Ch. 28
Caleb sat up abruptly, his dark eyebrows pulled together. "What?"
River rubbed a hand over her face as she sat up from the bed and placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder. "On the day of New Years Eve, when Kevin and Lucy stopped by they told us of another Prophecy… one that involved you and the guys." She paused to take another breath before reciting the prophecy. "The Joining Of Equals Is The Key, To Find Their Other Half, They Will Be Set Free, The Four With Powers As Great As Theirs Will End This Curse Forever And Produce An Heir. There is a way to stop the aging process for you...and your future bloodlines."
The words floated around Caleb's head in a jumbled mess, irritation coursed through him with every word she spoke. A way to stop the curse? With a clenched jaw Caleb stood from the bed, shaking off River's touch as he did so. "You've know about this for over four months? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because, Caleb," she said as she stood and grabbed his arm, making him turn to her. "Though it involves you, it's not necessarily about only you. The girls and I… apparently we are key to stop the aging. The first part about joining of equals speaks of our union with you and the guys. We are your equals. The rest talks about how we are your other halves or you are ours or however you want to put it."
He opened his mouth but found no words would come out. For the first time in a long time, he was speechless, unsure of what to say.
After several minutes of silence between the couple, Caleb spoke. "So…you, Paige, Blake and Rylee can….can stop us from rapidly aging?" River nodded her head. "I'm still a bit confused…how can you stop the curse?"
River laughed once and brought her gaze to his, understanding his confusion. "Trust me I was as confused as you were when Lucy explained it to us. The first part, when it speaks of equals halves and four with powers, it speaks of us, our union. Us being with you slows down the aging process. Once one of us has fully committed ourselves it slows it even more, almost to a complete stop."
Caleb nodded his head, trying to get all the information in order. "So you can stop the aging and end the curse for us… and for our sons as well?"
"The only way to completely and totally rid the curse for you and your future bloodlines is for your equal half to produce an heir. And since I am your equal half, the curse will only end when I have your kids, " she said with a nervous laugh. Though she loved Caleb with all she had and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, the topic of kids was an awkward conversation this early in a relationship. "But when that time comes the rapid aging, any of the consequences that you get when Using will no longer be."
"What did you say?" Caleb asked, a smile tugged at the edge of his lips. His dark eyes stared intently at her while his heart beat at an uneven pace.
Confused at his reaction she repeated herself. "I said the curse will end for the future Sons of Ipswich as well as you."
"No, you said 'when I have your kids'." The smile now set firmly on his lips as he watched a soft blush brush his girlfriends cheeks.
"Oh, um, well," River cleared her throat, finding that she could speak full sentences again. "I am committed to you Caleb and I want to be with you forever," she said with such confidence that she surprised even herself.
Caleb rested his palm against her cheek and spoke with equal confidence. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you River Daniels." He glanced down at her lips and kissed her passionately. When the couple broke apart, River leaned her forehead against his, breathing as he spoke. "I will marry you someday."
"I can't wait for that day," she whispered gently. The love from their hearts shown from their eyes as they gazed at each other.
A sudden thought struck the eldest Son of Ipswich. "Why do Tyler and Reid still feel the pull when they Use?"
River bit her lip as she thought. "Paige and Rylee haven't made their decisions yet," she said more to herself then to Caleb. "I made my choice and I'm guessing Blake did as well since Pogue doesn't feel the pull anymore either. You can't tell Reid or Tyler about this. The reason we didn't tell you in the first place was because Kevin and Lucy wanted us to make our own choice and not be influenced by anyone, even though we knew none of you guys would try to do so."
"But what if Rylee and Paige don't choose the same path that you and Blake have?" Caleb questioned, thinking of his two brothers. "What if Tyler and Reid get stuck with the curse forever and pass it down to their Sons and so on? There's a chance to stop that and I don't think it's fair that they don't have a say in this."
"There's more to it than just saying 'I want to be with you forever'. It's felt, it's like a trigger of the heart. You can't force them to be together if they don't want to be in the end of all this," River countered. "Though I couldn't see them not ending up together. Please, promise me you won't tell Tyler or Reid about the prophecy. At least don't mention it until the girls choose."
"Okay," he agreed reluctantly. "I promise, but can I at least tell Pogue?"
