Unloved Unclaimed Unbound

Chapter Ten – Serenya

The campus was nearly empty, the late afternoon sun catching long shadows across the cracked pavement of the parking lot. I sat on the low stone wall near the entrance; I placed the bags at my feet. One full of my school stuff. The other one was full of the very little items that were left in my dorm. I had texted Jakob to come 30 minutes after school let out do could gather those items and to just sit and think. I fiddled with my ear bud’s case; flipping and turning it over in my hands as I stared off into space.

It felt strange. Being back. Seeing the same lockers, the same hallways, like I hadn’t been shipped off to this place since I was 16. Perhaps it was because I wouldn’t be here 24/7, except on holidays anymore.

My phone buzzed, I took it out of my pocket. Just as I unlocked my phone and saw that Kaelith had texted me, I heard the crunch of boots on the gravel path that led to the teachers' parking area making me look up. Holt, one of the teacher’s aides who had been here before I started, was walking toward me in an easy gait that slowed when he saw that his noisy approach had my attention.

He wasn’t an unattractive man. He must be in his early to mid-20s, maybe. Typical body frame that speaks of disciplined workouts. His eyes were this deep, brilliant and at times disarming aqua blue. It was one of the first things I noticed when he had assisted me in one of the first classes he was in. They were warm and welcoming, but when he needed the attention of the other students, they were stern, unwavering, and piercing eyes. His dark brown hair was tousled in a textured cut. The sleeves of his flannel pushed up and folded, his tattoos on his left arm peeked through.

“You planning to sit here all night?” he asked, a hint of a teasing tone.

I smiled faintly, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, I’m not lost. Just lost in thought.”

He stepped closer, sliding his hands into his pockets. “I was about to head out. Thought maybe you’d like me to walk you back to the dorms. Like old times.”

I gave a small laugh. “You make it sound like you did that all the time. It was just a handful of times; I can count them on one hand.” I pause to look at the time on my phone and when I look at him, I tap the bag with the items from the dorm. “Thanks for the offer though, but no. I’ve got a ride. To where I’m staying now.”

Holt tilted his head, brow lifting, studying my face. Something, maybe curiosity, flickered in his eyes, but also… relief? He nodded, turning back to the teacher’s parking lot. “Good.”

I gawked at him. “Good?”

Holt pauses and looks back at me. “If it’s not the dorms, it's already better.”

I was about to reply when the sound of tires on asphalt broke my train of thought, making me forget. Jakob’s black sedan pulled up to the curb, sleek and polished against the aging parking lot. I stood, brushed off my jeans and grabbed my bags.

“Guess my chauffeur’s here,” I say, my voice edged with sarcasm as I straighten with my things.

“Must be nice.” Holt says. A smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

I give an awkward wave bye and made my way to Jakob’s sedan. Jakob is already at the back door, opens it for me to get in, and shuts it as I get settled. Buckling up, I glanced out the window to see Holt still standing in the same spot before giving a small salute before walking over to his motorcycle. Jakob finally shuts his driver's door and secures his seat belt.

“Would you like to go anywhere before going home?” Jakob asks.

Home… I have no home. I think to myself. But I replied aloud, “Could we stop by Starbucks?”

I see Jakob smile in his rearview mirror. “You know a Pumpkin Spice Latte actually sounds good right about now.”

I smile. “I prefer the White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino myself.”

He nods as he puts the sedan in drive. “It’s settled, Ms. Serenya. Let’s be basic white girls before going home.”

I can’t help it, I laugh, a full-on belly laugh. A sound so foreign coming from me that Kaelith could only accomplish. I smile as I wipe my tears away. I should really call him when I get to the estate.

--

Jakob opened my door after we pulled to the front of the estate. I shove my phone in my back pocket, grab my frap and my cheese danish and step out. Jakob closes the door; he grabs Isolde and Elyria's drinks. I’m not going to lie, picking out their cups what fun. He was worried that their drinks would get cold on the way to the estate. The cashier suggested we could buy one of the cups. Jakob seemed to be pleased with my choices too; he wanted to surprise them. Isolde and Elryia had gone to appointments today.

We walk up to the entrance, the door flings open, and Isolde is standing there bouncing. “You brought coffee!?”

Jakob laughs and hands her the small green cup, “Hot chocolate.”

Isolde takes the cup, “It’s still in a coffee cup! Thank you, Sereyna! Thank you, Jakob!” She turns back into the foyer, “Elyria! You have coffee!”

Elyria stepped out of the sitting room, watching after her sister as she took the stairs to the second floor, then looked at Jakob and me. She smiled, walking towards us. “Thank you, Jakob. Thank you, Serenya.” taking her blue swirl cup, inhaling the steam and sighing happily. “Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, my favorite seasonal drink.”

I smiled, “I just picked out the cups, Jakob ordered the drinks.”

Elyria smiles slowly, “Perhaps, but your chosen cups are our favorite colors.” She turns back to go back to the sitting room.

