HAPINESS?
Everyone has a past and that past is what defines him or her. What happens when Brandon's past catches up with him? What happens when there is deception and betrayal at every turn? What happens when you're face is turned away? What happens when dark secrets are unearthed? Throw in a human, a jealous girl, a charming villain, budding friendships, a few deaths, a mistaken identity, a magical kingdom, plot twists and turns, a couple clichés and you get a perfect recipe for drama, romance and tale you cannot miss. There are forces of the heart, forces of the mind and forces of the darkness, all of which are band together in conspiracy. STELLA and BRANDON mainly.
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This is my second fanfic and I am working very hard on the plot and my writing so please critique and help me by reviewing this. The first chapter starts by introducing someone new so just be patient cause the winx do appear, just a little later. ENJOY!
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CHAPTER 1: LYING
The thin sheets continuously moved and crinkled as the legs under them twisted and turned violently, until they finally fell into place and molded the fragile figure, which was now absolutely still.
The girl enjoyed the warmth of the covers; she loved how it fit itself perfectly into every crevice of her frame much like a certain warm body had a few years ago. While the feeling was nothing but pleasant, it brought to surface certain memories which were better left buried in the dungeons of the heart.
Her body tingled all over, as she slowly imagined his hands moving up and down her fair skin, slowly electrifying every molecule in her being and cautiously making its way towards the hem of her dress. She ran her bare, shivering fingers over her lips, softly yet aggressively, hoping to recreate the warmth, which had collided against them only to go into a hasty retreat and leave her starved, craving for another touch, before she lunged in for the final kill.
She clutched in an infantile thrill, however there was no one next to her and the cold, thin sheets greeted her in mutual loneliness. She gripped the sheets tightly while slowly drawing her knees into her stomach and curling into a ball. For an instance her inner resistance faltered and her mind wandered into to nooks and crannies that she had ignored for years.
His strong arms that had wrapped themselves around her and made her feel invincible. His toned abdomen in which she had buried her head on every emotional occasion. His Skilled hands that had run themselves through her tangled hair effortlessly, undoing all her problems. His confident legs that had parted themselves only to give her a taste of ecstasy, before closing forever. His boyish grin that caused her white teeth to reveal themselves. And lastly his chocolate brown eyes that had melted her exterior fought all her defenses and ultimately claimed her heart, igniting her inner flame.
She played with the edges of her hair only to be revisited by a craving she thought she had said goodbye to for good. She suddenly longed for messy brown hair, his brown hair. She hugged her knees tightly and rocked herself trying to self-sooth.
With every passing second the ball on the bed just shriveled and became smaller, till there was no more room for contortion. A tear ran down her face. She had tried so hard and even succeeded for three years but tonight she couldn't do the thing she had spent all her days perfecting. She could not hold in her emotions, she could not plaster that smile onto her face and she could not maintain her cheerful attitude. She had finally broken and she finally realized she was exactly like a snow globe, a happy scenery but easily shattered. A stream of emotions flowed out of her eyes, giving the lonely tear company.
"Why? Why? WHY?" she muttered, with each why getting louder, more frustrated and more desperately helpless. Once the tears finally dried she just lay there letting her mind go completely blank. She lay there like a corpse dried of any life, without signs of any life.
Motion returned to her when her fingers found themselves playing with the silver ring on her right ring finger. A bittersweet smile crept onto her face. She stared at the silver ring illuminated by pure white moonlight, nostalgically remembering the day she started dreaming in color.
FLASHBACK
The tall brunette had never taken this route, but she had no options as her usual train had already left. Route 7A was definitely a longer route than 5C, but it definitely beat walking on the hot summer day. She had jumped onto the train just in time to bump into a strong, muscular back. The impact had caused her necklace to break and fall off only to be stepped on by this handsome stranger. The girl grimaced as she heard mother's memento being crushed under some guys feet.
Before she could react, the train stopped and she saw the guy move out with a large crowd of people. "JERK!" she huffed picking up the pieces of her broken of the once beautiful flower pendant.
"The guy was such a jerk, I mean just cause he looks good he thinks he can get away with anything. That guy didn't even have the decency to apologize, he just slickly ran away with the crowd. COWARD" the girl muttered to the mirror in the bathroom trying to glue the pieces together.
