“Who, besides me, would be brave enough to walk in on you?” His face grew serious when I raised my head. “Have you been crying? Is it that guy you met? Did this college dude already turn into a dick? Where can I find him? I got your back.” He made an over-exaggerated angry face, trying to make me smile. It didn’t work. “Seriously, I hate seeing you upset. What’s wrong?”
“ No, nothing like that. The guy, Elwin, is amazing. I wish it was a guy thing; it would be easier to fix. I had a fight with my mom. Elwin was here and witnessed it. He was sweet and wants me to call him when I’m feeling up to it.”
“ You had a fight with Mom? You never fight with her. Was it about Elwin? Elwin is a strange name.” He pulled my hair, like he used to when we were six years old.
“ Owww! What was that for?”
“ So, about the fight . . .” Mathew waited. I didn’t know how much to tell him, or if this was even the best time to spill the beans. “You probably need to process all this before we talk, huh?”
I nod ded. He got up and headed toward the door. “I’ve got a date with Steph tonight, but I will cancel if you need me. You know that, right?” I nodded my head again. “I’m here for whatever you need.”
As I listened to his footsteps fading down the stairs, I felt a stab of pain in the middle of my chest. If I went to the fey realm, I would have to leave Mathew behind. Mom, too. I was completely pissed off at her, but I didn’t want to leave her. And what about Mama? It’s always been the four of us. They are the only family I knew, and I’d have to leave them and go to some unfamiliar place and be with people I’d never even met. I rolled over onto the bed, squeezed my Hello Kitty pillow, and stared at the spot where the crystals had been sitting.
I didn’t bother to wipe the tears cascading down my face as I fell back to sleep.
Nine
I awoke at 8:02 p.m . and realized I had screwed myself into not sleeping that night. I could process all the new family history I’d just gotten, or I could call Elwin. I sat up and looked to the east. What time was it in la-la land anyway? Do they observe Eastern Standard Time? I went downstairs to the bathroom where a look in the mirror confirmed that I was a disheveled mess. I washed my face, freshened up, and discarded my wrinkled clothing. I ran back upstairs wrapped in a towel and donned a clean pair of jeans and a strapless baby doll top. I could always put a jacket on if I got cold. I quickly brushed through my hair, twisted it up, and clipped it in place. I slid into my strapped black flats and felt ready. I went to the balcony door, faced the east, and called for Elwin. It was only a second before he materialized in front of me. I opened the door and motioned for him to come inside.
“You look nice all dressed up. G ot a big date?” He walked past me, grabbed my desk chair, turned it around, and straddled it in one fell swoop. I shut the door and leaned back on it, crossing my arms to mimic his normal stance. I can’t smize though; he definitely has me beat on that skill.
“ No date—I’ve been crying and sleeping all day. I’m up for doing something, though. I’m not sure what; I just need to get out of my head for a little while. Also, it took me all of five minutes to get ready. I am in no way, shape, or form dressed up. You won’t be able to miss me when I’m dressed up.”
“ I have no doubt.” Elwin paused before he reached in his right jacket pocket and took out one of the amazonite crystals. It was the one my mom had kept all these years. He placed it on the desk and retrieved the other one from his pocket. He stood up and reached into his front pocket of his button-down shirt. I caught myself staring at his chest and averted my eyes. “I made something for you. I think you’ll find it convenient. Turn around,” he said as he made a twirling motion with his hand, “and close your eyes.”
I respond ed without
“ No, nothing like that. The guy, Elwin, is amazing. I wish it was a guy thing; it would be easier to fix. I had a fight with my mom. Elwin was here and witnessed it. He was sweet and wants me to call him when I’m feeling up to it.”
“ You had a fight with Mom? You never fight with her. Was it about Elwin? Elwin is a strange name.” He pulled my hair, like he used to when we were six years old.
“ Owww! What was that for?”
“ So, about the fight . . .” Mathew waited. I didn’t know how much to tell him, or if this was even the best time to spill the beans. “You probably need to process all this before we talk, huh?”
I nod ded. He got up and headed toward the door. “I’ve got a date with Steph tonight, but I will cancel if you need me. You know that, right?” I nodded my head again. “I’m here for whatever you need.”
As I listened to his footsteps fading down the stairs, I felt a stab of pain in the middle of my chest. If I went to the fey realm, I would have to leave Mathew behind. Mom, too. I was completely pissed off at her, but I didn’t want to leave her. And what about Mama? It’s always been the four of us. They are the only family I knew, and I’d have to leave them and go to some unfamiliar place and be with people I’d never even met. I rolled over onto the bed, squeezed my Hello Kitty pillow, and stared at the spot where the crystals had been sitting.
I didn’t bother to wipe the tears cascading down my face as I fell back to sleep.
Nine
I awoke at 8:02 p.m . and realized I had screwed myself into not sleeping that night. I could process all the new family history I’d just gotten, or I could call Elwin. I sat up and looked to the east. What time was it in la-la land anyway? Do they observe Eastern Standard Time? I went downstairs to the bathroom where a look in the mirror confirmed that I was a disheveled mess. I washed my face, freshened up, and discarded my wrinkled clothing. I ran back upstairs wrapped in a towel and donned a clean pair of jeans and a strapless baby doll top. I could always put a jacket on if I got cold. I quickly brushed through my hair, twisted it up, and clipped it in place. I slid into my strapped black flats and felt ready. I went to the balcony door, faced the east, and called for Elwin. It was only a second before he materialized in front of me. I opened the door and motioned for him to come inside.
“You look nice all dressed up. G ot a big date?” He walked past me, grabbed my desk chair, turned it around, and straddled it in one fell swoop. I shut the door and leaned back on it, crossing my arms to mimic his normal stance. I can’t smize though; he definitely has me beat on that skill.
“ No date—I’ve been crying and sleeping all day. I’m up for doing something, though. I’m not sure what; I just need to get out of my head for a little while. Also, it took me all of five minutes to get ready. I am in no way, shape, or form dressed up. You won’t be able to miss me when I’m dressed up.”
“ I have no doubt.” Elwin paused before he reached in his right jacket pocket and took out one of the amazonite crystals. It was the one my mom had kept all these years. He placed it on the desk and retrieved the other one from his pocket. He stood up and reached into his front pocket of his button-down shirt. I caught myself staring at his chest and averted my eyes. “I made something for you. I think you’ll find it convenient. Turn around,” he said as he made a twirling motion with his hand, “and close your eyes.”
I respond ed without
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