章節 16: Apologies

"Well, I think she still looks pretty." Ali said. "Different can still be pretty."

I could only guess Suzy meant that what I wore was different from my usual self.

I did try to look into the mirror before I went out. These were the most decent pieces I could find and perhaps they didn't expect me to try and cover up as much as I could.

Becky and Suzy were divas as always. They had made sure that their make-up looked good despite whatever weather could possibly come their way. Their hair styled accordingly with their fashionable clothes.

The boys had changed into comfortable but cool shirts save for Zeke. Despite the summer heat – with the exception of the sudden rain today – he had worn a leather jacket with metal studs on top of a black printed shirt and he looked like a rock star.

Levi wore a shirt that had the same logo he wore yesterday with their band name written in Old English. Bash on the other hand, had just worn a plain loose white shirt. The way the fabric hugged his tall and lean body was something to note.

He slouched on the plush chair and had his right arm swung at the back. His left hand was busy with his phone and had not given me any regard at all it was as if he pretended that I wasn't even there.

I scoffed and crossed my arms as I stared at him.

His dark lashes were like curtains to the windows of his purple eyes that stared blankly at his screen.

The cafe had a relaxed music on, and after about twenty minutes, the rain outside completely stopped with occasional tiny droplets.

After we had thanked the cafe staff for their hospitality and paid for the ordered drinks, we made our way back to the truck and cleaned the back from the rainwater that pooled.

The sun was up with no hint of clouds and in less than thirty minutes we were able to go back to the road with Levi still the driver and Bash as the clown at the back.

The convertible roof was now tucked in and they basked in the warmth of the sun while I stared at the wide roads up ahead with no particular interest. Everything was just so plain again.

The big buildings and other high-rise structures and billboards were lost in the distance and the next city was still a bit far away.

My mind wandered off to what Juno said.

"Levi, where do lost angels reside?" I asked out of the blue.

Levi had been quite ever since he shouted at me. He gave me a quick sideways glance and snorted.

"So, you speak now? Don't you think you owe me an explanation or maybe an apology, Ms. Airhead?" he said his eyes set on the wide road ahead.

Did he just call me airhead? His tone wasn't angry but I felt that he was totally annoyed by me. We had been on the road for hours now and I wasn't exactly the best person to be stuck with, apparently.

I was awkward, I didn't initiate conversations at all. Not to mention I was not exactly in good terms with the truck's owner at the back. But then again, Bash can't blame me if I wasn't in good terms with him.

He was William's reincarnation for Pete's sake! Every time I see him my heart either aches for a love that was lost or my brain tells me to strangle him for the very same reason.

"I'm sorry…?" I said with a bit of uncertainty.

Levi's red brow raised incredulously as if to say 'That was it?'.

I wasn't exactly sure what I should be apologizing for. And then it hit down on me I was a total ass back when Levi scrambled to drive and find the lever at the same time when everybody had soaked in the sudden downpour.

"I'm sorry if I spaced out and wasn't much help back then." I continued.

Levi pursed his lips and I could imagine the wheels that turned inside his head. He contemplated what he should say. And I dreaded the words that would come out of his mouth.

"Alright, apology accepted." He said with a grin on his face. "You know I couldn't be really mad for long, right? Sorry for scaring you, I know I did. I was just pressured by the idiot at the back."

I released a huge sigh of relief.

I didn't realize I had kept my breath for too long as I waited for Levi's reply. He started to hum a tune and everything seemed lighter now.

"What were you saying again Liz?" he asked as he made a swift left turn.

His driving was still fast as heck in my opinion but this time around he was keeping it safe. We were already approaching other big cities and it would be really a whole lot of trouble if we get caught over-speeding.

"Where do lost angels reside?" I asked him again.

Juno had mentioned that the blind seer would be there and I couldn't think of any place where lost angels reside.

"Hell?" Levi suggested.

"Perhaps purgatory?" I added.

Or maybe it was some sort of a metaphor?

It doesn't make sense.

Why does Juno's clues always need to be so cryptic? Juno the spirit of change and new beginnings. To whom did she make a promise to reincarnate me into this lifetime? What huge sacrifice was made and who did the sacrificing?

I really need to seek out this blind seer to know more.

"Where lost angels reside… hmm…" Levi jutted his lower lip as he thought of anything that could answer my query. "I'm not quite sure what your question wants to know. Is it supposed to be a real place or a metaphorical place?"

"A real place. Does anywhere here sound something like that?" I asked.

"Well… after about another day - if we don't have any other delays - we would be approaching Coachella Valley. Los Angeles City, roughly translated as the city of angels, is located up northwest and could take you about half a day of travel." Levi answered me. "Does that ring a bell to your question?"

"I think it does sound familiar. Thanks Levi." I said as I gave him a smile even if he wasn't looking at me.

The sun was hot and the weather had turned humid. I swept at my forehead and trailed my eyes towards the buildings and other structures that we passed by.

Perhaps that was the place Juno had hinted about at the comfort room.

Los Angeles.

Where could the blind seer be in a city so big that lost angels reside?