River laughed and rolled her eyes. "Sure. But make sure he doesn't tell them either."
Caleb pulled her into a tight embrace and the couple held each other. "I love you."
She smiled against his chest. That went better then I thought it would, she thought to herself with relief. "I love you too."
It was a strange feeling….knowing that the curse was gone but only for two of the four Sons of Ipswich.
"So it's gone forever?" Pogue smiled at the idea of no longer having consequences when Using, no longer having to deal with the fear of aging too fast or passing the curse to his son.
After his talk with River, Caleb had called Pogue and told him that they needed to talk. Within the hour after Caleb had arrived at his friend's apartment, he told him everything that River had said. He told him of the Prophecy and explained what it meant.
"Paige and Rylee still have to make their choice and there's a chance that they might not choose to be with them like Blake and River chose to be with us," Caleb explained to Pogue who shook his head at his dark haired friend.
"Man, you know those girls are head over heels for Reid and Ty," he said with laugh. "It's just a matter of time before they make their final decision."
Caleb shrugged his shoulders. "I guess we'll see. But you can't tell them about it. Paige and Rylee don't know that we know. River is talking to Blake as we speak."
At the mention of his girlfriend, Pogue beamed. "As gay as this sounds, I knew she was the one. I want to spend the rest of my life with that girl."
With a grin, Caleb stood. "I know what you mean, I feel the same way about River. I….I told her I was going to marry her someday."
Pogue sat up straighter but grinned at his best friend. "Dude, I plan on marrying Blake one day too. And I think Tyler and Reid would say the same thing about Rylee and Paige."
"Let's hope the girls feel the same way about them," Caleb said quietly. The thought of watching Tyler and Reid deal with the curse while he and Pogue went by without any repercussions made him cringe. As grateful as he was that there was a finally a cure to the curse, he would rather deal with it unless all of his brothers were free from it as well.
"Like I said before," Pogue stood and walked Caleb to the door. "It's only a matter of time."
"Reid Garwin you are such an ass!" Paige laughed as she wrung out her soaking wet shirt. While watering the outside plants for mother, Reid had snuck up on Paige with the goal of scaring her. He managed to do so and also achieved in stealing the water hose, therefore starting a huge water fight. Though Paige won in the end by teleporting Reid away from the hose and taking it back.
"Hey at least you're not drenched from head to toe, Miss Elliot," he replied as he lifted his shirt over his head, revealing his toned, lean torso. Tiny water droplets dripped from his shaggy, nearly white blonde hair and onto his skin.
Paige bit her lip as she stared at him. "You are so sexy." She grinned at him while she crossed the room to stand in front of him. Her heart sped up as his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her flush against him and placed a kiss on her neck. "I thought I was an ass," he breathed against her skin, sending chills down her spine.
"You're a sexy ass," Paige rephrased with a smirk as Reid leaned down to capture her lips.
Someone cleared their throat in the doorway causing the couple to break apart and look in the direction of the sound. To their left stood Kassandra. "Hello," She said with a knowing smile.
"Hey mom," Paige said slightly embarrassed that her mother had caught her making out with her boyfriend.
Kassandra walked further into the kitchen as she addressed her daughter. "I'm going to the store, do you want anything in particular?"
"Blake's keeps bugging me for some Reese Cups," Paige laughed, pulling a strand of damp dark hair behind her ear. "I can ask the girls real quick what they want if you like?" she offered, ready to use telepathy to talk with her friends.
"It's okay, I will just ask them the normal way," Kassandra grabbed her keys from the counter, along with her purse. "I will use a phone."
Reid barked out a laugh as Kassandra walked out the door. When she was out of earshot he turned to his girlfriend. "Your mom totally just caught us making out."
An hour later the couple sat on Paige's bed playing of a game of Truth or Dare.
Paige thought back to the night she first admitted she liked Reid while playing the same game and grinned to herself before asking, "Truth or Dare?"
"Both," Reid said with a smirk. Paige laughed and thought of a Dare. "I dare you to kiss me." Reid rolled his eyes. "That's not really a dare, Paige." When Paige puckered her lips he chuckled and leaned forward, placing a soft kiss upon them.
Once they pulled apart she held a hand to his mouth, stopping his advances for second kiss. "Okay now for the truth…" Paige paused, staring into her boyfriend's blue eyes. "How much do you love me?"
