Author's Note: And here is a little surprise for you all! Two chapters in ONE day! Enjoy!
Chapter 17
Elianna
"Absence from those we love is self from self - a deadly banishment."
William Shakespeare
Ariston was waiting for me when I got out of my last class, standing in the middle of the hallway with his arms crossed and a smile on his lips. I walked out to him, oblivious to the looks we were getting.
"Hello." I said.
"Hello, my love." He said as he kissed my hand then held it, I laced my fingers through his and we began to walk towards the parking lot.
"Do you know how to drive?" Ariston asked.
"Yes I do, my father taught me last summer in his truck. My mother tried to teach me, but every time I stepped slightly on the gas she seemed to have a heart attack." Ariston laughed and I joined in. "I have my permit but not my license. I have not had the money for Drivers Ed so I have been planning to get my license when I turn eighteen. I have been working at the Stables to save up for a car." I told him.
"Would you like to drive my car to the Stables?" Ariston asked. I was amazed once again by him.
"You want me to drive your car? You have never even seen me drive." I said.
"I trust you." He said and held up the keys.
I smiled and took them from him. We were to the car a few minutes later. Ariston held my door open for me then got in the passenger seat. He must have been planning this, the driver's seat and even the mirror were both adjusted to my height. I smiled to him and he smiled at my excitement. I turned the car on and it purred to life.
"This car is smoother and quicker than your father's truck, so be sure to be gentle on the gas and the break." Ariston informed me.
I nodded and looked around to see where everything was before I put it in reverse. I put the smallest amount of pressure on the gas and it went. The car was amazingly smooth, it glided as I pulled out onto the road.
Ariston turned the radio on, completely at ease with my driving as he leaned back in his seat. I did what I could not to look at him, I knew that if I did I might not be able to look away and that would be dangerous. I kept to the speed limit, if it bothered Ariston he did not say so. When I pulled into the parking lot of the Stables, I turned the car off and finally looked at him and smiled.
"I have to say that I LOVE this car." I stated frankly, he chuckled.
"As do I." Ariston said then took my hand, looking into my eyes as he spoke. "Mera, you do not have to work at the Stables any more. I know that you love horses, I also know that it takes a lot out of you to do all this work day in and day out. If you want a car you can have one of mine, or I will buy one for you or have one custom made by Hephaestus if you like."
"Where is this coming from?" I asked, his offer seemed completely out of the blue.
"I have been wanting to talk to you about this for some time." Ariston said. "Mera, let me provide for you, let me take care of the woman I love. By not working here you will be able to sleep in and spend more time with me." I smiled at the thought and Ariston smiled.
His eyes were pleading to me, I saw how much this would mean to him and I was amazed and touched by that truth. I had to admit that the thought of being taken care of by the man I love was an irresistible offer. I love horses, a part of me comes alive when I ride, but taking care of thirty of them day after day was draining me.
"Okay." I said and leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you."
"It is my pleasure." He said, meaning every word before kissing me again.
We once again became lost in our kisses as our baser instincts took over, if it were any cooler outside the windows would have been steamed up. As always, he pulled away from me, much to my disappointment. We got out and I handed the keys to Ariston. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I wrapped my arm around his waist as we went to get Vrontos from his stall.
"I will go get changed." I said to him once we had Vrontos on the crossties.
Ariston nodded and leaned down to kiss my lips. My boss, Jenna McCellan, was in the office sitting at her computer when I walked by. Her black hair was held behind her head by a pencil as her gray eyes stared intently at her computer screen. I decided that now was as good a time as any to speak with her.
"Jenna?" I asked.
"Hello Mera." She smiled to me. "How are you?"
"I am doing well." I told her. "I wanted to let you know that I will no longer be working here."
"Is that so?" She asked, truly surprised.
"If you still need help until you find someone else, I can stay on for a while more?" I offered, not wanting to leave her high and dry. She smiled and shook her head.
"It is not a problem," She told me, with a friendly smile. "Thank you for telling me. You are welcome to stop right away. And thank you for the work you have done over the past three years. We will miss you around here." I nodded and returned her smile before leaving her office.
I changed into my jogging bra, activewear tank top and breeches and walked out into the tack room to put my boots on. Ariston was there, zippering up his beautiful boots. Ariston smiled to me then looked at my boots with that strange longing in his eyes again. He looked into my eyes, his eyes pleading.
"You must allow me to buy you new boots, it has been driving me crazy seeing you in those old things when you deserve far better." Ariston almost begged.
"They are good boots." I said.
