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Talbott,” Kiran gestured for Talbott to move from the doorway leading into the living room to also shake Aunt 67/711
    Syl’s hand. Talbott obeyed, eyeing her suspiciously.
    “Hi Sylvia,” Avalon completed the group, bursting noisily through the doorway. “Did you bring food?” he asked excitedly, before taking the brown bags directly from her arms and digging in immediately. “You are the best!” he paused for a moment and grabbed Aunt Syll around the waist, pulling her close to him and kissing her cheek roughly.
    Aunt Syll pushed Avalon away, used to his antics, but embarrassed in front of such important company.
    “Would you boys like some as well?” Aunt Syll gestured towards the opened cartons of fried rice and Mongolian beef, but I had a hard time pictur-ing Talbott sitting down to stir-fried wontons with Avalon.
    “Actually we really must be on our way,” Kiran turned to me with true sadness in his eyes. “We have to be going, Love We've been gone long enough,” when I mimicked his disappointment, 68/711
    he made his way back to my side and pulled me into his arms.
    “That’s not fair,” I mumbled into his chest.
    “I know. I wish you would have gotten home earlier,” he said softly. I heard the tiniest bit of reproach in his voice. “No worries, though. Next time we will go to my place. We will hopefully have a little more privacy,” he whispered into my hair and I felt another blush creep its way up my neck.
    “When?” I demanded, totally willing to leave now.
    “Soon,” he kissed the top of my head and pulled me close before letting me go completely. I knew that it was silly, but I couldn't help but feel cold and less complete without his arms around me.
    “Thank you Sylvia for your hospitality. I should hope we meet again soon,” he smiled genially, and Syll nodded in return. Avalon rolled his eyes and suddenly started a coughing fit, pretending to choke on kung pow chicken.

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    “Yes, thank you for your hospitality,” Talbott echoed Kiran’s sentiment in his own version of an accent, but my aunt had yet to find her words.
    The boys turned to leave and I followed them to the door.
    “See you at school tomorrow,” Kiran said while Talbott opened the door and waited for Kiran to pass.
    “I can hardly wait,” I groaned sarcastically. The thought of Seraphina’s hands all over the man that I loved made me nauseous, but that was the price I paid to stay out of prison.
    “You know that I am always thinking of you, Love,” he enfolded me in his arms once again and tipped my chin up into the sweetest kiss. I stood there, or rather floated there for several seconds believing that what he said was true.
    “And I think only of you,” I whispered when his lips finally left mine.
    Kiran released his embrace and turned to leave.
    Talbott said nothing on his way out, but closed the door behind them. I heard the Roll’s Royce 70/711
    start and then watched the headlights back out of my drive way.
    He’s only using you,” Avalon’s snide voice came from the kitchen doorway. He was standing their casually, holding a box of lo mien noodles and chopsticks.
    “Avalon, please don’t start,” I walked in his direction, fully intending on finding my own box of noodles, as long as Avalon hadn’t eaten everything.
    “You can’t blame him though. You hold the only hope of true Immortality he’ll ever have. If I were him, and destined to die so soon, and you came along believing all of my lies, I would for sure play that out,” he handed me his carton of noodles, realizing I was on a quest to look for them. I gave him a sharp look and then took them grudgingly.
    “You know you’re crazy. You just don’t like him. I’m sorry brother, this is something you’re going to have to learn to live with.” I found my own pair of chopsticks and noticed Aunt Syll 71/711
    duck out of the room, unwilling to listen to the conversation she had heard over and over for the last few weeks.
    “Eden,