Rose Blossom - By Renee Travis Page 0,21

meet you,” I said.

Avalon studied me for enough time that I didn’t know if she was actually going to respond, I barely saw the slightly annoyed look Loretta gave her. When she opened her mouth I truly expected an immature voice that matched the youth and timidness radiating from the girl.

“Purple eyes are quite rare, are yours medically or cosmetically enhanced?” she asked, and the voice that came from her sweet coral mouth sounded old and far more knowledgeable than I would have expected.

Loretta turned to her, eyes flashing with irritation; Avalon took a step back from her mother, a look of apology on her face.

I felt, rather than saw Julian stiffen, suddenly the room was full of a tension I didn’t understand, my chest began to ache as my heart rate sped up, loud and hard and I could feel it thumping in my chest. And then it stilled as three pairs of eyes, simultaneously turned to stare at me. Julian drew me into his embrace, quickly and what felt like protectively.

With my nose buried in his neck and his arms tightly around me, I felt laughter well up from inside me and began to giggle. Julian relaxed a bit and mimicked my own laughter, yet still maintaining a firm hold on me, one hand reached up and began to play with a strand of my hair. His touch and scent acting better than any medication my mother had ever given me.

“Avalon, what a thing to say, not the best conversation starter, maybe we should work on that.” The humor in his voice seemed to kill whatever negative feelings had begun to fill the house.

I heard Loretta chuckle, “Yes, well, that’s our Avalon.”

At those words it was as if a vice was released and suddenly the atmosphere in the place returned to normal. Julian released me and turned me to face his family, but kept both arms around my waist, my back resting against his chest. Today he was very still, the faintest heartbeat and barest hint of his chest moving as he breathed. It was almost as if he had to make the effort to look like he was breathing. In the back of my mind that thought scared me, that I wasn't really sure if Julian needed to breathe or not.

I smiled, again and decided to answer Avalon’s question. She looked embarrassed and if possible, smaller than before.

“My eyes are purple because of the medication I’m on," I said.

Avalon’s eyes brightened at my words, “I must admit I am very glad Julian has chosen you instead of one of those vapid females we’re forced to go to school with.”

I was a little distracted as I responded; Julian had reached a hand up and was caressing my neck, sending pleasant shivers down my spine as his cooling skin touched mine.

“Forced?” I asked, curious at the word usage.

“Yes, I mean you don’t truly think Julian and I are actually teenagers, I mean we’ve done this high school thing at least a thousand...” Avalon was cut off by a growl coming from Julian’s throat.

“That’s enough,” he told her, his voice quiet and deadly sounding. I tried to step away from him but he kept me still, with just the one hand around my waist.

“Avalon, watch what you say," Loretta scolded.

Avalon looked ashamed and her eyes seemed to shine, almost as if she were going to cry, she mumbled, “I’m sorry,” and darted back up the stairs. No one said anything until they heard the door slam.

“She needs to work on her control,” Julian’s voice was still angry. Loretta looked less angry and more concerned, like she was worried about her daughter.

"She's older than you Julian, don't treat her like she's not." Loretta warned him.

"Then she needs to start acting like it. How she ever survived without you..." he trailed off.

As I listen to their conversation, I came to a uneasy conclusion. Julian’s whole family wasn’t human and I was with them, alone. Fear crept into my veins like a poison, I trusted Julian, but could I trust the rest of his family? Julian would not have brought me here and put me in harm's way. I told myself this over and over, but I thought I'd handled everything else magnificently so far, what was one little bout of anxiety?

“Rhodanthe, you should sit, your color is bad,” Julian whispered in my ear, “and your heartbeat is erratic, I think that this outing was not a good idea.”

He helped me over to