Shadows in the Snow (A Shadowhunters Fanfic)

Chapter 12

Stephannie came back raining hellfire upon Krystal. What happened during spring break was the talk of the school, and Stephannie was determined to get Kai back if just to make a statement, and Kai himself seemed in a different mood. Not that Krystal had been keeping close tabs on him or anything.

Kai had stopped pestering Krystal, in fact talking to Krystal altogether. Stephannie, however, sabotaged her during training, tinkering with the bow Krystal normally used and shrinking Krystal's gear in the laundry, even sending fake fire messages during some of Krystal's other classes. Evelyn and Zach did what they could to help, but because they had so few classes with Stephannie, it was hard to get payback, which Zach had decided was the best route.

Weeks had passed and Kai hadn't said a single word to Krystal, passing glances, yes, but that was it. Eventually, Stephannie backed off. Probably because the time for students to go home had come and Stephannie had other things to focus on, and based on the research Krystal did about her family; Krystal didn't blame her. There were portals everywhere on the field, sending students to all the places they had come from. Evelyn, Zach, and Krystal were gathered together with their things talking in a small circle. Alec and Magnus a small distance away talking to Jem. Zach was also from New York, so Krystal would be going through the same portal as him, but Evelyn was from Chicago, the reason she was waiting for us is that the portal to Chicago simply hadn't been opened yet.

"At least learn to send a fire message, Evelyn. That was the one thing you were never good at. The two of us are master fire message senders." Zach gestured with his thumb between him and Krystal with a cocky smile as Evelyn shook her head, "That's because you were always writing them during class, Zach." Zach shrugged, "Practice when you can, grape head." Evelyn growled. Grape head was a nickname Zach gave her over Christmas break due to Evelyn's purple hair, he rarely used it, mostly just to get reactions out of her, and it worked. "But, FINE I'll practice and try to send them. Maybe convince my parents to let me visit before next term." Krystal shrugged, "I plan on making Zach train with Jace at least once. Make him see what I went through." Zach sputtered, "We didn't agree to that!" She shot him a glare.

As Zach kept protesting, and Evelyn bringing up all the reasons Krystal had every right to do so, a figure appeared in front of them. Probably without them noticing them because they were lost in their bickering. Krystal wanted to run and hide behind her fathers, "Kai. Waiting to go through the portal?" Kai looked at the portal to New York that Papa hadn't even BEGUN to work on. "No, actually, I was hoping to talk to you, Krystal." that's surprising. "You've been avoiding me for weeks, Kai. Now you want-" Behind her, Zach kicked Krystal's shin. Krystal looked over her shoulder at him, shooting him a glare, Zach simply gave her a loving and innocent smile. "I know I've been avoiding you, and I'm sorry. But I've had my reasons. But please, just hear me out." Kai held out one of his hands. The world froze. It was just Kai and Krystal at that moment. Krystal sighed and took his hand, "Alright, I'll hear you out." His grip was gentle as Kai led her away from the crowd.

"You're shaking, Kai. What's wrong, you're not one to get nervous. Not easily, anyway." Kai and Krystal had walked to the edge of the field near the lake, far from the students, parents, and portals. "I've never met somebody who's able to test me the way you do, Krystal. Most people just think I'm another bully they have to deal with, but you, the moment you met me, you showed me a 'no shit' attitude." Krystal half-closed her eyes and laughed, "I get that from my Papa. I can't take all the credit for that. I grew up learning the language of sarcasm." He chuckled and nervously scratched the back of his head, "Which is why what I feel towards you is so confusing." Krystal's eyes shot up to him, meeting his, "What?" Kai looked away again, "After what happened at the lake, I understand that it made you uncomfortable and all that, don't get me wrong, I'm not that big an idiot. But over the course of the year, the more I watched you in classes, how you trained, stood up to people, to people like me, hell to people like Stephannie, made me realize how rare of a person you are. I saw how you interacted with your family during Christmas Break, sparring with your brothers and dad like that, and then you got a parabatai, with somebody like Zach, of all people. You're a loving and kind person, but can be brutally honest, tough as nails, and not afraid to step up when you need to. A dark and a light side as my mom puts it. I don't think I can pinpoint it, exactly, but I think sometime over the course of the year, I started...Feeling something for you, which is why I kissed you back at the lake." Krystal's eyes widened. This was definitely not where she thought this was going.

Krystal felt warmth in her face but knew that Kai was dealing with the same problem. "Well, I want you to know something, Kai." His eyes drifted up to meet hers. Out of the corner of her eyes, Krystal saw Papa open the New York portal and Zach waving at them from the top of the hill. This had to be quick. Krystal took his hand, "I can't pinpoint it, either, but I did start crushing on you during the school year. As much as I tried to avoid it, especially because you were dating Stephannie, you have an unnaturally good talent of getting under my skin." He closed his eyes and smiled, "Can't help it." Zach yelled her name and Krystal resisted the urge to chuck a rock at him. Leaning forward, she placed her forward on his, "I have two overly protective dads and an equally protective brother. Max doesn't really care. If we want something to happen, we need to keep it secret." A cocky smile spread across his face and Kai put his hand on Krystal's face, "I can keep secrets when I want to." Krystal laughed, then after confirming that Kai knew had to send fire messages, she left. Picking a nice rock to throw at her parabatai.

Zach chucked her bag at her, "What was that all about, Krys?" the two walked towards the portal, Krystal heaving a sigh, "Don't worry about it." and the two parabatai, arms linked, stepped through the swirling portal.