The First Musical: Chapter Two: Johnathan, Part 2

“Baron.” His head jerked around in surprise, but he knew who it was already.

“Johnathan. What’s up?” he asked casually.

“Remember the musical I was telling you and Carmen about? The one I want to produce here?”

“I’m not trying out, man;” he scoffed. “I don’t sing…or dance.”

“See, I think you could sing, though. And there wouldn’t be much dancing either,” I assured him. I was the director, after all; I could make certain accommodations. “Most of the dancing is done by the leads, there’s only a couple places where anyone else would dance.”

“Why do you want me to audition? I already declined your offer.” Although he stood comfortably before me, both hands buried in his jeans pockets, his voice sounded irritated and suspicious. He might have been a big guy, but Baron didn’t scare me.

“Because if both you and Carmen audition, Gisele will…at least, I’m hoping.”

He seemed to do a double-take and replayed my words before saying, “You want…Carmen and I already told you she wouldn’t audition.”

Nodding, I said, “I remember.”

“Then why are you forcing it?” The muscles in his arms visibly tensed under his shirt, though his hands remained in his pockets.

“Because I need her to audition.”

“Drop it and leave her alone,” Baron said.

“If she auditions, I can help her. She’d be confident again, not so worried or worrisome.”

Baron gaze turned icy and my instincts suggested running and hiding would be best. After a tense moment, he said, “I’ll audition…but if you make things worse for her, know I will hurt you until you wish you were dead.”

“I guarantee I have no ill-intent for her.”

“You’d better not;” he shoulder-checked me rougher than necessary as he left.

I clutched my shoulder and winced, though a small euphoric rush of accomplishment flooded through me. The seeds were planted and my auditions were only a few days away. If Carmen couldn’t convince her, and Baron’s own auditioning wouldn’t move her either, I’d have to revert to my other plan. I didn’t much want to, though. I doubted she would like it—or me—much.

The First Musical: Chapter Two: Johnathan, Part 1

“Carmen,” I called, jogging to catch up to her. She turned on the sidewalk, searching for me. The moment her hazel eyes found me, she pulled her blond hair over her shoulder.

“Johnathan. What a surprise.” The way she said it revealed how little of a surprise it was. I suspected she’d been looking for me, hoping to discuss auditioning for the lead.

“Not really. I need your help with something.”

“What?” she asked, cocking her head to the side, her doe eyes wide and innocent.

“I want Gisele to audition.”

At first, she stared, her brow furrowed and her lips slightly pressed. Slowly, she realized I wasn’t joking and she smiled secretively. “I’ve told you she won’t. She doesn’t like to perform.”

“Why not?”

“She’s convinced herself she has stage fright.”

“Do you know why?”

Carmen shrugged, and examined her cuticles. “It was before I met her. Supposedly she was really great, at least according to half our town, but I never knew that side of her. By the time I came around, she refused to perform and blamed it on this fictitious fear of hers.”

The only way I would figure out what had caused her to stop was if Gisele told me, but she wasn’t likely to come to me. “Is there any way you could help me get her to audition?” I asked, trying to avoid sounding too desperate.

She thought a moment, shifting the bag on her shoulder up more and pulling her hair around and over the opposite shoulder. “I can try, I guess. She won’t come, though.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d better get to class. I’ll be way late,” she said, glancing in the direction she had been travelling before our conversation, but not leaving.

Had I been interested in her, I would have been tempted to ask her elsewhere, maybe lunch or something. But Carmen was a means to an end. “Have a good class.”

She forced a cordial smile before turning and gliding away.

After she left, I went in search of Gisele. I made her nervous for whatever reason, so I needed to plan my approach. It wouldn’t do to scare her. Observation was key to a good plan, though. Not stalk, observe. Perhaps I would find my answers in her mannerisms. If she really had convinced herself she had stage fright, I could offer her a private audition. I already knew she had the part, and she knew I wanted her to have it. The audition was a formality to say she went through it.

She was leaving the art building when I finally found her. Her thumb was hooked on her bag and her eyes were diverted downward. She walked alone until Baron appeared. Gisele’s features lit up as he walked alongside her, telling her something that made her laugh. Her smile was radiant; it was impossible to see why anyone would want to hurt her.

I followed their progress across campus as they walked to another building, completely entranced by her. The way she moved next to him revealed a confidence she didn’t otherwise show. Her violet-blue eyes were bright with laughter and she seemed to have a little more liveliness in her step.

I would need to speak with Baron, obviously, as well. From the quality of his voice, he could be a fabulous singer. Having him on board—at least as an understudy—would help convince her, and that’s all that really mattered. I needed her…this her, who she was when she was around Baron and Carmen. Who she couldn’t seem to be otherwise. Whatever I had to do, I’d do it. Without her, there could be no musical.

With her, this her, it could only be a success.

I refused to think I may not find the her I wanted. It was a possibility, but one I didn’t wish to entertain.

Eternal: Chapter Twelve, Part 1

Chapter Twelve: Working Towards the Future

After I handed control to Caroline, Drei and I returned to the apartment and packed what we needed, leaving the rest. We mailed a key to Caroline, in case there was something she needed from the last two years. Leaving the apartment was my choice, and Drei didn’t ask. I was done here, and continuing to be there…the memories would have killed me more than anything else.

Part of me felt bad for leaving them without saying anything. I could imagine them searching for us afterwards, unable to find us anywhere, confused and unsure why we had disappeared. The news crews that had been at the event talked about how they hadn’t found me to express congratulations or ask questions. Some people on the site mused I had been an angel, only there to show them the way, and gone the minute they could see where they were going again.

But I had done my part, as I had said. Anything that came next was up to them. They had to take control of their own futures, make their own decisions, and find their own way. None of them needed me anymore, no matter what they thought.

Besides, Nick was dead now because of me. I was beginning to understand the pain Caroline must have felt, but this time, she wouldn’t stop. Ian wouldn’t let her. And the note I had left with our apartment key assured her I was fine.

As for Nick, we returned his body to Lily, the only family he had other than Drei and I. I didn’t go with Drei. Imagining how she was handling it tore me apart; I couldn’t even stand to map it. It took her four days to calm down enough to make a decision. His body was cremated and the ashes spread in Winnsboro, where his family died. At last he could be with them again. In that, I found some comfort; little as it was, it was something.