This girl's day was just going from bad to worse. On her way back she was forced to ride route 7A again. "Great! I have to get on this stupid train, AGAIN" she grumbled getting onto the train. After about 15 minutes or so she heard a mesmerizing voice calling out to her, she didn't dislike the train that much anymore. Hopeful to see the source of the voice she turned around promptly only to find that mornings jerk standing behind her.
"You need something" she asked rudely.
"Whoa! I don't remember killing your pet dog" the guy said hoping to get a smile and a good mood going, but was only greeted with a sarcastic, leave me alone smile. "Ok so maybe I ACCIDENTLY broke your pendant, and I know it was a douche move to leave, but I would be in so much trouble if I was late so just let it go and cut me some slack" he said
The girl found the fact that he remembered cute and had already been melted by his boyish youthful personality, but she wasn't letting him off that easy and which girl didn't like attention from a cute guy "Let it go, that was my moms memento and irreplaceable, you cant just come here and be all cute and puppy doggy and think its cool" she answered
"Wow that's a lot of pressure, I hope this ring makes up atleast 1/4th of my mistake, plus you not completely forgiving me is a good thing cause that means we'll have to meet again" He said with his contagious chocolate boy grin. "and you really think I'm cute" he added smugly.
He handed the girl a red box with a smiley on top, then the train stopped and the guy cursed and rushed off, leaving the girl with a gift and no name.
"You can't just come here, be nice to me, get me to smile and then just leave. JERK" the girl, muttered pretending to be angry and then a wide smile took over her face. She opened the box and pulled out the most stunning silver ring, it was a snake eating its tail. The girl held the ring against the sun and admired the intricacy of the work done.
The bed sheets ruffled again. She hadn't dreamt in ages, she had now lost her ability to imagine. She always knew that the brown haired chocolate boy was trouble, but she always bet on her heart until her last bet cost her everything, and she didn't even know where she had gone wrong, she'd tested the competition, waited till she was sure, taken it slow and steady before revealing herself but she'd still lost.
She however hoped that after tonight her life would take an uphill road, as tomorrow was her big day. She knew these insecurities only retuned to her tonight cause she was now close to having answers. That thing that tugged at her heart and chained her down was about to be addressed and she wasn't sure if she wanted the truth anymore. What if everything had been as black and white as it had appeared, what if there was no deeper story? Her head understood this concept however her heart made one last bet in hopes of achieving a royal flush.
She kissed the ring tenderly and whispered to herself
"I'm coming for you Prince Sky and this time I will not break so easily"
Stella sighed as she collapsed onto her bed. It had definitely been a long and cold winter day, with the weather not being the only thing getting under your skin. "What do those dumb girls know? Just gossiping because they're all jealous. I'll show them I'm not just a 'picky princess perfect'. I'll do something so spontaneous that it will give them something to talk about for the rest of the year." She let out another long sigh, stretching herself out on the bed.
After one more minute of lazing around, Stella got up from bed and opened her closet and put on her best winter attire. Right after she pulled on her coat, second thoughts flooded her mind. What if Brandon wasn't there? What if he didn't give her the reaction she wanted? What if her coat got spoilt? Many other questions penetrated her mind but she constantly told herself she didn't care. Her determination, fueled by anger won the internal battle over her logic fueled by her personality.
Stella confidently jumped off her balcony letting the wind carry her off in the direction of her heart. In no time she found herself standing before the large, closed gates of Red Fountain. She had already had enough of small glitches and she just wanted to leap into the comfort of her bed. She would now have to slyly find a way into the college, make my way up to Brandon's and then surprise him. It sounded like a lot of work for a simple hello. Stella thought to herself "Come on Stella, you're the fabulous princess of Solaria, you have to show those girls you have everything going for you" as she slowly and cautiously flew up the edge of the college till she found Brandon's rooms window.
On the finding the window locked Stella found herself getting angry, she knocked on it repeatedly however no one came to open it. Her patience was now wearing thin and she was about to turn back when finally the crew cut brown haired guy opened the window to greet her with a gasp of surprise.
"What took you so long, what were you doing, do you know how cold it is!" Stella started yelling the second she was inside. Brandon tried to get her to calm down, as he didn't want to be caught breaking the most stringent rule. Brandon however couldn't help but laugh at his Stella. He was so happy to see her, she wasn't the type to do things like this and knowing she did this just to come see him made him feel even happier. He could imagine her complaining tomorrow morning about her ruined coat, her late night workout amongst many other things, but this trait only made him fall in love with her more helplessly.
