Chapter 33: Sorting Out Schedules

It was now Tuesday, and I was stuck in the annoying mess of trying to plan around multiple people.

I made a small promise to Beatrice to hang out for a day, which I planned to keep, but that was limited to basically next Sunday. As that was the only day she didn’t work unless she chose to take a day off, of course. 

The weekend after that was the festival which I wanted to spend entirely with my family. 

My meeting with Lila still weighed on my mind. There was something I had to confirm and if I was wrong? That was fine.

(“ I’m curious as well ”)

You probably know the answer.

(“ I don’t know everything, and in this situation, I can make an educated guess based on the knowledge I have available, but in the end, it is still nothing but I guess  ”)

I was about to snark back at Espr's unreliableness but before I could.

(“ But you should hurry up with that meeting as soon as possible, your safety is my top priority ”)

(“ Speaking of which, I thought I should teach you a new application of soul pressure ”)

… Fine. I sent another message to Lila, my last one for the week. I received her number from Beatrice so I could contact her.

If she didn’t reply I would’ve had to forcibly visit her in person after this week. I needed to confirm my theory.

It was getting late and I was about to leave the house for tonight. I wanted some alone time.

“Elly,” Mella called out. “You won’t be gone too long?”

“Nah, well, hopefully not, but I will be back before you are awake.”

“Want to make that a bet?”

“Definitely no, you will just set an alarm to wake up multiple times throughout the night.”

“What! No.” Mella replied flabbergasted at my evil and defaming suggestion.

“Tyell,” I yelled out.

“Yes Sis?” He called out from his room and walked out of it.

“Make sure Mella gets some proper sleep.”

“Understood, should I tell Mum as well.”

“Good idea.” Mum was currently out buying snacks, we bought some as a family earlier but we had already eaten them all.

“No!” Mella put her hand over her head in a dramatic display of defeat.

“You and Mum both watch too many movies.” Said Tyell.

I said goodbye to my two siblings and even Mum as I walked past her as I left the building, and got ready to enjoy my peaceful walk and have multiple phone calls.

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After I left the hotel room I made my way to the farthest beach in Newcastle. I walked barefoot across the sand enjoying the scenery. Acrostar, my home, didn’t have any beaches nearby so I didn’t visit them frequently. Maybe only two times total on Metous but I’ve walked past them a few times during delivery trips.

Anyway, I redirected my attention to my phone. I had a few calls to make with multiple people I needed to meet after all. 

And so for the first call, I sent a message to Mern asking to be directed to Henry. Henry was who I was going to buy my proper set of equipment off from and I wanted to meet him quickly before anything could happen.

Ten minutes later my phone started to ring from an unknown number.

“Hopefully this is him,” I answered the call.

“Howdy, this Ceella?” 

With my phone pressed to my ear, I replied, “Yes, Ceella Stella, you’re Henry correct?”

“That I am Miss.” He answered with confidence filling his voice.

“I’ll be dropping by on the thirteenth and will be staying around the Earth area until the twentieth.”

“I can spend a day and a half in whatever area you’re at,” his tone dropped to a more serious one for a moment, “I need to ask this now, do you have the funds?”

“Yes, as long as what you told Mern was the correct price, I will be fine.”

“Understood lady.” He replied, “Cash or crystal?”

“Crystal.”

“Fair enough!” 

Bizz

The line cut off for a second.

Sigh, what is happening now?

(“ Getting shot at? ”)

That… would make a lot of sense, but it could just be a meteor storm or something else.

“And I’m back! Oh, my arse be mighty, they always come after it! Haha!” 

“Safe and sound it seems?”

“You know it! But before I was cut off I wanted to tell you I have a base adjustable armour for you, with the small specification given.”

It was easier to get most of the major additions done when we met, so I just asked for armour with minimal features when I initially asked Mern to contact Henry. I would’ve liked to have talked to Henry earlier but the only way to contact him was on his own terms.

“All good then.”

“So what day?” He asked.

Umm... Sigh. Dates and dates and more dates.

“Ummm… Does the sixteenth sound find?” 

That will be Wednesday.

“All good from up here, just text the location to the number I’m about to send to you and I will be around there at that time.”

Beep Boop

He hung up and once he did I got two messages, one from an unknown source with a number attached.

“I probably won’t be able to call him using the number he used,” I said aloud.

I hadn’t met anyone else who kept contact so much at arm’s reach, I could think of a few reasons why he might do that. Maybe he does illegal dealings, certain people could be after him, extreme personal boundaries, and/or he could find it fun/funny. For whatever reason it was, I didn’t care. I sent him a message with a location near the southwest corner of Newcastle for our meeting.

Also as I finished my call with Henry. I had gotten a message from Lila.

Lila – ([ Monday night, 11:50 pm, if you missed this I won’t meet you. I also won’t be seeing you after that night. ]) 

Confident aren’t you?

([ Thank you… I will see you there. ]) – Ceella

“Two out of three done.” 

(“ Good job Miss Popular, your communication skills seemed to be improving ”)

Well, I have a crazy voice constantly talking in my head now. I wonder if that’s the reason?

(“ Thank you for the flattery ”) 

If you want to take it that way, sure.

Time for my final call. 

“Hey, Beatrice.” I rang my friend, it had only been a day but we needed to discuss our next meeting. We wanted to have an outing together but we forgot to talk about the exact date yesterday thanks to the hair incident.

“Afternoon Ceella, Newcastle still treating you well?”

“For the time being, yes.” 

“That’s good.” She paused for a moment, I could hear the movement of some pots, I figured she was cooking. “So do you have any particular date?”

“Well I want to spend the festival with my family, so you’re not working next Sunday?”

“Correct,” Beatrice answered, “Do you want to go anyway specific?”

“Ehh, not really,” I replied.

“Well, I will think of plans then.” Beatrice flicked closed a tab and pulled out her digital notebook. She began writing stuff down before she paused, “Were you able to plan your meeting with Lila?”

“Monday night.”

“Night huh, hope you aren’t too tired from spending all day with your family.”

I smiled, “Yeah same.”

“So, on Sunday, we’ll start and stop the day at my house. I want to show off how my cooking skills have improved.”

“Sure, I’m looking forward to it. Best be careful, this tongue has been trained on Rosa’s finest cuisine.”

“That’s a high bar…” 

“I know,” I laughed. “Good luck young chef.”

We said our goodbyes and finished up the call.

“That’s everything huh…” I kicked some stones across the beach and looked at the night’s sky reflection in the water.

The schedule was now completely sorted! 

Sunday I hang out with Beatrice, Monday I talk with Lila, Tuesday I take Mella to watch a movie and fish, Wednesday my meeting with Henry…

Wow, I’m busy… I thought this was supposed to be a holiday. I laughed to myself, being busy in matters not related to food, water, or life and death was fun. 

Hopefully not too much more is added though. 

I looked at the constellation in the sky. Which brought me some additional comfort.

And I need to make sure nothing ruins Mella's chance at getting her life back.