Author: kharrison

Monica

“Tanya said he was reserving the table under Devon.” Monica repeated to the hostess at the door. “I know I have the right restaurant because I checked with her several times, to be sure.”

“Miss. We don’t make reservations.” The hostess was calm and patient. Surprisingly the woman was still smiling even though Monica was sure she was being her most difficult guest of the night.

“Well, uh. Do you have anyone here who is waiting for someone to arrive? A man.”

The hostess glanced down at her map of tables and quietly consulted the waitress that had come over.

“Miss, come with me.” The waitress nodded, gesturing her further in. “Let’s look around really quick.”

Monica pulled back with a faint blush. “Oh I won’t recognize him. This is a blind date. He was supposed to make a reservation under his name so I’d be able to find him.”

Immediately the waitress stopped and peered over at her. “Well, we can do one of two things. We could go over to the area where we have our tables for two and see if we can sort this out by asking those men without a dinner companion if he is waiting for you or we can go over there and you can yell his name, see who looks.”

“Everyone would look.” She wrung her hands. “I’d look like a crazy person, then no one would fess up to a date with me.”

“So let’s go ask. I’ll stay with you.” She winked. “This way you could be meeting multiple potential future dates while looking for this Devon. Win-win.

Monica had already decided on giving this poor waitress a huge tip for being so patient and asking all these guys if she was their missing date. They were on the last guy, handsome in a rugged kind of way and Monica got a little excited. 

“Sir, we seem to be having a problem that we need to sort out. I’m sorry to interrupt your evening.”

The man looked over them both. “It’s no problem. What can I help you with?”

Monica spoke up. “I’m supposed to be meeting someone here on a blind date and there was a miscommunication. Is your name Devon?”

“Unfortunately no. It’s Bryant. Though I wish you were my blind date. Mine is a half hour late.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’re on a blind date too?”

His wry smile had her heart twisting with an odd ache. “Supposed to be. I wish you luck finding your date.”

“You were my last chance. We’ve asked everyone else.” Her hands dropped to her side. “Sorry to bother you.”

As she turned to walk away another waitress came hurrying up with a huge smile on her face. “We’ve found Devon. He’s at the front.”

Hurrying over to the hostess stand, Monica smiled brightly. “Devon?”

“Yeah.” A man-child raised his hand from the corner. “That’s me. I heard I was supposed to go pick up some chick here?”

Monica shut her mouth to keep from letting it drop open.

“Let’s seat you at your table.”

“Sit?” He knocked his head back against the wall and groaned. “No one said anything about sitting down and eating. I’m not paying for some chick to eat.”

“No. It’s fine.” Monica interjected. “I can pay for my own dinner. You can run along home.”

“Eh if you’re paying, I’ll eat.”

“Oh I didn’t…” There was no point in saying more, Devon was already further in the restaurant and out of earshot.

The waitress grimaced, “I’ll show you to your table.” She leaned in to whisper. “And I’ll make sure to split the check.”

“Thank you.”

Once seated across from Devon, who had slouched back in his chair while he scoured the menu, Monica looked around. She spotted her fellow blind dater and waved when he caught her eye and rolled her eyes at her oblivious date. Bryant laughed and she ducked behind her menu. 

The next time she glanced away she was startled to find his date across from him. However, once she saw her, Monica didn’t know how she hadn’t noticed her before. Bryant’s date was loud, as if she wanted the whole room to hear her.

“I know I was a teensy late but I don’t see the problem.” The woman whined.

When he didn’t respond fast enough the woman gave a shrieky sort of whine. As soon as the woman looked down at her phone, he looked over at her and gave her an eye roll of his own.

Looking back at her dud of a date she came up with a sudden idea. “Um Devon, I just realized that I was supposed to meet up with someone named Darren. They sound so similar that I was confused.” 

He shrugged. “No big.”

“Don’t you need to meet up with the girl you were supposed to?”

Again he shrugged and Monica fought the urge to not smack him. “I can’t remember her name. So there’s not really any point.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Devon didn’t look up from his menu. “Uh huh.”

Taking a deep breath Monica walked over to Bryant and his date and cleared her throat. “Pardon me for interrupting.”

The woman interrupted. “I’ll have a strawberry lemonade.”

“Oh I didn’t come to take your order.” Monica smiled brightly. “I apologize for the inconvenience but there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding. You came on a blind date right?”

“Yeah. So?”

“Well it has come to our attention that we seated you at the wrong table.  Who were you meeting?”

The woman flicked her hair back. “Brown hair. Kinda tall.”

Monica pointed over to Devon. “Your date is over there. He just arrived a few minutes looking for you.”

“Oh really? That makes sense. I am never late.” She got up and pranced over to where Devon was sitting. Devon perked up and pointed to the seat with a smile.

Monica slowly lowered herself down in the recently vacated chair. “I hope you don’t mind. You seemed almost as disappointed with your date as I was with mine. My name’s Monica. If you don’t mind, I’d love to be your new blind date.”

Bryant looked between her and his previous date and smiled. “Somehow you read my mind. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Monica.”

Blair

Blair readjusted her stack of papers and stood. New clients always made her antsy and extraordinarily particular about details. She knew that she was sometimes a little too much. There were plenty of ex boyfriends that had told her so. Even some of her friends had commented on it. 

And unfortunately, there was nothing to occupy her time or her brain until the meeting. She had been so focused on being prepared for it, that she had finished preparing already. So instead she was stuck trying to get other small things done while she waited.

“Ms Rollson, do you have a minute?” Her personal assistant stuck her head in. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I know you have a big meeting.”

“I’m fine, Anya. What is it?”

When Anya blushed, Blair laughed, “It’s alright. You can let him in. I’m ready for the meeting.”

Anya nodded calmly and opened the door wider, motioning him in. Larger than life, in walked Elliot. While he’s dressed professionally; suit, tie, black shoes and all, she knew better.

“Alright, what whirlwind of terror are you looking to release into the world today?”

“Terror? Me?” Elliot laughed and sat in one of her chairs. “I just came over to see my friend, see if she was ready for lunch. How’d your meeting go?”

She chucked a pencil at him. “The meeting hasn’t happened yet. It’s not for another hour.”

“Oh so you do have time for lunch. I was thinking Thai.”

