4 AM Forever

Disconnected (filler)

Just like the last time, not seeing Mikey made her feel empty. She had texted Olivia and Cherish to see how he was, and they said fine, that he was his crazy ass self. She wasn't ready to talk to him.

She was happy that he was himself, even if she wasn't.

"Just go on outback." Kassie says dropping her keys on the kitchen island.

Her mother stopped what she was doing, watching as Calum smiled her way and walked through the open back door.

"And who's that?" Her mother asks going back to chopping celery and placing them in the pot of boiling broth on the stove.

"Calum. He's a... Friend." Kassie replies picking a piece of celery and eating it, but her mom may have known better.

"Moving forward?" She asks not looking up.

"Moving forward." Kassie answers. She went to the fridge, opening it she searched for drinks. Her mother stops chopping and Kassie feels her eyes on her back.

"I worry about you Kassie." She says,

"You don't have to be." Kassie replies. Finding the waters, she closes the door and turning to face her mother.

"I don't know what happened with you and Mikey, but you can talk to me about it." Her mother said putting her hands on Kassie's shoulders.

"I know momma." Kassie smiles. Her mother hugs her, smiling. She turns and continues her chopping.

Kassie takes her leave toward the back door.

She stands at the door, looking at Calum outside in her backyard. She watches him read the books she's almost finished. Most of the Light Fay don't know about Ironwood. She watches as he leafs through, his fingers gliding over the words. His tongue sticking out only a little as he concentrates on the words. He swipes his hair outta his eyes but to no avail. It made her smile.

She hated how much she was drawn to him. It was like the force of being pulled from underwater.

"So what would be my name?" He suddenly asks. She looked confused, handing him a water.

"You don't already have one?" Sitting down on the lawn.

"Kalen, but it means warrior." He answers.

"And? What's wrong with that?" She smiles. He shakes his head.

"My name means Dove. A bird of peace." He says closing the book. The book was about the Dark Fay and name origins.

"Well Chol is Dove, and Síochána is peace." She gives, his disgruntled facade softens into a smile.

"Either will work." He says, putting the book down next to him.

"Hippie." Kassie teases hitting his knee with her book.

"You should talk Nerida." He says sticking his tongue out. The way he said her native name sent shivers up her spine. She shivers a little, but it was a good shiver. They smile and look at each other. She could feel the heat creep up her neck. Was this how Olivia and Ashton felt? She looks down at her Brand. The knotted circle was now in a different light. It was almost beautiful to her.

"Are you going to talk to him?" Calum knew what she was feeling. He has for the past few days.

"I don't know. I thought I knew him." She says falling back onto the grass.

"Now, I'm not so sure, as cliched as that sounds." She adds. She closes her eyes against the sun.

"Then forget him." Calum says and Kassie turns her head toward him. Watching his lips smile.

"Though I may be a little biased, I think you should." This is what she likes about Calum. They were close. He knew exactly what to say. He made it feel almost natural.

"Cal, why couldn't you have been friends with them.. Maybe this whole thing would have been easier." She says groaning, throwing her arms over her face.

"The Universe is rarely that lazy." He says grabbing her hand. She rolls onto her stomach and watches as his fingers play designs on her palm.

"Yet here we are." She counters.