Might want to read the author's note to be involved in something... Interesting :)
I felt like a seasoned flier at this stage. Still set off the metal detectors... Four times... It kind of became fun each time trying to figure out what set it off to be honest. Security thought otherwise. Tarryn came to get us anyway, holding up a refill sheet with our names scrawled on it. "Sorry 'bout this," she said waving the sheet before crumpling and chucking it in the nearest rubbish bin. "Short notice. Uriel and Vick are really trying to bring down one of those drug groups in some places but whoever it is, boy are they tricky."
"You know how long you're staying?" I asked. Tarryn shook her head and gestured for us to follow her.
"Not really," she said walking us out to the taxi rank. I could even see Kanti in Tarryn's stride. "At least three weeks anyway so we borrowed an apartment off a friend of Vicks. Three students are in hospital from one university alone so we need to be here. And Uriel works really well with Vick so I might have an FBI boy soon." Tarryn ended with a little smile.
Interesting. Looks like Uriel had a multitude of talents like all the Benedict's. Including Will my mind whispered. Strong, caring, easy-going and so much more. Tarryn was looking at me funny so I attempted to keep up with a lighter conversation about good restaurants near where we lived. Looked like I was confusing everyone lately.
Coming up to the Halloween party I was thinking about Will more and more frequently. I blamed Kanti and Lucian who had taken to skyping Tulip and I on a daily basis. After only a month or so they were so devoted to one another it was scary. Did all new soulfinders act like this so quickly? If so it only re-enforced my decision to avoid my soulfinder. The rapid development of attachment between them was petrifying and unhealthy. I kept this to myself however for fear of offending them.
"So have you guys asked Crystal about your soulfinders yet?" Kanti asked moving the camera as they got comfortable on a couch together. She and Lucian were tucked up together under a mound of blankets, with a bowl of popcorn balanced precariously between them. Tulip and I had my laptop propped up on pillows as we flicked through books and magazines on my bed.
"No," Tulip sighed. "It is just so nerve-racking to ask. Right Wills?" I nodded, feigning interest in an article about weight loss. Her voice shook as she continued. "Like, what if they're dead or have someone or just don't want me?"
"Is it not better to know?" Lucian asked.
"Not really." someone muttered. I whirled around, causing the laptop to slide down from its perch. My fists clenched, though I only noticed when the sharp bite of my nails pierced my palms. Will's hands mirrored mine before he continued talking as Tulip re-positioned the laptop. "Crystal wants to trial make-up for the Halloween thing tomorrow."
"Sure!" Tulip said, completely oblivious to the pot at boiling point in the room. "Gotta go Kanti. See ya Luke."
"Oh ok, bye! Have fun!" Kanti replied. Tulip cut the call and skittered out the door past Will, leaving us alone for the first time in what felt like years. Some people talk about a twinge in the gut at the sight of an ex, a confusion of feelings in the body physically manifested. Love, regret, jealously, loneliness, longing, hatred, deep desire? I felt them all times ten. No a thousand.
"Come on Wills, Marilyn has to look fiinnnnneeee tomorrow!" Tulip cried skidding back into the room in her bed socks. She crashed into Will but he just righted her with a short smile. "C'mon, c'mon!"
"Ok Tools," I said forcing a laugh. I closed my laptop and when I looked around again, Tulip was the only one there. A moment later I heard the front door slam.
"Geese does he think our door is made of diamond or something?" Tulip tsked. She rolled her eyes and tossed me the keys to lock up.
"That must be it." I mumbled.
"My hair is too long," I grumbled, shoving the curls around as though somehow they would magically shorten into a gorgeously sleek and sophisticated haircut.
"I take that as permission to cut 'em then," Tulip said as she pinned another piece into her faux bob. "Hair like that should be reserved for Disney."
"Here," Crystal said, gesturing for me to sit. She had already managed her hair into a bun with a few curls tumbling out cheerily. "How about we…" she paused, studying my hair. "Boy you have a lot of it. Here, will I straighten it a load and tie it up in a sleek high ponytail... Yeah?"
