Ayla Westford couldn’t stop laughing. The stream of cackles that had left her after hearing what Eileen had unwittingly got herself involved with was still going strong. They had quickly fled the scene after Ayla had gotten the information she needed. So quickly that she hadn’t had a chance to ask what was behind the tense atmosphere that built in her absence until they were safely seated inside the carriage.
Hearing what had happened had immediately sent her on a trail of laughter. Ayla couldn’t breathe. Every time she tried to catch her breath, she would recall what had sent her down it again and end up cackling. Eileen was looking at her with a resigned expression, her ears tinged with red. Ayla grinned.
“You,” a laugh left her, “told him your surname was Knightwood?”
Eileen threw her hands up in the air, still replying with the deep voice she’d connected to this fake identity. One that Ayla was amused to learn now had a name. “I panicked!” A huff, “I made a promise.”
Aylashook her head as she took in the pout on Eileen’s lips, still more than a little amused with the situation. “What was the entire name again?” She’d been so focused on the hilarity of using the name of one of the most prominent families on the known continent as a disguise, she’d missed it.
Her friend ran a tired hand down her face, a deep exasperated sigh leaving her mouth. “Kiran. Kiran Knightwood.” She pursed her lips, looking at Ayla expectantly.
She only grinned in response. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
Eileen raised an eyebrow, “let’s not pretend you haven’t been laughing at me for over ten minutes.”
“Alright,”Ayla grinned mischievously, “I was just think my lord, that it is an honour to finally know your name.” The faux primness in her voice made Eileen’s lips twitch. At least that was what Ayla thought was doing that.
“Stop.” Even as she said the word, the smile on Eileen’s lips was growing.
“No really. I would never be so impertinent as to dare say that the scion of the Knightwoods wasn’t worth the address,”Ayla gave Eileen as deep of bow as she could in the narrow carriage space. “I am honored to make your acquaintance.”
Eileen raised her head haughtily, “And I you my lady. Although it is in such strange circumstances.”
They both held the stance for little more than a few seconds before they were bursting into laughter. Doubled over in their seats from the absurdity. Ayla wiped her eyes as the laughter bled out, a smile still on her face.
“But really, what are you going to do now?”Ayla knew that with a name such as that, it would be very difficult for “Kiran Knightwood” to fall into anonymity, even if they somehow managed it.
“I don’t know.” Eileen sighed once again, running a hand down her face and then up to smooth back the hair that fallen forward in the ride. “Although I can hardly disappear now. People will be expecting Kiran Knightwood to make more appearances.”
Aylahummed in agreement. That was certainly true. They both knew that it was next to impossible for people not to be nosy in Teodes, especially when they were given something to fixate upon.
“I think that it will be increasingly difficult as news travels,”Aylanotes after a beat of silence. “You know how fast rumors travel.”
“I certainly do.” Eileen rubbed her eyes and rested her head on the back of her seat for a moment, before shaking her head.Ayla watched her movements as she once again straightened.
“Regardless,” Eileen’s eyes snapped to Ayla once again, “I think this will make meeting your parents a little more simple.”
“Today?”Ayla knew they had decided it would be an eventuality but she hadn’t thought Eileen would want to do it so fast.
“Well, I think the sooner we do this the better,” Eileen tilted her head and whispered the next words, not trusting their apparent secrecy as she had told Ayla the previous night. “Besides I know how worried they can get.”
Having no true response to that, all Ayla could do was agree and prepare herself for the inevitable meeting. Despite it being her idea to begin with to pursue the charade, a ball of nerves grew in her stomach. What would they say? How would they react?
They’d always liked Eileen and Ayla had had no interest in dating, so this was the first time Ayla would be introducing them to a date. If she was being honest, Ayla had simply never felt the attraction that she’d seen other people talk about. The concept of romance was foreign to her.
So now that she was faced with the dreaded “meet the parents” stage that was described in books, she didn’t quite know how to prepare. It surprised her how nervous it made her. She hadn’t expected it to. It had never happened with any of the dates her mother had set up.
