Electric Blue Rose - Book One. [COMPLETED] Undergoing Edits

Chapter Eleven - Paparazzi

 The expression from his dreams, her wide-eyed, mouth gaping, mesmerized with the world. Jade rushed over to a plant, studied its details, and rubbed her fingers on the leaf. He grabbed a cart out of the train, unfolded it, and placed their bags on it. She reached and grabbed a small flower, Alex would've cast it aside as a weed, but she inspected each tiny petal. She crossed over to her bag and opened it pulling a small empty bag out. She placed it inside and turned the bag. Her gaze met his, causing his knees to buckle. He caught himself on the handlebars of the cart.

"Are you okay?" Jade asked, rushing to his aide.

"Yeah, yeah, locked my knees." He rubbed the back of his head with his hand.

"I'm sorry, we can head up."

"No, we're not going to be starting classes today anyway. Take your time." Alex smiled as hers grew, and she crossed back over. She took samples of everything. Her eyes steadied on a tree above her. He saw a single purple flower dangling down but still beyond her reach. He crossed over and grabbed it, handing it to her.

"Thank you," Jade said, taking the flower. They both jumped at the sound of shutters.

"Oh, Void," Alex said, putting the hood of his jacket up.

"What is it?" Jade asked, looking around.

"Paparazzi," he whispered, his tone annoyed. "They must've been waiting for us."

"You don't want to speak to them?"

"They want our photos to make up a story about us," Alex explained. Jade's expression changed, and he couldn't place it.

"Do you often have to hide because of them?" She asked, her wide eyes captivating him. He nodded. "Well, let them write their stories. We know what's true and what's not."

"Are you sure?" Alex asked, "Jade, they can get invasive. I mean, you already saw what they said about you."

"I know, but I don't want to keep hiding and running. You said I'm safe with you. Maybe this will give me a chance to become something more than the girl they portrayed before."

Alex lowered his hood. "Well, okay." He looked up ahead, seeing the infamous Seasons Bridge. "Oh, you're going to want to see this," he said, using one hand to pull the luggage and the other to guide her. He stopped the cart and took her on the stone bridge. "Omega 5 has one impressive feature when it comes to its weather. Its location is in between two different hemispheres. On one side, it's bright, lively, colorful, and on the other," he led her.

"It's frozen," she gaped. Her eyes were glued to the frozen river that stopped under the bridge while the other half flowed. Snow-capped trees in the distance. "It's magical." Alex sighed, looking at her. His heart fluttered. With each word she said, each step, he fell for her further. They ignored the reporters who thought themselves cleverly hidden in bushes behind them. It beat the usual tucking and running. She was right. He should just let them write their stories, and the people will believe what they want to.

"Alex!" She exclaimed in a whispered tone, not realizing she had continued slightly forward. Alex moved closer to her, following directions as she placed her finger to her mouth and pointed. He followed her finger and saw a nest of birds in the trees above them. Her eyes were glued to the birds, his to her. She turned to him, not expecting him to be facing her. "Oh, I." Her face was now a bright red, as he was sure, so was his.

"Sorry, I-I noticed a leaf in your hair." Alex cleared his throat, reached for the imaginary leaf, and tossed it aside.

"Thanks." Her laugh faded, and a distressed expression crossed her. "Alex?" Jade paused again, seeming hesitant to continue her sentence. "Are you sure you're not doing all of this out of guilt?"

"The guilt is heavy, but no, Jade breaking your heart back there, shattered mine. I thought I was protecting you, I thought I was doing the right thing, but the moment that shine in your eyes faded, I knew I made a horrible mistake."

"You had so many reasons we shouldn't be together. You said you moved on."

"I lied." She nodded, but the doubt still clouded her. He took a deep breath, "what can I do to show you?"

"I just have to trust the part of me that believes in this and grow with it."

Alex chewed his lip, unsure if he should bring up the topic that danced on his lip, and he decided to follow through. "So, you and Edge?"

"How do you know about him?"

"Amorio." Jade sighed. "Did you love him?"

"I don't know. That year I struggled with a conflict in my heart, but in the end, my love for you outshined any other feelings."

"Even after all that time? After I hadn't responded to any of the letters you sent?"

"That day you saved me from those other Arcs changed my life. There was a warmth in my heart I had never experienced before. I guess I felt some of that warmth with Edge. I considered spending my life with Edge, but." She pinched her lips together and closed her eyes. The memory brought looks of regret to her face.

"What changed?"

"The song," she whispered. "I thought it was a proclamation to me, and well, so did everyone else."

"It was," Alex admitted. "I did countless interviews about you, and I never stopped proclaiming my feelings for you. Until. My dad got his promotion and told me I had to stop, and I did." Her light faded at the mention of his father. "What did he do to you, Jade?"

"Your father?" She asked. Alex nodded. "Nothing."

"You're lying."

Her lip trembled. "William just reminded me of my place and how undeserving I was of you." She turned, "I knew he was right, but I still held out. Alex, I think you need to stop asking me questions that I know you don't want the answers to."

"He touched you?" She turned away. "Jade, tell me. What did he do?"

"No."

"Jade, stop keeping it in. You can tell me."

"Alex stop asking!" she shouted. Turning away, embarrassed for her lack of composure. "Sorry, just please."

"Okay," Alex sighed and succumbed to her demands. "Let's go to your room and get you set up."

Jade nodded and looked in the distance at the grand building that was Omega 5. "Let's go."