
“We will be more careful,” Chad said giving Phoebe a stern look. Phoebe couldn’t even raise her head to look at them because she knew they would be furious, especially Chad who she could feel his eyes sending daggers at her.
“Um, mom…” Gwen looked at the two guys. “… who are they?”
“They are Phoebe’s friends.”
Chad and Gwen looked at each other then at Phoebe. “They are your friends?” Chad asked. “Since when?”
“That is exactly what we will find out when we get inside.”
They were about to go in when Phoebe pulled the two guys back. “Um, you guys should go in, we will be in soon.”
Gwen and Chad knew there was something up but they didn’t say anything.
Phoebe breathe out a sigh of relief as she turned the two guys to face her. “I am going to ask you both to do me a huge favor.” Lucas and the Prince stared at her but didn’t say anything and that made her continue talking, “Your name is Erik…” she pointed at Prince Edward. “… and your name is Damian.” she pointed at Lucas. “We met each other six months ago but you guys traveled and now you are back to stay for good.”
“Phoebe, mom wants you and the guys inside,” shouted Gwen from the top of the house.
“We will be in soon,” Phoebe yelled back. She turned and pleaded with the guys to play along. “Please, do this for me. I will do anything you wish… Just help me out on this, please?”
“Are you out of your mind? You should have thought about all these before saying we are friends. This is your problem, face it.” The Prince was about to leave but Lucas stopped him.
“It’s just a one-time favor. I believe she can be of help.” Lucas whispered into his ears.
“I am not sure about that, I mean look at her. What can she possibly help us with?” The Prince asked staring at Phoebe from head to toes.
“I don’t know what you both are glamouring about but if it is about me, I can say, I am very helpful.”
Lucas stared at the Prince hoping he would just play along. It was getting late and they needed a place to spend the night.
“Fine but just this once.”
Phoebe was so happy that she hugged them. “I will never forget this. Let’s go in, shall we?”
They entered the house. It was a surprise to them when they saw that food was ready. “Why don’t we have this that over lunch?” She gestured for them to sit in front of her. Chad and Gwen were beside Claudia while Phoebe sat down beside the two guys. Gwen dished out the macaroni to everyone and added sauce on top. “What did you guys say your names are again?” Claudia asked.
“I am Damian,” Lucas answered. Everyone turned to look at Prince Edward. Phoebe couldn’t tell how many times she prayed that he would play along.
“My name is Erik.” He answered.
“Well, Erik and Damian… How long do you know my daughter?”
“say six months,” Lucas answered.
“And who is she to you?”
“She’s a good friend,” Lucas answered.
Claudia directed her eyes to the prince since he hasn’t said a word. “What about you, Erik?”
Prince Edward looked at her. “She’s um…” A crazy youngster I just met. If he said this, Lucas would be unhappy with him so he said, “… Like L… Damian said, she’s a good friend.”
Chad’s eyes were fixed on Phoebe and Phoebe made sure not to make eye contact with him because he could tell she was lying.
“So what are you guys doing here?” Chad asked folding his arms to hear their story.
“We are looking for an apartment since we just recently relocated down here.”
“There’s a vacant house just beside us… You guys can check it out tomorrow.” Gwen answered.
“Seriously?” Chad said while looking at her.
“What?”
It was this time Phoebe wished the ground would open and swallow her. Just when she thought she was finally getting rid of them, Gwen had to say this.
“I can help you guys with the house tomorrow if you want.”
Chad didn’t even know whether to be angry at her or just leave the table but he needed to find out if they were telling the truth.
“Well, thanks for offering. If that’s okay with you Mrs…”
“Claudia.”
“… Mrs. Claudia, I would ask that you permit them to help us with the house tomorrow.”
“Sure,” she answered them with a smile. “Since that’s settled, let’s eat.” Everyone took their cutleries and started eating.
A few hours after they were done, it was time for them to say their goodbyes. “Thank you so much,” Phoebe whispered to them.
“Wait!”Gwen said. “You guys said you needed an apartment to stay in… Do you have a place to spend the night?”
Phoebe had to clench her hand into a fist. What the hell is she doing for heaven’s sake? Does she know I am trying to get rid of them?
Claudia came to meet them. “That’s true. Do you guys have where to spend the night?”
Good going, Gwen! Phoebe’s mind screamed.
“Um, we were looking for a house when you met us but because of the whole thing, we couldn’t,” Lucas explained.
“We do have a room that hasn’t been used in a while.”
“We don’t want to be much of a burden to you. You’ve given us food and now a roof over our head, that’s a whole lot.”
“A friend of my children is part of the family, besides, it’s just for the night.” Without waiting for them to respond she told Chad to get the room cleaned up for them.
“Follow me.” Chad gestured to them and they followed him into the room. When they entered inside, he locked the door and took the key. “Now tell me, who the hell are you guys? And don’t tell me you are Phoebe’s friends ‘cos I know you guys aren’t.”
“So who do you think we are?”
“I don’t know. That is for you to tell me and me to find out.” He answered. “Are your names Erik and Damian?”
“Listen, Chad… I am exhausted as it is so if you don’t mind, we can do this later?”
“Just know this, I am watching you and until I find out who you guys are, I won’t rest.” He unlocked the door. “I am sure you guys can arrange the room yourselves,” he said before leaving.
Lucas quickly locked the door. “Geez, that guy just scared the shit out of me.”
“You wanted this, right?” Prince Edward told him.
“Come on, if we hadn’t agreed to do it, we won’t have a roof over our head right now.”
“We could have rented an apartment for the night?”
“Yes we could but this is free. We didn’t get to pay for the food or anything. Let’s be thankful to the guardians that we found favor in the sight of these people.”
“Whatever. This is the last time I am doing such a thing.”
They arranged the room and were ready to sleep. The Prince was about to take off his clothes when he noticed something was missing. He searched his pockets, his bag but he couldn’t find it.
Lucas see him searching through the bags and asked him what was wrong and the prince answered, “The amulet is gone.”
Lucas froze.