Shadowed

The carnival

I was standing at the gate, checking the map all the time to see where Mila and Love were. Mila is always late and Love is always on time. Now they're coming at the same time so they will probably be a little late.

I was wearing a dark blue bomber jacket, blue jeans and a black shirt underneath. I had my sunglasses and a black bag with me.

I was extremely nervous since I invited Luka to come with us. I was overlining my lips as I heard Luka greet, "Hey". I lifted my eyes from my pocket mirror and said, "Hey, you actually came". He smirked and said, "Well I had to". I stared at the gate as an awkward silence took over the situation.

Suddenly I saw Mila and Love, Mila screaming, "Hey!". I couldn't help but smile. I honestly think I have a better connection with them than my own brother. We all hugged, while asking "How are you?".

"So um, this is Luka, as you can probably remember, we have a school project so he had to come here", I explained nervously. Love and Mila shook hands with Luka even though they've seen each other multiple times.

"What school project?", Mila asked and looked up to me. I glanced at Luka and said, "We have to study each other's behaviors around friends". Mila nodded while thinking it all through. "You guys are one of my best friends with Anastasia so you're important part of our project", I chuckled.

"They're your only friends", Luka mumbled as we started to walk in the carnival area. I shot him a look and accidentally hit him in the ribs with my elbow, making him grunt in pain.

"So what's new?", I asked as we walked into the carnival area, looking around a bit, leaving Luka to walk behind us. "School started, so a bit busy but fun", Love smiled widely. I scrunched my eyebrows and couldn't help but smile too. She bit to her lip before saying, "There's this one guy...". I raised my eyebrows and continued to listen to her carefully. "He...is my boyfriend", she let out and blushed fiercely. I started to jump and hugged her tightly.

"So when do I get to meet him?", I asked and clapped my hands together excitedly. "I don't know", Love laughed. "Tell me about him!", I asked curiously. She was fidgeting her fingers as she said, "He's a bit older and taller, he has dark hair and green eyes, tattoos". I felt so happy for Love because she was clearly in love. "Sounds just like your type", I noted, making her nod excitedly.

"For me, it's just the normal...Leon and school", Mila laughed while eating her cotton candy. I took a bit of it and nodded along. I hadn't met Leon but I had heard about him and I've seen many pictures. Sounds like a good guy.

I'd say that I'm quite protective about Love and Mila. I'm the oldest cousin and those two can be too blue-eyed sometimes. I just feel the need to protect them, especially from guys.

"What's new with you?", Love asked as we were waiting in line for the Ferris wheel. "I started my classes", I said quietly as I glanced at Luka who was behind us.

"How have you two been getting along?", Mila asked curiously. I looked up at the Ferris wheel as I said, "I don't know honestly, fine".

The sun had already gone down and the lights looked amazing from the Ferris wheel. Love took a lot of pictures. I smiled as I felt like I was living. Lights in the night always make me feel alive. Especially when I was with Mila and Love, two people who I always felt so loved with.

"We're gonna go to one thing, we will be right back!", Mila announced and grabbed Love's hand, making both of them run away. I stood in shock as I watched as they kept running out of sight.

I turned around to face Luka who was leaning on a wall. "I'm gonna get a cola", I noted as I pointed at a kiosk. Luka nodded. I slowly backed away and turned around to walk to the line.

After a while, suddenly I heard Luka say, "You three are exactly like always". I let out a chuckle as I nodded. "That's why I like them", I said and looked quickly at his eyes. He put his hands in his pockets before I asked, "Why are you in this line?". "I became thirsty too", he noted as he looked around us, making me nod a little.

Finally it was our turn too. I was about to order as Luka said, "Two cokes". I looked at him with my mouth a little opened. "I know that you don't like to order", he noted, making me give him a tiny nod.

"Are you paying separately or together?", the cashier asked. "Separately", Luka said, making me feel a tiny bit disappointed.

After we had paid, we returned to where Love and Mila left us. I admired the lights around us as the sun was already down. I finally glanced at Luka who was already looking at me, making my heart pace quicken. I felt like I got lost into his eyes as the lights blurred around him.

"Kiki!", I heard Mila yell, which made me come back to reality. I turned around and saw them two walking happily towards me with a cotton candy in their hand. "I'm getting a bit tired...", Mila said quietly. I was happy to hear that since we had been here for multiple hours already. "No problem! It's getting late anyways", I noted. "Good, well I guess I'll see you later", Mila said as she hugged me. "Absolutely, goodnight", I answered and hugged Love next. "Goodnight", Love said and smiled at me.

I watched as those two left back to Havenwood. I turned around to face Luka. "Well, goodnight, see you in class", I said as I started to walk away. "Goodnight", I heard him say. I looked back at him quickly and shot him a smile before starting to walk back to Anastasia's apartment.

Love and Mila always made me feel seen and heard. They made me feel like someone was excited to see me and actually wants to spend time with me.

It's a connection that I really can't explain. We had been such a tight group since we were born and we were all such a close age. Even though we were three different people, there was something that connected us. In our looks but also in our souls. They were tied and no one could ever break that bond.

I know that they felt the same, which made me feel even closer to them.

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