Aru's pov

As Rudy started the car, Aru debated too late on whether it was okay to join Rudy on picking her up.

Would she be third-wheeling? Because third-wheeling, no thank you. But like, she told Mini she'd be here. She could just back out of it and tell her she set them up. Wait, could you even set up an already dating couple?

But as a friend, she needed to be there for Mini. In the past, she had been there whenever her parents had been too hard on her. Cheering her up, listening to her and just being there.

But now that she had Rudy, did she really need Aru anymore?

"Aru?" Rudy snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Huh? What?"

"What'cha thinking about? You seem deep in thought?"

"Nah, it's nothing"

"Hmm" Rudy mused, making a turn. "You know, I'm glad you're coming as well. I think I'd probably say something stupid, so at least you're there to stop me from doing that"

Aru gave him a small smile and said. "I think she already knows you're stupid, so she won't be all that surprised"

"Ahh, there you are. At least now I know you're fine" He smiled back.

"What do you mean by that?" She squinted at him.

"Well, you're roasting me as usual. I was kinda worrying earlier because you seemed so somber"

"Oh"

"I know you can't really tell me anything, but is this about her parents?"

"Uh, yeah." Aru said, looking back outside. The sun was already gone, but the oranges and pinks still stayed painted across the sky.

"Oh. Then it's really good you're here for her"

"What do you mean?"

"There's nothing I can say or do that'll make her feel better. I mean, there might be something, but I never knew the entire story of her and her parents. Just knew they were strict. But you've been for her all these years, you know what works. You are her best friend."

How did he somehow ease all of Aru's worries without even trying?

"I mean, sure. But I still feel like I don't need to be there"

"Is that what you were worried about earlier?"

"Ugh, why are you smart in the worst moments? You're never this smart!" She groaned.

"Gonna take that as a yes. In that case, you're just stupid."

"Wow, rude?" Aru looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"How could you even think that? You really think I could replace you?" Rudy asked incredulously.

"I mean-"

"I think even if I tried she'd tell me straight up that I can't even dream to replace you. Aru, you're her first ever friend"

"Yeah. It's true, you can't even dream of replacing me" Aru smiled. She didn't really mean it. She was just trying to stop him from worrying.

"Yeah" Rudy pulled over at the airport and parked. Aru called Mini.

Mini: Aru? My flight lands in like 4 minutes.

Aru: okay. We're here.

Mini: terminal 6.

Aru: got'cha.

They said goodbye and Aru and Rudy headed off. Aru thought it might be a good idea to get food for Mini because she probably didn't eat after the meet with her parents.

"Rudy, do you mind getting some food? Get a salad or something, for Mini"

"Okay, you'll be fine waiting here?" He asked, getting up.

"I'll be fine. Hurry though, her plane lands in four"

"Kay, I'll see you in five"

"Rudy, four"

"Right." He went off.

Aru crossed her arms and folded one leg over the other. The intercom blared: "The plane from Texas has now landed. All passengers, please exit the plane and gather your luggage"

But Rudy wasn't back yet, this wasn't supposed to happen. Alas, time won't stop. Theoretically, as a good friend, Aru should wait for Rudy. They could surprise her together, and all will be good...

Aru got up and looked for Mini, ignoring her mind's protests. She scanned the crowd, willing to find her sister. Then, a skull brooch, shining in the crowd struck out. Aru's lips slowly broke out into a smile and she ran into the crowd.

Mini spotted her and started running as well. They met midway in a hug. It may only be one day they were apart, but one day was a lot. Aru held her sister close and squeezed then pulled back.

"Are you okay? You cried didn't you? I love you, but you look like a hot mess. Do I need to murder someone? You might need to call a lawyer for me in advance"

Mini laughed. "It's fine, Aru. I got it covered, but I murdered him with words already"

"That's my girl" Aru smiled and patted Mini's cheek.

"Mini!" Rudy yelled from the back. Aru turned away and closed her eyes, covering her ears so she wouldn't have to hear the sound of lips smashing.

"Are you guys done with your PDA? You're more dramatic than movies, it was literally half a day you were away from each other. Half because you guys called in our break" Aru said.

"Don't be jealous. I'm sure your Prince Charming will come one day" Rudy patted Aru's shoulder.

Aru scowled. "As if I'd be jealous of all this PDA going on. That's a little over the top, when you haven't seen each other for only a day"

"I feel bad for your soulmate. He'll have to initiate most of your kisses" Rudy shook his head.

"You don't actually believe in that soulmate shit, do you? Single for life" Aru crossed her arms.