"Whatever," I grumbled. Crystal only knew any of this because of Tulip's abundance of random magazines. One week it was HairChic, the next it was The Architect's Digest and the following BridalsBeauty (I questioned her over this one. She shrugged it off and said it had cake, hairstyles and dresses. Three magazines in one. 'A bargain really'. Sure Tools). One moment you think you understand her and the next she spends three days with Crystal learning different plaits.
After a few millennia we landed down by our building's entrance with Xav. Tarryn decided Uriel needed a break and so they tagged along, already outside and waiting with Will. He stayed apart from them, leaning against the cool brick and staring off at the sky. "I booked us two taxis as finding one tonight would be a nightmare," Tarryn said as soon as we were all out. Sure enough, moments later a taxi pulled up at our feet and moments later the second arrived. "Talk about timing." Tarryn laughed.
"And away we go my ladies and gentleman." Xav said swinging Crystal's hand. She merely rolled her eyes at him as we all scrambled for seats. It took well in excess of twenty minutes to get there but thankfully Tulip forgot to sing. My eardrums would live to hear another day.
The festivities did not fail at the party as hundreds of oddly clad bodies swung to 'normal' songs and 'spooky' hits. Half the drinks had red food dye thrown in I found out which was petrifying for someone in a near luminescent white dress. But once I had a drink or two my worries over the dress danced away.
And before long, a light sheen of sweat rested atop my skin and people no longer become real but swirling shadows with smeared make-up and sweat soaked hair. What felt like adrenaline surged through my body as I danced with Tulip and a few other girls. I was thrilled that Will had disappeared somewhere soon after we arrived so I was breathlessly happy as I went with Tulip to the bar.
"This is great," Tulip yelled. "When are the costume awards?"
"Um, they were at like one!" I laughed. "And it is now…" I frowned squinting at the clock above the bar, "Em, half two?" I needed water otherwise I would spend the rest of the night hugging the floor. I poured myself a glass as my drink was being mixed and while I wanted to be blissed and happy, I wanted to remain upright more. We both laughed too much at this when a cute guy slided up beside me. A guy with dark blonde hair, who seemed familiar, joined him.
"Hey," Mr. Cute guy said. He wore a light grey t-shirt and I noticed the rest of him, even his belt, was some different shade of grey. "Let me get you both a drink." His friend leaned in.
"I will pay." He said looking at me. He raised an eyebrow. "Christophe."
I had just gotten my sweet mix but I shrugged a sure. His friend seemed fine with 'Christophe' paying and got two WKD's, passing one to Tulip before putting mine before me. "So what are you?" I asked chewing on my straw.
He openly grinned, showing dimples. "Fifty shades of grey. I had to with all the hype about that film!"
"There is a book too!" Tulip pointed out, the ends of her words slurring a little. Immediately losing interest, she turned to the bartender and began chatting about different home remedies for the chicken pox.
"She never bothered read it and neither did I," I chuckled.
"Why bother when there is a film?"
"Exactly!" I said grinning. But over his shoulder I noticed a familiar head of lovely silky brown hair, unmistakable even from this distance. I was disgusted at the feeling in my stomach and chest. My heart swelled, cutting off my supply of moist club air and my fingers slipped on the condensation of my glass. I needed an outlet for this surge of emotion and he was leaning against the bar in front of me. Thanks to the joyous wonders of alcohol, I didn't hesitate to lean forward and kiss this stranger.
He seemed confused for a second but if what I thought was true, this was his initial intent in coming over here and soon the kiss deepened.
But the thing is, despite the fact I didn't want to be with Will, it felt wrong. Horribly wrong. Like cheating. Will and I had never even had a relationship yet it felt like the ultimate betrayal. I pulled away moments later, disgusted with myself only to conveniently meet Will's eyes for a split second. He turned his head sharply and began ordering a drink from the far end of the bar. I barely had a moment to register this before Tulip squealed her congratulations in my ear as she pulled me away with a coy wave to the guy dressed in grey and 'Christophe'.