"I can buy you better." He promised.
"And then I would have to break them in." I said, not looking forward to that.
When you buy a new pair of tall riding boots the leather is stiff and will give you blisters until you break them in, which can take a month or more of use. Breaking in a saddle is even worse from what I hear. Basically anything that is leather has to be broken in with use and applied conditioner.
"No, you will not." Ariston said. "Will you allow me to buy you a new pair if you do not have to break them in?" He asked, I laughed at how intent he was on buying me something new. He did say that he would be far worse than Margret…
"Yes, I will." I said. Ariston smiled triumphantly, it was truly a sight to behold.
"What would you like to do on Vrontos today? Dressage? Jumping? Cross-Country?" He asked. I smiled at the thought.
"Cross-Country would be fun." I said.
"Then I will put the studs in." He said with that smile as he picked up the box of studs.
We walked out of the tack room together and to Vrontos. Ariston opened up the box and pick up one of Vrontos' hoofs, cleaning out the small round holes in the horseshoes with a metal tool.
When I was younger I could never understand why horseshoes had small round holes in the metal. I asked my father what their purpose could be and he showed me. They are for different shaped pieces of metal that you screw into the horse's shoes, they provide the horse with traction, like cleats. They are necessary for cross-country jumping since the ground can be slick.
"Mr. Crete?" Ariston and I both turned our heads to see Vance Colwell standing by the tacking stall we were in.
"Yes?" Ariston asked, in a friendly tone.
"I have a few questions about your class today." Vance stated, his over confidence easily apparent.
"Ask away." Ariston said as he continued to put the studs in.
Even a blind man could tell that Vance has a very high opinion of himself, and it does not help that most every girl in school is crazy about him, except for me. Even though he has decent looks with his dark green eyes and brown hair, I have never found myself attracted to him in any way. Vance has asked me out countless times before Aaron and I were together, he thought I was playing hard to get when I turned him down each and every time.
Vance asked Ariston question after question and Ariston answered each one precisely. The few times I took my eyes off of Ariston at work to politely glance up at Vance I found him staring at me, he would smile in his cocky way and I would look away. Does he really not know that Ariston and I are together? I thought the whole school knew by now.
"What you teach, it sounds more like theory than fact." Vance stated, his eyes still on me though he spoke to Ariston.
"History is written by the victor Mr. Colwell. What is in history books is not always the truth." Ariston stated.
"Who is to say you aren't wrong?" Vance asked in his cocky tone.
I chuckled at the impossibility of that and Ariston glanced at me with a smile before answering Vance.
"Who is to say those history books you refer to are correct?" Ariston asked.
"They were written by professors who have PhD's in history, they know what they are talking about." Vance replied, irritated that he was not winning the conversation that he was clearly trying to turn into an argument. I smiled, if he only knew to whom he spoke.
Ariston was still calm as he put studs in the last shoe, not bothered in the least by Vance's attitude.
"That does not mean they are right." Ariston stated. "Those professors work with what knowledge they can find. My family has gathered theses truths I teach over generations. We simply have access to information others do not. I can assure you that what I teach in my classroom is nothing but fact. You do not have to believe me, and if you dislike my class so very much you are more than welcome to no longer attend." Ariston said, his voice kind but true.
I smiled, glancing up to see Vance's face red as he glared at Ariston. I had never seen Vance look so embarrassed, he looked at me and took my smile for interest, returning my smile with a cocky grin.
"How have you been Mera?" He asked, clearly trying to flirt with me. I glanced at Ariston to see the smile leave his face, upset taking its place, before looking back to Vance.
"Very well, thank you for asking." I said with a cool politeness.
"I heard you broke up with that Rockford kid." He said.
"Yes, I did. I am in a relationship now however." I said before he could ask me out.
"Really? With whom?" He asked.
Ariston put down Vrontos' leg and walked over to me with a tender smile and kissed me softly, he made the kiss linger and I was glad he did. I was his and I had no problem with Ariston flaunting that fact, I enjoyed it. I smiled when the kiss ended and we turned to Vance.
"With myself." Ariston answered, pride in his voice as he wrapped his arm around my waist.
I blushed further and smiled up to him as I put an arm around the beautiful god next to me. I turned my attention back to Vance, smiling less, remembering something I wanted to tell him.
"By the way Vance, your horse got loose again this morning." I informed him.
"He has never been well behaved, I do not know why I even keep the beast." Vance said.