But then again, Eileen wasn’t one of those dates and her mother would have had to meet them to set up the aforementioned dates to begin with. So, Ayla supposed her general disinterest in the concept was what had made it a new territory. So much so that, when she had brought up the possibility, her parents had to visibly work through their astonishment.
A chagrined smile came onto her lips as she looked out her window at the passing sights. They’d been overtly excited for the meeting and Ayla had even seen them move around commitments to make room for it. Which was something she found endearing, but also made the meeting more daunting.
Eileen was right that having the name decided would make it all the more simple. It was one less thing they’d ultimately need to think of. And the fact that her “date” was Eileen in a way meant that there was that much more of a chance that her parents would like “him”.
As the carriage pulled up to the brick fence of her home, another ball of nerves began to build in her stomach. Maybe she should have brought her phone, so she could have told them of the meeting. The only reason she hadn’t was because the dress didn’t have big enough pockets.
Placing her hand in Eileen’s offered one calmed the nerves a little, but Ayla vowed to alter any future dresses to have bigger pockets so that this issue would not be continuing one. It would have helped to make her friend less angry tonight as well. Ayla internally winced at the thought.
It was true. But the lecture she’d gotten about it from her friend as soon as they were away from watching eyes could certainly put her mother’s to shame. She could still hear an echo of it in her ears, and a part of her felt she always would. The worst thing about it was that there was a valid reason for it.
Ayla didn’t understand signs of danger as well as Eileen did. She didn’t have a general as a grandfather and didn’t have much need for weaponry or such. But she knew that when Eileen had wandered through those corridors, her worry had been for a reason. She felt a flash of shame at worrying her as much as she had.
She should have known better. Ayla vowed that she’d never do anything like it again, even if only so she didn’t ever make Eileen upset again. Seeing her friend upset at her had made her wish she could turn back time and tell her past self to take Eileen’s warning more seriously. To not disappoint her.
To ignore the feelings that thought brought with it, she forced herself to focus on the stone of the footpath leading to her door. The dim lighting shining through the curtains told her that her parents were still awake. It was good. She was good.
Even as she convinced herself that this was a good idea, the butterflies in her stomach started to flutter madly. After Eileen had lifted her hand and knocked on their door thrice, she felt them grow wilder. Her senses honed on the faint sound of footsteps on the other side of the large oak door.
Then it was swinging open, and Ayla was faced with the sight of both of her parents standing there with a curious gleam in their eyes. They seemed confused when they saw her, but a glance at where her arm was looped through her “date’s” had their gaze turning towards Eileen.
Eileen who was now smiling easily and holding out a hand for them to shake. “Kiran Knightwood, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Her father blinked at the address, clearly bewildered by the name and quite possibly how pretty “he” looked. Looking at it from their perspective, Ayla had the distinct impression that his voice would sound soothing. It certainly did to her. He quickly covered it up with a small smile and shook the extended hand.
“Matthew Westford,” Her father gave him a considering look, “I must say your name is a little…”
Whatever he was going to say is stopped by a sharp jab from her mother who immediately covers it up by taking “Kiran’s” hand in her own and making her own introduction. “Don’t mind him, you can call me Miriam. It’s a pleasure to meet you young man.”
By the looks of it, her mother liked him. Even more so when Eileen bent down and placed a polite kiss to the back of her hand. Ayla had the oddest pleasure of seeing her mother blush before her. A pink tint entering her cheeks at the warm smile Eileen gave her afterwards.
It was a little surreal to her and she felt her own blood rushing to her cheeks when that smile was turned towards her. For the weirdest reason, the butterflies in her stomach only intensified at the fond glint in her eyes. A smile of her own bloomed as the suspicious gleam in her father’s eyes faded as he took in Ayla’s expression.
“How long have you known my daughter?”
