A/N: I was actually kinda stumped for this month's theme. Really, what happens in November? But then, I read 'The Night She Disappeared' by Lisa Jewel and got a stunning idea! Granted hers was set for Christmas time, but I think it fits pretty well. But maybe it's just me :I
But anywho enjoy the night under the stars,
D.L.D
P.S I'm also on Wattpad now! My username's DramaLoversDream513 :I
November (Those Rainy Days)
It was November - dark, dreary, rainy November.
The life of Britannia was beginning to dull, winter storming in with its bitter and powerful gusts. Frost and frothy fog began to swarm each morning, temperatures dropped to an aching freeze and trees were now bare and skeletal for the eventual snowfall that would arrive. Not a thing boasted colour - not a single plant nor animal could speak of the autumn and summer seasons that had passed - and it fit well for the time of year: winter was well on its way, cold and miserable and frosty.
But even so there was still a bright face, a kind smile, that although flushed from the gelid weather, was positive in the face of the rain.
"It's November," Elizabeth whispers. Her delicate fingers reach out to touch the icy pane of glass. Her other hand rested against her lips, a bashful blush forming as she thought back to the significance of this month. Of this final month of autumn. "November..."
She had not forgotten. How could she? That first November evening, that time when she had first seen the glimpse of the treasure hidden within, would always be carved into her heart. It would forever stain the blush that coated her cheeks; it would constantly be the thing that caused her legs to quake and her lip to be bitten; it would always be what made her logic numb and her heart race, everything lost in the emotion that came with this month.
The sensation of that November eve.
That November eve...
She had never seen herself as beautiful. Gorgeous.
Elizabeth had always known herself to be pretty, plain, the average goddess you would see. She knew that apart from her silver hair, she had plain Jane features that easily melded within a crowd of lookalikes and similarly modeled people. Her blue eyes were nothing special, her clear skin was something easily obtained, and her pink lips were only due to her naturally pale shade. Plus they were too dull, not plump enough or just something plain and ordinary.
And yet she still toiled to look beautiful - stunning. She still tried to be amazing.
But every time it would fail...
Elizabeth sighed, rolling her eyes as she tossed aside the liquid eyeliner she had failed to apply once more. Her mother, other goddesses, had made it look easy. They made such an act seem flawless and effortless; but when she tried, Elizabeth failed. Her liquid wings would always tremble, come out deformed, causing the goddess to huff as each failed attempt cut her patience short.
Everything else seemed to go right: her hair, her clothes, her mood. They all worked together to try and make this night, this one small moment of calm, memorable. But then the wings had ruin it; damn those wings.
They ruin everything.
"You look amazing," A gentle voice spoke from the doorway. A smile was paired with it, warm and loving when matched with those warm cinnamon eyes.
It was her sister, Margaret, the lavender-haired sibling being spectacularly dressed for the evening. She donned a simple blue dress, her hair styled to support vivid, sweet-smelling flowers. Unlike Elizabeth, her makeup was flawless; Margaret was always flawless.
"I keep messing it up," Elizabeth sighs, turning to face her amused sister. She sheepishly, shyly, extends her hand, offering the makeup to her sibling. "Can you...do them for me?"
Margaret's lips twitch at the reddening of her sister's face, used to her bashful nature. It was often that she would ask for help.
"Of course," Margaret grows a grin, much like that of a maternal figure, and strides across the room. She easily opens the eyeliner and begins to apply it, the light pressure of the nib gliding gracefully over Elizabeth's eyelids.
"You never usually wear makeup," Margaret hums, she does the swooping tip of a wing, deciding to make the design intricate. "Why the sudden change?"
Elizabeth tenses underneath her sister's gaze, sucking in a breath before deciding to answer. Surely Margaret would not judge her for being excited? It was the first major event of autumn, after all. It was a way to forget the stress of the upcoming year.
"It's a special occasion," Elizabeth answers eventually. Red blooms on her cheek betraying her lies. "I just want to look nice for it."
Margaret nods, deciding not to press.
"Just don't try too hard to be something you're not," Her sister speaks, her tone sage. The pressure of the eyeliner runs over Elizabeth's left eyelid, a perfect heart being drawn on the tip. "Someone out there loves you for who you are."
"I - " Elizabeth breathes, her response caught in her throat as she opens her eyes. Margaret looks back at her, her smile still there but her mahogany eyes saying differently. A gentle squeeze was given to Elizabeth's shoulder, the elder sister getting up from the stool.
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Straight after.
Elizabeth released an internal groan, knowing that it was most likely her 'date'. Her dismay most likely showed as Margaret's lips twitched, a giggle daring to break out at the sight of Elizabeth's furrowed brows and reluctant lip-biting. It was never hard to tell when Elizabeth was upset or distressed.
"We always have admirers," Margaret chuckles at her younger sister, shaking her head as she exits the room. "But only one is right for us!"
