Heart of Glass

Chapter 23

"Let's go see a movie," Autumn said.

Ariel looked away from the window. The snow had gradually settled in the following week, and outside the world looked like something she had only ever seen in the movies. There was an eerie silence to the world, as if the snow muted everything. The roads had been cleared, with a little help from Amelia, and she has been watching Amelia drive into town. Since the murder, she'd been heading into town with Samson every day. She wouldn't say what they were doing, but it had clearly driven the excitement of the situation from Samson's mind. Amelia would place a glamour spell on him every day, and he said that it made his scales itch. She didn't think it was possible for Samson to be grumpy, but his diminishing attitude over the last week had proved that wrong.

"Why do you want to see a movie?" she asked. "Isn't that kind of impossible for you...?"

"Not if we go the drive in," she smiled. "Bilbury has a drive in theatre every year around Christmas time. They play Christmas themed films over the last weekend before Christmas."

Emily, sitting next to Autumn, glanced at Ariel nervously. "Would that be safe for you, Autumn?"

Ariel had apologized for losing her cool with Emily's brother, and likewise, Emily had apologized as well. Still, there was awkwardness in Emily's interactions with her; similar to when Ariel had first arrived. She'd tried to be extra nice, or as nicer as she could possibly be, but her patience was hanging by a thread.

"I'll be fine," Autumn replied. "We'll be fine. The Doctor has a special car that's at the beach house. It has those special tinted windows, and it's big enough to fit Lucas inside. I'll ask Amelia to bring it here."

"We?" Emily squeaked.

"Me?" Lucas said from the other side of the room.

"Of course, both of you," Autumn said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I want us all to go."

"No way," Lucas snorted.

"I can't go," Emily stammered. "Something might happen!"

It was barely noticeable, but Ariel saw Autumn's eyes flash with sadness. "Well I'll just go on my own then," she said quietly.

"I'll go with you," Ariel spoke up. "So will you guys. We'll be in a car watching a movie. Nothing will happen."

"I don't think –" Emily started.

"You'll be fine!" Ariel snapped. "You managed to walk outside when your brother was here. This time you'll be in a car, so suck it up!"

Emily paled and turned away. Ariel felt bad for bringing her brother up, but she forged on, turning her sights on Lucas.

"Autumn said there would be room for you, so you're coming too."

"No I'm not," he scowled. "Tinted windows or not, there's still a chance someone will see me."

"It will be dark, and if people have time to try and peek into cars, then Bilbury needs to find some better movies."

"I'm not going!"

Standing up, she marched over to him, placing her hands on her hips. "Yes you are."

"Ariel –"

"Lucas," she hissed. "You are doing this and that's final!"

She shifted her eyes, meaningfully towards Autumn, trying to tell him telepathically, that he needed to this for her. Trying to stress the importance of something with your eyes made her look like a bit deranged and it took a few attempts before she saw Lucas admit defeat.