Hi sweet readers, I hope you are all so well and safe! Here is the second chapter in Solace's Lullaby. For those who have read the orignal tale, I've decided to change Willa's character a little, change quite a few moments to hold so dear this new heart nestled within her and would love to know what you think so. To those readers who are reading this for the first time, please let know what you think so too. I'm afraid I may be such a shy thing when it comes to my writing so any comments will be a treasure to me so. I wish upon a daisy you are all safe and loved in each corner of your world, and through writing and stories, through art so sweet, I hope you may find the sweetest comfort. All my love, Elodie.
The morning sky was grey and cool, a non-shimmering silver as it fluttered through the wispy curtains and draped across the carpet of Willa's room. It was 7am, and despite the sleepiness which lingered in the hues and air of the waking world – she had been awake for a while. She sat on her knees, sat poised and gentle on her bed as she painted the wall above her headboard. Paint droplets stained her pale fingers and wrists as she went, and yet she barely noticed. She had tumbled into this other form, tumbled into the paint and flowers she painted. Pink roses and daisy chains, baby blue budgies and dandelions. Each brush stroke was a gentle caress upon her quivering heart, a soft whisper and escape of the fragile emotion which silently cried within her of all she had lost.
Hearing her door croak open, Willa looked over her shoulder and smiled softly as Bella hovered in her doorway. Her hair was sweet and messy as it lay un-brushed over her shoulders.
"Hi sleepie eyes." Willa said softly, turning towards Bella and tucking her paintbrush behind her ear. "Come here my lovely." She outstretched her arms and took Bella in for a morning hug. "How did you sleep?" She wondered, pulling away to move her paints to her bedside table and make room for Bella to sit. The weight of the bed shifted as she did, as she crossed her legs and shifted the tulle of Willa's nightdress. "How do you feel for today?"
"Ah nervous. Homeschool sounds like a better option at the moment." Bella said, looking down with anxious eyes.
"Oh Bells," Willa breathed softly, leaning forward and whipping a little droplet of paint from Bella's forehead with her thumb. "It's just nerves sweet girl. I'm sure that once we go in you'll make friends so quickly."
"That's what I'm afraid of. The attention, it makes me withdraw further inward you know?" Willa gave her a gentle smile, an understanding smile as she threads her fingers with Bella's in silent knowing. She did know, knew the fear of the heavy stares and judgements one may make on another. With all the times she moved, it had never gotten easier on her quivering heart. And with all she had endured, she couldn't help but mirror the tender fear nestled in Bella's eyes.
"I understand." Willa said softly, her sweet eyes shy as they look down to their entwined hands. "I'm afraid too, more than I…" Willa placed her free fluttering hand upon her heart, her voice so small and fragile. "But together we'll be alright." She said with a soft smile, recovering from the tears that welled within her. "How about I make us some sweet orange and maple pancakes? With a little cinnamon and mascarpone cream?"
"Yea, I…I'd actually love that." Willa gave Bella's hand a little squeeze in response and got up from her bed, fixing the skirt of her nightdress as she placed the paintbrush tucked behind her ear in a jar of water. "Hey, how are you feeling about starting the last half of senior year?" Bella asked, watching as Willa picked up a brush and began brushing her long brown waves. "Only a few months left and then college."
Willa's hand began to tremble at the mention of college, her two front bunny teeth biting her lower lip in nerves. The little notion of college frightened her so, frightened her in the sense of another new beginning and not feeling as if she fit into that life of academics and work so routine. She was a dreamer, and being a dreamer – she felt as if tumbling into that life of study and work would drown that with the nature of reality. Reality and dreams, they fought against each other.
"I," Willa began, turning her head to look back at Bella. "If I may share a little secret, I'd so rather wish to runaway." Her eyes softened with the hues of fantasy as a faraway smile gently caressed her lips. "To runaway to the country and nestle into a sweet cottage with animals so darling. With a sweet little garden and horses. Somewhere to write and dance, to play music and paint and cook. Somewhere quiet and fairytale." Her cheeks blushed a shade of strawberry cream, her eyes fluttering timid as she cradled her brush to her chest. "You must think me so silly, no? But with that dream being but a dream, I suppose I'll go to college. There's a few I've been looking at – to study nursing like my mama."