Eileen, although she supposed she’d be less likely to slip up if she thought of her as Kiran in this get-up, gave him an easy smile again. “Oh, it seems like I’ve known her forever. Although I suppose it wasn’t really that long ago.” She tilted her head in consideration, before continuing with the story they’d set out. “It was at the meteor shower outside Calguren six moons ago.”
Her parents nodded in understanding, already knowing just how happy she had been to go there. “Was this why you were so happy?” Her papa teased as he gave her a mischievous smile.
Ayla scoffed, her face scrunching up in indignation as she shot him a pointed look. “You know how much I love the stars.”
“That we do dear,” her mother cut in, “but it can wait for another time.” She turned to Eileen, “Would you like to come in Mr Knightwood.”
“You can just call me Kiran mam,” she replied immediately, “and I’d love to, but there’s somewhere I ought to be right now.” A placating smile. “Perhaps another time?”
“Of course son.” It seems in the few moments since they’d met, her father had warmed up to her in this persona. “I hope it won’t be too long until then.”
“Not at all, sir. I promise to find time as soon as possible and get back to you.”
“Make sure that you do.” Her mother seemed to be in a very good mood. “I’d love to get to know the man who my daughter is so happy to be with.”
Instead of an answer, Eileen simply nodded. Ayla’s eyes widened when she smoothly moved her arm so that Ayla’s hand was in hers. She blinked, having forgotten that Eileen still had it in her grasp. Then she held it up slightly and bowed to place a chaste kiss on the back of her glove.
“I hope to see you again soon as well.”
Ayla didn’t know whether it was the blinding smile Eileen had directed at her, the sparkle of the stars in her eyes, or the faint feeling that her parents didn’t entirely buy it, but she didn’t move for the door when she let her hand go. Instead, she shocked both Eileen and her parents by taking hold of the collar of her date’s shirt and pulling her down so that they were a breath apart.
She only had a small glance of Eileen’s eyes widening in surprise, before her own closed as she placed a short kiss on her lips. When she pulled back, thought once again kick-started. Oh. Oh, she had just kissed her best friend.
It had been to sell the act, but that hardly mattered when they hadn’t talked about doing so. Uncharacteristically, she was afraid to look into her eyes after pulling back instead taking a step back and glancing at her parents. They looked just as shocked as Ayla was feeling.
A part of her wanted to lift her fingers to her lips at the reminder that this was her first real kiss. She had never felt the urge to kiss someone before. The thought niggled something at the back of her mind, telling her that there was some meaning to it. But for the life of her, Ayla didn’t want to explore exactly why that.
Her own thoughts created a hurricane in her mind, until she felt an overwhelming urge to simply not think. As she always did when she felt like she’d probably bitten off more than she could chew, she turned to Eileen. It was very much instinctual by that point. Whether by mail or in person, she felt she’d always seek out Eileen.
Eileen who she had just kissed out of the blue. To sell an act. Her friend. Who was now looking at her with a peculiar look on her face. It…wasn’t surprise. Ayla was confused by the look, not being able to place the emotion behind it.
It was sort of like the look she’d seen Eileen have on her face when she’d worked out a particularly hard puzzle or found another piece of it. As if she had just solved some mystery she’d been considering. It had her coming out of the bundle of nerves clouding her mind, curiosity taking its place.
Ayla was both relieved and confused when instead of seeming upset, or showing underlying signs of it, Eileen simply smiled again.
“I’ll see you soon.” She leaned in to brush a lock of Ayla’s hair behind her ear. “It seems we have some things to talk about.” A fond smile. “But I suppose that can wait.”
Then, without giving them much more time to reply, she turned around and bid them farewell. Only waiting for them to reply the same before heading out the door. Normally, Ayla would be talking to her parents, but she just wanted to go to bed.
Flopping onto her bed, Ayla buried her face into her pillow, feeling a strange sense of embarrassment. Eileen was definitely going to talk to her about the spur of the moment action, but she couldn’t bring herself to regret it. It had felt nice.
Even if she’d only done it to sell the act they’d started.
