22 | Let the Flames Begin

Seaside, California October 15, 2012

Celesta

YOU would think after facing all of the shit that I've been through these past few weeks that going on a date wouldn't make me nervous. Well, it was. Especially since I haven't even told my father about Zach yet.

After I dropped off Elle, I hurried home, anticipation stirring in me.

I was in my room pacing around, thinking of what to do when Zach pulled up in the driveway. My parents were downstairs, my father still oblivious that he was about to meet my boyfriend or not boyfriend. I still couldn't decide.

My mother however did know about Zach. And she was all for it, since for the first time in my life I was in an actual relationship. There were others that I've gone on dates with, but they were never anything serious. Plus, the moment they met my father they were left almost shitting themselves.

This was serious though. And I knew my father was going to cause a scene.

Glancing at my phone, I saw it was almost time for Zach to be here. I slipped my phone into my back pocket and went downstairs. My parents were sitting at the dining table, my father looking over files that were no doubt profiles on those he had to hunt for the coven.

While I wanted to take part in being a future enforcer for the coven, a part of it unsettled me.

My father looked up from his files to me, his expression darkening. "Celesta, your mother just informed me of something quite, interesting."

"Oh?" I asked then glared at my mother who just smiled at me sweetly.

"Yes, that you are going on a date," my father paused.

I swear I saw a vein pop out on his forehead.

"With a werewolf?!" he exclaimed.

"He seems like a very sweet boy Jeff," my mother chuckled as she patted my father on his shoulder, no doubt trying to calm him.

"Sweet? Werewolves can be dangerous and out of control!" my father thundered.

"So can witches Dad!" I shrilled, "God, you always overreact to everything!"

As if things could get even more dramatic, there was a knock at the door. Zach had finally arrived to pick me up. My father got up from the table, my mother trailing right after him.

I glared at my father as he gave me a fake smile, my eyes never leaving him as he walked over to the door. I could already imagine Zach probably gulping in nervousness at the prospect of meeting my father. Though he thinks he already knew about him.

Yeah, no. I don't have the balls to admit stuff like that to my father.

When that door swung open, Zach was standing there awkwardly. I saw my father tense as he took in the sight of Zach and realized that he was taller than him. Not by much, but enough to where my father would have to slightly crane his neck up to look Zach dead in the eye.

"So, you are the sweet boy who is taking my daughter out tonight?" my father asked, his tone trying to sound pleasant but it was just not working.

Zach just gaped at him stupidly, at a loss for words.

I was already stomping to the door angrily.

"Are you a mute boy?" my father quipped, "I sure hope not. I wouldn't want my daughter to—"

"Jeff, be quiet and stop being so rude!" my mother hissed and slapped him upside his head, silencing him.

"Jesus Dad, can you not be like this for once? You want to know why I'm never with anyone?!" I shouted, "It's because you've scared them all away!"

"No—"

"Jeff darling, you do need to stop," my mother chuckled.

"Uh, I'm Zachary, nice to meet you," Zach finally said.

All three of us turned to stare at him awkwardly.

My mother finally broke the silence. "Hi Zachary, please come inside!" she greeted happily.

I could see my father cringing internally.

What his wife says, is what goes. That was that. Despite all my father's bravado, my mother was the only voice of reason in his life.

Zach peered over to me, his eyes full of panic.

I grinned at him and waved for him to come on in. My parents stepped out of the doorway as Zach hesitantly stepped inside.

My father never took his eyes off him, almost as if he were sizing him up. Did he feel threatened by Zach? He was the biggest dork ever.

Zach gazed around the entryway, taking in my mother's horrible decorating tastes. Though he smiled over at my mother.

"You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Moone," Zach began. "It feels very warm and inviting."

My father's and I's mouths dropped simultaneously.

Was he serious?

"Why thank you! It is good to hear that someone finds it appealing!" my mother gave my father and me that side eye of hers.

"Anyway! We are leaving now!" I announced then grabbed Zach's hand and started pulling him out the door.

"Now just hold up a second Celesta," my father demanded and took a step in front of us. He looked directly at Zach. "I want her home by ten, no later. Understood?"

"Yes sir—"

"Actually, I was going over to Lily's to spend the night," I corrected. "Also, before you say anything, you can call Uncle Sam and he'll tell you!"

My father just nodded, though he still looked at Zach suspiciously.

God.

"Honey before you leave I need to give you something," my mother gushed out suddenly and ran into the kitchen.

"I'm going to go start the truck..." Zach whispered to me then ran out the door.

"Good, the boy fears me," my father said smugly.

"Dad," I groaned.

"Here, wear this around your wrist!" my mother instructed and fastened a random bracelet on my wrist. "It should work! Though he may already have feelings."

"Mom, what the fuck?" I asked, staring at the ridiculous rose quartz bracelet.

I didn't believe in crystal charms.

"The fuck what? You know you shouldn't curse," my mother grinned. "Anyway, have fun!"

Without one more word, I bolted out the door to Zach's truck, trying to put as much distance between my crazy parents and me quickly. They embarrassed the fuck out of me! I expected it from my father, but not my mother!

Who was I kidding, the two of them were probably laughing at us through the window.

Zach was waiting for me at the truck with the passenger door open. He grinned at me as I raced toward him. I leaped into the truck, the old leather seat squeaking as I landed on it. Zach closed the passenger door and hopped into the driver's seat.

I didn't even realize how old his father's truck was. The thing was an 80's Chevy and a stick shift.

Nice. Just like my car. Old and retro.

Though mine was a 90's Camaro. Not at all like Scott's. That bitch could do some killer burnouts.

"So, where are you taking me?" I chuckled as Zach shifted the truck into reverse.

"Somewhere that I know you will love," Zach replied. "Once you try it."

I gave him a funny look. "It isn't a place like Culver's is it? Because you know that shit gives me, well," I laughed. "The shits."

"Nah, you're gonna love this," he grinned as we took off down the road.

WE pulled up to a restaurant that I didn't expect he'd take me to.

A Panda Express.

I normally didn't eat Chinese food that much, but if he was taking me here then it had to be for something particular. Though Zach did tell me it wasn't traditional Chinese food.

As we were standing in line waiting to order, Zach kept acting giddy. I was letting him order for me so that I could try whatever he was so excited about.

Once we were at the register, Zach ordered two orange chickens, mine plain and his with white rice.

That seemed normal enough. I loved chicken.

"Also two black milk teas!" Zach added to our order.

"Wait, what?" I gawked, though Zach didn't even seem to hear me.

That shit sounded so disgusting to me!

The cashier handed us two red boxes with our chicken and the teas and we went to sit at a table beside the big glass windows. Zach handed me my box, and then the black milk tea hesitantly.

I eyed it with disgust, though the smell of it wasn't awful.

He took the lid off and started to stir it like crazy.

"Come on, try it!" Zach urged taking a sip of his drink. The dork just smiled stupidly.

I took the lid off and used the straw to start stirring it.

"It looks gross Zach," I mumbled after stirring it for a few moments.

"Celesta just try it for fuck sake, I promise you will love it," Zach grinned.

I put the lid back on and stabbed the straw through it. Then I took a sip.

Oh, my Goddddd.

"Well?" Zach asked, his brown eyes widening with excitement.

"Go get me more," I demanded, finishing the drink in seconds.

"Yes, yes!" Zach exclaimed and jumped up from the table to go get more tea for us both.

As he was waiting in line again, I gazed out the window, the sky had started to get dark.

The most interesting thing appeared in the parking lot, an old ass black Camaro. I eyed it as it parked beside Zach's truck, the two individuals inside it seemed to be arguing with one another, the passenger was throwing a map or something at the driver.

Lily and Scott were here. Wait, why the fuck were they here?!

And why was Lily with Scott in his car?!

I looked over to Zach whose back was turned to me, patiently waiting in the now long line. He had super hearing, could he not hear his friends arguing outside?

I could see Lily flailing her arms around, and pointing over to the restaurant.

Could they not see me staring at them through the window? Whatever Lily said to him next caused him to start backing out.

"Huh?" I gawked to myself as I saw Scott stop once on the brake, then just backed the Camaro out into the street without looking for other cars and sped away like a bat out of hell.

Other people in the restaurant looked out as well, wondering what asshole was driving recklessly in the parking lot. Especially with my damn cousin in the passenger seat.

I swear—

"Hey is everything alright?" Zach asked, oblivious to the fact that we were borderline being stalked by Scott and Lily.

Though they did leave. I'll question it later when I go to her house. And kill Scott for driving like a reject.

"Yes, now give me that," I demanded, taking my black milk tea from him and downing it again in seconds.

I probably had at least five more before we left.

AFTER we left Panda Express, we decided to take a long walk through Seaside. The weather was perfect. A nice cool breeze and clear skies are the perfect walking weather. We had our hands clasped together as we walked in downtown Seaside. Some of the local shops were still open and the bars were blasting music that I hated.

I told Zach about his best bud stalking us, but he didn't seem to care.

"He was probably just checking up on us, with everything that's going on you know?" Zach suggested.

"Yes, but you got me and you have claws that can tear shit to shreds," I muttered. "I think we can handle ourselves."

Zach laughed to himself and we continued down the sidewalk. I saw a park ahead, one that was known for its strings of white tea lights that would light up the whole place. But tonight they weren't on. Which was odd, given that today is Friday.

Once we were in the center of the park we stopped.

"Damn, I wish the lights were on," Zach sighed.

Well, I could fix that.

I chuckled to myself and closed my eyes, knowing they would glow once I did anything related to magic. No one needed to see that shit.

"Illumina," I whispered under my breath, calling out for the lights to flicker to life. I opened my eyes and noticed each light slowly come on, one by one.

Zach gazed up in amazement as I smiled at him. People around us stopped and looked up as well in awe.

Zach glanced back down at me, grinning like the dork he was. "You're amazing, you know that?" he admitted.

"I know," I agreed.

Then without any warning, he just scooped me up like I weighed nothing and started spinning us around.

"What are you doing?!" I exclaimed as he kept spinning us around.

Zach just kept laughing, has this kid lost his fucking mind?!

He finally set me back down on my feet. I put my hands on my hips and glared at him as he still was laughing for some reason. Once he realized I wasn't laughing along, he stopped.

"Sorry, I'm just like—" Zach paused. "Happy? Like this night has been everything I hoped it would be!"

"Zach?" I pried.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Spin me again," I blurted out. Wait no, why the hell did I say that—

He happily obliged before I could stop to protest. However this time he grabbed both of my hands and yanked me around, both of us spinning one another around. As we kept spinning a little too rapidly, I could hear people commenting on the two teenagers acting strange.

I think one mentioned if we were on Quaaludes. We might be, or just Zach was.

After our stint in the park, we decided to keep on walking through town. The night was still young and I knew of this great ice cream place to take him to.

But as we walked, I couldn't help but feel like something was nearby. Something not good. Out of the corner of my eye, I swore I saw something move. Too fast to be something human.

I am not having my date ruined by anyone. Especially by Seana or one of her devil spawns.

Author's Note

Is there anyone even reading this? Also, to my dear editor and sister Celeste, I enjoyed writing about you and your fiancé's book characters being complete idiots. <3