Chapter 7
Theo took my hand as he gently guided me back up to his room. He didn't speak to me as we walked up the stairs and through the door. He did, however, stop to say hello to the security guard outside of his room – the same one Grace was talking too earlier. The only time Theo dropped my hand was to unlock his front door as he held it open for me to walk through. I looked into the dining room, where Grace's laptop sat on the table with my phone. But Theo walked off into the lounge and I followed. He gestured for me to sit down on the settee and I did, not really too sure what to do if I disobeyed.
I frowned slightly as he dragged the footstall over in front of me, sitting down. He looked me in the eye and smiled shyly. He had upped his look a bit more so I knew when he and Luke took Lila out for the majority of the afternoon, they had gone out In public. I didn't know where they went, but Theo was now in a pair of smart looking chinos and a button up shirt, his hair now neat. Luke didn't look too bad either; he was in a polo shirt and jeans too.
'What did Grace say to you?' Theo asked softly.
'She needs to talk to some people, see what the best route is.' I said and he pursed his lips and looked away. 'I did tell her everything, though, and she's logging my phone too. She should come up with a plan soon… right?'
'Yeah, yeah.' Theo agreed but he didn't sound confident. He then shook his head. 'How do you feel? I just haven't considered how you are feeling. I'm so concerned that you don't have much and want to help I haven't really stopped to ask how you are, or if you want any of this.' He whispered to me.
'It still hasn't really hit me.' I mumbled as Theo leaned forward. 'I was telling Grace about it and it never really hit me. I have no idea what to do, so yeah, I really am thankful for the help and for you as well. But I think if I stay, I'll be outstaying my welcome.' I said and Theo frowned.
'Why would you think that?' He asked, trying to understand my thought process and I awkwardly shrugged.
'Because no one here really knows me, do they? We met, what, a few days ago? I just appeared randomly into your life because you spilt a drink on me at Nando's by mistake and it's all spiralled out of control. And then everything has happened so quickly and I just… I dunno. I feel like I don't really deserve this kind of help. It feels like someone should be yelling at me, telling me I'm a failure, and not bending over backwards to help.' I said, my voice increasingly straining as my eyes filled with tears. Theo leaned forward and gently held my hands.
'Ellie. You do not deserve this.' Theo told me gently and I looked up at him, looking him in the eye. 'You don't deserve anything of this. You needed some help getting around it and getting the help you need, working out protection programmes and where to live and so on. Grace knows what she's doing, Hell – she's one of the best – and she was more than willing to help. Mum is more than happy to have people here. We will keep you safe. Even if you're just a friend, it's what we do.' He said softly.
'That's the other thing.' I said, trying to build up my courage.
'What's that?'
'What's happening… here.' I whispered.
'Here?' Theo said and I closed my eyes – did I have to spell it out? I knew the stereotype that boys are meant to be a bit more... stupid, to say at least, when it came to things like this, but surely I couldn't be the only one who felt something? 'Well, I really like you if that's what we're on about?' He said and I looked up and frowned. He laughed. 'Guessing that is what we are on about.'
'Yeah.' I whispered, but still confused. Theo just shrugged.
'I really like you, I think I have admitted this before. Yeah. I really like you – so, yeah.' He said simply, looking down at the floor before looking up and meeting my eye. Did he look – shy? Considering I had been reporting him for the best part of three years now, I never had him down as being shy. He always was calm and collected, and confident none the less. Always had brilliant posture, sitting proper, looking people dead in the eye. But now, he was very shy, hunched over. He was genuine.
'What?' I whispered, and he smiled softly.
'I know… I know we can't really do much now. You have way too much going on. I didn't overly want to tell you in case it would pressure you In some way. But I told you now just so you don't think you are overstaying your welcome. It really is a pleasure to have you here, Ellie.' Theo said. Realising he made it slightly awkward, he got up and threw himself on the settee next to me. I watched him. He then held out his arm and I fell into it him. He tightened his arm around my shoulder, kissing my forehead again as he sighed.
'I think I like you too.' I mumbled, running my hand over his thigh.
'You do?' He asked, and I could hear the happiness in his voice. I nodded.
I was slightly unsure. I never had any desire of any kind of relationship and my past had thoroughly put me off any form of contact with anyone who could hurt me. But I found myself obsessing over Theo, wanting him to be by my side for hours on end. I kept overthinking our conversation and I got overly excited when I knew I'd be able to see him again. I was scared, terrified even, that he would hurt me but I knew – deep down – he wouldn't do such a thing.
'Yeah. And I'm terrified.' I said.