"It is not the horses fault." I stated, it has always upset me when owners blame the horse when they do not know how to handle them. "Perhaps if you came to ride him more than once a month, and did not allow him to run all over you, he would not be so badly behaved." I said, Vance flushed in embarrassment. "If you are going to sell Thomas then do so, but if you are going to keep him then you must train him better. I am no longer working here and I will not have these girls harmed because of your lack of interest in that horse." I told him, looking him dead in the eyes. I have always been the protective type.
"If you would excuse us, we must be off." Ariston said, removing Vrontos' halter and taking the rains in his free hand as we walked out of the Stables. "He calls that horse a beast?" Ariston asked with a laugh. "Poorly trained? yes. But a beast? He clearly has never seen a warhorse before. I would love to see what he would make of my sister's horse." I laughed.
"I cannot stand him or the way he treats his horse." I told Ariston. "He thinks he is better than everyone. For gods sake, look at how he talked to you? A son of Zeus." I said, shaking my head. Ariston laughed.
"One of the perils of masquerading as a human I am afraid." Ariston said with a shrug. "You can be no more than mortal and you must stick to the story you created or else they will begin to suspect something's amiss. In the old days, when I was young, it took almost nothing to convince a mortal of your divinity. Now no one believes you. That can be quite fun however. You know what I love doing sometimes?" He asked.
"What?" I asked.
"Talking to a mortal who does not know who I am or even that my kind exist, and every now and then saying something about my being a god and a son of Zeus and telling stories of my family." Ariston said with a huge grin. "No one ever believes me, they just laugh and say something along the lines of 'yeah right.' It can be quite comical. I could give them the secrets of the universe and they would believe I was pulling their leg." He laughed and I joined in, my irritation with Vance forgotten.
"People must think you have lost it." I said and Ariston laughed and kissed my hand that he held.
"Ah yes, but it is so very entertaining." He said with a smile. "And since I can change my shape at will and can look like anyone, they would not even know it was me if they passed me by again."
"You can change your shape?" I asked Ariston in complete surprise.
"Did I leave that out?" He asked, I nodded. "Forgive me. Yes, because we do not have a physical body, we can change our form into anything and can look like anyone. The only thing we cannot copy is another god's appearance and whatever we turn into, we keep the color of our eyes."
"Wow." I said. Ariston wrapped his arm around me and we began walking again as I watched him.
"I love you." I said, I just felt like saying that truth in that moment. Ariston smiled to me.
"I love you." Ariston replied and stopped Vrontos to place a lingering kiss on my lips.
Cross-Country was exhilarating, Vrontos was beyond amazing. Ariston and I went on a long trail ride after I rode, galloping even faster than we had the last time, faster than any horse should be able to go, it was wonderful. It was dark out by the time we returned to the Stables, Ariston and I were the only ones there as we walked into the aisle.
I kissed Ariston's neck softly and laid my head against his back, breathing in his heady mint and vanilla scent. Ariston helped me off Vrontos and put the majestic stallion on the cross ties. We took care of Vrontos together.
"Ariston?" I asked.
"Yes, my love?" He replied.
"How old is Vrontos?" I had been wondering about that.
"He is fifty years younger than I am, which makes him five thousand and eleven years old." Ariston answered.
"How is he able to live for so long?" I asked.
"His breed lives longer than most, but it is the connection we share that keeps him alive. I am sure you know of the bond that exist between horse and rider," He said. I nodded, knowing it well. "Finding your horse is like finding your soul mate, the bond is that strong. Through that bond Vrontos shares my immortality so that as long as I live, so does he." Ariston smiled to me. "It is different with soul mates however. You will have your own immortality if you should choose to become my wife." I was stunned by the very idea of immortality.
"Truly?" I asked. He smiled and nodded.
"When a god marries a mortal, one of two things happens. If the mortal is the gods soul mate, the one they are meant to be with, then the mortal will be given immortality after the marriage is consummated." Ariston's face changed a bit, his eyes saddening and he began brushing Vrontos again before he continued. "However, if the mortal is not the gods soul mate, then by law it is decreed that the mortal will not be given immortality, and the god will be married to her for her human life and watch her wither and die as he stays the same."
"You are speaking of your wife." It was not a question. He nodded, brushing more quickly.
I walked up to him and put my hand on top of his on the brush and my other hand on his arm. He stopped brushing and sighed before looking to me. I placed my hand on his cheek.
"It is alright my love, I do not mind you speaking of her." I smiled. "Tell me?" He sighed and nodded.
"My wife and sons did not die in a car accident. It was old age that brought about their end some two thousand years ago." He said.