“What if I wasn’t ready?”

He shrugged. “I know you’re already ready. For one, I know you. You’re more than prepared. You’d also be a lot more manic and pacing if you weren’t done with the prep yet. And you never ever would have let Anya open the door to let me in if you were busy. She would have shuffled me off to the break room to distract me until you were in the meeting so I couldn’t bother you. At all. Till next week.”

Blair scoffed. “Anya wouldn’t have kept you in the break room for a week.” She paused with a bright smile. “She would have let you out to use the restroom. So why are you here?”

Immediately he leaned onto her desk. “I have an idea.”

“Good for you, Elliot.” Blair shook her head. 

“Blair, I want your help with it.” He began pulling out several folded and ripped pieces of paper. A bit of a mess. Once they were all out on her desk he started shuffling them around as if he could make sense of them and where they should go. She definitely couldn’t see it.

“And you brought it to me. Why?” She motioned to the papers. “Elliot, you don’t need me. Your last idea made you plenty successful. And you didn’t need me for that one. Besides, our work ethics don’t really match.”

Satisfied with the mess of papers where they were, Elliot sat back down and grinned. “But you are killer good at details. And this has lots of details I can’t seem to keep track of.”

Blair groaned. “So I was the person you came to.”

“You’re the best at details. I couldn’t think of anything better than the two of us working together.”

“Elliot. I have a meeting. A big one. I can’t start delving into your project right now.”

He put his hands up as if he could stop the words from coming out of her mouth. “Oh not now. Though now that I’m looking at all the papers I’ve strewn across your desk I realize that’s how it looks. Let’s meet up tonight for dinner, to celebrate your awesome meeting, your new clients, and my idea.”

Blair was already double checking her papers. “Yeah. I can do that. Tell Anya and she’ll make sure it gets on the schedule.”

“You have Anya pencil in your dates? Are you really that busy?”

Blair’s head shot up. “Date?”

“No worries. As long as you show up.” Elliot gathered up his papers and began stuffing them back into his suit coat pocket. He was at the door before she could think of words. He left the door open and headed straight over to Anya.

“Elliot!” Her voice was much louder than she’d intended. “Get back in here.”

“Did I forget something?” 

“No.”

He came rushing in anyways. “What?”

“What do you mean a date?” She stood, moving around the desk. “Aren’t I supposed to know when someone is asking me out on a date?”

“That’s what the bit at the end was. I figured I was making sure that you knew what I was saying.” Elliot’s smile was toned down from his usual goofy grin. “Blair. I’ve asked before and you didn’t realize it. I’d figure it out about halfway through what I thought was a date and have to pull back. So this time I wanted to be clear.”

“Clear? Yeah, clear. Ok. I have a meeting, Elliot. I can’t be distracted right now.” She shook her head. “When did we have a date?”

He opened his mouth to answer but she stopped him. “No. Don’t tell me. We hang out way too much together.”

“Too much? I wouldn’t say too much. I like when I’m with you.” He leaned in and tapped her arm. “However, let me point out that you haven’t said no since finding out that I’d asked you on a date.”

“That’s because my brain isn’t even comprehending going on a date with you. I can’t imagine it.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll see you tonight and it will be real.” Elliot took one of her hands. “Blair, we have been friends forever. And yeah we are different but that’s good. I’m not looking for a female version of me. I like you. I think we complement each other well. And if you don’t want to date after tonight, tell me and uh…” He smiled brightly. “And you can still help me on my project. Good plan eh?”

Blair laughed. “How about this? I agree to meeting you tonight and I’ll tell you then whether it’s a date or not.”

“I can do that.” Elliot nodded. “I know I didn’t give you enough processing time. No worries. You completely put me out of your head for your meeting, because I know you can do that. Come back to this later. I shouldn’t have sprung this on you now.”

“No, no. It’s good. I’d rather know than go through another date without realizing I was on one.”

“Me too. See you tonight, Blair.” Elliot slowly let go over her hand and eased out the door. Again she watched him move over to talk to Anya and smiled when he looked back and winked at her. Sitting back down in her chair she pulled her papers in front of her and stared. “A date.”

Trudy

“Maybe I should put a sign on the door.”

Tara spun from where she was scrambling eggs and raised her hand, waving her spatula around. “Or you could send out an announcement on social media. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about any pesky guys coming around.”

“And say what? Steer clear of Trudy Southall, she is taking an indefinite hiatus from men. Update coming never.”

Both girls laughed, Trudy shook her head and turned back to her breakfast.

“Is, uh, is this a bad time?” Simon stood with his hand still on the now open door as if he were ready to flee at a moment’s notice. “I can go.”

“Don’t go. There’s no need.” Tara waved her spatula around again. “We were just talking about how Trudy doesn’t want to deal with man drama in her life right now…or ever.”

Simon relaxed and flung himself into the nearest chair. “Oh well, in that case, how long does that usually last? There’s bound to be some poor misguided soul begging to date you as soon as you step foot outside the door. Problem solved.”

Trudy leaned back and walloped him half-heartedly. “That won’t change anything.”

“Why not?” Simon shrugged. “All I hear is that you are disappointed with the men options you’ve chosen for yourself and need to clear them out of your head before moving on to the next bevy of hopefuls to sample.”

“I am not going to be sampling anyone!” Trudy stood and smacked his arm before disappearing into the kitchen pantry. “I’m done. Total break.”

“Will I be informed when you decide to start looking again?”

Tara dumped her scrambled eggs onto a plate and put the rest on another plate. She scoffed. “Why? It’s not like you are next in line.”

Simon jumped up and scowled at Tara. “That is not what I was saying.” Storming over to the door he threw it open. “I just wanted to know when I should start avoiding your apartment again.”

“Tara, that wasn’t nice.” Trudy moved to grab Simon but he slipped out into the hall. “Simon, don’t leave.” Running after him she didn’t catch up till he was almost out of the building. “Wait. What is going on with you? I mean, I know Tara is not the greatest at making jokes but she didn’t mean anything by it.”

“You’d never date me. Wouldn’t even consider it.” He growled as he moved to go around her and get out the door.

“Is that a question?”

Simon laughed. “No, it’s not. You’ve always made it perfectly clear that you’d never date me.”

