Blaise
Well, I wish I could say that as the sun broke over the horizon that I woke up feeling powerful, different, or magical even, but I didnât. Nope, instead I wake up with a groan. My neck is stiff as though I slept in one position the entire night and I wince as I try to turn my head. âUgh, wonderful!â I mutter to myself as I maneuver out of my queen size bed.
Bending over, I grab my light-grey cotton comforter and shake it out before tucking it around the bed giving it the semblance of being made. After that task has been completed, I go to my closet and grab some clean clothes before scurrying across the plush tan carpet of my bedroom floor and into my bathroom.
Hopping into the shower I scrub clean, lather my hair in shampoo twice rinsing and repeat routine and then apply a generous amount of conditioner to my wild mane of red hair (the reason why my grandfather calls me his âlilâ firecracker!). After Iâm dried off, I don a satin white tank top and a not quite mini jean skirt before going back into my closet and grabbing cream colored wedge sandals. Just as I begin to descend the stairs I hear G-Ma Lisa shout out from the kitchen to see if Iâm ready to go yet. I laugh to myself as I come to the last step and make my way towards the kitchen where I know I will find her and grandpa sitting at the table sipping mugs of coffee.
âI swear grandma, you always know exactly when Iâm ready to go...â and then it dawns on me. âDo you have visions? Can you see the future or something?â
Lisa laughs heartily, her white blonde (more white than blonde these days) bob bouncing around her ears as she shakes her head no. âIâve known you for eighteen years Blaise, do you honestly think I wouldnât know when youâre ready to go somewhere?â This statement has a grin splitting across my face and causes a twinkle to shine in her eyes. âBut we do need to be leaving. Iâm sure everyone is there and waiting for us by now.
By everyone my grandmother means my uncle Devon (my dadâs younger brother) and his wife aunt Ella, and their two-year-old daughter, Elena (a play on my momâs name). Plus, our extended family Uncle Chris, and his wife Rifqa. They arenât related by blood, but Chris was one of my dadâs best friends and is still Uncle Devonâs friend.
I, myself am super excited to see everyone because itâs been nearly fourteen years since weâve been gathered together in the same place though I do face time Dev and El all the time itâs just not the same as being able to talk to them in person. My grandparents and I had moved out of the state shortly after my parents passed away because they thought a fresh start would do me good.
Upon entering the Chicken Shaq, I spot Uncle Devon, Aunt El, and my cutie pa-tootie little cousin clutched in her arms. They wave me over and I scoop Elena up into my arms and tickle her belly causing her to squeal like only a two-year-old can. As she wiggles out of my arms, they both stand from their seats so they can give me hugs and wish me a happy birthday. Once they are done, I go to take a seat only to see Uncle Riley (the other non-blood relative or best friend of my dad and Devon) come striding up to me. Iâm beyond shocked to see him.
âOh. My. Gosh!â I squeak in delight as he wraps me in a hug.
âYou didnât really think Iâd miss my nieceâs 18th birthday my green-eyed little pixie now did you?â Putting me to armâs length he grins down at me.
I roll my eyes at him. âYou know just because Iâm only 5â4 doesnât mean you have to refer to me a pixie!â I shove him in the arm playfully and stomp my foot like Iâm upset.
This only causes him to laugh but before I can say anything further, I hear Devon ask Riley where his wife is. âOh, Raegan is stuck at work. She sends her love and her apologies though.â Riley says as he takes the seat across from me. Everyone but Chris and Rifqa are here, and I push my bottom lip out in a little pout.
Ella bounces Elena on her knee and catches my eye. âDonât worry, theyâre just running a few minutes late, but theyâll be here.â I nod my head and as I go to say okay the doors to the restaurant swing open and they walk in. Now that everyone is here, I feel whole. Family and being surrounded by love.
After they hug me, they go to take their own seats, but Chris stops and swipes two more chairs from an unused table. Arching an eyebrow, I give him a questioning look as he settles into his seat. âThe boys are going to join us for once.â It takes me a moment to remember who he is referring to.
âYou mean your sons are finally making an appearance?â Grandpa says with a wide grin. âI havenât seen them since their second birthday. You probably donât remember the twins Blaise. They are exactly one year and two days to the day older than you are which means we can celebrate their birthday today as well!â
âI can honestly say I do not remember meeting any twins but then again, I hadnât turned one myself, right.â
Grandpa chuckles and says, âright, right.â and then he leans closer to me and says; âthey are attending the academy and will be sophomores this year.â I turned surprised eyes up to him. I guess if my parents and grandparents are magical beings, it would only make sense that their friends and family would be as well.
âThatâs cool.â I guess... Iâm not sure how I really feel about that bit of info. Itâs not like we grew up together or anything, but I guess it would be nice to see some familiar faces. At that moment the waitress stops by to get our drink order. After I ask for a glass of water I stand and make my way to the bathroom.
Weaving through the crowded place I make my way back to our table well barring one small incident that is. Along the way I accidentally bumped into someone hard enough to draw an oomph from my lips. Glancing up I immediately say in a rush of words, âoh my Iâm so sor-â. The rest of my apology gets stuck in my throat as I stare into the most amazing honey-colored eyes Iâve ever seen.
The stranger smiles reaching out at the same time placing his hand on the side of my shoulder to make sure Iâm steady on my feet. A warm tingling sensation courses between our flesh. He towers over me by a good foot or so but the grin heâs sporting is what draws me towards him. âNo worries. Are you okay?â he asks with a slight Bostonian accent in his voice.
Offering a timid smile, I say that Iâm fine and finish my apology before turning away from him to go back to my family only to my surprise, I come face to face with the strangerâs mirror image! With a gasp my head bounces back and forth between the two for a second before understanding hits me. These are Uncle Chrisâ twin sons.
Quickly I sidestep the second guy and hurriedly make my way back over to the table. Just as I take my seat they come over and say hello to everyone seated before hugging Chris and Rifqa. Chris gets my attention before he starts to say, âBlaise, Iâd like you to meet my sons, Braeden and Carden.â Iâve never been happier than at this moment to know that Uncle Chris isnât blood related to me because for as hard as I try, I canât keep my eyes from sneaking peeks at the devilishly handsome twins cattycorner from me.
A shyness takes hold of me, and I become enthralled by the food that has been placed in front of me. I feel awkward and unsure of myself which is a feeling Iâm not used to in the slightest. Granted, Iâve never had such an instantaneous attraction to someone Iâve just met before let alone two someoneâs!
Iâve dated guys while I was in high school and even lost my virginity because I thought I was in love but as all things do, it came to an end. After that boyfriend though I decided to focus fully on myself and getting good grades so I could graduate and get into a good college.
Thankfully everyone finishes eating and we all stand to say our goodbyes. When itâs my turn to say goodbye, my heart flips over and begins to pound hard against my ribcage. Each of them takes my hand to shake it farewell and a tingling sensation flows between us. I am shocked that it has happened again but times two and I look at the guys quizzically to see if they have experienced the same thing.
Unfortunately, I canât tell the two apart yet but one of them flares his nostrils and seems to suddenly breathe a little harder. The otherâs eyes have grown wide, and I heard him take a sharp inhale. Before Iâm able to question either of them about the odd experience though, my grandparents are ushering me out the door.