Immortals (ON HOLD)

Chapter 5

Ariel

I awoke to the sunlight shining on my face, smiling as I realized that I had slept in. I stretched and yawned before I stood up, slipping on my moccasins before heading downstairs. I flipped on the TV as I made myself a bowl of cereal, eating the Lucky Charms happily. I rinsed out my bowl and began my chores. I grabbed the laundry from my parents’ room, throwing it in the washer that was in the hidden part of our kitchen. Really, it was just a little doorway with a curtain in front of it, but most guests knew that it wasn’t anything special. Our washer and dryer were stacked upon one another, and I finished my parents’ clothes before I started my own. After some more TV and folding clothes, I headed upstairs for a quick shower, where I spent about a half hour cleaning the bathroom. My mom called me to make sure that I was still home, which I didn’t plan on for much longer. I had finished my chores, and my punishment was bogus, so I decided to treat myself to a little free time. Once I was dressed, I put on my hoodies and scarf, slipped on some warm black boots, and headed into the forest behind my house. I was desperately looking for any signs of the wolves from last night, but sighed when I found none.

I prayed that they would be back again tonight, although I wasn’t quite sure why. What else was going to happen?? Were they going to start talking to me?? After a while, I just walked around slowly, not realizing how much I had actually missed strolling through the woods. A little while later, I took my car out and drove to the nearest Borders to buy some books to read in my free time. I snagged a hot chocolate and cookie while I was there, beginning one of my books at the café. Some teen romance with vampires and stuff. I may not show it on the outside, but I did like a good love story, and since they were popular these days, I was in fictional heaven. I decided to go home before my mom somehow found out that I had left, and sighed as I closed the door behind me. I got an early start on dinner, making some beef and vegetable stew. That had to simmer and cook for a few hours, so by the time it was ready, it should’ve been around 5:00 PM. I sat on the couch and read a decent amount of my book, startled when something hit the glass of my glass-sliding door.

I nearly wet myself when I saw Emma pressing her face against the glass. I laughed as I walked over to open it for her. “Hey! How was detainment?” She asked, rubbing her hands together. “Meh, it was fine. I actually just went to Borders, so…” Emma laughed, sniffing the air. “You’re an amazing cook, Ari.” “You can stay for dinner if you’d like,” I offered, and she nodded enthusiastically. She took off her jackets and sat next to me on the couch, reading the synopsis of my book. “Sounds good. Can I borrow it when you’re done?” “Yeah, sure. You want hot chocolate or coffee, or something?” “Coffee sounds goooood!”  I laughed and threw on a pot, coming to sit next to her a few minutes later. She wrapped her hands around the mug gently, smiling when it began to warm her. She blew on it to cool it down, and I asked her more about school. “You didn’t miss anything in chem. today. Just a few notes that you can copy on Monday. Remi said you missed a worksheet or something in English, but that shouldn’t be a big deal…” I nodded, pulling my legs close to me to keep warm.

“How was gym?” “Really boring without your amazing superhero-ness.” I laughed, touching my necklace instinctively. “Dexter took some really cool pictures of trees today. He says he’s going to start editing them tonight.” I nodded, and she finally took a sip of her coffee. “Ohhh, this is so good. Say, did you ask your mom about this weekend yet?” “No…I haven’t seen her. But if she comes home early today, which I have a feeling she will, then I’ll ask her. I know she’ll feel awful if she says no in front of you, so I’m hoping that you’ll be my lucky charm.” She smiled, nodding feverishly. “I don’t know when the next time we’d be able to go! Things are starting to look really busy! I have a lot of school work, my cat is going to have kittens soon, and Thanksgiving’s coming up!” “That’s right! How is Bella? And are you doing anything for Thanksgiving?” “I dunno. We might go up to the mountains, or something. I kinda’ hope we just stay home, but I don’t think we are. My mom’s getting all excited and stuff, so…yeah, I think we’re going.” I laughed, and she suddenly remembered her cat. “Oh! And Bella is good! She eats and sleeps all the time, but that hasn’t really changed much. And she’s huge! When I say huge, I mean it looks like she’s gonna’ have twelve babies!!!” “Let’s hope not for your mother’s sake,” I teased, and she rolled her eyes with a nod.