'Ellie, I'm not like him.' He whispered, putting his right hand on my hand that rested on his thigh. I turned my hand around so we were holding each other's hands. He rested his cheek on my head. 'I won't hurt you. I won't put you at risk. I will keep you safe.' He told me.
'I know you will keep me safe.' I mumbled. There was silence as we both were thinking. 'So why don't we give it a go?' I said and then cringed – why had I need so brash as to say something like that? I had to remind myself that I was nothing compared to Theo. 'I… I didn't mean that. Well, I did but, I didn't want to put pressure on anyone but if you want to, but I get that you might not want too –' I was mid-babble when Theo let go of my hand, moving his fingers to under my chin, lifting my face up before he kissed me. It started off a very simple, soft kiss but then we deepened it.
It was incredible. I didn't have much experience with kissing but it was incredible. Theo held me before he leaned back so I was resting on top of him. It felt like I had found a home, after all these years of hunting and searching for one. And my home was with Theo. Eventually, we broke apart as I laid on top of Theo. He smiled at me, kissing the top of my nose, as I laid down back on his chest.
'Let's give it a go,' Theo said as he wrapped his arms around my waist as I yawned slightly. 'Please just trust me.' He edged over on the settee so I slipped down the gap, my back against the backrest of the settee as I faced him. Theo kissed my forehead before he looked me in the eye. He had beautiful eyes – a deep blue colour. 'I will do everything I can to make this work.' He told me. I smiled. 'You look shattered, sweetheart.'
'I am, that's why.' I whispered back to him.
'Go back to sleep, Ellie.' He mumbled, hugging me to his chest.
'What time is it?' I asked, and he checked the clock.
'Half five.' He said, and I nodded. I'd be packing up at work on a normal day. But… but was there ever going to be a normal day again? 'Go to sleep, I'll wake you up when it's dinner time or Grace comes.' He said sweetly, brushing my hair from my face.
Safe, warm and happier than I had been for a while, I drifted off in Theo's arms to the sound of him breathing.
I woke up a few hours later refreshed. I could hear Theo but he was no longer beside me – mainly because I could hear noise in the kitchen which sounded like pans clanking. There was also no one laying near me – but I had been covered in a blanket. I opened my eyes to see I had a pillow under my head and an incredibly soft expensive-feeling throw over my body. It was substantially darker too; the main light in the living room had been turned off and only a lamp on the other side of the living room was turned on dimly, creating a calming ambience in the room. I sat up, wrapping the blanket around my shoulders as my bare feet touched the wooden flooring.
Theo, somehow, much have heard me sit up as he suddenly appeared in the doorway.
'You awake?' He asked, even though I was clearly sitting up on the settee.
'Yeah – what time is it?' I asked, rubbing my eyes.
'Quarter to eight, I think?' He said. He had changed clothes and was now in a plain shirt that hugged his (delightful) body and a pair of jogging bottoms. 'I was just making food,' He said, heading back into the kitchen.
I followed him like a lost sheep. He resumed his positioning at the hob of the oven. Without looking, he tapped the counter where I sat earlier when he made pancakes – even though that seemed like it was ages ago. I hopped up and I saw him smile gently.
'What are you making?' I asked as he stirred something in a pan,
'Mushroom risotto.' He said.
'Fancy.' I said and he gently put his hand on my knee. 'How did you know I was up?'
'I can sense emotions.' He replied simply like he was telling me the time. I frowned.
'What do you mean sense emotions,' I said as he took the risotto off the heat and place the food on two plates. He then gestured over to the small table that was in the kitchen. I sat down on one side of the table, looking at how incredible the food looked. Theo then got up and gave me a glass of water.
'What did you ask?' He said, clearly forgetting what I asked.
'You said you could sense emotions…' I asked, taking a small mouthful of the food. It was incredible.
'Yeah… it's my gift,' he said, taking a sip of his water.
'Gift?' I questioned even more confused and he met my gaze.
'I never finished telling you about Savant's, did I?'
'In all honesty, I can barely remember you starting it. So, off you go,' I said, waving my fork around and he nodded.
'So,' Theo said. 'Savant's are relatively rare. Think of it as a genetic condition, but rather than providing a disadvantage like most genetic condition, it provides an advantage. I think it's around one in every ten thousand or slightly more now, but they have a different brain structure, only slightly, that will allow a certain manipulation of things normal people wouldn't be able to do.' Theo said. 'It allows these Savant's to be able to contact each other telepathically to a certain extent, and move things psychokinetically – although it's commonly referred to as telekinetically.'
'Prove it.' I said and he raised his eyebrows at me.
'Which part?'
