BreeTico - Lol, I like capital letters TOO! I'm glad you're excited about it; I was wondering whether readers would rather have her hearing returned or rather keep her deaf.
MaggieJacobson - Thank you very much! I'm glad that you don't really seem to mind if Emily gets her hearing back or not. I always hated it when authors did things that I didn't want them to do, sometimes enough to turn the entire story into a chore to read. Thank you for your continued support, and thanks for reviewing! (:
The Significance Series belongs to Shelly Crane.
12: Long Overdue
Today was the one week anniversary of the day that Derek and I imprinted. No, I'm not one of those crazy stalker girlfriends (we'd agreed two days ago that, to the rest of the world, we were now an exclusive couple; and no, we decided not to post it on our social networking site because we didn't want to draw attention) that counted down to minutes and days. But this was a big moment. Sometimes imprinted couples ascended around this time. Sometimes they already had. Sometimes they had just a few more days of waiting. And I couldn't help but wonder if it would be today.
In the days since Derek had been interrogated by my mother, we'd met each other every morning and spent the majority of the day together before he dropped me off at work and went to band practice, which was usually held in between five and eight. That is, if they actually practiced during that time. Most of the time, they ended up just hanging out and watching football or finding college parties to go to. Derek had told me that he wasn't much of a partier, and Aces couldn't drink alcohol, so he usually tried to skip out on the parties or, when he was forced to go, he hung around in the corner and talked to old friends. I tried not to be jealous over the images of bimbos flirting with him that my mind instantly conjured up without any other prompts from him.
Xavier spent a lot of his free time in the back room. I could tell now that there were times when he was flirting with me. But he never failed to be gone when Derek dropped me off close to four on the dot. I think he was just doing his best not to see the two of us together. I didn't think my mom had said anything to him, because Xavier didn't seem like he knew that Derek and I were together. I probably should have told him, but I didn't have the heart to just tell him flat out that Derek and I were a couple. It would probably be too harsh, and I didn't want to make him mad at me. He was just starting to get back into the groove of being my friend. Like yesterday, he'd bought me my favorite cookie when he went to get his coffee and had it sitting on my desk when I walked in. I didn't know if it was worth it to make him mad just yet, and thankfully Derek agreed. He knew that he had me and that there was no chance that Xavier would get me to change my mind, but I could still tell that he wasn't too fond of my best friend. I think it was partly because Xavier was making me a little uncomfortable with his obvious flirting. He really, really wanted me to see him differently now. It was just too late.
This morning, I had the early shift. I wouldn't be free until twelve. Derek had swooped by my window at seven to see me, but he'd had some sort of paintballing plans with his band until noon. He'd wanted to bail on them, but I'd told him that he needed to keep his friends, just like I was trying to keep mine. He'd just agreed and said that he would swing by at the end of my shift to pick me up and take me to lunch. It made me smile to see how he hated to leave me, but I didn't want us to become one of those couples that completely forgot about the rest of their friends. Derek and I would have each other for as long as we both lived. We could stand a few hours apart.
Now, nearly five hours, I was leaning against the desk, my eyes glued to the computer monitor. I'd played solitaire for about two hours, ignoring one of the other employees that my mom had hired. Mindy was a good worker, but she couldn't sign and she'd always acted like I would attack her if she spoke to me. So it was silence between us as she moved around and did her homework, attending to the few customers that came in randomly. Most of them came by after five, but since Xavier exclusively worked the late shift, Mindy was never around to see it. For the last two hours, I'd been hopelessly playing my mom's favorite bubble shooter game. It was addictive, but I was awful at it. I was slowly getting frustrated with it, and it didn't help that as the minutes ticked by and it got closer and closer to twelve, I was starting to get antsy.
The front door opened – I caught it on the small video screen – and I looked up, excitement bursting through me. I hated to admit it, but it fell when I realized that it was only Xavier. He was thirty minutes early. He seemed a little surprised when he caught me sitting behind the desk. He raised his coffee in salute. I noticed that he had a pastry bag in his hand, too. Any other day, and I'd be excited to see what sweet he had brought me. Today, though, I was a little downtrodden that he wasn't my significant. Mindy, sitting at one of the chairs she'd pulled up, glanced at the clock and then she sighed and looked back down at her homework. Xavier came right up to the counter and leaned against it, handing me my cookie. "My last class got cancelled today," he sighed before taking a sip of his drink. He slipped around the back and dropped his bag underneath the counter, next to my feet.
