Children of Heroes

Cherry Blossoms

How Alexa coming out to her twin sister had evolved into her going out on a double date with Rafe and Bethany, she had no idea.

Lizzie had been so excited about Lexi's eventual confession that she'd encouraged Alexa to share the news with all of her friends. Since her sister had reacted so well, Lexi had decided to go ahead and tell the others. And now, here she was, dressing up to go on her first date ever.

She had to admit it was exciting. She'd been seeing Mayeli for a few months now, though only under the shadow of the night and hidden from view at all times. Now, not only was she about to face the public with her faerie girl by her side for the first time, but she would be sharing that night with one of her best friends. It was a privilege beyond compare.

There came a knock to her bedroom door. "Come in," she yelled, watching her reflection in her tall mirror as she looped an amethyst earring through her ear.

"Hey," Rafe said, and although she wasn't looking at him, she could tell he was smiling from his voice. "You almost ready?"

"Pretty much," she answered slowly as she put the second earring in. She admired her appearance; it was rare that she ever had time to make a fuss about the way she looked, and it felt nice to be dressing up. She always needed a reason to repierce the holes in her ears.

He came over to stand behind her, placing a brotherly hand on her shoulder. "Look at us," he said, glancing between each of their mirror images. "Who'd have thought we'd ever be doing this?"

"Not me, I have to admit."

They both looked amazing, Lexi thought, even if she did say so herself. She was sporting a purple, long-sleeved tube dress which nicely enhanced her almost non-existent curves - she was still thirteen, after all, and hadn't quite filled out properly yet. Her usually straight hair was curled had managed to hold some curls: Lizzie had used about half a can of hairspray to keep them in, and they felt strange but pleasant as they bounced around her shoulders. Rafe was looking equally as dashing: Alexa hadn't even known he owned a shirt and tie, but then she'd considered who Rafael's father was, and had wondered why she'd ever doubted that Rafe owned some fashionable, smart clothing.

"You're gonna have to change that tie, Rafe," Lexi added as an afterthought. She didn't know why it wad an afterthought, it should have been at the forefront of her mind.

Pouting, Rafe inquired, "Why?"

She rounded on him. "It should be illegal to wear a tie with those abominations on it," she told him, pointing at the little ducks that patterned Rafael's tie.

He smirked at her. "You and your ducks," he said, beginning to unfasten the tie.

"They certainly are not my ducks."

"If you say so, Herondale, if you say so."

•~*~•

If Bethany's radiance had taken his breath away the first time he'd seen her, then this time it had exploded his heart.

Rafe and Lexi were standing outside the restaurant awaiting their dates. It was the first time Alexa seemed to have let nerves get the better of her - she channeled this anxious energy into tapping a steady beat on the concrete with her foot, something which Rafael predicted would soon become very irritating if it continued. Still, Lexi's nervousness made him feel better about his own.

And then Beth had appeared. Rafe hadn't noticed the car pull into the parking lot - he was too busy staring at his feet - but when he heard the car door slam his gaze was forced up. Bethany was grinning from ear to ear as she approached, the heels of her shoes clicking loudly every time they made contact with the ground. She wore a black strapless dress with a small skater skirt which flared with every step she took. The dress fit effortlessly to the curvature of her waist, and Rafael felt a blush creep into his cheeks when he found his eyes lingering there.