Chapter 34 — More questions

Kell:

I look in the mirror and adjust my black bow tie.

I’m ready for the dance. My black tuxedo, white dress shirt, and black slacks are pressed and falling perfectly across my body. Surprisingly enough, Rowan came to visit earlier and is lying on top of my bed, staring at me with a knowing smirk.

“What?” I ask, annoyed.

Snorting, he picks up my football from the side table and throws it up and down. “Nothing. I just never thought I’d see the day where my little brother dresses up in a penguin suit for some girl.”

I scowl at him from the reflection in the mirror and quirk a brow. Rowan can sometimes be such an ass about girls. I can’t wait for the day when he falls hard and is trapped by the bonds of love. He won’t be laughing or making asinine comments then.

“Amara is not, some girl,” I say, making air quotes as I turn around, catch the football mid-air, and place it back on the table. It’s the football I won my first game with. “I suggest you show some respect, brother. Amara is my mate and my girlfriend. So, I’d appreciate it if you kept your snarky comments to yourself.”

He quirks an arrogant eyebrow and leans his back on the headboard. “Fine, I’m sorry. So how has it been going with you and your mate?”

I shrug my shoulders and sit in the corner of the bed to slip into my shoes. “It’s been really good. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more. It’s just been a little stressful with all this pageant stuff, and…” I stop not wanting to say more since I’ve never told anyone but Mathias— and Azazel, by extension, about Amara’s visions.

Rowan nods his head contemplatively. He looks intense sitting there dressed in black jeans, a black Henley, and black boots. His hair seems lighter, and his skin paler under the harsh colors and shadows of the room. His eyes seem a bit hollow, and his mouth is tight. As if noticing my scrutiny, he shifts on the bed uncomfortably and clears his throat. “Are you…are you happy that you found your mate?” He clears his throat again, making me suspicious of his line of questioning.

I don’t know what has been up with my brother lately. He’s not the happy go lucky Rowan I’m used to, and it’s worrying me. I want to ask him why he’s asking such personal questions, but I worry that he might be scared off, so I err on the side of caution. “I mean…at first, I was not sure…you know? Then I realized how lucky I was to find her.”

I move around the room, feeling emotion well up at my own thoughts. “Look at Azazel, Alex, and the other older Sups. They are all nearly ancient, and they still haven’t found their mates. All I had to do was walk down the high school hallway and bump into mine. Even though we’ve had some problems, I realize that we’re perfect together. She makes me feel happier than I’ve ever felt before. I mean, I know that I have you, Carrick, Khail, and Alex, but…” I hold up my palms and frown into them as if it holds all of my secrets. “…Amara is mine. She’s the part of me that I was missing. She makes me feel whole. You and the guys put me back together after my parents died, but I could still feel the cracks. I guess what I’m saying is…” I let out a deep sigh and lower my elbows down to my knees, clasp my hands together, lean my forehead on my clasped hands, and look at him from the corner of my eyes. “…with Amara, the cracks disappear.”

Rowan sits next to me and rests his hand on my shoulder. “That sounds nice, bro. I’m happy for you…really.”

He moves his hand away and copies my position. “I just don’t know if I’d be ready for something like that…” He drifts of looking distractedly at his clasped hands.

I sit up and take a long look at my brother. “You never know unless you try. Have you felt anything yet? Maybe you met a girl that makes you feel the way Amara makes me feel?”

I wait patiently as Rowan continues to look at his hands. At first, he hesitates as if unsure of his answer. But then he tentatively shakes his head. “No…no one.”

His words ring false, but I don’t push. Instead, I rise from my seat with a snicker and adjust my suit jacket. “Well, you’re welcome to come to the dance with us if you want.”

I appraise his attire and snicker. “You’re not really dressed for it, but I have a suit jacket you can slip on over your shirt that will spiff up your outfit. There will be plenty of hot girls there. Carrick and Haley are going, and I’m supposed to pick Amara and Juliet in a couple of minutes.”

It’s not my imagination when he flinches slightly at Juliet’s name. I’ve had an inkling that something has happened between those two. But it’s just an inkling since I’ve never seen them together. I just get the feeling that there’s more than I know happening. I don’t say anything, though. I simply keep it casual as if I didn’t notice his reaction.

“So, what do you think?” I gesture to the jacket in my closet. Rowan looks then shakes his head. "I'm good, man."

I don't believe him, though, because his expression tells me that he actually feels the opposite of what he is saying.

I simply shrug my shoulders and place my wallet and car keys in my pockets. “Okay then, if you change your mind, we’ll be at the Arcata Hall near the school.”

He gives me a grim smile and waves me away. “It’s just not my thing, man. But have fun, okay?” He says as he carelessly lays back down on my bed.

Before I step out the door, I take one last look at my brother and close the door behind me. The first word that comes to mind when I think of Rowan is lonely. He looked almost lost when I looked back at him. I wish he would trust me enough to tell me what was going on, but I can understand his secrecy too. I mean, I didn’t want anyone to give me a hard time about Amara when I was thinking about our situation. I guess it’s his journey to take. I just hope that he doesn’t make a decision that he might regret later. Rowan can be pretty stubborn when he sets his mind to something, and sometimes that's not a good thing. Damn vampires!