“That road goes both ways.” She pushed on his arm. “I distinctly recall one night not so long ago when you were with Trev and Liam; you looked straight at me and called me a mess you’d never consider dating.”

That stopped Simon’s mad dash from the building. He almost crashed into her in his haste to stop and turn. “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t remember?”

He shook his head. “Remember? Vaguely. That was a long time ago but I didn’t say it seriously. I was only pointing out how much of a mess you were. That was years ago. Why bring it up now?”

Trudy shrugged and backed up. “That was the night you stopped being an option. I had a crush on you back then, you know. Well, I guess you wouldn’t know. I was good at hiding it and after that, I didn’t have anything to hide.

“You like me?” Simon’s mouth opened and closed several times. 

With a glare Trudy started walking back to her apartment, calling over her shoulder as she went. “Liked, Simon. Past tense. Avoid the apartment all you want for whatever reason you come up with that makes you feel justified.”

It was Simon’s turn to come running after her. “Let me get this right. You would have said yes if I’d asked you on a date?”

Trudy kept walking.

“Trudy, talk to me.”

She faced him, crossing her arms in front of her for some extra distance. “Again. Past tense. Maybe I would have once. Not now.”

“Care to change your mind?” Simon reached a hand out but she stepped away.

Tilting her head she laughed lightly. “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear my announcement? I’m sure you did since you were making fun of it. I am not having anything to do with any guy. At all. In fact, you aren’t invited over until I start dating again. Maybe not even then.”

“What can I do to change your mind?”

Trudy began walking back to her room, though slower than before. “Simon, go home.”

“No, I’m serious.”

“You can’t change my mind, Simon. I am taking a break from dating and you haven’t been on my date radar for years.”

“But I could be.”

She shook her head. “No.”

Simon held out his arm. “I’ll walk you home.” They were in front of her door before he spoke again. “Trudy, we’ve been friends for a long time. So I will respect your non-dating phase for as long as you find it necessary. And I will be here when it’s over because we are friends, the best place to start a real relationship. You’ll see.”

“Whatever Simon.”

“You don’t believe me?”

Her hand went to the doorknob, shaking her head. “I’m tired. I don’t even know why I followed you out.”

Simon opened the door for her and motioned her in with a smile. “I had a crush on you too, Trudy. Jealousy can make a guy say mean things. I shouldn’t have. I won’t make that mistake again. Now go hate all men and eat ice cream and watch sappy movies or whatever. I’ll see you later.”

Trudy peered back at him from where she was halfway through the doorway. “Sappy movies?”

He winked. “Call me if you need a shoulder to cry on…or a date. Though if you are looking for a date just let me know you are looking and I’ll be the one to ask you on a date.”

And just like that, Simon strode away and out of the building, leaving Trudy still standing halfway into her apartment.

Rachelle

“Is he gone?” Rachelle whispered. 

Joanna looked up from her book as she leaned against the door. “Who?”

“Tanner.” She motioned around the empty classroom. “Why do you think we’re in here?”

“I figured we were avoiding someone but I can’t keep up with who you are avoiding. It changes and multiplies daily. Can’t you just make nice with everyone and we can walk down the hall like normal people?”

Rachelle shook her head. “I am nice, Joanna. That’s what got me into this mess. I said hi to him once and now he thinks we are dating. Now I can’t convince him otherwise.”

“Tanner?”

“You didn’t notice?” Rachelle groaned. “He has been a leech for the past 4 days.”

Again Joanna shrugged. “I thought you were dating him. It’s not that far-fetched. He’s not ugly. And he’s in like five sports. So he has the popularity thing going.”

“I am NOT dating him. He didn’t even ask, first of all. He just assumed. I’m not going to date someone who is that presumptuous.”

Joanna tucked her book away. “School’s over. I have to get going or my mom is going to freak. Do you want me to check and see if he is really gone?

Rachelle tried not to roll her eyes at her friend. “Yes. Since that’s what started this whole conversation.”

“You should know better than to tell me things when I’m reading.” Joanna stood. “I’ll check.”

As soon as she opened the door she was practically brushed aside and out of the way by a very distracted guy. He shut the door immediately and crouched away from the door’s window. He jumped a little when he noticed them both standing there.

“Rachelle?” He whispered in a rush as he straightened, still avoiding the window. “What are you doing in here?”

Laughing a little behind her smile she folded her arms. “Me? What are you doing in here? You basically trampled over Joanna. Are you, Ellis Sinclair, hiding? What? Too many adoring fans?”

“Just one. I can only take so much of Ash before I need to take measures to avoid her.”

Joanna tapped his shoulder to pull his attention from Rachelle. “Aren’t you dating her?”

He shook his head but said, “Kinda.”

Joanna huffed. “There’s no kinda about dating. You are either are dating or you aren’t.” Leave it to Joanna to make everything clear cut.

Ellis stared at Joanna for several seconds before he turned back to Rachelle. “I told you why I’m hiding. What about you? And don’t tell me you aren’t. I’m not an idiot.”

Joanna didn’t give her a chance to answer. “She’s avoiding Tanner. Something about leeches. I gotta go.”

After bodily pushing Ellis, he stepped aside and Joanna was out the door. Before it swung shut she called out. “Nobody out here!”

As Rachelle and Ellis emerged out of the classroom and into the empty hallway, Rachelle began to blush.

“You must think I’m silly for avoiding Tanner.”

He motioned around the empty hall. “I’m not really one to judge since I was hiding from Ash.”

“Why are you hiding from her?” She clutched her books tighter. “You seem like a cute couple and everything. And how can you only kinda be dating someone?”

“I thought I’d avoided that question.” He glanced over at her. “We are still dating, yes. However I have also tried breaking up with her twice. As you can see it didn’t stick.”

“How can a breakup not stick? Do you break up and then as you walk away you can’t live without her and turn around and beg her to take you back?”

“No.” He laughed. “But that makes sense too. If it was one of those grand epic love stories about true love and soul mates. But no. Ash just doesn’t seem to hear me say the words. I say we’re through and she laughs, gives me a kiss and says she’ll see me at school the next day. It’s like it never happened.”

“Maybe you need a witness.” Rachelle put her hand on his arm. “You shouldn’t have to hide from your ex just cause she can’t accept that it’s over.”

“Are you and Tanner dating?”

