CHAPTER 10.1

The evenings, spliced into colored hues, whispering sentences, soft gazes, stolen moments. Brock took Jade's hand into his, meandering through the east wing of the gallery. The temperature of his touch was warm, steady; his voice, low hums into her ear as they spoke of art and life things too fragile to utter aloud in the light of day.

But as Jade relaxed back into the passenger seat of Brock's car now, the night wrapped itself around her like some thick and comforting blanket. The streets were out before them-city lights flickered against the sky, a canopy of stars. It's almost like some kind of dream, you know, one of those that tantalizes by always hovering just at the edge of wakefulness, one of those you never want to end.

She cast a sideward glance at Brock, his profile bathed in shadow as he drove, his expression relaxed but thoughtful. The streetlights danced across his face in soft gold flashes, and Jade found her gaze stealing to the gentle tug of something that had been building between them all night. Being next to him was comfort, an ease that could make her, for a little while, forget all the heaviness weighing her down.

He smiled all over again as they were at the cafe. A missed beat in her heart later, "I had such a great time tonight," he whispered softly- the timbre of his voice sincere and warm.

Me too," Jade said, a smile tugging at her lips. "The exhibition was so beautiful."

"I'm glad you liked it," he said, then after some sort of shift in the air between them seemed to take place, "I hope we can again. Soon."

Jade's chest fluttered. "I'd like that.

It finally came to rest in front of her streets, but for some time, neither of them moved. Just this thing hanging between them, unsaid but there. Brock's eyes were on hers; the soft glow of the street lights seemed almost dreamlike staring back from his eyes.

He was leaning into her, his face mere inches from hers, close enough the heat of his exhaled breath teased across her cheek. Her heart thundered against her ribs as the world contracted to that moment-to him. Then, instead of a kiss, he pressed his lips against her forehead-light and soft, catching her breath.

"Goodnight, Jade," he whispered, his voice less than a breath.

Jade smiled, the flames running through her veins, a feeling she hadn't had in ages. "Goodnight, Brock."

She stepped out of the car and followed him to wait until she reached the front door, driving off into the distance with disappearing tail lights. As she entered the house, the warmth from the evening still wrapped around her, she finally felt that maybe this time, this could just be the beginning of something real.

BACK HOME: A MOMENT BETWEEN THE SISTERS

Jade slipped in through the front door. Familiarly, the wood let out a creaking sound, a comforting sound in itself; inviting silence inside. The silent warmth of the living room greeted her. The house was alive again after the strange, tightly kept quiet of the last days; soft light poured on its walls from the lamp.

Jayla sat cross-legged on the sofa, her legs tucked under her, a forgotten book in her lap. She looked up only as Jade came in, and in that moment, the eyes softened into a smile. "You're back," she said. "How was the exhibition?

Jade smiled a little, almost bashfully, and hung her coat on the rack. "It was great," she said, still the voice glowing with the night. "It was called *Reflections in Color*. The art was amazing and Brock-" She caught herself, realization barely beginning as the blood flared brightly up her cheeks. She flashed a sideways glance at Jayla, who gave her a look.

"And Brock?" Jayla teased lightly, one brow arched.

Jade bit her lip, crossing the room to sit beside her sister. "He's… really sweet," she said so softly, words that were almost too fragile to say. "It was a really good night."

Jayla smiled immediately, that knowing smile when there is somebody else's happiness. "I'm glad," she said softly, her eyes flickering with tenderness that warmed Jade's chest.

Just then Jasmine materialized from the top of the stairs, resting her feet on each one of them in slow, cautious motions, as if testing which of those would be strong enough to bear her weight. She had changed into soft pajama pants and an oversized sweater; her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. There were still circles under her eyes, faint bruises around her face, grim reminders of what had taken place the night before, but a lightness in her usually small, but a step forward nonetheless.

"Hey," Jasmine's voice was hoarse but clear.

Jade and Jayla stared at her in surprise, which danced in their eyes. It had been hours since Jasmine had ventured down from her room, and they didn't want to push her, yet here she was standing, and something inside both of them settled.

Jade gave her a soft, gentle smile. "Hey, are you feeling any better?

Jasmine looked down at her hands and kicked a pebble along the pavement once before looking up again. "A little," she said. "It's. Still there, but. I think I need to be around you guys." She shrugged, her lips quirking in a small, almost-embarrassed smile. "It's been a while since we all hung out with each other."

The softening of Jayla's features marked the tugging of her heart at that image of her sister there, putting pieces of herself together. "You're right," she said low, eyes darting from Jasmine to Jade. "We haven't done that in a long time."

A beat of silence passed, and then Jayla's eyes flickered like the spark to something playful. "How about we fix that right now?" she suggested. "I think we could all use some fun."

