I sat in the school library studying, as usual when it came to exam time. Exams were the week before Christmas and we were all cramming, well…all except Logan. She really didn’t like tests, but Kae would always study with her, keep her focused to a point. Unfortunately, Kae was off with Zach, probably hunting or something, and Logan was so distracted. Renee went over to Logan in the library with a pile of books, setting them down in front of her. I chuckled softly, watching the two converse and Logan was not having it all. “Renee, seriously? Why did you bring me all of these giant books? I don’t have time for all of this studying!”
The Book Keepers came out to shush Logan and she just glared at them. I continued to chuckle as I paged through a Latin book. One of the Book Keepers shushed me and Logan laughed, “That’s what you get for chuckling at me, Ju-Ju!”
My face scrunched up hearing that nickname. “What’s with that nickname, Logie?”
She glared at me, “That is why. That nickname right there, is why.” We all laughed at her reasoning, and it only made things worse. The Book Keepers shushed all three of us. We had one more encounter before they kicked us out. Oops.
Once we got all our silent giggling out of the way, I went back to my Latin and Herbology studying. You’d think Herbology would come naturally to me, considering my parents were both healers and my brother is secretly one as well with his animal patients, but nope. I was struggling with Junior year Herbology. I put my head down in my textbook with a sigh, knowing I couldn’t really ask for help from the two people I wanted help from. Renee noticed and she tapped me on the shoulder, concerned. “You okay, June?” She whispered.
I picked my head up and gave a fake smile, hiding the fact that a lump formed in my throat, and it was hard for me to hold back my sobs. “Mm, just fine. I’m gonna head to the dorm commons, relax before exams begin.” I lied through my teeth.
“Oh–kay. If you need us, you know where we’ll be.” I could tell the petite vampire knew I was lying. Most vamps were lie detectors and I wasn’t the greatest liar. In fact, I really suck at it.
I gathered my study supplies, gave my friends a small smile and a half wave, and headed to the library doors. I felt Hollow perch on my left shoulder as he purred loudly. He and I were connected in ways most familiars and witches weren’t. He knew when I was feeling off and needed snuggles. I scratched behind his black ear, and he purred even louder. “You know exactly when I need you, Low. Thank you.” He let out a meow and jumped off, leading the way to the person who I wanted to see, but didn’t want to see. I watched as Hollow’s pink paw prints disappeared with every step he took, but pink dust, just like in his black fur, gave me a trail in case I lost him. He looked back at me occasionally, making sure I was okay. His dark pink eyes were piercing and mesmerizing if I stared at them too long. “Low, I’ll be okay. Promise.”
He meowed again as if having a conversation with me.
I frowned, “I really don’t want to speak with him, Hollow…we are on a break, even if our friends don’t know it.” He meowed again. “Ugh…fine! I’ll let him explain what happened seven months ago.” I rolled my eyes and hugged my books.
Hollow meowed proudly and I smirked, oddly knowing exactly what the black panther kitten was telling me.
We got to where Hollow felt I needed to be, and he disappeared back into the heart-shaped gemstone in my wand’s handle. I sighed as my hands trembled. Why am I so nervous? Is it because I really don’t want to know the truth as to what happened seven months ago? I thought to myself, but before I could stop myself, I was already subconsciously knocking on the wooden door in front of me.
It took every muscle in my body not to bolt to my own dorm as the door slowly opened. My storm gray eyes stared at the ground, and I saw Kasey’s converse at the door frame. I slowly looked up and as soon as my sight hit his waistline, I realized he didn’t have a shirt on. My cheeks flushed as I went farther up. His six pack abs caught my eye and my cheeks got even darker. I could feel sweat roll down my temples the more I stared. “Um, June?”
My eyes shot up to his face and he was raising his brows, “Erm…sorry…” I scratched the back of my head nervously. I cleared my throat, “Can we talk?”
