When the Past Comes Back to Haunt You ((Kael))

[Adrina De Luca G6]

“Hey Aria will you watch Gia?” Adrina asked slipping on a white summer top. “Why?” Aria called back even though Adrina already knew the answer was yes. Adrina opened the door to her room and walked to the kitchen. “Because there is this new book that came out today that I really want.” She said eyeing Aria who looked a little paler than usual. Aria sighed and poured herself some Pumpkin Juice. “Aria, are you okay?” Adrina asked her with an eye-brow raised. Aria’s guard instantly went up. “Yes, quit worry about me okay?” She asked folding her arms to her chest. “I don’t normally Air, you just look pale is all.” Drina defended herself. Adrina tried not to worry about Aria who had CF, but sometimes she couldn’t help it. She would never tell Aria this of course. Nope, Aria didn’t want her sympathy, but Adrina did wonder sometimes if she could live a full life with this condition. Aria had the same thoughts be she wouldn’t discuss it either. The thought that Aria could die had occurred to both of the cousins, but neither of them had the strength to admit this out loud. Adrina eyed Aria after a moment of silence. “Well, I’m fine. And yea, go get your book. Gia is asleep anyways.” Adrina nodded grabbing her purse as she made her to the door. “Bye Air.” Adrina said lightly before leaving the cottage.

Adrina made her way to the bookstore thinking about Aria. Why did she have to be so defensive? Aria knew that Adrina wasn’t going to fawn all over her because of her condition. But for some reason, Aria felt as if one day Adrina would. Why did she think this? You would think that someone who is basically your sister would know you a little better, but maybe not. Adrina tried to forget about what had just been said as she walked to the store. The De Luca cottage was only a short distance from all the shops, which made things a bit easier for Adrina who did most of the shopping. As Adrina turned the main street that let to The Three Broomsticks along with the bookshop she was stopping at, she noticed a figure. Someone in a black cloak. Adrina blinked and then looked to see who it was, but the figure was gone. Who was it and why did he seem to have looked right at her? Adrina sighed not letting herself get worked up. It was nothing. Nothing to fret about. She told herself making herself believe it.

The bell jingled as Adrina walked into the familiar shop. “Hey Randy.” Adrina smiled at the employee that stood behind the counter. “Hey Drina. You here for that new one?” She asked already knowing the answer. “Guess.” She stated smiling. Randy nodded. “Yea, I knew it. I put one for hold for you in the back on the reserve shelf.” Adrina nodded. “Thanks Randy.” He smiled as she headed to the back of the store. Adrina heard the bell jingle again as another customer entered, but she didn’t pay any attention to it. Adrina smiled as she approached the shelf. She held the new book in her hand as she flipped it over and read the back cover. It was the third book in a series and Adrina had been waiting for it to come out for some time. She smiled liking the words that were listed on the back cover. “You always liked that series.” A voice said from behind her. Adrina looked around not thinking anything of it. But, what she saw made her jaw drop. Adrina let the book slip through the grasp of her fingers. She stared at the boy who was now standing in front of her. Danny..

For a moment, Adrina didn’t know how to react. What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to say? Danny eyed her carefully also waiting for her response. Adrina looked him over again, figuring out what to say to him in her head. Finally, she sighed, looked to the ground, and then at Danny. “I don’t know what you are doing here, but leave me the hell alone and never come back.” She said daggers piercing her eyes. Now that she had time to think about it, she was mad at him. She had always been mad at him, but she had needed the time to remember this because when she saw him, she remembered the old days. She remembered back when she loved him, but at a second glance, he wasn’t that boy anymore and she wasn’t that girl. Those people were gone and they weren’t coming back. Danny took a few steps closer. “Adrina..” He said trying to calm her as he placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t touch me.” She said sternly gripping her wand in her pocket, not even thinking that she wasn’t of age yet. Adrina turned to leave the bookstore.

However, Danny was fast and put his hand to her shoulder again and turned her around. “Adrina wait. Let’s talk.” Adrina felt her face growing red with anger. “Talk. Talk?” She was nearly screaming, but she wouldn’t let herself cry. She wouldn’t let herself remember. She paused eyeing the saddened look on his face. “Okay, Danny let’s talk.” She said nearly sarcastically. “Let’s talk about how when I told you I was pregnant, you said that you’d be there for me and then with one word from mommy and daddy, you took off to Russia and left me with a baby!” She had to force herself to lower her tone, but it was rather hard. Danny had such a guilty look on his face. Adrina wouldn’t be surprised if Danny thought that she didn’t have the baby anymore because Adrina hadn’t spoken to him since a week after she told him the news. “Drinie, I didn’t have a choice. “Don’t call me that.” She said eying him with such fire in her eyes. “You don’t get to act like the old times. Because old times don’t matter anymore, Danny. They’re nothing.” She wanted to hit him. She wanted to hurt him how he had hurt her, but she couldn’t.

“C’mon Adrina. You know me better than you’re letting on.” Adrina eyed with a look of hate glittering in her eyes. “Do I Danny?” She asked looking him square in the eyes. “Because I don’t think I know you at all.” Danny looked taken aback from the comment. It was as if he had imagined her jumping straight into his arms again. But, that wasn’t going to happen. It would never happen. “Adrina, I wanted to stay. You know that I did, but they made me go. They pulled me out of school. They apparated me to Russia!” He exclaimed. Adrina laughed. “C’mon Danny. Tell me that you weren’t afraid. Tell me that you had your life planned out and a baby wasn’t a part of it. Tell me that you didn’t really want to go.” She exclaimed moving closer to him angrily. Danny didn’t say a word. He just eyed her, nearly in fear. “I knew it.” “Drina I was afraid, yea, but I wanted to stay, I would have.” Adrina shook her head. Then, she paused as to think of something to say that she really meant. “Danny, if you wanted to stay, you would have done everything you could have to be with me and my daughter.” She exclaimed shakily.

“It’s a..?” Danny didn’t know. Of course he had tried to contact Aria, Leo, and other members of the family, but they wouldn’t even tell her that she had kept the baby. Danny wasn’t even sure if the child had been delivered when he decided to talk to Adrina after a year of distance between them. “Yes, Danny. She’s a girl.” Adrina said for a moment feeling bad that he hadn’t known before now, but that faded quickly. He wasn’t getting of easily. Actually, he wasn’t getting off at all. Adrina eyed him, forcing herself to stay strong. “Why did you come back Danny? Why? If you wanted to know if I had the baby, well I did. You know now.” “Tell me about her.” He instructed. Adrina eyed him, not wanting to give a word of information, but if she did maybe he would leave. Because, Adrina couldn’t stand to be near him. “Her name is Gia Isabella De Luca. Brown hair, brown eyes. Your eyes, actually. She is seven months old and so far, she hasn’t noticed that you haven’t been around.” Adrina was about to turn away as she felt that she had told Danny everything and more than he deserved to know. “I didn’t just come to hear about her..I came for you too.” “Me?” She asked. “Me! What a fine time to worry about me. My life is good Danny. And, it’s good without you. So, go away. You’re good at that.”

