affectionate

11

FALLON

Christmas was tomorrow and instead of being excited I was dreading the entire day. I'd have to sit and pretend like everything was okay between my parents and I for the sake of not ruining the "Christmas spirit" but the mere thought of pretending all day exhausted me. Even though my parents and I weren't on the best of terms I still bought them both presents that were currently tucked away under the tree. I saw boxes that weren't the ones I stuck under there so it was safe to assume they bought presents for me as well. I appreciated the sentiment but the way life had been with them lately I didn't want it.

Family conflicts aside, it was still Christmas eve nonetheless and the house smelled of cloves, ham, and snickerdoodles. If my mother wasn't at her book club yapping away about whatever it was that middle aged women read about, then she was at home cooking. Her food was delicious and I would never deprive myself of it just because I was mad at her.

"Fallon!" Speak of the devil, I rolled out of my position on my bed and dog eared the page in the book that I was reading that I stopped on. I slipped on my uggs and bounded down the stairs. Rounding the corner into the kitchen where I saw my mother standing with her hands on her hips in front of the refrigerator.

"You called me, mom?" My mother quickly turned around and a soft smile replaced her frown. My heart grew a little bit at the sight of it, I missed those smiles and only now did I realize that I hadn't seen one in a while.

"I know it's late honey but can you run to the general market and pick up some turkey necks? I don't know how I forgot them and the greens need to go on tonight or they won't be ready by time we eat tomorrow." I nodded my head and made my way to the door, my trusty puffer waited diligently on the coat hook and I grabbed it and slung it over my body. My outfit was warm enough to walk in without me freezing half to death and I wanted to be able to see the town square at night one last time before the Christmas decorations were taken down and replaced by New year's decorations. It was nearing eight but the stores in town square purposefully stayed open late during the holidays for emergency runs such as this one. Hopefully, I'd be back before nine to resume my book and get a little more reading in before I went down for the night.

The walk into town was quick and the buying of the turkey necks was even quicker, I was on my way home in no time. I passed the entrance to the trail where I was only days earlier and all of a sudden I was filled with melancholy. It was pathetic, but I missed Lucius and desperately hoped that he missed me too. I hated myself for feeling like this. There was nothing to miss except fleeting touches and the totally illegal way he said my name. Both things were so trivial and not worth the time I spent daydreaming about them but I couldn't help it. Once again, I blamed the bond. And I blamed the bond again for making me get so lost in my thoughts that I wasn't watching where I was going and causing me bump into someone.

A weird sense of deja vu came over me and the ghost of a smile tickled my lips. The thought of the person in front of me being Lucius did unspeakable things to the butterflies inside of my stomach. I wanted it to be him, so bad.

Fire engulfed my entire upper body and I screamed the loudest I think I have ever screamed in my life. I tried to call for help but the pain of the hands that definitely did not belong on me had my voice dying in my throat and falling into the depths of my stomach. There was no doubt a hand wrapped around my neck. It pressed into my skin aggressively and tears sprung to my eyes. Everything was on fucking fire and to make matters worse I couldn't breathe, fear rushed through my veins and I was extremely convinced death was upon me. Whoever was manhandling me walked me backwards until we were in what I guessed was an alley where no one could see us because this was nowhere near legal. I cracked my eyes open, the unknown assailant was only an inch or two taller than me, head shaved, and buff as fuck for no reason. He let go of my neck and I took big, greedy gulps of air.