Eternal: Chapter Eleven, Part 4

Screams engulfed the crowd; there was a flash in front of me, and I felt a bump, but I had no idea what was happening. It seemed impossible that someone had actually shot at me…again. But I was unharmed. Yet everyone was still pointing, their faces contorted in horror and fear. In the distance, I saw Nick’s team apprehend the shooter and quickly canvass through the crowd, searching for any other threats.

Everyone who hadn’t run was gaping, though, and when I looked at my feet, I saw why. Nick had jumped in front of me and took the bullet. I felt my heart break and my strength seeping away from me. How could this have happened? And now of all times? When everything was going so well.

Kneeling beside him, I smoothed the hair off his face. He was in a cold sweat and shaking. Glancing up, Ian was already on his cell phone, yelling that we needed an ambulance right away. The way Nick was squeezing my hand, though, I knew he didn’t have long.

“Abriel,” he whispered, holding on tighter to my hand. I could feel him slipping away and I didn’t want it to be true. It couldn’t be true.

“Don’t die on me,” I demanded, furiously wiping the tears blinding me from my eyes. “You aren’t allowed to die on me.”

“If you change me,” he murmured, “you’ll ruin…everything…you’ve worked for.”

I hated him for saying it because he was right, and it was what I had been thinking. Turning me had been Drei’s solution, and here it was one of my two options. But his words were true. Taking that route would undo everything I had put into motion; but I couldn’t just watch him die.

“But—”

“I’m dead…you know that.” He coughed, closing his eyes.

“Nick, don’t, please hold on,” I cried, squeezing his hand as his grip loosened.

“Finish it,” he said, struggling to inhale so he could speak. “I…love…”

“No, Nick;” I couldn’t stop myself from crying, or from holding him to me as he slipped through my fingers. Everything we had been through, everything we had done, and he was gone in seconds. “Don’t leave me like this. I love you.”

Drei knelt beside me, rubbing my back. It took me a moment to realize he was saying anything.

“—say something to them.”

Nodding, I wiped the tears from my eyes and signaled toward Caroline. She came over to join me.

Pulling myself together, I started improvising, just as we had planned. And as miserable as it made me to realize it, I had been right about how this had to end. “This is…was Nick,” I said, my voice stronger than I thought it would be. “He wasn’t an elemental, but he has been a friend to me for years, and now he’s also a victim of this injustice. It needs to end.” Looking at Caroline, I raised my hand to her. “Caroline will show you how.”

A wave of uncertainty and some grumbled complaints met me. They were scared, but this was the right thing to do. To truly take down the government wasn’t something I could do. For that, it required someone more willing to lead a coup. Complete removal of the government was the only way to keep things from reverting back to the way they had been.

“I brought you together,” I said, catching their attention again. “That was my job. I brought you together, gave you information, motivation, and a voice. What comes next requires a different kind of leadership. Caroline I trust with my life, and I hope you will as well. She will lead us faithfully into the next steps of change, and our new future.”

Despite the shock and depression in the crowd, there was applause, there was excitement and anxiousness, and I knew they would follow her. Caroline hugged me, whispering into my ear, “This is your baby, though.”

“It’s yours now.”

Some people left, more swarmed the platform, or any of the groups of elementals, asking questions and trying to find out what Caroline would do next. She made a public announcement to the news crews that she would have to meet with her advisors to discuss how to go about the next phase, but they would keep everyone posted. All they had to do was be ready to act.

While everyone was distracted, Drei had removed Nick’s body and I followed him away from the site. Away from the place where Nick had died protecting me and our campaign. Away from everyone I had worked with over the last two years, and wasn’t sure I could even face anymore. But, mostly, away from the place where my past seemed to end, and my future undoubtedly began.

Eternal: Chapter Seven, Part 1

Chapter Seven: Leading Change

“Drei isn’t back yet?” It had been over two weeks since I had spoken to Jake and everyone was out of school except Mikael—but he was on a brief break before the summer session. We were having our first meeting in a few hours and I hadn’t seen Drei since before I had started recruiting. I ran my hands through my mussed hair. “Why isn’t he back? He told you; I know he did.”

Valetta sat on the couch, watching me pace around the living room in my nightgown. She had told me he called a few days ago while I was asleep and promised to be back by now. But he wasn’t.

“You really should calm down,” she said before sipping from her teacup of blood. “Drei said he would return today, and he will.”

I wasn’t sure why I wasn’t calm to start with; it wasn’t like I was speaking to people I hardly knew. But this was an important day. They finally were going to know what our focus was going to be and I had this sinking feeling I was going to screw things up.

“Abriel,” she said gently, setting her drink aside and standing; she held me at arm’s length. “Stop worrying so much. Everything will go as planned and Drei will arrive safely.” Glancing at the clock on the wall, she added, “Besides, you had better change into something more presentable before Mitchell arrives with the others.”

I knew I was being childish in my resistance to Valetta’s soothing and distractions. It was petty of me to take out my frustrations at his absence and desire to communicate with me only through Mitchell and Valetta on everyone else. Although I knew this was my movement, I felt like this was something we were supposed to do together.

“He will be here, Abriel,” she asserted, squeezing my shoulders harder. “But you cannot reschedule this meeting. The others have lives, too.”

Part of me wanted to argue that I didn’t have a life anymore. That to have a life you had to be, you know, living. But I wouldn’t say that to Valetta; I wouldn’t even say that to Drei, though, honestly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about my turning anymore. I told myself if he was here, I wouldn’t be having these sorts of thoughts and everything would be fine.

“Okay,” I whispered, nodding my head. Of course it wasn’t really okay, but she did have a point. I couldn’t reschedule just because I felt like it. I was the leader, the coordinator; I had to appear as if everything was sunny and bright…even if it wasn’t.

An hour later, I had showered and changed into a summer dress and cropped bolero, ready for Mitchell and the rest to arrive. Valetta and I prepared snacks and chilled drinks with our remaining time.

“The door’s unlocked,” I called after someone knocked.

“Good God, Ian;” Caroline gasped, taking in the food and the two finishing the preparations. “We’re early. I told you we didn’t have to rush.”

I hugged Ian, glad they were here and grinning at Caroline’s whining.

“She would have been another hour if I didn’t hurry her along,” he whispered in my ear.

Smiling, I thanked him and then embraced Caroline; she handed me a small gift bag. “What’s this?”

“It’s your Happy First Organizational Meeting present.”

Laughing, I started opening it as she insisted it wasn’t anything special. Inside were several small candles of varying scents.

