I had to give it to the new place, it was nice to have a kitchen again. Constantly having my meals prepared for me had become a bit dull after a while. The day after the interviews, I was especially happy for it as I diced some bell peppers, practicing the same motions my Grandma Hamda had taught me when I was twelve. After my morning run, I was craving something hearty and pork stir-fry was a great choice.  I diced some onions as well, barely noticing their strong aroma as I turned and opened the little white fridge (did the royal designer know other colors existed?) and grabbed some ground pork. I'd start browning this first, the grease made an excellent non-stick barrier against the pan. I  tossed the meat into the hot skillet and instantly, the small apartment filled with the homey smell and sound of frying meat. It reminded me of home and how much simpler my life had been before I came here. No monsters, no magic, and no Thor.

He might have just been busy, a small, rational voice in my mind chimed as I tossed diced peppers, snap peas, onions and carrots and seasoned with some minced garlic and ginger and cayenne pepper. I mean, a Jotun attack happened four days ago. He's probably still freaking out and he barely spent time with anyone at the party.  I had to admit my rational mind had a good point, but my emotional side, which still felt the sting of pride wasn't as eager to excuse his behavior. Stirring my food around as I glanced at the timer on the rice cooker, I decided to reserve judgement. Thor had never treated me like that before and perhaps my rational side was right. It very well might have been a one-time thing due to the stress of the last three days.

"Suzume?" I jumped at the sound of my name and at Melinda's loud voice but experience had made the recovery time shorter.

"Give me a second," I called, stirring my food again to make sure it wouldn't burn. As I opened the door though, the thought of Thor was thrown out the window as I saw the suitcase Melinda was pulling behind her.

"You're leaving?" I whispered, half unable to believe what I was seeing.

"Mhm," Melinda stepped inside, pulling her luggage behind her and shutting the door. "I wanted to say goodbye in private first." She breathed deeply and then stood on her toes to peer over my shoulder. "Oh, what smells good?"

"I'm making stir fry, it's nearly done if you want to come and grab a bite."

"You read my mind," Melinda beamed as she came inside, pulling her suitcase behind her and parking it at the door. As I made my way back into the little white kitchen, the timer on my rice cooker sounded, signaling that my meal was done. I killed the burner and grabbed some plates out of the cabinet (another shade of off-white) and dished it up.

Melinda attacked hers with a fork instantly and moaned in pleasure. "I didn't know you could cook! This rice is moist, how'd you do it?"

"Anyone who likes to eat needs to learn how to use their kitchen," I replied as I dug into my own plate. "And I have a rice cooker," I jerked my head towards the appliance which was still on the counter and full of steaming rice. "There great, so why are you leaving? You and Thor looked like you were having a great time at the party." I couldn't stop the pang of jealously that the memory sent through me, but it was the truth. 

"He's not sending me away, I'm sending myself." Melinda said as she swallowed a mouthful of rice and vegetables, wincing slightly. "You have anything to drink?"

"Just water," I said even as left my plate to grab a bottle of it from the fridge. Handing it over, I sighed and looked her in the eye.  "Melinda, I have to know-are you leaving because of the Jotun?"

"Oh hell no!" She fired up at once, slamming her hand down on the counter, making our utensils rattle against our plates.  "It takes more than some ugly bastards to scare me off!"

Her accent came through more strongly then and I couldn't stop my laugh. "Fair, but then what gives? I thought you wanted to be queen." Melinda had always been so outspoken and fierce, I couldn't imagine her giving up on anything, least of all the chance to lead an entire nation.

"I thought I did too, until I gave that interview with Borjon." Melinda sighed then, "You know how they asked us about what life was like on Earth?" I nodded.

"Well, before I answered that, I thought I wanted to be queen, but honestly? I want to go to Egypt and discover a tomb."

"You could take the time," I reasoned, "you might have to cut it short but even a monarch gets a vacation sometimes. Look at Queen Elizabeth."

