The Crystal 3, Jones M [fox in socks read aloud TXT] 📗

since I'm back, I can't avoid you guys forever. The Queen came to visit me today, and she told me what had occurred when I was gone. I did some serious thinking that took hours, and I have made my decision. I wanted to tell you that I've put the past behind me."

I blinked my eyes and shook my head in case I misheard what she said.

"Wait. What?" Selena asked, and that confirmed I had not misheard what Emery said.

"I wouldn't want to hold a grudge against you guys forever. Despite what you did to me, you were there for me as a family."

I blinked my eyes in shock at Emery. Was she high? Was she literally on drugs?

"Why?" I questioned with every ounce of disbelief I could put in my voice. "We put you through hell. We ruined high school for you, and we made many people hate you! I abused you, Emery! How can you say you forgive us?"

"Zane!" Logan and Liam yelled, silently saying that I should not jinx what was going on. It wasn't like I didn't want Emery to forgive me for all the shit I did to her. The words were practically music to my ears, but it did not feel right. I was a horrible person to her, and she should not allow me in her life again.

"Because I'm tired of holding this against you. Don't you know how exhausting it can be to carry a grudge over you guys for years?"

"Emery--"

"I also don't want to avoid you guys every time I see you. I wanted to deal with the problem, and the only way to deal with it is to face it. I have already faced it, and I've decided to forgive all of you for all the crap you had me go through."

"I don't understand. You forgive us?" Logan asked, and Emery slowly nodded. Nobody moved for a moment, and then Selena practically jumped on Emery.

"Emery!" the rest called out to her as they went towards her and shared prolonged hugs.

I noticed Emery's reaction to everyone hugging her. She was smiling, but it did not seem to reach her eyes. She seemed tense and not at ease.

Maybe she really hadn't forgiven us.

"Zane?" Emery called out to me once the rest had finished hugging her.

It was suddenly a lot to take in. Emery did not need me to dampen the mood. I had ruined her life twice, and I wasn't going to do it again. I needed to get out, but Emery's eyes held me in a trance.

I don't know why, but I found myself changing my mind as I moved towards Emery. I wanted everything to be quick, and so I hugged her.

Fuck.

She felt perfect in my arms. I was reminded of the time I had held her when we kissed. I wanted to remain in the position longer than the rest. Her chest was pressing against mine, and I couldn't help but realize how her breasts had grown. 

I retracted the hug, making sure she did not feel how much I wanted her. It would have been a very weird welcome.

I mean, who gets aroused over a hug?

"Will you stay for dinner?" I heard Selena ask.

"Umm, I don't know. I already have my own dinner--"

"Please?" Erick stretched out the word.

"Fine," Emery relented.

About five minutes later, we had all gone to the castle's dining room to have dinner. The room had plain apricot walls and gray cemented floors. The ceiling was painted gold with a pebble-like texture, and small bulbs were hanging from them. The room was also large with a huge French window placed in front of us, showing us the balcony and the view that led to the city. It was already evening, and there were gray clouds all over. It looked like it would snow again in a few.

I had just taken a bite out of the lasagna when Liam asked: "So, Emery, how was your life on earth?"

Emery then proceeded to tell us what she had been doing. She told us about her course in Computer Science and the programming job she had earned from it. She also told us about how she had been living with Rachel, a girl she used to work with at a Starbucks café years ago. Selena was shocked that she had forgotten Rachel.

"She was mad at us," Emery said as Selena shook her head in regret.

"Oh crap! I was so busy! I feel like such a bad friend," Emery's cousin replied.

"It took me a month to get back on her good side. I wonder how long it would have taken for you."

"It would have taken longer... and a couple of concert tickets to my show or any other singer she wanted to meet," Selena said before she and Emery guffawed with laughter.

Emery also told us about how Rachel got engaged and married to a guy named Zack.

"I had to leave," Emery said after telling us about the guys who had visited her in search of Ashley. I felt her sorrow, and I wanted to make her happy again.

Then Liam, Logan, Ethan, Selena and Erick led the conversations. They told Emery about our music careers and the dreaded events that happened on tour.

"You cannot believe the drama we got after that simple kiss," Liam said, making Emery laugh. He had told her about a picture he had posted on Twitter with him kissing Ethan's cheek. Our fans went crazy and they had begun the ship name Letham. They even photoshopped Liam and Ethan's faces to make them look like they were kissing and doing other stuff.

