just to reassure some people I'm slowly posting this story on archive of our own and wattpad (under loulousexperiment and louloustory). But I'm editing, and rereading the chapters before posting them( some of these chapters are 5 years old) so it's taking me some time. I just don't want to post unedited and full errors chapters if can avoid it. I'm also editing at the same the chapters here too.
Chapter 49: A serious girl talk
It felt amazing to be back in his arms after everything that had happened. Even Though with the small amulet around her neck, it did feel like a part of him was always with her. She still preferred ten times more having the real thing in her arms. She felt him kiss gently the top of her head and mumble to her how relieved she was back.
"Yeah, thanks for the help, without you I probably would have become snake food." She chuckled at her own joke.
" Don't even joke about that!" She was surprised to actually hear anger in his voice. She took a small step back to look at him and confirm it. He was looking at her with a frown. And his arms around her waist had tightened their grip.
"Do you know how terrified I was when I saw that thing just a few feet away from you ready to hurt you?" He pulled her closer to him, tucking his face in the side of her neck as if he was trying to hide himself from the world around him.
"Every second you're away from me, I can't stop worrying, thinking up the worst possible ways I could lose you." She gently pushed her hand through his hair, trying to silently remind him that she was here, she was safe.
"I can't lose you Flora. And I can't help but worry when the person I love is in danger." She felt the world stop and disappear around them as soon as she comprehended what he had just admitted. Her hand caressing his hair had fallen to her side, and she felt her eyes slightly tear up. But she finally noticed that the boy in her arms had stiffened. and kept his face hidden from her. She had learned to know him these last months. She knew how difficult and out of character it was for him to open up completely and admit these kinds of things. She did not want to make him more uncomfortable but she also wanted to tell him about her feelings too.
"Me too. I'm terrified when the person I love is in danger." She gently whispered in his ear. He felt his hold around her tighten. They stayed like this for a long time. They were in their own little world where time and other people did not exist. Nothing mattered to them more than the warmth of their embrace.
Unfortunately, they eventually have to let go of each other and go back to the real world. However they keep their hands locked with each other as long as possible. Reluctantly unclasping them they turned the corner and entered the main part of the courtyard. However, they were not as alone as they had thought. the girls were located at the center of the garden talking and hugging Tecna again and again, so glad to see their friend safe and sound. But Flora instantly saw when Stella spotted her and the young mage next to her walking to their hiding spot. From the anger and frustration on her blond haired friend's face, she knew she was doomed. She watched as the girl walked way from the group and stomped in anger "You! Come with me. We are due for a serious girl talk." Before pulling her up the stairs, she turned to the other girls. "Everyone, let's have a slumber party!" The others cheered.
She knew this whole pj party was Stella's attempt at making her spill the beans. The other girls were oblivious of Stella's real intentions. They were putting on some loud music, bringing and piling up all their fluffiest pillows in the middle of the living room. Layla and Musa were dancing with the pixies. Bloom and Tecna were debating on what movie to watch later. The options were either a rom-com or a spy movie. And Stella… well Stella was just sitting across from her on the couch. And staring. She swore she had not seen the blond wink in the last twenty minutes. She was getting tired of this weird tension between; Of this overbearing pressure the blond girl was putting on her.
"Spill it." As soon as Stella said those two words, Flora's anger and anxious feelings exploded.
"Stella! Stop. You're being impossible. You can't just force someone to do whatever you want!" She shouted in anger at the girl in front of her. She barely noticed, the party stopping around them. Musa had magically paused the music, and the others were all staring at the two glaring girls in pure shock and confusion. They had no idea what was going on between their two friends. It's true argued a lot, since they were both so different in personality. One of them being more calm and sensitive while the other took things more lightly.
"I shouldn't even be asking you to do anything, Flora! We're friends, we're supposed to tell each other things, not everything is a secret. Don't you trust us?"
"I said stop. You're trying to guilt trip me. That's not what friends are supposed to do. It's not because I'm friends with you that I owe you all of my secrets. Friends don't pressure the other to 'spill it'. They wait until the other is ready to tell them." Flora explained to her. She still could not hide the fury in her words.
"So what's stopping you from being ready? Why can't you tell us?" Stella shouted back. "Flora, stop acting, you are alone in this world. You always come to us and listen to our problems. and that it's better to let it out. But then you don't follow your own advice! You're just a hypocrite!"
