"Hello gorgeous" Cayden grins at me. I roll my eyes as I return his smile "hey Cayden"

I had just walked into the house, and already Cayden was pouncing. He gently yet swiftly pushes me up against a wall and leans his head down so that he can talk more personally to me.

I feel my cheeks blush deeply at our intensely close contact "you know what my name Cayden means here in the Eribiss?" He asks as he unconsciously twirls my hair in his index finger, his eyes locked to mine.

I quirk an eyebrow "er-no" I admit.

A slow smirk that mimics Adelram's almost identically, forms on his lips as he answers "it means Sex God" he whispers.

Before I can reply, Cayden is suddenly flung off me to reveal an angry Adelram "that's not what your name means you idiot" Adelram growls at Cayden, his face twisted in annoyance.

Cayden doesn't miss a beat, he looks over to me and winks "I could prove it to you if you'd like" he offers. I can't help but laugh at his silly flirtation.

"You're name means Great Fighter now quit harassing Bethany and go away" Adelram demands as he rolls his eyes at his older brother.

"Later than babe" Cayden wiggles his eyebrows as he sends me another wink before walking upstairs.

Adelram looks over at me before breaking eye contact and looking to the floor "well I'm gonna" he pauses to clear his throat "uh g-go, so uh bye" he stutters awkwardly before turning around and leaving upstairs.

I'd like to say that things went back to normal with Adelram and I, that because of that moment in the bathroom, we were okay and we were no longer awkward and unsure of our relationship, but as you can see, that'd be a lie.

We've gotten less weird around each other, we're able to talk in lame, awkward sentences, but there's still uncomfortable silences, and we're both still unsure how to talk around each other. It's frustrating, and it sucks, but it's probably for the best anyways.

I walk into the living room to find Melina reading a story to Avalynn using over exaggerated animated voices.

I can't help but smile as Avalynn begins giggling at something Melina said.

"The end" Melina proclaims dragging out the 'e' in 'the'.

"Thanks mama" Avalynn chirps giving her mom a kiss on the cheek before jumping up, suddenly noticing me "oh hey uh..." her face scrunches up in confusion as a small frown forms on her lips. She looks back at Melina "what's her name again?" She asks whispering, trying but failing to make sure I don't hear.

I laugh lightly as Melina tells her.

"Bethany! Hey Bethany" Avalynn says smiling at me "hey Robin" I reply watching her face twist in confusion "Robin?" She asks confused.

"Yeah you know, Batman's sidekick" I explain.

"Ew Robin's a boy, I'm a girl" Avalynn states, the last part in a "duh" tone.

I laugh at this. "You can just call me Batgirl, because I'm basically the girl version of Batman" Avalynn informs me "alright then, Batgirl, will you please excuse me while I talk with your mom?" I ask politely.

Avalynn scurries along without a reply.

I sit down on the couch as Melina turns her body towards me "what can I do for you sweetheart?" Melina asks kindly.

"Well I was wondering if maybe you could show me how to block my thoughts like you and Adelram do" I ask nervously. I'm hoping to get as much power and strength as I can before going to Abigail's rescue.

Melina smiles excitedly at me "oh yes, I'd love to" she enthuses. Relief floods through me at her words "oh good, thank you" I thank smiling gratefully.

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Unlike all the other lessons I've had, I learned this one quite easily and quickly. Whether it was because I had a different teacher, or because this is a much simpler thing, I don't know, but I'm definitely grateful at how simple it was.

"So all you have to do is imagine closing your thoughts off, it sounds silly, but it honestly works" Melina assures me.

I close my eyes as I imagine building a stone wall around my brain, blocking off anybody from entering.

It's a strange feeling, one I'm not really sure I'll be able to put into words. It's as though I've shut off all intruders, as though I've left my thoughts to be my own. I no longer feel unsure wether the thoughts I think are mine, because I know the only thing entering and leaving my mind are thoughts that I've created.

I hear Melina clapping enthusiastically and I pop my eyes open to see her beaming at me with a large grin shinning on her face. "Excellent! That was very quick, good job!" she exclaims dramatically.

I can't help but smile back "so you really can't hear my thoughts anymore?" I question just a little skeptical, is that really all it took? Melina shakes her head no "I really, honestly cannot, very good job, it took Deli four days to learn that. He kept protesting that I was making no sense and he'd say 'how am I supposed to just close my thoughts off? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard' of course he was only twelve then, going through his early stages of hormonal drama queen" Melina laughs as she remembers those days.

I laugh along as I imagine little preteen Adelram being a total brat...you know if I think about, I don't think he really left that stage in his life.

"Thank you so much for teaching me this, it's been so aggravatingly embarrassing knowing that Adelram can read my mind" I admit. Melina giggles lightly "don't worry dear, if you could read his mind you'd see that his are far more detailed and embarrassing for him than yours are" she assures. Before I can ask what she means, she gets up and leaves, humming some song quietly to herself.

All I can do is stare confusedly after her, what's that supposed to mean?

I don't have time to think deeper into her words because just then the front door opens to reveal a spitting image of Adelram, only older.

I stare in amazement at the man standing in front of me.

He has short jet black hair, bright-but not as bright as Adelram's-blue eyes, a tan clean face, and a smirk that mirrors Adelram's perfectly. There's no doubt about it that Adelram got his looks from his father. They could honestly be twins if only this man was just a little younger.

"Honey, I'm home!" I calls out as he drops the briefcase in his hand, setting his coat on the coat rack by the door, leaving me unnoticed.

"Ray!" Melina exclaims as she runs in from the kitchen, immediately grabbing the man she called Ray into a rib cracking hug.

Ray chuckles as he wraps his arms around her, I feel like I'm intruding on a family moment.

Here I am lurking in the shadows as I spy on a husband and wife's reunion...okay maybe that's exaggerating it a bit, after all I'm literally sitting right underneath a light hanging on the ceiling, but even still I feel like a creep watching them as they hug.

I quickly look to the floor unsure if I should walk past them up the stairs, ruining their moment, or stay here and awkwardly wait for them to finish.

Gosh why do I have to be so frigging awkward? A normal person probably would have joked and said something like "either acknowledge my existence, or get a room!" But not me, instead I sit here staring at the floor as though it's the most intriguing thing in the world, admiring the way that the floor shines, appearing untouched.

Finally their done greeting each other and Melina looks over to me, "oh my, I hadn't realized you were still there" she admits. I look up to see her lips slightly red and plumped, and her cheeks flushed which means they were most likely just making out. Oh gosh this is so embarrassing. Please God, please let the floor open a big nice size hole for me to fall into and never escape. I beg as my cheeks flare red "oh uh yeah sorry" I mumble.

"Hello, you must be the lady Melina was telling me about, Princess Kamaria right?" Ray greets.

Say what?

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