Vintage

The Arguement

Jade’s heart pounded, contracted, and raced as Donovan forced them through ridiculous drills around Watcorp grounds. Worst of all, the Americans joined them for the exercises. It was not a good experience for any of them, especially Kira. Donovan scowled every time Evan attempted to help Kira as she stumbled on rocks or tripped in the creek. Kira had on her soaking wet puppy dog expression when she backed away from Evan’s hand. Luke finally pieced the puzzle together and offered Kira his hand during the outing.

It’s one thing to be hot and sweaty. It’s another to be forced to follow my brother’s commands when he is in a shitty mood.

Jade watched Donovan and Myron disappear into the thick fauna. She was not in the mood for   entertaining male bonding. They had a mission tomorrow. Donovan needed to lose the jealousy. It was going to get them killed. Jade arched a dark brows; she hurried towards her teammates.

“Jade,” Kira called. “Don’t.”

Jade folded her arms in annoyance. She wasn’t a mouse like Kira. She wasn’t going to enable Donovan’s emotions or walk on eggshells around him.

“Kira, I’m not in the mood-“

Kira shut and opened her mouth as her hand wiped her damp neck. “He was fine, last night.”

Last night? Maybe, Kira wasn’t a mouse.

Kira lowered her eyes like a small child who lied about eating chocolate, but had chocolate smeared across her face. Jade was taken aback when Kira’s expression changed into pure frustration. Kira gave Jade a firm look.

“Jade, I’m with Donovan in every way.”

Jade admired Kira’s classy way of stating that she was Donovan’s lover. It was statement; yet, it wasn’t very obvious.

“Really, Charles is –“

“I don’t care about Charles. I love Donovan, but he’s trying my patience. First, he’s acting like a jerk over Evan. Pure jealousy. Then, he argued with Myron over the drill at Watcorp. Myron screamed about a woman on the roof. Donovan claimed that he didn’t see her.”

“What did you just say?”

Kira eyed Jade in dismay. She didn’t think she revealed anything damaging. Goodness, why was she able to hear voices at least 3 miles away? It was such a dangerous gift, along with her ability to shatter material with her voice.

“Donovan and Myron had a terrible quarrel before we arrived about last night,” Kira began. “Myron saw a woman on the roof of the Watcorp building. Donovan denied seeing her, but Myron claimed that Donovan muttered something at the woman after she leapt from the roof.”

Jade saw red as she stomped in the direction of Myron and Donovan.

“Jade, wait! Jade,” Kira called.

Jade ignored her friend and gave into her dark fury. Myron lied to her about the intruder. Charles lied about the intruder. Donovan kept something from the team.  Jade was tired of being second fiddle in her family. It needed to stop.

Jade felt annoyed by the cracking twigs, the smell of spring grass, and the annoying birds chirping in the back ground. The mid-afternoon sun did not help, beads of sweat poured down her forehead. Her muscles ached. She was just done with everything.

Her teeth clenched when she stopped dead front and center between Donovan and Myron. Myron’s hand felt hot… reassuring on her shoulder. She shrugged until he removed from her body.

Jade stared deeply into her brother’s blue eyes, just like Mum’s sweet eyes. She pressed a finger into his hard chest. Donovan stepped away from her touch causing her a deep annoyance.

“You’re using Kira, Donovan,” Jade muttered darkly. She did appreciate the dark flush that spread across his handsome face. “You’ll never expose the relationship to Charles. She can’t wait forever for you.”

Donovan’s blue eyes turned into rock-hard sapphires. “Stay out of it... none of it is any of your affair. Kira shouldn’t have confided in you.” Donovan looked over Jade’s shoulder giving Kira an icy look.

“Wow, Donovan, what a jerk. Then, you act silly in front of her ex. Get a clue; he dumped her.”

“Not now, Jade,” Donovan spat. “I’m not in the mood.”

Jade placed her hands on her hips.

“You’re going to hurt her.”