Jakob excuses himself to move his sedan. I stare after Elyria. I subconsciously picked their cups, recognized the colors as the girls' favorites, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at the photos hanging on the walls of the family or people in them. Because all I can picture being in the photos, is Linda and Glen with their hands on Kaelith’s shoulders. Kaelith’s accomplishments. I shook my head and walked to the stairs to the second floor to go to my room.

I opened the bedroom door. Sometimes I still expect to open it up to my room at my parents' house. All last week I never gave any thought to the details, the atmosphere. I set my things on the chair by the door, holding my frap and danish bag. The room, like the rest of the estate, had worn but well-kept soft honey-colored wooden furniture. The king-sized bed was covered with a quilted bedspread that wasn’t silk, it had loose threads, showing that it was well-used, but taken care of. The small desk sat under the window with a beautiful view of the mountains. The desk has shown years of use as well. As I walked to it, the setting sun shown just enough light through the window to show the faint scratches like ghost lines of its previous owners had left a little piece of their lives.

I ran my fingers over the small grooves and pulled my phone out before sitting in the desk chair. Spinning away from the window to face the wall that held the doors to the walk-in closet and full bathroom. I scrolled to Kaelith contact and pressed the video call button. I look at the time, crap, that’s right he is at practice right now. I sigh, I forgot I was a whole hour ahead of him. I go to end the call, but his sweaty face fills the screen. I choke on the sob that threatens to escape. He mumbles something and I see him move fabric over his head.

“Ren,” he finally says, surprised. “You don’t usually call this early.” He finishes fixing his shirt and uses the front of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face. The sound of his voice easing tension in my chest.

“Um yea, I also forgot about the time change.” I say, proud of myself that my voice didn’t crack.

He nods his head to the side. Looks to the side and waves to a teammate, telling them he’ll see them tomorrow before focusing on me. “Ren, where are you? Did they update the dorms?”

I looked around me and then slowly spun the chair. “No, I’m not staying in the dorms anymore. I’m staying in my room at the estate.”

“Estate?” He asks as he pulls a strap over his shoulder for his duffle bag.

I hum, “Yeah. The Dravenholt estate. It’s about 20-ish minutes from the school. Mr. Dravenholt wasn’t keen on the idea that I was going to be staying in the on-campus dorms and seemed very upset when he found out that I had been staying there since I started attending that school. He said that staying here would be safer.”

He seemed to be thinking it over for a moment as he walked. “It is safer, honestly. I never liked that you had to stay in them. I hate that they even sent you there. Just keep me in the loop, ‘kay Ren?”

“I will Kae.” I promised softly, stopping the spin of the chair and taking a sip of my frap.

I heard the duffle bag thump. “Mr. Dravenholt didn’t force this decision, did he?”

“At first, I thought he wasn’t giving me a choice. So, I talked to Elyria, his oldest daughter. Then I spoke to Dr. Hale. I had already decided that I was going to stay. Talking to them was just to see if I was making the right choice.”

“You could have called me, ya know?” Kaelith said as the trunk of his Mustang shut.

I gave a small smile, “Kae, where were you all week last week and last weekend? As much as I wanted to call you, they probably would have eavesdropped.”

He sighed as I heard him open the door to his car and watched him sit. I could just imagine him sitting with his left leg propped on the inside of the door and left elbow on his knee. Sure enough, his left hand ran through his hair, and he sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. So, you like this Dr. Mallory Hale?”

I ignored the question for a moment. “I miss you, Kae.”

“I miss you too, Ren.” A small smile crosses his face. “Come on, don’t ignore the question.”

I shrugged, turning my head to the side when the door creaks open and Isolde was standing there uncertainly with a schoolbook in her hands. “I like him okay. I did choose him. Because he seemed like a person who would understand what I went through. Hey Isolde, one sec.”

“One.” both Kaelith and Isolde reply. I gave both my brother and Isolde an incredulous look, before rolling my eyes and laugh out a small laugh. “Great.”

I get s**t eating grins from my brother and this 13-year-old that I think I could see myself actually liking, especially if she continues to do things like this. “Hey Isolde! I’ve heard great things about you!” Kaelith says.

Isolde blushes. “Maybe you could convince her to be forthcoming with a little bit of information about you.”

Kaelith feigns shock and hurt, “Ren, you haven’t spoken to the sisters about your incredible, talented, and handsome twin brother?”

I again rolled my eyes. “Kae your ego is showing. Besides, Isolde is 13. She is just now probably checking out boys her own age. She doesn’t need you to inflate her expectations.” I glance at Isolde, whose cheeks are a brilliant shade of crimson. “When I am ready, I will tell you about Kaelith.”

When I look at Kaelith, he is smiling, “I’m proud of you, Ren. For making your own choices.” He shifts and the driver's door shuts. “Well ladies, let me head out. Isolde it was nice to hear your voice. Maybe next time, I get to put a face to the name and voice. Ren, you have a great night.”

I smiled sadly. “I love you to the silence.”

He returns the same smile, “I love you through the storm.”