"You want a date?" Jasmine asked.
"Yes. I want us to go on a date if you don't mind" Kelvin answered.
She sighed. "But why do you want us to go out? I mean on a date?" she asked.
"Maybe to get to know each other?" he answered and she furrowed her brows
"Get to know each other? Is there something you want to know about me? We can talk about it here and now"
"There are a lot of things I don't know about you and there is a lot you don't know about me either"
"Then let's talk about it here," Jasmine said, tapping her feet on the floor.
"Do you not want to go out with me?" he asked feeling disappointed.
"N-no. Not like I do not want to go out with you. I just don't feel comfortable about it"
Kelvin sighed. "I am so sorry for making you uncomfortable"
Jasmine waves her hand at him. "N-no..."
"You don't have to feel bad about it"
She sighed. "I am so sorry. I don't mean it that way"
Kelvin smiled. "I know you don't mean it that way. I am sorry I made you uncomfortable too. I just wanted to spend some time with you"
"How about we do that after we find those that spread the rumor of the book? I mean the date" Jasmine asked and Kelvin's eyes widened.
"We can?"
Jasmine nodded. "Yes, we can"
Kelvin smiled. "Thanks" he muttered and she nodded with a smile.
"Did you come alone?" she asked him.
"No. I came with Ryan. He is downstairs with Jamal and Jabal playing video games"
"Can we join them?"
"Sure," Kelvin said, standing up.
They left the room and joined the rest in the living room.
"I thought you won't be coming down soon, Kelvin" Jabal said with a smirk and Jasmine scoffed.
"What were you expecting?" she asked.
"That he spend some extra time with you. What are you thinking?" Jabal asked, winking at her.
Jasmine blushed slightly. Not that she had a bad thought but hearing Jabal talk made her blush for no reason. "Nothing"
"Are you blushing?" Jamal asked.
"I am not" she replied quickly and Kelvin smiled.
"How about we go for a walk?" he suggested.
"Just the two of you right?" Jabal said.
"No? Every one of us" Kelvin replied.
"I don't think I want to go on a stroll," Ryan said lying on the couch.
"Me neither," Jabal said.
Jamal raised his eyebrows. "That doesn't leave me going with them right?"
"You don't have to come with us," Jasmine said and they furrowed their brows.
Did Jasmine just say she will go with Kelvin alone?
"I-is that Jasmine speaking?" Jabal asked, tapping Jamal who groaned.
"Of course, she is the one. Can you stop tapping me?"
"Do you think something good is about to happen?" Jabal whispered.
"You think so too?" Jamal whispered back and Jabal nodded.
Ryan groaned. "Can you stop whispering? Someone is trying to sleep here"
Jabal scoffed. "I shouldn't be here if Ariana was here. I wish she will come" he muttered.
"Is she not coming in a few hours?" Jamal asked.
"I almost forget about that," Jabal said with a smile and Jamal sighed.
"Jasmine has Kelvin. Jabal has Ariana but Ryan and I have nobody"
"Do you not have, pearl? Or are you denying her already?" Ryan asked.
"She is not here and I don't know when she is coming. That practically makes us the same. Don't you think?" Jamal said.
Jabal scoffed. "Ryan doesn't have a mate but you do. How does that make you the same?"
"But she is not here. How does that not make us the same?" Jamal pressed further.
Jabal groaned. "It doesn't. Ryan..."
Ryan laughed. "Can you guys stop talking about me? It's my mate, not yours". They stared at him, admiring how he could laugh in a situation like this. "Right now, Jamal and I are the same. His mate is not here and I do not have a mate either. So while Jabal waits for Ariana and Jasmine goes on a stroll will Kelvin, we can keep playing our games right? Jamal?"
Jamal nodded with a smile. "Sure". He picked up the gamepads and threw one of them to Ryan who caught it and sat up.
"You had better get going before Jasmine changes her mind. She really, can" Ryan said to Kelvin and Jasmine stared at him. "Just saying the truth, you know"
Jabal stood up. "How about I walk you both to the door?" Jabal asked Kelvin and Jasmine.
"Is Ariana here already?" Jamal asked.
"I think she is" Ryan whispered to Jamal.
Jasmine sighed. "Kelvin, let's get going"
**
The vampire King sent for them to reward them for saving his wife and his kingdom and they had to sit to think about it. They agreed to share ideas among themselves after thinking about it. The King had told them each of them is entitled to his or her gift and each had so many things in mind that it makes it difficult to choose.
"What will you ask for?" Jasmine asked Ariana, in the evening when they were taking a stroll.
"I have so many things to ask for. I haven't decided on any yet" Ariana answered.
"I think we are on the same boat. I have been thinking so hard about it but I haven't settled for any yet"
"Do you think the boys have made their choice already?"
"I doubt that. I saw Jabal and Jamal talking about it, on my way here"
"Then do you think Kelvin and Ryan already did?"
"I can't say anything about Kelvin but I doubt Ryan has"
"Why can't you say anything about Kelvin?"
"His family has been friends with vampires for a long time. He definitely, knows what the vampires have and what the vampire King can offer. It will be easier for him to choose. Don't you think?"
