Calling Carter.

(SILAH)

I rubbed my forehead, because my head was starting to hurt. I didn’t usually get headaches but I knew this one would be bad. I tried shaking it off, but Carter noticed.

“Si, what is it?” He asked. Man. When he said he’d take care of me, he really meant it. He certainly didn’t waste any time. “Do you need something?” He looked at me with shrewd concern, cause he knew I didn’t like taking painkillers or anything. I was a bad influence like that.

“Ah… I’m okay, it’s just, my head kinda hurts,” I said quietly. Carter was just as direct as Kala. The difference was, where sometimes you could let Kala talk for days, Carter could wait for you to tell him what he wanted to know and just look at you until then. He was looking at me now. He’d already proven he could be even more stubborn than me.

He moved me gently off his lap and got up to get me a glass of water and some Ibuprofen. He waited till I had taken them and then returned the glass to the kitchen, which he had insisted I empty. I couldn’t help but smile, “Thanks, mum.”

Shit. It was on everyone’s faces as they turned to look at me, and I closed my eyes tightly. I had been trying to forget. Terrible, I know, but it was the only way I could deal with it for now. Until I dealt with Caidan, I would have to forget everything.

Then, an awful, awful idea entered my head. My mother was one of the people closest to me. She had been targeted. Who was next? I frowned. No. This was my second family. They would not suffer.

Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t going to leave. That was just stupid. You ever read those books were someone leaves, thinking they’re being a hero, and the people they left behind nearly/do die? Yeah. I’m not that dumb. Plus, I had no idea where I would go. It’s not like I was super rich or anything.

I sighed. I would need to tell Layny and Carter about this. While they may have already guessed, we couldn’t tell Kala. The little sweetheart was afraid enough of the thunderstorm crashing around us; and Caidan made her more than a little nervous. I made a promise to myself. I would keep Kala from him at any cost.

Any cost.

(LUC)
Damn, but that girl was tough. She was wearing a singlet, so we had all seen the bandaging covering her stitches. She wasn’t wearing the singlet to show off – Carter had told me she had almost pulled her stitches before. And now she had just reminded herself that her mother was in a coma in hospital. We all knew who had done it.

She was looking calm again. Carter sat down next to her on the couch, wrapped his arms around her and obviously asked if she was okay. She smiled and nodded, but her eyes were a little too shiny. We were all worried about her, and her mother, but Carter most of all. I thought his lil’ heart might break looking at her like that. I stifled a snort. He’d already lost his heart, and if he couldn’t see that, he soon would. Hmmm, or I could tell him… Hehehe.

(KALA)
I was scared. I was really scared. Every time we heard thunder I jumped. I don’t know why it terrifies me so much, but it does. I’ve gotten a little more used to it, so I don’t squeak every time now. But there was another reason I was scared. Caidan was a bad person. I felt my mouth turn into a sad, upside-down smile. My lip even started trembling. No, I told myself, I will not cry again. I’ll be like Silah. She never cries.

I took deep, slow breaths, and smiled a little when Adam poked his tongue out at me. Then I couldn’t help but laugh as he pulled a funny face. He was too nice to me. I went up on my toes and stuck my tongue out too, and he picked me up and carried me to the couch. I laughed. Everyone did this, especially Luc and Adam. But Adam didn’t drop me on the couch like Luc did.

We watched movies pretty much all night, until about ten-thirty, when everyone except Adam went home. Tor, Daniel, Alice and Luc all promised to come back on Saturday. That was the day after tomorrow. Ha ha, they had to go to school. I told Luc he had to say hi to Mr Louis for me. He messed up my hair and said okay.

I stood at the doorway and waved until they disappeared from view. My hand felt like it was gonna fall off, but I felt much better. I grinned. Then, grinning cheekily, I climbed into Silah and Carter’s laps.

“Guys,” I said with the sweetest smile I could manage, “I think it might be time for bed.”

And then I picked up a pillow and hit Carter with it. Silah laughed, until he picked it up and smooshed it into her face.

“Hey!” She protested, then poked him in the ribs. He twitched, and I giggled. Uh oh. He grinned evilly at me, and I knew that face. I screamed, but then he started tickling me and it was lost amongst the laughter.

(SILAH)

I loved the way they interacted. They were so cute, especially Kala. She was wicked when she was in the right mood. I laughed as she made funny noises, attempting to tell Carter to “stop it right now young man or I’m gonna…” What she ended up saying was, “Stop… giggle… it… giggle… man…” and the rest was lost.

Noticing Adam just laughing on the floor, I wormed my way out from underneath Kala and lobbed the pillow at him. He was so surprised he fell over. I fell over too, but only cause I was laughing so hard I fell off the couch. He now looked like he had been not only electrocuted, but hit with a pillow. That was so dumb it was funny.