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oracle0422 — Come Undone: Chapter 6 Decisions
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Published: 2015-04-09 22:40:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 459; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 0
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It’d been a month since Wanda had been defeated. The school year was in full swing but things were still undecided for Landon. He’d been trying to figure out for weeks how he felt about Rachel and how he felt about Rose then comparing them to figure out who he really wanted to be with. Having school back at least made not spending a lot of time around them a little easier. He was trying to focus on school it being his senior year and he needed to maintain his grades since he’d now accepted going to Columbia and was getting scholarships to help pay for college. He was still going into the city on weekends to hang out with Blaze Halo. Today happened to be one of those weekends. He arrived at Mitch’s apartment where they often met to practice and knocked. Mitch opened the door and raised an eyebrow at the forlorn look on Landon’s face that had been mostly been there these last few weeks. “Seriously kid why are you so morose?”, Mitch asked as Landon walked inside. “You guys don’t want to hear about my infantile high school drama.”, Landon said following Mitch into the living room where the other four members of the band were sitting around looking at sheet music. Ben set down his papers and looked at Landon. “Come on Landon we have all been through high school drama. You’ve always show up looking like someone ran over your dog and you never tell us why. So just spill.”, Ben said. Dan, Gavin and Jackson all nodded in agreement. “Just tell us what’s going on.”, Gavin said.
Landon groaned and slumped down into Mitch’s easychair while Mitch grabbed a seat on the sofa. “I may only have nine years on you, kid, but it can’t be that bad or something I haven’t heard before.”, Mitch said looking to Landon. “You guys really want to hear all this? I dunno if you can handle it.”, Landon said looking at his five new friends. “Come on Landon have some faith in us.”, Jackson said. “Alright. Well first I’m a mutant.”, Landon confessed. “Alright so what? What do you do?”, Gavin asked. The rest of the band shrugged like it was nothing. Landon reached over picking up an orange from the fruit bowl Mitch left out. “I do this.”, Landon said and changed the orange into a miniature saxophone then back to an orange. The group applauded. “Nice kid. So that’s the big deal? You’re a mutant? Who cares?”, Mitch said. Landon laughed. “Well there’s more than that. I go to a special school specifically for mutants where I learn to control my powers and how to fight with and without my powers. Back when I was very little, like two, a rather bad group of mutants attacked this school and some of the staff that lived off grounds. I lived with my family at the time in a house that is a refuge for mutants. But my dad was friends with people at the school. These bad mutants killed without a second thought and took others hostage. They tortured their hostages and even took my mom in their silly attempt to get my dad to side with them. In the end my dad and the survivors of the attack on the school rescued the hostages. But my best friend’s dad, rather famous or infamous depending on who you’re asking, Logan didn’t get rescued. He got sent to an alternate dimension when the leader of this bad group used her reality warping powers to change everything.”, Landon started to explain.
The other guys all looked at him completely enthralled by the tale. “Well time went on and only my dad’s house and the survivors at the school remembered what really happened. But they couldn’t just retaliate since the world thought it was the Friends of Humanity that had attacked them. They’d look crazy or some crap. Well my best friend, Rose, her dad was in this alternate dimension that was just a shadow to ours. He could see and hear everything going on but couldn’t interact. So he watched as life went on and all us kids were born and started growing up. He decided to try and find a way out and kind of tapped me for the mission getting me questioning what happened back then. Which wasn’t a stretch because my cousin was part of these bad mutants which meant my cousins who are my age lived there. And I want to know why my dad and his cousin stopped talking. I got my other friends including my little sister involved in the investigation. My best friend Atif, he can see the future, well he saw a vision of my death. And he was sure it was tied to what we were investigating. But I wouldn’t give up. This past New Years it all came together. Atif’s boyfriend Billy and his twin Tommy, the sons of the leader of the bad mutants who had changed reality, helped us in bringing Rose’s dad back and fight their mom to do it. Atif still saw me dying in the same vision just more clear it being the leader of these bad mutants.”, Landon continued. He looked and all five of his band mates were locked in waiting for him to continue. It was odd to have a group of people listening to him so intently that had no real stake in what had happened.
“So I started training like my life depended on it, because it did, with Rose’s dad Logan. My training however was creating a wedge between me and all my friends who I’ve been close to forever. My mom ran a daycare at the house so I spent every day with my friends. And well beginning of this summer things got um askew.”, Landon explained. This got raised eyebrows of confusion. “So there are these two girls that I really like, here’s the high school drama part of the tale. There’s Rose my best friend.”, Landon said. “We need more detail than that come on.”, Dan said nudging Landon. “Rose is…lack of better adjective incredible. She plays guitar in my band Meddling Kids back home. She also sings and god when she sings man there’s just this rawness to it that you can’t teach. She’s brilliant having skipped a grade, intense, passionate and fiercely loyal. She’s an amazing fighter, like her dad, just raw animal instinct in how she fights. I can’t even pin point when she stopped being just one of the guys and was suddenly someone I was interested in. It was just a million little things that added up over time to me falling for her.”, Landon said. “And looks? I mean yes personality is good but appearances can matter.”, Gavin asked. “She’s got this just past her shoulder length thick rich red hair, skin like porcelain, these intense deep blue eyes a shade all their own like a cross between cobalt and azure, she’s got this cute little rounded nose, soft full lips and body…she’s got the right curves in the right places. And I dunno but there’s something about her neck, it’s this slender neck that I dunno some days I catch myself staring at like a vampire looking for his next meal.”, Landon described his mind calling forth every detail of Rose a small smile on his lips. “Sounds like someone might be in love.”, Jackson teased.
