Aenoxis and the Bridge Between Worlds

Chapter 6

Kallai wasn't in the least surprised when Kailani was the first to compliment Sage's room - he'd learnt their real names from Snapchat. To be fair, the room was pretty nice and definitely much better kept than Kallai's own. With the curtains pinned back tidily, the bed made and the clothes all hung in the wardrobe, there wasn't even a hair left on the floor, never mind those pesky rogue socks Kallai never seemed to have found the last of.

Kailani paused in the doorway, directly in front of Kallai, as her eyes roamed over the dappled grey walls, the black clock that faced them and the shadows that fought fruitlessly against the small wall-lamps at each corner. Warm orange light glowed from within the black cone lampshades, topping the neat curls of black metal that linked them to the wall.

Even from the doorway, Kallai believed he could feel the softness of the black and white ikat patterned carpet that lay across only the central area of the white wood-patterned laminate flooring. An orange desk sat on the rug, a black chair tucked behind it. Stretching along half the wall on the right was a bed donned with black covers and pillow, and two cushions - one of each orange and grey - sat on top, leaning gently on the headboard.

Decorating the other side of the room was a white wicker-style chair with a cushion matching the carpet; a grey Vasagle shelving unit, taller than it was wide and full of books; a black beanbag positioned beneath a small white-paned window; a small collection of plant pots in the corner - a large orange one tucked at the back with a range of greys and blacks in front - caring for leafy green plants.

Clearly Kailani's ramblings about interior design had become entangled with his own thoughts, as they were sure to do eventually.

Despite how clean and professional it all was, audibly stealing Kailani's breath away from her as soon as she set foot in it, Kallai couldn't find any signs of personalisation. It felt hollow.

After a minute, Kallai gently encouraged his sister through the doorway, hands on her shoulders. She stumbled a little, grabbing the door frame and spinning around it, finishing in a curtsy as Kallai and the others walked past, laughing. If anything went wrong, Kallai believed Kailani would put a positive spin on things, literally as well as figuratively. Because as she continued to remind him, she had so many things to be grateful for that it didn't seem worth her time or health to worry about all the things she could complain about. Because Jannah knew there were a lot of them.

Kallai moved over to the opposite wall, leaning on the hard surface. He remained standing, fully prepared for his next private battle against Lexis, but the girl had already gotten herself comfortable in the false-wicker chair. The girl was almost camouflaged against the white plastic, and he told her as much in a smirk - which she promptly ignored.

Kailani took a place on the floor without being asked. She'd grown to be very comfortable on floors rather than chairs, claiming that it felt humbling - a sensation she apparently thought everyone would benefit from every once in a while.

Tallie took the bed and, without asking Sage, tossed Kailani the cushions to sit on. Sage only smiled at the German girl, nodding as she always seemed to do in response to anything. His sister sat on one of the cushions and opted to hug the orange one. When she held it to her chest, her arms wrapped around it, she rested her chin on it quite comfortably.

Not wanting to stay any longer than he had to, Kallai was hugely grateful when Kailani stuck her hand in the air and waved it around a bit - even if she did come close to hyperventilating. Even if they were still in school, her over-the-top reaction hardly looked polite, but it didn't bother anyone - unfortunately - and instead set them off in controlled laughter. By Kailani's standards, Sage was very slow to nod permission to speak - almost reaching ten seconds - which didn't prove to be a problem because, however impatient her outward image was, Kallai knew his sister was only over-excited.