by Mary Smith
Thaddeus: Dinner?
I smiled at the display when I saw his name. He had been just as busy at his job that we hadn’t seen each other since the night he kissed my cheek.
Me: Wish I could @ the library for a while
Thaddeus: Have you eaten?
Me: No, but I’ll grab something later
He cared about whether I’ve eaten or not. I bite down on my lip because my insides were flipping thinking about it.
Our conversations have been more frequent. He has texted me almost every night when he got home from work to say goodnight. I never thought a few simple words could mean so much to me.
I closed my eyes thinking of his blue eyes and his lips.
Oh, his lips.
I have thought about them on my own lips. I could swear that I smelled him right now.
When I opened my eyes, a single daisy was laying on my book.
“Were you in dreamland?” Thaddeus’ voice made me stop breathing for a moment. “Shouldn’t you be studying?”
I looked up to see his blue eyes and the smirk that only I see staring back at me. “I was only there for a moment.”
“Hmm.” He sat next to me placing a paper bag in front of me. I looked at him confused. “It’s a sub sandwich and…” He pulled a bottle of water from behind his back.
I felt my stomach rumble. I didn’t think I was that hungry, but I guess I was. “Where’s yours?”
“In the car. Can you take a break?”
“For you?” I looked at him as if I was thinking hard about it. “I guess.”
“You know,” he leaned close to me, “I have to say I like seeing this side of you.”
I felt myself blushing as I packed up my bag, and we headed outside. The heat was heavy today. It felt like I had an extra layer of skin on.
When sat in Thaddeus’ car with the air conditioner on full blast. He told me about his day and that a big client would be coming into the city for a meeting. He’s hoping that he’ll get the lead on this project, and everything was pointing in that direction that he would be.
“That’s great. All that hard work you’ve been putting in; I’m sure you’ll get it,” I said encouragingly.
“Thank you, Xaviera.” He rubbed the back of my hand. “How much longer do you have to study?”
“I think I’m done. I’m burnt out right now, anyway.”
“Hey, why don’t we get back to Unit, change and hang out? Maybe a movie?” He squeezed my hand.
I smiled brightly. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“Where’s your car?”
I told him I was parked on the other side of campus, and he drove me over there. “Meet me at my house,” he said as he helped me out of his car.
I followed him back to Unit, and then headed to my house. When I got in, I raced upstairs. I pinned my hair back, freshened up makeup, and changed my clothes. I slipped into light color purple jeans with a white blouse that tied on the side of my hips. Of course, I wore my white heel booties and was ready to go to Thaddeus’ house.
When I pulled up to his house, I realized that no one else seemed to be there. Yes, I’d been alone with him, but in public, never alone in a house with him. I hoped that someone was there.
Thaddeus had opened the door in a pair of black cargo pants and a dark gray t-shirt. “Hey, come in.”
He took my hand and led me to the back of the house. I had been here many times in my life I knew exactly where he was taking me. The TV room. Mr. Edwards always had the biggest TVs.
Thaddeus had a large bowl of popcorn and a couple of glasses of soda on the coffee table. I wasn’t sure where to sit until he sat on the couch, guiding me to sit down next to him. My insides were trembling, not from fear, but being this close to Thaddeus, alone.
“I didn’t figure that you liked horror, so I thought that a comedy would be a good choice,” he explained turning on the TV & DVD player.
I nodded unable to say anything. He let go of my hand and reached for the popcorn. The movie started, but it was a blur to me. I couldn’t focus on it.
“Xaviera?”
“Yes,” my voice squeaked as I answered him.
He took the remote turning off the TV, and then turned to face me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lied.
“I know better than that. You’re making it thunder outside and it was sunny when we arrived home. Tell me.”
I fiddled with my hands in my lap. “We’re alone.” I was nervous. I calmed myself the best I could, and I commanded the thunder away.
“Yes, we are. Does that bother you? Are you uncomfortable? I mean, we’ve been alone before.”
“No, we haven’t, not like this.” I waved my hand in between us.
“Wait, you mean alone in a house.” He nodded understanding what I meant. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I thought it would be nice to relax tonight. I’ve had a long week and didn’t really feel like going out. I should have asked first.”
I softly sighed. “I’m sorry, Thaddeus. Maybe it’s different for you, but I’m still trying to adjust to us even being Matched. This is all new to me.”
“Hey.” He touched my chin to bring my attention to him. “It’s new to me too.” His thumb lightly brushed my lips. His expression was hard to read, but he kept looking from my eyes to my lips. “You asked me a question a while ago, about how things were going with us, you remember?”
“Yes,” I croaked.
He gazed deeply into my eyes. “I didn’t think it would go as well as it has been.”
My breath caught in my throat as he leaned in. My body followed his action, and our lips were about to touch. I could feel his hot breath, and I felt my heart pounding hard against my rib cage.
Thaddeus was going to kiss me.
I knew it.
My insides were screaming for him to do it, but my head was telling me to remain calm, so I wouldn’t cause a natural disaster outside. Plus, I still didn’t know if I was going to be a good kisser.