"Stell please keep quite, remember you're not supposed to be here" He said trying to get her to keep quite.
"I want answers squire Brandon" Stella said demandingly perching herself onto his bed.
" I was in the shower" he said nonchalantly pointing at the towel wrapped around his waist. A small blush crept onto Stella cheeks as she looked at her boyfriend's body dripping with water.
"I'll go finish up" Brandon said while going back into the bathroom, but then popped his head out to cheekily add, "Unless you'd want to join me?" Stella's face now seemed to blend in with her tomato red coat. "Just hurry up, you know I hate waiting" said Stella flustered and threw a pillow at Brandon, not knowing how to respond, but a tiny part of her wanted to walk into that shower and enjoy his warmth with the cold water running down their bare figures.
"Hey I was just double checking, cause I mean don't girls want to get down at night" He said jocularly from inside the bathroom.
"You pervert," yelled Stella that got a chuckle in return, but then a thought struck Stella's mind. What if Brandon wanted more, what if Brandon wanted to take the next step, how long would Brandon actually wait, how long had he already waited. Stella knew Brandon wouldn't push anything on her, she knew Brandon loved her but somewhere she felt fear, the fear of Brandon leaving, the fear of him turning away from her. Stella wanted to completely satisfy Brandon, but she wasn't prepared to fully expose herself to him as yet.
Frustrated and angry at her insecurities she threw another pillow aimlessly. The pillow hit Brandon's cupboard and caused something's to fall out. Stella cursed under her breath and made her way over to clean up the mess she had caused. She picked up some clothes; old mementos and then something caught her eye. It was a rustic looking trinket with intricate and fine silver details. The first thought in Stella's mind was boring, but she couldn't help but be captivated by its beauty and charm. Her curiosity got the best of her and she proceeded to open the little box, which revealed a lava leer. The chain was stunning and the pendant was breathtaking, the only problem was that the initial was an A and not an S.
Stella's head filled with a multiplicity of variables, what if it was for another girl, or maybe A was for amour and Brandon was going to go the cheesy route, what if he was cheating, but the alternative which scared Stella the most was what if he had a past she wasn't privy to. Stella felt tears brimming in her eyes. She knew she was being stupid, so what if he had a past, so what if he had secrets, she knew she was his present, she knew he loved her, she knew that she shouldn't jump to conclusions, she knew that all she had to do was wait for him to come out and then ask him but knowing doesn't always translate into behavior.
Stella just sat there on the floor frozen; she didn't know what to do. "Hey is everything ok out there Stell, I thought I just heard something fall" Brandon called "Don't start the party without me," He added mischievously. His voice was enough to send Stella into turmoil, the tears finally came out endlessly. She just dropped the box and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
She ran out into the cold night, but her tears still didn't freeze. Her feet slowed down with every step until she was standing still and just looking down at her feet. She felt stupid, why had she run away over a stupid old trinket. This was just plain dumb, she had just created an issue over nothing. But how could she fight against these overwhelming feelings. This incident however was not an isolated occurrence; it was just an explosion of feelings that had been building up over the last few months.
It had all started over the summer when Stella had filled with the silver eternity ring in Brandon's belongings. The ring had never been hidden; Brandon had always kept it close to him. He said it was a keepsake that gave him strength to carry on whenever he needed it. Stella had never found the ring good to look at, however she found it enticing. Brandon never let anyone else touch it, and that only added to its appeal for Stella.
FLASHBACK
Stella was waiting in Brandon's dorm, he had promised to take her out shopping, however he was running 30 minutes late and Stella's patience had eroded away. She was fidgeting with the edges of her hair when she spotted the silver ring, which Brandon never let out of his sight, laying on the wooden table. After staring down at it for some time she decided she would try it on and then harmlessly put it back before Brandon got back. She just had to do it for self-satisfaction.
Just as she had slipped it on when Brandon had come bursting in with his usual boyish grin. The second he spotted the ring on Stella's finger his eyes filled with an immense rage
"What the hell do you think your doing Stella" he asked, fury radiating from his usually comforting voice.
"I was just... Just" Stella started however she herself had no real reason for putting it on, she had just done it cause he had told her not to.
"Just what Stella. You never listen do you! You just had to go ahead and put it on. You never think of others or the consequences of your actions do you, its always got to be about you and your selfishness doesn't it!" Brandon yelled.
