What About Now?

Chapter 37 - Explanations

"You have some explaining to do," Jonny states.

I stood in the center of the ballroom, the same one that was being used for the upcoming winter festival.

The room was almost complete. The servants were just finishing up small details; putting menus on the surrounding tables, sticking up the last of the blue trimmings, and polishing the King and Queens throne before Levi barged inside and kicked everyone out.

He held me tightly, never taking his eyes off me as he carried me in a bridal like fashion inside the room. I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to realize that Levi had set me down in the center of the

Ballrooms dance floor, surrounded by Lex, Noah, and surprisingly Kip, my history teacher, or should I say lack thereof.

"Kai, say something." Jonny's voice took on a worried tone this time, watching my shaking form with a hint of worry.

Levi stayed by my side, wrapping his arms tightly around my shaking form. A look of concern flashed across his eyes as he moved to hold my hands in place.

"God Kailani, you're freezing," he remarks worriedly.

I couldn't answer him, rather continuing to stare at my shaking hands, the hands that almost killed those men; the hands that made shards of ice creep into the hearts of two monsters.

"I tried so hard," I whisper, barely recognizing my own voice. After crying for what felt like hours my throat felt constricted, scratchy, as if I was yelling all day and was on the brink of losing my voice.

"Hey guys, give her some space," a soft voice chides. Lex came toward me with a glass of water, urging me to drink.

I took a couple of sips before handing it back to her, almost robotically, barely registering her concern when she took the glass and went back to her original spot, sharing worried glances with Noah.

"You need to tell them," Jonny's steadfast voice urges, his eyes meeting mine.

I stare into his eyes for what feels like hours, searching the depths of them. His eyes hold worry as he takes in my state, making me extremely self-conscious when I catch a hint of disappointment run across his expression at the sight of my frail body.

I encircle my arms around my waist, hoping to draw his attention away from my body, the one I've been neglecting for the past couple of days due to all the stress I've had to deal with.

"You didn't tell them already?" The surprise in my voice catches everyone off guard, their attentive eyes now looking from my brother to me.

"I agree with your brother," Kip pipes in for the first time, pushing off the banister he was lying against to walk my way.

"You!" I point toward the quirky imposter of a history teacher. " You don't know anything about me." My shaking hands begin to tremble even more then before, but this time it's not from fear; it's from anger. "You prance around with all your stories, claiming you know me, but I can assure you, you no absolutely nothing about me."

His eyes remain impassive, holding absolutely no surprise or anger at the animosity held in my words.

"Kailani Everly Haines," he says.

I lift my eyebrows in question. "Excuse me?"

"Your full name is Kailani Everly Haines," he reiterates. "You're seventeen years old. Your favorite color is blue, you love singing, and you begged your parents to take you to the beach any chance they got. Your favorite drink after having a nightmare is hot chocolate, and if that doesn't work your mother sings you a lullaby. Your father got you an Aly and Aj album as your fist Christmas present, and your favorite song was never far behind. You're strong, but you're scared of yourself, or at least what you can do. You-"