She turned to leave once again, but this time she stopped herself. She had to look at him one more time. She just had to look back. She looked at him, a look of surprise across his face. “So, why now?” She asked almost softly. “Why not seven months ago?” Danny sighed. He eyed her. After a moment of nothing, Adrina snorted. “Just as I thought.” She struggled to turn, but Danny stopped her. He moved towards her and pulled her shoulders to him. She struggled for a moment, then she was silenced by a kiss. Adrina gave in at first, thinking about all the old times. She kissed Danny back. There first kiss in over a year. She felt as if her best-friend was back. He was here. She gave into the kiss, but she continued thinking. He had hurt her! She had trusted him and then he hurt her by leaving! How could she be doing this? After realizing what she was doing, Adrina pulled away and pushed him away from her. She eyed him, about ready to slap him, but she didn’t. “What are you doing?” She asked and screamed at the same time waiting for some possible explanation.

((This is set late in the summer.)

[Kael Adams H6]

It was insane. Completely insane. And it was slowly tugging away his and Lynnette's sanity at the same time. Their parents constant arguing had revived his twins borderline obsessive-compulsive attitude - which explained why she was rather frantically organising and re-organising the books, quills and pots of ink scattered over his desk - because she simply couldn't handle the harsh words and the feelings associated with them. Kael himself was coping only marginally better. He hadn't spoken more than three words in the past three and a half weeks, spending the majority of his time literally locked in his bedroom or curled up on Vic's couch, still saying nothing; which was certainly a choice made out of desperation since he and the raven-haired graduate couldn't stand to be in each others company for longer than five minutes before starting to argue furiously and their arguments always ending with Vic storming away huffily whether it was her house or not. But it was impossible to argue when Kael wouldn't even open his mouth, not even when she had started to run her fingers through his hair in a comforting, maternal gesture that had almost brought tears to his eyes and had made Lynne dissolve into tears. Both twins could remember when it had been their real mother offering comfort and gentle sympathy, not this woman barely older than themselves. Now their mother never even seemed to see them unless Kael was putting a plate of food in front of her and his father because the house-elves were too terrified to go near them.

"I can't believe they're still arguing," Kael snarled furiously, draining his glass of water and slamming it back onto the desk loudly, barely noticing his sister skittering away nervously. "Maybe they'll stop soon," Lynne offered timidly, sounding nothing like the socialite she usually was. Kael looked at her with pity, the anger in his eyes softening as his gaze rested on her. The confidence always shown by his sister - the confidence that had taken so long to build up after their mother had destroyed it for the first time when she had discovered what she had dubbed 'Lynne's condition' - was nowhere to be found and, somehow, that only made him angrier. Damn it, he'd been the one to console Lynnette when she'd been in constant tears because Christina had been sending her to non-stop therapy even though she was only six. Kael had fixed his sister once, even though he'd been too young to do it with much grace, and it just didn't seem fair that the years of work he had put into helping his twin recvoer from the blow that their parents had dealt her should be undone over one summer just because they couldn't stop arguing.

"We're going out." Kael declared shortly, only pausing to grab Lynnette's wrist and pull her toward the door when she veered toward the hidden closet that he kept the rope hidden in. At just the thought of escaping for even a short while, Lynnette's eyes had brightened and become less hazy; he could almost believe that this was the same sister he had sat up with all night on the night before they left Hogwarts, talking about everything and nothing just because she couldn't sleep and had decided that since she couldn't sleep, he didn't deserve to. He had missed the slight flare of shock in her eyes when he had started talking to her though. If he had seen it and then really thought about it, Kael wouldn't realised that he had spoken more then than he had since Lynnette had interrogated him about Adrina, ecstatic at the thought of her reclusive brother having someone other than her that he could talk to. And she was a writer, just like him. Lynne had almost been overcome with glee at the thought, declaring it fate that they had met - something which Kael had considered to be a bit overdramatic.

Hogsmeade again. How many times had he wandered around here just this summer, both with and without Lynnette? She'd practically begged him to let her stay with Vic while he wandered around again and Kael had been only too happy to oblige, figuring that, with her new maternal attitude towards the twins, Victoria would be the best person to drag out the bottled up feelings buried deep inside her and force her to snap back to her usual self. But while he was here - without his twin, no less - he might as well see if he could pick up a book or two, maybe even one that he could coax Lynnette into reading. Nothing like a good book - one not about fashion or make-up or teenage romance - to extend her vocabulary with. At the very least, she'd snap out of her depression long enough to tease him about trying to turn her into a female version of himself. And while he was feeling generous he could even pick up the book he knew Vic had had her eye on for a while now. The latest in a series or something.

It was the sound of a loud voice that caught his attention first while he was picking through books and occasionally putting some to the side so he could buy them. The voice sparked a moment of irritation for a second before that faded into apathy. It simply took too much energy to be bothered about a loud-mouth disturbing the peace in one of his favourite bookshops. At the beginning of the summer, Kael would've wandered over to the general direction of the voice and, had the noise continued, delivered a cutting order for the person to shut up and stop being so inconsiderate. The employees had grown so used to him and his quirks that they simply rolled their eyes at him when a suitably-looking chastised customer hurried out of the shop, usually carrying one or two more books than they had intended to buy in their hurry to get away from the boy glaring daggers at them. Well, at least he was good for business.

Adrina. Kael blinked in surprise when she came into his line of sight. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop but something about the situation just didn't seem right and so he hovered behind a bookshop silently, his sharp eyes trained on the two in an attempt to figure out why his brain had shouted a loud warning only seconds after he had seen them. His ears pricked up at the mention of Gia, his brain quickly connecting the information together and drawing a conclusion in seconds. If Gia had this guys eyes then...he must be the father - Daniel or Damien or whatever his name had been. Kael never had had a good memory for names. But hadn't Adrina told him that she was raising Gia alone because he'd abandoned her and Gia before the baby had even been born. So, this was the jerk who had fled when he realised that, somewhere along the line, he had messed up and gotten Adrina pregnant. He was the coward who had ensured that Gia would grow up without her father - even if Adrina found someone else, which Kael had no doubt she would, the man wouldn't ever be able to call himself Gia's biological father, even if he would be more of one than this idiot standing in front of him.

He had almost lost interest and had started to turn away, figuring that the situation was merely uncomfortable because...well, that was obvious. The absentee boyfriend and father had returned. But his head soon snapped back around when he heard Adrina's furious-sounding scream, taking the few short steps over to them. "Ah, Adrina. I thought I heard your musical voice." Kael deadpanned calmly, still watching Danny out of the corner of his eye cautiously even though most of his attention was focused on Adrina at the moment. "Tell me to go away if you must but, by your obvious unease and upset, I'll guess that you're not happy with the attention of this person." Kael paused, looking almost impishly thoughtful. "Shall I drag him back to the castle and throw him into the dungeon with the spiders and rats and snakes, let him live there for a few days and then throw him to the crocodiles in the moat?" Kael suggested mockingly. "Of course, giving him to Lynne as a present would be a lot more torturous than anything else, including stabbing him with quills until I have enough new paint for the dungeon." The smile he sent to Danny was sharp and vicious, openly showing his immediate dislike for the other boy. Kael didn't have many friends so he took care of the ones he did have especially, it seemed, Adrina. Then again, none of his other friends were usually harassed by the newly-returned fathers of their daughter.