Xavier perched on the counter, his foot tapping restlessly against the bottom of my chair. Otherwise, I might have just ignored it. But I was so wound up that I actually turned and gave him a glare until he realized what he was doing and stopped. Xavier leaned over and pointed out where I should shoot the bubbles to try and get past the level. He was better at it than I was, and eventually I just gave him the mouse and leaned back in my seat while I watched the computer screen.
Fifteen minutes later, I thought I caught movement on the video screen at the door. I couldn't see the screen all that well, though, because Xavier's arm was blocking it. I glanced up over the counter, hope soaring in my chest. I already had a few aches and pains from not being able to touch him, and I was sure that after running around with his buddies and playing paintball, he was feeling some, too. The withdrawals were a pain, and they would never go away. The only way to keep them at bay is to be together constantly. I'd been worried that it would stamp us as the clingy type, but Derek didn't seem to mind when I stuck close to him and I certainly didn't mind when he stayed around me. If we were okay with it, who cares if we're clingy?
Mindy looked up just before I did. I saw her jaw go slack for a moment, and that alone strengthened conviction that it was Derek standing at the door. Sure enough, when my eyes met the man at the door, I recognized my significant. I pushed back from the desk so hard that I hit Xavier's legs, causing him to twitch the mouse and miss the winning shot. He gave me a dirty look as I stood up before his eyes traveled to the door where Derek stood. Mindy was watching me too as I skirted around the edge of the counter. Derek took a step towards me. I reached up and hugged him, pressing the palms of my hands to his neck. I didn't feel anything that said we were ascending, like the rush of chill and warmth, but it didn't stop me from being happy to see him. "Hi!" I exclaimed, my excitement immediately bursting out of me.
Hi, Derek said, his voice laughing in my mind. His hands rested lightly on my waist as I pulled away from him, feeling the calm was through me. He signed, "How was your day?"
As he moved, I noticed that there was a bright red mark on the side of his neck, at this collarbone. Without answering, I reached up and pulled down the collar of his shirt. He looked down at me as I caught sight of the bruise. Without thinking about it, I poked it. Hard. Derek winced. "Where did this come from?" I asked, mentally adding an apology.
He signed out, "Paintball," but in my mind he said, Johnny has a pretty bad aim. He was going for the breastplate but hit my neck instead.
I let out a low whistle. The door opened behind Derek and I peered over his shoulder to see who it was. "Jack!" I exclaimed as he skirted around his brother. I hadn't expected to see him here. "Did you go paintballing, too?" I asked. I glanced over my shoulder to see Mindy watching the three of us with a slightly shocked expression, as if she couldn't believe that I knew these people. I guess it would seem kind of shocking. We'd never really tried to get to know each other. Whatever I knew about her was by things that my mom had said or what I'd observed of her at the shop. All she would get from me was that I was deaf and quiet, maybe a computer addict, and a book nerd. If I were in her place, I would hardly believe that I was standing there with two hot guys, either (Jack is hot, all Stanton boys are, I think.)
"Hey girlfriend," Jack signed, grinning like an idiot. Derek immediately shoved him in the shoulder. Jack shoved back and gave me a wink. "Yep, I went paintballing. Johnny might suck, but I think his girlfriend was a lion hunter in her past life." He signed out, glancing around the shop as he did so. He wandered off towards the drums, even though I had the feeling that he had no idea how to actually play them. Derek shook his head and smiled down at me.
Without thinking about it, I raised up on my tiptoes to press a short kiss on his lips. Derek grinned down at me and looked towards his brother. I glanced up, too, and caught the horrified expression of Xavier. Just like that, my stomach dropped and my heart threatened to explode in my chest. How bad was it that when in the presence of my significant, I completely forgot about my best friend? Derek's hand immediately went to mine, his fingers wrapping around mine. I leaned against him, but it didn't completely erase the guilt. These past few days, Xavier had been trying so hard to get me to see him. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I was dating Derek, so I just didn't say anything. Now, he'd caught me kissing my significant right in the middle of the store, in front of Jack and another employee. If I'd been in his place, I would have been embarrassed and miserable.