"Ahhh, go Willow!" she crowed, nudging me like we were fourteen and excited over our first kiss. She pulled me out to dance, euphoric, where we found Crystal dancing, her curls frizzing with the intense heat building. I risked a glance behind me, the room tilting as I did, but Will was nowhere to be seen.
"Congrats on the landing!" Crystal said slapping my back. I turned to see her genuine delight. "But damn I wish this dress was made of lighter stuff!" she hiccuped and giggled. "Think we can grab the boys and head home now?"
With only minimal protest on Tulip's part, we followed Crystal out towards the entrance where Xav and Will already were waiting. "Good boys, they know what we think!" I said in delight. Thinking about it later, I seriously wondered how much I had actually downed that night.
"Telepathy darlin'" Xav smirked but Will remained silent and looking down at his phone. "Tarryn and Uri text to say they left ten minutes ago." I nodded as the cool breeze wafted in. It felt like a blessing and so I walked out the door with the others trailing behind me to bask in it completely.
"So cool and pretty and nice and something and something..." I sang, hugging myself. Most people were still inside enjoying the night's festivities so after a short walk, the light from streetlamps making things infinitely easier as the world swayed, we managed to grab a ride without too much fuss and crammed into the same taxi despite the driver's obvious reluctance. Xav went on Crystal's lap, despite his protests that his head was hitting off the taxi roof ruining his hair.
"Oh get over yourself!" Crystal laughed kissing him on the cheek. "You have me huggin' 'n kissin' you all ya want on my lap."
"True cupcake, true," he said. "I am one sweet 'n spicy lookin' muppet. Completely irresistible."
"Do not steal my Englishisms 'darlin''!"
"Then let me keep my very flattering and very sweet names for you my Beauty."
And they continued like this the entire car ride home, berating each other in a way I had grown familiar with and would miss when I returned to Amsterdam. Tulip seemed thoroughly entertained by them but half of my waning attention was preoccupied with the man riding shotgun. Will had his head resting heavily against the window, his fingers digging ridges through his thick hair and into his scalp. He had sagged against the side door with the weight of his thoughts, obviously lost in his own world.
My addled brain barely remembered this later as I fumbled to unlock my apartment door. We called out our byes to them as they hiked up another floor. Tulip was grumbling at my shoulder when we heard a shriek, swear words and a gasp from upstairs. Abandoning the key in the lock, I ran up the stairs with Tulip hot on my tail.
We swung into the upstairs landing and I clutched the railing to regain my balance. If hearing those sounds was not sobering, two things here definitely were. Crystal had her hand over her mouth, her eyes glistening fearfully while Xav's looked stunned. Both of them had gravitated towards one another and Will was the only one who had a completely different emotion on his face. Fury. He glared at their apartment door. My eyes swung towards it automatically and I think I gasped.
The entire door was spray painted, the patches without words painted an oppressive black. In a distinctly artistic scrawl, someone had spray painted in huge blood red letters, "We know where you Benedicts are. Back off now or regret it". 'Now' was heavily underlined.
I have no idea how long we stood there before Tulip moved and began to pull Will down the stairs. I followed her lead and brought Crystal and Xav downstairs. I finished opening my door. We decided in two or three short sentences who would go where. Xav and Will's phones beeped. They checked them and wordlessly passed them around. They were from Uriel. The exact same message in the exact same style sprayed on their door. No one said a word. We went to sleep. I think.
Author person here,
Well... I think that was eventful-ish. I need your opinion though so I would like to reach 73 reviews before I update again. Honestly, I just want to check how you guys are finding the story. Here is incentive to below: :)
I thought I would put up a poll to decide on the name/ nationality of a female character I will be introducing in a few chapters time. Sure it might be a bit of craic! I would put the poll up after the next update and give you a little more information then. If you are a not a registered user, ie. a guest, you can simply look at the poll on my profile and post your vote in a review on "Winning Willow". Hope to chat soon.
Hint time... Willow confesses a lot to someone you might not expect and something big goes down at college too... (And yes I updated on Tuesday. I tried for Monday but I was up until 3am doing work so...)