Ayla Westford couldn’t stop laughing. The stream of cackles that had left her after hearing what Eileen had unwittingly got herself involved with was still going strong. They had quickly fled the scene after Ayla had gotten the information she needed. So quickly that she hadn’t had a chance to ask what was behind the tense atmosphere that built in her absence until they were safely seated inside the carriage.
Hearing what had happened had immediately sent her on a trail of laughter. Ayla couldn’t breathe. Every time she tried to catch her breath, she would recall what had sent her down it again and end up cackling. Eileen was looking at her with a resigned expression, her ears tinged with red. Ayla grinned.
“You,” a laugh left her, “told him your surname was Knightwood?”
Eileen threw her hands up in the air, still replying with the deep voice she’d connected to this fake identity. One that Ayla was amused to learn now had a name. “I panicked!” A huff, “I made a promise.”
Aylashook her head as she took in the pout on Eileen’s lips, still more than a little amused with the situation. “What was the entire name again?” She’d been so focused on the hilarity of using the name of one of the most prominent families on the known continent as a disguise, she’d missed it.
Her friend ran a tired hand down her face, a deep exasperated sigh leaving her mouth. “Kiran. Kiran Knightwood.” She pursed her lips, looking at Ayla expectantly.
She only grinned in response. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
Eileen raised an eyebrow, “let’s not pretend you haven’t been laughing at me for over ten minutes.”
“Alright,”Ayla grinned mischievously, “I was just think my lord, that it is an honour to finally know your name.” The faux primness in her voice made Eileen’s lips twitch. At least that was what Ayla thought was doing that.
“Stop.” Even as she said the word, the smile on Eileen’s lips was growing.
“No really. I would never be so impertinent as to dare say that the scion of the Knightwoods wasn’t worth the address,”Ayla gave Eileen as deep of bow as she could in the narrow carriage space. “I am honored to make your acquaintance.”
Eileen raised her head haughtily, “And I you my lady. Although it is in such strange circumstances.”
They both held the stance for little more than a few seconds before they were bursting into laughter. Doubled over in their seats from the absurdity. Ayla wiped her eyes as the laughter bled out, a smile still on her face.
“But really, what are you going to do now?”Ayla knew that with a name such as that, it would be very difficult for “Kiran Knightwood” to fall into anonymity, even if they somehow managed it.
“I don’t know.” Eileen sighed once again, running a hand down her face and then up to smooth back the hair that fallen forward in the ride. “Although I can hardly disappear now. People will be expecting Kiran Knightwood to make more appearances.”
Aylahummed in agreement. That was certainly true. They both knew that it was next to impossible for people not to be nosy in Teodes, especially when they were given something to fixate upon.
“I think that it will be increasingly difficult as news travels,”Aylanotes after a beat of silence. “You know how fast rumors travel.”
“I certainly do.” Eileen rubbed her eyes and rested her head on the back of her seat for a moment, before shaking her head.Ayla watched her movements as she once again straightened.
“Regardless,” Eileen’s eyes snapped to Ayla once again, “I think this will make meeting your parents a little more simple.”
“Today?”Ayla knew they had decided it would be an eventuality but she hadn’t thought Eileen would want to do it so fast.
“Well, I think the sooner we do this the better,” Eileen tilted her head and whispered the next words, not trusting their apparent secrecy as she had told Ayla the previous night. “Besides I know how worried they can get.”
Having no true response to that, all Ayla could do was agree and prepare herself for the inevitable meeting. Despite it being her idea to begin with to pursue the charade, a ball of nerves grew in her stomach. What would they say? How would they react?
They’d always liked Eileen and Ayla had had no interest in dating, so this was the first time Ayla would be introducing them to a date. If she was being honest, Ayla had simply never felt the attraction that she’d seen other people talk about. The concept of romance was foreign to her.
So now that she was faced with the dreaded “meet the parents” stage that was described in books, she didn’t quite know how to prepare. It surprised her how nervous it made her. She hadn’t expected it to. It had never happened with any of the dates her mother had set up.
