average human’s Reviews > Flourishing Heart > Status Update

71%

What had just happened?
I was breathless as the world tilted around me. I leaned against the hallway wall as I went over what happened again and again in my mind. If only I could have said something differently or made a stand somehow, how can I stand against that vileness I just witnessed?
The urge to sleep took me, but the screeching of the ending bell woke me up as students piled into the hall to leave the school building.
“Guppy,” Apollo called out to me as he tugged at my soul to turn to him. He gave me a cocky smile that was full of fakery. Didn’t he feel my anger?
“What was that in there?” I asked, trying to stop my body from shaking with adrenaline.
“My past kicking me in the ass.” He huffed, pushing the blonde strands off his face looking disinterested at what happened. Still, just twenty minutes ago, he was full of rage and acidity of regret.
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
Apollo looked at me for a short moment. I tried to tell him with my eyes that I needed some realism from him as I felt myself going insane. Apollo’s eyes dulled, and the flint of mischief and playfulness vanished as a pure wave of sadness and grief hit me.
“Of course, it does.” He muttered before his hand went to his hair and tugged. “It frustrates me how I’m judged. The looks I get when I pass them in the halls and in the streets of this godforsaken town. I’m known everywhere as ‘That Apollo Kid’.” He spat out with distaste. “I’ve fucked a lot of people, Grace, and I get the blame when they find their circle members.” He shook his head, “They say that I corrupted them, but in fact, they come to me, some begging” His jaw jumped, and I could hear the grinding of his teeth.
I felt sick as he spoke as my own anger bubbled. Why did this hurt so much? Why couldn’t I allow what happened to be settled in the past?
“I’m sorry for leaving you in there.” Apollo said, but my anger held my reins for a quick moment.
“But not for sleeping around?” I asked, feeling the bitterness of sourness that was jealousy.
“Don’t.” He pleaded as his eyes closed. He was currently completely blocking me off. “Don’t allow my past to taint us. What has happened has happened. I cannot change what I did, Guppy.” He stepped forward, crowding me. “I want this, us. I don’t want it to sour, and I know we have things to work on. I can feel it” He pressed his hand on his chest, “So I’m asking if we can take one day at a time. Take this shit slowly. Learn from each other- fuck, look at me sounding wise.”
I snorted out a laugh which widened his own smile. Even with something so serious, he couldn’t help himself. Even with having an insight to his feelings, Apollo was a confusing soul. I don’t think he even knew what he wanted to feel.
“It’s only you and our circle from this point on, Guppy.” He smiled as the dark cloud rumbled in the distance.
I wasn’t satisfied, but he was right. I couldn’t allow this jealousy to ruin our circle when it had only just begun.
“Okay, but I really want to know, why did you lie about us finding each other?” I asked, feeling humiliated at his actions.
“Because how we found each other is no one’s business. It’s between us. No one needs to come between us apart from our circle.”
“But what you said in there. You humiliated me, Lucas.”
He gave a slow blink as a bolt flashed through my body. It wasn’t till I realized I called him by his first name.
“I’m sorry.” Feeling sheepish, “I thought… I’ll call you Apollo from now on. I didn’t mean to upset you” I looked away from him, feeling the warmth of uncertainty at crossing the line.
“Guppy, you need to work on our ‘spiritual bond’.” He spoke sarcastically, “I wasn’t mad, just shocked that I liked it.”
“You do?”
“Yeah,” Apollo took a deep breath before he spoke, “My name means a lot to me and my real name….” He shook his head at a thought before carrying on, “People know me as Apollo, not the real me. Not as…Lucas.”
It was then the thought hit me. Apollo was his mask that I have been feeling. Apollo and Lucas were both sides of him, but he entirely drove into the persona people expected him to be.
Like my Father did…
“My parents have said you’re welcome to come for dinner anytime.” I said before I forgot. I fiddled with my bag strap, not wanting to see his rejection.
I did want Apollo to meet my family, to show him they were more than that meeting, but I could understand if he didn’t want anything to do with my Father for the way he got treated.
“Great, I’m starving!” Lucas said as he pulled my bag off my shoulder, slinging it on his own. Then, he started to walk with his usual swagger towards the car park.
“What, now?” My legs were frozen with shock as Lucas carried off down the hall. I jolted myself after him as he went out of the main doors.
Just like that, Apollo shifted back at the front like he wanted to forget this day already. But the thunder of the storm brought a static to my chest that I couldn’t just ignore forever. Something inside Lucas was brewing.
That storm was coming.

73%

“How old is this rust bucket?” Lucas asked once he had settled into the worn leather seat of my car. He completely missed my glare at his offensive comment as he was busy looking at the old dashboard, eyeing up the loose and tattered buttons. Thankfully he didn’t touch the radio to see if it worked or not. It didn’t.
“He isn’t that old, and he doesn’t rust. He is a perfect gentleman.”
Lucas pulled his eyes to look at me, an eyebrow raising, “He? Should I be jealous?”
