ALEXANDRIA'S POV
The sun was starting to shine through the curtains and I could hear Freya's younger brother getting ready for the day, Dante and Freya still fast asleep. I let out a content sigh as I looked down at the sleeping beauty. I couldn't believe that I ran into someone who made me feel again. I was terrified but also beyond exhilarated. It was new, and the first time in a long while life gave me something to be excited about. I just hoped I could reason with my older brother. I loved Jesse, he'd been my companion through the ages. the only constant I had until Dante came into the picture. I didn't want to lose him, but I had a feeling that would be the way it went. As I was lost in my thoughts I hadn't noticed Freya's eyes opening and looking up at me. Not until she reached up to stroke my face softly bringing my attention fully on her. "Good morning." She whispered, a light smile spreading on her face. I returned her smile, my eyes going to her lips. They seemed so inviting, like they would fit mine so perfectly. I reached up slowly, tracing her bottom lip with my thumb. When I looked back up at her eyes she was staring back intently, her pupils slightly dilated. I leaned in, never breaking eye contact with her. I stopped centimeters away from her lips, I could feel her breathe on mine. I looked in her eyes questioningly, almost asking permission. After a moment her eyes fluttered shut and she closed the distance between me and her. I can't really explain what it felt like. It wasn't rushed, just a slow sweet kiss. But it set my skin on fire. We pulled away after a minute, catching our breathe. Her eyes were still closed, a smile gracing her lips. I couldn't help but love the sight. "Well I guess you two are getting comfortable with each other." Dante spoke from the couch before laughing. Freya blushed hard as her hands flew to her face. I just smiled as I watched her. How could someone I barely know make me so unbelievable happy? "Well I'm going to go get breakfast started, you two can join me when you're done." Dante said with a smirk before exiting the room. I laughed as he went before looking back at Freya. She was looking up at me with a confused expression on her face. "What does he mean? What do you guys eat for breakfast? I thought you lived off of blood?" She questioned, her voice full of curiosity. "As long as we keep our bodies fed with blood they still function completely normal. We aren't technically dead, not while we have blood in our system. So we can still do things like eat human food. It just wouldn't sustain us on its own. We eat it only for the taste." I spoke answering her with a smile on my face. I loved how phased she wasn't by all of this, just curious. "We better get up though. Dante is already going to try and tease us as it is." I said as I untangled myself from her. I got up pulling Freya to her feet before delivering a small peck to her lips. She had a delighted smile on her face as she went into her closet to find clothes offering me some as well. She walked out of her room announcing she was going to take a shower leaving me alone. I was pretty afraid of what my brother might do when I talk to him today. I sat on her bed for maybe ten minutes, thinking about what I was to say to him before I finally concluded to just go with what came in the moment. I walked slowly from the room towards the kitchen, hearing Dante and Mikael talking about a video game. "Hey Alex, how are you this morning?" Mikael asked with a cheerful smile on his face. "Great, what about you guys? Anything big planned for the day?" I asked while absentmindedly playing with my fingers out of nerves for what my day entailed. "Just school, I should be home around three though. If you guys are still here maybe we can all go out and do something?" He spoke again through a smile. This kid always seemed to be in a good mood. "Sounds like a plan." Dante responded before dishing out eggs and bacon onto four different plates. Just as we started to dig in Freya come wondering into the room drying her hair with a towel. "Smells delicious!" She said as she took her plate. The four of us fell into a comfortable conversation as we sat there and ate. My mind drifted off as I looked at Freya. Everything about her was just so perfect. I needed Jesse to understand what she made me feel. The potential for what she could make me feel. I felt a hand lightly fall onto my leg pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up into Freya's brown questioning eyes. Without any words asking me if I was alright. I gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand, relishing in the light tingles it sent shooting through me. "Well it's time for me to head out. I'll see you guys after school." Mikael said as he gathered his things to leave. After he exited the house the atmosphere immediately changed as Dante turned to me. "So do you think Jesse will be at our place, you know after everything that's happened?" He asked with a serious look on his face. That's exactly were he would be, waiting for me, waiting for an explanation. "Yes, he isn't one for hiding." I spoke after a moment. "He will be waiting for me. The longer I make him wait the worse he will take it." I finished looking straight at Freya. She looked scared, but I knew Jesse wouldn't hurt me. I just needed to convince him not to hurt any of them. I sighed and slowly stood up. "I need to go to him." I said before heading to the door. Before I reached it Freya grabbed my arm turning me around. She looked deeply into my eyes before closing the distance and kissing me roughly. It was a desperate kiss, she was obviously worried. When she pulled away breathing heavily I reached up to stroke her face. "Don't worry lovely, you will see me again." I whispered before turning around and exiting the house. I took a breathe before speed running back to the apartment that me, my brother and Dante shared. It only took a few minutes to get there and I stopped once I reached the door. I could sense that I was in fact correct, my brother was in there. I couldn't believe how afraid I was at the prospect of talking to my brother. This was all so foreign to me, normally my brother was my rock. I reached for the door knob with a shaky hand, pushing it open before entering slowly. Jesse sat on the couch in the middle of the room, staring intently at the television screen in