A War Within Two Worlds

Visits

Yasmini's POV

It's been 2 months since we got the letters from Charlotte and Abe, which also marks the day when Victor go caught lying to me for months. Obviously, I ended things. I was stupid to trust him in the first place, to even consider falling in love, but I was smarter now. Of course, I'll still stay, but I'll keep my guard up now, especially around the others. Some silly little part of me forgot that the whole world is part of a war, even what we think are the nice, decent people. But like all wars, you need allies.

I heard a knock at the door and got up from the couch and handed Fiona my book to keep my place. I opened the door and saw and older version of Charlotte and Abraham. Then I realized, it is them.
"Charlotte, Abraham!" I threw my arms around the both of them. I heard motion behind me and when I let go, I saw everyone waiting for their own hug. Well, almost everyone, Enoch never liked Abe, but missed Charlotte. And Emma hated them both right now as she thought they were coupled up.
"What a wonderful surprise!" Miss Peregrine said in between puffs of her pipe.
"We surprised you?"
"Well no, but you surprised them!"
"You're back!" Bronwyn picked the both of them up and spun them around.
"Sorry my hands were wet, I was in the loo."
"Come in, come in."
"Thank you, however, we can only stay the night."
"Well then I'll cook a feast."

I carried Charlotte small duffel up the stairs and into our room.
"Damn, looks the same."
I shrugged, "if it isn't broken, why mess with it?"
"Soooo," she said jumping on her bed, "how's Victor?"
I grabbed the case of nail polish and set it in front of Charlotte.
"I wish you would have told me about Ella." I said meeting her eyes.
"He told you, huh? I thought you should hear it from him."
"No, he didn't tell me," I chuckled, "he lied. I didn't find out until Bronwyn's birthday when The Bird made sloppy joes."
"I missed that? Damn, those were great."
I nodded.
"Pink, please."
I grabbed the bright pink and started painting Charlotte's left hand.
"I ended it with him, of course. He lied to me about everything. How am I supposed to trust him?"
Charlotte blew in her nails and smiled.
"You're right Yasmini, he did lie. But I can almost promise you that he'll never do it again."
"How do I believe that?"
Truth be told, I missed him. I missed the way he'd put his hands around my hips when he kissed me, I missed the way he smiled, I even missed the way he snored when we fell asleep in the sun.
"You just have to."
I glanced out the window and saw him chatting with Abraham.
"So what about you and Abraham?"
Charlotte laughed, "not him, but there's another guy." She blushed.
"Who?" I asked trying to get Victor off my mind.
"His name is Jackson Everett, he's not peculiar but on our side. We're planning to marry after the war." She giggled with glee. I didn't want to tell her how stupid and naive she sounded, I just pretended to be happy for her. Besides, wars never end.
"He sounds amazing."
"Oh and he loves me so." She swooned.
"Charlotte?"
"Yes?"
"Take me with you back to the frontline."
Charlotte shook he head, "we don't need you right now, Mini."
"Bullshit! You need all the help you can get."
"Mini—"
"No, you just want me to stay here forever and never live a life or get old! Well to hell with that, I'm leaving!"
I stormed out of my room and into the yard.
"Are you alright?" I ignored Victor as I walked to the beach.

Victor ended up following me to the beach. The same repetitive waves crashes over and over. I screamed into the water with so much rage the water flew back. It almost reminded me of a story in the Bible about a guy, Moses, who commanded water to do something? I don't even remember honestly, I never really paid any attention to church.
"Mini, what's the matter?" Victor cupped my head in his hand, oh how I stupidly missed that.
"I'm never going to grow old! And Charlotte, Ch-Charlotte's getting married and here I am!" I started to hyperventilate. The reality of never growing old started to weigh on me. I pressed my hands into my neck and fell into the sand.
"I loved you," I said in between gasps of air. I didn't want to say it, but I had to.
"I still do."
"But I'm leaving, I can't do this." Tears started flowing down my face, what is this? I've never experienced anything like this in my life.
"Mini, breathe."
I tried to but I just couldn't. My hands pressed deeper into my neck. Victor suddenly put his arms around me, my back leaning against his front, and held me. I started to cry more but my breathing was better. Eventually when I quieted down, he stroked my hair.
"Mini, I love you."
I turned to face him, "Charlotte said I have to believe in you, that I have to believe you'll never lie ever again."
"I won't, I won't ever."
I wiped the tears and snot from my face and wiped it on my pants.
"Yasmini Aldello, I will love and cherish you until I physically cannot. You are truly my favorite part of every endless day. And we may never grow old, but and only grow loop bound as the years pass, but I only ever want to grow loop bound with you." 
I smiled and sniffled again.
"That was really sweet." I said softly while smiling and blushing.
"I meant every word of it," he paused and kissed my forehead, "now," he said helping me up from the ground, "let's go have a wonderful visiting dinner."

I apologized to Charlotte after dinner.
"Hey, you're a teenager, shit happens." I loved Charlotte, and boy did I miss her, she was the cool and chill older sister I always wanted. In away, she is my sister now, though.

"If you really want to come, I can't stop you."
It was late at night. We talked for hours about everything and anything, the silence was starting to go down until she spoke again.
"I think you're right, again, I think it's best if I stay."
"Is this because you and Victor got back together?" She wiggled her left eyebrow and I giggled.
"Maybe a little."
I wanted to say no, I wanted to lie and say that I'd always be willing to fight for my family, for Eliza, but I couldn't. I was staying for Victor and for Victor only.
"Well either way, I want you to be happy."
I smiled and wiped a stray tear from my cheek with my palm.
I felt like my heart was torn in two.

5/5/21