Chris
Early Christmas morning, there was a knock on the door. Louis opened because I had a miserable baby in my arms. When Kubra and Jack walked in, all our faces fell; it was time to decide what would happen in the future; the time had come to discuss Marcus and Louis returning to En-gannim. Warden also came trailing in, taking Caleb from me; I didn't know where he took him, but I was thankful to have a few minutes without trying to console the kid. He would not stop crying since he woke up after Michael pushed him into my arms.
Marcus hadn't seen Kubra since the fight, and they pound-hugged, spoke in their own language, and patted each other on the back. We invited them in, and they sat around the table.
"Who is the new ambassador since Asher died?" I asked, curious to know what our repercussions were.
Kubra didn't look up. My eyes met Jack's, who was waiting for Kubra to speak. Both had been watchers for two hundred years. Even though Louis and Jack didn't know each other, Jack knew everything about Louis, and I guessed about all of us. What they must talk about when alone. "Kubra's father is here for the interim and the foreseeable future," Jack finally said.
"Jabin? Isn't he—" Marcus asked but didn't finish his sentence. Kubra nodded; I figured it wasn't good news for us. We were cautious when we spoke—about anything.
"The surveillance will be even worse now… Although I'm still doing all I can to manipulate the feed. I don't think my father will sit and watch you all day long."
I sighed in relief, and Marcus matched my feelings. "Have you been editing the feed?" Marcus sounded almost desperate.
Kubra bobbed his head, "The finger-sucking thing… Yeah, and other times... where you gave yourself away…" Marcus got up and pulled him into an embrace. "She hasn't really changed, has she."
Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "If we go back, we have to follow their rules. We will have some control over Juliet. No one will be able to touch her unless she's locked up when we're not looking," Marcus said, sitting down again.
"Marcus… You're nowhere near ready," Louis countered, fearful of Marcus's blind trust in his capabilities. "Look, going back there isn't even an option… If we do, she'll run. Michael let me know in so many words. We will literally never find her again. She will make Caleb disappear and never leave her invisible state until he's Five hundred."
"What you don't understand, Louis, is you have to choose who the villain in our story will be. If we're here… we will be looking over our shoulder anyway. I'd rather not want my father as an enemy."
"You're thinking long term. I'm thinking about an eighteen-year-old who will lose her s—!" Louis pointed at me, and Marcus met my eye. It was true on so many levels. Juliet had not come back yet, and we didn't even know if she would.
"If we don't split up, it will be complicated for them," I offered.
Marcus jumped to his feet with a huff. It was frustrating; we couldn't all sit down and discuss every detail anymore. After the fiasco with Sita, Samuel told us we should not talk about anything relating to our futures or go off to secluded places in the mountains like we've been doing the past year. It didn't really matter; we didn't even have all the variables or know who we were dealing with.
***
Michael
I went over to the window and stood outside, peering in, hoping she would be in the bar. It was crowded, the people were dancing, and the girls were jumping up and down in a group. Then I saw her, hair bouncing… drunk as a fish. I stood there watching for a few minutes like I had all my life from the outside, looking in. I couldn't help smiling; she was and always would be a little crazy… My feelings for her had gone from… longing to see her again… to… a need to be a part of her life. It was hot in there… she had barely anything on… The way she was dancing, asking me to take off the little that was left… The other women stood rallied around her, singing songs and doing shots. Her French was good, and she kept up.
I opened the door; the whole room paused, the music loud in the background as the chatter ceased. Everyone stared at me; I gave a little wave. Juliet yelled loudly in French, "The stripper is here." The crowd went nuts, even the guys. I was tired after hiking for two hours… Ran around looking for her some more, nevertheless, her energy was infectious. She bounced over, poured a shot into my mouth, and wanted to kiss me; I wasn't there yet, and strangely, she had never been offended by my lack of commitment. However, there would be a punishment: hanging her out to dry; she rallied the crowd to chant for me—they wanted me to strip—it would be the cost… The thought was playing around in my mind… to indulge her. I had done some stupid stuff in my youth… I wouldn't see those people again. Soon, everyone would be dead anyway… I liked dancing. She lifted her arms, clapping for me, and the crowd joined her. What the hell is wrong with people? I'm covered in tattoos.
