JM BENAVIDEZ

Although my exterior seemed calm and collected, my insides were doing summersaults. I had actually made a decision for myself, made myself vulnerable and put my cards on the table. Lael knew that I was seriously interested in him. I sighed. Now I just had to let a few others off the hook and I could start to breathe again. I was on my way through the gardens when I approached Gastrion's house. I sighed as I thought about Nathanael. He was such a sweet guy, but I just didn't feel that fire for him. I was nearly past his dad's house when he poked his head out the door. "Hey Meira do you have a second?" I turned and smiled. "I was just thinking about you." Nathanael raised an eyebrow. "Uh oh." I smiled. "What's on your mind?" I asked hoping he would beat me to it. He scratched his head. "Well, we had this big group meeting and I was all set one way and then, well..." He stopped talking and looked at me. I smiled. "Did you run into Eirian?" He nodded, looking a little bewildered. "Yeah." I nodded, smiling. "And?" 

He shrugged. "You already knew she liked me?" I laughed. "We had one of those meetings too." He nodded. "So you aren't upset?" I shook my head. "I think you should go for it, you two have a lot more in common than we do." He nodded. "Well alright, as long as you aren't upset." I laughed. "I'm a little bummed that you won't be serenading me anymore, but if you promise to play casually around here so I can hear you from time to time, then I'll call us even." He laughed. "Hell yes." I grinned. "Well then go get her." He gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks!" And then ran off to find my sister. I exhaled loudly and then continued on my way home. One down, two more to go. 

There was a small white clothing box sitting on my doorstep when I got back to my house. 'You promised' was scribbled on the top in black marker. I took the box into the house and set it down on my bed before jumping into the shower. I took a long luxurious shower to clear my mind. Afterwards I brushed my teeth and hesitantly approached the white box. I opened the white box and was surprised to find more white inside. There was a white bikini, a plain white calf length cotton skirt and long sleeved white cotton half shirt that tied at the bust to cover over the bikini top. Apparently we were going with the abandoned on a tropical island theme I had joked about during our speed dating session. I shrugged at the box and then slipped the items on. I walked into my closet and found a long thin white scarf. I tied it around my head like a headband, letting the end dangle down my back and then slipped on a pair of white flip flops. 

As I was just about to head out the door I heard the dinner bell and smiled as there was a knock at the door. I opened the door expecting to find Elijah and was a little startled to see Amadeus. "Oh not who I was expecting, but hi." Amadeus smiled. "You look nice. And I'll only be a minute, can I come in?" I nodded and stepped backwards allowing him to step inside. He turned and smiled at me as I closed the door. "I know you are about to start your date with Elijah so I'll keep it brief. I spent some time with Aimi this afternoon and she said that you had encouraged her to pursue a relationship with me. I just wanted to make sure that she heard you right." I nodded. "I saw the two of you together earlier and you seemed to be hitting it off. Why wouldn't I encourage that?" He sighed looking into my eyes for any sign of emotion that I may have been hiding and I smiled. "Really, I'm fine with it. In fact I'm better than fine. I've been dreading talking to you about it in case you wanted to fight me on it." 

He nodded. "We're still ok though right? I mean like how we were before all of this?" I nodded. "I think we can get past it and get back to where we were, yes." He nodded. "And what about you?" I smiled. "Don't worry about me. I'll get it figured out here soon enough." I frowned. "Hey, can you help me encourage Zuriel to do the same?" He wrinkled his brows. "I think he's pretty invested. He's put a lot of thought into your date tomorrow. It may be hard to convince him, but I'll try." I patted him on the arm. "Thanks." He nodded and I opened the door for him to leave. I smiled as Elijah walked up to the door. "Here he is." He grinned and motioned to my outfit. "You look amazing." I motioned to his white shorts and white shirt. "And you didn't wear a skirt." Amadeus shook his head and chuckled softly as he stepped past Elijah. "You two have a great night." 

