CHAPTER 10

Kelsey's POV

'Hello Bilauta,' Kishan responds, breathing heavily but smiling. It was him. Kishan. The man I had loved and yet also left behind. With his charming smile and golden, shining eyes I see everyday on my son. I didn't realise until this moment how thoroughly I had missed him.

'Kishan,' I repeated and threw myself into his waiting arms, my eyes filling with tears. Kishan laughed and hugged me tight, not wanting to let go. It was incredible to hear him laugh again. 'What are you doing here?' I exclaimed giddily, wondering if this was real or some sort of cruel dream. 'Where is Anamika? Is she here too?'

'Unfortunately, no,' Kishan answered, pulling back. 'She had to stay behind and – well actually she doesn't know I am here. I… left her a note.'

'A note? Kishan what are you talking about? What's wrong?' I asked, concerned at the hint of sadness in his eye.

'It's your son, Kells. I have something to tell you.'

Anik's POV

I was completely and utterly bored. Totally out of my mind. I was going crazy being locked up all day every day. Emma's daily appearances were the only thing that kept my humanity alive. I stared at the clock, the constant ticks drilling a nail into my skull every second.

Frustrated with the world, I decided hell to cautiousness. I got up and slipped quietly out the back door, feeling a little smug with my achievement of freedom. I could feel the breeze ruffling through my fur, and the sun shining on my back. Why hadn't I done this sooner?

It was all too easy to jump the fence into Emma's yard. It was late afternoon; she was probably home. I eyed her bedroom window warily. Her light was on, so she was obviously in there. But it was two storeys high. No time like the present to test out my tiger abilities.

I morphed into my human form, ignoring the sharp pain. I bent my legs and exploded from the ground, to grasp the window ledge with my fingertips. I forced myself not to look down. I have always been afraid of heights and dangling from a window ledge was not the type of thing I do for relaxation. I glanced down.

The ground blurred, and I swallowed back down the bile rising in my throat. Nausea swirled around my head and I quickly shut my eyes. I easily swung one leg onto the ledge and pulled the rest of my body onto the windowsill, and let out a breathe I hadn't realised I had been holding.

I peered into Emma's bedroom. I could just make out a figure sitting on the bed. Taking a deep breath, I tapped on the glass. But the person who shoved the window open was not the person I was expecting.

Emma's POV

'Can I walk you home?' Edison offered, leaning again the neighbouring locker. I shoved my books into my bag and shut the locker door, raising my eyebrows.

'Whyyyyy?' I replied, stretching out the word, and turning away and walking towards the school gate.

'Because,' Edison replied, jogging to catch up, 'I want to talk to you.'

'And why would you want to talk to me?' I asked. 'The person who spends her lunchtimes on a deserted table reading a book?'

'That's how you see yourself?' Edison exclaimed incredulously. 'As a nobody, a wallflower with no personality or friendships?'

'Hey, I didn't say I didn't have any friends!'

'Then why don't you sit with them? I never see you talk to anyone, either.'

I stopped, glaring at Edison. Why did he care anyway?

'I have a friend. He's just sick,' I answered coolly. 'You sit in his lab seat in biology every week.'

'Oh.' Edison's smile vanished. 'He's your boyfriend?'

'What? No. Anik's just a friend,' I replied, annoyed. 'Hey listen. Thanks for the offer, but I think I can make my own way home.' I sidestepped Edison and walked past him, shaking my head.

'Hey, no, wait!' Edison grabbed my arm and swung me around to face him. I sighed and stared up at him, irritated and tired.

'I'm sorry for assuming you didn't have any friends,' he started. 'And for inquiring about… Anik or whatever his name is. But Emma, I really, really like you and panicked when I thought he was your boyfriend. As to why I would want to talk to a smart, funny, beautiful bookworm like you… I don't know, you tell me.'

I glanced up at Edison's face, and looked into his desperate, gorgeous green eyes and smiled.

'Nice speech. But I bet you use that one on every girl you come across.'

'Yeah,' Edison said sarcastically, though I could tell he felt relieved. 'That's got to be why I'm seventeen and never kissed a girl before.' I raised my eyebrows and rolled my eyes, grabbing his hand.

'Come on,' I said. 'Are you walking me home or what?'

'I grew up in Italy, on a vineyard. I had a horse named Prince Charming and a cat called… well we just called her the cat. When I was young I used to play soccer with the kids net door. I was home schooled.'

