I wake up pretty early. The sun stroking my face in a soft touch. When I open my eyes, I think nothing of the other face right up close to me. Ahh, it's just Xavier with bed hair, I think to myself and close my eyes. Hmmm his auburn hair looks good when it's wild.

When the thought settles in, my eyes open faster than it has ever.

"AHHH!" I yell out and jump away.

"Huh, what now?" Xavier asks groggy and tries to continue sleeping.

"Where is the wall? The Game of Thrones styled wall?" I demand. Last night I slept next to a wall. Sure, I didn't get much sleep, but at no point did the wall disappear until now.

Xavier grabs one of the pillows from the floor and puts it over his head in an attempt to shut me out. I look over his shoulder and of course the rest of the pillows are in a heap on his side of the bed.

"'aven't you 'een the end of 'eason seven?" Xavier asks through the pillow.

"You broke the wall. You broke the trust," I say and grab Xavier's pillow before chucking it at him again. Perv.

The rest of the morning goes by with numerous glares from my part and an infinite amount of innocent looks from Xavier. I should've known he'd break the damn wall. But we'll see who's laughing at the end... I'll get that bastard...

When the room is as we got it and I've showered and jumped into a fresh set of clothes - vintage pants and band t-shirt, I stand waiting at the door for Xavier. "You sure you got everything?" I ask him when everything seems packed and we're ready to head back to Tygerwell. 

I take it as a good sign when the only text Xavier got was from Nessa reminding him to use protection.

No news from Jane is good news.

I barely got an hour's worth of sleep last night, but still I insisted Xavier explain me everything in the car. That bomb Xavier dropped on me... I'm not sure what to feel.

"Yeah, I got everything," Xavier answers, "Not that there's much to remember. It's just the backpacks."

"Well, then let's go check out," I suggest.

We leave the room and walk through the hallway in silence. I feel a lot better after getting away for a day. Safer since I'm away from Jane, at ease because I kind of honored Lynch and of course, my hair feels amazing with all the treatment its had. 

"Did you have a lovely stay?" the old Indian lady asks at the reception.

"Yes, very," I answer with a polite smile.

"That's good," the lady says.

While we're signing out, another couple comes strolling in. The lady at the desk patiently finishes with us before helping the other couple.

"You sure you have everything?" I ask Xavier.

"Yes, Marigold," Xavier sighs.

"Did you just sass me?"

"No."

"Good."

Xavier takes our backpacks and we walk towards the exit. "Bye Prisha. Bye Krisha," I great the Indian ladies waiting at the door. They only smile.

"It's two-hundred for the night," I hear the old lady say to the other couple. And if I can hear her, Xavier can hear her as well.

I feel Xavier tense up and make ready to walk back, but I'm quick to grab his arm and drag him with me. "You can afford the loss," I scold.

Still leading Xavier by the arm, we get to the Porsche, strap in and head out for the open road again. Xavier is quick to turn up the radio for some more eighties tunes and I'm honestly not complaining. 

I wait for a farm or two to pass before I announce: "I'm ready for an explanation."

"Right," Xavier says. "When I was younger, I sent the North's merging proposal to Sterling. In other words one of the previous Northern leaders were an option for the marriage. Now remember that I only found out half of this a few days ago. So, what I figured out was that Jane was going to marry the South to get them to stop complaining about not being treated equally. At that point there was apparently only one Southern leader. I'm not sure when the second one came into the picture.

"It was agreed that Jane marry the Southern leader and you marry the next Northern leader, because that would expand Sterling to the point where West and East would be forced to join. That was the plan for five years, but in those five years, the original Northern leaders died and I became leader. Somehow, the plan didn't change. In fact, it was speed up. Your parents were ready to get the ball rolling, but... 

"The day we were supposed to meet, the South attacked. I don't think they were happy with just merging. See, they didn't yet know that you weren't Sterling's heir and that the North wouldn't be the main merge, but in fact the South. If they waited, they would've gotten to marry the actual heir instead of attacking and ruining their chance. 

"But I wasn't aware of any of this. I thought like anyone else that you were the actual leader and that's how we all landed in the mess we got in, in the first place. If people weren't so quick to assume, things would've changed quite dramatically," Xavier explains.

"We would've been married..." I say cautiously.

"Yeah, and the South and Jane would've been paired long enough to ruin the world," Xavier points out.

"So... you're glad it didn't happen?" I ask slowly.

Xavier stays quiet for a few seconds. "Yes," he answers truthfully.

"Well... lucky us," I laugh to get rid of the awkward vibes. I look out of the window and try counting the few trees that pass to distract myself. How do you react to something like that? The person you were pretty sure you hated with your entire existence, was supposed to marry you. Was approved by your parents...

I continue counting trees, but after a while, even I'm annoyed at the silence. And when you're at number hundred-and-seventy, you best believe I'm going to let out a few loud sighs.

"Hmm," I sigh.

Nothing happens.

"Hmmmmmmm," I sigh again.

