The Unholy Trinity

Moving On

Chloey’s POV

It was strange hearing from other people what was going on with my sisters. Like finding out that Joey had slept with Bryce Vossen. Now I was finding out that Zoey and Zander Craft were now dating. Someone caught them kissing at lunch. Of course Joey and I hounded her.

“How could you not tell us you were dating Zander?” Joey demanded.

“I’m sorry, it all happened so fast. He asked me on a date and then we were kissing and now he’s my boyfriend.” Zoey laughed. “It’s kind of crazy.”

“Does that make you happy?” I asked.

“Of course it does! I don’t care about Tate anymore, he’s a jerk!”

“Good on you.” Joey smiled. “I’m glad one of us is happy with a boy.”

“I thought you and Marsden were deliriously happy?” I asked.

“He’s been lying to me about where he goes. It’s exhausting.”

“Well, then just focus on the other boys you’re seeing.” Zoey shrugged.

“Um...there are no other boys.” Joey winced.

“But there are always other boys.” I stated.

“They just don’t interest me anymore. It’s not a big deal. Zoey is the one with a boyfriend.”

“Also not a big deal. I just like Zander and I’m going to see how things go with us.” Zoey smiled.

“I think that’s a good idea, you deserve to be happy.” I smiled.

“Yeah, we all do.”

***

I was kind of sick of these weekly meetings with Director Magnus. We didn’t gain much from it. Even Joey didn’t seem to be able to make it fun tonight, though I imagined that was because she’s upset with Marsden.

Zoey hated dinner because she had to watch Tate and Raina together. I understood, they were gross.

Of course, I didn’t like them because that meant I had to be around Cade. Somehow he managed to sit next to me this time.

“So are you going to the Underworld next week?” He whispered.

“Maybe,” I whispered back.

“With who?”

“Probably Rune Crimson.”

Cade rolled his eyes. “Him? Come on, Chloey, you can do better. I mean his family is in the chocolate business. That’s so silly.”

Cade Pickerin came from one of the most important families in the Witching Domain. While I found that wildly interesting and had read so much about his family company and their impact, Cade was just so awful, I couldn’t even pretend to be interested in most of the things he said.

“I like chocolate.” I stated.

“Will you at least save me a dance?”

“Um, I’m not a big dancer.”

This made Cade smile. “You know I kind of like this hard to get routine you’re doing. It’s...thrilling.”

I refused to answer him.

After dinner, I was surprised to see Rune waiting for me. I quickly threw my arms around him.

He laughed as he hugged me back. “Missed me that much, did you?”

“Yeah. Um, I was thinking...you and I should go to the Underworld...with Zoey and Zander. And um Tate and Raina.”

Rune smiled. “That’s what I was going to ask you.”

“Great minds think alike.” I smiled, relieved to see that Cade kept walking, shooting Rune a glare.

Maybe I had to make a move sooner than I thought to keep Cade away from me.

Joey’s POV

Marsden Thorton was going to ruin my life.

I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I thought about him all the time. I dreamt about him. He gave me butterflies and made me happy. I was getting worked up over a boy who was lying to me constantly.

On top of that, he was breaking dates and being suspicious. I would have ditched him, but he just makes me laugh like no one else. He knew how to reel me back in.

I groaned when I saw Keene Creighton approaching me. I knew what that meant.

“You’re joking.” I stated.

“He’s sorry. Um, something came up. He said you should just go back to your room, he’ll try to come by tonight.” Keene explained.

“Am I wasting my time with him?”

“No, Joey. He likes you a lot. More than any other girl. He’s just...his life is complicated.”

“So you know where he’s always disappearing to?” He nodded. “Whatever.”

I slumped back to my room. I was disappointed and hated that I had no plans for the night. I opened the door to my room and gasped. Tons of glass jars filled with fairy dust lit up the room. On the bed was Marsden with my favorite flowers; Dragon Snaps.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Surprising you. I feel bad for all the broken dates.” He smiled.

I walked up to him and kissed him, pushing him down on the bed. “This is so sweet.”

“You deserve it.”

We laid in bed cuddling and kissing. Once again the urge to go further than that wasn’t present.

"Hey, Joey?" Marsden asked, playing with my hair.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Do you ever feel so connected to someone that you kind of don’t know what you’d do without them? Like this person makes everything feel like it’s going to be okay? Like they’re...your soulmate?"