I'm sorry, Emily. I forgot about him being there, too. But he'd have to find out sooner or later, and wouldn't you rather him find out now instead of later? Derek's voice was filled with concern. It just made me feel worse. Derek wasn't even jealous over the fact that I was feeling bad about hurting another guy's feelings. He almost seemed sympathetic. While a part of me said that it was awesome that he was that comfortable in our relationship, a part of me wondered. I could feel the jealousy hiding within, but he wasn't showing it because he knew that there was no threat.
I guess. But I still feel really bad about it.
Why don't you try to smooth things over? I don't really know how to help right now. I've never been in a situation like this before.
Neither have I. I sighed and let go of Derek's hand. "Xavier, you've met Derek, right?" I asked him. Xavier's face immediately wiped to a blank slate, his eyes heavily guarded, more so than they usually were.
He nodded, signing to me, "Yeah, just not by name." Out loud, he added, "What's up, man?" I could see him trying to play off whatever emotion that had swarmed over him. I swallowed hard and shot my best friend a forced smile. My eyes locked with Mindy's, and she seemed to get a little of what was going on. She gave me a look that said she was glad that she wasn't in my place.
Derek said something in return, and I pulled away from him, letting him know that I was going to say goodbye to my mom. I slipped past Xavier, trying to ignore the fact that he didn't even glance at me as I walked by him. I peered into the window of my mom's office and pushed open the door without knocking. She looked up with a smile, but it slowly faded off as I closed the door behind me. "Hi, mom," I said, trying to look upbeat despite the fact that I was worried that my best friend and my boyfriend hated each other and were in the same room together without me. Well, maybe hate was a strong word. On Derek's side.
"What's wrong?" My mom signed to me.
"Derek came by to pick me up for lunch." I replied. She looked at me like she didn't think that this was a very big deal. Whenever she asked me about Derek, I gushed about how awesome he was. I was trying to soften her up for the moment where I would tell her that I wanted to move out of her house and into Derek's. I was pretty sure that the Ace rules said that we couldn't live together unless we were married under our own roof. I knew that Victoria and Robert didn't care if I stayed with them and their son, but my mom would certainly think that something was out of the ordinary. She'd probably want to come and see where we were living. It was something that Derek and I still had to figure out. "And Xavier saw us kiss."
I knew that my mom knew more than she let on. The moment the words were out of my mouth, her eyes grew a little wider. Of course she knew that Xavier had been flirting with me all this time. Of course she knew about the few moments that the two of us had shared. They were shadowed by Derek, obviously, but they had existed. "Honey," my mom signed, "you can't let this worry you. You told Xavier that you were with Derek, didn't you?" My mom honestly liked Derek and had easily accepted the fact that we were dating. I just couldn't tell if it meant that she'd be as easily accepting of me moving out to live with him.
"Not exactly," I said, dropping my gaze. "I mean, I was going to, but Xavier just kept trying so hard and I didn't have the heart to break it to him like that." I explained, realizing that my words didn't really matter all that much right now. Either way, Xavier had had his feelings hurt.
"Emily, dear, I think it would have hurt his feelings any way you cut it." Mom signed out, almost as if she was reading my mind. With a sigh, she pushed out from her desk. "You really should have told him earlier. But what's done is done, and he'll have to get over it eventually. Either that or he can stop being your friend. But I don't think that he'll just stop being your friend all together." She stood up and put an arm over my shoulders.
She went to open the door and I sat there for a moment longer before getting up and following her. I knew that my heart was beating all out of whack. I could tell that Derek knew it too; he was rubbing his fist over his chest as my mom and I walked out of her office. I mentally sent him a thank you for letting me have a moment with my mom and not rushing to the door to make sure that I was alright. I knew that it must have been hard for him. He gave me a slight nod and I could tell that he was mentally sorting through my surface thoughts, trying to see if I was okay. Now, I could feel the jealousy more easily than before. He wasn't quite raging with it, but it was there. Was it wrong of me to feel a little burst of joy over it?
"Hi, Derek," my mom said pleasantly, looking around the room. Mindy looked like she'd gotten caught in the middle of a soap opera. I kind of felt like that was what was happening, too. Xavier had actually taken a seat in my chair. Like, he actually sat in it. He never sat in that chair, to my knowledge. Not even when I wasn't there. He must've been pissed. Derek looked about two seconds from lurching to my side. I pressed a calming thought towards him and gained a little relief in seeing him sigh, his muscles relaxing ever so slightly. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jack admiring the keyboards. I almost snorted out loud. Somehow, the rest of us, even Mindy, were on edge about this Xavier-Emily-Derek confrontation thing, and he'd just continued on his merry way, doing whatever he wanted. I had to admire him for that. At least, I think. He turned around and caught my eye. He gave me a slight reassuring wink and sidled up to Derek.