The crowd separated to the outskirts of the room and made a space for me in the middle. Juliet took off my jacket and hung it up at the door, bent down, and undid my laces; I stepped out of them and ended up in slacks and a vest. I pulled her into the center of the room and pushed her down onto a chair I had pulled out from under some guy. She smiled so wickedly at me—it fueled me to give her what she wanted—fun… I went to the DJ and played her favorite song on my phone.
I stood facing her, wiping my nose with my index finger and thumb, waiting for the music to start. She opened her legs and sat like a guy would, beer in hand; it made me laugh. When the music suddenly came to life…I stretched out my arm and held out my hand to her, asking for permission first… so I could enter her space. She accepted my invitation. I held her hand for a moment, slowly gliding my finger up her arm… continuing further over her shoulder, neck, and down the other arm, circling her and coming back around. I kept watching her while I hovered over her lap, grinding slowly to the beat of the music. Juliet's eyes were all over me. I lowered my head, smelling her neck. I moved away from her, letting my hands slide over her naked thighs until our faces were inches apart, teasing her for a kiss.
Slowly, I stood up, rocking in that body-roll strippers used while taking off my shirt. I danced fluently, falling on the floor and humping away as she laughed like she's never laughed before. All I could do was be happy with her and not let her look away from me, touching her as I moved around her. For three minutes, she had me dancing, stripping, and performing to a crowd of strangers, jiggling my body out to the other ladies. Her reactions were so spot on; every part of me focused only on her. I knew what she liked and what buttons to push. I ended up in only my trunks in front of her. She would kill me if I took off my underwear.
The song ended. I pulled her up roughly onto my chest, breathing heavily onto her lips, "Ready to go home."
She nodded, "For that… Oh man, I owe you big time!"
I got dressed, my mind full of ideas for making her pay… She put on pants and a blazer. I got her coat and covered her, reached into the pockets, and handed her the gloves she had pushed in there. I picked her up and flung her over my shoulder, carrying her out against everyone's protests. She waved and yelled a chant. The group all clapped as we left… the party carried on.
Juliet wriggled off me; I let her go and dropped her slowly in front of me. She still staggered… being a little drunk and slurry when she spoke. It was freezing, yet she didn't move, looking up at me, finally reaching on her toes and pressing her lips on mine. My eyes closed. I allowed it for the first time since being at the farm… You could barely call it a kiss… We had done everything but really kiss passionately… like lovers do. I didn't want to cross that line of intimacy with her; we weren't going to last. I was afraid for so many reasons. If I did kiss her… I was done for.
Her tongue begged me to open my mouth; fingers tugged gently on my chin to let go. Lost in the way she smelled and the taste I was getting from her persuasions… I tilted my head slightly and parted my lips. A soft gasp escaped her mouth. I was letting her into my world… just a little bit more. My hands wrapped her in an embrace as I pulled her closer. The kiss got more and more intense as the moments passed; moaning, our lips played with each other until her body shook from the cold. I gently pushed her away; she didn't want to let me go. "Let's take this party indoors… okay?" She nodded drunkenly at me.
The house wasn't far from the town. Inside, we made a b-line for her room, put the air on, and pushed a button for the fire. We both jumped under the duvet. She found me quickly and warmed herself against me. "How long?" she asked, a little more sober.
"Two days." Juliet lay there staring up at the roof in my arms, waiting… I got on top of her, brushing my lips against hers, waiting, asking for permission as she did earlier. Her hands ran into my hair and gripped a fistful, pulling me closer, devouring me… and I let her, giving her every part of me. Straddling me, she pushed me over and under her to take control on top… and I let her. Two days. Two whole days.
In Samuel's house, the spot you could teleport from was in the foyer of the home. Juliet and I were staring at one another for what seemed like an eternity. One of us was going to have to end this, and she had no plans to be the one who ended us, "Okay… You ready?" I asked before I begged her to stay and disappear.
"Fake it till you make it."
"That's my little Juliet." She was holding my hand, not even remarking on my words; that's how I knew she was scared.
"I hate it when you call me that."
I pulled her closer and enveloped her mouth with mine—one last time. "I…"
"Don't… Please," she begged.
