Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 40 (Wesley)

Anya leans in to whisper in my ear. "Wesley, we need to stop this before things get ugly."

I nod my head.

Gripping Anya's hand, I step forward.

"Come on, let's go find the others." I hold my hand out to Juliana. From the look on her face, I would say she was very thankful for my offer. She slips her hand into mine.

"Cole, Peter come!" I say over my shoulder as I lead the girls away.

"See you around, boy." The blond Fae chuckles. I can't see Cole, but I know he is following.

"This is a bad idea to let them hear," Cole says once we get out of there. I feel Juliana stop, but I pull her along. When we get to the rooms where Cole and the others are staying, I kick open the door. Matthew looks up. "From the looks on your face, I would say someone has really bad news."

Peter walks over to where Aron is sound asleep. He grabs a pillow and whacks him over the head. "Get up!"

"What? Oh. What happened?"

"Fae."

They're really..?" Matthew asks.

"Yup," Cole says. "And really annoying."

"You know what Cole? You're annoying, and I hate you! You don't get to tell me what to do. Do you understand? Stay away from me, Cole."

I turn in surprise, Juliana turns on her heels and marches out the door.

"Anyone else curious about what just happened?" Aron says, sitting on his bed.

We all look in shock at Anya, I was actually surprised she wasn't chasing down Juliana. Obviously, I wasn't the only one.

"Why aren't you chasing down Juliana?" Peter says, giving Anya a questioning look.

"Because it has seemed to me that Juliana wants to be left alone."

"So what happened?" Aron asks again. We all turn to Cole.

"Nothing. It's between Juliana and me, none of your business." Cole grumbles, walking to his bed.

"She's Wesley's sister, my best friend, and their charge."

"Was our charge..." Peter trails off when Anya shoots him a glare.

"Still she is like family to all of us."

"Still not happening," Cole replies.

"Oh!" Aron says, smacking his forehead. "I figured it out."

"You did? Tell us," Peter says.

Cole points a finger at him. "Don't you dare!"

Aron rolls over, "You're so handsomely fierce when you're mad, Cole."

Cole sighs. "I give up."

"H-e-'s i-n l-o-ve," Aron sings.

"Really?" Peter and Matthew ask at the same time.

"With my sister?" Wesley asks, aghast.

"No!" Cole says.

The three of them turn on Cole. "Cole's in love! He's in love with Wesley's sister!"

"I am not," Cole states.

"This is so cute," Matthew says—which earns him a pillow to the head.

"First Wesley and Anya, and now Juliana and Cole," Peter says, falling back to his bed, sighing. "Romance is in the air."

"Oh, brother!" Cole says. "Thanks, Aron."

"Kesley is a thing now?" Matthew asks, looking between Anya and I.

"Ah, young love," Aron says, with a stupid grin on his face. I feel Anya grab my hand.

"So, you like Juliana...but you don't?" Anya asks Cole.

"Nope," Aron says, standing between Anya and I. "No, changing the story. How did Kesley become a thing? Or is it Waitley?"

"Oh, shut up Aron," I say, pushing the arm he had slung around my shoulder away.

"They kissed!" Peter says gripping his pillow like a young teenage girl, who just learned her best friend's crush kissed her best friend.

Anya groans. "On second thought, I might go put up with Juliana's bad mood."

"No, you don't!" Matthew says, leaning up against the door. "We want the whole story."

"No!" I say adamantly.

"Yes," Aron giggles. I swear when they want something they become two-year-olds, but they're still some of the best fighters I know.

"Fine," I tell them. "Just leave Anya alone."

"Oh, he is already being the knight in shining armor," Aron teases. I push him against the wall, shaking my head trying to hide my smile.

"Let's hear it!" Peter says, bouncing up and down like a five-year-old. I chuck one of Cole's pillows at him before I sit beside Cole.