Thirty-Three
1734 Words
“What do you want?” Kennedy glared at her best friend, who had just beaten her high score once again in a classic game that only the two of them played. He laughed, shaking his head at her as she rolled her eyes.
“You enjoy pissing me off, don’t you?” She asked, straightening her jacket as she got to her feet.
Andromeda looked between them, suddenly realizing why they would never click as anything else but friends. They were too volatile, too explosive to be able to set aside their differences to be a couple. Yet, as friends, they made the world around them tremble in fear of what they were capable of doing. “Phoenix, be nice. It’s obvious she’s having a bad day.”
Kennedy breathed a laugh, pushing her hair back as she pulled out an elastic. As she started braiding it, she felt Andromeda’s hands push hers out of the way. She scowled until she caught the reflection in the hall mirror. The contentment on her face as she helped Kennedy gave the red-head pause. Instead of making a scene over it, she opted to keep her mouth shut, and let the blonde work on her hair.
When she was done, Andromeda smiled. “Perfection. Well?”
“Well, what?” Kennedy asked.
“Ah, so he didn’t ask. I suppose he wanted me to ask for myself, so will you let me join you when you go to the graveyard?” The blonde asked again. “I know that it’s not my place, but I really want to support you.”
Blinking, Kennedy frowned as she looked to Phoenix. She knew that he’d told the heiress the truth, yet she was not expecting her to actually want to spend time with her. “You’re serious?”
“Of course, I am. I know how mentally hard it is to overcome things like the death of a loved one, and I just wanted to show my support. I already asked Ambrosia if it was alright for me to go out for a while, and she agreed that I should try to live as normal as possible. That said, I’d love to get to know you better,” Andromeda replied with a grin.
Not sure of what to say or how to say it, Kennedy glanced at the kitchen door. She could hear her sister and brother-in-law talking, and she knew that there was a limited timeframe to decide. She turned her eyes to Phoenix and raised a brow. “Are you just coming along for the ride?”
“It was Romie’s idea to see if you wanted us to come. Honestly, I’ve gone with you before, but she wants to be included when we do what she calls ‘friend stuff’,” he replied.
“Friend stuff? Really? Sorry, I just… You’re not like the other girls. Nix, I’m going to have to start training her, man.” Kennedy stated as she moved to the kitchen door.
Knocking she snickered as Declan swung the door open, glaring at her. “What now, Pest? Was it not enough that you sent my little devils in to wake me up after loading them up on Pop Tarts? Why must you forever be a thorn in my side?”
“You know I love you, Declan. I just love annoying you more. By the way, Nix and Romie are coming with us. That’s not a problem, is it?” Kennedy asked as she moved to her sister’s side.
Temperance shook her head, pulling her little sister into her arms. Kissing the side of the teen’s head, the woman sighed. “No, that’s not a problem. It’s nice to see you making friends with her, though. Nix, your uncle is still not happy that you went ahead and signed that contract. I keep telling him it’s your life, but he’s just so stubborn!”
Phoenix laughed, shaking his head as he put up his hands. He took a step back, as his uncle gave him a dirty look. “Hey, come on. It wasn’t my idea.”
“I suppose you’re just going along with it, then? I suppose that you’re going to stand there and tell me that this was all your girlfriend’s idea?” Declan snapped.
Scowling at her husband, Temperance raised a red brow. Glancing at the teens, she nodded her head. “Declan, check that temper at the door or sleep on the couch for a week. They’re kids, yes, but you have to stop treating them like they still need you to hold their hands. You have your own kids for that now. Besides, even if it was Andromeda’s idea, I think it’s a beautiful sentiment and greatly appreciate the offer. Kenni, go get your niece and nephew ready to visit their grandparents, will you?”
“Sure, Sissy,” her sister said as she ran from the room.
Taking his cue from the look on his aunt’s face, Phoenix grabbed Andromeda’s hand. “Uh, Rom, let’s go give Ken a hand.”
