BONUS FIRST CHAPTER OF THE NEXT BOOK OF
The Hekapolis Trilogy
Experiment
I had been living at Thomas, Lupe and Shannon's for a few months now. With the help of William's power I relocated smoothly to a store close to my new address in Thousand Oaks. I was sorry to not seeing Susan anymore and I made sure to give my phone number, email and Facebook name to all my coworkers. Aside from her, none of them felt the need to contact me and even she did it sporadically. It seemed that work was the only thing we had in common and once done there was nothing we could bond about.
My father found out about William almost by accident. He stopped by one day to give me back a book he borrowed. He knew I was going to need him soon and lately he had been trying to do things the more human way.
With one exception, of course.
He often appeared in my room in the middle of the night to cuddle and make out. A couple of times to spent the night. We had to be really quiet trying to make sure no one will listen to us. And I always locked my door. Something that I'm pretty sure set Lupe's and Thomas's parental radar off. But then no boy could enter my room without being noticed. The window was directly on top of a small alley that led to the neighbor's house. And they were too good of friends of The Bridges to see a strange guy hoping over the window of their new guest and not mentioning anything. Going to the front door was impossible given that the house had a crystal wall that would give away any visitor too. Thomas was also the last one to go to bed. So whatever suspicious they had they knew it was impossible for a boy to enter my room without them knowing. But not impossible for a wizard. Good thing they were not part of public knowledge yet.
They still gave me The Talk, sort of....
It was right before Shannon came back from her last day of summer camp. I was out that day and I insisted on doing some chores as a way to repay their kindness to let me live with them. I could see Lupe not being very happy with my suggestion, though. She obviously spent many years making the housework, function as an well-oiled machine. But I proved to be useful and willing to adapt myself to her style. Eventually she was comfortable with letting me help out after a few broken glasses and burned toasts.
Thomas stood in the opposite side of the counter that morning. I was wearing my stripped pajamas and I served him some coffee. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
He asked simply. Staring at his coffee like he was trying to avoid looking at me. Whether to make himself more comfortable or spare me embarrassment.
"Boyfriend is kind of a loaded word" I said trying to evade the issue.
"Dating someone seriously?" He corrected. "Damn it he knows the lingo after all." "You can say that" I had to admit.
He breathed heavily. Sipping his coffee once more. Whatever he was going to say it was not something he would enjoy.
"Look Apple. I know you are a responsible young girl and if this were just about you I wouldn't interfere into your personal life..." He said, pausing. Looking at me making sure I was following. I nodded.
"But...?" I said to encourage him to speak further.
"Shannon is going to turn eleven in November..." I made a mental note to ask the date and get her a present. ."..soon enough she is going to be interested in boys and you are her big sister now..." He looked at me, letting me pick the idea.
"And you don't want to set a precedent of having someone dating without parental supervision?" I finished myself trying to swallow.
"I hope you understand" He said coyly.
"I do...but you are asking something a bit hard. I'm not sure if...him will be willing to try and m