“Oh yeah. That was when we lived in Delaware and the mission turned out to be a dud when the Watchers turned on each other,” remembered Dagan. “I love it when they do that.”
The room fell silent while everyone watched the last five minutes of some animated show Dagan had chosen. “So what are they making?” Zev broke the quiet.
“I don’t know,” I told him. “I didn’t linger for more than a second for fear that some magical spell would be broken.”
Right then Odeda stepped into the room and announced, “Dinner is ready. Keira and I just have to set the table.” She turned on her heels and strolled back out of the room. Zev, Dagan, Azra, and I hastily stood up and made our way to the dining room; we were all nearly overwhelmed with curiosity and hunger. Dagan and Zev sat down, waiting for the food to appear while Azra and I remained standing, waiting for the girls to enter. We didn’t have to wait long before Odeda came in balancing four large plates in her arms that were close to overflowing with steak, green beans, corn, and a baked potato for each dish. Odeda always cooks whatever she is in the mood for; it never matters if the different foods go together or not. That night, it just happened to be a cohesive meal. Keira was close behind her with two more plates in hand. The drinks were already on the table, I noticed as Odeda set her plates in front of Azra, Zev, Dagan, and the empty chair beside Azra’s. He pulled the chair out for her before sitting down himself, and after Keira set her two plates down, one in front of me and one in the place set beside me, I did the same.
Once we all took our first bites, the conversation flowed easily. Everyone talked about school and such. The guild, as always, carefully avoided letting anything about our purpose in High Point slip. When everyone’s plates were practically licked clean, we praised the two chefs. “Thank you,” said Odeda.
“Thanks,” Keira said, “but I pretty much just rinsed the vegetables and took things out of the oven or off the stove. Odeda did all of the real work.”
“Well, all of the major stuff had already been done by the time the ballers came in from working out, but Keira did make the desserts,” Odeda said as she rose from the table. Keira did the same, and they went back into the kitchen. As they walked back in, Odeda asked, “Now who wants some Reese goodness?” On the smaller plates that they brought out this time, there was what looked like a miniature chocolate cake with fudge drizzled over top of it. After everyone sat back down, I took my first bite. The lack of visible Reese was immediately justified as I tasted the peanut butter cups that were hidden inside of the small cakes.
“That was delicious!” Zev exclaimed when his dessert had disappeared, which only took him about five seconds to accomplish. Everyone was speaking their concurrence when I looked to my right and saw Keira start to slightly blush. I loved it when she did that; her face, if not her eyes, always displayed exactly how she was feeling at any particular moment.
“I love Reese’s,” I quietly told her. The others were busy devouring their sweets and talking amongst themselves. “Reese’s peanut butter cups are my favorite.”
“Actually, Odeda did mention that while she was putting the finishing touches on her chicken and this recipe popped into my head.” So, she made the dessert that had my favorite candy in it… Coincidence? I think not. This thought made me smile. Keira was still talking. “Reese’s are my favorite chocolate treat too. And snickers. But when it’s cold outside, the absolute best thing to eat is s’mores.”
“That is very true. You know, we have a fire pit outside. Do you want to stay? It might not be that cold, but we can still make some.” It would be wonderful if she could linger longer. She had been there for a few hours, but the time had flown by and it seemed like she had just arrived. I wasn’t ready for her to go.
“I’d love to,” she said, and I knew from her tone that a but was coming. “I mean, I’d really love to…” And then it came. “But I couldn’t possibly eat another thing and besides, I have to go. It’s already a lot later than my parents were expecting me back so I’d better get moving.” Her last statement was said loudly enough that the rest of the table could hear her. She continued, “I had an absolutely perfect time. Thank you all for having me.” She stood, picking up her empty plate as she did so.
“Don’t bother with that,” Odeda told her. “The guys get to do dishes since we did all of the cooking.” Of course Odeda volunteered us without asking first. It seems that volunteering without checking with each other was a pattern with my family lately. When Keira placed her plate back on the table everyone stood up to see her out.
Once we reached the front door, each of my brothers said goodbye to Keira. Odeda, surprising the rest of us for the second time that day, gave Keira a hug and said, “We’ll see you on Monday,” and then walked into the den where the others were retreating to.
I walked Keira out to her Jeep and noticed that even though she had played basketball for an hour straight and then cooked with Odeda in the heat-filled kitchen, she still looked resplendent. She stopped by the door of her car and looked up at me. “I had a great time today. Your family is so wonderful; they’re all loving, sweet, and accepting people. I hope I’m not assuming too much, but they seemed to really make an effort to make me feel welcome, and I appreciate it.”
“Other than Dagan, I completely agree with you,” I joked. “I am very lucky to have them for my family. And you, you fit right in with them. Every one of my family loves you. I’ve never seen them take to someone as quickly as they have you. And you’re welcome in our home anytime.”
“Thanks,” she said again.
She started to get her keys out, and I felt an extreme sadness well up in me. I still didn’t want her to go. Monday seems forever away. I don’t want to wait until school to see you again. When Keira’s eyes found mine, I realized I had said my last thoughts out loud. It was too late to take them back, so I didn’t bother obsessing over my stupidity and instead waited eagerly for a response.