I nodded and Elijah extended his elbow. "We are still going to eat dinner with everyone else if that's ok with you." I nodded, lacing my arm through his. "I know; you want to show me off. Just be nice." He nodded. "I take no pleasure in hurting my brothers." I nodded. "Or sisters." He raised an eyebrow holding his palm out to me as he had before. "Is there another heart pining over me then?" I nodded, lacing my fingers through his again. "Just one." He lifted a brow as he curled my hand across his abdomen. "Are you going to tell me who?" I nodded. "You already know who." He shook his head. "You're kidding right? She's had no interest in me the entire time. Even our dream was mildly disappointing." I shook my head sadly. "You should give her another chance. I had a talk with all of the girls earlier and you might be surprised." He looked down at our hands and then up into my eyes. "Are you trying to get rid of me too?" I stopped walking and looked up into his face. "Hardly. I'm just trying to be fair to everyone." I smiled up into his face. "Let's enjoy dinner and we can finish this conversation when the walls don't have ears." He nodded and we walked inside the dining hall. 

Several pairs of eyes turned towards us as we walked in. I tried not to notice Zuriel's but I did notice both Lael and my dad's. I also noticed Aureliana's as she looked from me to Elijah and then to Zuriel and back down to her empty plate. Elijah led me over to the table where Eirian and Etienne were sitting. "Do you mind sitting here?" I shook my head and we sat down as Azrael cleared his throat for the evening prayer. After our food had been blessed, Elijah stood up, pulling out my chair for me. "I guess it was kind of rude to me not to pull your chair out to begin with." I smiled as Eirian wrinkled her face at her brother. "You're such a dork Elijah." He crossed his eyes at her and stuck out his tongue playfully. All four of us laughed and then followed the others to the buffet line. 

I wondered how much longer we would all be eating meals together now that the girls all had their own kitchens. That left only the eleven guys without kitchens to fix their own meals. I wrinkled my face as I considered the possibility of the guys moving in with us girls if things ever calmed down. Elijah cast me a concerned glance. "Are you feeling alright?" I smiled and patted his arm reassuringly. "I'm fine, I was just thinking about how things might change if relationships become more permanent." He looked around the room. "You mean meal times?" I nodded and he nodded back. "I can understand your expression. It seems sad to think we could segregate any more than we already are." I nodded. "It could also be a good thing, giving everyone a break." I motioned towards the table where our parents sat laughing and eating. Elijah smiled and motioned for me to step ahead of him and start dishing up my plate. "Ladies first." Eirian wrinkled her face at him again and waved her off.

We sat predominantly quiet through dinner, casting casual glances around the table and the occasional polite conversation. Eirian and Etienne finished eating first and left us to ourselves. Elijah grinned and sat back in his chair. "Ah, alone at last." I shook my head, smiling behind my hand so I didn't flash him the bite in my mouth. I swallowed and turned my head towards him curiously. "I wondered why you wanted to sit here. I thought you wanted to be out from under your twin's shadow." He crossed his arms in front of him and rested his cheek on his fist as he looked at me casually. "I did say that didn't I?" I nodded and he smiled. "To be honest, I just didn't want to have to fight for your attention." I don't know what came over me but I suddenly blurted out. "I've kissed Etienne you know." 

My eyes grew wide as soon as I said it and then I clamped my eyes shut as I dropped my head. "I'm sorry, that was so uncalled for." Elijah smiled at me playfully. "And he looked totally smitten didn't he?" I shook my head, rubbing my forehead briskly. "I don't know what is wrong with me. That was so rude. I'm sorry." Elijah touched my hand softly. "I kind of like the fact that you wanted me to be jealous." I blushed and he touched my cheek with the back of his hand. "That's better." My eyes met his and he smiled. "I just don't want you to always try to make me jealous. I think it will get old quick." I nodded as he dropped his hand on the table next to mine as if he wanted to hold it, but didn't want to overstep his bounds either. "I agree. I'm really not that type of person." I looked down at his hand and his mostly empty plate and smiled. "So, are you ready to get out of here? I'm assuming we aren't spending our entire date in the dining room." He nodded, placing his napkin on the table. "I thought you'd never ask." I set my napkin next to his and we stood, pushing our chairs in.