Reid put a hand to his chin and lightly tapped as he thought. "Eh," he said with a shrug. Paige playfully glared and went to hit his arm but was stopped and pulled closer so she sat a foot from Reid's face. He put one hand on her cheek and placed the other along the arch of her neck. A genuine smile flashed across his face as he looked at his girlfriend. "No words can describe how much I love you." He kissed her nose before speaking again. "You are the first and only girl to take my heart, and from now on…it's yours."
Paige's heart skipped a few beats in excitement and surprise. Sitting where she was now, looking at the man in front of her she realized just how much she loved him. Even the thought about being with anyone else other then Reid made her unsteady. Something inside of Paige seemed to explode as so many emotions rushed through her small frame; happiness, joy, but mostly love, a sense of devotion.
"I love you, Garwin," she said curling up onto his lap, holding herself closer to him. "And I will love you for all of my life. I am yours forever." With a smile, she knew she had chosen her path and had saved Reid from a life time of struggling with the curse.
"You know," Paige started, "You're better at this boyfriend thing then you give yourself credit for."
"Kids!" Kassandra's voice floated up the stairs and into Paige's room. "It's nearly 11 o'clock, you have school tomorrow. Shouldn't you get back to the dorms?"
Reid grumbled, angry that the weekend had gone by so fast. He got up from the bed and followed Paige down the stairs and to the foyer where Kassandra stood. Paige gave her mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek and waited as Reid did the same.
"Be careful driving," Kassandra called to the couple from the doorway.
Fifteen minutes later, Paige pulled her blue Mazda Rx8 into one of the many parking spaces in Spenser's student lot. "Good night." Reid kissed his girlfriend's lips. "I love you."
"I love you, too." She replied and kissed him once more then watched him walk until he disappeared around the corner.
The next morning River rose to the sound of a hair dryer blowing in the connecting bathroom. "Morning," she called to her roommate once the noise stopped.
Paige poked her head into the room. "Oh, I'm sorry! Did I wake you?" She walked into the room, running a brush through her hair.
River looked at the clock that sat on the nightstand next to her bed. "No, I need to get up anyway." After rolling out of bed, she grabbed a pair of jeans from her closet and a shirt from the dresser. "I really don't understand the point of going to class. I mean finals are over, graduation is in two weeks, and we are doing absolutely nothing in class."
"Well, at least we don't have to wear our uniforms anymore." Paige gestured to her own pair of jeans and a baby pink tank top with a light weight jacket over it.
There was a rap on the door before it opened widely, revealing Blake and Rylee.
"Good morning!" Rylee sang happily, standing in a red thin strapped dress that fell just above her knees, a light denim jacket hung over her arms. Beside her Blake stood wearing a pair of khaki Capri's with a brown long sleeved shirt that was pushed to her elbows.
"Ready to go do nothing in class?" Blake offered with a smile, holding the door open for her friends.
"Wait," Paige stepped forward and ushered the girls further into the room before closing the door. "I have something to tell you."
Blake sat down on the bed, wondering what she had to say. "What is it?"
"Okay so you remember the Prophecy, right? About the Sons and us?" Paige asked. Blake and River shared a glance, Rylee nodded. "Well, I chose my path." She smiled to herself as looked at each friend in turn. "I chose to be with Reid."
Blake grinned happily. "I could have told you that would happen eventually." She stood and patted Paige on the cheek. "I chose Pogue. And River chose Caleb too." She didn't mention the fact that Caleb and Pogue knew of the prophecy. That would wait for another discussion where Rylee wasn't present.
Rylee shifted uncomfortably as all three of her friends turned to her. "I still haven't decided." She stood and walked to the door putting on a fake smile as she did.
Blake linked an arm with her short haired friend. "That's okay," she said as the four of them walked down the hallway and out of the dorm building. "You don't need to decide just yet, so no pressure." Rylee smiled at her friends, thankful that they did not press the matter further.
Once they made their way into the school building, they walked to a small group of guys congregated next to a set of lockers.
"Hey, ladies." Tyler greeted the approaching girls. Blake, River and Paige waved hello then stood next to their boyfriends whom they greeted with a kiss. Rylee stood on her toes and placed a sweet kiss on Tyler's lips.
