Ch.4 Golden heart

Chapter 4

"I feel like dinner was a disaster," Adan said as he walked Birdie out of the portal and to the front steps of the house.

"No, it wasn't," Birdie shook her head.

"I like the way you lie," the boy gave a short laugh as he paused and looked at the girl.

"You know you can lie too," Birdie turned to look back. "You're part merman."

"I don't like to lie," Adan shrugged.

"Why not?" Birdie asked.

"Don't you feel weird?" Adan pushed his hands into his pockets. "When you lie...don't you feel like you're going against your nature?"

"What is our nature?" Birdie wondered. "We're both half jinns and half something else."

"But our jinn blood will always be stronger," Adan said. "I don't know. Maybe it's just me. But I feel weird when I lie."

"Maybe you're more jinn then me," Birdie teased.

"I believe it," Adan laughed once more. "I mean look at you."

As soon as the words left his lips, he gregreated his poor choice of words. He watched the smile slip from Birdie's lips as she shifted her weight and spun a strand of silver hair around her finger.

"I didn't mean it like that," Adan began.

"I know," Birdie nodded and smiled. But it did not reach her eyes.

"You're beautiful," Adan said. "Very beautiful."

The boy's words seemed to have an opposite reaction. Birdie's face twisted as if she tasted something disgusting in her mouth. Her insides churned and her skin suddenly felt icky and sticky.

"What?" Adan asked, seeing the way her face soured.

"Nothing," Birdie shook her head.

"I said something wrong," Adan proceeded with caution.

"No, you didn't," Birdie sighed, not knowing how to explain to him that she didn't want to be beautiful.

Being called beautiful was like a slap in the face. It was a reminder of how different she looked from everyone in her family and the rest of the world. She wasn't beautiful like her mother for her dirty blonde hair. She wasn't beautiful like Nora for her warm chocolate eyes. She wasn't beautiful like Annabelle for her perfect button nose. No, not Birdie.

Birdie stuck out like a sore thumb wherever she went. People were always taken back when they saw her and stared as if she was unreal. They squint their eyes and tilted their head, trying to figure out what was wrong with her....what was she? And when they could find no answer, she could only say one thing.

You're so beautiful...

"Thank you for dinner," Birdie sighed and smiled.

"Thank you for showing up," the corner of Adan's lips curved up.

"I said I would," Birdie rolled her eyes playfully. "I don't lie that much."

"Thank god," Adan took a small step forward.

Birdie felt her heart start to hum as the boy slipped his hand around her waist and leaned forward. She could feel his warm breath over her nose and lips as he paused and looked down at her lowered gaze.

"I think I see Heyder peeking at us from upstairs," Adan whispered.

"Of course he is," Birdie muttered. "You should g-

Adan leaned forward and captured Birdie's lips.

He was as warm as she was soft. His skin buzzed with his magic as he savored Birdie's sweet lips and stole the kiss.

Birdie closed her eyes and placed her hands on his shoulder, gripping him and stepping closer. She liked the warmth of his mouth and the way his lips moved tenderly. But no matter How close she stood to him and how long she let him kiss her, her mind was still scattered.

Baba is probably having a party. I need dessert. Is the cheesecake still in the fridge? This dress is so itchy, damn it.

As Birdie struggled to shut up her mind and capture butterflies to put into her stomach, Adan slowly pulled back.

"Good night," he whispered, brushing his mouth over her wet lips.

"Good night," Birdie whispered back.

"Good night!" Heyder waved from upstairs.

"Baba!" Birdie whirled around and glared at the jinn hiding in the shadows.

"You liar!" Heyder laughed. "You were having dinner with him!"

"Can you go inside? Please, behave yourself."

"Should I come inside?" Adan asked, watching the jinn and his daughter.

"Yes!" Heyder said just as Birdie said, "No."

"Thank you for dinner," Birdie turned to look at the boy once more. "I'll see you tomorrow at court."

"Okay," Adan nodded with his easy smile and playful eyes.

