Dinner
1175 Words
By the time Kael reached the dining room, the house smelled like roasted chicken, herbs, and something sweet baking underneath it all. Comforting. Normal.
He took his seat without a word.
Luna was already there.
She sat stiffly at the edge of her chair, hands folded in her lap like she wasn’t sure where to put them or what to do with them. Her hair was tucked behind one ear, slightly damp—she must have washed up,before coming to the dinning room. Her eyes flicked up when Kael entered, then down again just as quickly.
.
David stood at the head of the table, smiling like a man trying very hard not to look relieved. “Alright,” he said, clapping his hands once. “Everyone’s here.”
Luna’s mother slid into her seat beside her, brushing Luna’s arm gently as she passed. “Smells amazing,” she said, voice warm.
David beamed. “Family recipe.”
Family.
The word landed awkwardly in the space between them.
Shadow padded in last, circling the table once before settling at Kael’s feet with a hopeful sigh. Luna noticed, the corner of her mouth lifting despite herself.
“He’s well-trained,” she said softly.
Kael glanced down at the dog. “Only when food’s involved.”
Shadow thumped his tail in agreement.
David laughed. “He’s got good instincts.”
Kael stiffened at the word, just for a second.
Luna didn’t notice.
Plates were passed. Cutlery clinked. The sound of food being served filled the gaps where conversation should’ve been.
“So,” David said casually, “first day under the same roof. what's your experience so far”
Luna nodded quickly. “Okay, sir.”
Kael shot her a look.
David raised an eyebrow. “Sir?”
She flushed. “Sorry. Habit.”
He smiled gently. “David is fine.”
She nodded again, shoulders relaxing just a fraction.
Kael watched the way she ate,small bites, careful chewing,like she was afraid of her meal. When David offered seconds, she hesitated before shaking her head.
“I’m good,” she said. “Thank you.”
Her mother frowned. “You barely touched it.”
“I’m just not that hungry.”
Kael knew the lie when he heard it.
David didn’t push. “Alright. Dessert later.”
Luna’s eyes widened just slightly. Not excitement,surprise. Like dessert wasn’t something she expected to be offered.
Conversation drifted to school schedules, traffic patterns, how quiet the neighborhood was at night. Safe topics. Neutral ground.
Kael stayed quiet.
Until David spoke again.
“Kael will be driving you to school,” he said.
Luna froze.
Her fork paused halfway to her mouth. Slowly, she looked up. “Oh. You don’t have to—”
“He does,” David said firmly, then glanced at Kael. “Right?”
Kael met Luna’s gaze.
She looked… uncertain. Not thrilled. Not resistant. Just bracing herself.
“Yeah,” Kael said. “It’s on my way.”
Luna swallowed. “Okay.”
Her mother smiled too brightly. “That’s wonderful. Less stress in the mornings.”
Kael resisted the urge to sigh.
Shadow lifted his head, tail wagging faintly, as if approving the decision.
The rest of dinner passed more easily after that. Luna asked polite questions. David answered them eagerly. Her mother relaxed into the chair, laughter returning to her voice for the first time that night.
But every now and then,
Luna glanced at Kael.
When plates were cleared and chairs scraped back, David stretched. “I’ll handle the dishes.”
“No,” Luna’s mother said quickly. “We’ll do it together.”
They disappeared into the kitchen, voices blending with running water.
Kael stood. “I’ll take Shadow out.”
Luna rose too. “I can help.”
He hesitated.
“Please,” she added. “I need air.”
He nodded once.
Outside, the night was cooler now. The moon hung low, pale and watchful.
Shadow trotted ahead, nose to the ground.
After sometimes,they headed back home.
They stood side by side on the porch, not quite touching.
“Dinner was nice,” Luna said finally.
Kael shrugged. “They try.”
She smiled faintly. “You don’t.”
That surprised him.
He glanced at her. “I showed you the house.”
“And gave a rule, remember?,” she said gently. “Very welcoming.”
He huffed a quiet laugh before he could stop himself.
Her eyes widened.just a little.
He cleared his throat. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Do you want me to?” she asked.
The question hung between them.
Kael looked out at the trees, the shadows stretching long. “This place isn’t as calm as it looks.”
She nodded slowly. “Neither am I.”
Shadow barked softly, breaking the moment.
Kael turned back toward the house. “You should get some sleep. First day tomorrow.”
She hesitated. “Goodnight, Kael.”
He paused at the door. “Goodnight, Luna.”
Inside, the house settled.
Outside, the moon watched.
Luna closed her bedroom door gently behind her, as if the house might startle if she moved too loudly.
The room still smelled faintly of new paint and cardboard, unfamiliar but clean. She kicked off her shoes and crossed to the bed, sitting on the edge for a moment before letting herself fall back against the pillows.
The ceiling stared back at her.
She exhaled.
Dinner replayed in her mind in fragments—David’s easy smile, her mother’s relieved laughter, Shadow’s tail thumping against the floor. And Kael.
Always Kael.
She hadn’t meant to watch him. It just… happened. The way he sat slightly apart, like he was guarding the space rather than part of it. The way his eyes followed conversations instead of joining them. The way he spoke only when necessary—and somehow made the room listen when he did.
She pressed a hand to her chest.
This wasn’t her.
She didn’t get curious about people. She didn’t notice boys. She especially didn’t feel drawn to someone who barely looked at her unless he had to.
And yet—
There was something about Kael that unsettled her in a way that wasn’t entirely uncomfortable. Like standing too close to a fire: warm, dangerous, impossible to ignore.
She turned onto her side, pulling the blanket up around her shoulders.
Maybe it was just the newness. New house. New family. New everything. Her mind was probably reaching for something familiar, something solid to anchor itself to.
That had to be it.
Still… the way he’d said her name. The way his voice had lowered outside, like he was warning her without explaining why.
She frowned into the pillow.
“Get a grip,” she whispered to herself.
The house was quiet now. Safe. Steady.
Her eyelids grew heavy, thoughts slowing, images blurring—moonlight on the porch, a guarded look in dark eyes, the strange sense that something had been watching long before she arrived.
Sleep took her gently.
- Writer
