“Look, I know it’s a strange situation but—”
“Pretending to get back with your ex, who you aren’t over, is not strange. It’s stupid.”
“I’m over Marcus.”
“Please, you walk around like an open wound.”
“Wolf, I’m trying very hard not to throw you off the roof. Help me by not being such a pain.”
“Me? Because of you, all my Chakras are out of line!”
“Well, put them back in line and control yourself. I told you we’re only pretending.”
“See, okay. There goes my Yin. And wait, yeah. There goes my Yang. Now both Yin and Yang—unbalanced.”
“You’re doing it to yourself.”
“No, you’re doing it to me. This whole time, all I have wanted is you. And now I see you don’t want me. You want Marcus. You will always want Marcus.”
“That’s not true! Not anymore.”
“Really? How the hell am I supposed to know you want me? Huh? You act like we aren’t together. You won’t let me save your life. You won’t even return my calls. How am I supposed to know—”
Ameana shuts him up by wrapping her arms around his shoulders and giving him a big, long, deep kiss.
The team cheers and makes crude remarks.
“It’s about damn time,” Jay says.
“How’s your Yin and Yang now?” Rio asks.
“Leave some for me,” Miku yells out to her best friend.
Wolf picks his Angel up and flies away with her, never once breaking from the kiss.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE ANOMALY
They next morning, I find Emmy has called me several times. I call her back and brace myself.
“Hey.”
“Marcus! Where were you? I was gonna come find you but Ben’s mom needed me to babysit at the last minute. Is everything okay?” she asks frantically.
No, I’m about to break you heart and in turn break mine. And I would fight Lucy all over again if it meant that I didn’t have to do what I’m about to do.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Why didn’t you come over?”
“Something came up.”
“Is the team okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just some stuff I had to take care of.”
“You sound weird. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah…”
“I’m coming over.”
“No, everything’s fine. Don’t come over, okay? I’ll see you later.”
“But—”
“Please, Emmy. Don’t come.”
I hang up before she can protest more. Rio comes up to the roof and stands alongside me.
“You told her not to come?” he asks.
“The only way I can get her here is to tell her to stay away,” I reply.
“Guess you have it all figured out.”
“Yeah, I’m a freaking genius,” I spit out bitterly.
I head to my room where Ameana is waiting. She was able to get Wolf to agree to the plan. The two of them are going to be low-key until we get into the Light. It’s been a few hours since her and Wolf became unofficially “official.” Strands of her hair is glowing.
“Wow, that good, huh?” I ask her.
“What are you talking about?” she says, playing coy.
“I’m glad you have someone. He’s different but he’s a good guy.”
“That doesn’t mean it will end well.”
“Doesn’t mean it won’t.”
“He wants me to take yoga.”
I burst out laughing and she playfully pushes me away.
“Can I get pictures of that?” I ask.
“I don’t think so.”
“Wolf has no idea what he’s in for.”
“Everyone thinks I’m a handful, but what about the Angel who stops in the middle of an argument to find his Chakra?”
The more she talks, the harder I laugh.
She looks out the window and tells me Emmy is on her way upstairs.
“Okay.”
“You sure about this?” she asks.
I can’t bring myself to talk. I can only clear my throat and nod.
Ameana goes over to the door and leaves it slightly ajar.
We hear Emmy’s footsteps as she makes her way up the stairs. Even though I know this has to happen, a very real part of me hopes she can see through this scheme. I hope she knows that I love her even with what I’m about to do.
I hear her call out my name as she heads down the hallway towards us. I pull Ameana close. Emmy opens the door. She finds me and Ameana in the middle of an all-consuming kiss.
Her jaw drops. Her body shakes uncontrollably. She gasps as if someone is ripping the very breath from her lungs. The tears spring to her eyes like a tidal wave of pain.
She’s trying to make sense of the picture before her. But no matter how she puts the pieces together, the picture is still the same. She lets out a whimper like a kitten who’s just been brutally kicked. She looks at me, silently begging for an explanation.