“You said two girls. What about the other one?”, Dan asked. “The other girl? That’d be Rachel. We’ve been friends a long time just not best friends like I’ve been with Rose.”, Landon answered. “And what’s Rachel like?”, Ben asked. Landon smiled. “Rachel….well amazing comes to mind. She plays piano and the violin and is more classically trained. She’s smart too having skipped a grade like Rose. She’s sweet, compassionate, she’s got this grace in the way she walks, and has this aura of innocence about her. She’s an amazing fighter, she is fierce when she gets into a fight which you wouldn’t think when you look at her that she’d be such an ass kicker. And with the grace she has she’s a great dance partner. And before you ask in regard to looks. Well Rachel has this silken bronze skin, her mother is Egyptian, she’s got this long wavy thick black hair, she’s has the same cobalt/azure combination blue eyes which pop with her Egyptian features, she’s got the cute rounded nose, soft kissable lips, she has developed into having curves in the right places. And her legs god those legs.”, Landon described smiling rubbing his lips together a little as he thought back to Rachel’s legs when they were in the van making out. “See this is why you can’t pass judgment after him just describing one of the girls, Jackson.”, Mitch commented. “So you like both girls. That’s your drama?”, Gavin asked.
“OH I wish that was my only drama. Rachel and Rose are cousins. See back at the start of summer I did something so stupid I swear I must have been channeling my man whore cousin Merrick.”, Landon said. The guys laughed a little. “Alright so them being cousins is kind of a bad thing. What did you do that was so stupid?”, Ben asked. “Well to start I kissed Rachel, hell didn’t just kiss her. I pinned her against a wall kissing her and had to force myself to break the kiss.”, Landon started. “That doesn’t sound too stupid…”, Gavin said. “Well then we drove to this rodeo to meet all the others, including Rose. And I dunno we’d agreed that the kiss before was a onetime deal since she was the only other person who knew about the vision of my death and she knew I liked another girl just didn’t know it was her cousin. But I couldn’t let that be the only time I kissed her. Ended up on the back seat of my van making out with her. Remember those faded out hickeys first night you met me? Well Rachel is the one that left them there and they were a hell of a lot darker the night she left them.”, Landon explained. Gavin laughed. “Again I’m not really hearing anything stupid here.”, Gavin said. “I’m getting to the stupid part. The following day was my birthday. I spent the entire day on the couch with my friends watching Godzilla movies. My friends started slowly deciding to tap and go to bed. Leaving just me and Rose on the couch together.”, Landon started to explain.
Mitch raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh..”, Mitch said. “Well let me first explain that Rose has never believed in personal space. So I’m kind of stretched out on the couch and she’s sitting at the far end and decides she’s going to use me as a bed. And she pauses the movie and moved to basically straddle me and she tells me that she likes me and has for a while now. So she’s looking at me wanting an answer. And instead of you know saying the words and just being smart about it and explaining ‘yeah I like you too but I also like Rachel’ my stupid ass kisses her.”, Landon continued. “Oooohhhh.”, the guys all exclaimed shaking their heads. “Yeah stupid.”, Mitch said. “Oh it gets worse. I break the kiss and I explain that there is another girl I like, obviously since I still had the hickeys. I don’t just tell her it was Rachel. And she tells me she doesn’t mind competition and I’m just thinking ‘you’ll mind when I tell you it’s your cousin’ and she goes back to kissing me this time with tongue. Which I admit I was enjoying that but then I thought about Rachel and had to end the kiss. The next day I get a death threat from that leader of the bad mutants. I end up having to tell all my friends about the threat and the vision. And I tell the girls about what I did. We plan this whole scheme to defeat the woman who wants me dead. Which is when I started hanging out where with you guys. And now that we’ve done that, we kicked her ass bad, I’m left with having to decide what I want to do about the girls. And not that is my drama.”, Landon finished.
“So older and ‘wiser’ men what’s your opinions? Cause my friends are divided on this. My cousin Lily and sister Cora Lee say I should go with Rose because I’m closer to her. My best friend Atif and his twin sister Ashley think Rachel is the right choice because of how I am when with her. You five don’t know these girls from a hole in the ground and have never seen me around them. So give me the third party view.”, Landon requested. “Alright. I have a question. You said you couldn’t pin point the moment you fell for Rose, just happened over time. What about Rachel?”, Mitch asked. “Rachel? That I can pin point the exact second. I’d asked her to a dance because everyone had dates, Rose went with my buddy Mikey, and my cousin Merrick was being a complete ass and wouldn’t leave Rachel alone. I go to pick her up for this masquerade theme dance. I’m standing in her foyer with her parents and she walked down the stairs. And my heart legit stopped for a couple beats she looked that amazing.”, Landon said with a smile thinking back to the dance. “But you can’t judge on that because we got to the dance and Rose was in this little open back number and I was dumbstruck by the sight.”, Landon added. “Hmm alright. So we can’t go by that. Well you’ve kissed both girls. What did you feel when you kissed them?”, Dan questioned.
Landon pondered for a moment thinking back. “Well when I kissed Rachel. I didn’t want to stop. I felt sparks when my lips touched hers and I wanted to keep that feeling. And when we were making out she was driving me insane. I guess best I could describe it if I was to summarize was Rachel is opium and god damn is she addictive. Which is crazy that the person who just a simple word or her placing a hand on my arm or shoulder and suddenly I’m grounded, calm and in control of my emotions could drive me so insane with just kissing.”, Landon said with a sigh. “Uh huh…and Rose?”, Jackson asked. “It was nice. I’d thought about kissing her to many times before. When she kissed me and went for the French kiss I felt that intensity and passion.”, Landon explained. “It was nice? So you compare kissing Rachel to being addicted to opium and you says Rose was just nice? Answer is cut and dry kid.”, Mitch concluded. “Yeah Mitch is right man. I mean if you can say this Rachel girl has you addicted and drives you insane with how much you want her yet she’s also able to keep you in control and grounded. That’s the right one.”, Ben agreed. Dan nodded. “Yeah man you said Rose is your best friend. As her best friend would you want her with a guy that doesn’t feel that spark? That doesn’t crave her the way you describe how you crave Rachel?”, Gavin asked. “Yeah man go for the spark.”, Jackson agreed. Landon sighed nodding listening to his new friends. They had a completely unbiased opinion having no connection to either of the girls. And they were making very valid points. “You’re right Gavin. Rose is my best friend, and just like all my other friends I want her to be with someone that can make her happy. She deserves to be happy, to have someone that is nearly consumed by their passion for her.”, Landon agreed. “See that was easy. You break the news gently to Rose and go for Rachel.”, Ben said.