"You guys ready to do nothing in class today?" Pogue asked, wrapping a muscled arm around Blake's waist. She laughed beside him saying that she had said the exact same thing earlier.
The bell rung, signaling the start of classes. The freshman and sophomores quickly bustled to their classes while the upper classmen dawdled down the hallways. Blake and Caleb headed off to their English class and Paige and River walked to their Math class. Heading the opposite direction were Reid, Tyler, Rylee and Pogue.
"See ya at lunch." Pogue called to the others.
By three in the afternoon, the school day was over and the students of Spenser Academy walked into the warm late spring air. "You guys want to come back and hang out at my place?" Caleb asked, grabbing River's hand in his. The gang agreed, so Reid and Blake climbed into Paige's car while the others piled into Caleb's Mustang and Tyler's Hummer.
At Caleb's house Pogue led the way into the large estate, greeting Evelyn with a kiss on the cheek when he entered the living room where she sat. "Are you hungry?" she asked, offering to make some snacks. The teenagers declined her offer and made their way outside into the back yard.
Reid, Blake, Pogue and Rylee took a seat at the patio table and Paige went to sit on her boyfriends lap. Tyler sat down on a bench next to the table and placed a hand on Rylee's leg.
"Let's play a game." River grinned from next to Caleb who gave her a questioning look.
"What kind of game?" he asked, looking around at his large backyard. A small pond lay in the middle of the yard lined with a few spruce trees. At the very end of the property was a small wooded area that separated his yard from the neighbors.
River faced her boyfriend but took a step back so she was just out of arms reach. "Let's play," she looked around at her friends and smiled at Caleb. "Tag. You're it!" She took a running leap from the patio deck, landing on her feet before jetting past the small pond.
Laughter sounded behind her in the distance and she took a chance to glance back where her friends but noticed someone was missing. River stopped running and scanned the yard for a tall, dark haired man. Her eyes flashed lime green as she listened intently for footsteps.
A quiet chuckle came from her left then a twig snapped. River closed her eyes, pretending she didn't her him and listened to him approach. Just as he was several feet from her, she spun to face him and smirked. "Nice try."
Caleb's scowled at his girlfriend, noticing her glowing green eyes. "You cheated!"
River laughed out loud and took of running with Caleb right on her heels.
Reid, Pogue, Rylee, and Blake laughed as they watched River run from Caleb. Paige grinned when she saw Caleb's eyes flash black as he disappeared. River skidded to a halt after sensing he was gone but before she could do anything he appeared in front of her, grabbing her arm. "Tag, you're it!"
Tyler saw his friends midnight black eyes and a tiny wave of irritation washed over him. Caleb would have skinned me alive if I Used for something so little. What's gotten into him?
"Who's cheating now?" River stated as Caleb took off running in the opposite direction. Instead of going after him, she turned to her friends that were still sitting on the porch. "Better start running."
Tyler's irritation was erased immediately as River stalked towards the deck were he sat. The six friends looked at each other then all at once jumped up and scattered across the yard. River raced after Blake who was closest to her and caught her within a minute of chasing her. "You're it!"
Blake allowed River a few seconds to get away before running around, trying to find someone to tag. She spotted Paige lurking near the spruce trees by the pond but thought better then to chase her, knowing that she had an advantage with her power of teleportation. Tyler was with her so Blake knew she couldn't go after him either because he was under the protection of Paige and her power.
In the corner of the yard stood her boyfriend with his back turned to her for the moment. As quickly and quietly as she could, Blake made her way to him. A smile came across her lips as she neared him and sprang towards him. He turned around just in time to catch her, his face contorted in surprise. "Ah!"
"Got you!" Kissing him before she ran from him, giggling like crazy.
An hour later Paige, Caleb, Pogue, Blake, Reid and River tumbled into the living room in a hysteria of laughter. Rylee bit her lip, trying her hardest not to laugh at her boyfriend who had just entered the room.
Tyler stopped in the doorway with a sour look on his face making the group of teens laugh even harder. He was soaked from head to toe and his hair was matted to his head.
While playing tag and after Pogue had gotten tagged by Blake he saw Tyler and Paige by the pond. He took a running start at the pair of them but Paige spotted him before he was close enough and disappeared, leaving Tyler to fend for himself. Tyler didn't have time to run and was tackled through the spruce trees and was knocked into the small body of water.
