Always

Chapter Nineteen

Hi everyone :) SO yeah it's been a while... Sorry :/ but I've just been super busy, blah, blah, blah. ANYWAYS I wasn't sure what to do exactly after that chapter, so hopefully this lives up to your expectations! :) thanks for reading ! Oh and this is kind of a Christmas eve chapter, so I'm sorry I didn't get it done during the holidays lol.  Yeah... 

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     Christmas Eve. The busiest time of the year for me. For those who never know what to get their friends and family, books are always the go-to present, and since my store was one of the only bookstores downtown, many saw it as their ticket out of an awkward situation. So instead of getting Christmas off, I always worked for those less talented in getting presents for others. From six in the morning to ten at night, I am constantly on my feet and helping my paying customers.

    It was almost nine at night and the crowd was finally dying down. Only a few remained in my store so I started bringing out the broom and duster and started cleaning. I grabbed the duster and stood on my tiptoes to start cleaning the shelves. With my back facing the store a man asked behind me "Excuse me Miss, but where would I find a book on Norse mythology?" I froze as my eyes widened. I turned around slowly with the duster still in hand. The man was wearing jeans and a plain blue t shirt, but I could have recognized him anywhere. His blonde hair was pulled back and he looked like a normal human, but I knew better.

   It had been nearly two weeks now and I had almost mastered not thinking about him. But as soon as I had even heard his brothers name, all the thoughts came rushing back. Damn I was doing so good  I thought to myself. Tears welled up in my eyes and I looked down, trying to innocently sniff without Thor noticing. He placed a hand on my arm and gave me a comforting squeeze. "Thor? Am I hallucinating or is that actually you?" I whispered. I looked up to Thor smiling down at me and I frowned back at him. What was he doing here? I cleared my burning throat and choked back my tears. Thors smile faded as he looked down on me and awkwardly held his hands out and embraced me in a bone-crushing hug. "Miss Clark, I'm sorry to disturb you on this Midgardian holiday, but I urgently must have a word" He mumbled. I stood there and didn't know where to put my hands, so I just froze until he backed up to look me in the eyes. I stared blankly up at him until his words registered and I nodded, backing away to clear out the remaining customers. 

     Once the customers were gone I faced Thor with a small hope inside of me. Maybe it's about him I thought. But I couldn't let myself think that way. Thor was the one who wanted me to have a normal life, he wouldn't bring me back into all this. But why else would he be here? My thoughts betrayed me as my hope grew larger. Thor was trying to talk to me, but couldn't seem to get his words right. He always formed words on his lips but then stopped with a puzzled expression. Finally, he figured out what to say. "Miss Clark... It was my fault he sent you away. I thought it would be the best if you just forgot about him and came back to your old life. Now that you are back with your family and friends, I realize that I made a horrible deal with making him bring you back. I should have at least asked you what you wanted. You should have been given a choice, and for that I apologize." His words sunk in and for the first time in a long time,the numbing pain inside of me was replaced with an anger I had never felt before. I stepped closer to him, my hands forming into fists by my side. Thor watched me and looked a litle defeated. "If you must take your anger out on me, you may. I will not feel any pain, but it might make you feel better." He sighed deeply, looking away from me. "Go a hea-" Before he could finish I punched him and pounded both of my fists over his chest. Closing my eyes I took out all the anger I had pushed deep inside of me. All the hurt I felt, the sadness, frustration. Everything poured out and punched Thor, not even making him wince. Let's face it, I was never the strongest girl in highschool. But then I let what he said sink in. He had no choice but to make me leave  I thought. I stopped abruptly with my fists still on his chests. My eyes opened and I looked up at Thor with, to my embarassment, tears streaming down my face. "Loki was forced to make me leave?" My voice was hoarse from the crying and it hurt to say his name, but I had to know. Thor looked down at me and smiled grimly. "Yes Miss Clark, he begged for me to let him keep you there. I thought after all that he had been through he wouldn't have the capacity to care for someone else more than himself. But he truly cares for you Miss Clark. I would have taken you right when I arrived but he begged for one last day with you.." Thor had a look of wonder on his face and took a step back so we weren't so close. I cracked a small smile, cleared my throat and rubbed the tears from my face. Thor watched me and his face fell and his smile instantly faded. "But Miss Clark that is not my reasoning for being here. Since you and my brother had become so... Attached I wanted to inform you that" He paused and took a deep breath in. I frowned and crossed my arms, waiting for him to finish. "Recently I have found out something horrific. Loki has turned himself over to the Frost Giants... and is their new ruler." My hands went over my mouth in horror and I shook my head violently.

     "Why would he do that? He hated being a Frost Giant he wouldn't go back there willingly, he must have had a reason." I sputtered. My thoughts were so jumbled and I couldn't see straight. I paced the room with Thor standing helplessly in the middle. "We have to go after him! This isn't Loki there has to be someting wrong with him. We have to go to Jotenhiem!" I exclaimed. I must have appeared like a lunatic but I didn't care. Thor stared at me and suddenly I remembered how much of a temper this man could have. "YOU GO TO JOTENHIEM?! NO. YOU CANNOT PUT YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A RISK MISS CLARK! IT DOES NOT MATTER TO ME HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT MY BROTHER, I WILL NOT SEND YOU TO A PLACE YOU ARE SURELY TO BE KILLED." He screamed and went on for quite a while, his face turning as red as a juicy cherry. He must have rambled on for at least twenty minutes so I crossed my arms and waited patiently until he was finally out of breath. "Thor you will be with me and I am sure Loki wouldn't hurt me, so whats the problem? You'll be there to protect me!" Thor was ready to open his mouth for another argument but I held up a hand and said "Don't even try to argue with me God of Thunder, this is happening and it's happening now. So let's go" WIth my arms still crossed I glared at Thor once more and then turned to leave with Thor reluctantly trailing behind me.

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So hey, not my best chapter I know. FINALS ARE DONEEE YAAYYYY. So hopefully I'll have more time to write but I think we all know I won't be any faster than before lol. SOrry! That's just the way it goes :) Remember to comment, vote and fan me! Love you all! :) <3