JM BENAVIDEZ

After I had accomplished my mission and changed I headed over to the pool. I was surprised to see the turn out. All of my siblings, my dad and five of my uncles were there. My dad motioned towards me as I entered the pool area and I headed over to the table he was sitting at. "Hey dad, what's up?" He motioned towards the chair and I sat down. "It seems you've started something." His eyes scanned the pool and I noticed glances between my sisters and my uncles. Even Aimi seemed to have taken a liking to Halon. I shook my head and then narrowed my eyes at my dad. "And you're interested in Aureliana and you want to make sure I'm not going to freak out?" He lowered his chin, but his eyes stayed on mine. "I'm sure nothing will come of it, but we all want to clear the air and make sure. It's the only way to really satisfy your mother. Once she gets something in her head it's hard to get it back out again. If we don't put effort into this now, she'll always be wondering." 

I sat back in the chair looking at him. "Is that what you're all doing?" He wrinkled his brows. "That was why we all agreed, yes. But I'm sure others have their own reasons." My dad let out a large sigh, larger than I'd ever heard him make. "Look Meira. He's just as conflicted as you are and mostly because he's really afraid of upsetting your mom. But she insisted we all genuinely give this a try and make our own decisions. He woke up this morning feeling the same way you did. He's drawn to you. Even now he keeps watching you out of the corner of his eye." I tilted my head glancing around the pool again and scanning over Zaazanach. Sure enough, I caught his eyes turn away from me as I glanced over him. 

"But he also knows that several of the young guys really like you, including his son. So he doesn't want to overstep his bounds, especially since he already has someone." My mouth fell open and I glanced across the pool to where Zebulon was sitting on the edge dangling his feet. He looked up in time to see me looking his way and he grinned. I smiled back and he hopped off the edge, getting into the pool. I turned my head back towards my dad. "Zebulon. I don't think I saw that one coming. He mentioned something during the ice breaker, but I didn't really take him seriously. I guess I'll have to make a conscious effort to be nicer to him." My dad nodded. "You should give anyone who shows interest in you a chance." 

I shook my head thinking about Etienne again. "Am I a porcupine? Etienne said I was and I wanted to kick him." My dad chuckled. "You are pretty bristly with the older kids. But I think it's because you don't feel like you measure up." He blinked as he looked back at me. "As for Etienne, you should cut him some slack too. Being the oldest has him feeling pretty out of place. Especially since four of you girls are a bit younger than him, one of which is his sister." I wrinkled my brows. "Are you kidding me?" I turned completely around in my chair, looking across the pool to where Etienne was. Sure enough, he was swimming with a group of guys. I sighed and turned back towards my dad. "Alright, I'll try. But I'm pretty upset by what he said." My dad nodded. "Maybe you should tell him. Maybe that was the point; to give you something to talk to him about later." I shook my head. "Pretty messed up way to go about it. He could have thrown out something random. Like, hey did you know that purple alligators taste better than green ones." My dad snorted. "Well, make sure you tell him that too." I nodded and slid off the chair. "I think maybe I'll start with him then, because I hate feeling like this." My dad nodded and I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

I walked around the pool towards the deep end next to Etienne and I wrinkled my brows looking down at him. "Hey Etienne, can I have a word with you for a minute?" He looked surprised by my request and then nodded, swimming over to the side. He placed his arms over the edge and looked up at me. "Yeah. What's up?" I glanced at the group of guys a few feet behind him and then back down at him. "Can you climb out for a minute?" He looked down at my feet and then lifted himself up and climbed over the side. I stepped back so he wouldn't splash me and found myself awed by the muscles rippling across his body. How dare I ogle him when he had hurt my feelings! 

I took several steps back towards the fence and he followed me. I took a deep breath trying to figure out how to broach the subject. I looked up at him and tilted my head as I struggled to put my thoughts together. "I know you probably didn't mean to, but you really upset me with that comment you made earlier about me being a porcupine." I watched as his shoulders slumped minutely as he pursed his lips. His green eyes seemed troubled as he looked from one of mine to the other. "Your right, I wasn't trying to upset you. But I was trying to make a point. You are pretty hostile towards us older kids most of the time. I see how you act with Aimi and even Matthias but you don't act that way towards us. We're not that different." I nodded, looking down at my feet. "It's not that there's anything wrong with you, it's that I feel defective." 

