Author's Note:
A million thank-yous to those people who reviewed us. We had 43 reviews for one chapter! You people rock! Seriously. Thank you so much! We made this really long chapter and thought that maybe we could cut it into two and make one long chapter into two. Hmm. You get our points. Read on! There's an announcement on Chapter 13, which isn't really a chapter but an author's note.
Zayden POV
"C-cousins?" I stuttered. Rick nodded his head furiously, still laughing his ass off. Glad somebody was enjoying the awkward moment.
"Who kisses their cousins on the lips?" Lexie asked. Rick stopped laughing immediately and walked towards Lexie, holding her hands in his.
"It was just a light peck on the lips, it's not like we used tongue or anything." Anna made a disgusted face; I chuckled and made my way next to her.
"It's just like kissing your brother or your mom." She explained. I turned towards the others and saw Lexie hugging Rick, whispering something into Rick's ear about being scared. I decided to give them their moment and turned my attention back to Anna. She had a smug expression on her face. What is she up to?
"So, I heard you have a little crush on me." She said, smirking. I blushed crimson red. How did she know?
"H-how do you know?" I whispered.
"Lexie said it during her breakdown. I believe her exact words were 'It's me or your dumbass crush!'" she explained, putting air quotes on her last statement.
"I'm sorry about calling you a dumbass, Anna." Lexie apologized. Rick was hugging her from behind.
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions." I said, looking back and forth from Anna to Rick. Rick walked to me and slapped my back.
"It's alright." He said. "But I think I've had enough laughs for today." He wrapped his arms around Lexie again. Anna still hasn't forgiven me yet.
I was about to apologize towards her again but then Anna leant onto me, Oh my God; what is she doing? Is she…what I think she's about to do? I thought. I closed my eyes and waited for her lips on mine but they never came. Her soft, full lips never came; instead I felt a kiss on my cheek and heard Anna whisper "You are forgiven."
She then skipped towards the exit and left the cabin, leaving me and the lovebirds behind. I groaned, ran a hand through my hair and plopped down onto the couch.
"Anna likes you, you know." Rick said as he slowly walked towards me.
"How would you know?"
"She's been talking non-stop about you ever since she came here this morning. He's such a gentleman and his accent, it's so dreamy." Rick imitated Anna. I chuckled and shook my head.
"It does sound like Anna." He nodded his head.
"It's pretty obvious you like my cousin too and since she has no brothers, I'm going to give you the overprotective brother talk for her." He said, with a serious face.
He grabbed me by my collar and held me to his face, I could feel his breath on my cheek, and he had a serious, threatening look in his eyes. "If I ever find her crying because of you, the next morning, you'll be wondering why you're under the Pacific Ocean, fighting against sharks for your life. I'm not messing around. You mess with Anna, you mess with me too." He threatened. He sound a bit teasing but his eyes said everything for him. I gulped and nodded my head. He let go of his death grip and slumped back onto the couch with a smug look on his face, thinking he made a good impression out of himself. Clearly he did.
"Jerk." I mumbled under my breath. The grin on Rick's face got wider. I scanned the hall and Lexie was nowhere to be found.
"She's left a few seconds after Anna did." Rick answered, as if he read my mind. I nodded my head. Rick had this confused expression on his face and he looked like he had a lot of questions in his head.
"What?" I asked him. He opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out.
"I thought you and Lexie weren't related. I mean, you're a Swan and she's a Cullen. Yet, she's your little sister." He said, hesitantly. "I've wanted to ask Lexie for a long time but I can't seem to find the right time to ask." He continued. I sighed, might as well tell him the whole story.
"Well, at first when we arrived at camp, we didn't know we were related but when we were sent to the isolation cabin because of the fight you and I had, we realized that we were born on the same date, in the same place. Then, when I went into Lexie's room, I saw her hugging a picture when she was sleeping. I picked it up and saw a picture of my parents. She woke up and told me the couple in the picture was her parents too. So, that's how we realized we were related." I explained.
"But that still doesn't answer my question. Why are you a Swan whilst she's a Cullen?" Rick asked again. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
"I live with our mom, Bella Swan in London while Lexie lives with our dad, Edward Cullen in Forks, Washington. They got a divorce fifteen years ago, and hasn't seen or been in contact with each other ever since then." Rick nodded which meant he finally understood.
