My Favorite Beast

Xi (New Friends)

After dinner, Karman and I excused ourselves to go to her room and have girl chat. We discovered we had a lot in common over dinner. She quickly became the yin to my yang. We'd quickly bonded over our love for fashion and paranormal literature. We couldn't get too deep about the books we'd read at the table, so we quickly finished eating to continue our conversation in private.

However, the book talk wasn't the only thing that had me stuffing my face to get away from the dining table and room altogether. Xion constantly bumped against me under the table. It was like he had to touch me. I tried to focus on the discussion about our favorite authors, but his persistent nudges sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Each time he brushed against my leg, I felt a rush of warmth, making it even harder to concentrate on anything apart from the electric connection between us.

It was weird, and I couldn't explain it. The more I pulled away or shifted in my seat, the closer he came to me. At one point we were basically in the same chair; we were so close. No one else seemed to notice or pay any attention to our dancing chair situation. As our shoulders touched, I could feel my heartbeat quicken, a mixture of excitement and anxiety coursing through me. I glanced up to meet his gaze, and in that moment, the world around us faded away, leaving just the two of us suspended in a bubble of unspoken feelings.

Jumping up abruptly, I asked no one in particular, "Can I be excused?"

"Me too," asked Karman as she jumped up just as frantically as me to cover for me.

I looked at her and said thank you with my eyes.

"Yes, both of you are excused. Xi, you can give Tj to me," answered Ms. Angel, as she got up to reach for her baby boy. I was a little reluctant to hand him over, but he'd fallen asleep a little while ago, and I need some air.

The moment's weight hung in the air like a dense fog as we hurriedly made our way out of the room. I could still feel his eyes on me, a mix of curiosity and confusion, but I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the relief of escaping the tension.

"Follow me; we can go to my room," stated Karman. As they walked down the dimly lit hallway, I couldn't help but admire the decor of the rest of the house. I stopped as we came upon a picture of the Kings with what looked like most of the town behind them. The image captured a moment of unity, with smiles all around and a sense of pride radiating from the faces of the townsfolk.

"This was taken during the annual fair," Karman explained, noticing my curiosity.

"It is a time when everyone comes together to celebrate our community." As I studied the photo more closely, I could almost hear the laughter and chatter that must have filled the air that day, a stark contrast to the quiet of the hallway around us.

"Who's this?" I asked, pointing to a short ebony beauty hanging from Xion's neck. It looked as though she was completely smitten with him and wanted to be in his skin. He, on the other hand, looked frustrated. That made me feel a little better, but only slightly.

Wait, why was I feeling jealous? I shook my head, attempting to dismiss the feeling as I focused on the beautiful girl clinging to him. Maybe it was the way she gazed up at Xion with wide, adoring eyes that made my heart twist, or perhaps it was just my competitive nature flaring up at the sight of someone so enchanted by him.

"Oh, that's just Nicole. She, Xion, and Cole used to all be besties until puberty hit; then she fell in love with Xion." I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the thought of their past. It was difficult to shake off the image of them together, laughing and sharing secrets.

Karman gazed at me, seemingly able to read my thoughts and sense all the emotions I was attempting to suppress and ignore. I couldn't for the life of me understand where this sudden burst of jealousy came from. I'd just met these people today. I just met Xion today; how could I be so possessive of him just by seeing this picture? It made no sense, yet the tight knot in my stomach grew stronger. As Karman's piercing gaze held mine, I felt a flicker of vulnerability; perhaps it wasn't just jealousy but the fear of losing a connection I had barely begun to explore.

"It's okay; I know the feelings you're battling right now. You may not believe me now, but soon you will. You don't have to worry about Nicole. My brother isn't the least bit interested in her romantically," Karman stated while grabbing my hand and pulling me into her room.

In that moment, a wave of relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by uncertainty.

"Can I be real with you, Karman?"

"Of course," she responded while taking a seat in her bay window.

I took a moment to admire her room. She had framed photos of famous fashion designers hanging on her walls and specific items from their collections displayed next to each designer's photo. Her walls were a blush pink color, making the photos pop even more. The room exuded fashion store vibes, brimming with inspiration and creativity.

"I'm definitely going to need your help when it comes to decorating my room."

She smiled, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Of course! We can brainstorm ideas and make it uniquely yours, blending your style with some of my favorite trends." She beamed at the thought, already envisioning the perfect blend of colors and textures. "I can't wait to see what we come up with together!"

She shock herself from her creative bubble. "Anyways, what's on your mind?" Karman inquired, interrupting my own creative thoughts and bringing me back to reality. I hesitated, feeling the weight of my thoughts, but her inviting demeanor urged me to speak. As I settled into the chair opposite her, I could feel the weight of my confession pressing down on me, the words ready to spill out like a long-held secret.