Huffing, I pulled out of the parking lot as Lucas tried to stretch his long legs out with a groan. Even with the size of the vehicle, Lucas couldn’t fully stretch out.
“He was my Da’s when he was my age.” Again, feeling the need to protect the old man. I wasn’t going to mention the name I had given him.
Old Man Colonel.
“Coming out of retirement, ride on!” Lucas patted the dashboard affectionately. I tried not to wince as the glove box door fell open causing Lucas to cough, covering up his chuckle.
This was the first time we were both alone since the shower stall. That thought carried another wave of a flush as I remembered the way Lucas’s hands touched me, his lips on mine and the hardness I felt between his legs.
Lucas groaned next to me, his hips thrusting forward against his loose jeans, “Guppy, you can’t do this to me.” Lucas complained. His eyes were half-mast as he watched me with a heated expression.
Darting my eyes back on the road, I tried to stabilize my mortification at getting caught.
How could I forget Lucas could feel everything I feel?
Lucas was in a state of amusement and a heated longing. If we didn’t watch ourselves, I knew we would be in an endless loop of desire, each feeling what the other was feeling, fanning the flames between us. I could see how lost you could get if you let go.
“I can see you will be the death of me.” Lucas mumbled.
I noticed his hand touching between his legs from the corner of my eye, adjusting himself. The palms of my hand protested at how hard I was gripping the steering wheel.
“So, tell me about your parents.” Lucas asked, ignoring how I was reacting to him. He somehow got the seatbelt to allow him to sit sideways facing me. With the amount of attention he was giving me, it was hard to focus on driving. Forcing myself to swallow down my thoughts and feelings, I tried to keep us from crashing Old Man Colonel from my fantasies.
“You already met my mother, and I’m sure you know all about her.”
“I’ve heard things. Read some of her blog posts also. She's got a cute baby picture of you on there.”
“What?” I shouted, looking over to him to see if he was kidding.
“What’s so surprising about me reading?” Lucas frowned. “I read, granted a little, but I do.”
“No, not that! Is there actually a baby picture of me on it?” I had no idea about this.
“Yeah. You didn’t know?” Lucas was silently laughing at me. The fluttering feeling of entertainment was a clear sign of that.
I didn’t say anything else apart from grumbling curses under my breath at Mother’s further achievement of embarrassing me.
“What about the happy-go-lucky grandpa? He seems like he knows how to have a good time.”
I exhaled, knowing who he was talking about. “Father is a little... rigid. But he isn’t normally like how he was in the meeting.” Apollo hummed like he didn’t believe me, but I carried on. “Please give him a chance. He is a great man when you get past his walls.”
“Didn’t sound like it from the way you spoke to him in the office.”
“It was a long day,” I said in explanation. It was a long day, and emotions from both me and Lucas were high.
“You keep forgetting, Guppy, I can feel what you feel, and you have been feeling confused for a while now, you don’t even realize it anymore. It’s gotten me to the point that even I’ve been questioning my own judgement now, and that itself is confusing as fuck.”
“I’m sorry.”
But Lucas waved my apology away. “Nah, don’t be. It’s what a circle does. We are meant to balance each other out. Our own circle of support-yada yada yada.”
“You sound like you know a lot.” I said half-jokingly. He did feel so far ahead of me. I couldn’t even handle my own emotions, let alone his.
Lucas grimaced, turning his head to the front window, “I used to read about circles when I was younger.”
I grinned at the thought of a child Lucas on his bed reading with a tower of books beside him, them all about circles. “I would never have guessed.”
Especially how he was now, seeming to not care about anything. But that was the thing I was beginning to see. Lucas did care, he cared a lot, but he wanted people to think otherwise. The ‘why’s’ I was still trying to work out.
“I was sold into the daydream of a circle. Running away with people meant to love you sounded so good.” I felt an old dull ache coming from him. A longing he once held so deeply, but it was gone before I could say anything.
“You wanted to run away?”
“Doesn’t everybody at least once in their life?” Lucas gave a laugh, turning to me, “You get the urge to run five times a day, minimum.”
I gave him a grumble before replying, “I’m a lot better than I was.”
“You have grown, you’re not like the girl who I first met at the lockers, but I saw you then. Deep down, I saw what you were yearning for.” We both knew what he was talking about. He had said this at the meeting. He knew I wanted to experience life, and Lucas- Apollo- was full of it.
“Your other dads?” Lucas asked, bringing back his question.
“Da- Graham, was the other one at the meeting. Then there is Daddy. He is a stay-at-home dad. He has the gentlest soul out of my parents. If he knew you were coming, I’m sure he would make a banquet in your honor” I laughed as Lucas gave me a small smile.
“The last one, he is a teacher at our school, right?” Lucas asked, frowning like he was trying to remember.
“Yes, Papa. He is an Art teacher and holds a small class in our year.” I gave Lucas a quick glance as silence came between us. Lucas’s frown had deepened as he bit his bottom lip in thought.