Landon laughed. “If it was that simple. Rose isn’t really the girl that you friend zone, she’s the one that does the friend zoning. She’s like her mom. Which is off topic. I just need to figure out how I’m going to tell her. Because she’s got claws. I don’t meant that figuratively like you talk about girls having ‘claws’ I mean her nails become claws like a wolf would have and she’s got a set of three inch long bone claws that pop out from between her knuckles. And I just survived a fight end of summer so dying at the hands of my best friend doesn’t sound fun. Not to mention I don’t want to lose her as my best friend.”, Landon said with a heavy sigh. “We’ll help you figure it out kid. You just need to find the right words. What’s your game plan for Hul Gil?”, Mitch said. “Hul Gil?”, Landon asked with a raised eyebrow. “I thought you were the history buff. Hul Gil is the Sumerian word for poppies when opium was first getting big. It means joy plant. You compared Rachel to opium so Hul Gil.”, Mitch explained. Landon started to laugh. “Why is this funny now?”, Jackson asked. “Rachel’s middle name if Farah which is an Arabic name that means joy. I even made her a bracelet that says ‘joy’ in Arabic.”, Landon explained. Mitch shrugged. “See it works. So let’s go grab some coffee at that shop up the block and we can come back to figure out your game plan kid.”, Mitch suggested standing up. The others shrugged not going to argue with getting some coffee from the little coffee shop they all favored and the six headed out and down the block to the coffee shop.
Sitting near the front of the coffee shop looking out the window drinking a frappachino was a red haired girl, who was maybe twelve, with skin like porcelain wearing a green cowl neck sweater and plan blue jeans. As Landon and the band walked up to the coffee shop she blinked her green-yellow eyes focusing in on Landon who looked rather solemn amongst the smiling slightly older men around him. She set her cup down and quickly went to the counter. “So t’e man wit’ all t’e tattoos, Ah want to pay fer his coffee.”, the girl said her voice soft with a Estuary British accent. “Um, alright. That’s Landon, he always orders the large regular salted caramel straight up. Which comes to $7.50.”, the barista commented looking at the girl with a raised eyebrow not sure how the girl knew Landon. Then again the barista herself only remembered his name as he was in the shop every weekend with the same group of guys sometimes carrying a case for an instrument. The girl pulled out her wallet and handed the girl a ten and got her change quickly heading back to her seat. Landon and the guys walked up to the counter to place their orders. “I know your order fellas. Mitch gets the medium blood orange chai, Jackson the large double shot vanilla espresso, medium toasted almond with two sugars and a splash of cream for Gavin, large dark roast with irish cream and three sugars for Dan, large blonde blend straight for Ben, and large regular salted caramel straight for Landon. Landon yours is already paid for hun. So that’ll be $34.50, total based on Landon’s being covered.”, the barista said ringing them up. The guys laughed as she listed off their orders but all looked at Landon confused when told his was prepaid. “By who?”, Landon asked. “That girl over there.”, the barista said pointing. Landon looked over his shoulder and only saw the profile of the girl and blinked. “Rose…but younger?”, Landon said confused.
The band turned to look hearing him say Rose. “Um Landon that’s just a kid.”, Gavin commented. “Yeah I know that. Excuse me guys. This is just weird.”, Landon said walking away after grabbing his coffee. “Excuse me? First I guess thanks for the coffee. Second do I know you?”, Landon asked the stranger. The girl sat her frappachino down and looked up at him blinking her green-yellow eyes a devious glint in them and a subtle but devilish smirk on her lips. “Ya’re welcome. Ya looked like ya could use a pick meh up. And no you don’t know meh.”, the girl said thinking ‘yet’ but not saying that as she knew Landon would get too curious if she let that slip. He was infamous for his curiosity. “Uh huh. Are you sure? Because you look very very familiar…”, Landon said studying the girls face and cocking his head to the side as the features were triggering memories of Rose when they were young but that smile and those eyes made him think more of his cousins like Lily and Merrick. The girl shrugged and sipped her drink. “Wit’out yer tattoos ya’d look generic too.”, the girl said simply her accent coming through clear. “No your eyes those are not generic. I only know one family with eyes like those…but then your face looks like someone else I know rather well…”, Landon said it was obvious by the furrow of his brow he was trying to piece together how this strange little girl could have the Shadow family eyes, the Bryant smirk, and Rose’s face. The girl sighed and stood up with her coffee and looked up at him. “It doesn’t really matter. Ah just wanted to pay forward some good karma. And ya look like a man t’at could use a bit o encouragement and ta ‘ear someone say it’d all gonna turn out rig’t. If ya excuse meh, Ah must be runnin’.”, the girl said slipping past Landon and out the door with her bag. She paused outside of the shop window and looked at him. He was looking back confused. “Ah’ll see ya in a few decades Uncle Landon.”, she thought to herself as she raced off down the street. Landon just stood there blankly confused by what had just happened. “Landon? Come on let’s go back to Mitch’s and figure out your next move.”, Gavin said putting an arm about Landon’s shoulders turning him to the door. “Right.. yeah.”, Landon said shaking the weird moment of the little girl aside following his friends back to the apartment to figure out what he was going to do about the Howlett cousins.
