Elena
"I want to show you something," Noel told me after I had showed up at the statue at the designated time. I was sore and tired from my training, but it was worth it. And I didn't mind putting off homework to spend time with Noel; I hoped the more we hung out the less awkward we'd be around each other.
At least, until I decided to tell him how I really felt about the two of us, but after the demon attacked, we really hadn't had the opportunity to really talk about it. I knew the ball was in my court, but I wasn't in any hurry. I wanted to be sure of my feelings when danger wasn't around us to make me fear for Noel.
Noel and I fell into step beside each other as we headed down path I had never been down before. I didn't say anything as we walked; I was taking in the surroundings. I had never thought to go this way before. It might prove to be a good place to practice sparring with Alistair.
Break the silence. Ask him something. Eevie told me. She wasn't being pushy, just giving me her opinion. She was good at giving me a suggestion and not judging me if I chose not to abide it.
The silence wasn't awkward. Just peaceful. Blissfully peaceful. The crickets chirping in the background as an owl hooted. The sun was being blocked by some trees in front of me, but I knew it should be setting. The temperature was cool on my skin, but not so cool that I was cold. IT really was a perfect night.
"Do you have any plans this weekend?" I finally asked Noel, heading Eevie's advice, which she totally let go to her head. Great, now she'd give her input more often.
Noel glanced over at me before responding, "Actually, yes. I'm going to the demon realm with Nori. Meeting his family and all that. What about you?"
"Eevie had also talked of bringing me to meet her family," I replied.
But only for one day. Only Saturday. WE aren't staying any longer than necessary, Eevie reminded me.
But we aren't going until Saturday apparently," I told Noel with a laugh.
Noel chuckled, "Nori and I are leaving after class tomorrow, and we won't be back until Sunday."
"What am I going to do tomorrow night on my own?" I teased, and Noel blushed, and for a moment, we were exactly like how we used to be.
"I'm sure you'll manage," Noel replied with a smile. "Give you and Alexa some bonding time."
I nodded, knowing that's exactly what I'd end up doing. And then we broke through the trees and we were standing in a beautiful meadow. It was open and beautiful. I wish I had a decent camera to capture the beauty here. With the sun setting and casting gorgeous colors of pinks and purples across the sky, the night couldn't get much better.
It's amazing, Eevie sounded star struck.
"Noel, it's beautiful here," I gushed, turning in a circle and taking everything in at once. I held my hands against my chest. "Thank you for bringing me up here."
"No problem," he replied. "It was too pretty not to share with someone- not to share with you."
My heart squeezed in my chest that I had almost ruined things. I almost missed this. I took a step towards Noel and smiled, unsure of what I wanted to do. Kiss him? Confess my feelings? Run away? Cry? Sleep? Instead of saying anything, I opted to just watch the sunset in silence for awhile.
Before the sun set fully, I looked at Noel. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked him with a wink.
He grinned back at me. "I think so."
Eevie
It really was such a cute date idea Noel had bringing Elena up to the meadow. I could see from looking at the grass that this must be where Noel and Nori trained. Yun's scent was all over the meadow, too, so I was guessing he was Noel's trainer, which made me wonder at Yun's full potential.
This night would have been made more perfect had Elena confessed her feelings to Noel now, but she was still confused and unsure of what she really wanted. She seemed to want to study and train more than do anything else, and I didn't see that changing any time soon.
I just hoped Noel would wait for Elena; how terrible would it be if while Elena was figuring her own feelings out, Noel found a new girlfriend? It was definitely in the realm of possibilities. He was funny, smart, caring, and compassionate. His A+ personality and good looks would make him a lucky catch for any girl.
Elena would be stupid not to snatch him up while she had the chance. But I believed in my heart they were soulmates. They had been destined to meet. They had been brought together for a reason, and I looked forward to watching their love story unfold. Smiling to myself, I watched the sunset.
Elena had said something to Noel, and I almost didn't catch it because I was so enthralled in my own thoughts Noel was grinning mischievously before I was suddenly staring into Nori's eyes. The switch had taken me completely by surprise, and by the look on Nori's face, it had taken him by surprise as well.
I began laughing heartily, and Nori eyed me curiously. He was smiling but hadn't joined in the laughter, not understanding what was wrong with me. I'm sure I looked like a crazy person.
You clever clever girl, I snickered at Elena.
She just giggled at me, You two are obviously falling for each other, why not have a date and watch the sunset together?
"What's so funny?" Nori asked after a moment.
"You realize what just happened, right?" I asked him, raising my eyebrows. "They're doing to us what we had done to them a few nights ago, only not as risque."
"They're letting us enjoy the sunset together alone. How nice of them" Nori remarked, and I could tell he was saying something to Noel.
"I suppose it would be rude of us to squander this gift they've given us," I told him as I hobbled over to a spot in the grass and took a seat. Nori walked over and took a seat beside me.
"How's your ankle?" he asked, pointing to it.
I shrugged. "It's getting better, I should be 100% by Saturday. If I'm not, I might as well not go home." I'd never hear the end of it if my parents found out I had injured myself. They'd do something like trying to reverse the bonding, and I didn't want them trying to do something so risky.
"Being a little dramatic aren't you?" Nori joked, thinking I was, too. But when I didn't join in the laughter, he stopped short. "Sorry. I know parents can be little too not understanding."
"Oh ya?" I asked. "I suppose every child feels misunderstood by their parents."
Nori nodded, and I wasn't sure how to respond, so I reached my hand out and grabbed Nori's to hold, and we sat shoulder to shoulder and watched the sun dip below the horizon. We stayed as we were well after the stars started to come out and shine brightly down at us.
Then Nori started pointing out the constellations he knew of, and I showed him the ones I knew of, which weren't a lot. It was getting late, and I knew we would need to get Elena and Noel into bed to be rested enough for classes tomorrow morning.
Nori helped me to my feet, and I got up and pecked him on the lips. "I like that we can have quiet moments like this together," I told him. At first I had thought Nori and I just had a sexual connection, but it was pretty clear we had a bigger connection than that that encompassed emotioal togetherness.
I wanted to ask him about his noble family, but I was afraid he'd ask about mine, and I wasn't ready to give up that information, yet. It was bad enough I had to know who I was related to. I didn't need to scare Nori away.
"This was a good date," he agreed. "We shall have to do it again sometime." He took my hand and placed a kiss on the top of my hand.
"I look forward to it," I told him.