“What about your family?” I asked gently. From the few times I heard mentions of his family, I knew it couldn’t be sunshine and daisies.
“Just my two dads and sister.” Straight talk, no room for questioning.
Lucas pulled out a box of cigarettes from his jacket. I didn’t want the smell of smoke collecting inside my vehicle, but I doubted Lucas would listen. He was obviously off in his mind as he rolled the car window down before hitting up his lighter.
“Can I ask you a question?” Lucas asked after a brief moment of silence. He wasn’t looking at me. He only had eyes on the cigarette in between his finger and thumb, watching it burn as smoke poured from it in a twirling upwards swirl.
“Sure,” I said slowly, unsure what he was thinking. His feelings were dulled to me.
“Am I what you expected?” My breath hitched at the question, but before I could say anything, Lucas gave a wince. “Actually, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.” He looked back at his window, but I felt he wasn’t watching the scenery.
You weren’t, I wanted to say, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.
That itself was still up to my mental debate. I was still working out my own issues about myself and the jealousy I felt when I was reminded of Lucas’s past. Would I be enough for him till we find the other members of our circle? Would my lack of experience make him hesitate? Lucas held views on a virgin circle, something he sounded against.
Just because we were part of a circle didn’t mean we had to be in that type of relationship. Each circle member could mean different things, a close friend or a lover. It was mainly a family meant to be filled with love.
Me and Lucas were family now and even though he kissed me, he might not want more.
“Can I ask you some questions?” I asked slowly, my turn to ask a question in my mind. The many thoughts I was having were taunting me.
“Go ahead,” Lucas said before taking a long drag out of his cigarette.
“Do...” I grunted, annoyed at myself for faltering “Our bond… Are you looking for- me and you?” I cursed under my breath. My face felt tight as I refused to look his way.
“Yes, Guppy. I want that.” He said before looking away mumbling under his breath but with the open window his voice got carried allowing me to hear him “If you can stand me, that is.”
“Okay,” I said breathlessly. My head was vibrating making my vision blur but after a few breathes I calmed myself. “It’s just because…before, you said you didn’t want a circle-”
“I didn’t say that.” Lucas erupted. He was looking at me. A fire kindled in his blue eyes. I had his complete focus.
“But with the France thing.”
“I said that if they lived there, they could stay, and I still hold to that. I have stuff I need to do here. I can’t pack up and leave.”
“So… you do want to find the rest?”
Lucas gave a tight nod, though it was hesitant, “I do, and it’s just complicated. We should focus on our bond. Take this time to get to know each other before others join.”
“You make it sound like they might be around.” I snorted, but I understood. I was in no way looking for the rest of our circle. I couldn’t handle Lucas and having another to feel what they would feel. It would be too hectic.
“It’s a possibility. But with how we both are feeling. We need to work on ourselves.”
“Yeah...” I breathed as my bitterness raised her head with a sour voice. But, of course, I wouldn’t have had difficulty if he wasn’t so carefree about his experiences.
“Does it bother you?” He whispered, making me freeze. I thought he read my mind for a moment, but my emotions are enough for him to read me.
“I’m trying not to,” I said honestly but not outright saying it did either. I didn’t want it to be an issue, but my jealousy of Lucas being so carefree, not thinking about his circle while I did. It hurt. I wasn’t going to lie about it. With the added bonus of not knowing how to be with someone emotionally and physically, it was daunting.
What if I wasn’t good enough?
“Will you…” God, it was hard to form the question. “Will you go to other people if I can’t….”
“Stop.” Lucas snapped, “I told you at school, it’s only our circle from this point. No one else.”
“Who was with you in the storage room?” I had to ask. Otherwise, I would be guessing every time someone came up to him.
Lucas stiffened to the point he didn’t notice some ash from his cigarette fell onto his pants. Lucas was a ball of shame and panic. He worked on his breathing until he cut our bond off, leaving me feeling nothing from him.
“Everyone outside our circle is unimportant.” He sounded so strong in his statement.
“Are they?” I questioned, needing to know if our circle was what he wanted. A rumble could be heard in the distant background of Lucas’s mind. A hidden issue that I knew he was avoiding.
Give it time, I whispered to myself. We only just found each other. We don’t have to deep dive into secrets just yet.
“Yes. I promise you that.”

75%

It wasn’t long till I pulled up to our driveway, our conversation dying as we both were in our inner minds.
The nerves I was feeling about Lucas meeting my family was just as great as him seeing inside my home. Although, I didn’t know Lucas as well as Julia, Hannah and Kristina. But if what he said about reading one of mother’s blog posts was true, then Lucas might have an idea of what he was getting himself into.
It was strange to not know him but to understand his inner workings. Lucas felt one thing but presented another. He really didn’t help my confusion at all.
“What’s the game plan?” He asked as he eyed the outside of my home. I had only just cut off the engine, and he already was up and ready for anything.
“Game plan?”
