Page 89 of The Explorer
“How would I know? I’m not a hair stylist, but everyone knows what an afro is. It was super trendy last year back home. Everyone was wearing wigs in different colors with large afros. Now it’s the asymmetry trend that’s big, but of course, fashion changes all the time.”
Sparrow laughed. “Can I just say how much I love your accent? The more you talk, the more I want to experience Old Europe. The idea of people walking around with large wigs in different colors sounds hilarious.”
“Mm-hmm.” Kya agreed. “We would love for you to come and teach about the ecological restoration work you do.”
“Wow, that sounds fancy when you say it like that. Ecological restoration work.” He said it slow as if tasting the words. “Hmm… I like that.”
“Would you come and meet the students?” Sparrow asked. “They are all between ten and fifteen and they ask great questions.”
“I can talk about what we do on the squad, but I should warn you that I hated school as a kid, and I probably won’t be great at teaching.”
Kya didn’t seem worried. “How long are you staying?”
I answered for him, “We’re going back after the summit in early August.”
Tilting her head, Kya asked, “How did you get permission to leave France? Belle taught at our school a few months ago and she told us that your government won’t allow anyone to leave.”
“We smuggled him out,” I admitted and received a reproachful look from Kya.
“Aubri, please tell me you’re not serious.”
“Banni saved our lives and we couldn’t say no to showing him the Northlands. Don’t worry, we got him out and we’ll bring him back with us when we return in five weeks.”
Kya’s hand went to her hairline. “What if something goes wrong and they find out? I don’t think you understand the tension that the situation with Belle has created. The men have been close to declaring war on Old Europe several times, Aubri. If not for Pearl, Freya, and Jonah…” Kya looked over her shoulder. “This could be disastrous.”
“Relax, Kya. It’s not the same as with Belle.”
“How is it different? What do you think will happen when Banni decides that he wants to stay as well?”
Banni laughed. “I’m an Explorer. Going new places is exciting to me, but I don’t intend to stay here. I have all my friends at home that I need to get back to. They’re the ones covering for me while I’m here.”
“And how exactly will they cover for you being gone for over a month?” Kya asked with a tone of concern.
“They will send in reports with my name on to make it look like I’m still working. If a supervisor stops by, they’ll say I felt sick and went home. I’m not worried. It’s so rare that the scientists take time to stop by our headquarters that I suspect no one will notice that I’m gone.”
Kya pressed her lips together before muttering. “Let’s hope you’re right. I will try not to worry too much about it.”
“Banni, would you allow me to introduce you to my brother, Thor,” Freya said with a smile and tactfully changed the subject.
When the two of them walked off, I told Kya and Sparrow, “I just had an idea. What if Banni stays at your school some of that first week in August? I know he wants to spend time with Belle of course, but it would be wonderful if you could entertain him since Indiana, Freya, Thor, and I will be at the summit in the Motherlands.”
“Sure, that would be great,” Kya assured me before changing the subject to the romance between Indiana and me.
“When will the wedding be?”
“I’m not sure. Let me go and find out.” Kissing them both on the cheek, I moved on to find my parents standing by the water fountain, talking with Indiana’s parents.
“Plotting and planning already, are you?” I smiled.
“We are. We were just discussing that you could have a beautiful winter wedding when you get back from Old Europe in December. Maybe on New Year’s Eve,” my mother said and reached her hand out to me.
I took it and thought about her idea. “Why wait that long? I heard that Belle is exhausted from the idea of the lavish wedding you planned for her and Mason. If we had a double wedding, I could shield her from some of the attention.”
My dad tapped the side of his beer. “What is it about you always coming to the aid of Belle?”
“I can’t help it. It’s been that way since I first met her.”
“But sweetheart, you deserve to have your own wedding.”
