Star Struck: Page 4

The next day, Lexi and I joined my family for a small lunch to commemorate Victoria joining the Guild soon.

Of course, with my family being who they were, we hit up the most expensive restaurant on the east coast.

Of course, they were dressed to wow, in a black dress suits. As usual, I played the black sheep, showing up in jeans and a tee. But now I had Lexi accompanying me, also similarly dressed.

The 5 of us took our seats at the circular table, with me and Lexi next to each other, then Victoria next to her, then Damian, and my father next to me.

Lexi looked around, mouth wide. She elbowed me in the ribs, whispering in my ear.

"There's no one else here!

I chuckled.

"Yeah, my dad reserved the whole restaurant."

"Holy shit."

A waiter came by, handing us each a menu. His eyes lingered on me for just a moment, long enough for a look of disdain to flash across his face.

"Oh, everyone, do get whatever you'd like."

My father spoke to the group but was really telling Lexi. She gaped at the menu.

"Lucas, this steak is more expensive than my treatments were."

I looked at the price, but back-pedaled a second later.

"Treatments?"

She gestured at her body.

"Yeah, you know, wasn't born like this."

"Oh ok, my bad. Wait, you're my age, when did you get those?"

She stared at me for a moment.

"Lucas, how old do you think I am?"

"Like, 21 at most?"

"Babe. I'm 34 years old."

Lexi smiled at me awkwardly. I sputtered for a second, processing the new information rather poorly.

"But, I thought half elves aged like humans?"

"No, we live about half as long as elves do. We reach adulthood at 30."

"Ahem."

The waiter cleared his throat, frowning at us.

"Are you all ready to order?"

We did order, and the waiter promptly marched away.

"So Lucas, how did you manage to snag a girl with some actual magic?"

I scowled at my brother.

"Some people have actual personalities."

He rolled his eyes.

"Sorry, maybe my personality is being a real Valentine."

My hand squeezed around my glass.

"You're no Valentine, you waste your magic failing to be a professional athlete."

He slammed his hands onto the table, bouncing silverware into the air.

"Why don't you say that to my face?"

"Enough!"

My father silenced is both with a snap of his fingers, moving the utensils into their proper places.

"You are both Valentines. We are here to congratulate your sister. Show her the respect she deserves."

Damian ground his teeth, but conceded, mumbling a congratulations to my sister.

My father turned to me.

"Lucas?"

"Yeah sis, really cool."

He sighed at my half hearted praise but let it slide. Somehow, the rest of the meal went more or less ok. I ignored Damian's occasion jabs at my abilities, and by the time the waiter brought the dessert menu, my mood had recovered.

Lexi was in awe at the ridiculous prices of everything, which was endearing. This had just been my childhood, but to her it was unobtainable wealth. Perspective, I guess.

Of course, Damian couldn't just ignore my happiness. He just had to ruin it.

"Hey Lexi, did Lucas tell you about the time he tried to use a magic amulet, and nearly got himself killed."

I stared daggers at him.

"I was 10 years old!"

"And yet no other member of this family was so stupid at that age."

My father cleared his throat, preparing to say something. But he didn't get the chance.

Smack

I heard the sound of a hard slap, and turned to see Lexi holding her hand up. She had just backhanded Damian.

He rubbed his face, a red mark already forming on his cheek.

"You bitch!"

I felt the already bubbling rage inside me boil over. Before I could stop myself, my hand lunged towards him, twin bolts of red magic slamming into him. He flew across the room, landing on his ass.

Everyone gaped at me. The black sheep. The mundane Valentine. The one without magic. Now they knew. The helpless child they had lived with gone, replaced with someone new altogether.