M – Mature
Author's Note: Version 1.0 ~ NO EDITS.
Papillon – Chapter One –
Papillon
(noun). A dog of a toy breed with ears suggesting the form of a butterfly. Origin: early 20th century: from French, 'butterfly', from Latin papilio(n).
Summer Vacation
Rini stared at her iPhone lying in the backseat of their family's Audi.
"Miss Chiba, we should be arriving shortly."
"Thanks, Dante," she sighed as she scrolled through her Facebook newsfeed. Her body felt tense, confined. She had promised — she hated that about herself. In hindsight, everything sounded good. But when the moment came, her mind and body felt constrained. Her anxiety haunted her every move, conversation, and memory.
Today was no different. Only she had the benefit of having a mother for a model and a doctor father to help her mask her displeasure.
Rini lay across the backseat of her family's Audi as it traversed the road. The forest trees cast shadows. Sunlight reflected through the windows and crossed her body. She lowered her arm that held her iPhone, letting it slip from her hand onto the backseat floor. Boredom.
She volunteered to housesit for Setsuna. She went with her mother and little sister to visit their grandparents. Her father was out of the country attending a conference of which she had no idea. She stopped listening a long time ago.
She needed to get away from that house. At least at the lake house, she could be one with nature. She could also study and sleep in a state of tranquility. She looked over at her brown suede backpack, which held her laptop and books.
She sat up, pressing the automatic button and rolling down the windows as she let the crisp spring air blow. As Dante sped along the road, her pale pink locks fluttered in the wind.
The wind was cool and comforting against her hands and legs. She shifted to the middle of the back seat. Then, she grabbed her backpack and opened the outside pocket. She took out her Apple AirPods, and the familiar sound rang in her ears.
She then grabbed her iPhone from the floor. After scrolling through her music playlist, Dante's Jams, she clicked the list. Then, she leaned back and closed her eyes.
Dante smiled as he stared at his passenger in the rearview mirror while she enjoyed her little world.
Four minutes passed when Rini felt the traction change from the smooth road to dirt. She took out her AirPods, stopping the music. She saw the familiar view: flowers, bushes, and a tree canopy over the entrance.
She began to gather her things as Dante pulled up to a house. It reminded her of a fairy-tale cottage, but with some modern touches.
He turned the ignition off as Rini opened the door, her Converse touching the gravel driveway.
"Are you ready, Miss Chiba?" asked Dante, holding the rest of her luggage that he had retrieved from the trunk. She nodded, turning around and heading toward the house.
Rini opened the door leading into the living room. She placed the key in the catch-all tray that was sitting on the entryway table. Dante took her bags to the upstairs guest bedroom.
She walked into the kitchen. The fridge had a note from Setsuna: Fully stocked! Have fun and relax! You deserve it. ~ Love, Setsuna
She smiled. Only her best friend, Setsuna, understood her frustration since she had started university.
"Miss Chiba, is there anything you need before I leave?" Dante asked, standing in the kitchen doorway.
"No thank you, Dante. You take care of yourself. See you next week." Rini smiled as Dante tilted his hat goodbye. She watched as her driver left the house, closing the door behind him.
Rini walked over to the door, locking it behind him. Peeking out the window to see him leave.
She sighed and returned to the kitchen to grab her phone. She messaged her mother and Setsuna to inform them of her safe arrival. Rini pouted as she leaned on the kitchen island counter with her chin in her hand. She had too much restless energy.
That was her main problem as of late. She looked over to the patio window that led out to the deck. The lake reflected a peaceful scene during mid-morning.
Rini walked over to the patio door, scanning the large expanse of sand that was Setsuna's backyard. Sliding the door open, she stepped outside into the summer air. Closing the screen behind her, she left the main door open.
She stepped down the deck stairs. Her Converse sank into the warm sand. She walked toward a sunlit, sparkling lake.
She crossed her arms, closing her eyes as she stood on the shore's edge, not minding her shoes becoming wet. Her pale pink hair blew in the wind.
Rini exhaled for a minute; she could feel her body letting go of all the tension she had been holding on to. The sound of barking took her out of her meditation.
She turned around to find a black Labrador running up to her. She uncrossed her arms while watching the dog sprint with joy toward her.
She kneeled, letting the dog greet her with kisses as she scratched behind his ears. "Who do you belong to?" she asked. He was wet, covered in leaves and sand.
