Their Treasure [COMPLETED][UNEDITED]

Forty Six - Artemis

"What vibe do you want to go for?" Aurelia asked excitedly as she bounced around the store and I pushed the shopping trolley. We were searching room by room, and Aurelia begged and begged me to let her pay until I agreed. She was super happy, definitely over the moon. I loved her energy.

We set up the airbeds last night and made them comfortable before everyone left. My family had booked a bed and breakfast in the area as it was a long drive and a hotel would've been a struggle, London and Aisley were staying in a Hotel, and Antonio and Aurelia had a few properties scattered so would be staying nearby.

Antonio was the last to leave, it was sweet how much he cared about his little sister. Before he left he explained to me about why Aurelia cried when she hugged me.

Apparently she hasn't had any true friends due to the whole situation of her being kept away. He wanted to make sure I would stick with her, and then gave me his number so I could contact him if anything happened, before sticking around for another fifteen minutes - until his wife called and he had to go.

"Hmm, the living room....I want it to be fun, but botanical vibes?" I said and she nodded, bouncing off to find wallpaper whilst I looked at paints, shelving, curtains and other bits and bobs.

After we'd gathered all of the paints, wallpapers, shelving and whatnot we popped to a furniture store and got to deciding on furniture. We again, decided on a room-by-room design which was fun. I loved planning all of it!!

"Art! Look!" Aurelia smiled as she looked at the bed frame, it was a large bed - probably king sized if I read the label - and had built in storage that went from the head of each side of the bed and connected over the bed. The mattress lifted up high enough to reveal an open space for more storage but not high enough to damage anything.

"Wow" I breathed to myself and she nodded

"I know! Do you like it?" She wondered with excitement

"Yea, I'll have to go shopping to fill the gaps" my voice came out cheeky as she grabbed the numbered card and put it in the trolley. I let her pick the rest of the furniture so I could take a seat and rest from the excitement of the day.

About an hour and a half later, She came back with a long receipt and a massive smile. I don't think she'd stopped smiling the whole day.

"It'll all be arriving at 5pm today so as long as we're home by then it's all good" she told me as she bounded back to the bus stop, full of energy. I laughed as she literally bounced on the spot. Her happiness was infectious.

"What else do you want to do? Ooo! Clothes shopping? We could go into town? You start your new job soon so you'll need like...clothes and everything! Oh!-" Aurelia reminded me before cutting herself off.

"Sorry, I'm being too much" she joked in a self-depreciating, not-really-joking maner. Causing me to look at her

"What?" I questioned, confused

"I'm being too hyper, I'll try to reign it in-" she said as she looked at the bus timetable

"No, no please! I love your energy, don't reign it in!" I cut in, I would hate for her to feel she can't be herself with me.

We got into the car and Aurelia decided to drive. She was humming a tune until she signalled for me to a farm-ish area with signs pointing to an indoor market that Aurelia followed excitedly, dragging me along as she led the way.

"Here! It's a farmer's market, I've read that you have them in England and thought it'd be nice!" The bubbly personality looked at me with hopeful eyes and I couldn't help but smile and follow her until we arrived at the large market.

"We need to get you groceries and stuff, this is perfect because it's supporting the local businesses. It's indoors, so don't worry about the chill.. " she smiled as we walked through the rows and looked at the stalls. I wasn't watching where I was going, stupid of me really, but I was too caught up in the market. We bought some drinks and were walking around with them as I took it all in...

"Umph" a grunt comes from the body I've just slammed into at full force, and I freeze when he grabs my arms

"Are you okay?" A deep, strong country accent asks and I swear I heard my brain do the windows XP start up sound as I looked up. Dark blue eyes were looking back at me. I broke the eye contact, feeling awkward

"Oh my god! We're so sorry!" Aurelia exclaimed from next to me as I realised that his shirt wasn't meant to be a red-white-blue tie-dye but instead I had spilled my drink over his chest

"Oh shit!" I panicked when I saw the mess I'd made.

"Woah it's okay, it's just a shirt" he chuckled as he moved me to the side and asked the stall-holder for some tissue

"No! I- oh god." I covered my face briefly before he pulled them away "I'm sorry, I'll buy you a new shirt. Promise. I'm new here and I guess I just forgot to be aware!" He shakes his head with a laugh at my embarrassment and I took the tissues from the stall holder so I could immediately start dabbing away at the bright stain. Fuck, this is so embarrassing

"I'm so sorry - I've ruined your day! There's probably someone waiting for you, oh my god. I can wash your shirt- uhm-" I continue rambling to myself before he grabs my wrists and pulls them away to stop my frantic dabbing at his shirt.

"You're alright, take a breath" the man chuckled and I just looked to the ground, wondering why it hadn't swallowed me whole yet. "It's just a shirt, I have more"

"Let me buy you a new one, I have to make it up to you" I pleaded and he shook his head. I tried again, and again, he denied my request

"You know, if you want to make it up for me I'm always up for dinner" he suggested and Aurelia squealed next to me - id been so caught up I had forgotten she was there...

"I-"

"She'd love to" Aurelia cut in, switching from foot to foot and I glared

"Great. I'll pick you up at seven tonight, what's your number" he asked and I was just stood in shock

What just happened

"Uhm....here" I handed him my phone, absolutely confused at the interaction....

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Posted: 06.05.2024

Oh? I wonder who the gentleman is....