Once they were gone, the woman turned to her husband and shook her head. “I get that you’re concerned, but maybe, just maybe this is the push Kenni needs to start healing. You and I both know that the nightmares didn’t stop with the deaths of the men who took our parents from us. If Andromeda wants to help Kenni heal, I say let her. There’s no harm in her having another female friend other than Sky.”
“You would really make me sleep on the couch?” He questioned softly. “I’ve been meaning to get a new one because ours is old, lumpy, and has a few springs busted. It wouldn’t be very comfortable for me.”
“Would you rather I tell her the combination to your chocolate stash? She’d be ecstatic to know that you only just restocked it, wouldn’t you, Kennedy.” His wife replied, knowing that her sister and husband often fought over the treat they both loved.
Declan paled. “No, baby, don’t do that. Please, don’t tell her that. She’ll eat them all on me and I’ll have to end up sharing with the kids. I’ll stop jumping the gun. I just feel like that girl is going to be the beginning of the end.”
“Your nephew is happy with a girl that actually wants to be friends with my sister. Not a girl that will make him choose between her and family, and not a girl that only wants him for his money. He’s delighted to have a girlfriend that can get along with the teams queen of mean, so lay off or else.” Temperance advised.
She finished packing the dishes she was working on and made sure that Melody’s sippy cup was full for their day out. As she finished packing the bag, Kennedy came over to her.
“You should just tell me the combination,” the teen coaxed. “You know, for the next time he screws up.”
Turning to scowl at her sister, Temperance noted the dead look in the teens eyes. She knew that, having finished off the men that made them orphans, the girl was a little lost without a personal goal to work toward. “Kenni, I know about the nightmares. It’s not hard to hear you crying out at night, which is why we let you soundproof your room. I understand, I really do, but try to enjoy being a kid for a while. Make friends with Nix’s girl. Find another goal to accomplish. Just don’t let yourself become lax. Always remember that Mom and Dad would be super proud of how far you’ve come.”
“Confession time,” Kennedy breathed.
Her sister, always a patient voice of reason and calm, waited for a moment. “What did you do this time?”
“Well, it’s like this: she stopped me from coming home with a broken hand the other day when I got pissed off. I gotta respect that about her. Originally, I didn’t care for her at all. not at first, but she’s kind of growing on me. Nix agreed to let me train her as soon as she asks for it. I mean, anyone who can stand up to me one-on-one, show me their true colours, then ask to be my friend because she don’t wanna come between him and his buddies is okay in my books. Between me and Sky, we’ve been encouraging her to embrace her inner b***h,” Kennedy replied.
Temperance shook her head, “You’re something else, little sister. The food is all packed, so would you mind carrying the bag down for me? Declan doesn’t want me doing anything to potentially hurt the baby’s growth.”
Shrugging, Kennedy grabbed the bag as Andromeda walked into the kitchen with Melody on her hip. Their eyes met, and, for a fleeting second, the redhead thought she saw a flash of pain in the darker blue depths of the other girl’s eyes. It was gone just as fast, but it was there. Raising a brow, she was about to ask what was wrong with her when her seven-year-old nephew’s soccer ball bounced in her sister’s direction.
Kicking out her foot, Kennedy used her skills to redirect the ball. “Hans, no soccer inside! How many times do we need to say it, buddy? And be more careful, you almost hit your mother!”
“Sorry, Mommy. Are you hurt?” The boy asked fearfully.
Rolling his eyes, Declan grunted, “Andromeda, could you help the kids get their shoes on? We’re leaving for the graveyard now.”
Still skeptical, he watched the girl smile. “Of course, Declan. I’d be happy to help with the children.”
His smirk faded at her easy acceptance, watching closely as she took Hans and Melody out to the coat room. Chancing a look at his nephew, he pursed his lips.
“Oh, you think this is my idea?” The boy asked, amused.
His uncle scowled, “Don’t deny you’re behind it.”
“I won’t, but they started getting along on their own. She really withstood the storm of Kennedy’s temper.”
“God damn brats,” Declan muttered as they locked up the flat.
- Writer