As we walked out of the dining room, he led me to the left, back towards my house. "So where are we going?" He shrugged playfully. "I don't know. I thought maybe we could run away and get lost." I smiled cheerfully. "In swimsuits? You've lost your mind." He took my hand and led me around the gated pool area and into a thick patch of trees. "Our destination isn't too much further." We walked through the trees until you couldn't see the rocks that surrounded the pool and then the trees started to change into a more tropical jungle. We walked a little further and we exited the trees at a sandy beach. He pointed to a small island about a hundred yards away. He also pointed to a narrow land bridge that led out to it. "I know you said a deserted island, but I thought you may want a way to get back without leaving me stranded if things went south." I raised my eyebrows. "I am wearing a swimsuit." He nodded. "Yes, but it could get colder, depending on how late we stay out tonight. You might not want to walk back through the trees in the dark while cold and wet." I wrinkled my brows. "Things better not go south then, because that sounds like a horrible way to spend the evening." He chuckled and led me towards the bridge. "I agree."

It only took us a few minutes to cross the land bridge to the island. Elijah pointed towards the right. "This way." I giggled. "How do you know where we're going if we're lost?" He smiled. "We're not lost yet, but close." I shook my head giggling. "If you insist." He tugged my hand, pulling me along behind him as he ran across the sand. There was a small opening in the trees and he darted through it. The trees made a circle with a large open sandy area in the middle. He stopped running and whirled around grinning at me. "Ok. We're lost." I shook my head chuckling as I played into his game. "Oh no! What are we going to do?" He spun in a quick circle, mimicking my frantic reply. "We should build a shelter." 

I looked around at all of the trees lying around and shrugged. "Alright. Do you know anything about building a structure?" He pointed to some of the larger branches that were already cut and conveniently laying by. "We should use those." I nodded. "Ok, but how should we fasten them?" He pointed to some vines hanging in a nearby tree. "We could use that." I shook my head laughing. "At this rate, why didn't you have the shelter already built? We could have found an abandoned deserted island." Elijah closed the gap between us, pulling me close to him and looking down into my eyes. "Think of it like a love nest, half the joy is in the building it." I giggled up into his eyes remembering his kiss and he smiled. "What are you thinking, right this very moment?" I lifted my hands, brushing his hair back from his face as I marveled over him. "I was thinking about when you kissed me." He looked down into my eyes. "So it pleased you then?" I smiled sweetly. "It was a very nice start." He bent down, brushing his nose against mine. "A start?" 

I ran my hands over the back of his head curling my fingers in the hair at the base of his neck and he shivered. I tilted my head looking up into his blue eyes. "I feel like it could be more, like we could be more. But all things have to start somewhere. And as far as beginnings go, I thought it was a good one." He wrapped his arms loosely around my waist. "If you had it to do over, how would you improve it?" I smiled up at him, caressing the back of his neck softly. "Are you asking me to kiss you Elijah?" The corner of his mouth turned up in a crooked smile. "Yes Meira, I think I am." I took a step closer so that our bodies touched. I tilted my head, lowering my lashes as I slowly drew him down closer to me. I parted my lips a tiny bit, breathing across his lips. "All you had to do was ask. I'm at your mercy." 

His eyes closed as I brushed my lips across his, tempting him before giving in to my desire to kiss him. I cradled his head in my hands as I pressed my lips against his and closed my eyes. It took him a minute to relax in my arms. I loosened my hold on his head, running my hands through his hair as I nibbled his lips with soft kisses. He wrapped his arms tighter around me, finding his own way. I brushed my tongue across his bottom lip, before pulling it softly with my lips, encouraging him to open his mouth more. When he did, I let out a lusty exhale, tempting him to return my kiss. He brought his hands up to my face, cupping my cheeks in his hands. "Your kiss is like a drug." He whispered against my mouth and I smiled, looking at him through half closed lashes. "Are you addicted to me?" He nodded, bringing my lips to his again. "Oh yes." He whispered, running his lips over my bottom lip. I gasped as he ran his tongue over my bottom lip. And he pulled back, looking down at me. 