“They all promote relaxation, which you’ll need a lot of,” she said, kicking her shoes into a corner near the door.

“She’s been researching aromatherapy for you,” Ian said, grabbing a finger sandwich and walking into the living room, winking a sapphire gem as he passed me.

Caroline hit his arm lightly, pouting through her smile. “So shoot me for trying to be considerate.”

“I love it,” I said, interrupting any argument before it started —even if it was playful. Hugging her briefly again, I left my present in the bedroom, then helped Valetta move the finger sandwiches, cookies, and brownies into the living room.

“So how long before everyone else shows up?” Caroline asked, taking a few cookies and the napkin Valetta offered her.

I sat on one of the extra chairs we had pulled into the living room. “Everyone else should arrive—” There was knocking at the door and Valetta made her way over there as I stood again. “—now.”

“Welcome back,” Valetta said to Mitchell as he kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her. She whispered something else into his ear and he let her go. Probably something about Drei not being back yet. Here came the kid gloves…not that my behavior this morning had suggested they were unnecessary. I shoved my emotions aside; I had to play hostess, after all.

“Welcome,” I greeted as Kora, Mikael, Xenia, and Jake walked through the door. I hugged each one, directing them to take a seat and help themselves. “What would everyone like to drink?”

Mitchell sat with them as Valetta helped me gather and deliver the drinks.

“Are Justin and Angeline coming?” Caroline asked as I handed her the lemonade she’d requested.

“I’m going to talk to them separately,” I said, taking my seat again.

“Who are Justin and Angeline?” Mitchell asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“My legal consultants.” Before anyone could freak out, I added, “Caroline and I hired them so we don’t have to worry about the legal side of things. She used Angeline during her revolution and it was apparent to me that she and Justin would make a good team. Any other questions before I introduce everyone and we begin?”

“Is Drei coming?” Jake inquired before drinking some of his water.

Everyone stared at me, waiting for the answer I didn’t really want to give. “He’s still out on business,” I said—my smile probably more on the forced side of the spectrum—before Valetta had a chance to interject. “Now, introductions. You all know me, and you should know that you’re supposed to call me Leirba from now on. I’m air; Ian is also.” I indicated to Ian with an open, upturned palm, then did likewise to each person in turn. “Caroline is fire. Kora and Mikael are earth. Xenia and Jake are water. We also have Valetta and Mitchell to help us. As we’ve mentioned already, Justin and Angeline are our legal consultants, but you probably won’t see much of them, if at all. And then there’s Drei, as well,” I finished, looking around at them all. “Any questions?”

“Am I not special enough to mention?” a familiar, masculine voice asked from behind me. “Or do you just not want my help?”

Eternal: Chapter Six, Part 3

“Why did you dye your hair?”

Shrugging, she replied, “I just wanted a change. You see so many people with blonde and brunette and others who try to pull off the red-head and—I just wanted to physically appear different. Since I am anyway…even if they can’t know that.”

“Understandable.”

“When you were in high school, did you ever just want to stand out?”

“I wanted to; I wanted to be on the outside who I felt I was on the inside, even before I knew who I really was,” I said, trying not to think too much on what things had been like, or how quickly they had changed for the worse. “But things were safer where I was…or so I thought.”

“Do you ever wish you could have changed? That you had risked a little and been who you wanted to be?” she pressed, her blue eyes widening.

“Some days I wish I had—that I hadn’t been so scared of…what it would have meant to be my own person. Because having to be my own person on someone else’s terms was not easy. Not that it would have been easy on my terms, but it would have been my choice then.” My gaze settled on my clasped hands in my lap; her questions were bringing to the surface many emotional memories I had been avoiding. Although I could blow off her questions, I didn’t want to. If I could give her my truth, perhaps it would help her find her own. “Other days, I’m somewhat grateful for my cowardice, because I honestly could not imagine if things would have been better the other way. I can only see them ending up worse in my situation.”

Again, silence seemed to fill the space between us and I hated sounding like such a damper. My situation was different from hers. I thought it was great for her to express she was different in a way that would draw attention but not from the wrong people. I personally couldn’t guarantee that if I had made the same decision to be different, my actions wouldn’t have drawn the wrong attention. She had the advantage overall; she could handle herself, and she had already learned to deal with and accept having an elemental power. At her age, I was just discovering mine.

“I think what you’re doing is great,” I finally said, unable to stand the silence. “It’s good to be able to express yourself in ways that don’t endanger you. Drei and the rest would be really proud of you.” I smiled at her.

“You, too?” she asked, glancing at me before diverting her eyes sheepishly.

I couldn’t help but smile; I would never have kids but it felt like they had been mine, especially that first year. I was their temporary mom, their older sister, their liaison to the occasionally unfriendly and intimidating vampires. That was me. “Of course. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of all of you.”

Xenia hugged me, and I hugged her back. She had grown up well over the past couple years and I really was proud of her. Instead of taking out whatever angst she may or may not have had by doing something stupid, she was being smart about it, even if it never felt like enough. It was refreshing for me because it proved to me why I was doing this.

“It was really good to see you again,” she said, pulling back.

“We’ll be in touch. But I shouldn’t keep you any longer from your friends.”

“Talk to you soon, Leirba.” At my pleased but shocked look, she added, “Yeah, Valetta told me about that, too. It’s different. Pretty…but different.” Then she was off to the boutique.

I sat for a while longer, just wondering how many other elementals felt as trapped as I had and she did, and how many were capable of breaking out in some small way like Xenia had. It hadn’t occurred to me until then how many there might be. I mean, I had felt trapped, but I was more worried with fitting in than standing out and fulfilling my own need to be myself. But hearing her put it that way, seeing the way she was settling to handle it, gave me even more motivation—if that was even possible—to succeed. If I could, no elemental would ever have to settle for being less than who they were again.

Eternal: Chapter Six, Part 2

Xenia was next on my list, not because I couldn’t find Jake first but because I wanted to save Jake for last. I knew there was probably going to be more for us to talk about; I would like to think I wasn’t avoiding the inevitable, but giving myself more time to prepare for it. I knew the likelihood of that being true was slim to none.

Valetta had found Xenia’s home, school, and even managed to find out her plans for the weekend—which involved some shopping, a movie, and dinner with friends. It was easier for Valetta because she hadn’t changed at all from when they had last seen her, but it was no use being bitter. I would have to figure out how I would talk to her alone and avoid keeping her from her plans for too long.

