Child

By LittleMissCrash

Chapter 5: Hanna

This is wrong. I should not be making out with my country's enemy, but when he leaned away, I realized I was not ready. Sure I've kissed other people before, a lot actually, but Kalen made me want to linger.

What is wrong with you? I think to myself. How can you be acting like this while your brother is dying in a hospital? In school we learned about the ruthless plague that thrived as a military weapon against the colonies. This man's country was what caused Dawn his sickness. We also learned that this plague mutates so easily that once it thrives again, it will likely be uncontrollable and cause death. Why should it be my brother? Why should it be the young and innocent fourteen-year-old?

I realized that Kalen was waiting for me to say something. How on Earth can I be kissing the biggest playboy in the world? How could it lead to this?

"I, er, need to go. I think that my mom is looking for me by now." I say awkwardly. I looked up at him, I and I was sure as hell I was blushing. The expression on his face was a sort of satisfaction but then concern washed over.

"You are going back to that ball, with some insane pervert stalking you, because you are worried that your family is worried about you?" He asked incredulously.

"Well, yeah, basically." I fumbled through words. "So, where are you staying tonight? I mean it isn't like you have a home here." I saw him smirk for second, but then it was in a frozen stone of seriousness. His expression seemed to show Wow, you are that worried for me? Honestly, what else can I do? I try to not admit to myself that I liked him, but by now it was even obvious to him. His pitch black eyes stared back at me.

"I guess I just live in some corner, like how you found me." He shrugged, not interested in the idea probably.

"Oh. I guess I better get going." I stand up and I look down to him, who looked to be going over something in his mind. "I think you should come too. I mean I'm not kicking you out of my apartment…sort of." That knowing smirk settled my unsettling nerves. He got up, ignoring my outstretched hand and led the way out.

"So, I guess I shouldn't follow you any further now." Kalen said glumly. His expression was so funny I had to giggle. He shot me a questionable look and gestured towards the back entrance of the ballroom. I looked back at him as I walked towards the door. I was surprised at how upset I felt.

"Am I never going to see you again?" I ask in anticipation. I got back disappointment. He shook his head and mouthed an "I'd rather not". He did not tell me his full story for being here because of the mild interruption, but I understood anyway. I had figured long ago that he was running away from something. That frantic look that he gave me when I first saw him proves it. "I guess bye, then." At that moment I knew I had ruined everything. Kalen had made me feel comfortable and safe. The way he saved me was heroic definitely, and might not be here without him. It sounded cheesy even in my head. Kalen nods toward me with a smirk, but it was and empty look. I turned and headed towards the door.

"Hanna, where have you been?!" Mom whispers at me. Her eyes were wide with worry.

"I'm sorry, but Alex decided chase me out of the building to pursue me, and I can't just get caught by him." I say with the tinge of cool trailing away as I go on. My mom would never believe what Alex tried to do with me, because she was completely loyal to the Elector. They had even dated once, not a topic my dad likes to talk about though. As expected, I see my mom's face filled with disbelief and look away in disappointment, or in her code, it meant we were going to talk about it later. Now that she had left me alone, I take a seat on a nearby sofa and keep on a look out for any sign of Alex.

After a while I began snacking, and to my surprise, Annie decided to ruin my day.

"I see that Dawn isn't here." She says in her bossy voice and mocking look. Who knew a thirteen year old can be so goddamned annoying. "I also see that you did not let me visit even though everybody knew he asked for it." Ugh, she pisses me off so much even when she isn't talking to my brother.

"Please, Anais. Stop creating extra drama, and everybody knows, even the Colonies know, that my brother never requested you. He might not have stopped you and your continuous flirting, but I am his sister and I understand him. He won't want you." I knew that I had set her off. My parents hated Annie, even though my father is best friends with her parents. Even though Annie was on the verge of tears she pushed back and laughed coldly.

"I'm not here to listen to your useless lectures. You are wrong. Dawn has already committed to me, so it does not matter what you say. Like you said, you are only her brother but nowhere close to being him. I am actually here to get rid of all of Dawn's distractions, which means my primary target would be you." She left the threat hanging there and dramatically walked away. I honestly had the urge to laugh at first glance, but I knew Annie hated me. She is serious. A small voice at the back of my head said. It would be cliché to believe that she was going. What is this, a soap opera? Jealousy, threats, what is next? Oh my god.

I sat here feeling betrayed by my brother whom I have trusted so much. Everyone knew that Annie's infatuation with Dawn will pass. It was absolutely unbelievable.

"Mom, I'm going to go to the hospital." I say to her when I find her. I did not wait for her response, knowing she will say, "No way."

My father always tells me not to be too hard on my mother, because she has had a hard past. My dad told me the story a lot when I was still a curious child. Uncle Metias was killed and my father was framed for it. My mother was trying to track him down with the idea of vengeance, until she connected the missing pieces that my father was not the one who killed her brother. At the time all was in my mother's eyes were the red eyes of fury and ready to claw out the one who had killed the only person who understood her.

"June Iparis was hard to understand." My father said before. "She was so different from everybody else, and nobody can get to know this poor orphaned prodigy without it turning into a full on fist fight." I always smiled at that. The idea of my graceful mother breaking a punch at someone was blasphemous. "Day, however, knew what June was going through. He lost both parents and a brother as well. The devastation was true. They found each other."

This story always calms me down to think about my parents' unfortunate past.

In a way, it was sort of like my encounter with Kalen.