"Helia, where are we going? Where are you taking me?" Flora asks once more.
Her anxiousness is down to more than just the fact that Helia won't let her see where they are going. Her parents have been released, she knows it's her own fault for not pressing charges and not rethinking her decision but she couldn't, she can't. She can't be the reason they're imprisoned and she won't let herself be, even if that means potentially suffering a little longer.
Helia asked for her to meet him and she agreed, she didn't think it would involve her not being allowed to see. He doesn't know her parents have been released and she can't bring herself to tell him, she just has to be extra vigilant for now...
"Come on Flora, it's not that further. I won't let anything happen to you, just trust me, alright?" Flora nods hesitantly at Helia's words - unable to deny the fact that she does indeed trust him completely.
The two continue walking for a few more minutes, a quite crunching sound coming with every step taken, before the two finally come to a halt.
"Alright Flora. I need to go - you'll see why in a minute - so wait thirty seconds before taking the blindfold off."
Before Flora can protest she hears Helia's footsteps taking off into the distance so she lets out a small sigh. After waiting the full thirty second, Flora takes the blindfold off to reveal the woods that Helia has taken her to before. Despite the beautiful landscape and the happy memories captured within the environment, her mind can't help but wonder if her parents could be hiding within these trees around her.
Looking up, Flora sees a pink rose tied to a tree trunk with a length of silky pink ribbon, a note taped above.
'You know, I heard there is this really nice spot somewhere around here..."
Flora smiles to herself, knowing instantly that this is Helia's idea of a scavenger hunt.
She sets the note in her pocket and holds the rose and ribbon firmly in her hand before taking off towards the spot by the river that Helia has shown her, the directions firmly engraved in her memory.
The scavenger hunt goes on for a while. Roses tied to various structures with lengths of silky pink ribbon and notes taped everywhere - some of them clues and some of them utter nonsense but each world means the world to her.
She is so focused on the scavenger hunt that her mind tunes out the buzzing in her back pocket, not realising how urgent the constant calls truly are.
It is at one of the final clues when Flora feels a hand on her shoulder. She spins round to come face to face with an extremely worried Helia.
"Why didn't you tell me about your parents being released?" He asks desperately. "Stella called, she was thinking over when you told her and - since she obviously doesn't know what happened - decided to inform me so that I can make sure that you're alright."
"I didn't want you to worry."
"You know that I'm always going to worry." He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before hugging her lightly. "Come on, I'll stay with you until we get to the end."
True to his word, he stays with her as she figures out the remaining clues, not giving her any help but ensuring that not even a shadow crosses the girl besides him.
Reaching a clearing Flora sees yet another rose tied to a tree with ribbon. Instead of a note, there are several dozen photos of the pair collaged around a tree as a bouquet is leant up against the base of the frost-covered trunk. The breeze carries soft music to Flora's ears as Helia moves and picks up the bouquet, presenting himself before her.
The clearing in the woods is secluded enough to make the moment private between the two as Helia finally confesses his long held feelings to the brunette.
"Flora, I set this up because I have something to tell you. I've always been incredibly fond of you for as long as I've known you - which is definitely a while at this point - and I came to realise that what I felt towards you goes beyond simple fondness or friendship. I love you Flora, I really truly love you and I've been so afraid of scaring you with the way I feel that I decided not to tell you for all this time. Timmy made me realise that I couldn't keep that choice from you, so what I'm trying to say is, will you be my girlfriend?"
Flora tears you a little at the scene before her, temporarily losing her capacity for words. Helia's anxiousness is only relieved when the brunette slowly nods, a huge grin spreading across her face.
"Yes." With that one word, Helia feels his world lift. He wraps his arms around the brunettes waist, waiting for her nod of confirmation before pressing his lips up against her own.
The two teens were so wrapped up within their own moment that they didn't here the click of a camera shutter from behind them.
A/N Hey guys! Finally got the chapter posted. I hope you guys all liked this chapter - we're almost at the end guys, on the bright side that means we're closer to Christmas too :)
I hope you guys all liked this chapter and thank you for all your reviews so far, please make sure to leave some reviews on this chapter too!
Happy reading!
- Mae xxx