Til Death Do Us Part

Chapter 7: The Kiss

They say there is a red string of fate tied around the pinky of those who are destined to be soul mates; despite the time, the place, and the circumstances. It is invisible to the naked eye, and the string may get twisted and knotted, but it can never be broken.

Day 6

Days Remaining: 2

Mannie blinked her icy metallic gray eyes open, brushing away the sleepiness. She lay in between her silky black sheets and the silver comforter digging herself in deeper to hide away from the cool crisp air, thinking back to her dream, and sighed softly.

'After all this time... I never thought that XANA would succeed in taking you away from me...' Odd's words rang deep in her head, she felt the pang of emotion hit her hard and tears fell from the outer corners of her eyes.

"You haven't lost me yet Odd. I will never stop fighting for you..." She whispered, closing her eyes, picturing her husband laying in bed next to her, snoring loudly as usual, taking up more than half the bed. She gave a small smile to the memory, and sat up slowly in her bed, stretching. 'All this pain will be worth it when he's back in my arms.'

Mannie got ready for the day, slipping on a royal blue, loose fitting, pull over knitted sweater that hung off one shoulder and went well past her bottom; she wore black leggings and a large brown belt around her waist over top her shirt to accessorize. She donned cat-eye eyeliner around her eyes with some white in the inner corners and put a dash of coral blush on her cheeks and some magenta lipstick on her lips. She also matched her outfit with a pair of short brown leather booties, and gave her hair some wavy loose curls.

Today would be the day that she would reintroduce herself to Odd's family. They adored her the first time they met, so this time would be no different, right?

It was unlike XANA to give her any advantages, which made her iffy about this whole picnic date thing...but she would take any and every chance she got. There was really no point in wasting time, the clock was ticking and she only had two days left. Two days to make her soulmate fall in love with her again. 'I think I'd rather be saving the world right now...' She sighed and laughed to herself as she went back into her room and grabbed her purse heading for school. They only had a half day that day, and Odd's family would pick them up during lunch.

In all honesty, she was excited for this day. Mannie was ready for a little bit of normalcy in her life. She loved Odd's family, they were so...different from everyone else, just like her husband. Not only that but she was ready to get this over with. She was done playing mental games that XANA was obviously controlling and she would never admit it aloud, but slowly winning at too. She took one last look around and left for school.

"I'm happy to say I'm proud of each and every single one of you. This class got the best test scores of all my other classes, and all the other science teachers. Not one of you failed." Mrs. Hertz smiled, her eyes setting on Odd, who was gazing up at her lazily, probably off in dream land again. "Good job." She grabbed the stack of tests to return to her students and started to hand them all back. Once she got to Odd, she set it down on his desk, and he looked down, feeling astounded.

'An 84?!' He picked up the test and lifted it up, giving it an unbelievable stare.

"I know, I was surprised too." Mrs. Hertz said from behind him. "I don't know what you did differently Mr. Della Robbia, but whatever it was, keep doing it." Odd was still staring at the paper with disbelief, his mouth agape. That was the first time in how long he didn't even know, that he had gotten a grade that high. He looked back at Mannie who was sitting backwards in her chair, talking and laughing with Aelita, probably about the dance tomorrow night.

No other girl he had ever been with had ever shown interest in his school work, it was always a date and then down to business, and down to business usually meant...well you get the idea. The only girl who had ever tied him down was Sam, and SHE was definitely not someone he could ever picture himself staying with. Sure she was beautiful in her own way, but that beauty was mostly only skin deep. On the inside she was mean, selfish, and extremely clingy and obsessive.

Mannie was different, there was a light about her that other girls in this school didn't have. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was definitely something there that was drawing him towards her.

What he didn't know, is that their souls would forever be intertwined. No matter the course of the future or the past, they would always be destined for each other, and he would never truly be able to forget her. The familiarity and chemistry would always be there between them.

"We're all going last minute dress shopping, and I know Avril and Yumi really want you there, will you come with?" Aelita smiled up at her new friend as they worked on the worksheet together, and Mannie nodded.

"I'd love to. Odd and I are going to be with his family today, so depending on what time we finish.. But I'll try my best to go." The girl smiled, looking over at Avril and Ulrich who were shamelessly flirting, and her heart swelled at the sight. Some things never changed, no matter the universe they were in. Some people were just meant to be, and no situation could ever change that.

After pre-cal with Yumi, Mannie headed to Odd and Ulrich's dorm. Room number 423, it was exactly how she had remembered it. Odd's side was always a little messy. Papers and clothes strewn all over, but Ulrich's was perfect to a tee. His bed always made, clothes either in the laundry basket or hanging up, pants folded away. She smiled, seeing Odd's posters all over his wall of random house and techno artists, some indie and some rock. He always had an ever changing taste in music, and that's probably why he was so successful in the future. He always knew what the next big thing would be, and even if he didn't believe it now, it was his calling.