Ariston leaned his back against the wall then slid down to sit, I sat next to him and took his hand in mine. His eyes were far away, thousands of years away, and a small smile lit his lips.
"I will never forget the first time I saw her." Ariston began. "Her parents, nobles of Dion, were making an offering to my father. Father invited me to join him that day, he had been busy as of late and wanted to spend the day with his son. In those days, young and beautiful women would dance before the likeness of my father in praise of him both before and after the sacrifice was made. It was considered a high honor to be one of them.
"Elianna was one of the maids." Ariston laughed. "I stood off to the side next to my father, invisible to all. I could not take my eyes off Elianna, and I could hardly contain my laughter as she stumbled through the steps she had been taught while quite literally tripping over her own feet. When she neared me, she spun and lost her balance and fell right into me. I made myself apparent and caught her. She looked up at me, it was the first time I looked into her eyes. She was so young and embarrassed." He laughed again. "And so very beautiful.
"Before I met Elianna, the only thing I had ever felt for a woman was either a family bond or lust. But when I looked into her eyes, those green eyes captured me in a way I did not know was possible. I fell in love with her right then and there. I courted her and found that I loved her even more for who she was. She had this way about her, this warmth and kindness and light, and a heart capable of so much love and compassion. You both have that in common. Elianna passed that on to Kallisto, along with her face. It was not long before I asked Elianna to be my wife.
"We went to the Moirae, as is custom, to find out if we were soul mates. I had never been more certain of anything than I was of her. She was the one, I was sure of it. I was beyond shocked to find out from them that she was not my soul mate. Elianna and I talked and decided that we would marry.
"Elianna said that she would be honored to be my wife for the rest of her human lifetime. How could I explain to her how short one is? That I did not want her for just one lifetime, that I wanted her always." He shook his head and let out a heavy sigh. "I would have gladly traded my immortality for a mortal lifetime with her, it would have been easier that way." I squeezed his hand and he smiled slightly to me.
"A month after Elianna and I met, we became husband and wife. We were so happy, I treasured every day with her. A year after we wed we had our first son Sophros, two years after that Elijah was born and a year later Solon. There is nothing like having children, it is a difficult task to raise them but well worth it.
"A few days after each of my sons were born we brought them to the Moirae. Each time I prayed they would be immortal, and each time the result was the same." Ariston's sadness was evident in his voice and his eyes. Even after two thousand years these events still weighed on him. "I knew that I could not handle watching another of my children pass when their time came. It was another ten years before Kallisto was born. We named her after Artemis' beloved daughter. I cannot describe my joy when I found out that she would be immortal." He smiled.
"Even as she aged, Elianna never lost her beauty or her spirit. Her silver hair and fine wrinkles made her all the more beautiful in my eyes." Ariston said and took a deep, shaky breath.
"I still remember the day she passed. She had been growing weaker, none of Apollo's medicine could help, it was nature. She had lived for eighty-nine years, seventy-four of those years spent as my wife, which was far longer than mortals were alive in those days. I stayed by her side those last few years, not leaving her unless there was no other choice. I would carry her out to see the ocean and take her different places, but she had little energy left." I could hear the raw emotion in his voice. "She knew when her time was at an end, she asked to see our children and grandchildren. They all came and gathered around our bed where Elianna laid nestled in silk with her silver hair flowing over her shoulders. She told them that she loved them and would some day see them again in Elysium. Then she spoke to Kallisto and I, holding our hands in hers. She told us to take care of each other and that she loved us both dearly and always would, then she sent our children away.
"Her last words she spoke to me as I held her in my arms. 'Be strong my Ariston. You have been a loving and faithful husband to me, and a wonderful father to our children. Do not morn me my love, thanks be to you, I have lived a full and blissful life, filled with such love. We both know this is not my end. I will live on through our children and some day return to the Earth in another form. I hope I have been a good wife to you.' I told her that she had been the most extraordinary wife anyone could ever ask for. She smiled and placed her withered hand on my cheek. 'You will find her someday' she said, 'and when you do, know that I want you to be with her, I want you to be happy, to live on and love again. Do not hold onto me my love, you must let me go.'
"I kissed her lips one last time and told her how much I love her, and that I was thankful to have her as my wife for as long as I did. Then I held her in my arms as she slipped away from me, never to return."
A single tear rolled down Ariston's cheek as he looked unseeing at the ceiling. I knew that one tear was more emotion than he has showed to anyone since she passed. I could hardly breath through my tears. I leaned in and kissed away the tear that had fallen then rested my cheek to his. He put his hand in my hair and I wrapped my arms around him. No words could fit for all he had just shared, I could only imagine how hard it had been for him to tell me that.