With his course of action set in Landon’s mind all that was left was to execute it. His first stop was the second scariest part of this plan. He pulled the van into the parking lot of the offices of Howlett Industries and took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing…”, Landon said getting out of the van and walked into the office to the receptionist’ desk. “Can I help you?”, the woman asked. “Yes I’m here to see Mister Howlett.”, Landon said. “Which one sir both are in the office today.”, the woman asked. Landon blinked as he remembered that with Logan being back there were now two Mister Howletts. “Sorry, Mister John Howlett.”, Landon clarified. “And your name young man?”, the woman asked. Landon sighed. “Landon Bryant.”, he answered. He couldn’t knock the woman for not knowing him, he never was at the Howlett offices except a couple rare times when young and he was there with Rose and Cora Lee to get a ride from her mom. “One moment.”, the woman said before pressing her ear pierce. “Mister Howlett? There is a young man named Landon Bryant here to see you. Yes sir I’ll send him.”, the woman said nodding. “He’ll see you. Go down the hall and to the left.”, The woman instructed. “Thanks.”, Landon said following the direction still remembering where John’s office was since it was on the way to Aurelia’s. He stopped at the door and felt his throat closing but pushed past the fear and walked inside.
“Afternoon Mister Howlett.”, Landon greeted closing the door. John raised an eyebrow looking at Landon. “Hello Landon. I’m a little confused what you are doing here. I don’t exactly have anything to say to the boy that’s current toying my daughter and my niece’s hearts.”, John said narrowing his blue eyes on Landon. Landon nodded. “That’s what I’m here about sir. I need to ask your permission for something.”, Landon said. John tilted his head to the side looking at Landon. “Permission? You’ve never sought permission for anything in your life. Why are you starting now?”, John questioned. “That’s true, sir. But this I know I need permission from you on. I plan to ask Rachel out. And I don’t just mean on a date, but to be my girlfriend.”, Landon stated. “So you’ve made a decision have you? And have decided you’d break my niece who has been like a daughter to me is the heart to break?”, John asked. Landon sighed. “Sir, I love Rose always have and always will however I love her the way that I love Ashley or Blaire or Hope or Bianca. I know that now. But Rachel…she is different. What I feel is different and a lot stronger. Not exactly looking forward to hurting Rose, but some things are unavoidable.”, Landon answered. “So what’s this you are looking for permission about? A bit odd to ask permission o date my daughter. She’ll make up her mind on that not me.”, John inquired.
“It’s because of the date sir. I know you hold Rachel to a strict curfew, I’m asking for that to be suspended just for Saturday night.”, Landon explained. “Well I do let the curfew laps when she goes to the Draven since it’s right here in town. So I don’t see an issue.”, John stated. “I’m not taking her to the Draven sir. I want to take her to a jazz club in the city. Which means she might not be home till nearly 3 because we’d be taking the train into the city and home.”, Landon explained. “You want to take my daughter into the city alone? To a nightclub that I don’t know?”, John questioned. “Yes I want to take Rachel into the city with me. And you may not personally know the club but your nephew Jacob does. He has gone to the Cotton Club with me and Aunt Solangel many times since I was little. It’s a safe place and really you should already know that Rachel is safe with me.”, Landon explained. John narrowed his eyes looking at Landon as he debated. “If she agrees to the date, fine. But if she is home even a minute past 3:15, I’ll allow for time to drive from the station to my house, such leniency will not be given again.”, John warned. Landon nodded. “I understand Mister Howlett. If you’ll excuse me I need to go deal with a pressing and delicate situation.”, Landon said. John nodded. “You better let me niece down nicely.”, John warned. Landon nodded again before leaving the office heading back to his van.
So one scary part of his afternoon was done. Now he had to complete the scariest part of it all. Landon headed back to the institute to find Rose. He headed for her dorm hoping to find her there knocking. Rose opened the door cocking her head to the side looking at him a tad confused but a smile. And something about how she was looking at him he flashed back to that little red haired girl at the coffee shop but pushed the thought aside. “Hey Rose can I talk to you?”, Landon asked. “In private if my sister is here.”, Landon added. “Cora Lee’s with Malcolm at the movies. So come on in.”, Rose answered opening the door stepping back so he could walk in. He walked in and sat down on Cora Lee’s bed. His nose twitched a little like phantom pains hit it remembering the last time he came to talk to Rose and sat on his sister’s bed. “Everything alright Landon?”, Rose asked sitting down Indian style on her bed. Landon looked across the room at her and sighed a little on the inside seeing she was wearing his tee that she’d swiped from him back at New Years. Rose was a little concerned, Landon hadn’t wanted to be in a one on one situation for months because he was still deciding what he wanted to do in regards to her and Rachel. “I’m hoping it will be alright. Depends how this goes and if I want to trust the reassurance of a strange little girl who bought me coffee.”, Landon said rubbing the back of his neck with his right hand. “What? That made zero sense Landon.”, Rose questioned.