Speaking of which, he was currently on his laptop, remixing a song. He was wearing a deep maroon shawl collar sweater with dark wash jeans.

He turned around hearing Kiwi panting happily, as Mannie had the small pup in her lap, petting his head. Odd's eyes widened and he blinked in confusion.

'Kiwi's never been nice to any of my girlfriend's before...' He shook his head realizing what he was thinking and turned back towards his laptop. 'What am I saying? Mannie's just pretend. Just a ploy for my parents, nothing more.' He put his chin down on his fist, adjusting the levels and adding in sounds, but he couldn't help but feel his eyes trailing back toward the blonde sitting on his bed playing with his best friend. He heard his bed squeak, and the muffled sounds of her steps in the carpet as Mannie walked closer to him, and and he felt her presence grow closer.

"You mind if I try something?" She asked him, and he turned around to look at her with his deep chocolate eyes.

"Sure, but I don't know if you-" Mannie held up her hand, cutting off the blonde boy.

"I've learned a trick or two from the best." She smiled setting down Kiwi, who wined when his paws touched the carpet, pawing at her leg. Odd rolled back in his chair, moving out of her way, as she played the track of music Odd had already created. "This is really amazing, but it's missing a few things." She started to work, adding in effects and Odd watched her intently; doing things he hadn't even thought of. He was impressed. Then his phone started buzzing, and he reached for it.

"It's my mom, they're here." He spoke while reading the text. Mannie stood up and picked up Kiwi giving him a hard squeeze and petting him on the head one last time, she set him down on the floor.

'I've missed you little one.' She thought smiling down at the animal as she reached for her tote. "Well, let's not keep them waiting." She headed for the door and Odd looked back at the screen, hitting save before closing the screen to his laptop, and he followed her out to the front of Kadic.

"So Mannie, tell us about yourself." Odd's mother, Ariane smiled looking back at the girl. Mannie blushed, as everyone's eyes were on her. The woman had blonde, almost white hair which was braided in an intricate design and fell into a ponytail. She was very short, and skinny, or svelte as Odd would say, but she was also very very beautiful. She had piercing blue eyes that could almost reach down deep into her soul.

"Well, my father is a computer technician. He designs programs and repairs computers, but I haven't seen him in a few years. That's actually why my mother and I moved here to Kadic, in search of him. My mother is a model and helps design fashion in Paris, but in the meantime she lives here with me. I don't have any siblings." Ariane giggled placing a hand on her husbands arm as he continued driving down the road. Odd's father on the other had dirty blonde hair, with brown eyes just like Odd. He had a very kind face, but his face carried many years of worry and hardship.

"That's very different from our family as you can tell. Odd has four sisters, and his parents are both artists. Although, my husband used to serve as a general in the military, but he decided to give that up and live as a freelance artist like myself." Mannie nodded, smiling. Just as she remembered.

"So what do you want to do with your life, Mannie?" Odd's eldest sister, Demi, asked. She had her mothers eyes, and had dyed her hair black, but with blonde underneath.

"...I'm not quite sure, I just know that I want to help the world. There is so much injustice done to everyone and everything in this life, I just want to help." Demi nodded, smiling. The answer must have satisfied her, as she went back to talking to Odd's other sister, Fleur.

"It's not every day we get to meet a girl that Odd is infatuated with." Odd's father, Caïn spoke up.

"Is that what he said, infatuated?" Mannie giggled and smiled, looking over at Odd in the seat next to her. His cheeks had a faint color of red as he looked away, admiring the scenery, pretending to not pay attention.

"He may as well have, dear. I've never heard him speak of a girl in the way he has you. Just a few days ago he-"

"Mom, please." Odd interrupted with an annoyed look on his face.

"Tell us, Manuela. What made you fall for our young lad?" Mannie smiled at the man's word word "lad".

"Well, where do I begin?" She stared off into the distance of the front window before her. She could feel Odd's eyes burning into her, was he really that curious? She closed her eyes recalling the memories, every one hitting her like it had just happened yesterday. "It all started a few years ago. When I first transferred here to Kadic, Odd was the first person I met. I ran into him by complete accident, and of course he made fun of me. I was offended by this, and felt completely worthless, so I made it my personal goal to get back at him. Well this whole rivalry turned eventually into what I call love. I'm not exactly sure what it was that started to make me fall for him, but I did. I certainly know it wasn't love at first sight though, because I despised Odd for the longest time." Mannie opened her eyes, and her steel colored ones connected with Odd's, she smiled. "But deep down, I always knew he was a good person. He had put a wall up between himself and the rest of the world because he didn't want to let himself get hurt. He had seen it happen to too many people around him, and the logical side of his brain, although he doesn't use it much, told him he can't let anyone in. But eventually, after everything, I figured out how to break into that wall, and I saw who he really was. He was a secretly caring person, who would give his life for his closest friends. He's extremely brave, and charming when he wants to be."