Etienne stepped forward, placing a hand on my elbow and ducking his head to catch my eyes. "You feel like we're better than you?" I nodded. "I feel that way about Amadeus too, yet he's closer to me than any of you are. All of the kids below me want to hang out and do stuff together. You older kids are always running off on your own adventures and I was always left behind." I sighed looking up into his eyes. "Maybe I am a porcupine; but even they are soft in the middle." He frowned and pulled me to him in a hug. "I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I didn't mean to hurt you and I never meant to make you feel left out." His hug was oddly comforting and unnerving at the same time. He noticed my reluctance to hug him back and placed his hands on my shoulders pushing me back away from him. The look on his face told me that my dad had spoken the truth. I sighed and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him even though I wasn't quite comfortable with it. 

I giggled. "Purple alligators taste better than green ones." He looked down at me curiously and I grinned looking back up at him as I released him. "What?" I shrugged. "If you wanted to get my attention, you could have said something like that." He wrinkled his forehead and scratched the back of his neck. "I'll try to remember that next time." I snickered. "It could be your new pickup line." His lips turned up in a smile and his green eyes danced. "Is this you flirting with me?" I tucked my hair back behind my ear, smiling sheepishly. "Are you kidding? I wouldn't know where to begin." He laughed and it felt good to hear it. "I think you just did." I rolled my eyes playfully. "I think you're imagining things." 

He wrapped his arms around me, pinning my arms to my waist and challenged me playfully. "Either you admit that you're flirting with me, or I'm going to toss your dry little butt into the pool." I squirmed trying to get away and he picked me up effortlessly and I began to squeal. "That's not fair! You're twice my size! You jerk! Put me down!" I swear the entire pool stopped what they were doing to watch us and Etienne laughed. "I told you what you had to do." He brought me over to the edge of the pool as I was still kicking and squealing. I stopped moving, wrapped my arms around his neck and looked straight into his eyes, as seriously as I could. "And I told you that you were imagining things." He smiled, tightened his grip on me and jumped off the edge of the pool into the deep end. I took a deep breath as he did and held onto him as we plunged below the surface of the water. It was still a shock because I had been dry, but it really wasn't that bad. He loosened his grip on me as we reached the bottom and I did something unthinkable. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close to me and pressed my lips against his. He stopped moving and I gave him a tight lipped smile as I released him, kicking off the bottom and swimming up to the top. 

The pool was still laughing as I popped above the surface and swam casually over to the side. Etienne popped up a few feet from me and swam over next to me. "So I'm imagining things huh?" I nodded, grinning at him. "Yup. As I said, I wouldn't know where to start." He chuckled softly and touched my shoulder. "So you're ok now? You aren't mad at me for trying to drown you?" I shook my head laughing. "Is that what you were trying to do? I thought that was you flirting with me." He chuckled. "Nope, I think you're imagining things." I shrugged. "Yeah, I probably am. I do that a lot." He smiled and tossed a thumb towards the group he'd been hanging out with. "I'm going to head back, if that's alright with you." I nodded. "Sure, sorry for keeping you so long." He shook his head smiling. "No worries, I didn't mind." I smiled as he swam away. As he reached the group he turned back towards me and hollered. "Hey, did you know that purple alligators taste better than green ones?" I grinned shaking my head. "You don't say?" We laughed and I made my way to the nearest ladder to exit the pool.

Eight, no nine if you counted Zebulon. Nine guys were interested in me. How did that happen? I looked around the pool as I climbed out and walked towards the stairs to the high dive. At least they weren't all interested in me exclusively. I had no idea how my mom had managed to pull that off. Zebulon stepped in front of me blocking the stairs to the high dive. "What's the password?" I sized up the gap under his arm and thought about what my dad said. I bit my bottom lip, looking skyward as I thought about the password. I quickly pecked him on the cheek and then dashed past him as he dropped his arms in shock. "Please?" I answered as I darted up the stairs. I was halfway to the top when I heard him race after me. I finished climbing the stairs and sat down on the top step waiting for him to catch up. 

