The Immortal's Gamble

Chapter 33 Making Out

The ocean was calm. The opposite of how I felt at that moment. It was nothing like I've ever envisioned. A thousand stars splayed out across the night sky and the ever salty sea breeze made me shiver in a good way. Bri made herself comfortable beside me, wordlessly handing me a bottle of beer. The fire crackled and hissed with each gust of wind. The rise and fall of every flame intrigued me, do I look like I'm enveloped by that when I'm in one of my hazes?

People were scattered around the bonfire, laughter and chatter could be heard from our group and the strangers who joined us shortly after sunset. Soren was deeply engrossed in a conversation with Penny, their heads were almost touching as Soren animatedly explained something with lots of hand actions, probably some hockey stuff.

"So, we good?" Bri broke the silence without taking her eyes off the fire.

"Yeah. We good." I nodded and took a sip of the beer. The fire crackling in front of us, embers rising into the sky.

"And Arden?" She asked, taking a sip of beer and nodding towards where he was standing by the coastline staring at the vast ocean.

"He loves me."

"What?" Bri asked distractedly, looking over at Alex who was chatting with a bikini-clad girl. The night breeze swept away my words and a smile graced my face.

"Why don't you go save Alex?" I teased, and she immediately looked at me with a face of horror. Blubbering her objection, I threw my head back in laughter.

"Hey, you told me to chase my dreams. You've always taken care of me, take some time for yourself." Taking her hands, I placed them in mine and patted them gently.

"Bri!" Penny screeched, dragging Bri's name as she ran towards us, "May I borrow Laura for a while? Okay? Okay! Thanks!" Penny asked and dragged me off even before Bri had a word in. I turned over as Penny dragged me and gave Bri a little wave, but my seat was already occupied by Alex who had finally gotten rid of the girls.

"What's up? Penelope, slow down. I'm only half an Immortal." I wheezed, but she let out a bark of laughter and carried on her path. The familiar sound of a portal opening caught my ear, "Uh, Penny? What are you doing?" I questioned just as we stepped into the portal.

"This is what's up." 

A gasp escaped my lips as I looked behind her. Beyond her open arms was a garden path leading up to a small cosy cottage that seemed to have jumped out of a fairytale book. Luminescent balls of light lightly hung on the trees that surround the cottage. The chimney was puffing out grey smoke, the straw roof gave off a rustic homely feeling. Flowers were growing everywhere but it wasn't messy, they were very organised, some vines were even growing along the side of the cottage But cutting across all that were the petals that led up to the slightly open door, soft music was playing, something I've never heard before but it was soothing.

"This cottage used to be our hiding place, Alex, Arden and I. We came down almost every day after we've mastered opening portals. Given that this was in France and we were, well, at the Grand Palace." She paused when I stared at her. France, we were in a place that six hours away from Davenport, and now in just one step, we're in France. 

"I just wanted to bring you here and give you a part of Arden." She smiled, holding my hand and leading me towards the entrance.

"Go on, take a look." She encouraged.

Pushing the door, the petals on the ground was all over the living room and there stood Arden in the middle with a bouquet of something. The sound of the portal closing had me turning around but Penny was no longer there.

"Sorry, I had Penelope get you here even though we just met not long ago. Bri helped me with these." He thrust out the bouquet, his face a sheen of red. I got to see Arden the Immortal's mask crack earlier on, and now I get to see him blushing. My stars must really be shining on me right now. 

Taking it out of his hands, I realised that it was a chocolate bouquet. Not just any chocolates, but my favourite bars of Mars chocolates.

"She mentioned that flowers were too 'mainstream', her words not mine. And chocolates reminds me of your eyes." Touching the bouquet in my hands, I pressed a kiss to his cheek, while turning equally red.