"I'm not sure where the emotions from the hallway came from. I've never felt anything like the feeling your brother has brought out of me in such a short amount of time. He has only spoken to me about five words. It's as if there's a connection that transcends everything I've known. I can't help but wonder if this is what people mean when they talk about fate or destiny, pulling two souls together against all odds. I don't get it."

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with interest. "Sometimes it’s not about the words spoken but the connections we feel beneath the surface," she replied, her voice steady and calm, as if she had a profound understanding of the turmoil inside me. "It's those unspoken moments that define our relationships, shaping the paths we take," she continued, her gaze unwavering. "Perhaps what you’re feeling is a glimpse into something greater, a bond that challenges your understanding of love and connection."

I took a minute to try and really understand what she was saying. She was speaking in riddles. I'd just met this man. Didn't know the first thing about him truly. There's no way I should be feeling this way.

I decided to dismiss it all. Then I decided to change the subject.

"I remember you saying you understood the feelings. How's that?" I asked, watching her shift slightly in her seat.

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "It's complicated," she finally replied, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice, "but occasionally, the heart knows things even before the mind can catch up."

"You're communicating in cryptic terms, my friend. If we're going to be friends, you need to pour me the tea."

She chuckled softly, the tension easing between us. "Alright, I will be more straightforward," she said, leaning in slightly, "but only if you promise to do the same."

I nodded, intrigued by her earnestness. "Deal," I said, feeling the weight of our unspoken truths hanging in the air, ready to be shared.

She took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto mine as if gauging my readiness to hear her story. "Okay, here goes," she began, her voice steady but laced with vulnerability, "I've been in love with Cole since I was a little girl. As we've both gotten older, I've seen girls come and go with him, so I know how that picture made you feel." She rattled off the words so fast I damn near missed them.

"Wow, I didn't see that coming. Does he know? Have you ever told him?"

She shook her head, her eyes downcast. "No, I've always been too scared to risk our friendship, but it eats away at me every day. I've taken steps to ensure he doesn't find out."

"What's that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. She hesitated, biting her lip as if weighing the consequences of revealing her secret.

Before she could speak, there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for anyone to respond, Xion rushed through the door. He was trying to catch our conversation.

"Hey, I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Xion said, glancing between us with an intrigued expression. His sudden entrance broke the tension, and I could see the relief wash over her face as she quickly shifted her focus to him.

"What do you want, Xion?" Karman asked, rolling her eyes.

Xion grinned, leaning against the doorframe. "I just came to let Xi know her mother is ready to go," he replied.

I stood and gave Karman a hug and whispered in her ear, "We'll finish this conversation later." As I pulled away, I noticed the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but she nodded in understanding. "Do you want to come by the house tomorrow? We can go shopping and work on my room design."

Karman smiled at the suggestion, her excitement evident as she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "That sounds perfect!" she said, her enthusiasm brightening the room. "We can do some school shopping as well."

I grinned, feeling a rush of anticipation at the thought of spending more time with her. "Great! I’ll pick you up around ten, and we can make a whole day of it," I replied, already imagining all the fun we would have together.

We heard someone clearing their throat behind us. While still leaning casually against the doorframe, Xion spoke, "Can Cole and I come along?" I turned to Xion, surprised but pleased by the idea. "Of course!" With a smile on my face, I expressed my eagerness to incorporate them into our plans.

I turned back to Karman with a smirk. I wanted to see her and Cole's interactions. "We can use them for the heavy lifting." I tried to hide my laughter at her expression.

Karman raised an eyebrow, clearly torn between exasperation and amusement. "Well, if they’re up for it, I suppose we could use all the help we can get," she replied, rolling her eyes good-naturedly.

"Okay, see you in the morning, new bestie." We hugged once more before I turned to exit the room, making sure to keep a good distance between me and Xion. Despite this, Xion made no attempt to move out of my way.

"No hug for me?" He asked with that cocky grin on his face.

I hesitated, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement at his cheekiness. "Are you serious right now?" I shot back, crossing my arms playfully, trying to maintain a light-hearted atmosphere despite the awkward tension lingering between us.

"What if I am?" he continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Are you brave enough to find out?" The mischievous glint in his eyes hinted at an adventure I wasn't sure I was ready for, but a part of me couldn't resist the allure of the unknown.

I raised a brawl at him. Smiling flirtatiously, I took a daring step closer to him. "Is that a challenge?" I asked, my heart racing as I matched his intensity. The space between us seemed to shrink, charged with unspoken possibilities, and I could feel the thrill of the moment wrapping around us like a warm embrace.

"Xion, did you forget Xi's mom is ready to go?" Karman asked from behind us. I took that moment to quickly sidestep him and exit the room.

"Maybe next time," I laughed, heading back down the hallway towards the stairs. As I descended the stairs, I could still feel the lingering energy from our encounter, a spark that ignited a mix of excitement and uncertainty within me. I glanced back, half-expecting to see Xion following, but instead, I found myself alone, caught in the whirlwind of my thoughts.

Tomorrow's going to be fun. I smiled to myself just thinking about it.