front of him. I closed the door and walked over to him. His attention fully on the on the tv, it seemed he was going to ignore me completely. It looked like I was going to have to start this very awkward conversations. "Jesse we need to talk about what happened yesterday." I spoke in a voice way more confident then I actually felt. But still he just kept watching the program in front of him. I sighed angrily before grabbing the remote and flipping it off. He glared at me finally acknowledging my presence in the room. I held his stare, wondering what he would do next. He angrily stood as he started to pace. His eyes looking everywhere but at me as he did so. "Why were you with a human Lex?' He asked finally stopping. I let out a light laugh as I though about how to answer that one. "I didn't plan for it to happen Jesse, I ran into her the other night. I was heading home like I told you I was when I heard her screaming. I can't explain why but I couldn't just ignore her like the rest. There's something about her Jesse, something I need to know. I need you to accept that, to be okay with it. I want you in my life brother." I paused taking a breathe. "But I need her in my life, if you make me choose it will be her. Like I said I can't explain it, I barely know her. But I can't ignore the pull I feel towards her." I finished trying to make eye contact with him. He grunted angrily before resuming his pacing. "Say something." I spoke in a whisper watching his movements. "What do you want me to say Alex? That I'm fine with it? that I accept it? it would be a lie." He said with bitterness in his voice before continuing. "How can you trust any of them? After what they did, what they took from us. Do you not remember what it was like to lose everything! How can you expect me to be okay with this? She's human, a mortal. She will betray you it's in her nature. You expect me to sit by and watch you let her do it? foolishly trust them again despite what they are? No, I refuse to do it.". I sat and listened to his rant, evaluating his words carefully. "So you're saying because we were betrayed once. We should never trust them again?" I questioned him. "Of course, I won't give them another chance to betray me." He spoke harshly. I understood where he was coming from but not all humans are the same. My eyes started filling with tears at the prospect of losing my brother. "You nearly killed me." I whispered out, staring at the floor. "You put a piece of wood through my stomach in your blind rage to kill a human I care for. You betrayed me. Am I supposed to never trust you again? Is that how this works?" I spoke as my voice cracked in a sob. He froze as he looked at me, all anger gone from his face. All of a sudden his eyes filled with tears and he started to cry. "I'm so sorry Lexa, you know I would never do it on purpose." He sobbed out while staring at the floor. I exhaled slowly, relieved his anger was subsiding. "I'm fine Jesse. But we need to talk about the humans. I need you to except this about me." I spoke drawing his eyes back to me. "I can't, I'm sorry Lex but I can't trust them again. But I won't stop you. I promise to leave your humans alone. But I can't have anything to do with it. I love you, I hope you know what you are doing." He spoke slowly gazing at his hands. My eyes started to tear again, my heart hurt. I didn't want to lose my older brother. But I needed Freya in my life, I had to let him go. I stood to hug my brother, maybe for the last time. "I love you Jesse whether you accept this for me or not. I will always be here for you, come find me if you have a change of heart." I whispered in his ear while hugging him tightly. "Please have a change of heart." I spoke as we parted. He looked at me sadly before saying goodbye, barely speaking the word. I gave his hand one last squeeze before turning towards the door and taking my leave. Words couldn't express the sinking feeling in my stomach. I hoped more then anything my brother would change his mind and make an appearance in my life. Only time would tell if he would ever come around.
FREYA'S POV
I sat on the couch watching Dante play some Call Of Duty game my brother had. I lazily watched as he tried to work with a team to win an online match. My eyes constantly shooting from the television back to the door. It had only been an hour since Alex left but I couldn't help but worry. After everything her brother did yesterday, he didn't exactly come off as stable. Every now and then Dante would break my concentration at watching the door by cursing at the game. Apparently the team he was playing with wasn't coordinating properly causing them to lose the match. Now don't get me wrong, on a normal day, I would be gaming with Dante. But today I couldn't focus on anything until I knew Alex was safe. I drummed my fingers anxiously on my knee and I stared intently at the door, as if staring at it long enough would cause her to materialize there. Dante laughed at my antics, "She'll be fine Freya don't worry so much. Jesse is angry but that's his little sister. He won't hurt her intentionally. Yesterday he was going for you, not her. So you see it's more important that we get him to agree to leaving you and your family alone." He spoke matter of factly, nothing but confidence in his voice. I half smiled at him, not being able to be as sure as him. Unlike him I didn't know Jesse all that well. All I saw was the rage monster that entered my house yesterday. That my girl was currently alone with. I couldn't help but worry. As I sat there in my thoughts I heard the front door open signaling someone was home. I jumped up expectantly, running to the door. Alex stood there with an overly solemn look upon her face, but smiled when she saw me, pulling me into a hug. I let out a relieved sigh because she was here, she was here and she was safe. When I pulled back I looked questioningly into her eyes. Asking without words if she was okay. She let out a silent sob before burying her head into my shoulder and crying her eyes out. I just stood there holding her, knowing something painful transpired with her brother. In this moment I knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be, here with her. I knew these tears were because she had to choose, choose between me and her brother. And she had chosen me. I would make sure that decision would never be one she would regret.
