Chapter 4: Am I Ready To Move On?
"You look a lot better honey" my mom said the next morning. "Ya mama I feel much better" I said giving her a small smile. "Sissy youw not sad anymore..." Liam said as he touched my face with his little hand. I smiled. "Yes baby, I'm not......sissy is so sorry honey" I whispered as I hugged him tightly. He hugged me tightly back. "I wove you sissy....I wove you so much" he whispered. "I love you too baby" I whispered. I felt so happy, so free. I felt at peace. Eric wasn't suffering anymore. "Look who's awake" I heard Kevin's dad say. "Hi Dr. Moore" I said smiling. "Well Jade miraculously your condition is much better" he said smiling. "It's an answer to prayer" my mom said as she kissed my head. I smiled. "Dr. Moore where's Kevin?" I asked. "He went home sweetheart...I thought it would be best if he went home, and rested" he said as he kissed my head. Dr. Moore had always been like a second father to me. "When can I be released?" I asked. "Soon honey, just focus on resting and getting stronger ok?" He said kissing my forehead. I nodded. "Get some rest baby, I'm going to take Liam down to the cafeteria to get something to eat" my mom said as she kissed my head. "Alright mama" I said smiling. When I Was alone in my room I called Kevin.
"Hello?" Kevin said on the other end of the phone. "Guess who" I said smiling. "Jade! Hey!" He said happily. I giggled. "How are you? Are you feeling better?" He asked. I smiled. "I'm feeling a lot better, I'm ready to come home but your dad won't let me" I said as I twirled the phone cord around my finger. "Well I'm sure he just wants to make sure your not going to relapse" Kevin said in his quiet voice. I sighed. "I know, I know" I said sighing. "I miss you..." Kevin said quietly. I felt myself blush. "I......I miss you too" I said quietly back. "I'm coming to see you..." he said. "Kevin...you don't have to" I insisted. "I want to...I'll be by soon" Kevin said.
As I lay in bed I heard knocking on my window. I looked over, and saw Kevin. "Kevin!?" I called out. He opened up my window, and climbed in. "Hey there" he said smiling. "How did you do that?!" I questioned. "Vampire remember" he said smiling. "Oh ya I forgot" I said smiling. He sat on the edge of my bed. "How are you feeling?" He asked smiling. "A lot better..." I said smiling. "And....how are you dealing with.......with Eric's loss" Kevin asked quietly. I thought at the sound of his name I would burst into tears. But I didn't. "I'm at peace...I know....I know that he's not suffering anymore...." I said giving him a small smile. He hugged me. "I never liked him, but he did treat you good" Kevin said quietly. I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt him rubbing my back. I blushed a little, my body went a little stiff. 'It's ok baby girl......if he comforts you then don't be afraid to hug him or to be with Jim's I heard Eric's voice in my head. I smiled a little, and I hugged Kevin tightly.
"Jade! Kevin's here!" My mom called up to me one cool spring afternoon. I ran down my stairs in my short black shorts, and my gray ghost girl tank top. I felt great. Even though it was only months since I had been discharged I felt like a new person. "Hi!" I said smiling as I hugged him. He hugged me gently. "Hey there how are feeling?" He asked me smiling. "I'm feeling a lot better" I said smiling. "Good" he said smiling. "Are you hungry Kevin? I just made some fresh cookies and tea" my mom said. "I would love some of your lovely cooking Mrs. Leone" Kevin said in a very distinguishable Romanian accent. I smiled as Kevin, and I walked into the kitchen. We sat at the table as mom placed warm mugs of tea and a plate of cookies infront of us. When mom turned her back Kevin pulled out a tiny vial. "What's that?" I asked curiously. He stared down at me with his alluring sky blue eyes. "I'll tell you later" he said smiling. I smiled, and watched as he opened up the tiny vial and dropped some liquid into his tea and onto his cookies. "So Kevin how's your sister been feeling? Your mother was telling me she was sick" mom said as she washed the dishes. "She's feeling better ma'am it was just a cold" Kevin said smiling. I looked up at him and watched as he bit into his cookie. No fangs. His fangs were gone. I opened my mouth to say something, but Kevin touched my hand stopping me. "Later" he mouthed to me. I nodded, and bit into a cookie. "HI SISSY! HI KEVIN!" Liam squeeled giggling. "Hey there squirt!" Kevin said laughing as he picked him up. Liam giggled. I smiled a little. "Hey buddy how about you, and I go out and play a little football" Kevin said smiling. Liam nodded. "Yay! Footbaww!" He squeeled happily. Kevin smiled, and picked him up and carried him outside. My mom smiled. "Liam really loves Kevin" mom said smiling. I smiled. "He's like a big brother to Liam" I said smiling. I looked out the window and watched as Liam tackled Kevin, and Kevin went down laughing.
