Linked

Chapter 2

Elia

I buried my face in my hands. What had Jax been thinking? What if someone saw him? I heard footsteps in the doorway and looked up through the curtain of my blonde hair. Kaileen was standing there, with a faraway look on her face. "Do you know that boy who just ran out of your house? He looked our age." she wrinkled her nose. "I think he said his name was Jax."

"No, I've never even heard of that name before." I lied, feeling very guilty. Kaileen crossed her arms and stared at me for a moment, and I was sure she hadn't believed me for one second. But, she dropped the topic and flung herself onto my bed.

"So, what shoes are you going to wear with your dress tomorrow?" she asked me. I shrugged and went to my dressing platform. Scrolling through my holographic shoe collection, I selected a pair of black booties with heels, and waited for them to be summoned out of the underground storages. There was a whoosh of air, and a little trapdoor popped open at my feet, revealing the shoes I had chosen. I picked them up and placed them next to my bed. Kaileen nodded. "Good choice. I think it brings out the color of your hair." I stared at what she was doing, which happened to be painting her toenails a bright purple.

"That color looks like the color of the shopkeeper's hair earlier!" I laughed. Kaileen frowned and stopped painting.

"Why would I want to have toenails that resemble someone's hair? I'm getting rid of this." she declared, and went in search for a bottle of polish remover. I plucked it from my dresser and tossed it to her. It hit her on the head, and we both burst out in laughter. Our evening passed by in a similar fashion, two best friends having fun together on the last normal night of their lives.

"BEEP BEEP!" Kaileen's communications ring was beeping. She pressed her fingerprint to the flat part of it, and her mother's voice resonated through the room. "My dear daughter, are you ever planning to come back home?" her voice was sarcastic. We looked at each other, then at the holographic clock on my wall. It was almost one in the morning!

"Oops, sorry!" we chorused, and Kaileen started to gather her things. I yawned.

"Hopefully we won't have dark circles under our eyes tomorrow? That'll ruin our looks for the Ceremony!" I said, hugging her tight and waving as she left my house. As soon as she was out of sight, I dashed back into my room and called Jax on my communications ring. He picked up just as I was about to give up.

"Yes, darling?" Jax drawled. His voice was an irresistible baritone that made me shiver. I took a deep breath.

"What were you thinking, hiding in my room like that? Kaileen saw you, you know. That could have been the end of everything we've built so far!" I was on the verge of tears.

"Don't worry, my sweet. Everything will be fine." he whispered. "See you tomorrow," he hung up.

I sighed, hoping that Jax was right.