X-Ordinary

XO - Chapter 24

XO's POV

I did as I was bid, and I fetched Ace. Alyssa followed him upstairs too. Dale also overheard the conversation from across the lounge and finished a swig of whiskey from the bottle before also tagging along, uninvited.

Now we're at Snyper's door, and Alyssa knocks twice.

"Hey... come in," Jace opens the door, before telling Dale, "He just wants his mum and dad..." Ace slips through immediately, not waiting.

Dale's leopard eyes turn to slits as he stares down a defiant Jace.

"You can speak to Snyper tomorrow morning," Alyssa touches Dale's shoulder, catching his attention, "Just give Snyper what he wants... boss. He's been through enough."

Dale gulps down some fast words, choosing not to retort as he just half-nods and then takes multiple steps back to the wall opposite the bedroom door.

Jace lingers to look out at me, but Dale's glare between us is very intimidating. It might not even be a glare, really, but his attention alone makes Jace a little awkward... me too.

"Hey, XO...you going to run away again?" Jace whispers, trying to make light of it, "Please talk to the boss before you do something like that, k?" Jace winks, he changes tact, speaking normal, looking to Dale – bringing him into it... using him against me.

To keep me here.

Uhuh, Jace realised I was feeling flighty with Snyper's rejection and anger toward me.

In advising me to go to the boss, he's also warning Dale I'm a flight risk.

Great, Jace, you're on the ball... with his slightly manipulative words, his dark eyes watch me a moment longer, his dark lashes framing his concerned gaze as he quietly shuts the door, leaving me out of the room too.

I step back into the wall next to the door, opposite Dale, and I also slip down onto my butt.

I avoid looking at the infamous beast opposite me. I just curl Snyper's spare shirt over my knees and hug my knees to my chest as I rest my chin on my arms, looking at the walls. While downstairs was all dark colours, black and navy-blue walls, the smells of leather and liquor – upstairs is bright and cozy. White tiles, stark walls, with mindless abstract paintings. Easy on the eyes. Relaxing.

I flick my eyes to Dale, who's got one knee raised, his arm resting over his knee, his eye on the door as he thinks of Snyper just like a son. His purple eyes are glazed and worried, then I realise he's listening into the murmurs within.

I prick my ears and also listen to what's being said. Ace and Alyssa try to reassure Snyper that everything is fine. Snyper refutes every single statement. He won't calm down. He keeps venting.

Dale is getting antsy, his fingers twitching up and down... and then he finally looks over at me, and I figure he uses me as a distraction, a way to release his need to control the situation quickly.

"Snyper is an Ultimate but not like you," Dale murmurs this logically, not accusing, just speaking facts, "You broke early... he's going to be in for a rough time. He could go either way. It's up to him which way he chooses."

"Either way?" I ask, furrowing my brows.

"The world breaks us all differently. Some power through, some surrender. My boys were shielded and spoilt. Maybe it was wrong to pretend everything was normal," Dale blinks and looks at the ground, genuinely conflicted, "If I fail him... I won't forgive myself... but I'm not..." Dale suddenly lifts his head and clears his throat, narrowing his eyes at me, "You want a room to yourself, XO?"

"A... a room... f-for me?" I ask, "You mean, a guest r –"

"No, I mean a room that's yours," Dale speaks gently, as if I was Ariel – like... like I'm a daughter or something. I start to feel so shy I can't speak. I just stare with eyes so wide; I hope he reads my mind. Dale hops up and steps closer, offering me a hand, "Let's go, sweety," I grab his palm and he lifts me up and then rests his hand on my shoulder instead, as he walks me down a few doors, "...Jace..." Dale murmurs as we pass by a door that has his name stuck on the door with wooden kid blocks that are old and fading, "How about this one?" Dale stops at the door next to Jace's. Dale waits for my approval. I nod and he swings open the white door, standing back to allow me room to walk in, "Rest now," he makes the polite suggestion as I look over the clean and tidy room, "Goodnight, XO –" I hear the door shutting behind me, but I turn in a panic and catch the bosses eye, my hands clasped behind my back anxiously. He notices and pauses, "What do you need? Water?"

"Are you adopting me, sir?" I ask it before I chicken out and ruminate about it until morning.

Dale furrows his brows, "...you're 18..." he must see the instant look of disappointment on my face, so he changes tact, with a simple, "Yes, I'll be your father... not your boss."

"Really?" I grin.

"Well, you are an orphan..." Dale makes the point, "You'll get to tell Jace he has a new sister," Dale snorts at his own joke and adds, "You can come to me for anything."

"Then I need to ask you something now, because I need an honest answer. Does Snyper really hate me? He said very mean things to me... please... please be honest," I'm surprised Dale has an answer so quickly.

"No," Dale smirks, "He doesn't hate you."

"Why would he scream at me?" I whisper, "Will he forgive me?"

"He already has," Dale makes me confused with his confidence, "You don't believe me?" I shake my head, "You didn't will this on him, he's smart enough to know that, he only lashed out at you – I'll have to have a word to him about that. But see? He won't even talk to me right now. Pushing me away because I'll fix him quick," Dale smiles with me, "Just like you'd help to make him smile and forget."

"Oh!" I end up absorbing that, stumped.

Dale shuts the door and walks back down to where he was waiting before.

Oh, gosh... it made perfect sense.

Snyper didn't hate me! He didn't want me around being nice and friendly. He needed to feel it all. All the negativity. To process it before he started to move on.

Dale made me feel better, just with that brief conversation. Such simple logic.

I turn to the guest bed – no! My bed – and I pull back the covers and sheet, climbing in and laying my head on the pillow. I tuck myself in.

I don't expect to be able to sleep quickly, I expect to be awake all night with my thoughts.

Instead, I find true peace.

And I don't run.

I don't even wake up once till morning.

Feeling safe and feeling welcomed... in my first ever home.

I even had a new father!

And I had a new family.