Ariana sighed. "I think so. Or should we ask Kelvin for help? He might be able to help us choose"
Jasmine smiled. She had not thought about that. "I think that is a good idea"
"Should we go now? Or we go later?"
"We should go now. If we can have this type of idea, there is a great chance the guys will have it too and they might meet Kelvin before we do. We won't want to lose the best gift to them"
Ariana agreed to what Jasmine had said. There is a great chance of the guys thinking as they do. They should not let their guard down. "Let's go," she said.
They both went in search of Kelvin but unfortunately, the boys were already with him. He groaned slightly when he saw them.
"Don't tell me you are here for the same thing?" he asked.
"I guess we are here late," Jasmine said.
"Why are they here?" Ariana asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Jasmine answered and Ariana furrowed her brows.
"To ask for..."
"N-no. It's not what you think babe. Ryan and Jamal here are the ones that want to know if they can ask for beautiful girls from the King" Jabal answered quickly.
"Is that what they came here for?" Jasmine asked Kelvin and he nodded. She frowned. "And you think we are here to ask you if we can choose boys as our gift?"
Kelvin chuckled slightly. "Not that. When I said the same thing, I mean asking questions like them not asking about boys"
Jasmine groaned slightly. She had thought Kelvin meant them asking about boys and she felt really, angry about that. But now, hearing that wasn't what he meant, made her realize she was over the edge for nothing.
"So sorry" she muttered. Her voice was so low that anyone could hardly hear her.
"What questions do you want to ask?" Kelvin asked after a moment of silence.
"We will ask after they leave" Ariana answered, pointing at them.
"You want to ask after we leave? Don't you think it's so unfair?" Jamal whined.
"Unfair? Did you not come to ask yours without asking us to join you?" Jasmine asked.
"But now you know what we want to ask for" Jamal answered.
Jasmine scoffed. "We are not going to let you know what we want to ask for?"
"Then I am not leaving this place. I don't know of the rest though"
"I am not leaving either," Jabal said.
"Then I don't have any reason to leave too," Ryan said, folding his arms.
Jasmine groaned. "You guys should stop being a crybaby and leave," she said but none of them seems to budge.
Ariana chuckled. "I don't think they will leave" she whispered.
"Then what are we going to do? We can't let them know our plans" Jasmine whispered back.
"What are you two whispering about?" Jabal asked.
"It is none of your business" Jasmine answered.
"Ariana, what are you two saying?" Jabal asked and Ariana blinked.
She had not expected him to direct the question to her. That caught her by surprise. Though she isn't ready to tell him the truth, she can't lie to him either.
"W-what?..." she stuttered.
"You had better not tell him a thing," Jasmine said in a threatening tone and Ariana chuckled slightly.
Kelvin sighed. "How about we all tell each other what we want to ask from the King? I can tell you what the vampires have and you can choose from them"
"We will do no such thing. The guys should leave and come back later. After all, they already made their choice"
Jabal folded his arms. "Which is?" he asked
"Girls" Ariana muttered.
She was kind of angry too. Though Jabal claimed he wasn't here to ask about girls, she couldn't help but get angry at him.
"Now I get it," Jamal said with a smile. "Ariana is angry Jabal is asking about other girls and Jasmine is angry Ryan is trying to move on"
Jasmine scoffed. "Why should I be angry about that?"
"Because it is obvious you still like him" Jamal answered.
"I do not like him," Jasmine said almost in a yell.
"Does that mean you hate him?" he asked and she scoffed.
"I do not hate him either"
"What does that tell us? That you love him"
Jabal laughed. "I can't believe Jamal is teasing Jasmine right now. I thought she is the best sister in the world"
Jasmine scoffed. "Like you cared" she muttered and Kelvin stood.
"I think I will take a stroll" he muttered walking away.
Jabal stared at Jamal and then at Jasmine. It was obvious Kelvin was touched by their chat.
"Do you think Kelvin is jealous right now?" he asked and Jamal nodded.
"I think he is"
"Isn't that rivalry among them? I mean Kelvin and Ryan"
Ariana poked him. "That's enough" she whispered to Jabal.
"I am rooting for Kelvin, though," Jabal said.
"I think I want Ryan for Jasmine," Jamal said.
Jasmine glared at the two of them. Can they not read the room?
"Jamal, Jabal. That is enough!" she wanted to yell at them but something kept stopping her.
Ryan stood up and without saying a word, he left. Seeing that Ryan had left, Jasmine stood up too.
"Are you happy now? Are you? Huh?" she yelled at them. "I guess you are" she muttered, stomping away.
Ariana hit Jabal hard on his hand and then hit Jamal too. They both groaned.
"What have we done?" Jabal whined.
"You should have known when to stop" she muttered and stood up. "You both can have some fun, alone!" she yelled at them and finally walked away.
Jabal sighed. "Do you think we said something we should not have said?". Jamal sighed, stood up, and began to walk away without saying a word. "You are leaving too? Without a word? Are you leaving me too?" he asked but when there was no reply he groaned slightly and stood up. "I guess I should leave too" he muttered.
