Chapter 15

Thomas was quite the gentleman on her first date. The girls had dressed her up for her date. Casual but charming was what Rose stressed when she gave her a blue sun dress, red leather jacket and ankle boots.

Her hair hung in a simple ponytail and Clary did her makeup which consisted or vanilla lip gloss and foundation. Honestly, she had never felt more at home and alive than that moment when she told the girls that she was going on a date tomorrow. Their facial expression was priceless when she told them that she was just going to dress up in her usual clothes.

"No way in the Fifteen Kingdom are we letting you go out on your first date looking like a lightning bolt swallowed you whole," Rose said as the girl raided her closet and urged the others to sit her down. After a full thirty minutes of them working their girl power magic, they sent her off to meet with Thomas outside the school gate. He was waiting for her near his hover bike but he smiled when she came up to him.

Thomas had brought her to a simple café near the park at sunset and it was so gorgeous. When she entered the café, the smell of fired food and baked pastry nearly left her drooling and begging for more.

"This place smells so amazing," Jia gushed as Thomas lead her to their table.

Thomas chuckled, "I was hoping that you`d like it."

"I love it, "she reassured him

When they reached their table, he pulled out her chair and waited until she sat before he took his seat.

She was about to ask another question when someone bumped into her chair," Hey!"

She turned to confront her assailant but paused when she saw that it was Tristan, "What are you doing here?"

"Drinking party, "He answered when he lifted a Red bottled Chiller and took a long gulp.

"Charming, "she commented and turned back to face Thomas, who nodded at his fellow classmate.

"Tristan, "Thomas said with a nod.

"Maloney. "Tristan raised his Chiller in salute before looking down at the white-haired teenager who refused to look up at him again, "What's your excuse for being here?"

"I`m on a date with Thomas."

"Does Roy know?"

Jia huffed, "What does it matter?"

"He`s your family, shouldn`t you two, you know, talk about these things or something?"

"Are you drunk?"

"Tipsy." Tristan answered.

"He doesn`t need to know, I don`t ask him about the girls he meets when he goes parting at Killian Memorial."

"How`d you know about that?" Thomas asked.

"The boys in your school tend to talk when they think no-one is listening in the hallways."

"Tristan, babe!"

Jia turned this time to her left to see Juliet, Dylan and three other teenagers sitting at the balcony side of the café. Juliet was waving him over while Dylan looked to be watching them with interest. Their table had drinks and food laid out while they all dined happily.

"Looks like your friends are calling," Jia pointed out before turning back to Thomas, "Have a nice afternoon Tristan."

"Later man, "Thomas said.

Tristan glanced at the Knight and Sorceress, he looked like he wanted to say something else but instead he gave Thomas one last nod before sauntering over back to his table.

Jia cleared her throat and smiled at her date, "So where were we?"

Thomas scanned her face for a few seconds before whispering, "If you feel uncomfortable being in the same place as Tristan and Dylan, we can go somewhere else."

Jia blinked," Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I know another place where they sell the best boneless chicken combos, "Thomas reassured her.

The white haired teen nodded eagerly before she stood with her date and left.

True to his word, there was another restaurant twenty minutes away that did sell the most amazing chicken she had ever tasted in her life. They took their food down to a bench near the beach and sat to eat. By then, the sun was starting to set and the sky was turning into different hues of orange, blue, pink and yellow.

"So you fight with a Mace, you`re a second year at the Academy and your favorite color is?" Jia drifted off while glancing at him.

Thomas swallowed his chicken before answering, "Maroon but I sometimes like the color red."

"You know red is just another color closer to marron right? Just a few shades darker." Jia pointed out.

"I know. What can I say? I just love the color red."

Jia chuckled and shook her head.

"So what`s the deal with you and Tristan? "Thomas asked as he took a sip of his soda.

"Deal?"

"He looked really mad when he saw you with me. Old boyfriend?"

Jia snorted," Storms no way. He`s just a friend of my cousin`s. I think he was just trying to him a favor by looking out for me. Though it isn`t really necessary."

The blue eyed Knight hummed thoughtfully, "How come?"

"I can take care of myself, by myself."

"Is your family usually this overprotective?"

Jia nodded her head," Yes but they are forgetting that I have magic therefore am able to protect myself.

"What happens when you don`t have you magic?"

"I know how to fight." Jia stated.

Thomas gave her an impressed smile, "Really? We`ll you`ll have to spar with me sometime then."

"Sure, if you`re alright with getting your butt kicked by a girl."

"Oh really?"

Jia laughed with a nod. They sat on the bench, talking about school and magic till the stars started to come out. Her phone started to go off with messages from the girls so Thomas decided to take her back to school before curfew. The next day, Jia woke up to Kyra`s complains in the kitchen. She yawned before getting out of bed and making her way out of her room.

There was a red box on the table and it looked like all the girls had left for breakfast already.

"What`s wrong?"

"No one wanted to get rid of the last cakes from yesterday so they left it for me to do it."

Jia chuckled, "Chin up girlfriend, I`m sure you can give it someone."

"Who? To you? "Kyra said as she placed her hands on her hips," Everyone's full from yesterday."

Jia rubbed a hand over her mouth, "I know a couple of someone`s who`d like to have them."

"Who?"

Several hours and classes later, Kyra and Jia walked down the Hallway of the Knight s Academy.

