Page 18 of Whispers of the Water

“Are all of Aidan’s friends so pleasant?” I asked, sarcasm laced into my words. I opened my sketchbook to a new page and poised the pencil over the textured paper.

“Ha!” Akira laughed. “Undoubtedly.”

“Part of it is in their nature,” Avana explained as she sipped her wine. “Her friend group is made up of Foxes, who, as you know, are territorial and hot-headed, as well as Felines, who are sassy and always looking to start trouble.”

“Hmm. I’m guessing Talia is a Feline?” I asked.

Akira winked at me and tilted his glass in praise. “Bingo.”

I sighed and took a hearty sip of the bubbly, sweet wine. It went down easy, and I marveled at the taste. In the past, I never drank alcohol, but I’d slowly become accustomed to the taste of wine as Rune introduced me to different kinds. I rather liked the big girl drink now.

Slowly, I sketched rough, jagged lines of Akira and Avana as they sat in their respective places. A burst of contentment broke free in my chest as I moved my hand over the paper. It felt so good to finally be drawing something again. It didn’t give me the same weightless warmth that painting did, but it was close enough for now.

“Can I say,” Akira started, snickering from his perch. “I nearly died when you put Talia in her place. She’s so immature. I just loved it.”

The three of us laughed, and my cheeks heated at the reminder of the face-off. I still couldn’t believe I’d had the courage to stand up to her, but gosh, it was so worth it. I refused to take that treatment from her or anyone else. Being bold felt good, something I’d only recently learned after Rune helped to instill a confidence and strength within me that hadn’t previously existed.

“Bria?”

I turned from my place on the floor across from Avana to find Newt standing nervously at the edge of the ring of chairs. He fidgeted when we all looked at him, and his cheeks instantly reddened under the attention.

Smiling warmly at him, I said, “Hey Newt. Were you wanting to join us?”

He glanced at us from behind his crooked glasses. “Never m-m-mind. Sorry.”

He started to turn away, but I quickly called out to him. “It’s okay. You can sit with us. Right, guys?” I turned to Akira and Avana, who smiled just as brightly. They gave him reassurances that he was welcome, which made a spark of life erupt in his eyes.

I set my book and pencil aside to hold out my hand for him, and he took it with an eager grin. He sat beside me as our small group started talking again, planning things to do and things to see while we were in town—with Myra’s permission, of course. Newt didn’t talk much, but he seemed content to sit, smile, and listen to us.

Eventually, he opened up more as we talked about his favorite activities, and at one point, he ventured into my lap with his back to me. I beamed at the boy and ran my fingers through the long black tangles of his hair. He tilted his head back and fell quiet again while Akira informed me that Bassel and Carlos had secretly met for a minute before we left the restaurant.

“I hope they make up,” Avana sighed. “They were both so happy together, and their energies match really well.”

“Do you think they’ll get together while we’re here?” I asked as I started a braid in Newt’s hair.

“Let’s just say,” Akira dropped his voice low. “I’m probably going to be waking up in the middle of the night to Bassel being gone.”

We snickered and glanced over at Bassel, who’d just gotten slapped by Greshim as they fought to be the first to slap the jack. The boys whooped and hollered as Greshim giggled endlessly over the blow. Rune ruffled his brother’s hair before looking across the room toward me. As soon as our eyes locked, the air between us became charged. His eyes were lit with a needy flame as he took me in, tracing my hands that combed through his brother’s hair. I swallowed hard under the intensity of his gaze and quickly turned back to Newt’s hair before I got swept away.

Finishing Newt’s braid, I tied it off with a spare hair tie I had on my wrist. I gave him my phone so he could look at the finished product. “What do you think?”

His mouth broke into a wide grin. “I love it. Th-Thank you.”

“Of course. I love playing with hair. It’s relaxing.”

He handed my phone back and turned around to look at me. Life shimmered in his eyes as he said, “M-My m-mother never plays with m-my hair. I’ve always wanted her t-to brush m-m-mine like she does G-Greshim’s. Th-Thank you for doing it.”

My heart fractured at the knowledge, but I kept my smile plastered on. Newt didn’t want my sympathy. He only wanted to express how happy he was, and I refused to take that happiness away by reacting.

Swallowing the negative emotions, I squeezed him tighter. “Well, you can come to me anytime you want your hair played with or for anything else.”

Newt skipped around the room to show off his hair. Akira, Avana, and I rejoined everyone for the next round of cards. Not even thirty minutes later, the games were over, and the twins were knocked out on my lap and Rune’s.

Yawning, Bassel stood and stretched. “Well, I guess it’s time to hit the sack. I’m spent.”

“Mmhmm. I’m sure you’re so ready for bed,” Akira smirked.

Avana and I shared a knowing look and fought our smiles.

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