“Mmm, so take it as it comes. Got it.” He winked, getting out of the car before I could comprehend what he was talking about.
“Just... be yourself.” I said hesitantly, following him to the front door. I wasn’t sure if that was a good suggestion or not, but Lucas looked lively as we made it up to the porch. I think he sometimes forgets that I could also feel him when he wasn’t paying attention. He was nervous.
Without even a moment of pause, Mother and Da walked into the foyer as soon as we stepped inside. They probably were waiting by the window to see if I brought him or not.
“Lucas,” Mother greeted him. His hand was up to shake hers. But she shocked us all as she brought him into a hug. Apollo went tense for a moment but eased into her embrace. “Welcome to the family.” she whispered, but we could all hear it.
Apollo smiled wide, and I swear I could see a wet gleam in his eyes. I felt the tremor in our bond, a slight fear that shockingly gripped him.
“Thank you,” He spoke thickly. His fire inside him pulsed with a longing. It was a desperate need that my own eyes watered. I just wanted my mother to hug me so tightly. A mothers comfort.
But the feeling vanished as Da stepped forward.
“Was a big shock for us all finding out that way. But I’m looking forward to bringing our families together for a BBQ. I’m Graham,” Da said in greeting, clapping Lucas’s shoulder before bringing him into a hug.
“I’m always down for a party.” Lucas grinned as Da beamed at him. I wasn’t sure if they knew what kind of parties he was on about…
“Now,” Mother addressed, drawing us to face her. “Rules.”
I groaned while Lucas wiggled his eyebrows in amusement towards me. Da seemed to be entertained by my expression.
“I doubt he will follow them.” I muttered as Lucas grinned before trying to conceal it with his hand.
“Well, if he wants to stay here, he will listen to our rules. Won’t you, Lucas?”
Lucas was nodding, fully amused, “Of course, ma’am. I wouldn’t dare cross you.”
Mother hummed at him like she was just catching onto his falseness now.
Mother carried on, “You’re allowed here anytime Lucas. You are both nearly grown adults, so we will treat you like it. He can sleep in your room.”
I felt my chest tightening. Sleep in my room? I felt like I was about to faint at the thought.
“Lucas, I expect no alcohol or drugs to come across our front door, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Lucas said with ease, and our bond hummed in humor with a taste of mischief. Yeah, Lucas seemed to be the person to bend the rules.
“I better tell Rodger we have an extra mouth. He was saying this morning that he will start making extra in case you wanted to pop over,” Da said as his eyes sparkled. Lucas would be his dream child, everything he wanted me to be like.
“You should give Lucas a house tour.” She said to me before turning back to Lucas, “Grace has a big closet. She has enough room for some of your belongings for when you stay here.” Mother said, making me sputter.
Was that why it was so big? Had my family planned my room to hold my circle? It all made sense, the big closet, my own bathroom and even… I grunted. My room was away from theirs...
Oh, God. I thought in embarrassment, how could I ever learn to breathe again?
Mother left me, oblivious that I was trying to breathe, as Lucas snickered next to me. He was finding this incredibly enjoyable.
“Come on,” I grumbled, totally ignoring Lucas’s chortled snorts and chuffs. I grudgingly decided I should start with my room. I wasn’t going to show him the space in my closet… Did he want that space? Did he have a space ready for me? The thought of Lucas stuff there was odd. I hardly knew him, yet things were already anticipated of us.
“One day at a time, Guppy.” Lucas whispered in my right ear. His hot breath was able to send shivers through me.
“My room is down this way,” I said, pointing down the corridor, overlooking the way Lucas smirked. I then pointed down the other way. “Down that way are my parent’s rooms. You don’t need to go down that way.”
“It’s a big house.” Lucas muttered, looking at the photographs on the walls. I crinkled my nose at a baby me covered in birthday cake. “My house has three bedrooms, and we all share a bathroom,” Lucas said, taking his time looking over at our pictures. A strange, odd twinge of jealousy crept upon me.
Was Lucas jealous of me having a big house?
“Yeah, we practically lived in a shoebox at our old apartment” I muttered but Lucas was still staring at the many pictures on the walls.
“What’s going on here?” Lucas asked, pointing at one picture in the frame.
I cringed at the picture he was pointing out. Me when I was six, surrounded by so many pony figures while riding on Da’s back. “That was my pony phase. I used to make Da go on all fours and pretend he was a horse.”
“No more phase?” Lucas asked, smirking with his pierced eyebrow-raising.
“God, no. Da took me to the countryside for some lessons once. Took one look at the pony I was meant to ride and screamed.” I remember feeling scared of the large animal. It was so much taller than I thought they would be.
“You look so happy in every picture.” Lucas uttered. I think it was only for him to hear. It made me bewildered. Why would anyone take pictures unhappy?
“Did you have any phases?” I asked, wanting to pull him away from his inner thoughts.
Lucas dragged his eyes away from the pictures, his blue eyes creased. “Many, but no pictures to reveal what though.”