Birdie waited until he stepped into the portal to turn around and stomp into the house. She shoved the door open to find Heyder already waiting for her in the foyer with a grin on his face.

"How was dinner?" He asked.

"Why can't you be a normal dad?" Birdie used her heel to shut the door as she took off her purse.

"Hang on," Heyder held up a finger and cleared his throat. "Where were you, young lady? Is this an appropriate time to come home? Who was that boy?"

Birdie stared.

"Better?" Heyder asked.

"Put a little more feeling into it," Birdie suggested. "Deepen your voice and look angry. Stop smirking."

Heyder followed her pointers and began to try again when Birdie shook her head and walked away.

"Don't you dare walk away from me, young lady!" Heyder followed her through the halls.

"Oh I am so scared," Birdie said, her voice calm and even.

"I should have yelled at you kids more," Heyder chuckled, taking a seat at the kitchen island. "I'll do better with Zuri."

"Zuri is not your child," Birdie opened the fridge and pulled out the cheesecake she had been thinking about.

"Hayden is too soft with her."

"She's 2!" Birdie shrieked. "And it's his daughter."

"He only has his daughter because I helped him manipulate Zeus," Heyder snorted.

"That's the least you could do as the grandfather," Birdie laughed, digging her fork into the cake and taking a bite.

"Whatever," Heyder waved his hand. "Enough about that. How was dinner?"

"It was fine," Birdie nodded, savoring the cheese on her tongue.

"Should I call Ali and plan a ring ceremony and call the band?"

"Oh god," Birdie groaned. "Stop! It's not that serious."

"You know, in all the years and centuries that I have known Ali, I never thought he would become family to me," Heyder said. "Maybe he did. He was always trying to get me to marry one of his sisters."

"Don't let mom hear you say that," Birdie warned. "And he's not becoming family. Adan and I j-"

"Oh I like that," Heyder smirked. "Adan and I."

"Baba!"

"Sorry, sorry," the jinn held up his hands. "I'll be serious."

"Adan and I just had dinner," Birdie finished.

"Do you kiss all of your friends like that after dinner?"

"What if I do?"

"Ew," Heyder shivered. "Baby, people have germs."

"You sound like Noor."

"I've been spending too much time with that germaphobe."

"Do you want some cheesecake?"

"Better get me a different spoon," Heyder laughed. "I will no longer be sharing spoons with you."

"You're a dick."

"You can do better than that," Heyder slid the slice of cake forward.

"I said have a bite. Not the whole damn thing!"

"I bought it!" Heyder protested. "This is my house!"

"You ate the one you bought. This one is from Clare."

Heyder paused and looked down at the cake, "Is it Vegan?"

"Of course."

"And suddenly, I no longer want cheesecake."

"Give it back," Birdie laughed, reaching for the cake.

"Take it," Heyder pushed the slice forward and wiped his hands. He cleared his throat and watched Birdie pick at the cake before opening his mouth once more.

"When are you seeing him next?"

"Tomorrow," Birdie said. "At court."

"No, I mean like dinner, or date, or movies."

"I don't know," Birdie shrugged. "He usually makes the plans."

"You're so unromantic. What happened to you? You're my child."

"Thank you," Birdie chuckled. "That's exactly what happened to me."

"Your mom surprised me once with a date," Heyder said. "She set up a painting station for me. Got my favorite food and wi-"

"And you left her there to go take care of Fiza," Birdie looked at her father. "So romantic, baba."

"It was one time!" Heyder defended himself. "And I've been making up for it."

"How's that going?"

"She hasn't left me yet."

"Yet."

"Plan something for Adan."

"Why?"

"Because it's a nice gesture," Heyder said. "It shows that you care."

"Do I?"

"God damn, you don't have a single romantic bone in your body."

"I think Hayden took it all," Birdie placed her empty plate and fork into the sink.

"Leave it," Heyder said as he watched her reach for the sponge. "I'll wash it."

"Thank you," Birdie smiled.

"We have lots of work to do at court tomorrow. Be ready on time."

"This wouldn't happen if you actually did your work on time," Birdie walked around the counter towards her father.

