The rest of my class period went by fast, any high schooler dream. On several occasions, my eyes would dart searching for Dace in class but he didn't come, did he miss classes like this that often? He only attended one class and was gone the next. I pondered why as I shook my head, I should stop this… I don't know this guy that very well and here I was thinking about him like he was someone close to me.
My mind still drifting back to what happened in the hallway when we touched, it was more ardent than the first, because this time I felt like I was pulled to him like a thread moving towards a needle, and when our bodies brushed, that fire that swirled through my body was hardly explainable. It was a hard thing not thinking about it, it was like an imprinted image in my brain, drawn and well displayed and I played it a number of times like a film on display through my peripheral vision, even as our teacher round-up for the day, I didn't see him, I SAW our last encounter. I licked my lips, before biting on the bottom, hoping to wake up.
How exactly could I free my mind after experiencing something so captivating?
Free your mind Emma! On the bus it still wouldn't stop, I cleared my throat relaxing more on my seat and plugging my ear plugs hoping 'Ruelle' will distract me from this world, darting my eyes to the skies. I instantly remembered I haven't given him his umbrella yet, shoot! I will try tomorrow. Wait… I just thought about him right now, wonderful!
I was home and that's when the weather changed, so cloudy but not a drop of rain, Juneau weather was really strange, just when you think it would rain, it wouldn't and when you don't it becomes a thunderstorm.
"Hey Emma you're back"
The moment I walked in I was greeted by Vanessa, no offense but doesn't she work or something?
"The lights are fixed" she pointed and I noticed the turned-on bulb.
"Great," I said with a nod, at least no ancient in the house today.
~
"So tell me how school was?"
I poked my fish with my fork. "Will you always ask me that?"
"Well, what can we talk about then?"
I thought back to what Owen told me. "Um someone from school, Owen, told me our family is one of the oldest in this town, is that true?"
Her eyes widened a bit like she didn't expect me to ask such but then her stun expression was replaced with a smile. "Owen" she nods her head before taking a glass of water and sipping it.
"Yes Owen, I think his last name is Sherman"
"Oh I know him, friends with his family, so he told you that huh?"
"Yes, I mean I was shocked I never knew mom's family was that influential"
"Yeah we were", she set the glass back on the table. "Our great great great grandparent, all the way now"
"So… what does that mean?" I shrugged, I knew for a fact we weren't filthy rich like the Devereaux's, or else my life would have been entirely different, my mom wouldn't have such a demanding job.
"Well it was in the old times, our families were more like supporters and almost the ones who keep the peace"
"Peace"
"Yes like peacemakers" she shrugged,
I tried to make sense of what she said but I was lost, she smiled sensing my puzzlement.
"So my great great great grandparents were peacemakers?"
She nods. "A very influential one, we kept the order and also the law of coexisting"
"I see so The Adams are peacemakers while the Devereaux's are billionaires," I said with a touch of sarcasm but what I got as a response wasn't exactly what I expected.
Her eyes widened. "Where did you hear that name?!" she demands.
"From my club, oh right I didn't tell you yet, joined a club and we sorta wandered about talking about families" I shrug like it was no big deal. "You know the Devereaux's too, right?"
"Y-Yes" she forced a smile. "In fact, I do," she looks away. "Everyone knows the Devereaux's part of the old families too"
"So since the Adams are peacemakers, they must be close with the Devereaux's, right?"
She chuckled lightly tapping her finger on the plate, it made a sound that echoed around the table.
"Vanessa?"
"Old families, old histories, all these are boring stuff, Emma, let's talk something more lively"
There it was again, the mood swing and the change of topic. "There's nothing to talk about other than this," I said with a frown.
"Right, then I guess it's good night then" she gathered her plate.
"Vanessa" she stopped her action but she was already backing me. "Is there something I should know? I mean I might sound paranoid but I feel there's something you don't wanna tell me"
She faces me. "Oh no Emma, I mean look at me" she rolled her eyes. "Histories are not my jam I mean we're talking about something in the past, I settle for the future and you should too"
I nodded slowly but I still felt something was up.
"Oh and one piece of advise, dear, the Devereaux's are full of themselves, might be in your class or not but when you see a Devereaux you walk away"
I watched as she retreated to the kitchen, my eyes settled on the unfinished fish before me. What my aunt just said was exactly what my friends said but in different phases but one meaning rang through it.
Honestly, I don't know the Devereaux's but were they hated? I tried not to think of it much but what possibly could there be to dislike about them?