Maximus
You know, I’ve come to realize we have no luck. I mean absolutely none. We get more questions than answers, more problems yet no solutions. I hate being Debbie Downer, but something needs to turn around. I know all of my friends think I’m just a big ball of fun, and I am, but I’m more than that. I can have good ideas and thoughts. Like now, well I don’t know if they would consider it a good idea. In this case it’s more of a question.
“Hey guys.” Everyone turns and looks at me. “So, I was thinking about our text message conversation from the other day and I was wondering…”
“Just spit it out already,” Graydon grumbles.
“Chill out, I’m getting there.”
“Well, get there faster.”
“Fine, Mr. Impatient. I was wondering how are we going to find who has the talisman. I mean Lorcan had to give it to someone, right? But, who would he give it to? There had to be someone he was close to or at the very least trusted enough.”
“Actually, that’s a great idea. I think our best option will be to contact Alcina. We have to test her loyalty at some point and what better way. Plus, I’d like to know sooner rather than later if she’s going to betray us,” Callie states. “I’ll contact her as soon as I talk to Cat. I want her there as well. It can’t hurt to have another set of eyes of Alcina.”
“Well, now that has been established, I have one more question, but this one is just for Callie.” I wait until I have her attention, which doesn’t take much. She gives each of us her undivided attention when we are speaking to her. I wait just long enough to pique her interest and to annoy Graydon. “Callie, will you go out on a date with me?”
I see the shock on her face. It’s the one thing we haven’t done one on one. We always do things as a group, and I’m cool with that; it's just I want to spend some time with her by herself. Callie isn’t the only one that is shocked. The rest of the guys are wearing similar expressions. I can’t help but smile. I beat them to something for once. I put my focus back on Callie, eagerly awaiting her answer. Luckily, she doesn’t make me wait long.
“I would love to go out on a date with you,” she says. I love the smile she gives before she launches herself at me. I laugh as she squeezes me in one of the fiercest yet happiest hugs. I hug her right back.
“Good. Friday night, it’s a date.”
Callie steps back and giggles. “I can’t wait to tell Cat.”
That has to be the girliest I’ve seen Callie act since we’ve meet. The bell picks that moment to ring. Callie grabs my hand and practical skips us down the hallway.
“Um, angel?” She stops and looks at me. “You do realize that we don’t have the next class together, right? My class is on the other side of the building.” She cocks her head, thinking.
“My bad.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I was so caught up in the moment that I didn’t think about it. But you better go before you are late to class.” She steps forward, gets on her tiptoes, and gives me a quick kiss.
“Hell, I don’t mind being late for class if you’re going to kiss me. But, I want a real kiss.” She shakes her head but smiles.
“Get to class, I’ll give you a proper kiss after school. No need to get in more trouble.” I pout. She has a point, but my next teacher is Mrs. Harden and she loves me. “Oh no. That pout won’t work on me. Go. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
I give her a quick peck on the cheek. “If you insist.”
“I do.”
“See you in a few.” I turn to walk to my class when I notice the rest of the guys are still staring. Lucian still hasn’t moved, and we have the same next class. Lucian is never late. “Lucian, you ready? We have the same class, so we better get a move on before we’re late.”
“Y-yeah.”
I smirk. It’s nice to see Lucian stumbling around at a loss for words. You know, seeing as how he is always so good with them. I send Callie a wink before walking to my next class. It takes a moment, but Lucian follows and then speaks.
“What made you ask Callie out?”
“Why? You don’t think I should have? I’m her mate too you know.”
“I know. That’s not how I meant it. I mean, what gave you the idea? None of us thought about it? I’m actually surprised none of us didn’t think of it sooner.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Honestly, I don’t know. The only date she has been on was the group one to the bowling alley. We all know how well that worked out. Look, I know that I don’t take things too seriously, I mean I do when necessary, but Callie needs a break from all of this. Hell, we need a break from all of this. I just thought what better way than to take her out and have some fun. Plus, we all need to spend time with her one on one. It’s awesome doing things as a group, but we can’t do everything together. Well, we could, though it might get awkward.” I look over at Lucian and see his bewildered expression, and I can’t help but to laugh. “I’m kidding, well mostly. It would probably be hella awkward, but I would do anything for Callie.” Lucian shakes his head, but I see the smirk.
“It’s a good idea Max, and your logic behind it is sound. You know you just opened a can of worms, right? The rest of are going to ask her out as well.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” I clap him on the back as we walk to our seats. Now, I need to plan for a date with my mate. Something fun. I know just the thing.
Graydon
I can’t believe how stupid we’ve been. How the hell did none of us think to ask Callie on a date? We have to be some of the worst mates around. I wipe my hands down my face. Max out of all of us being the one who thinks of it first almost makes it worse. Though, it makes sense. He is what you would consider the ladies’ man out of all of us. Before Callie arrived, I don’t remember a time when he didn’t have some date, or some girl lined up. I just hope that he doesn’t treat Callie like she is just another notch in his belt, because if he does, I’ll kick his ass. No way in hell would I let him or any of them treat Callie like crap.
