Diabolus: The Lost Phoenix

Chapter Two

BROOKLYN GREENE

I carefully write every word on a card, that has a strip dancer eagle drawing on it; Lexi and I thought this would be funny. Only when a popcorn reached my eye I moved again, frowning at Lexi.

"Do you mind!?"

"I don't mind."

She throws a popcorn in her mouth and puts a wide smile onto her face, chuckling like a kid who just did something funny. Sometimes she drives me nuts, but at the same time I love how childish and rude she is. It was so nice to see how care and friendship changed her in a year; in fact, these are the only things that people need to feel happy.

With thoughts about that I turn to Kevin, who's sitting right in front of me, trying to wrap a gift in a girly pink wrapping paper, frowning when it goes wrong. He's the one who suffered the most, but now he definitely looks like a different man; masculine, tall, strong, with perfect skin and happiness in the face that was dark and sad just a year ago.

His gaze rises slowly when I realize I'm staring at him, greeting me with the full force of his smoky dark green eyes, the exotic black flecks within holding the light. His face lights up with a lovely smile, playing on his rosy full lips. I still can't believe how much he changed.

And how much I think about a kiss that happened a year ago.

"What?"

"You know you're doing it wrong, Kevin."

I remember that kiss not because it was hot. But because of the feelings I had when Kevin kissed me. Because it felt like the ground disappeared under my feet. Because all I could feel was pleasant burning in every limb of my body. Because my brain shut off, and it felt like the time has stopped. It was a simple kiss, like it was the first one ever; but at the same time it was the most epic kiss I've ever had.

I walk to him and take the wrapping paper out of his hands, slowly wrapping it around the box where the gift is. Beverly's 27th birthday. Though she asked not to buy her anything, we got her favorite sweets, of course, and a platinum dagger with her initials engraved on it. We can afford that, because people pay a lot to get their enemies killed... but Kai wanted to give her a personal gift. Something special. Something that makes me guess that maybe he wants to propose.

"Probably only girl's hands can do that."

Much more than that, honey.

I shake my head when my thoughts start to get crazy; especially when I'm feeling nervous. I can't explain that, because it happens every time I'm closer to him. I know nothing will happen between us, he said he wasn't ready, he wanted to learn to live first. But that was a year ago. A normal girl would understand and move on, but... I guess I'm not a normal girl.

Deep inside me, even if I don't like to admit that, I am waiting. For Kevin to finally make a move.

"That's pretty easy..."

I convince myself that there's nothing he owes me; we'll, maybe a little of gratitude. I don't expect him to kiss my toes because I stood by him all this time, helped him to get back to normal, but for him I probably was nothing more than a best friend. But I will never be able to look at him as a friend - especially when I think about him before I fall asleep.

But how long I'll be waiting? Hoping?

I get the box wrapped and with the last duct tape to stick it on I turn to Kevin, but he's closer than I thought at first. Two big, emerald eyes locked on me, his look so deep that it feels like he's looking straight into my soul. A shy smile, playing on his lips and making me crave for them; like it was honey and I was a bear. It's pulling me, like a magnet, and I'm not sure how long I can stay only friends with him.