"I want more than just a vacation Suzume," Melinda said with a smile. "I want to teach at NYU again, I want to get drunk and sing badly at a karaoke bar and take comfort in knowing that the only people who will care are the friends who will be there to laugh at me while I do it."

"I'd pay to see that."

"First show's free but next one I'll charge admission." Melinda said with a wink as she scooped up another mouthful of stir-fry.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. The damp strands were still damp from when I'd showered earlier.  "I'm going to miss you."

"Bet you never thought you'd say that huh?"

"Not when we first met at least. But I'm glad, that we met I mean. I'm glad we're friends."

"So am I."

The exchange was tinted with sadness, the air palpable with it. "When do you leave?" I asked.

"I'll be walking into the foyer and heading home as soon as I'm done here," she said, gesturing to her plate which was already half-empty. "I already said goodbye to Elise, she had to do something with Fulla today, I think it was about the second trial on Friday."

"Probably," I agreed, washing down another bit of stir-fry with some water. The cold made my throat ache.  "I start my training on it today too. Sif said she'd get me around two."

Melinda smiled. "If anything, I hope either you or  Elise can win this thing. You'd both be great queens."

"I think our reigns would look very different," I remarked. When asked what her reign would look like, Elise had said she wanted to expand trade with the dwarfs and elves. My answer had been about hunting a Jotun.

"I don't doubt it but I still you'd both do a good job." Melinda polished off the last of her food. "You have to come visit me in New York, I'll give you a tour of my apartment and we can make this. And when I say 'we' I mean you cook and I watch and hand you stuff."

"Can't cook?"

"Not at all, I'm a good baker though."

"If you make me cinnamon rolls, I'll make you stir-fry."

"Deal."

I pushed my plate away and twisted my hair into a loose bun as Melinda polished off the last of her food. "Well, I'd better get moving, Idun is waiting for me."

"Shouldn't you wait a bit?" I asked. The Bifrost was even faster than teleporting and taking it on a full stomach seemed about as wise as jumping on the Tower of Terror after a large meal.

"I don't get motion sick."

"I hate you."

Melinda smiled and grabbed her suitcase, pulling the handle up and tipping it onto it's wheels. "Come on Officer."

I had to smile at her use of my title. "You'll be needing an armed escort Professor Elbert?"

"If you wouldn't mind."

"I'd be happy to." We smiled at each other as we walked out of the apartment, Melinda chattering on about how was actually going to get a hold of Amanda once she got back and invite her to stay with her until she got her own place.

"You have a house?"

"Condo," she corrected. "I've been having my neighbor keep an eye on the place for me. It's got an extra bedroom, so she could stay there for a bit until she can get settled and find her own place. If she wants to at least, the door's open."

"That's really kind of you."

Melinda grinned as we walked down the stairs, her hand on the banister to steady herself as she lugged her suitcase along. "Don't sound so surprised."

"I wouldn't have expected to hear you say that when we first met," i admitted.

"I didn't think you ever smiled then so call it even?"

"Deal." We laughed as we made our way into the entry way, colored sunlight reflecting through the stained-glass panels on the dual front doors onto the wood floor. Idun was waiting, surveying us through her slanted gold eyes.

"Got everything?" she asked and I tried not to blink. With her curvy figure, chestnut skin and  elegant box braids, I'd expected a more mature voice to go with it but hers was high-pitched. A voice of a young girl rather than a woman.

"Yep." Melinda squared her shoulders. In the sunlight, her hair looked like flame. "I'm ready to go back to the Big Apple."

"I'll miss you," I said, my voice a tad thicker than I cared to admit. I held out my arms and Melinda cocked an eyebrow at me. "Come on, before I change my mind."

"Good point," she laughed as embraced me.

"Be safe."

"I should be saying that to you Officer."

I laughed and let go. "Seriously though, I know how tough you are but New York's no meadow."

"New York is the only city in the world that can handle me," she replied with a sassy grin and wink. "You have to come and  visit me."

