Sanctuary [h.s.]

Chapter Two

"Somewhere across the sea of time

A love immortal such as mine

Will come to me

Eternally."

***

I had spent the week finishing some digital freelancing work. I preferred traditional art but I couldn't complain. I was able to make decent money doing something I loved while in the comfort of my home. It was next to impossible to make it as an artist but I was determined. I've always found comfort in drawing since I could hold a pencil. It felt as if I had a gateway to my subconscious. I'd start a project with an idea in mind and end up with something completely different.

By the time the weekend came around, my hands ached and my desk was a disaster. I spent the morning cleaning and the afternoon getting ready. Olivia was desperate to go out this weekend claiming a rebound would cure her.

I finished getting ready before her as usual and sat in her room listening to the soft music playing as she applied her makeup.

We were going back to the same pub as last weekend. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about Harry since. He wandered into my thoughts all week long. I was curious about him. He was upfront and cheeky but delicate and charming.

I've had my fair share of dates, yet those few minutes with him were more interesting than any of the people I've met. They were always either too boring and logical or too impulsive and directionless.

"Do you think Harry will be there again?" I spoke aloud. My thoughts roamed from my brain to my mouth.

Olivia looked at me through her vanity mirror with a confused expression, "Who?"

"Harry," I reminded her. Her expression only deepened. I continued explaining with my hands, "That guy you were sitting with at the bar."

She pursed her lips, looking around the room as if the memory would appear on the walls.

I rolled my eyes with a grin, "The guy with the curly brown hair and old accent."

Her face lit up as the memory surfaced, "Oh, yeah! Forgot about that."

A breathy giggle fell from my lips.

She turned her attention back to her lipstick, "I don't know, why? You're not interested in him are you?"

I shrugged, looking down at my hands that nervously picked at one another, "I'm not uninterested in him."

I looked up at her, "Would it bother you if I was?"

"No, of course not. But what happened to that other guy you were seeing? Josh?" She motioned through the mirror.

"Jack," I corrected her before sighing, "I don't know. He doesn't seem that interested. We've only gone out twice. He's a bit... boring."

"Boring is sometimes better than trouble. And that Harry guy is trouble." She spoke in a tone of certainty as she set down her makeup and stood from her seat.

My eyebrows scrunched together as a soft smile played on my lips, "I thought you didn't remember him."

"I don't. But if he was talking to me, he was definitely trouble. That's the only type I seem to attract," She smoothed out her dress in the mirror, admiring her silhouette.

She was probably right. She always is. But I think this is going to be one of those hard lessons I have to learn on my own.

"Ready?" She turned towards me with a grin.