"Hi," he said. I could tell just by his facial expression that he was saying it as brightly as he could. "You must be Emily's mom."
My mom tensed for a second before looking in between Jack and Derek. Finally, she said, "Um, yes. Are you two…?"
"Brothers?" Jack finished for her. "Yes, ma'am. I'm Jack, the funny one." He held out his hand. My mom stepped forward to shake it, and in an instant I was so thankful that Jack was there. Just like his sisters had done, he'd become a buffer of sorts between my mom and the Ace world. I let out a breath that I hadn't been aware I was holding.
Derek clapped his brother on the shoulder and said, "Ms. Bryson, do you mind if we steal Emily away?" He gave her a big smile that, to her, probably looked real. I could see the strain underneath it, though. For being a guy that was as easy to read as an open book, he was doing really well at pretending like nothing supernatural was going on in our relationship.
"Go ahead," she said, giving me a slight shove towards Derek. I made a face at her at slipped behind the counter. Xavier hardly even moved his chair so I could pull my purse out from underneath the desk. As I stood up, I noticed the wrapper that my cookie had come in. I hadn't thrown it away yet. If it had eyes, I knew that it would be glaring at me. Xavier had brought me my favorite today. He'd been trying so hard. I blinked, suddenly aware that tears were coming to my eyes. I wasn't a big crier. I didn't like to cry in front of other people because I didn't need them all staring at me like I was a raving lunatic. But, unfortunately, whenever I became highly bothered or frustrated, I either burst out into a fit of anger or I started to cry. It looked like it was going to be the latter this time around.
I tugged my purse out and pulled it over my shoulder, refusing to look up and meet my mom's gaze. If she caught the tears in my eyes, she would want to catch my arm and tell everyone that we needed to have a quick word. I didn't need that right now. Besides, the only person that was going to make me feel better was Derek. After I passed my mom, I looked up into his face. I could see that he was trying to hide a solemn expression. He didn't like it when I was upset, even if I had brought this upon myself. Even Jack looked a little lack luster as he waited for me to join them. Derek held out a hand to me and I took it gratefully. He waved over his shoulder as he pushed open the door, letting me step out first.
Derek had driven the classic car here. Jack scooted by me to go to the back door. At least he was giving me the shotgun seat without putting up a fight. I went to break apart from Derek I could go to my door but he didn't let go of me. Instead, he pulled me closer to him, turning me around to face him. He brought one hand up and smoothed his thumb across my cheek, just under my lashes. The move dislodged one of my tears. I could feel it sliding down. Derek swiped his thumb across it and leaned his forehead against mine. I really am sorry, Emily. I don't want you to feel this way. But I have to be honest. I'm glad he knows that you're mine. If your friend and your mom weren't in there watching us, I would kiss you right this very moment. But you're going to have to put that on a rain check, okay? Just remember that I'm here for you, and that even though it hurts now, it'll go away soon.
I hiccup of a sob escaped me and Derek closed his eyes, his hand sliding down to touch the side of my neck. His touch didn't bring immediate comfort, and for that I was freaking out. I figured that I was just too worked up for it to work its wonders. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down just a little bit. When I started to feel that calming rush, I turned my face away from him, leaning my cheek against his chest. If I could hear, I was certain that I would be able to pick up our two hearts thumping together. Instead, I just rested my hand there, letting their constant beating calm me down. Derek wrapped his arm around me, embracing me in a hug. I felt his lips in my hair. After just a minute, I felt a little better, good enough that I could step away from him and go take my seat in the car. He let me go easily, his fingers tightening around me for just a moment before we went our separate ways.
I headed to my door and pulled it open, dropping down into the seat. Jack was leaning across the front bench seat, his arms dangling down. I could tell that he was trying to give us some privacy while also being bored out of his mind. He put a hand on my shoulder as I reached back for my seatbelt. I buckled up, and when I looked back into the shop, I could see that Mindy had returned to her homework, Xavier had disappeared, and my mom was leaning against the counter, watching the way her daughter's boyfriend comforted her.