I sat in the middle of the mall, watching people pass for a while, wondering why I wasn’t seeing her anywhere. Then a group of giggling girls walked past and Xenia’s name was mentioned. There wasn’t a single blonde in the group, though. All of them had either dyed their hair blue or green, except for one girl who had chosen purple.

“I seriously did it;” the purple haired girl laughed, and I knew it was Xenia. Her looks may have changed, but her voice hadn’t—not much anyway. “I was not going out with him. He thinks we dyed our hair to make a statement about society and stickin’ it to the man.”

“But that’s not it at all;” one of her blue haired companions giggled.

“Exactly.”

Xenia whipped her head around for a moment in my direction before turning to her friends. “I’ll meet up with you at the boutique. There’s someone I have to see real quick.”

Her friends agreed and continued on as if this wasn’t unusual for her to be running off for a moment; she watched them for a short while. When they had all done their peeking over their shoulders and were back to laughing and gossiping, she turned around and took a seat next to me.

“She wasn’t kidding when she said you’d look different;” she crossed her legs at the knees, resting her chin on her hand.

“So she told you I was coming?” I asked, turning to face her.

“Of course she did. How else do you think she knew what I was doing today?”

“Makes sense;” I nodded slightly. “Did she tell you what I was coming to talk about?”

She shook her head, the purple locks escaping over her shoulder; she pushed them back behind her ear. “Valetta said she’d leave that for you.”

I debated whether to jump straight to business or not. I didn’t care to, but at the same time, she had already segued into it. But I wanted so much to ask about her hair. It had been a beautiful gold color and now, though still beautiful, it was purple. I was curious as to what prompted the change, especially since it wasn’t just her that had changed.

Then I remembered she was here with friends and my goal wasn’t to monopolize her time. If I had time at the end I’d ask, but she had already cut to the chase.

“I’m beginning my movement soon,” I started, deciding to just put it all on the table and see what she’d make of it. “Right now I’m recruiting everyone, yourself included. Don’t feel like you have to say yes; you don’t. It shouldn’t interfere with school, but you’d mostly be there for opinions and other kinds of input. The only downside is we have two years.”

Xenia nodded slowly, sitting back and crossing her arms, her eyes downcast as she contemplated my words. “Two years, is it?”

“It’s all I can guarantee.”

“And I’m guessing you’re going to say what this movement is about when everyone is together?”

“Of course. As soon as the school year is done for everyone.” I studied her carefully. If she didn’t say yes, I didn’t know who else I would choose. I had my mind set on her helping, but I’d ultimately have to respect her decision.

“I like the sound of a challenge,” Xenia said after a moment. “I don’t get enough of one as is, and it’ll be kind of fun to see some of the others again.”

“You don’t have any concerns?” I didn’t want to leave her with questions if I could help it—other than the main one, that is.

“Nope. It’s straightforward enough. I’m kind of looking forward to it,” she said, nodding her head, sitting forward on her hands.

Silence enveloped us despite the hustle and bustle of the crowds. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t help but ask—I knew if I didn’t soon she would excuse herself.

Eternal: Chapter Five, Part 5

It felt as though much more time than an hour had passed, but I trusted the pristine grandfather clock in the corner of the dull room was in top condition. Sipping at my water, I spent most of the hour glancing around at the wood paneled walls, the well-kept crown molding along ceiling, the shaded windows, and the impeccably clean but uncomfortable furniture. However, I did spend the first couple minutes after she left inspecting myself, trying to attain a sense of how thin I really looked. All of my limbs seemed properly proportioned, but who knew? Perhaps that was all in my head.

My mind wondered if the woman would come back saying Mikael had died in the last hour. If she did, I wouldn’t be happy. I wouldn’t care what kind of punishment Drei gave me; I would probably kill her and not think twice about it.

Then I stopped, shocked at my suddenly violent thoughts. I couldn’t remember having wanted to purposefully hurt someone. I had practiced self-defense often enough, but I had never physically hurt someone just to hurt her or him. Mentally, I made a note to talk to Drei about that; I wanted to write it off as bad vibes and stress, but not even that made sense. I would hate for it to be something more and not have brought it up. Unfortunately, it was forgotten in the next moment.

The door opened and Mikael entered, the cheerily strange woman smiling behind him, visible until he shut the door again. He had grown so much, just like Kora. I had always been one of those kids who hated when adults gushed over how much I had changed, and now I understood why; I never would have guessed he was in high school still. Mikael carried himself much the same as Drei did: tall and proper, a thumb hooked loosely in his pants pocket, relaxed but charismatic. His thick black tresses still retained some of their youthful wildness, but were tamer in the way the curls framed his visage.

“Margie said you were here to see me about something personal,” he started, crossing to sit in the chair adjacent to mine. “I must admit, while you look familiar, I don’t remember who you are.”

“Mikael;” I couldn’t help smiling at his questioning eyes as he struggled to place me. At least he didn’t judge me as a danger as Kora had. “You’ve grown up so much…even your voice has stopped cracking.”

Blushing, embarrassed, he waved off the comment, saying, “Margie said you told her you were Miss Jones. But I’m afraid, when my voice was still cracking, I didn’t know anyone’s last name.”

“Oh, you’re thinking too hard. Think…feathers and games.”

“Abriel?” he gasped before I could stop him. Reaching across the distance, he embraced me. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“Well, here I am.”

“But why? And why couldn’t you just tell Margie your name in the first place?” he asked.

“We’ll get to that soon enough,” I assured him, waving the questions away for the time being. “How are you doing? And how in the world did you end up at a boarding school?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders, saying, “My parents got used to not having a kid around. They stuck around for about three months after I went back and then…they disappeared. So I found Mitchell while he was following a young earth elemental and told him about it. He told Valetta and she’s been paying for me to go here,” he said, which made sense why Mitchell had reported back so quickly; he didn’t even have to look for Mikael.

“It seems so sketchy here, though,” I said, unable to hide my concern. Valetta had chosen this place, and usually I trusted her judgment, but so far my reception had led me to wonder about how safe an environment this was.

“That’s just because Margie’s wary of everyone,” Mikael said. “Most of the boys here are earth or water elementals, so any visitors she doesn’t recognize she hassles a little. It’s mostly for our protection.”

