Chapter 12: The Confession
I couldn't take my mind off the night where Ian and I shared our first kiss. In class, the teacher had to tell me to three times to pay attention because I was in my own world. When I imagined it, I could still feel the warmth of Ian's lips pressing against mine, and it made my heart race. My friends asked all sorts of questions that night after I came back to the dorm, and I answered only half paying attention while the other half on my mind still on the kiss. They wanted to know everything; it was just what I had expected because we always never fail to leave out a single detail about something important. But I didn't feel like going through all the details and so I just left them hanging at the last question, which I forget was, and went to bed. I think Rachel was disappointed the most; this was the kind of thing she looked forward to. Hearing all about the date and then asking questions that called for detail.
Isabelle was proud of me and supported me, which was just how I expected her to do. She is rather good at reading people, especially me, and could tell that Ian had become very special to me. But I could read her, too, and as she said she was happy for me when we were talking about Ian and me one afternoon, I could see a flash of concern and a slight glint of envy. I smiled and hugged her.
"Hey, don't worry," I said. "Ian's a great guy, really, and even if he's special to me, he could never take the place of you or the others. "
She hugged me back. "I'm glad to hear you say that, but I already know it. I don't know what's bothering me; I guess I'm just feeling a little…edgy."
"You worry too much," I pulled away. "I can take care of myself and Ian would never do anything to hurt me, Izzy. We care about each other a lot."
"I can't believe how grown up you are," Isabelle said as she mockingly sniffed and wiped away an imaginary tear.
I whacked her very lightly on the shoulder and as giggled as she did.
Ian and I saw each other very often after school and on the weekends. When we went roller-skating again, he took me by the hand and led me all around the ring. Then he pulled me close and wrapped his arms me, and I sighed with content. I felt so at peace in his arms.
I drew multiple pictures of him at the park, roller-skating, by the beach, and on his levabike. The girls thought I had more drawings of him than of anyone else. When I showed them to Ian, he said my artistic talent was wasted on such a guy, though I begged to differ. I thought he was the best subject I had ever done.
One evening after school we sat under a large oak tree watching the sunset. I laid my head on Ian's shoulder and he put his arm around me.
"It's so beautiful," I said in awe.
"Not as beautiful as you," Ian said and kissed my forehead. I giggled and nuzzled his neck.
"Well, you're pretty good-looking yourself," I said.
"I get it from my Mom," he said and then he paused and his faced got very serious.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's just…" he looked at me. "I don't think my Mom would approve of us being together. She has a…. thing about fairies."
"Well, maybe that's just because she hasn't met me yet," I said. "Have you told her about me?"
"Yes, and she's not too happy about it," Ian said. "In fact, she's rather ticked off; even after I told how important you are to me, she still doesn't like it." He paused again and sighed. "And she has met you, Violet; you and your friends."
I was confused. "Why do you mean?"
He looked at me with sad eyes and then got up, turning his back to me. I could tell that something was on his mind and it wasn't good. Ian ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, and then he turned to look at me.
"Violet, I haven't been completely honest with you, or anyone else for that matter," he said. "There's something about me you don't know; it's about Icy."
"Icy?" Now I was really confused.
He took a deep breath. "Icy is…she is my mother, Violet; I'm Icy's son."
At that my moment, my heart stopped. The world around me went dark and cold, and I couldn't breath. 'No…' I thought. 'No…it can't be…it just can't…'
I backed away from Ian; my eyes were so wide I thought they'd pop out.
"No…that can't be…" Those were the only words I could get out at the moment.
Ian looked at me sorrowfully. "Can be and is; Icy, the witch who is your, your mother's, and your friends' enemy, is my mother."
"But…no… " I said and turned away from him. I couldn't believe it; I didn't want to believe it. My chest ached and tears threatened to pour of my eyes. I just couldn't believe what I had just heard. If Ian were Icy's son, then that would make us enemies. It would explain why he treated us the way he did when we first met, but I never that this might be the case. I really thought he had just been mislead or had a rough life. I never thought badly of him and after we had kissed I knew I never could. But what about now, when he had told that he was my enemy's son? I just didn't what to think.
"You're really upset, aren't you?" Ian asked suddenly. "I can understand why; I've led you on, thinking I was just some misfit, anti-social, motorbike dude who had a chip on his shoulder when I'm really the son of one of your mother's worst enemies. I felt terrible about lying to you and so I knew I had to tell you the truth, no matter how you'd take it."
He came up behind me and slowly wrapped his arms around me. At that moment, I felt at peace again and I almost forgot what had just happened.
"I am so sorry for lying to you, Violet," Ian whispered. "But I didn't I'd ever fall for you, so I didn't think I'd ever feel guilty about lying to you. But the more I got to know you, the harder it was to keep the truth a secret. "
I said nothing but I let him hold me because it made me feel better.
"I love you," Ian said. "Truly, I love you very much, Violet. And I don't know if you'd ever forgive me but I still love you."
I inhaled and exhaled loudly, letting out a large sob-sounding noise. I wiped away the lingering tears in my eyes that still hadn't fallen, and then turned to face Ian's chest.
"I love you," I said and I meant it; even if he was Icy's son, it didn't change the way I felt. Ian was someone I knew I could never hate.
"I love you," I said again. "Even if you're Icy's son, I still love you. It hurts, yes, but not as much as it would if I were to lose you."
Ian kissed the top of my head and held me in his arms. We said nothing and held onto one another as if we would never let go.
"I really am sorry," he said.
"I know," I said. "So what now?"
Before he could reply, there was a loud noise that came from behind us.
"Get away from my son, you little pixie!" A familiar voice screeched.
We looked and floating in the air was Icy looking daggers at me in her son's arms.
"Mother…" Ian said
"Icy…" I whispered.