"I should listen to you more."

"You should," Birdie leaned forward and kissed the jinn's cheek.

"Clearly you will be the better Sultan," Heyder smiled. "The first Sultana."

Birdie's nose scrunched up as she stared at her father.

"What?" Heyder asked.

"I don't think the people at court will accept me as their Sultana."

"Why won't they?" Heyder asked, confused.

"Baba, look at me," Birdie took a small step back. "Do you really think the Tyveer want their Sultana to have silver hair and pointy ears?"

With a heavy sigh, Heyder turned to his daughter, "They've accepted me as their sultan even after I have killed their leader in front of them. They follow power, Birdie. Not looks."

Birdie didn't reply. She turned her head and looked out the window at the dark sky.

"They will follow you too," Heyder continued. "And they will love you when they see your golden heart."

Birdie let her father's words linger in the air before soaking into her skin. She felt her chest tighten with restlessness as the beats of her heart pounded in her ear. After a few long minutes of silence, Birdie looked up and smiled.

"That was uncharacteristically sweet," she said.

"Yeah, that was gross," Heyder gagged. "Get out of here before I say something else."

"Good night, grumpy," Birdie laughed, turning on her heels.

"Good night, sweet pea."

_____________________________

"So how was dinner last night?" Nora asked as she searched through the pile of potatoes at the farmers market.

"Who told you?" Birdie asked, shifting Zuri on her hips.

"Heyder told Maya, Maya told Hayden, Hayden told me," Nora laughed.

"My god," Birdie huffed. "I guess we don't really need a family group chat."

"We're excited," Nora said. "We've never met any of your boyfriends before."

"And now you know why," Birdie shook her head. "And he's not my boyfriend."

"Heyder thinks he is."

"I'm surprised he doesn't think Adan is my husband."

"I'm sure he's getting there."

"I bet."

"Mama, I want strawberries," Zuri pointed.

"Those are tomatoes, honey," Nora looked over her shoulder.

"Strawberries!" Zuri fussed.

"Those are tomatoes!" Birdie pulled her away from leaning over and taking the fruit. "You don't like tomatoes."

"Strawberries!" Zuri cried.

"Tomatoes!"

"Zuri, I know you want strawberries. But those are tomatoes, honey," Nora said calmly. "Let's go find strawberries okay?

"Okay," Zuri nodded, her bottom lip sticking out.

"But after Mommy buys the potatoes," Nora patted the girl's head before returning to the man at the register.

"Where did the other two go?" Birdie wondered, looking over her shoulder to see if she could find Noor and Annabelle.

"I saw them by the candy apple stand," Nora pointed.

Sure enough, Birdie turned to find the blonde reaching up and taking the two red candy apples and passing them to Noor. The boy licked his lips in excitement before biting into his apple. Annabelle put her wallet back in her purse and took her apple from Noor before he ate it and turned in the direction of the vegetable stand.

"Do you want a candy apple, Zubee?" Birdie asked the little girl who had climbed down from her arms.

"No," Zuri shook her head, watching her brother and knowing damn well his candy apple was about to become her's.

"Zubee, you want some?" Noor asked as he spotted his sister standing beside Birdie. "It's an apple."

"Yes, I want some," Zuri reached up.

Birdie watched as Noor leaned down and helped his sister take a big bite out of his sweet treat.

"Bite it," Noor instructed Zuri. "Harder! Use your teeth!"

"It's too hard!" Zuri complained, gripping her brother's hand to try and get a bigger bite.

"Fine, just lick it," Noor said. "Lick the candy part off.

Birdie and Annabelle watched as Zuri gave up and licked the candy apple like a lollipop.

"Girl's gotta practice licking sooner or later," Annabelle said.

Nora whirled around as Birdie smacked her cousin's arm.

"Ow! What?" Annabelle laughed.

"She's 2!" Nora said. "Don't let Hayden hear you say that."

"I was talking about the candy," Annabelle rolled her eyes. "Get your mind out of the gutter."