Jade raised an eyebrow to her. "What are you thinking?"

Jayla grinned at her, the mischievous glint in her eyes. "Games. It has been forever since we have played anything together.

The first real smile in days quivered on Jasmine's lips. "Games? As in, board games of the old school?"

"Exactly," Jayla said, already on her way toward the cabinet where they kept a stash of old board games. She whipped out *Monopoly*, *Scrabble*, and a deck of cards, holding them triumphantly aloft. "What do you say? We'll make it a night."

Jade laughed low, shaking her head. "You're on.

The three sat on the floor before them, where the games lay spread. Minute after minute, the atmosphere lightened; it was as though, finally, that heavy cloud started to lift from over the house. Laughter filled the living room-Scrabble points being argued, *Monopoly* trades teased, and memories from the last time they played.

There it is, back to being all right, well, almost all that weight of Jasmine's trauma, all those secrets and fears each has been fed, melts to the background, comforted by sisterhood, the bond that ties.

It was that old trivia game they hadn't played in years-dog-eared cards from one too many rounds over one too many years. The mood was cautious and tentative initially, as if everyone else was scared of stepping on something fragile. But as the game wore on, the laughs started to bubble. Questions were silly, and their answers were even more so; for quite some time, the weight of the last few days melted away.

Jayla fell back in her chair, laughing, as Jade missed  another trivia question about world geography. "How can you not know where Portugal is?"

Jade threw her hands up in mock exasperation. "I don't know! I'm an artist, not a geographer."

Jasmine laughed low, her head shaking from one sister to the next. It was good better than she'd thought it would be. For the first time since the attack she felt a small crack of light seep through the dark cloud that had been hanging over her.

Then, after a couple of rounds of trivia, eventually, talk would always veer off the game into easier and more well-known topics. They sat together, talking about old times, playfully jabbing at one another just like they did before it got so complicated.

Jade lolled back in her chair, tips of her fingers tapping off the side of the coffee table. "So," she said, the sparkle of mischief considerably more apparent in her eyes. "Speaking of complicated things, does anybody else have a love life these days?"

Jayla raised an eyebrow and gave her a pointed look. "You're the one who just got back from a date. Shouldn't you be answering that question?

Jade giggled; a light flush washed up her cheeks. "Alright, alright, I admit it: Brock's been kinda great. He's sweet and attentive, and I don't know, it just feels like we're on one frequency."

Jayla smiled. "Well, isn't that nice to hear? Maybe you should hold on tight to him, then.

One second, a slight quiver and the smile did falter on Jade's face, flashing something impenetrable before she suppressed it. "How about you?" she returned with a questioning glance at Jayla. "Anyone special?"

Jayla blushed; catching her lip with her teeth, she glanced sideways at Jasmine, who by then was leaning forward with interest. A warm flush inched its way up along her neck. "I. might be seeing someone," she said so much more softly now.

Jade's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Whom?

Jayla's eyes fell to the hem of her sleeve, which abruptly became fascinating to play with. She whispered softly, "His name is Axel. We have been spending time with each other lately. He is just. Different. I don't know how I'm supposed to explain it but he's kind and I feel like I don't need to put on any airs with him. Like everything falls into place when he's around."

Jade froze. Time froze in mid-air right at the spot they were standing; her heart loudly pounded against her chest. *Axel?* She opened her eyes and in one second, her mind began spiraling. Could it be? No. It couldn't be. Brock had never said anything about him having any other name, but still, that strange feeling crawling up her spine just wouldn't knock itself off.

She forced a laugh; though sounded a little hollow. "That's. Great. I'm happy for you.

Jayla smiled dreamily, totally oblivious to the sudden stiffness in Jade's body. "Yeah, I really like him. I think he might be the one, you know?"

Jade felt her throat closing up, and before she could reply to that, Jasmine softly cleared her throat.

"I… actually," Jasmine began a little tentatively. She stirred a little, and straightened her eyes upon her hands. "There's someone I've been thinking about, too. It's sort of weird, but…Jasmine trailed off, the words catching on the inside of her throat. She turned to her sisters, unsure exactly how much she was ready to let out. It was all so strange to admit this, to speak about Alexander as if he were anything other than the man who'd saved her that night. But lately, he'd been on her mind way more than she could explain. Maybe it was because he'd shown up out of nowhere, this guardian angel when she'd been at her weakest. Or maybe it was the way he'd been so protective, so steady and strong. She hadn't known him, yet she'd felt… safe.

She swallowed, her fingers weaving a nervous twist in her lap. "It's weird," she said, words slow, "but I keep thinking about the guy who saved me. Alexander.

Jayla and Jade turned to her, faces softening into curiosity.