“Pity,” I said before walking further down towards my door.
I hesitated for a moment. I never had a boy in my room before. The bedroom was my complete sanctuary. You could learn so much about a person by their sleeping area. Would he find it too girly? Too bare? What was his room like? I assumed messy, dirty clothes and random collections he thought were interesting.
No turning back now, I thought, pushing my door open. I tried not to watch Lucas while I placed my school bag on the floor beside my desk.
Lucas took every inch in. His gaze went to my bare walls, no pictures here for him to snoop at. He then went to my bed, a slight smirk playing coy on his lips but made me silently stumble. He quickly moved around, hovering as nothing else caught his gawk. He did look toward the two doors like he wanted to open them.
“Bathroom is that one.” I pointed to the door on the left, but I instantly halted as Lucas went to the door on the right. The wardrobe.
“Why are you looking so fearful, Guppy?” Lucas asked with a smirk, his body now behind me, his hands on my hips, slightly swaying us together as his head got closer.
“I- I’m not.” I stammered, kicking myself, unable to form words correctly.
His hands trailed up and down my bare arms, his flame branding me. I was surprised I couldn’t hear my skin sizzling from the contact.
“You never have to be scared of me.” He whispered, his nose in my neck, inhaling deeply. His emotions were thick of molten desire.
I wasn’t scared of him exactly. My mind just couldn’t take a proper grip at our situation. We were still basically strangers, yet my soul knew him. I could feel it, this longing of letting go and just accepting him, trusting him. It felt like it could be easy. But I couldn’t, not yet. Not when I could feel dark secrets lingering in his mind. I could practically taste them.
“One day at a time, Guppy.” Lucas muttered bringing his hot breath to fan my neck.
His understanding of my emotions was so heavy that I could only be enveloped by him. I leaned back into him, knowing he would be there to support me. A sense of safety wrapped around me as Lucas’s arms hugged me.
His touch, his smell of herbal lemon mixed with his natural smell of sunscreen were highly addictive. It made me tremble at him being so close. How can the sheer presence of him make my core throb with its own heat that left me gasping?
He quickly turned me around. His eyes loaded with desire as his head came down towards me. His lips were silky and sensual. That cold lip hoop of his gave different textures that made my head spin. I nibbled at the metal on his lower lip, bringing him a moan as he parted his lips. Lucas’s hands were in my hair, tugging me closer as my tongue crept out, touching the smooth metal he always did.
I could feel him and the boiling wave of lust he was riding. Just be sensing it helped fan the flames between us. I needed him. I needed him, so much that it hurt. Even Lucas whimpered into my mouth, like a pained moan as the bond demanded more.
His tongue entered my mouth, causing me to jerk back in shock at what I felt. a smooth metal ball rested on the top of his tongue. Lucas’s tongue was pierced. His smile was seductive as he stepped into me again.
“One of my many aces.” He mumbled before his tongue entered my mouth again before I could speak. I was thankful. I didn’t want to talk. I was too hot, too achy for words now, and I knew only Lucas could quench such passion.
Our tongues brushed while we explored each other. A new- personal- way of getting to know one another. Lucas dominated my mouth, and I had no choice but to surrender to him. I happily followed his lead. He took charge while I was imprisoned between his hands.
Even with such heat I could feel my nerves giving a different type of burning.
Was I doing this right? Was he enjoying it? And what the hell did I do with my hands?
My hands shook as I reached out to touch him. His chest was hard as I felt his lean body. I needed to feel his skin. With my foggy mind of desire as I dared to move under his shirt.
Lucas’s breath hitched as my hand stroked his abdomen but jerked back. His arms outstretched, forming space as he shook with a groan.
Did I do it wrong?

76%

“I shouldn’t have started that.” He groaned, his chest rising and falling hard. He left me panting, needing. But he took another step back with a wobble of an exhale.
The whimpering sound from my mouth escaped, my head felt clouded like I was drunk. I was getting intoxicated on Lucas himself.
I didn’t want to stop.
Lucas’s touch was addicting. I could get lost in his sensation forever. I couldn’t stop my tongue from dipping out, tracing it on my lips where I knew the taste of Lucas still lingered. All under the heated stare of Lucas. A drawn-out groan came at the back of his throat when it went back in my mouth, carrying the taste of him.
Lucas was quick to come back into my space. His thumb came up to my lower lip, the soft stroke felt like it was against my hard nipples, sending a shock that left me gasping.
Would it feel like that if he touched them?
“I love that I can feel everything from you.” He breathed softly, finally catching his breath.
“Will you teach me to block you out?” I asked, feeling the need to distract us now that I wasn’t in a lusting haze.
Lucas smiled and cocked his head, “Why would I do that?”
The door of my bedroom abruptly opened, making me squeal out in fright. Father usually knocked before entering, but it seemed with Lucas in the house, his thoughts on boundaries were gone.
“How’s the house tour going?” Father inquired, knowing full well what he walked into.