Eternal: Chapter Five, Part 2

“Should we go somewhere?” I caught one of her thoughts; she wasn’t sure what she should do or how she should act. She couldn’t fathom why I would be here now, but she respected me like an older sister or mentor. I was flattered but I couldn’t be distracted.

“If you want. We can talk here or anywhere you like,” I said easily; now that she knew who I was, we could jump straight to business. This was going smoother than I had hoped. “Either way, we need to talk.”

Kora nodded, sitting down on the bench; I joined her, waiting for her to say something. If she didn’t want to know, she had a right not to; but it all depended on her.

“What are we talking about?”

“I’m starting my movement,” I said, studying her closely. “I’ll be honest with you; I have two years to do what could easily take three and still need more work. But I can’t start without a team, and I’m hoping you’ll agree to help me with this.”

She sat thinking for a long while, her eyes scanning over the ground. I could see the different emotions running through her mind: uncertainty, happiness, frustration, restraint, even a touch of sorrow.

“I won’t let this affect your schoolwork,” I promised, crossing my legs and sitting forward on my elbow. “School will come first, always. I need you on my team for ideas, help, support, so on and so forth.”

“Why only two years?” she asked, her eyebrows knitting together. “That’s impossible.”

“That’s a long story…and it isn’t impossible.”

She bit her inside cheek as though refraining from returning to her previous question. “You swear this won’t interfere with school?”

“I swear.”

“Then I’m in…for now;” she sat back on the bench. “However, I’m not sure how optimistic I’ll be. And I’m not sure I’ll stick with it.”

I leaned back to study the velvet black of the cloudless sky; “I guess I’ll have to be optimistic enough for us both, then.”

“We’ll see. So what’s first?”

“First, you finish the semester.” Meeting her waiting hazel eyes, I said, “Then we have a team meeting and go from there.”

“You don’t know yet?”

I played offended at the doubt and incredulity lacing her voice. “I know what’s going to happen, Kora.” She cocked an eyebrow at me as I added, “I just don’t feel like repeating myself a million times.”

“If you insist,” she teased, sitting back.

Nudging her in the shoulder with mine, I said, “I see I’ll have to be triply optimistic to make up for this sarcasm of yours.”

Kora stuck her tongue out at me and I caught it with the air, unable to help smiling as she struggled to demand I stop and pull it back into her mouth. After a moment, though, she broke my concentration as I found the bench suddenly disappearing beneath me. She laughed; there wasn’t much I could do but join her.

“Careful,” I said, playfully, still half laughing. “I might get you back for that.”

She only laughed more, sucking me into her giggly bout. It was somewhat of a relief to not be taken seriously; to just feel young and silly again.

I could only hope my meeting with Mikael would be as successful and entertaining—though I hoped I wouldn’t be dropped on my rear end for a second time.

Eternal: Chapter Four, Part 4

“You knew I wasn’t dead?” I asked, cocking my head to the side, slightly put out. Mitchell’s habit of harmlessly tormenting people for fun was really starting to rub off on me. I was fairly certain that wasn’t healthy.

“I knew you were still around more than I knew you were alive,” he replied, shrugging and crossing his arms over his chest. “You have a unique imprint in the air that was still hanging around. When it disappeared that day, that’s when I called Caroline and learned what had happened. But then it came back.”

“It’s all…really complicated,” I said, knowing he was thinking about how it was always complicated—it did seem that way. “But I’m not even sure if I’m supposed to talk about it.”

He nodded. “She was a mess for the longest time, though.”

“Drei told me,” I assured him, hoping that subject would go away too. I didn’t like knowing I had been the cause of pain for people. It was part of the reason I tried not to think about my parents.

“But she seems better now.”

“I helped her let go of the grief and guilt she was holding on to,” I explained, shrugging, hoping he wouldn’t see it as a bad thing.

“That was nice of you,” he said softly, seeming to look past me. Yeah, he didn’t agree with it, but I personally hated to watch people suffer when I could help them.

“You aren’t mad at me, are you?” I asked, studying the bows on the toes of my flats. Ian was the only free air elemental I knew of, and I wasn’t sure how well I could pull off anything knowing I had angered him. He was one of those people I never wanted to cross, and not because he scared me. Ian was probably one of the frankest people I knew and that, in itself, was invaluable.

“Come ‘ere, love,” he said, pulling me into his arms again. “I can’t be mad at you when I’m sure you wouldn’t have put her through so much if you could’ve helped it.” Kissing the top of my head, he added, “Besides, you’re back now.”

“It’s—”

“Because it’s your time to run things,” he finished for me, unsmiling.

“How’d you know?” I stared up at him.

Approaching his painting, he pointed to the only gray strip branching away from the strand near the top of the canvas. I hadn’t noticed it before, but the three strips chasing after it weren’t pulling it back; they were swirling around it and creating the start of what could be a new strand. “That’s you.”

“You can’t be sure—that might be you,” I insisted, not wanting to believe him.

“I’m supposed to spread truths, but not until after there’s been a great change,” he said, scanning my face. “Which means it has to be soon because I’ve already begun painting.”

“Why can’t it have already happened?” I argued, knowing he was probably right since it was his work—he should know—but being stubborn just the same.

“Because every other air elemental who has led a movement was chosen to lead it by luck, not because they stepped up to lead it.” Eyeing me, having cornered me with the very information I had spent months studying, he concluded, “Until you.”

We stared at each other for the longest time. I still didn’t want to believe that was supposed to be me, but I couldn’t form an articulate argument in response; history was on his side, as well as his own destiny. The silence was broken when Caroline returned with her coffee.

“There’s more if either of you would like some,” she said, sitting on one of the couches, oblivious to the situation upon which she had stumbled.

“No, thanks,” Ian said as I said, “I’m good.”

“Suit yourselves,” she replied, shrugging, clutching her mug in her lap as if it were extremely cold in the room. “So, Abs, what’s the plan? Where do we start?”

Ian and I sat down on either side of her. “I still need a lawyer, and then I have to find the other four people I want on my core team,” I said, trying to remember what else I had already figured out. “Then we work on setup, because that’ll take some time. I’ll go more into detail when I have a full team, but that’s the basics.”

“Sounds like what we started with,” Caroline said to Ian, who nodded. “I can set up the appointment with my lawyer tomorrow. Noon work okay?”

I knew I couldn’t admit I was a vampire and that noon might not work out so well, so I said, “Sure,” hoping everything would work out in my favor. I either needed it to be overcast or to find a really big hat, though an umbrella might work as well; I’d make it work.

