Abstract

Chapter 13

Time was an illusion created by those who liked to wait. That was clear to me now more than ever, because as I stood there while Zylen looked at me like I was the most amazing thing he had ever seen, time became a figment of my imagination.

"I don't know what to say." I said stupidly.

He shook his head and a few strands of his blonde hair covered his forehead. "You don't have to say anything. I just wanted to let you know that I have feelings for you. I've never been one to deny people the simple task of the truth."

"I don't know what I feel yet." I admitted. I took a small step back so I could breath. "It's different and intense. And that scares me."

"It's okay, Aura. It's okay. I'm patient. We'll figure this out soon enough. In the meantime, let's work on your power."

"Okay," I nodded. But I wanted to smile at the sheer knowledge that he liked me.

Instead he called for Adam to come out into the back yard.

"Why do I have to do it?" Adam whined.

"Gee, I don't know. Because you did it to her?" Zylen snapped. "Now come on. She won't use a bad one." He ushered a very reluctant Adam closer to me.

"So how does this work?" I enquired, pushing my wild hair out of my face.

"Well, it's very simple. Imagine his happy, and he'll be happy." He shrugged like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"Okay." I mumbled. I closed my eyes and waited. When I opened them, Zylen looked at me sympathetically and Adam had an unimpressed look on his face.

"I'm not happy yet." Adam announced dramatically. He stared at his finger nails to show his mock distaste.

"Cut her some slack, Adam. She's never done this before." Zylen pulled his arm around my waist reassuringly. "How about Autumn demonstrates?"

I nodded, numbly. His hands around my waist was making me lose my train of thought. He called for Autumn and she strolled slowly out into the front yard. "What can I do for yall?" She asked nonchalantly.

"We need you to make Adam angry." Zylen replied.

"She does that without even trying." Adam scoffed. Autumn gave him a sinister smile.

"Sure," She said, eerily sweet. "It would be my pleasure.

Turning to Adam, she cocked her head to the side and waited.

"Adam, how do you feel?" Zylen asked. His tone made me know that he was asking it cautiously.

"How the fuck do you think I feel!" Adam snapped. "You ask a lot of stupid questions, you know that, Zylen?" Adam began pacing, growling low in his throat. "Make it stop!" He shouted.

"I think that's enough, Autumn." I said. I didn't want the situation to get out of control, but Autumn wouldn't listen.

She laughed. "Oh come on. I'm having way too much fun to stop now."

"MAKE IT FUCKING STOP!!!" He boomed. "I'll kill you. I'll fucking murder you."

"Fine," Autumn sighed. "You can calm down, Hulk." I couldn't see her face because her back was toward me, but she obviously did something as I watched the fire dim in Adam's eyes

Autumn turned to Zylen and smiled. "I'm glad I could be of service." She sauntered off back into the house.

"Adam, are you okay?" I rushed over to him and gripped his arm. "Are you okay?" I repeated when he didn't answer.

"I'm fine," he huffed. "That was the worst thing ever."

"Couldn't be worse than what you did to me." I mutter, remembering the way my mother cradled that doll.

Adam grabbed my hand. "Hey," he cooed. "I'm so sorry for that. Sometime I forget that being Abstract comes with consequences."

"It's okay." I assured him. "I'm fine now."

He gave me a solemn nod. "Do you wanna try now?"

I shrugged. "Okay. But I'm not sure I'd be able to."

"Trust me. You'll be fine."

Jesse strolled out into the front yard with a curious smile on his face. "What have we here?" He drawled.

Zylen rolled his eyes. "Go back inside, Jess. Nobody wants your horny ass out here."

Jesse laughed. "I can take a hint. Just don't do anything fun without me." He strolled back into house with a wink.

"That dude had problems." I voiced.

"Don't we all?" Adam said.

"I stand corrected." Both boys laughed.

"Come on. Let's try it again. This time I'll be feeling you up."

My breathing halted. "Excuse me?"

Zylen's eyes widened as colour flooded his tan cheeks. "I don't mean it like that. It's just a term we use when we..." He rambled on and on. Adam was cracking up by himself, but I paid him no mind. Because seeing Zylen, all blushy and gorgeous, was enough for me.

I touched his shoulder in reassurance. "It's okay. I get it. It's a pun."

He nodded frantically, relieved. "Exactly. I would never feel you up. Not in that way. Not that I don't want to. It's just..." He started going off again and I did what the people in movies did when they wanted someone to shut up.

I kissed him. I gave Zylen Woods my first kiss. In front of Adam, who looked just as shocked as Zylen was.

Like I said, time was an illusion created by those who liked to wait. Time meant nothing as I kissed a person who was slowly stealing my heart from me. Time was a thing of the past as he slipped his hand around my waist and kissed me back.

I was falling, and I didn't want it to stop.