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C H A P T E R  T H R E E

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        THE NEXT morning, I decide I need to go visit Axis since he didn't visit yesterday like he normally does. I'm fearful he might still be upset at me, and I know I need to go make things right. I'm still not going to promise him I'll go with him to ALLICO, though. That's just one thing I won't do.

I slip on some clothes and exit my room, heading right for the kitchen. I quickly grab some dried grapes for breakfast before saying goodbye to my mom and heading for the door.

The walk to Ms. Jenkins apothecary is a lengthy one as it's all the way on the other side of the village, but I make my strides quick and get there in no time. Before I know it, I'm taking a deep breath outside the door of the old stone building and already panicking about what I'm going to say to Axis.

I don't get the chance to even knock when Ms. Jenkins—a rather older woman with white hair—opens the door and smiles widely at me. "I thought that was you I heard. Come join the party, Nyssa."

I'm confused as to how she knew I was outside as I made absolutely no noise, but Ms. Jenkins has always been like that, seemingly hearing things when nobody else could. I guess you could consider it a superpower if you wanted to.

"Wait...party?" I mutter to myself, wondering what she's talking about.

She leads me through her entryway and into the dining room—where Axis and Jax sit talking and laughing away. I narrow my eyes in confusion, shifting my gaze back and forth between the two guys. They eventually notice my presence, and Jax immediately stands up in greeting—which I find quite odd—while Axis sends me a nod. That lets me know he's still a bit upset about what I said.

"Well, don't let me stop your banter," I state, though it comes out a bit snarky. Sometimes I don't even mean things in that way, it just comes out.

"Why don't you join us?" Jax suggests, his eyes twinkling as he stares up at me with a wide smile. He is so kind, but not in a good way like Axis is in my opinion. "I was telling Axis here a bit about ALLICO's new program."

I roll my eyes, yet I sit down in the chair beside Axis anyways. "I have no interest in what ALLICO is doing."

"And why not?" Jax pushes further, tilting his head to the side out of genuine curiosity. It seems as though I'm a puzzle to him, and he just can't figure me out. I don't blame him. The only one that can really figure me out is Axis.

I don't grace him with a response, and instead snack on the dried grapes I took from my kitchen. I have no interest in communicating any further with Jax. He'd never get the reason why I don't worship ALLICO like the masses do.

It's not that I hate ALLICO, don't get me wrong. I suppose they do some good, but I just don't see the big deal about them. Plus, I don't get a good feeling about them in general. All my life I've been trusting my gut, and it's never steered me wrong before. I don't think it's going to start now.

"Let me guess. You think we're just some rich fools who use people to make a profit and don't care what or who we crush who gets in our way?" Jax asks in a sarcastic tone.

I roll my eyes again. This dude will never get it. "I don't hate rich people or organizations if that's what you're implying. I don't think it's bad to want to make a profit. What do you think I'm trying to do right now, huh? Just because I'm poor doesn't mean I envy and despise the more fortunate."

I mean what I say too. In the history books, everything in the old society seemed to be based on money and revolved around money. It was easy for me to compare what we have now to what our ancestors had. Yes, people were more fortunate back then, and I wish we could go back to those days. Yet, at the same time, I feel like this great tragedy brought people together. It made people become a community again and care for each other. I hope that one day in the far future we can somehow have a balance of the two.

Jax nods in response, but I can still tell I've perplexed him beyond comprehension. It's funny to me how some of the smartest people alive can't seem to comprehend the simplest things.

"Axis, can I speak to you...in private?" I ask, gesturing for the door to the opening that leads back to the entryway. Ms. Jenkins still stands in the doorway, watching us interact.

Axis nods, following her out the doorway and into the entryway. "What is it?"

"Look, I'm sorry the way I acted the other day. I know ALLICO and this opportunity is really important to you, which is why you shouldn't pass up this opportunity. If Jax picks you, and you want to go, don't let me stop you, Axis," I persuade.

Axis shakes his head. "I know, Nyssa. I'm not mad at you. I just—I'm upset I guess."

I smile at him and place a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be. You'll do great at ALLICO. It's not like you won't be able to visit."

"I'm still not going without you, Nys," Axis adds all of a sudden, using my nickname from when they were younger. "I can't and won't just leave you here."

I grit my teeth, keeping myself from saying something harsh again. "Axis, please don't."

He shakes his head again, going back into the dining room and leaving her standing in the entryway. I sigh in annoyance, wishing he would just listen to me. In all my days of knowing Axis, he's never been so stubborn. I've always been the stubborn one, not him. He's normally so easy going and relaxed.

I head back into the dining room, sitting beside Axis yet again. The frustration I feel towards him is sky high. He's seriously not going to go with ALLICO if they offer him a spot—which I'm sure they will—unless I go with him.

They continue talking about a bunch of medical things I'm not familiar with at all, mentioning different tonics and medicines. Normally on Thursdays, I would always come over and hangout with Axis between treating patients. I'd go with him on house calls despite the fact I'm not much into socializing. It's just my way of spending time with him on my day off. Tomorrow I'll be scrapping again.

Ms. Jenkins fixes us some lunch, and I make sure to thank her. It's her special mystery soup concoction and some fresh strawberries she must've paid a fortune for at Market Day. Fresh fruit does not come cheap, which is why I mostly trade for dried fruit. I have traded a bundle of scrap for just a couple of fresh apples for special occasions such as Willow's birthday. It always takes over half my load to get some.

Jax is quick to compliment Ms. Jenkins on her wonderful meal, and by the genuine look in his eyes I know he means it. After all, everyone loves Ms. Jenkins's cooking.

"Well, it's been great talking with you, Axis," Jax states before standing from his chair and turning to face me. "Good to see you, Nyssa. Say, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"Scrapping again," I reply simply, hoping that the thought is scrapping again will scare him off.

He nods, a smile forming on his face. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you again. It'd also be an honor if both of you would like to join me at my quarters for a fine dinner."

Axis is quick to kick my leg underneath the table when I open my mouth. "She'd love to. We'd love to," he replies with a smile, standing up and shaking Jax's hand eagerly. I roll my eyes, anger coursing through me at the thought of him joining me tomorrow.

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat some more, but I must move along to the next house. See you bright and early tomorrow morning, Nyssa," Jax comments, sending me a much too kind smile for my liking. He's out the door in an instant, and I'm immediately kicking Axis under the table.

"Ow!" he exclaims, glancing over at me in complete confusion. "What was that for?"

"You know what that was for!" I retort plainly. "I swear I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but I don't like it. You know I don't want that guy tagging along with me."

"And why not?" he counters, throwing his hand up in the air as if to help me understand how ridiculous I'm being.

I grit my teeth in anger. "Because he gets in my way," I reply through my teeth, trying to keep from having an outburst.

"Oh really? Are you sure it's not because of something else?" he asks, a defiant look on his face.

"Like what?"

"It's obvious he likes you, Nyssa. I know you can see it. You're not blind," he mentions, beginning to send her a teasing smirk.

I stand up from my chair, tolling my eyes at his assumption. "That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, Axis. I don't know what you think you're implying, but there is nothing there and nothing ever will be." With that, I'm heading for the door and leaving him sitting in the dining room as he did to me in the entryway before.

Yet, as I'm making the trek back towards my house, I can't help but wonder if my best friend is right.

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