I look over Callie’s head to Zeke. He’s frowning and seems lost in thought, and I would bet any money he’s kicking himself in the ass about this whole thing as well. I cross my arms over my chest and scowl. I have no interest in doing whatever art project the teacher assigned up for the day. I glance at Callie, who is lost in her own thoughts. It’s the smile on her face that catches my attention. I don’t think I’ve seen a smile on her face like that since we met. Of course, Max is the one to put it there, Mr. Funny Guy. It only angers me more.
Why couldn’t I have been the one to think of it? I could have had another one of Callie’s first. Her first single date. Her first date was with all of us and I’m fine with that, but I also ruined it because of my attitude. Now I have to make it up to her when I ask her out on our date, because Max is crazy if he thinks no one else is going too. I just have to do it.
I clear my throat, but it comes out as more of a growl, which has Callie turning my way.
You okay?
Being able to silently communicate makes things a whole lot easier, especially in class.
Yes and no.
Care to explain.
I sigh. Here we go, my insecurities are coming out to play, and once again, I find myself telling her what’s wrong.
I’m just kicking myself right now because of the whole date thing. I’m pissed that I didn’t think to ask you out. I mean what kind of mate does that? I should know better.
Graydon, you’re being too hard on yourself. I don’t think any of us were even thinking about dates. We have a lot going on right now. We’ve all been so focused on trying to solve our war problems that things like dates have been put on the back burner.
I know you’re right but still.
There will be plenty of time for dates once we defeat Circe and whoever she is helping.
I know, but Callie, I wait until she meets my eyes, will you go out on a date with me sometime?
She smiles, and I swear a piece of my black heart melts.
Of course, I would love to go out on a date with you.
The tightness in my chest eases. I didn’t think she would say no. Callie is too good for me. She deserves someone better, but God help me, I couldn’t stay away from her even if I tried. Even if we weren't mates, I would still have been drawn to her. I just don’t know how well I could have broken through her barriers without the help of the others. I’m not exactly what you call warm and fuzzy.
The rest of Art passes by pretty quickly, and Zeke barely says a word. I was going to wait until after we walked Callie to next class before I talked to him, but I don’t get the chance.
“Graydon, go on ahead. I’ll make sure Callie gets to class. I need to talk to her anyway.”
The corner of my mouth lifts slightly. I know what he’s going to do, so I give him the privacy. I clap him on the shoulder before I walk away.
I don’t understand why we are so nervous about this. It's not like we haven’t all asked a girl out before. Out of all of us, I don’t have the best luck with females. Now, I have to come up with a date to impress my mate. Where the hell am I going to take her? What the hell do we even have in common? Is it stupid to take her to do something that I like to do? Maybe she will end up enjoying it just as much as I do. Then it comes to me. I know exactly what we’re going to do on our date, and the guys are going to kill me for it later, but it will so be worth it.
Zeke
Through Art class, all I could think about was how I was going to ask Callyn out. I shouldn’t be this nervous. I think the last time I was this nervous to ask a girl out was the first time I did it. I didn’t realize how long I was taking to ask her until I saw the gymnasium in front of me.
“Are you okay, Zeke? You’ve been acting weird since lunch.”
Have I? I guess I’ve been quieter than normal, but I’m just wallowing in my own self-pity because I didn’t think to ask Callie out on a date. One of the most fundamental things in a teenager’s life and none of us, but Max, was smart enough to think of it.
I lift my hand and rub the back of my neck. “I’m okay. Um...I was just wondering if maybe...you would like to go out on a date with me?” I rush out. Then I start to look everywhere but at her.
“Zeke,” her voice begging me to look at her. She smiles, and it’s the best thing that I’ve seen. “I would love to go out on a date with you. Though you might want to talk to the others because all of you, but Lucian, has asked me out. We’ll need to let everyone know what day their date is.” She shakes her head. “I’m going to be a busy girl with the four of you, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She steps forward and gives me a hug. I wrap my arms around her and bury my nose in her hair. I love the way she smells, like vanilla and strawberries. She pulls back and searches my face. I smile the biggest smile I can give because she has made me the happiest man alive.
“Go, before you’re late for class. I have to hurry and change before I’m late as well.”
I place a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll see you in a little a bit.” She nods before turning and walking into the girl’s locker room. I turn and practically have to jog to make it to my next class. I just step into the room when the tardy bell rings.
I’m on cloud nine. She is going to be going on four dates, even if Lucian hasn’t asked her yet, and I need to make sure I take her somewhere that the others won’t think of. She likes to do new things mostly because she didn’t get to experience a lot living with her stepdad. Maybe Callie is right, and we do need to have a talk, at least to figure out where everyone is taking her, so she doesn’t go on a double date. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out.
I spend the rest of class trying to think of somewhere to take Callie. Class is almost over when I have an idea. I know where and what we’re going to be doing on our date, and I can’t wait.