Troy is a notorious womanizer. He loves his women. He has a theory of work hard, play hard, but he’s never lied to any of them. He always made it known that he wasn’t in for the long game.
Noah just started dating Stacey. She’s a bit clingy if you know what I mean. They are both going to med school, so I think it is more a relationship of convenience for him.
Drake, well,” she looked over at me with uncertainty. “He lost his virginity to Rose his senior year of high school, and they have been dating since the beginning of his sophomore year in high school. I think he loves her, but I always questioned whether he was in love with her. I think he’s going to struggle the most if you want to stay exclusive.”
I laughed sarcastically. I wanted to know everything, but this only made things more complicated. I didn’t want to be considered a homewrecker. I didn’t want to destroy their relationships. I groaned into my hands. “How can I expect them to stay loyal to me if I can potentially be sleeping with all of them.”
She looked at me with sympathy. “I’m still hoping to find my connection, but you have to understand in our community it is perfectly normal and acceptable to be loyal to your nucleus. You will be channeling his gifts. You’re the one who will amplify their gifts. Unlike you, I think the guys have been preparing for this their whole lives. They have accepted the inevitability of sharing their connection with each other, and in so many ways it makes sense that they are in this rare, never heard of connection. They are closer than friends. They are closer than brothers.”
I was left to mull over this one. “Are you marked like me? Are you a…a nucleus? What can you do? Can you lay the rest on me?”
She laughed as the questions rushed out. “I am. I have what looks like a trident on my hip. It showed up shortly after I turned fifteen. I may be only connected to one; sometimes these things are hard to decipher. I’m not sure if I’m the nucleus yet or if I’m only connected to one,” she frowned slightly. “I’m always used to being the center of attention, so I’m not sure if I can play well with others if you know what I mean.” She was silent for a moment, but then smiled at me. “I will have to show you my gift,” she placed her hands over the radio, and the stations started changing. I can tell she was proud of herself. “I can manipulate electronics.”
I smiled. “Huh, that’s pretty cool.”
I was genuinely enthralled with the concepts of the gifts. Even if I hadn’t completely embraced my own yet, I was still fascinated by everyone else’s.
“I think so,” she laughed. “Well, where were we. Oh yeah. Jax, last, but not least, my first crush,” I gaped at her, and she giggled once more. I think she liked shocking people. “Don’t worry, I got over it after he started dating my ex BFF. Tamara. The evil succubus that he started seeing three years ago. He’s always admired Jace, and I think he’s forever trying to emulate him. Football, and dating the captain of the cheerleading squad, etcetera, etcetera. Kind of cliché, don’t ya think? They are constantly on-again, off-again, and obviously, they are on again.”
“Is he musically inclined?” I asked out of curiosity.
She snorted. “Oh no. He tried, but he doesn’t have the ear or the patience for it.”
Then I finally asked the question I’ve been dying to ask since I saw how flirty she was with the guys. “Have you been romantically involved with any of them?”
She giggled once more. “I wish. They're sexy as hell, well except for my brother.” Then she placed a finger under her chin. “No, I can objectively look at my brother and see how other girls think he’s a hottie. After all, we do share the same DNA,” she winked at me. “Sadly, they have always treated me like a sister, not from my lack of trying though. I gave up on them last year, but I still like making them feel uncomfortable.”
I smiled at her; it really didn’t surprise me. I was glad I met her. For the first time in a long time, I could try making friends again, and I had a feeling we were halfway there to being best friends.
I was ready to recant my earlier thoughts a few hours later when Jem (as I started to call her, much to her annoyance) drug me into yet another store. I knew I already had at least four pairs of jeans, a few skirts (that I doubted I would ever wear), a dress or two, some t-shirts, some Henley’s, and five or six sweaters. She even allowed me to grab a few hoodies, that she had to approve, of course. All these clothes would have lasted me a full school year in my previous life, but Jemmy seemed scandalized when I tried to insist that we were done.
Of course, Ella was having a blast. She didn’t balk at the price tags on the clothes or even fight Jem on her clothing choices. I was starting to think that they were cut from the same cloth; they gushed and exclaimed over the same outfits. It would be more amusing to me if I didn’t feel like a mannequin as she made Ella and me go in and out of dressing rooms to try on something new.
She even purchased a few items for herself, but I was surprised at the restraint she was showing. She didn’t seem to blink as she charged item after item for Ella and me but seemed more reserved with herself.
“Seriously, how much more do I need?” I grumbled as she made me try on a few jackets. “I thought you said we wore uniforms at school.”
She rolled her eyes before grinning at me. “We do, but there’s after school and weekends. You can’t wear a uniform there.”
I knew it was a battle I couldn’t win; she was enjoying herself far too much, and there was no end in sight.
“Can we eat soon, at least?” I sighed as I watched her take two of the eight jackets I had just tried on.
“I guess,” she chuckled throatily.
We paid for our purchases and then headed to the food court. It had an extensive selection. I was excited to see that they had a sushi bar.
“I want sushi,” I showed enthusiasm for the first time that day.
“Eww gross,” she screwed up her nose. “The boys love that crap too. No thank you, I like my fish cooked.”
It was my turn to laugh at her. “Not all of it’s raw, you know.”
She shrugged. “I know, but yeah, no, still won’t try it. I’m more of a chicken fingers and French fries kind of girl.”
I laughed, knowing she probably wasn’t joking. “Well, I’m going to get sushi. We can get our food and whoever gets their food first can find us a table. Ella, what would you like?”
“Chinese,” she smiled widely.