"So, how's my favourite niece?" I said, getting in the car.
"First of all, I'm your only niece, and you don't have a nephew either." Riley laughed.
"Yet." I added.
"Also, you say that like I'm still a kid."
"You're nineteen: emphasis on the teen." I smiled.
"Do you think my dad would kill me if I told him I had a boyfriend?"
"You have a what?!" I screamed in joy. "What's his name?"
"His name is Harry and-"
"Like Harry Styles?" I gasped.
"I wish."
"What's he like?" I was shooting questions at her from left, right and centre.
"He's beautiful," she said, biting down on her bottom lip. "He's funny, too. And smart."
"How long have you guys been together?"
"A year."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I just thought maybe you'd tell dad-"
"You mean like the time I told him I snuck you to that massive party?"
"Alright, my bad. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner."
"I have to meet him."
"Before dad?"
"Are you kidding? Yes! He has to pass my test before your father's." We laughed together. Then, our favourite song came on the radio. Immediately looking at each other, Riley reached for the volume button and turned it right up. For a solid two and a half minutes, we were singing at the top of our lungs. What took me by surprise was what she asked me after the song finished: "Auntie A, do you ever miss Amaya?" I was lost for words.
"I mean, yeah. Of course I do. She was my best friend."
"Be honest: was she more than that at some point?"
"Your dad told you?"
"He didn't have to."
"Was it really that obvious?"
"Maybe I'm just smart. How come you never told me? My dad is about to give me a second dad, did you think I wouldn't be supportive?"
"I don't know. You were young and I couldn't find the words."
"Well, just so you know, I do support you. You're my favourite auntie."
"I'm your only auntie."
"I know; that's what makes you so special."
"Riley, I think I've found the perfect dress!"
"For you or for me?"
"For me, come see."
"Alright, two seconds." I stood patiently, waiting for Riley. The dress I'd picked out was tight, so it hugged my figure nicely. It was red, as I was firmly instructed by my brother. Riley came out of the dressing room and as soon as she saw me, her jaw dropped to the floor. "You look amazing."
"Thank you." I blushed.
"Are we sure my dad will be okay with it though?"
"What do you mean?"
"The slit, the lace, the spaghetti straps, the fact there's no back."
"Well, it's red, and that's all he specified."
"Then go for it; I love it."
"Alright, your turn."
"I also think I have the perfect dress."
A few minutes later, she emerged again from the dressing room, this time in a beautiful red gown. Like mine, it had a slit on the leg, but hers was one-shouldered. I could see in my mind the perfect hairstyle, makeup and jewellery to go with it. All of a sudden, Riley looked like an adult. Maybe it was the fact she'd cut her bright orange hair, or the fact she now was actually 19, or perhaps even the dress. Whatever it was, it brought tears to my eyes. I was so proud of her. "Well, are you gonna say something?" she urged.
"You look perfect," A single, salty drop of water rolled down my cheek. "Give us a spin." She spun, and my eye caught something on the back of her shoulder. "Riley," I said in a low voice. "What's that?"
"What's what?"
"On your shoulder."
"Oh it's just my birthmark. Isn't the shape cool?"
"Does your dad know about this?"
"No, should he?"
"Yeah, probably. I'll buy the dresses and we are going straight back."
"What's going on?"
"Just get changed."
I laid the dresses on the counter, ready to pay. I couldn't get my mind away from what I'd just seen. It's not possible. It's not even like it could just be a coincidence; the shape was too perfect.
"You better start explaining because I've never seen you look so pale."
"Did your dad ever tell you about what we had to go through as kids?"
"He said it was pretty rough, but he never went into details."
"He has the exact same birthmark, in the exact same place."
"That doesn't mean anything!"
"Oh, I wish it didn't."
"What do you mean?"
"You know Axel? He has one too: a spade. Amaya had a heart and-"
"You've got a diamond." she interrupted.
"How did you know?"
"I read about this somewhere. You guys are the Aces?"
"Were, " I corrected. "That little cub-shaped birthmark you have, that means it's your turn."
"But this only happens every 100 years."
"I know. That's why I'm confused."
"Oh sh-"
"Watch your language young lady."
"Sorry. I just don't understand."
"Neither do I." my voice was quiet.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently.
"Truthfully, no. You have no idea what you're going to step into when you find the others. I'm praying it won't be as bad as what happened to us; look how it ended for Amaya."
"Is this how I meet my 'soulmate'?"
"What?"
"Well, dad and Axel were spades and clubs, so it was in their fate to fall in love one day. Then there was you and Amaya."
"That's nonsense. Where did you read that?"
"I didn't. I just used my common sense."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just drove with an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach.
YOU ARE READING
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Genç Kurgu⚠️THIRD BOOK IN SERIES⚠️ Years have passed since we last heard from our favourite group of teens; it's been so long that now, they're all grown up. The incident with Joker was far from the last creep they've had to deal with, but last year, there wa...