# # #
Los Gorditos didn't only make great breakfast tacos. They had amazing burritos, too. I used a knife to cut through my giant burrito, dipping into the puddle of queso in the corner of my plate. Derek and I had squished into one side of the booth while Jack stretched out on the other side. I was pretty sure that he and Derek had eaten half of the restaurant's stock of food in the time that we were there.
Derek was telling me a story about how bad of a paintball player his band's bassist, Johnny, was. Jack would interject every now and then with an explanation of how hot Johnny's girlfriend was and how he didn't know how Johnny had gotten her to date him. I kept trying to remember what Johnny looked like in the pictures that I'd seen online, but my mind kept drawing up a blank. It didn't really matter all that much anyway, since Derek assured me that I would be meeting them, and soon.
When Jack finished his plate before me (which was a miracle, since his plate with three times bigger than mine) he leaned back in his seat watched the two of us with narrowed eyes. I think he was trying to see if he could tell when we were talking to each other in our minds. It quickly became a game as I ate my fill and passed the remainder of my plate to Derek. My significant plowed through the Spanish rice on my plate, mixing it together with the leftover queso and bits of burrito.
"So, Emily," Jack signed to me. I could tell by his expression that he was going to be teasing me. It seemed like that's almost all Jack ever did. And while at first I'd thought it was sort of annoying, I found myself liking it now. It meant that somewhere, Jack was around to create some sort of comic relief. He'd sort of been a lifesaver today, stepping in and introducing himself to my mom before anything could get worse between me and Xavier. "Madison and I have a bet going about when you're going to move in. She says that you're going to try to move in within the next week, and I said that it was going to be after that. Care to shine a little light on the discussion?"
I rolled my eyes despite the fact that I was blushing. I had actually been thinking about telling my mom about my decision to move in with Derek. It had actually seemed like a good idea to tell her when it had been this morning, before the whole thing with Xavier had happened. Now, I wondered if I was moving too fast. I knew Aces were quick to get married after an imprint. By all standards, Derek and I were taking things slowly. It reminded me of my mom telling me that Xavier's feelings would have been hurt either way, whether I'd told him the day that we'd decided to let it go public to our friends and family that we were in a relationship or if I'd decided to wait and tell him later. I should have told him sooner until waiting until it exploded in my face. I wondered if the same principle applied to telling your mother that you wanted to move in with your boyfriend.
In my mind, Derek gave me a slight nudge. He was just letting me know that he'd heard my thoughts. He knew that I was a big thinker and that I usually liked to think through these sorts of things on my own. If I wanted help, I would ask. He was letting me know that my mind was open to him and he was getting the undertone of everything, if not my thoughts word by word. He was reminding me that I could either remain open or close up like a clam shell. I didn't care much for hiding information from him anymore, so I didn't bother to bring down the heavy steel door that lived as a blockade in my mind.
Looking up at Jack, I said, "I don't really know when yet." I picked up my glass of soda and bit down on the straw, chewing on the end nervously. I usually wasn't very big of a straw-chewer, but when my anxiety got the better of me I regressed to annoying nervous tics. Derek hip-checked me in the booth since his hands were still holding his eating utensils.
"Yet?" Jack repeated. Quickly, he signed out, "So you are moving in?"
"Eventually, Jack," I said tiredly. Ever since I spent the night at "Madison's," my sleeping had been off. It was like once I had slept with Derek at my side it was nearly impossible to get any sleep without him there. I'd even tried to use one of my extra pillows, laying it beside me on my narrow bed as if it was him. But it didn't work. So my nights, which were already restless in the first place, were worse. I fell asleep late and always woke up feeling tired. I was starting to debate on whether or not I could come up with a reason to spend a few nights at his house.
"How soon is eventually?" He signed out. I felt Derek deliver a swift kick to his brother's legs under the table. I found myself smiling despite the fact that I wanted to roll my eyes. When the two of them got into it, it was sort of like taking care of two overgrown children. Derek had always managed to keep a more mature air about him, but still. My significant was twenty-one and was still getting into scuffles with his nineteen-year-old brother. But I guess that was brotherhood. I had always been an only child. I had no idea what it was like to have siblings. I had a feeling that I was going to learn, though. Derek had told me a million times over that his family was my family now. I technically had four sibling-in-laws.
"Sometime before you die," I replied, not up to the task of finding something more sarcastic and creative. It didn't really matter all that much, since Jack cracked up anyway, catching the attention of one of the surrounding tables. I played with my straw while Derek finished eating my plate. He stacked it on top of his and then pushed it to the edge of the table. He let his now free hand rest on my thigh under the table. Under any other circumstances, I would be uncomfortable with a guy touching me so openly. But I didn't mind it when it was Derek. I think it was the imprint. It makes even the most stubborn teenage girls hopeless romantics.
