Days
seemed to roll by eventless in our hometown of Chicago That's why
Edward and I spent so much time imagining we were somewhere else;
somewhere exciting and worth while.
As soon as Mother found out we
were going to be playing for Mr. Lion's house warming, she was
ecstatic, insisting we practice all day and night till Thursday
night. I didn't like that but nodded anyways.
Meanwhile Aunt
Millicent absolutely despised the idea.
"Performing is no way
to live in life. It isn't a steady job. Most performers live on the
streets and eat once a week. You must be quite beautiful and talented
to make it in the media. And Lunamaria- You're beauty could be quite
questioned." She said.
I rolled my eyes.
"But she is
quite talented, Great Aunt." Mother said with a warm smile. "I'm
surprised more offers don't come in for her to play. And Edward...
Well, he's really gifted with the piano too."
"He
doesn't keep his nails very well for a piano player." Aunt
Millicent stated.
I snorted in my soup which made Kyle and Akara
giggle. Aunt Millicent shot them nasty glares which shut them both up
quickly. When she was done her glowering, she looked back to her
soup.
"Anyway, I think Edward and Lunamaria already spend too
much time together. And the way they act together! It's absolutely
improper Always jumping on each other and holding hands I know
couples who have been together for years and never feel into such
tomfoolery. Why, When Alfred was alive, We never acted like that,
Even in our lonesome..."
What an awful way to live. I
thought, but was grinning. If there was one thing I like more then
being with Edward, It was ticking off my aunt. The power of rebelling
against her prude ways always made me happy. It gave me a nice buzz
just like coffee did.
"I think it's cool that Lunamaria's
friends with so many boys." Akara said boldly. "All the
boys in school do are run away from me. They all claim I have
'cooties'..."
"That's because you do." Kyle said
from the other side of the table. Akara stuck out her tongue as Aunt
Millicent lifted her cane and bopped him on the head; I laughed
gently with my sisters, "Hey!"
"There'll be plenty
more where that comes from if you speak like that again." She
huffed.
"Yes maim..." Kyle said darkly.
Dinner ended
with the discussion of my going to Kelsey Presley's coming out party.
To be honest, Id forgotten all about it. She was never a close
friend, Or even much a friend at that, One of those gossip hogs who
carried on the arm of anyone with noble blood. I hadn't a clue why
she hung around me; I was middle class and didn't like to spread
stories as she did. Them being true or not.
"You better dress
up nice. I heard some of her male cousins are coming in from Quebec."
Aunt Millicent said.
"Quebec? That's a strange name..."
Marcia said.
"It's French dear." Mother said, "Which
you should be learning soon because you descend from it."
"None
of us learned French." Renee pointed out.
"I tried to
teach you, but you all refused." Mother said with a mock
glare.
Kyle and I high-fived.
"See! It's things like that
which makes me worry for you Lunamaria." Aunt Millicent said in
distress, "You're so improper, No man will want you."
I
smiled, "Good. I wouldn't want to be tied down to any man
anyways. All I need is Edward."
"I hate to say it but he
will eventually grow you out, Lunamaria."
I was still greatly
confused, but apparently this wasn't appropriate for the others...
Then again when did Aunt Millicent ever approve of anything? After
dinner I caught her alone in the library.
"Aunt Millicent?"
I asked.
"Yes," She answered never looking up from her
book.
"What did you mean at dinner when you said Edward would
out grow me?"
A smile came to her face, but it wasn't a
nice one. It was a triumphant smirk. She snapped her book shut and
took off her glasses, looking to me with a new sparkle in her
eyes.
"That really bothered you didn't it?" She said
smug.
"Well it wouldn't bug me so much if I knew what you
meant." I snapped then closed my eyes. I wouldn't let her get
the better of me. I couldnt...
"Come here Lunamaria Ryuu."
She beckoned me and I came over, kneeling at her side. "Now I am
only saying this because I care for you-"
She cares for me?
There's a laugh.
"-But you are being quite silly. Most girls
your age are courting boys and thinking about starting families and
making names for themselves- And then there's you. You are still
dreaming of days gone by. You're nearing seventeen now and spending
your days in the forest and hanging around a boy you have no
intention on marrying is not the way to go."
I'd heard this
several times before, I didn't even hurt my feelings anymore. But I
was still annoyed about what she said at dinner, "What is this
great problem you have with Edward?"
"I have no problem
with Edward, He's a lovely boy and if he'd stop hanging around you
he'd make a great husband or soldier- I heard he wanted to become
one..."
I bit my tongue to stop from screaming. I hated war.
It was the reason our family wasn't together and with the way
Edward went on, It would probably take him away too.
"Anyway
You must learn to let him go, Because one day he'll realize that you
cant be a child your whole life. While I am sad to say, you will
probably never grow up."
I didn't say anything. I knew it was
true. Edward seemed to already be growing tired of our silly games
wed been playing since we could remember. And he always snuck in his
infatuation for war. And I would complain to him about it. It was one
of the horrible things we did. Fight. We were both highly
opinioned.
I walked away from Aunt Millicent, ready to cry. I
never cried in front of people. I always ran away. The last time
person to see me cry was Edward and that's because he chased after
me. Evan and Father had just been drafted off to Europe and my heart
had been braking. Id begged them for days not to go...
It hurt to
hear the words from someone else mouth. Even if it was just Aunt
Millicent and I didn't value her opinion much. Because I knew the
truth just as everyone else did. Edward and I couldn't be best
friends forever. Our differences would tear us apart. And not having
Edward in my life would kill me.
When I reached my bedroom I
collapsed on the bed and cried for hours till I feel asleep.
