Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

I Choose You (Jolie POV)

A/N: @Jaguar-TheRealOne requested this alternate universe/alternate ending wherein Brant keeps control of his temper when Jolie confronts him about being in the Neverseen.

Also, a couple of quick announcements. I had several chapters written and ready to go, and that gave me a 'cushion' for when I didn't have time to write very much—I still managed to stay ahead. I have nothing finished after today's chapter and might or might not have anything done by next week. I can't guarantee weekly updates anymore. I'll try, because it's fun for me, but no promises. I'm still here, still writing, but I have too many other priorities—and I have a bigger writing project I'm working on as well.

Also—I know I've gotten lots of chapter requests in the last few months. I've seen them but not always had a chance to make note of them. If I didn't reply to you, I probably didn't write it down. Don't be afraid to request them again!

Jolie fought back her nausea as she leaped to Brant's house. Her mom had been right--though of course she hadn't known they were talking about Brant. Jolie couldn't give up on him. Not after everything they'd been through together. Not after the years of knowing him, of loving him.

This was the boy who had, as a young child, offered to share a pet gremlin with a complete stranger. The boy who had spent the next few years faithfully helping her care for the mischievous little guy. The one who had once cried alongside her when she'd sprained her ankle playing Base Quest and carried her back into the house so his parents could give her an elixir. The boy she had never been able to get out of her head. The countless kisses, and professions of love, and the quiet yet determined promise they'd made to one another when they'd realized he was going to be talentless.

Come what may, they would always choose each other.

They were each other's number one priority.

Forever.

"You can do this," she whispered as she marched toward his door and knocked. She rubbed absently at the wrist he'd burned. Even though she'd applied a burn cream to heal it, her mind had held on to the pain--amplifying it tenfold when she'd realized it had been Brant.

He opened the door quickly after she knocked, and his handsome features registered both shock and happiness at seeing her. His lips spread into a wide smile as he pulled her into his arms. "I wasn't expecting to see you today," he murmured into her hair. She melted into the hug and felt her heart somehow swell and break at the same time.

"I've missed you," she whispered.

"We don't see enough of each other," he agreed as he released her, shutting his front door and turning to face her.

His smile seemed so...unaffected.

And Jolie saw, then, how it was possible that she'd been missing the signs for so long. Brant was apparently very good at compartmentalizing. She stood there, once again rubbing her arm where he'd burned her, and he didn't realize that she knew it had been him.

Then again, maybe he saw it in her eyes, because his narrowed as he said, "you look pale. What's wrong?"

Jolie started to reach for his hand--but found that she was afraid to. If he got upset, he might accidentally hurt her again.

Pyrokinesis was volatile. All of the more elemental abilities were, but fire was the most unwieldy.  That was why it had been banned in the first place.

Tears stung her eyes as she forced herself to meet his gaze. "I know, Brant. I know it was you."

Brant's hands balled into fists and his face darkened, but he said nothing, so she dared a small step closer and whispered, "I just don't know why you didn't tell me you'd manifested."