Our lips tenderly touched, but as I was about to tilt my head…“Thaddeus, are you home?” We both spun to our original position facing the black TV screen in front of us as Mrs. Edwards’ walked into the room. “Princess, I thought that was your car.”
I nodded.
“What are you two doing?” She had a knowing smile on her face.
“Watching a movie,” Thaddeus’ deep voice cracked.
Mrs. Edwards gave a small laugh. “Thaddeus Jax, the TV isn’t on.” She pointed to it, catching him in his lie. I felt my cheeks as they burned with embarrassment. “Princess, would you like to stay for dinner?”
“No thank you, Mrs. Edwards, I don’t want to intrude.” I went to stand to leave.
“Nonsense, you’re staying. I’ll call Queen Stacy and let her know. You all enjoy the movie.” She winked and walked out of the room.
I dropped my head in my hands praying to Mother Nature to rewind time and let me not have that awkwardness with Mrs. Edwards. The saddest thing was we didn’t even finish our kiss.
Wait, did we?
Was that it?
Did I have my first kiss?
It was terrible that I didn’t even know.
Thaddeus tugged my hands away from my face. “Look at me.” His lips were close to my ear.
“I think I’m going to die,” I mumbled into my hands.
“No, you’re not. Look at me.” I turned to him. “It’s fine. I promise.”
“Really? Because I’m pretty sure that your mother just walked in on our first kiss.” I whispered to him hoping that she was nowhere close to us.
“That wasn’t a kiss.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes. I didn’t even know what a kiss was or was not.
“This is a kiss.” Before I could fully understand what he said his lips were on mine. My brain was trying to understand what was happening, but my body took over when he cupped my face in his hands. We tilted our heads, and I placed my h
ands on his rock hard biceps.
I was kissing.
I was kissing Thaddeus.
I was kissing my Matched.
Thaddeus’ tongue softly licked my lips and on its own accord, my mouth opened. As our tongues touched, a shock went through me causing a shiver to go up my spine. Every part of my body tingled. I wasn’t sure how long this was supposed to last, but I didn’t want it to stop. I wanted more. My nails dug deeper into his arms because I wanted to feel more of him.
Thaddeus moaned and carefully slowed the frenzy that we were in. He broke the kiss but softly gave me another feathery kiss before laying his forehead against mine.
My lips tingled and felt swollen. I opened my eyes and Thaddeus’ blue eyes were darker, and his lips glistened.
“Now, you’ve been kissed.” He pecked my lips again but didn’t pull his hands away from their position on my face.
My breathing was erratic, and I didn’t know what to say. Do you say thank you in this type of situation?
“Are you okay?”
“That was my first kiss.” I blurted out to him, without even stopping to think about it.
He smiled. “I know.” I thought I caught a strange expression for a second on his face, but he recovered and continued his smile.
“Sorry.” I pulled back from his hands. “I’m not sure what to do, or apparently, say.”
“It’s okay,” he whispered taking my hand in his. “How about we watch the movie for real this time?”
I nodded. He turned the TV back on, and I tried my best to pay attention, but now I was thinking about my first kiss.
Oh my word, I wanted to text Amaya and Gia so badly to tell them. It’s a moment that we’ve all waited for, and I finally got mine.
I still couldn’t tell you a thing about the movie when the movie finished, and Mrs. Edwards called us for dinner. Since Mr. Edwards was working late and Dina, Thaddeus’ younger sister, was at a friend’s house, it was the three of us. Mrs. Edwards didn’t make any comment about the incident she walked in on, and it was an enjoyable evening.
After we all cleaned up the table and the kitchen, I told them I should be getting home and thanked her for a lovely evening.
Thaddeus walked me to my car and wouldn’t let go of my hand. Of course, he opened my car door for me. When I sat in the car, Thaddeus knelt down to me.
“I had a great night.” He kissed the back of my hand.
“I did too.” I smiled at him.
“Let’s spend tomorrow together.”
I hung my head. “I want to, but I have to work at the bank in the morning, and I really have a lot of homework. What about Sunday?” I asked hopeful that he would agree.
“I can’t Sunday. I promised to go do this golfing tournament with a client.”
“Rain check then?” I pretended to be cheerful, even though I was sad.
“Deal.” He grabbed the back of my neck and kisses me, again. “Text me later?”
“K,” was the only syllable I could say at the time.
He stepped back, shutting the door, and as I drove away he stayed in the driveway until I couldn’t see him anymore.
When I got home I wanted to race to my room to call the girls, but Mom stopped me first.
“How was dinner?”
“Good.” I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and took a drink.
“How was your first kiss?” Mom asked as I promptly spit the water out of my mouth. “That good, huh?”
“Oh my word,” I mumbled grabbing some towels to clean my mess up. “Mrs. Edwards must have told you.”
“Oh she did,” Mom teased. “Want to talk about it?”
I sat down next down to her. “It was good.” I started blushing again.
“Good?” Mom looked confused. “Well, then I’m glad it went…good.”
“I don’t have anything to compare it to, Mom. Plus, I didn’t cause an earthquake during it either.”
“Then I’m glad it went so good. Now run upstairs and tell the girls.” She patted my hand.