'Either.' I said. I didn't believe him and wanted to see if he was lying. But sure enough, the glass of water lifted up beside him. I leaned across the table and ran my hand under the glass, then above, to see if it was a magic trick but there were no strings.
'Oh, that's cool.' I said and he grinned. I couldn't deny how incredible that was.
'It also means everyone who is a Savant will have a gift – some form of ESP they unwillingly specialise in. Mine is emotion.' Theo said as he took a sip of his water – but this time he was actually holding his water.
'So… what does that mean?'
'So everything you are feeling, whether you are aware of it or not, links to a colour. The colours are universal, so I pick up whatever you're feeling and it's assigned to a colour that I associate with that feeling and I see the colour of the emotion you're feeling. Like now, I know you're drained and exhausted, sad, scared, anxious but also happy.' He said and I sat back and stared at him. 'The only real way I can prove that bit you is by playing two truths and a lie.'
'Okay.' I said, thinking carefully. 'I secretly hate living on my own despite telling everyone it's the best thing I've done, I like to watch people on the train every morning heading to work and pretending to know their stories and I would have always, and would love to go to New York.' I told him and he smiled.
'Guessing you're not a fan of New York then?' He answered straight away without even considering it. My mouth dropped. 'I can also probe emotions to see why you are feeling that way. You don't believe New York would be any different from London, and as you've seen London for quite a few years now, you don't see the desire to travel to another bustling commuter, extortionate priced tourist destination.'
'Okay… you're not lying.'
'Nope.' He said, drinking the rest of his water.
'So if it's genetic… that would mean your family are also Savants… correct?' I said and he nodded pleased I was understanding it. 'So what do they do then? And an example of what they do too.'
'Alright. Mum can see the future – she knew Grace was pregnant pretty much the exact same time as Luke and Grace found out, and she knew Lila's gender long before any scan or anything as she had seen Grace with Lila at Luke's graduation the autumn after she was born. Luke can read people's minds, so yesterday after we picked you up and you were very much in a state of shock and he was checking you out, making sure you were okay, he was also reading your mind and realised the shock was more psychological than it was medical so he called in Grace. Grace is also a Savant…'
'What are the chances of that…' I laughed and he grinned.
'We'll get onto that in a moment. Grace can remember everything that has ever happened to her – apart from when she was kidnapped. She can't remember that.' Theo said and I frowned. 'She was kidnapped by another Savant who was able to get into her head and physically forced her to forget what had happened.'
'So… Grace and Luke?' I asked and he nodded.
'So, this is where it starts to get a bit more ropey and I cannot really prove it to you unless what I think will happen… will happen.' He said and I just raised my eyebrows. 'When a Savant is conceived, another Savant wherever it happens to be in the Globe is also conceived around the same time – or near enough. Nine months later it leads to two Savant babies being born within weeks of each other that are destined to be together – race, gender, religion, none of that matters. It runs so much deeper than that. It allows both of their minds to interlock and become the better person they are deep down, and creates such a strong relationship that they are destined to be together forever.' Theo explained.
'Grace and Luke…' I repeated and he nodded.
'They're called Soulfinders because it does basically what it says on the tin. Their relationship is so much more powerful than normal people relationships.' Theo said, taking the now empty plates and leaving them in the sink. 'It takes some work, especially in the beginning, but once the Soulfinders know each other and start working on their relationship, apparently it's incredible. Luke and Grace are extremely lucky to find each other. As you can imagine, the odds weren't in their favour and for Grace's parents to know my Mum in a way which leads to the chain of events that caused Grace to work here so soon after her graduation is almost zero to none.' He said, sitting back down on the chair.
'Right… why are you telling me this? I'm slightly confused.' I said and he smiled slightly.
'Two reasons. I think you're a Savant and…'
'I'm not though.'
'Not that you've noticed.' He corrected.
'No… not at all.' I corrected back.
'May I explain why I believe you are?' He said.
'Go on then.'
'You never knew your birth parents, did you? You said for as long as you can remember you've been in foster care or being dealt with by social services because you got left…' Theo said softly and I looked away nodding. 'It's more than possible that both of your parents, or even just one of them, was a Savant which would make you a Savant too.'
'But I can't speak telepathically, I cannot move things with my mind, I don't have a gift.' I started on a tangent and Theo looked at me.
'Have you tried though? Have you actually tried to speak to someone telepathically? Have you tried moving things with your mind? Have you put down unexplained behaviour to fate rather than yourself?'
'Er…' I said. I had never thought about it that way.
