Labelled by Blood

      We walked together, arm in arm. My thoughts were interrupted by the sheer excitement that built up within. I felt as though I was going to explode from the surrealism. This had to be a dream. Jesse just stopped caring? Everyone did? What happened? What was next? Was he gonna tell his parents? This had to be a dream.       We made our way to the bus stop. Parker was already there, texting away on his phone. He looked up and laughed.       "Ignore that," he said to us. "Was wondering where y'all were at."       My phone vibrated. Guess he texted us.       I smiled, Jesse answered. "We took a bit of a scenic route today. Sorry Parks."       My head bobbed in agreement and Parker gave a half smile. He didn't seem surprised.       "Let's go," he said, motioning out. "We have a lot to catch up on and not enough time to do it."       We left. But before we did, I stopped when we reached the ice cream parlor. "Please?" I asked.       Parker and Jesse both looked at each other and shrugged.       "I'm flat broke," Parker said with a shrug.       "I've got us," Jesse answered.       We went in. I don't know what prompted me to ask to go in. I really didn't want ice cream. Maybe I wanted Ava to see that today wasn't all bad for me. Maybe I wanted her to see I was doing alright. Maybe I wanted Tobias to see he changed my world. Even if he had no idea.       The twins were in line ahead of us, Tobias with them. He and Evan were bullying each other again, and Ava looked like she was over all of it. The parlor was starting to get busy, so I didn't want to just strike up a conversation. That still felt like too much. We were doing good, Alex, don't push it. Don't jinx it.       They finished ordering and made their way to a table. Ava saw me and beamed. That was what I was here for. We walked up to the cashier and he was scrambling to get orders out to be picked up and taking new ones.       He eventually got to us. "Good evening," he said, his voice still drenched in cheeriness, "what can I get you?"       When his eyes landed on mine, there was a moment of recognition. I was still smiling and his smile changed. Like he went from "customer service," to "hey, glad you're doing alright!"       We ordered and took our seats. We didn't bother anyone and chose some off corner near the door. I got what I came here for, and when we got our ice cream, we enjoyed it, some jokes, and then some hushed planning for when we got to training for the day. This ended up being a pretty good use of our time because we were able to break down everything Jesse and I had gone over during our weekend sessions and Parker could just take it all in without feeling like he had to have it all down right then and there.       We left before the twins did, so I didn't see them again. That was fine, life was good. Though we did kind of sprint out of the city and towards the forest. We made it in record time and got down to it. Before long we were drilling Parker on the hand gestures we practiced and he was catching on fast. After, he showed us what new stuff he was up to. He learned he can snuff out his flames remotely. Kind of like how my bullets responded to my thoughts. Weird, but really neat.       He said he learned it after he accidentally caught his aunts curtains on fire. He freaked, found out he can just have them stop, and left without her ever finding out. Win-win. The evening went on, and we finally got to less drilling practice and more actionable things. Jesse and Parker practiced their melee and I did my soda fireworks. It never got old.       By the end of the evening, we were all spent. I recharged our vestiges and we took a small break. We leaned up against the tree Jesse and I did that one time. Except this time, we triangulated around it. Parker was to my left, Jesse to my right. I picked at a rock buried under the slightly muddied ground. It popped out as a medium-sized pebble. I scraped the dirt off and looked at it.       "We missed you," I said to Parker. I think I misjudged him. He was trying. He was sincere. He was here.       "Yeah," Jesse agreed " It was nice to just focus on 'us,' but you're apart of the team, too."       Parker chuckled and exhaled softly. "I was just gone for the weekend. Why are y'all getting so mushy today?"       We went silent. Who was going to let the unknown be known? Jesse and I neve got around to telling Parker about the Collector. What it said. What it wants. It could attack right now and Parker wouldn't know. Jesse and I tried at the same time. We abruptly stopped.       "You go, Alex," Jesse said.       "Right."       And, so, I did. Parker didn't have to react for me to know exactly what he was thinking. After I finished, there was a heavy pause. The trees above jostled by the winds and leaves tore from their branches drifted down.       "Damn." Was all he said.       "Right," I said.       "So, what. This thing is coming back for y'all? Did it mention me at all?"       "No. I don't think it knows about you at all. After all, that was the first time we saw it," Jesse answered.       Parker sighed. "Good. Maybe we can take it out, then."       