VIOLET

-CALEB-

I was still smiling as I stepped into my house, but that only lasted as far as the living room. My family waited for me and Cornelia was smiling wide…it was kind of creepy actually. I waived my hand and was about to book it up the stairs when the only voice that could stop me rang out.

-Caleb honey, how did it go?-Said Sophia sweetly.

I groaned and turned around. No use in pretending I was tired, we could go on two or three hours of sleep a week. Though when we did actually sleep there was no waking us up until we were fully recovered. It was the easiest way to kill one of us, which is why we never slept alone and always with someone we knew well and trusted. I made my way to the love seat and slouched into it getting comfortable. They would want gory details. Not that I intended to share those. Not that I really had those anyway.

-It went well. I met her brother and his girlfriend.- I answered as I decided I should start with the truth. Sophia was lying in Anthony’s arms on the long sofa and they looked at each other questioningly. Cornelia did not seem to find the statement lacking though, like she already knew…shit!

-You went to spy on me, didn’t you?- I asked accusingly. Cornelia just giggled like she always did before sticking her tongue out. Not very mature for a three hundred hundred year old but then again I wasn’t doing any better.

-Yes, but in my defense it was Michael’s idea.- She said defensively. I raised an eyebrow.

-What?, no Reese and Julia hiding in the trees too?- I said sarcastically. Cornelia rolled her eyes.

-No, they had things to do but we promised we would tell them what happened tomorrow.- She said smugly. –We are meeting you all at the lake.

-What?- I asked stupidly as I sat up. Cornelia’s eyes glinted evilly.

-Yup. Going swimming with your friends tomorrow at Winter’s house. She invited them and Michael invited me.- She finished. I knew better than to argue with her. Great! Now she could spy form the front lines! Sophia cleared he throat to get my attention back.

-What of her parents? I thought you would meet her family.-Sophia asked. I looked at her confused. She was right, I had not met her parents, just her brother. Actually, she had never mentioned her parents at all.

-They died when she was 15. Car accident. She has been in her brother’s care since. Until she convinced him to go back to school that is. She practically lives alone now.- Answered Cornelia for me. We all looked at her and she shrugged.-Michael told me.-

-Oh, so what did her brother think of you?- Continued Sophia, looking at me once more.

-He interrogated me for a while but he seemed to like me just fine- I answered. It was the truth, even if I had left out a few things. Cornelia eyed me and stuck her tongue out. I shook my head furiously begging her not to say anything, but the psychotic blond lives to torture me.

-He left out the part where her brother asked if they were being safe.- She said while looking at her nails. Sophia looked up at Anthony confused. I lifted my hands to my temples and starting massaging them. This was not going to be a fun night.

-Caleb. Want to explain to me why her brother thinks you are sexually active with his baby sister? - Asked Anthony quite serious. Sophia’s eyes widened as she understood Jethro’s question.

-Actually I don’t know.- I answered truthfully. I wasn’t sure why he had thought that, though I had definitely not made it better.

-Why don’t you just start at the beginning.- Said Anthony as he wrapped a blanket around Sophia. I sighed and started to tell them about my day.

Several hours later I was finally done. Having laughed at my expense they finally let me go up to my room. I had told them enough to keep them happy but I had kept a few things to myself. Important things. I walked into the glass room and sat on the floor. There was a small table and a couple of chairs but I did not want to use them. I was remembering what Winter had told me. A princess in her glass tower. I lay down with my eyes closed trying to see if I could smell her. This had been the only room left untouched during the remodeling. I went through the scents around me. I could smell decay and soil. I could smell the flowers that had been here. I could smell humidity and the wood from the furniture. And then, hidden amongst them all, I could smell her. It was not quite the scent she had now. It was softer, so tender, not that of the mature young woman she had become. The scent was barely there but it calmed me to know that I lay where she had long ago.

I let my mind go over the moments I had refused to share with my guardians. I remembered her in the car, the way she had snuggled into the chair happily, listened to old music and just given herself the opportunity to enjoy something as simple as a car ride. I frowned. It had been a good 15 minutes by car. She must walk about an hour to school every day and back. I returned to my memory. How beautiful she had looked and how I had not been able to resist touching her. She had sensed my distress. After 500 years I took pride in being able to hide my emotions, but she had seen right through me. I smiled again, remembering how she had held me. She was so small but she had reached up to hug me as if she could feel everything with me. So much emotion and understanding for someone so young. She was childish in her appearance but was strong on the inside. She is special.

I stood up as I saw the sun come up on the horizon. I made my way to the bathroom so I could shower and get ready for a day at the lake. Another day with Winter. I wanted to kiss her again. After the long years I had lived I had kissed all kinds of girls, in all kinds of ways and in all kinds of places but nothing came even close to the way Winters lips had felt on mine. It had been short, only to make her mad but I had wanted to make it so much more. It had not been the proper time though.

Not yet at least.