"How do you know where to go?" Kyra asked.

"This isn`t the first time, I`ve come to visit my cousin and his friends," Jia answered.

"Why doesn`t he come to visit you?"

"He`s never met all of you yet, I on the other hand, have met all his friends."

Kyra seemed satisfied with that answer as they walked past a group of boys that stopped to ogle her. Jia expected it of course, she knew her friends were head turners, even shy little Zoey had managed to turn Cole and she wasn`t even his usual type. The girls all questioned her last night about her date to which she responded that it was cool and relaxing. Like how friends would hang out. An answer that Rose and Fiona didn`t like.

"So no spark?" Rose asked.

Jia shook her head," It was nice but we agreed that it felt more like a friendly outing than a date but we`ve agreed to stay friends. I`m still going to help him with his paper and go to the Fireworks Show with him next month. Also I promised to spare with him next weekend."

The girl all awed'. Clearly they had high hopes for Thomas Maloney.

Jia lead the way till they reached Squad Five`s door and saw that it was wide open. She knocked on the wall gently.

"Hey guys," Jia greeted, she entered the room with a grin as Kyra following closely behind her.

Chase stood from his chair with a grin and the scar on his lower lip seems to stretch as Jia moved in and gave him a side hug before giving him the box she was carrying. She noticed that his table was cluttered with blueprints, metal parts, energy cores and tools.

Mike turned in his chair to greet her when his face suddenly looked flustered. Jia hid a small smile as she turned and noticed that Kyra`s cheeks had turned pink. So they liked each other? She thought it was more or less Mike crushing on Kyra but it seemed like her secretive friend also had thing for the kind hearted Knight.

"These are for you, my friend Kyra baked them yesterday."

Kyra raised a hand up in greeting, "Hi."

"Kyra, this is Mike and Chase, the charming knights of Squad Five and my cousin Roy`s best friends," Jia introduced them.

Chase moved to shake hands with Kyra before dragging Jia over to his bed and telling her to sit whilst he opened the pastry box. Mike and Kyra, on the other hand, were shyly introducing themselves and failing miserably at hiding their blushing faces.

"Did you know about this? "Chase muttered under his breath. Just low enough for her to hear him.

Jia shook her head slight with a small smile, "No, but I`m glad it happened."

She shared a happy glance with Chase as they watched Mike try to charm Kyra but failing slightly when he stepped backwards into his desk and knocked his books onto the floor. When Kyra moved to help him, they both knocked heads.

"Oh, bless his soul, he`s like a little bunny," Jia remarked lightly.

Chase snickered as he began eating pieces of the cakes.

Just then, Roy came in with his bag slung over his shoulder and bow in his hand.

"Roy! My dearest cousin!" Jia greeted with a smile.

"What`s this I hear about you going on a date with Thomas Maloney? "Roy asked as he moved to stand in front of his cousin. Jia`s smile fell from her face before it went blank.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Kyra, Chase and Mike tense up. She then stood and went toe-to-toe with her cousin.

"Where did you hear that?" Jia asked calmly.

"It doesn`t matter, answer me, Jia!"

Jai gave him a dry smile as thunder boomed outside of the window, "Yes, I went on a date, it was lovely and very relaxing for my first date but we decided that we were better off as friends. Is that what you want to know, Papa?" Jia bit out. "I didn`t go and sleep with him if that`s what you`re thinking."

Roy`s face turned red, "That's not what I meant."

"Really? Because it sure sounds like it."

"Jia, teenage guys are a different from our family."

"I know that! "Jia shouted, this time lightning flashed outside, reflecting her mood very clearly, "You and everyone need to ease up on me because I know that. I`m not a six-year-old Roy, I`m sixteen! And can sure as heck make my own judgments and decision about anything in my personal life!"

"Jia, your dad..."

"My papa doesn`t need to be told at first word."

At that moment, Tristan and Dylan appeared at the door in full armor. Obviously back from an exercise. Mike stood and held up his hands, trying to step in but Kyra held him by his arm and shook her head. Chase stood and watched them helplessly.

"At least you could have told me!"

"Why?"

"This is your first time in the outside world, not everyone is safe or cool to be friends with, we need to be careful about who you let into your inner circle."

"Why? You didn`t need to do the same when your friends were involved or those girls you flirted with?!"

"I`m different!" Roy exclaimed loudly, he was getting angry by the minute but his cousin didn`t seem to be backing down," Jia, aunt Marina was murdered in front of you and we never found out who was really responsible for her death. They could still be out there."

Everyone else in the room shared surprised glances. No-one knew that the murder hadn`t been found yet.

Roy continued on," That`s why our family kept you hidden away, that's why your father made sure no one had access to you. He went to great lengths to protect you so the least you could do when offered a little freedom is to be cautious!"

Jia shook her head furiously, "I am cautious but that doesn't mean my private life needs to be run through you and everyone in our family!"

"Your dad would want you to- "

"Stop bringing up my papa or I will seriously say something we`ll both regret later! This discussion is over! "She exclaimed before moving past him.

"Don`t you walk away when I`m talking to you! Jia!"

"Happy now?!" she yelled at Tristan as she pushed through him and Dylan at the door way. Chase was trying to go after her when Dylan held up a hand to stop him.

"Let her cool off."

That was what she heard Dylan mutter behind her as Mike asked Tristan what did he do.