I screwed my eyes shut, wishing I was anywhere else but here. I felt the heat of embarrassment flood into my system.
“Very informative,” Lucas said cheekily, his arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me tight on his side.
Father’s lips pursed before they flat-lined, “I’m sure. Why don’t you introduce yourself to the rest of the family, Hmm?” I think we both got the hint that Father wanted us downstairs for supervision.
I think Father still needed time for this new development.
“Sure thing, Daddy-o”, Lucas saluted as he briskly swaggered past. Father’s left eyebrow twitched as he glared at Lucas’s back. I gave Father a weak smile as I went past him. Lucas certainly knew how to push buttons.
Daddy was, of course, rushing around the kitchen, but he halted in his tracks when we came in.
“Hello! Hello! I’m Rodger,” Daddy greeted, coming up to Lucas, his brow wet from the temperature of the kitchen. It was amusing to see Lucas hug him back. He was far taller than Daddy. “I’m cooking steaks, but I have the vegetarian option if you don’t eat meat.”
“I’ll eat anything you give me if it tastes as good as it smells.” Lucas was back to his charming self, making Daddy smile hugely in return.
“I’m so happy that Grace found a member of her circle,” Daddy said, still beaming. I think he had forgotten about the steaks as they sizzled furiously behind him. “You will take care of my daughter, won’t you?” Even though Daddy was the friendliest, you couldn’t miss the hidden warning in his tone. It was so unnatural that Mother and Da paused their conversation to look over at him.
“Of course,” Lucas said seriously for the first time in front of my parents. He didn’t hold that cheeky mischief as he brought me closer to his side. The act made Daddy beam brighter before he panicked as the memory of steaks came back to him.
Papa came into the kitchen with a groan. Looking like he just got home, he took his tie off and crumpled next to Da at the kitchen table. It wasn’t long till his eyes settled and widened on Lucas.
“Mr. Millington,” Lucas greeted Papa with a nod.
“You can call me Philip in our home, Apollo,” Papa said with a slow blink like he couldn’t believe Lucas was here. He swallowed tightly before reaching for a glass of water.
“Not dad?” Lucas asked with a tone of sadness, making Papa sputter his water as he looked at Lucas. His expression had a look of ponder if Lucas was serious or not. He wasn’t. I could feel his humor watching Papa gape at him.
“He is joking, Papa.” I said flatly before I openly glared at Lucas, but that only caused the slow mischievous smirk to grow. I had a strong feeling Lucas wasn’t done with Papa as Lucas’ emotions bloomed with possibilities. Papa had shown weakness, and the Apollo inside Lucas was going to take full advantage of it.
“Don’t.” I uttered as I pushed Lucas to sit.
He gave me an innocent look, but I wasn’t fooled. I was sure Papa knew about Lucas at school, and the way he eyed him was a clear sign he knew what was up.
Papa coughed, “Well, it’s nice for you to join us. Are you staying the night?”
It was my turn to choke. Before Lucas could say anything, Father’s voice came up behind us. “Not tonight.”
“Tobias,” Mother held a warning tone.
Thankfully, Daddy had finished dinner, setting plates full of food for us to dish up. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long till Father started his interrogation.
“So, Lucas, what is it you wish to do once school finishes?” Father asked as he cut into his steak, allowing the blood to seep onto his plate. His steak knife easily cut the meat, but Father only had eyes on Lucas. It felt quite psychotic as he brought the bloody beef to his mouth, slowly chewing, waiting.
“Haven’t thought much about it,” Lucas said as he casually chewed on his food. It wasn’t long before a smile slowly came to his mouth. “The drug trade is always booming. Maybe I will do that.”
Father cutlery hit his plate hard as he scowled at Lucas, but Mother quickly touched Father’s wrist. “He is messing you, Tobias.” Her eyes went to Lucas. “Behave.”
Lucas gave a cheeky smile. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Da chuckled, obviously finding all of this entertaining. “It’s a high risk but high reward.”
“Graham!” Mother voice was high, making Da lift his hands in surrender
“What? The kid can joke, but I can’t?” He asked, his voice going high with accusation.
I groaned into my hand as Mother and Da bickered back and forth. Lucas was having a good old time, chuckling at their antics. He felt so full of happiness that I didn’t realize how empty he was before.
Father grunted, picking up his cutlery again. “It’s like having two children instead of one.”
Da said nothing but stuck his tongue out at Father, who muttered “Mature” under his breath. Papa and Daddy snorted, and Mother rolled her eyes. It wasn’t long till another round of bickering came to the table. It mainly was Father and Da, but my other parents joined in on who the most immature one was.
I didn’t know what to do, and I wasn’t sure what Lucas thought of all this, but he edged closer to me, whispering
“Relax, Guppy. Look at them. They are having fun,” he said, his eyes flickering around the table with a grin.
Looking over at my family, I did notice the glint of enjoyment as they bickered, no it wasn’t bickering but bantering. This wasn’t their normal disagreements but a vibe that held a humorous manner.