"I love you." I whispered over and over again as I held him close, hoping and praying that I was bringing him some peace.
Ariston held me close. After a long while he pulled back to look into my eyes and wiped away my tears.
"Elianna and I built a life together, we raised our children and watched our grandchildren at play. That kind of bond stays with you. You need to know that I will always love her, but that was then, and you are now. Please, know how much I love you Mera." Ariston pleaded, his voice so profound.
"I know how much you love me. I love you." I told him with a smile. He leaned in and kissed me then held me for a while longer.
"You have no idea what your love means to me." He whispered softly into my ear.
A little while later we got up and finished taking care of Vrontos, the horse was amazingly patient. After we put him back in his stall, we changed into our other clothing and went back into the aisle of the Stables.
Ariston looked at me and I smiled, he leaned down as I leaned up to reach his lips, our arms wrapping around each other. Just like those other times our lips have met, the kiss turned from sugar to fire quickly. My back was against the wall, his hands on me and mine on him. Ariston's hand slid under my shirt on my flat stomach then went around to my back to hold my body closer to his. The feeling of his hand on my bare skin… I smiled through our dizzying kisses. I wondered how much longer Ariston could hold out. If our actions were any indication, it would not be much longer, I could feel how his body hungered for mine. He was kissing my neck when I heard the angriest sound I have ever heard.
"Get your hands off my girlfriend!" The all too familiar voice screamed in rage.
Ariston and I turned to see Aaron stocking towards us, I have never seen him so angry before. This was not just anger, it was pure rage and hatred that radiated off of him as he kept his eyes fixed on Ariston with a murderous look. Ariston quickly moved me behind him and away from the wall.
"Aaron, do not." I warned him.
Aaron may be the quarterback of Blueridge Prep, but Ariston is a god who was trained to fight by the Goddess of War and Strategy herself. I saw him fight those Shadows. I knew full well what would happen if it came down to a fight, and no part of me wanted Aaron to get hurt.
Ariston pushed me away from him and towards the wall just as Aaron charged, like a bull, towards Ariston. Ariston quickly moved out of the way. Aaron spun around and tried to punch Ariston again and again, every now and then trying for a kick. But for all his tries, Aaron never laid a hand on Ariston, not once. Ariston either redirected every blow with ease and accuracy or moved out of the way so that the punch or kick went right past him, throwing Aaron off balance.
Ariston's face was a mask, no emotion showing, while Aaron's was screwed up in fury. Ariston did not aim even one blow at Aaron, never once did he try to hit him, which I was thankful for. Aaron did not seem to tire out, he only became angrier that he was not landing a single punch. Ariston blocked a punch and pushed Aaron away from him with the palm of his hand to his chest, Aaron stumbled back ten feet.
I hoped that would have stopped Aaron, but the fool came at Ariston again, trying to hit him in any way possible but still never succeeding. Aaron started to move Ariston back towards the wall with his attacks, or so it seemed. I knew that Ariston would only be going in that direction if he wished it.
When Ariston was near the wall, Aaron aimed a punch right at Ariston's head. Ariston moved out of the way at the very last moment and Aaron screamed out in pain as his fist collided with the oak wall with a sickening crunch. Ariston moved away to the middle of the aisle, facing Aaron.
"Aaron, stop." Ariston said, his voice a deadly calm.
Listen to him, please Aaron, I do not want you to be harmed any further. I begged him in my mind. I knew full well that Ariston could kill Aaron with ease and though I doubted Ariston would purposely do such a thing, I knew that accidents happen in fights.
Aaron turned around, still fuming in rage. His hurt hand hung limp by his side, blood dropped off his fingertips but Aaron did not seem to notice. I cannot take any more of this, Aaron is going to get himself killed. Ariston glanced at me for a moment before his eyes returned to Aaron. As Aaron started to pace forward again, I felt something bubbling within me, like a tempest.
"Stop this!" I called out, my voice was far deeper and louder than it has ever been. It seemed to hold a storm with it. "ENOUGH!"
Aaron stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me with shock, completely taken aback. I saw the ghost of a smile on Ariston's lips for a moment before the mask returned. I walked in between the two of them and looked at Aaron.
"Just what in the hell do you think you are doing?" I asked, the same tone in my voice.
"He had his hands on you!" Aaron yelled.
"I want his hands on me!" I yelled back, which did not make things better.