Stella was taken aback and shocked, Brandon in their whole 3 years had never yelled at her with so much passion. She felt hurt and anger " There's no need to yell over a stupid silver ring" She let out, she knew she'd only made things worse. This was her problem, she had a temper and it took control over her and hence she always made the problem much larger than it needed to be. She should have just apologized but instead she insulted one of the most precious things to him.
"Stupid ring!" He yelled pinning Stella against the wall, trapping her between his arms. Stella shivered she had never felt such fear before; this wasn't the Brandon she knew as she would never be scared of her Brandon. Brandon violently grabbed her hand and pulled the ring of, cutting Stella's delicate fingers in the process. He promptly chucked the ring into the garbage and cursed repeatedly saying it had lost its meaning and been dirtied.
Brandon then went to a corner and leaned over. Stella cautiously made her way to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. He shrugged off her hand and said
"Leave" softly yet sternly.
"Brandon I" Stella started but Brandon cut her off
"Stella LEAVE before you force me to do things I will later regret" He said more aggressively. Stella backed off and then walked out on the door.
Stella still trembled remembering the anger in Brandon's eyes and anger in his voice. She now stood on the deserted way to Alfea crying to herself.
"This is why spontaneity is overrated," Stella muttered to herself.
Brandon heard the door slam and ran out of the bathroom calling out Stella's name, only to find an empty bedroom. He scanned the room till he saw the reason for Stella's departure. He walked over to his closet and picked up the chain and stared at it. He gripped it tightly in his hand and then stuffed it back into the closet.
The chain had taken Brandon by surprise since the last time he had seen it was on that day his life had changed. He didn't keep the chain as a souvenir of a great time, but kept it as reminder of the scars in his heart. Just seeing the chain brought out long forgotten feelings, things Brandon hadn't felt since he had met Stella.
Stella had healed him and slowly made his pretense his own personality again. However wounds, even though healed are easily reopened and when they are cut again they bleed out faster and hurt twice as much. Seeing the chain he felt his heart being stabbed again.
He lay on his bed trying to push away his past memories and tried to think about what he was going to tell Stella. He knew the truth was not an option, as he himself detested the truth and wanted to change his past, as the events of that fateful day were too painful to be revisited.
FLASHBACK
Brandon had been a love struck 17 year old boy and today was the day he would serenade his girl, his soul mate. He had visited every shop in town until he had found that perfect lava leer for her. He knew she didn't care much for money or looks; she was the type who looked for deeper meaning and true intent so when he had seen the rustic chain with an A and flower her knew she would adore it.
He had saved the trinket she had given him (though not intentionally) for an occasion like this and felt happy with the perfection of his gift. He was eagerly waiting for the clock to strike 6:00 so that he could surprise her at their route, which he'd been forced to stop taking due to a school transfer. Today was the day he was going to tell her everything, he could no longer control his emotions. This lack of control on his part had caused him to consume her purity, something he regretted but if given a chance to go back he would do the same thing every time.
He so craved to touch her, to hold her and just to know she was his. He couldn't wait any longer and what would be a better date to make her his forever than the date of their 4-year meeting anniversary.
He put the finishing touches in his hair and then set out. He stood at the station waiting for the train, the seconds felt like hours, but when he heard the noise of the engine he could literally feel the whole zoo in his stomach. This moment was going to define Brandon's life and it did. It defined the start of Brandon the specialist.
Brandon had never decided if he believed whatever had happened had happened for the best. He sometimes wondered if given the opportunity to choose his specialist life or his other life which one he would choose. He always wanted to choose his specialist life, but he could not let go of the possibility of having the one. It was all to tempting.
Brandon did want to come to a decision as recently he had started feeling his relationships were lack luster. He did love Stella but there was something missing, it was comfortable and amazing, but it lacked electricity. He knew what he was doing to Stella was unfair but he couldn't just let her go, not now atleast. On nights like these where his doubts were at their peak he needed to know there was someone for him, someone who loved him more than he loved that person, someone he could use to fill the emptiness in his heart.
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How did the chapter go? Please give me your ideas, suggestions and predictions. Hope it was good enough for you guys to read the next chapter.
For this fic I wanted to play a bit on the past, bring in a bit more darkness into the characters and play with the idea of a guy or a girl loving two different people. Do you think that's a good idea, or would a simper story be good?