you're incredibly wicked

18: waxing gibbous in taurus

The days went by since the Full Moon Fest, and Nikolai was taking a walk down a hidden path to a place that he likes to go to clear his mind. Through stretches of pines and evergreen and far away from the academy buildings and the trouble of people.

As he entered through to where a lake that shimmered like diamonds bestowed his view, it seemed that somebody beat him to being alone in that place.

Serena had her back towards him and watched the water flow calmly with the occasional ripple flowing through.

Nikolai cleared his throat, which caused Serena to jump.

"What are you doing here?" Serena asked in a startled way.

"I should be asking you that."

She turned towards him.

"Let me guess, I found your secret hideaway?"

He giggled softly.

"Like 1 out of 70 perhaps."

Serena looked around.

"What do you even do here? It's like there's nothing here at all."

"I just clear my head. When I need to."

"Ever take anybody to this spot?"

"Nope, nobody knows about it but me. Except, maybe you know about it now."

"Just came around here by accident. It's quiet. Like..."

Serena stepped back and stepped on a branch which echoed through the whole area.

"That."

She stumbled and Nikolai came from behind her in a flash to catch her.

"And I thought you hated me."

"I'll admit, I was a little rude in the past and I really wasn't a gentleman to you."

He straightened her out.

"I should be treating you with more respect." He added.

Serena looked at him with a blank stare and her mouth slightly opened.

"I can't believe that you're saying that."

"Why not? But, maybe you're right. I am quote on quote by you "SO not a gentleman"."

He added a hint of Serena's flavor with his sassy quote.

Serena bit her tounge and almost started to laugh.

"That's true. You've been trying though."

He started to walk closer to her.

"Well, this place does seem kind of romantic when you think about it. It's quiet, peaceful, natural, and you shine like a shooting star when I look at you. I always tend to be bewitched by your everlasting beauty."

Nikolai took Serena by the hand and walked her down to the lake.

Serena saw their reflection in the lake and looked in awe.

"You seem speechless. Did I make you lose the words you wanted to say?" He looked at her.

"It sounds like you've been reading some fantasy romance novels. Maybe I got you hooked on a few." She stared right back at him.

"You're my favorite story of them all. I'm dying to know more about you." 

Suddenly, he and her were locked in a soft embrace. He had his arms around her waist and her hands gravitatied to his shoulders.

"I'd love to see your story. All of the sides of you."

"Even the bad and the ugly?"

"Yes, even the bad and the ugly."