"FREEDOM!" I declared before yawning. I covered my mouth as I stretched. Alice hovered over me, waiting for me to finish my arm stretches before landing back on my shoulder and falling right back to sleep. I petted her head gently, not wanting to wake her up again but wanting to give a silent thanks for her hard work today.
This week had been chaotic with midterms and the tension between Zane and the guys hadn't lightened up one bit. He wasn't home all weekend and when Brax confronted him he said he was studying because he failed the exam.
Poor Kage was willing to help him out, even though he was still upset about being ditched and the whole test incident, but Zane refused, saying he was doing just fine with no one's help and would do his own thing.
That only added gasoline to the fire. Kage cursed him out and was now bunking in our room, claiming the lower bunk while Logan and I shared the top. Since then, we've been far too busy concentrating on our midterms to even get time to breathe.
I was glad it was all over, Braxton, Nixon, and I just completed our Superior Studies of Magic and intense Spell Crafting exam which pushed me to my limits. It was one of the hardest tests I've done in a long time; the magic part was much tougher than the written exam.
Brax and Nixon both looked as exhausted as I felt. We silently made our way home, turning onto Spellbound street when we noticed Kage, Maximus, and Logan coming our way from the opposite street.
"You guys looked like you got beat down," Kage commented, looking puzzled by our tired appearance. We all sighed, not in the mood to talk or explain how the exam went. I'd honestly never cast that many spells in a five minute time period in my life.
"Was the exam hard?" Logan asked me, walking over to my side. We walked next to one another, while Nixon moved up to walk ahead with Kage, both of them quietly talking. Koa was resting on Kage's shoulder, also in deep sleep.
Maximus and Braxton lingered behind us, the two guys in the front and two at the back giving us cover to hold hands as Logan slid his left hand in my right.
"Ya. Far too many spells to do in five minutes. I think it would have been easier if I wasn't Jinn, but it was really draining," I admitted quietly, my deep voice barely audible.
Logan squeezed my hand. "When we get back, you can take a nap before we head back to Natala." I nodded and we reached the house, my eyes wandering to the one across the street. Something caught my attention at the window, silver eyes filled with hatred and a glint of what looked to be orange hair. I blinked, removing my hand from Logan's to rub at my eyes.
"What's wrong?" Logan asked as I stopped, lifting my other hand to rub my left eye.
"I think my eyes are really tired," I confessed, looking back at the house to see no one there, the curtain still open but it revealed only darkness. I blinked and noticed Logan, Braxton, and Maximus follow my gaze.
"Jinn, what's wrong?" Brax asked, putting his hands on my shoulders, already beginning to massage away the tension to calm me down.
"Um...sorry. I think I really need to rest. I'm seeing things," I confessed, unsure who I had just spotted.
"C'mon, let's get you back inside," Maximus urged.
"I'll start a bath for you so you can relax," Logan offered and I nodded my agreement. Brax continued to stare at the window for a few more seconds before he released me and put an arm around my shoulder to whisper in my ear.
"What did you see?" he asked.
"Um..." I looked back to see Maximus and Logan go indoors; Brax signaled that he needed a minute with a simple nod.
“What is it, Jewel?" he whispered insistently.
"Remember how we talked about the orange hair dude? Lark Huntly?" I whispered back; the name alone felt like molasses on my tongue.
"Yes," Brax replied cautiously.
"I feel like I just saw him in the window, but it wasn't really him? If that makes sense? They looked different,” I admitted.
Brax frowned but nodded. "What do your instincts say?"
"That it wasn't a hallucination, but I don't sense anyone in the house," I confessed.
He nodded, looking back again. "Better to be safe than sorry. For now, make sure the curtains are closed when we don't put up the invisible spell. Can you remember to do that?"
I nodded. "Sure can. I'll remember."
"Good. I'll talk with the others to be more cautious."
"What about Zane?" I asked, unsure where he stood.
"He won't say a thing," Brax replied.
"How do you know?" I countered.
"Because I put a spell on him so if questioned, he couldn’t reveal that Jinn is Jewel. I did it when he was asleep."
I gawked at him punching his arm. "Ow! Fuck Jinn, for a damn girl you punch hard,” he seethed quietly, rubbing his arm.
"You can't put spells on people when they're sleeping. Don't pull a Nixon," I scolded.
"Nixon can do it, but I can't?" He eyed me.
