Avelyn seemed extra giddy today. Which is always good. When she's happy, I'm happy. That is, until it was time to leave for our shopping expedition. As a last effort, she tried convincing us that it was unnecessary to buy her things, saying, "you already do too much for me." Little does she know, I'd buy her the world if I could - just to see her ocean eyes sparkle like the sun's rays glistening on the water at daybreak.

She gave up, though, once she realized there was no persuading us on this decision.

I can't wait until her birthday. I know we're already connected because technically she's our Guardian Angel, but I can't help but hope she's also my mate - our mate.

When we arrived at the car, I opened her door for her. Xavier was carrying her bag, and Cole was holding her hand. He stopped once she stepped inside the car, though. Now, I'm driving, Xavier is sitting shotgun, and Cole is in the back with our angel, their hands reunited.

We're discussing which store in the mall we want to go to first.

"Forever 21, obviously. Their clothes are cute. Plus, I'm envisioning her in a cute crop top and high waisted jeans. We'd definitely find that there," Cole suggests, more like demands.

"Alright Cole, you are the fashion expert," I sigh.

"You're fucking right there, buddy," he says proudly. I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head, big guy," Xavier grunts. Avelyn giggles at that, which makes my heart gleam elatedly. Maybe my poem should be about her. But let's be honest, there're enough sappy, love poems to last a millenia. Though none describe my babygirl perfectly enough, not like she deserves.

When we pull up to the mall, we leave our bags in the car and exit the vehicle. Avelyn's eyes are almost bugging out of her head. She looks like she's never even seen a mall.

"Babygirl, what's got you so flabbergasted?"

"I-I've never been to a mall before," she admits sheepishly, her head parallel to the parking lot concrete.

"What?! You've never been to a mall before? What kind of teenage girl are you?" Cole seems so shocked, it's almost comical.

"The one that was never allowed to leave the house," she deadpans. Right, I forgot about that.

"That must really suck. Having a nice ass car and not being able to show it off," Xavier says with sympathy. Kid really loves his cars. I chuckle at his childlike behavior, Cole and Avelyn do, too. And instead of replying to his comment, we just walk into the mall, Avelyn's hands clasped in mine and Xavier's.

We make our way to Forever 21. I'd never been before, but I'm always up for trying something new - especially if it's with my brothers and our angel.

~~~

After we've gotten Avelyn some clothes at Forever 21 - which wasn't an easy task, considering Cole made her try on just about everything in the store - we go to the shoe store. Not any place specific, just a random store we found that, you know, sells shoes. My brothers and I are carrying the bags. Lots and lots of bags. Avelyn tried to insist on helping carry some, but her attempts were as futile as Ashton and I trying to make Cole wear underwear on a Saturday - that's just never gonna happen. He insists on "being free" at least once a week, and he picked Saturday, specifically, to do it. What can I say? He's a strange kid.

As with the other store, Cole makes her try on just about every shoe. We end up getting her about 5 pairs of shoes. Cole urged, and Ashton just wanted a reason to spend his money on our angel. I realize that I don't really have anything to offer her. Ash can buy her anything she wants, and Cole is so creative and artistically talented - he could bring so much life and creativity to a potential relationship. But I'm just me. Plain old, boring Xavier. I have nothing going for me. I'm broken out of my stupor by Cole's voice.

"So, even though I know none of you want to, we have one last stop before we finish: Victoria's Secret. I was thinking we should just eat at the food court afterwards because I'm starving," he says.

I audibly groan. Victoria's Secret is any man's worst nightmare. But, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't like to see Avelyn in some sexy, black, lacy lingerie. I groan once more, but this time it's in arousal and frustration. My pants unwillingly tighten.

'This is not the time to be having these thoughts. Not when said girl is standing directly in front of me.'

I mentally agree with myself. "You guys go ahead. I'll just stay and wait out here," I said.

"Yeah, me too," Ashton agrees. He seems to be a little uncomfortable, too. Presumably because his thoughts are similar to mine right now.

"Are you sure?" Avelyn's sweet voice coaxes its way into my ears, definitely not helping my situation right now.

"'Course, babe. Don't worry about us. You and Cole just go in there and get whatever you want. And I mean whatever you want. I don't want you worrying about the price tag," says Ashton. She nods her head and gives us a small smile while Cole takes her hand and leads her into the store. Away from me. I look over at Ash, and he directs his attention towards me. His facial expression mirrors mine.

Ashton admits through mindlink. We haven't done so in only a day, but it feels like so much longer. So much has been happening lately; I hadn't even noticed, to be honest.

My voice cracks at the end, and I sound truly pitiful. What has my life become? I used to be a heartbreaker, with girls flocking and begging me to be theirs. I never understood that could happen to me one day.

Don't get me wrong, Avelyn hasn't broken my heart. Far from it, actually.

In fact, she's made me see something in myself that I never did before. She made me feel wanted, cared for, and loved. She made my half of a heart feel whole again. She stitched it back together. I know my brothers love me, but it isn't the same. They could never make me feel the way our angel does.

But I know she has the potential to break it; I've never felt this way about someone before, and it's kind of scaring me if I'm being completely truthful. She has my heart writhing in the palm of her delicate hand. I just hope she never decides to clench her fists. Because the moment she does, is the moment my heart shatters, once again. And I don't expect it could ever be mended or sewn back together after a tragedy that cataclysmic.

