"This isn't the way to Ophelia.''

I gazed around at the tall buildings around us. Dozens upon dozens of multiplexes seem to have sprung up all along the street. Realizing that Aahan was right, I asked. ''Are we still in Fuegos?''

Aris sighed. ''Yes. I'm not allowing any of my friends to g to the royal palace looking like-'' his eyes Aahan and Nia via the mirror as he completed, ''-this.''

Aahan rolled his eyes.

True to his words, however, a while later, we pulled up in fort of a huge building that looked like it consist entirely of clothing apparel. On the signboard, it read, 'Madam Flamboyant's' in a cursive font.

''Why are we here?'' Nia asked as we stepped out, and I gazed at the many plastic mannequins with several truly flamboyant clothes on them set up in the store display.

One of the mannequins had blue skin, pointed ears, and long hair, and I wondered if it was supposed to represent an elf. Others had everything from relatively simpler clothes to really obnoxious ones. I saw a mannequin wearing what looked like an umbrella for a skirt. Another had wrapped a furry bedsheet all around him.

Aris led us into the store, and all at once, it was clear that he had been there multiple times before. 

One of the store staff in multicoloured, bright short hair and red-rimmed spectacles walked over to us, wearing a golden jumpsuit that seemed to be screaming at me. ''Master Greenwood!'' He smiled. ''What a surprise!''

Aris grinned at him. ''Heya Rob. These are my friends and-'' he gestured at me. ''We have quite an important event today, so it's up to you to dress everyone up for the occasion.''

''Do we get a say in this?'' Aahan whispered to me.

Before I could answer, however, the man called Rob clapped his hand gleefully. "Certainly kind sirs and ma'am! Come along! We have the very best!''

Aris started following the man as he led us through the sleek store and up a flight of staircase. I exchanged glances with Nia and Aahan, both of whom shrugged.

We followed Aris and Rob through the store, and my eyes wandered all around it. Even though it was still morning, there were many customers in the store. Long, white counters stood on either side of the stores, the walls behind them stacked with rows and rows of every imaginable colour.

As we stepped onto the first landing, I noticed that it was almost the same as the one below. The only difference being that this floor was virtually empty except a few store officials. ''If you wait here-'' Rob said. ''I shall bring you all something that will change your entire-'' he snapped his fingers, startling me, ''-look.''

He smiled and sauntered away as Aris turned to us, beaming.

''I think what I'm wearing is perfectly fine, Aureus.'' Aahan said. ''I do not remember agreeing to this.''

Before Aris could argue, however, Rob returned with a pile of clothes. ''Here's something all of you can try-''

Aris picked up the first outfit and stared at it. An animal printed jumpsuit. ''You'll look suave in this Hunt.''

''Er...it's nice,'' I replied, unsure whether it was a joke or not.

Aris grinned. ''What about you, Aahan? How about this sweet powder blue suit? It'll look great on you.''

Aahan seemed to be on the verge of rolling his eyes, but instead tilted his head to a side, a small smile on his lips. ''You know what, you might be right.''

After about half an hour of going through hundreds of clothes in the store, two things happened. I became sure that Aureus Greenwood had infinite energy, and that the options at that store would never end.

It was a strange feeling for me. The last time I had been to a store as big as this one was about seven years ago when I had recently stepped into Ophelia. Clothes had always been low on my list of needs. At the end of half an hour, I chose an outfit that looked quite decent on me. It made me feel really strange in the best way.

I stood in front of the changing room mirror, gazing at my reflection. The stranger I had seen this morning staring back at me. 
Aris whistled as he walked behind me, the door of my cubicle was partly open. I looked at him. ''You know what, this wasn't a half-bad idea.''

Aris walked over and stood beside me, his eyes soft. He wore a dark maroon tux and a monochrome shirt under it. ''That looks really great. Brings out the colour of your eyes.''

I had chosen a simple black tux, over a dark purple shirt. Aris was right; it did bring out the colour of my eyes.

You have beautiful eyes.

I blushed slightly as I remembered Crystal's words, and for once, I could see it. Even more than that, however, I could see the striking resemblance to my father. ''It's so weird...'' I mused out loud. ''I look so much like my dad,'' I gazed at the sharp nose, the lips, the bottom slightly larger than the top. I could see my jaw, defined like my father's, something I hadn't noticed before this. My hair was dark, another similarity that I shared with him. And I could swear that I seemed taller than my five-eight, or maybe it was just the pants.

''You do look like him. A lot.'' Aris said, his green eyes sparkling. ''Remember when you told me, I look like my mom?''

I nodded at him, remembering the last time I had been to his home and the disastrous events. ''I thought sons were supposed to look like their fathers,'' I said.

Aris shrugged, his eyes twinkling, "I don't want to be mean or anything, but if I looked like Victor Greenwood, I would never get laid," I laughed as he continued. "Also," he winked, "you can thank me later Sunshine."

''When are you going to stop calling me that, by the way?'' I asked, fixing my collar as I looked at him from the corner of my eyes.

His eyes widened as he shook his head, ''Why would I stop calling you that?''

''Because it's not my name."

 He rolled his eyes, ''As if I'm going to call you Ezekiel Joziah Hunt all the time,'' he looked at me questioningly. ''Unless you hate it. I can call you, Zeke.''

I didn't say anything, a small smile at the corner of my mouth. I didn't hate it when he called me by the ridiculous nickname. In all honestly, it made me feel like I belonged more to his world, more to this world. I didn't answer, but his smirk told me that he understood.

