Page 33

Amias

The first thing I wake up to is the ringing of my phone.

I groan as the melody keeps playing, hoping that it will shut off on its own. I'm too tired to be taken from sleep.

Please, just let me enjoy this bliss for a little longer. Please.

It keeps ringing and it annoys me enough to wake me. Maybe the ringing is something important.

I lift my head and reach into my pocket to see the name on the call is Mother. I yawn. Why is Mother calling me in the middle of the night?

I answer her and put the phone up to my ear as I push my body up. "Hey Mother."

"Is everything okay, dove?" she murmurs.

"I'm fine," I groan. I close my eyes, about ready to go back to sleep, but I fight to keep them open. "Just… very tired…"

"Okay… where are you then?"

"What do you mean? I'm in bed?" I glance at Clara's nightstand then out the window. It's still dark out.

Wait a second… Clara's nightstand?

Suddenly something shifts beside me and moans softly. I whip my head beside me, to see Clara sleeping with her knees close to her chest under the covers.

I've been sleeping in her apartment!

"Oh shit!" I gasp, but then I correct myself. "Shoot! I mean shoot." I glance at the time on my phone. It's morning three!

"I don't care about swearing right now. I just want to know where you are. You didn't respond to your chauffeur and you've been gone for six hours. Your grandmother's been worried too. I was about to file a missing person case! Are you okay?"

I rub my eyes. "Yeah, it's all okay! I was just with a friend and I fell asleep! That's all…"

"Okay good…" She pauses, and I take it as my cue to end the conversation.

"Well, I'll see you soon…"

"Wait a second! I still have something to ask."

My brows crease. "What?"

I can hear her suck her teeth in. "So… who is this friend of yours?"

My brain scrambles for an answer. “It’s just Glaide." I'm not sure how Mother would react if I mentioned a girl.

"Glaide?" Her voice sounds stern, as if she knew the truth. I need to sound more convincing.

"Yes, Glaide's house," I nod, trying to sound more firm.

Clara groans again, and weight shifts on the bed. I turn to see Clara squinting at me. "Who is that?"

I press mute on my phone, and murmur to her with a soft smile. "It's just my Mother. It's okay. Get some sleep. I'll be out of here."

Clara smiles as I slowly move off the bed and stand up.

"Why are you cooing like that?" Mother shouts from the phone. I jolt in horror as I check and realize…

I put the phone on speaker instead of mute.

"Shit!" I shout.

Clara chuckles and I narrow my eyes. "This isn't funny!" I whisper yell, before rushing out towards the door.

Once I'm in the hallway, I get back to talking to her. "Mother, I-"

"Who was that woman you were talking to?"

I shake my head. "I told yo-"

"And don't say you're at Glaide's, because I know you don't go around cooing at Glaide like that. You only do that for people you want to sleep with. Unless you're sleeping with Glaide, which would make you a homewrecker-"

The thought of that makes me want to gag. He’s like my brother! "Fine, you got me. You can stop now."

"What? You're sleeping with-”

"No!" I shout. “I’m at a girl's house. And no, we are not sleeping together. I just crashed at her place by accident. Nothing more."

It becomes silent on the other side and I twist my lips. "What were you doing at her house then? And why would you lie?" Mother's voice is higher pitched. She's definitely hurt by this.

"I didn't want you to think anything of it," I bring a hand to my forehead. "I guess I made it worse. I'm sorry Mother."

"I mean… sleep with who you want, just as long as it's with one who hasn't found their soulmate or doesn't have one. I just would've thought you would have told me about whatever girl you're with."

I sigh. "She's not anything besides a friend. That's it."

"She's around your age?"

"Yeah, she's eighteen."

She takes a deep breath. "Well… Do you think she's cute?"

I jerk my head back. “Mom… it's not that kind of situation"

"You two seem to be getting close. I want to know."

"Yeah, no. We aren't that close."

"Hm. Not yet at least."

I groan and roll my eyes. "Mother… you need coffee or something. You're sleepy."

"I've been up and running, little dove. Worried about you."

My heart drops in shame as I slump my shoulders. "I'm sorry. I should've let you know."

"It's alright, dove. And you never answered the question. Is she cute?"

My brows crease. She's… admittedly a physically attractive woman. That doesn't mean I have feelings for her like Mother is suggesting. “She’s good looking, but I don't have feelings for her like that.”

“Hm. What's the most attractive part about her?”

“Mother!” She's testing me!

“What? I'm just asking a question!”

“I'm not into her. I can't be into her anyway.”

“Then this question should be easy! Just name something attractive about her!”

My answer will determine for her whether I’m in love with Clara. I'm well aware of what she's trying to do.

I think for a moment. Her eyes seem to be the most notable thing I've noticed. “Her eyes…”

“Her eyes?”

“Yeah. When light hits them, they're like rings of fire. Sometimes it feels like she’s burning right through me…” I think back to when she first challenged me all those nights ago. How her eyes looked in sunset starlight… how she looked in starlight… She's beautiful…

And her physical beauty isn't the only thing that's attractive.

“You know, she's not someone to mess around with. She’s not afraid to call you out when you're wrong.

And her empathy… it's kind of insane how protective and understanding she can be.