We spent the next half hour talking about it. What we'd do. What a fight against it would even look like. Parker kept quiet. Not that he didn't talk, but that he just didn't know what to say. Jesse and I did most of the talking, which got more and more intense. A panic gripped me and my chest tightened. I felt like I was in a strait jacket and the Collector was just going to take me out. Take Jesse out. Like we were nothing.       No, Alex. We got this.       I got quiet. Jesse noticed. "Don't worry. I won't let anything hurt you."       This brought a trembling smile to my lips. "Don't make promises you can't keep."       He laughed. A booming, hearty kind of laugh you give when you saw something so outlandish and silly you almost couldn't believe it. "This one I will keep. Parker's got my back on this one."       "Yeah," Parker said. "Trust me. Nothing's going to happen to either of you. Especially not Alex."       I rolled my eyes. Moreso because if I didn't, the rushing wave of tears threatening to bust down the dam would actually do it. "I can stand my own," I managed.       "Right." Jesse said. "You can. But that's not why I want you safe."       I cried. Right then. Right there. This vow. It was different; it was his way of accepting me. For letting me know I was perfect to him.       "We need to get going," Parker said, breaking the tension.       Jesse helped me up then Parker. We headed out. While I still sniffled and a few tears found their way out and down my chin, I held my head high. If only we knew when it'd strike.       "Tomorrow," Parker stated, "we go back to scrimmages. We need actual combat practice. If that thing attacks next week, we'll be ready for it."       "Right," Jesse and I both said.       The walk home was almost out-of-body. The world curled at my periphery; bent and wavered. But it never cracked. It never shattered. When we reached Duscadon, the sun was down. Jesse didn't once mention how late it was. Parker only mentioned it because he didn't want to be too late for dinner. He invited me over, but I told him I had a date with toasted waffles with butter and syrup.       We took Parker home, first. Then Jesse walked me home. I made sure they both got their vestiges back before parting. When we reached my house, Jesse and I stood at the street across from it, like usual.       I looked ahead. The moonlight was bright, the clouds stood no chance this time. I gulped. Just go for it, Alex. The worst he says is "no."       "Jess?" I asked.        "What's up?"       "Can I ask you a couple of things?"       "Shoot."       I giggled at that. He seemed confused, so I had to explain his pun. My rifle. Shoot. Yeah. He groaned and called me "one of a kind." That's one label I wouldn't mind wearing.       "So, um. Do you want to come in?" I asked.       A car drove past us. The headlights were far too bright and were bordering a blue color. They sped right by, and we were lit up for only a moment. A powerful gale billowed past us, and I shivered. Jesse took of his jacket and draped it around me. I hid my face. It was dark, I didn't have to, but I wanted to anyways. The question fell on actively deaf ears. Back to this, again. What happened with earlier? Where was that Jesse?       "Hey," I said. "Second question. Why?"       He played dumb. "Why what?"       "You know what I'm whying, Jesse Hayes."       He shrugged. Was he playing dumb that well? Or was he always this oblivious? "Why today, of all days, do you kiss me square on the lips in the middle of the courtyard on a school day? And why, of all days, did you actually make sure your football friends, of all people, knew my pronouns and that we really were together? When just a little while ago you said--"       "Because," his voice wasn't harsh, but it had an edge that could cut. "Because I realized I love you, Alex."       My eyes had never gone wider. A truck barreled by. Faster than the car. It's engine roaring and suspensions creaking with the bumps along the road.       "Wait--"       "Parker gave me something today. And it really made me think on what I want out of life."       Words were transcending me. Angels that could help me. Nowhere to be found.       "And I just woke up realizing how much I was afraid of the wrong thing."       I nodded. The moon shone as brilliantly as ever.       "Alex Linnet," Jesse sighed, "you're the one I want to be with."       He took me into his arms and I broke down a second time today. This wasn't like me. But it was like I was healing something that I didn't know was broken. Like when a room just suddenly feels dimmer, but it's not enough to notice it. You just feel it until a second bulb goes out, too.       "I have to get going," he said, pulling away.       "Have to?" I pouted.       He nodded. "I'm glad Parker's back."       I nodded. "Me, too."       Jesse kissed me again and my arms bound around his neck. His around my waist. Then he pulled away for good. He waited for me to cross the street before waving and leaving. His footsteps were soft but not perfect. Every now and then one of his feet would scrape the ground. Once he turned the corner, I wiped my face clean and inhaled. I turned the knob and stepped inside my own house.