"Do you really think this guy cares about you! He is just using you! For crying out loud, are really so stupid that you cannot see that!" Aaron yelled at me.
"You will not speak to her in that manner." Ariston growled, putting himself in between Aaron and I.
I knew Ariston would defend my honor, and I knew what that could mean. The storm left me like that, I needed to calm Ariston. I reached my hand around Ariston and placed it on his chest, leaning my head against his back. I felt him relax slightly at my touch.
"Please, my Ariston, he is not in his right mind. I know how easily you can harm him, please, do not." I begged him in a low voice that only he could hear. Ariston sighed deeply and turned around.
"As you wish." Ariston said. I smiled a thank you and walked around Ariston to see Aaron. He was still fuming.
"Ariston, I need to speak to Aaron, alone." I said, turning back to Ariston.
"I am not leaving you with him, not in the state he is in." Ariston said.
"You think I would hurt her?" Aaron asked in outrage.
"Enough!" I said, my voice deep again. I took a deep breath to steady myself then walked to stand before Ariston. "Ariston," I said, he took his eyes off of Aaron and looked into mine. "He will not harm me. I need to speak with him and your presence is not exactly calming him. He should not have found out like this." I said the last part in a lower voice, pleading with my eyes for Ariston to understand. Ariston placed his hand on my arm, his eyes were serious.
"I will be right outside if you need me, I can be here in a moment." He said.
I nodded and gave a soft smile, which he returned then he looked over my head at Aaron with a deadly look, a warning. Ariston sighed and kissed my forehead softly before walking away. I turned to Aaron, he was shaking with rage.
"I knew this was about him." Aaron stated, struggling not to yell. "We have been together for two years and you threw it all away because of him."
"Aaron, I am not your girlfriend anymore." I said calmly, even though I was very upset by his behavior. "I ended our relationship not because of Ariston, but because it had not felt right for a long time. Something was missing. I said nothing to you because I did not want to hurt you, because I loved you." I looked at his hand, still dripping blood and sighed. "Let me see that."
I walked up to him and he gave me a stubborn look, I raised an eyebrow in a challenge and Aaron sighed and lifted his hand. I took it gently. I could tell from the looks of it that it was broken, the bones out of place. This is beyond my knowledge, but perhaps...
"You are going to need Ariston to fix this." I said.
"No way in hell." Aaron said. I rolled my eyes.
"It will heal wrong if I do not fix it soon." I turned at the sound of Ariston's voice.
"Bones take weeks to heal, I have the time to go to a doctor." Aaron said. Ariston shook his head.
"If you wait until then they will have to rebreak your bones instead of simply having me align them. You have always been a fast healer, haven't you?" Ariston said, something in his tone implied that he knew something more than he was saying. I looked at Aaron, there was something in his eyes as well, a recognition that I could not comprehend.
"Why should I trust you?" Aaron asked him, his voice calmer. Ariston laughed and shook his head, the mask gone.
"I was not the one who attacked you, remember?" Ariston asked. "I harbor no ill will against you, Aaron, I understand why you did what you did. I wanted to rip your head off when I saw you kiss her." I thought back to the day we met and the look of outrage in Ariston's eyes when Aaron kissed me a long goodbye. Aaron was still not convinced; Ariston sighed then laughed again. "My brother is the greatest doctor who has ever lived, he has taught me well." Ariston stated. "If you want use of that hand anytime soon, you are going to have to allow me to set the bones properly."
"Fine." Aaron said.
"Have a seat, I will get my things." Ariston said. He smiled to me once and I returned his smile before he walked away.
Aaron sat down on a fold-up chair and I sat on the one next to him. We sat in silence for a few moments, just looking at each other, before he spoke.
"I hoped that it was all just a rumor, the two of you being together I mean." Aaron said.
"Like my dating Clark?" I asked, speaking of a rumor the boy in question started.
"And Norm, and Vance, and Walter to name a few." Aaron said.
"Hmm, it seems I do get around." I said, Aaron chuckled. I was glad to hear the sound, it brought back memories. He looked at me, I knew the longing in his eyes.
"Jack told me... but I did not want to believe him." Aaron told me. I did not know what to say to that, I looked at him, wishing there were some way I could ease his pain and bring him peace. "I miss you." Aaron said. "I miss being with you, making you laugh at my lame jokes, kissing you. I want you back. Whatever I did wrong, I will fix it. I will do anything you ask, just please..." He pleaded with me. I sighed.
"It was never about you Aaron." I told him.