A small laugh escaped Rylee's lips. "I'm sorry," she said when Tyler glared at her. "But seriously you know that was hilarious."
The blue eyed boy cracked a smile and shrugged. "Okay fine, I guess it was sort of funny."
"Dude, my bad," was all Pogue managed to say as he laughed. Tyler rolled his eyes.
"Well I better go change. I'm getting a little uncomfortable." He gave Rylee a kiss then grabbed his keys from the table near the front door. "I'll see you guys at later at Nicky's."
Back at the dorms, River pointed to her hair that was pulled into a high ponytail. "How's this? That's cute," she added, looking at Paige's light blue graphic tee.
"Thanks," Paige smiled, finishing the last touches of her makeup. "And I like your hair like that."
We are leaving with Pogue and Tyler see you girls there, Blake's voice rang in the two girls heads making River roll her eyes. "Man, she can be so impatient sometimes."
Paige nodded her head and changed the subject. "So, Caleb said he wants to marry you, huh?" She grinned as she watched her friends face go slightly pink. "I take that as a yes."
"Who told you?" River asked curiously as she grabbed her purse from the desk by the door and followed Paige out of the room.
"Caleb did." Paige walked with her down the set of stairs and out to the parking lot where Reid and Caleb waited patiently. Their previous conversation drifted into random things as they approached the two guys. Together the four of them climbed into Caleb's Mustang and headed off to Nicky's.
Minutes later they walked into the crowded bar, happy with the environment that surrounded them. Reid led Paige and the others to the back of the bar where they spotted Tyler, Pogue, Blake and Rylee. As the four got closer Rylee stood and pointed to Reid. "I challenge you to a duel!"
Reid raised one eyebrow. "Is that your way of saying you want a game of pool?"
Rylee nodded and grabbed his arm, pulling him in the direction of the pool tables. Luckily, Aaron and the boys weren't there to start trouble. Nicky had given them a temporary suspension from the bar after trying to pick a fight with Reid and Tyler after accusing them of cheating in a game of pool.
Rylee looked back to the table, caught Tyler's eyes and waved him over. Tyler winked at her and grabbed his drink before joining his best friend and girlfriend.
As she watched the game from afar, Paige noticed the way Tyler and Rylee interacted. Every smile Tyler gave his girlfriend showed how much he loved her. His eyes lit up with every kiss they shared. Paige noted the way that Rylee's eyes sparkled every time she looked at him but something was set along side of that twinkle that she did not seem to recognize.
"Paige?" someone called to her, bringing her eyes away from her young friend. She turned to see the whole table looking at her.
"Sorry," Paige apologized with a smile and shook her head. "I was daydreaming."
Across the room Tyler gave Rylee a congratulatory kiss.
"Damn, Brooks. I think it's safe to say that you're one of the best players, I know," Reid said, complimenting the girl in the arms of the youngest Son of Ipswich. Rylee gave him a look. "Okay, fine you're the best pool player I know."
Rylee smirked and winked at the blonde. "Bet your ass I'm the best." Next to her Tyler grinned and placed a kiss on her temple then walked with her back to the table where the others sat. Reid went to the bar and came back with a drink in hand.
"Can you guys believe we have less then two weeks of school left before we graduate?" Paige said in disbelief but excitement was in her voice. "Then it's off to college!"
Pogue grinned from beside her. "College," he sighed with a shake of his head. "It seems likes it's going by too fast.".
"Let's just get through the end of the school year," Blake pointed out fairly. "Then we can worry about college."
Since they received their acceptance letters the group didn't talk about what was to happen when the start of the semester came. Caleb and Pogue have always talked about rooming together at Harvard but that was before the girls came along. Both of their girlfriends were accepted into the same school. In secret, the two Sons talked about asking their girlfriends to get an apartment off campus somewhere.
Shoving the matter to the back of their minds once again, Caleb stared at his girlfriend.
"What?" she asked after realizing he was staring.
He smiled but shook his head. "Nothing." River returned the smile before continuing her conversation with Reid and Blake.
Rylee's voice entered River's conscious. River and Caleb sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G… it faded into an resonance of a hum as she continued the song. River glanced at her friend and rolled her eyes.
So what? She replied with a grin.