He put a cute Christmas sweater on so I wouldn’t be distracted as we talked. “So now you wanna talk?” He frowned. “You gonna actually let me explain?”
I nodded frantically as my heart raced. Crap…what the heck am I going to do? I can’t tackle him…can I? No, June that’s not right. Get that thought out of your head. My mind went through scenarios and all of them were unlike me. “So…um…” I started.
“June, I really think we should sit.” He guided me to his nicely made bed. “Hot cocoa?” He offered.
“Yes please.”
The blond hunk I knew I was still in love with smiled and brought me a cup of hazelnut hot cocoa with small snowflake marshmallows in my favorite holiday mug. He made a mug for himself, and he sat next to me. He took a deep breath and sighed, “Juniper, what you saw in May wasn’t what you think. Trixie came on to me. I tried to push her off, but weres are super strong in any form they take. She has wanted me for herself since middle school, but I never acknowledged it. You knew that since we met. This is what she wanted.” He pushed his glasses up and sipped his cocoa.
“I know…but Kasey, you gotta look at it through my eyes. What if Charles did that to me? You know how much of a crush he has had on me since Potions Freshman year. How would you have reacted?”
He put down his mug before taking my free hand, “Sweetheart, I know Charles wouldn’t try anything, he’s too shy. Though, I do understand where you are coming from. I don’t know if I would have done what you had, but I would have been as upset.” He paused, lowering his head. “I love you, Juniper. I’d never put our relationship in jeopardy on purpose. Being apart for these six/seven months has been heartbreaking for me. But I need you to trust me and talk to me. Let me explain things, because they could just be a misunderstanding, like this was.”
I nodded and lowered my gaze as tears filled my eyes, “I’m sorry…”
Kasey let go of my hand, took my hot cocoa and wrapped his arms around me in a needed hug. “There is no need for tears, June.”
“Yes there is…” I choked. “I screwed everything up…I made assumptions when I shouldn’t have…” I paused, “and all of this plus the stress of exams and missing my parents…I’m just an emotional wreck.”
“Sweetheart, we all make mistakes, and we learn from them. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” He lifted my head up gently with his pointer finger, “I’m sorry about your parents…I know the holidays are really hard for you…and I know the exams aren’t helping that either.” He kissed me on the forehead, “I accept your apology though. But I need to apologize for not giving you the space you needed at first. I was afraid I was going to lose you and I couldn’t bear the thought of that. I still can’t.”
I sniffled, “Really?” I looked at him as the storms calmed in my eyes. “I mean, I accept the apology, but you love me that much?”
“Of course I do, June. Why else would I have tried to keep us alive during the beginning of summer? I never want to lose you. You’re my soulmate.” He smiled softly as he wiped away my tears from my cheeks.
My heart swooned. Soulmates. Thinking the word myself made it even more powerful. A shiver went down my spine as I thought of the word again. Then my mind took me down a path that deep down I didn’t want to live. The path without Kasey. It was dreary and sad. It was like I had no energy or life left. Before I was pulled deeper down that dark path, I heard Kasey’s voice. “Huh?” I asked.
“I asked if you were okay.”
“Um…yeah. I’ll be fine.”
“Are we okay?”
“Yes.” I paused, debating on revealing my thoughts, “And for the record…I don’t want to lose you either. Without you, that path gets dark and dreary…more than it was. I’m pretty sure I’d be a shell of a person if I lost you…” I admitted.
Kasey almost choked on his hot cocoa as he looked at me with concern. “June, you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded, grabbing my mug and putting both hands around it for warmth, “I am now. Hot cocoa and spending time with you is exactly what I needed.” I took a sip before continuing, “I really am sorry for not listening and taking into account your side of the story.”
“June, I already accepted your apology. Stop being so hard on yourself.”
“I know…I just…” I trailed off, but before I could get my thoughts back together, Kasey leaned in and kissed me on the lips. It felt like time had stopped as our lips parted for a moment. I pulled away and smiled, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
very good
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