**
Their visit to the vampire realm was tomorrow and they are yet to talk to each other. Every one of them had avoided themselves for some reason
"Are we going to let them continue this way?" Ella asked Emerald.
"There is nothing we can do about it. I try to speak to them about it and none of them is ready to open up yet" Emerald answered.
"Do you think this will linger for long?" Ella asked and Emerald shrugged.
"I can't say"
Ella sighed. Watching them act this way among themselves git hwr really, worried. Ariana had returned a night before to the red-haired witches' coven. Jasmine remained here while Jabal and Jamal returned to the human territory. Kelvin had refused to go with Ryan to the Munar pack and Ryan did not attempt to ask him to. Kelvin left for the human realm too but refuse to stay with Jabal and Jamal. Anderson confirmed to them that Jamal and Jabal had not been speaking to each other too and all his attempt to ask why, failed.
"Is there a way to help them?" Ella asked.
"They should be able to take care of themselves. They should be able to overcome it" Emerald answered.
"I am just worried, people might be watching them. They might want to use their weakness against them. Don't you think?"
Emerald shrugged. It's not like she isn't worried too. Of course, she is, but she trusted the children to do a great job and not let their beef get in their way. She believed they will still work hand in hand when need is without letting their differences get in the way. She is sure their weakness can not be used against them.
"We shouldn't worry about what people will say ok. The children have other things to worry about rather than bother about what people think"
Ella sighed. "I just... Nevermind". She muttered and stood up.
Emerald stood up too and patted her shoulder. "I know you are worried. I am too but we need to trust them"
Ella nodded. "I guess we should. But I miss them though. I miss watching them eat together, argue, and laugh"
Emerald smiled. "I miss that too but I am sure they will settle their difference soon"
Ella smiled. "I should get back to work"
Emerald nodded. "We will meet at the office in the evening. I have to finish up these knits. Anna will be here tomorrow to pick them up for the twins"
Ella's eyes brightened up. "Anna is coming"
Emerald nodded. "Yes"
"Do you think Ariana will come with her?"
"I don't think so"
Ella sighed. "I guess they won't be getting back together anytime soon"
"We just have to give them a little more time. They aren't kids anymore. They are adults now. So we should let them take responsibility for their action"
Ella nodded. "You are right"
After Ella left, Emerald dropped the knit into the basket and sighed. She doesn't know how long they will have to wait before the children get back to their senses. She picked up a knit and stared at it.
Or should she hasten it up for them? She thought and smiled. She guessed she will have to do that.
**
The news about finding those who had started the rumor of the appearance of the book brought together those that had stopped talking to each other. No one would have thought they will agree to meet, despite not talking to themselves. Just yesterday, they had visited the vampire realm to receive their reward and had refused to speak to each other. Surprisingly, they were able to hide it well among themselves that even the vampire King and Queen did not suspect.
Ella had worried they might be obvious about their anger for each other but was surprised when no one noticed.
Maybe Emerald was right? she had thought. Maybe they are, good at hiding their feelings, she wondered.
When she saw Ariana return to the earth witches' coven, she wondered why. She had wondered if she had decided to speak to Jasmine being the only one, among the rest in the earth coven. But when the rest of them showed up, she knew immediately that something has happened.
"Do you think they finally want to settle their difference?" she asked Emerald who shook her head in disapproval.
"It's about the rumor about the book" she answered.
"You don't think they had settled their difference once and for all, using this medium?"
"I doubt they will but they won't be as cold as they were to each other before"
Ella sighed. "I will go and eardrop on them"
Emerald shrugged. "You should give them some space"
Ella groaned slightly. She wants to know if they will settle their differences using this opportunity. She sighed. She will have to hope for a better result. She watched them through the window as they headed to Jasmine's room not saying a word to each other.
Ariana turned to see her mother staring at them through the window and she sighed. She could tell her mother is worried about them. She knew also that Emerald will be worried too. She decided it will be best they settle the differences among them today and stop getting their parent worried. She waited until after they had spoken about the rumor and what to do. After they had finalized and decided on the plan, she decided to speak about it.
"We won't remain like this. Are we?" she asked and they stared at her. "How long has it been since we last sit like this to talk? When last did we smile at each other?" she asked. "I don't know what brought about this but I think we should settle it now. So everyone should start talking"
They stared at one another and busted into laughter.
"I don't think there is anything to talk about," Jasmine said. "I have nothing against anyone"
"Then why haven't you spoken to anyone?" Jabal asked.
"Because it feels awkward anytime I try to start up the conversation"
"Same here," Kelvin said.
They soon realized that they weren't really, fighting. They all just did not dare to start the conversation first after the awkward way they left each other that night.
**
They got to the location where the packs from the northern hemisphere were and just like the informant had said, they were having a meeting. It was Jasmine's idea and everything seems to be going smoothly. Just a few days ago, they had followed Jamal and Jabal's plan and had caught about twenty men involved in spreading the rumor.
"Remember the plan" Ariana reminded them as they surrounded the meeting house.