"I want to do something with you." Pete said. Okay, that could mean some things and it could mean other things that I don't plan on doing until I'm older.
"L-like what?" I asked embarrassed by my thoughts. He seemed to catch on.
"Oh, no, nothing like that." He pulled me to my room and made me lay down on my back and take off my shoes. He kneeled on my bed and started rubbing my feet. A massage? Cool.
"What's this for?" I asked while he worked his way up my calf and started on my other leg.
"You don't know?" What was he talking about?
"I only know this is really good." I said looking at him.
"Thanks, birthday girl." He said. Birthday girl? Oh! Oh, my! I totally forgot about my birthday, again! That's three years in a row now. Darn it.
"Oh, man. I forgot. Again. Sorry. Now I appreciate this more. And that's why Val wanted to go shopping." I said. Yes, my birthday. April 27, 1992. So I'm 18, now.
"Yeah. This is my present." He kissed my knee and told me to roll over. "Your bra strap will get in the way." I blushed deeply. How embarrassing.
"I got it." I said quietly. I unhooked it with my shirt on and took it off with my shirt still on. I threw it on the floor and lay down again. He started kneading my neck and upper back. I groaned and sighed. He was good at this.
"Hmm. Size D." He said looking over at the floor.
"Oh, shut up." I growled and blushed deeper. Any deeper and I would be purple, not red.
"Yes, well. You have a lot of knots." He said.
"I don't let people massage me. I'm very ticklish." I squirmed a bit because he hit a soft spot.
"I can see." He said going to the middle of my back. I got the goose bumps. We were silent for awhile.
"I hope you be careful." He said.
"Huh?" I asked.
"When you are dueling the counsel members."
"Of course I will be. I am not organized, but I'm careful. That trait picks up for the unorganized one." I said. He moved to my lower back. Any lower and he would be on my butt and I wouldn't allow that.
"I could help you. I know a few nasty spells." He said.
"I don't want to kill them. I want to make them unconscious." I am generous, too.
"Fine. I do really want to kill some of them, though." He said. He stopped on my back and he sat on it instead. His knees were along my sides. He took my hair tie out and fluffed my hair a bit. He started on my temples.
"Why the hair tie, again?" I asked.
"It relaxes your hair. It gets strained when you put it back that tight. And I like how thick, wavy, and curly it is. Oh, and I like the smell of the shampoo you use." He said.
"Mm, thanks." I said sort of falling asleep. He flipped me over with him still sitting on me (Ow. Just kidding) and massaged my lips with his. He spread my hair out on my pillow so he could see the waves. This was getting weird. He massaged my head with his fingertips and kissed me again. He got up and told me to put my bra back on and go to the kitchen. I did what he said. The kitchen was dark. Oh no...
"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted. I screamed. I got scared even though I knew what was coming. Val laughed at while everyone looked at me in shock.
"Sorry." I said. "I get scared when people surprise me like that." Everyone forgot about it and started singing Happy Birthday after lighting the candles on my cake. Vanilla cake and chocolate icing. Yum! I blew out the candle when they were done singing. My wish was to win the duel. I cut the cake and gave everyone a piece and one to myself. It was great for a bought cake up in the clouds. Next were presents. I told everyone they shouldn't have given me anything, but I did like gifts. Val and Resa got me two pairs of earrings. Pam and Lona got me a gold necklace. Mick got me new skater shoes. Pete gave me that massage which I didn't think was over yet. He moved in with me, so we had time. We watched a few movies in the living room and then went to bed. But I couldn't get sleep right away. Pete wasn't done massaging my lips. I finally fell asleep. I can't face people who are sleeping next to me. I just can't let them stare at me. I was on the left side closest to the door. I can't sleep on the side not closest to the door. It bothers me. I had a dreamless sleep.
Next day, we had to prepare what we were going to do. Val said she would do every spell she could think of. I just stuck with Resa's concept. I just needed to stay confident. I needed to know that I was going to win and use that confidence to power the concept spell. Oh, by the way, spells don't need words. It's like the concept, but not as fierce and not as general. More like you know what you want to do and it happens. But only for minor things. If you wanted a fire you would get a small one. If you wanted a flower you would get a dandelion. Like that. I was practicing with Pete. He was my dummy. I could do anything, but then had to put it right. I made him cross eyed and glued his mouth together. I unmade him cross eyed, but not his mouth.
"I like you like this." I told him in a whisper like it was a secret.
"Mmmmm." He tried to say something, but I didn't know what.
"What was that, dear?" I asked him.
"Mmmm mm mmmm." He tried to say again. I laughed. I kissed him on the cheek. Then unglued his mouth.
"Nicole Prentue, I hate you." He sounded like he meant it, but then he laughed. "Just don't do that again," he kissed my cheek.