“No. I said hi to him once and apparently he had a whole conversation in his head that included me saying yes to him asking me out. At least that’s my theory. Any time he sees me, he comes running over, putting his arm around me or hugging me or trying to hold my hand. I can’t shake him.”

He chuckled. “Sounds like we both need interventions.”

Tilting her head to the side, Rachelle asked, “Is that an offer?”

“To go inform Tanner in no uncertain terms that he has no claim over you? Yeah, sure. Though I am going to ask you to specifically not be a witness to my official breakup because then there would be no chance to ever ask you out on a date.”

“And you want to?” Rachelle smiled brightly. Her day was looking up.

“Well, as soon as I convince Ash that we are no longer together, do you want to go out on a real date?”

Taking a step back Rachelle looked over at him. “I’d like that. Though I’m thinking that if we do it as soon as you break up with Ash and tell off the guy who thinks he’s dating me, we might have a mess on our hands anyways.”

“So we wait a few weeks.”

Rachelle slipped her hand into the crook of his arm for a second, blushing. “I can wait, as long as Tanner is off my back.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. I don’t know what I’m going to do while I wait for everything to blow over but I’ll say it now, I’m going to be wishing I had more time like this with you.” He nodded. “I’m glad I chose to hide in that classroom today.”

“Me too.”

Jill

Staring down at the bright red wrapping paper and its shiny silver bow, Jill hesitated. Christmas day was not supposed to be about nervousness and worry. It hadn’t been either for her until this year. 

Unfortunately this year was different. She was different. Peter was coming over. He would be there any minute and she was on the verge of passing out. 

Shaking her head she set the present down on the table only to stare at it. It had taken forever to find the perfect gift. Now that it was wrapped and there was no switching it for anything else she was nervous that it wouldn’t send the right message. She wanted him to know that she cared without freaking him out.

With all the anticipation, she hadn’t given herself time to worry. 

“Mom. I’m going to go wait for Peter out front.”

“Alright, honey.”

She only debated for a few seconds whether or not to take her present but glancing back over at where her mom was working in the kitchen she grabbed it. Out front she wouldn’t have an audience.

As she was closing the front door she heard footsteps on the patio. 

“I hope you weren’t planning on leaving before I got here. After all, I was hoping you would be my Christmas present.”

“Peter. Hey!” Launching into his arms Jill laughed. “I was coming out to catch you before you knocked on the door so we could exchange presents just the two of us.”

“Were you watching out the window for me?” He chuckled. “I thought you loved Christmas with your family.”

She shook her head and pulled him over to the white wicker seats on the far side of the porch. “I wasn’t looking to escape or avoid my family. And I wasn’t looking out the window. I just have the most incredible timing ever.”

“Or is it that you don’t want me to meet your mother?”

Again with the shaking head. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible to avoid. You’re meeting my mom ‘cause she knows you are coming. Now sit and open my present before I overthink it and hide it from you instead.”

Jill set down the shiny red box in his lap and flopped back in the other chair. Clasping her hands she tried to hide her nerves but they still shook just a little. When Peter didn’t move to unwrap her present she shifted around. It wasn’t noticeable. At least she thought it wouldn’t be but Peter noticed.

“Jill. Whatever is in this box is not going to change how I feel about you. You know that right?”

She nodded. “My brain knows that. And yet I’m still nervous.”

“Why?”

After a moment’s hesitation she gave a shaky sigh. “I put a lot of thought and effort into finding what I thought would be a great gift. Now that it’s time for you to see it, I’m just doubting my whole process.”

“Would it help to have you open my present first?” He reached into his pocket but her hand on his arm stopped him.

“No. I just want you to open it so I can see your reaction and stop freaking myself out.” Jill shook her shoulders. “It’s a good one. Open it.”

It only took a few seconds before the torture was over and instead she watched as his jaw dropped. “No way.”

She couldn’t stop nodding.

“Jill, you didn’t.” He laughed. “How did you manage?”

“I told you it took a lot of work.”

Pulling out the roll he kept shaking and laughing his head as he laid out the paper on the table. “You designed this? When did you find the time? You work so much as it is.”

She shrugged. “I put in time here and there. When I could. You’ve wanted to fix up your grandfather’s place for a long time, you said. And I remember you mentioning that you couldn’t find someone who could put your vision on paper. So every time you talked about what you wanted, I took notes. And we can change whatever you want.”

“Well now I wish you had opened mine first. There is no way mine can compare to this.”

Putting her hand on his she waited until he was looking at her. “Peter. Whatever is in this box is not going to change how I feel about you.”

“Oh funny. Using my own words against me.”

Beaming, Jill held out her hands. “Now give me my present, please.”

“No.”

Shock filled her face for a brief second. 

“I think I need to show you how much I appreciate your gift first.” He winked. “With a kiss…or kisses.”

Taking her hand he pulled her over onto his lap. Softly he whispered in her ear. “Thank you so, so much Jill.” Each word was followed by a small kiss. “I love your…present.”

“I’m liking mine too.” She whispered back.

He stopped, pulling back barely an inch. “Oh funny.” He smiled. “Now I won’t kiss you again until you open your present.”

“That’s not very holly jolly of you.” Jill gave him a pouty lip. “Just one more. Please?”

“I’m not Santa. Now go sit on your chair so I can watch you open your present.”

With a big exaggerated sigh she moved back over to her chair, glancing over at the front door and window to make sure they didn’t have any peepers.

“Once again I find myself with my hands open and waiting. Do I get my present now?”

He pulled out a small rectangle box. “Be kind.” His hand shook as he handed it over.

Opening the box she gasped at the small pendant necklace laying on the blue velvet pad. “A key?”

“Jill, I’m giving you the key to my heart. Maybe it’s a little corny but I wanted you to have this so that every time you put it on you remember that you have my heart all locked up and yours.”

“Oh. I love that.”

“I love you, Jill.”

Deah ~Part 3~

Deah Rose watched from the bench where she sat as her father practically dragged her new fiance toward the great hall. Only now was she beginning to understand her father’s desperation to have her married and away from here. If Alarik had heard of her from so great a distance, then surely the warlords had too. They would have no qualms of seeking her out in her home and stealing her in the night.

Suddenly she now felt unsafe.

