“So? I know something happened this afternoon. Did I miss something?” Zed said.

Avril snorted. Zed never missed a detail. He was tens of meters away from Avril. How could he have noticed? Avril wasn't even sure the gossip had reached Zed's ears that quickly. Who knows what other gossip the students of Los Angeles Senior High School were talking about?

“How did you know?” asked Avril.

“You folded your face earlier on the field. I also saw Sydney looking upset,” said Zed.

“Do you have eagle eyes?” asked Avril.

Zed shrugged his shoulders. “I am indeed as strong as an eagle. Don't change the subject, A!”

Avril took a bite of her mint ice cream. The cold sensation of ice cream and mint mixed and pleasantly melted inside Avril's mouth. Well, it seemed that Avril couldn't hide anything from Zed at all. He was too sensitive and of course, smart.

“This afternoon, I helped Valerie. Do you know how the A class at school is now?” Avril said lazily.

“Yes! There are a lot of rumors about them,” Zed said.

“Exactly! Well, earlier, someone was bothering Valerie in the corridor. I helped him and Val blamed me for it because it all started in the cafeteria,” Avril said in a weakened voice.

Zed clearly saw the light on Avril's face disappear. Seeing Avril's expression now reminded him of Avril in the park that day. Oh, my! Even though Avril didn't do anything wrong. Then, Zed ruffled Avril's head to get the girl's attention. Her eyes seemed to be signaling something but Zed was again weakened by the sight of Avril's eyes.

“You're not wrong, A! Take note of that. They reap what they do,” Zed said. “They're just immature and unwilling to accept their mistakes.”

“Really?” asked Avril.

Zed nodded. He glanced at Avril and smiled warmly. “Some people find it easier to blame others for what happens to them. They need a villain to make them better. Some don't care at all. Others are busy blaming themselves. Don't be the latter, A! It'll weigh you down!”

Zed's words hit home. Avril decided to eat her ice cream again. Avril needed to clear her head. Don't be the last, huh? The irony is that sometimes Avril is like that. It was easier for Avril to blame herself than to blame others.

“Are you composing a speech in your head?” Zed joked.

Avril snorted. “No, I'm not. I was thinking.”

“Oh, come on! With the sun setting before you, don't think too long! You're thinking about something you already know the answer to, A! Some people have to accept their own destiny” Zed continued.

Avril laughed this time. she glanced at Zed. The reflection of the setting sun was visible on her face. Her smile was warming. Zed had done it again. Why could Zed change Avril's mind and mood so quickly?

“With the sun setting before you, don't forget to eat your ice cream!” said Avril. Okay, that one didn't ring true at all. But, Avril didn't seem to care about that at all.

Zed smiled, revealing his small, flat white teeth. Does Zed have no flaws? Zed thought Avril was his sunset. With Avril in front of him, of course, Zed would forget about the ice cream. Avril was much more valuable than his ice cream.

“Well, I can't waste Mr. Bone's ice cream!” said Zed.

“Not at all!” Avril agreed.

The light dwindled and the sky began to darken. The sun began to set almost completely. All that remained was the tip of the sun. Avril looked over. Visitors to Venice Beach were already thinning out. Even Mr. Bone's ice cream truck had disappeared. Avril looked down at her ice cream. She had to finish two more scoops of ice cream.

“Don't rush!” said Zed. “I'll drive you.”

Avril was still unfamiliar with Zed's abilities but she nodded. “Alright!”

They were silent. But, both felt comfortable in each other's presence. The silence didn't suffocate them at all. If Avril had to choose to stay next to someone, she would choose Zed instead of Johanna. Oh, can Avril add Matt? Avril wasn't sure. Thinking of Matt, it had been 5 days since she had talked to Matt. Respecting Matt's world is quite difficult. Moreover, you only have one day a week.

“Tomorrow is Thursday, right?” said Avril.

Zed nodded. “You haven't gathered the material for the broadcast yet?”

Avril shook her head. “Not yet. I'll think about it later.”

Avril sighed. The day after tomorrow. Avril only had to endure one more day until she was free to chat with Matt. Maybe, Avril should think of things she could do with Matt. Welcoming the weekend with Matt was good too.

“Aren't you going to spend time with us again on Friday?” said Zed.

Avril was silent for a while but she nodded. “Yes! I have something to do. Don't look for me, Zed!”

Zed enjoyed his ice cream. Now, it was Zed who needed ice cream for himself. That was definitely not a good sign. Zed's mind drifted back to Monday's events. The man in the hoodie.

“I didn't have to look for you, A!” Zed said, trying to act normal. “I know you go to school. I saw you last Friday.”

Avril thought she had everyone fooled. At least that's what Avril thought. In fact, not even Johanna noticed at all that day. Johanna was the only one who knew that Avril had gone undercover last Friday. But, yes, Avril told her. Avril had no idea that there was one more person who knew her secret. Zed was even cooler for noticing Avril's presence alone.

“Are you sure?” asked Avril incredulously.

Zed shrugged his shoulders indifferently. His eyes watched Avril then nodded steadily. “I may sound crazy. But, yes, I'm 100% sure it's you. I was skeptical at first, but after we met in front of the main building of Los Angeles Senior High School, I was absolutely sure it was you.”