“Perfect. Ian can pick you up. Just like old times.”

“Of course,” Ian agreed, smiling as big as Caroline was.

Smiling back, I nodded, wishing it really was like old times. I had thought things were complicated then, but this was an entirely different web of all new proportions, and I would have given almost anything to have the old worries back.

Eternal: Chapter Two, Part 5

“Why are you with her?” Valetta demanded when we stepped through the door. Her anger flooded the room as she stood, glaring at him.

I could feel Drei shrinking beside me under her fury. Our talk earlier hadn’t completely settled him, and he still hadn’t decided the answers for himself. But I didn’t want her bullying him when it was my fault and I was around—I didn’t want her being hard on him even when I wasn’t around, but that was slightly harder to control.

Slipping my hand into his, I stared back at Valetta. “It was my idea,” I stated, determined not to fold under her ferocity. “I asked him to come with me because I wanted to be with him.”

She was completely taken aback—not expecting me to speak on his behalf, apparently—but it wasn’t long before she recomposed herself, her anger still obvious but not nearly as strong. “Why?”

“Because I love him, Valetta, and I enjoy spending time with him,” I explained gently. I knew she had once felt the same way, but somehow she seemed to have forgotten that.

“But he was not there to protect you, and he turned—”

“We were both responsible for what happened, and we’ve come to terms with it already.” I was trying to remain patient. She didn’t know the circumstances and seemed reluctant to even attempt understanding them, but that didn’t give her an excuse to completely ignore their existence. “We went over the whys and the hows and we’re past it. We just want to be happy. Just like you.”

Mitchell took Valetta’s hands and pulled her aside. They argued a moment over whether or not to trust what I was saying, if they were really my own words or somehow Drei’s influence. He eventually talked her down, taking our side, and explaining how he saw it to her. We weren’t trying to spite her; Drei wasn’t trying to take advantage of me. We were simply making the best of our situation and living our undead lives the way we wanted. And for once, Mitchell was speaking straightforward and, instead of hitting him, I kind of wanted to give him a huge hug.

“Apologies are in order,” she said when Mitchell finished and they had approached us again.

“No they’re not,” I said, crossing the space between us and taking her hands in mine. “You were just standing up for what you felt was right. There’s nothing to be sorry for in that.”

“But—”

“You are worse than Abriel when it comes to arguing about everything.” Drei was unsure yet about whether he was still in deep with her or not, but not so uncertain as to remain silent. “She is right, though. There is no reason to apologize.”

“I yelled at you,” she persisted, her dark eyes wide and befuddled. “I was cruel and judgmental; I separated you, and—”

“We needed that,” Drei finished for her, steadily growing surer of his position in this. “At least I did. It gave me time to contemplate how much I do value her;” he met my eyes and held them. A faint warmness spread through my body and my lips upturned slightly. “How I have made mistakes in the past, and renewed my resolve not to repeat them.”

“I do not recall mushy messes being on our itinerary,” Mitchell teased, successfully coaxing grins from all of us—even an eye roll from Valetta. I was grateful he was breaking up the cycle of reassurances that was bound to follow, but it didn’t stop me wanting to hit him for his teasing.

“Do you always have to be insensitive to the moment?” I asked, my hands on my hips.

“Only when you are around,” he taunted jovially, hugging me.

“Of course. So what should we do now that all this drama is done with?” I asked as Drei slipped an arm around my waist, his other hand disappearing into his pocket.

We all looked at each other, hoping someone had an idea. “What if we just talk?” Valetta suggested after a while. With no other suggestions, we sat in the living room and talked.

It was entertaining, as we covered recent events—both serious and frivolous—debated about different places in town, and discussed what I had come up with for my movement. From their reactions, I really had figured it out—all of them had known since before meeting me, but none of them would ever tell me what it was.

It was well into the afternoon before Drei insisted I should sleep. Mitchell and Valetta agreed, despite my arguments, but then Valetta suggested we all retire for the day, as if to ensure they weren’t just treating me like a little kid. Mitchell even proposed we go out as a group the next night before we parted ways. Things were somewhat back to normal for the time being. Valetta didn’t even say anything about Drei and me sleeping in the same bed again. That was probably the best thing, too. I felt like I was actually able to fall asleep.

Eternal: Chapter One, Part 4

About a month after he had first brought up the phone calls, we were walking through the park, discussing my movement. I still hadn’t figured out what exactly I would do, though I had figured out what the basis of it was going to be. I hoped by the time I had brought everyone integral to my revolution in, I would know how to carry it out.

“So who all is included as integral?” Drei asked as we left the park, walking along a predominantly empty residential sidewalk.

“Mikael and Kora, because they’re both earth. Jake and Xenia, for water. Caroline, though I’m not sure I’ll find her counterpart. And Ian will match me in air. Then of course there’s you,” I added, glancing up at him.

“Anyone else?” he prodded, a glint in his eyes suggesting I was forgetting someone.

For a moment I thought about saying Nick, one of my friends who, unfortunately, was trapped working for our corrupt government. The very government I would be moving against. But I didn’t know if he’d even be able to partake in the ensuing events. If he showed up, I wouldn’t deny his help, but I wasn’t going to count him in when I couldn’t be sure.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted slowly, still trying to think of an answer.

“So there is no room for us?” a woman’s voice demanded indignantly from behind us.

My head whipped around to take in the sight of Valetta and Mitchell as Mitchell said, “I guess we are unwelcome, Valetta.”

Mitchell smirked teasingly at me before I hugged him. Both Valetta and Mitchell were vampires, though I hadn’t seen them since I had left the elemental safe camp Drei used to run. Valetta had been left in charge, and I guessed in the years we had been away, some relationship had blossomed between her and Mitchell. They stood closer together than I remembered, and Valetta seemed to radiate a happiness I couldn’t remember having sensed around her. There was also a flicker of some secretive smile when he said her name.

Valetta was pale in complexion with dark hair and long flowing clothes that made her elegant in an old world way while keeping with the new world trends. She had been one of my first new friends after I had run away from home, though, then, I had been convinced Drei was in love with her. That wasn’t the case, as I found out from both of them—at separate times—though she did love him.

On the other hand, Mitchell had dark ebony skin and was bald, more than likely a choice of his own. He used to drive me crazy, never once having answered any of my questions directly. What was almost worse was he seemed to enjoy it. So many times I wanted to hit him, but now I was just so happy to see them. It felt like it had been forever.

