Chapter Twenty Six: The Rejection

 Aesha’s POV

I leaned on the railing, the wind hitting my face and blowing my hair. We just got back from Paris France a week ago and I was kind of missing it. No, wait. I was missing my stepsiblings.

After James’ birthday, the twins hung out with us for the rest of the month. I need to admit, I enjoyed being with the twins and I missed them a lot. They told me my friends – even Cole – were worried sick of me but I convinced them not to tell a single soul.

The previous week was the last week of May – the last week of spring – so pretty much the heat was killing me. Literally. I went up to the house’s balcony in my denim shorts and white tank top to at least cool down a bit. But the great damn downside is: my powers are freaking gone.

They’re gone.

Gone.

Gone.

Now I felt like what Cole feels that winter and autumn. I was swimming in my own weakness and I couldn’t even sweat. The air conditioner was turned up to the max, but somehow I liked the natural wind better. The sun was blinding and a gazillion degrees hot, but it was worth it.

But I sighed in defeat and went back inside. James was sitting on the comfy couch, playing videogames. I grabbed my iced tea from the glass table and finished it all up, “I hate summer!” I grumbled.

“You can complain all day, Elsha, but if you finish all the iced tea, ice cream or anything cold inside the house, I will kill you.” He said, his eyes glued to the large flat screen TV.

“Stop making comments like that, Jamie,” I said through my gritted teeth. Oh, great, here comes the cranky me. I hope James remembers how mad I can get whenever the season’s hot.

“Stop being a grumpy cat like that, Elsha,” he snapped. This is going to be bad.

“God, how can you be more annoying?!” I stormed off the living room, and headed to my bedroom.

“Aesha, wait!” James paused the game and chased after me. I went hurried inside my room and slammed the door on his face.

He knocked about a couple times, “Elsha, I’m sorry. But you’ve got to chill. I know it’s summer and all, but just relax.”

“Leave me alone!” I yelled at him.

“Aesha please,” he began but I interrupted him, “Just go, James! Before you get hurt!”

I heard him sigh and the footsteps told me he already walked away. I groaned again and buried my head in my pillow. At least my cold room can keep me cool, right?

Wrong.

My head was already aching, my throat was itchy and my mouth’s dry. I was already breathing heavily and my nails dug onto the cloth.

You’re going to be okay, I told myself.

No, I’m not going to survive this. The heat’s getting into me real bad. I licked my chapped lips and closed my eyes.

You’re strong, Aesha. Just don’t give up.

What if I can’t do it anymore? What if I want to give up?

Then the next thing I remember was all black.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I coughed and sputtered, realizing cold water was dumped on me. I was on the floor and kneeling by my side was James and standing there on my other side was Mom.

“Aesha, are you okay?” Mom asked worryingly.

I coughed again. That cold water cooled me down. If only they dumped ice cubes on me…. “I’m fine, Mom. I’m better,” I assured her.

She breathed a sigh of relief. “James went to me and told me everything. Luckily, I have the key to your room but we saw you on the floor, unconscious.”

I smiled gratefully at James. He said, “At least you’re okay, Elsha. Maybe we could go swimming to cool you even more,”

I looked at Mom and gave her a look, asking her if it was okay to go swimming. “Okay,” she nodded her head, “But be sure to be ready by twelve. Mr. Rogenson is coming with his son and I want you to keep his son company while his Dad and us go to the company building to discuss some things.”

My face paled. The Rogensons? That means…

Cole.

No, I can’t let him see me. Ever. Anyone, but him.

I gulped, “S-sure, Mom. We’ll be right on time.” Mom left the room and I stood up, heading out the door. James and I went to his room to pick up his swimming stuff. When we got to the pool, I dived headfirst into it.

“Hey, Elsha,” James said, entering the pool, “when Mom mentioned the Rogensons, yu kinda panicked. Why?”

I bit my lip, “Don’t you get it, James? Mr. Rogenson’s son is Cole. I can’t let him see me when he gets here.”

His mouth formed an ‘o’ shape, “I get it now. But you let the twins see you, why not him?”

You don’t understand, James. It’ll be awkward if we see each other, a lot worse than seeing the twins. I cannot risk me and him fighting again and again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m an idiot. How come I’ve never realized it before? This whole thing makes it all worse.

“He’s gonna know I’m freaking here, James. He can sense me ‘cause it’s freaking summer, why haven’t I realized that before?!” I panicked.

My brother grabbed my shoulders to stop me from freaking out, “Calm down. I’ll let you ditch this one. Just go outside the house and enjoy the city, Elsha.”

I gulped, “Mom and Dad will kill me!”

