Chapter Sixteen: Kissed?

Raiden walked back into the restaurant, almost numb, as the officer's words played continuously in her head.

'I'm really sorry to inform you, Ms. Storm, but your parents have been reported missing.'

An incredible coincidence, she thought to herself. Just when she was about to ask her parents about the stuff she had just read in the weird book, they had just disappeared off the face of the earth. Deciding not to ruin the rest of the night, she just sat with everyone and broke into a laugh once or twice, though it was all a mask.

***

Later in the night, when they had all returned to the dorm, all she could think of was her parents. They had just gone missing and that meant an investigation would be held and she would have to go back home to Los Angeles.

And when I thought I would actually be able to fit in for the first time.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Who's here now? She wondered. As far as she knew, Jennifer would fall asleep early and Aaron and Jayden would not be bothered with visiting her unless it was with Jennifer. She opened the door, shrugging away her thoughts.

Unlike she had expected, Jayden was the one standing at the door. He had shed his leather jacket and was just there in a random blue T-shirt and track pants. Raiden's thoughts immediately drifted back to what had happened earlier in the evening.

'Jayden,' Raiden's voice was weak as her face heat up, 'What are you doing here?'

Jayden looked around before speaking.

'Can I come in? I guess Ms. Renata is on her rounds again and I really don't want her catching me out of bed so late in the night.'

'Oh,' Raiden's face fell, she seemed to be disappointed, 'sure, come in. It's not like I'm gonna get any sleep anyway.' She stepped back and opened the door farther to let him in.

Jayden walked in and sat down on the floor. Raiden sat down opposite him.

'Couldn't sleep, could you?' he asked chuckling, probably trying to break the awkward silence between them.

Raiden nodded her head. Sleeplessness was the only thing that was normal in her condition.

'Me neither, I was really confused and frustrated as to what I had read in the book.' He explained, 'I think you would be more shocked compared to me since your parents were specifically mentioned in there. Can I take a look again?'

Raiden just nodded as she took out the book from her bag and placed it in front of them. She thought Jayden would take it from her and see the book for himself but he just said,

'You do the honors, you found the book.'

Sighing, Raiden turned the pages until she had found the passage where her parents were mentioned. Out of all the things, the words "killer" and "fight" were the most that seemed to attract her attention the most. Those two words seemed to almost float off the page and clouded her vision.

'Hmmm,' Jayden said as she scanned the book again, 'they don't have any pictures of any of our parents on this page. Did you turn the pages and see if it was there or not?'

Raiden shook her head in a no. She didn't even want to look at the book, let alone open it and turn its pages.

'I think you should do it.' Jayden suggested, 'Not to pressurize you or anything, it may happen that this is just a coincidence. And you know coincidences happen.'

Raiden just sat there looking blankly at the book. Perhaps, Jayden was right.

Maybe, her hopeful self at the back part of her mind whispered.

Slowly, with shaking hands, she turned the page.

All hell broke loose.

Well, it didn't exactly break lose, but in her mind it apparently did. Under the heading "The Current Schatten Gardien" were nine images- with the picture of their principal at the top followed by her parents. Her parents seemed different, with violet eyes and sadistic and evil looks; but she could swear in court that they indeed, were her parents.

'Raiden? Are you alright?' Jayden's voice seemed far away now. Tears prickled the corners of her eyes as she tried to compose herself.

'It's just hard,' she swallowed, hoping her tears won't fall, 'as long as I knew, my parents were really peaceful people and avoided fights, especially my mother. To find out that she was actually a murderer...' she trailed off, her body shaking with soft sobs. She lowered her head to hide the tears that fell down her cheeks.

Raiden heard Jayden shuffling opposite her. Maybe he's disgusted by seeing me so weak now. As far as she had known, Jayden hated it when people cried. He said it was the worst way one could show emotions.

She was, however, greeted with surprise when she felt Jayden's strong arms wrap around her, patting her back. Not being able to hold back anymore, she broke down completely and cried on his shoulder; her tears making his shirt wet.

It was silence for quite some time, except for Raiden's sobs.

When Raiden's breathing had calmed down to some extent, Jayden pulled back from the hug and held her by her shoulders.

'Something is wrong.' It wasn't a question; it was a well-formed conclusion. Seeing the look in Raiden's eyes, he continued, 'What is it?'

Raiden tried her best to not break down again as she recounted what the police officer had told her. When she was done, she pressed the heels to her eyes and sobbed again.

Painful silence was heard again from Jayden's side.

He'll sure as hell leave now. Her mind told her.

But Jayden pulled her close, surprising her as he placed his hand behind her neck. Before her brain could process this, his soft lips touched hers.

Raiden's eyes widened at first as a shiver ran down her spine, sending currents throughout her body. Her head was fogged with so many emotions she never knew she felt.

Something was coming into her head. Well, not her head, but in other parts of her body

She felt Jayden rest against the foot of her bed and Jayden came over as well, supporting him with an elbow. He was kissing her very gently, his hot breath on her face, tickling her face, and she was kissing back harder, hungrily. He rested on the floor and she surprised herself by pressing closer against him.

Don't do this; she scolded herself, it would be a mess.

Your parents just vanished, get a hold of yourself.

It was Jayden, and there was something about him that was so different, and he lived upstairs, and her parents had just vanished.

But that was the thing that was also pushing her forward, probably. The thing which was filling her with some weird, urgent emotion and the need to do something, anything, anything at all. She kissed the strange crook of his nose, his high forehead, and back to his mouth.

Soon, Jayden aimed to deepen the kiss as their kiss intensified, burning up their bodies.

They changed positions, and Raiden's back hit against the bed. She felt herself flush against his body, now pressed tightly upon her, but now she didn't care if the floor opened up and swallowed her or if she was sucked up the chimney. Her hands were in his hair and he was mumbling something that she couldn't quite make out.

His hands teased her shirt a bit higher, his rough hands on the smooth skin of her back.

'Hey.'

That was a totally different voice, and it was coming from the doorway. The two of them stopped froze. They startled and broke apart.

Raiden realized she was sweating and Jayden was out of breath, his heart pulsing above hers. Raiden tilted her head back and looked at the shocked figure of Jennifer, who just stood there with widened eyes.

'I think maybe you should go back to your room, Jayden.' she said, not unkindly.

'Yup,' Jayden replied, moving back from Raiden gently and standing up, his back to Jennifer. 'Yup. I'll do that now.'

Jennifer stepped out into the hall and allowed Jayden to pass.

'You should try to get some sleep,' Jennifer said once Jayden was gone. 'Do you need anything?'

'Nope," Raiden said; her voice high and strange. 'I'm good. Thanks, Jennifer.'

"Okay. I'm just across if you need anything. You're not off the hook though, tomorrow morning I want to hear everything.'

Raiden could feel her cheeks heating up.

'Sure, good night.'

'Night'

Raiden remained where she was for a moment, staring up at the ceiling where a moth was helplessly slamming itself into the light. Then, very slowly she closed the door and leaned against it, processing everything that had just happened.