at him. He knows the truth now.
“So, what's going on?” Ian looks at Nikki and then at Karissa.
“We were just talking about Kallos.” He doesn't really want to know what they were talking about. He knows that Nikki doesn’t like Kallos, but he was hoping that Karissa would.
“That's nice. Kris, can we talk?” She looks up at Ian and nods. “See you later, Nikki.” Nikki grabs Ian's arm.
“Ian, I don't like to be played with. Remember that!” She glares and Ian pulls his arm free. He doesn't know what to say so he just leaves with Karissa following.
When they’re alone, he turns to face Karissa, “Are you going to tell me what is really going on?” She nods and takes a deep breath.
“I don't like Kallos. It isn't right for her to have both you and Sean.” Ian knew it was about his brother. He walks over to her and hugs her. She wraps her little arms around him passionately. “She doesn't deserve you Ian. You have a good heart and you deserve someone who is going to love you with her whole heart, not half of it, let alone your brother at the same time.” She slowly looks up at him. Ian is shocked.
“Kris, what are you saying?” He thinks he knows but hopes he is wrong.
“I love you, Ian. I never loved Sean. It’s you I’ve wanted and it always has been.” He lets go of her and moves away. This is his best friend and he does love her, just not in that way.
“Kris, you know that Kallos is my soul mate.” She nods.
“That doesn't mean you should be with her. You should be with someone who won’t break your heart. Ian, I won’t.” He can see the tears in Karissa’s eyes. He never thought he would hurt her like this. He knows that he might have just lost his best friend.
“I have to go, but we’ll talk later.” He normally would kiss her forehead or hug her, but it doesn't feel like he should touch her right now. He turns around and can see Nikki watching the whole thing.
****
Kallos hasn't had time to really look around the school. She already knows that the school has a forest along the back, and a small lake on the east side. When her dad told her that they would be moving, she found the school on the Internet and checked out everything she needed to know. Kallos’ dad did tell her during lunch she can go outside if she wanted to, but he thought she should wait until the spring. It isn’t freezing yet, but it was starting to get cold. As they are walking, Sean reaches for her hand, and they walk out the front doors.
At first, Sean scared Kallos; he didn’t seem like a boy she would ever want to date. Now, he is changing her mind all the time by the way he looks at her and how kindly he speaks to her. He makes her feel good. Even now with his hand in hers, she feels like nothing bad can happen. Kallos notices he is leading them to a small garden with a water fountain in the center. They are walking towards the bench in front of the fountain, and sit down on the cold stone bench. She feels herself shiver; it’s colder than she thought sitting in the shade. Sean takes off his leather jacket and puts it over her shoulders, his hand returns to hers. Kallos can feel Sean’s thumb rubbing along her knuckles, and looks at their connected hands and smiles. She looks up at him and meets his gray eyes. She can feel herself falling for him fast and she almost gets lost in his ashen colored gaze.
“What are you thinking?” Kallos asks. Sean and Ian know what she is feeling, but she has no clue how they feel about her.
“You want to know what I’m thinking.” She gives him a small nod. “Do you know what your name means?” She shakes her head; Sean smiles, “It’s a Greek word for beauty. I know why your parents picked it. You are so beautiful, Kallos. I never thought someone could actually take my breath away and you do.” Both Sean and Ian know what to say to make her blush. Kallos can't get over that she has two soul mates. Then there is this change thing coming, and she is so scared. The break through pain she keeps having from the change