Mirroring the motion I had made earlier, Keira reached up and put her hand to my face, but unlike my still hand, she slid her fingers lightly down my cheek until we were no longer touching. My eyelids had slowly closed during her caress, and I had lost myself. Her keys chimed as she picked the correct one, and I opened my eyes. “I have to go no matter how much I wish I could stay,” she apologized. I watched her climb into her car, wave goodbye, and drive away. Once I regained my composure, I walked back inside to be met with the sight of my family racing away from the window where they had just been spying from.
“Thanks for the privacy,” I chided them, and then sat down beside Zev on the couch. No one spoke for a while.
“You’ve got it bad,” Dagan broke the silence.
“Dagan, give him a break,” Odeda uncharacteristically came to my defense. “Keira is obviously a unique mortal, and they go well together.” I was just about to thank her- sincerely this time- when she turned on me. “And you need to treat her right.”
“What do you mean? I am treating her right,” I said, now having to defend myself.
“You need to take her out somewhere. You know, like some place that doesn’t have an intimidating and eternally young guild living in it. You have to pursue a woman if you wish to win her heart.” Odeda was getting into old-fashioned courting tactics which I already knew. The teenagers these days didn’t treat relationships with the respect and time that they used to.
“Speaking of going out,” Azra thankfully interjected, “Odeda and I must be going.”
She turned to him completely uncomprehending. “We do?”
“We have a party to suffer through,” he reminded her. “You and I have to keep up appearances, and you said that some girls invited you to a party tonight.”
“Oh! Right.” She jumped up and started for her room muttering about how could she have forgotten. “I’ll be ready in just a few,” she called from their room.
When she came back, she had on a red dress that would have looked alright and fairly casual on anyone
else, but Odeda had a way of making things look better on her than on the hanger. She constantly earned the envy of her female classmates no matter what school we attended or what year it was. She couldn’t help it; we descended from physically beautiful beings.
Azra was apparently wearing what he had had on all day which was a collared shirt, sweater, and khakis. He stood up and as he walked over to her said, “You look beautiful.” She held out a jacket that she had carried into the room with her and replied, “Thank you. Now put this on.” In her high heels, she came up to Azra’s shoulder, just barely. To any mortal Odeda came across, she was impossible not to be obeyed when giving an order, but Azra was her partner and he didn’t scare easily. She respected him, but it was her personality that was naturally a bit bossy. When it came to fashion sense though, Azra obeyed every command unquestioningly. We had all learned a long time ago that Odeda knew what was in style before we did. If she said we needed to change, we changed. If she bought something for us to wear, we wore it. So Azra replaced his sweater for the jacket. “We’ll see you tomorrow; don’t wait up,” Odeda called over her shoulder as the couple walked out the door.
“Finally!” Dagan exhaled. “Now I can play my games in peace.” He went to plug in his latest Playstation into the TV and then settled back down with a controller in hand. “Would either of you like to play against me?”
“You know I’d love to,” Zev rolled his eyes, “but I was thinking I would go out tonight and check up with some of the animals around here.”
“Uriel?” Dagan tried.
“No way.” I stood up. “You always beat me, and you’re a sore winner. I’m going up to my room to play some of my own kind of leisure.”
“Fine by me,” Dagan said already beginning his game.
I made my way up to my room, and when I saw the door to my library, the memories of Keira being in there with me came instantly back to my mind. Then that memory was followed by the more recent one of us outside. Sighing, I went over to my wall of music and chose one of my favorite records that came out when the jazz-era had just begun. Once I had it playing, I dropped down onto my bed and stared up at the ceiling. Surrounded by music, I let my mind wander where it pleased.
Irrepressible Attraction
Chapter 7
Keira
I was right. On the drive home on Saturday- that is, after I stopped thinking about Uriel- I began thinking of how angry my mother would be that I had forgotten to call and tell her I would be staying a few more hours than had been expected. I was right. She was furious, and I had an earful that night. It seems there is no end to my disappointing her. She might be lank, but her voice is large and loud enough to intimidate anyone. Usually, whenever she would get in one of her ranting moods, I would weakly argue my side of the story. But nothing she said could taint the blissful utopia I had experienced. Uriel’s family was a dream in every way. Zev had felt like the perfect big brother I never had. Azra made me curious every time I looked at him; I could tell he was thinking something, but he kept his thoughts to himself so often that I was always left wondering what I would find if I could see inside his mind. Odeda was wonderful. Once she got over being so protective of Uriel, she seemed to warm up to me. Her unfaltering confidence was something I instantly admired. She knew how to handle those four guys with no problems at all. And Dagan was just so interesting. The boy’s complete focus on his game was hilarious to watch. Although he was oblivious in front of the TV, at the dinner table, he was the one who talked the most. He made everyone laugh. It was the perfect bunch of people and the perfect day. And then of course there was Uriel, but he needs no summary. I’m sure you already know by now. And besides, no couple of words can sum him up. He’s just… Uriel.
