Devour Me

Love Me, Please Ch.1

New, Orleans

Garden District

Kenna

I was coming home today and I was bursting, nearly overflowing with excitement. I knew I was chatting off the ear of the taxi driver who chuckled and only listened and nodded as I told him my life story.

“I’m most excited though to finally see Jasper…”I trailed off as my eyes took in the tall Oak trees that lined either side of St. Charles Avenue. It was the middle of autumn and the leaves were varying shades of green, yellow and orange. I knew that the air would be brisk and the smell of wet dirt and leaves would be a welcoming smell bringing back so many memories of making leaf piles and jumping into them and sipping warm apple cider in the twilight as night descended and the stars came out to play.

Home. This was home. As much as I had enjoyed the last four years at college getting my license to become a vet, I had anxiously awaited the day when I could finally return home. Of course getting to see my long time crush also had me anxiously wanting to return home. Jasper Calidan had to be the complete opposite of me in every way. Where I was all ‘rainbows and sunshine’ as he had once described me, he was all dark, moody and brooding. I liked that about him. It always made me feel as if one day he could really see me for me.

Most people were naturally drawn to me because of my bubbly personality but it often brought out my people-pleasing nature. By the end of the day I was normally drained and tired and I had noticed over the past four years it had gotten worse. It had been getting more difficult to be my more optimistic self but I still plastered my too bright smile on my face each morning before greeting others and continued to be a source of energy and support for them as well.

As the driver pulled up in front of my two-story home that held a southern charm with its French design, a tension that had been sitting between my shoulder blades finally relaxed. My eyes naturally went to the identical home to the right of mine where the Calidans lived. Of course I knew Jasper no longer lived there but his parents did. Paying the taxi fare, I thanked the driver and grabbed my suitcase that he had so kindly retrieved for me. Then I made my way past the wrought iron gate and down the walkway that led to the porch steps.

The door burst open and my mother and sister were rushing down the steps.

“Darling! You’re home!” My mother shouted as she wrapped her arms around me in a tight, comforting hug. My sister, Amelia, did the same. Happy tears ran down my cheeks unchecked.

“I’ve miss you guys so, so much,” I cried and they hugged me tighter.

“Sheesh, you’re still such a cry baby I see,” my brother snorted from the top of the steps but he held a warm endearing smile. I stuck my tongue out at him and he only barked a laugh. “Just as sassy and vibrant too.”

I looked over my family. Amelia was as gorgeous as I remembered, radiant even. Her coppery chestnut brown hair glinted with gold, copper, and brown in the sunlight. Her eyes the same stunning turquoise as mine with flecks of gold and green closer to the center, were shining with laughter. Our French genes gave us delicate, feminine features that were given to us by our mother. Long elegant lines, graceful limbs, and stunning facial features. I could stare for long moments at a time at the beauty of both my sister and mother. My brother was stunning as well. He had the same blond hair with varying shades of gold, amber, and bronze throughout the curly strands. Zachary’s curls were tame though, compared to mine at the moment.

“Come on, let’s go inside and get you something to eat. You must be starving.” My mother guided me up the stairs while my sister stood with a hand on her hip, glaring at Zachary.

“Come be a gentlemen and take her bag in,” she demanded in which Zachary only snorted and turned to leave. I could hear Amelia’s eye roll as she cursed him and promised retribution for his impudence. Ah, I had missed this. Sibling brawls and the attempts at one to best the other.

“Father is working today but will be home for dinner later,” my mother was saying as she fixed me one of her famous cucumber sandwiches. “And later,” she continued, “the Calidans are going to be coming over for dinner.” My head shot up at the mention of the Calidans. Zachary chuckled.

“Good to see you still have it bad for my best friend,” he teased.

I shot a glare at him. “You haven’t told him have you?”

He held up his hands in defense. “Of course not, but I’m pretty sure he perhaps….maybe..nope. Never mind. He doesn’t have a clue. He’s still his brooding self though.”

My heart that had begun to beat faster at the mere thought that Jasper might know about my feelings, began to slow down somewhat.

“Anyway, you seem more subdued than usual,” Zachary went on and I tried not to stiffen. I didn’t want them to notice that I hadn’t been feeling like myself lately so I slipped into that role immediately.

“Nonsense! You should’ve seen me on the way here. I’m pretty sure I talked the driver’s ear off but he was pretty sweet about it all.” My words were beginning to pick up with that same energy I normally had. The energy my family remembered about me.

“How about after you eat that sandwich we go out for tea and shopping?” Amelia suggested as she walked into the kitchen and I gave her a dazzling smile loving that my sister knew that shopping was my therapy. Nothing like picking out a new fall outfit to wear for dinner tonight.