As Aeliana excused herself from the table, I was left alone with my parents, Thalia and Lucie. The comfortable, playful atmosphere we'd had during dinner faded, replaced by a more serious tension.
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "Alright, what's the real reason you're here?" I asked, my tone sharp. They rarely visited just to check in; there was always an agenda.
Thalia, with her striking red and white hair and ever-present aura of authority, leaned forward. "Ciara, we're worried about you," she began, her voice soft but firm. Lucie, with her kind green eyes and soft blond hair, nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring Thalia's concern.
"Worried?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I'm fine. I have everything under control."
Lucie sighed, reaching across the table to touch my hand. "Sweetheart, one-night stands and casual flings might seem satisfying, but they're not enough. You deserve more—something real, something lasting."
I pulled my hand away, feeling a spike of irritation. "And who says I want something 'real' or 'lasting'? Casual is easy. No attachments, no complications. It's perfect."
Thalia shook her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That's just it, Ciara. You're hiding behind that 'no attachments' façade. You're afraid of getting hurt, so you don't let anyone in. But you're missing out on so much."
"Missing out?" I repeated, my voice rising. "On what? Heartbreak? Disappointment? No, thanks. I've seen what 'love' does to people. It makes them weak, vulnerable."
Lucie sighed again, this time with a touch of sadness. "Ciara, not all love stories are tragic. Look at us." She glanced at Thalia, a soft smile on her lips. "We found each other, and it's been the best thing that ever happened to us."
Thalia's expression softened as she looked at Lucie, and for a moment, the tension lifted, replaced by a warm, loving silence between them. Then she turned back to me, her eyes serious. "Just give it a chance, Ciara. Kiss her, just once, and see. You might find that you can't get enough of her."
I felt my stomach twist at her words. The idea of Aeliana—perfect, beautiful Aeliana—in that context was unsettling. "That's bullshit," I muttered, standing up abruptly. "I've kissed plenty of people, and it's always the same. Nothing special."
Thalia and Lucie exchanged a glance, but they didn't press further. Thalia just gave me a long, searching look. "Just think about it," she said softly. "We want you to be happy."
I didn't respond. Instead, I walked out to the balcony, needing some air. The cool night breeze felt refreshing against my skin, but my mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. My parents' words echoed in my head, annoying and persistent. A kiss? Just one kiss, and everything would change? That sounded like a fairytale—completely unrealistic. I'd kissed plenty of people, and it was always just a physical thing, nothing more.
I teleported a cigarette into my hand, lighting it with a small burst of my purple fire magic. As I took a drag, the familiar burn in my throat was comforting. I stared out into the night, the city lights twinkling below. What did they know, anyway? They'd been lucky. Most people don't get that kind of love. It's not real. It's a fantasy.
But even as I tried to dismiss their words, I couldn't shake them. Was I really missing out on something? No, that was stupid. A kiss wouldn't change anything. I was sure of it. And yet...
The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps. I turned my head slightly and saw Aeliana approaching, looking a bit uncertain. She had this air of quiet determination, even when she wasn't sure of herself. It was... intriguing.
"What are you looking at?" I asked, my voice coming out low and husky, more than I intended. It was meant to sound casual, dismissive, but the way she looked caught me off guard.
Aeliana seemed embarrassed for a moment, which made me smirk. There was something oddly satisfying about knowing I had some effect on her, even if it was just a little. She walked over, frowning at the cigarette in my hand.
"You know, smoking is bad for your health," she said, crossing her arms. "You really shouldn't do it."
I raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile on my lips. "Oh, really? I hadn't noticed," I said sarcastically, blowing a puff of smoke into the air. "What are you, my mother?"
Aeliana scowled, clearly not amused. "I'm serious, Ciara. It's a terrible habit."
"Yeah, well, I'm full of terrible habits," I retorted, flicking the cigarette over the balcony railing. "Got any other life lessons you want to impart?"
She sighed, clearly exasperated. "You don't have to be so difficult all the time, you know. We're just trying to help you."
"Help me?" I laughed, though there was little humor in it. "By lecturing me about my bad habits? Thanks, but no thanks."
Aeliana shook her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're impossible," she muttered, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Do you always have to be this infuriating?"
"Only when I'm around people who think they know what's best for me," I shot back, though the words lacked their usual bite. There was something about this banter that felt... different. It wasn't like the usual snarky exchanges I had with people. There was a strange tension in the air, something unspoken but palpable.
As she stood there, her lips forming a slight pout, I couldn't help but notice how... inviting they looked.
It was a stupid thought, really. But it was there, and it wouldn't go away. I found myself wondering, just for a moment, what it would be like to kiss her. Would it be different? Would it mean something more?
Should I kiss her? The question hung in my mind, as absurd as it was persistent.
I stared at Aeliana, the tension between us crackling like electricity. My parents' words echoed in my mind, annoying and persistent. It was ridiculous, this idea of a kiss changing everything. But as I looked at her, standing there with that mix of defiance and concern, I couldn't deny that something was different.
Aeliana shifted, clearly uncomfortable under my gaze. Her eyes flicked to the ground, then back up to meet mine, and I could see the confusion in them. She wasn't used to seeing me like this, vulnerable and raw. Hell, I wasn't used to it either.
I took a step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel my pulse in my ears, and I wondered if she could hear it too. The night air was cool, but I felt a flush creeping up my neck. "Aeliana," I said, my voice softer than I intended.
She looked up at me, her eyes widening slightly. "What?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I didn't know what to say. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, none of them coherent. All I knew was that I wanted to be closer to her, to see if this feeling was real or just another illusion. I reached out, my hand trembling slightly.
She took a step back, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing, Ciara?"
"I don't know," I admitted, my voice hoarse. "But I think I need to find out."
Her gaze softened for a moment, and I saw something in her eyes—fear, maybe, or curiosity. It was hard to tell. But then she shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "You're crazy, you know that?"
"Probably," I said, taking another step forward. I was close enough now that I could feel the warmth of her body, see the rapid rise and fall of her chest. "But maybe that's what makes this interesting."
She sighed, looking down for a moment. When she looked back up, there was a resolve in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "Ciara, don't get close to me."
I frowned, taken aback. "Why not?"
She wrinkled her nose, giving me a half-amused, half-annoyed look. "You smell like cigarettes too much."
The tension broke like a snapped string, and I couldn't help but laugh. It was a genuine, deep laugh that shook my shoulders and made my eyes water. Aeliana watched me, her expression softening despite herself.
"Fine," I said, stepping back and raising my hands in surrender. "I'll keep my distance. For now."
She smiled, shaking her head. "You're impossible, Ciara."
"Yeah," I said, still chuckling. "But you seem to handle it just fine."