We were sitting at our clearing by the waterfall waiting for James... as always so we could set up the tents. I lay down and look at the sky. Wyatt nudges me. "So did you actually find you mate and didn't want to say it in front of Lee and Landon?"
I nodded. "Yea, one would laugh and the other will be surprised... I think."
Wyatt intertwined our fingers as to comfort me. "S-so who is it."
I turn my head towards him and gave him a small smile. "I'll give you one guess."
He took a while to think and then he spoke. "L-Landon?"
I nodded my head once again. "Yea, it's Landon.".
Then he laid down beside me with a sigh. I put my head on his arm to use it as a pillow while still facing him. "So what will you do now?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, he said that he would reject me. When James told everybody I had a crush."
He then started to stroked my hair in a calming way. "What did you say after that?"
I sat up on my forearms and he did the same. "I said it first and then when he said it, all I did was scoff. I didn't know that it was going to become true, what if he does reject me you heard all the story's the elders tell... a couple of them say they've seen it multiple times."
He then gave me a sympathetic look and wiped a tear that somehow slipped away without me noticing. "I know I know, let's just hope he doesn't."
I sniffled for a couple of minuets and then we heard a rustle in the bushes. We sit up fully and looked towards the direction of the noise. And the one to come out is the one and only one late... James with most of our gear.
*Landon's POV*
"You know, I know you have a crush on my little sister right?"
I look over at Lee who is eating his share of the French toast. "How do you know, I could just be messing around. and you know that I know that you are hiding something... I'm still not sure what it is yet but I will find out."
He looks at me dead in the eyes. "Your kidding right, I've known you once we were little I know the signs when you like someone or something plus she is the only girl that you have had feelings for since the 4th grade... and yes I've known since then and not 7th grade." he just avoided my suspicion and just continued to talk about my crush... I tried to hide that so well but I guess I didn't... for the most part... now back to the matter at hand, he dodged my question which means he is hiding something and he's been very timid and silent which is unlike him. whatever is happening I don't like it and I want my best friend back and I will help him through whatever is going on to make sure that happens.
I chuckle while eyeing him closely, what could he possibly hiding. "Yeah same here, please tell me you aren't going to tell her. I mean come on the bro code... which you almost broke last time, and also how the hell did you see past it, I tried to keep it from you so much."
It was his turn to chuckle. "I won't, but if somehow you end up with my sister I will have to threaten you a little not to break her heart, and like I said I'm your best friend I know everything about you although I still don't know why you kept it from me for 3 years."
I shrugged, if only I could have her I'd treat like a queen but she doesn't like me, and to her, I'm her older brothers best friend who is a rude playboy and is soon to be the alpha of the pack and so I kept up that image but I always promised to myself that if I ever made her mine I'd treat her like a queen. Give her anything she desires but sadly if someone else were to take her I would just admire her from afar as I have always done, for she is my one and only love and it will always stay like that no matter who my mate ends up being. "Yea but how do you know that we will even end up together. You know your sister. She won't date anyone unless it's her mate and besides today is her birthday so if she was meant to be mine I'm sure she would have done something already and also because back then you were older, taller, and a little bit bigger then me, and besides back then I was sure the crush would fade because she would treat me like the rest of the kids at some point, but she didn't and it took me 3 years to realize that she would always treat me like the others and that's when I knew i had fallen for her and fallen for her hard, and as my best friend I knew you'd find out at some point but was hoping that it would have been me to tell you but turns out it wasn't technically."
He gives me a small smile "Now that's one thing I cant tell you... for the time being, but at least you know that you really love her and that you might have a chance... for all you know she could be holding off till you make a move or till your birthday, besides what would you have done if she only saw you as a friend so, therefore, didn't want to be your mate?"
I take the last bite and put my plate in the sink, and turned back to my best friend. "um, I'm not entirely sure... I mean if I would have found out first I probably would have just protected her from afar until her birthday then I would have spent the whole day away, but the day or the night before I'd left, I'd have left a note explaining everything since the moment I found out, and if I knew that if she thought of me as a friend I would have explained that I wanted her to have her birthday be as good as it can be so that when I came back we'd decide how we would handle the whole situation whether it be to try as mates, or accept being mates but instead of acting like them continue how it had always been, or if we'd reject each other."
He looked down at his feet and sighed and mumbles. "So, that's how you'd have done it... I guess that's better then what I thought of."
Ok, what is this secret of his, or what is he hiding that's making him like this... I hate seeing him like this. "So what IS this little secret of yours... you've been more timid and quiet lately.... and you don't do timid or quiet."
Before he could answer Mrs. Jackson walks in. "Landon dear, can you be a doll and find Sapphire and tell her its time to get ready I'm sure she's at that waterfall setting up for their camping trip... but tonight's party is more important. Also, grab James every time we find him he gets away and he needs to get ready too." I nodded and made my way toward the door.
On my way out of the kitchen, I saw James rushing and mumbling "Shit I'm late again Saph is so going to kill me."
I stopped him before he got too far. "Hey, do you know where Sapphire is?"
He arches an eyebrow. "Yea... Why? Are you looking for her?"
I nodded. "Yea, her mom told me to fetch her… and to catch you."
He chuckled and motioned me to follow so we both waved at Lee who was looking away by the time we were turning around. "Bye Lee, and we WILL be discussing this later."
All he did was clear his throat and waved back while still not looking at us... weird. "All right let's go before the three moms kill us for making them wait." and with that, we left.
When we got there I could hear their conversation. "S-so who is it?" it was Saph and Wyatt, and my guess they are talking about her mate so obviously I was interested in what was coming next. My heartbeat started to quicken and then when she answered my name it made my heart skipped a beat. What can I say I love her, and now I find out she's my mate AND I found out before my birthday... I'm so happy right now I don't think anything could ruin it, I'm also sure I couldn't have waited that long to find out. "So what will you do now?"
"I don't know, he said that he would reject me. After James told everybody I had a crush."
"Well, what did you say after that?"
"I said it first and then when he said it all I did was scoff. I didn't know that it was true, what if he does reject me? You heard all the story's the elders tell... a couple of them say they've seen it multiple times." My poor little saph I didn't actually mean it when I said it, it was sort of a reflex... I could never hurt you... I guess I'll do what Lee suggested and make the first move... TONIGHT.
I turned towards James not bothering to hear the rest and using mind link I said: "Hey can you tell her that her mom told YOU to get her and don't mention I was here."
James nodded. "Yeah sure, let me guess it's because you found out who your mate is before your birthday and you don't want her to know that you know already?"
I nodded. "Yea, so I'm just going to go, and don't forget to come back otherwise I will feel the wrath of them because I didn't bring you both back."
I went to turn and run back but before I could he grabbed my shoulder. "You better not reject her, one thing I do know is that Sapphire has been dreaming of who her mate will be, and no matter who he'd be, he would at least accept her and be there for even if he doesn't want to be."
I nodded. "Did you forget that I had a crush on her since the 4th grade?"
James arched an eyebrow. "Dude you were the first one I told since her brother would have killed me back then."
He thought for a moment and then his mouth formed an o shape. "Oh okay, so does this mean you won't reject her?"
I shrugged. "I wasn't planning on it but if she decides to reject me first then I don't know what will come."
this time he sighed. "She may hate you but I think at the moment she's afraid you will reject her." "Trust me I won't. Can I leave now?" I said pointing back towards the packhouse.
He nodded. "Yea I'll try to throw them off."
"Thanks and don't tell her I was here." He nodded for the last time and then I left with a spring in my step. This is going to be a good day