I opened the backpack with the intention of taking out the books I was going to leave in the locker, however, I stopped when my hands came up with a texture of a stuffed animal, which made me take it off so I could clearly observe what there was inside, feeling like my heart was stopping, because I could assure that I had not introduced it there.
I took out a dragon stuffed animal with the same characteristics of Saffire, the dragon that some time was my brother's and that was the most beautiful that I had ever seen. However, the stuffed animal was not the only strange thing that was inside my backpack, because a note accompanied it.
"I hope that this little dragon is your faithful friend like the one from your fantasies, please accept it, from your friend ... I don't think it matters, it better be secret"
It was not a secret who hid behind this, because it was quite obvious that it had been the work of Nicholas, the only one who had asked me to see the drawing I gave in art, the one that portrayed Saffire as he was, and that I intended to deliver to my brother at some point.
After leaving the things in the locker, I left looking for him, meeting him with his group of friends, so, after thinking whether to approach or not, I ended up doing it, feeling like everyone looked at me closely.
"Can we talk?" I asked watching him smile slightly, but without moving and I refused to speak in front of the rest. "Alone" I aimed with the intention that they would leave.
"If you insist" he shrugged before grabbing my arm and going to a class that was empty. "What's wrong, Matthews?" he asked, letting me to turn himself to face me.
I did not answer, but I showed him directly the note and the stuffed animal, hoping that he would start explaining, but he did not, he took the dragon while he started to laugh, which made me look at him in confusion.
"You think it was me, right?" He asked making me nod slightly. "And how can you be so sure?" he questioned rereading the note.
"I'm able to recognize your calligraphy, you are also the only person who saw the drawing close enough to know perfectly what the dragon was like" I answered him sincerely.
"Yes, I admit it, it was me" he spoke looking me straight in the eyes. "I thought you would like it, your eyes shone with intensity as you showed me that drawing" he explained while I ducked my head.
"Of course, I love having a stalker" I said in a sarcastic tone. "I appreciate that you had this detail, but I can't accept it, Nicholas" I could see the sadness in his eyes. "I know that you want us to have a friendly relationship and maybe in the future ..." I tried to finish talking, but I was interrupted by his kiss, only to get me completely immobile, looking into his eyes when he distanced. "Is this how you intend to shut me up every time you don't want to listen what I have to say?" I asked in just a whisper without being sure how it was possible that I was talking.
"As long as you don't leave me another option" he smiled threatening to move the hair away from my face, but I pulled away, why was he doing this? "Accept it, please" he handed it back to me, without daring to take it.
"I ..., I have to go" I moved away to leave.
The moment I made sure I was alone, I started flying with the sole intention of clarifying my ideas, of understanding what I was feeling at that moment, because I was confused, but at the same time angry with myself for not having achieved my purpose, because I knew that stuffed animal had returned to my backpack.
I decided to go to the DEO in search of something that could distract me, watching as Kara and Alex laughed, although their expression changed when they saw me arrive, mainly Kara's, as it was the first time she was aware that I had flown without her.
"What's wrong with you?" Alex asked as I approached them. "Why are you angry?" She questioned and although I went to deny it, I did not.
"Because of this" I showed it watching the smiles of both as they watched me, knowing what they were going to say. "It's from Nicholas" I said before they could say something.
"Nicholas ..., the same as ...?" Kara began asking, making me nod slightly.
"I tried to talk to him, but ..., he ... He kissed me" I murmured the last words, being able to appreciate the surprise of both.
"Who has kissed you?" I heard my brother ask, moment in which I cursed myself inwardly without wanting to answer. "Don't try to tell me that nobody" he said while he was standing next to me, but I kept silent. "I keep waiting, besides, I didn't tell you that I wanted you away from the boys?" He questioned crossing his arms, although his gaze was diverted to the stuffed toy that rested on the table. "Is it yours?" He pointed, to which I had to nod slightly.
"Nicholas" I ended up yielding because of the pressure, at which point I could observe how he was frowning.