I smiled as I looked up into his eyes and he shook his head. "That wasn't anything like what I expected." I tilted my head and he brought his hands down from my cheeks to my throat, brushing his thumbs across my chin. "I can see why you have stolen so many hearts." I winced as his words stung me and he shushed me, placing another soft kiss on my lips. "I meant no offense." He whispered, kissing me again. "I would fight to the ends of the realm for you." He lifted my chin, brushing his cheek against mine before whispering into my ear. "I would do anything to keep you." He nuzzled my neck, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and holding me close. "Tell me what to do and it's as good as done." 

I sighed wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning my head against his. "It's not up to me anymore." I whispered softly against his shoulder and he leaned back, holding me out so he could look down into my face. "What do you mean?" I caressed his cheek softly. "I'm not going to send you away Elijah. But I do want you to give Aureliana another chance." He wrinkled his brows. "What?" I smiled. "If you go to her with your heart open and she's not the one for you, then I know you are meant to be mine. But if you don't give her a chance then I'll always wonder if it would have worked between you and if I stole your chance at happiness." He let go of me, rubbing the back of his head. "So you want me to go out on a date with Aureliana to make sure that I don't like her?" 

I sighed. "I have already made up my mind. I know I have two dates left, before going through everyone but really I don't." He looked at me like I had lost my mind. "Excuse me?" I shook my head. "Have a seat and I'll try to explain." He shook his head, trying to make sense of my words and sat down in the sand in front of me. "Salathiel, Etienne, Amadeus and Nathanael have all recanted their interest and tomorrow I'm going to tell Zuriel that he needs to look into Aureliana because I'm not interested." Elijah blinked at me, replaying my sentences in his head. "That's a little harsh isn't it?" I laughed. "I'm not going to say it like that. But you get the point." 

He sat there for another moment and then his face lit up as he put the pieces together. "That leaves me and Lael." I nodded, smiling at the sudden excitement in his voice. "Yes it does." He shook his head, chuckling. "How did that happen?" I scooted closer to him, placing my hand over his in the sand. "I'm a no pressure girl. I want someone who makes me feel at home no matter where I am and both you and Lael do that for me. You don't coddle me and you aren't afraid to give me a hard time. You have never expected me to be something I'm not and neither of you thought you stood a chance." I shook my head. "The funny thing is that I don't know why everyone has suddenly come to think so highly of me. I'm the same girl I was three days ago." I sighed. "The night I woke up after the first set of dreams, I only accepted the idea of being with Zuriel and Amadeus because I thought the Creator ordained it. And it was really hard for me because I felt like I was always struggling to live up to their expectations of who I should be." I sighed. "Nathanael was really low pressure, but it didn't feel the same. He was sweet and attentive, but it felt flat. Don't tell him, but I was relieved when your sister said she was interested."

I tilted my head looking up at him. "Ok, so say something." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, hugging me and laughing as he looked down into my face. "Your nervousness is cute, but very unnecessary." He kissed the tip of my nose. "Like I said, I don't feel this way around Aureliana. I feel like how I think you feel around Zuriel. Which honestly makes me happy as shit." He grinned looking down at me. "And the fact that you chose me and Lael, that's the best news I've heard all week." I giggled. "Why is that?" He caressed my cheek looking down into my face. "I don't feel competitive around Lael. I never have." He kissed me sweetly. "He's probably the only guy I can say that about." 

I collapsed against him, exhaling away all of my stress and he smiled down at me. "Feel better?" I nodded Rolling onto my back so that my head lay in his lap. "Yes. I'll be amazing after I get this mess with Zuriel over with and I talk with Lael." I shook my head. "I think he gets it but I won't know for sure until tomorrow night." He looked down at me, petting the top of my head. "It will all work out." I nodded. "So tomorrow you are going to try to go out with Aureliana right?" He nodded. "I'll talk to her at breakfast and plan something for tomorrow night so you can send Zuriel her way in the morning for comfort." I nodded. "That's a good idea. Amadeus is going to try to talk to him tonight too." 

