Page 4 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

I am good.

With time I’ll be great.

Fighting is in my blood and judo coupled with other MMA sports has helped harness the violence screaming for an outlet inside me.

“I already have,” I tell her, “I’ll have to show you one day.”

“I can’t wait.” She answers, her eyes sparkling, and I can hear the truth in her words.

“Sixtine.” I repeat, feeling the name between my lips as I look down at her. She said her mum’s French, she obviously speaks French herself, so I take a guess. “Like the chapel?”

I like the way she looks at me when I ask her that question. Like she sees deep inside me.

“Yes,” she tells me, her eyes roaming over my face with interest. “No one’s ever known that without me having to tell them before.”

Satisfaction warms my chest knowing that even Astor didn’t guess this correctly about her.

I take a step towards her, closing the gap between us as I pick up a strand of her hair and wrap its silky length around my finger.

Her eyes widen at my invasion of her personal space, but she watches me quietly and waits for me to speak.

“Six…,” I whisper, before bringing my other hand to my chest “…and Nix.”

She scrunches her nose. “No one calls me that.”

I tug on her hair and she yelps, the movement unbalancing her and making her fall into my chest.

“I do.” I whisper into her ear before releasing her.

She stumbles back a couple of steps before throwing me a cautious look. “Faut que je fasse gaffe autour de toi.”

“I don’t speak French.”

“I said that I need to be careful around you.”

I cock my head to the side. “Why?”

“You’re trouble.” She says, her eyes narrowing slightly.

I smirk. “You don’t like trouble?”

“I’m a good girl,” She answers, “I avoid it at all costs.”

“Hmm,” I hum, considering her, “We’ll see about that.”

Before she can answer, my mum’s voice calls my name from behind me. “Phoenix!” I turn and see her standing a ways away, where I’d been when I’d first noticed Sixtine’s hair. She has her hands cupped around her mouth and sounds exasperated as she calls for me. “Come on, it’s time to blow the candles.”

“Be right there.” I answer, turning back briefly towards Sixtine. “You never said what you were getting me for my birthday.”

“My parents got you a gift as well.”

“That’s not what I want.” I say, shaking my head, “I want a gift from you, like you’re doing for Astor.”

She smiles, turning away and looking down at the ground before facing me again. “I can pick some flowers for you as well.”

She’s about to crouch down but I put a hand out and stop her. “I don’t want the same thing you’re giving him.”

“I don’t have anything else to give you.” She says, her tone apologetic as the corners of her eyes crease and her brow furrows.

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