He sat down on the stair below me and looked up into my eyes radiantly. "What was that for?" I shrugged. "For putting up with all my crap when I haven't always been the nicest person to you." I giggled. "And I knew it was a sure way to get past you." He sat back against the rock crossing his arms over his chest. "You did huh?" I smiled. "I knew it was the last thing you'd ever expect from me. But unfortunately it will never work again." He uncrossed his arms and moved up a stair sitting next to me and bumping me softly with his shoulder. "Be honest. You don't really see me that way though right?" I grimaced. "It's a little hard for me right now because I had that dream about your dad. It's awkward having both of you like me at the same time." I turned and looked at him. "Once things get straightened out, maybe. But right now, not really." He nodded, flashing me a quick grin before pecking me back on the cheek and jumping to his feet. "Then I'll take what I can get when I can." He turned and quickly dove off the end of the diving board. 

I sat there a few seconds longer, sighing. I really felt bad for him, but I honestly didn't see it happening. Back down to eight again. I ran my hands back through my hair and leaned my head against the wall. Xoana smiled as she sat down next to me. "You have been all over the place this evening. What's up with you?" I leaned my head against her shoulder. "My dad keeps running through my mind and it's making me a better person." She snickered. "Speaking of dads." She leaned over making sure no one was coming up the stairs. "Is it weird for me to have a crush on Pamyel and his son at the same time?" I giggled. "Is it weird for both Zebulon and his dad to have a crush on me at the same time?" Her mouth fell open. "You dreamt about Zaaz last night?" I nodded. "Yup." She scooted closer. "So?" I shrugged. "So nothing really happened, but right before we woke up we almost kissed." She shook her head grinning. "Mister hot pants himself." I jerked my head looking at her. "What?" She snickered. "Oh nothing, just something my dad has told me." I shook my head. "Yeah mom wasn't too thrilled." I raised my eyebrows and lowered my voice. "But she said at least I hadn't dreamt about Sabrathan or Vraniel. Whatever that means?" We broke out in giggles and we heard shuffling on the stairs. She looked at me as a group of our brothers came up the stairs. "Hey you want to have waterslide races after we dive?" I nodded as several of the guys perked up. "Hell yes!"

As I exited the pool after the high dive I called to a group of guys sitting in the shallow end, containing more than one of my would-be suitors. "Hey, Xoana and I are going to race on the waterslides. Want to join us? The more the merrier!" All of the guys jumped up and I caught a smile from my dad across the pool. I nodded and he waved as Aureliana sat down at the table next to him. I took a deep breath and turned towards the waterslides. "It's ok for you but not him huh?" Zuriel's soft voice asked from behind my shoulder. I shook my head, catching the expression on Zaaz's face as well. "No, that's not it at all." I turned to face Zuriel and he tilted his head. "So what is it?" I shook my head again, pleading with him with my eyes. "It's not something I want to talk about with you." Zaaz stepped up beside me and I turned my head towards him. "Will you talk about it with me?" Zuriel grimaced and then walked away, annoyed by the interruption and I hung my head. 

"Its personal selfish reasons, having no real bearing on anything so I'd like to just keep my opinions to myself." Zaaz leaned towards me, lowering his voice. "Is it that you're afraid you'll lose him or that you don't like his choice?" I shrugged. "I don't know, maybe both." He nodded softly. "How do you think Zebulon feels?" I smirked. "He's bummed because I don't him the same way he sees me because of you. But he's being typical Zebulon and trying to take it with indifference and a grain of salt." Zaazanach raised his eyebrow. "You've talked to him about it?" I nodded. "Just now, on the stairs." He nodded. "Well, he has his eyes on a few others as well, so don't let it weigh you down." I nodded. "I can't really focus on it too much, with so many people fighting for my attention. I have no idea how mom did it." Zaaz smiled. "It wasn't easy for her. It still isn't. I'm not sure if she's happy about this turn of events or not. She's being very stoic about the whole thing." 

I frowned. "Yeah. At first she told me that I wasn't supposed to act on my dream and the next thing I knew she was encouraging everyone to try everyone out. It's very confusing." Zaaz raised his eyebrow again. "What specifically did she say to you?" I shook my head. "She was upset that I had dreamt about you specifically and then mentioned at least I hadn't dreamt about Sabrathan or Vraniel." He chuckled softly as I shook my head. "Whatever that meant. And then as she tried to walk away I asked her if she cared." He stopped laughing and his eyes met mine. "And?" I shook my head. "She said she didn't care about the dream or how I felt, but that she did care if I acted on it." He nodded and that was before the speed dating?" I nodded. "Yeah she said she wanted to talk to you about it first." I looked up into his eyes. "Did you talk to her?" He shook his head. "No, she wouldn't talk to me alone. I think she's waiting to see how this all pans out first."

