Conflicted: Keegan's Chronicles (16 page)

Keegan didn’t know what to say. She wrapped
her arms around herself, staring wide-eyed at him. Why weren’t the
words rolling off her tongue as easy as they did his? “I really
love the earrings you got me.”

“Smooth change of the subject.” Donald
quirked an eyebrow at her, pulling on her elbows until she put her
hands in his. “I understand if you can’t say the words yet. I hope
in time you will be able to look me in the eyes and tell me you
love me.”

“I do care about you. I have been so happy
during our time together. I love the way you make me feel.” They
sat together on the couch in front of the tree. Keegan liked the
way the colorful lights blinked on and off on his hair.

“I guess I will have to settle with that for
now.” Donald pressed a light kiss to her temple before saying
quietly, “I applied for a couple of colleges in Alaska.”

“You did?” Why did she feel so strange about
this revelation?

“I just can’t stand the thought of being so
far apart from you. I really don’t care where I go to school. I’ve
never had a favorite college that I wanted to attend to. They have
plenty of good engineer programs in Alaska.”

“I hope you applied to other schools as well
so you have a choice?”

“Yes, I applied to several. A couple in
Tennessee, Florida, and California.”

Keegan felt slightly relieved to hear this.
She had already received her early acceptance to the college of her
choice in Alaska. Her mother was going to take her to check it out
soon.

“I think our conversation is much too
serious to have on Christmas day. You haven’t even opened your
present from me.”

Keegan ran up to her room and came down with
a box.

She watched as he tore open the present and
a smile spread across his face. “Keegan, this is too much. I can’t
accept this.”

“Shhh, how else are you going to beat Lauren
unless you are able to practice?”

“Thank you.” He leaned over and kissed her
deeply as if it were their last kiss.

She had gotten him the Kinect for his Xbox
along with the Dance Dance Revolution game. Keegan loved giving
presents almost as much as she enjoyed receiving them.

“Guys, come on out. It’s almost time to
eat.”

“Well, be right there, Mom.”

They walked into the kitchen and saw the
rest of the family had arrived while they were chatting in the
living room. Keegan’s aunts Katrina and Brigid stood at the counter
with her mother while all of her cousins milled around, stealing
food.

“Hey guys, come get your presents!” Keegan
said excitedly, leading the rush to the tree. She started tossing
presents at them, laughing as they all tore into them.

Donald put his arm around Keegan. “You
seriously have the best family.”

“Yea, they aren’t so bad.” She looked down
to find Mackenna wrapped around her leg. Keegan laughed, pinching
the little girl’s cheek. “Go get your presents, Mack attack.”

Mackenna ran off giggling.

The house smelled wonderful. Her grandmother
always came over and cooked the holiday meals, so they had a huge
turkey, ham, and a roast. Keegan always ate more food than she
could handle and ended up uncomfortable for the rest of the night,
but it was delicious, anyway.

Keegan heard a knock at the door. She closed
her eyes to see who it was even though she was expecting Anna and
Lauren. It was them, and they looked like they were freezing. She
ran down the stairs to let them in.

“Mom, can you make us some hot chocolate?”
Keegan yelled into the kitchen.

“Of course.” Her mom peeked around the
corner. “Hi girls, it’s nice to see you.”

“Hello, Keegan’s mom,” they said in unison,
stomping snow off their boots on the rug outside the door. Frigid
air drifted through the door around them, so Keegan quickly ushered
them inside.

“Just throw your bags on the floor,” Emerald
told the girls, disappearing back to the kitchen, presumably to
make hot chocolate.

“It’s been so long since we’ve had a sleep
over.” Keegan hugged them both and then brushed the snow off Anna’s
shoulder as they pulled off their snow boots.

“I can’t wait for the party tonight,” Lauren
gushed, nearly tripping as she finally yanked her second boot off a
little too roughly.

Anna rolled her eyes. “Yay, we get to go to
a party at one of your lame cheerleader friends’ houses.”

“It’s not just any house. It’s more like a
mansion. You will have fun, I promise.”

“Don’t forget Xavier is going to be there,”
Keegan teased her.

“I’ve given up on him. You would know that
if you bothered to call me.” Anna shot her a bored look.

