Luna rests her head against my shoulder as we watch the movie together. It's a romantic drama that came out a few years ago that Luna begged me to watch and I reluctantly agreed to sit through. I'm not paying attention to the movie, but instead to Luna. She catches me looking at her and smiles up at me. I smile back and she gives me a kiss on my cheek.
"Are you even watching the movie?" she asks and I shake my head. She rolls her eyes and I kiss her on her forehead.
"Happy early birthday," she says and I grin.
"I'm glad I got to spend the night with you while Matthew and Kadiya are doing stuff for Ember," I say.
"Yeah," she replies. She turns around to plant another kiss on my cheek. "You're gonna be sixteen tomorrow," she whispers.
"I know," I smile.
"What did you do for you last birthday?" she asks.
"I don't remember," I say, "and I don't really care since I'm spending this one with you."
Luna smiles and we just sit there for a minute or so, not saying anything. The silence is finally broken when the door bangs open and Kadiya walks in. Luna jumps and I accidentally knock over a lamp on the table beside the couch. It falls and breaks into a couple pieces when it hits the ground.
"Sorry," Kadiya mutters as she comes in the room.
"Kadiya!" Luna says. "Knock please before you enter."
"Sorry if I ruined your date," she says and she flops on her bed, looking at us upside down. "What are you guys watching?" she asks.
"None of your business," Luna answers.
Kadiya's eyes meet mine and she raises an eyebrow. I shrug. Kadiya doesn't look much like herself at the moment. Her long auburn hair is usually brushed and neat, but now it's tied up messily and hastily. Her eyes are also red, like she's been crying or sleep deprived. I get off the couch and start to pick up pieces of the broken lamp.
"How's the planning going?" Luna asks Kadiya.
"It's done," she replies. "We're ready to pack and leave."
"That's good," I say, looking up just as I pick up another piece of the broken glass. That was a mistake because I end up cutting my finger. Blood wells up to the surface of the wound and I fight back a bit of bile that's rising in my throat. I wipe it on my shirt, hoping that the girls don't notice. They don't look my way and I give a little inward sigh.
"So how are you guys doing?" Kadiya asks.
Luna looks back at me and smiles. "We're great."
"That's good," Kadiya smiles and she lets her hair down.
I look at the time and lean over to give Luna a kiss on the cheek.
"It's getting kinda late and Matthew gave me a curfew since you and I became a thing," I say and Luna nods, giggling.
Kadiya waves to me. "See you tomorrow then. You're gonna be sixteen, right?"
I nod and smile. "I think we've gone over this, actually."
"Right," Kadiya says. "I'm just confirming."
"Okay," I say and I wave to Luna before I leave the room. Outside the building, I can hear rain hitting the windows and the roof. When I get to my room, Matthew's lying on his bed and covering his eyes with his arm, ready to fall asleep.
"Caden?" He says.
"Yeah."
"What time is it?"
YOU ARE READING
The Wrong Side
Science Fiction"I'll tell you when you're an adult." These are the few words that have been repeated to Damon Ophia for his whole life. Damon's life is made up of secrets. In some cases, secrets are being kept from him, in others he needs to keep secrets, and in...
