ARMANI
"How did your visit with Siren go? What did she say about Emerson?"
I looked up from my breakfast, watching my mother as she pulled a chair back to take a seat at the dining table. "You're talking to me now?"
"Don't act like you didn't deserve it. What you said to Emerson was uncalled for."
I dropped my gaze back to my food. "It was for her own good."
"That's what you've been saying, but I'm curious, son. How is hurting her for her own good?"
"I want her to stay away."
She huffed like that was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. "You weren't holding your end of that yesterday, were you?"
I narrowed my eyes into slits. "What did Siren tell you yesterday?"
"Other than the way you cradled her against your chest like she was the most precious thing you'd ever set your eyes on, everything."
I knew I shouldn't have trusted her to keep her mouth shut. Sure, she might not tell the media, but I found her telling my mother even worse.
"Including the pill situation?"
The easy smile on Mom's face fell off. "I've known about that for, say, two weeks now? I'm sorry, son."
As much as I loved my family, I didn't want their sympathy. "It's not your fault. You have nothing to be sorry about."
Mom reached for my hand across the table, her delicate fingers covering mine. "Are you sure you want to take the death route?"
"I'm not endangering Emerson's life, Mom. She doesn't deserve it."
I was a selfish motherfucker, but I wasn't that selfish. I couldn't take her life away from her because I wanted to live.
Understanding dawned in her eyes. "That's why you were awful to her. You don't want her to save you because you don't want her to get hurt."
"That and I know the whole of Draconix will have high expectations of her."
"I hate to admit this, but you're right."
"One thing they've failed to understand is that she isn't Enya. So, what if she looks like her? I understand why Darren and Emily kept her away all these years."
"Oh, honey, I'm not mad at them. I also understand them. They felt the same way I feel whenever I look at you. My little bean is going through a lot, and there's nothing I can do to help him. I know I might sound a little selfish for this, but I'm hoping you and Emerson work this out, and she tames you instead of you choosing death."
"I think every parent in your shoes would feel the same. It doesn't make you a bad person. Selfish, yes, but who isn't?"
"True. Let's brush the heavy topic aside. I talked to your aunt, and she said we shouldn't focus on the end, but rather on the memories we can create until the end."
That sounded a lot like what Emerson had said to me last night.
Focus on the in-between and create memories with your family.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I don't think that is a good idea."
I didn't want to leave them with more things that reminded me of them. That would only cause them more pain when I was finally gone. It was the same reason I never tried to form connections with people outside the people I considered my family.
"Why not? Siren is right. If the roles were reversed and I was the one facing the same thing you are, wouldn't you want to spend as much time with me as possible?"
Well, when she put it like that, I saw the point they were trying to make, but that didn't mean I was budging on the subject.
"I say you explore this thing with Emerson. If there's an afterlife, having memories of her wouldn't exactly suck."
I smiled indulgently at my mother. "And leave her with a broken heart? That defeats the entire purpose of not wanting to hurt her, Mom."
"Well, that purpose sucks. Besides, what makes you think she'd give you a heart to break at all?"
"If Emerson and I get together, she's going to end up with a broken heart."
Emerson was the type of girl who wouldn't consider dating a person if she didn't have feelings for them, and if she decided to date me, it would be because she felt something.
Mom snorted. "Cocky much?"
"Nope," I said, popping the 'p'. "Learned a few tricks from my old man that is sure to make any woman fall in love."
Mom nodded in agreement. "Xander is an amazing man. Just when I thought he couldn't get any better, he had to be an amazing father, too."
That he was.
"Maybe you two can start working on another baby for Lachlan, yeah?" I teased, relishing in the embarrassment that crossed Mom's face. I backed away from the table because I didn't trust her not to swat at me.
Mom narrowed her eyes at me. "Leave my castle, Armani!"
"Say no more, mother dearest."
"Love you, son."
"I love you, too!" I called over my shoulder.
***
"How do you show a girl you're sorry after fucking up?" I asked, getting astounded looks from the twins.
