STELLA'S POV
I heard a quiet knock on my bedroom door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Phee."
"Come in." Phee pushed open the door and stepped tentatively into the room.
"Dinner's ready. Yves cooked so it's bound to be good."
"Coming. What is it?"
"Spaghetti Bolognese. I did hear something about Diamond's chocolate brownies for dessert."
I got up off my bed and smiled at my sister-in-law. "I wouldn't miss it for anything."
Dinner was a cheerful affair. Everyone had put earlier out of their minds, though somehow I didn't think it was the end of the matter. I still gave Zed the cold shoulder, keeping conversation with him to a clipped minimum and making sure every look I gave him was an icy stare. I suspected that the others all noticed the tension I was forcing, but were quite simply too polite to comment.
"So, you going climbing tomorrow, Stella?" Xav asked.
"Yeah, of course." Tomorrow was a Sunday. I always climbed on Sunday afternoons. About a year and a half ago, I'd tried out rock climbing for the first time and discovered I found it somehow addictive and I'd actually begun to get quite good.
"You want one of us to take you over?" The centre was in Aspen, because there wasn't one in Wrickenridge and I couldn't drive. I smiled charismatically, "I always know Brother Express won't let me down."
"So Stella, what got you into rock climbing?" Diamond asked me, trying to keep conversation flowing.
"I tried it last year. We had to pick a new sport for a trial run at school. I... thought it might be interesting." The least likely sport I'd make a fool of myself at, more like.
"Oh she was up trees all the time from a very early age. Couldn't get her down sometimes," said Mom.
"Mom..." I said, blushing slightly at her embarrassing comments.
"No, I mean it Stella. I used to be calling Xav in case you really hurt yourself."
"It's true," said Trace. "I remember being asked to supervise."
"I still have to sometimes," added Yves.
My other brothers nodded in agreement.
"Oh shut up, you guys!" I said. But it was true. I loved the skill and strength involved with rock climbing, but being in trees was wonderfully exhilarating. I loved being high off the ground, with a birds-eye view of everything you can see for miles. Just the feeling of climbing higher and higher away from the rest of the world, escaping, feeling so comfortable there. Like I could touch the sky.
"Go touch her then, she's right next to Zed over there." Xav. I looked at the amused faces around me and put my head in my hands and groaned. I'd let my shields drop whilst lost in my thoughts. They'd all heard my private romanticisings.
"Just kill me now, people." They all laughed, the traitors.
"No can do, sis," Will quipped. More laughter.
"And by the way Xav, that crack about Sky really sucked. Not worth a place in a crappy magazine."
Everyone else practically doubled over laughing at my expense.
"Then why on earth are we all laughing?" Xav feigned puzzlement.
The laughometer reading in the room went off the scale.
"You rats. All of you."
"They're a bunch of horrible teases. I had to put up with this from Zed and Xav all the time before I could shield," said Sky. I admired her sympathy.
"You don't have to tell me! I grew up with them!"
When the laughter had died down, Diamond started to serve pudding. Her brownies were amazing.
"Thanks Diamond, they're delish!" said Sky. Everyone looked slightly puzzled. Sky and Phee both laughed.
"Us Brits should stick together Sky," said Phee. Fortunately, I read British novels, and they weren't alone.
"I get it," I said. "I mean honestly you lot. Delish is obviously short for delicious, duh!"
PHOENIX'S POV
After dessert we all made ourselves scarce. I didn't mind an early night, happy to curl up in bed with my husband. My soulfinder. Yves Benedict. I couldn't supress a happy smile at those thoughts.
"What are you thinking?" Yves broke our contented silence.
"You tell me," I said to him. As a powerful savant and my soulfinder I was used to him tuning into my thoughts.
Yves frowned in concentration, "Hmm, let's see. Something to do with a certain soulfinder perhaps?"
"Just maybe," I smiled and snuggled closer to him.
We lay for a bit before I spoke up.
"Yves, are you worried about Stella?"
"Yes, a bit. She's not been this bad before. It's really straining everyone." That answer was so Yves: matter of fact and to the point. It was one of the things I loved about him.
"Is there anything I can do to help? You and your family are all I have and if there's anything..."
Yves shook his head. "Shh... Don't worry too much. What you eventually get to learn about Stella, is that she's very independent. When she messes up, she sorts it out by herself. People interfering will generally just hack her off. Since she was twelve she's been insistent that we back off when she's in trouble."
"What exactly happened at school?"
"She got in a fight. The other girl provoked her. Marcy was looking for it. She just manipulated Stella into making the first move."
"Marcy sounds nasty."
"Yeah, Marcy Corry. She's the sluttiest girl in Wrickenridge, but don't repeat that."
I smiled, "Don't want to risk your polite image?"
Yves just laughed, stroking my hair.
"I'm more worried about everyone else than Stella. Zed's really worked up. He feels responsible. My brother always finds a way to blame himself even if it's for the most illogical and irrelevant reason possible."
"Yeah, I kinda noticed."
Yves sat up slightly and pulled me close. He closed the gap between our lips and I felt the familiar warm sensation come over me. He sent crackles of fire through my whole body. I matched his moves, kiss with kiss, tongue with tongue. I thought that we would run out of new sensations to explore when we kissed, but we never did. I felt filled up with this tingly feeling. Like a deflated balloon finally getting enough air. I groaned when he eventually pulled away.
"Don't," I whispered.
"My kissing good?"
"Addictive."
"Guess I'll keep at it then if that's ok with you?" This was getting ridiculous. No more small talk. I kissed him again before either of us could say anything more.
STELLA'S POV
I swore out loud. My climbing partner, Alicia, had dropped out. She'd apparently got a skiing injury and wouldn't be climbing for months. As a climber it was essential to have a partner so you could belay each other up and down the walls. Alicia was one of my only friends outside my family. Considering I was a loner at school, this meant my social activity would now be even more limited. I sent Alicia a sympathetic text back suggesting we meet up for coffee sometime. I'd phone the climbing centre first thing and ask if they could find me a new partner. I hoped I'd be successful. Without a partner I'd be limited to bouldering tomorrow.
I was relieved that tomorrow was a Sunday, even if I didn't have a climbing partner. A day without having to deal with Marcy Corry hashtag complete bitch meant I was happy. Marcy and her gang of populars were obsessed with social networks and inserted a hashtag into every sentence. I smiled. God, I really do love irony.
Do you want me to drive you to Aspen tomorrow? Zed.
Why don't you come to my room and talk about it?
What? Really? Is this a truce? You are inviting me into the lion's den?
On a temporary basis until I hear what you have to say for yourself.
I see. So you're still mad?
I might be.
I'm coming now. I smiled and waited. In 30 seconds Zed was barging through my door.
"Do brothers ever learn to knock?" I said.
"No, I don't think they do. Not if you take Will and Xav as examples."
"And you."
"Yes, and me." There was an awkward pause for a moment.
"So, apology?" I said.
"You know why I did it, Stella. And if it helps, I am sorry, really."
"I know."
"Forgiven?"
I just looked at him, considering.
Zed held out his arms for a hug and I knew he was sincere. Zed Benedict wasn't exactly a huggy person.
"Yes, yes, and yes," I said.
"To what?"
"You can take me to climbing tomorrow, you are forgiven and I'll let you hug me."
"Good," Zed hugged me tightly. Just for a moment, I wanted to un-tense my muscles and cling to Zed forever. Just for a moment, I wanted to let him protect me.
We separated, and he smiled. "See you in the morning, little sis."
"Goodnight, big bro." He left me alone. I felt so much happier now I'd resolved my conflict with Zed. He was a pain in the butt, but I loved him.