Don't worry about him. Make the right choice for you.
What about the right choice for us? I asked, looking over at him. I loved the fact that he cared about me enough to let me make these huge decisions in my life without pressing me to decide. He wasn't even trying to sway my decision. But I didn't want him to think that my happiness was above his own. I realized that while he thought he would be happy if I was happy, I would only be fully happy if he was happy. I wondered if that meant that we were at an impasse. These types of decisions are things that we need to make together. I told him, hoping that he'd see it.
He gave a slight nod as he leaned towards me, rolling onto one hip so he could pull his wallet out of his back pocket. He opened it up and slid out his one credit card just as the waiter came by with the black booklet. Derek slid the card into the slot and set it on the edge of the table. All I want is for you to be at my side. You're trying to decide when to tell your mom that you want to move out. Personally, I'm going to be selfish and say that I want you as close to me as possible as soon as possible. But I get what's holding you back. She's your mom. You want your mom's blessing to move out. But you've already said that if it comes down to it, you'll go against her wishes. You already know what you want. You're just trying to muster up the courage to do it.
I looked up at him, shocked that he'd sent me that entire monologue. He looked at me like he was worried that he'd somehow offended me. I just couldn't believe that my significant was so wise. I mean, I knew he was smart, and I knew that he had to ability to dig in my head and pull out the deepest thoughts that I didn't even want to admit to myself. It felt so good to have someone that could look at me and know what I want and feed it back to me. I'd always been somewhat indecisive. I wondered if the universe knew that Derek would be able to help me with that when it paired us together. Probably. It's all fate and destiny, after all.
I leaned forward and pressed a kiss underneath his chin. He looked down at me with surprise. Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?
Being so wise. I replied.
I gave him a smirk and Jack suddenly waved his hands across the table. "Are you guys seriously doing that right now? Jesus, way to be extremely obvious." I rolled my eyes as the waiter came by and picked up the bill booklet. "So, what's the conversation about?" He asked, fake intrigue covering his face.
"I'm going to tell my mom that I want to move in with Derek." I replied, watching the condensation on my glass slowly slide down to the laminate-covered table.
Jack made a face, and I imagined that he groaned out loud. "Can't you wait for one more week so I can win the bet?" He begged.
"What are the stakes?" I asked.
"Fifty bucks," he clasped his hands together as if he was praying, sticking out his bottom lip and giving me big puppy dog eyes.
I laughed. "Do you even have fifty bucks to give to Madison?"
"You suck!" Jack exclaimed. Derek delivered another swift kick under the table.
# # #
Are you sure that you want to do this? Derek asked me as we pulled up in front of the shop. Through the windows I could see my mom sitting behind the front counter. I couldn't even begin to imagine where Xavier was. Had my mom let him go home early? Was he hiding out in the back rooms? Had he quit his job because of me?
"Yeah," I said out loud, hitting the buckle on my seatbelt. "You said it yourself. I know what I want. I just have to go get it myself." He reached out to take my hand, weaving our fingers together. I looked up at him and gave him a slight smile. "You know, the day we imprinted, Xavier went and got some food at the Chinese place. I ate my fortune cookie and read the fortune inside. And even though I never believe in those stupid fortune cookies, this one told me that I needed to go to my own future, that it was waiting for me. It's what made me sit down and decide that I should just go for it with you, that I should stop asking so many questions and accept the fact that you were mine forever and that I was yours." He looked surprised at the admission, either because I'd just told him that our relationship was loosely based off of a fortune cookie or because I'd just told him that I thought of him as mine and mine only. "And so I'm going to follow my stupid fortune and go in there and tell my mom that I'm moving out. It's in my future, I know it is. And it's what I want. So why not go for it?"
I glanced over my shoulder into the back seat. Jack had asked to be dropped off at the Stanton house. He apparently had a few night classes that he had to attend. I was honestly a little surprised that he'd let us know that he needed to get on home so he could get his books and stuff. Zach was the studious one in the family – that brother hadn't even said a single word to me throughout my imprint with Derek, though I didn't take offence because that's just the way he was – and I wouldn't pin Jack even close to his eldest brother on that front. Now, it was just the two of us. Thankfully, because I think Jack would try to fit in as many fortune cookie jokes as he could if he'd just heard me admit that out loud.
