How It All Began: Chapter 23

 "Addy! psssssst! Are you awake? PSSSST Addy!" Ria whispered across the room to Adrienne who was fast asleep in her bed.
 "Hmm?"
 "Are you awake?"
 "I am now."
 "Oh, OK good! I have to tell you something, but first promise that you won't tell Mom and Dad!"
 Adrienne sat up. This must be serious if  Ria doesn't want Mom and Dad to know. WHAT HAS SHE DONE THAT EVEN SHE WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO KNOW?! She thought wildly. "I promise I won't tell."
 "Good. Well, you know Aaron?"
 "You mean that brown haired guy that always hangs around Ryan?"
 "NO! Aaron is the cute, tall, white haired boy."
 She gave her a confused look, and then said,"OH! The quiet one that always looks like he wants to be anywhere else but where he is? Yeah."
 Ria rolled her eyes,"I guess. Does he really look that unhappy? OH NO! I never noticed it before! What if he IS unhappy!!!!"
 "Ria. Don't give yourself a migraine. Calm down! You don't have to stick your nose in other people's business just to make sure that they're 'happy'."
 "OK OK, just listen!"
 *silence*
 "I THINK I'M IN LOVE WITH AARON LEHNE! No, you know what? I KNOW I'm in love! It is a ringing clear fact! OK?! THERE! I SAID IT!! Today I went out with him, and I had SO much fun! And we ALMOST KISSED!!!!!! Ijustdon'tknowhattodoandI'mfreakingoutandIjustAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"
 "Woah there!" Adrienne exclaimed to a gasping Ria. Taking her by the shoulders and sitting her down.
 "Ria...explain...everything."

.....

 Jinx was furiously wrapping a skein of yarn into a ball. They're all gonna die. You should never mess with The Council. He had to learn that the hard way... And he had vowed never to do something that stupid and idiotic ever again. He threw the yarn ball across the room in anger. Why does Adrienne just HAVE to learn everything the hard way? Why does that entire family have to learn everything the hard way?! He decided to go to Kacy's Cafe and get a coffee to clear his head. Besides, I can't keep avoiding them for forever, so I might as well prepare myself for it. They're going to ask questions, and I'm going to have to answer. He got nauseated at the thought. As he sat there drinking his coffee, he saw Taylor and Jeremy laughing at a table. Which utterly confused him. Taylor's so rude, and Jeremy's so... Jeremy.

.....

 Lucy smiled down at Blake. he had accidentally fallen asleep while they were watching a movie last night, and she had decided to wait until he woke up. Besides, she didn't want to go to sleep, she had been getting a lot of those nightmares about him lately and now she loathed sleep. She thought about when she had tried to make The Council cookies and talk to tthem about her family. It hadn't gone very well... Infact, it didn't go at all. She went all the way to their headquarters, and chickened out! She gave them the cookies and never even brought up the true purpose on why. She sighed and slowly stood up from the couch as quietly as she could. Then she walked to the fireplace mantel where there were a few pictures on it of Blake and Adrienne. Mostly they were pictures of Adrienne from when she was a little girl, all the way up until now.

 

 She didn't look very ecstatic to have pictures taken of her. Lucy smiled at all of the pictures. They were much like the ones at her house, except she had pictures of Ria. 

 "She's not very excellent at smiling, is she?" Blake's voice pierced through her thoughts. She turned around and saw that he had already made himself a cup of coffee.

 "W-When did you wake up?"

 "A couple of minutes ago. You seemed really zoned-out, so I made coffee."

 "I didn't even hear you..."

 He set the mug on the coffee table and examined her face thoroughly,"Lucy, is something bothering you?"

 She entire body went stiff. He can't find out! He'll never let me come back if he does. He'll just think it's a sign that this is dangerous... "Of course not! Don't be daft."

 "Lucy. Look me in the eyes and tell me that you're alright."

 That's worse! "I-I," she hung her head, embarrassed,"I can't."

 "That's what I thought. Now would you like to tell me what it is?"

 She walked over to the couch and sat down beside him. "I've been having nightmares... Nightmares that they're going to take you away again." she whispered softly,"But please don't make me go!" she pleaded, desperately searching his eyes. She hugged him tightly,"I don't ever want you to leave me again!" A few tears escaped her eyes and she couldn't help but cry.

 Blake, surprised by her sudden confession, wrapped his arms around her and tried to soothe her. "Shh, It's OK." he whispered into her ear as he gently stroked her cheek,"Calm down. I'm not going to make you leave."

 She looked up into his compassionate smiling face,"You're not?"

 He looked down,"Not right now. But you know that you're going to have to return to your own house sometime today right?"

 She sighed,"I know I will..." then the buried her face in his chest,"but not right now."

.....

 Once Ria was done with her recount of everything that had happened and how she felt about Aaron, she sat there with a big, goofy smile on her face. She sat there wishing that Adrienne would say something. Finally she replied,"Ria. You. Are. A. TOTAL idiot."

 Ria's countenance fell,"I-"

 "AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!" Adrienne reached over and hugged her. 