'I believe that actually, yeah, you do have a gift. You, I think, filter emotions. I noticed it in Nando's when you came in; the two people you were with were upset for you, but you sucked it away from them and suppressed it into yourself so you'd feel upset and not them. Hell, you even did it with me – which, if you're wondering, is one of the reasons I somehow kept you talking in the Nando's toilets because it was incredible to watch. When I picked you up, you were filtering emotions and after the fire, that's why you were in shock so much. You filtered it out of everyone else. That's why you feel so much emotion in comparison to everyone else.' Theo said softly, leaning forward and holding my hand.
'Oh.' I whispered – it made sense though. I thought I had a disturbed childhood thus experienced more trauma and emotional backlash now like my therapist had suggested. I didn't expect there to be another explanation. 'I won't believe you until I can move stuff with my mind.' I joked, and he tapped his lap. I frowned.
'Come over here then,' He said, smiling. A dimple appeared in his cheek and he just looked absolutely adorable. His hair had been washed and was very fluffy now but was pushed back. He looked a lot younger than he did on Royal duties – like he was twenty one again. I frowned before heading over to him. He pulled over a chair and placed it directly next to him as I sat down. He pushed his empty cup in front of me.
'It's glass, try not to break it.' He said and I frowned. 'So, what would you imagine touching the glass would feel like?'
'Cold?' I said and he nodded. 'and quite smooth, I guess. But it has got a chip on the top of it, so it would have a sharp edge there.' I said and he nodded.
'Yup. How heavy do you think it is as well?' Theo said, his arm around my shoulders, giving me some support.
'Not very heavy.'
'Okay, so imagine that your brain has a third hand, and that third hand is reaching out and grabbing the glass like you'd hold a glass. You can close your eyes for this – in fact, do, it'll help you.' I did what he said as I was frowning. Perhaps he was making me feel like an idiot. 'So, imagine you have that third hand, and that third hand is now holding the glass. Make sure in your brain you can feel that it's cold and damp from the condensation. Make sure, if you run an imaginary finger over the rim you'd feel that dip. Feel the weight of the glass in your mind.' He said ever so softly and I almost could. I could feel the dampness in my mind, the lightness of the glass. As I pictured running my finger over the dip I could feel a small sharp pain. 'Open your eyes, sweetheart.' He whispered and I did.
The glass I was imagining was floating before me. I jumped back, losing that concentration and the glass dropped. Theo quickly held out his hand and the glass was caught only centimeters away from the floor and from cracking and flew back up to the table as I was flinching into Theo's chest.
'Was that you moving the glass?' I asked even though I knew it was me. It made sense. It felt familiar.
'Nope. That was all you.' He said with a very small smile. No denying it now, I guess.
'And what was the other thing? Mind speaking – wasn't it?' I laughed and he just looked at me for a second.
'Slight backstory before that. Back to soulfinders.' He said and I nodded, and he kept his arm around my shoulder, his dark blue eyes calling me in. 'How do you know when you find your soulfinder, you might ask. You do that telepathically. There's a normal way of speaking telepathically and it almost feels like a whisper in the back of your brain that you have to completely zone out in order to hear. However, with your Soulfinder, it feels like you're shouting. It feels magical and like every moment of your life is simultaneously over and starting again, and being lit up at the same time. It makes you feel at home.' Theo said softly.
'Right…' I said.
I had a feeling I knew where this was going.
'I said earlier I was telling you for two reasons; you interrupted after the first one. I said I believe you are a Savant, and that was proven correct thanks to my masterclass in emotions and glass-moving skills. The second? I believe you are my Soulfinder.' He said shyly.
'Oh. Um…' I said, not entirely sure what to say. 'Shall we try?' I joked and Theo grinned and shook his head.
'Never spoken telepathically before with someone, have you?' He asked genuinely, and I shook my head. 'Remember, a whisper is normal, shouting means Soulfinder.' He said nervously, and I knew it was a massive movement for him. 'So, close your eyes and this time, imagine a bridge. A nice bridge, one that is sturdy. Imagine that bridge coming out from your forehead and into mine. I know it's odd to imagine but go with me on this one. I'll meet you halfway. So, imagine you are constructing this bridge. Build some support beams along the way, anchor your bridge to the wall via dart gun or whatever you want to imagine.' I tried to picture building a stone bridge over to Theo's head and felt him almost holding a hand out to me, helping to guide my bridge. Sure enough, he met me halfway. 'Now, say anything you want to me, but say it across that bridge. Like you're sending paper messages, but with words insides of envelopes instead of written letters.'
Like this? I tried to say and it felt incredible. I gasped.
Exactly like that. He replied. Shouting. And it felt like I was home, that it didn't matter where I had come from or the pain I was experiencing now or the fact I had no family and now nowhere to live – none of that mattered anymore because I was at home with Theo. I opened my eyes to see Theo looking at me with a tiny grin on his face.
