Chapter 12-3

He grabbed my chin; I thought he was going to kiss me, before pulling me into a hug.

"Ash, I can control darkness, so you don't have to fight it because I promise to do my best to keep it away from you," I could not stop laughing for no known reason. "That's the Ash I know returning, I was worried that I might have to do a silly dance to make you happy."

"The depression and panic attacks will always be with me because it is not a real darkness you control. I cannot even control if it tries to take me over again. So, please don't make promises you can't keep," I started to smile and it felt strange on my face. "But, if you really want to, you could still do dance a silly dance."

I felt his laugh while he was holding me. A nice and soothing vibration made me try to snuggle deeper into his chest. He made me feel safe in a way that I have never felt before.

"Maybe after all the classes today, I will do a dance for you."

"How about we all go to dinner before I lose my lunch." Mr. Harker said which caused me to jump because I forgot he was there.

"Food sounds great… until I realized that you're my next teacher, Dad. Why must you be a teacher here?"

He started laughing at us as he walked away. I felt Bram grab my hand and I started to blush.

"I feel like our friendship will change forever, but I like this change."

Bram gave a shocked look as we were walking.

"You mean that you liked me too?! After all these years?"

"I wasn't very sure in the beginning but I feel it in my heart that I like you more than a simple friend."

I looked at him and he was smiling like an idiot. I noticed that some people were walking around us in a bigger circle due to his fangs showing. To me, his own style of darkness shines a bright light in my life. Right before we got to the dining room, he leaned down and kissed my cheek.

"Ew! I might get bit by one of his gay fleas!" A guy said nearby us.

"One moment," I said before walking towards the insulter.

All it took was one punch to knock him on his ass. I quickly dusted off my hands and walked back to Bram.

"Nice swing, I didn't know you had it in you."

"Just because I don't fight doesn't mean I can't. We all heard the stories about my mother during the war."

"So, you just like to be the passive-aggressive type." He told me after shuddering.

I stuck my tongue out at him before opening the door to the dining hall. We walked over to our table and Flo looked too excited for some reason.

"My baby brother is growing up! I'm so proud of him." Flo said as she pulled me into the seat next to her.

As soon as I got out of her grip, I reached for the nearest idem of food. I heard a small 'meow' and I looked down. There was a small dark brown cat laying on Flo's lap. She was petting it every few moments and I could hear it purring. It looked familiar to me as if I have seen the markings before.

"Should I even ask?"

"This little guy? He's one of Mr. Manx's cats; he loves to follow me around."

"Just keep it far away from me, I don't like cats." Nova said as I saw his wings bent in a weird position away from the cat.

I did my best not to laugh because I still remember why he does not like them. Shortly after the war ended, he was outside his house and a large group of stray cats attacked him. It looked like they thought his large wings were connected to a large bird. Since then, he became untrusting of any nearby cat.

"I lost count how many years since we made that bet because I want my money." Joy said between sips.

"A what?" I was dumbfounded by what she said.

"I think it was four years which means Viktor won." Flo said while petting the cat some more.

"Who?"

I was in shock that they had a bet going on behind my back. However, no matter how mad I was at them, I could not stay mad because there was food that needed to be eaten. I decided to look at the professor table, and I noticed that Professor Manx was not sitting at the table but most of his cats were there.

"I'm so happy! We can totally walk to class together! Well, after I drop off this little kitty cat at Mr. Manx's classroom."

'Strange that she would call him Mr. Manx and not Professor Manx. We are supposed to call them by the formal name unless we grew up with them. I have never seen Professor Manx before my first year here.' No matter how confused I thought of this matter, I had a feeling that I will learn the reason why later. As my father always says, 'trust your instincts because they are almost always right.'

Looking over to the other tables, I could see Bruce and Alex laughing at the Spirit table, and Viktor, Lewis, and Anna enjoying themselves at the Mind table. I remember the dark times when we only had the small group but we all cared for each other. Even though Joy may make comments about how she hates her cousin sometimes, but I know that she loves it when Anna comes all the way from Silvermine to see her. I could not help myself from laughing because a strange happiness inside me.

"What's so funny?" Bram asked before kissing my cheek.

That kiss caused me to blush and stutter my answer.

"He's turning a red as one of my apples!"

"So cute!"

Flo pulled me into another hug. I could feel her strength slowly squishing my head.

"Life seems much better now, than years ago in Oakgrove." I said after I got free of her hold. "We are staying together as we are spreading out into the world."

"Those who say that being different is good, never had to deal with the pain of being different." Nova pointed out. "But I would never wish for this to change."