Outcast

Chapter 54: Marry Me?

Sam's POV

I tugged at the hood on top of my head upon exiting the airport. I pulled the hood further down my face and so did the others. It was an unusually sunny day in the first week of December in Paris. As I felt the warm sun on top of my head I had to force myself not to pull down the hood and lick the sun off my lips. I frowned yet continued reeling my luggage towards the taxi. It really sucked being sparkly in the sun.

As Alec, Bonnie and I dealt with the taxi drivers and gave them the instructions to our rented cottage, the others loaded our luggage. I smiled as I heard them curse as they tried to squeeze in Nessie's trunk. I swear it was so big that you could fit in at least two bodies.

Alec and I settled in the taxi and Logan and Bonnie slipped in too. Danielle and Alex went to sit in the other one, along with Nessie and Jake. Daren was left and since the other taxi was filled to the top with Nessie's never ending luggage, he had to sit in our taxi. After the incident with the newborn army he had disappeared somewhere. He had returned three days afterwards. He couldn't put up the courage to talk to me, not even mentally. He looked down, obviously feeling ashamed. It took me everything I had not to do something about it but Alec still held a grudge against him and if I talked to Daren I'm sure Alec would turn it into a fight. My heart was breaking seeing Daren so down in the dumps but I had to agree a little bit with Alec, Daren should learn to listen to me more, I cared for his wellbeing.

Looking at him, I could see right through him. Despite his stubborn, teasing character, that lived to piss people - Alec in particular - off, he wanted nothing more than to have somebody to share his never-ending immortal life with. I knew that coming here, to the city of love must have been hard for him and I could understand it perfectly. Back when Alec and I were separated and I lived with Emily, every kiss, every single touch she and Jason shared had been pure torture. I knew what it was like having everybody around you bursting with love and fulfillment while you where just a hollow shell of a person.

"Sam?" I heard Bonnie say.

"Huh? What?" I asked her. "Wow. You've been really MIA lately. The guys said that they had some errands to do. They're stopping here."

I turned my confused took to Alec. "What errands?" Alec kissed my cheek and dragged his lips to my ear.

"You'll see tonight." with that, Logan bid his adieus to Bonnie too and they left, leaving me, Daren and Bonnie alone in the car. I felt in desperate need to ask Bonnie for some advice, and the look she gave me told me that I was in for a heap of girl talk too. There was just one problem.

Daren.

I bit my tongue and waited patiently till the last twenty minutes of the ride where over. When we arrived at a wooden cottage, we paid the taxi driver and settled down our luggage. Daren disappeared off into the trees surrounding the cottage the minute his luggage landed on the floor. Apparently the girls couldn't wait any longer as when the found me settling my clothes and Alec's in our room, they all plopped down on my bed.

"Guys! I think this is it!" Danielle said, giggling like a little girl. I knew that expression. She and Alex were going to do it!

"Good for you!" Nessie said. "But I'm so confused! What do I do? What do I wear?" she asked us.

"Well, if you're going to do the activity I think you're going to do, I don't think you'll need much clothes, hon." Nessie said, wagging her eyebrows. A little rock which had fallen off the wall hit Nessie.

"Hey! You asked!" Nessie defended herself.

"You just irritate me sometimes Ness." Dani said to her.

"Honey, she irritates us all, but we wouldn't have her any other way." I said to the shy Danielle. She smiled while Nessie protested.

"If you want my advice, just be yourself. Things will just fall into place, trust me. As for what you're wearing, it depends on where you're going." I told her.

"That's the problem! He didn't tell me!" she said, sounding panicked. I smiled at her, remembering when I was the one pacing all around the room in a black bikini trying to calm my nerves.

"Seriously Dani, relax. You have nothing to worry about. It just comes naturally. It's natural to be excited!" Bonnie said to her.

"Easy for you to say! I on the other hand am in a state of utter crisis!" she said. I smiled once more, she was cute, and she reminded me so much of myself. The clothes one wore were one, if not the least important things. Somebody who loves you doesn't judge you on what you wear. Alec loved me, no matter if I was wearing a depressing black dress, slacks or skinny jeans or a thorn muddy dress. He loved me for me. As I thought of the man I loved with all my heart, I mindlessly touched the precious stone hanging around my neck. It wasn't just precious because it was a diamond. No, the sentimental value it held was so much more than its financial value. I pulled my right hand where Alec's mother's ring was on the fourth finger.

Just one problem.

It wasn't there.

I felt my eyes go wide. I kept staring at my fourth finger, as if I was expecting the ring to magically show up.

"Sam... Sam... are you alright?" Nessie asked me. I still couldn't take my eyes off my finger.

"Please tell me that you see a ring on my fourth finger." I said dryly.

"There's a ring on your fourth finger." I looked up to meet Nessie's eyes who were looking at me dead seriously. Had I gone crazy after all?

"Are you sure?" I asked her, my eyes even wider than before. "No, of course not. You just wanted someone to tell you that there was a ring on your fourth finger, you didn't ask us if there was a ring." Nessie said. I snorted.

"I believe that it was quite obvious that I was asking a question."

"Well-"

"Well nothing. It’s vital that I find that ring, it belonged to Alec's mother!"

"Oh boy." Danielle muttered quietly. She must have recognised the first signs of insanity on my face.

"Sam, before you start panicking, wait until you've checked all the luggage." Bonnie said reasonably.

"That's impossible. I never, ever take it off." I answered her mindlessly. My mind kept imagining Alec's look of disappointment and fury if he found out that I lost it.

Dani tapped my shoulder. "Well, you should still check. Come on, we'll help you." And half an hour of searching followed. We checked every single pocket of my luggage. Nothing.

I buried my face in my hands. "Fuck. I'm screwed." I felt my phone vibrate in my jeans' pocket. I got it out and looked at the sender. Had it been possible, my silent heart would have skipped a beat. Alec's name was flashing on the screen. I opened the text robotically, my hands hesitant more than ever.

"Get ready, I will pick you up in three hours. Love, A."