After silently taking my mother’s criticism, I made my way upstairs so I could be left alone with my happy thoughts. Monday. Just one day stood between me and my amazing new acquaintances.
♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
“Get up!”
The first thought I had Sunday morning was Are you kidding me? That nagging voice is not the way anyone should be woken up.
“Come on. We have a full day planned,” the woman who claims to be the one who brought me into this world said as she strolled into my bedroom unannounced.
“Go away,” I greeted her throatily. Covering my face with my pillow never actually stops my mother’s voice from peeling through my mind, but I did it anyway.
She turned around and began walking back out of my room. “I won’t tell you again. You have thirty minutes to make yourself presentable, and if you’re not ready by then, you will go to church however you look.” With this, she disappeared behind my once again closed door. I looked at my bedside clock and groaned. Seriously? I’ve never understood why church began so early. I got up and shook off the remaining sleep from my body.
While I was in the shower, I thought about schedules and how my life was run by them. On the week days, from eight to three I’m at school; from three to whenever I usually have sports, but this autumn Mother has me doing other projects you’ll learn more about shortly; after sports or projects I suffer through any homework that I decide cannot wait to be done the next day during the class before the period it’s actually due; and then I try to get in some downtime in front of the television and a hot shower before bed. On the weekends, Mother and Father usually have something dull for me to do, and there’s always church at the brutal hour of nine in the morning every Sunday.
These routine schedules continued to flip through my mind while I dried my hair. After giving up on trying to find something interesting about my daily life and on doing anything with my mane, I went to my closet. What do I wear? I thought as I stared unkindly at my clothes. This was the question I knew I would ask myself every day if I didn’t have the whole school uniform thing. Polos and pants aren’t that hard to pick from. I ended up choosing a nondescript black dress with a pair of slip-ons that have a corked heel. Then, just to get a scowl from my mother, I added a jean jacket. The Baptist Church my parents forced me to attend every week is one of those stuffy, traditional ones where everybody dresses up in uncomfortable, pointlessly formal clothes. It even has a freakishly large pipe organ. Ugh. Totally not my kind of place.
But Mother insists. So…
♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
For perhaps the first time ever, I welcomed a Monday when I had to go to school. I sat beside Uriel again in English, and he asked me about the rest of my weekend. “My time spent with you and your family was easily the highlight,” I told him. “And yesterday most of what I did was obligations. Homework and such.”
He tilted his head a little. “Expand on the such.”
“Um,” I hesitated, “I’d rather not say.”
“Oh, come on. Now you have to tell me.”
“Umm…” I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
“You’re teasing my curiosity.” He smiled. “Please?”
My resistance was weakening. “You’ll laugh.”
“I’ll try not to. I promise.” His smile grew wider. He knew I would tell him.
I sighed. “Okay. Brace yourself.” I had to pick my wording carefully if I was going to explain without looking completely ridiculous. A deep breath and I began, “I did something dreadful, but I had a good reason to do it…” Already I was at a loss for the words. How do I explain?
Uriel became more serious. That beautiful smile was no longer on his face. “Go on.”
“I had to sit through planning for a coming out party,” I rushed out in a whisper. No one else could know about this. I didn’t even want him to know, but he’d asked and I wasn’t good at dodging subjects very well. Then, to my horror, Uriel burst out laughing. “You said you wouldn’t.”
“I said… I’d try,” he barely got out around what I took as mocking cackles.
“You don’t have to be so pitiless about it.” I must admit that my ego was slightly wounded by this reaction.
His laughter started to subside. “I’
m sorry. I’m not being pitiless. It’s just that you made it seem like such a horrible thing.” He started snickering again.
“It is horrible,” I said in my own defense. “I can’t bare the thought of a coming out party. But my mother is insisting that I attend.”
“What’s so unthinkable about sitting through the thing for a couple of hours?”
“Nothing. If that’s all I’d have to do.” I leaned closer and lowered my voice even more. “You can’t tell anyone, but the thing that’s so unbelievably awful is that the party’s mine. I’m being required to come out in society as a lady who’s almost coming of age.” And before you think this means I’m a lesbian, which you should have figured out by now that I’m not, let me tell you a brief summary of what a coming out party/ceremony is: All these rich people were going to come to “a ceremony in my honor” that’s intended to let them all know I’m a young lady and my breeding is that of people who have as much, if not more, money than they do. It’s ridiculous and demeaning.
Uriel leaned in close and matched my tone and volume. “It’s not that bad.”
I jerked back. “What? How do you know?”
“I’ve been to a couple,” he said nonchalantly. He sat back in his chair like he had been before, and the class began. I took some time to digest this new information. Uriel could have some ideas on how to possibly make the night not be one that I would immediately want to erase from my memory.
When the class was over and we had read the first act of The Crucible, I started to ask Uriel for advice, but he spoke first. “What was the good reason?”
He’d lost me. “Huh?”
“You obviously think that the event is going to be dreadful if just the planning was so terrible, and you said that you had a good reason for doing it. What’s the reason?”
“Oh. Well, you’d have to see it. My motive is too much for words to describe.” I got an appropriately confused look from him. “I got a bribe in exchange for my submission,” I explained.
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