“Sorry, I know I’ve been spending more time
with Donald and less with you guys.” Keegan pouted.

Anna rolled her eyes, hanging her scarf and
jacket up in the hall closet. “I haven’t even been able to tell you
about Magdalena, the light witch that has been helping me with my
powers.”

“How has that been going?”

Suddenly, Lauren’s hat flew off her head and
hit Keegan in the face. “Well, I can do that now.” Anna
laughed.

“Good one.” Keegan threw the hat back at
her.

“We have so much catching up to do. Let’s
promise to spend more time together. Before we know it we will all
be heading off to different colleges,” Lauren said.

That sobered the moment.

Emerald came in with a tray full of hot
chocolate and warm cookies. “Come and sit down in the den in front
of the fireplace, girls.”

They didn’t have to be asked twice. They
knelt around the coffee table, helping themselves to the goodies.
“This is the best hot chocolate ever,” Anna groaned, closing her
eyes in ecstasy.

“It’s Godiva from the can.” Emerald shrugged
and smiled.

Thaddeus came barreling down the stairs. “I
have to talk to Anna about something.”

The girls all looked at each other in
surprise. Thaddeus rarely bothered with any of them.

“Um, Ok.” Anna stood up and followed Thad to
the back of the house.

“Keegan told me you were a witch.”

“More like a witch in training. Why what’s
up? You’re like all powerful? What do you want with me?” She placed
her hand on her hip and stared at him.

“Once again, I am going to break the rules
for Keegan. Don’t ask me why. She’s such a pain. I do like Rourk
though and I want him to be happy.”

Anna was getting excited. “I like where this
is going. What do you need from me? I have been trying to find a
way to get their bond back, but I am having no luck at all.”

“Well, I had a vision and the answer came to
me. It’s so simple, it’s almost laughable.”

“What is it?” Anna’s eyes were wide with
excitement.

“It’s the ring. The ring is the key to all
of this. You know how elves get engaged as soon as the youngest
turns eighteen? The ring is what cements the bond.”

“Oh my goddess, are you serious, Thaddeus?”
Anna couldn’t control her excitement.

“Where do I come into all of this?” she
wanted to know.

“Well, I need you to implant dreams into
Rourk’s head that make him want to give Keegan the ring. It’s the
natural thing for him to do, but with the bond broken he might need
a nudge in the right direction.”

Anna’s face fell. “I have no idea how to
implant dreams.”

“That’s okay, I have access to a Book of
Shadows. We can figure it out.”

“You have a Book of Shadows? Thaddeus, can I
kiss you?” She grabbed him by the shoulders and jumped up and down,
her brown and purple hair bouncing.

“Gross, no.” He gave her a horrified
look.

“Okay, but what if Keegan doesn’t want to
take the ring?”

“That’s also where I need your help. I could
ask an elfin witch, but they know it’s breaking the rules. You
never follow the rules so I figured you would be the perfect witch.
Not to mention I saw you holding the ring in my vision.”

“That’s so cool that I was in your vision,”
Anna gasped, grabbing his arm. “What was I wearing?”

Thaddeus shook her off, rolling his eyes.
“Now you’re being stupid. Just pay attention. We don’t have much
time before they wonder what we are up to. You are going to need to
spell the ring. Some sort of enchantment spell so it will be
impossible for Keegan not to want to try on the ring. Once the ring
is on her finger, BAM. The bond is back, and sealed.”

“Is it really that simple? I have spent
months trying to figure this out.”

“Magic is often simple.” Thaddeus grinned at
her. “Of course you have to keep this to yourself or it will not
work. This has to come as a total surprise to both Keegan and
Rourk.”

“It’s going to be hard, but I will keep the
secret. I feel like screaming it from the top of a mountain.”

“It has to happen on Keegan’s birthday,”
Thaddeus mused, leaning against the wall. “So hopefully the stars
align and we can get Rourk back here in time.”

“Well, we have a few months so I’m sure it
can be worked out. Maybe you can contact his father. The dreams may
be enough to pull him back.”

Thaddeus nodded. “His father is a last
resort. Rourk did tell Keegan he would be back for her on her
eighteenth birthday. He is a man of his word. So I’m sure he will
be, as long as his training does not interfere.”