“Forget the little girl at the coffee shop part, I’m still trying to figure her out. But I just I’m hoping that everything can be alright again. Because like I’ve said before I don’t want to lose you ever. You are my best friend and that’s something I never wanted to risk.”, Landon said trying to regain focus. He found himself looking at Rose’s neck and had to change focus to look at her eyes instead. The shape was the same as the little red haired girl but the color wasn’t. Rose had what he fondly called the Howlett blue eyes where that little girl had the Shadow cat green-yellow eyes. Rose raised an eyebrow not sure if this was going the way she wanted or not. “I want to ask you something before I get into what I need to say.”, Landon said. “Um alright what’s the question?”, Rose asked trepidatiously. “When we kissed…what did you feel?”, Landon asked. Rose blinked at the question and rubbed her lips together as she was trying to put it into words. “Um well. Sparks I guess. I felt shivers like electricity all over when you kissed me. I wanted more of that feeling which is why I kissed you the second time and I got the sparks again but they were just stronger the deeper the kiss got.”, Rose explained. Landon sighed and nodded. “You..you didn’t feel it did you?”, Rose asked based on the way he sighed. “No I didn’t. I wanted to. But I didn’t. And you should have someone that feels that. Someone that just a kiss from you is never enough.”, Landon explained. “You’re right I should. Let me guess Rachel? She’s the one you feel that with?”, Rose asked. Landon looked down but nodded. Rose took a breath a nodded her head. “Okay…”, Rose said softly. “I still don’t want to lose you as my friend Rose. And I hope maybe someday again things can be as good between us as they were.”, Landon said standing up. “Right. I just need a bit of space if you don’t mind.”, Rose said trying to keep her cool. Landon nodded. “Of course. Bye Rose.”, Landon said leaving the dorm and heading to his own.
Rose got up and closed the door and calmly walked over to her bed picking up her stuffed wolverine he’d made her that still had its strong rose smell and hugged it tightly. She didn’t want to cry but the tears started to fall from her cobalt/azure eyes and stain her porcelain cheeks. She was glad she was alone for this. She didn’t want Cora Lee or anyone to see her crying over Landon. She curled up on her bed holding the stuffed wolverine and just let the tears fall. Landon had been the only boy she’d like this way and to have him, even as gently as he had, that she wasn’t the one broke her heart more than she’d thought it would. And the fact that it was her cousin, someone only a matter of months younger than her that was the one really hurt. And she’d rather get the tears out now while she was alone. She knew she’d have to face Landon and Rachel Monday at school. She’d have to put on a strong exterior to survive it. Sure she’d thought this was a possibility, that she’d get the friend zone talk but when she’d think of that she also thought maybe he’d decide neither her or Rachel was the one for him. Then at least she’d not have to see him with someone else. In the back of her mind she wondered if this is how Alex had felt when her mom told him she wanted to just be friends. It was the only relationship she could parallel to her and Landon. Alex and her mom had been long standing friends like she and Landon. Thinking of Alex she tried to remind herself he did get over her mom, so to speak. He ended up having Tristan though she can’t remember him ever having a serious relationship in the time she’d known him. But there was some assurance that she would survive this.
Landon walked into his dorm and sighed closing the door just to see Atif sitting there reading a book. “What’s up Landon?”, Atif asked casually. “I just did the hardest thing I think I will ever do.”, Landon said sitting down on his bed. Atif set his book down and looked at Landon with a cocked brow. “What might that be?”, Atif asked. “Told Rose I want to just be friends.”, Landon said. Atif nodded. “I’m not really surprised by that, and not even because of my powers.”, Atif said with a shrug. “Oh that so?”, Landon asked. “Yeah. I see how you are when Rachel is around, you are a better version of you. And seriously man the hickeys and asking for that fifteen minutes? You were hooked.”, Atif explained. Landon laughed and threw his pillow at Atif. “Stifle.”, Landon said. “Just being honest.”, Atif said throwing the pillow back. “Though I’m pretty certain you painted yourself in a corner so to speak with this choice.”, Atif commented. “And what is that supposed to mean?”, Landon asked. “That for the son of Crow you aren’t going to be getting laid for a long time.”, Atif stated. “You see that in a vision or just judging?”, Landon asked with a laugh. “Just judging. Rachel is a good girl and raised right. She is John’s daughter for god’s sakes. You aren’t getting laid until there’s a ring on her finger.”, Atif explained. Landon thought for a moment and shrugged. “I can be patient. And if that night in the van is even a tiny preview…will be worth the wait.”, Landon said with a smirk standing up heading for the bathroom. “Now what are you doing?”, Atif asked. “Taking a shower to get ready to ask Rachel on a date.”, Landon explained before closing the bathroom door to shower.
Atif considered going to check on Rose, but he figured that right now she needed some time alone. So instead Atif left to go meet up with Billy for a date. He was liking the fact that since January when Billy moved into the Haven Atif could publically date him, no more hiding from anyone. Atif of course wasn’t the only one who’d been enjoying that their significant other was living at the Haven. Lily of course was always found with Tommy if she wasn’t in class, training or work. And since Malcolm left the Academy a month ago Cora Lee was certainly making up for lost time spent in the shadows. The two were always doing something when they had the chance and having some classes in common they often walked the halls of Bayville High hand in hand. Which it still seemed to freak people out to see them together after all the years of Malcolm being her tormentor. Though now that they were able to be in public together it was a bit rougher on Merrick than before. Malcolm was the only real friend he had and now he couldn’t hang out with him as often unless he wanted to also be around Cora Lee. And Merrick didn’t want to be around Cora Lee and Malcolm. So Merrick had taken to volunteering for more hours at the local animal shelter and otherwise was able to find ways to distract him from the list of girls in his little black book.
So while Rose cried in her dorm and the others were all out enjoying the weekend with their significant others Landon drove over to the train station ready to call Rachel to come meet him. Landon was actually rather nervous about it. He’d styled his hair a little with a small amount of gel just to get his black hair to spike up a little and put on his dark blue jeans and a black short sleeve button up with black hoodie since it might get cold by the time they came back. He took a breath and dialed Rachel. “Landon?”, Rachel greeted not having expected to hear from him. “Hi Rach. There’s something I need to talk to you about. Think you could meet me down at the train station?”, Landon requested. “Um…sure I guess. I’ll walk over and be there in like twenty minutes to get ready and be there.”, Rachel said. “Alright I’ll see you when you get here.”, Landon said as the call ended. He’d considered just picking her up, but alone in the van he wasn’t sure how in control he’d be around his Hul Gil. So instead he’d let her come to the train station where on the train there would be other people. And he’d stick to his plan of waiting till they got to the Cotton Club to tell her everything. The rest of Blaze Halo was going to be playing the club that night so depending on how things went he’d introduce her to his other band. The guys were rather interested in getting to meet her after how he described her. So as he waited Landon sat down on the stairs that led up to the train platform to wait for her.