"I don't think you're silly, Willa." Bella replied, taking in her cousins little and vulnerable self. She noticed the tremble in her hands and walked towards Willa, placing her hands on her forearms to help soothe the shaking. "I think you tumbled out of a fairytale book, but not silly. You'll do great at anything you do, and you still have time to figure it all out."
"Thank you Bells, I just wish time didn't flutter by so quickly. Sometimes when I close my eyes and daydream, I can't help but wish it would all stop. If we would stop. That we could turn immortal and live life so steady and calm, without rush or fear of growing up and doing what is excepted of us. Of being unbound." Bella smiled at the delicate sweetness in her cousins' eyes, at the helpless and dulcet features that painted her face ethereal and soft. And as she did, she couldn't help but think how Willa needed someone to protect her. With her sweet heart and vulnerable eyes, Bella couldn't help but look at Willa in that moment and think how fragile Willa just really was, and because of that – how she needed someone so truly protect her and keep her safe, keep her safe in terms of her dainty soul and fluttering heart.
Bella's fingers squeezed Willa's forearms in comfort. "I totally get what you mean. I'll see you downstairs okay?"
Willa nodded, watching Bella leave before turning back to the mirror and taking a few stuttering breaths. Putting her paints away, she picked out an outfit for her first day – a sweet baby blue dress with lace details on the bodice and tulle sleeves, the neck rimmed with a soft rounded collar. She paired it was a white cardigan to keep warm and a white bow in her half up and half down hairstyle.
Placing on her clothes and tying the ribbon in her hair, Willa stood in front of the mirror. Her arms were wrapped around her as she held herself, as she trembled and withdrew so inward, as her chin wobbled and tears prickled her eyes. But she had this moment, this one last moment before she went down stairs and wore that sweet cloak of positivity and hope. She let herself cry, let each trembling emotion slip free and coil around her beating heart. But as soon as she opened the door, as she took her first steps out into the hall – there were no signs of tears or blushed cheeks. Yet her hands still trembled as she held them in front of her, as she walked down the stairs and kissed Charlie on the cheek good morning. But as she cooked the pancakes and walked out the front door with Bella at her side, she felt hope blossom in her heart.
The trip to Forks High was soft and gentle, the truck moving to the rhythm of delicate rain falling. Opening the window, Willa leaned her head against its rim, her fingers twirling outside the threshold of the window as droplets swirled and decorated her pale skin. Soft tunes played on the radio as they went, as Bella talked and told her of the classes she was to take.
"Willa, do you mind closing the window? Any cold thing I…" She shivered in repulsion as Willa looked at her softly, as she pulled her hand back into the car and balanced a droplet on the tip of her finger.
"Don't fear or be upset with the rain, Bella." Willa said softly, leaning forward and placing the droplet on Bella's nose. She crinkled her nose in response but she still smiled. There, Willa thought – that sweet smile. "It didn't choose to be so cold and wet. Here," Willa leaned forward and turned the radio off. "Listen." Bella looked to Willa with confused eyes, and yet Willa remained soft, remained cradling that one lantern of flickering hope in her chest. "It's like a lullaby no? Our first day of school lullaby."
"Yea," Bella said, her smile still caressing her lips. "I guess it is."
The air was cool as Willa got out of the truck, as she landed with a small splash in a rippling puddle from the rain. There weren't many students here yet, but despite their small numbers she could feel the weight of their gazes – the muffle of their conversations which turned on them in hushed whispers and looks. She restrained herself from wrapping her hands around herself, to hold herself and feel a familiar warmth and safety – a familiarity. Familiar. She looked to Bella who rounded the truck, who held the same embarrassed weight in her eyes as she looked down and avoided the excited world around them. Their names slipped into gossip, fused and flared in air around them.
Feeling her hands begin to tremble, Willa slipped one into her pocket and intertwined the other with her cousins. "Everything will be alright." She whispered to Bella, "everything is going to be alright." And with that, with a last look at one another that mirrored the same fear and same love, they walked towards the office to gather their schedules. The path was lined with sweet flowers, with daisies and peonies drooping underneath each droplet which hit their petals and clung to them as they dripped.
Pressing her palm against the door, Willa applied pressure and opened it. It was warmth within, warm and yet stiff with an air of procedure and routine. Seeing a lady sitting behind the desk, her glasses low on the rim of her nose, Willa squeezed Bella's hand before letting go and taking the lead. Her fingers knotting in front of her as she approached the desk, as she played with the bracelet on her wrist and fidgeted discreetly.