[Adrina De Luca G6]

Adrina’s mind was jumbled with thoughts. She couldn’t think of one thing to say. She was too confused by everything. Danny never had a way with timing. He always seemed to come around at the worst moments. One day, he attempted to sneak into Adrina’s room at night when Aunt Kat and Uncle Gino occupied it since guests had taken their room and Adrina moved into Aria’s room. This was a bad time for all of this to be happening. School was very close to starting and Adrina was concerned with that already. Now, she had to worry about Danny? It was almost too much for her to handle, but she knew that she could. Adrina had always been focused. She always knew what she wanted. This wasn’t going to be any different. He needed to go. He needed to get the hell out of dodge. If he stayed around, Adrina’s future was un-certain. She didn’t know if she could stay away from him with him near her. She had loved him for too long. That feeling seemed gone, but a part of it lingered in Adrina. A part of it would never go away.

Adrina turned her head surprised at the voice that she heard. She nearly smiled seeing Kael. He would do something if she asked him to. Kael understood Adrina. It was weird, but true. Adrina looked back to Danny for a moment, and then rolled her eyes. She wasn’t trying to be so brat-like, but it was hard given the current situation. Adrina shook her head briefly. “No need to go away Kael. I’m sure that Danny was just leaving.” Adrina said turning to him, but Danny didn’t move one bit. “Who’s this?” Danny asked raising an eye-brow. “Do you not have ears?” Adrina demanded. She wasn’t in the mood for this. She wasn’t in the mood for Danny at all. Adrina wasn’t usually this hot-headed, but she couldn’t help it. Danny brought up so much vengeance in Adrina’s mind. She had loved him, yes. But, he had left her. Adrina would forget the love and focus on the bad. She had to. That was how she was.

Adrina gave Kael a look as to say, ‘get him out of here before I do things that will get me sent to Azakaban.’ She hoped that he would recognize the look of pure dislike that poured through her veins. Adrina couldn’t help it. She had been hurt; she would do some hurting back. Adrina had always been determined, but she had never wanted revenge this badly. She had always thought that it was childish, but it was hard to not want revenge at this moment in time. It was as if Adrina deserved to feel that way. She deserved to want revenge. Danny had put her through too much. Adrina had always thought that she was strong, but not with Danny. She let herself fall in love with him which was the one thing she told herself she would never do. From a young age, Adrina learned that love hurt. She was tired of being hurt so she told herself that she would never feel love. This was something that she had broken. And Adrina hated herself for breaking her own promise.

“Do with him what you want.” Adrina stated plainly, half joking. “I don’t really care.” A look of hate was gleaming in her eyes as she looked towards Danny. Danny gave an arrogant smile. “C’mon Drinie. You’ve never been this bitter before and you still aren’t.” For a moment, Adrina forgot that Kael was there. “You don’t know anything about me Danny. You didn’t care when you left, so don’t start to care now.” She nearly shouted. Adrina wanted nothing more than for Danny to leave her alone. She didn’t need him. She only needed Aria and Gia. Adrina didn’t need Danny and she never really had. Adrina was independent. She always had been. She had raised Gia fine so far with the help of Aria of course. Still, Adrina was fine without Danny. She always would be.

Kael laughed cockily eyeing Kael and then looking to Adrina again. Danny seemed to be getting angrier with her, but Adrina barely noticed. She was too enraged to care. “So, Drinie. Is this your new boy-toy? Is this why you are so bitter now-a-days?” Adrina’s anger flared. “You left me with a baby!” She paused. “I will always hate you.” She wanted him to leave. She wanted him to disappear again. Adrina looked to Kael. “Kael..” She paused eyeing her friend. “Is a friend, but that isn’t your concern. This isn’t about him, Danny. It’s about you and me. Which there isn’t.” She said bluntly. Adrina looked to Kael not knowing how he would react to all of this. “Danny looked at Adrina, not saying another word. “Just leave Danny and don’t come back.” But, he didn’t move. He glared at Kael, not moving a muscle. Danny used to be the nice, shy one. He was the sensitive guy that all the girls liked. He wasn’t the type of guy that people saw Adrina being with. But, the fact that they were total opposite drew him to her. All of that seemed to fade away. Danny didn’t seem to be that guy anymore. Maybe that guy didn’t exist anymore. “I’m not leaving without knowing that you still love me.” He said finally eyeing her directly. Adrina’s eyes flickered to Kael and then back to Danny. “I..” She paused. “I…can’t.” She said knowing that her statement didn’t answer his question, but she didn’t care.

[Kael Adams H6]

There were very few things that Kael knew immediately. But he simply knew that he didn't like this person, this Danny. He had hurt Adrina because he had been such a coward that he hadnt been able to face up to his own mistakes. It was almost disconcerting to feel such a sudden rush of dislike when Kael hadn't even exchanged words with him because it seemed like such a Lynnette thing to do but they were twins after all and he did apparently share that trait with her though it didn't seem as dominant in him. Of course, it probably didn't help that Danny reminded him far too much of far too many of his sisters boyfriends. "Ah good. It's so nice to know that me and my company is wanted. Not that I would be able to leave anyway, not while this...person is still here disturbing the peace of a bookshop." The smile he shot to Danny was cold. "Shall I tell you something?," Kael lowered his voice like he was passing on a great secret, not waiting for an answer to the question he had asked. "Books prefer peace and quiet, as do the readers of them. That applies whether you're in a bookshop or a library. Since this bookshop also has a library section...you've just broken both parts of that rule." His voice sharpened, losing the lazy drawl it had acquired. "So I suggest you leave before someone decides to set a Monster Book of Monsters on you, hmm?"

It would have been foolish to mention that he would preferably have been the one to drop the monster book on Dannys head. After all, Adrina, despite her current feelings, had once loved the fool and so Kael would have to be careful with what he said. He had no wish to lose Adrina's friendship when he had only just gotten it. But still, the olook he got from Adrina seemed to give him full permission to do whatever he had to to get rid of Danny and so Kael set his brain to work, thinking up a way that would get the idiot out of their presence in the most painful, but quiet, way possible. It went against his nature to be violent but after what Adrina had been through because of Danny, it was hard to deny her the need for vengeance and revenge. And if she wanted him to be there to watch and to help, then he was sure that his own dislike of Danny would suffice enough to override his dislike of violence and cruelty.

