The Right Choice - Chapter 7

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First love is only a little foolishness and a lot of curiosity.
George Bernard Shaw
~*~*~*~*~*

Stephan whistled as we walked up Kadeisha's drive way. It was impressive. She lived a few streets from me, in a similar house. Only she tried to decorate it up. Her parents were lawyers and had no interest in decorations. And you could tell it was so obviously Kadeisha. There were fairy lights strung up in the trees, and garden lights under them, embedded in the soil. In the window of every house, there was little purple candles, the door had wind chimes hanging off the outside. Nikki laughed and pulled him forward. She was eager to meet her best friend. Though still nervous deep inside about what would happen.

The door opened before she even knocked on it, which she knew would happen.
"Nikki!" Kadeisha squealed and flung her arms around her neck. Nikki hugged her back hard and then stepped away. Kadeisha was no doubt beautiful, but it wasn't her looks that drew you in. It was the way her personality shone through her startling blue, almost white eyes. You could see in the set of her thin sensuous lips that she laughed a lot. And by her jewellry, you could see she was slightly eccentric. She laughed and turned to Stephan.

"You must be Stephan" she said in her drawl. He nodded and Nikki saw him look her up and down. Kadeisha was wearing a black halter top, quarter length silver leggings and black Ugg boots. Her arms were weighed down with bracelets, her chest glittered with both wooden and silver necklaces. Her fingers held rings on ever finger and her long black hair was tied up with two jewel encrusted chopsticks. She glittered like a radiant disco ball. She stepped aside.

"Come in", Stephan glanced at Nikki and she was surprised to see him suppress a grin. He should be love sick already. She looked at Kadeisha who shrugged. The house smelled like cinnamon and lavender. Nikki relaxed immediately, she was used to these gorgeous smells. Kadeisha always used them. She slipped her hand into Stephan's and led him through a door to their right, into what once would've been the living room. There was a bead curtain on the other side of the door, a massive beige and white rug on the floor and some multi-coloured cushions. The shelves on the walls held little pots, which contained lit candles and bowls of potpourri and flowers. Pictures of the sea and sky hung from the walls too. In the middle of the room, sitting under a small glass table was a dramatic chest with an exaggerated padlock.

Kadeisha padded in after them and chuckled when she saw where Stephan's gaze was.
"Nikki bought me that for my birthday, as a joke" she smiled. Stephan nodded slowly as though he understood, even though he had no clue. Nikki was sprawled out on a cushion and he sat next to her. Kadeisha rolled her eyes and pulled a stool over.
"Welcome to my humble abode" she grinned, throwing her arms out. Stephan snickered and Nikki elbowed him.

"Ow!" he half whined half spluttered. Kadeisha frowned at Nikki.
"I have no idea why he's acting like this" she said, genuinely confused. Stephan was rocking with laughter now, gasping for breath.
"Are you wearing the love necklace?" Nikki asked. Kadeisha nodded.
"As you asked" she added, looking perplexed now.

"Wait...What?" Stephan asked through his chortling.
"Nothing. Why are you laughing?" Nikki poked him.
"Because...i'm sorry if I sound rude, but your friend looks and acts like a gypsy or something" and he was off again. Kadeisha snorted and crossed her arms. Stephan gasped for breath and stopped laughing finally. Nikki was looking embarrassed and as for Kadeisha...the only word for it was pissed.

Seeing that he was done Kadeisha pursed her lips.
"I am NOT a gypsy" she spat. Nikki winced. The term gypsy riled Kadeisha up no end. She hated it.
"Sorry" he muttered, worried she was going to blow a gasket or something. Her expression softened and she leaned forward.
"I'm a witch" she breathed.

Stephan glanced from her to Nikki, then back again. A smile was slowly spreading up his face. He bit his lip.
"Oh my god. You are absolutely mad" he whispered while shaking his head. Annoyed now Kadeisha stood up and kneeled down in front of him. He watched warily as she reached out a hand and touched his forehead slightly. Her eyes closed immediately and a warm sensation washed over him like a blanket. Barely a second passed before she pulled away and smiled.
"Do you want me to tell you what I saw?" she asked. He nodded, stilled shocked that she might be a real witch.
She leaned forward and put her lips to his ear.

"I saw exactly how much you love my best friend Nikki, and I know that you can't imagine life without her now" she whispered. Of course she only whispered for his benefit because Nikki heard every word clearly. She flushed and looked down. Wow, did he really love her? She smiled a little and bit her lip. It was best not to let on that she knew. So she banished the smile and looked up. He was staring at Kadeisha, clearly shocked. His eyes flicked to Nikki's face and then he rubbed at his face.

"Oh god" he murmured. He was finding it hard to believe that the girl in front of him was a witch! And she could read minds. He ran a hand through his hair and swallowed.
"Right..." he forced a smile. Kadeisha laughed and leaped up.
"You don't have to believe me, just don't call me a gypsy or I'll make it so that you can't ever talk again" she grinned innocently and turned to Nikki who hadn't said a word since sitting down.

"You're right; he is hot, he is sweet, he is incredibly silly, but he's also immune to the potion and my, - she fluttered her eyelashes playfully – charms". Nikki sighed and put her head in her hands.

He was immune to it. He didn't fall in love with Kadeisha. Not only was he strong, but he was true too. And there was also the fact that apparently he loved her. She blushed again and stood up to hug her best friend.
"Thanks, anyway we better leave, before Ste has an aneurysm" she grinned, pulled Stephan up and started out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*

Outside, with fresh air in his lungs, Stephan took hold of Nikki's hand and sifted through the new information.
"So you're best friend is a witch" he stated.
"Yeah, and my boyfriend is an idiot" she joked.
"Huh, I guess I learnt two new things today then" he smiled and pulled her into his side.
Nikki laughed and slung her arm around his waist as they walked.
"Ste?"
"Yeah?"
"Urm, you know what Kadeisha said?"
"About what?" he glanced down at her.
"About...about you loving me" she said quickly.
Stephan's body went tense. Shit! Nikki thought. She shouldn't have brought it up.
"Yeah?" he was wary now.
"Do you – Do you mean it?"

Stephan stopped walking and turned to face her. Nikki was visibly nervous. He smiled softly, took her red face in his hands and kissed her gently.
"Yes I do mean it" he whispered against her neck. She shivered.
"Well...I love you too" she answered in a barely heard voice. He lifted his head and started into her eyes. Nikki stared back, her breathing suspended.
"Really?" he murmured. She nodded.

Stephan broke into a grin and pulled her to him.
"How long has it been exactly?" she asked him.
"Two days, thirteen hours and fifty minutes" he answered half serious, half joking.
"And we really love each other?" she asked.
"I know it's crazy, unbelievable. But I really do love you. I mean it"

Nikki was swelling with happiness. She grinned and suddenly started laughing.
"What?" he asked amused.
"There's a little kid on the other side of the road, just watching" she smiled. Stephan turned his head and saw Alyssa standing there, clutched a mop and some shopping bags, literally beaming. He chuckled and waved. She waved back slightly and then hurried off.

"I can only guess what she's going to say to your mum" he chortled.
Nikki frowned, she couldn't. And she also had no idea how Skye or Kydan would react. She was a werewolf after all. And Stephan was human. And sometimes being around a human could be disastrous. As Skye had told her time and time again.