~~~

I'm in the dressing room, for the umpteenth time today, trying on a lacy, red bra and panties that Cole insisted I give a shot. I think he just secretly liked the thought of me wearing anything red and lacy. I could tell by the victorious smirk that was plastered to his face.

'It's a good thing he's cute.'

"All good?" He calls over the changing-room door.

"Yeah, all good," I call back. To be honest, looking at myself in the mirror, I'm kind of feeling myself right now. I've never had cute undergarments or lingerie before, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel like a model wearing it.

I take it off and redress myself in the clothes I was wearing previously. I'm a little disappointed I had to take it off. It added to my confidence that I had just recently acquired.

I look at myself once more in the mirror, quickly checking over my outfit. Once I've finished, I open the door of the dressing room. I didn't realize that Cole was leaning on it, so I didn't think to warn him I'd before coming out. He trips a little, which lands his face just centimeters away from mine. I look into his fire eyes and see that the flame that's always alight, is now burning a thousand times brighter. His eyes have formed into a blazing inferno - almost scorching me with his heated gaze.

I see his face gradually getting closer to mine, and I find myself leaning in as well. I feel his hot breath fan my face; it mingles with mine. Our lips barely brush, and just as they're about to make full-on contact, there is a throat clearing behind us. We turn our heates gazes to an employee that stands there with an annoyed look on her face.

"None of that here. We don't allow sex in the dressing rooms. If you want that, then go home and do it there," she says in an annoyingly shrill voice. We just clear our throats, look at each other bashfully, and make our way to the cash register to pay for all my new things. Cole has Ashton's card; he took it awhile ago, actually. And while he's paying the cashier, I find myself pondering over our almost kiss.

Then I inwardly curse. I wanted him to kiss me, I realize.

'My first kiss.'

Does this make me the slut that Mother claimed me to be? Because I wanted someone - a boy - to kiss me? I decide that I don't care. I may be selfish, but they're my Given. Someone, somewhere, decided that it would be a good idea to "assign" me to them. And while I don't like that term, it still implies there's a reason for all of the madness that my life entails.

And, of by some strange reason, I'd ever have the chance to kiss Cole again, I'd jump at the opportunity. I don't care if it's considered moving "too fast". I've known these boys for years. Even though it was unknowingly, it's still a fact.

Through my pondering, I conceive that we've exited Victoria's Secret with all of our purchases and have successfully made it back to my boys. When we get to the food court, we discuss what we want to eat for dinner. I checked the time, and apparently it's 6:30. We get released from school at 3:00, so that means we've been at the mall for three and a half hours. I knew Cole liked shopping. I just didn't know he like it this much.

'Shoot me.'

Eventually, we all decide on pizza, so Xavier leaves to go and get us our food.

"So, how's your day been so far, kitten?"

"Long. Very long. But at least I've been able to spend it with you. Hey, quick question. We are going home after after we finish, right?" I reply, and they beam at me in response. I'm confused as to why, though. So I decide to ask.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because baby, you just referred to our house as home." I blush at that. I didn't even mean to say that out loud, but I definitely do view their house as more of a home than my old one.

Xavier returns with our food not ten minutes later. And just as we start to dig in, I look up to see the people I was hoping I never had to see again. People I've been dreading the thought of coming across.

My breaths start to quicken, and my eyesight begins to blur. My boys notice and immediately become worried.

"Princess, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Shit," Ashton curses. "I think she's having another panic attack. We need to get her out of here before we cause a scene. We don't want people calling the police."

My body begins to quiver and shake, and I become lightheaded.

"Kitten, you need to tell us what's wrong," Cole pleads just as I'm being picked up by Xavier. This may be causing a scene on its own, but they don't seem to care enough about that at this point. Right now, all that's on their minds is keeping me safe. And even in my panic induced state, I feel myself being to tear up in gratitude and adoration.

Cole pleads once more for me to tell him what's happening. And all that I can get out before my brain shuts off and everything turns into a gloomy, tenebrous, darkness is, "P-p-parents".

____________________________________

You're probably a little annoyed with the fact that they never actually kissed. Believe me, I am too. Even though I really want their relationship to develop and blossom more quickly, I don't want the book to move too fast. (Even though the entire story of Romeo and Juliet happened in like four days 😂) But that's pretty much all I have to say.

*insert signature/predictable signoff here*

So, until next time...

Sincerely,

The Annoying Author Lady