Rachel was a little confused that Landon called and asked to meet at the train station. She wondered why he didn’t just come to the house if he wanted to talk. Which Rachel wasn’t’ sure if him wanting to meet in a public area was a good or a bad sign. As she tied her sneakers she half debated changing her clothes in case this was a good sign but decided that her blue jeans and the short sleeve teal tee would have to do. She grabbed her pocketbook and headed out the door leaving a note for her parents in case they got home before she did just telling them she’d gone to meet Landon and should be back soon. With her parents and Xavier all being gone Rachel ended up walking from their house to the train station. Which gave her a lot of time to wonder what he wanted to talk to. She kept spinning her bracelet as her mind raced with the possible reasons Landon would want to talk in a public space and why the train station. Maybe he had a gig in the city and wanted to talk to her quickly before he had to catch his train. Which that thought didn’t make her think this was going to be a good talk. Landon stood up from where he was sitting as he saw her coming and smiled. “Evening Rach.”, Landon greeted. “Just in time.”, he added looking to the tracks and seeing the train getting closer. “We need to catch this train.”, Landon explained. Rachel arched a brow as he said ‘we’ in reference to catching the train. “Hi Landon. Um where are we going? I told my parents I’d be back shortly….”, Rachel questioned as she got closer. Landon smiled. “Don’t worry about it, you’ll be returned eventually. Come on.”, Landon explained vaguely as he took her hand and headed up the stairs.
Rachel had little choice at this point and just followed along getting onto the train with him. Landon took a seat near the doors and Rachel sat down next to him and looked at him still confused. “Where are we going Landon? I thought you said you wanted to talk. What’s going on?”, Rachel questioned. “We’re going into the city. And I do want to talk, just when we get to where we are going.”, Landon explained. Rachel blinked. “The city? Landon my parents don’t let me go into the city without them or at least an adult. Which no offense you aren’t really an adult.”, Rachel said. Landon shrugged with a smile. “No I’m not exactly an adult yet. But don’t worry too much about your parents.”, Landon said. “Don’t worry? You’ve met my father.”, Rachel said shaking her head. Landon laughed and nodded. “Yeah. Which is why I already talked to him and he said it was okay for you to come into the city with me tonight.”, Landon said keeping his eyes on the sign that displayed the stop. Rachel was a little taken back. “You talked to my dad? So he knows you were taking me into the city? What is going on? What if I didn’t want to go into the city with you?”, Rachel asked. “Yes I talked to your dad. I’m not an idiot and didn’t want either of us to get in trouble with him about curfew. I’ll tell you when we get there. And if you don’t want to stay we’ll get right back onto the train and I’ll take you home.”, Landon explained starting to stand up. “Our stop is coming up.”, Landon explained. Rachel was still confused but stood up her curiosity getting the better of her.
The doors opened and she followed Landon, who was still holding her hand tight off the train and out of the station and up to the street. “Alright so we have gotten into the city want to tell me why we are here? Or anything? You are the one that said you wanted to talk after all.”, Rachel said stopping and refusing to go any further. Landon sighed and looked at her with a smile. “Alright, was going to wait till we got to where we are going to explain. But guess I can explain now.”, Landon said moving her out of the way of people on the street. Rachel looked at him waiting for his explanation. Landon thought on the exact words he wanted to use, to explain he wanted to take her on a date because he wanted to be her boyfriend. Landon chose to not use words initially and just leaned down and kissed her softly and only for a short moment. Rachel’s eyes went wide when he kissed her. She was hoping this meant he’d made his decision and that this wasn’t just some way of messing with her. “If you want to stay, this is supposed to be a first date. I don’t count going to the dance last winter as a date since that was just friends.”, Landon explained. “Wait…a date? So you’ve made up your mind and…me?”, Rachel asked trying to keep her composure. Landon nodded. “Yes. It’s you Rachel. You’re the one I want.”, Landon said before kissing her again. “So ball is in your court. Do you want to have this date? And related and probably more important is will you be my girlfriend?”, Landon asked. Rachel looked at him trying to not smile wanting to play coy but couldn’t and just smiled. “Yes on both counts.”, Rachel said nodding. Landon smirked and kissed her again before starting to walk with his hand still in hers.
“Good now come on don’t want to be late.”, Landon said leading the way down the city streets. “Where are we going? Late for what?”, Rachel asked suddenly thinking she was under dressed for a first date. “You’ll see.”, Landon said leading the way. “But I mean I kind of think I’m a tad undressed for a first date.”, Rachel commented. Landon glanced back at her and smiled. “You look fine. And it’s not really a requirement to dress up where we are going.”, He explained turning a corner and stopping looking across the street at a large white building with a red neon sign that said ‘Cotton Club’ and a line around the corner waiting to get in. Rachel looked across the traffic to the long line of people waiting to get into the club, and most were dressed nice. “Why do I not believe you. Everyone waiting to get in that place is dressed nice.”, Rachel said with a frown. Landon smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. “Rachel you look good in everything you wear so don’t worry about it. Let’s get inside.”, Landon said checking for traffic and crossing the street with her. Rachel blushed a little at the compliment and then looked at the line. “It’s going to be a long wait to get inside.”, Rachel commented. Landon laughed. “Wait? Oh no I don’t do lines, at least here.”, Landon said heading to the front of the line which got a few glares. “Evening Joe.”, Landon greeted the doorman. “Hey Landon. The rest of the band’s inside. Where’s your Aunt and Uncle? And oh what have we here you bringing a girl?”, the rather large African American doorman greeted with a wide smile. Rachel raised an eyebrow at how friendly Landon was with the doorman and that the man mentioned and ‘Aunt and Uncle’.