We walked out of the store and were at the billing counter. I went up to the counter first. The store guy took my card, his eyes widening as he inserted it into the machine, which was surprisingly similar to the ones on the mortal world. I felt weirdly comforted as I glanced at my name again. Ezekiel J.H Ellerman.

Nia stood a little further from the rest of us, watching. I walked over to her, ''Hey. You're not taking anything?''

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head, ''No way, this place? It's like half my store turnover."

I looked at her as an awkward silence fell. She smiled softly, ''It's okay, Zeke. Go ahead.''
Her smile seemed genuine, but her eyes seemed to hold a secret sadness.

She glanced at where Aris was talking excitedly to the store manager. I felt a heaviness in my stomach and spoke the next words without thinking. ''I'll get it for you.''

She smiled sadly at me, and my heart plummeted into my stomach. I could feel my ears getting warmer. ''I don't mean-'' I gulped. ''I was just-''

She laughed. ''It's okay, Zeke. I know you weren't trying to be condescending.''

''Nia- I'm really-" My throat felt dry. I felt absolutely horrible and didn't think there was anything I could do to make her feel better. How was it possible for one person to be so tactless?

''Alright, my children-'' Aris said as he walked over to us, a huge paper bag in his hand as Aahan trailed after him, wearing their new looks.

''I took an S because I think you look thinner, Nia,'' He said as he crossed his arms and studied her.

 ''What...do you mean?''

He fished into the bag and took out a parcel form it, and he grinned at her. '' You can forget your Solstice gift by the way.''

She took the parcel from him in wonderment and gazed at the package before looking back at Aris. Before he could say anything, she flung her arms around him and hugged him as she whispered breathlessly. ''Thank you, Aris.''

I felt a strange ringing in my ears and walked out of the store without another word.

I couldn't believe how stupid I was. I kept doing things that made me want to run away. Maybe it was better when I talked less; I didn't seem to have a way with words anyway. And somehow, all the time. I was reminded of this shared history that they had. That I wasn't a part of.

I silently took my seat in the shotgun of the car as the rest of them entered it a while later. Nia had changed into a flowy red dress, and I started. She looked really different, in the best way. The thought of our awkward conversation inside made me shut up.

''Where'd you go off to sunshine?'' Aris asked, shaking his head as he took the driver's seat. The chauffeur was still sitting behind and had dozed off carelessly.

''It was just scorching in there,'' I lied smoothly. Aris raised his eyebrows as he revved the engine but thankfully didn't say anything.

I gazed out of the widow, tuning out their conversation. I was bewildered by the strange feeling in my chest. I was ashamed that I felt envious. Jealous of the way Aahan's mother had hugged him. Jealous of the way Aris had embraced Nia's nan. Jealous of the way he had put everything at ease with Nia. Jealous of the way they had a world I couldn't be a part of. That perhaps I was trying too hard.

I jolted out of my reverie when Aris touched my arm gently, ''Zeke?''

''Yeah,'' I said, slowly inching my arm away, so he was no longer touching it. He seemed to understand the gesture and leaned backward. ''I asked you the way.''

It took a while for me to realize what he meant, and I gave him direction. We had reached near the stadium, and the path up to the palace was quite straightforward.
I tuned their conversation out again as we pulled into the palace gardens. With a shock, I realized that it was already six. I could hear them talking excitedly as we entered into the driveway, and finally, Aris stopped the car in front of the entrance staircase. Aahan and Nia stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind them. I started opening the door when Aris grabbed my arm. ''What's wrong?''

I flinched away from him again, withdrawing my hand as I forced myself to look at him impassively. ''What?''

He seemed to be clicking his teeth together, impatiently. ''You're acting all weird."

''I'm not. This is how I usually act,'' I said firmly and started opening the door again.

He gripped my arm again, harder, and this time, I wrenched it away from him, my heart racing. ''Don't touch me.''

He stared at me. I felt embarrassed about the way I felt. The jealousy was burning a hole in my chest. I felt pathetic.

''It's okay to feel that way.''

I stared at Aris, wondering what he meant as he continued further. ''I saw the way you looked when Aahan's mom hugged him. It's okay to be jealous, Sunshine.''

I gaped at him. ''What the fuck are you talking about?''

He rolled his eyes. ''You need to drop the act. You feel like you're so poker face and shit, but your eyes give everything away. I saw it, okay? I saw the clouding. I can understand. I feel jealous, sometimes too.''

I bit my lip, trying to look anywhere but him. ''I don't want to feel this way.''

I finally admitted a crushing feeling in my chest that I was ashamed of. I felt naked. Vulnerable.

''You'll learn not to.'' He said gently, his eyes trained on me.

I sighed. ''I want to be happy for him.''

Aris smiled humourlessly. Somehow, his understanding smile made me feel even worse. ''You don't want to be happy for him, Zeke. Just be happy because he is. There's a huge difference.''

I glanced away from him, trying to keep my face impassive as he continued. ''Don't fight so hard against what you're feeling," he said softly, placing his hand on my arm again and squeezing it gently. This time, it took all my strength, not to wrench it away. ''Those feelings are what make you human Sunshine. Feel it. Denial never helps anyone.''

He took a deep breath and leaned back, opening the door as he stepped out of the car. He bent lower, so his face was near the window as he spoke. ''You coming or what? We have got a party to be at.''

I nodded, still not looking at him. I couldn't believe he had noticed my vile emotions. How could he still want to be around me?

I didn't know if he was right. But I was terrified of feeling. I gazed at him as he stood patiently outside the car, his eyes on the looming palace in front of him. I was unused to the feeling of someone noticing so much about me, and a part of me, was scared of how good it made it feel.