"I just want to say thanks. You have no idea how thankful I am to you, Rick." He had that confused look on his face again.
"Why?"
"Well, if it wasn't for you and the fight we had, we might've never been sent to the isolation cabin and that would mean Lexie and I would never have known we were related. So again, thank you." It was true. If it wasn't for the fight, Lexie and I would probably still be clueless about our relation.
"Well, you're welcome." He said, grinning.
After biting a few nails and staring into mid-air in a very uncomfortable silence, Rick decided to break the tension by a measly topic.
"Nice weather we having." He stated. I didn't know what to say.
"The best." I answered, as I took a peek at my wristwatch.
After another awkward, uncomfortable silence, the lunch bell rang. We both got up and sighed. I heard Rick mumble about being saved by the bell. We headed to the cafeteria and sat on the isolation table, across Lexie…and Anna, who wasn't supposed to be here.
"Are you even supposed to be here, Anna? Aren't you going to get caught?" Rick whispered/yelled towards her. She rolled her eyes and leaned in.
"Well, I would get caught if you don't shut your damn pie hole!" She shot back. Lexie giggled as I chuckled. Rick pouted.
We ate lunch while talking. I learnt that Anna was an only child and she would always stay at Rick's house due to her parent's everyday business trips. Both of her parents were really busy people, they couldn't manage to take care of Anna, let alone a second child. She was passed down from one nanny to another. Finally, at age seven, Rick's mom suggested to her parents that Anna would just stay at Rick's place until they get back. Rick's mom treated Anna as her own child. We started talking and talking and talking, I guess we got too caught up in the moment until we realized it was currently twilight.
"Lexie, would you like to accompany me for a swim?" Rick asked as he stood up and extended his hand. Lexie gladly took Rick's hand and walked towards the exit, hand in hand.
"Take care of Lexie for me, Rick. Or else." I shouted at him. He smirked and finally exited the cafeteria with Lexie next to him. Hopelessly in love, I thought. Then I realized. I was finally alone with Anna. I gulped and turned towards her. She had a shy smile on her face, which made her look cuter than ever. We decided to just shrug it off and talk like we previously did.
It's been an hour and a half since we were alone, Lexie or Rick hasn't come back yet and I couldn't stop staring at Anna, who was currently sitting across the table from me. She's so beautiful, I thought to myself. I think I've fallen in love. No, I know I've fallen in love. I've fallen in love with her smile. I've fallen in love with her laugh. I've fallen in love with Anna Collins.
"Hello? Zayden? You're kinda freaking me out." Anna waved her palm in front of my face. I snapped back to reality.
"What are you doing?" Anna asked. Without realizing, I was leaning on the table, half way to her lips. Note to Self: Never stare are Anna's lips unless you want to make a fool out of yourself. I felt the blood rush into my face. Anna's musical giggle was then heard. I didn't know what else to do, I panicked! I couldn't just tell her I leaned in to kiss her full, red lips or anything. So, I took the first idea that popped in my head.
"There was a bug on your seat." I said as I reached out and smacked Anna's chair. She gave me a confused look but eventually shrugged it off. She has no idea what she does to me.
It was already half past nine. Anna and I decided to go on a night stroll before I drop her off to her cabin. We were walking across the deck when stopped dead on her tracks and started to walk along the deck, leaving a very confused me behind. Not knowing what to do, I followed her and walked across the deck. She took off her shoes, sat down on the edge and put her feet in the water, making small splashes as she kicked. I repeated her actions and sat down next to her, placing my hand lightly on top of hers. She sighed, not taking her eyes of the crescent moon.
"I miss them." She said in a small voice. I looked at her, confused.
"My parents." I nodded my head, not knowing how to answer.
"They never did love me." She sighed. "Not once have they ever stopped and said 'I love you'. I feel like I'm a burden to them. It's like they've never wanted me." By now, she was sobbing. "On Career Day, every kid in class would be so proud to show off their parents and I would be waiting in the corner, feeling jealous of the others and full of hope because they promised me they would show up. I just end up heartbroken when they never did." I scooted closer and held her tight. She turned to face me and cried onto my shoulder as I cooed her.
