The Magic Makers

Chapter 20

"Hey, Ari! It's fine! Look, this was none of your fault!" Phillip tried to assure Ariana, who, by now, had stopped crying. "It is my fault Phillip!" She tried hard to not let the tears fall. They fell anyway. "Look, Ariana, what you did was right. Really." Phillip said as he wiped her tears away. She shivered at his soft touch. "You aren't, I mean.. you aren't mad at me?" She asked him and stared as he burst into laughter. She felt warm all over again but the feeling died as soon as she noticed that the warmth in his smile did not reach his eyes. "'Course I'm not mad! I'm glad, in a way." Ariana looked at him curiously, but he didn't offer an explanation and nor did she ask for one.

They were sitting outside, where they had sat on that day when Ariana had accidently made meeting Phillip her excuse to get away from Luke and Elsa. They were under the stars, Ariana's happy place. She was sitting cross legged on the ground and Phillip was on his knees beside her. "Look Ariana, what you did was right. Luke was a.. a traitor." Phillip said with difficulty. "But the Auraniums are gonna leave too. Where will you go, Phillip?" Ariana asked, concern filling her huge eyes. Phillip's breath hitched. He had not overlooked the 'where will you go' part. It was almost like she didn't care about the others, just about him. "You can go over to my place, you know." Ariana offered, trying to make up desperately for what she had done. Phillip looked at her. "I can't.. I already have a place to go to." He said. "Oh, yes, of course." Ariana muttered hastily, realising he could easily go to one of the Auraniums' house. Most probably a girl's. Whatever. "So.." he trailed off, not ready to let go of Ariana so easily. "Tomorrow noon." Ariana whispered softly. And then she abruptly got up and started walking towards the school. "Hey! Where are you going?!" Phillip called after her but she didn't reply. She just walked on, as if in a daze. Phillip stared after her and watched her enter the school, leaving him behind and making him feel like an idiot. "Okay.. you know you could be nice to me right now. I don't have a home anymore." Phillip shouted after her though not very miserably. It was no use as she didn't hear him anyway. He shook his head, got up and walked to his room, something he wouldn't be seeing for a very long time.

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Sleep came easily to Phillip, but for some reason he didn't sleep at all that day. Maybe it was the pressure of leaving Lexington tomorrow. They had to leave by noon. But an annoying voice at the back of his head kept nagging him.
Leaving Lexington wasn't the reason Phillip wasn't getting any sleep. He knew the real reason. Ariana. He finally allowed his mind to think of her. Her beautiful eyes, that smile, and her expressions when he annoyed her. Phillip smiled softly. That night, he didn't refrain from remembering every single thing about Ariana. He was in love with her, He admitted with difficulty. There was no 'like' in their funny relationship. It was either love or nothing. And then it felt like a dam had burst. A tear trickled down his cheek and he wiped it away hastily. Phillip never cried. He loved Ariana, and yet he couldn't love her. Not because she didn't love him, Phillip had a strange feeling she did, but because.. it wouldn't be right. And Phillip knew the reason very well. In a way he was glad he was leaving Lexington. He hoped he would forget Ariana. But he knew that wasn't possible. He could never forget her. Ever. But he would have to, or else he wouldn't be able to move on. I won't move on then.. he thought firmly, gritting his teeth to prevent another treacherous tear from slipping down his cheek. Ariana will be safe here.. he thought to himself. He couldn't risk her safety by taking her with him. She wouldn't even come.. Phillip smiled and shook his head. What was he thinking? Ariana would be the last person to leave her dear Lexington. Though she had loving parents, Ariana had grown up in Lexington. She wouldn't dream of leaving it just to accompany a guy she hated on a journey to the ends of earth. He wouldn't even let her come. It wasn't safe. He himself had no idea where he was about to go. He had told Ariana that he had a place to go to just so things wouldn't get awkward. He knew how her parents might feel about having an Auranium invade their home. He'd think about it tomorrow.. Phillip turned over. I'll sure miss Rivers.. he thought mournfully. The faces she would make, the way she would get pissed when I flirted with her.. where would he find those expressions? He would have to find a substitute. But how do you find a substitute for someone you love?

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A/N: Sorry for the short chapter guys and also for the late update. I wasn't getting any time now that School's begun. I hope you like this chapter. Please vote and comment. And I know I haven't said this enough but I love you guys♡