Immortals (ON HOLD)

Chapter 25

Ariel

            I was happy to wake up on my own today, and not to my shrieking alarm clock. But more importantly, I didn’t have to wake up to me smacking my alarm clock off of my nightstand. I stretched and yawned, feeling energized and ready for the challenge ahead. I vaguely wondered when Dimitri would show up, but cleared my thoughts as I hopped into the shower. I desperately wanted the company of Leikos, but knew Dimitri wouldn’t bring him along. After I let the hot water soothe and cleanse me, I got dressed into a tight, rose-colored low cut top, dark denim skinny jeans, and a pair of furry black knee-high moccasin boots. They were lace-up, and not only cute, but functional. They were perfect for staying warm while stapling Christmas lights to the roof. I put on my amulet and rings back on, clipping my bracelet around my wrist before I left my room. I went downstairs, quickly making myself a bowl of cereal when I nearly dropped the box and spilled the milk. A fresh layer of snow, at least three inches thick, blanketed the ground, and I groaned. Did I mention my boots were great for trudging through the snow? I ate and ran back upstairs for my jackets, scarf and elixir, which would hopefully raise my temperature while I was outside. I sighed as I moved the boxes out into the backyard, grabbed the ladder from the shed, and set it up against the side of my house. I looked up at the task ahead of me, figuring I’d already be started by the time Dimitri showed up. But the familiar tingling I got from his presence told me otherwise, and I was grateful, yet hesitant. Don’t let him get to you today, Ariel… I reminded, nodding once to myself.

He rounded the corner, surprised to see me looking in his direction already. He smiled and waved, jogging over to me. I had to blink to get myself focused, and he stopped a few inches in front of me. “Morning. Did you have to pick the day it snowed to decide to decorate?” I rolled my eyes, picking up a box of lights. “Yes. I thought it’d be more festive, ya’ know?” I teased, making my way up the ladder. Dimitri laughed, and I whirled to face him. I nearly fell backward when I watched him leap up off of the ground and onto the roof, barely making a sound as he landed. I shook my head, quickly scanning the area to make sure no one else was watching. “Relax. Your neighborhood’s is as dead as a graveyard,” he muttered, opening his arms for the box. I rolled my eyes, handing it to him. He offered his hand to me afterward, but I refused to take it, because that meant I would have to look into his eyes…those mysterious mossy green eyes… “I thought graveyards were full of zombies, which would make them a pretty happenin’ place,” I teased, never letting my real thoughts expose themselves. I kicked the snow off of my boots, standing up straight as Dimitri rummaged through the box.

He looked up at me, seeming surprised that I even knew that zombies existed. I hoped I wouldn’t have to encounter one any time soon, and his chuckle broke me from my apocalyptic thoughts. “You’re right; I should have said your neighborhood is moredead than a graveyard.” I rolled my eyes, flicking them to the box. “Hand me a strand of lights, would ya’?” I asked, picking up the staple gun to make sure it was functioning. I fired a test shot out into the snow, and when I heard the familiar click and tiny spring of a staple being released, I turned back to Dimitri. “You…don’t care what colors?” He asked, voice rising. I shrugged. “Not particularly. But if you have a preference, then by all means, take your pick.” He shuffled through the box for another minute before taking out a strand of white lights. We set them up like we had always decorated together, and I quickly stapled them to the roof. We were pretty much silent as we hung up lights, which was disappointing and relaxing. The lights looked pretty good by the time we were done, and he helped add the snowmen and Christmas trees to the front yard. We even had the fake deer made from white lights set up, which usually only happened when Dad and I got up early. I added a wreath to the outside of the front door, fixing the bow before I stood back and looked at the house.