"I can't promise anything." I said. We went into the living room to watch Val and Resa for a while. Pam and Mick came back from exploring Cloud City. I like the name because it was in Star Wars. I'm a geek, I know. I begged them to let me go explore, they said it was okay. I went with Pete. It just hit me that Lona had no one. I had Pete. Val had James. Pam had Mick. I invited her along and she came. I told her I was going to find her someone. She was the one who usually got boyfriends all the time. So anyway, we walked to a store. While Pete was looking at shirts, I got to talk to Lona.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Oh nothing. I've got a lot to think about." She said.
"Oh, don't give me that. I know you pretty well. What's on your mind?"
"Well. Nothing actually. I'm lost. I feel like I don't belong here. You guys are having way fun," We speak like that sometimes, "and I'm by myself."
"That's why I'm going to find someone for you. I know your type. You liked Pete before us."
"Yeah, I did." She admitted.
"So, I know who you like. I might pick someone at the next place where they are on the ground, but I will find you someone." I just had to or I'd feel way guilty.
"Thanks, Nicki." She hugged me. Pete bought some red shirts and tan shorts for himself. Just like me. Cool! We went to a café. We ate dinner and drank some hot chocolate. We're such kids! Then we went back home. It was close to 9 p.m. I got a shower and went to bed. I was facing the door when Pete took my hair out again.
"Okay. Would you just stop doing that? I know you like it, but I hate putting my hair down. So, please..." I told Pete.
"Okay, sorry." I felt him turn around. We were back to back now. I turned around and hugged him around his waist.
"I love you, Hun."
"I hate you, too." He grumbled.
"I love you." I said again.
He sighed. "I love you more."
"Doubt it." I tested him. I let him turn around in my arms. He kissed me.
"Now, good-night."
I turned around and fell asleep. I wanted to try the connection thing with my dreams to Bon's. It worked. I picked my shed that we used to go in. I had to help him somehow.
"Bon. Has it happened recently?" I asked hugging him.
"No, but James is acting weird. He isn't himself. Don't tell Val, but I think it's him controlling me. I can't stop him, because I'm just a vampire."
"Oh no. Well, what magic does James have? Fire, air, earth, or water?" I asked.
"Fire." He said. "Look I have to go. Bye."
"Bye." I barely got the word out. Fire magic? Oh no.
I woke up in a cold sweat. The covers were totally pushed off of me and my shirt was pulled half way up my stomach. My shorts were giving me a wedgie. That meant I was tossing and turning. Something was wrong here. I sat up after grabbing my glasses. I looked over at where Pete should have been. He was there. I got up and started walking through all the rooms. Pam and Mick were okay. Val and Resa were okay. Lona. Where was Lona? I almost tripped over myself trying to get to the living room. Oh, there she was. I sat down on the floor next to her rocking body.
"Lona?" I asked suspiciously.
In an echo of her own voice, Lona said, "One of us will die. During a battle. The others will live. One pair will break apart. Two pairs will stay together. One will find solace in a new found friend." Lona seemed to pass out. Did these things hurt her?
"Lona? Lona, honey? Wake up." I said anxious to see if she could wake up. She stirred a bit.
"Pete! Pam! Mick! Val! Resa!" I shouted to everyone. Pete was first out looking stunned to be woken up now at one in the morning. Val came next because she would be scared for me calling like that. Then Pam, Mick, and Resa.
"She had another prediction. But she fainted this time. Do those things hurt her?" I asked anyone and everyone.
"Sometimes." Val said while the boys picked Lona up and put her gently on the couch. I felt her pulse on her neck. Normal, and slow as it is when we are asleep.
"She's sleeping." Pam said doing the same thing when I didn't say anything.
"Lona, dear. Wake up." Resa said loudly. Lona started to come around.
"Wha-at I'm sleeping'" She said like her normal self.
"Oh, God." I let slip. It was acceptable. I was holding in my breath. I let it out in a huff. I hugged Lona real tightly.
"Oh, my Lona." I repeated twice. I squeezed then let her go.
"Um, sorry. What happened?" She asked what was on everyone's mind. I told them her prediction. I didn't tell them that I knew who would break up. Val and James. I knew Pete and I wouldn't split for sure. Or would we? I wasn't sure about the new friend part or the other pair. Pam or Mick or Lona would die. Oh no. You can't worry about that now, I told myself, it might not be one of them. We all went to bed again. When I was in Pete's arms I started crying. I wouldn't tell him why, though. And so I cried myself to sleep.