I shook my head, trying to shake Zuriel from my mind and then I looked up at Elijah again. "I think after all of that gets settled, maybe we should try a group date with the three of us. You know, see if we try to kill each other. What do you think?" He shook his head emphatically. "Nope, not going to do it. It's an awful idea. There is going to be bloodshed and maiming for sure." I swatted him as he started laughing. "That's fine. I'm sure we can play nicely." I sighed. "Actually I'm more worried about me than you." He raised an eyebrow, casting me a quirky expression. "Say what?" I smiled. "What?" He shook his head laughing. "No, why are you worried about you?" I wrinkled my face. "How much honesty do you want?" He wrapped his arms around me, shaking me playfully. "Be brutal woman! Give it to me straight!" He laughed and smiled down into my face, his laughter subsiding. "I feel so high right now, I don't think you could say anything that would bother me. So tell me as little or as much as you want." 

I scrunched my face. "I don't do well under physical pressure." He nodded. "Ok?" I knew he had no idea what I was talking about. "I had both Zuriel and Amadeus with me at the same time and I practically freaked out. And while I can at least function around you, I have a little more trouble around Lael because of this dream I had about him." Elijah wrinkled his face thoughtfully. "So wait, you had a dream about Lael? Like a shared dream?" I shook my head, opening my mouth before I realized I had done it. "Nope, like an I have no idea where this shit came from, super steamy sex dream, type dream." I clapped my hand over my mouth. "Don't you ever tell him I said that, because I haven't even said it like that to him. Oh shit." I covered my face with my hands. "I'm sorry again. You didn't need to hear that." 

Elijah burst out in laughter that shook his whole body, jostling me as I was still lying with my head in his lap. I sat up and turned towards him, staring at him. "Really? You think that's funny?" He nodded. "Absolutely. Hell yes." I shook my head, placing my hands on my hips. "Why?" He smiled, calming his laughter. "Oh come on now, don't get all mad at me. You just told me that you had a smoking hot sex dream about my competition and then freaked out about it. You don't find that a little humorous?" I snorted. "Maybe a little, but it's not that funny." 

He cleared his throat. "Ok, I'll come clean." I crossed my arms over my chest. "About what?" He smiled. "What do you know about Abasdarhon and Vraniel?" I shrugged. "In what context?" He grinned. "When it comes to their relationships with mom." I shook my head. "Not much I guess." My shoulders dropped as I heard mom in my head. "Except that she thinks that Vraniel and Sabrathan are worse than Zaazanach. Whatever that is supposed to mean." Elijah winked at me. "Like father like son Meira. That's all I'm going to say." I shook my head, poking him in the ribs. "Oh no it's not. Spill your guts buddy. What are you insinuating?" He laughed and grabbed my wrists and leaned back lifting them over his head so I couldn't poke him again. His eyes met mine and I saw something in them I never had before; desire. "All I'm saying is that you may have dreamt about Lael, but when shit hits the fan you'll be saying my name not his." 

My entire body froze as his words echoed through my head. Elijah lowered my hands, watching my face intently. "I'm sorry, that was a little over the line." He released my hands and I looked up into his eyes. "Was it?" He nodded pushing me back into a sitting position. "Yes it was. I got caught up in joking around. I never want to put you in any position where you feel you have to choose between us." I felt my ears burn with the intensity of my blush. He wasn't apologizing for what he said about what he could or would do to me; only about saying he was better than Lael. I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "You especially can't say things like that when he's not here to defend himself. I'm sure he'd have something to throw back at you." He smirked. "I'll make a point to bring it up to him later and see what he says. It'll make for fun night time banter." 

He touched my arm softly. "Did I go too far?" I tilted my head looking up at him. "What, by saying that you'd have me calling your name?" He nodded, trying to read my face rather than the casual tone of my voice. I took a deep breath and blinked slowly. "I hadn't thought about you in that context yet, so it came as a bit of a shock. But only because of the impact it had on me." I looked into his eyes. "It's quite tame compared to some of the other things that have been said to me. So no it wasn't too far." He shook his head. "Just because it was ok for someone else doesn't mean it's ok for me." I touched his cheek tenderly. "You haven't scared me off, if that's what you're worried about." Elijah looked up at the darkening sky. "I should probably get you back now." I sighed. "What are you afraid my dad will be pissed?" He chuckled. "No, I'm afraid of falling into the water or having you twist an ankle on the way home. I didn't say our date had to end, just that I should get you back." 