Alarik stopped at the door, looking back at her. It was almost laughable how easily he could halt her father’s attempts to move him. She managed a shaky smile. 

“Deah Rose, would you do me the honor of accompanying me?” His deep voice steadied her, calming the shakiness that had engulfed her. At her nod, he smiled warmly and reached out a hand to her. No doubt, he would remain that way until she reached him.

While there was no impatience in his face or his stance, Deah Rose hurried across the room as gracefully as she could. Her father was not a patient man and he looked thunderous. He was not used to his daughter usurping his precedence. She could tell he did not like it, not one bit.

Her father patted her shoulder while she gracefully looped her hand into her fiance’s arm. “Now Deah, this is about your engagement. We want to introduce Lord Dunharein to as many people as we can.”

Alarik straightened. “Please be sure to point out your friends as well, Deah Rose. I would enjoy getting to know those who are closest to you.” 

As her father turned to lead the way out the door, Alarik leaned in. “Perhaps they will have amusing childhood stories to share.”

Her smile threatened to overwhelm her but she kept it in check, always aware that people were watching. She nodded to the still open door. “This is a gathering of my father’s business partners and associates. I have few passing friendships among them. That being said, I hope to introduce you to my true friends another time.”

“I shall look forward to it.”

Emerging from the small side room where they had taken brief refuge, Deah smiled at the crowd and stepped up beside her beaming father. Alarik followed, keeping his strong hand on the small of her back.

The man’s hand was distracting and caring, a sensation she was entirely unaccustomed to. Once he had escorted her to the front of the room his hand slid from her back to her waist, holding her lightly. She resisted the inclination to lean back into him. 

Deah fought the awareness of his proximity as it sliced through her where her shoulder brushed against his chest. His hand on her waist tightened for a brief second.

Whatever her father had said caused the men around her to cheer. Startled, Deah realized she had not listened to a single word he had said. Her father moved into the crowd with Alarik and Deah was swept along. It took all of her concentration to focus on the men in front of her and not on her new fiance.

“How long ‘til the wedding?” One man asked, catching Deah by surprise.

Her father laughed, the sound echoing around the room. “I suppose we should give it a few days to sink in and let the kitchen prepare a feast. I’ll have the girl married ’fore the end of the week.” He pinched her cheek and smiled around. “Two days?”

Deah’s mouth dropped open. Glancing up at Alarik in concern she hesitated to object.

Alarik smoothly cut in. “As delighted as I would be to have Deah Rose as my bride so quickly, I will require a bit more time to send for my family. They will not be pleased with me if I do not include them in this.”

“How long will that take?” Her father’s eyes narrowed. 

For a single fearful second Deah worried that her father would rescind their engagement. It seemed he wanted her married off more than she had realized.

Peering down into her face, Alarik smiled. “I will send for them with all haste. It should not be more than a week. And I will personally see to Deah Rose’s safety until then.”

“I can see to my daughter’s safety, Dunharein. Don’t presume to take on my responsibilities. I’m giving you a daughter, not free rein of everything.” Her father grumped.

“I am sure Lord Dunharein is merely attempting to impress you, Father. No one doubts your abilities to keep us all safe.”

With a short, surly nod he moved on to the next man vying for his attention and congratulations. 

“Thank you.” Deah whispered up to Alarik.

“Deah Rose, this is your wedding. I want you to be excited, not fearful.” He chuckled. “And my mother may truly throttle me if I married without her present. She will be surprised enough as it is, since there were no wedding plans in my future when I left.”

“How long have you been from home?”

“Only a few months.”

An over eager young man pushed forward, knocking into them both in his haste. Alarik caught him by the arm and pulled him abruptly to a halt. 

“Apologize to the lady and remember your manners.”

This brought Deah’s father’s attention. “Gardon, my boy. Where have you been? You did not miss our big announcement did you?”

“Who is that?” The boy demanded, ignoring everything else as he pointed at Alarik. “I don’t like him.”

Deah cringed. “Gardon, you cannot speak of others so rudely.”

Gardon merely stuck his tongue out at her and moved his attention back to Alarik. “You should apologize to me, for laying hands on me in my own house.”

Alarik’s gaze flicked to hers. “Your brother?”

She nodded.

Deah’s father interjected. “Gardon, this is your sister’s intended. They are to be married soon. Lord Dunharien, allow me to introduce you to my eldest son.”

Alarik gave a small nod but his face remained impassively stern. 

Deah moved closer to him and his hand tucked her securely to him, as if he were comforting her. “Lord Dunharein, my brother forgets himself at times. Please forgive his behavior.”

Eyes on her, he studied her face for a moment. “Are you the oldest or is he?”

“I am.” Gardon puffed his chest a little. 

“A pleasure to meet more future family. I’m sure you’ll grow into your future soon enough.”

Once more, Gardon stepped forward, his face turned red as he sputtered. “Grow? I am fully grown. I could take you in a duel if need be.”

“If you need a duel to prove your age, then there is plenty of growing left to be done.” Alarik smiled sharply. “Close your mouth, boy, before you say something you regret.”

Her father finally stepped in, all congenial smiles. “Gardon, go see if you can find something for our guest to drink. This is a celebration.”

Alarik gave her father a short nod and faced her. “Are all of your siblings as pleasant as this one?”

Deah laughed. “Gardon is a special case. Father has spoiled him. Nothing I say seems to make a difference.”

“If you don’t mind, I may have to find some time to teach your brother some manners.” He bowed slightly. 

“I would love to be present for such an occurrence.” She settled into his chest for a brief moment, soaking in his strong presence before straightening and facing the crowd once more. “For now, we have more people for you to meet, for my father’s sake.”

Amethyst

“I’m going to tell mom you went to the barrier again last night.” Tati whispered when I put my dishes in the sink.

Scoffing, I grabbed an extra roll left on the kitchen counter. “How would you know?”

“You snuck out again.”

“That doesn’t mean I went anywhere near the barrier. It just means I was out of the house, Tati.”

“Mom won’t like it either way.” Tati laughed. “You are in so much trouble.”

I stuck out my tongue and proceeded to ignore her. Besides, I had gone to the barrier and I was probably going to go again tonight. I had seen something through the barrier this time. While I couldn’t quite figure out what it was, I was determined to see it again. Whatever it is.