"Okay, enough. Where am I staying?" Mini asked, setting down her suitcases.

"With me!" Aru said.

"Okay, yeah, Aru" Mini said.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone peaking around their suitcases. Quick as a flash, she turned and punched the person's face. The person groaned.

Aru pulled her hand back to reveal...Navdeep? She narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, I uh" He mumbled.

Mini stepped in from beside her. "Why were you poking around our stuff?"

"Um, please don't call Drew"

Aru called Drew. He picked up.

"Hey RuRu, bestie!" He exclaimed. Aru cringed, but didn't bother noting on the nickname.

"Hey, Screw, bestie! Anyway, your friend, Navdeep's here"

"Really?" He asked. "He said he was going to the store. Where are you?"

"At the airport" Aru squinted her eyes at Navdeep. "20 minutes away from the store. Speaking of, you've reached Atlanta?"

"Yeah, like 3 hours ago. You're in Atlanta too, right?"

"Yep. Come pick him up"

A crowd was forming, judging by how Aru had punched him.

"Hah. Look at him, he got punched by a girl." Someone said.

"You wanna be punched too? I don't charge any money, it's completely free" Aru said sweetly, giving him a deathly smile. The person gulped.

Aru called Aiden next. "Hey, Aiden?"

"Yeah?"

"Navdeep's here, at the airport. Poking around our stuff without permission and like just being shady overall"

"Okay. I'll be there. Where is he now?"

"On the floor with a bloody nose. Note that my knuckles are also very bloody"

"I-never mind. Wait like, 30 minutes"

"Okay. See ya" Aru cut the call.

About 20 minutes passed before either of them decided to say something.

"Anything to say for yourself?" Mini asked.

"Well, uh" Navdeep said. "My um, girlfriend's earring fell somewhere there. I was looking for it"

"Hah. Girlfriend? I wonder where she is now?" Aru scoffed, scanning the place.

"She um, went to the bathroom"

"Yah, I'm his girlfriend. Navvie-poo! I'm back" Said a high-pitched voice. The crowd parted to reveal Drew. He said in his normal voice. "Really dude? Friends don't lie to each other"

"What...what?" Navdeep stuttered.

"That's your grand excuse? You could do better" Drew scoffed. "Why'd you tell me you were going to the store? What was he doing here, Aru?"

"Poking around our stuff. Apparently, his girlfriend's earring fell in it" Aru put her hands on her hips.

"Hah, girlfriend? You don't even have one" A familiar velvety voice said.

The crowd again parted, and Aiden walked in dramatically. Aru saw some of the girls swoon and she internally rolled her eyes. He literally walked! Why couldn't people react like that whenever she did? That's why pretty people just have everything easy.

Drew smiled. "Nice of you to join. Nav here told me he was going to the store. And now he's here, about 20 minutes away from the store, and looking around their stuff."

"Give me your phone" Aiden demanded.

"What? Why? No" Navdeep said.

"Give it" Drew backed him up. He held Navdeep still and Aiden fished out his phone. He unlocked it.

"Well, well. What do we have here? A video recording of when Shah called her mom. And why is that here? You know, this is illegal. She could press charges on invasion of privacy" Aiden said, deathly calm. He seemed even scarier at this tone. Aru's eyes widened as she looked at Navdeep. She kept her eyes cold, completely devoid of emotion.

"What?" Aru whispered.

"Who are you, really?" Mini demanded, putting an arm around Aru.

"Wait. Who's Shakhuni again?" Aiden asked them.

"Boo. My mom's friend?" Aru said confused.

"Navdeep was texting this guy. Like a lot. It seems like he was telling him to follow you"

"What?" Mini asked. "Does that mean Boo's part of this?"

Aru tried to organize her thoughts. Boo lived in the museum too before he transferred to the New Jersey branch of the OPD (otherworld police department) If Boo was back at the museum, It would make sense if he knew they were headed here. But what didn't make sense is why he told someone to follow them.

Boo was acting really suspicious. He didn't want the police to investigate their apartment, he kept on asking the addresses, and now someone was following them. But if Aru wasn't sending the addresses, how did he know they were there?

'Think a little harder, Shah' She thought hard.

Her phone.

Her phone was hacked.





Okay. This took some time to write, but basically they're one step closer to getting to the bottom of this.

And while you may think that the characters are dumb for not figuring out Boo was sus earlier, if you were this close to someone, you wouldn't suspect them either. That's why Aiden noticed that Navdeep was on his phone while Aru was called by The Sleeper but didn't suspect anything because they were close.

But now the plot is kind of thickening.

What do you think?

-Loife