Oxygen

Chapter 36 - The day after

We get in the car at Jordan's house and set off to the nearest coffee shop. After last night's events, we slept in until midday then went back to Jordan's to change. I sit in the back seat wearing my blue skinny jeans and a red loose top. Cathy and Michael are sitting in the front of the car while Jordan and I are in the back. They seem to be okay with our disappearances after last night's formal, so hopefully Bonnie won't say anything either.

It still doesn't feel real. Our relationship has officially gone to the next level. Everything seems far more exciting now, and I'm even more tied to Jordan than I was before. As we drive to Starbucks, on the corner of the high street, I can't stop looking at Jordan and smiling. Every time he spots me, he smiles back. Our happiness is contagious.

We get out of the car and walk hand in hand to the shop. Cathy and Michael walk along behind us, whispering. I think they know we will last forever. But of course we will, we're bonded. And the bonded don't separate.

We enter the shop and go straight to a table. Michael goes to the counter to order while Cathy sits across from us by the window. "So how was last night you two?" she asks, smiling to herself. Jordan and I exchange looks before answering. "It was incredible" I say, referring to the formal. Cathy might be my mother in law some day, but that doesn't mean I'm about to share the gory details.

"There was a lot of dancing and eating and Fern's dress was gorgeous" Jordan concluded. "Oh that's great. Do you have a picture? I'm sure you look amazing" Cathy said expectantly. I pulled out my phone and showed her a picture of Evelyn and I from Facebook. She gasped as she adored the two of us. "You both look amazing!" She said, smiling from ear to ear. 

"Thank you, Cathy" I said smiling, a light pink dusting my cheeks. Michael arrived with our coffees and I gulped it down quickly. We all talked about University and Jordan and I's plans for after school, as well as NCEA exams that were coming soon. I was getting nervous for the last few weeks, because as well as exams my birthday was coming in November, and I had to plan something before we all left to go our separate ways.

"I was thinking of doing something with all of us for my eighteenth birthday" I said. Cathy nodded, and suggested "You kids could have a party at our place". I nodded at the idea, and Michael was quick to disagree. "Are you kidding, Cathy?" You know what will happen if we let those stupid teenagers into our house, we'll be cleaning up the pieces of furniture for weeks!" His outburst was actually quite funny, and I held my breath to contain the fits of laughter.

"Come on now, Mr Kingsley. Surely you know as well as I do that kids will be kids, but no one's going to trash our house at that party! It's settled, you're celebrating at our place" I felt a bit unsure, purely because I did not want to be in the middle of an argument between my someday parents in law.

We left the coffee shop in silence. Jordan glanced at me a few times before saying reassuringly, everything will be fine with them, don't you worry. This will be a great party, I promise. I smiled thankfully at his words, and hopped into the car on the opposite side. The journey home wasn't entirely unpleasant, Cathy asked me who I was thinking about inviting to my birthday. I explained that my only real friends were Evelyn, Nik, Kyle and of course Jordan. She nodded and made a few notes on her phone, probably making note to invite some friends of Jordan's.

I spent the evening at the Kingsley's place, to my delight. I hate being at home by myself eating dinner in front of the TV. Bonnie was always working, so my meals were usually pretty basic. At Jordan's house, nothing was ever basic. Emily, Jordan's older sister was making Double smoked Salmon with horseradish cream, which made my mouth water at the thought. 

I sat in the corner of the kitchen on the white marble bench, looking around. I had only been in the kitchen once before, the day after we arrived from America. It was a long, sleek room with mostly white furnishings. The bench I sat on was by the window, opening to their huge garden. In the middle of the room was a long, black island, containing the sink and appliances Emily was using. I swung my legs back and forth as I watched and admired her as she cut the salmon into small pieces. 

"How are you such a good cook?" I asked, astounded. I'm not the best cook, I can only create basic meals. "I got into it in high school. I used to take hospitality and we learned to cook the best meals. Since then I've just constantly tried new recipes and altered some of my own". I couldn't believe how good the food smelled. I was picturing the end result when she turned to me and sat on the bench.

"So you really like my little bro, huh?" My cheeks went pink as she stirred the cream in her lap. "Well, yea, we are bonded after all". She looked at me oddly before continuing. "I don't think that's really it. It's not because you're bonded that you two are so close, you're like soulmates". I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I assumed every couple were soulmates. 

"I used to be married. I got engaged a few years ago and we were totally in love, like every couple are. But we didn't have that connection. So a couple of months after we got married, we called it off". "But how can you just leave each other when you're bonded?" I asked. This bonded thing was beginning to get more complicated by the second.

"I don't know whether this is a good idea..." Emily said, jumping off the bench. She returned to her position by the sink as I pressed further. "You can tell me. I am going to be one of the Kingsley's someday, so you might as well educate your little sister". I crossed my fingers, hoping she would comply. 

"Well, since Cole, my ex husband, really wanted to get away from this life, from me, he went in search for a cure". "A cure?" I asked, unable to understand. "He found a cure for the bonded. Something that could put our kind in danger". I let my mouth gape open, unable to speak.

"You can't tell anyone about this, not even my parents, not even Jordan can know. If anyone finds out, especially the Summer's, they are going to go after us all. This could be it for us". The idea made me a bit scared. What if they found the cure and something happened to us? What if I lost Jordan again? This just wasn't possible.

"I will do everything in my power to keep that thing a secret" I said surely, before getting off the bench and leaving the room. What exactly was this cure? Anything could happen. This whole thing was going to change my life.

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Hey readers!

So I'm not sure how much longer to stretch this book. I'm trying to reach fifty, but I think it might be sooner than that. Who's excited about this cure? I wonder how graduation and exams will go for Fern and Jordan. Exciting stuff coming up!

Thanks for reading, vote if you like this chapter, and vote if you're still reading.

Alice xx