door to the dwelling. I laugh so hard and she giggles.
“Sorry, James, guess I don’t know my own strength.”
“No worries, I guess you’re happy to see me?”
She nods and laughs, “Yep, of course I am.”
Her eyes squint, “You said you aren’t coming back, why are you here?”
I widen s="+ sq my eyes and point at her, “You owe mom a phone call. She came in to my room this morning about to get emotional.”
She chuckles, “Oh boy, how’d you handle that one?”
I fake insult, “What, you don’t think I can handle mom?”
“Actually at this point, you’re probably better at it than I am.”
“That’s right, I am. But that doesn’t mean I want to handle her though. Especially at the hands of whatever is going on with you.”
She sighs, “I know James, I’m sorry. I just haven’t been able to get away to call her. This battle thing…”
“What is going on with that? Have you and Jack discussed things with Jaspen?”
She nods but doesn’t say anything else. I can tell she’s not telling me something.
I probe, “What did he say?”
“Just that we need to get ready for another battle.”
She hesitates, “I…I’m a little scared. What if we don’t win this time?”
If I was undecided before, the look on my sister’s face just decided it for me. She looks scared and helpless. Both of which I never want to see my sister experience again.
I reassure her rubbing her arm, “Hey, you know it will all work out. It always does.”
She gathers a little strength and smiles a sure smile, “I know, thanks James.”
I smile again hoping it’s convincing and scold her, “Go call mom tonight before she calls Gam-aw and gives her hell.”
“I will.”
I gather her in my arms for a hug. We part and I tell her, “See you soon.”
She smiles and pinky waves as I travel back to the lake.
When the air changes around me, a sweet smell hits my nostrils before my eyes can focus on the beautiful person belonging to it. I knew she’d be back to get my answer. I just thought she’d give me at least a day.
I look down at her beautiful face and lower mine. Her lips meet mine and I’m very happy with the decision that I’ve made.
&n s sit>
Chapter 13
Ever
I wake with a start, unsure where I am. Something terrible happened in my dream but I can’t seem to remember it. Heat is seeping into my right side. I try to shake the sleep from my eyes and glance over to find myself wrapped in Jack’s arms. I watch his beautiful face for a few minutes. Today is going to be one of the hardest days of my life. Unfortunately, the one thing I never wanted to do, I must do to this unbelievable person, yet again. He will be so hurt. I try to focus on something else and squirm my way out of his grasp, not wanting to wake him.
As I swim to the door leading to the hall, I glance back and try to ingrain the sight of him so peaceful, into my brain for later.
I swim out into the hall and realize how famished I am. Amber is sitting at the table as I enter the kitchen. She looks over and greets me, “Good morning. How did you sleep?”
“Great! Any fruit left?”
She holds up an apple smiling.
I take it from her and sink into the seat across from her.
She takes me completely by surprise, “You do know that you can’t go.”
I look up at her as I take a bite of apple, preventing me from answering. What is she talking about?
I frown giving her a questioning look.
“Jack came out after you fell asleep last night and told me about Jaspen’s plan.”
I look at her surprised but decide to stay silent or I’ll lose my resolve.
She almost pleads with me, “He was just a shell before. You do remember your brother telling you how he could barely function, when you were apart, don’t you?”
I just stare at her wide-eyed. This is probably not my best move but if I speak, I know my voice will betray me. I take another bite of apple and focus on
“Sorry, James, guess I don’t know my own strength.”
“No worries, I guess you’re happy to see me?”
She nods and laughs, “Yep, of course I am.”
Her eyes squint, “You said you aren’t coming back, why are you here?”
I widen s="+ sq my eyes and point at her, “You owe mom a phone call. She came in to my room this morning about to get emotional.”
She chuckles, “Oh boy, how’d you handle that one?”
I fake insult, “What, you don’t think I can handle mom?”
“Actually at this point, you’re probably better at it than I am.”
“That’s right, I am. But that doesn’t mean I want to handle her though. Especially at the hands of whatever is going on with you.”
She sighs, “I know James, I’m sorry. I just haven’t been able to get away to call her. This battle thing…”
“What is going on with that? Have you and Jack discussed things with Jaspen?”
She nods but doesn’t say anything else. I can tell she’s not telling me something.
I probe, “What did he say?”
“Just that we need to get ready for another battle.”
She hesitates, “I…I’m a little scared. What if we don’t win this time?”
If I was undecided before, the look on my sister’s face just decided it for me. She looks scared and helpless. Both of which I never want to see my sister experience again.
I reassure her rubbing her arm, “Hey, you know it will all work out. It always does.”
She gathers a little strength and smiles a sure smile, “I know, thanks James.”
I smile again hoping it’s convincing and scold her, “Go call mom tonight before she calls Gam-aw and gives her hell.”
“I will.”
I gather her in my arms for a hug. We part and I tell her, “See you soon.”
She smiles and pinky waves as I travel back to the lake.
When the air changes around me, a sweet smell hits my nostrils before my eyes can focus on the beautiful person belonging to it. I knew she’d be back to get my answer. I just thought she’d give me at least a day.
I look down at her beautiful face and lower mine. Her lips meet mine and I’m very happy with the decision that I’ve made.
&n s sit>
Chapter 13
Ever
I wake with a start, unsure where I am. Something terrible happened in my dream but I can’t seem to remember it. Heat is seeping into my right side. I try to shake the sleep from my eyes and glance over to find myself wrapped in Jack’s arms. I watch his beautiful face for a few minutes. Today is going to be one of the hardest days of my life. Unfortunately, the one thing I never wanted to do, I must do to this unbelievable person, yet again. He will be so hurt. I try to focus on something else and squirm my way out of his grasp, not wanting to wake him.
As I swim to the door leading to the hall, I glance back and try to ingrain the sight of him so peaceful, into my brain for later.
I swim out into the hall and realize how famished I am. Amber is sitting at the table as I enter the kitchen. She looks over and greets me, “Good morning. How did you sleep?”
“Great! Any fruit left?”
She holds up an apple smiling.
I take it from her and sink into the seat across from her.
She takes me completely by surprise, “You do know that you can’t go.”
I look up at her as I take a bite of apple, preventing me from answering. What is she talking about?
I frown giving her a questioning look.
“Jack came out after you fell asleep last night and told me about Jaspen’s plan.”
I look at her surprised but decide to stay silent or I’ll lose my resolve.
She almost pleads with me, “He was just a shell before. You do remember your brother telling you how he could barely function, when you were apart, don’t you?”
I just stare at her wide-eyed. This is probably not my best move but if I speak, I know my voice will betray me. I take another bite of apple and focus on
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