I sighed. "This is so screwed up. It feels like everyone is walking on eggshells. I just wish everything would hurry up and work itself out already." Squealing and laughter from the waterslides caught my attention and I smiled. "Are you going to join us?" Dardariel stepped up and clapped his hand on Zaaz's back. "Come on. Where is your sense of adventure? Showing up these young whelps, sounds like a good time." I raised an eyebrow. "Which one are you here for?" Dardariel's eyes met mine. "I'm here because Aeowynne asked me to be." I shook my head. "Yes of course, but you're still here because one of my sisters has shown interest. Which one?" Zaaz narrowed his eyes. "Does it really matter?" I shook my head. "Not particularly. But if you remember, some of my sisters were putting me on the spot earlier and I'm just wondering if they have come to see the error of their ways." Dardariel shrugged. "Khitt." I smiled. "Wow, the baby. Good for her." I shook my head. "Maybe Aimi will be a little more tolerant." Dardariel pointed towards the bottom of the slides where Halon was helping Aimi to her feet. "I think she's going to be a lot more tolerant." I hummed thoughtfully. "That leaves Eirian." I glanced around and saw her sitting by the pool talking to Gastrion. "Guess that solves that question." 

Lael and Etienne came rocketing out of the slide seconds before Zuriel and Bao and I sighed. "I'm going to have a tough time catching back up now. It looks like all of the heavy partners are taken." Elijah and Salathiel rocketed out of the third tube seconds before Xoana and Seosamh flew out the fourth. Elijah looked up at me as he climbed out of the pool and smiled. "Hey Meira, it's not a tropical island, but would you like to ride the next race with me?" I shrugged at Zaaz and Dardariel. "Sure, I haven't raced yet." Dardariel shook his head at Zaaz as I walked away. "Did she just say we weren't heavy partners?" Zaaz smiled. "I think she was giving me the chance to ask her to slide."

Elijah looked down at me. "Who do you want to race against?" I smiled. "It doesn't really matter. I don't usually win against the guys anyway." He wrapped his arms around my shoulder. "Well you are in luck. I may be the start of your winning streak." Etienne grinned. "Not to sound rude, but I'm pretty sure that Lael and I will beat you." I raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What do you want to bet on it?" One thing I had learned, the key to winning a race was to bet them something they couldn't resist. Elijah looked down at me curiously and I smiled innocently. Lael looked at Etienne. "If we win, we each get a private date with you." I nodded and looked up at Elijah. "And what if we win?" He pulled me to the side smiling. "Is it more important to win or just have fun?" I smiled up at him. "As long as I get to race with you, I'm good either way." He nodded and then stepped back over to the others. "If Meira and I win, she agrees to two private dates with each of us, in whatever order she chooses." I smiled up at him, he knew my strategy. Lael and Etienne laughed. "You did that on purpose so we'd let you win." I smiled sweetly. "I'd do no such thing." 

We joked through the line as we waited our turn. As we became the next in line, Elijah turned towards me. "Based on physics, I should be in front for momentum. But I wouldn't mind if you wanted to be in front either. How do you want to race?" I watched Lael and Etienne's expression change as they imagined Elijah wrapping his arms around me and I used it to my advantage. I turned towards Elijah, placing a hand on his arm affectionately and smiling sweetly up at him. "I'm kind of scared to go so fast. Would you hold me the whole way down?" He blinked several times as he tried not to laugh at my obvious lie. "If you'd prefer." Lael pulled Etienne's arms around him. "Yeah, would you hold me? I'm scared too!" We all erupted in laughter as we sat down with the smaller partners in front. I cast our opponents a flirtatious glance as the countdown began. "See you at the bottom boys!" 

I shrieked with excitement as we launched ourselves into the covered tube. I leaned back against Elijah, really taking a moment to enjoy the alone time with him. "Thanks for choosing me." I smiled over my shoulder at him. He nodded, smiling back. "Thanks for saying yes." I looked up into his face that was about an inch from mine and I felt giddy. "Elijah?" He lowered his face towards mine. "Yes?" I smiled. "Even if we lose, can I have a private date with you anyway?" He nodded, wrapping his arms just a little tighter around me. "I'd like that." I turned back as I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and we launched out into the splash pool at the end. We stood up and turned around, Lael and Etienne were nowhere to be found. We started cracking up as a few seconds later they crept down the end of the slide. They stood up slowly, shaking their heads in mock shame and I stepped between them, placing my hands on their elbows. "What happened?" They grinned and Etienne laughed. "I think we lost, that's what happened." I chuckled. "I see that, but how?" Lael jumped, extending his arms and legs out in all directions like an x and Etienne laughed. "Apparently, he's a lot stronger than he looks. He blocked the tube." 