"It's not you, it's me? Really? After two years together and another year of friendship that is what you are going to give me?" Aaron asked.
"Why can you not understand?" I said to him. "You can choose whom you are with, but not who you love. I have no control over my love for Ariston. You and I had our time together, for a time, I was yours and I will always treasure the time we spent together, but that is done now. You told me that if I found someone who made me happy, I should be with him." I reminded him.
"But I did not mean him." Aaron said, hurt apparent in his voice, his eyes still pleading.
"Would it feel any different if it were someone else you saw me kissing?" I asked, Aaron looked away from me and I sighed. "This is not about Ariston, this is about you not wanting me to be with someone else. Aaron, we are not going to be together again. I want you in my life, but not if this is how you are going to treat the man I love." I said to him.
"How can you be in love with him?" Aaron asked, shaking his head, clearly not able to wrap his mind around this fact.
"I honestly do not know how, I felt something for him the moment I saw him, there was no helping it." I told him with a smile. "I tried not to love him, not to care, for you on some level I tried. Because I loved you and I did not want to hurt you. But I cannot deny what I feel for him, I love him and I know that he loves me, I feel it, I can see it. Ariston is a great man, he is kind and strong and warm and wonderful. Would you rather I was dating some jackass who only wants me for my body?" I asked him.
Aaron was silent for a moment looking into my eyes. He opened his lips to say something, but no words came out. I knew well enough that he was going to say 'I love you.'
"I know." I told him in a low voice, I took Aaron's unhurt hand in mine. "Ariston is what I want, he is what I need. Please, if you love me, try and understand that." I said in a soft voice, my eyes pleading. His eyes were still stubborn. "You said that you would not hurt me anymore by holding onto us, but you are doing that right now." Aaron's eyes grew softer after my words.
"I'm sorry." Aaron sighed and shook his head. "When I saw him… touching you like that." He shook his head, a dark expression on his face.
"We did not mean for you to find out this way. I would have told you, but I have seen little of you since we broke up." I told him. Aaron looked at me and sighed again, not being able to find the words.
"Are you ready?" Ariston asked from behind us, I smiled and looked to him.
"As ready as I will ever be." Aaron said, his voice dejected.
Ariston brought a seat over and sat down in front of Aaron. He had a black bag with him, bigger than the kit he used when I was wounded in my fight with the mugger. I smiled, a black bag, how appropriate. Ariston opened the bag and took out a glass bottle and cup, then poured a few tablespoons of a liquid into the cup and handed it to Aaron.
"Drink this, it will help with the pain." Ariston told him.
Aaron stared at the liquid in the cup with a look of apprehension on his face. I almost laughed at the memories it conjured up. Every time he became ill I would always be there to nurse him, I always knew that if I was ever sick he would do the same for me. Aaron is like a small child when it comes to taking medicine. Good thing they make Nyquil and Dayquil in caplets. Aaron looked at me and I could tell he was thinking of the same thing.
"Must I hold your nose?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Aaron cracked a sarcastic smile and rolled his eyes at me, then took a deep breath, prepared for the worst, and drank it in a shot. He was clearly surprised at the taste.
"Not that bad, was it?" I asked and Aaron half smiled to me.
Ariston took out another bottle, a bigger one, out of his bag. He took Aaron's hand gently and poured the liquid over his wound, it began to bubble, like peroxide on an infection. When it stopped, Ariston looked at the bones again.
"How is football?" Ariston asked. "You are the quarterback I hear?"
"I am," Aaron said, trying not to look at the wound. "We have a big game next month and," Aaron sucked in a breath as Ariston quickly put the bones back in place.
Ariston put a splint on the hand and wrapped it with speed and precession, taping it off and looking over his work for flaws. He smiled, clearly pleased with his work.
"Done." Ariston said with a friendly smile. He took another bottle of liquid, poured it in a cup and handed it to Aaron.
"What's this?" Aaron asked.
"It will speed the healing process." Ariston told him. Aaron was less hesitant this time, he drank it willingly. "I would suggest you not use that hand in any way for a week, it will be well and healed by then." Ariston said.
"In other words," I said and Aaron looked at me. "Try not to punch any walls for a while." Aaron rolled his eyes again and I had to laugh once.
"Thanks." Aaron mumbled, not looking at Ariston.
"You are welcome." Ariston replied. "I can look at that hand again if it gives you any trouble. Do you need a ride back to your dorm?"
"No, I got it." Aaron told him, Ariston nodded and rose from his seat.
"I will be in my car." Ariston said to me.
