Part C: Chapter 60

"Are you okay?” Carter asked during lunch with Sean.

I sighed as I looked up at him, lunch with Sean was a must because he was always there for me during Mum’s memorial and I thought this year would be different but he had still showed up like always which I appreciated because I didn’t think I should be alone, not after what happened with Gerald earlier.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” I said but my voice came out clipped and I mentally cursed myself for thinking otherwise.

Carter sighed as he sat up straight to look at me, his eyes softened. “Is it because of what today means or did something else happen that you didn’t tell me?” he asked as he picked up the glass of water and took a light sip. “You know you can always tell me anything and if it’s because of Danvers, just pretend he isn’t here or just act like the good old days when we were all friends.”

I groaned as I sat back, pushing my plate away from me, I wasn’t hungry but if I kept at it, it might reduce the amount at which it took me to heal and we couldn’t have that, especially not now. “Why does everything have to be about you dumbass?” I asked in order for him to change the conversation and start arguing because Gerald’s words kept haunting me and I hated that.

But instead of taking the bait like I thought he would, he still continued the conversation. “Trying to change the conversation I see,” he said. “But I’m not letting this go. Today is a really memorable day and if something is bothering you, if you are worried about us finding Jemila in time because of what Carla said the other day, then you don’t have to shoulder all the blame and weight. We are your friends and would like to help where we can.”

“Yeah, I know you and I aren’t exactly on good terms right now but you know I will always be here for you no matter what,” Sean finally spoke up and my eyes turned to him. He looked worried and that also made me angry. “We are here for you Carmichael. Always.”

I sighed audibly as I picked up my orange juice and drank it, letting the contents refresh me. “Gerald paid me a visit today and said some things that made me angry but I can’t help but think that he was right,” I breathed as I pulled my plate and the fork.

“And what exactly did he say that got you so riled up Carmichael?” Sean asked, leaning back as well and tilting his head to the side.

“Come on Carmichael, out with it,” Carter added as well. “We are waiting.”

I mentally facepalmed myself because they weren’t going to let it go unless I said something. “Fine, he insulted mum, called her weak and nothing more than a test from the Goddess. He also said Jemila might be the same and I’m just being tested but the right person for me is Shelly.”

Sean spat the juice that was in his mouth, making it cover the table in front of him. “What the hell are you talking about?” he said as he coughed out loudly.

Carter burst out in laughter at Sean’s expression. “Let me catch you up on that,” he said in between laughs. “Shelly came onto him a week ago or so and now it’s like she won’t get it out of her head that she was meant to be with him and no one else. But now it seems that Gerald is also for the idea. That’s about it.”

Sean’s expression had turned blank and then it turned disgusted. “But isn’t she your sister? Your little sister for that matter?” he asked, trying to understand what Carter had just told him.

I bit back a smile at Sean’s expression because that had been me a few days ago. “Precisely why it’s a bad idea,” I said, still trying to keep my smile at bay. “But what if he’s right about it all? About it being a test because from all the stories we know, once someone’s mate is gone, they either run mad or die but Gerald is very much the same as he used to be and he’s not dead.”

Carter sobered up and glared at me, his expression changing into one of anger. “Don’t you dare say something as blasphemous as that, do you hear me?” he growled, but kept his voice low enough so that others in the restaurant wouldn’t hear what we were talking about. “That arsehat doesn’t know what he is talking about and he was just trying to get into your head, nothing else so don’t you dare say things like that. Just because the Goddess spared him doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve death and nothing he said about your mother is true. She was the most amazing person I had ever met and I am glad that she made me the person I am today.” His chest was heaving up and down from what I could only assume as anger and rage.

“Carter isn’t wrong about that, maybe the Goddess spared his life; she probably wants him to suffer,” Sean added. “From my interaction with him, he seems quite unhinged so I wouldn’t really take his words as gospel action.”

I knew they had a point but I could hear the ringing of his voice inside my head and no matter how hard I tried to push it away, the louder it just got.

“I know, can we talk about something else now?” I asked, getting a forkful of my pasta in my mouth. “Maybe something more light and less depressing. Really, it can be anything that doesn’t involve me and my twisted family.”

Carter laughed as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “We are your family and none of us are twisted,” he said with a smile and then he looked over at Sean who was smiling like crazy.

“I thought you two hated each other, where is this coming from then?” I eyed both of them auspiciously because it wasn’t like they had always liked each other.
Sean and Carter exchanged a knowing look but didn’t say anything as they both stuffed their mouths with food, breaking an end to the conversation.

****

*“Come on Aidan, don’t waste all of your time,”a younger Carter shouted from my bedroom door and then his footsteps went bounding downstairs.*

*I rolled my eyes, “of course I’ll be there,” I said to an empty room as I pulled my shoes on and left the room. I followed after him and found him, Ivan and Sean all waiting for me outside.*

*“What took you so long?” Sean asked, “We have things to do and less time to do it. Hurry.”*

*I rolled my eyes once again. “Why are you all acting like this is a do or die situation when it’s just bowling.”*

*“That’s because this is the only time we have until we have to go back to classes and finals,” Carter said with a huge smile. “Plus, there will be girls and I’d like to get some of that.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me suggestively. “But it’s not like you can bring someone over without pissing Shel.”*

*The others laughed but I just brushed them off; Shelly was my sister and there was nothing that would happen between us. “Let’s go before I end up leaving your sorry arses.” I spun around and walked out of the shared house.*

*“Don’t worry about him, he’s just upset because he’s a total loser and he can’t accept the truth,” Carter said loudly enough for me to hear.*

*I facepalmed myself as I got into my car and waited for them to show up. One day, everything was going to be different.*