Disclaimer: American Dragon Jake Long does NOT belong to me.
IX:
The Right Feelings
Rose had finished getting ready and was now waiting for Krystal. Tonight was the night that Rose, Janice, Danica, and her new friends decided to hang out.
As she waited for Krystal, Rose was sketching more than she had in the previous months. Being back in the city had helped inspire her.
Among her sketches, there were dragons, fairies, and other mythical creatures she didn't even know existed. However, when her pen touched the parchment, she couldn't help but draw them.
"Are you almost ready?" Rose asked.
"Hold up," Krystal said, applying the last layer of her lipstick. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she was satisfied. "I'm good."
"Finally," Rose said, setting her sketch pad down. Janice had texted Rose saying to meet them at the End of Summer Festival. Apparently, a majority of them had already arrived. However, Krystal wanted to look good and so the two were late.
"Sorry but perfection takes time," Krystal smiled.
"I'm sure it does,' Rose rolled her eyes, but was amused.
"Thanks again for inviting me," Krystal said.
Despite being twins, Krystal and Rose did not have the same friends, which might be a good thing in the long run. However, from time to time, their different social circles kept them apart and hindered their time together.
"No problem," Rose smiled.
She knew that her sister had always had a soft spot for Kyle Wilkins, but apparently he was taken. And now, Krystal had set her sights on Nigel Thrall. Not that Rose minded, but at the same time, Rose had been thinking about the Brit.
Well him and Danica's boyfriend, Jake.
It made her feel extremely guilty but there was just something about him.
"There's something about you. In your eyes, something familiar…"
And once again, unknown images flashed through her mind.
Images of her girl in a hood looking at a dragon. They were talking, fighting, even flirting. It seemed so real but that was absurd.
But the images caused a ringing in her ears and started hurting her head.
Krystal seemed to notice.
"Rose, are you okay?"
It took a moment, but the flashes stopped and so did the ringing.
"Yeah…" Rose said, warily. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure, we could cancel?"
"No!" Rose said. Krystal looked at her in surprise. "I'll take some Advil and I'll be fine." This wasn't the first time her head had hurt and she didn't want to cancel their plans. Rose knew Krystal was looking forward to it, and so was she.
"Okay, if you say so." Krystal said, slightly concerned but Rose gave her a smile. Taking some Advil, the girls headed to the festival.
0o0o0
Jake had his arms around Danica while Kyle had his around Trixie. The two couple were being very lovey-dovey for Nigel's taste. On the other hand, Janice and Spud were talking. They seemed to be the unlikeliest of friends.
The seven of them were just waiting on the Kilmer Twins, Rose and Krystal. They were running late for whatever reason. Usually, Nigel would mind. However, he didn't this time.
"Do you know when the girls will show up?" Danica asked.
"I texted Rose," Janice said," They're on their way."
"That's a relief," Kyle said.
"Yeah…" Jake agreed, hesitantly. Spud and Trixie exchanged looks.
Nigel picked up on that. There was something going on between the three, there almost always was. But this time, it seemed to pertain to Rose. Nigel was highly curious.
"Look they're here," Janice noticed the two girls approaching them. Nigel looked.
As the girls approached, his eyes landed on Rose. He could feel his heart skip a beat.
"Hey, sorry we're late." She apologized right away. "I got hit with a headache but I'm good now."
"Are you sure," Nigel couldn't help but ask. Rose looked at him and smiled.
"Yeah, thanks," Nigel smiled back.
They looked at each other for a moment. That moment was lost when Nigel heard Kyle cough. They tore their eyes from each other but Nigel could feel the blush on his cheeks.
Kyle eyed Nigel, but Nigel avoided his eyes. But he knew that Kyle was smirking.
"Well we're glad you guys could make it," Danica said, a slight smirk on her face as she looked at the duo. Jake didn't look all that pleased, neither did Krystal.
"Yeah, we are too," Rose said, and this time her eyes landed on Jake. He looked at her too. But the eye contact between them seemed to go unnoticed by anyone but Nigel. It peeved him a little.
"Let's not waste any more time," Krystal spoke up.
"Yeah, let's enjoy." Spud exclaimed and everyone else was in complete agreement. So the group of nine headed into the summer festival.
All the while, Nigel looked at Rose, who glanced back. What Nigel didn't notice was that Rose glanced at Jake as well.
What the Brit did notice was the feel of eyes on them, eyes of the American Dragon and his two best friends.
0o0o0
Going into the festival, Krystal felt slightly out of place and a little bothered.