Soon Elizabeth was left alone, staring at her reflection. She spots the goddess wings her sister had drawn for her, the little hearts on the end being a stylized addition. It looked wonderful, perfect, with her simple makeup and attempts to look wonderful. But was it really worth it?
Leaving her reflection behind, Elizabeth bit into her lip.
"Only one is right..."
Elizabeth sighed, watching as everyone else but herself seemed to have endless bouts of fun.
Groups pranced about the dance floor, some of the guests seeming more tame than others, while others sneaked in flasks and gorged on the buffet table placed to the side of the hall. A few girls were taking selfies in a corner, messing with the strobe lights and trying to get the right effect; some guys were loitering around the locker rooms, their behaviour anything but saintlike; and others, like Elizabeth, were taking a backseat on the bleachers.
The lingering loiterers they were called; it was the place for the sore thumbs, the outliers, and it showed perfectly.
The night had been set up wonderfully, late autumn decorations and lighting decked to the nines, but ultimately failing to cheer up the stragglers. Red, amber and bright yellow steamers hung from the roof, bright and warm like the flames of a roaring fire. Twirling leaf and pine cone decorations and hanging lanterns were specked in places, catching the dancing fairy lights of the room. There was even a mini 'forest' set up, the school committee trying their best to make the event cheery and bright.
But even the bright lights and fake autumn leaves couldn't place a smile on Elizabeth's lips, her hopes for the night severely dashed when she learned of her 'date' for the night. Mael. The son of a long line of successful Archangels, the whole family progressing to have severely strengthened ties with Elizabeth's. As a result a contract was born and Elizabeth found herself trapped within a life already mapped out for her, regardless of what she wanted.
But then she had met him. The flaring dragon of her story - the dark and foreboding enemy that always seemed to want her to smile.
He was her opposite - a demon - and yet found a way to make her feel more comfortable than even her own race could. He was short in height, a natural golden blonde with clover eyes, and yet owned the dark and disdained blood of the demon race. He was everything and yet nothing. Cruel and yet kind. He seemed pure, youthful and carefree, but really he was really the opposite: he could be cold, callous and entirely motivated by gain.
Yet he still spoke to her. He still found her.
And Elizabeth simply couldn't believe how lucky she was to cross paths with someone so wonderful. Someone as extraordinary as he.
"Meliodas..." Elizabeth breathed, awestruck that he would even come to an event like this. He didn't seem like the type. Not at all. In fact Elizabeth had expected him to skip the dance, his obvious distaste of such events being more blatant than a red flag at times. But here he was, looking rather bored and yet also oddly amused at the same time. But that was Meliodas for you.
However at Elizabeth's gentle words, Meliodas turned to her direction. His darkened eyes caught hers, glimmering like prized emeralds in the low lighting, and Elizabeth froze. She stiffened. The goddess blinked, not at all noticing her silent summons, as a heavy blush brewed on her porcelain skin.
She had been caught wishing once again...
Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath, preparing for the mental battle that was certain to ensue as he approached. She could feel her stomach knotting, her gut twisting and her throat tightening as her eyes darted about for any sign of her 'date'. Luckily he didn't seem to be around; the committee was keeping him busy.
"How about we get some fresh air?" Meliodas had asked it as a question, but Elizabeth knew it was more of a nudge in that direction. She could tell from the hidden force, the phrasing of the prompt, that it was anything but a suggestion.
Her lip became stuck between her teeth. Her stomach twisted more.
"Um..." Elizabeth paused, her sapphire eyes checking once more for Mael. He seemed to be out of sight. "Sure."
Meliodas gave a small smile in response to her answer, easily lacing his fingers to interlock with hers. The sensation was familiar, not at all foreign, and yet Elizabeth felt it was slightly different from usual. It was gentler, but still holding the same sort of firmness that easily pulled her away from the hubbub of the crowd. Not that she complained about it - she had missed him. Missed seeing him.
She didn't see Meliodas much anymore.
"Where are we going?" Elizabeth raised a brow, frowning as they drew away from the crowd.
They were now outside the building, stood near the main road which led from the school into town. A darkened gloom clung onto the outer edges of the road, the glowing streetlamps that the school had not doing much to illuminate the area. Instead they supplied small circles of light, barely creating enough for the students in the area. Anything could happen and nobody would know; a shiver crept up Elizabeth's spine.
That wasn't a great thought to have right now.
The frosty chill of the late-autumn air filled the area, penetrating and unshakable. It contrasted the darkened sky above, the twinkling stars and moon that lay within it portraying serene tranquility and peace. So did the occasional gust that rushed past. But that was expected; it was late and right at the end of November: the weather was bound to be shitty.
"To get fresh air," Meliodas responds breezily. He begins to walk off and Elizabeth follows.
The two ended up sharing a bench behind the school, huddled together under the warmth of his jacket. They were pressed close, to save as much body heat as possible, sharing a single flask of smuggled liquor as they stared at the clear but dark autumn sky.