I kissed her cheek and jetted up to my room.
~~~
I quietly crept through the woods, and I stopped behind a tree focusing on the sounds around me. I have the knife in my hands, and the powers were stirring in my blood.
I heard the pop of the twig. I launched from behind the tree and began my attack. A fist came from the left, and I was able to dodge it. I swung the knife to the right narrowly missing my attacker. He shoved me against the tree. I was stunned for a second, before I wiggled my fingers causing the wind to pick up dirt and dust. I commanded it right into the face of the man and swiftly kicked his upper thigh with all my might making him fall to his knees. I pulled the power of the vines around the trees to hold him in place, and I race to the bottom of the small hill.
“I taught you that move,” Amaya yelled from the end of the trail.
I laugh still trying to catch my breath.
“Princess, do you mind?” I hear Mr. Roberts’ question as he was still tangling in the vines.
I released him, and he brushed himself off.
“Excellent job training.” He slightly bows.
I nod back to him and slipped my now closed knife into my pocket. Weapons were not used a lot in Unit, but we are always prepared.
“I think that’s enough for today.” My father ordered, and everyone began to leave. My father grabbed my arm and held me back from everyone else.
“I want to talk to you.”
I nodded.
“Your mother and I had a long talk last night.”
“What about?”
“About the fact that my daughter is kissing now.”
My mouth dropped open, and I felt the ground shake a little. I tried to rein in my emotions the best I could.
“I know that you and I have had the ‘sex’ talk.”
“Please, Dad,” I cut him off. “Let’s not do that again.”
He chuckles. “I promise we won’t. However, things are different, and I want you to remember that just because you’re Matched doesn’t mean you have to have sex.”
I dropped my head. Having this conversation isn’t how I thought I would spend my day, but I know that he was looking for me.
“You know some Matched couples are pregnant before their ceremony.”
“I know, Xaviera, but that doesn’t mean you have to be.”
“Do you not trust Thaddeus?”
“If that was the case you wouldn’t be Matched with him.” His voice was firm, and I nodded. “Nonetheless, just remember what I said.”
He hugged me tightly. “Now, how would you like to train with your old dad?”
“I would love it.”
“Let’s work with water first.” I followed my dad to the small creek that was on our property and we stand on the embankment. “Focus on the water.”
I take a deep breath and relax. “This would be easier if I had my Controller.”
“It’ll go faster if you would be quiet and concentrate too,” Dad jokes. “You can’t do everything with your Protector and Controller. You need to learn on your own too.”
I nodded and turned back to the water.
“Relax and think about the water.”
Staring at the water I listen to Dad’s deep voice. It begins to ripple and then the small waves come faster.
“Pick it up. Rotate it like a standing whirlpool.”
I did and I could feel the energy pulsating through me.
“Good. Now higher.”
I lift it up.
“Spin faster.”
The water listened to my command.
“Good job.”
The power was still flowing through me, but I didn’t know how much longer I could do it. Finally, I release it.
I stumble from the power dying down in me, but Dad catches me.
“You need to keep training. You don’t want to be caught off guard.”
I nodded.
“I know that Thaddeus has
been working on his powers too.” Dad winked at me.
When a couple become Matched they also become equals. That meant Thaddeus was no stronger than I was.
“Let’s head back to the house. I bet your mom has some Lucky Charms for you.”
I laughed with my dad and headed back to the house.
August
Chapter 9
Bring It On, New York City
“Oliver. Oliver. Oliver. That’s all my parents keep talking about.” Amaya slammed her purse down on the table at the coffee shop.
“Well, he’s your Matched shouldn’t you be trying to make it work during your decision period?” Gia asked sitting next to her.
“You’re sounding like my mother.” Amaya narrowed her eyes at her.
“Hey.” I set the coffee in front them. “Don’t be mean to Gia. I’m sure that we all can figure this out.”
“Oh, well I’m glad that you’re all sunshine and rainbows with your perfect Matched. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m in Matched hell,” Amaya practically yelled at me.
“Ssshhh!” Gia and I both tried to get to her to lower her voice, making her roll her eyes.
“I order you to lower your voice,” I command her in a harsh, quiet tone. “Besides mine is still in the beginning stages,” I clarified.
“I’m sorry did I misunderstand you when you told us all about your make out session with Mr. Thaddeus Edwards?” Amaya smarted off at me.
“Enough, Amaya.” It was Gia that came to my rescue. “We both know that you wanted Thaddeus to be your Matched, but he isn’t. However, you did get a great guy, and why aren’t you at least trying?”
Amaya put her head down on the table hiding her face. Gia and I looked at each other not sure what to do. Amaya was always the strongest of the three us. Seeing her sad and upset was hard to take in.
When she raised her head, we saw the tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry,” her voice cracked with emotion. “I shouldn’t be mad at you girls. You’re always there for me,” Amaya paused looking out the window. “I guess I thought it was going to be different.”
“We all did,” I said. “But this could be a great thing.”
She wiped the tears from her face. “Maybe,” she whispered. “Okay.” Amaya shook her head. “Let’s talk about Gia.”