Landon nodded. “No Aunt Solangel and Uncle Jacob tonight. Joe met my girlfriend Rachel. Rachel this is Joe the club bouncer.”, Landon introduced. “Nice to meet you Rachel, didn’t realize our Landon had a girlfriend.”, Joe teased elbowing Landon. Rachel smiled. “Um nice to meet you as well. It’s kind of a new title like ten minutes ago.”, Rachel admitted. Joe laughed. “Ah so you bring her here for a first date. Guess that explains why your boys insisted that booth get reserved special for you tonight.”, Joe said unhooking the rope to let them in. “Head on in and have a good night kids.”, Joe said. “Thanks Joe.”, Landon said taking Rachel by the hand and heading inside which got grumbles from the people waiting. “Why do they get to cut!”, a man yelled. “BECAUSE I SAID SO! And he’s part of the band.”, Joe shouted back. Landon laughed hearing Joe’s booming voice. “So this is the club you play when you come to the city? And where you come with Solangel and Jacob?”, Rachel asked as she looked all around the club. “Yup. Welcome to the Cotton Club. Home of jazz, sing and blues.”, Landon answered leading her over to a booth that had a reserved tape. He laughed a little as he looked at the table where had a small bouquet of flowers of white day lilies and deep red poppy flowers. “Ahh the guys were here.”, Landon said moving the reserved tape so they could sit. Rachel raised an eyebrow at the flowers as she sat down. “Day lilies and poppies? Your friends did this?”, Rachel questioned.
Landon nodded taking off his hoodie before sliding into the booth next to her. “Yeah. I may have talked to them about you, a little.”, Landon admitted putting an arm around her shoulders. “A little? Though I don’t understand why they added poppy flowers. They aren’t a flower I really like and I don’t think you like them.”, Rachel said looking from the flowers to Landon. “Um the poppies are an inside joke between me and the band.”, Landon answered. “Uh huh. And are you going to explain that joke?”, Rachel asked leaning into him rather enjoying getting to be close to him and there not be any second guessing or worrying about them being seen. “Yeah Landon, why don’t you explain to Hul Gil the inside joke?”, Mitch asked walking over with the other guys. They were all dressed in black dress shirts, black slacks and white ties their ties all having in red the letters BH. Ben was carrying a set of drum sticks, Dan had his bass case, Gavin had his guitar already over his shoulder resting on his back and Jackson was holding his trumpet with his right hand. Rachel looked to the group of men and then to Landon confused. “Hul Gil?”, Rachel questioned. “Smooth guys, real smooth.”, Landon said shaking his head. “Rachel meet Blaze Halo. That’s Mitch Jericho, Benny Linkus, Danny Lynch, Gavin Adams and Jackson Nadel. Guys meet Rachel Howlett.”, Landon said giving introductions. The guys smiled in greeting. “Nice to finally meet you. Nice to see Landon wasn’t exaggerating.”, Gavin commented with a wink.
Landon rolled his eyes shaking his head. “Um. Exaggerated? What are you talking about? Landon? What exactly does Hul Gil mean and what did you tell them about me?”, Rachel asked. Landon sighed. “Don’t you boys have a show to do?”, Landon said pointing to the stage as they were being introduced. “We’ll see you love birds after.”, Mitch said nudging the younger members to the stage. The guys all giving a wave and still grinning at Landon and Rachel as they made their way up to the stage and started to play. “So what does Hul Gil mean and what did you tell your friends?”, Rachel asked not going to let the topic go. Landon sighed. “Alright so I talked to them about you and Rose and the whole situation. In regards to Gavin saying I didn’t exaggerate they wanted descriptions to get a mental picture of you and Rose. So I described you physically and your personality.”, Landon explained. “Do I want to know how you described me?”, Rachel asked. Landon smirked. “Hmm let me think. I know I used the word amazing.”, Landon said kissing her neck. “Smart, sweet, compassionate, graceful were also used.”, Landon said kissing along her neck between each word. Rachel smiled blushing a little as he kissed her neck and kept complimenting. “I told them how you play piano and violin and are this kick ass fighter. And how you just have to aura of innocence about you.”, Landon whispered kissing at her ear.
“Then I described you physically. Your thick wavy hair..”, he said running a hand through her hair as emphasis. “The silken bronze skin your Egyptian heritage graced you with.”, he continued an lightly ran his hand down her arm. “That cute rounded nose.”, He said kissing her nose which got a giggle from her. “Those Howlett eyes which are a blending of cobalt and azure. I might have mentioned something about your amazing legs, though didn’t exactly mention to them they were most amazing when wrapped around me.”, Landon continued with a smirk and a playful wink resting a hand on her knee briefly. “And of course I talked about those soft kissable lips.”, Landon said before kissing her holding the kiss letting an arm pull her a little closer in the booth. Rachel knew she was blushing but didn’t really care as she put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He held the kiss for a while listening to his band play in the background before pulling back. “Then they asked me some more questions. Like when I knew I liked you this way and what I felt when I kissed you.”, Landon said. Rachel rubbed her lips together she wanted to know what he’d told his friends and of course what Hul Gil was but she also wanted to just spend their date kissing. “And what did you tell them?”, Rachel asked.
“Well in regards to when I knew I liked you this way that was an easy moment to pin point.”, Landon explained. “Oh?”, Rachel questioned. “When you walked down the stairs at your place for the dance. I remember standing there with your mom and dad holding your corsage and the items for the mask. I heard your footsteps coming down the stairs. I looked up to the top of the stairs and first just saw your feet and the white hem of the dress and a little bit of your ankle as you were holding the dress up a little to walk down the stairs. And with each step more of the dress and more of you came into view. And finally I saw all of you and for the first time I really saw you. You weren’t the little girl I’d always known the cousin to my best friend, no you were Rachel and you were absolutely breathtaking. I legit felt my heart stop you looked so amazing.”, Landon described. Rachel blushed and bit at her bottom lip looking down at her hands. Landon laughed a little, “God you’re cute when you blush. Now in regards to describing what I felt when we kissed. That’s where the poppy flower and them calling you Hul Gil comes in.”, Landon stated. “Oh this I want to hear. Please explain.”, Rachel said looking back up to him.