"This is about Emerson, isn't it?" Cheryl asked with a knowing smile. "I heard you were a bitch to her on Saturday."
Damien smirked. "I believe I said asshole, but bitch does work."
"Could you guys stop laughing at my expense?" I asked when they all burst into laughter. "I'm being serious here."
"I think this is more up North's alley. He's a ladies' man," Damien said.
Cheryl huffed. "North, my ass. You should ask me. I am a girl."
"Considering the fact that I know women like the back of my palm, I'd say I'm qualified for the job, so stop being sore and let me give my boy some advice."
"Sure, North," Cheryl said with a sweet smile that didn't match the murderous look in her eyes. "Go on, wise one."
North took a bow. "Thank you, your gracious."
"Isn't it 'your grace'?" Cheryl asked with a raised brow.
Damien cackled. "He's the dumber twin. Don't fault him."
"Says the guy who won't man up and own up his feelings to the girl he's been pining on for over a decade," North shot back. "Yeah, I'd rather be dumb than be a pussy."
It didn't go unnoticed to me that Damien had a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on his face, confirming North's words. My brows bunched up together in confusion. He never mentioned a girl in the past. Who was this girl that had Damien at a loss for words against his brother?
"Really?" Cheryl asked, wiggling her brows at Damien. "Who's the unlucky girl?"
"You," North replied, and this time, Damien's soul might as well have left his body. The fucker paled to a sickly shade of white
"Very funny, North." Cheryl waved him off, clearly not believing what North said. "Be honest. I thought we were friends. Who's this girl? Do I know her?"
"Yeah… " North started to answer, but Damien jabbed his elbow into the former's ribs.
"Drop it, North," he said through gritted teeth.
I could only smile to myself. North wasn't joking around for the first time in his life. He looked genuinely frustrated when Damien asked him to shut up, confirming everything North just said; Damien had the hots for Cheryl, and she had no idea.
"Why don't we go back to discussing Armani's little problem?" Damien asked in a bid to distract North.
That worked like magic. North turned to face me with a grin on his face. "How are your letter-writing skills?"
Cheryl burst into laughter. "And that, boys, is why I'm out. It's a complete recipe for disaster."
"Why don't we make a bet?" North said with a smug grin. "If my plan works, you'll announce to the whole school that you don't have the hots for Armani like they think."
"And if I win?" Cheryl asked with a cocky smirk of her own.
"I get to be your bitch for a week straight."
Cheryl clapped her hands in excitement. "Wonderful. Get ready, North. You're going to be my bitch for the whole of next week. You have the rest of this week."
"What about you?" Damien asked.
Cheryl patted his cheek. "Oh, baby, I only need one day to tie everything together. Get ready to be blown out of the water."
She turned on her heels, strutting down the hallway with the confidence only Cheryl Smith could muster.
Damien chuckled. "Yeah, he's fucked."
***
EMERSON
I walked down the empty hallway, oblivious to my surroundings. I was taking my sweet time to get my ass into class because I knew I was going to get a stern talking-to from Mrs. Briggs. I woke up late, so I skipped the whole first period. Sue me.
Since I started at Sotsyce Academy, I never had to set an alarm. Armani's nightmares did the trick, but surprisingly, I got none yesternight, so I overslept.
I was glad for the rest, but I was curious as to how the entire thing stopped. Did Armani do something to block that after I told him we shared nightmares, or did they go away on their own?
Knowing the way Armani was, I was leaning more toward the former. Nightmares didn't just miraculously stop.
I'd ask him about it, but I didn't want to make it seem like I sought him out every little chance I got. That screamed desperate to me, and that wasn't a picture of myself I wanted to paint to the world.
I stopped by my locker to grab a textbook when a hand clamped down on my shoulder. I jumped out of my skin drawing laughter out of my 'attacker'.
"Cheryl?" I yanked the earbuds out of my ear. "Why the hell would you do that?"
She desperately fought back her laughter. "Sorry. I wanted to see if you were scared easily."
"Who doesn't?"
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Did you need something?"
She beamed at me, draping an arm over my shoulder. "As a matter of fact, I do."