Chapter 30

For a moment, I was lost. My brain had shut off. Her lips were soft and delicate. A kiss is a strange thing; it can truly rise up strange emotions that you didn’t know existed.

I never really thought of Rebecca as someone I could like, but in that moment, I remembered the day we went to the movies together. I remembered the ice cream we ate and when she saved me from Talon. I remembered how good she looked in green and black. But why now?

I pulled away from Rebecca’s kiss. This was not a good situation. Rebecca’s smile didn’t go away, and all I felt next was the ground moving beneath me. Rebecca and I were suddenly separated by a wall of earth. I turned to Fran with wide eyes.

Her eyes were glowing white, and her aura was spilling out in every direction. Her hair was floating almost like she had some static built up. And her expression? Angry...

"Fran, this isn’t what it looks like." Well... It probably just looked like a kiss... Which is what it was... "Uh, it’s not— it was just— uh— this wasn’t something you should worry about."

Silence for a small moment.

"Something I shouldn’t worry about?... Because we aren’t dating anymore? Is that what you mean?"

I had just made this situation 10 times worse than when Fran was a shadow woman.

"No, I—"

"Steven, why did she kiss you? What’s going on between you two?"

Before I could speak, Rebecca got up and stretched her shoulders. "Ah, don’t kid yourself... You were all caught up in that boy, Logan. Do you realize how heartbroken Steven was?"

No, this was a big misunderstanding, but they just kept going. Even when I tried to interrupt, "Um, guys, wai—"

"I wasn’t even conscious! I don’t even know who Logan is!" Fran shouted.

Rebecca rebutted, "Well, you should’ve thought about that before you started drooling all over him!"

This was getting out of hand. I had to stop this now, even if I had to use that.

"Well, I—" The girls instantly calmed down. "Both of you need to stop right now!" I shouted. My aura was shining as I slightly pressured their emotions back down, but I didn’t remove them completely. I just wanted to get a word in.

"Fran, yes, I was hurt when you didn’t talk to me and you were chasing that other boy. I know you weren’t in control, and I’m sorry. Rebecca, I am not mad at Fran. I’m mad at me. I should’ve done something, but I didn’t. Well, I’m doing something right now, and that’s speaking up for myself!" I paused shortly but ran out of things to say...

There was an awkward silence.

"Um, I mean to say..." I lost all my momentum, but I still wanted to say what I felt. "I need you both to get along. I don’t want my friends fighting, and honestly, I need some time and space to gather my feelings and understand what’s going on. Can you guys not hurt each other for 5 minutes?"

They glared at each other but both nodded. I sighed. I started using my reconstruction powers to put the garage back together. It was the same power I used to make my inventions. After a few minutes, the garage was back to normal, but Shad was gone... The girls were both sitting with their arms crossed, glaring at each other still. Fran had an angry, pouty face, and Rebecca had a calm, collected, annoyed face.

"Have you guys seen Shad?" Fearing the worst, I asked the girls.

"I’m pretty sure muscles over here obliterated him back to normal," Rebecca dryly scoffed.

That’s probably likely. We barely avoided her impact because of Rebecca’s vines, but he could also just be scared and hiding for now. I decided to move on for now. I sat down as well and closed my eyes.

I tried to gather my thoughts and feelings. I was confused. I still had feelings for Fran, but did I also have feelings for Rebecca? It felt wrong to have these two conflicting feelings at once. Why can’t these things just be simple? Fran doesn’t deserve to be treated any differently since she was being controlled, but I was so hurt, I was starting to fight off my own feelings for her.

I wasn’t angry, but I didn’t feel like it would be fair to just jump back to where we left off either. Fran deserved my full attention, not a divided heart.

This isn’t fair.

If I like Rebecca, then why? Was it just attraction? Were there other reasons for it? What about Fran? Do I like her because she was the only person I’ve ever liked?

My head spun around and around, and I couldn’t make sense of anything. I like them both right now, and I can’t help that, but I might lose them if things stay this way too.

Well, maybe it’s best we focus on Talon first and then sort out our feelings later.

"Fran, Rebecca, we need to figure out what to do about Talon."

They broke eye contact with each other and then glared at me. Yikes, chills ran down my spine.

Fran looked confused. "Rebecca?"

I quickly caught her up on the Thorne situation, which made Fran look at Rebecca with an uneasy look.

We quickly returned to the topic at hand, though. I warned Fran, "Talon is crazy strong. I fought him once and barely got out after Rebecca saved me."

Rebecca sighed. "You’re right, and if he controlled Fran, then he might be able to do it again. We need to stop that from happening. And he is still planning something big, but I’m not sure what it is yet."

Fran smirked. "Ha! You don’t know what my wish was for, do you? Well, he shouldn’t be able to control me anymore after today!"

Rebecca looked back at Fran, annoyed. I cut in. "Yes, based on the conditions you mentioned about his powers, Fran should be okay for now. And if that’s the case, then Fran, you’ll be our key to fighting Talon. You know, as the strongest one here..." I smiled at Fran, and she blushed.

Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Talon is formidable, but there are still things about his powers we don’t understand. He might still be able to control her."

There were still so many variables. "If she stays close to me, then his influence should be weak or non-existent, like it was with Shad, right?" Rebecca looked worried for a moment as if she had a realization, but Fran cut in first.

"Oh man, I guess I’m just going to have to hang out at your house till we can make sure I’m safe from his powers. Ah, shucks, looks like I’ll have to spend the night, wow! Look at the time! That late already?"

I chuckled a bit, but it was probably true. Rebecca blushed and stuttered, "W-well, I’ll be here too then to make sure you’re actually safe and that you don’t hurt Steven!"

Was this going to be a slumber party? It would make it easier to convince my parents, though, if the two girls were staying together in a room.

Wait a minute, I’m having girls spend the night?