I wrinkled my brows. "How would that have been different if we had built a shelter?" He smiled. "I might have been able to talk you into staying the night out here then." He stood up, holding his hand out for me. "But now we can have our second date out here and I can get Lael to help me build the shelter while you sit there and appreciate all of our bulging muscles." I snickered and he pulled me roughly into his arms. "And just what is so funny about that?" I shook my head. "Absolutely nothing. I think I would enjoy it very much." He nodded. "Then it's a date." I shrugged. "I don't know. We have to see if Lael will even still like me after our date tomorrow." 

Elijah shook his head. "Silly woman, there is no way Lael is going anywhere but home with you. Ever." I raised an eyebrow. "What?" He shook his head. "Who dreamt about Lael the first night?" I shrugged. "I don't know, who?" He narrowed his eyes. "You don't?" I shrugged. "I don't keep track of that stuff. Who?" He took my hand leading me out of the trees. "Aimi." I cringed. "I can only see that as a disaster. Especially since she's interested in Matthias and Amadeus now." Elijah nodded, leading me across the land bridge. "Lael felt really uncomfortable, but he tried it out just like you did." He looked over his shoulder at me. "I think you had a better time than he did though." I frowned as he led me through the trees and towards the pool area. "So if it didn't work out with me, what was his game plan?" Elijah shook his head. "He doesn't have one and to be perfectly honest, neither of us planned on making it this far with you. We figured we had secured our dates but that neither of us would ever actually get to go on one." 

I stopped walking and Elijah turned to face me. "You've talked about this?" He nodded. "Lael and I are actually really good friends. He's probably as close with me as he is with Etienne, maybe closer." He took both my hands in his. "I was actually surprised that Etienne was interested in Eirian since he and Aureliana are both golden children. They have always been super close and that has kind of left Lael out of the loop. Being second born son while both Etienne and Aureliana are firstborns." I frowned thoughtfully. "I guess things could still change." I looked up at him. "So it's pretty convenient for you if I like both of you. I mean you still get to hang out with your best friend." I shook my head. "As long as things don't go bad, then it could really suck." He nodded. "Yes and that's also why I got carried away joking about him. He and I screw around like that all the time." I tilted my head looking up at him. "Did you two consult each other before planning your dates with me?" He shook his head. "Nope, this was an everyman for himself kind of a deal. Of course we both want all of us to win in the end because no one wants to see anyone hurt." I nodded. "Exactly." 

I motioned for him to continue to lead the way back and he nodded. He took me back to my apartment and stopped on my doorstep. "I've had a great time, but I think you should probably get some rest before tomorrow." He smiled. "If I know Lael, he'll have you out as late as possible. He's always been a night owl." I nodded. "Will you talk to him tonight?" Elijah nodded. "Yes and tomorrow I'll see if Aureliana will go out with me tomorrow night." He stepped closer, looking down into my eyes. "But I'm telling you right now, I'm going to be miserable the whole time." I shook my head. "You better not or she'll blame it on me." He chuckled. "She probably would." He stepped another step closer, looking down into my eyes. "Can I kiss you good night Meira?" I smiled. "Only if you come inside to do it." 

He nodded and I opened the door, stepping back for him to follow me inside. He placed his hand on the door, closing it as he backed me up against it. I hadn't even turned on the lights yet and I could barely make him out. "Let me turn on a light." He hit the switch with his hand, placing the other one on the side of my neck, drawing me close to him. He looked down into my eyes. "I am going to kiss you once and then leave quickly or I'll never leave. So please don't be offended because I promise I don't want to." I nodded and he pulled me against him, kissing me passionately. He pulled away, leaving me gasping for air and he smiled down at me. "Good night sweet Meira." I nodded. "Good night Elijah." He moved me clear of the door and then opened it. He touched my cheek softly. "Lock the door behind me so I can't come back in." I smiled and nodded. "Alright." 

He nodded and walked out of the door closing it behind him. I watched him through the peephole and when he turned back towards the door, I locked the deadbolt with a click. He smiled placing his hand on the deadbolt even with my hand. "Good girl." He turned and walked away, leaving me staring at him through my peephole. I stripped out of my clothes and slid into pajamas before crawling into bed. I don't think my head had barely hit the pillow before I was fast asleep.