“I'm glad that you weren't hurt,” I said quietly, grasping his shirt as my face rested in his hair.
“I was hurt, especially seeing you that way... I'm sure you will never know, but I am feeling very lucky that you are here with me right now,” he said. “I'm-I'm afraid of losing you.” He sounded so venerable, always revealing his weaknesses and emotions to me alone, nobody else.
“I know... I'm sorry.”
I felt him exhale into my neck and he pulled me closer to him, his lips brushing against my skin softly.
“I barely left your side, and I promise to never leave you with something like that again. I can't lose you,” he said, and his voice...
I moved back and held his face between my hands, seeing the few tears in his eyes. It was heartbreaking.
I kissed his lips softly and slowly, wiping away the tears he let uncontrollably slip. I knew he would feel ashamed of those tears, but Sam could cry in front of me, always. I wanted him to know I could comfort and care for him too. I knew he would never cry, he hates crying, it shows you have weaknesses, and I was his biggest.
“It's okay, Im fine now... and I have you here to protect me,” I said, putting my forehead to his as I opened my eyes slowly.
This moment was so confidentially private that I cherished it. I love you so much, I thought.
He nodded and his hand swept my hair back, the other holding the side of my neck “Always.” He wrapped his arms around me tightly and I held onto him, onto this moment. “You know I've never had many good things in my life, and now that I do, I can't risk losing that.”
“You can't lose me. I'm sorry but you're stuck with me forever,” I said with a small laugh.
“It doesn't sound so bad,” he joked as he pulled back and stood up off the couch.
Back to business I thought as I stood with him. “When are we bargaining with the Warrigal?” I asked as we headed towards the front door, holding his hand tightly in mine.
“We have to contact them first, so a couple of months maybe,” he said, opening one of the doors for me.
“Are you taking me home?” I asked as I walked through, turning and facing his seventh wonder of a face after he closed it.
“Of course,” he said, smiling as I noticed the jacket hed grabbed before shutting the door.
I slid my arms around his neck before kissing him. I felt different, sort of like I was somehow more attached to Sam. It was weird, every time we saw each other we somehow grew even closer if that was possible.
When I pulled back I whispered in his ear. “I love you Samuel William Archer, with my whole heart.”
He chuckled and kissed my throat. “As I love you Layla Rose Atkins, you hold my animus, my anima,” he murmured. “You are everything to me.”
He let me go gently and I smiled slightly as I pulled back. “I better get home,” I said.
“I guess I have to take you back, I suspect Stanley might miss you,” he said teasingly, opening up the jacket for me.
I smiled slyly. “If I didn't have to go back, what would we do?”
“I will have to show you another time,” he answered, helping me get my jumper on but leaving it unzipped.
“Alright,” I said, making sure my hands were inside the arms of the jacket. “Should I say goodbye to the others?” I asked as we began our descent down the driveway.
“Not to worry, I will tell them you said goodbye,” Sam said as I looked up at him.
“You know the camp story doesnt check out right,” I said as we were walking through the courtyard with Sams arm around me beneath the jumper.
“How so?” he asked, looking at me as the sun shone through the trees.
I had only just noticed it wasnt very overcast, the sun was shining a little through the clouds for once.
“I have no bags,” I said, distracted by the sunlight in the sky.
“Yes you do, but theyre back inside,” he said, laughing. “Guess I should have thought to grab them.”
“How did you get my bags in the first place?” I asked, honestly curious.
He chuckled. “Jane,” was all he answered.
I flushed a little. How could I not remember Jane could shape shift. She obviously morphed into me to walk into my house and get my bags freely, also telling dad the story. How could I not remember her ability?
I looked back at him and was momentarily stunned by his appearance. His hair shined light hazel and reddish in the light and his skin had a faint glow coming off it. He was so cute it almost made me sad.
“What?” he asked with a smile.
I shook my head, coming out of shock. “Nothing, you just look very charming,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“You look beautiful in the sunlight,” he murmured, holding me closer. “More than beautiful, extraordinary.” Beautiful, I remembered how wed looked in the mirror together; we looked perfect for each other, and with that thought, my pride rose again.
“You know its lucky youre so tall,” I said, touching my fingertips to his cheek.
“And why is that?”
“Because you can pick me up so my feet don't touch the ground,” I said with a smile.
“Oh, you mean like this,” he said, sliding his other arm inside my jacket, lifting me up in a spin so my feet were off the ground.
I laughed. “Yes, like that.”
“You know I am six foot five?”
“Do you know I'm five foot nine?” I asked back, not answering his question.
I already knew he was tall, but I was somehow always shorter, even though I was pretty tall for a girl my age. I seemed to always be shorter even if I hung around Hunter, Fredric or even James.
“Touché,” he said, smiling blindingly.
“Come on, youre distracting me too much. By the time I get to my front door I'll be 20yrs old,” I said jokingly.
He put me down while laughing and removed his arms from beneath my jacket. He took my hand and we started walking again. “When you are 20yrs old, you never know where we'll be. It's a long time away for us,” he said mysteriously. “200 years.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “And where will we be?”