 Ria let out a relieved breath and stared at her, confused and surprised,"You're not mad at me?"

 "No!"

 "And you're HUGGING me?"

 "Yeah, don't get used to it."

 She grinned,"I'll take what I can get than!" She squeezed Adrienne tight. "I'm supposed to go to lunch with him today."

 "You are? Cool."

 She frowned,"What happened to all the excitement?! You were HUGGING me a few minutes ago!"

 "Yeah, and now the moments over." She smiled angelically and got up,"Come on, lets get you ready for your date."

 "EEEEP!!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING A MAKEOVER WITH ME!!!!!"

 "Wait, what?! I only said lets get you ready! As in, pick out your outfit! I-!"

 Ria cut her off by dragging her to the closet,"THIS IS GONNA BE SOOOO FUN!!!!"

 "R-RIAAAA!!!!"

.......

 Aaron was in the forest running. He tried to forget that he was running away. That he was running away from Ria, that he was running away from pain, and even the world itself. He eventually just dropped to his knees on the forest floor in agony. I can't ever see her again. He had decided this after his last talk with Ryan. He mulled over their conversation once again. 

 Ryan rolled his eyes at Mitchell then glared at Aaron,"Look, it will NEVER happen. This little "crush" you have on her will NEVER work out. What do you even like about her anyways?"

 Aaron looked down and tongued the inside of his cheek,"She's just really nice, OK?"
 Ryan got right in his face and spoke in a low, dark tone,"You are not a 'nice' kind of guy. You will only corrupt her 'niceness' and make her exactly like you. Evil and cruel. So the next time you start thinking of 'hanging out' with her, just remember that you would do her a favor by NOT. Are we clear?"
 Aaron hung his head,"Yeah."
 Ryan smiled,"Glad we had this talk."
 Aaron could never, would never wish his own fate on Ria. He just couldn't do that to her. He would not allow her to become evil and cruel like him, she was much too special to him. The only option, was to let go of her for forever. I can't believe that I was so selfish to try to be with her. I should have NEVER took her out on a date. I should have never tried to be with her. He laid on his back and watched the dark, cloudy sky. As if the world itself understood his pain, it started raining. At first it was only a few drops here and there, but then it started pouring and he had to shield his face from the harsh rainfall. He knew just how much his decision would affect both him and Ria. She would be really upset with him, but it was a minuscule price to pay for her safety and pureness.

.....

 Ria sat in Kacy's Cafe all prettied up and ready for Aaron. The only problem, was that he hadn't shown up yet. She sighed and glanced at the clock yet again. It's only twelve thirty... Maybe he's just late... Yeah, that's it... She still couldn't help but get worried. What if something had happened? What if Ryan and Mitchell had something else planned for him to do today? OH NO! What if they found out?! We might end up just like... Her eyes widened as she recalled what happened to her parents. They hadn't ever told her and Adrienne EXACTLY what happened, but if it forced the entire family to split up, and they "nearly got out alive", it couldn't be good. Thinking about this just made it all the more important for her to approach The Council and make everything right. We need all the help we can get. Surely Aaron will help! I'm sure he would be very resourceful. After all, his family is really close to The Council... She started to wish that she had his phone number. It was already one o'clock! She didn't know how much longer she could wait for him. It took her several more hours to realize that he wasn't coming. She sighed,"Surely he has an explanation... I know he does."

.....

 Taylor walked into her castle like home and found that her parents were, as usual, smiling at on another while taking care of everyday things.  She sighed and walked up the many staircases to her room. Being there was enough to remind her of who she is, and what reality she would eventually have to accept. Her date with Jeremy had made her forget about all of it. She didn't know what it was about the flirtatious boy, but his careless (in a good way) attitude made her feel as light as a feather. 

.....

 Deep within the forest, Aaron had somehow fallen asleep in his anguish. Sadly for him, Ryan and Mitchell had found him... 

 Ryan sighed in agitation,"Get. Up." When there was no movement, he kicked Aaron harshly in order to wake him up.

 Aaron's eyes flashed open as pain shot through his leg. He groaned and sat up. Ryan slowly came into focus, then Mitchell. His eyes widened in embarrassment and fright,"G-guys! I, I didn't think we were doing something today, so I took a run in the forest to, um,-"

 "Looks like ya took yerself a nap!" Mitchell cut in, his loud voice echoing in the forest.

 Ryan rolled his eyes,"Enough with your pitiful excuses. I have a job I want you to do. It's a two-man job, so Mitchell will be going with you."

 Aaron looked at him then Mitchell confused,"Why can't you do it than?" Woops, I didn't mean for it to come out that way!

 Ryan narrowed his eyes,"Because. I'm. Busy."

 Aaron tried not to gulp,"Of-Of course, Ryan! Sorry...."

 Mitchell laughed and loudly exclaimed,"He must still be sleepy!"
 He shot Mitchell a grateful look then tried to regain his composure and act like he always did. He looked blankly at Ryan and asked,"So what are we doing?"
 "You're going to be dropping off a box for me."
 "Where?"
 "To my father. He's with the rest of The Council."