The Story of Udonia

Chapter Eighteen: Moving In

A month passed. Jasmine taught me so much! I learned invisibility, astral projection, and we were working in the teleportation. Let's just say I'm not the best at it. There was a small incident. I was trying to teleport from my room to the beach out back. I missed my target and ended up in the ocean.
Anyway, Lacey settled in well with her new job. She picked a good replacement. His name was James Chandler. He was a funny guy, but could be very serious when need be. I liked him and I think Lacey did too, if you know what I mean.
Ashley finally told me who her mystery man was! You probably guessed it, but here's how it happened.
It was April 21st, the anniversary of my parents and siblings deaths. It was also my brother birthday. I had traveled to Hikaru for the day with Lacey. It was a good day.
I couldn't believe they had been gone for a whole year!
Ashton had called me after lunch and we reminisced about our childhood together for a good hour.
After I hung up, I went into Ashley's room. We watched a movie and just enjoyed each other's company. After the movie ended, we ordered pizza. Italian in any form was comfort food for me.
While we were eating the pizza, she just randomly blurted it out between bites.
"It's Stephen." She said and then looked at me for my reaction.
"What's Stephen?" I asked, but then I understood by her face. "Oh!" I gasped and almost choked mo my pizza.
I set down the pizza and broke into a coughing fit. Ashley's face was filled with guilt.
"I'm fine." I said once I could speak. "Stephen, the C.E.O. of your company is your mystery boy." I was riddled with questions.
She nodded to confirm and tried to decide if I was surprised, angry, or both.
I smiled and let out a little laugh. "I need to know more. How did it start? Who initiated the first kiss? Is it just a sex thing or are you guys serious? Oh! Have you done it in his office?" I flooded her with questions.
She held up her hands in surrender. "Woah, slow down. Okay, the first question. I had been over there a few times to talk to him and there was this spark of an instant connection. I tried my hardest to flirt with him, but I'm not very good. So instead I just made myself look as irresistible as possible and turned on the charm to the max. Eventually he started to flirt with me. We decided that we should both keep it a secret until we decided what it was. Second question, he did. We were in his office looking over some finances for your company I think and then there was this moment when we were very close. Our hearts were pumping and he leaned in." She paused and blushed; I was smiling. "Third question, yes we are serious! And the third..." She shrugged. "A girl shouldn't kiss and tell, but we totally did." We both giggled. "But not the first time!" She tried to defend herself.
Ashley wasn't all about the slutty image. "The first time we were together intimately was at his apartment and then we were so into each then the next day that we couldn't resist it."
I laughed and she blushed.
At least I finally knew. She was going to tell her father soon and then make it public.
__________________________

Ashton was coming back! His last day was May 22nd and he moved all his stuff back on May 23rd. I went to Hikaru and waited for his arrival with his family...and Stephen.
He came rolling in around noon in three cars. One for security, one for all his stuff, and one with him and some more stuff.
He got out of the car and the workers got busy moving all the things to his room. He slowly made his ways up the stairs and I just couldn't wait.
I ran down and pounced like cat. His face had healed back to his handsome self. He arms wrapped around me and gave me a big bear hug. He smelled the same. It's wasn't a specific smell, it was just man.
I furious kissed his cheeks and lips. I was pecking at his face like a bird.
"Mmm...hi." He smiled.
"Hi." I kissed him one more time.
"Alright, that's enough of that." Ashley rushed down the steps and separated us.
Did I forget to mention that she wasn't the biggest fan of PDA either? All the times I've seen her and Stephen together I haven't seen them do more than hold hands.
She quickly hugged her brother. "How was the flight?" She asked.
"It was fine." He replied.
He then glanced up to the top of the stairs and saw Stephen. Judging from his face, Ash knew that his older sister was involved with the man.
She must've told him when she told their father.
He wasn't shocked to see him here. He linked arms with Ashley and I and walked up the steps. He let go of us when he reached his father.
"Ashton." Eric smiled.
Ashton hugged his dad. "Hey, dad. You look good." He smiled after he pulled away from the embrace.
"Thanks, son. I feel good. How was school?" He asked. "You think you did good on those final exams?"
Ashton rubbed the back of his neck. "I gave it my all." He replied. "Dad, there is actually something I need to tell you."
We all knew what was coming next. Ashley grabbed Stephen's hand and linked arms with me once again. We walked inside and left Ashton with Mr. Covington.
He was telling his father that he decided he didn't want to run the company and that Stephen agreed to stay on as C.E.O.
His father took it well. I would never know why. We all figured he wouldn't like this plan, but he was fine. I think it was because of his cancer. He seemed to care less about the company and even the kingdom and more about his family. He just wanted them to be happy. If this path was going to make Ashton happy, then that was all that mattered.
__________________________

