Fifty-two

I was relieved when Mia said my shift was over for today. I was tired of serving drinks and food to strangers, especially when I saw Jade sitting with Amber at a table. Jade were still not a couple but acted like one, but she didn't seem to care about me today. She looked stunning in her short dress, but she only wore it to impress Amber, not me.

"Let's go home," I said to Mia as we left the bar.

We walked past Jade and Amber on the way. Amber was drunk and stumbling, holding on to Jade's arm. Jade looked uncomfortable and guilty. I couldn't stand it.

"What's wrong with her, Amber?" I asked, stopping in front of them.

"My business is none of your business," Amber slurred, glaring at me.

Mia intervened and said, "I'll take her home and you, Eloise, can always take Jade home."

"Okay, I'll see you later, Mia. And for once, you didn't call me a pedophile," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yes, but it's just because I'm tired," Mia said, rolling her eyes.

She took Amber away, leaving me alone with Jade.

"So, how was your evening with your new girlfriend?" I asked Jade, feeling bitter.

"She's not my girlfriend, you're closer to being my girlfriend than she is," Jade said, looking at me with pleading eyes.

"Are you sure about that? Because I don't think you've ever looked this good when all you have to do is invite Amber and you look really good just for her," I said, feeling hurt.

"Please calm down, Eloise. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that you spend less time with me, but I didn't know you worked as a waitress," Jade said, trying to explain.

"Now you know that, but it doesn't change the fact that you let Amber touch your thighs. I don't want anyone else to touch you like I do. It makes me angry to see that, but I'm still cold-blooded. But if it were up to me, I would have beaten Amber up already," I said, feeling jealous.

I grasped Jade's hand tightly as we made our way back to her house. Stepping through the door, the absence of Jade's parents struck us immediately, a note revealing their extended absence. "Well, now I'm going home," I muttered, frustration simmering beneath my words.

But before I could leave, Jade's fingers clutched onto my arm, halting my departure. "Please stay with me. I don't want to stay here all alone," she pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

My heart sank at the sight of her distress. "Oh, don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you," I comforted, enfolding Jade in a soothing embrace.

Her apology caught me off guard. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to provoke your anger. Amber invited me to the restaurant, and I accepted. But when I asked her to stop touching me, she wouldn't listen," Jade explained, her voice quivering.

Reflecting on the situation, I acknowledged my mistake. "I should have listened to you instead of reacting impulsively," I admitted, regret weighing heavily on my conscience.

Jade's plea tugged at my heartstrings. "Will you come and sleep with me in my room, please?" she asked, vulnerability evident in her tone.

"Of course," I agreed softly, lifting Jade in my arms and guiding her to her room. As I lingered by the door, Jade closed it gently, prompting my curiosity. "Why did you close the door, Jade?" I inquired, a hint of concern in my voice.

Stepping closer, Jade surprised me with a gentle kiss on my cheek. Flustered, I gently declined, "No, it's time to go to sleep. You're fixating on this."

"Tell me, are you still upset with me?" Jade queried.

"No, I'm just tired. I've had a long day at work. Goodnight, and I'll see you tomorrow," I replied, kissing Jade before settling down to sleep, holding her in my arms.

The next morning

I woke up feeling warm and cozy in Jade's arms. We had spent the night together, talking and cuddling . It was the best night of my life, and I wished every day could be like this. But then I heard the door open and footsteps in the hall. It was Jade's parents, coming back from their trip.

"So how was your morning, my dear?" Jade's mother asked as she entered the living room.

"It went well, mum. And you two, why weren't you there?" Jade replied, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"We wanted to spend some time just the two of us, you understand us, don't you?" Jade's father said, smiling.

"Yes, of course," Jade said, nodding.

Jade's mother looked at me and said, "You're here too, Eloise. You slept here?"

"Yes, I slept here," I said, feeling a bit awkward.

Jade's father went upstairs, leaving us alone with his wife.

"Are you sure you slept last night?" Jade's mother asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Mum, last night we just slept and that's it, so stop it," Jade said, blushing.

"Well, that's it, I'm done. You're going to stay here, Eloise?" Jade's mother asked, changing the subject.

"No, I'm going to leave soon, because since last night I haven't said anything to my mum," I said, getting up and grabbing my bag.

"Hmm, OK," Jade's mother said, sounding disappointed.

I kissed Jade goodbye and thanked his mother for letting me stay. Then I left the house and walked to the forest, where I knew Orobarian would be waiting for me. 

"It's been a long time, Eloise," Orobarian said, greeting me with a gentle nudge of his snout.

"Yes, I'd like to talk to you about something," I said, stroking his scales.

"Yes, tell me," Orobarian said, lying down on the grass.

"For some time now, I've had a voice inside me talking to me," I said, looking into his golden eyes.

"It must be a part of your magic that has materialized. I can't help you anymore, but if you practice hard, you can master it," Orobarian said, sounding proud.

"Can you help me with this?" I asked, hoping he would say yes.

"Why not? I think it's interesting. Go over there and sit and try to focus your mind," Orobarian said, pointing to a bench with his tail.

"Yes, I'll go first, then," I said, walking to the bench and sitting down.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, trying to find the source of the voice. Then I felt a pull, and I was immersed in my mind. There, I saw three girls who looked like me, the only difference being the color of their hair. One had yellow hair, another had orange hair, and the last one had red hair, like my magic. They were all sitting at a table and playing cards.

"Yes, I won again!" the yellow-haired girl exclaimed, showing her hand.

"No, I'm sure you cheated again, you cheat all the time!" the orange-haired girl accused, throwing her cards on the table.

"Please, stop fighting, it's not going to start again," the red-haired girl pleaded, trying to calm them down.

"She started it!" the yellow-haired and orange-haired girls said in unison, pointing at each other.

I watched them in confusion, wondering who they were and what they had to do with me.

"Where did I fall again?" I thought, feeling lost .