Rini checked his red collar while still petting him. She tilted her head, trying to capture the engraving in the sunlight. The heart-shaped tag: MAX.
She smiled to herself while standing up. Max bumped up against her legs, covering them in dirt. It seemed as if he was trying to direct her someplace.
"Hey!" called a male voice.
Rini looked toward the lake to see a man standing on a large wooden raft, using a pole as a paddle. The dog ran over to him, jumped into the water, and climbed onto the raft.
The man directed the raft toward the shallow area. Rini took off her shoes, making her way into the water to meet him halfway.
"I am sorry about that. He kind of got away from me."
Rini looked up at the man who was barefoot, wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans that were wet and shredded. She noticed his amber eyes and white-silver hair that fell into his eyes, curling at the edges.
"That's all right. Max seems like a nice dog," Rini smiled, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Are you new to town?" he asked, smiling down at her.
"No, I am house-sitting for a family friend."
"Ah. My name's Helios, by the way." He extended his hand for a handshake. Rini accepted, curious about such a unique name.
His hands were strong, almost as if he could pull her right onto the raft. His eyes seemed to see right through her; it was taking all her energy not to stammer her words.
She was reluctant to pull her hand away. She felt so much power and warmth, especially when he gave her a light squeeze.
"My name is Serenity, but everyone calls me Rini."
"Rini, what are you doing tonight?" he asked, tilting his head and holding both hands around the raft to keep it steady with his and Max's weight.
"Well, I got in. I was going to study and make some cookies."
She wanted to kick herself for sounding so childish. Helios smiled. He appeared to find the situation funny, which made Rini blush, hoping he did not notice.
"Do you think you want to take those cookies over to a bonfire?"
"Oh wow! I would love to!" Rini nodded her head in excitement.
He smiled even more at her enthusiasm. Rini herself once again wanted to kick herself.
"Well, it's a date. I like chocolate chip, by the way." Helios began to pull away, directing the raft towards the neighbor's lot next to Setsuna. "I will be back to pick you up at 8:00!" he called out, with Max barking his goodbyes.
"Alright, see you at 8:00!" Rini giggled as Max jumped into the water again, splashing Helios, who laughed.
Rini walked back into the house to start making cookies.
Rini stared at the cookies in a Tupperware on the kitchen island. She looked behind her, checking the clock on the stove: 7:55 PM.
She could not believe she was doing this. Grabbing the cookies off the counter, she made her way out of the kitchen into the living room. Rini stood in the middle of the room with the container in hand.
Rini caught her reflection in the wall mirror that was hanging near Setsuna's desk area. She had curled her waist-length hair. She lined her eyelids with eyeliner. Then, she applied a touch of lip gloss to her lips.
She stood back to get a full view of her outfit. She wore her Converse, blue jean shorts, and a white t-shirt. She had a purple plaid shirt as a jacket.
It hit her again. She could not believe she was doing this. It was not as if she had never gone on dates before. It was that she had never been so excited about one before. It was only a bonfire. It was his entrance that enticed her. She was a sucker for animals.
She stood there thinking of his smile. When she shook his hand and the power behind that handshake.
The doorbell rang, causing her to jump in surprise. She walked over to the door, opening it to find Helios with Max by his side. He matched her in every detail. He wore a white short-sleeved t-shirt, dark-wash jeans, tan boots, and a red shirt.
"Are you ready?" he asked, giving her his best smile.
Rini nodded, closing the door and locking it. Max ran toward the vintage Mustang that was now pulled into the driveway.
"This is your car? I saw it earlier parked on the street. I didn't know if it was Setsuna's or not."
Helios walked over to the passenger side and opened the car door. Max jumped in first, taking his seat in the back.
"Yeah, my house next door is going through some renovations."
Rini took her place in the front. Helios shut the door. She checked the leather interior and chrome accents for cleanliness. Helios walked over to the driver's side, took his seat, and started the engine.
"A 1967 Mustang Fastback," she said as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
Helios chuckled. He took the car out of the park, reversing out of the driveway. Then, he made a smooth transition onto the open road.
"You know something about cars?"
Not possible to remove the adverb. The wind from the open windows whipped her hair against her face. Helios was not used to this, as she seemed to shine. "My father loves cars."
"Ah. I see," he looked over at her as she seemed to be enjoying the ride. "What do your parents do for a living?"
