Atlas sent Aya home in a taxi just in time for his meeting with Mars at Canary Park.

  Meeting Arlo at Rolfe’s had been a shock. He hadn’t seen the other man since Mars had been on their team long ago.

  He had forgotten what they were called, something conquering? The name should have come to him but he had never been too involved with gaming.

  A chauffeur held the limo door open for him as he ducked his head to enter the car, speaking to Aya about his past with Mars made him breathe a little easier.

  It was no one’s fault what had happened, Mars ran off to pursue a life where he could not. She had always stood up for herself.

  Atlas leaned back against the plush interior of his car as it started moving.

  “Where to sir?” his driver asked.

  “Canary Park." Atlas said. He wanted to know what Mars had to say to him, this was the first time in ages they had the chance to speak in person. He would not miss it.

  ----------

  The taxi dropped Aya off at the apartment entrance where the girl first peered out the window for either Lydia or Fido to show up. She hadn’t seen them in a while but that didn’t mean the two of them were done with her.

  Aya met Mars at the front door of their soon to be former apartment locking up. The dark haired girl flashed her a smile and was about to say something when Aya grabbed her friend by the arm and pulled the door open, forcing Mars inside with her.

  “Aya? What the hell? I was just about to head out-”

  “I met Arlo at the bakery, he was looking for you. I told Atlas not to say anything.” Aya said all in one breath.

  Mars’s mouth snapped shut as she took in the information. She knew she’d been correct in assuming the tournament being held in Axen was just a ruse. Searching for her to work off the amount she’d fled with, but that wasn’t going to happen.

  “If you insist on going out just keep your eyes peeled for him, I’m pretty sure I pissed him off back there.” Aya said with a laugh, she walked over to the chair and took off the jacket, laying it on the couch.

  “What did you do?”

  “I threatened to beat him up. He’s such a rude guy! How were you ever friends with such an asshole.”

  “Who says I’m not an asshole myself, I just happen to like you.” Mars retorted in amusement. Aya turned to her with a deadpan stare.

  “Right?” Mars said nervously. “It was a long time ago, I’m not friends with that spineless worm.”

  Arlo was the only person in E.C Mars expected to have her back, but when the chips were down he chose Mateo over her. She shook her head in disgust. No, he was no friend of hers, and hunting her down made him her enemy.

  “He knows you’re in Axen by now, but I also think he won’t last long in this city carrying on the way he does.” Aya said flopping unto the couch after kicking off her shoes. “Man, all I want to do is play and sleep.”

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  “Shower first.” Mars said folding her arms and rethinking her plans to meet Atlas. He might have already been on his way to their spot.

  “What are you thinking about?” Aya mumbled.

  “If going out is worth it, we only have one more night here.” Mars said, staring at her phone.

  “Well if someone’s looking for you I’d say stay in as much as you can, but I have a feeling you’re going to see Atlas.”

  Mars looked up from her phone in shock.

  “How did you know?”

  “It’s not that hard for me to put two and two together you know. We spent most of our meet up discussing your relationship.” Aya grinned.

  “Did he tell you who I really was?”

  “Yeah, the heir to the Seelim bus and logistics company.” Aya said rolling over on the couch. She noticed Mars’s pensive face, knowing her friend was going to ask how Aya felt about the knowledge she had gained.

  “And how do you feel about it?” Mars asked quietly. If she was nervous, Mars didn’t show it at all. She kept an unwavering expression as she asked. Internally her heart drummed against her chest. What would Aya think of a run away rich girl out in the world?

  Would she look down on Mars for giving up a comfortable life and a family while she had none of those things? The thought of Aya breaking off their friendship over her past troubled her. But it was a possibility she had to face.

  ‘Nothing lasts forever.’

  Mars braced herself for harsh words, steeling her heart she knew it would come to this. People would never be able to look past her exterior and her family name.

  The harsh words never came.

  “Mars you’re my friend, my best friend in fact. Why should a shady past mean anything?” Aya hopped off the couch and slung her arms around Mars’s neck. “I understand why you didn’t say it, it’s not like you have much ties to your family now.”

  “I don’t.” Mars said. Aya shrugged.

  “Then why would I feel like anything’s changed? You’re the same Mars whose boxes I knocked over the first time we met.” Aya grinned and placed a hurried kiss on Mars’s cheek. She let go of her and started walking towards her room to change.

  “You should probably wear a hat, like a really big one if you decide to go out.” Aya called from the room.

  Mars touched her face where Aya’s lips connected and smiled. Now her heart beat fast for a different reason.

  Of course, the silly girl wouldn’t end their friendship over such a thing. Aya’s heart was too big, and now Mars felt stupid for ever doubting the kind of person Aya was.

  “Do you want to wear my frogger hat?” Aya asked from her room, she returned with a comical large green hat topped with felt frog eyes. She presented the item to Mars with a wide grin, waiting for the girl to respond.

  Mars stared at Aya’s face then at the frog hat with her lip lifted in disgust at the garish color and eyes held up by cheap piping. It was nothing she would ever have worn back in Evangels.

  “You don’t have to look at frogger like that!” Aya whined, scrunching her face in offense. Mars laughed and reached for the hat.

  “No, no, I’ll wear it.” Mars said grabbing the item from Aya’s hands and dumping it on her head. It was larger than she expected but the hat did a good job of obscuring her face. Maybe the best disguise was something she wouldn’t have ever worn back then.

  “Yay!” Aya said clapping her hands. “Good luck and tell Atlas thank you for the donuts.”

  “I hope you have enough room for dinner.” Mars said with a frown. She couldn’t let Atlas outdo her when it came to taking care of Aya, what kind of best friend would that make her?

  “I always have room for dinner.” Aya said puffing her chest out with a matter of fact tone.

  “Good, I’ll be back and taking the key, don’t play Moon Valley too long or else.”

  Aya stuck her tongue out, prompting Mars to flick her forehead.

  “Ow!”

  Mars smirked then took the chance to plant a kiss on Aya’s forehead. Aya gasped, looking up at Mars who was already turning to head out the door.

  “Just returning the favor.”