Gold Dust

Prologue: A Hale storm

"Elijah Isaiah King! Quit sulking and help out with the boxes." Mrs.King snaps at her 16 year old son.

"If I have to help with the boxes then why the hell did dad give a quotation and a whopping 600 dollars to the moving company? " Elijah says, his voice neutral as he refused to look at his mother.

Mrs. Elizabeth King rolled her eyes and muttered "smartass" under her breath.

Elijah chuckles at his mom's silliness.

"Fine, I'll quit moping around. " he relents and feels fantastic as he catches his mother's beaming smile in response.

"That's my boy." Elizabeth King cooes and tries to ruffle her son's hair but he swats her hands away.

He leads the movers into the house and gives directions to them as the woman stood at the door observing her son. He was a born leader. It was in his nature to take charge. "God help the poor girl he'd end up with! " Elizabeth thinks to herself.

Elizabeth wanders outside their new house and decide to introduce herself to the neighbors. Her husband and younger son, Edward, would be joining them later in the week as Edward still had a few more days of soccer camp back in Seattle.

She walks up to the cul de sac on the right, and is greeted by a giant of  a man who she guessed was the Butler.

"Hello. I'm Mrs. Elizabeth King,  our family has just moved in next door and I was hoping to be friends with the neighbors. Could I speak to the lady of the house?" Elizabeth asks politely and the Butler grunts.

"Is that a yes?" She asks.

"I'm sorry miss, but the madam is currently very busy. " The Butler informs.

Elizabeth sighs.

"By busy he means she is spying on the neighbors again. Go call her Joe, don't be such a grump." A voice says from behind.

Elizabeth whirls around and is greeted by the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen.

The girl had raven hair that flowed past her waist and perfect teeth that she used to beam with. Her eyes were a soft chocolate brown, very intuitive ones for a girl so young.

"Hey there." Elizabeth waves at the girl. The girl acknowledges her with a hug. Elizabeth is taken aback. After a beat, she returns the hug.

"Welcome to New York,  Mrs.King. " The girl greets her.

"Call me Liz." Elizabeth says.

"Okay." The girl agrees.

"What's your name? " Liz asks.

"My name is Akira Hale." She responds.

"That's a very nice name." Liz comments.

"Next question, how old are you? " Liz fires off.

"I turn 12 tomorrow and you're invited to the over the top party that my mother will be throwing for the snobby kids from my private school." She replies.

Liz laughs.

Elijah hears his mother's laughter from outside. He goes out to inspect the scene and finds his mother talking to a girl who looked about 12.

Liz catches sight of her son and waves him over. He approaches them. He was breathless when he got the full frontal impact of the girl. She looked like something out of a book. Dark hair that hit just below her waist and inquisitive chocolate eyes framed with mile long lashes. A long nose and plump lips that seemed to be naturally red.

She was going to be a heartbreaker, that was a given.

"Akira, meet my eldest son, Elijah Isaiah King." Liz introduces him.

"Elijah, this is Akira, our neighbor. She's turning 12 tomorrow. " Liz tells him. He nods.

Akira stares at Elijah for a moment, then declares her verdict.

"I'll give you fair warning, with the way you look, girls your age, including my older sister are going to be after you. You've got that 'I'm too good for people' vibe going on. Chicks dig that. And you don't seem like a guy who likes unwanted attention. So I suggest you be boring. That's the only way they'll leave you alone." Akira advices him.

He is speechless for a moment. He catches his mother's eyes. Her eyes were twinkling.

"I love her!" She mouths, pointing at Akira. He grins.

He turns back to Akira.

"I like you kid." He states.

"I like you too." Akira replies.

"Then it's settled. I now pronounce you man and wife. " Liz puts down the law.

"May I now kiss the bride? " Elijah quips, playing along.

Akira smiles, and a dimple pops out. Elijah's heart beat faster.

"Yes you may." Akira jokes.

Elijah leans in and pecks her on the lip.

Akira laughs.

And Liz swore that she witnessed her son falling in love.