The Unusual Occurrence Of Mote

Chapter 14: Star Gazer

He was soaking wet. But from what? He wondered. The answer soon came to him as he looked up to find Mote hovering above, holding an empty glass.

"C'mon Eary! It's already 7:20. You're gonna be late. SHEESH!" Mote exclaimed as he flew off.

Eary sprung from the bed and gathered together some of the clothing left for him there. They were a bit big, but it would have to do. After brushing his teeth and hair, Eary had just enough time to snarf down a bagel before heading out the door. Mei was just leaving when Eary popped out.

"Hey! How was your guy's night?" Mei asked cheerfully.

"It was good. Luke made some super hot food that turned out to be not so bad." Eary recounted.

"That sounds nice. I made supper last night. Alice can't cook." Eary and Mei giggled at the thought as Calvin popped out as well.

"Good morning, Calvin!" Mei greeted warmly.

"Oh hey! How was your night last night?" Calvin asked as he joined his two classmates.

"Pretty good. Ate some hot food." Replied Eary casually.

"Yeah, and I cooked at our place." Mei boasted. "How was yours?" She asked.

"Uh, fine. We made some food... it was a long night. Lots of talking." Calvin said in almost a trance.

"Is everything ok?" Mei asked, concerned.

"Yeah... it's fine." Calvin whispered.

"If we stay here much longer, we're gonna be late." Eary stated, breaking the tension.

Mei nodded in solidarity. The new friends headed down the zig-zagged patterned carpet towards the elevator.

After reaching the lobby, the three youths approached the front desk clerk.

"Excuse me." Eary politely asked.

"Yeah? Can I help you?" The girl behind the desk sported a brown pony tail and eyes to match. She wore a ripped Jean jacket and high waisted pants.

"We are supposed to go see the professor for school. We..." Eary was saying before the moody teenage girl interrupted him.

"Yeah? Me too!" She said, turning around the desk, out towards the lobby.

"You guys can wait over here with me if you want. Since this is where we all meet." She said sarcastically as they followed her out to the waiting area.

It was a large open room with ceilings that must have been a good seven meters high. Wooden logs, rain the length of the freshly lit vaulted ceilings. The room's center piece was a large stone fireplace, warming the cold Colorado climate.

Many old decorative sofas, tables, and chairs were laid out in living room fashion around the large room. A grand staircase, opposite the fire, extended up into two different directions. With dark parquet floors and large fancy rugs, the Star Gazer held an enchanting cozy spell.

Following the girl to the nearby fireplace sofas, the gang all took a seat around the crackling fire.

"I'm sorry. I thought you worked here." Eary apologized.

"No, it's fine. I do work the front desk after school sometimes. I left something there on my shift yesterday." The girl reported.

"Yesterday? The last day I was home was sunday." Eary thought to himself as Calvin quickly asked.

"What's the date?" The girl smiled a sympathetic smirk "September 16th."

"What!?" Calvin, Mei, and Eary erupted simultaneously.