It doesn’t take me long to get home. Dad isn’t here, and I’m not sure where Aida is. I search the living room and kitchen, but she
isn’t there. I head upstairs to see if she’s in her room, and I find her door locked. We don’t usually lock our doors. Being twins, we
don’t hide much of anything from each other.
I knock on the door, but there is no answer. I wait a bit and put my ear to the door to see if I can hear anything. I hear what I think
is some shuffling, so I knock on the door again. The doorknob jiggles, and the door opens slightly. “What’s up, Adela?” Aida
looks a bit flustered and slightly out of breath. I try to look into the room, but that prompts Aida to squeeze through the door and
close it shut behind her.
“Uh….how are you?”
“I’m doing okay, I guess. I’d imagine that’s not what you came to talk to me about.” I tell Aida all about the talk I had with the Luna
and about Jenna. Aida says nothing while I relay everything, and when I finish, we share a deep silence. “Well, if that’s it…….”
Aida turns to her door, but I grab her arm to stop her.
“What the hell is going on with you? Did you hear anything I said? Luna Kimberly is not backing us anymore. She has her eyes
set on this Jenna b***h and wants us to compete with her. Do you not see a problem with that?” Aida sighs and turns to face me.
“Of course that’s a problem, but what can we do about it? We can either go with what she wants or walk away. To be honest, I
really don’t have time for this right now. Whatever you want to do is fine with me.”
“Damnit, Aida! What has gotten into you? Ever since you and Lincoln had that talk, you’ve been different. You came home crying
your eyes out, and then you have just been…..gone. Now it’s like you don’t care what happens, but I find that hard to believe.
You are the same person who has been hopelessly in love with Lincoln for years. I don’t believe that you all of a sudden no
longer care.” Aida looks at me but says nothing. I can’t even feel her through our bond. It’s as if she has shut it down on her end
because nothing is coming out. I sigh and take a step back. “Whatever, Aida. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but when
you are over it just let me know.”
I turn toward my room. “Whatever you decide, I got you.” I don’t respond because there is nothing to say. Something is seriously
wrong with my sister.
~Lincoln~
Landon and I have been a mess these past few hours. We don’t know where Tia is or if she is even coming back. I’m not sure I
can take over this pack without her by my side. I know that the pack needs Landon and me and is looking for us to take over, but
without Tia, what’s the point?
Landon has said few words, and I’ve been the same. Both of us are terrified that Tia will take off or that she will request to leave
and not come back. Neither scenario is one that we want to come to fruition. If we could just sit down and talk, I think we could
find common ground.
I try to keep occupied by planning what would need to happen to our bedrooms. Landon and I have a connecting door between
our rooms, but that still doesn’t make it the room for the three of us. I think everything needs to be extended. I feel stupid thinking
about such trivial matters, but it’s all I can do to keep my cool.
The bedroom door opens, and my head shoots to the door. Landon is on his feet in no time. Tia walks through the door, and I
swear my heart is practically beating out of my chest. I have missed laying my eyes on this beautiful woman. You would think
that we have been apart for years and not just hours.
“We should talk,” Tia says with a tone of finality. I look at Landon, who is looking at me. “You two should sit.” I can feel my knees
getting weak, but taking a seat is the last thing I want to do. “I can’t do this. I have to worry about my sisters, father, Luna
Kimberly, and now this Jenna character is here to try to get rid of me, I guess. I just can’t do this.”
I can feel tears start to build in my eyes. This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. Tia will leave us, and I’m not sure how we
will be able to survive. “If I am to stay, I need to do so on my terms. I need to be comfortable here, and that means saying and
doing whatever I feel is necessary, Luna-to-be or not.” I look at Landon, wondering if he knows what that means, but he looks
just as confused as I am. I look back at Tia and wait for more. “I will need to tap into another side of ‘Tia’, and I need you two to
be supportive. If there is any issue in the way I handle things and people, I will insist on leaving this place.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?” I love when Landon comes in with the needed questions. I don’t care anything about what Tia
does or says or how she handles anything. I just need to know that she will be here. I need to know that she will continue to
stand by my side through all of this mess and more.
Tia sighs and walks over to us. “Yes, I will stay. I can’t imagine being away from the two of you.” Landon reaches for her first, and
she pulls back a bit. “Just remember, I need to do this how I see fit. If it becomes an issue, I will go.” Landon and I both nod in
agreement. Landon wraps her up in his arms while I stroke her hand between mine. I missed the sparks that come from our
touch.
“Tia,” she looks at me while she is wrapped in Landon’s arms. “I don’t care what you do around here, I just want you around. You
can do whatever you feel is necessary and if that isn’t enough, then you can let us know. We…..I love you, Tia.”