Chapter 10

I-" Before she finished I said, "No you are not going to be a burden or a problem." She scowls in annoyance. " I was going to say I accept your offer before you so rudely cut me off Nate," she scolded."Sorry and that's a good thing because I didn't plan on taking no for an answer," I shrug, walking towards the door.

"I'm going to see if Alex is done, so please don't hurt yourself!" I yelled while jogging up the stairs. A few seconds later I heard the music turn on. I shake my head and laugh softly. I turned to go up the other staircase when someone taps on my shoulder. I turned around to see Alex behind me. He is wearing a tank top that is plain black with track bottoms. For some reason he's wearing fingerless gloves but it's cute. "I was just about to come get you but since you're out follow me" I said walking back down the stairs to the gym. Now I wish I had an elevator, that wasn't in the clothing room

"I'm never going to get used to this" Alex held on to the railing as we walked down. "You will eventually- oh and Antares is living with us now" the closer we get the music starts drilling into my ear drums and I'm forced to cover them. "Do you just invite anyone into your home?" Alex yells over the music. "No, that's a recipe for disaster" I used my finger to wiggle my ears to get rid of the ringing. "Then why do you do it?" his voice holds curiosity and confusion. "I invite people who are close to me or those who need help" I explained.

"Oh. That's really generous of you to do" he said. "I'm not looking for praise" I ruffled his hair. He didn't say anything he just smiled at me. I opened the door to my gym. "I wouldn't be shocked if you had an indoor pool or a club in this house." he comments while gawking at the gym. I said a small "Well...". "You're not serious" he gasped. I moved closer "Very" I smiled at his shocked expression.

"I'm speechless" he said. "Get used to it." I watched as Antares choose several different songs then decided that she doesn't want music. "Ok, good luck with your training" I said "I'm going to need it" he said looking at Antares who is playing with a boxing glove in her hands. I hugged him. "I can feel your heart beating against my chest like a hammer. Please calm yourself before you give yourself a panic attack" I urged as I hugged him. "Ok" he took several breathes before his heart slowed down.

"Good, now go control your magic" I let him go. He took a deep breath to hype himself up. He walked off towards Antares and I left them to it. I walked back to the kitchen and washed my hands. Just then the girls ran in giggling and behind them are the twins. The boys have a palm print on their cheek that is VISIBLY healing. "Are you guys ok?" I asked. The twins stopped running. "These two slapped us then ran off" Justin informed me while glaring at the girls. "Lilah why did you guys think that slapping them is funny?" I interrogated while cutting up some onions and peppers.

"We were bored" she whined. "There are so many things to do in this house that doesn't resolves in the twins choking you to death" I stated. "Choking?" the twins asked. "Mmm hmm" I hummed while mixing the seasoning into the meat. "Are you ok, up here?" Justin asked while jabbing his index fingers to his head. "Did you hit your head?" Austin asked.

"No but something tells me they wouldn't object to it," I laughed.

"Is he serious?" Austin pointed at me while asking Lilah. Bella is blushing uncontrollably and Lilah is frozen in her spot. "They might even laugh while you're doing it." I commented. The girls glared at me. "Don't bother denying it because you're minds are sick and filthy. And stop murdering me with your eyes" I winked at them.

"You can read minds?!" Lilah asked, snapping out of her daze. "Yeah...I found out a couple minutes ago" I explained."Please don't read my mind, I have some private stuff up there" Bella covered her head as if that would help." I won't. Someone's mind is private and I don't want to know everything. Trust me" I reassured her while adding the square pasta and cheese on top of the meat. They sighed in relief.

"Get out of my kitchen now. Go watch a movie or something that doesn't cause sexual tension in my living room," I pointed my knife towards the living room. The twins immediately walk away quickly and the girls were still blushing. I laugh at them. "I don't remember taking tomatoes out of the fridge." I laugh.

They ran back to the living room. 'I totally think that they are going to try killing each other' I thought to myself. I continued cutting up ingredients. "Nathaniel" a voice whispered. I looked behind me but there was no one there when I looked around. I put the knife down and followed the calling.

I walked to the dining room and looked around. I sighed when I saw nothing there. I turned around to go back to the kitchen and there she was...

My mother was standing in front of me tapping her foot on the floor. "Where is my welcome home hug?" she asked folding her arms. "I didn't know you were here" I said walking up to her, forgetting previous suspensions. "Why are you in here, alone?" she asked hugging me. "Well I heard someone calling my name." I said. Her eyes glinted. "It's probably nothing" she said walking out of the room.

"She's hiding something" I thought. "Why would she lie?" I asked myself. I walked out of the dining room looking around one last time. "Nathaniel who are your friends?" she asked excitedly. "The twins are Austin and Justin, that is Bella, Antares and Alex are in the gym" I stated pointing at them. They waved at her while smiling. "Mrs Williams!" Lilah screamed running to hug my mother.

"Hello, daughter that I should have had" my mother said stroking Lilah's hair as she hugged her. "Excuse me?" I put my hand over my heart pretending to be hurt. Lilah giggled. "Shut up, I still love you" my mom said smiling. Lilah nudged me with her elbow. "Ney ney neh ney nay, I'm her favourite," she sings. I laughed at her childishness. "Keep telling yourself that sweetie," I whispered in her ear.

