The Solitarian: Part 1 of The Amaranth Series by Chalyn Amadore

that I’m feeling at this very moment lasts forever. He plants one last mind blowing kiss on my lips before we get into my car and drive away.
    On the way home my heart beats with joy. I can’t remember being this happy about anything else in my entire life. I have pretty much everything that I’ve ever wanted but somehow with Keyan, none of that matters. We stop to get the check from the pawn shop. I promise him that we have much more of where that came from. Before I head home we stop and start a bank account for him. We get the money deposited and hurry back to my house. I smile as I drive down the road. Keyan places his hand onto my knee.
    “Are you sure that you want this McKenna? Do you realize the consequences as well as the perks?”
    “I do. I’ve read vampire novels before. I have to leave everyone behind and all that jazz.” I joke
    “Vampires do not exist. But we do. And it is not as glamorous. There is only me and you for now.”
    “I want this Keyan. And there is nothing that you could say to change my mind.”
    “What if The Order still exists? What if they come for us and our children one day?”
    “Then we will move as many times as we have to. I realize what I’m sacrificing Keyan, and I want it now.”
    “I know but I think that we should at least wait until your birthday.”
    “That’s two weeks away Keyan.” I pout. I’m ready to start my future with him and he wants to play games. “I don’t want to wait that long.”
    “I think that it will be good for us to wait until you’re eighteenth birthday McKenna.”
    I sigh. I’m ready right now. I want to go home and give myself to him so that we can start our new lives.
    When I pull into the driveway I see that my parents have returned. I decide that I want to reveal my relationship to them without telling them everything. I divulge my plan to Keyan and as far as this is concerned he agrees. We go over our stories and decide to go on inside. My mom is with Rhoda and she is preparing dinner.
    “Hi McKenna dear. Are you enjoying your last days here with your friends?” my mother asks.
    “Actually, we just got into a big fight because of my new friend Keyan McAllister.” I point to him as he enters the kitchen. My mom eyes cut from me to him and back to me.
    “What?”
    “It’s no biggie mom.”
    “Why are you fighting your friends? You guys should be enjoying the remainder of the summer. You leave in two weeks.”
    “We need to talk about that. Please call dad in here and have a seat. Rhoda can you give us a minute?” she exits. My mom retrieves my dad and he takes a seat after looking Keyan over.
    “What’s going on McKenna?”
    “Well dad, I know that you only want what’s best for me, but I think that I should make decisions according to what I think is best for me. I’ve changed my mind about going to California. I’m going to try and get into Greenwich.”
    “Why have you changed your mind honey?” he asks.
    I stretch out my hand and Keyan takes it. “I’m in love and I want to be close to him dad. He is going to Greenwich as well.”
    “McKenna why would you make such a permanent decision without thinking first. Do you even know this guy? What happened to Rylan?”
    “It’s a long story that I’m not prepared to explain, but I’m sorry for everything that I have done to upset everyone. Keyan will be staying with us for a while if you don’t mind. He can live in the pool house until we find an apartment. I promise you that we will behave underneath your roof. I’ll ask Rhoda to have it ready for him by tomorrow. Until then he can sleep in my old toy room.”
    “McKenna I…”
    “Dad I can’t be persuaded. If he can’t stay I will leave with him and we can stay inside of a motel.”
    “Kenna?” My mom stands.
    “You don’t have to worry Mrs. Duvall. I would never disrespect your daughter, let alone inside of your home.” I smile. Keyan has the best manners. I would hate to end things like this with