“You’re such a child.” Mother giggled as she shook her head at Da.
“Keeps me young.” Da waggled his eyebrows that Father scoffed at, but it wasn’t in malice. No, I saw Father hold those creases at the side of his eyes when he was happy. They all were being happy, with no tension or snapping remarks. They all relaxed. Free.
“Young brain, old body.” Papa added as he poked Da's belly, making everyone laugh at Da’s red face.
Lucas was content as he watched my family. A sense of relief washed over him. In an odd sense, everyone was loosened as the atmosphere had a warmth to it. I knew deep down that it was Lucas. He really did bring a side of fun out in everybody. He was a natural talent.
Dinner went quickly, and Daddy surprised us with the family’s favorite dessert. I didn’t understand how people could eat so much. Lucas and Da ate for at least two people each and had room for more. It felt like a freak show watching Lucas eat another helping of ice cream for dessert. Where he put it was beyond me. Lucas was slim, but he never did any sports at school that I was aware of.
“This was an amazing meal,” Lucas sighed, leaning back on his chair, his bowl empty. “Thank you.” he said to Daddy, who beamed at his praise.
“You’re welcome here anytime”, Daddy gushed. He loved people eating his food. It gave him a sense of achievement that I didn’t understand.
Mother looked at her thin golden watch. “Are your father’s expecting you back at a certain time?”
Lucas exhaled, “Nah, I tend to come and go as I please.”
Father grunted but said nothing. He loved rules and boundaries, and for him to hear Lucas speak so openly at a no curfew, I was sure that it was grating on him.
“I’m sure they will find peace of mind knowing you're home at a reasonable hour. One of us will take you home,” Mother spoke, which set everyone up to clear the table and tidy the kitchen.
It was interesting to watch Lucas as he eyed my family working together. He soaked it all in but as he did, I felt him slowly drawing into himself. That glazed look he got when he was deep in thought. I pulled at his shirt, wanting him to follow me into the foyer to say goodbye.
“I want to take you out tomorrow,” Lucas said once we were alone again. He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Out? Like a date?” I asked, unsure if that is what he meant.
Lucas snorted at me. “Of course, like a date, Guppy. I want to take you to this place.”
“What place?” Was it another party he had in mind?
“A surprise. I’ll come pick you up before lunch.”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly, making his smile stretch.
“Be good till then.” He joked, his fingers now twirling my loose hair.
“Shouldn’t I be the one to tell you that?” He was most definitely the one to get into trouble, not me.
“Come on, Lucas, I’ll take you home,” Papa said as he jingled his keys at us.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted Lucas to leave. My nervousness increased seeing Papa getting ready. A part of me longed for Lucas. The thought of him leaving caused a type of ache in my chest. A sense of doom was slowly unreeling.
“Thanks, Dad.” Lucas said playfully slyly as he held in his laughter at Papa’s bug-eyed look.
“I can still give you detention, you know.” Papa joked back, knowing exactly what Lucas was doing.
Lucas pouted. “You don’t want me as a son?”
Papa mumbled something under his breath as he walked out the front door.
“Stop teasing him.” I said, unable to control the smile on my lips.
“Why when it’s so much fun?” But Lucas didn’t wait for my answer as he kissed me.
His lips nibbled on mine, making me gasp, allowing Lucas’s entry. His tongue swept through, gliding against mine, making me feel the smooth ball on his tongue. But as quickly as he started, he finished by stepping back, panting, with a chuckle.
“Now, you’re teasing me.” I panted, feeling the apparent surge of pride from him. He liked me, flushed, breathless, longing for him.
His devilish eyes gleamed with mischief, “And it’s so much fun.”

78%

“When did the news start getting depressing?” Da grumbled while we all were sitting in the living room, currently watching a live news broadcast. We were having small talk while I was waiting for Lucas to show until the breaking news alert pulled our gazes.
“It’s always been. You just weren’t paying attention.” Father gibed, leaving Da to mutter under his breath.
A reporter was standing surrounded by a mass of people. Angry shouts and aggressive hand gestures. Most of the people had their faces covered with bright balaclavas. With the outraged cries around the reporter and despite the occasional knock he got, the reporter still managed to look calm as he spoke to the camera.
‘The situation here in the city of Sebourne escalated in the later hours of last night. Two weeks of peaceful protesting turned into riots in downtown of the city. The streets turned into scenes of chaos as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowds in their attempt to desist the situation. Many streets and shops are now in ruin as mass looting has taken place in some parts of the city. Viewer’s discretion is advised.’
On our screen, a report video showed images of police in riot gear, all in line with shields pushing the angry crowd back. The protestors shouted and spat their fury, some even throwing junk in their attempts to stop the police push back.
“Shit,” Lucas’s voice made us all jump as he stood there watching the TV. None of us heard him ring the doorbell or enter the house. Da seemed completely fine with Lucas being in here as he went back to watching, but Father scowled.