Supposedly the barrier had appeared the year before I was born and no one had figured out where it had come from. Twenty years later and they still hadn’t even figured out why it was there. Usually I ignored it just as much as everybody. Well, most of the time. Mom said I have an unnatural curiosity about the outside.

It was the flash of light while I’d been rushing home for dinner that pulled me to it. And then I’d been stupid enough to mention it to Tati.

So last night I waited until everyone was in bed and quiet for at least an hour before I crept over to my window and eased out. The walk to where I had seen the light through the barrier wasn’t far and I settled down behind a tree where I could sit out of sight, between the barrier and the tree.

Prepared for a long night of waiting I was stunned when there was a faint flickering light just a few short minutes later. It didn’t move. I waited but I’m never very good at being patient.

“Hello?”

Immediately after speaking I felt infinitely stupid. I was calling out to a flickering light through an impenetrable barrier in the middle of the light. No one had ever seen anything on the other side of the barrier, ever since it went up. My one consolation was that no one would witness my weirdness. Ok, two consolations. There was also the fact that if it was a wild animal or something dangerous out there, it wouldn’t be able to get me in here.

“Don’t start jumping at freaky lights, Amethyst. You’ll never make it through the night.” I whispered to myself. 

“Hello?”

If it hadn’t been a decidedly male voice, I would have simply brushed it off as my echo. It wasn’t. Some guy had answered my hello with his own. Glancing around the tree, I peered around the dark empty courtyard. No one.

After several minutes I settled back against the tree and nearly screeched when I looked at the barrier to find a face pressed against it.

Standing up slowly I looked closer. The face seemed smushed and contorted. Nothing else was misshapen when I looked through the barrier. Maybe there was disease outside the barrier that messed with how a person looked. Maybe that was why it was put in place.

“Are you real?” The man asked.

Nodding, I put a hand up against the barrier. He jumped back and his face immediately appeared normal. “Are you real? I’ve never seen any person outside the dome.”

“That’s because this land is said to be toxic, that it will kill any who come anywhere near here. There’s a whole elaborate wall to keep people out.”

“I don’t see a wall.” I peered once more out past the man. “I never have.”

He shrugged. “It’s a few miles away, through the forest. It makes sense you can’t see it. When it went up I guess there was lots of talk about hazardous materials and toxic levels and protecting people. That wall is crazy hard to get around.

“Yet you came in?”

With a shrug he looked back behind him. “I never was good at following the rules. Besides, this place has been off limits with no explained reason or cause for way too long to not be explored. 

I gulped. “So are there many more people beyond the wall?”

He laughed. “Millions. Are you guys trapped inside?”

“No one knows how or why the barrier is here. And no one knows how to get out.”

“Crazy weird stuff. How long ago did it happen?”

I pulled at my sweater and looked up to the sky. “A year before I was born. Give or take a month.”

Once again his face pressed against the barrier and scrunched. “You don’t look that old.”

“I’m not!” I smacked at the barrier. “I just turned 19.”

He shook his head. “No way. This place is so old. That wall is even older than old. I mean. This place has been toxic and a danger zone for hundreds of years. It’s a legend. Whispered around over campfires. The lost city, of sorts.”

“Lost?” I settled back down against the tree. “We haven’t gone anywhere. We aren’t lost. We’re stuck but not lost.”

“But only 20 years? Not possible. My dad spotted the shimmer of the top of your dome shield when he was young. He talked about seeing buildings not aged with time. The problem was he just couldn’t get any closer. But I heard the stories though. Those stories are why I’m here.”

I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “When he was young? That isn’t possible. Everyone knows that it has been 20 years. We are having a big commencement in a few days.”

“What’s your name?” 

Startled at the abrupt change I laughed. “Amethyst. What’s yours?”

“Flint.”

“Well Flint, this has all been incredible but the night patrol is coming by soon and I can’t get caught. So I have to go.”

Flint banged against the barrier. “Wait, don’t go.”

“I have to.”

“Come back tomorrow night?”

I hesitated. “Will you still be here?”

“I want to.” He glanced away from the dome. “I don’t know if there is anything that will keep me away.”

“Will you tell me about life outside?”

“Sure. Anything you want to know.”

Ruby

Ruby snatched her list back out of Wyatt’s hands and smoothed it out on the table next to her, making sure it was out of his sight. “Don’t touch.” She snapped. Several people glanced their way but Ruby steadfastly ignored their looks. 

Seconds later he looked back up from the specials list and pouted. “Ruby, you’ve been studying and marking that listy thing for the past several minutes. What gives? You’ve been completely ignoring me and you know how I feel about being ignored.”

“I’m not telling.” Instantly feeling juvenile, she stuck out her tongue at him. Wyatt always seemed to yank out the worst in her and put it on full display for everyone. “It’s private, Wyatt. Mind your own business. 

Normally she kept to herself and analyzed stock options for her bosses’ clients. Mind-numbing work for some but she liked it. Somehow that all went away around her long time bestie. Despite his flaws and nosiness, he kept her balanced…most times. Not right now though.

“What are you doing with that mile long list of guys’ names?” Jessica asked from where she was peeking over her shoulder. “Are you making a list for an event or something? Davis Long? Harry Telns? What kind of an event involves those two?”

Ruby blushed and shoved the paper into her purse, deep in her purse. “Since when do you guys need to know everything I do?”

“It’s a list of guys?” Wyatt was not to be distracted. He had perked up at the news. “Am I on it?”

She quickly shook her head. “Not a chance.”

He got up and plopped down in the seat next to her. “And why not?”

“Can’t we just drop it? What are you having?” Ruby grabbed up the menu and buried her head in it.

Both of her friends laughed. 

Jessica slowly pulled the menu down and raised an eyebrow at her. “I know you love your lists and all but is there a reason you are keeping this one all secretive? Usually you are over-the-top excited to show us your organization. To the point where we beg you not to. So what’s with this one?”

It took several attempts, involving looking between her friends and the menu multiple times and opening her mouth over and over before she whispered out. “It’s a dateable list.”

“A what?” Both friends leaned closer. “I didn’t hear you.”

Ruby groaned and took a deep breath. “It’s my date list; a list of dateable guys I know or have met or know of. I started it yesterday.”

