Reverie had just finished her evening routine. A quick bath, a light dinner, and some homework, all accomplished within the span of an hour and a half. She sat on the edge of her bed, her thoughts racing about the plan Noah had suggested earlier in the library. Living with her friends sounded like a dream, especially with everything going on with Kazu. But first, she had to get her aunt’s permission.
Her aunt was the only family she had left, and although they weren’t exactly close, Reverie respected her. She walked out of her room, finding her aunt in the small living room, quietly sipping her tea. Reverie cleared her throat, trying to push down her nerves.
“Auntie... Can I talk to you for a second?” she asked, her voice gentle.
Her aunt, a stern-looking woman in her early fifties, looked up from her cup and nodded. “Of course, Bella. What is it?”
Reverie sat across from her and took a deep breath. “I... I’ve been thinking about something. You know how I’ve been spending a lot of time with Noah, Danielle, and Theo? Well, Noah has this house, and we were talking today about maybe... maybe I could live with them for a while.”
Her aunt raised an eyebrow, setting her cup down on the table with a slight clink. “Live with your friends?” she repeated, her tone skeptical. “Bella, you’ll just be a burden to them. They have their own lives, their own families. Why would you want to impose on them like that?”
Reverie winced slightly. She had expected that answer. “It’s not like that,” she tried to explain. “Noah’s house is really big, and... well, with everything going on, they thought it might be safer if I wasn’t alone all the time. You know, with... with Kazu still out there.”
Her aunt sighed deeply, her expression softening just a little at the mention of Kazu. She wasn’t entirely heartless, she knew the danger her niece was in. But before she could reply, there was a knock at the door.
Reverie turned, startled. “Who could that be?” she mumbled to herself as she walked to the door and opened it. Standing there, with wide grins on their faces, were Noah, Danielle, and Theodore.
“Hey, Erie!” Danielle said cheerfully, waving. “We thought we’d drop by.”
Noah stepped forward, holding up his hands. “Hope we’re not interrupting anything, but we figured we should all come to ask for permission together.”
Reverie’s aunt, now curious, stood from the couch and approached the door. She looked at the three of them standing there, taking in their eager smiles, and shook her head slightly. “And what is it you want to ask me for?”
Noah, ever the calm and collected one, stepped inside and greeted her politely. “Ma’am, we’re here because we really care about Erie, and we want her to be safe. My parents got me a house last year, and we thought it would be a good idea if she could stay with us, at least for a while. It’s big, it’s secure, and we’ll all be there to look after each other.”
Theodore nodded enthusiastically. “It’s not just about her staying with us, Mrs... uh, Auntie. We want to make sure she’s okay, and we can protect her better if we’re all together.”
Danielle smiled sweetly, chiming in. “Plus, we’ll have a lot of fun, and we promise to take care of her like she’s our sister.”
Reverie’s aunt hesitated, glancing between the three of them and her niece. “I understand your concern, but as I told Bella, I don’t want her to be a burden. You all have your own things going on, and-”
“She won’t be a burden,” Noah interrupted softly but firmly. “We’re doing this because we care about her. We’re friends, and that’s what friends do. Plus, the house is more than big enough for all of us. It’s not like we’ll be cramped together. And honestly,” he added with a small smile, “I think we’ll all feel better if we know she’s safe.”
Reverie’s aunt sighed, her resolve weakening under Noah’s earnest gaze. She looked at Reverie, who was standing quietly beside him, her eyes filled with hope. Finally, after a long moment, she relented.
“Alright,” she said, her voice softer now. “If this is really what you all want, and if it’ll keep her safe... then fine. But you all better take care of her, you hear me?”
Noah grinned, his eyes lighting up. “We will, I promise.” He turned to the others, and they exchanged excited looks before turning back to her aunt.
“Thank you, Auntie!” Danielle exclaimed, throwing her arms around the older woman in a sudden hug. Theodore and Noah quickly joined in, and soon, all four of them were laughing and celebrating. Even Reverie’s aunt couldn’t help but smile at their infectious joy.
Once the excitement died down, Reverie rushed upstairs to pack her things, just the essentials, a few changes of clothes, some books, and her important personal items. It didn’t take long before she was back downstairs, her backpack slung over her shoulder.
Theodore helped load her things into his car while Noah and Danielle chatted excitedly about their plans for the coming days. Soon enough, they were all packed up and ready to go.
“Take care, Bella,” her aunt said as she stood in the doorway, watching her niece leave. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”
Reverie nodded, giving her aunt one last hug. “I will. Thank you for letting me go.”
The four of them piled into Theodore’s car, with Theodore at the wheel. As they drove through the streets, the tension from earlier melted away, replaced with excitement. They were all heading toward Noah’s house, a place that had become a safe haven for them.
When they finally arrived, the sight of the large, luxurious house took their breath away. It stood tall and grand, surrounded by a beautifully manicured garden, with bodyguards discreetly stationed around the perimeter.
“Wow,” Danielle whispered, leaning forward to get a better look as they pulled up. “I forgot how huge this place is.”
Noah smiled, watching their reactions. “Yeah, it’s pretty big. Too big for just me, honestly.”
Theodore parked the car, and they all stepped out, taking in the house’s impressive size. “And you live here alone?” Reverie asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Not anymore,” Noah said with a grin. “Now, it’s our place.”
As they stood there, gazing up at the house that would now be their shared home, a sense of peace settled over them. For the first time in a long time, Reverie felt truly safe, surrounded by the people she trusted the most.
-8JULY2004
YOU ARE READING
Echoes Of The Unseen
RomansaAfter the breakup with Aries, Reverie's life took a dramatic turn. Heartbroken and lost, she thought she'd never be able to move on from her first love. But with her best friends Noah, Danielle, and Theodore by her side, she found a way to smile aga...