"So Ellie from the bus," Meliodas begins, taking a swig from his flask. He passes it to her, raising a brow. "Where'd you disappear to?"
"Disappear to?" Elizabeth coughs, nearly choking on the liquid she had just swallowed. Her cheeks warm, bright red against the darkness of the evening sky. She purses her lips. "What do you mean?"
Elizabeth knew exactly what Meliodas meant. He knew it and she knew it. After the last time she had met with Meliodas, Elizabeth had to avoid him like a plague. She no longer got the bus in the mornings, no longer passed his classes on her way to hers, and no longer tried to find him at lunch. Instead Elizabeth had to dedicate her time to preparing for her already planned for future, her mother berating her for choosing to hang out with someone like...him.
But naturally, Elizabeth had forgotten to tell Meliodas about that.
"You know exactly what I mean," Meliodas deadpans, not at all likely to take flimsy excuses. His gaze is accusing but not threatening - its more like he's poking fun at her. But at the same time he couldn't be. His face was too serious to be jesting or teasing.
Elizabeth nibbles on her lip, tasting the flavour of the alcohol she'd just consumed. She then breathes deeply, calling upon the liquid courage that the liquor provided her with.
"I - my mother drives me now," Elizabeth sighs, watching as her breathe crystallizes and evaporates in the cool air. Her cheeks redden, her eyes falling to stare at the frozen grass and mud beneath her feet. "She says you're a bad influence."
Meliodas doesn't answer for a beat. He is still, silent, staring ahead as he swallows another gulp of the flask.
"I mean, she's not wrong," He finally chuckles, the gesture seeming carefree and humorous but owning a dulled edge. It didn't seem as full as it usually was. It seemed like it was hiding something, like the laughter was placed there to shake away some sort of other notion - some sort of other feeling.
Elizabeth notes this, frowning as she presses her lips and studies the blonde. He didn't seem bad. Nor did he seem dangerous. In fact, over the time she had grown to known him, Elizabeth had learned that Meliodas was actually someone who had many layers. Like an onion, like a big, scary, green ogre, he had layers. A ton of them.
And the goddess couldn't deny that she enjoyed peeling them back one by one; she savoured learning more and more about this person piece by piece.
But no-one else saw it that way.
"I'd say my mother's wrong," Elizabeth responds, mustering the courage to actually look at him. To actually capture his eye contact and attention. Her worries and self-awareness are brushed aside by the burning courage in her veins as she wiggles closer to him on the bench. She blinks owlishly, unaware of the mere gap that remained between them. Not even a blush breaks out.
Meliodas blinks back, studying her as well. He seems surprised, shocked, any possible comeback swallowed back by the unexpectedness of Elizabeth's words. His grimace is gone and he is leaning closer, close enough to see each of her eyelashes, and rests his face just before hers. He leaves as little a gap there is possible, his silence as astute as a his words could be.
Elizabeth feels her insides squirm. She's not sure what's causing it - her nerves or the liquor - but she's sure it's butterflies. It has to be. She can feel her lip catching itself between her teeth once more, her face feeling warm as she senses the close proximity of the blonde. She can feel the tickly sensation of his wild blonde hair, can feel the warmth of his breath fanning over her face and almost - almost - sense no space between them.
Should she kiss him?
Her mind panics. It admonishes her. The thought of it alone makes Elizabeth feel as if she should faint. She feels she should move or something, stop whatever this was until it was too late, but nothing happens.
And then Meliodas is breaking away, his voice gaining its usual chipper tone.
"I like you, Ellie from the bus," Meliodas answers, tapping her nose as he grins widely. Getting up, he then extends a hand to help her. "Actually, I more than like you."
"M-more than like?" Elizabeth chokes out, her flush now blatantly prominent. Her face feels way too warm for the chilly evening.
"Yep," He nods, "I love you, Ellie from the bus."
Elizabeth freezes, her breath caught in her throat as she stares at him. As she stares at the weird and interesting and incomprehensible Meliodas. He was so hard to read sometimes, so multilayered like an onion or pomegranate. He was as hard to read as an impossible made up language.
And yet Elizabeth could tell that Meliodas meant it and that it wasn't some stupid other force talking. She could tell from the glimmer of his eyes and the softness of his grin. She could feel it in the hand that accepted hers and the way her nerves told her to relax. She could read it in his words, his sincerity. Elizabeth knew because she knew.
She just knew.
And would forever remember that then - that November under the glittering stars of that night sky - she had first known. She had first known he genuinely loved her.
Three years later and it was exactly the same. It was just like back then - it was back then. Back when they had not cared, back when time would stretch forever into their days. Back when they had twirled under the stars, a secret being shared between them and only them.
His green eyes stare into hers, the same strawberry blush growing on her cheeks.
"I love you Ellie from the bus."
At his words she smiles, giggles, her face bright despite the gloom of the world.
It was November, the time of year when Meliodas had first loved her, and she would not forget that. Not ever.