"Do you know where I can find him?" He asked me to what I shook my head asking him not to do it. "You're lucky that your eyes are a weakness, Mya" he hugged me. "Are you okay?" He questioned.
I ducked my head as I parted from him, not knowing if it was a good idea to give it to him now, although the truth was that I knew I would not hold out much longer. I opened the backpack looking for it, handing it to him the moment I found it, observing the surprise reflected on his face while he watched it.
"Is it for me?" He asked me while I nodded. "It's beautiful" he smiled kissing my forehead. "I didn't know you could draw that well, it's like seeing a photograph of Saffire" he admired returning to observe it. "I'm sorry that Father didn't want you to be there, you got scared easily," he said hugging me again while I shrugged, I had sneaked too many times in there secretly.
"I grabbed Zale's hand with the intention of guiding him, for I had promised him that at some point I would show him Saffire, the one he had seen flying around the palace.
I indicated him that he should remain silent, trying not to scare the rest of the dragons, because the moment they would roar, we were exposed, so we both moved in silence until we got there, the place where my brother's precious dragon was.
"I have the feeling that we can't be here" I heard him comment while I stopped walking.
"We can't, it's supposed to be a place forbidden to me, but it's worth it" I pointed to the dragon that was watching us with its two big black eyes.
"I now understand your admiration, he's beautiful" he smiled a little closer, which made me grab his arm to avoid it. "Your brother must adore him" he commented.
"He raised him since he was little, they are quite close" I explained seeing him nodding.
This dragon was a pure fantasy and worthy of admiration of all those who had the opportunity to observe him closely, because he was unique, calm and patient for his kind, friendly and playful, he seemed to enjoy the attention he received every time, but he would never attack anyone, because he was calm and submissive when children approached him, and it was not because I had seen it, but because I had lived it. Even though my Father had forbidden me to enter here, I had been doing it for years, I had played, read and slept by his side, which had created a bond of union between us, of protection from his part, as he used to cover me with his wings when I slept and he never would have allowed another dragon hurt me.
I looked back the moment I heard the voice of my brother and my father, which made me grab Zale's arm and push him to sit on a block that was empty. I gestured him that he did not make the slightest noise, they could not discover us, although he could not help but smile slightly.
"Saffire, hey, what's wrong?" I heard Mon-el ask, I was sure he was looking where we were hiding. "Is there anyone?" he questioned, his voice echoing nearby, causing the dragon's roars.
"I should go watch your sister, you know what your mother thinks about leaving her alone with Zale," my father said, making us both look at each other while smiling.
It was not until they both left when we left our hiding place, when I approached Saffire to thank him for keeping the secret, making him rest his head on my hands, daring to kiss over his nose, gesture that I knew he adored and, honestly, I did too."
"Zale took this picture, don't ask me how he kept it, I never asked him" I showed him the image that corresponded to the moment I had kissed the dragon. "I looked at it to draw him" I added, observing how he smiled slightly at the image, the which was now in Alex and Kara's hands, who watched it carefully and fascinated.
"I knew it since the day I found you asleep under his wing, he didn't let me get close to you, that dragon would have done the impossible to protect you" he explained making me smile.
"You can keep it if you want to" I looked at him the moment the photograph returned to his hands, watching as he shook his head.
"I can't accept it, Mya, it has more value for you" he caressed my face before hugging me. "Thank you, little one" he kissed my forehead.
"Mya!" Erin shouted as she ran towards me. "Can I stay with Leah for a while?" She pointed to the girl who was coming with her, to which I nodded slightly, I had received permission from my mother to let her. "Thank you" she smiled hugging me, which still took me by surprise most of the time, but to which I was getting used to, so I could not help but smile as I hugged her back. "We have to ask your cousin," she said, looking at her friend while grabbing my hand to pull me. "He's your age, so you can spend some time together" she said causing my laugh.
"Are you trying to pair me with him?" I asked.
"What? No" she denied holding the laugh while I shook my head.