"Of course I will, I already promised to make you stir-fry."

"I'm holding you to that. Bye Suzume."

"Bye Melinda," I said as she grabbed her sponsor's hand and they faded away like a mirage. I'm going to miss her, I thought to myself as I stuck my hands in the pockets of my jeans. But as I made my way outside, out onto the grounds and the warm sunshine, I had to admit as the rays warmed my face, that part of me was relieved she was gone too. With Melinda back home, she was one less person I had to compete with.

The sweet smell of freshly cut grass enveloped me as I walked along the lawn, passing intricate sculptures of stone and various flowers and hedges. It might have been peaceful on another day, but the prospect of competing against another one of my friends in the the trials again. I knew it was needed, but that didn't mean I didn't worry the what had once been a healthy competition could fester and destroy the friendships I had created while I was here. If was being honest with myself, the person who would turn over it would probably be me. I had a hard time letting hurt feelings heal.

Sighing, I sat down on the edge of a fountain. The cool mist brushed against my face as it a spout of water flew from the mouth of a carved stone serpent that appeared to be plated with gems for it's scales. I studied the details of the stonework, glad to lose myself in it for a while before I had to think about what laid in store for me later.

Over the rush of the water, I heard footsteps and I looked away from the colorful prisms the statue reflected onto and saw Thor walking across the lawn, looking like a million bucks in a white t-shirt and jeans. My heart fluttered a bit as he came closer and I waved. "Hey," I said, my ire from the night before fading a bit as I took in his casual dress. He looked far more laid back than he had at the reception after the interviews.

"Hey," he said, slowing down as he approached. "What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be preparing for the second trial?" There was an edge of accusation in his voice and I tried to ignore the flash of anger I felt upon hearing it.

"Sif had to a check up to see how her arm is healing, we're getting together later this afternoon. I'm doing fine by the way, how are you?"

Thor's expression softened just a little. "I'm glad you're okay, and I'm well thank you." He turned away from me, "I'll see you later."

Bullshit. I got to my feet, my good mood vanishing on the spot. "What's your problem?"

Thor stopped walking. "Excuse me?"

"Look, I get the Jotun attack was stressful and you had your hands full after that and I don't blame you for it. What I do blame you for, however is your blatant avoidance of me."

"I'm not avoiding you."

I crossed my arms, jaw clenching as I resisted the urge to swear. "And now you're lying to me, I don't appreciate that either. I might not have the hundreds of years of life experience that you do, but I do know enough to know when I'm being blown off. So I'll ask again, what's your problem?"

"I don't have one."

"Again with the lying," I said, frowning. "Do you think I'm stupid? You talked to everyone at the party and paused long enough to say hello and goodbye to me."

"I've been a bit busy," Thor said frostily.

"So have I," I replied with a fire that was equal to his cold. "But I'm not ignoring the people who are important to me because of it!" Even as the words left my mouth, I realized I'd answered my own question. "That's it isn't it? Huh," I tried to keep my voice from shaking. "Well that's a bummer."

Thor's brows furrowed. "What?"

"I felt something on that beach," I told him, "and I thought we really might have had something. Apparently I was the only one and I'll deal with it. But you could at least be respectful enough to tell me you don't want me here instead of using the silent treatment to drive me off. I thought you were a better man than that."

"Suzume-."

"Unless you're going to be honest with me, don't even bother." I glanced down at my watch. "Sif's waiting for me, I have to go." Truth was, I was a bit early but I didn't want to be around Thor anymore.  Disgusted and hurt, I turned away and headed back inside. So much for all in my head, I thought as I walked across the manicured lawns and back inside.

*******************

I'm so sorry! *bows* I know this update was super delayed so again, so sorry! This last month had both finals and my sister's graduation. I'm mostly done with classes for this semester so updates will be more frequent, I promise! At least they shouldn't take twenty days to get going!

So, quite a bit happened in this chapter, what do you guys think?  Love to hear from you!

Write on and thank you so much for being so patient! :)