"Wonderful," Kael drawled slowly, his smile more like a sharp smirk than anything else. "My cousin keeps vultures and hawks and eagles; he runs an aviary you see. He was in Slytherin and so he doesn't really care where the meat to feed them comes from. Catch my drift?" A lie, a complete lie. If Kael had any cousins, he didn't know them and certainly none of them had attnded Hogwarts while he had been there. Not to mention that Kael had a higher view of Slytherins than the one he had just stated. Danny wouldn't know that, but Kael was fairly sure he had told Adrina that he hadn't met any of his family other than his parents and sister. "Now now, Adrina, do calm down. You should only upset yourself other things that are worthy of more than a second look. Which he - sorry, forgot your name, not that it's important - most certainly isn't. After all, he hasn't even had the manners to introduce himself."

Kael merely smirked coolly, putting a comforting hand on Adrina's shoulder that he just knew would look like a more intimate gesture than it was to Danny. "Don't be such a fool. If I was Drina's boyfriend then she certainly wouldn't be bitter." His smile was lazy and confident, certain to send Danny into a jealous rage. "She would be far too happy with me to even remember how much of a fool you are." He'd be crossing a line with his next words and his fingers squeezed Adrina's shoulder in warning, silently telling her not to take anything he taunted Danny with seriously. "I mean really, you didn't even stick around to see your daughter be born and you certainly weren't there to hear her first words. Mama, of course, to Adrina but we were so surprised at her second word. I had certainly never intended for her to see me as a father but Gia is so adorable that I can't help but to be thrilled." His smile turned sly as he delivered something that he was sure would be the final blow to Dannys ego. "It even made Drina and I see eachother in a slightly different light. So, you see, you arrived at a bad time. Maybe a few months earlier, you would have been Gia's second word and you might have even had a chance with Adrina. But as things stand now? You can't even compare, don't you see? You're pathetic and unworthy of someone as wonderful as her and it's about time you realised that."

[Adrina De Luca G6]

This was exactly the kind of thing that Adrina didn’t need. Adrina thought that Danny would never come back. He was supposed to never come back! Why did he have to come back? Adrina’s complicated life finally seemed smooth. She had finally found a friend that she didn’t want to scream at every five seconds. So, what was she supposed to do now? How could she get Danny to leave? That was the only way that things could seem normal. Normal? Adrina’s life had never been normal, but couldn’t it be? Why not? Adrina sighed a tad. She wasn’t a bit tried but the whole thing was stressing her out. She didn’t understand why Danny couldn’t just crawl into his little whole and stay there forever and ever. Oh well. It was Danny. He always knew when to come back and it was always at the wrong time. It was like he knew that Adrina’s life was nearing borderline-perfect so he decided to come back and wreck it. Yea, that was it. Danny was a life wrecker in Adrina’s book and he would always be that way.

Adrina eyed Kael. Why did she feel like smiling? It really wasn’t the time or place. Did Adrina like that Kael was protecting her? Maybe..He could get Danny to go away. Drina was sure of it. After all, he was making Danny mad enough as it was. Adrina could see the anger in Danny’s eyes. Adrina really wanted to laugh at the look on Danny’s face when Kael talked about the Monster’s Book of Monsters. It was an incredibly funny comment since Adrina had sent the very book on Danny during their third year. “Believe me Kael, I’d rather have Salazar Slytherin here if I could get rid of Danny.” She said sourly. Couldn’t the boy just leave? “Drina..” Danny said towards her. “No, Danny.” She said harshly. Danny eyed Kael as he spoke. “Shut up. You don’t know me and you don’t know Drina.” Danny announced. Adrina rolled her eyes. “Danny. You’ve been gone for a year. I’m not that girl anymore and you don’t know the new me at all. You’ll never understand me because I won’t let you. Got it?”

Adrina eyed Kael. He was coming up with a way to get rid of Danny. Drina could tell that he was. This made Adrina nearly giddy. Danny could be easily out-witted. Drina had done it several times before. Adrina laughed a tad as Kael talked about vultures, hawks, and eagles. Well, she couldn’t help it. Plus, the look on Danny’s face was simply amusing. He wanted to hurt Kael so bad, but he never would. Danny didn’t have the drive to do something like that. He wasn’t determined like Adrina. Adrina and Kael would find a way to get rid of Danny. Yep, the Hufflepuff and the Gyrffindor could easily out-smart the ex-Ravenclaw. Or they could out smart this ex-Ravenclaw at least. All Adrina wanted was for Danny to go away and stay away. In fact, if a genie were present, Drina’s one wish would be for Danny to be abandoned on some long lost island. Boy would that make things a lot easier. And it would make for a better would, or at least that was how Adrina felt at that moment.

Adrina nodded slightly when Kael said that she didn’t need to upset herself. True, Kael was trying him best to get Danny to leave, but Drina knew that he meant what he said. Danny could only look at Kael with flairs in his eyes. He was being beaten, he knew that. “Shouldn’t you just scurry a long, after all you have no connection to be and Drina. Me and Drina are family, we have a child. You have nothing to do with us.” “What is this ‘us’ you speak of Danny?” Adrina asked practically rolling her eyes. She felt like a third year again. She felt like she was back to the times of being annoyed by him and maybe she was. Adrina eyed Kael as he placed his hand on her shoulder. What was he doing? Adrina was quite confused by Kael’s words at first until he squeezed her shoulder. Adrina didn’t mind this at all. It was sending Danny into a rage. So, maybe that was why her heart was pounding so hard. Or maybe, it was because of something else. For once, Drina didn’t say anything. Kael was making Danny livid enough as it was. Adrina listened to Kael intently, though her heart was still thudding. This was it. This was exactly what it would take for Danny to go away. Adrina knew Danny better than he knew her. This would do it; this would break his pride. Danny wouldn’t be able to stand that his own daughter had called some one else daddy, even if this was a ploy. Gia hadn’t actually said that word yet. She had only gone as far as ‘mama’ and ‘air’. ‘Air’ of course meant Aria. Adrina said her name so much that it must have stuck with Gia. Adrina could practically feel Danny’s hatred for Kael. He knew that everything Kael has said had been right. Well, at least it made sense to Danny even if half of it wasn’t true. This was what would break him. However, why did Adrina have this strange feeling in her stomach? Perhaps a part of her wanted what Kael had said to be true. No, that can’t be, she told herself. But, for once, Adrina couldn’t deny what she wasn’t sure of.

Finally, Danny started to turn away. However, what he said surprised Adrina. The old Danny would have been completely sorry and would have said ‘Sorry Drinie’ and then he would have left, but he didn’t. He looked back for a brief moment and looked Adrina straight in the eyes. “I won’t let you go.” He said strongly. Then he gave a possessive to Kael who still had his hand on Adrina’s shoulder. However, before anything could be said, he was gone. Adrina followed Danny’s figure out the door. Her glanced stayed there for a moment before she looked up to Kael. She nodded slightly as to say ‘thank you’ without even saying it quite yet. Adrina then took her hand and removed Kael’s hand from her shoulder, but she still held on to it. Adrina then looked Kael in the eyes. “Thanks.” She told him formally. “I would say that you didn’t have to do that, but you kinda did. Some thing is different about him. Normally he would say sorry.. He’s changed.” Adrina told him. She didn’t know what else to say. No one had ever defended her like that. And it felt kind of nice that he cared enough to stand up for her. She wouldn’t deny that.