"You sound like you really love him, that was beautiful." Ariane wiped at the tears in her eyes.

"I would be lying to you both if I said I didn't." Mannie's eyes finally detached from Odd's as she looked away.

"Well, we're here. Let's go enjoy this beautiful day that we were blessed with." Caïn parked the car, and stretched his back. Mannie opened the door on her side and Odd watched her climb out of the SUV silently.

Was she really speaking the truth? Was that how she felt now, or was it about her life in the past or whatever she called it? Odd had a pretty good idea of when people were lying to his face, but deep in her eyes, it seemed as though she was longing for something, he couldn't see any deception traceable in this girl's whole being. He really didn't understand her, and it was really starting to annoy him. He was usually so good at being able to read girls.

They all sat down on a big red and white checkered blanket, with the usual brown picnic basket. Odd's mother had prepared a beautiful lunch, peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, and turkey and cheese sandwiches. A fruit salad, pasta salad, a home-made strawberry kiwi punch, and for desert, keylime pie, Odd's favorite. Mannie dug in, savoring the taste of all the food. She was going to have to ask Ariane for the recipe of the punch, her own daughter Aria would absolutely die for this, but she wouldn't mention that part.

"Come on Mannie, let's go on a walk." Demi grabbed Mannie's hand and pulled her away from Odd and his parents, the girls all giggled, walking away towards the lake that centered in the park, as Ariane handed Odd another sandwich.

"You know, I've never seen you look at another human being in such a way before, Odd." Ariane spoke, watching her son dig into the bread. He avoided eye contact with her, but she continued. "You've always been a man of many women, something I've never wanted you to be, but I believe this girl may change you for the better. Not that I don't love you as you are son. You could never do anything to make me stop loving you, but I believe this girl may accentuate you in ways others cannot."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Odd mumbled, feeling uncomfortable. and staring down at his food.

"I'm not trying to pressure you into anything my dear son. You have to make your own decisions in your life. But I warn you that if you wait too long, the things that you desire and need most may disappear in front of your very own eyes." Odd's eyes slowly trailed from the ground up to his mothers' smiling face. She always knew how to make him think, something he tried to do rarely, because like right now, it gave him a headache.

Odd had trailed after his sisters and pretend girlfriend for the day, mainly to make sure none of them said anything to embarrass him. He walked quietly next to Mannie with his hands in his pockets, his cheeks red from the cool autumn air. He noticed how unbelievably well she got along with his sisters. Not even he could get along with them that well. She always said the right thing, even changing the subject when they brought up something he desperately didn't want to talk about it. It was as though she could read his mind and theirs, like she knew them all like the back of her hand. But then again, maybe it was just a girl thing. He nodded, that must be it, just a girl thing.

The group eventually made their way back to Odd's parents who were packing up the blanket and putting all the remaining food items away. They both stood when the others were in sight.

"I have a request." Caïn spoke, pulling out a camera from his wife's purse.

"Whatever it is, you all have been so wonderful to me today." Mannie smiled, nodding. "I couldn't dare turn you all down." Odd saw the look on his mother's face and felt uneasy. What exactly was she planning?

"We want a picture of you two, the sun is setting and it would make such a wonderful memory!" Ariane clasped her hands together with a smile and Mannie looked over to Odd who shrugged.

"Why not?" Mannie closed the distance between them and stood next to Odd who placed his left hand on her hip and Mannie leaned into him.

"Well don't be so prude you two, give us a kiss!" Ariane held up the camera and a dumbfounded look crossed Odd's face.

"You can't be serious."

"Come on Odd, it's just a kiss." Mannie whispered and Odd turned his head to look at her. He stared into her eyes, and then after a moment he nodded.

If it was just a kiss, then why was he so nervous? He turned his body to face Mannie and took in a deep breath. He placed his right hand underneath her chin and slightly tilted her face up towards his and closed the remaining space in between their lips. The electricity hit him like waves on the shore and he felt his body grow warm. He had never felt anything like this in his whole life. Her lips were warm and inviting, and fit into his like a perfect mesh. He felt her hand grasp the back of his neck, and the rest of the world seemed to melt away. The only thing that remained, them.

Their kiss seemed to end just as fast as it started, which was way too soon for him. She pulled her head back and took a step away from Odd. She looked around, expecting the world to disappear from in front of her eyes, but alas, she was still there.

Odd still wasn't in love with her, and might never be. She only had one day left. A little over twenty four hours, and the clock was ticking.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I hope Odd wasn't too OOC for you all, but I added in a bunch of fluffiness to make up for the harshness and solemness of last chapter. Just one single chapter left. Don't forget to review!

Thanks for reading.

XOXO