'Hello, Soulfinder.' He mumbled to me before I leant forward and kissed him.
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Soon after we had discussed Savants some more and what Soulfinders actually meant, we got ready for bed. Grace had text Theo with a simple message that Joel had signed me off work until Friday morning and to see how I felt then, and he can always extend it. At least it meant now I actually had some time to calm down and work it out.
Grace had the foresight to buy some cute sets of pyjamas. I got changed into ones that had some llama pun on the front and came with cuffed pyjama bottoms. Theo had just brushed his teeth and I was hovering outside. He had shown me a room to stay in, in case I wasn't very comfortable staying in his bed at the moment.
Secretly, I wanted to stay in the same bed as him to have some comfort but didn't want to seem to be bugging him.
'I'll be just up here if you need me, Ellie.' Theo said softly, handing me one of his hoodies. 'And that, too if you're cold.'
I took the hoodie gratefully and smiled. He gently kissed me as we stood their awkwardly.
'If you need me at all, come and find me. Even if I'm asleep, wake me up – okay?'
'Okay.' I agreed. He leant forward and kissed me again, his hand lingering on my waist. 'Thank you for this, Theo.' I mumbled again and he grinned. It was awkward again. 'Goodnight,' I said as he hugged me gently, kissing my forehead. I then turned around and headed to my room.
As I got to the door, I turned around and saw him standing there in the hallway watching me with a small grin on his face. I mocked saluted at him and he grinned before pivoted on the spot and headed to his own room.
The room was very cosy for a spare room; it was quite small and had a single bed in the corner with some plain marble-patterned covers on. There was an alcove at the end of the bed that had some books on the shelf with a few plants. In front of the bed was a lovely deep pile white rug and at the end of the room a chest of drawers with a mirror on top and another plant. My bag of clothes Grace got me was on the floor. I turned off the light and tucked myself in bed, checking my phone where it was plugged in to charge. Grace had taken off all she needed and told me not to pick up the phone to anyone – even Joel – and try not to reply to texts on this phone now. She decided to get me a new phone in the morning. Joel messaged Grace to talk to me.
I laid down and stared at the ceiling trying to sort out my mind. I was still in shock, I think, as nothing really felt real. It felt like a dream. I had lost everything, and I'm at risk of losing everything I had worked for. I didn't have much in the way of savings; I spend most of my salary of rent and trains and food. So I'm not entirely sure what I could do.
And then, it hit me.
I had absolutely nothing. Everything had been destroyed. I faced having to change everything; my life, who I was, my friends, perhaps my job, where I lived, everything. It started to really get to me and I started to cry – completely uncontrollably. I started to shake as I started to cry as well. I hid my eyes as I rolled on my side and was just sobbing.
I didn't even notice the door open.
'Ellie.' I heard Theo but I continued to cry. 'It's okay, it will be okay.' He said, crouching down beside me, running his hand through my hair. 'Sweetheart…' He sighed before he gently put his arm under my head and his other arm under my legs as he scooped me up. He then sat on my bed with me on his lap as I cried into his shoulder and wrapped the blanket around my shoulders.
He hugged me for a good half an hour, gently telling me it was okay and trying to calm me down. We were a lot closer than when he comforted me yesterday when I was upset – he was hugging me tight and resting his cheek against my forehead, his fingers making small patterns to try and calm me down. And it worked.
'You're staying with me tonight. I don't care what you say.' Theo told me, picking me up again. I laughed gently but was too emotionally drained to do anything as Theo carried me to his room, moving the duvet with his mind to tuck me in. He then gently climbed into the bed next to me, hugging me tight. 'Ellie, I promise you now, I won't leave you alone and stranded with nowhere to stay, okay sweetheart? You're staying here, with me, for as long as you need – even if that is forever it will be perfect. I won't leave you, sweetheart. You will be fine. We can talk about it properly tomorrow, okay? But you're staying with me from now on in. We will be okay.' He said to me as I laid on his chest and he hugged me.
'I'm scared.' I told him.
'So am I, Ellie. But me and you, we can work this out. We will work it out. You're too precious to let go, so we will work this out.' Theo whispered to me. I slowly began to fall asleep as he spoke to me, reassuring me we can work this out and make me feel at home.
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Hiya!
I know a few people mentioned how Theo and Ellie's relationship was going back and forth and so on, so I decided to fix that. If I don't upload often it's because I have some really important exams coming up soon so I haven't to focus on them so there might be a slight delay in chapters but I promise it'll be worth it!
