The Keepers of Azera ( Book 1 of the Keepers Trilogy)

Chapter 28

Have you ever spent a lot of time with someone without really realizing it, spending time with almost no one but that person? And you're not quite sure if you want their company, or if they want yours, or if it's both? Even if you don't really know the person?

Well, a couple weeks after Poppa left, James comes into my bedroom where I'm stretched out on my bed reading, and says, "So I've noticed you and Amacus have been spending a lot of time together."

"Oh?" I say absently.

"Yeah, oh. What are you two doing? And don't tell me you're training."

I rest the book on my stomach. "Eating desserts, mostly. They don't really have sweet stuff on Tura, can you imagine that? That sounds like hell to me. And he's got such a sweet tooth."

"Mm. What about Alexa? Do you hang out with her too?"

"Sometimes, yeah. Why do you ask, James? Is it because you don't trust them?" I ask suspiciously. Suspicious of what, I'm not quite sure.

"After seeing you two train for three weeks, I don't really think they'll betray us, but it is nice that you are getting to know them. No, I was wondering, since you and Amacus are spending so much time together, that-"

Suddenly I know what he's talking about. I stand up quickly, heat rushing to my face. "It's nothing like that, James! At least not that I know of," I add weakly.

"Not that you know of?" James repeats. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"I-I don't know," I say, covering my face with my hands. "I really don't want to be having this conversation, James, not with you."

"Who else are you going to talk to?" James asks. "Hey, I'm the guy who told you about the birds and the bees."

"Do you not remember how uncomfortable that conversation was for both of us?" I demand, pulling my hands away so they rest on the sides of my face.

"I didn't say I wanted to be having this conversation, either, Callie. I don't want to think about it, but I know you're going to fall in love eventually and I don't want you to get hurt, that's all." James looks down at his hands.

"I'm. Not. In. Love," I say firmly.

James holds up his hands. "Okay, just making sure. I'm leaving now. Bye-bye." He slowly backs out of the room. I quickly go over and put my hand on the door so he doesn't close it all the way. "Can you just keep this between you and me?" I ask him.

"Sure, what is it?" he asks, leaning against the door frame.

"No, I mean this conversation," I clarify. "I don't want...certain people...getting the wrong idea."

"Masan," James guesses.

"Anybody, really. This-whatever it is- I don't want it to be public knowledge, okay?" I say.

"It's a small complex, Callie, I doubt it's going to stay quiet for long."

"I know, but for now, I'd like to deal with this myself. I don't know what's going on and I want to figure it out on my own, if that's okay," I say, placing my hands on the wall and leaning against them.

"Of course, but know that you can still come to me for advice if you really, really need it," James says. "And remember: you've only known the guy for three weeks. I don't want to sound hypocritical- I only, uh, knew Baya for a few, uh, days before we, um, uh, started seeing e-each other-" The discomfort in his voice was almost palpable- "but, uh, just take things slow, okay? I don't want you to get hurt."