1.16 - The Allure of Young Love

"Mom! You'll never believe what just happened!" Aoife said, her eyes lighting up, her hands a flutter of activity. "I met this girl in school today, and she wants me to be her date to the prom tonight. She was SUPPOSED to go with Percy. But then she and Percy broke up because they're both actually gay! Crazy, right? Anyway. I think it might be fun to go and dance and you know, she's cute. Plus she wants me to go in my wolf form. This is going to be awesome."

Shae just nodded and smiled as he daughter went on and on. She was happy for her daughter, but in her excitement, she couldn't even get a word in. Illdrid sat silently at the table, hoping the eldest children wouldn't get their hearts broken so soon. Love could be so fickle, especially at such a young age. She thought about James and wondered what he was doing. Maybe she should call him. It had been so long. Danger no longer seemed to lurk around every corner. Perhaps he would forgive her childish outburst from so many years ago.

Aoife and Dagon were the first to get picked up by the limo. They left enough room for their respective dates. A nervous silence hung in the air between them. Would it be a night of disaster and shame? Or a fairytale they'd both remember forever?

Meanwhile, Evandrus decided to age up by himself. He didn't want anyone fussing over him or trying to ply him with cakes, asking about his wishes. He just calmly stood in his bedroom and let the sparkles overtake him.

Things didn't feel much different as a teenager. Although, the realization dawned on him that maybe his goal to become royalty was a bit ridiculous. Instead, he decided he would write books. About a king. There might be dragons. He could illustrate them, too. The thing that made him most excited about his new life goal was the fact that it would enable him to live alone in a cabin somewhere. He could be that hermit who shouted at kids to get off his lawn. He endeavored right then to grow a mountain man beard. It was only fitting.

Dagon strolled out of prom that night, unable to keep a smile from his lips. It had been magical. He had danced the night away with Percy, and by the end of the night, their relationship was official.

As soon as he got into his room, he hung the picture of the two of them on the wall. He had attempted to take a serious and romantic picture, but Percy was determined to be silly. It was so like him. And it turned into a better photo than Dagon had pictured.

Aoife had a surprisingly good time, as well. Despite only being a freshman, she was voted prom queen. Dagon suspected it was because everyone was intimidated by her wolf form, but she was so happy, he didn't relay his suspicions to her. She had danced the night away in Kari's arms, and whether it was the magic of the evening or possibly the spiked punch, she agreed at the end of the evening to be Kari's steady girlfriend.

The next morning at breakfast, Dagon couldn't take his eyes off his little brother. It was weird seeing him so much older. "Did you have an enjoyable birthday, Ev?"

Evandrus shrugged. "It was a birthday. I find the whole party thing tedious. But I had a pleasant evening alone. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get ready for school."

Dagon and Aoife exchanged bemused glances. Evandrus was just as strange as always.

Evandrus made sure to sit alone on the bus going to and from school. He couldn't be bothered with his peers. They could never possibly understand him. And he didn't really want them to. Life was much more interesting played out in his mind than it was in the real world.

That evening, Aoife and Dagon decided to hit the local karaoke bar. Aoife remained in her wolf form. She really enjoyed the way people just gave her everything she asked for when she looked like that. As soon as they walked in Mick's, the previous karaoke singers dispersed, leaving Aoife and Dagon to take up the mics. Their atrocious howling sent the patrons grumbling out into the streets, holding their ears. But the two teens had fun.

"Well that was fun," Dagon said to Aoife afterward. "Do you think we should have invited Evandrus? I know he doesn't like people much. But he IS my brother."

Aoife shook her head. "Nah. I don't think he would have had much fun anyway. But next time we SHOULD make it a double date! Percy and Kari would love this!"

Aoife was right about Evandrus. He didn't need a night out on the town to have a good time. He was immersed in his own little world in front of the computer screen. One everyone in town would be reading his books. He was sure of it.

The following morning, Aoife and Dagon invited Kari and Percy back to Mick's. Since it was so early, they had the place to themselves.

"I heard this place was kind of lame. So you better be prepared to show me a good time!" Kari said, playfully poking Aoife's shoulder.

"Oh yea, you hear that from all your preppy cheerleader friends?" Aoife retorted with a smirk.

"So now we're onto the stereotypes, are we? Alright! I challenge you to a game of pool...you know, if this dump even has a pool table. AND...I want your cousin to be my teammate!"

Aoife burst into laughter. "Sure thing, sweetie. You can take Artsy Dagon and I'll have Sporty Percy. This will be a real competition!"

"Aaaand the town bike steps up to the plate!" Aoife shouted as soon as Kari stepped up to break.

"Hey!" Percy said, glaring at his teammate. "Don't call her that. Besides. This isn't even the appropriate sport!"

Aoife 's lips curled as she rolled her eyes. "I'm just trying to throw her off her game." She turned toward Kari. "You know I was just joking, right?"

Kari chuckled. "Like I would take anything you said seriously!"

Despite their team's combined talent and Aoife's distraction attempts, they lost to Kari and Dagon. Aoife did her best to accept defeat gracefully, but it was really hard to do while Kari gloated.

Percy was a much better loser. It certainly didn't hurt that Dagon didn't particularly care about winning. Actually, all he really wanted to do was sing. "Come on! Let's sing that Gaga song!" he said, pulling Percy by the hand to the karaoke machine.

"Oh wow. We were awful!" Percy said, beginning to giggle.

"Come on, we weren't that bad," Dagon replied. But after stealing a glance at Percy's dubious expression, Dagon recanted his statement.

Kari and Aoife remained upstairs, but their attention was no longer on the pool game. "I demand a rematch," Aoife whispered throatily, as she pulled Kari into her embrace.

Kari's eyes widened. "Whoa there. Don't you think we're moving a little too fast?"

"I think we'd be moving too fast if I were to suggest we do some hardcore canoodling in the deserted photobooth," Aoife replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she inched closer to the aforementioned device.

"Yea? Well this bike is feeling a little speedy. Care to hop on?" Kari managed to choke out in between giggles as the two girls stumbled behind the curtains.

"It's nice having alone time," Dagon said as he slipped his arm around Percy's shoulders. They were sitting on a couch near the pool table, trying to ignore the suspicious sounds coming from the photobooth.

Percy smiled. "Yea. Our houses are both so full of people. I enjoy the quiet."

Dagon nuzzled Percy's neck. "Have you told your parents about us?"

Percy pulled Dagon closer, catching his boyfriend's lips with his own. Dagon half-heartedly attempted an objection. But he could tell Percy wasn't quite ready to talk about his family life. So he let the subject drop and let Percy guide their kisses.

At home, Illdrid was starting to worry. She knew that Percy and Aoife were out with their partners. But she couldn't get in touch with Evandrus. He wasn't in his bed when she woke up. And he wouldn't answer his cell phone. She was seriously beginning to consider calling the police.

Evandrus would have to come up with some sort of excuse for why he was missing. His mom would never believe that he just decided to take a nap in the scrapyard. He just needed some alone time, and it was comforting being surrounded by a bunch of inanimate objects, so much so that he just happened to fall asleep among them.

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Chapter Notes: Phew! Once they hit childhood, those kids just started growing so fast. I'm really going to miss them all when they have to move out. Evandrus is my favorite. Unfortunately, he doesn't fit next gen's roll...so he'll be gone once he hits adulthood. :( I'm thinking one of the twins will be heir. But I want to see how they turn out as children before decided for sure.