'I… have lived here in Oregon my whole life. My father has looked after my sister and me since I was nine. I have always loved school, especially history… we have a cat called Snowy… I know such an original name right…'

'What about you mother?' Edison asked, confused.

'She um… she died when I was young,' I answered, averting my eyes and scuffing my shoe on the pavement.

'Oh. I'm sorry, I shouldn't of asked-'

'No, it's okay, it was a long time ago,' I answered softly.

We reached my front gate and suddenly it was a little awkward.

'So um… see you tomorrow?' Edison asked, rocking on the balls of his feet.

'Sure.'

'Okay… well… see you then.'

'See you.' But neither of us made any move to leave.

'Emma!' The yell could only be from one person. Edison shot me a confused glance and I grinned.

'Uh-oh,' I whispered. 'You are in for it now.'

'In for what?' Edison hissed back when Alyss bounded down the porch, and threw her arms around my waist, burying her face into my shoulder. Then she seemed to notice Edison standing beside me with a bewildered look on his face.

'Alyss, this is Edison… and Edison this is Alyss, my sister,' I introduced, smiling.

'Hi!' exclaimed Alyss, and hugged him too.

'Wow. Hi. I never knew you had a sister,' Edison said, crouching to Alyss' height. 'Hey Alyss. How old are you?'

'Seven and three-quarters.'

'Wow you are a big girl aren't you? A very pretty one too. You look like a princess.'

'Really? You think so?' Alyss whispered, her face lighting up. Edison nodded and Alyss beamed, grabbing his hand and pulling him behind her into the house. Smiling, I followed and decided maybe I should give Edison a chance after all.

Alyss was at soccer practice and silence enveloped the house. We were playing on my bed, sitting on pillows as I stared at my tiles, thinking. Edison watched me warily. Finally I saw it. Rearranged some tiles on my rack, and placed the word down on the triple letter score, winning 38 points. Grinning triumphantly as I jotted the score down, I glanced up at Edison, who smirked.

'Very good, Emma. Very good. But not good enough,' Edison said as he immediately scattered all of his tiles onto the board and created seven-letter-word that instantly gave him an extra 50 points.

I gaped open-mouthed as Edison took the notebook and scribbled his score down, effectively over taking me. I scowled and snatched the book out of his hands.

'The game isn't over yet,' I snapped. Edison raised his eyebrows.

'Whoa, someone's not happy. I hope your not a bad loser.'

'I take Scrabble very seriously,' I retorted. Edison opened his mouth to reply when a tapping sound came from my window. Edison stepped off the bed and shoved the window open.

'Who the hell are you?' I heard two voices say simultaneously. Edison and another one that was unmistakeable. I ran to the window and stared at the confused face glaring back at me.

'Anik? What are you doing here?

Anik's POV

'I was going to ask him the same question!' I replied coldly, glaring at the person standing in Emma's room.

'Oh, hi I'm Edison,' the guy said cheerfully. 'Is this normal? Do you always come in through people's window? I always thought the front door was an easier option…' Edison took a step back when I scowled. 'Not a door person? Okay.'

'Don't ridiculous,' Emma muttered. 'Anik, why are you on my windowsill?'

'I uh… came to see you,' I answered feeling incredibly awkward. I jumped of the ledge into the room, ignoring Emma's this-is-really-stupid-I-can't-believe-you-would-risk-yourself-like-this look and Edison's what-the-hell-is-happening look.

'We were just playing Scrabble, you can join us,' Emma offered awkwardly, attempting to break the silence.

'No, it's okay I'll leave,' said Edison and I turned my attention back to him. A jealous rage flooded through my body and my fists clenched unconsciously. 'We had nearly finished the-'

And that was when the door burst open and my mother stumbled into the room.

Kelsey's POV

'Sorry just looking for Anik and thought he might be…. here,' I said apologetically before noticing there was another person in the room. 'Oh, sorry I think I'm interrupting something… Yes. Sorry. I'll just…' I paused, feeling the tension in the room and three people staring at me. My gaze fell on the stranger, a good-looking teenager with dark brown hair and unusual green eyes that were so familiar…

'Impossible,' I murmured, staring at the boy incredulously.

'What?' he answered, confused. 'Do I know you?'

I shook my head slowly. 'You… you're Edison aren't you?'

'Mom? Uh, how do you know this guy?' Anik asked disbelievingly.

'Anik, this is Edison-'

'Yes, I know that.'

'And he is your cousin.'