Immortals (ON HOLD)

Chapter 29

Ariel

            I jumped up out of bed as soon as my alarm screeched, though I didn’t hit it since it was on the other side of the room, and I quickly calmed the adrenaline that raced through me. I groaned as I shut it off, fumbling through my closet for something to wear. I put on a black belted corset top with dark denim skinny jeans, and my favorite crème-colored Abercrombie hoodie. I grabbed my elixir from the fridge, not even bothering to eat breakfast, which definitely saved some time. I did my make-up and threw my hair up into a casual, messy bun, adding waves to the tendrils around my face. Satisfied with myself, I began my walk to school. I listened to my favorite playlist, surprised when I got a text message. I figured it was Dimitri, but when Kat’s number came up, I opened it tentatively..

: Hey Ar! D and Scarlet r gonna b out 2day. R u coming over? I can pick u up from skool… :

            I debated, staring at the message as I did so. It would be weird without Dimitri there, but I figured I could definitely use the training.

: That would b great Kat thx. C ya then. I get out @ 2:30. :

I didn’t hear back from her, and I put my phone on silent and shoved it in my pocket. I quickly went to my locker to grab my things, realizing I didn’t know what Emma, Dexter and Remi felt like. I went into homeroom as the energy of everyone else broke my concentration, and I sat in my seat quietly. Dexter was the first to arrive, and I flashed a friendly smile. “Hey Dexter. How was the shore??” I asked, watching as he sat next to me. He smiled and shrugged, waving his camera bag at me. “I got some really cool pictures. It’s too bad you couldn’t come…” He murmured, making me feel a twinge of guilt. “Yeah; definitely next time. Where’s Emma?” I asked, taking in what his presence felt like. It reminded me of painting on an empty canvas, though I couldn’t tell you why. It’s not like I knew what being painted on felt like, but I stuck with my analogy, feeling as if I had a paintbrush in my hand, paints at my side, and a huge blank piece of paper in front of me, waiting to be filled. “She should be here any minute. She really missed you! You know she’s going to ask all about you and Dimitri…” he noted, and I nodded. “Yeah, I know. Thanks for the warning,” I murmured, and he smiled. Emma’s energy spewed from her before she was even in sight, and I raised my head toward the door long before she was near. She was like a container of butterflies, or seriously pissed off rabbits, waiting to escape.

Her smile seemed to light up the room, and I never remembered her looking so radiant. “ARIEL!!!” She cheered, running to give me a hug. I smiled and hugged her back, the pomegranate perfume she wore every day wafting into my nostrils. “I missed you sooooo  much!!!! How are you?! How was your weekend?! How’s Dimitri?!” She asked, barely stopping to breathe. I grinned, happy to have her back. I actually kind of missed her babbling, energetic talk. “My weekend was okay. I hung out with Dimitri for most of it…and I finally spilled the beans to my dad. Now I have to tell my mom, and I’m seriously dreading the thought. You know they want him over for dinner…” “SHUT UP!!!!” She squealed, clapping her hands together. It was pretty creepy how similar her and Kat were… “That’s adorable!!! Is he nervous?” A weird smile ran across my face as I shook my head. “No. He’s actually cool about the whole thing…” I murmured suspiciously with a shrug. “Omigawd. He’s definitely a keeper!!! Most guys would be buggin’ out!!!” I laughed and frowned, and I was glad homeroom felt longer than usual. Remi stopped in for a “hi” and “bye”, and the two minute bell had Dexter and Emma going to their homerooms. I sighed when I was alone, but was happy I had my friends back. It felt like they had been gone much longer than the weekend, and I was eager to catch up. Dexter and I just made small talk in art, and we started a new tree drawing/painting project. I added Leikos to mine, and Mr. Moore said he loved it. Dexter added a few birds into his tree, and soon after, we were headed to the locker rooms. Emma began chatting away as we got changed, telling me how cute my hair looked in the middle of a beach story. She said she got a number off of some hot guy, and I hi-fived her. We met Remi and Dexter on the field, and I was glad I had remembered my hoodie. Although the cold didn’t bother me so much, everyone else was shivering, so at least I blended in. I overheard people saying it was only like twenty degrees today, so Ms. Lawley didn’t have us doing too much. It was a relief not having to worry about whether I would go all “Wonder Woman” anymore.