"Can you believe they even wrote smut books about them?" I said, gaining a look of disbelief from Emery. Ethan and Liam shot me deadly glares.

"No," she said as the rest of us laughed.

"You are one to talk," Logan said with a smirk.

"I don't know what you're smirking about. Have you forgotten about Larry? Or was it Hogan?"

The smirk on Logan's face was instantly dropped just as Harry glared at me.

"Who?" Emery asked. We continued telling her about our wonderful fans and how they thought it would be fun to make romance stories about us. I love my fans and all, but I didn't love my bandmates that much.

"They were of so many varieties. Vampires, werewolf mates, and the dreaded fivesome that featured all of us.Oh Liam, right there !" Harry imitated Ethan's voice, earning a shoulder punch from the lad. Emery laughed so hard that she clutched her stomach. The laugh was a wonderful sound that I wanted to treasure in my mind.

The conversation went on, and I stared at Emery as she reacted to the questions she was asked. I didn't bother asking anything as I was busy studying Emery again. My mind then went back to the hug I shared with Emery and how good it felt, a reminder that I was going to have a hard time sleeping.

We had all finished our meals as we still continued catching up with Emery. Then it was finally time for all of us to head to bed.

"Guys, let's call it a night," Liam said, and the rest of us murmured in agreement.

"Emery, where do you live?" Logan asked.

Emery went to reply, but Logan interrupted her, "Never mind. I remember. Would you like me to escort you to your home?"

"Uh, sure," she replied.

I found myself suddenly glaring at Logan. Emery was mine. Logan should have known not to flirt with her because I still had feelings for her.

However, I couldn't allow myself to want her. Emery deserved someone else; someone who could treat her better than I did. I was still mad at myself for abusing her, and I didn't want her to befriend me again. I was afraid I was going to hurt her much worse than I did. I needed to stay away from her so she could be safe. Besides, she was right to say I was her bad luck charm.

 

Chapter 13

 

One month later

Emery's P.O.V

In the past two fortnights that had passed, things had been okay for me. Nothing interesting happened, and honestly, I was getting bored. Sure, I had the option of staying in the house and watch the sun rise and set. I also had the option of watching movies, series and YouTube videos. But I was still bored.

That was why I was invited to a girl's day out with Ashley and Selena.

To be honest, I questioned how it would be to just return to being friends with everyone after twelve years. A long time had passed, and on the first dinner that we had after their memories were returned, I found it hard to cope with them. Yes, I had a great time catching up with everyone, but I had doubts about letting them in my heart again.

I told myself I shouldn't be scared of things going wrong again, but that was easier said than done. So I began spending time with everyone individually. I had gotten to know more about Liam, Logan, Harry and Ethan. They were Erick's loyal advisors, all except for Logan, who was a teacher. I was surprised about that. Erick had even offered me a spot on the job, but I was quick to say no. I doubted I would be very good at that.

Anyway, I was reintroduced into Crystalia as the crystal. Just like before, there was a grand party. I greeted witches that I could honestly not remember their names. There was a Gretchen. Or was it Hansel?

Wait. Weren't those characters from a book?

The unease I felt around everyone decreased with time. But then, I had not gotten to speak to Zane. I was told that he was busy, but I had a feeling that it was a lie. How could he be busy for more than two weeks? Was Zane avoiding me?

A loud knock sounded at my front door. I groaned, bringing the duvets further above my head. The same knock sounded at the door, but I chose to ignore it. Couldn't people see that I was sleeping?

I waited for five seconds, and I sighed in relief when the annoying noise did not sound again.

Just as I was about to go back to sleep, the duvets were pulled off of me. I shivered due to the cold, mumbling cuss words at whoever teleported into my bedroom and forced me to wake up.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty! The sun is up, we are up, and so you must be up!" Selena yelled with a loud cheery voice, pissing me off. I ignored her, continuing to sleep without the duvets.

"Emery!" Ashley's voice joined in. I had no option but to get up, especially since my sleepiness had evaded me the moment Selena spoke.

"You people are a-holes. I was sleeping!"

"Probably even having a certain sex dream."

My eyes fully widened in shock at what Ashley said, and I found myself gagging.

I shook my head in disagreement as I said, "No. Not for me."

Not after what happened.

Ashley gave me a weird look before dropping the subject.

"You have to get up!" Selena yelled.

"I'm up already!" I yelled back at her, grumbling loudly as I made my way towards the bathroom. I was seriously thinking of chanting a spell to block anyone from entering my home.

Staring at my reflection, I started to regret