THE MOON GODDESS CHOICE
(A CARD OF FATE)
EPISODE THIRTY
THEME: Did he leave again?
MOON STONE FORTRESS
IN THE PACK HOUSE: JAYLEN’S ROOM
Jaylen shifted lightly on the bed, trying to block out the rays of sun seeping into the room. He didn’t remember opening the windows before heading to sleep.
“Wakey! Wakey! Sleepy Prince Charming!”
Jayden knew that voice.
“Grandma!” He whined, throwing his feet out from underneath the duvet.
“Up, up, young man.” Gabriella threw off the duvet over him. “Morning sunshine.” She grinned a bit too widely.
“Can’t I sleep for a while?” Jaylen obviously knows she intentionally came to drag him out of bed. Knowing how much of a little sleeper Jaylen was.
He had woken up since like a long while but he couldn’t help to leave the bed or the confines of the room. The room seems like his safe haven at the moment. Knowing the drama that had taken place the other night, he had no interest in getting winged with it or having to talk about it this morning. To avoid all of it, he had stayed put in bed, but had probably drifted back into sleep as he was totally unaware of his grandmother walking in.
Gabriella stared at him. It was almost noon and Jaylen had still not showed his face. Knowing how he is, she had decided to take the bull by the horn and bring him out of his shell.
Meagan had been skeptical on being the one to come check him since Carl had since been asking if he was okay and needed anything. Gabriella had gotten tired of their anxiety and had practically stomped all the way to the room to get him.
“Everyone thinks you are long gone back to Chicago or dead.” She told him with a stern face.
“Back off Granny.” He muttered and covered his face with the pillow.
“Nah, young man. You won’t do that.” Gabriella informed him and pulled the pillow out from underneath his face.
“Can you just let me be please?” He shut his eyes closed, using his arm to cover it
Gabriella sat down on the edge of the bed near his head. “I know what you are trying to do.”
He opened one of his eyes while lifting his arm. “Am I that obvious?”
“Are you really scared of your brother?” Gabriella asked in an amused tone.
“You know I am not scared.” Jaylen replied with a shrug as he sat up. “I am not just keen on having any issues with him. He doesn’t seem so pleased to see me.”
“He was only overwhelmed… that’s all.”
“Lying isn’t your thing, grandma.” He rolled his eyes and hopped out of the bed.
Gabriella gasped out. “Did you just call your grandma a liar?”
Jaylen put a hand on the bathroom door. “It is just a saying Granny. I wasn’t specific.” He grinned.
She caught a pillow and made an attempt to throw it at him but he escaped real quick into the bathroom. His laughter rang out through the closed door.
Gabriella smoothened her hands over the top of the bed. And without knocking Claire burst into the room looking so flustered. Her eyes went to the empty bed and Gabriella caressing it like she had lost someone.
“Is it true? Is he gone? Did he leave? Why did he leave after promising me he wouldn’t?” Claire looked like she was about to cry.
Being the silly grandma she always is to Claire, Gabriella decided to play a prank on her instead. “You have heard?” She began with a straight face.
Claire heaved hard, almost like she would break down in a second. “Mom said he hasn’t been down all morning. Which is unlike Jaylen… when he lived here he was always the first to wake up. I thought he was tired out from yesterday’s flight. How could he leave me again?” She panted, looking angry now.
Jaylen heard the noise as he switched off the shower faucet. The noise from the room had been blocked out due to the sound the water made. He tried to listen in again, it seemed like someone was crying. It scared him a bit.
Wearing the robe that had been provided for him, he stepped out of the bathroom with a perplexed look.
“What’s going on?” Jaylen asked as he stepped out.
Claire kept mute immediately as she looked at her grandmother then Jaylen. She stared at Jaylen again then her grandmother. Her eyes eventually settled on the grin Gabriella had on her face.
It took Jaylen a while before he understood what was going on just judging by the look his grandma had on her face.
“Really Granny?” He couldn’t help the laughter, which Gabriella joined in. Only Claire didn’t find it funny as she pouted. Jaylen motioned to her to come give him a hug.
“Jaylen!” She cried out. Claire dragged her leg towards his open arms even as she threw daggers at Gabriella. “That was so mean of you grandma.” Claire said to her, with a side of her head resting on Jaylen’s chest.
“Do you always have to act the way you do Granny?” Jaylen shook his head, still laughing.
“Anyways…” Gabriella cleared her throat as she stood up. “My work is done here. You should say hello to your parents Jaylen.”
“Alright Granny!” Jaylen responded as he smiled secretly at Claire.
“I know just what you both are trying to do. Don’t mess around with me.” Gabriella tried threatening them as she left the room.
Releasing herself from his hold, Claire looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I almost went crazy thinking you had actually left.” She said and returned into his arms.
Smoothing his hand over her hair, he smiled a bit. “You would know if I have to leave, there is no more hiding. And when I do return you can always come to see me in Chicago.”
“You promise?”
“Trust me munchkin.”
Claire wiped her face. “I still feel so guilty Jaylen. Would you ever forgive me?”
“What do you mean?” He asked surprised.
“I feel like you left all because of me. If only I wasn’t stupid enough to act so childish and seek out revenge on Jayden while using you as an excuse then it wouldn’t have happened.”
Jaylen chuckled at her words. “It was never your fault Claire. That was bound to happen, whether any of us like to admit it or not. And I am grateful for the escape because it gave me time to discover myself more. So, it is not your fault. It has nothing to do with you.”
“I love you, Jaylen.” She cooed, her voice muffled by his chest.
“I love you more munchkin.” He replied and hugged her back tightly.