I followed them both to where he was, listening to the words of my little sister, who did not stop talking about that boy, however, I wanted to go back the moment I saw Leah hug him.
No, it could not be true, couldn't it be someone else? I forced myself to smile as we approached, watching the surprise on his face when he realized I was there.
"Matthews?" He questioned with a smile. "I didn't know that Erin was your sister" he commented with surprise at the moment in which both girls left running leaving us alone and, although for a moment I thought I should run away, I did not. "You know that they have been planning this for days, right?" I heard him speak, which made me look at him. "Erin hasn't stopped talking about her older sister for days, and in her words, how perfect she is" He explained at the same time that I was bending my head, I had not spoken to him since that day, since the day he kissed me.
"This is uncomfortable, Nicholas," I muttered, causing his laughter.
"I know" he answered laughing, causing my own, because I could not help it. "Two nine-year-old girls organizing us a date" he said while I dared to look at him again. "I'm not going to pressure you, Matthews, but you said we could be friends, maybe this is the beginning of that friendship" he smiled reaching out his hand to reach mine and, unlike other times, I accepted his handshake.
Although there were still times when the situation became tense and strange for both of us, it was the first time we had had a more or less pleasant conversation. However, this also seemed to be noticed by my little sister, because she did not hesitate to ask about it, getting me to start feeling uncomfortable.
"Did you know him?" She asked curious holding my hand while I nodded. "You go as the same class as him, right?" I agreed to her question. "Is he your boyfriend?"
"No" I denied quickly.
"Ex-boyfriend?" She questioned after receiving the denial, causing me to shake my head. "But he said something about kissing you" she looked at me trying to understand the situation.
"He's not my boyfriend, Erin" I answered starting an argument with her about whether I liked Nicholas or not.
This discussion continued until we got home, at which point she ran in search of our mother, who was in the living room with Josh.
"Mya has a boyfriend!" she shouted throwing the backpack to the ground getting them both look at me.
"It's not true" I defended myself confused because of the smile that was reflected in the face of my mother.
After realizing that I was not going to put an end to this discussion, I decided to leave the room without wanting to continue thinking about the fact that my sister tried to pair me with the person who had made my life impossible for months, although he tried now to be kind and understanding.
"Who was she referring to?" My mother asked, entering the room, closing the door behind her.
"Nicholas" I answered seeing her nod slightly as she sat on the edge of the bed, indicating that I would sit next to her, so I did. "Apparently she has been telling him how perfect I was, during these days ago, she had planned this" I explained.
"Honey, your sister had no intention of bothering you." She brushed the hair away from my face, making me nod.
"I know, I'm not mad at her because of this" I looked at her wanting to assure her. "It's just that, it's been very weird ..." I buried my face in my hands.
"I'll talk to her to keep her from leaving you in such a situation again" she hugged me for a few seconds before leaving.
I sighed as I dropped myself on my back on the bed, I had agreed to have a friendly relationship with Nicholas, why had I done it? Honestly, I did not know what had impelled me to do it, to forgive him or, at least, to start doing it.
The cry of panic was audible from my room, so I did not hesitate to sit up to go to Erin's room, who was sitting on the bed with a small light on, the tears running down her cheeks being visible.
"Hey, are you okay?" I questioned sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her nod slightly while drying her tears. "Are you sure?" I asked with concern, but received no response.
"Can you stay with me tonight?" she asked making me look at her without knowing what to answer, but feeling watched by her with her big blue eyes.
"Yeah, of course" I responded by lying down next to her.
I allowed her to settle down before I dared to hug her, not knowing if it had been right or not, but when the little one got even closer to me, I knew I had done well.
"I'm sorry about Leah's cousin," I heard her murmur, which made me hug her with a little more strength.
"Shh, I'm not mad at you" I assured her before kissing her hair.
I stayed awake, not daring to move for fear of waking her, until I was completely sure that she was asleep, at which time I allowed myself to close my eyes to fall asleep.
Thanks for reading,
Ayrin