Aaron Cyrus March 10th, 20XX

Joyce did a headcount while Destia helped me unload the luggage from the trunk of the car. We hadn't brought a lot since we were only staying for the weekend, but luggage for seven people was enough to accept Destia's offer to help.

We made it into the hotel lobby and split into two groups—Joyce with Archer, Tillo and Kaja and Eva and Destia with me.

I'd stayed up pretty late the night before, and unlike Joyce, I wasn't a monster that could operate like usual on less-than-optimal hours of sleep. Well, she had slept a bit in the four-hour drive over, so she had even more of an advantage. Eva looked tired as well, so she had asked to come up with me. Destia, though, was just being a good kid and helping with the luggage.

"Thanks, Destia. Eva and I will just crash once we get to the room so you can leave the stuff and go catch up with the others."

She looked ahead at the kids who crowded around Joyce and chattered among themselves, and gently shook her head.

"No, I'm fine."

The bedazzled phone case glimmered in the artificial lights as she shook it in the air.

"Kaja said she'd text me the location when she got there, so I'll be able to get to them quickly enough."

The elevator dinged open, and we fought to load the five bags and three suitcases onto it.

I saw a few nasty looks come my way as they watched Eva struggle with the suitcase, but I ignored them as best I could. Even though she looked much younger, she was already eight, and even if I wanted to help, she would refuse to let me.

Eva refused my offer to trade her for a smaller bag and tried her best to maneuver the wheels around the entrance bump of the elevator. I'd already been using my powers to make it light enough for her to move around, but I made it even lighter so she could get it over the bump.

The kidnapping incident with my old schoolmates still ranked among the top ten of the worst things to happen to me, but somehow the trauma of the incident had stimulated a new sensation of control over my powers that I hadn't before. It wasn't anything as qualitative that I could report to the scientists, but I felt a new sense of confidence in my powers and myself.

Maybe it was because they had gotten me out of such a difficult situation? Or maybe it was because I'd managed to beat back my blinding rage and not kill those two idiots?

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Either way, it was something to be glad about—a small silver lining in a mass of terrible dark grey clouds.

Destia's phone suddenly went off, and Cherry's song suddenly filtered through the speakers. It quickly overpowered the pleasant music in the elevator. She scrambled to turn it off and fought an embarrassed expression off her face.

It was a well-written song, so it wasn't like I was shocked she was listening to it, but she hadn't seemed to enjoy it much when we'd first heard it in the car.

"Are you a Nightmare fan? Cherry would be excited to hear that."

Destia and I weren't that close since she was the most withdrawn of all the kids. Despite my attempts, we'd yet to hold any sort of meaningful conversation with each other.

I kept my tone light and teasing, but I didn't fully commit and just hoped she wouldn't take it seriously. She was only a few years younger than I was, so I couldn't exactly treat her like I did Eva or Kaja, but at the same time, I could feel that she looked up to me as an adult so I couldn't treat her like a friend either.

It was at times like this that I wished I had a younger sibling, so I knew what to do with such an uncomfortable age difference.

Her face slightly crumpled, but she held herself together.

"I couldn't call myself a fan but their choreography is interesting. Its amazing how quickly they can move and sing at the same time."

I nodded in agreement.

Joyce had once asked me to drive Cherry home after one of her many threats to quit. Cherry had still disliked me for 'stealing her older sister' from her, so I'd been reluctant, but it had gone much better than I'd predicted. Cherry must have been lonely because she had bawled her eyes out to me and had complained about how difficult all the training was and how nervous she was about not being chosen for the upcoming group.

I hadn't taken her home as she'd asked, but I had treated her to a meal and had promised to check up on her every two months. Unfortunately, the every two months thing had fallen through, but I'd send her enough money to treat herself and her friends to a meal when I couldn't make it.

I didn't know if Joyce knew about all this, but if she did, she hadn't ever brought it up. While I couldn't say we were now close, I could at least confidently say she didn't hate me anymore.

Come to think of it, Cherry and Destia were the same age, weren't they?

I debated giving her a bit of pocket money like I had with Cherry, but I immediately dismissed the idea. Joyce already gave her more than enough in terms of an allowance, but it looked like Destia was uncomfortable living on someone else's dime. She rarely used the allowances and would usually try to find the cheapest alternatives to anything she needed.

"Yeah, they worked hard so I hope it all turns out for them."

Today was their first live performance, so a lot was riding on everything going perfectly. Even Joyce, who had sworn to never get involved with Cherry's idol activities, had secretly invested in the festival as a mystery investor to ensure all the equipment and stages were as sturdy as possible.

The elevator reached our floor, and we prepared to get off.

"Here we go. Eva, give me the suitcase and go pick a room for you and Archer. Destia you can do the same."

Each room had two queen beds, so Eva and I would take a room for our naps, but I was sure she would prefer to stay with her younger brother when the actual night came. I hadn't planned on napping in the same room, but she had suddenly asked earlier, and from how tightly she held on to the stuffed whale, I could assume she was the type that hated sleeping alone.

Destia nodded and went off with Eva while I kicked my shoes off and flopped onto the bed.

Ahh, I was exhausted.