I shook my head laughing as we walked away from the end of the slides as the next group came down. "It looks like I have to check my calendar and figure out how to fit six dates in." Amadeus and Zuriel walked up behind us and Amadeus tapped me on my shoulder. "Got room for two more?" He motioned towards Zuriel and I nodded. "If you'd like, I can arrange that." Zuriel's eyes met mine and he nodded. "Alright, so eight dates then." I didn't even want to think about the other three; that would make eleven dates. I shrugged. "I'm going to be a busy gal." Elijah smiled. "You should schedule our second dates after you've done all the first dates, just to be fair." I nodded. "Well then I guess I should figure out some sort of an order then huh?" Etienne nodded. "I think you should do it in reverse from those closest to you in age to the oldest." Lael smiled crossing his arms over his chest. "You think that way she'll be saving the best for last?" Etienne shook his head. "Nope, I just think by then, she'll be over her first date jitters." 

Nathanael was leaning against a rock in the background, listening quietly and I looked around Etienne, smiling at him. "Nathanael, did you want to get in on this? It may be your only chance." His eyes danced as they met mine. "I'd like that." I nodded as Salathiel joined our group. "Get in on what?" Amadeus stiffened as Salathiel stepped beside him. "Meira is taking date requests." I met Amadeus' eyes and then looked at Salathiel who nodded. "What's the procedure for that?" I shrugged. "Just ask." He nodded. "I'd like one, if you'd be willing." I nodded and then looked at Etienne. "You still think closest to furthest in age is the best way to go about it?" Etienne smiled. "Yes. But it seems like I'll be waiting for awhile." I nodded. "It's a good thing I'm not the only girl here." Everyone nodded and I smiled. "Well, I think I'm going to call it on the slides. But I'll figure out a schedule and let you all know by tomorrow." I stopped and looked around. "We could probably do two a day; one in the morning and one in the evening. What do you think?" They nodded and I looked around. "Any preferences?" They shrugged and I smiled. "Alright then, let me know if you change your mind. See you guys at dinner." They nodded and headed back up towards the slides.

I walked back down to the pool and then looped back towards my place. I was just outside the girls' dorm, preparing to branch off towards my house when I ran into Zaazanach. "Are you all done swimming?" I nodded. "Yeah, I was flocked by guys asking for dates so now I have to figure out how to schedule them in." I looked down at my feet and then back up into his eyes. "Should I add you to the list?" His eyes met mine. "I was thinking. Maybe we should have a talent show of sorts and then you and I can dance in front of everyone. That way, no one gets upset and we can still get our dance in." I nodded and he continued. "As for going on a date, why don't you go on all of your dates with the others first? When they are all completed we'll talk about if you're still interested." I knew what he was doing and I greatly appreciated it. He was trying to take himself out of the picture for me and give me room to focus on the guys my own age. I nodded. "Yeah, sure. If that's what you want." He nodded. "I think it's what's best." 

I tucked my hair back behind my ear again, like I always do when I get nervous. "I like the talent show idea. You should bounce it off the others and see what they say. We can plan it for a couple of weeks out to give everyone time to perfect their acts and still have free time." He nodded. "Maybe like a month from now? Would that give you time to get past all your dates? Because I'm sure you're going to end up in more than one act." I nodded thoughtfully. "That gives me plenty of time." Zaazanach smiled. "I'll talk to the others and get the ball rolling." I smiled. "You should get Abasdarhon and Lael to fire dance together. I keep asking Bas to show me but he keeps insisting I ask Lael. I think it would be great for everyone to see." He nodded. "It would. I'll ask them." I smiled and he nodded towards my house. "Are you calling it a night?" I shook my head. "No, just taking a break until dinner. I've got a lot to sort through." He smiled, stepping off to the side so I could pass him. "Then I won't keep you." I met his eyes once again and then turned and headed home.