"Of course, your highness," Nora snorted. "Only our mind is in the gutter."

"I'm a Princess," Annabelle flipped her blonde locks over her shoulder. "My thoughts are filled with holy divine ideologies."

"How's the English Lit professor?" Birdie asked.

"Noor," Nora turned to her children. "Why don't you and Zuri go feed the sheeps at the petting zoo?"

"Those are llamas," Noor looked over to where the other children played with the animals. "And they spit."

"Alpacas spit, genius," Birdie said. "Now, go. We're having adult talk."

Noor groaned and took his sister's hand, "Let's go, Zubee."

"Stay where I can see you," Nora called after them as they walked off. "Okay, who is this English Professor?"

"Professor Matthew," Annabelle laughed. "He's new to St. Rieka and oh my god, Nora. He is so fuckin' handsome."

"And very good with his hands," Birdie added.

"Wait, how do you know?" Nora looked at Birdie.

"Annabelle told me," Birdie held up her hands.

"Annabelle," Nora gasped.

"What?" Annabelle blushed. "I only went over to ask for help with my paper. And then one thing led to another and next thing I know I'm in his bed and he's kneeling down in front of me calling me his queen."

Hearing the girl's words, Birdie felt a tingle run down her spine. Her thoughts wandered to Adan, making her tummy tighten and her legs buzz.

"You're really gonna get in trouble sneaking around like this," Nora shook her head but she was enjoying every second of it.

"He's so calculating with his hands," Annabelle sighed, making the other two huddle closer to make sure no one else heard. "He starts off looking into my eyes and then lets his hands just slowly run over my body, teasing me. And when he sees how breathless I am, he flips me over and oh my god! I die every time."

"Damn," Nora laughed, fanning herself.

"I'm sure Hayden has his special tricks up his sleeves too," Annabelle winked.

Nora immediately blushed. Her gaze flickered up to make sure her children were nowhere near.

"Hayden has a very dirty mouth," she said.

"I did not need to know that," Birdie gagged. "Oh god."

"Shut up," Annabelle poked her ribs. "Tell us about Adan."

"Yeah, what's he like?" Nora chimed in.

"He's....." Birdie shrugged. "Spontaneous."

"Oh my," Annabelle fanned herself. "I'm seeing hot and heavy sex in like hidden corners of the Tyveer court. Just running into each other and going at it."

"Sweet baby Jesus," Nora's eyes widened. "Are you two having sex at court?"

"Something like that," Birdie laughed, remembering the morning she and Adan had just shared.

"Damn, you're so lucky," Annabelle said. "Adan is like a fuckin god from what I heard. His ex-girlfriend dates my roommate's brother and she told me some wild shit about that boy."

Birdie rolled her eyes, knowing exactly who Annabelle was talking about. Adan's ex was not so pleased with Birdie and Adan messing around. She had always been insecure of Birdie, even before Adan had taken an interest in her. Sometimes Birdie wondered if the girl had been the one to put the idea into Adan's head. If you say something enough times, sometimes it's bound to come true...

"He's pretty romantic too, right?" Nora continued. "I remember last Christmas when you two snuck off during the Christmas party."

Birdie grinned, "Yeah...he's fun."

"Fun and romance are two different things," Annabelle said. "Does he make your heart skip beats and your knees weak and your tummy have butterflies?"

Birdie looked at the girl and stilled. She felt her mind draw a blank as Nora and Annabelle waited for her to answer.

"So?" Annabelle asked, "Does he?"

Before Birdie could form an answer, Annabelle laughed and playfully shoved her cousin.

"Of course he does," Nora said. "It's Adan. The boy is so charming and handsome. Disney needs to turn him into a prince."

"Yeah..." Birdie laughed. "He's sweet."

"Ugh, I can't believe you're keeping all this juicy romance hidden from me," Annabelle pouted. "I wanna know how he's making your head spin and stealing your breath away."

"Then date him yourself," Birdie said.

"Don't tempt me," Annabelle winked. "I just might steal him."

"Be my guest."

What's going on with Birdie?