“Calum, darling. We should probably get up now.” Aka smiled as Calum shook his head into Aka’s chest. “Your father and brother will start to worry.”

“What time is it?” Calum asked, his voice muffled by Aka’s chest.

Aka looked over at the clock on Calum’s bedside table before he answered. “Eleven-thirty, love. Come on.” Aka laughed when Calum shot up, suddenly wide awake. Calum slipped off the bed, walking into his closet to pick out clothes for the day.

There was a knock on the door but before Aka could answer it, the door was being opened by Jack. Why knock if you were just going to waltz on in here? Aka thought, looking at Jack with furrowed eyebrows. “I knew I heard you guys! Here are some clothes, Aka. I think you’re about my size, so I got you some clothes from my closet. Don’t know why I didn’t think to give you these yesterday.” Jack walked in, placing the clothes on the bed. “Where’s Cal?”

Aka pointed to the closet, feeling a bit pained that he couldn’t see his soulmate. As if he could read the siren’s mind, Calum walked quickly out of his closet plopping on the bed and going right back to his spot next to Aka.

The siren blushed, looking at Jack sheepishly. Jack was shocked at first, but once he realized what was happening, he pulled Calum away from Aka. Calum tried fighting his twin but he knew it was futile. Jack had always been the stronger brother, even at a young age. Aka almost hissed, knowing that Jack was pulling his soulmate away from him.

“Are you two dating?” Jack asked, confused and scared. Had he read his brother wrong this whole time? Did Calum really only think of Evan as a friend? Was he backing off all this time for nothing? He held Calum from getting to Aka, looking at the siren with protective eyes.

Aka felt pain from not being able to touch his soulmate. He looked at Jack’s eyes, realizing that the brother of his soulmate would not allow him to touch Calum until he answered the question. Calum and Aka locked eyes, knowing full well that “dating” couldn’t even begin to comprehend what they felt for each other. “Yeah,” Aka sat up, looking at Calum lovingly. “I guess you could say that.”

“How long?” Jack asked, still keeping a firm grip on his brother.

“Excuse me?”

“How long have you been dating?” Jack asked. He needed some type of closure. He couldn’t believe that Calum didn’t have at least some feelings for Evan. That’s why he backed off. That’s why Jack didn’t pursue his best friend. That’s why Jack didn’t completely break down when Evan went through men and women like they were his favorite snack. He needed to know if Calum had a crush on Evan.

Calum and Aka looked at each other. They knew they would have to stretch the truth. It wouldn’t make sense for them to be acting like they are after a day or two of dating. “A couple of weeks ago,” Calum answered.

Jack finally let his brother go. Aka caught Calum and held him close, letting their souls calm from not touching each other. “Why didn’t I know? Why did you act like you didn’t know each other yesterday and the night we had dinner? Why did you-” Jack stopped himself before telling Calum that he knew about his “crush”.

Calum shrugged. “I knew you would act like this. And we didn’t really want to let Dad or you know about our relationship. ‘Course now it’s inevitable.” Calum grinned, leaning back into Aka.

“You do realize I’m gonna tell Dad now, right?” Jack asked, sitting in Calum’s desk chair. He watched Calum as he grinned and nodded. He realized that Calum was as in love with Aka as he could be. It seemed impossible to Jack but every time he looked at Calum, he realized how much they actually love each other.

Jack stood, walking to the door. “As long as you’re happy, Cal. Just don’t keep stuff like this from me again okay?” Calum nodded, giving his brother a small grin before he left.

Aka coiled his arms around Calum’s waist, nuzzling his nose against Calum’s neck. “We’re going to have to get up someday, Aka. Dad and Jack are gonna wonder where we are.” Calum said, failing to hide the happiness in his voice.

Aka snorted, lifting his head to leave a small kiss on his soulmate’s head. Didn’t I wake Calum for the same purpose, Aka thought, smirking. “Not right now. I want to stay in bed with my soulmate a bit longer.”

Calum blushed, leaning into Aka some more. “Fine. But only for an hour. Then we have to go hang out with my family, Evan, and Cora.”

~~~~~~~~

Jack walked down the steps slowly, letting everything that he just learned about his twin and Aka sink in. They lied to me, Jack thought, why? He thought back to when Calum told him that they had met a couple of weeks ago. He knew full well that they didn’t meet each other a couple of weeks ago. He kept an eye on Calum every day at college and he never saw Aka nor Cora with him ever. In fact, he never even saw Aka and Cora at their college.

When Jack finally got to the main floor, Howard was sitting in a chair in the living room talking with Evan and Cora who were seated on the couch. Cora had done her makeup. When she lived in the sea, she wasn't able to do makeup because it washed off quickly. This was one of the only reasons she came up on land. Jack sat in a chair quietly, making both Evan and Howard look at Jack with suspicion. “Jackson.” Howard began. “Are you okay? You’re very quiet.”

Jack looked up at Howard in surprise, having been thrown out of his thoughts by Howard’s voice. He looked at Howard, then at Evan and Cora. After a minute of debating with himself, he shook his head, getting up as quietly as he came and headed to the kitchen. Howard watched Jack before deciding to follow his son into the kitchen.

When Howard had joined his son in the kitchen, Jack turned suddenly so that he wasn’t facing his father. “Calum and Aka are dating.” He said quietly, hoping that Howard wouldn’t be angry because Calum kept it from him.

Howard had to strain to hear what Jack said, but once he understood, he chuckled. “Is that why Aka wasn’t on the couch this morning?” Jack turned slowly to look at his father. “I knew there was something between them. I just couldn’t figure out what it was. Good for him. I’m happy he’s stepping out of his comfort zone more.”

“But-” Jack stopped, thinking about how to say this. “But aren’t you mad that he kept it from you? And I’ve never seen Aka and Cora at college or with Calum ever until yesterday. Aren’t you in the least bit concerned?” The older twin asked.

Howard shrugged. “He’s nineteen. You both are. He can make his own choices now. And if he decided to date this man, then I trust his judgment. You know that it takes a while for him to trust strangers. The fact that it took only a few weeks for him to trust Aka and Cora is a huge improvement. You need to stop worrying about your brother’s relationships and worry about your own. He doesn’t need a protector all of the time.” Howard pulled Jack into a hug. “I’m grateful that you’re so protective of him, but let him live his own life without you looking over his shoulder twenty-four seven.” He pulled back, keeping his hands on Jack’s shoulders. “Okay?”

Jack nodded, giving his dad a smile. Howard steps back, mirroring his smile. Jack stood in the kitchen as Howard left, going back to Evan and Cora. He’s right, Jack thought. But I’m still going to keep a close eye on those two. I don’t think that they’re telling the whole truth.