[Kael Adams H6]

Danny was nothing remarkable, Kael mused interestedly as he studied the other boy openly, making no secret of his appraisal before letting his mouth draw into a slight sneer. Another small blow to Danny's ego, another small step toward making him go away but it mixed up his feelings inside. Protecting his friends - well, the few he did have, although that had pretty much narrowed down to Drina and his sister lately - wasn't something that had ever bothered Kael. If someone was annoying his friends and annoying him at the same time, he'd make them go away. Being annoyed was an uncomfortable feeling and Kael didn't like it. Make the problem go away; that was the simplest solution and therefore the one that Kael followed most often. But...the extents he was going to just to make Danny go away, they were unnerving. He was acting completely unlike the face he showed to the world; he was acting like his sister. Rash and impulsive and sharp-tongued. It wasn't like him and he felt more like a Slytherin fighting a Gryffindor - or vice versa - than a Hufflepuff staring down a cowardly Ravenclaw.

But, oh, who cared if it wasn't like him to behave like this? The rising anger in Danny's eyes and the pure enjoyment in Adrina's was enough to make his smile a little wider, and his adrenaline increase a little bit more. Maybe this was how Pluto felt when he was play-hunting the pieces of string that Kael left out for his kitten to play with, or when he was leaping at something and trying to catch them by surprise. It was just a case of knowing which buttons to press and when to press them. Maybe it would be more fun if Danny made an attempt to fight back, Kael didn't know, but Danny made his sore points far too well known. This game was just too easy. "Ooh." Kael's eyes lit up boyishly. "Can we keep them both around and convince Salazar that Danny is a muggle-born - is he, for that matter? - because seeing him be eaten by a snake would just be so much fun!"

"Mmhmm," Kael nodded eagerly, letting his grin become a little bit manic. A trick he had learned from Lynnette after watching her play the part of a mad scientist on Halloween a few years ago. Look slightly too eager about anything, especially gory things, and people would wonder just how sane you were. "Drina's not the same person at all. After all," Kael's tone deepened slightly, the slight smile on his face obviously aimed at Adrina and obviously possessive. "She's been in the arms of someone who can actually look after her and understand her." For a second, wistfulness flashed in his eyes but Kael shook that off instantly, promising himself to think over the issue later. "People can change so much when they realise that they've found someone who they can actually love. Not just childish crushes, but true, adult love. You'll understand one day, kid." Kael added patronisingly, looking almost sympathetic as he rested his gaze on Danny.

"You and Adrina might have been together at one point," Kael agreed passively. "But Gia isn't your daughter anymore. She never was. You left before she was born and therefore you relinquished all rights to her. Consider her my daughter instead, if that makes the idea easier for your brain to comprehend." Kael turned his head slightly, frowning at Adrina thoughtfully and ignoring Danny completely. "Are you sure he was a Ravenclaw, Drina? He doesn't seem to catch onto things very quickly. He's had months to come to grips with the idea that he abandoned you and Gia and yet...he still thinks that someone won't have been smart enough to realise that you're too amazing to stay alone? You don't seem to have very good taste in boyfriends, my love." Kael nearly shivered, barely controlling the urge. It might just be an act but it was too much, too soon and he could already feel the urge to back off and retreat to a quiet corner to mull things over in his head. Emotions weren't his thing and yet here he was, acting to feelings that he wasn't ready to admit to himself yet, let alone anyone else. He had known that he had been attracted to Adrina - so what? She was pretty, and it hadn't been a big deal at the time. He hadn't expected anything to come out of it, expecting her to have a boyfriend already. But she didn't and now he was fighting off her ex-boyfriend. It was treading on dangerous territory and Kael didn't like taking unnecessary risks; that was why he still hadn't sent any of his stories off to an agent even though Lynnette had lined one up for him last year. He was even pretending to be a surrogate father for her daughter, something that seemed more and more appealing but scarier and scarier by the second. Because he could actually see it happening in his mind, but it was something that he hadn't seen coming or planned for himself. He had little experience in this area but he had jumped right in at the deep end this time, it seemed.

Kael raised an eyebrow at Danny's final words. "Kinda stalker-ish there, don't you think?" Only when he was sure that Danny was gone and not coming back for the moment did Kael close his eyes and breathe in deeply, forcing a fake calmness to his jumbled thoughts for just a little bit longer. He'd definitely need Lynnette by his side for a few hours later on, to distract him and sort through things with him. Her chatter was annoying to pretty much everyone else, so Kael was sure he was the only person to find it soothing and relaxing. "Of course I had to step in," Kael answered shortly. "He was too loud; he was annoying me. Add that to the fact that he was practically driving you to tears and it's impossible to not interfere." Kael paused for a moment. Under normal circumstances, he'd take her to a café and let her calm down. But not now, not when he was messed up inside. With a careless shrug, Kael turned away and headed for the door. "Adrina, you have lousy taste in boyfriends. You might want to work on that." Kael called over his shoulder when he was half-way to the door. Better to leave her a bit exasperated rather than dwelling on Danny and his stupidity, right?

[Adrina De Luca G6]

Adrina’s head had finally stopped spinning. Was it over? Was it anywhere near over? Danny wasn’t fighting it. He had stopped even talking to Kael. Danny just kept giving him looks over and over again. Something was different about him. He wasn’t the same. The old Danny wouldn’t have been this stubborn. The old Danny would have viewed Kael as Adrina’s friend and nothing more. This was a new boy and it wasn’t the one that Adrina had fallen in love with. Just as Danny knew nothing about the new Adrina, Adrina knew nothing about the Danny. Did she like it that way? Not really. Adrina had once prided herself in knowing so much about Danny when she still hid some much from him. Back then, there was something exciting about that. But all of the excitement with Danny was gone. And Adrina never wanted there to be anything between them again.

Adrina eyed Kael. Did he even understand how much of a favor he was doing her? Adrina didn’t know if he even understood. The fact that Kael was helping her meant a lot to Adrina even if she wouldn’t say it. The only problem with it all was that it was a little too..good? Convincing? Real. No, not real. It was a game. Just a game, right? The more Kael spoke, the more Adrina wondered. Love? What he was saying was fake. Fake. Adrina knew this, but the way he said it. It tugged on her heart a bit. But, that was just because she had been in love with Danny once, right? Adrina looked at Kael and the look in his eyes. He was doing this as a favor. A favor and nothing more. Then how come Adrina liked what he was saying? How could she like the idea of what he was saying. Him being there for her and Gia. Why did it feel soo..soo..right?

Adrina’s heart pounded when Kael told Danny to think of Gia as his daughter. Still, Danny didn’t say a word. He just looked at Adrina not Kael. He just looked at the look at her face. She was trying to put on a front, but the feelings inside of her were doing that for her. Adrina’s brain was spinning. It wasn’t spinning because of Danny’s presence anymore. It was spinning because she liked what Kael was saying. She liked the idea of the things he was saying. Adrina looked at Kael. This was affecting him too. She could see it in his face, but only a little bit. Danny wouldn’t be able to detect it. It was something that only Adrina could see. Adrina just wanted Danny to leave so that she could talk to Kael about it. So that they could clear the air. But, did they really need to clear the air or did they need to admit some things?