But then again, Eileen wasn’t one of those dates and her mother would have had to meet them to set up the aforementioned dates to begin with. So, Ayla supposed her general disinterest in the concept was what had made it a new territory. So much so that, when she had brought up the possibility, her parents had to visibly work through their astonishment.
A chagrined smile came onto her lips as she looked out her window at the passing sights. They’d been overtly excited for the meeting and Ayla had even seen them move around commitments to make room for it. Which was something she found endearing, but also made the meeting more daunting.
Eileen was right that having the name decided would make it all the more simple. It was one less thing they’d ultimately need to think of. And the fact that her “date” was Eileen in a way meant that there was that much more of a chance that her parents would like “him”.
As the carriage pulled up to the brick fence of her home, another ball of nerves began to build in her stomach. Maybe she should have brought her phone, so she could have told them of the meeting. The only reason she hadn’t was because the dress didn’t have big enough pockets.
Placing her hand in Eileen’s offered one calmed the nerves a little, but Ayla vowed to alter any future dresses to have bigger pockets so that this issue would not be continuing one. It would have helped to make her friend less angry tonight as well. Ayla internally winced at the thought.
It was true. But the lecture she’d gotten about it from her friend as soon as they were away from watching eyes could certainly put her mother’s to shame. She could still hear an echo of it in her ears, and a part of her felt she always would. The worst thing about it was that there was a valid reason for it.
Ayla didn’t understand signs of danger as well as Eileen did. She didn’t have a general as a grandfather and didn’t have much need for weaponry or such. But she knew that when Eileen had wandered through those corridors, her worry had been for a reason. She felt a flash of shame at worrying her as much as she had.
She should have known better. Ayla vowed that she’d never do anything like it again, even if only so she didn’t ever make Eileen upset again. Seeing her friend upset at her had made her wish she could turn back time and tell her past self to take Eileen’s warning more seriously. To not disappoint her.
To ignore the feelings that thought brought with it, she forced herself to focus on the stone of the footpath leading to her door. The dim lighting shining through the curtains told her that her parents were still awake. It was good. She was good.
Even as she convinced herself that this was a good idea, the butterflies in her stomach started to flutter madly. After Eileen had lifted her hand and knocked on their door thrice, she felt them grow wilder. Her senses honed on the faint sound of footsteps on the other side of the large oak door.
Then it was swinging open, and Ayla was faced with the sight of both of her parents standing there with a curious gleam in their eyes. They seemed confused when they saw her, but a glance at where her arm was looped through her “date’s” had their gaze turning towards Eileen.
Eileen who was now smiling easily and holding out a hand for them to shake. “Kiran Knightwood, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Her father blinked at the address, clearly bewildered by the name and quite possibly how pretty “he” looked. Looking at it from their perspective, Ayla had the distinct impression that his voice would sound soothing. It certainly did to her. He quickly covered it up with a small smile and shook the extended hand.
“Matthew Westford,” Her father gave him a considering look, “I must say your name is a little…”
Whatever he was going to say is stopped by a sharp jab from her mother who immediately covers it up by taking “Kiran’s” hand in her own and making her own introduction. “Don’t mind him, you can call me Miriam. It’s a pleasure to meet you young man.”
By the looks of it, her mother liked him. Even more so when Eileen bent down and placed a polite kiss to the back of her hand. Ayla had the oddest pleasure of seeing her mother blush before her. A pink tint entering her cheeks at the warm smile Eileen gave her afterwards.
It was a little surreal to her and she felt her own blood rushing to her cheeks when that smile was turned towards her. For the weirdest reason, the butterflies in her stomach only intensified at the fond glint in her eyes. A smile of her own bloomed as the suspicious gleam in her father’s eyes faded as he took in Ayla’s expression.
“How long have you known my daughter?”
