be dead and he knew it. This was exactly the kind of deep emotional stuff my brother didn’t handle well. I decided to be nice and spare him.
“You know, it’s actually a really good thing you were in lion form when all this went down. Regular Gabe would’ve screamed like a little girl at the first sight of the dragon.”
The lion’s face pulled back in a grin as he swiped at me with his gigantic paw. It glanced off my shoulder and sent me stumbling forward. “Ow.”
His smile widened.
“You should head back to the truck and change just in case Alec wakes up after she heals him,” I suggested.
Gabe snorted his agreement then trotted off, his paws padding against the wood floor.
Left alone, I peered around the sprawling theater. The pile of dust, assorted scorch marks, broken flag pole and rows of demolished chairs were the only remaining signs of what transpired here. To the outside world it would look like nothing more than vandalism. No one would know it was where we had fought and prevailed over the forces of evil.
For now.
Somewhere out there the Dark Army still longed for my head on a stick. A chill ran down my spine. I made a none-too-hasty retreat from the empty theater.
EPILOGUE
After spending a ridiculous amount of time primping and preening, I bounded down the stairs in Kendall’s daisy covered sundress. Even this early in the day, the house buzzed with activity. That was commonplace as of late. And with the bubbly, excited mood I was in I welcomed it.
In the newly renovated living room, Kendall and Keith snuggled on the brand new glass-free leather sectional. Kendall had gone against our better judgment and told Keith everything. I mean everything. For the most part he took it well. He was understanding and compassionate towards Keni. Respectful and inquisitive around Gabe. And downright weirded out by me. Knowing I was some special “chosen one” freaked him out. I didn’t think it was possible, but he got even more nervous and fidgety whenever I was around. The way he broke out in a visible sweat at the sight of me made me wonder if he thought I was going to flip out and rip his head right off his shoulders.
Silly boy, I would never do that. If for no other reason than it would tick Kendall off royally.
But the two of them were inseparable now, so I came to terms with the spastic, jittery kid. The sickeningly-sweet twosome were cuddled up watching Grams’ new flat screen when I walked in. Kendall looked up and flashed me her winning smile. Keith immediately shifted his gaze to stare intently at a spot on the floor.
“Wow! Look at you! So today’s the big day, huh?” Keni said.
“Yep.” I nodded and spun so she could check out my entire ensemble.
“What…what big day?” Keith asked daring to glance up at me briefly with nervous eyes.
“Celeste is going to go get herself a boyfriend today.” Kendall’s smile held the teasing tone reserved for sisters and best friends.
“Where?” Noticeable sweat soaked through his shirt.
“The grocery store,” I deadpanned. “They keep them in the meat department right next to the tenderloin.”
“Wait…what?”
Kendall glared at me before turning to the aid of her anxious, sweaty sweetie. “She’s making fun of you, babe. She’s going to go see Alec.”
“Aren’t you afraid he’ll freak out at the sight of you?” Keith blurted. His eyes popped open as big as saucers when he realized he may have just angered me. I stifled a laugh.
“Not a problem! She sent Gabe to scope things out for her.” Kendall answered oblivious to her boyfriend’s agitation. “Alec couldn’t remember a thing. So Gabe told him that he had been mugged and we, like, found him and rescued him while we were touring the campus with Cee.”
“Now I have the all clear to ask him out without him screaming and running away,” I quipped.
Kendall laughed, Keith winced.
“Even with Alec around, my boyfriend will still be the best, most perfect wubikins there is!” Kendall gushed, then pounced on a clearly uncomfortable Keith for a rather one sided, incredibly awkward PDA.
Okay, I slay hell beasts, but that gave me the shivers. I bolted for the kitchen before I tossed my cookies on Grams’ newly purchased zebra print rug.
In the dining room table Gabe searched for room on the table for his breakfast around the mess of books Grams had strewn everywhere. After she was released from the hospital, Grams demanded to know the