"If you would have asked me a month ago, I would have said no. But now...well things have changed. I didn't believe in love and all that romantic stuff for a long time."

"Why not?"

"Well when I was younger I saw how in love my parents were. He said he’d reformed and wanted to be a good person. But he lied and then he left. He broke my mother's heart and I watched as she tried to put the pieces back together and failed." I sighed. “So I stopped believing in love because...it doesn’t exist.”

I couldn't believe I told him that. I hadn't even told my sisters why I didn't believe in love.

"I'm sorry babe." Marsden whispered. "But I want you to know right now that I would never do anything to hurt you."

"I like to think that you won't. I've never let anyone get this close to me. I used to think I was invincible, you showed me I wasn't." I looked him in the eye.

"I think you’re gonna save me." He said, pressing his forehead against mine.

"From what?" I asked.

"Myself." He closed his eyes and kissed me.

"It would be easier to save you if I knew what I was saving you from." I said.

"If I thought it would make things better, I'd tell you. But nothing means more to me than you. I can't lose you now, Joey, I need you. You're my best friend." He said seriously.

I scoffed. "Best friend, is that what I am to you?"

"That's not all!" He insisted. "You're my girl, Joey."

"I'm your girl?" I asked, smiling.

He nodded. "I'd add friend to the end of it, if I thought you would go for it, but I know you won't." He looked away.

"What if I did?" I asked after a moment.

He just looked at me at first. "Are you serious?" I nodded. "You want to be my girlfriend?"

"Unfortunately more than anything." I whispered. He kissed me again.

"If you're my girlfriend, that means no one else can have you. And no one else can have me either. I'm yours and you're mine."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." I said as tears slid down my face.

"Baby, why are you crying?" He asked.

"I'm scared." I said as my voice broke. "What I feel for you, Marsden, it's powerful and all-consuming. I feel like I'm giving you the power to break my heart."

"I won't, I swear. Just promise you'll always see me the way you do now. As the person who made you see, you don't have to be alone forever." He said.

"Marsden, nothing could make me see you any differently. You are the best person I know."

"I shouldn't be. But I love that you think I am." He chuckled.

I laughed too. "I think you might be mine forever."

"I hope I will be." He kissed me softly.

Zoey’s POV

I hadn’t expected to move on from Tate so fast, but it just happened.

I didn’t think my date with Zander would be so much fun. It was different hanging out with him romantically. He was so attentive and sweet. When he leaned in to kiss me, I just knew that it was what I wanted.

Everyone was talking about us. I kind of liked the attention.

***

"Zoey, can I speak to you?"

"I don't know, why don't you ask your girlfriend if you can." I said harshly.

Tate sat down next to me anyways. "There's a rumor going around." He said.

"A rumor about me, I presume." I said slowly flipping through the pages of my Talisman book.

"Yes. A rumor that you’ve been seen kissing Zander Craft."

"Word travels fast around here, I see." I said blankly.

"So it's true?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Tate, it's true. We were seen kissing."

"But why?"

"Well that's usually what someone does with their boyfriend. I've seen you and Raina do it countless times."

"Boyfriend?" He whispered.

I nodded and smiled. "Yep. Boyfriend. Zander and I are dating."

"Zoey, you can do better than him."

"I don't think I can. Zander is perfect. He's smart, sweet, attractive, funny. He's everything I want in a boyfriend."

Tate shook his head angrily. "I can't believe you're going out with him of all people."

"Oh, why do you care? You got your girlfriend, you've got your friends. You shouldn't be the least bit concerned with the things I do, considering I'm neither of those things."

"Zoey, you are my friend."

"No, I was your friend, until you decided to toy with my emotions. I'm no one's dirty little secret, Tate, and I refuse to be treated like one."

Tate sighed. "I never meant to make you feel like that."

"Well you did, and you can't take it back now."

"I'm sorry." He whispered. “Um, Zoey, I hear your sister is dating Marsden Thorton exclusively?”

“So what?”

“He’s dangerous, she should stay away from him.” He walked away.

“What was that about?” Zander asked.

“I was just telling Tate how perfect you were.” I kissed him. “And how happy you make me.”

I tried not to think about how Tate used to make me happy.