Forbidden: Book One of Wild Sky Saga (10 page)

Aira laid on her bed staring at the drawing Israel had given her. She had taped it to her wall. She was deep in thought. Part of her wanted to figure things out, but then being with him, and the way his presence lingered even after he was gone, steered her. It felt more important to savor him. She closed her eyes and very easily fell
asleep.

The morning sun was rising. Israel opened his eyes. He listened to the sound of the birds outside his window and he
smiled.

“It’s a beautiful morning.” His father spoke as he stood in Israel’s doorway. Israel looked over to his father who gave a light nod and walked
away.

Israel slowly got out of bed and walked out of his room and into the
kitchen.

There was food everywhere. His mother looked happy as she was cooking, and his sister Olivia was picking at a bowl of fruit that was on the kitchen table and reading. There was fresh fruit, pancakes, waffles, eggs and bacon, and he could smell homemade bread. Israel looked sort of stunned. He knew that his mother only did this sort of thing when she was up to
something.

“Is she okay?” Israel looked at Olivia who shrugged her
shoulders.

“Don’t be silly, I’m fine. Are you hungry?” His mother smiled as she started to make him up a plate of
food.

“Sure?” Israel answered, waiting to see what his mother was up
to.

“Israel, I been thinking... since this nice weather we’ve been having isn’t going to last for much longer, I wanted to have a barbecue. You know, me, you, your sisters, your father, and you could maybe invite your new friend if you’d
like.”

Israel looked at his mother and she grinned at
him.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Olivia spoke up. She had a look on her face that made Israel smile as he shook his
head.

Nehemiah walked in and stood over by the counter. His expression hadn’t
changed.

“Okay… I will ask her if it gets you guys to stop this.” Israel rubbed the back of his neck, a little tense because his father was
staring.

“Great!” his mother said with
enthusiasm.

Israel grabbed an apple, his keys and walked out the
door.

“Well, that was easy,” Abby spoke, looking around at all the food she had
made.

Olivia laughed, continued to pick at the fruit and returned to her
reading.

“What does he mean by I will ask her?” Nehemiah asked, but already knowing the
answer.

Abby held back a nervous smile and just looked at
him.

Israel got into his car and pulled out of his driveway to go and pick up Aira. As he drove, he looked ahead and to the right a bit. His vision went into slow motion, and he stopped the car dead in its tracks. He got out of his car, and walked into the forest. After clearing some bushes and branches out of his way, he saw a beautiful, massive, white wolf caught in a trap. The wolf was in pain and defensive, but just laid there. Israel looked and said gently, “I will help you.” He slowly approached the wolf, then he blew into the wolf’s face, and the wolf fell asleep. Israel took his time and pulled off the trap. Holding onto the wolf’s leg, he took his hand, and he placed it onto the wound. He then moved his hand away, and the wound was completely healed. Israel stood up, backed up a bit, and said out loud, “Wake up! Get up! ” and the wolf opened its eyes. The wolf stood up, looked at Israel for a moment, then turned and ran into the
forest.

Israel walked back out of the bush, got into his car, and continued to
Aira’s.

As he pulled up, Aira was sitting on her porch and he couldn’t help but smile. She wanted to avoid her mother making a fuss and embarrassing her, so she had decided to wait
outside.

She got up, and Israel got out of his
car.

“You look
beautiful.”

“Thanks,” Aira smiled
blushingly.

“There’s just one thing,” he gently moved some hair away from her face and he
smiled.

Aira didn’t say anything, she just smiled back at
him.

“After you,” he
spoke.

Israel watched her open the handle of his car. “Don’t worry,” he smiled, he could sense that she was worried. His smile calmed her, his eyes seemed so innocent, it made her breath
easy.

They got into the car and he pulled away from the sidewalk. Slowly their hands made their way to each
other.

When Israel pulled into the school parking lot, all eyes were on
them.

Jaidas stood with his friends waiting. He had noticed Aira’s truck was still at school and he had tried to get information from Avery. But she wouldn’t say
anything.

Avery and Joshua were standing by Joshua’s car watching. The air was full of
tension.

Israel got out, then Aira. Jaidas walked over to them and looked at
Aira.

“What’s this?” He spoke, trying to control his
anger.

“What’s what?” Aira replied. She honestly didn’t care what he thought any
more.

Jaidas felt Aira had a protectiveness over Israel. It made it worse. But Jaidas smiled, rubbing the side of his arm he walked closer to
Israel.

“You don’t belong here,” Jaidas said at him, and with a fiercely fast reflex, grabbed onto Israel’s
arm.

The moment that Jaidas grabbed onto Israel, he got a shock that travelled all the way up his arm and into his
chest.

Jaidas let go, held onto his chest and looked at
him.

“I belong everywhere… especially here,” Israel replied, deadly
serious.

Everyone stood wondering what had just happened. All they knew was that Jaidas backed right off of Israel. Jaidas looked at Aira, rubbed his mouth, then his chin, then walked away still rubbing his chest. His friends
followed.

“What happened, man?” Harlem
muttered.

“Nothing… don’t worry about
it.”

Avery and Joshua walked up to Aira and
Israel.

“That was awesome,” Avery smiled
delighted.

“Ya man… what the hell?” Joshua
laughed.

Israel lightly shook his head and smiled, and they started walking towards the
school.