“Of course there’s room for you,” I said, throwing my arms around Valetta. “There’s always room for friends.”

“Do you like your surprise, Abriel?” Drei asked from behind us.

“I love it;” I kissed his cheek, asking, “Is this what all of that phone call business was about?”

Smiling, he replied, “Yes, love.”

“He insisted on surprising you,” Valetta said. “You know I cannot resist a good surprise.”

“I know.”

“You must have matured some,” Mitchell said, smirking mischievously, “as you are not yet berating us for the surprise. If I remember rightly, you did not used to care for them.”

I shrugged; “I’ve had so many surprises the past few years, I guess I learned to just deal with it.”

“Walk with us,” Drei said, tilting his head in the direction in which we had been going. “We will soon be at the apartment again.”

“We have a spare bedroom, too,” I added, slipping my hand back into Drei’s. “You could share, or however you want to split it.” I didn’t much like the possible thought of not sleeping next to Drei, but I didn’t want them to be uncomfortable either. I guess my mother’s drilling in proper hostess behavior hadn’t been worn away with my distaste of surprises.

“We shall discuss that later on,” Valetta said, walking beside me, Mitchell on her other side, their fingers loosely interlaced. “For now, we are more interested in this secret Drei has been keeping from us.”

“What secret?” I looked from Valetta and Mitchell to Drei. Why didn’t I know there was a secret? You’d figure I would know if there was a secret.

“Concerning you, Abriel,” Mitchell said casually, his gaze fixed at some point down the street.

“Though I think I can guess what it is;” Valetta voice retained a light-hearted quality though her features were considerably stonier. “Drei, please tell me this secret is not what I believe it to be.”

“And what, pray tell, do you think it is?” Drei asked, staring ahead like Mitchell. There was a stiffness about him, and though I still held his hand, it didn’t feel like he was really holding mine back.

I had this sinking feeling I knew what the secret was. It wasn’t a secret to either of us since we’d been dealing with it for a year, but if he hadn’t told them, it was still somewhat of a secret. I couldn’t be sure how I felt about him not telling them; they deserved to know, especially since the Vampire Council would eventually know; I honestly preferred if they knew before the Council did.

Valetta stopped under a streetlight, tugging on my hand to stop me as well. Tilting my chin up to the light, she ordered, “Open your mouth.” Obeying, it took her a second before she dropped my chin and slapped Drei. “What the hell do you think you are doing? This jeopardizes everything,” she berated quietly, pointing violently in my direction.

I had been right. He hadn’t told them he had turned me. My eyes studied Mitchell as he buried his hands in his pockets, staring into some dark void. He was disappointed as well, but he wasn’t going to rip into Drei while Valetta was. I wasn’t sure if he would at all, or how opposed he was. For the moment though, he wasn’t going to say anything.

“You do not understand the circumstances,” Drei said, attempting to tower over her, but he was no match to her anger. I’d never seen her so livid, as though she could kill him and not think twice.

“Circumstances? They might take her from you. Did you think on those circumstances?”

“I would rather they take her from me than Death,” he hissed, trying to force her into backing down. It wasn’t working. This was Valetta, after all. She was highly intelligent and as stubborn as Drei. Maybe even more so. I might have been able to coax Drei into some things and stood up to him when he was out of line, but if anyone was going to drag him from a high horse, it was Valetta.

As the words settled in, Valetta seemed to shrink. “You lie,” she said, trying to hold onto her anger, still wanting to paint him a villain. I guessed I had been wrong; even that subject could stop her. But I was sure she wasn’t going to forgive him.

“He doesn’t.” She turned towards me, her eyes finding me as though they had forgotten I was still there. “I thought I had died, and then he told me I hadn’t.”

She held my face in her hands, whispering, “You poor thing; this never should have happened.” Pulling me into her embrace, she rubbed my back. It felt more like the gesture was an attempt to comfort herself instead of me. I had already come to terms with it and her consoling did nothing for me. “You should never have been doomed to this fate.”

“She has accepted this, Valetta,” Drei said, still standing away from us.

“Because you have convinced her she should, or because she has decided to?” Mitchell asked politely, a threat hidden in his words. So he was going to speak after all. I made a mental note to stop guessing how this was going to go; I hadn’t been around them recently and all of us had changed, it seemed.

Removing myself from Valetta’s hold, I decided this was enough. I didn’t want to keep discussing this because there wasn’t a point to it. What was done was done, and no amount of reprimanding would fix it. Period.

“I accepted it because it was the only way I can do what I need to, and because I love him,” I said, wrapping my arms around Drei’s waist and resting my head on his chest. “And even if it doesn’t last long, at least we can be together for a while.”

“For a while may be all you have;” Valetta sighed, as Mitchell soothed her, whispering into her ear and wrapping his arms around her.

“I’ll take what I’m given.” As hard as it was to even consider possibly losing Drei, I knew the time was fast coming when we’d have to admit this was a possibility; that the Council would not rule mercifully in his favor. It wouldn’t stop me from fighting for it, but no matter what happened, I would always have some part of him.

“Let us not ruin this beautiful night,” Drei said solemnly, holding me close for a moment.

“It has been ruined already, friend,” Mitchell said, though there was nothing friendly in his voice. He took Valetta’s hand as we continued down the street.

“Then let us not waste what is left,” Drei said as Valetta took my hand and squeezed it.

She gave me a look then, her dark eyes full of a strange mixture of sadness and happiness. They seemed to say she was glad Drei and I could finally be open about our love, but she also feared whatever came when the Council found out—for my sake, anyway.  Even if Drei wouldn’t admit it, he was afraid of that time as well. I could feel the fear washing off of him, even as he struggled to dismiss it.

But there was something else there in the sadness of her eyes. Almost like a loss of faith, or perhaps trust. I couldn’t be sure, though. Whatever it was, it was deep and troubling her. A sinking feeling overcame me. This storm wasn’t over. Drei’s vain hope the rest of the night wouldn’t be ruined seemed that much vainer.

Vampiric: Chapter Ten, Part 3

Our first broadcast of the year was over, a magnificent success in beginning her call to action, so it provided another excuse for us to celebrate. Even though Ian, Caroline, and I had more work to do mapping out what action we wanted our now four million plus supporters—based on conservative estimates—to take. That was our next problem.

Ian and I waited at the back of the crowd as she made the toast that would commence the fête.