Wyatt snatched the paper out of her purse and immediately smoothed it open on the table. His finger quickly scanned the list top to bottom.

“Something is wrong with your list, Ruby.” Wyatt declared.

She folded her arms and glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “No there isn’t. Just because I don’t have everyone I know on there doesn’t mean there is something wrong with it. I am taking my time figuring out who should be on it.”

“But Ruby, I’m not even on here. You forgot me.”

She laughed. “Of course I didn’t forget you. I just didn’t include you. You’re not dateable.”

“Plenty of women find me very dateable.” He pushed.

“Good for them, Wyatt. Go date them.”

He looked over the list again. “Why am I not on the list? And why was Devin able to make it on?”

Huffing, Ruby pulled the list out from under his hand. “I told you why you’re not. You don’t even know what I’m looking for in a man, so how would you know who should and shouldn’t be on my list?”

His smile broadened as he leaned over to grab the list back again. “You have a list to decide who can be on your list?”

While she nodded, he shook his head.

Jessica chimed in. “So then, what does it take to get on your date-worthy list? A job?”

Wyatt smacked Jessica in the arm. “I have a job. It’s not fancy but it pays my bills.”

“Uh huh.” Jessica pushed at him. 

“That’s not on my list.” Ruby took her menu back from Jessica and stared at it, ignoring her bickering friends.

Wyatt grabbed her hand. “Name one thing on your list.”

With a sigh she tried to pull away. He squeezed and let go. 

“I’ll stop bothering you if you tell us one thing.”

“For how long?” She retorted.

“All day.”

She shook her head. “So generous of you. I’m going to have to say no.”

Jessica tapped the top of the menu. “Aww if you tell us what’s on the dating requirements we can help you look. Add names to the list and all that.”

“Or cross names off.” Wyatt added cheerily. “We’ll be so helpful.”

“One thing.” Ruby groaned. “In order to be dateable material, I am looking for someone who doesn’t mind if I disagree with them every once in a while. Not on anything big like where to live or how to raise kids but stuff like nachos are better than corn dogs or who is going to the playoffs.”

Wyatt elbowed her in her side. “I am adding my name to that list.”

Ruby was scoffed and laughing at the same time. “Because you possibly meet one part of the qualifications?”

“Yes! We disagree all the time and we are still as close as clams.” He pulled a pen out from where it always hung out behind his ear. “I say we keep my name on the list until I hear something that disqualifies me.”

“I’ve never thought about you that way, genius.”

He shrugged. “First time for everything. Now, we need to get eating so I can go finish making a custom table for Mrs Jantins. She said she needs it ready by Thanksgiving and I don’t want to leave it all to the last second.” Wyatt nudged at Jessica and winked. “That would be very irresponsible of me. No one wants to date an irresponsible man. I totally deserve to be on the list.”

Hanna

“You know those roses aren’t going to last through the whole flight, right?” Hanna held back a chuckle as the man sat down next to her with a huge bouquet of roses. “You probably should have waited till you landed. Do airports have flower shops? I’ve never checked.”

The man groaned, holding the flowers up and away from him. “Kill me now.”

“Are you going to hold them like that the whole flight?”

He speared her with an exasperated look. “Are you going to ask me personal questions the whole flight?”

Shrugging she settled back and leaned a little away from him. “No. I plan on ignoring you from here on out.” With that, she grabbed her headphones. Usually she would push herself to be social before she disappeared behind her book and music but that inclination had vanished at her neighbors continued scowl.

As she was fumbling to get the earbud in her ear and get the music started he sighed and shoved the entire bouquet under the seat in front of him, kicking it once. Hanna’s fingers froze and without thinking she looked over at the man’s face. His sheepish blush had her laughing.

“They really aren’t going to last if you do that.” She muttered, more to herself.

“What?”

Earbuds firmly in place she pointed to them and shook her head with a smile. When he mimed pulling them out she shook her head again. “I am minding my own business and not interacting with anyone at all. Not asking any annoying questions. Just me and my book.”

He left her alone, watching the stewardess explain the emergency exits and seatbelts. It wasn’t until the plane took off that he turned back her way and tapped her hand. She did not move, eyes fixed on her book. Out of the corner of her eye she watched him pull out a pen and write on the napkin that came with his drink. He slid it over.

I’m sorry.

After a few seconds he took the napkin back and wrote on it again.

I didn’t get the roses for anyone.

With an exaggerated sigh Hanna put the book down. “I thought you wanted me to keep out of it.”

“It’s a long flight and I forgot my headphones.” He held out his hand. “Can we start over? I’m Reed.”

“Hanna. Does this mean you’ll tell me about the roses?”

He kicked the flowers again. “They are from a girl.”

“Some girl gave you flowers?” She peered down at them again. “I hope you knew her.”

“I did. Do. We used to date.”

“And she didn’t get the no-longer-dating notice? Or refuses to accept?”

Shaking his head, he glanced back over at her. “I don’t know how I could make it any more clear to her. We haven’t been dating for months now. We don’t call or text or anything. Yet somehow she knew I was leaving today and knew when to show up to say goodbye and everything.”

“Stalker leave a card with the pretty flowers?”

He pulled a bright pink, heavily scented envelope from his backpack and dropped it in her lap. “I haven’t opened it yet. I didn’t want to kill anyone with the toxic fumes.”

“So you give it to me?” Hanna held it out and away from her. Someone must have dipped it in perfume and kept it in a sealed bag for it to be so strong still. “I don’t have a death wish.”

“I figured you might be able to stand it long enough to read it and tell me if she is going to follow me and murder me in my sleep.”

She shoved the card at him. “Why me?”

He shoved it back. “You are a woman. You have perfume too.”

“I don’t bathe in it.” He gave her the saddest puppy-dog-eyes plea. “Oh fine.”

Quickly ripping open the envelope Hanna pulled out the card and dropped the envelope on the ground. Scanning it, she laughed. “You won’t have to worry about her following but you probably won’t ever want to go back.”

“Why?”

Bumping shoulder to shoulder she lay her head on his broad shoulder and batted her eyes up at him. “Your one true love promises to have everything ready for the wedding by the time you get back.”

“No.” He instantly snatched it out of her grasp and read it himself. “No.”

