Vulpecula ✔️

Ready.

"Why did you hate me so much?" I asked Kayden in the silence of the night. We had been cuddled up together with purple fairy lights on. My head was resting on his chest and his right arm wound around me, while his left hand played with my hair. My hands just drew patterns on his naked chest.

"I never hated you."

"But you disliked me-"

"The opposite angel. The opposite. I liked you and it was alarming."

"Why?"

"Because I am not a good person." He said, but when I gave him a look, he began explaining his past. He explained me how he refused her, and then how he helped her recover and then after her death, how he blamed himself constantly.

I didn't say anything but just listened to him. That's what he needed in that moment. Some support and understanding. Of course it angered me a little when he told me the reason for him saying no to her. But then I realised that he was only 15. An age where all we want to be is popular, to be liked by everyone.

And I honestly admired how he faced his mistake and helped her throughout. It needs a lot of courage. Most people would not be able to look at that girl in the face, if they'd wronged her. But Kayden stayed by her side. So I didn't really feel like he should blame himself.

"Don't blame yourself. You helped her. And I'm so proud of you for that. You've come a long way Kayden, and I am just so damned proud of you." I kissed his cheeks and let him watch the truth in my eyes.

"But I-"

"No. You helped her. And it wasn't you who wronged her. Yes you refused to take her home which was a bad move, and you redeemed yourself later Kayden. You should forgive yourself. Maybe visit her grave and pour your heart out? I don't know, but don't blame yourself anymore. I heard the story and I don't blame you. I'm sure our friends wouldn't blame you either."

"Thank you." Kayden whispered and pulled impossibly coser to him. His head was hidden in the crook my neck as he breathed in my scent. "Talk about something else."

"Is that why you were so rude in the club?" I asked the question that I'd been itching to ask him.

"No. After my fight, which was one of my most impressive ones by the way, because you were there, I saw you hugging Clay. You didn't even bother seeing me, you didn't look my way. You just hid yourself in his chest forgetting about the world around you. And I had this realisation that you were good and I wasn't, I wasn't the right person for you. And then I drank, though I was still sober, I said those words in anger. And after you left I did beat those guys and let them hit me too."

He said it all so fast that I didn't understand. But when I finally registered what he said, I wanted to smack him for his stupidity. He beat those guys up and got himself beaten too. Damn him.

"I was reminded of my time, when I was kidnapped. That time. Everything flashed in front of my eyes. And I had a panic attack. So Clayton was just helping me." I explained. And I felt in that moment that Kayden was really toxic back then. Almost a month back. and people do change. A person grows everyday, mentally. And Kayden did it wonderfully.

"How is it okay now?"

"You mean how could I watch you beat that guy up? Well, when I returned back that night, I looked up for some wrestling matches, boxing matches and others. I would watch them until I no longer felt uneasy as they smashed the each other's face." I winced. Those fights were too petty.

But perhaps that's how some people earn their living. Everyone has a belly to feed, a need for shelter and a need for some good clothes that could keep them warm in winter. Life is too hard. I should always be grateful for what I have, because truthfully people have been suffering more than me and for all of their lives. Atleast I don't have to worry about food, clothes or my house.

I've got a more relaxed lifestyle, having to worry about myself. And that's what I told myself again and again. That I shouldn't be sad because I have everything and there are people out there who struggle more than me. But my psychologist said that everyone deals with their problems differently. There are people who might have suffered less than me, but it impacted them a lot. I didn't understand her then, but when I studied psychology myself, I realised that everyone is different. They could be depressed because their pet died. And some would not even care if their whole family dies. It's all about the person. Not the emotions. And one cannot control how much they should feel.

"You're strong." Kayden smiled at me. A smile so warm that I wanted to keep it treasured. "My little warrior."

"Little?" I gasped.

"Yes my tiny, little warrior." Kayden shurgged and pulled me closer to his side. It felt too good to be real, but I guess it's alright. I know he is trying to change and I can do all I should to help him.

I kissed his cheek and mumbled a soft good night. When I closed my eyes, I could feel him trace my features with his eyes, and him kissing me like a brush of air, so as to not disturb me. And in that moment, my heart felt like it could burst. I felt cherished and loved.

__________

"Are we ready?" I asked everyone. We all gathered at my house, and piled into three cars. In my car, there were Kayden and Clayton and me, along with heaps of peepal tree ash.

The other car had, Harry, Dylan, and Edward. The third car had Sophia and Calla and Sebastian. We were ready, as far as I knew. But I needed to be sure.

Kayden and Clayton would walk with me into the illusion of banyan trees and the others would guard the area, trapping Aldrik there. We didn't have a solid plan, but we did have many things on our side that Aldrik lacked. We were fighting for the good, and he was fighting alongside evil.

"We are ready." Harry stated gravely.

With one parting nod, we all got into our cars and began driving away to the destination. Papa and mamma were going to the mall for baby shopping and I had to excuse myself. They both still tried to understand, but I could see the sadness in their eyes. Papa thinks that I've replaced him with my friends and mamma feels so emotional because I hardly share anything with her anymore, but none of them state their worries.

They let me be. Because they believe that I'm finally living all the years of my teenage that I missed at the hands of my parents. And I made a promise to myself that as soon as it's all over, I'm going to make sure that I spend enough time with mamma and papa. A week of just us. Especially the Christmas week.

It's all going to be okay.

Right?