We got home to the usual chaos.
"I want to marry her," Dorian was saying, pacing like a lawyer in court. "She'll have a legacy with me!"
Caelum scoffed. "She'll be the richest woman on Earth if she divorces me. Just sayin'."
I snorted and, without looking up, muttered,
"Oh, self-burn. Those are rare."
Brooklyn Nine-Nine quotes for the win.
Our mom rounded the corner and swept me and Liliane into a hug.
"Girls! How was your day?"
Lily, sweet traitorous creature that she is, immediately blurted out:
"Sel had an admirer!"
I froze mid-eye-roll. You snitch.
I turned and narrowed my eyes.
"If we're comparing admirers—"
She panicked. "I was joking! Just a new member of her club!"
Then she rushed over and clamped her hand over my mouth.
Too late.
Our fathers perked up like hunting dogs.
"Who's this admirer?"
"Admirer?!"
Unison. Perfect stereo irritation. I sighed.
"All of you are killing my buzz. I just had a fantastic afternoon talking about vampires and eating skull-shaped chocolate. Can we not do the full 'overprotective alpha parent' thing today?"
I poured myself some orange juice and headed to my room.
"Call me when dinner's ready."
Mom called out behind me with mock sadness,
"If we didn't have food, we'd never see you."
"Exactly," I replied through the hallway.
Lily giggled. Dad muttered, "Let's be grateful she doesn't insist on eating in her room."
Caelum grumbled, "If only... I wouldn't miss her brooding face—ow, ow, Aurora, stop hitting me!"
Mom:
"Don't talk trash about my daughter."
Yup. Still beefing with Caelum.
In my room, I opened my laptop, put on some rap music, pulled up twenty browser tabs—half programming, half manga—and got to work.
A notification pinged.
Jacob. He'd been added to the group chat.
I left it on read for now. I was in the zone.
The Following Weeks...
Jacob kept appearing in my life.
At lunch. After school. Whenever I went to check on Lily and Jack (who was getting bolder about being around her), Jacob would be nearby.
One afternoon, while Lily and Jack talked in the courtyard, Jacob turned to me and said,
"Jack is seriously smitten with your sister."
I popped a chip into my mouth.
"He's one of my favorite suitors. Wanna snack?"
He shook his head politely.
Then I pulled out a banana. Offered again.
"You're always munching on something," he said with a small laugh.
"Gotta keep the butt in shape," I said casually.
He choked on air.
"You... do have a nice body."
Yeah, I know.
Unlike my sister's petite cuteness, my body was more "dark seductress" in progress—tight waist, C-cup, and with a big, high-tier booty that made jeans pray for mercy.
I'd started boxing, too. My dad found me a top-tier coach who looked like a cliché out of a sports anime—gruff, ripped, and incredibly effective.
"So," Jacob said one day, "there's a new horror movie out. Want to see it?"
"Already saw it. Loved it. Let's go again."
I love horror. Bonus points if the soundtrack slaps and the cast is hot.
Somehow, it became a double date: me and Jacob, Lily and Jack.
I wore a 1930s-style red silk dress to match the movie's aesthetic. Lily, of course, showed up looking like a walking flower.
The guys dressed up too.
Jacob and I shared popcorn in those plush reclining seats. When the sex scene came on, he kind of leaned toward me. I just smiled and turned back to the screen.
After the movie, we went for sushi.
We joked. We talked. We actually... got along.
"Selene," I told myself, "Don't mess this up. Don't be like your last life. Don't ghost someone for breathing wrong. Don't die a virgin. Try. "
He drove me home in a sleek black sports car.
I stared at it and muttered,
"Must we use this death trap again?"
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "It's not to your liking?"
Lily grinned, "My sister likes reliable cars with airbag systems, rollover bars, and emergency satellite tracking. The more old-fashioned and secure, the better."
"Trauma," I explained. "I died in a bus crash in my last life."
Jacob blinked. "...Right."
"Next time," he said, "I'll pick you up in the most secure car I can find."
Smart boy.
The Return Home
The minute we pulled up, our dads appeared from the shadows like a pair of hot vampires who'd forgotten which century it was.
I sighed.
"Hello, Dad. Hello, Caelum. Come to ruin our first kisses?"
I kissed Jacob on the cheek in front of all of them.
"Thanks for the night. Next time, safer wheels."
Then I turned and sauntered inside, calling behind me:
"I have beauty-scrolling to do."
The next morning, I emerged in my black and pink Hello Kitty pajamas to hear the family whispering at the table.
Dad:
"She kissed him. On the cheek. In front of all of us."
Mom:
"She's seventeen. She can date."
Caelum:
"Let's just be grateful someone's willing to date her—OW! Aurora, stop hitting me!"
Mom:
"Don't insult my daughter, you jerk."
I strolled in.
"Good morning! Brunch is the one tradition I actually started in this house, so I expect some gratitude."
Everyone stared.
"What?" I asked. "I washed my face before coming. You're welcome."
Mom smiled fake-sweet.
"Did you have fun last night?"
I perked up and launched into a full movie review.
"It's the perfect date night movie, honestly. You and Dad should go see it."
Caelum protested, "No date nights without me!"
"You're too scared for vampire flicks."
His face turned red.
"I'm not scared of Gothic horror!"
Dad smirked, backing me up.
"It might be a bit much for you, Caelum."
Mom chuckled.
Then came the real ambush.
"So..." Lily said. "Is Jacob your boyfriend now?"
I shrugged.
"I don't know. He's cute. Doesn't annoy me much. Am I in love? Nah. Might take him on a wild ride once I turn eighteen? Maybe. "
Caelum:
"I think we should all start worrying for poor Jacob."
"You should worry about missing your date and crying over vampires," I shot back.
Caelum stood.
"Let's box. Outside. Now."
I stood too.
"Been waiting years for this."
Mom screamed,
"Everyone STOP."
We sat.
She glared at me.
"Selene , stop egging your uncle."
She glared at Caelum.
"You're an adult. Stop trying to fight my daughter."
Dad, casually polishing a dagger he got on him for some reason:
"Don't worry. I'd have stabbed him before he left the table."
Lily sniffled, "If you hurt my sister, I'll hate you forever!"
Caelum groaned, defeated. I grinned and popped a fruit into my mouth like a smug anime villain.