The Girls from Downstairs

eight: let's take a walk

Sorry!  I meant to upload yesterday, but somehow lost track of my schedule and before I knew it *BAM!* I was asleep.  (lol) here's chapter eight though, enjoy!  <3 XDee

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I was halfway between the castle and the ocean when Felix caught up to me.  Still far too busy brooding, I didn’t take into consideration that he had cared enough about my feelings to chase me all the way out here.  He was probably just going to lecture me on how I need to be happy for him and his precious Esmerelda.

“Harlow!”

I didn’t stop.

“Harlow, please!”

Nope, I’m not turning around.  Not turning around.  Not giving him the time of day right now.

“Harlow!  Harlow will you just listen to me?  There’s something you don’t understand about all of this!”

“I’m sure I understand enough, Felix!”

“No, you don’t!”  I could hear him breathing a little heavy as Harlow, will you just stop for ONE SECOND and listen to me?!?”

I finally stopped by the water’s edge.  My favorite place to stand was by the rocks.  The mermaids - the nice ones - loved to bathe and play with each other’s hair by the water.  When I spoke to them, they listened whole-heartedly and sang the most beautiful songs to cheer me up.  Besides Jinx, two of them are my some of my best friends.

“What do you want, Felix?”  I faced him.  “Oh, that’s right.  Esmerelda!”

He shrugged.  “Well, yes.”

I rolled my eyes.  “So you’ve known a girl for less than twenty-four hours and you’re suddenly in love.  Great.  I’ve got it.  You can leave now.”

“Is that what this is about?  That she is to be my future bride instead of... of... instead of you?” I didn’t answer.  “Were you hoping that I would choose you?  Because it’s not up to me who I marry.”

I shifted weight.  “It’s not?”

“No.  It’s up to fate.”  He crossed his arms against the chilly morning.  “Normally it’s up to the storyline, but our story has never been written.  Vesta says that means we have to leave it up to fate.  Our rules of love and our future become the same as those from Reality,” he explained.  One hand rested on my shoulder.  I tilted my head to feel it’s warmth on my cheek.

“Felix, have I ever told you how much you mean to me?” I whispered.

“Yes.  Not in words, but in action.  I always knew that you liked me more than you should, but the moment I saw Esmerelda... the moment I saw her in real life, something came over me and I couldn’t - and still can’t - see myself with anyone but her.  It’s not like with every other relationship where we know who we’re going to be with and just accept it.”

“Wait.”  I faced him again.  “I thought Mother Klara said that with unwritten stories, the characters are in grave danger and have to somehow write their own ending with someone in Reality?”

“Yes.”  He grinned.  “She meant we have to either get the writer to finish the story, or bring someone from Reality here and live among us.  Assimilate with us.  If there’s a hint of Reality in a character, we have to get someone from Reality to become a character.  I’m not sure how, but it reverses the effects.”

“Oh...” I frowned again, staring sadly at the mermaids below.  They stared back, a few waving enthusiastically.  “So, basically, if you don’t convince Esmerelda to marry you, then you and Adrian will die?”