The Hidden Pocket {ruel van dijk}

chapter eleven.

We're at the rock. The sun is setting in the far distance, casting a soft orange hue across the sky.

Ruel is resting besides me, playing his new song off of his phone for me. He lies flat on his back, with his eyes closed and one of his hands resting on his chest, the other on top of mine.

We've been here for hours, basking in the views of the forestry and talking about everything under the Sun. Today has been perfect, and this is a perfect way to end it. Ruel hums quietly to the music, slightly swaying his head side to side along with the rhythm of it.

I look over to him, admiring how peaceful he looks with his eyes closed. I brush a few strands of hair out of his face. In this close proximity, I notice a few light freckles that make up small constellations under his eyes and over the gentle bridge of his nose.

"I know you're staring at me." He says suddenly, a sly grin playing across his pink lips.

"I can't help it." I say as he opens his eyes. It's true; I can't seem to look away from him. He's magnetic.

He leans up on his elbows, reaching towards me.

"You're so beautiful." He breathes as he pulls my head downwards and near to his. I close my eyes, feeling how close his mouth is to mine.

Though just as I can feel the slight brush of his lips against mine, a loud noise wakes me up.

Startled, I sit up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. When my eyes adjust to the light, I'm able to make out Hazel standing in the doorway of my bedroom.

"Mom says you need to wake up." She says in a sweet tone.

"Okay." I mumble, my voice raspy and tired.

Once she closes my door, I lie back down again and close my eyes again. I throw my comforter over my head and roll onto my side. I try to fall back asleep so I can finish my dream, but to no avail, my body is already awake.

I shake my head. I can't be thinking like this, it'll ruin me. Ruel has no feelings for me, and he probably never will.

Even so, I can't help but smile as the dream replays in my head. It felt so real, so genuine. I want it so badly to be real; but I doubt I will ever live in a dimension where Ruel Van Dijk likes me.

With my head still clouded with the memory of him, I get out of bed and start getting ready for the day.

:

"Have you guys planned anything for your stay so far?" I ask my parents as we are seated at my dining table, sharing a spread of fruits and pastries for breakfast.

"Not much, darling, no. We did want to visit your Aunt, though. I haven't seen her in — well decades." My mother says as she dabs the corner of her mouth with a cloth napkin.

"I have an Aunt?" I queried. I was expecting my sister to have the same shocked reaction that I did, but when I looked over at her she was munching on a croissant, zoned out. "Why did I not know this? You've literally never mentioned having a sister."

"Yes, well — we had a falling out. When she decided to move her entire life to Sydney, your grandparents were livid because she had just had a child. They didn't think she was prepared to move across the globe on her own with a newborn; so they shunned her. It's silly, but your grandmother had very strong feelings about the whole thing. I've regretted not visiting her since, but it's been 17 years since it happened and I'm ready to see her. I've forgiven her of course, but if your grandmother ever found out that we would still call each other, she might have just disowned me as well. So, I decided to keep it quiet." My mother explained.

"So she has a daughter my age?" I question, suddenly very interested.

"Yes." She affirmed with the nod of her head.

"Does she go to my school?" I ask as I pick up a piece of cantaloupe.

"No, she goes to public school." I almost want to giggle as my mom says this and make a joke about her being "basic" or a "noob", but of course my mom would have my head if I did.

"Cool. Are we spending Easter Day with them?"

"I think so, but we're also going to see them today. Actually, we should leave here in a bit." My mom asserts as she pulls up her sleeve and checks her watch.

I nod my head and take a bite of a mini quiche.

I can't help but wonder what Ruel is doing today. I wonder who his manager will be, when he will get signed, what song he'll release first. I also can't help but wonder if he went to go see Charlotte after he stopped by here last night.

I shake the thought out of my head. He can see whoever he wants to see. I just wish he wouldn't because I'm too much of a wimp to ever tell him how I feel.

:

About an hour later, we pull up in front of a beautiful house in a beautiful neighborhood. It's a few stories high and is blanketed in vines. I step out of the car and push my sunglasses over my eyes. I don't think I'll ever get used to the always-sunny-and-bright weather in Sydney.

Hazel reaches for my hand as we make our way up the front steps.

"Be nice girls, be on your best behavior." My mom says as she knocks on the door. It takes what seems like forever before I hear the click of the lock unlocking. A woman who looks identical to my mom opens the door. I'm taken aback at how similarly they look, the only difference being her stark blonde hair in contrast to my mother's dark hair.

"Anne!" My mom exclaims as she very excitedly embraces her sister.

They hold each other for a few moments, telling the other how they've missed them before my Aunt invites us inside.

"Hello, girls it's nice to meet you." My aunt says as she hugs us both.

"It's nice to meet you as well." I say politely and with as much poise as possible. I fiddle my thumbs and nervously tuck piece of hair behind my ears.

My aunt leads us to a plush couch, having us sit down. I look around, she has a very good taste in interior design. Almost every shelf is occupied by a plant. A large window looks out into a backyard, also drowning in foliage.

"I almost forgot! You haven't met my daughter yet." Anne says as she turns to look up the staircase.

"Charlotte! Get down here, love! Your Aunt is here!" She calls.

Almost instantly, a familiar blonde comes down the staircase.