We all ate lunch and dinner together. That night after dinner was the first time that Ashton and I had been truly alone since New York. We held hands and walked to his room. He opens the door and observed the boxes spread about.
"You have a little bit of unpacking to do." I joked.
He shrugged. "Yeah, but that can wait." He looked at me with hunger.
Ashton walked over to me and gave my ass a quick squeeze.
I giggled as his arms traveled up my back. "Okay."
He lips met my neck. That was one of my favorite spots for them to sucks at. He arms roamed all over my body. He had obviously missed me.
I moaned with pleasure. "You should go away more often. I always look forward to our reunions."
He brought his head up and kissed my lips. It was a soft and gentle peck.
"I love you." He spoke quietly and then kissed me once again.
I pushed him back slightly so I could look into his blue eyes. "I love you." I smiled.
One of his hands moved into my blonde hair and the other moved over my cheek.
"Claire...?" He asked with a little bit of nerves in his voice.
Oh god. Is he going to ask me to doing something strange while we're having sex?
"Yes?" I asked with nerves in my voice as well.
"I was just thinking that maybe I shouldn't unpack these boxes here." He paused and moved his hand down to my chin. "Maybe I should unpack them at your castle..."
I blinked. "You want to move in with me?" I asked with excitement growing.
"Yes." He smiled.
"Oh my god!" I smiled and my arms traveled up his chest so they were not wrapped around his neck. "Yes, of course."
He leaned forward and quickly kissed me.
"I love you." He said again.
"I know." I smirked.
He pulled me close and carried me over to his bed.
__________________________

The next day, we began to move him in. After two days, it became a official. All his stuff was moved in and arranged in my room. I had to move some of my stuff around to make room for his, but we made it work. The next morning, it was in all the headlines. At least we were making some positive news. Lately our relationship was the only positive press about both of our families. And Ashley and Stephen's too.
I decided to call Abi on the last day of May. I hadn't spoken to her much recently, but I really did intend in being her friend. She told me where she was living and we decided to stop by and help her move in.
It was a little beach house not too far from the castle. It was on Hazen Bay. When you first entered, there was a wall in front of you. To the left was the living room with the kitchen next to it. Behind the wall was a half bathroom and behind that was an open area with large windows and a sliding glass door. She had put a little dining table in there. To the right of the wall was her bedroom, an ensuite bathroom, and another bedroom. (Jack and Jill style set up.)
It was a cute little place. Most of the walls were bare white and the floor was simple wood. The furniture she had was fine. All she really needed was some decorations.
Ashton and I took her out shopping and helped her decorate. We even offered to pay for the stuff she picked out, but she insisted on doing it herself.
When Abi's mother died, it turns out she had a lot of money saved up. Abi and Ava split the inheritance. Ava put it back into a savings account and Abi used it to move to New York, pay for college, and move here.
Yeah, it was a lot of money.
Abi bought some good stuff with my help.
When we first walked into the store, she wanted to buy a painting that was covered in bright pink penguins in a purple and blue forest. I advised that she put that in the entrance of the place  on the wall and then maybe follow a theme with pinks, blues, and purple. Stick to a beachy and watery theme too.
Abi reminded me a lot of Ashley. They were both quirky and sweet. Abi however was more carefree. She became the person I would turn to when I just wanted to have some good mindless fun.