“When are we going to get to see the Book of
Shadows?”

Anna’s swift changes of subject were
wearying. Thaddeus sighed. “I cannot remove it from the vault so I
will have to take you there. It is forbidden for any non elves to
enter. We will have to cloak you.”

“This is the most excitement I’ve had in my
life,” Anna squealed, bouncing up and down again as she clapped.
Thaddeus tried to shush her, but it didn’t work. “I’m going to a
secret vault, I’ll be cloaked, and I get to read a Book of Shadows.
Are you sure I can’t kiss you?”

As she stepped towards him, he bounded
quickly away. “Don’t even think about it. Get back in the living
room and tell them I needed your help on a computer program. They
will buy that since you are a computer geek.”

“I’m not a computer geek,” she argued, but
there wasn’t a lot of strength behind it.

Thaddeus ignored her. “We’ll get together
next week and start working on the plan. Wait, what’s your cell
number? I’ve been waiting almost a month for you to come by.”

“I feel so diabolical,” she giggled, sending
him a quick text so he would have her number. She gave a wicked
laugh, patting him on the head before she headed back to the living
room.

She walked casually into the room, hoping
her face didn’t give away the glee she felt inside.

“What the heck did Thad want you for?”
Keegan asked, slurping her hot chocolate.

“He needed some computer help, and he knows
I have mad skills. Of course I took care of the problem.” Anna gave
a low bow and Lauren clapped.

“Well, we have more important things to talk
about. What did you bring to wear for the party?” Lauren raised an
eyebrow.

“I brought a short, one-shoulder black dress
and sparkly heels. Don’t even bother to ask, Keegan. I’m not
wearing flats.” Anna stuck her tongue out at her friend.

“Oh, I can’t wait to see it on you. What
about your hair?”

“Whatever our stylist, Lauren, wants to do
with it.”

Lauren looked over at Keegan “What about
you? It feels odd that we didn’t go shopping together.”

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

A few hours later, they were getting ready
for the party. Lauren came out of the bathroom wearing a strapless
beautiful purple and black short dress. The bottom flared out with
a tulle skirt.

“You are so hot it makes me sick.” Keegan
grinned to take the sting out of the statement.

“Ok, now go put on your dress. I’m dying to
see what you picked out.” Lauren pushed her towards the closet.

A few moments later Keegan waked out and did
a spin. “What do you think?”

“Keegan! Where did you find that dress?”

“Modcloth.com. They have all kinds of cute
vintage looking dresses.”

“I love that color on you. It’s almost the
same color as your eyes.”

Keegan stared at herself in the mirror,
taking in the strapless sweetheart neckline, and she pulled up the
rows of gathered silk. She smiled as she touched the bow that
completed the dress. “It is pretty cute!”

“You are going to give poor Donald a heart
attack.”

“Your turn, Anna. Hurry up, we don’t have
much time.”

Anna came out a few moments later, throwing
her hands up in the air as she said “Ta da!”

“Wow, all I see is legs and sparkles.
Speaking of giving people a heart attack. If Xavier doesn’t notice
you tonight, he must be blind.” Lauren reached out and ran her
hands over Anna’s sparkles.

“You haven’t said much about Josh lately.”
Keegan looked at her curiously

“We’re fine. I’m just thinking that I need
to break up with him before I head off to college. He wants to stay
in Tennessee, and I don’t see that for myself.”

“Well, that’s too bad. At least you guys
have had a couple of good years together,” Anna remarked.

“Katrina should be here soon to pick us up.
I asked her to drive in case we have a couple of drinks.”

“Good thinking. I miss Kat. We haven’t seen
her in a while.”

They ran downstairs when they heard Katrina
yell “Hello, is anyone home?”

“You are such a dork, Katrina, that’s why we
love you,” Keegan greeted her aunt.

Kat looked young and hip in her tight blue
jeans and fitted red sweater. She let out a long whistle. “You guys
look HOT!”

The girls giggled while bundling up before
they made the cold journey to the car.

Lauren wasn’t kidding when she said the
party was at a mansion. There was an indoor pool and guys were
already jumping in it. Keegan noticed Donald over by the pool
table. He looked up at the same time, a wide grin spreading across
his face as he handed his pool stick to another guy and walked away
from the game.