"That's not what I wanted to say…." We were standing lips to lips, speaking while our mouths came together.
"Then what?" she whispered.
"You owe me."
She chuckled, "I know… what do you want me to do right now, though?"
"Marry me… human certificate and all."
Her lips pressed together in a surprised, thoughtful smile. She was quiet for a second, our foreheads touching. My hands cupped her cheeks. She turned her head and kissed my palm... The gesture was as good as a yes, and I picked her up, wordlessly expressing my happiness. "You will have to wait, " we both laughed.
"I'll wait as long as I have to… So it's a date? You want me in your life?"
She nodded.
I pressed the button, and we emerged outside in the snow. It was early, and we could hear Caleb crying. Her soft little hand gripped tightly into my calloused hand. I gave her a minute… When she let go, I left.
***
Juliet
"Sheese Michael... You coward." I gave another little laugh thinking about his striptease; he was anything but a coward. Best two months of my life. Taking in a deep breath, I had to steel myself. I took the stairs slowly, not wanting to fall. Pulling the handle down, I pushed open the door.
My mom had Caleb in the living room, trying to soothe him—nothing worked. He was wailing—inconsolable. I walked over and took him from her. She was dumbfounded to see me. I sat down, already irritated to be back. I pulled up my shirt and put him on my breast. He was quiet and sucked like a champ, "Hi, buddy. You good? You didn't like the bottle?"
Mom sat down across from me, staring—not saying a word; she knew when my face was that contorted to step away. I didn't feel like dealing. The quiet made all the men come out of their rooms. From the corner of my eye, I saw the figures behind me. "Leave!" The quiet behind me was deafening as they hesitantly shuffled around. I eventually turned when my mom shooed them, and they slowly retreated. "And I want my room back… Now that Charlene is out… Make it happen. Get Caleb's crib in there. I'm not going up and down those stairs every time he wakes up."
There was a scurry behind me. I heard the furniture move and them talking and going in and out of rooms. After about twenty minutes, I put Caleb on the other breast. My mom had sat back in her chair and closed her eyes. Was she sleeping? What the hell? I thought Chris was going to be needed for this. Why were they not bonding?
Caleb's mouth dislodges off my nipple, "You fell asleep... So sweet. Now you're the only guy in this place who loves me… Right?" I took the burp cloth from the chair and put him on my shoulder, rubbing his little back.
My dad came over and stroked my hair, "Hello, Julie. How are you?" I smiled sweetly up at him. He went over to Mom and rubbed his knuckles over her cheek.
"How do you feel, Grandpa?" he looked at Caleb, and his chin quivered. He was getting all choked up, "I'm so proud of you, Juliet. He's the best. I am so happy for you."
The words warm my heart. "Well, maybe not the only guy," I whisper to Caleb. He picked up Mom and carried her down the hall. I hugged Caleb as I kept patting him, smiling, thinking about the previous night's drinking games Michael and I played and how drunk we got.
I walked to the kitchen, took a beer, and threw a rug over Caleb. We made our way outside down the road to Charlene's. Knocking on her door, I waited, quickly glancing back up at the house. I saw three pairs of eyes on me; I stuck out my tongue at them, and then Charlene pulled me inside. We hug for so long. She stared at Caleb while clinging to me. I kissed her cheek, "It's going to be alright, Chars… Don't worry." She nodded tearily.
We went and sat down on the carpet in front of the fire. Caleb was all burped out, so I put him down on the rug. If he had been crying for so long, he would be out for hours. I finished my beer quickly and finally breathed out the breath I had been holding for the last hour. With closed eyes, I groaned up at the roof. I couldn't get off that Michael high. I heard voices behind me. The whole crowd was there. Happy to see them, I jumped over the couch, hugging them all.
"Where is my little girl?" Ben handed her over. I walked around the couch and sat down with Miné holding my finger. "You are so pretty… Just like your mommy." The guys came and sat around us, looking at Caleb and checking him out as he slept for the dead.
"So what does a girl gotta do to get a drink around here?" Mateo jumped up and went to the kitchen. "Beer, please." He brought me my favorite, and I smiled up at him, "Thank You."
"You still owe me an apology," Mateo quipped.
"Never. It was too funny."
