Chapter 21: CHAPTER 18.5: Lunch Break

It was almost hard to believe that it was normal here to be so close to your family when mine abandoned me. I guess we weren’t much of a family to begin with since I wasn’t Lynn’s daughter. “You should keep me updated on how things go.”

“I will,” Arma agreed.

Princess Hannah was walking down the hall in our direction. She had a girl with her. “Aqua, are you busy?” She stopped walking when she got to me to ask.

I shook my head. “No, not at all.”

“Aqua this is Lydia. Lydia, this is Aqua, our adviser’s daughter.” She introduced us.

I smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Lydia.”

Lydia looked confused to why we were being introduced and so was I. “It’s nice to meet you too…” She was the shy type. She grabbed Hannah's arm and didn’t say anything else.

“That’s all.” Hannah walked off with Lydia. I didn’t really know Hannah, so I assumed she some kind of ulterior motive to introducing me to her friend. I didn’t have a good feeling about it.

I looked at Arma. “That was weird, wasn’t it?”

Arma laughed. “Really weird. Anyways I have to get back home. Thanks for having lunch with me. We should hang out again soon but outside of the castle.” She waved as she walked into the elevator.

I wasn’t sure what I should do now since I didn’t want to be alone in my room. I know Lexus wanted to continue work after my lunch break. Either I could have texted him or gone straight to him. I walked around for a while greeting workers. I stopped when I saw Sadia and Lexus sitting on the same window seats me and Lexus had. I wasn’t sure if I should just have kept walking, but Sadia waved for me to come over. I walked to them hesitantly. “I heard you have a date with Calvin, I’m so happy for you.” He must have told her quick.

I glanced at Lexus for a second to see his reaction, but it didn’t look like he cared. “Yeah… he wants us to go to the festival together.” I started slightly rocking back and forth.

“We should go as a double date.” Lexus suggested.

Sadia rolled her eyes. “No, they need time alone for their first date.” She stood up. “I’m going to go hangout with Aqua, you’re always with her, it's my turn.”

“It’s usually just work…,” I muttered which was a big lie. It would have been better for me to not have said anything at all. I was being too defensive.

“That’s fine with me.” I think Lexus lied too. “Cade should be off work anyway.”

Sadia locked her arm with mine and we started walking down the hall. “Does Lexus work you too hard?”

I shook my head. “Not really but I might think that because I kind of enjoy the work.” Was it the work I enjoyed or spending time with Lexus?

Sadia laughed. “You’re definitely Konn’s daughter.”

I didn’t feel like I was. “I guess…”

“Give him some time, you haven’t been here very long.” She stopped at a wide window. “Speaking of Konn.” I looked out the window and saw him in his dragon form. I pulled my arm from around Sadia’s and walked away. “Wait Aqua.” I had tears in my eye because Konn was flying beside Lynn with Gray and Cade on his back. They were leaving to go somewhere as a family, and I wasn’t invited. Sadia caught up with me and put her hand on my shoulder. “Wait, I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I’m not. I should have already known that I’m only here to work for Lexus and You. I’m not here to be a part of Konn’s family.” A tear ran down my cheek. “I thought when I came here I could finally be a part of a family I felt connected to because I didn’t feel that way with my adoptive parents. Konn won’t even introduce me to Gray.”

“I understand, I was raised by another species too. In the pack house I never felt like I was one of them or connected with them. If I saw my birth family bonding without me, I’d feel the exact same way as you do. Working for us might have brought you here but that’s not all you’re here for I promise.” I was surprised when she hugged me.

I sensed Lexus getting closer and closer. “What’s going on?” He said when he approached us.

Sadia looked up at Lexus. “It’s private.” She pulled away and grabbed my hand. She led me back to Lexus’ room while he followed.

She turned to him after we both walked in. “I said it was private.”

She tried to close the door on him, but he stopped it with his hand. “If something is wrong with Aqua, I should know. She’s not just your friend, she’s mine too.”

I wasn’t sure if I liked being called his friend or not. Sadia looked at me for my permission. “You can let him in.” I wiped my tear away.

Sadia let Lexus in and closed the door behind him. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

I explained to him what I saw and why it upset me. “Konn can have his family, I just want to find my mother.”

“She might have a family too,” Lexus said.

Sadia elbowed him in his side. “That’s not helpful.”

Lexus glared at her. “It’s realistic.” He looked at me. “Konn takes his family out once a week. It’s just something they do since he works so much, you’ll get invited eventually. He probably just wants to introduce you to Gray first which he will.” He did already try to introduce me once so he could try again soon.

I understood those things, but the wait killed me. I wanted to be close with my family now. Nineteen years of bonding with them was already taken from me so I didn’t want to waste more time.