7
I was greeted by Erik at the front of Moonlight Manor with a small suitcase in hand. "Welcome again Arielle." I smiled. "Thanks for inviting me again. I really love this place. It's so beautiful and I get to see you." "I'm so glad." Erik planted a kiss on my forehead. "Allow me to take this." "Oh no, it's fine." "I insist." "Okay. Thanks." We started walking toward the manor entrance. "Do you want to stay in one of the rooms or…" "Oh! Um, can I stay down with you again? I really like the cozy feel of your home underground. It's amazing." "Are you sure?" "Yup!" We walked down the hall and Erik had a maid take my suitcase away downstairs. "Are we going down the same way you brought me out a couple months ago?" "No." "Then are we falling through the wall again?" "No." "How are we going down then?" He pulled me close then whispered in my ear. "Like this." As if by illusion Erik pulls me through a mirror before we start falling. I grab onto Erik and squeeze my eyes shut waiting for us to land until we land with a small poof on something soft. I lightly hit Erik on the arm. "Erik don't scare me like that!" He laughed then apologized. "Sorry. I just thought maybe a change of course might be fun." "It was but maybe not next time."
We strolled in the gardens with his arm looped around my waist. I noticed a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. "Wow. I didn't know you have a cherry blossom tree. It's so pretty! The only time I've seen them before is when I visited Japan last spring." "I'm glad you like it. I have a very large selection of plants grown here. What is your favorite flower?" "Hmm, I like cherry blossoms but my favorite has always been red roses." "What a coincidence. I love red roses too. Let me show you the rose garden." I gasped as Erik opened the door to the greenhouse dedicated entirely to red roses. "Erik, it's so beautiful!" I turned to see Erik with a pair of small clippers cutting a single rose for me and taking the thorns off. "I can't let my Ari bleed from little thorns." He made a large motion with his hand after setting the clippers aside and bowed and presented me with the flower. "For my lady." I blushed and accepted it. "Thank you." He regained full height and pulled me in. "You are such a blessing." "You too." "I love you Arielle." "I love you too Erik." I tiptoed up as Erik leaned down and we shared a quick kiss. "You're too short." "You're too tall." He raised an eyebrow and lifted me up and spun me around as we kissed again. After we were done he kept me over his shoulder and marched off. "Time for dinner!" I tried to wriggle free but he held tighter. "I am never letting you go." "No, I'm never letting you go." I say as I grab his arm tighter.
After sharing a romantic candlelit dinner in a parlor, Erik took me up to the roof. "Don't open your eyes yet." "Okay then hurry." Erik lead me to a sofa and sat me down. He sat next to me then whispered, "Now look up." My breath was taken away once more. "You have so much beauty is this manor Erik. Inside, out, and the people. Especially you." We cuddled together as we looked up at the night sky. "Nothing in this world is more beautiful than you though Arielle." He leaned forward and embraced me kissing my hair. Sharing moments similar to this, the weekend passed in a blur. As soon as it had started, it ended and I was once again back at work surrounded by the same boring people and the same stalker boss. Erik continued walking me home everyday and gave me a single red rose each day which soon accumulated into a multiple bouquets of roses throughout my apartment along with a new collection of pressed roses. For the first time since Christmas, Anna finally came over. "Hey! It's been so long!" Anna gave me a hug. "Not really. It's only been 5 months since Christmas." "Almost 6." "Fine. Come on in." Anna gasped as she came in. "Where did you get all these roses? They're gorgeous!" "Oh you know, I have a friend who has a garden." She bumped me with her hip then raised both of her eyebrows. "Boyfriend?" I blushed. Dang it I'm so bad at hiding things. If Anna finds out, if she tells me mom then oh boy. "I knew it! You finally got a boyfriend! Who? What's his name? What does he look like? Is he a good kisser? Is he rich? Spill!" "Oh my gosh Anna calm down please." "Fine. We'll talk over tea." I sighed as I prepared Anna's usual jasmine tea with honey and my darjeeling without honey. We sunk into the sofa with our mugs and I was forced to speak. "Don't tell any of this to my mom. So, his name is Erik, he's really tall like almost two heads taller than me, handsome, probably rich but who cares, he's really talented musically and (sigh)." "Awwww!" Anna squealed. "Where did you guys meet? How long have you been dating?" "I met him the day of the Christmas party." "If it was before the party you should've told me!" "No, it was after. He helped me out after I hurt my ankle." "Awww. So did you start dating after that?" "No. We started dating about four months ago. Apparently we both liked each other but were too scared to admit it." "What a waste of time! What made you guys confess?" "Raoul assaulting me." "Oh yeah! You told me about that. Did Erik save you or something?" "Yup." "I was pretty shaken up the second or third time it happened and you know. I kinda slipped." "But you're glad it did." "Yeah." Anna sighed. "I wish I could meet somebody like that. You're so lucky." "Hahahaha. Time Anna. Be patient." "Yeah I guess."
It was nearing my birthday of June 24th when I got the surprise invitation.
Dear Miss Arielle Leroux,
Your parents are celebrating your 25th birthday next weekend on Saturday and require that you attend. Please dress nicely like the Christmas party. It's going to be held again at the Moonlight Manor since it was the only place left available to book. I will pick you up once again this time at 5:30 PM.
Your humble servant,
John Durand
"Ugh. Another party! And this time my birthday! They haven't done this in ages!" Wait. They haven't done this in ages. This is so fishy. My mom is definitely up to something again. Well, I suppose there is nothing I can do but attend. But this time I need a plan of my own. I better call Erik about this. At least my parents know the best place to book my birthday party. I laugh out to myself as I rush off to find my phone.
Thanks for reading! Sorry it's been a while. I have finals next week and have been very busy with the holidays. I'll try to post more in the following month. Please review!
-Rose