He looked up at the sky and I looked at his face prompting. “Together,” he finally answered.
“I know that,” I said as we approached the gate.
Sam opened the single gate for me and we walked through, shutting it behind us.
“Do you really?” he asked with a smile.
His smile was so gorgeous, every time I saw it my heart jumped. I loved his cheeky and pleased smile, it made him look younger. Usually Sam looked older, more mature, and he was, by like 100 years exactly. But when he smiled I could see the teenager in him, especially when he let loose.
“Yes, because you are my amator and well always be together,” I said, definite.
I was sure about this, we were fate, or as they say it; eventus.
“For all of eternity,” he said, pulling me into his side.
We were heading up my driveway and I couldnt see dads car, but he had a tendency of parking it in the garage lately.
“I don't have my keys,” I said, seconds before he reached for the handle, unlocking it in the process.
“You are amazing,” I said, looking at him in admiration.
“No more amazing than your average human. In fact, I think you are more complex than I,” he said, taking my hand.
I shook my head in a mock of horror. “You're being-” he cut me off.
“Biased. I don't think so,” he said with a quick smile.
I walked through the living room and the TV was off, but I could hear someone in the kitchen, talking.
“Dad?” I asked, mystified.
Sam pulled me next to him and we both walked slowly into the kitchen warily. I discovered dad, sitting at the table with the phone to his ear, chatting away.
“Hey kiddo, you're back,” he said excitedly.
“Hi dad, who are you talking to?” I asked, walking
over to the fridge and grabbing an apple out.
“It's Joey, he says hi,” he answered.
“Tell him I said hi back,” I said, turning to Sam and offering him an apple too.
He smiled but declined very politely.
“Yes, I'll talk to ya later. Bye,” dad said into the receiver.
He hung up the phone and Sam and I sat down across from him.
“Hey Sam,” dad said.
“Hello Stan,” Sam replied politely.
“How was camp kids?” dad asked.
He actually seemed genuinely excited, whether it was because I was back, or something else.
“Ah…” I had not prepared for this question, I actually hadnt prepared any story at all.
“It was great,” Sam finished for me, saving my dumbfounded mind the stress.
“Yeah, that's good. Did you kids enjoy yourselves?”
“Yeah, we did,” I said, looking at Sam as I said it.
He winked at me when dad wasn't looking and I started grinning, so I had to hide my mouth behind my hand to pretend I was chewing my apple.
“Well, I have to get back to work Lays, but I'll be home for breakfast,” he said, standing up.
I was quite content to stay seated at least until he left, so I watched him come around to me and give me a hug.
“I really missed you, and I'm glad you're back home,” he said, his hand smoothing my hair back.
“Thanks dad,” I said, breathing in his familiar cologne.
He kissed the top of my head and then he pulled away. “I'll see you for breakfast,” he called, walking out of the kitchen.
“Yep,” I replied.
He came rushing back to the doorway when he spoke to us. “Oh, Sam, could you tell your parents I said thanks?” he asked.
“Sure,” Sam replied.
“Thanks, see you later kids. Behave,” he called, walking into the garage.
“Bye,” we both called back.
I heard the Sedan pull out and drive down the street so I turned to Sam.
“So… what to do, what to do?” I said teasingly.
“Um…” he smiled darkly and stood up.
He reached for me and pulled me up into his arms.
“What are you doing?” I asked, finding it hard to breathe.
“You'll see,” he simply answered, taking my apple out of my hand and placing it on the table.
He walked to the living room and sat down on the couch with me still in his arms. “I just wanted some time where it is just us,” he said when I looked at him questionably.
I nodded and pulled myself closer to him, letting my head rest on his shoulder.
“This is pretty good,” I murmured, playing with a loose strand of thread on his shirt.
“Umm,” he answered.
I looked at his face and he had his eyes closed peacefully. I reached my lips to his jaw and kissed him all the way up to the corner of his mouth. He was smiling so I kissed his lips softly and he kissed me back just as enthusiastic. His breathing made my heart speed up and I couldn't help but want him more.
“I could get use to this,” I said, looking into his face.
He truly was meant to be with me, I knew it.
****
I woke up, unprepared yet again for another day of school.
“Mondays are the worst,” I groaned, rolling over in pain from my burn scars.
My mobile phone rang and I paused, looking over at the clock. I grabbed my phone and answered it.
“Hello?” I yawned.
No one answered so I spoke again. “Hello?” I asked, agitated now.
Who would call at 6:00am in the morning?
The phone line went dead and I hung up, must have been a prank call. Idiots, I thought to myself.
I got out of bed and stretched, looking around my small tidy room and wondering what I was going to do next. Now that things may slow down until Tommy finds out about Thora, what was actually going to happen until then?
I got dressed for school slowly, looking at the scars on my body reduce in size. I wondered why I wasnt healing instantly, maybe I could heal instantly on the inside but on the outside I heal slowly.
