Special thanks to the 6 visitors to both chapter 3 and 4! You guys rock and also everyone else whose made it this far into the story and still wants to read it. It means a lot to me as a writer. Reviews are also highly appreciated and wanted (the good, the bad and the ugly, don't worry, I'm a big girl, I can handle it). Otherwise, enjoy!
Seven Years Ago: Berkeley Campus
There was a bright flash, breaking my attention from the book I was reading. But I knew in an instant what it was.
"Hey."
"Oh, come on. Not even a flinch? Does nothing startle you Alek Petrov?" Chloe smiled and lowered her camera to reveal her stunning blue-green eyes. I loved how she always smiled with her whole persona, her entire being lit up.
"Sorry love, I can quite confidently say that nothing can surprise me. My reflexes are too good." I returned her smile with one of my classic smirks. "But why the picture?"
"I need a new subject for my photo class and I think I just found it." She set her bag down against the tree I was leaning on and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. Then she laid herself down so that her head was across my upper legs. Her golden curls were sprawled all over the grass, catching the sun that came through the leafy canopy above.
"Me?" I asked, a slight chuckle rising out of my chest. The hand that was not holding my book naturally drifted to start playing with her hair. After becoming an official couple a couple months after the warehouse fiasco, being around each other had become as easy as breathing. In fact, I always felt more at ease if I was touching Chloe in some way, running my hands through her hair, holding her hand, or sitting shoulder to shoulder while we studied.
"Why not? I have heard it on multiple accounts that you are an attractive guy,"
"That I am." I interrupted her.
"Mostly from you." She finished her comment, "besides, I love how you show the whole range of emotion with the most subtle changes in your face. It can be difficult to find such a compelling subject."
"Oh? Being a photography major must be brutal." I teased her.
"Hey! You and Jas were the ones who suggested I take something easy in case, you know, duty calls. And I am a double major compared to your lazy ass."
"You know better than anyone that Ancient Egyptian studies is no walk in the park major, otherwise you wouldn't have chosen it as your second major. But I do find the information extremely applicable to everyday life." That made her laugh. "And I have a full time job of protecting your Uniter ass." I smiled again.
Chloe mid giggle raised her camera to snap another picture of my face as I gazed down at her. At least there was no flash as not to permanently blind me.
"And what emotion was that?" I asked.
"Easy," she replied, "love."
A flood of euphoria rushed my system as I uttered the words I loved to say, "I love you Chloe."
"And I love you Alek."
We stared at each other unblinking for several more moments before Chloe sighed and closed her eyes for a quick cat nap. I returned to my book. It was another hour or so before I felt Chloe stir against my legs and then I heard the click of the camera. It was a bit jarring but not too surprising.
"Seriously Alek! How am I supposed to capture all the emotions if you never look surprised or scared?" Chloe pouted with that cute crease between her eyes.
"I told you, nothing can surprise me. Least of all you, we know each other too well."
"One day Petrov, I will startle you." She vowed.
"Doubtful King, very doubtful."
Present Day: The New Apartment
I certainly could have never guessed that seven years later Chloe King would give me the scare of a lifetime by showing up on a rooftop after five years of completely being MIA.
That afternoon on the Berkeley quad kept playing in loop as we somehow made it back to the apartment. Being at Berkeley together had been like a dream, remembering anytime with Chloe felt like a dream after her disappearance. And now I had been startled awake because she was here. HERE! In San Francisco, and more importantly here at the Mai headquarters.
Jasmin had awoken when we arrived back without talking the whole way. Chloe had said she wanted to save her explanation for the both of us. We had not even touched since her identity was revealed, I was honestly still in a state of complete shock. Now Chloe and Jasmin were hugging and I tuned my ears into the conversation they were whispering in each other ears.
"I know the council has put out a notice that you must report if you come in contact with me, but I'm begging you Jas not too, there's things I have to get done here." Chloe asked in earnest.
"It's not that simple Chloe, they already have it out for the pride after your disappearance and this would be in direct violation."
"Jas, the longer they don't know I'm here, the longer I can stay. Just delay your report for a couple days and I can explain everything. But if the council finds out my location and comes to pin me down, I'll have to high tail it out of here before morning. Please Jas."
Jasmin stiffened at Chloe's words and looked over Chloe's shoulder to make eye contact with me. I could read the same look in her eyes that I knew I was projecting times ten. We needed Chloe to stay. Both of us, but me especially, have been lost without her. I saw Jas's resolve of being an obliging pride leader crumble and she gave her reply.
"Okay Chloe, for you. I'll delay the report three days, is that enough time for whatever you have to do?"
"That's more than I could ask for!" Chloe exclaimed, pulling Jas back into a hug. "I've missed you Jas."
"We've missed you, but you have some explaining to do Chloe."
They released from their hug. I have not seen Jasmin be this affectionate in years, or possible ever. She took after Valentina in that way. They both made their way to the sitting area. Chloe sat on the couch and Jasmin sat in a chair across from her. I took a seat at the opposite end of the couch, not close enough to touch, but enough to start soaking in her presence. It was like taking a cold sip of water after wandering the desert for ten years.
"So where have you been exactly?" Jasmin asked.
Chloe gave a slight chuckle, "Where haven't I been is the better question. I've traveled more in these past five years than all the birds in the world have in their lifetime. I can give you a general outline."
She started rattling off a series of countries and cities with vague dates, about the same chunks of time that we would receive news from her. However, I has only half listening to her words, I could always ask her again. Instead I took the moments after the shock was wearing off to really look at the Chloe King before me.
In some ways she had changed, but in many ways she was still the same. There was still those blue-green eyes that used to look at me with such passion. Her lips would upturn in the slightest way when she was explaining something she loved. She still fiddled with her hair when she talked, and her hair was still that brilliant shade of honey blonde. It was slightly longer than the way she had kept it in college and there was a vivid streak of white on the underside, peaking out below her right ear.
My gazed traveled down her body. She was practically the exact same height she was when she left, but now she was much more toned. I guess she had started taking training and working out extremely seriously. And she must have had a great teacher if she could now match me in a fight. As much as I hate to admit it, if her identity wasn't revealed on that rooftop and the fight would have continued, she would have beaten me for sure. Her endurance and power was incredible.
There was a pause in Chloe's story as she let out a deep yawn. I glanced at the time to see it was now after three in the morning.
"I'm sorry, jet lag is getting to me. I only got off a flight from New York four hours. I wasn't expecting the inquisition." Her joke caused me to give a slight smile. Man, no one has made me do that in years! Chloe truly had a deep effect on me.
"Of course, you're probably exhausted and I'm sure your little tiff with Alek didn't help. We can always continue this in the morning after you get some sleep. Alek is currently in the only spare room" Jasmin told her.
"Thanks," Chloe gave a sleepy grin. "I can just crash her on the couch, it's totally fine."
"No, you should have the guest room," I insisted. "It has blackout curtains and besides we wouldn't want any other Mai walking in on the sleeping Uniter and telling the world now would we? I'll take the couch." In the old days it would have been assumed that we could share a room, but things had changed.
"Thanks Alek. You're really sweet." Chloe replied and then followed Jas down the hall to the section with all the bedrooms. I laid down and could see Chloe shut the door to the first bedroom on the left, the one where I had been staying. There was no way I would be getting any sleep with Chloe King sleeping twenty feet away.
However, I surprised myself and actually drifted off quite fast thanks to the steady rhythm of Chloe's heart like a lullaby that I could hear through the walls. My heart matched hers in time and sleep overtook me.