You're amazing. You know that?
"It helps to be told." I replied, scooping my purse up. "I'll keep my mind open so you can listen in. Be prepared to either make a break for it or come inside for some more interrogation. A kiss for good luck?" I asked, leaning closer to him.
A smile crossed his face as he leaned forward to meet me. Our lips met and my hand, on its own accord, rested against his chest for a moment before sliding up his neck and into his hair. My mouth opened underneath his, one of his arms snaking around my waist. I moved a little closer, my purse slipping from my shoulder and onto the seat in between us. Before I knew it, I was pretty much sitting on his lap, my hands on either side of his neck. One of his hands ran through my hair, following it all the way down my back. My good luck kiss had turned feverish in mere seconds. I pulled back to catch my breath, resting my forehead against his. When I opened my eyes, I noticed that the front windows were foggy. With a giggle, I reached out and drew a lopsided heart on the driver's side window.
"It's time to go face my mom," I said quietly, pressing my lips chastely to his before grabbing my purse and scooting all the way across the bench seat to the passenger door. I closed the door behind me, ignoring the fact that Derek was rolling down the windows a little bit so that they would clear up faster. I turned away from the front of the car. Inside, I could see Xavier leaning up against the storage room door. My mom was looking at him. It looked like they were talking about something. I found myself blushing as I turned to look back at the windows. They were dark enough that it was hard to see into them, but it wasn't too hard to see the way our breath had gathered on the windows. It probably wouldn't escape my mother's notice, and Xavier had probably seen it just as easily.
I pulled open the shop door and stepped inside, heading straight up to the front counter. I was slightly ashamed that I didn't even have the courage to look up and meet Xavier's eyes. But I could easily imagine that he was staring daggers into me as I leaned up against the desk and looked over the top of the counter at my mom. "Can we go to your office and talk?" I asked, focusing my eyes on a balled up slip of paper that was just barely hidden from view behind the computer monitor. My fortune cookie, the one that had prompted me to change my life.
My mom nodded, standing up from the desk. She said something to Xavier as she turned to her office door. I followed her inside and perched on one of the chairs across from her desk as she dropped into her office chair. Her eyes said that she knew that something major was coming, she just didn't know what. She leaned back in the seat, kicking off her shoes.
We both sat there for a minute, just looking at each other. I had half expected her to bring up the foggy windows or ask me what was on my mind but she didn't. She was waiting for me to speak first. "Mom," I said, pausing to swallow hard. I could feel sweat gathering on my skin, my heart thumping in my chest. But I could also feel Derek peeking onto the scene from inside my mind, keeping a watchful eye over me. "I want to tell you that… well Derek, he…." I shook my head, closing my eyes and focusing on my words. When I opened them, my mom was leaning forward in her seat. She looked a little freaked out. Finally, I just blurted. "Derek asked me if I wanted to move in with and I… I really do want to."
My mom leaned back in her chair. "Thank God!" She exclaimed. She didn't even sign it. I felt like my face was one big question mark. I was getting the same feeling from Derek. We were both confused. She looked at me, halfway caught in between a smile and a shake of her head. "I was worried you were going to tell me that you were pregnant or something."
"Mom! Jesus!" I exclaimed. "Do you really think that I'd do that?" I asked, thoroughly shocked. I was actually kind of hurt that she would be worried that I would tell her that. Didn't she know her own daughter? Her only daughter?
"No," she shook her head, signing out the words to me, "but honey, I can see how serious you are about this boy. This isn't some crush, not for you. This is very serious." When I looked into her eyes I could see that they were filling with tears. "I knew that this day would come, you know. The day that you would find some boy who you fell completely in love with, who you wanted to jump feet first into life with. I knew it would happen because that's just what I did with your father. And honey, I want to tell you that you need to step back and look at this logically, but I didn't. I just followed my heart and went on the ride, and while it was awesome, it ended. I want to tell you that you need to give this relationship more time and see where it goes, but… I can see the love that's there." As she said it, I saw a tear slide down her cheek. She reached out on her desk and tugged a tissue out of the box, dabbing at her eyes with it.