She wasn't blind to have noticed the little moment that transpired between Rose and Nigel. She could also pick up on the way that Nigel's eyes trailed after Rose. And how Rose would sometimes glance at Nigel. But she also noticed that Rose had paid some attention to Jake.
There was something going on with her baby sister.
Krystal had told Rose about her interest in Nigel, but it seemed that the British exchange student was more interested in her twin. It didn't bother her that much. She didn't know the boy that well. So, she could move on from it.
It just sucked.
But what really bothered Krystal was the fact that every so often, Rose would look at Jake and Danica with something akin to jealously in her eyes.
Rose was never the jealous type.
But recently, there was something off about her sister.
Krystal was concerned.
However, she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind for the night.
She was out to have fun.
Sure, it seemed like her original plan to get to know Nigel might be in vain as he seemed more intrigued by her twin sister but Krystal was still up for a good time.
She wanted to get to know Rose's friends. Maybe it would give her insight on what was going on with her sister.
Plus, she always loved hanging out with her sister.
Even though Stacey was her best friend, Rose would always be her number one.
0o0o0
To say that Jake was conflicted would be an understatement.
Throughout the night, Jake had picked up on Rose's bubbling friendship with Nigel. He knew everyone else did too. It wasn't a secret by any means.
They had played a few games together and were currently laughing amongst Janice, Danica, Kyle, and Krystal.
And yes, he had accepted that fact that the Rose he knew and loved was not the same Rose that stood before him now. It sucked. But he had Danica and he knew he cared for her.
It still bothered him, though.
"You alrighty Jakey?" Trixie asked him.
"Yeah those daggers you're sending Nigel are killer." Spud said.
"Wait-what?" Jake asked, "I'm not sending daggers-"
But Trixie and Spud cut him off with a look. Maybe they were right.
"Look, it's just weird," He said, running his hand through his hair. He wanted Rose to be happy. That's all he ever wanted. But it really did suck.
"We know bud," Spud said.
"It's weird for us too," Trixie said. "Home girl was one of my only girlfriends. Actually, she was probably my only one."
"I miss her too,' Spud agreed. There were somber looks on their faces too. Something clicked for Jake right there and then.
Jake had been so concerned with his feeling that he didn't realize that Trixie and Spud might have been affected too. Rose wasn't just his first love, she was Trixie's and Spud's friend too.
"I'm sorry guys," He said, feeling guilty.
"Nah you're good Jake," Trixie said, looking at Rose with their other friend. "You know I'm glad she's happy and now at least she's back in our lives."
"Yeah," Spud said, "She might not remember us but we remember her. Now, we can all be friends again and create new memories together."
"You're right," Jake said, a new determination on his face. He had been a little self-absorbed about this Rose situation. He wasn't the only one to lose her.
Now he was determined more than ever to make this situation work.
Looking at Danica and Rose, Jake knew for sure what he had to do.
He would stay devoted to Danica. After all, Danica was amazing and deserved the world.
But Rose was his first love, but in this world, he wasn't hers.
They could be friends. They would be friends.
But his heart was devoted to Danica.
He had to let Rose go.
0o0o0
The night was dwindling down to Rose's disappointment. However, she couldn't deny that she had a great time.
Everyone had been so nice and Rose was glad she had gotten to know everyone a little better.
At first, she noticed that Krystal didn't seem to mesh well with the others besides Kyle. However, it didn't take long for everyone to warm up to her, much to Rose's relief.
"Did you have a good time," Rose turned to see Jake besides her. Something in her stomach fluttered. She had never really had a one-on-one conversation with him.
"Yeah, "She smiled, "How about you?"
"Yeah, I did too," Jake smiled at her.
There was a beat of silence.
"How do you like being back in the city?" Jake asked.
"It's been good," Rose said. "Things are different but being with everyone here, it feels right."
Rose and Jake eyes met.
The words "Something familiar in your eyes" rang loud in her head.
"Yeah, it does feel right."
Another beat of silence.
Jake run his hand through his hair. A nervous habit, Rose supposed.
Before anything else could be said, Trixie and Spud joined them, breaking the silence.
"Hey guys," Spud greeted.
"Whatcha two up to?" Trixie asked.
"Just talking," Jake told them.
"I was just telling Jake how it felt being back in the city," Rose said smiling. "Everyone's been so nice and welcoming. It's great. Almost like old times."
"Old times," Spud said, thoughtfully. ""I guess you're right. We're glad you and your sister could join us."
"Yeah, let's hang out some more." Trixie smiled at Rose, she returned it
Rose liked Spud and Trixie. She might have not known them well before, but they seemed really nice. And just like Jake, there was something familiar about them as well.
Thinking about them caused more ringing in her ears. Images flashed through her mind.