She's even taught me some things about that.” A warmth settles in my chest and cheeks.

That's the part I admire the most. From her empathy with dreamscreechers, to her encouragement about my soulmateless situation, she's truly incredible.

Mother chuckles on the other side. “Okay, dove. You can stop swooning.”

My heart jumps. “What?”

“I didn't ask for a list of reasons why she was attractive, and yet you're swooning so much, I don't think you realized you were rambling!”

“What? No!” I shake my head, but thinking about Clara makes my heart flutter. Do I… like her in that way?

Mother continues, “Maybe the flower will glow for you both. Maybe she's the one.”

My heart twists excitedly at the idea. Almost instinctively, a buzz starts in my hand, and the flower grows from my palm. What if it does? What if she doesn't have a soulmate?

Maybe I can see if she has a soulmate bond. Maybe we could make it work if she feels the same about me.

"You should invite her to your birthday party," she suggests. "I want to meet her."

I snap away from fantasy. Clara probably wouldn't like that idea. “I’m not sure she'd like it. She freaked out last time I mentioned taking her to the castle."

"Why?"

"Pressure I think. I mean, Grandmother is going to be there. It’s not something to take lightly for most people.”

"But I want to know who got my little dove smitten."

Cold dread replaces the warmth of love. I shouldn't fall for Clara. She probably has someone out there for her that will fit much more than me. I'd only be holding her back. "May I remind you Grandmother said I don't have a soulmate? It probably won't-"

"Blah, blah, blah. Who says you can't get married and then have three little dovelings just because my mother couldn't arrange it? Forget that!"

I roll my eyes at her remarks. "I love you, Mother."

"I love you too, little dove. Ask her, alright?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later."

"See ya!"

She hangs up. Clara's not gonna like that question, is she? Would she be angry if I even asked?

Or perhaps I should just give it a chance? Even in friendship, it would be nice to have her there. The worst she can say is no.

I look to my hand where I had made the amare flower. It has already turned into dried up petals.

I draw a sharp breath. It's better not to get my hopes up.

I go into the apartment quietly. I should leave Clara to sleep. I just need to check to see if I have everything and get my shoes.

"You can stop tiptoeing," she grunts from her bed. "I'm still awake."

I quit tiptoeing and walk to her sitting up on her bed. "I’m so sorry I slept over. I should be gone to let you sleep."

"I don't mind that you slept over,” she shrugs. “I trust you enough.”

“Seriously? First you don't mind me seeing you in your underwear, and now you're letting me sleep in your bed?” I fold my arms. “How different are your social norms in Lluvia?”

“It's not.” She scowls. “I don't just let any random man sleep in my bed. I just trust you . You're kind and respect me.” Her gaze softens. “You can stay if you like. I enjoy your company.”

My cheeks warm. “Do you really trust me that much?” That's a big privilege she's giving me.

“Yes,” She looks to her blankets. “That phone call woke me up, and now I can't go back to sleep."

"Maybe try for longer than just sixty seconds.”

"Well now my stomach’s growling. I can't sleep well hungry." She frowns. "I don't think I have any more food to just heat up."

I check her fridge and sure enough, after scouring through, no leftovers or anything we can just pop in the microwave.

"I guess we have to cook," I sigh. Nothing is open at morning three. "I’ll go down and make you something."

"If you are going, I want to help," she grins deviously. “What are we making?"

"What do you want to make?"

She pauses, giving a slow nod with her lips twisted. "Bread."

I scrunch my nose. “It’s too early in the morning for that! It's a long process!"

"I never thought it was. It would be fun if we could make it into a competition to see who makes the best bread."

"But it's still three…" Looking into her eyes, my words drift. Her excitement shines through, almost like she had the best nap of her life. I love making bread, but with only five hours of sleep?

She gets up from the bed and walks towards the door. "Come on!"

"Hang on." It feels wrong to walk out having only just rolled out of bed.

I go to the bathroom and turn on the light. The gold framed mirror reflects my messy hair and puffy eye.

Hm. Something about this doesn't feel right.

I lean in closer to the mirror. Searching for the odd yet subtle difference. It takes a moment for me to find it, but once I widen my eyes, I spot the difference.

My irises.

They're completely blue. A very vibrant blue. Abnormally bright.

I furrow my brows. I could've swore that my eyes were a little dull. They’re definitely blue but not this shade.

How good is the lighting in this bathroom?

“What are you doing?” I swing my head to Clara squinting from the door. “Are you getting ready to go downstairs?”

“Well...” I glance back into the mirror. “I… I was but-”

Clara approaches and grabs me by the wrist, dragging me towards the door. "There's no need, Captain Prettyface." She smirks before pulling me out of her apartment and into the hall.

“Captain Prettyface?” What kind of nickname is that?

“Well since you're so focused on how pretty your face looks,” she rolls her eyes. “Now let's go.”

I let her take the lead, almost too tired to really process what is happening. Maybe this eye color thing isn't a big deal. It's just odd that it would look so differently all the sudden. I mean, last night they were a duller shade.

No. I should let it go. Now is the time to have fun. I'm sure it's nothing more than weird lighting that I'm tempted to install in my room.