Jasmine's hand absently rubbed the bruise on her cheek, trying to ease some of the tension that had settled in her chest. "I know it sounds crazy. He's just some guy I barely know. He just showed up that night and helped me, but I don't know, he's just been on my mind ever since. I just can't seem to stop thinking about him.".

The muscles in Jayla's face relaxed into the hint of a smile-mild, comprehending. "That does not sound crazy at all, Jas. I mean, he was there with you when you needed someone the most. Of course, you would feel drawn to him.

She straightened a bit then, her fingers on the hem of her sleeve stirring as she listened to her sisters. Something stirred in her, unrooted and uneasy.

Alexander, she'd said. And the name hung heavy in the room and something inside Jade began to twist. Something which felt more familiar quickened her pulse as the sense of foreboding unease fastened its taut grip on her body. Then, as if that last piece fell into place-it hit her.

Alexander. Axel.

The bottom fell out of her stomach. Was it? Could it be the same man Jasmine had told her about, the man who'd saved her the same as the one Jayla had just raved about only moments earlier? And worse… could *he* be that very same man she had spent her evening laughing at an art gallery with and holding hands?

Brock. Axel. Alexander.

It washed over her like a wave of cold water and her mind spiraled, trying to wrap it all into her head. Jade swallowed hard, looking between her sisters. The room suddenly was too small, too tight-the walls closing in on her. Could it all be some sad coincidence had they all crossed paths with the same man?

Jasmine's voice finally cut through the racing thoughts to say, "It's weird, though. I mean, I'm not even sure why I'm thinking about him so much," her voice small and uncertain. "It's just. I don't know I just can't stop wondering what he's like. Who he is. I don't even know if I'll ever see him again, but. I want to.

Jayla leaned forward, her eyes brimming with encouragement. "Then maybe you should see him again. Maybe you could try finding him? I mean, he helped you in such a huge way. You deserve to know him, Jas."

Jade's heart thundered slightly harder as their words came cascading down upon her. She felt she was standing on the edge of a cliff about to fall into a sea of confusion. She tried to still her breathing, to rationalize. There had to be a reasonable explanation. Maybe they weren't talking about the same guy. Maybe it was some weird coincidence. Yet, with deep knowing, she felt how pieces were falling into place in a way that twisted her stomach with apprehension.

She turned to Jayla, who sat with the most dreamy expression on her face, thinking about Ax Axel-axel-whom she had obviously fallen for. Then there was Jasmine, who barely healed, yet felt something toward this man saving her.

First, there was Jade. All this sitting here and having the weight of the evening with Brock fall into her chest like a lead weight. What was the likeliness in this "Axel" Jayla was falling for and that "Alexander" Jasmine had met were the same man she had shared her night with, the man whom she had been starting to open herself up to, little by little?

Jade took a deep breath and sought to steady her voice. "So, Axel," she ventured carefully, turning to Jayla, "what's he like? You know, you haven't told me much about him."

Jayla's smile stretched further and into her cheeks in the form of a slight blush at the mention of him. "Oh, he's great," she replied-an undertone of warmth behind her tone because of her affection. "He's kinda quiet at first, but once you get to know him he's a really funny person. He's got this thing whereby he can make you feel like you're the only person in the room. He is sensitive, you know-the kind of guy who remembers the little things. We met at the beach some time ago. It was just perfect.

Jade nodded, feeling with every word spoken a heart that seemed to fall further into her belly. Across her chest, the tightness seemed to grow and grow: some rope with so many various tangles and knots refusing to set loose. Her face was just lines unreadable, but inside her mind was racing down some devastating spiral.

"Axel," Jayla said, her voice continuing softer with an exhalation of his name. "He's tall, kind of rugged but in a handsome way. Dark hair. He's got these incredible green eyes-like, really deep. And his smile… God, his smile just gets me every time."

Jade's stomach twisted hard. Green eyes, dark hair. It was a kick in the gut. It couldn't be. It just couldn't. But all of the pieces fit far too well. Axel, Brock, 

Alexander… It was the same man. The man wooing her sister, the man saving Jasmine, the man taking *her* to this art gallery tonight.

She felt her room spinning, thoughts colliding in a mad confusing mess. Should she say anything? Was she to tell them? But how was she to? How was she to admit that this man whom both of her sisters seemed attached to was the very same man she had grown closer to?

Jasmine spoke, wholly unaware of the tempest brewing inside Jade-innocent this time, soft and unsure. "I do not know whether I ever see Alexander again, but I kind of hope I am. It's weird, but I feel like something is out there. Something I am unable to explain.".

Jade's heart was so loud the pressure inside her chest was ready to spill over. She knew she had to say it, get it out before it consumed her whole. How could she? What if finally the truth were to come out?

Would it break them? Would that be hurting them more than they were already?