I nodded, Ariston leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on my lips, then walked out of the Stables. I watched him for a moment before turning back to Aaron, where he still sat on the chair.
"Why did you come tonight?" I asked him, Aaron has never been one for horses.
"I still have our tickets to prom, I didn't know if you still wanted to go with me or if I should find someone else to go with." Aaron answered. "I suppose I know the answer now." I smiled softly.
"I cannot wait for you to find your love, to find the woman you will love as much as I love Ariston." I told him, my voice kind.
"I already have, but she is in love with someone else." Aaron said, looking up at me. I shook my head with a small smile on my lips.
"You are wrong, I am not your destiny Aaron. One day, you will understand that." I told him.
Surely such happiness cannot only be meant for me, surely Aaron has a soul mate, he must. As Ariston once told me, souls are born in pairs.
"If you say so." Aaron said, clearly not believing me.
"I do. When am I ever wrong?" I asked, Aaron cracked a smile then shook his head.
"I knew he meant something to you, from the first day I knew." Aaron said, that look in his eyes.
"How so?" I asked.
"You drew him," Aaron said simply. "You only draw people and things that capture you." I smiled at how well he knows me.
"So that is why you made such a big fussfus over it." I said, Aaron nodded.
"I tried not to, but you know me." Aaron said with a shrug.
"Protective?" I asked, he laughed once.
"Jealous." He said. "Only this time I had a good reason to be." He looked at me and shook his head. "Life isn't the same without you, you know."
"You do not have to be without me Aaron, we can still be friends, good friends, as we used to be." I said.
"I would like that." Aaron said. I smiled and sighed.
"I will see you in school." I said, turning around and walking out of the Stables. I got into Ariston's car, looking upon his beautiful face soothed me more than I could say.
"Are you alright?" Ariston asked, taking my hand in his, lacing his fingers through mine.
I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder with a sigh. Ariston rested his head on mine. I realized then that there is nothing I cannot face so long as I have his arms to run into. I smiled at the thought.
"Ariston? Would you stay with me for a while tonight? I need to be with you." I asked him.
"Of course." He said, kissing my hair. "I love you." I smiled.
"I love you, Ariston." I said.
The drive was quiet and peaceful, Ariston kept the music off. He parked and walked me into my dorm, my head was still resting on his shoulder, and his arm was around me. We went inside my apartment and sat on the couch and I curled up into his side. Margret must be at Jack's, the place was empty.
"Thank you for not hurting Aaron tonight." I said to Ariston.
"He broke his hand." Ariston reminded me.
"That was his own doing, not yours." I told him. I looked at him, this beautiful tortured soul, and he smiled down to me. I placed my hand on his cheek, loving the warmth and the feeling of his skin.
"Are you certain I am the one you want?" Ariston asked.
"Do you really need to ask? Have I not already proclaimed my love for you?" I asked him with a smile.
"Your love seems to good to be true. It would be easier for me if you would tell me now if this will turn out badly." He said. I felt sadness within me. Sadness that what he has been through would make him question this happiness. "The last woman I was so certain of..." I stopped him there, knowing this was different, even Elianna herself had said as much.
"Ariston, you are the one I want, always. I love you, you and only you. What must I do to prove that to you?" I asked. He sighed and smiled.
"I am not worthy of you." He stated as he caressed my arms in a tender but all to distracting manner. I laughed.
"I hardly feel worthy of you either my love, but I do not love you any less for it. I want to be with you forever." I told Ariston in all honesty.
"Forever is a long time my love," He told me with a smile. "I have lived for over five thousand years and I am no where near forever."
"Then how about we try for five thousand years, and then work our way from there?" I offered, he laughed.
"Agreed." Ariston kissed me. "I truly do love you my Mera, with all my soul I swear it."
"This I know." I said, cuddling into his arms, my head on his chest.
"May I hold you tonight?" Ariston asked.
"I was hoping you would." I hoped he could hear the smile in my voice.
We sat there for a few minutes more before getting up. I took a shower and he went quickly to his house to do the same. When I was finished and dressed in a tee-shirt and sleeping shorts, I went into my room to see Ariston sitting on my bed, shirtless but in sleeping pants. He made for quite a sight. He smiled to me and I returned the smile by instinct. I climbed into his arms in my bed, laying on his bare chest. It felt so wonderful, so right to be there with him, his mint and vanilla scent surrounding me.
I sighed in contentment. Life cannot get much better than this, it is simply not possible. After whispering "I love you" to each other once more, I fell into a beautiful sleep.