“Stop worrying about that, Aesha! If you want to avoid him, just go.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. I pulled away from James and went to the elevator, exiting through the back door.

I just hope he doesn’t see me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 As stepped out of the elevator, I instantly knew Aesha’s was now a lot richer than my family. There in the living room, was the blonde guy sitting on the couch, playing a videogame.

He paused the game, “Oh, hey. You’re Cole, right?”

I nodded, “Yep,” I took a seat beside him.

He grinned at me, “I’m James.” He stood up and fetched the drinks from the counter.

“Maddison said there were two of you,” I was looking forward to see Aesha.

“My sister’s busy, she decided to go out,” He explained. So that’s why I can sense that she’s far from here.

Wait.

Whoa.

Sister? She’s his sister, not his girlfriend! I still have a chance!

“Okay,” was all I said, biting back a smile, “Do you mind if I go around the building?”

He nodded reluctantly, getting back to his game, “Fine…”

I stood up and went towards the elevator, looking for the coldness. I can sense the cold in here, and that was probably her room.

I made my way to the fourth floor, to her room. I opened her door and saw the room, ice coated. Yep, this was definitely Aesha-like.

I’m finally going to talk to you, Aesha. I will.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can sense her coming closer and closer already, like a blizzard was coming in her room. I lay on her cold bed, my hands at the back of my head. I wore my smirk, excited for her to come here in the room.

In….3

2.

1.

The door burst open.

She stared at me in shock, her mouth hanging in open. She gulped, and stood there, not moving. I hopped off the bed and closed the door quietly. She took a step back from me, but I took her wrists and pinned her to the wall.

“Fancy meeting you here,” I smirked.

“Let go of me,” she said angrily. Oh, right, it was her turn to be pissed off because it’s summer.

“I’m not letting you go ever again,” my thumb traced over her jawline.

She scowled at me, “You said you wanted me away. You got your wish Cole,”

I leaned closer to her, “I’m sorry, Aesha. I swear, I didn’t want you running away.”

“I’m with my real mother now, Cole. Do you have to ruin everything for me?” She still looked mad but her voice was cracking.

“I just want you to come back to me, at least talk to me, or something.” I said.

She looked away from me and dropped her gaze to the ground, “I want to forget about everything.”

I tried to hold back the words, but they escaped from my mouth, “I love you.”

She didn’t say anything. “And I know you feel the same way I do.”

She glared at me, tears filling her eyes, “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t like you?!”

She tried to get free but I was stronger, “That heart in the cave…you made that because of me,”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

I need to convince her that she really loves me, “Kennedy told me that you love me,”

She tore her gaze from me again, tears streaming on her cheeks. I put my lips up her forehead, missing her touch.

She pushed me away from her, “Well, yeah, I did love you,” Yes!!! She turned to me, “But that doesn’t mean I do now.”

I took a deep breath, “Aesha, I get it that you want to protect the people you care for. But you can’t deny your love for me forever. The past won’t repeat itself anymore. We won’t hurt each other, I promise.”

She didn’t say anything. Aesha just stood there, crying softly. I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around her, but she didn’t react to that.

“Okay, Aesha. I’ll leave you and never bother you again, okay?” I gave up. I need to let her go.

She forced out a smile, “Thanks a lot, Cole.”

Though I didn’t leave yet. “But,” I said, “just do me one favor.”

 “Anything,”

“Give me a kiss. Not on the cheek, but on the lips. One last long kiss.” I said. She didn’t hesitate; Aesha stood on her toes, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me tenderly.

My arms snaked around her waist, tugging her closer to me. She pulled me even closer while threading her fingers through my hair. The sensation felt much better than the first time we kissed. It was a passionate but gentle one. My eyes fluttered shut, and we just stood there, enjoying each other’s taste.

“I see you both are busy,” A voice came from the doorway. Aesha instantly pulled away, her lips red and swollen like mine.

“Go away, James.” She snapped at her brother. He left, smirking.

Aesha didn’t pull away at all. We were still close, her arms wrapped around my neck.

“I guess you have to go now,” she said.

I hugged her tightly, her face on my chest, “I’ll miss you, Aesha.” I kissed her head, “And I love you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” She said. We just stood there for a few seconds, pressed up against each other then she pulled away.

 I went out the door without another word.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The end… :’(

-Vireen

HAHA, LOL! NOT YET, PEOPLE! IT ISN’T OVER YET!

Did I scare you?

But there are only two chapters left, including the special one. I decided not to include an epilogue. But when this book is done please promise me to read my next book (it’s a demigod fanfiction) okay?

Read my next book, pretty please with cookies and cream and rocky road ice cream on top?

-Vireen

P.S. The kissing scene sucked! I’m not used to writing those XD