"You're lucky, Zayden." She mumbled.
"How am I lucky?" I asked, quietly.
"You have a mother who loves you back at home. A mother who's waiting for the arrival of her son. I'm not surprised if you come home and she's not going to let you go out of her sight anytime soon." She cried some more, leaving a wet stain on my shirt. I didn't mind the stain at all, but I do mind her crying.
"I'm sure your parents love you, Anna. They're just a little busy to mention it from time to time. Have you tried saying 'I love you' to them? Besides, if it weren't for them, I never would've met you now, would I?" I smiled. She smiled back and sighed.
"I guess you're right. You are the best thing that's ever happened in my life." She rolled her eyes.
"You know, I could sense the sarcasm ten miles away." I said, placing a hand on my heart, trying to look offended. She laughed.
I stared at her, taking every detail of how beautiful she looks under the moon. The moonlight was bouncing off her eyes and the wind in her hair. She leaned in and I leaned in too. The lips I've been longing for ever since I laid my eyes on them were finally on mine. They were exactly how I expected them: warm and soft. Soon, she broke apart, gasping for air. I'm pretty sure I had the goofiest grin on my face. I felt like jumping up and down or shout to the world that I just kissed the girl of my dreams. I wiped her tear stained cheeks and smiled. We walked back to her cabin, hand in hand.
After safely walking Anna to her cabin and a small kiss on the lips, I walked back to the isolation cabin, the grin still present on my face. I must've looked like an idiot. I opened the front door and what I saw, clearly wiped the smile on my face. I screamed, making Lexie and Rick pull apart after their very passionate make-out on the coach. They stared at me, wide-eyed as I angrily stomped my way to the bedroom and slammed the door in their faces.
I sat down on my bed and pinched the bridge of my nose; a habit I inherited from my father. I know you think I'm overreacting or something but Lexie was on top of Rick for God's sake! She's only fifteen! She's not allowed to do that till she's at least thirty and married! Then, there was a knock on the door.
"What the hell do you want? Go away!" I shouted. The door opened and Lexie came in.
"When I said 'what the hell do you want? Go away', I didn't mean 'come in! The door's unlocked!'" I said to Lexie who sat on the foot of my bed.
"What is your problem, Zayden? I came in to check if you're okay and I end up getting yelled at! God!" She yelled as she headed towards the door. I got up and grabbed her hand before she could past the door.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay? I overreacted." I apologized.
She scoffed. "You can say that again!"
"Don't push it." I said.
"Seriously, Zayden. Why would you overreact?" She asked. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.
"It's just…you're only turning fifteen this year, Lex. Turning fifteen. You're still fourteen and yet you act as if you're thirty. I mean, c'mon. Act your age! There are adults who would kill to get their teenage years back! Don't be in such a hurry to grow up, Lexie. You'll just end up regretting it later in life."
"I'm not in a hurry to grow up. I know. I should've acted like a normal fourteen year old but I feel so safe with Rick. He would never take advantage of me; neither will he ever hurt me. Trust me on this." She explained.
"How would you know? You never know what's going on, on a teenage hormonal boy's head." She sighed.
"I just know, alright? I have that funny feeling. Not a bad one, but a good feeling. Besides, if I could learn to trust Rick, so could you." She answered.
"You mean the feeling that starts in your stomach and ends in your toes?" I asked. Her eyes lit up.
"Yeah, that one!" She exclaimed.
"I get that feeling too but only when I'm with Anna." I stated. She nodded her head in understanding.
"What do you think that is?" I asked, hoping she would know the answer.
She smiled softly. "It's a funny thing called love."
"How'd you know?" She gave me an 'are-you-stupid' look.
"I've lived with three, well experienced women for the past fifteen years." She stated. Now, it was my turn to nod my head. I opened up my arms for a quick hug; she walked up and hugged me.
"Promise me one thing, though."
"Anything." She answered.
"Please, I beg of you, not to suck on Rick's face when I'm around." I said with a laugh, earning a smack on the back of my head from Lexie.
"I love you, baby sis." I said as I kissed her forehead.
"I love you too, Zay."