Within moments, Danny was gone. Adrina took a deep breath in and she knew that Kael was doing the same. It had been too much. It had been too much for the new friendship. Too much too soon. Could their friendship even take it? Adrina listened to Kael’s words. Did he mean it? Did he mean to be that cold to her? She wasn’t so sure. “I wasn’t in tears.” She said defensively. “He was annoying me too. I mean he was gone for a year. He can’t just come back like that. I wouldn’t let him.” She hated defending herself to Kael, but her guard was building back up. She felt like she had to. “So that’s why you did it. That’s it.” She wasn’t really asking it like a question. She was just stating things. She tried to look him in the eyes but it was difficult. Kael was acting to Adrina the same way he had acted to Danny. It was upsetting her, making her angry even. He began to walk away but his words clung to her. Adrina followed him without saying a word. She had such passion mixed with anger in her eyes. Adrina took her hand to his shoulder and turned him around. Well, she had always known what she wanted. She looked at him dead in the eyes. She wanted to yell at him for what he had said about her taste in boyfriends but she didn’t. she was too confused about everything that had happened. Adrina just felt the anger build up inside of her and finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. “You can’t make me.” She said finally not caring that her words founded so strong and yet so little-kid like. Adrina leaned in, put her hand on his cheek and kissed him. She didn’t know where the emotion had come from. It could have been from so many things but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that moment, that one moment where she made the decision to kiss him. The kiss was a mix of emotions: good and bad. But, none of that mattered to her. The kiss started out fierce and anger driver but grew softer and yet more complex as the anger inside Adrina faded. She would have never guess that she would feel this connected to someone in a kiss. She never knew that she would feel anything in this kiss, but she did. When they broke off, Adrina looked into his hazel eyes. It was his move. He could run away or he could say. Adrina didn’t know what he would do but her actions were clear. Now it was his turn.

[Kael Adams H6]

If this boy was who Adrina had, at one time, wanted so much that she had let him father her daughter then Kael was starting to doubt the sanity levels of the girl standing next to him. From what Kael could make out, Danny was clearly delusional. When he had first showed up, Kael had shown no signs of being anything more to Adrina than a concerned friend wanting to know if she needed any help in getting rid of the loud male who was obviously bothering her. So he was delusional, jealous, perhaps a slightly bit psychotic and a whole lot in love with Adrina. It was a bad mixture and it couldn't be allowed to continue. Letting Danny's idiotic thoughts and accusations carry on and continue bothering Adrina - perhaps at a time when Kael wouldn't be there to make him back off - simply wasn't an option. The fact that Adrina was still a little bit in love with him was troublesome. If she had just pushed him away at the beginning, then Kael wouldn't have been needed to step in at all.

Yet...would not stepping in at all be favourable to steppng in? Somehow, Kael didn't think so. His words and actions were all lies, just lies. Convincing lies, because Kael wouldn't let them be anything less, but still lies. He had no doubts that, to Adrina, he was just a friend doing whatever necessary to rid them of the presence of someone whom neither of them particularly liked. He was protecting her and driving Danny away as a favour; nothing more, nothing less. It didn't matter that his words rang somewhat true in his own ears. Maybe he was more of a Slytherin than a Hufflepuff, Kael thought wryly. Because how cunning was it to think about how easy - so, so easy - it would be to make Adrina his own girlfriend while acting like a concerned friend who only wanted the best for her. But cruelty wasn't part of his personality and it would certainly be cruel to take advantage of her in such a way. And cruel to him, because it wouldn't be true.

They would have a lot to talk about between themselves after Danny left. It was necessary, because these lies were affecting both of them, but it wasn't really something Kael wanted to put himself through. Not when his own feelings were so raw; when he felt so defenseless because his lies were true and how long could he expect Adrina to not see that? The more the conversation dragged on, the more defenseless Kael felt and the more he wanted to just drag Danny outside, maybe punch him for being so troublesome. But what a way to give his feelings away. It would be too obvious and Kael much preferred subtlety. Not just for emotions - though he usually pushed them away rather than deal with them at all unless it was urgent - but in every aspect of his life. Nobody had the right to know his business except him and the few he chose to share certain things with.

It stung to be cold to her and that feeling just increased as he could practically see Adrina building her defenses up again. Against him. "You may not have been in tears but you were certainly close to it." Kael agreed passively, his voice distantly polite, treating her like a stranger who just wouldn't leave him alone. "You almost did let him, as I recall. If he had just approached you in a different way - perhaps with flowers and a sincere apology - then I quite honestly think that he would have been back in your life." It felt odd to talk about something like that with her while treating her like a stranger. Kael raised an eyebrow quizzically, his own guard so far up that not even his twin sister would have been able to tell anything from his expression at that moment. "You expected there to be another reason? Our act in front of Danny was just that, an act. Don't get pretend mixed up with reality, Adrina." The words were more for himself than her, sharply reminding himself that whatever he felt for her - Adrina did indeed just think he was acting.

Even as he walked away, Kael could tell she was following him. It was annoying, because he wanted nothing more than to go home, spend some time with the newest litter of kittens - he had intended totake Adrina and Gia to see them at some time but he doubted that his plan would ever happen now - and calm himself down enough to sort through his emotions and desperately try to convince himself that he really was just acting when he said he felt more for Adrina than friendship. But it was also reassuring because it was a sign that Adrina wasn't going to just let their friendship dissolve like that. Ah. Kael could feel himself blink owlishly when she kissed him, his retort to her childish words dying before they reached his mouth. It was an unexpected but welcome action and he grinned slightly before returning the kiss, letting some of his own emotions show through. When Adrina pulled back, Kael tilted his head slightly, examining her face wordlessly. "I don't love you," Kael said bluntly, the idea of softening the words not occurring to him because that just wasn't who he was. The truth was the truth, no matter how it was phrased. "Love doesn't happen in a few seconds. But I think I could, if you let me. There's a connection between us and it's more than friendship, I'd say we've both realised that," Kael remarked dryly, referring to the kiss. "So what do you say, shall we give it a try?"

[Adrina De Luca G6]

All of Kael’s cold words faded the moment that Adrina’s lips touched his. It was if that was all he needed to stop the coldest. His guard had built back up again just as Adrina’s had. Obviously, Adrina had a secret fear of being hurt again even if she would never tell Kael. Maybe he left the same way. It wasn’t impossible after all. Adrina didn’t like it much that Kael was talking to her like her talked to Danny. But, then again, she wasn’t one to go in a closet in cry. Adrina understood where Kael’s actions were coming from. She would have done the same thing most likely. It was easier to try and hurt someone than to try and deal with hurt yourself. Both of them were obviously affected by this. There little scheme worked better on them than it had on Danny. This was pretty much the reason why Adrina had kissed Kael. She didn’t like to be treated like Danny or like an idiot. She wouldn’t stand for it actually. Later, Adrina would probably say that she did it to shut him up even if that was pretty much a lie. But, Adrina knew that people would see through that.