"I remember the days when your father and I were your age. Everything was fun and carefree and we were so in love that it didn't even matter." She told me, crumpling up the tissue in her hands and setting it down on the desk so she could continue to sign to me. "I've been watching you with him. That boy is so protective of you that he's more like a guard dog. He's worse than a mama bear. And you were right when you said that he wears his heart on his sleeve. I can see how much he cares for you in his eyes. He looks like he's content with just holding your hand, but don't think that I didn't see the way those car windows fogged up a minute ago." I gave her a sheepish smile and she laughed, pausing to dab at her eyes again. "But I think watching him with you this morning is what really sealed the deal, Emily. You were upset about Xavier, I could see that. And he just took your hand and led you outside. He could have been jealous over the fact that you were upset about your male best friend, but he wasn't. I saw him wipe away your tears and hug you until you felt like you could continue on. He's not in it for himself. He's in it for you."
I could feel tears coming to my eyes as she said the words. Derek wasn't just hanging around because his imprint said that he needed me. He wanted me. She was right. He could have been horribly mean and just touch me so that he didn't have to suffer through withdrawals, but he went out of his way to make sure that he was close to me, that he was ready to protect me in case I needed him. Derek was my anchor to the world. It sort of felt like if I didn't have him I wouldn't be able to ever breathe again.
"Emily, my motherly side of me says that I should tell you no, that you're not allowed to move anywhere with your boyfriend. But you're nineteen. You're legally an adult, and you can do whatever you want. I can't hold you back, just like my mother couldn't hold me back. But I want you to know that you don't have to be embarrassed if this doesn't work out between you two. I should know that even the best of love takes work and may not last forever. So you do what you think is right for you. My only requirement is that I make sure that this apartment of his isn't condemned."
"He doesn't live in an apartment." I blurted out. "His parents own the house."
"You're going to move into your boyfriend's parent's house?" Mom asked, her eyebrows drawing together.
I bit down on my lip and thought about it for a moment before finally sighing. "Well, technically. Derek's older brother and sister still live there. It's sort of like a… compound. You know, like a giant house that's for roomies. Like an apartment. They share a kitchen and living room but they all have their own rooms." I said, knowing that my explanation sounded ridiculous.
"Honey, I hate to break it to you, but that sounds like his parents' house." Mom signed the words slowly, as if she were emphasizing every word.
I rolled my eyes and said, "I know. It's sort of like his parents have these weird rules. They're perfectly fine with me moving in, and I'm totally willing to help pay for groceries and clean the house and stuff. I think Derek and I might start searching for apartments." I still wasn't sure on whether or not the Aces had rules against living in the same house together. Then again, it didn't really sound like the Ace's council rules mattered all that much anymore, since the Visionary was changing things around. Perhaps Derek and I could just slide by. Even if we didn't legally get married, after a certain number of years living together we were considered common law married, right? I wasn't for sure. I never really had any reason to look into it.
My mom shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I feel like I should have discussion with Derek's parents about this." She signed.
"Invite them over to dinner." I said. "You told Derek the other day that we should have him over for dinner." I added it a little awkwardly, hoping that she didn't notice how nervous I was. She'd basically told me that while she wasn't jumping for joy over the fact that I wanted to move in with Derek, she wasn't going to try to stop me because she knew that she couldn't.
"Okay, I will. But promise me that you'll hold off on this moving in for a few days, until after I've hashed out this whole thing with his parents." She looked a little nervous as she said it. At least I wasn't the only one.
"Scout's honor," I said, holding up two fingers and saluting off my forehead. I wasn't even sure if that was a real scout's honor, but whatever. I felt a smile break out across my face.
Mom held up a hand. "Don't get so excited just yet. I'm your legal guardian. Or, at least, I was until you turned eighteen. I just finished telling you that you're old enough to make your own decisions without me breathing down your neck. But there is someone that is probably going to think that he gets a say in what you're planning to do."
I felt my eyebrows draw together. "Who?"
She looked a little incredulous that I hadn't figured it out for myself. Shaking her head, she signed, "Your father."
I set out with the goal of making this a regular-length chapter. And I failed miserably. This chapter has topped a new high for me at a little over 8,000 words. I know, lengthy. Please do forgive me. As I said in the last chapter, I've just go so much that I want to get out in this chapter, and I can't bring myself to delete any of my descriptive words. I hope you all understand and forgive me for the long chapters (and maybe, you even love them!)
You guys know the drill. Please leave me a review, and I truly am thankful that you took the time to read this (especially since they're getting so long. Sheesh.) Peace (: