Keep Climbing [Amberly/Haylee] JB Blitz

I felt oblivious to the fact that I had more cousins then I thought. Apparently, there was another family of Angevin's that roamed the district and I even protected her once in a fight when she was younger. Never knew that's who she was and as the minutes pass by the more I feel the pull of needing to know more.

Something that will not happen now.

Rubbing my fingers against my eyes, I pull myself to wake up fully hoping that this was only a dream that I had been thrust in to. It doesn't work. None of it does and I begin to wonder if this new secret family will die when I leave the district and never get to utter a word to my own family about what was just discovered. I am beside myself now.

How will things play out now that I can no longer be that connecting factor in my family even though I am merely the one who tears it apart.

The door to the room opens suddenly again and I half expect it to be Fennec again, but instead it's someone much closer to home and to be honest, the one person I really wanted to see. "So you did decide to see me off. Well, ain't I just lucky now."

I pluck up the courage to dismiss what just happened because the time with Haylee is going to be limited. It'll be over before I know it and I'll start fighting to make them give me more time should they try to take her before I'm done.

"Powerful? Who me? Hardly." I jest with my cousin and look at her. I can tell she's cried. Even though she tries to hide it, it is something that I've always been able to pick up on and ripred does she know how much I hate it when people cry around me. "Dust in your eyes, Hays?"

Physical closeness to my cousins Transends what my own family has. I come up to her and drape an arm around her shoulder pulling her against my side, squeezing her. "You'll be fine Hays. Don't worry about it. Got it? No dusty eyes for me. No squeezing hearts. Don't even think of letting anyone say a damn good word about it. Do me a favor, when it's time, tell my sister who really poured the lax in her drink, okay?"

I place my hand at her face and run my thumb against the lower part of her eye. I study her strong features and then run my hand through her hair, roughing it up. She never felt compelled to grow her hair out despite the family telling her she needed to because it made her 'pretty'. She gained one thing being an Angevin and the spirit to tell people to fuck off when needed. That's what I love about her and what I'll miss as well. I'm going to miss my best friend.

"Yeah, I'm telling you not to cry, goofball."

The phrase seemed broken, robotic almost even though I know she'll cry the moment she walks away from me and my heart will be forever burdened with that guilt. As long as I don't see her cry, I'll stay strong for her. It's all I know to do. I've had to be strong my entire life. I've had to stick up for myself, protect myself and defend my honor as well. As hard as my exterior is, it's only a mask for what I want to be.

I just don't know if I'll ever be able to show that to a human being again. What's about to happen is dangerous if I show my weakness to them. If anyone knew about my relationship with my best friend, my Hays, then they'd know how to bring me down. They won't know it though.

"I love you, too Hays. Never forget it. Okay? I'll be back, probably in a couple of gift bags though. Because whoever decides to take me out is going to have to take me piece by piece." A chuckle slides through my lips but its short lived. I feel like with Haylee, I can truly be myself and not so harsh. Not so guarded like at home where my smart ass mouth is my personality. I think she and a few of my cousins are the only ones that know the true me.

I reach into the breast pocket of my jacket and pull out a picture. "I'm taken her with me, Avonlea. I hope that if I don't come back breath'n, that you'll make sure you fight for this picture. She's my inspiration. My hope. My idol. She's the one everyone tells me that I am like and you tell them all that I find more joy knowing I have a rebel's fighting spirit then the soaked up sorry asses they are. I want to leave my legacy like great great aunt Avonlea. I want to be remembered for something I did good - but in my own way."

I stare at the photo of her. The glistening corner as the light touches her face from the chemical on the paper. The faded color of amber that makes it feel so much older. I tuck it back into my breast pocket, making sure she's secured before I look at Hays again.

"I need to tell you something because if I don't I'm afraid that the secret will die if I don't return and she can't find you." I float over to the desk again, sitting heavily on it and folding my feet up. "There are ancestors of great great uncle Harris. They are not blood related... but they carry his name. He married into their family and I want you to find Fennec and make sure she's well cared for. I wish,"

I sigh heavily and flash a troubled smile.

"I was going to be around long enough to get to know her; to know them. Extended family is all I got. My own family don't even like me, but you and everyone else does. But promise me Hays, you'll seek her out. She's got the most gorgeous dark skin, her hair all pulled back into a ponytail with curls and a beautiful smile. Her voice is so dainty and careful. She needs us." I don't understand it but how is it possible to love someone you just met and never knew?