“This is not a celebration of victory,” she began, smiling around at everyone. “We haven’t won anything. This is not a celebration of everyone who has claimed to be one of us and spread our message. This is a celebration of us. Of everything we’ve accomplished over the past year, and everything we will strive for this year. This is to our team members who have left, those who have joined, those who have made sacrifices on our behalf and chose to stay in our company.” Her eyes stayed a moment on mine before moving on with her toast. “To continue on for the sake of people they do not know, but want to help. As we continue on this year, let us remember that out goal isn’t to take over. Our goal is to spread truth and aid the general public in realizing if they want a better life, they’ll have to make it, because our government will not.

“So this is to us! For all we have done, and all we have yet to do.”

“To us!” the crowd cheered, downing their poison of choice.

As music started up and people broke into groups to socialize, Ian and I slipped out, heading for her office. We expected her to be delayed by questions and adoration, possibly even drunken requests for a dance. Who knew? The employees were a wide range of people, all dependable and loyal but occasionally unpredictable. It’s what made them perfect.

“Ian,” I said as we sat in our usual seats, “is there some secret you have that you’d like to share?”

His sapphire eyes darted up momentarily, a flaming eyebrow raised in puzzlement. “Such as what?”

“Such as would explain that kiss on the cheek the night you told me to talk to Caroline.”

“Yes,” he admitted, sitting forward on his elbows. “I’m madly in love with you, love.”

The seriousness in which he said it made me laugh. “Really, though,” I said. “You didn’t move. So as flattering as that would be, it’s an outright fib.”

“If you know, why are you asking?” he asked readjusting his cap of the day—a crocheted cap in a houndstooth print.

Shrugging, I sat further back in my chair. “I want to hear it from you. Just as you wanted to hear it from me.”

“Fair enough,” he conceded, grinning mischievously. “But let’s make this a touch more interesting.”

“What?” That wasn’t part of my plan.

“Entertain me,” he requested, sweeping an open hand out to his side. “I’ll still let you in on my secret, but, what do you think it is?”

“That you’re an elemental, too.”

“Since I’ll be specific, you have to be as well,” he bargained, his smile growing larger. “So which element, love? You have a 25 percent chance of guessing right.”

“Air,” I replied. His personality was just too close to mine, and which else could blow a kiss so accurately?

“Seems you’ve found me out,” he smiled, leaning back again.

“Wasn’t hard when you gave yourself away.”

“I had planned on telling you when you told me,” he confided, seriously. “Then I was called away.”

“Does Caroline know?” I inquired, curious if he had ever shared with her.

“Well, I haven’t told her in so many words, but I’ve left plenty of clues for her. Whether she pieces the puzzle together or not is her choice,” he said, shrugging. I didn’t blame him. Just as she hadn’t directly told me she was fire, and I hadn’t outright told her I was air. We had simply revealed it to our advantage.

Vampiric: Chapter Ten, Part 2

As I had expected, Caroline sat in the living room, trying fruitlessly to focus on the paperwork before her. I watched her for a few minutes, witnessing her unease as she’d lift a page, sit back to read it, only to find herself staring blindly at it the next moment and trading it for another. Letting the door close noisily behind me, I shrugged out of my coat, feeling her eyes on me as she tried telling herself she wasn’t staring.

Taking Ian’s advice, I sat on the couch across from her, saying, “We need to talk.”

Caroline nodded. For the first time since New Year’s, I studied her and was surprised to see dark circles under her eyes.

“I’m sorry for blowing you off,” I began, slowly, figuring an apology was as good a place as any to begin. “I was…so upset by everything and I didn’t want to say something I’d regret.”

“I’m just grateful you’re talking to me again,” she said. She sighed and leaned back. “I have a question, though.”

“Yes?” I had a sickening feeling I knew what it was, which was worsened by the way she wouldn’t meet my eyes. Though I wasn’t sure I was ready to answer, I realized it was now or never. I had already waited too long.

“Why did he ask you to leave?”

It was my turn to sigh and sit back. There it was. Closing my eyes, I pretended I was talking to Ian again, when it had been somewhat easy to share. “He saw you kiss me and thought it was something more—”

“—when you were promoted and kept getting called away,” she finished, shaking her head dejectedly. Caroline ran her hands over her face, her fingertips stopping, tented under her nose. “God, Abs. I’m so sorry.” When she opened her eyes, I could see the tears pooling in them.

“It isn’t completely your fault,” I said. “I should have talked to him about it sooner, and he should have spoken to me as well.”

“But if I had been thinking…I shouldn’t have—”

“Caroline.” Now that she knew, I discovered I didn’t really want her to beat herself up about it. I just wanted things to be the way they had been, even if I didn’t think it was possible. “Nothing can change what happened. You didn’t know, and you weren’t expected to.”

“I’m sure there were signs I missed…that I ignored, Abs.”

“If there were signs we were anything more than…friends, at the most, it means we were careless,” I explained poorly. To fully explain the circumstances would take forever and even then she wasn’t likely to understand. “So if you knew, that means others knew, which means what should have happened would have been much worse.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, sitting forward on her elbows.

“It’s better if you don’t know,” I replied, really not wanting to go into that. “My point is, I didn’t want to outright blame you for that and whatever else I could think of at the time. I didn’t want to jeopardize our friendship while I was angry.”

Caroline stood and plopped down next to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders. “I thank you for that. If you had yelled at me, I would probably be the one not talking to you.”

“I know;” I smiled and hugged her back.

“Want to know something?” she asked, catching my gaze.

“Hm?”

“I think I know how you were feeling…still are feeling somewhat.”

“Ian kind of told me that,” I admitted, sheepishly. “Said I was behaving just as Drei had.”

“Exactly,” she said. “What if everything that happened was just because—”

“Stop.” I shook my head and closed my eyes. “This was his choice. We’ll both live with it so long as he chooses. Maybe longer. Don’t give me hope for anything different.”

“So if he came tomorrow and apologized, would you take him back?”

The question caught me off guard. I wanted to say yes, but less than five months ago I had told her I wouldn’t. “I’ll know if it happens.” It was the only honest answer I had.

“Not if, silly. When,” she corrected, squeezing my hand. “No worries, Abs. I’ll be optimistic enough for both of us. It will happen.”

Falling asleep that night, I couldn’t help but replay her logic and begin to hope she was right—against my own cautioning desires. Hope had brought him to me before and had kept me going this long; I could only have faith hope would be on my side again.