Aira knew it was not like Jaidas to give up that easily, there was just no way. Something was definitely going on. She looked at Israel
bewildered.

He moved the hair out of her face. He could sense what she must have been
thinking.

“Hey, you guys wanna hang out with us after school, do something?” Avery asked
them.

“Ya, sure,” Aira answered still looking at Israel. “Do you want...?” she continued, still trying to wrap her head around what she had
seen.

He then rubbed the back of his neck with half a smile, somewhat uncomfortable knowing that Aira’s thoughts were burning a hole right through him. “Um, my mom, she’s putting on this last of season barbecue this evening. She kinda asked if you’d like to
come?”

“I’d love to… Maybe we can plan something tomorrow? Is that okay?” she asked, looking back at
Avery.

“Absolutely, we’ll probably go see a movie anyways or something,” Avery answered. “Are you kidding me, you have to
go.”

“Okay,” Aira smiled at
Israel.

He could tell she had a million
questions.

“Okay,” Israel
smiled.

“I just have to stop at my house and let them know
first.”

“Ya, of course,” Israel
replied.

“They probably want to meet you, anyways.” Aira shook her head a bit and
chuckled.

The day went by reasonably fast. After first break she didn’t see Jaidas. He must have gone home. After school, Israel walked to Aira’s locker as she was grabbing out books and putting them in her
bag.

“I’m a little nervous,” she said, closing her
locker.

“My parents, they’re fine, I promise. My mom is a little extreme sometimes,” he said
playfully.

“It’s not your parents… it’s mine,” she spoke, dreading their unrelenting
teasing.

Israel smiled at her and they walked out of the
school.

“I’m sure they’re fine.” Israel opened the car door for Aira and she got
in.

He got into his side, and pulled out of the school parking lot. On the drive to her house she was pretty quiet because she was thinking of a way to ask him questions. She didn’t know how, so she didn’t. She turned her head and looked over at him. Being with him was enough. Every time she looked at him, it was like the first time. It was always new, but somehow the
same.

He could feel her looking at him. He turned his head to look at her and reached his hand over and held onto
hers.

They pulled up to her house and Israel put his car in park and got
out.

Aira, a little nervous, slowly dragged herself out of her
seat.

Israel grabbed onto Aira’s hand and they walked up to her front door. Just as Aira went to open the door, it opened. It was her younger
brother.

“Hi Aira, who’s this?” David asked
curiously.

“Israel, this is my brother
David.”

“Hello, David,” Israel smiled at him. “That’s quite a heroic name you have
there.”

David looked down, “Not really, it’s my dad’s middle name.” David ran back over to the T.V and plopped himself in front of it. Israel looked over at David curiously, and Aira walked into to the
kitchen.

“Mom?” Aira called, looking around for
them.

“We’re out here, honey.” Her mom’s voice came from the back deck. Aira walked out back with
Israel.

Maddy and Barry were sitting in their chairs reading, and enjoying a drink on the
deck.

“Hey, this is Israel. His mom asked if I could go for a barbecue,” Aira said, looking a little
tense.

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Bellen, It’s nice to meet
you.”

“It’s actually Valentine,” Aira whispered
quietly.

“Well hello there, Israel!” Maddy got up out of her chair and smiled at Aira. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” She moved Aira out of the way and shook his hand. “I’m Maddy, Aira’s mom, and this is my husband Barry, Aira’s stepfather. He’s sure handsome, isn’t he handsome?” Maddy looked at Barry
excited.

Barry looked up, pulling his sunglasses
up.

“Aren’t they all?” he suggested, pulling his sunglasses back down, and he took a drink. Maddy looked back at them and
smiled.

Israel smiled to himself and shook his
head.

“Well honey, it’s okay with
me.”

“Great,” Aira said, grabbing Israel’s hand pulling him inside the
kitchen.

“It was nice meeting you,” Israel called back while being dragged through the house. “See you later, David,” Israel shouted over the blaring T.V. as Aira pulled him out the front door and closed
it.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he smiled. To her it had been the most awkward thing
ever.

They got into the
car
,
Israel pulled out and they started driving to his
house.

“So what’s up with David?” he asked
curiously.

“Ah…” Aira felt a little caught off guard, “he just keeps to himself. After our dad left, he hasn’t been the same. He doesn’t really get close to anyone except me. It’s kind of hard on my mom and Barry. He doesn’t accept Barry. David still doesn’t understand. My dad started drinking a lot, blaming everyone for his unhappiness. He became really angry… mean. David doesn’t remember how awful he was. Then my dad went out and had an affair, and left my mom. David was only five then.” Aira went
silent.

“I see... and how do you feel about Barry?” Israel seemed
curious.

“Barry’s amazing. He tries really hard to be what my dad wouldn’t be. He doesn’t push David, though. He’s hoping David will come to him when he’s
ready.”

“Anything’s possible.” Israel reached over and held onto Aira’s
hand.

Eventually they pulled into Israel’s driveway, and all around the house was lit up with garden lights. She could see smoke from the back which she assumed was coming from the barbecue. His home felt warm to
Aira.

“I love it here.” She just blurted out what she was
thinking.

Israel smiled, parked his car and they got
out.

He held onto Aira’s hand, and they walked up to the front door. Aira was a little nervous. Israel opened the
door.