Eileen, although she supposed she’d be less likely to slip up if she thought of her as Kiran in this get-up, gave him an easy smile again. “Oh, it seems like I’ve known her forever. Although I suppose it wasn’t really that long ago.” She tilted her head in consideration, before continuing with the story they’d set out. “It was at the meteor shower outside Calguren six moons ago.”
Her parents nodded in understanding, already knowing just how happy she had been to go there. “Was this why you were so happy?” Her papa teased as he gave her a mischievous smile.
Ayla scoffed, her face scrunching up in indignation as she shot him a pointed look. “You know how much I love the stars.”
“That we do dear,” her mother cut in, “but it can wait for another time.” She turned to Eileen, “Would you like to come in Mr Knightwood.”
“You can just call me Kiran mam,” she replied immediately, “and I’d love to, but there’s somewhere I ought to be right now.” A placating smile. “Perhaps another time?”
“Of course son.” It seems in the few moments since they’d met, her father had warmed up to her in this persona. “I hope it won’t be too long until then.”
“Not at all, sir. I promise to find time as soon as possible and get back to you.”
“Make sure that you do.” Her mother seemed to be in a very good mood. “I’d love to get to know the man who my daughter is so happy to be with.”
Instead of an answer, Eileen simply nodded. Ayla’s eyes widened when she smoothly moved her arm so that Ayla’s hand was in hers. She blinked, having forgotten that Eileen still had it in her grasp. Then she held it up slightly and bowed to place a chaste kiss on the back of her glove.
“I hope to see you again soon as well.”
Ayla didn’t know whether it was the blinding smile Eileen had directed at her, the sparkle of the stars in her eyes, or the faint feeling that her parents didn’t entirely buy it, but she didn’t move for the door when she let her hand go. Instead, she shocked both Eileen and her parents by taking hold of the collar of her date’s shirt and pulling her down so that they were a breath apart.
She only had a small glance of Eileen’s eyes widening in surprise, before her own closed as she placed a short kiss on her lips. When she pulled back, thought once again kick-started. Oh. Oh, she had just kissed her best friend.
It had been to sell the act, but that hardly mattered when they hadn’t talked about doing so. Uncharacteristically, she was afraid to look into her eyes after pulling back instead taking a step back and glancing at her parents. They looked just as shocked as Ayla was feeling.
A part of her wanted to lift her fingers to her lips at the reminder that this was her first real kiss. She had never felt the urge to kiss someone before. The thought niggled something at the back of her mind, telling her that there was some meaning to it. But for the life of her, Ayla didn’t want to explore exactly why that.
Her own thoughts created a hurricane in her mind, until she felt an overwhelming urge to simply not think. As she always did when she felt like she’d probably bitten off more than she could chew, she turned to Eileen. It was very much instinctual by that point. Whether by mail or in person, she felt she’d always seek out Eileen.
Eileen who she had just kissed out of the blue. To sell an act. Her friend. Who was now looking at her with a peculiar look on her face. It…wasn’t surprise. Ayla was confused by the look, not being able to place the emotion behind it.
It was sort of like the look she’d seen Eileen have on her face when she’d worked out a particularly hard puzzle or found another piece of it. As if she had just solved some mystery she’d been considering. It had her coming out of the bundle of nerves clouding her mind, curiosity taking its place.
Ayla was both relieved and confused when instead of seeming upset, or showing underlying signs of it, Eileen simply smiled again.
“I’ll see you soon.” She leaned in to brush a lock of Ayla’s hair behind her ear. “It seems we have some things to talk about.” A fond smile. “But I suppose that can wait.”
Then, without giving them much more time to reply, she turned around and bid them farewell. Only waiting for them to reply the same before heading out the door. Normally, Ayla would be talking to her parents, but she just wanted to go to bed.
Flopping onto her bed, Ayla buried her face into her pillow, feeling a strange sense of embarrassment. Eileen was definitely going to talk to her about the spur of the moment action, but she couldn’t bring herself to regret it. It had felt nice.
Even if she’d only done it to sell the act they’d started.