"Hello Ms," She began, "I'm sorry to be a dizzy nuisance, but my cousin and I-" She gestured behind her to where Bella stood. "We're new here. Our names are Bella Swan and Willa Fawn."
"Oh yes." The lady said, pushing her glasses further up her nose as she took in the two girls. "The Chief has told us all about you two. I'm afraid you may be the news of the town for quite some time. It's not often we get newcomers here. Now, just give me one moment." Willa watched as the lady spun back on her chair to the cabinet behind her, her fingers leafing through file after file in such speed that Willa couldn't help but blink and flutter her eyes. "Ah." The lady said, pulling out two folders. "Here we are." She laid them on the desk in front of her, one beside the other. "Inside you'll find all the information you require about the school and our services, a map and I assume what you both must be most anxious to get, your timetables. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to come here and I'll remedy that for you both."
Willa plucked up both folders, holding them to her chest as she thanked the lady and took a few steps back so she may have some privacy with her cousin. Handing Bella hers, they both retrieved their schedules and looked over them so. Willa's eyes widened in anxiousness as she saw all the classes she was nestled in to take.
English Literature and Composition
World History
Latin
Visual Arts
Biology
Chemistry
Calculus
Physical Education
She felt her heart flutter at the sight of her first class – Visual Arts. Her hands were still covered in a little pink and baby blue paint droplets from this morning and seeing what her first class may be, it was as if even seeing it's lettering was a silent song, a silent comfort and a silent caress. They pulled out the maps as they looked at where each of their first classes may be, and seeing they were in opposite directions they gave one another a warm hug goodbye and ventured on their individual way.
Walking down the long winding road with flowers lining each cobbled path, Willa paused at the sight of a butterfly. It was laying on the ground, its wings splayed open and quivering in the gentle breeze. Worry pinched her features as she crouched down and lay the pad of her finger upon its wing – stroking it gently before picking it up and cupping her hand over it like a little roof.
"Come here my sweet little one," she said to it softly, walking down the path to a patch of flowers with leaves big enough to act as a shelter. "Now, where may we place you so no one trods on you so." She bent down once more, placing a dainty kiss on the butterfly as she placed it underneath the leaf and smiled at the little creature. She loved animals, loved them sometimes more than humans. They were fairytale in a reality form, enchanting and mesmeric as they bonded with the human heart despite being a species so different. And so she lingered there, prolonged the moment of entering the cool stone of classrooms and into the academic world. She plucked a daisy, plucked two and placed them in her hair – but as she did, as she stood and her eyes looked up, she was surprised to find someone looking at her.
He was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen, haunting in his eyes and all that seemed to pool in them. She felt her heart grow shy at his stare, felt her world tilt slightly as she took in a dulcet breath. Her eyes softened incredibly underneath the intensity of his, as if they were petals unfurling and quivered beneath the fierceness and strength flaring in his. His, his eyes. They were a honeycomb yellow, honeycomb burnt and flickering as if a flame lay within them. They bore into her, teased the surface of her own irises and tapped upon them to seek entry. No one had ever looked at her in such a way, as if she were the beginning and end of everything. He was beautiful, beautiful and haunting and for a moment, just a moment - Willa felt herself unravel deeply.
Hearing the bell ring, her breath hiccupped in her chest – rattling her out of this tender bewitching spell. Placing a fluttering hand on her stuttering heart she turned, feeling the daisies slip out of her hair as she ran towards the building and slipped inside to find her first class. It was overwhelming and big, a labyrinth of hallway after hallway as she flustered to find her way and carrying the echo of the memory she just shared. Memory of him.
Finding her room, she approached the teacher with an apology and flushed cheeks – struggling to hold the pile of papers in one arm and her bag half hanging off her other.
"It's quite alright Miss Fawn." Mr. Rivera said – a bemused smile on his face as he gestured for Willa to take a seat at a free easel and canvas. She did so with a breathless nod, sitting at the back and retrieving her own paintbrushes as other's whispered about her. And yet she couldn't focus, couldn't focus nor give into the weight of their stares. For there was only one stare which seemed to matter, only one set of eyes that still teased hers like the touch of a ghost. And so as the class began, as she dipped her brush into the provided paints – she couldn't help but paint his eyes. Her hands moved so unwillingly, the thread attaching them to her mind switching to her heart as she went. Those eyes, those two honeycomb eyes. Who are you? She felt herself whisper as she went. Who may you be?