Amara and Juliet are not quite ready when I get to Amara’s house. Jordana meets me at the door with a narrowed frown. I swear that woman has x-ray vision. Before I could get through the door, she assesses my suit as if trying to find a flaw. I must pass muster because she eventually lets me into the living area. I feel like a dog who is being checked over for fleas before he’s allowed back into the house. I don’t say anything, though. With my luck, she’ll change her mind and have the maid close the door on my face or something. Instead, she points her index finger under my nose and says with a harsh tone. “You clean up well. Just make sure that you don’t eat with your hands, burp, or do something disgusting.”

I have to swallow a chuckle at her words. Seriously, this woman’s nose is so far up in the sky that I wonder how she doesn’t get whiplash. Feeling like a chastised child, even though I haven’t done anything to be chastised for, I simply nod my head in agreement.

She ignores my response and continues. “Make sure you hold her hand and only have one drink. Don’t gulp, sip…” She continues to talk, but my attention is drawn to the vision coming down the stairs. Amara looks incredible in her form-fitting gown. Saliva collects in my mouth. I’m so entranced by her that I don’t notice her mother’s expectant look. I simply nod my head at whatever she said and move around her to my incredibly breathtaking girlfriend.

Amara smiles shyly and extends her hand to mine when I offer it. “You look beautiful, beauty queen,” I mutter as I place a light kiss on her pouty lips.

She rests her hand over my jaw and kisses me back lovingly. “You look really good, too, Kell.”

Unfortunately, the loud clearing of someone’s throat interrupts our happy moment. We sigh in exasperation before we face her seething mother. Jordana looks pissed as she stands before us. Her mouth is set tight, and her eyes are narrowed into slits. She looks like a ruffled cat.

Taking Amara’s hand, I stand next to Jordana and face her critical gaze. Her lips curl into a sneer as she inspects Amara from head to toe, then turns back to me. “Well, don’t you two look…nice.” She says with a stiff smile and loud sniff.

I give her a cocky grin. “Thanks, Jordana.”

My response makes her lose her smile quickly. If it’s even more possible, her mouth tightens further. She looks like she swallowed a very sour lemon.

“Don’t be insolent.” She snaps at me. “And you…” She says to Amara. “Make sure that your…” She turns to me with disgust. “…your... boyfriend does not embarrass us. Do you understand?”

Amara stiffens and takes a step forward, ready to bitch out Jordana, but I tighten my hand around hers and keep her still. Her breathing is ragged as she looks at me with upset eyes. I can tell by the look on her face that if I don’t say something quickly, she and Jordana are going to argue, and I don’t want her to have to deal with Jordana’s wrath. So, with an insincere smirk, I step forward and say as nicely as I can. “Don’t worry, Jordana, I’ll behave and do everything you asked. Amara will win this thing.”

Jordana stares me down for a moment as if gauging my honesty and steps back with a final sniff. “You better.”

As soon as she leaves, I release a deep breath that I didn’t know I was holding and turn back to my girl. “Wow, your mom is scary.”

She giggles slightly and wraps her arms around my bicep. “Don’t worry, baby, I won’t let her hurt you.”

Rubbing my hand up and down her arms, I finally turn to a waiting Juliet, who is standing at the top of the stairs with her mouth open in surprise.

“Holy crap!” Juliet takes a couple of cautious steps down the stairs and looking warily towards where Jordana disappeared. Her dress skirt trails behind her, making it seem like a long tail in the shadows of the stairs, and her eyes are wide. It almost looks comical. “I have never seen Jordana so peeved.” She says, holding out her palms in front of her. “Dude, you handled her like a pro. I wish I could do that.”

We both fist-bump each other and grin like fools. Juliet and I have become a lot closer since the video incident. It’s as if we have an understanding that no one is ever to mess with Amara, or they will suffer our wrath. That’s why I want to find out what is up with her and Rowan. Juliet is a good kid, and maybe, just maybe, she is the answer to Rowan’s prayers.

Clucking my tongue, I waggle my eyebrows exaggeratedly. “Wow, Jules, you clean up nice. How much makeup is under there?” I lean forward and pretend to look for a crack on her face.

She glowers at me and pushes me by the chest. “Seriously, Kell, don’t make me beat you up in front of your girlfriend.”

She waves her tiny fists at me threateningly. I can’t help but laugh at her mean face. She reminds me of a Chihuahua barking at a Pitbull.

Amara rolls her eyes and takes us by the elbows. “Okay, enough, you two. Let’s go before Jordana comes back. We’re already fashionably late. If I miss the chance to promote my reign, she’ll murder us both.”

Juliet and I chuckle at her serious words and let her lead us out the door.

The evening is beautifully clear tonight. The moon is full and gleaming like a silver orb in the sky, and the night is perfectly warm. There are fluffy gray clouds decorating the sky and stars twinkling far above. Which makes me think about stretching my wings and reaching for a cloud to give to my love. Amara and Juliet sing as we make our way to the hall. The mood is cheerful and free. However, I can’t help feeling like something big is going to happen. My wings must feel the same way, too, because they strain agitatedly against my back. I just hope that it’s just my imagination.

I look at Amara, who gives me a soft smile and tries to relax. I don’t want my beauty queen to worry over anything. Tonight is for her, and I’ll do anything to keep her safe and happy.