Long Run

Chapter 4: Silver House

Vel city, a town for all like they call it, is the only town with hills. One Ana was finding it difficult to climb while rushing.

"Darn it!" She breathed, "if I continue this way, I may not be able to attend the event! I would only disappoint Nova." She sighed.

"Why don't I carry you on my back instead? That way, we'll get to your house earlier." Ana shot him a side glance, scrutinizing as she appraised his back. Many beads of sweat had crowded his forehead and his breaths were heavy.

"No thanks," she said, looking away. "You can barely carry yourself yet you want to carry me? I'd rather walk by myself." She walked ahead of him, leaving him ignored as he hurried after her more like a puppy than Spiky was. "But I can try." Lucas wasn't so sure of himself anymore.

His legs could barely keep him balanced, not to talk of carrying someone on his back.

Ana snorted as she increased her pace, she was almost close to the house.

"Ana! Wait up!" Lucas said, pulling on his bag as he walked faster. Grumbling to himself, he said, "We should have just gone through the other road. This one is too steepy."

As if hearing him, Ana turned around and glanced at him.

"The other way is closed. The gatekeeper must have gone to the event."

"Oh." Lucas said and closed his mouth. He could only continue walking forward and soon enough, they came out through the side alley by Ana's house.

"What do you think everyone would think when they see us back here?" Lucas said, obviously trying to get Ana's attention. She had ignored him all the way here.

"How would I know? Since you are free, why don't you go ask them?" Shrugging her shoulders, she turned the doorknob and entered. "Coming in or not?" Initially, Lucas thought he wouldn't be allowed in given Ana's attitude towards him but guess he was wrong. Perhaps she had a sense of sympathy towards him since he had followed her home.

"Coming in." He affirmed.

Meanwhile at the station, the driver had grown anxious and had announced their departure.

"Can't we wait an hour more?" Mr Ruby said. He was desperate to wait for Ana and Lucas but the driver was just as desperate to get to the Silver House.

"No. We've waited enough, a lot of the passengers are in a hurry. We don't mind leaving you behind too, you know?" The driver said, raising a brow aggressively. Mr Ruby was worried, what if they arrive as soon as they leave? Wouldn't it be frustrating? Besides, there was no more train coming to their town for the day.

Reluctantly, Mr Ruby agreed to leave too. He was helpless but he really hoped they could make it to the Silver House on time, otherwise, he would feel bad.

"It was here last night! Where did it go?" Ana pulled her side drawer close. Lucas stood helplessly at the door. The moment they got to Ana's room, she frantically searched the whole place causing him to have no place to step in except watching her and Spiky was lucky enough to get to her side but his luck soon dried out when she tossed him into Lucas' arm. "Hold him. He's a bother." She had said.

"Ah! This is annoying! I placed it on this desk last night before going to bed so where exactly could it be?" Ana flopped heavily on the bed.

"Maybe you forgot where you left it?" Turning her head, she saw Lucas tilt his head. His expression looked a bit scared, why? She was clueless.

Lifting her left eyebrow, she spat. "Do you think I'm a child? I don't even know where I keep my things? Do I look like a fool to you?" She must have been very worked up because she got irritated the moment she heard Lucas speak. And sure enough, Lucas feared just that. Ana was like that whenever she was irritated.

"I—"

Squeak!

Lucas paused, he looked at Ana to see the latter jump to her feet. She was equally surprised. They soon heard sound of footsteps from downstairs, they were a little hurried and it seemed like it belonged to more than just a person. Giving Lucas a signal, Ana grabbed a perfume can from her side drawer as she advanced forward. Lucas held onto Spiky as he also grabbed the duster stick by the entrance. They pressed their ears on the door while facing each other, surprisingly, Spiky was also quiet.

"You hear that? I told you I saw Ana and Lucas enter here." Hearing this, Ana sighed while tossing away the can in her hand. "It's Nova." She said and Lucas finally dropped the duster in his hand. Patting his chest, Lucas asked. "What's she doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" She threw him an intimidating look as she went back to sit on the bed.

"I, I'm here to help you!"

"Oh, really? Why don't I see you helping, huh?"

"You wouldn't let me." He whined.

"Ana! You're back?" Flinging the door open, Nova exclaimed. She completely overlooked Lucas' presence as she dashed straight forward for the tired looking Ana.

"Not exactly."

"Then why are you back?" This time, Elias walked in. He was much better than Nova who simply dashed into the room. He calmly stood by the door with Lucas, being the only one who actually noticed him.

Although Elias wondered why Lucas was in Ana's room, he knew better than to ask. He just watched the girls talk.

"I left my blueprint at home so I came to get it."

Nova held her hand as she stared at her. "So you've got it?" Shaking her head, Ana explained. "No, I can't find it and I'm running out of time."

"That's true." Elias confirmed, "time is really not on your side. There is still about two hours left and if you leave now, you can make it to the Silver House." He checked the time on his watch as he shot Ana a look.

"But it's important. I need to find it." Ana was adamant. If she was going to attend the event, then she must do so with her blueprint. Otherwise, she was afraid her stay there would be a waste of time.

"Let me help then." Nova jumped up and cracked her folded fingers. She looked surprisingly eager to set to work that it made Lucas feel ashamed. A girl was more willing to help his crush than he was.

"I'll help too!" He quickly announced. Not wanting to be left behind, Elias too offered to help. If he would be able to accompany Nova, then why not? "Me too." He said.

It had taken them only an hour to find the blueprint. Ana had placed it in her disposing box which somehow, ended up in the basement.

"Come one. Let's hurry!" Ana said, pulling Lucas' hand as she dragged him down the hill. She didn't forget to grab Spiky too. "Hold on!" Elias yelled from behind them, causing them to turn abruptly. "Hadley asked me to bring this to her." He waved the documents in his hand. Earlier, Ana had been wondering why he was holding it but never thought it was for Hadley. "Okay, you can come along."

"But what about me?" Nova pouted, her round eyes were so dashing that Ana wondered if perhaps Elias liked her for them. "I don't want to stay home alone, you know?" She drew in closer to the trio as she made her point.

"But your mum forbid you from going." Lucas emphasized.

"So? Elias would cover for me, right Elias?" Nova turned to face Elias with her puppy eyes.

Unable to resist, Elias nodded. "Fine, you can come too. I'll take my car, perhaps we might get there on time." He faced Ana as if waiting for her approval. "Alright."

They drove all the way to the Silver House in less than an hour and there was still a few minutes before the event started. Ana and Lucas both stood before the tall building. Her golden hair fluttered behind her, hitting the back of her padded blue jacket. Her heart pounder in her chest for some unknown reason as she felt like her heart was being stabbed.

"What's wrong, Ana?" Lucas noticed her pale expression the moment they alighted the car. "Nothing." She said, facing the Silver House. Just like its name, it was painted in Silver and beautiful pillars lined the front of the building. Elias was busy talking to Nova in the car and by the time he came out, Ana had already changed her expression. Her lips curved slightly upward and her eyes were brighter.

Striding over, Elias said. "We are here." He had his right hand tucked in the front pocket of his jeans. "We should go in." He added. Ana and Lucas didn't look like they wanted to enter and Elias wondered if they really wanted to attend the event. Ana looked back and coincidentally met Nova's expectant look, she smiled at Elias. "Sure." Nervously, the three friends both ventured forward as they pushed the huge door open. Giving Nova one last look, Ana finally walked in with Spiky following by her side.