Chapter 31

Nolan

       I was sitting at the table in the kitchen with a mug of hot chocolate in front of me when Jerome tiredly walked out of the bedroom. When he saw me, he gave me a confused look. "What's wrong?" he asked.

       "Why would you ask that?" I asked.

       "Well, for starters, you look sad," Jerome said as he walked over and sat down beside me. "And second, it's eleven o'clock and you're out of bed. You refuse to leave bed this early, even though it's not really early, unless you have to be at the HQ. So, are you okay?"

       I sighed. "Not really, no."

       "What's wrong?" Jerome asked.

       "I can't drink this hot chocolate."

       "What?"

       "I made hot chocolate, but there's no whipped cream and I can't drink hot chocolate without whipped cream."

       "That... that's why your sad?"

       "It's something worth being sad over. I even put some hazelnut creamer in the hot chocolate, so it's sitting here going to waste and I'm sad."

       Jerome sighed, though he had a small smile on his face before he waved his hand in a small pattern towards my mug of hot chocolate. I watched as some whipped cream formed on top.

       "There," Jerome said. "Now you can stop pouting, even though you have such an adorable little pout." He kissed my cheek before standing up and heading to the fridge.

       "I keep forgetting I'm dating a sorcerer," I said, picking up the mug and looking at the whipped cream. "Is this poisonous?"

       "Why would it be poisonous?" Jerome asked.

       "You made this with magic," I said. "I don't know if I can trust it."

       "Magic makes everything better," Jerome said. "I guarantee that will be the best whipped cream you will ever have."

       Jerome was right. It really was the best whipped cream ever, and I never should have doubted it.

       Jerome made himself a piece of toast before sitting back down beside me. "So, what's really up?"

       "What do you mean?" I asked. "I was sad because there was no whipped cream, now there is, so I'm happy."

       "Well, you're still thinking about something," Jerome said. "And don't so you're not because you're still out of bed before eleven. You refuse to get out of bed so early."

       I sighed and placed the mug on the table before resting my arms on the table with my chin on top. "I'm worried about this whole prophecy we got stuck with now that your mom knows about it. I don't know too well, in fact I never met her, but... she just seems untrustworthy."

       "Yeah, I know," Jerome said. "Look, I don't trust her either. She lied and told the Protectors I killed someone just so she could cover up the fact I got kicked out for being gay. But she's still my mom. She'll never hurt me. Well, physically. Emotionally is a whole other story."

       "Yesterday, you seemed unsure about it," I said.

       "Well, the best thing to do is be positive," Jerome said. "Besides, we have the whole Protectors looking out for us. They're not going to let anything happen to us. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

       I smiled softly as Jerome leaned over and kissed my cheek. I had never been so happy in my life as I was now being with Jerome. It did feel a bit weird living away from my family, but I knew I made the right choice staying with Jerome. A lot of stress was taken off of me.

       Mae's bedroom door opened and she walked into the kitchen, looking a lot more happier than usual. Jerome definitely noticed it too.

       "Sister dear, tell me, why are you so happy?" he asked.

       "I'm always this happy," Mae said.

       "Sure, sure," Jerome said. "Don't tell me, even though I tell you everything. I guess we're not siblings anymore. Or best friends. I guess we've downgraded to nothing more but mere acquaintances."

       "Oh, stop being so dramatic," Mae said. "Let's just say something happened, so I have a bit more of a pep in my step."

       "Does this something that happened involve my brother?" I asked, which only made Mae's cheeks turn a slight rosy pink.

        "I have no idea what you're talking about whatsoever," Mae said, turning her back from us and looking for something to eat.

       "Ooh, a romance with a Protector," Jerome said. "How scandalous. I can hear the tea boiling."

       "The tea is quite hot," I said.

       "You're drinking hot chocolate," Mae said.

       "Don't ruin our fun," Jerome said. "So, you and Ryder, huh? How did that happen? When did you have your first kiss? Where was your first kiss? Who kissed whom? Did you take things to the next level? Wink, wink."

       "No, that I don't want to hear," I said. "Ryder's my brother, Jerome. I'm not interested in that part of his life."

       Jerome just shrugged before standing up and walking over to Mae. "So, he makes you happy, huh?"

       Mae finally looked at him and smiled as she nodded. "He makes me really happy. I'm always afraid of falling for people because I don't know if they'll fall for me because of my siren charm or for who I really am, but he actually likes me."

       "He would be an idiot not to," Jerome said before pulling his sister into a hug. "I'm happy for you, Mae."

       "Thank you," Mae said. "And I've never told you how happy I am for you dating Nolan. I've never seen you this happy."

       "I am really happy," Jerome said. "Except for when someone steals my hoodies and refuses to give them back."

       "I have no idea what you're talking about," I said. 

       "Of course you don't," Jerome said before looking back at Mae. "Are you heading to the HQ today?"

       "Yeah," Mae said. "Why?"

       "Can you tell Gene that my mom knows Nolan and I are the Protector and sorcerer part of the Two Souls prophecy?" Jerome asked. "I don't trust her."

       "I thought you said she wouldn't hurt you," I said.

       "I did say that," Jerome said. "That doesn't mean I trust her, or that she'll accidentally tell someone else about it. Someone we don't want knowing."

       "Fair point," I said.

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Woo I got another update in. It took a while, and idk if I'll update anything tomorrow. I'm just going with the flow.

If I do update something tomorrow, what book do you want to see updated?