Adrina looked into his hazel eyes. All of the cold things he had said to her previously faded. They didn’t matter any more even though Adrina made a mental note to push him for that later. He was like her in many ways. They were both afraid even if they both refused to admit it to themselves. Adrina knew that she had a lot to think about later on. After all, she wasn’t living for herself. She had Gia to think about as well. Adrina wouldn’t even think about how Kael thought about her having a baby. A lot of guys wouldn’t even look at her because of that fact. She didn’t care though. She didn’t care about those guys. They were all of stupid and naïve as Danny. They didn’t matter to her. Adrina had tried to tell herself that Kael didn’t matter to her either, but that hadn’t worked obviously. Adrina lied to herself too often but she couldn’t this time.

Adrina felt a hint of smile come to her lips as she eyed the look on his face. If it wasn’t such a tense and emotion-driven situation, she would have laughed. But she didn’t, she couldn’t. This wasn’t the same as it had been with Danny. True, Adrina had kissed him first as well, but she had always had that dominant flair about her. But, with Danny. It was a friendship. As Adrina looked back on it, could she really call that love? Maybe it wasn’t love. Maybe it was just the possibility of it. Like ‘one day we’ll be in love.’ Maybe that was all her relationship with Danny had been. She wasn’t sure really, but she was okay with that. Whatever she had with Danny was in the past. Adrina had tried her best to make that extremely clear. Adrina and Danny were nothing more than a childhood story now. It was time for a new story.

Adrina didn’t make a move when Kael said that he didn’t love her. Why did they have so much in common? Of course Kael and Adrina would be the only two people on the face of the planet to think about that just after a first kiss, but they had. Adrina took a sharp breathe. “I don’t love you either.” She said bluntly as well. His words hadn’t offended her. She knew what he meant. Most girls would run away if a boy told her what Kael had just told Adrina, but not Adrina. She thought about things in a different light. “I didn’t kiss you because I love you. I kissed you because I can and because any other boy would turn his back on me the second he saw Danny coming.” Adrina paused and smiled at her next statement. “And the fact that we have a connection helped me in the moment where I decided to kiss you, as well.” She hoped that he wasn’t offended that she hadn’t put a great deal of thought into it. She hadn’t needed any extra thought. Adrina knew what she wanted as she always had. Well, except for one thing. Had she known that she wanted Gia before she was born? Not really. But the second Adrina saw her, she knew that she wanted her for ever. She didn’t need anymore thought. She already knew the answer.

Adrina took another sharp breath in. She barely spoke of love, especially like this. It was a touchy subject for her. Adrina blinked when Kael said that he thought he could love her. The question was could she love him? The fact that the word yes was coming into Adrina’s head scared her quite a bit, but she didn’t let that show. “Love is difficult with me.” She said truthfully. Her guard was steadily backing down. “I mean with Gia and all and everything that has happened. But, is love impossible to one day get between us?” She paused and smiled her mechevious smile. “I don’t think so.” After a second, Adrina smiled and nodded. “Why not? I’ve always said that we have one life to live.” That was his answer even if she didn’t say yes straight on. Adrina smiled and bit and looked into his eyes again. “So, what now?” She asked him truthfully. This had been a big day for both of them, obviously. And hopefully everything that had happened would remain that way for awhile.

[Kael Adams H6]

There wouldn't be any going back after this. How dramatic, especially considering that Kael had never been one for drama - Lynne made his life hectic enough without adding anything else into the mix. And yet that was the only thought that stayed in his head without change, from the moment his lips touched hers to when she pulled back and stepped away slightly. If he chose to pursue this thing further, if they decided to date then...that would mean him opening up and letting his guard down more than ever before. It would mean accepting another person into his small world; a world that currently only held two people. It might seem childish and naive, but he wasn't entirely sure if his world could expand enough to let Adrina in; he hadn't let anyone into his world in such a long time, or rather never. Himself and his sister were the only people in his world and it had always been that way, with his mind always working for the best lives for them. His sisters world had grown far more quickly than his, but she was less cautious and that had been years ago. Maybe he was too careful and cynical and closed-off to let anyone else enter his world anymore. He didn't like the idea of having lost that chance but it was entirely possible. But that couldn't be the case. Not when the connection - really he had to come up with a better word for it than that; he wasn't a writer for nothing! - that he felt between himself and Adrina was so strong, even at their first meeting. Being honest with himself would mean him realising that it wasn't so much that he couldn't let her into his world quite so much as he was afraid to. Once she was in his world, she was in his heart and he wouldn't be able to erase that. But Kael was rarely honest with himself when it came to such matters; it was simply easier not to be.

She wasn't his first girlfriend and cynicism dictated that she wouldn't be his last. She'd certainly be the one that Lynnette would be most excited to meet with and talk with, because he just knew that his twin would want to know what had made Kael accept someone after only meeting them once. Lynne's opinion was important to him - she was his twin and the only one that he knew he could rely on forever, besides himself - and she had good judgment as well, when it came to people. But would he listen to her if Lynne declared that she didn't like Adrina and that she was all wrong for him? No, interestingly enough, he didn't think he would. It was strange, rather unnerving, to think that his affection for Adrina was already enough to make him ignore his sisters advice if he had to. He didn't love her, not yet, but he was pretty certain that in time he'd worry about how fast he was falling.

"I'm glad we've agreed that we don't love each other," Kael's lips quirked into a small, amused grin. What an odd conversation to happen straight after their first kiss and yet, how utterly them it was. He suspected Adrina was somewhat wary of love after Danny and his betrayal so he hadn't expected a grand declaration of love from her. Not to mention that it would probably creep him out a bit. Kael, well he was just practical in his own blunt way. He didn't want any misunderstandings between them and certainly not over a sensitive topic like love in a relationship. It just complicated things and he didn't much like complications unless they were really needed. "I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I was raised to be a gentleman. With Lynne and Vic around to influence me, I couldn't grow up to be anything else," Kael laughed lightly before turning serious again. "So walking away when I knew that you needed help - that'd be going against everything that I was raised to honour. Now, don't misunderstand," he added hurriedly, "I'm not going to step in on every disagreement you have; how boring. Just when you actually need help and I can see that you've acknowledged that fact." Kael smiled humourlessly. "Don't make me tell you about all the times I've been slapped by my sister because I help her in situations when she hadn't realised that she was helpless. That included an ex-boyfriend also. Like I said, you two might have a lot in common."