“Let yourself in, I see.” Father uttered.
Lucas smirked smugly, pulling up a key in a jingle, “Brenda gave me a set as I’m family now.”
I had no idea when mother gave him that.
But our attention got back to the screams, shouts and loud banging of explosions from fireworks being shot towards the coming force of the police. Police dogs barked along with their handlers, shouting orders at the protestors to disperse.
Da swore as the images of people smashing windows of cars and shops. Another shot of the city mall overrun by people, looting items in shops and destroying things. It was a strange feeling to witness. I went to that mall. It was beautiful, and now it looked like a warzone.
“This won’t help them. The news and politicians will use this against them.” Father muttered, breaking our stunned silence.
“It’s not the majority,” Mother’s voice came beside us. “They are angry.”
“It still doesn’t help them.” Father continued to state.
“Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make people listen.” Da whispered, looking agape at the city we used to live in.
“And it takes a disaster to get people to react.” Mother said somberly. All eyes stayed on the TV, at fierce faces and shouts that sounded like war cries.
“Dylan!” I spoke as fear hit me.
He was currently off in the city. Kristina must be beside herself. Lucas gave me a brief glance as I texted Kristina hoping that Dylan wasn’t caught up in this.
He should be fine, right?
“Shit,” Lucas said again as the roar of war turned to screams of terror as police threw cans of gas into the crowds, thick smoke trails were seen being thrown into the mass of protestors, causing them to scatter to escape. Only a few bold ones attempted to kick the smoking cans away or tried to smother the pouring smoke. The shouting police force moved with purpose, some opening fire making the large group scatter in panic.
“Jesus,” Da said as he rubbed his hands on his face as he looked at the TV with disbelief.
“That’s rubber bullets, right?” my voice wobbled as I watched one mundane fall in agony as police jumped on him. Lucas rubbed my arms while I shivered at the violence we were currently witnessing.
“Doesn’t matter, either way, Guppy.” Lucas murmured, still continuing to rub my concern away.
“Do you think they will get what they want?” I asked the question openly. Everyone was quiet for a moment till mother murmured.
“I don’t know.” She sounded sad as she exhaled.
People at school called my family, mundane supporters, and we were. Mother voiced her opinion on her blog on how strong they were at forming circles without a bond. She also spoke against the mundane tattoo and how barbaric the practice was.
The city had a high population of Mundane, and you hardly knew if you were talking to one or not. But some were scary. In the city streets, some would yell and get violent. They held a wave of anger that scared me. They would openly speak against circles and how much they hated everyone that wasn’t Mundane.
I remembered the time I had gone to mother, scared after a woman screamed at her. Saying things, a ten-year-old shouldn’t ever hear. But mother didn’t react, she just listened to the woman ranting at the injustice of the world. Once that woman was done, mother then simply asked her a question.
‘What can I do to help?’ Since then, my mother has been an activist. Bringing up the injustice of the Mundane, fighting two battles at once. That raging woman had become friends with my mother and kept in touch ever since.
Mother’s words from that moment came to me, ′They are rightfully angry, and no one should stop their voices from being heard.′
“Turn it off.” Mother said. She sounded like she couldn’t take it anymore.
The scenes of people in an uproar, outraged, frustrated with the system they had no say in. To see them get beaten in the streets while the reporter interviewed people who called them animals was sickening.
They weren’t animals, and they weren’t emotionless beasts. They are people who hold emotion, and lots of it.
No one would do this if they didn’t care, if they didn’t feel.
“I think I need to write something on my blog.” Mother whispered, getting up. She stopped as she looked at me and Lucas’s hand in hand. “You look after her, Lucas.”
“Yes, ma’am” He gave her a smile before turning to me. “Come on, Guppy, before we lose sunlight.”
I debated telling him that the sun was out longer during the summer, but he was already heading out the door.
“You bring her back at a reasonable time, Lucas!” Father shouted from his place on the couch, but Lucas was already gone out the front door. Giving my parents a quick wave, I followed him.
A silver car was parked in our driveway. It had a few dents and scratches around the body, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted Lucas to drive me anywhere.
“You drive?” I asked as I entered his car. Not once had I seen Lucas’s drive. Usually, other people did that for him.
Lucas huffed as he pulled the car in reverse. “Of course, I drive.”
“Could have fooled me”, I teased looking around on the inside. It was slightly messy with rubbish stuffed in the car pockets on the side, but his scent was heavy inside.
“Enough of the lip. I’m in control of our date, remember.”
“Where are we going anyway?” I asked, glancing behind me, seeing a cute picnic basket tucked behind his seat.
“We are going to a picnic.”
I felt my eyebrow rise. I never would have expected that from him.
“What?” He looked concerned at my expression, his head snapping back and forth between the road and me. “Did Roger spill that it was him who made the food for us?”
I burst out a laugh.
“What? Why wouldn’t I ask him? His food is fucking great.”