“When I kissed you, every time I kiss you really, I don’t want to stop. Any time my lips touch yours I feel these sparks and I can’t get enough of that feeling. When we kiss you drive me insane, really. I said the best way to describe it is that you are like opium because you’ve got me addicted. And it’s crazy how just a word or a touch from you can calm and ground my temper yet a kiss and I’m drive insane. But the fact I compared how bad I crave kissing you to being addicted to opium is where the poppy flower and the name Hul Gil comes from.”, Landon explained. Rachel felt her face flushing as he talked about how he felt when they kissed. “Wow…you put into words what I feel when you kiss me.”, Rachel admitted. Landon smiled. “Which is why you’re the one.”, Landon commented. “So I get the poppy flower, since isn’t opium made from them? But what is Hul Gil?”, Rachel asked. Landon nodded. “Yes opium is derived from the poppy. And Hul Gil is the Sumerian slang for opium. It translate to Joy Plant. Which the guys have decided they are going to call you Hul Gil because you are my opium. I found it funny because of your middle name and this..”, Landon said tracing the Arabic inscription on her bracelet. Rachel smiled and laughed a little. “I can deal with your jazz band calling me that then. Which they are really good.”, Rachel commented turning her attention to the stage. Landon looked the stage and nodded. “Yeah they are. Come on, dance with me.”, Landon said getting up from the booth and offering his hand. Rachel nodded and took his hand heading to the dance floor. She considered asking if he’d told Rose his decision and how she’d taken it. But for tonight she just wanted to enjoy her first official date with her boyfriend.
Back in Bayville John had gotten home before his wife and didn’t even bother moving Rachel’s’ note having known where she was. Instead he was in the kitchen cooking a meal for just him and Sarael. He figured with Rachel in the city on her date, Jimmy at the institute and Xavier out on a date with Ashley he could manage alone time with his wife. He was busy making her favorite meal. He’d made vegetable sambosa, mossaca, and rice and picked up some baklava from a local pastry shop as deserts were a bit beyond his skills in the kitchen. Sarael arrived home and walked in smelling the air. “John? Rachel? Xavier? Who made dinner?”, Sarael called out setting down her brief case and slipping out of her heels having been in meetings most of her day in regards to the Flower of the Nile chain that was expanding across the country now. He looked at the small stand in the foyer seeing two notes and quickly read them. One was from Xavier saying he’d be home in time for curfew as he was out with Ashley. The other was from Rachel saying she’d gone to meet Landon but would be back shortly. Sarael was a little confused since Rachel hadn’t answered her. “In the kitchen Sarael.”, John called. Sarael made her way to the kitchen and looked around seeing the table set for two and John setting out serving dishes of rice, sambosa and mossaca. But as she looked around she didn’t see Rachel.
“Where’s Rachel? Her note said she went to meet Landon but would be back shortly. I don’t know when the note was written.”, Sarael questioned. John set down a final serving dish and kissed Sarael on the cheek. “Rachel’s fine, love. She’s at the Cotton Club, you know that jazz place Jacob goes with Solangel to, with Landon on a date.”, John said casually as he grabbed the wine glasses that were already poured. Sarael blinked at how calmly and rather casually her husband had told her their daughter was on a date in the city. “Wait…what? And you are okay with this? And why would Rachel say she’d be back shortly if she was going on a date?”, Sarael questioned. “Landon came to the office this morning and spoke to me asking if I would allow him to take Rachel to this club in the city and extend her usual Draven club curfew to 3 to account for the train ride home. And I’m guessing she didn’t realize Landon was asking her to meet him to go on a date when she wrote the note.”, John explained pulling a chair out for his wife. “And you are okay with this? With our daughter being on a date? Your little girl?”, Sarael asked confused as she sat down. “I will not say I’m thrilled by any means. But if I have learned anything in my long life it’s that no father, no matter what era can tell his daughter who she can or cannot have feelings for. It is at Rachel’s’ discretion if she went on the date or if she chose to answer yes to being his girlfriend. I know the decision he’s made will break Rose’s heart, but I know she can recover. First love had not been kind to James or I but we are proof that you can get past it and find our ones.”, John said pushing her chair in and giving her a kiss on the top of her head as he talked about finding his one.
Sarael smiled and nodded. “So what’s all this then?”, Sarael asked looking at the meal. “This is me taking an opportunity of an empty house to enjoy an evening with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”, John said sitting down. “And talk to her about a couple important things.”, John added. Sarael started to serve herself and then John and looked at him questioningly. “What do you want to talk about?”, Sarael asked with a sigh. “First is that Rachel’s sixteen birthday is getting that much closer. I know she’s going to be a bit more distracted now that she’s apparently dating Landon, but I will be training her more. You are still in agreement with me that when she turns sixteen I will take her to Romania to face the trials?”, John asked before taking a bit of his dinner. “Yes, I am still in agreement with the plan. I understand why you want her to face those trials and the benefits she could get from having a companion like you have with Bubbles. Doesn’t change that I’m very worried about her going through those trials at such a young age.”, Sarael answered starting to eat. “I want her to take the trial since it will be her senior year of high school that fall so I want to ensure that when she graduates and goes out into the world she is protected and this will give her and the dragon time to bond. And once I know she is protected there is something else I want to do. And I want to discuss this with you first.”, John explained reaching over the table and holding Sarael’s hand.