Still nothing happens.

"HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM," I try one more time.

"Let's play the question game," Xavier suggests to get a conversation going again. And probably to get me to stop sighing.

I have the window rolled down and my hand is grooving in the wind with the music. Up and down it goes with the wind. I try leveling it out with the horizon and close my one eye to see if I'm accurate.

"How does the question game work?" I ask while still leveling my hand.

"Well, someone asks a question and both answer, then it's the other person's chance to ask," Xavier explains.

"Okay," I say and bring my hand back in the car. I kick my feet up on the dashboard and pray that Nessa doesn't find out. I don't want to be skinned alive and become one of her coats. "Favorite snack," I ask/say.

Xavier smirks at me. "Does it count if I say, you?" 

"No," I answer in dead pan.

"Damn... Then it'll have to be Nutella," Xavier mumbles. "You covered in Nutella," he rebelliously adds.

I roll my eyes and can't help the smile. "Mine's pancakes."

"Your favorite food is pancakes. It can't be your favorite snack too," Xavier says in confusion.

"Ha. For me, there really isn't a difference between snacks and dinner," I declare.

"So you're saying I can have you any time of the day?" Xavier asks hopeful.

"Shut up."

"Okay."

We drive on. Xavier has the Porsche going at an insane speed, but I'm not really complaining. When I close my eyes I can pretend we're flying somewhere. Opening my eyes isn't the worst option either. Farms stretch out for miles and I can actually picture a life where I live on a farm. I'd catch my own vegetables and grow my own chickens. 

Oof, okay growing chickens? Maybe the farm life isn't for me.

"Favorite day?" Xavier asks.

My eyes light up at the memory. "Okay, so I was seven and in school and had Math of all subjects. All of the sudden my name got called over the intercom to head to the secretary. When I did so, Mom was waiting for me. 'Come, your grandpa died,' she said. I was about to remind my mom that I didn't have any grandpas that were alive recently, but she just gave me this look.

"So, we drove back home. I still remember how sweet the wind smelled. It's absurd to think the wind could smell sweet, but it did. Like flowers early in the morning. We got home and mom took me by my hand to the living room. I gasped when I saw there was this home-made fort made out of blankets and chairs and pillows.

"Excited, I crawled in there and mom followed. The TV was also inside the fort and we had DVD's and snacks and pizza waiting. I remember until this day how it was the best pizza I've ever had. That day we spent the whole time in the fort and watched classic movies. Mom never gave me a reason for doing what she did. She just decided. I aspire to be like that if I were to be a mom," I finish.

"Wow... you were... you should've seen yourself while telling that story. It was like you were reliving it," Xavier smiles - his emerald eyes turning warm.

"I'll never forget that day..." I say. 

That mom? That woman you loved? She was okay with the idea of you and Xavier together, I remind myself. Somehow the air we're driving through also smells sweet. We're driving through corn farms and yet I smell that distinct sweetness. "Hey, what's your favorite day?" I ask Xavier.

Xavier doesn't answer immediately and keeps staring out in front of him with a small smile. "I'll tell you when it happens," he says.

Accepting the answer, I shrug and think of another question. "If you had a child. Ha. Probably with Jane, would you want a boy or a girl?" I ask amused.

I watch Xavier cringe. "I don't think having a child with Jane is something I plan on having. It would be a spawn from hell. No thanks. But... If I were fortunate enough to be a father, I think I'd want a little girl. Something about the idea of threatening boyfriends with my AK47 just seems really fun," Xavier smiles.

"I can totally see that happening for you," I laugh, "I think I'd want two boys. Don't ask me why, but girls are just the worst. Boys are simple minded creatures. Easy to understand. Girls on the other hand will fuck you up mentally."

"Probably not a lie," Xavier chuckles.

We drive on some more and pass two towns while still playing the question game. Some funny truths are revealed through it all and I silently admit to myself that I could live with being Xavier's friend. Hell, I could live with just being a mutual acquaintance if it means watching Xavier admit that his favorite movie is 10 things I Hate About You. 

"Last Question," Xavier says as he drives up to Isabella. I can barely recognize the place with all the cobwebs and skeletons. Nessa must have bought a ton of stuff since Isabella is a pretty big mansion and getting it to look different takes a miracle.

"Shoot," I reply while gawking at the mist appearing from who knows where. The sun is quickly setting and I watch the place get even creepier.

Xavier stops the Porsche at the driveway and turns to me with a serious expression. 

"As who am I going for this Halloween party?" Xavier asks.

"Oh, don't you worry," I smirk. "I already got your outfit sorted thanks to Nessa."

HEY GOLDIES! 

I wanted to get started with the Holloween thing, but decided to just end it here and have a chapter for y'all. Next chapter ought to be nice and long again. Let's get this damn party started! Can I get a wohoo???

Love y'all and please remember to vote! I'm talking to the Xamber shippers that's still waiting for that steamy kiss ;)

~ Holly Shmit