I huffed. "He does it in a cute innocent way."
Brax put his arm back on my shoulder. "Cute way? I am adorable, and last time I checked, you have a photo of me with Alice in bunny form in my lap when I fell asleep on the couch two days ago." He winked and my face grew red. How did he?!
I elbowed him with my right arm and he coughed, holding his stomach like I kicked him. "Jinn! Fuck...abuse. Call the Mage 911!" I sighed at his exaggerated outburst. I looked one last time at the window which was still empty and moved to walk up the three steps to the house, a struggling Brax behind me.
Whoever that guy was, I hoped he was nothing but a hallucination.
"Oh my! Jewel, I didn't think you'd bring five husbands home," Mom greeted at the door.
I blushed as the guys snickered behind me. "Mom! They're not my husbands. Not yet...I mean, we're here to visit," I exclaimed, walking in and gesturing for the guys to come in.
They each gave my mom a half bow, before entering and taking their shoes off. "Well, it's not like you warned me you were coming. How are you?" Mom closed the door before she pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged her back, having missed her dearly.
She looked so much better than when I left her. Today she was dressed up so nicely compared to her usual pajamas and messy bed hair. I pulled back to look into her gold eyes which were bright and full of life compared to their previous dull appearance and her hair was brushed out and even in loose curls.
"Mom, you look so nice," I commented, my heart warming up at how healthy she looked that it brought tears to my eyes.
"Hey, why are you crying?" Her hand reached up and wiped away the tear that rolled down my cheek. I didn't mean to cry, especially with the guys quietly standing in the hall, giving us space to have a moment.
"It's just...you look so different...way better than when I was here," I whispered, wondering if my presence was what was making her health worse.
"Oh sweetie, not at all." Mother hugged me, tightening her hold while I squeezed her back and cried into her shoulder. "Why would you think that? Just because I'm sick, doesn't mean I couldn't see all you do for me,” she soothed, stroking my hair. I nodded, pulling back as I tried to calm my emotions. I guess I hadn't realized how affected I was with being away from my mom. I went from seeing her every day and ensuring she was okay to attending an all-boy school, acting like a boy myself using magic, and had gotten so caught up with studying and magic spells I hadn't even called to check on her.
I'd been trying to ignore how horrible I felt for basically abandoning her, yet here she was, looking better than I'd seen her in years, not because of me being here but because I was gone.
Mother lifted her hands to press them on my tear-stained cheeks, moving my head so her forehead pressed against mine. "Listen to me. You are my sweet daughter who has taken care of me for years when everyone else abandoned me like a mental case. When you went away, Antoinette mentioned she and her husband were working on a medication that would slow the progress. We're still testing it, but every day she's shown me a picture of you and asked me to tell her who it was. It's working slowly and maybe in time they'll find a way to cure me."
I was speechless, more tears rolling down my cheeks at the new information delivered to me. She's going to get better? She'll know who I am.
"Hoot?" Alice who'd been on Maximus’ shoulder today flew over to land on mine and lowered her head to Mom who laughed, blinking back her tears as she petted Alice.
"She's going to be better?" Alice's voice was filled with emotion.
Mother smiled. "If I keep up with the meds and therapy, I will get better."
I smiled and Alice fluttered her wings, making my mother giggle. "That's a relief, Mom. I'm really happy," I whispered.
Mom's hand brushed my cheek, rubbing it soothingly with her thumb, helping my fears and anxiety slowly dissipate. "I'm happy too, and I'm so sorry for letting you go to Brighten. I know you went out of your own good will, but I should have never placed you in that position to begin with. If you don't want to go back, I can talk with the headmaster and get everything sorted."
I bit my lip, taking a peek at the five guys who'd gone from strangers to individuals who cared about me even more than my own relatives or previous classmates that I’d known for years. They all wore sad expressions, even Nixon and Brax looked disappointed after clearly hearing my mother's comment.
Mother squeezed my arms, grabbing my attention. "Don't worry, you don't need to tell me now. Let me know when you’re leaving, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks, Mom." I hugged her again and tried to put the thought to the back of my mind until I could ponder it more. I wanted to come back home and stay with her, especially in this new rejuvenated state where we could enjoy walks and I could show her the town while the weather was warm, but my heart hurt at the thought of leaving the guys. Was it weird that I already felt attached to them?