I slept in so late that I skipped breakfast and lunch. The duel was at 4 so I had three hours. I got a shower because of the cold sweat from last night and somehow I didn't feel clean. I was just trying to wash off the prediction. I couldn't help that. I ate some peanut butter crackers with milk. That's good stuff. Then I lazed around and watched a movie. I was trying not to think of the duel. When the movie was over (Finding Nemo) I couldn't find anything to do except read. I was reading the 6th Harry Potter book, Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling when Val knocked on my door and said it was time. I got the worst case of Butterflies in the world! So I started playing Not Alone from A Very Potter Musical. That made me feel better. Just a little bit. A tiny bit, but better. We walked through a magnificent garden and through the huge doors of the counsel house. It was a pretty big house. Three floors, bottom was the main room for living and playing games, second floor was for sleeping and using the bathroom, and third floor was for duels. We walked up two flights of stairs and looked at our arena. It was oval shaped. There were some square and rectangle obstacles, but other than that it was made of steel so it could withstand any attack. There were seats around the oval for spectators. This was some house. We walked to our side and started getting ready.
"Okay. You will be fighting Counsel Master Telma and Counsel Master Wing. They are water and air." Resa told us. Oh great. Counsel MASTERS! Oh, geez.
"Remember the defense spell." Pete whispered to me. Right. Think protect. Okay, I've got this. We stepped into the ring. They stepped into the ring. Someone said "Go!" off from the side. I sprinted to a barrier when three ice darts flew past my head. I stopped. No one starts a fight with me and stops it. I stop it. I concentrated on moving and my confidence rose. I had to keep moving, so I was running around from here to there. Fire circle around them. One can't feel a leg- the other, an arm. One's eyes are crossed, the others mouth is glued shut. I kept thinking little things like this while Val did more complicated spells to make them unconscious. I could have done this forever, I thought until I felt a pain in my thigh. Ice dart. Man! I was limping, but still moving. Val took down one. I was getting closer to the other and he was focused on Val. I sneaked behind him and called for a metal foldable chair. I gripped the legs and slammed it on his head.
"That's for the ice darts, you pig!" I said loudly. I melted the ice, but I was still bleeding. Resa came over and healed me up with some painful magic.
"That was so like wrestling." Lona said.
"Dude, yeah it was. I finally get to use my strength." I said flexing my muscles for emphasis.
"You're gonna be fine, mate." Resa said in her twangy Australian accent.
"Thanks." I said. I tried to walk to it hurt too much. Pete picked me up like Mick did on the boat, baby style.
"Put me down." I said.
"No, you big baby." Pete said. Everyone laughed. He kissed me in front of everyone, too. They cheered. Ugh! I was blushing again. Pete put me down. Ow! He half carried me downstairs to one of the couches on the bottom floor. The Head Counsel Master was there and so was the Superior Head Counsel Master. Or like the vice president and president of the counsel. They said we have done something that many couldn't have done, because they lacked the connection between us. Our connection goes deeper than friendship. It's in our blood. I was totally proud of this. I knew it, but could never say it out loud. I was proud. There. I said it out loud in my head. He went on to say that we would have their full cooperation in the full battle. I guess he made predictions, too, because I didn't know there was going to be a full battle. We left the, um, 'house' and went to our regular one.
"Guess it's goodbye then, Resa." I said hugging her.
"Don't worry. You'll see me again."
"Bye, mate. Don't lose your imagination." Pete said.
"See you later, I suppose." Pam said.
"Goodbye." Mick said.
"I would to say goodbye in Australian, but I don't know how. So bye." Lona said.
"It's just goodbye for me, kid." Resa said.
"Bye, Theresa." Val likes formal greetings and saying-goodbye-ings.
"Stay smart, Val." She walked us to the elevator and got on with us. Pam didn't take the stairs this time. We got off 21 seconds later, a second more than last time or I was just nervous and kept trying to recount. She walked us to our car and said goodbye for the final time. We drove off to the airport where Pam's dad's friend was there for us. We loaded our car on and sat down for the takeoff. I was exhausted, hurting from my leg, and, well, dead tired. I fell asleep. I slept for the whole ride which was 10 hours. I'm a bum. Pete woke me up. We had traveled 604.6 miles to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We drove out of the plane, out of the airport and to a restaurant, because we were starving and it was only 7 at night. We went to an Italian restaurant. We ordered what we wanted, I got baked ziti, Val got gnocchi, Pam got pizza with Mick and Lona. We had sat at a table for 7 so there was one extra seat. Half way through our meals someone came and sat down. It was a girl that was our age... Well, I have to say everyone we meet is our age, except for those old people. That doesn't make sense... Oh well. She was about 5 feet 6 inches tall and had red hair. She was pale with freckles. Her eyes kept changing from brown to green to blue to violet then back to brown. Strange, but very cool. She was wearing skinny jeans, converse and a deep purple shirt that set off her red hair. Mick's mouth was hanging open and Pete dropped his fork. Men... She just sat down and started a conversation.