"Mom I'm making lasagna for dinner, wanna help?" I ask. "I need to go take a shower first" she said walking to the stairs. "So you'll be out in 20 years" I asked. She rolled her eyes and showed me her middle finger. I smile and stick my tongue out at her.

When she went upstairs everyone bursted out laughing "Nate, your mother is hilarious" Bella laughed. "I know right" Lilah giggled. "Our mother would have rolled her eyes then smacked us behind the head...hard too" Justin chuckled. Austin nodded in agreement, “Like ear ringing hard. Eyes blurry and dizzy as hell.

"Yeah, she's great until you tell her that chocolate is gross" I comment, rolling my eyes. Lilah gasped. "Whoever says anything like that should be beaten, severely, with a pipe, wrapped in barbed wires" she recited from her favourite character. "Did you just quote Styles from Teen Wolf?" The twins asked. "I like you a lot more now, but for knowing that." Lilah announces, with an approving nod of her head.

We laughed at her announcement. "Why are you here talking to us? I'm hungry, SHOO!" Lilah waved her hands out at me. I left the living room and went back into the land went back into the kitchen. After a few minutes of seasoning, I put it in the oven for it to cook.

My mom walked in with her curly hair in a ponytail and wearing an oversized grey hoodie with black socks. "Aww, you're almost almost finished," she pouted. "You can make dessert!" Lilah yelled from the living room. "I need to talk to you first," I said. "Sure, let's go to the dining room," she said. "Why?" I asked. "It's soundproof" she said. "It's not that deep but, ok" I mumble.

"Ok, what is it?" she asked once we were in the dining room. "Alexander and Antares will be living with us" I stated, waiting for a lecture about strangers or something like that. She didn't look shocked at all but then it's like she remembered something and her face shifted to surprise, then said, "Oh!” “That's great where are they?" she asked with newfound excitement making me slightly suspicious.

‘They're doing magic but she doesn't need know that,’ I thought to myself.

"They're in the gym but let's give them some time," I told her.

She slowly nodded. "Ok I'm going to start dessert before Lilah starts crying," she said. When she walked out she whispered, "Everything is going according to my visions.” Now that's when I became fully suspicious of her. ‘What visions and what does my friends have to do with it?’I thought.

I walked to the kitchen and she was making dessert. I tried reading her mind but all I got was her thinking about WAP lyrics. Never want to hear my mother singing that again. ‘Maybe I'm just over thinking?’ I thought then went to help her make dessert.

"You have gorgeous eyes," she said, suddenly staring at me. "I know and you are telling me this because?" I asked. "Hmm, good looks obviously doesn't give you good manners. Couldn't you just say thank you?" she laughed.

"NoPe" I said popping the P.

We laughed and make jokes, mostly insulting each other. "Ok, I get it but it's still funny that you cried while watching Child's Play," I said laughing. "You have no idea how terrifying that doll is!" Mom yelled. "Yeah, his tiny legs when he's running like a baby, just HORRIFYING" I gasped dramatically.

She slapped my shoulder.

"I hope you choke on your spit while laughing," she said glaring at me, I laughed harder. "A death wish and I thought I was the one being dramatic," I said catching my breath. She stared at me. "Damn, if looks could kill I'd be splattered across the walls" I snark, smiling ear to ear.

She rolled her eyes. The oven made a ding sound. "I think the lasagna is done," she announces. "You think?" I asked sarcastically. She smacked me behind the head. I winced rubbing the spot. She smiled proud of herself. Women are crazy. I took it out of the oven and put it on the counter. Almost immediately, I heard Lilah squeal.

She sprinted into the kitchen. "Where is it? Gimme, gimme, gimme," she made grabby hands at the lasagna. My mom looked at her, shaking her head. “Not yet, your job is to tell everyone to go to the dining room," she said, slapping Lilah’ hands away. Lilah pouted and screamed, "Everyone get your ass to the dining room now!" I laughed throwing my head back.

"They don't know where it is," I said wiping under my eyes. "Oh,” she mumbled. "I'm going to go get Antares and Alexander," I said. Lilah shooed me away with her hands. I walked down the stairs to the gym. When I opened the door a ball of light flew towards me, I shift to the side at an incredible speed that isn’t humanly possible.

"Holy shit!" I gasped, my hand in my chest, feeling my racing heart. "What the hell was that?" I asked wide eyed. "An energy sphere. It could probably knock out an elephant," Antares laughed nervously. "Ok umm, give me a second to get my heart into my chest and beating," I said taking deep breaths. "Sorry," Alex mumbled. "Did you throw that?" I asked. He nodded.

I smiled and hugged him. "Good you are making progress but you need to work on your aim," I praised. He smiled and nodded. "Let's go upstairs before Lilah grows a second head." I said, curling my fingers at them to follow and they come with me up the stairs.

"How are you not sweating?" I questioned. "One of the spells that he practiced was to give us a lot of energy and to keep our body cool," Antares explained and I nodded in understanding.

When we got to the dining room, my mom sits to the right side of the head. "I'm flattered that you saved my seat," I said, blowing her a kiss and Mom rolled her eyes.

"Shut up and let's start eating before you make me puke," she said rolling her eyes.