"You sure about this…? The school library seems even creepier in the p.m.," A sassy female said.
"Says you. One person's creepy is another person's cocoon of cozy," a relaxed male replied.
Despite the stress she felt, she couldn't help but be amused by their antics.
"Rose," Spud was waving his hand in front of Rose's eyes. She was pulled out of day-dreaming to see Trixie, Spud, and Jake looking at her with concern.
"Are you okay?" Jake asked.
"Uh...yeah," Rose said. "I guess being back is causing me daydream lot."
"Huh…. really, about what?" Spud asked. "I don't ever remember my dreams or daydreams."
"Well…uh," Rose didn't think it could matter if she told them. "It sounds weird. But I keep day dreaming about weird things like uh dragons and fairies."
Rose looked down sheepishly. Looking back up, the shocked looks on the trio's faces kind of threw Rose. She knew her day dreams were weird but the looks the three of them were giving her seemed exaggerated.
"You know what, never mind." Rose felt slightly embarrassed. She started to walk off.
"Wait," Trixie called for her and Rose turned to her.
"Sorry about all of that," Trixie said, "It is just…um…. that's not what most teens daydream about, you know."
"Yeah, tell me about it." Rose said. "My imagination just runs wild on me."
"Right," Trixie said, with a nervous laugh. "But you know what girl, I'm glad you trusted us to tell us." Rose smiled once again.
"Yeah you guys seem trustable."
"I'm glad," Trixie said.
Then Trixie did something unexpected, she pulled Rose into a hug. Thrown only for a second, Rose returned the hug.
"I hope we can be friends," Trixie said, pulling away.
"I thought we already were," Rose said, grinning.
"Hell yeah, we are." Trixie grinned back.
Rose definitely liked Trixie.
With Trixie, Rose went back to Jake and Spud were. They apologized for making her feel uncomfortable. Rose forgave them. After all, she might have had a similar reaction.
And they all fell into small talk and it felt so natural for Rose. She felt like she had known the three of them for a while. Something just felt right with them. And Rose knew, the four of them would be great friends.
Soon, the other five joined the four. And they all ended the night successfully.
For the first time, everything felt right.
0o0o0
Silver dodged the ball of fire charging towards her. Luckily for her, this left Saber wide open.
Concentrating on the water in the air, she created sharp icicles and sent them towards Saber. He wasn't fast enough to dodge them, hitting him right near his critical spots.
"Damn," He uttered.
He tried to get up but the attack had been critical. Silver smirked. Saber was all talk, no bark. Now, she knew it was time to finish the fight.
Concentrating on the water in the air again, more icicles formed. Before she sent them charging towards Saber, she heard Lady Valor's voice booming through the compound.
"Enough!"
Silver stopped.
Lady Valor made her way to her two pupils.
"That was excellent, Silver." She praised before looking at Saber. "Pitiful, you need to practice more before the plans take full effect."
"Yes ma'am," Silver said, rising slowly.
"Have either of you made any progress on locating the cause of the paradox?" She asked them, voice stern.
"No ma'am," Both Silver and Saber answered together. Lady Valor sighed.
"May I remind you two that the fate of Elementals rests on this plan."
"No ma'am," They both replied again.
Silver eyed her master. She knew that Elementals were dwindling and losing their power, but still, Silver thought her master's plans were extreme.
"Good," Lady Valor spoke. "For this reason, I want you two to find the Witches of Woodstock. They may be able to help us with this."
"But milady," Saber spoke. "Witches don't trust us. They hate us. They all do."
"For this they will," Lady Valor said. "A Paradox is bad for any magical creature, especially witches and wizards. There must be balance in the world and a Paradox disturbs that balance."
"But still," Saber said. Silver knew he didn't trust Sorcerers. No Elemental did. They were bitter rivals. They were part of the reason that this plan was concocted in the first place.
"If you are so concerned Saber, disguise yourselves as Merfolk. It may be better this way. They are more likely to trust you that way. "Lady Valor said.
"Yes ma'am," Saber agreed.
"But remember, the Witches of Woodstock are very powerful. Act with caution but get the information we need. This is crucial to our plans."
"We will do our best," Silver said.
"Good," Lady Valor smiled. "Off you go."
Silver and Saber wasted no time.
They disguised themselves as Merfolk and headed towards the secret island on the Hudson River, home to the strongest witches in New York.
PLEASE READ: I know it had been years. I apologize! But I was inspired again. If you guys still enjoy this story and are reading it, please let me know so I can continue writing and hopefully finish it. Once again, thank you and I hope you enjoyed!
-Mini