Still chuckling, Hanna eased away and opened her book back up. “Don’t ask me to pretend to be your fiance or wife to get out of this. I have read way too many books and watched too many movies to fall for that line.”

“It would be rather clever.” He chuckled and elbowed her arm lightly, just enough to get her attention. “Besides, didn’t those all end in true love and happily ever afters? I could be you Prince Charming.”

She scoffed and pushed him away. “Only if you hadn’t heard it a thousand times before.”

“You have men begging you to be their fake wife often?” Now he looked beyond surprised and totally transfixed.

“No!” She held up her book. “Books. Movies. Not me.”

“Ahh. So are you dating someone?”

Dropping her book into her lap, she glared at him. “Is that relevant?”

“It is if I want you to have drinks with me. I wouldn’t ask if you are already in love with someone else.”

Raising her eyebrow she looked him over, studying him for a second.

He pointed up at the call button. “I believe there are the options of ginger ale, water, sprite, or diet coke. What do you say? Will your boyfriend beat me up at arrivals for even daring to ask you?” 

She held for another minute before conceding. “No boyfriend to worry about here. Though I do worry about your rosy ex if she hears about this. Maybe she hid a camera or recording device in the flowers.”

He winked. “I kicked it already.”

Laughing, Hanna nodded. “Wise choice. In that case, you can get me a ginger ale.”

With a gentlemanly bow, or as close to it as he could get while sitting strapped into an airplane seat, he reached up and pressed the call button. 

Kiani

The whole village had gathered; the children, the elderly, and everyone in between. Tonight, one of us would be chosen as the sacrifice to the Warlord Gantos. It only happened once every five years but it has been five years to the day. I still remember the look on the man’s face from the last sacrificial call when his name had been called. While I can’t recall his name, his face is stuck in my memory. Imprinted there. 

After his name had been called he went through the village gate and into a wagon I hadn’t noticed before. No goodbyes. No tears. Abject horror on his face and then gone.

No one talked about him again. If I was called, it would be the same.

Usually when we all gather together as a whole village there is talking and laughing and jokes and food. Not today. It seems even the little ones are feeling the somber atmosphere. The only sounds were the natural ones; feet shuffling, doors opening and closing, wheels turning. I wanted to scream. Just for the reaction, for the noise.

The noon bell began to toll and everyone gathered by the fountain. And still no talking. That is, not until the red robed Elected raised his hands. Without any fanfare or introduction he clapped his hands once and spoke.

“Warlord Gantos calls for his sacrifice. Kiani Ciel.”

All the air left my body. I couldn’t move. I had officially entered the realm of the forgotten with that one plain announcement. Already people were drifting away. It wasn’t their name called so they could move on with their lives. And I guess to them I was already gone. I watched my mother move away, not bothering to look my way. 

The Elected stared at me, standing there gaping in the middle of the quickly dispersing crowd. He hadn’t moved. Instead the man merely waited for me to accept the call and meekly bow to it. Smoothing my tattered dress I took several steps back, away from The Elected. His unemotional gaze hardened to steel.

“Kiani Ciel. Step forward.”

I shook my head. Words still wouldn’t come.

The Elected pointed at the wagon waiting outside the gate. It looked exactly like the one who had taken the last sacrifice.

“You can go willing and be comfortable on your journey or you can go bound.” The Elected slowly walked to me. His gaze never wavered from my face, did not break eye contact. “Walk over to the wagon. Your life here no longer exists.”

Looking around at the only place I had ever known, I found his words to be achingly true. I walked over to the wagon without any further hesitation.

After I sat down in the wagon I looked back at The Elected. “How long?”

“It is a journey of 5 days to the Warlord’s base.”

With that, he stepped back and the wagon began to move. A man I did not recognize was on the seat guiding the horses. After what felt like hours may have been more or less, I found that I couldn’t focus. The trees blurred as much as the passing time did.

It wasn’t until the quick steady beat of a fast approaching horse broke the solemn quiet that I sat up straight and looked around. Behind the plodding wagon, a hooded rider with a huge flowing cape galloped closer. I watched as he approached, so unlike the slow steady inexorable pull to the reality of the warlord’s sacrifice.

Mere minutes later and the rider was beside the wagon and reaching his hand into me. I stared at that hand, uncomprehending.

“Take my hand.” His voice broke the last vestiges of whatever frozen acceptance had numbed my brain.

I could see the driver turning around as I flung myself toward the rider. In seconds I was pulled bodily from the wagon onto the horse. The position I landed in was oddly uncomfortable. I was sitting backwards, in the man’s lap, though if I shifted too much I probably would have fallen off. I wrapped my arms quickly around the man’s chest and held on tight.

The driver was yelling something but the wind drowned it out.

Several miles of hanging on for my life later and the man spoke. “Kiani, you just need to hold for a few more minutes.”

“H-h-how, how do you know me?” It was hard to chat on the back of a galloping horse.

He didn’t speak for several minutes until he slowed his horse to a canter, peering back behind him several times. “Kiani, we grew up together. Though I haven’t seen you for several years.”

“Five years?” She swallowed.

He chuckled. “A little more, actually. I ran away the year before the five year mark.”

“Declan?” I struggled to sit up better, hoping to stumble on a more comfortable position. “If you are Declan then I am thinking you’ve grown way too much for me to recognize you on the back of a fleeing horse.”

“I was there five years ago, hiding in the treeline. If they had called your name instead of Luc’s I would have done this then instead of now.”

“Luc.” I stared away and off into the horizon. “I couldn’t remember his name.”

Declan shrugged. “He wasn’t very social. And since no one talks about the sacrifice once they are gone I’m not surprised that you couldn’t.”

“Where are we going?”

“Kiani, I’ve been out here for six years. I’m taking you to my home. You’ll be ok.”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t clear away the fog. “I don’t feel well.” I sighed before yawning. “Won’t they come looking for me?”

“I don’t know.” He confessed. “You are the first sacrifice I’ve ever stolen. I did follow Luc’s wagon until it reached the city but I couldn’t go inside. I have no idea what happened to him. I’ll keep you safe though.”

“You can’t guarantee that.” I struggled to talk, to breathe.

Declan shifted, further slowing his horse. “Almost there. I’ll do everything in my power to never let you come to harm.”

“I missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too, Kiani. Welcome home.”