The Mystic Hearts Series

Chapter 53- Elio

When Friday afternoon finally arrives, I'm so excited. Briar had a whole gift bag for me that he said I couldn't open until the party, so I was super excited to see what was inside... I mean... this was my 1st birthday having him as a friend &... what your friends give you really says what they think about you so... I just think... It's important that I know... what he thinks about me or something...

We drive back to my hometown with mixed reactions, me just going about the normal routine, & Briar absolutely obsessing over everything along the way. Making it even more amusing to watch is his slightly too big hoodie that makes him look kinda cosy & his fake glasses, which I still have a hard time getting used to. They frame his face nicely, highlighting his dark brown eyes & dark hair... But it is still a little weird to see him with glasses nonetheless...

. . .

When we arrive at the apartment, Briar seems a little surprised, but ultimately happy to meet all my friends, as am I. They all embrace me, being the family I never had, & give Briar some reluctant greetings as well. Salima raises her eyebrows in my direction the whole time, not saying a word, but I can tell what she's thinking, though I never bring it up...

She's thinking that Briar is like my boyfriend or something, which is of course, not true... I mean, we're just friends... I had to tell them that me & Briar were work friends because I obviously couldn't say that he was the prince or something, or they'd absolutely go berserk...

It was better this way... even if I felt a little bad for lying to them...

We did have a good time though... Cake & pizza & presents... I even got that colored pencil set I wanted... & I won't forget Briar's gift... He got me my own motorcycle helmet, 1 of those full cover 1's like he has in my favorite color, navy blue... It felt just so personal for some reason... Said we could go out riding wearing them... He even had my name engraved on it, next to a sweet note in Japanese, since he was fluent in it... I couldn't understand it, but Briar said it was something sentimental & sweet for a friend that was hard to translate...

It was hard to say goodbye to all my friends that day, but I knew that they couldn't stay forever, of course... This night couldn't last forever, but I'm glad I had it at all...

We ended up wrapping up supper late, much too late for me to drive Briar home... It was an hour drive & it was already dark & I was tired... I couldn't drive tired...

He seemed a bit nervous about that, anxious to get home... He said it was because he didn't want his mom to figure out he'd snuck out, but she'd have probably figured it out by now, right?

I assured him he could stay the night because no one could drive this late out to the city & back again & he reluctantly agreed, though he still seemed kinda anxious about it... Hopefully whatever's worrying him will pass...

Hope you guys liked this chapter. What do you think Elio's helmet actually said? ,':)

Btw, if you didn't know, Briar is 1/2 Irish 1/2 Japanese. His mom is Japanese & his dad is Irish, if you were wondering.

Anyways, I'll see you guys later :)