Donovan waved a hand in Jade’s face to silence her. “You’re right; she broke my trust. She doesn’t understand the concept of a secret.”

Jade gave Donovan a look of regret when she spotted a wind tunnel of leaves blowing behind him.

“Donovan-“

“What else did she tell you, Jade?” Donovan asked sweetly.

Jade‘s desire to back down fled when she detected anger in his voice. “That you spotted a woman fleeing the building.”

“She listened to a private conversation, and shared it with you.”

Donovan brushed past Jade. She glanced over her shoulder to watch Donovan clasp Kira’s elbow, dragging her towards the Watcorp building.

“Are you proud of yourself?”

Jade had forgotten that she was truly angry with Myron when she stomped over here. She opened herself to him… he lied to her about an intruder. She let down her guards, and as usual she was disappointed with a human.

“Are you proud of yourself, Myron? If I’m pot, then you are most assuredly kettle.”

Myron knew Jade waited for him to make a simple misstep. She would use it as an excuse to throw the brake switch again. Just like Donovan was probably breaking Kira’s heart, the Watson siblings were cut from the same cloth. Hurt be hurt, Myron was in it for the long haul. He would deal with Jade’s many moods because he loved her.

“Yes, I kept something from you. It was dangerous. We could have been overshadowed. I’m not Kira… I won’t follow you into danger-making up the plan as we go along.”

Jade was a bit hurt. She never expected Myron to knock her teamwork plan. She never deliberately placed Kira in harm’s way.

“Shut up, Myron. You LIED to me.”

“For good reason. That woman was able to penetrate your security system. She knew our routines.”

“She’s a bad agent.”

“No, she‘s someone with intimate knowledge of Watcorp. Someone with a DNA print to access the building. Someone that could make Charles’s resolve weaken.”

Jade didn’t have a clue about Myron’s riddle. Playing mind games wasn’t on her agenda.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Myron weighed his options in his mind. Did she really need to know? Was it going to be worth it? Should he burst her bubble of reassurances? When did he become the moral police; did he have a right to ruin Donovan and Jade’s life? Myron had planned to bury the secret until Jade delivered a painful jab to his left knee.

Myron fell to the ground as pain erupted in his kneecap.

“That’s for sneaking into my room. Stealing my vulnerability away. Spraying me with flowers and lying.”

Kicking Myron was juvenile. She needed to alleviate her frustrations. It was a poor response. She felt bad when she watched Myron groaning in pain. Carefully, she stepped back when he gave her a look of venom.

“Maybe, if you let your guard down, I would not have to be hanging around your room when you’re in the shower. If you trusted someone. Deep inside of you, you do not trust me, or Kira. We’re just pawns in your chess game. Maybe, I’m tired of the Watsons.”

Jade flicked her nails. She carefully examined them as she pondered over a good verbal jab.  A chip…she would need a good manicure for the gala tomorrow night.

“Please, you live for this.”

“Jade, this is real life.  It’s hard, your nails? You have to learn to deal with life, just like your brother. Being enhanced humans or Watsons stifled your ability to deal with any crisis. Stop being Charles. You and your siblings, you cling to the past until it hurts you.”

Myron breeched her comfort zone too much. She couldn’t deal with his demands. She braced her back, and ignored the loud sad calls from her heart urging her mouth to stay close.

“You’re right. It’s over.”

Myron shrugged from the ground. “We never started.”

Jade’s eyes shifted around the woods. She wondered if anyone could hear them.

“So, you’re leaving.”

Myron shook his head. “No, I’m giving you what you want.”

“You got what you want last night.”

He smirked, “I want all of you… body, heart, and soul. I’m giving you the space to understand my desire for you, Jade. It burns in me.”

Jade flushed. She turned on her heel, stomping past the boys, scurrying to the woods. She eyed Donovan yelling at Kira.  Hunching her shoulders, she grabbed Kira by the arm dragging her along.

“Shut up, Donovan.”

Kira shot her a confused look. “Time to abort the mission, let’s go shopping.”