"You know Jade, maybe it would be good if you moved on....Kevin...he really likes you..." Ushina said over the phone. I lay on my bed, and I sighed. "Ushina............what if.....what if something bad happens again...." I said quietly. "Jade........you can't just assume what happened with Eric will happen again....." Ushina said quietly. I looked out my window, and watched Kevin and Liam play. ".............am I ready to move on........." I whispered. "Jade.........you deserve to be happy" Ushina said quietly. I sighed quietly. "I just.........I don't want to lose anyone else I love.....including him....." I whispered as a tear fell from my eye. "I know Jade......I know.........listen I have to go but give it some thought ok? I think you would be very happy with Kevin.....if you need anything just call me or text me......" she said quietly. "Alright.....thanks Ushina......" I said quietly. "Your welcome Jade" Ushina said. She hung up leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Was I truely ready to move on? To forget about Eric.....to love Kevin? I looked at a picture of Eric, and I that was sitting on my nightstand. "Babe........." I whispered. I closed my eyes, and pictured Eric in my mind's eye. Could I do it? Could I be strong enough to move on? Just then there was a knock on my door. I jumped a little. "Jade? Can I come in?" I heard Kevin say. I sat up quickly. "Y-ya just a minute!" I called out as I got up out of my bed. I walked over to the door, and I opened it. Kevin smiled. "C-come on in" I said stepping aside. 'I think you would be very happy with Kevin' Ushina's words rang in my head. I watched as Kevin walked over to my bed, and sat down. I shut my door, and took in a deep breath. I went to turn around, but I hesitated. I was afraid. I was truly afraid. But what was I afraid of? Afraid of Kevin? No. Never. Kevin was my best friend. Was I afraid of what would happen if I turned around, and stared into his beautiful sky blue eyes long enough? No. I was afraid of change. Afraid that if I moved on I would forget about Eric. Forget his smile, his voice, the way he used to touch me so gently as if I would break like glass. "Jade" Kevin's voice cut through my thoughts like a knife. "Jade is everything alright?" Kevin asked quietly. I turned around quickly. 'Y-ya I'm....I'm fine....." I whispered as I walked over to my window and looked out. I felt Kevin touch my shoulder. I jumped a little with surprise. "No you're not fine........what's going on...tell me please" he pleaded. I sighed quietly, and looked at him. My eyes met his, and immediately I was lost in that beautiful sea of blue. "I.......I............." I tried speaking, but I couldn't form the words I wanted to say. My mind wandered back to that fateful night Kevin had kissed me. I had felt strange about it then. How would I feel if he kissed me now? "You what? Jade? Jade?" He called trying to get my attention. I gulped. "Kiss me...." I whispered. "What?" He whispered sounding confused. "Kiss me" I said a bit louder. I stared into his eyes a bit longer, then I slowly closed my eyes waiting for his soft, cold lips to touch mine. It seemed like an eternity before he finally pressed his lips against mine. Memories of Eric, and I kissing ran through my head like a river. But then the images in my mind changed. I could see Kevin kissing me that night at his house. I could see his sky blue eyes staring into mine. His eyes were so full of love. Love for me. I felt him pull away, and I opened my eyes. He was staring down at me intently. 'Move on baby girl....' I could hear Eric's soft voice enter my mind. I was holding back tears. 'Move on....' his voice whispered. I wrapped my arms up behind Kevin's neck, and I hugged myself close to him. I stared into his eyes for a while then I brought my lips to his in a kiss. Yes. I was ready for this. To move on. I wouldn't forget Eric. I knew that now. Eric would live on in my heart and in my memories. I could truly be happy now.