I tied my hair back, grabbed my bag and went downstairs eagerly to see my dad. I walked through the living room and into the kitchen to find dad cooking breakfast yet again.
“Morning dad,” I said cheerfully, sitting down at the table.
“Morning Lays,” he said with a yawn.
He turned around and gave me a plate of food, then he sat down at the table with his plate of food and a coffee.
“Looks good, thanks dad,” I said, picking up my fork.
I loved the smell of pancakes in the morning, it reminded me of mum.
“No problem sweetheart,” he said, picking up his coffee and taking a sip.
“So… I see you and Sam are getting pretty serious,” he said.
I choked on my juice and put my hands up to cover my nose so juice didn't spurt out everywhere.
I'm pretty sure Sam and I had barely touched around him, how could he know this?!
“Ah… um,” was all I stuttered.
“It's just a feeling, you know it's just the way he looks at you and…” he trailed off, embarrassed.
“Well, I don't know dad,” I said just as embarrassed as he was, avoiding his eyes like he was mine.
“It reminds me of the way I use to look at your mother,” he said quietly.
Aww. I smiled slightly, my nervousness and embarrassment dissolving.
“Well I trust you to be responsible,” he said to me, returning to eating.
“Thanks dad,” I mumbled.
After I had eaten I couldn't have been happier to get out of the house and away from dads questions for a while, but at least he was trying to take good care of me.
I walked down the driveway, feeling the cold morning air on my face, it wasnt raining but it wasn't exactly sunny either. It was sort of good to just feel the cool air around me, so I closed my eyes and kept walking forward until I hit something.
“Whoa,” I said, stumbling back and opening my eyes.
I would have tripped over my own feet, but arms caught me.
“Good morning,” he murmured silkily with a smile.
“Sam,” I murmured, knowing him anywhere.
“Of course,” he said, pulling my fringe behind my ear.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled me up so my feet werent on the ground but on the tops of his shoes instead. “I missed you,” I said in his ear.
He knew what I was talking about.
“You were asleep,” he said, with a smile in his voice.
“I knew you were missing,” I said, tightening my hold around his neck.
He sighed. “I guess I should warn you now,” he said, putting me back on the ground.
“About what?” I asked warily.
I hoped it wasn't something horrible such as someone going away again.
“Rosetta is coming back to school, she has been deemed a defender of Light now she understands.”
I looked at his face speechless, but something wasnt right in his eyes. “There's more, isnt there?” I asked suspiciously, my hands dropping to my side.
He nodded and he pulled one side of his mouth up. “You know me well,” he said, taking my hand and pulling us towards his house.
“Well?” I prompted.
“She will be coming to our house after school to converse with you,” he said, cautiously and slowly.
I stayed in silence for a while, thinking. “If you think I will be okay, then I trust your decision.”
He smiled perfectly and I smiled in response. “Thank you,” he said in appreciation.
“As long as I'm with you, I can do anything,” I answered, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“You could do so much better than me,” he said, suddenly saddened.
I looked up at him strangely. “What's wrong?” He must still have something on his mind
.
“Nothing,” he answered, looking away from my gaze.
I looked towards the street for a minute, and suddenly had the urge for a jog.
“Race you,” I said, letting go of his hand and taking off in front of him.
“Lays?” he said, questioning from behind me.
I didnt turn back, instead I tightened my grip on my bag straps and ran my way to the gate and entered the code. I quickly glanced in Sams direction and he wasnt very far away from me, but he was only jogging. I rushed through the gate and ran flat out towards the courtyard further up the path next to the driveway. I took another peek behind me and he was right on my trail now and he had sped up, but I didn't slow. I felt the cold air whip through my hair but I was warm enough so I didn't really care. I didn't really know why we were racing, but I guess I just couldnt stand to talk about him not being good enough for me, because in truth, I wasn't good enough for him.
I looked behind me and he was so close to me now, he was nearly next to me. He turned his head to look and me and smiled, then he mouthed Im gonna get you. The next thing I know, Sam had me in his arms and was holding me tightly against himself, my feet off the ground. How in the world did he do that? Especially without me feeling pain from my burn scars.
He had stopped running and he was just looking at me now, his face was so beautiful I reached up and touched the side of it with the back of my hand, just to make sure he was real. He leant his face in closer until his forehead was touching mine and then he smiled.
“You drive me crazy,” he murmured. “Every time I see you I yearn for you more.”
“How do you think you make me feel?” I asked rhetorically, trying to catch my breath.
He smiled breathtakingly and put me back on the ground, throwing one arm over my shoulder and we started walking towards the porch, out of breath. Well I was anyway.
“My guess is happy,” he answered lightly.
“More than happy… more like extremely overjoyed,” I explained casually.
We walked up the steps and opened the front door to enter the warm comforting house. I looked around and nobody was in the living room this morning. Maybe they were all upstairs getting ready at 7:00am??
Sam walked me over to the couch, and just as we sat down, Summer and Peter walked down the staircase.
“Good morning Layla and Samuel,” Peter and Summer said together.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 40