"Love is difficult for all of us, I think." Kael replied thoughtfully. "It means opening yourself up to another person and making them a huge priority in your life. It's hard to think if the rewards are better than the sacrifices you have to make. Then again, the scariness of it depends on how open you are to your friends and the people around you in general." In which case, it'd be more terrifying than anything else imaginable for him. He who pushed away emotions as annoying and hid from them until they passed by and faded, he was seriously thinking about love? In a rather clinical and analysing manner, but love all the same. "Now?" Kael's grin slipped into a disgruntled expression as he looked at his watch. "Now I have to get back to the house because it's time to feed the kittens and I know very well that my irresponsible twin won't even think of doing it. Which is just as well because if she did, she'd get attached and then we'd never be able to sell them and we'd have to rely on the my parents business for our own money and that just wouldn't turn out well. Do I get a goodbye kiss before I go?" Kael teased wickedly, his gaze laughingly expectant. Part of him wanted to take her and Gia - they'd have to collect the baby beforehand of course - back to see the kittens but he didn't want to push it. Nor did he want to be in the immediate vicinity when Lynne let loose one of her high-pitched squeals at seeing Adrina.

[Adrina De Luca G6]

Adrina smiled a tad. Was she actually happy with this? This was the same girl whose ex-boyfriend had just shown up and caused a total uproar and now she was happy in the arms of another guy? Craziness really. But, Adrina’s life was crazy in general. It always had been. Adrina just had to decide if this was what she really wanted. Could she handle another relationship after her last one ended so badly? Adrina wasn’t sure yet, but she was sure that she liked Kael. Adrina wasn’t naïve to think that liking him was enough, but if only life could be that simple. This was a good thing. Or at least Adrina had a feeling that it would be. For the moment, she could only go on feelings and nothing more. After all, it had been a rather confusing day. But, had it ended out good? The answer was yes or at least it seemed to be. Adrina tried to hide her smile, but it was hard. She never would have imagined in a million years that this day would end up like this, but it had. Maybe the girl that didn’t believe in fate should start because maybe her’s was unraveling before her very eyes.

Adrina nodded at Kael’s words. “Me too.” She agreed. Yep, the two weren’t exactly a normal couple that was for sure. They didn’t go about things as normal people did. After all, who else would talk about love seconds after their first kiss? Only Adrina and Kael could pull off such a thing. It was in their nature, really. Adrina had a future to consider. She had Gia’s future as well. And the scary part was, Adrina could see Kael in both of their futures. Most girls would be thrilled by this thought. But, Adrina was a tad frightened by it. Love still scared her a bit even if she wouldn’t admit it. After all, she had promised herself that she would never be hurt again. Was she setting herself up for a second dose of hurt or was she simple following her heart and mind? Only time would answer that question. But, if Adrina knew Kael as well as she thought she did, he wouldn’t hurt her. Or at least, he wouldn’t do it on purpose. Right?

Adrina laughed lightly. “It’s a good quality to have Kael Collins and don’t let anyone else tell you other.” She paused and smiled. “Hmm, I’m sure you’d ignore them anyways.” Among other things, but she didn’t add that little comment in there. Yep, Adrina and Kael had a lot of personality wise things in common. For one thing, they weren’t exactly the nicest of people on the planet, but some would call that character. And Adrina liked it when it was said that way. It suited her, well in a way at least. “Believe me, the only situation you might want to step in on is if I’m about to hex a Slytherin, but that would simple be for their protection.” She chuckled a bit before her face turned serious. “Look, I promise that I’m not as dramatic as..that.” She said referring to Danny and all the drama that had occurred minutes before.” Adrina smiled only a tad. “No more ex-boyfriends will be showing up any time soon if they know what’s good for them.” She paused and then looked at Kael again.

“I want to meet her.” Adrina said referring to Lynne. If Kael said that they might have a lot in common, then Lynne was worth Adrina’s time. Plus. Obviously Kael cared a lot about Lynne. So then, Adrina would meet her. Adrina sighed. “I’ve been in love before and it was brutal to say the least. It was kid-like and fake, I won’t make that mistake again.” By this, she was telling him that she wasn’t going to settle for fake love. She wouldn’t tell Kael that she loved him until she meant it, unlike some other girls. Adrina wasn’t like them. She did things her own way. And this was how she was going to do it. Adrina smiled a tad at Kael’s answer to her question. She nodded. “Okay. And now, I have to go back to the cottage to take care of my baby so we’re kind of even I guess.” She smiled slightly. Adrina raised an eye-brow at Kael’s next question. “Do you? C’mon Kael you know that the best comes to those who wait.” She said seriously and then she smiled and started to turn away. But, she stopped herself and looked back it him. “What the heck.” She took the steps back to him, grabbed his shoulder and kissed him again. It wasn’t so much as a goodbye kiss, but more of a begin to something kiss. This was the beginning of something or at least it looked that way. Adrina smiled as she kissed him, liking that he was so close to her. She pulled back after a second and took a few steps back. “I’ll be seeing you Collins.” She said as she turned and walked out of the book store. A smile was seen on her face as she walked outdoors. She was going to tell Gia absolutely everything even if the baby didn’t understand. This was all Adrina could think about as she walked to the cottage. She was so caught up in thoughts that she didn’t even remember that she still had a book to buy back at the store. Oh well. This was so much better than a book.

[Kael Adams H6]

It surprised him that he was content to just let things unfold in their own time. Kael didn’t really like leaving things to chance, because bad things usually happened when he did. Not that he liked planning everything out either, but he did like to have at least a small measure of control over his life. He wouldn’t fool himself into thinking that this – whatever it was, he hadn’t decided yet – would last forever but...maybe just for now was enough? Just for now, he could let himself go, stop trying to control some aspects of his life, and accept that seeing Adrina smile evoked feelings in him that he had never expected to have. Later, he could try to use logic and common sense to explain everything away, but not right now.

“I ignore everyone who tells me something that I don’t want to hear,” Kael agreed. “I knew it! You’re a mean person who delights in torturing Slytherins. No one ever thinks that maybe Gryffindors are just as bad.” Kael raised an eyebrow at her seriously. “Are you quite sure that none of your old boyfriends will be showing up? I don’t really want to have to fight them all off. And you don’t need to prove your bad taste in boyfriends anymore than you already have, I think.”

“Having both you and my sister in the same room at the same time might just drive me insane,” Kael stated plainly. It was true. Both Adrina and Lynne held the same type of stubbornness and plain way of speaking, but they were still different enough to make Kael wonder if they would truly get along or if he would have to keep them separated for fear of arguments and fights breaking out every time they were together. “I’ve never been in love, and I wonder if I ever can be. I think it will be interesting to find out in time.”

“Oh, but what’s the fun in waiting when now is so much more convenient,” Kael responded, already reaching out to pull her back when she made the move herself. Maybe they really were more alike than either of them had realised. Kael couldn’t help but to laugh to himself quietly, watching Adrina leave and wishing that she didn’t have to. “Silly girl,” Kael muttered contentedly, picking up the book that Adrina had left behind and stacking it on top of the one he had picked out for his twin sister. It probably wouldn’t be wise to go back to his house while still smiling because he really didn’t want to answer Lynnette’s unending questions but he had no choice. Maybe he could hide out with the kittens for an hour or so before having to share the news with his twin.