It would be my sixth week being in their lives, but it felt like it had been months and I enjoyed their company and love. Would I really be able to abandon them halfway?
Mother patted me on the back and pulled away. "Now, no more tears. You have to introduce me to my future son-in-laws."
The guys coughed and choked while I blushed in embarrassment. "Mom!"
"Hoot Hoot!" Alice cheered, fluttering her wings.
"YOU TELL HER MOMMY. I want five weddings and cake. There has to be cake!"
You settle down. I will not have five weddings AND look who’s talking Miss ‘I'm all smitten for a certain bald eagle familiar!’ Don't think I didn't hear those noises las-OW!
Alice poked my head with her beak. "Mom! Alice hit me," I whined.
My mom rolled her eyes. "Work out your differences, but Alice no head hitting."
We both frowned. "Meanie," I mumbled.
"She's like Switzerland," Alice commented.
I nodded in agreement. Always neutral in everything, jeez. Alice flew to sit on Kage's shoulder as I smiled at Mother, both of us sharing a look before we giggled.
"Oh, Jewel's back, and she brought company. It's good I bought enough ingredients for two cheesecakes.”
I turned my head to see Logan's mom enter the hall. Logan smiled walking over to his mom. "Hey, Mom."
She beamed at him, giving him a tight hug. "Welcome back, my son. How's school life? You made some friends I see."
"Ya. They're annoying," Logan replied.
"Hey!" The other guys complained.
Logan grinned. "Annoying, but not bad. They're learning the art of sharing."
I blushed when he looked back at me with a wide grin. I huffed. "Let's make food, I'm hungry," I announced, trying to brush off his comment.
Mom patted me on the shoulder "You should go rest, we can start making some food for all of you."
"I can help with the cheesecake," Kage offered.
"I guess I'll help too. He'll eat it all otherwise," Brax pointed out.
"I would not," Kage argued.
"Says the guy who made us cupcakes which were gone by the time we all gathered in the living room." Maximus sighed dramatically.
"That's because you guys took too long," Kage retorted.
"Uh huh," Brax and Maximus said together.
Nixon walked back over to where I was, putting his chin on my shoulder. "I'm gonna nap with Jewel."
"Oh no you’re not. Your ass is not napping," Logan countered, walking over to us and grabbing Nixon's arm, dragging him slowly towards the living room. "We have yard work to do."
"My hands are too sacred and delicate for such labor. Help," Nixon called out, sounding exhausted.
"Poor guy." Maximus shook his head, he and Kage following Logan's mom to the kitchen.
Mother smiled. "See, they're all so lovely. Let me go show Logan and your other boyfriend where the tool shed is. We moved it when we redecorated the backyard." She clapped her hands.
I watched her walk down the hall, following where Logan and Nixon, leaving me speechless with Brax, who had a wide grin on his face. "Your mom is adorable."
"You're just happy she's all accepting of whatever this is," I said, waving my hands between us for emphasis.
Brax walked over to me, placing his large hands on my hips. I looked up to meet his gaze.
"Whatever this is?" he repeated as a question.
"Yes," I replied fighting to not get lost in his gorgeous eyes that looked darker than they had moments before. "This," I whispered, going on my tiptoes to kiss him. His lips met mine halfway, colliding with one another. We kissed nice and slow, both of us smiling when we pulled away to stare into one another's eyes.
"I like this," Brax admitted.
I giggled. "Me too.” We kissed again, my arms wrapping around his waist and pulling him close. We stepped back when we heard a clicking noise, turning our heads to see Kage with his camera.
"I'll save that for the 'Year One at Brighten Magic Academy' album," he vowed, casually walking back to the kitchen like he didn't see us making out.
Brax glanced at me and I gave him a curious look. "Not gonna randomly chase after your brother and force him to delete it?"
He laughed. "Why would I? I want ten copies of that picture and have a shirt made that says 'I'm Third' on it with the picture below it as evidence."
"What?! No shirts," I whined as his hand slid into mine.
"Lots of shirts. We'll each get one with our number on the back like a football team. At least then we can knock out anyone who thinks they can steal ya." He gave me a wink and pulled me forward to go to the kitchen.
"As long as I get one of each," I mumbled, my face flushed with his direct approach.
"Of course, Precious. One shirt for each of us," Brax confirmed with a grin.
I smiled, but the tiny spot in my heart wished Zane was also here to enjoy this.
Maybe he didn't want this after all...