Flora snaps. She grabs the pillow next to her and hits her blond friend with it right in her face. Stella soon as she gets over her surprise grabs the big purple pillow Musa was holding standing next her. The others just watch helplessly as the two fairies let out their anger on each with father filled pillows. When they see the girls are about to fall down from the edge of the couch. Musa and Layla quickly grab each of them and separate them from each other. And bloom disarms them of their fluffy weapons.
Both girls have small feathers stuck everywhere in their hair and to their faces. They were both stubbornly glaring at each other, but their messy hair, rumpled pj's and face covered feathers made the whole thing look hilarious. The girls would have all laughed if it were not for the seriousness of the situation.
Bloom attempted to be the peacemaker in this situation. "Flora, Stella is super worried for you. She just wants to make sure you're okay and that you know we're all here if you need us. She just did not do it the best of ways."
"Yeah, you know it's Stella. Diplomacy is not her strong suit." Musa jokes, trying to make the situation less tense.
"Hey!" They heard Stella protest;
"And Stella, I know you want her to confide in us but forcing to do it like this is not right." Bloom scolded the blond girl. The girl's shoulders lowered in shame and regret. Her expression lost the anger and irritation it was sporting just minutes ago. She hesitantly looked up at the flower fairy standing across the living. "I'm sorry, you're right, I should not have pressure you like that. I was just hurt… that you did not trust us enough to tell us what was going on…" Flora quickly ran towards her sad looking friend and jumped in her arms. "It's okay, okay. I'm so sorry Stella. I should have told you guys from the start. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hide anything. I was just scared. We were always in the middle of a dangerous situation. And honestly did not know how to describe my situation or how to tell you things. Everything was just so uncertain."
Both girls were crying on each other's shoulders. Hugging each other tightly.
Bloom patted their backs in comfort. "We don't want to make you feel like you Have to tell us things; But we do want you to know that we are always here to listen. And we're all great at keeping secrets too."
Flora lifted up her head, and looked around her. She was lucky to have such supportive friends. How could she not trust them? They fought in a war and went on life threatening missions together.
"I… Dimitri and I, we've been seeing each other… I mean dating… we've been dating since the end of second year…" All their eyes widened in surprise. They probably had not expected the pairing to be official for so long. Honestly Bloom had still thought they were in the crushing and flirting stage. But it explained so much. how Flora always disappeared and spent so much time in the library during their break or free evening. all year Or the necklace. Or all the things she knew about the man. And she swore she had heard them call each other their name a few times. When she was so worried and anxious when the man had been imprisoned in the Tree, she had been worried for her boyfriend.
They all went to hug her; "It's okay Flora. We won't tell anyone we promise." They all stayed in their small cuddle pile. waiting for their two friends' tears to stop falling.
Chatta was the one to finally break the serious atmosphere in the room.
"I'm just relieved I don't need to keep this big, huge, gigantic, overwhelming secret from everyone. It was such a pressuring, burdening, tiring, exhausting mission. I just really wanted to spill everything especially when the girls were talking about Spike head, or Flora, or Flora and Spike head. Guys you have no idea how difficult it was for me to keep everything to myself…" Flora crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow at her pixie's complaints.
"If I remember correctly, a certain little blond pixie ended up spilling the beans to all of her friends. Or am I mistaken?"
"Oh yeah, right." They all burst out laughing at the sight of the girl's sheepish smile. However, Flora's laugh was not as loud or long as the other's. She had realized too late that she never asked Darkell about telling the others. She had already felt guilty when Chatta had let the secret out to the other pixies. But now she was feeling a whole new level of guilt. Would he be angry? Mad? Would break up with her because he did not trust her anymore? And if someone else the pixies and the girls found out? guessed about the nature of their relationship? They would get in serious trouble. They both were not minors and had three years of age difference. But it would probably still be a breach of the rules. While Alfea was a renowned university for its open minded and diverse teaching. It still was a strict private academy with a lot of rules to follow, and heavy consequences for the few that didn't.
author's note:
so when i started this story (six years ago.) i was quite young and did not grasp how unethical it is for an adult teacher to date his student a sixteen year old girl. This was one of the reasons why i hesitated to continue writing this story. so i decided for my peace of mind to make, in this story, Alfea a university. and that the girls joined at 18 years old. so at least flora is not a minor when this story starts; i might make darkell 22(+2570 years lol) or something. It won't change things much since they already call themselves first/second/third year and they live alone. just if you see somewhere where i use the words highschool or sixteen/seventeen years old tell me I might have missed it. I know it sounds pointless but still. I'm doing it for myself. just informing you so that you're not surprised when you read "university" in the story.