Charlene dissected me with her piercing stare, "Juliet! Come on… You were gone for so long… We didn't think you would come back."
"Hey, I had no say in the matter. Taken. And no, never. I love you all too much. Just because—" I couldn't finish the sentence. My breathing was already ragged. I thought I would be over it—I wasn't. No kidding, Juliet. Stupid Juliet was back. Michaels's words echo in my head. 'Why don't you sort that out.' I had been racking my brain; how did I keep us all together with the crap storm coming? "What happened? Did they sign the papers?" I asked, trying to get off the subject.
"Of course." I sighed with relief, closing my eyes. I let my head rest back on the couch. "Did you really think they would take you back there?"
"To be honest, I doubted Marcus until a second ago."
Back on topic.
"Is that why you didn't come home… Marcus?" she snorted, "You've got it bad."
I laughed lightly as our eyes locked, "I… I'm screwed." We burst out laughing, and the guys joined in, listening and probably knowing what was going on. "Well, I figured out what we will do tomorrow, Pinky."
"What brain?"
"Fighting… We have to fight."
Charlene groaned, laying her head back. We both stared up at the roof, "Really? I was hoping it would be good news… Like all the aliens will go home and never come back. We could've been happy." I looked at Ben and pointed to the kitchen. He brought Charlene the same as me. She downed a big gulp.
"So, are you going back with Ben? What's going on between you guys? You know, maybe they will have something for you on their planet?"
Ben came over and sat behind her, rubbing her shoulders, "I think it's good getting into fighting. On my planet, all our women are warriors… And we haven't lost a fight against the vampires yet," Ben said. Mateo cleared his throat. Inwardly, I laughed. All of us were being tossed around in the ocean of waves of our new lives. Ben changed the subject, "We're together… together—ship and all. I moved in a month ago. I help with Miné. Help wash clothes, clean, cook anything she needs," he kept massaging her shoulders.
Charlene smiled so happily I had to lean forward, "Chomping at the bit…." I flashed eyebrows at her. We clunked our bottles. "Congratulations." Then I did the same with his. Ben had done a one-eighty. Usually, he would say nothing and be distant. I was glad my mom and I were right about him.
After a few hours, Caleb stirred, and I picked him up, "I'll see you bright and early." I pulled Charlene into an embrace, "I missed you so much. I want to spend as much time with you and Miné as possible."
The guys were finishing the last round of cards we were playing. I greeted them all, and they all got up to hug me. I pulled my hood over my head and covered Caleb with his rug.
Outside, when I was alone, I stood there for a moment. White soft flakes fell around me; I lifted my face up into the icy air, sticking out my tongue as I tried to catch some. Love is a decision. The choice is mine, yet I love him so much it hurts. It had been so long. Could we really meet again? I wanted to behave and not be angry, but he was in the house… in my space… Carefully, I walked the rest of the way.
Inside, it was dark and quiet. I walked past Marcus's door and stopped. I slapped it loudly, whispering, "Ignorant ass." I was sure he wouldn't open for me. I waited... nothing. It killed me that there was never a response. I stood away from the door, hearing something. I looked left and right, seeing nothing unusual, and then looked up to scan the roof. I shook my head, remembering what Michael said… Marcus's behavior was all for me… I didn't want to hurt anymore, and I didn't understand his behavior. What did I have to hold onto when I thought of Marcus. I rested my head on the door and ran my hand softly over the wood. "I want you so bad," I whispered and left, going into my own room; I closed and locked the door. I put Caleb on the bed, got undressed, and fed him.
For the first time in months, I put my phone on. Chris's name popped up. I couldn't remember giving him my number… I couldn't face any of them just yet.
I went to Marcus's number and sent a voice note.
Me [ "Charlene and I are training tomorrow morning early. If you want to help." ] I pressed send.
Ten minutes later, he sent me a message back. Ten freaking minutes…
Marcus { A couch, a book, a head massage emoji, and a few question marks. }
Me [ "Sorry, Marcus… Not anymore." ] I pressed sent.
Marcus { Sad emoji face. }
I threw the phone on the bed, "What the F—!" I picked it up again:
Me { You're too hot and cold. Choose one! }
Marcus: { Sad emoji face. }
It was cute that he was sending anything.