"My father is a doctor, and my mother is a model."
"Do they know you'll be out late tonight?"
Rini looked over, giving him a look he could not quite describe. All he knew was that he was applying light pressure to the gas, picking up speed.
"I don't need permission."
Helios smiled as she continued to enjoy the ride. He lowered the speed a little, but his mind was racing with all the thoughts and ideas.
"How long are you house-sitting for?"
"For a week. Then I do have to return to submit some assignments for school."
"You're in school?"
"Yeah. I am studying to become a lawyer, but my roommate thinks I would be best suited for early childhood care."
"That's interesting." Helios turned right down a wooded path. Rini noticed the road had narrowed to one way. "The bonfire we're going to is a fundraising event for the local school here in town."
"Oh! I didn't bring any money."
"Don't worry about it," he smiled at her generosity. "I've got you covered. If you still want to donate, I'll make sure to leave my digits with you."
Rini smiled, leaning back deeper into the leather. Max popped his head between them, giving her cheek a lick. She chuckled, scratching under his chin.
"He knows we're almost here."
The road opens to a graveled parking area. Helios parked his car close enough to a trail that seemed to be the true entrance to their destination. Both of them got out of the car, with Max jumping out and running down the trail. She could hear distant music and laughter. A group of young children in costumes ran past her, chasing Max down the trail.
Their parents walked behind, apologizing for their children's actions. Rini excused them with a nod and said it was okay.
Helios walked past her, grabbing her hand, which caused her to blush as he guided her down the trail. "The kids have dressed up for the legend of the witch."
Rini noticed the excitement in his voice, especially the emphasis. They walked along a path that led to a large, circular area. In the center, a bonfire blazed. People danced and laughed around it. She marveled at the scenery, which Helios noticed while he rubbed her hand with a soft touch.
They both stopped a few feet away from the fire. Taking in the scenery and still holding hands.
"Are you hungry?" Helios asked, looking over at her and noticing how the glow from the fire made her seem ethereal. Her smile was warm; her chocolate-brown eyes seemed to sparkle with joy. She turned to look at him, which made him feel as if they were the only ones there.
"Yes, I'm starving!"
Helios let out a chuckle at her excitement about food. He pulled her along towards a log for seating with care. "I'll be right back." Rini took a seat, admiring the scenery once more as Helios went to the BBQ area.
"Are you new to town?" came a husky voice.
Rini looked up to find a woman with short blonde hair. She had both hands on her hips as she surveyed the scene before her. She wore gray heeled boots, dark-wash skinny jeans, and a green shirt.
"No, I'm visiting for the week."
The woman looked down at Rini, who immediately stood up to greet her. "My name is Rini," she said.
"My name is Haruka," she gave Rini a smile that caused her to blush. "Welcome."
"I see you two have met." Helios walked over. He held a plate of BBQ in one hand and two sodas by the neck in the other. Rini walked over to grab one of the sodas and prompted Helios to give her a thank you.
"Come on over to the patio. The Richman children are almost ready for their performance."
The group walked over to a wooden cabin decorated with tea lights sitting in the far corner of the area. A few people were cheering and clapping at the football game on TV.
Haruka walked up the steps, taking her position against the balustrade. Another woman walked out of the cabin, taking her seat on the bench as she played with a camera.
Helios and Rini sat on the patio edge, their legs dangling. Max ran below, waiting for food to drop.
"Every year, the town gets together for an annual ceremony. "It aims to promote good fortune for the upcoming fall." Helios took a bit of a rib tip from the plate between them. He threw another piece out to Max, who caught it midair.
Rini giggled at Max. The woman sitting on the bench finished clicking her camera. "That's the non-X-rated version."
Rini noticed Helios stiffen as Haruka chuckled at his reaction. A sound of loud jeers came from the cabin, most likely from one of the teams fumbling.
"That is my wife, Michiru," Haruka acknowledged, tilting her head at the woman who stood up and waved at Rini.
"My name's Rini," she smiled as the woman put the camera around her neck.
"Nice to meet you!" Michiru said, walking over to her wife and giving her a pinch on the stomach. "Haruka tried to say that the organizers meant for this event to be for the adults from the start."
"You cannot say it didn't serve its purpose," said Haruka, who crossed her arms.
"Purpose?" Rini asked.
Helios leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Sex." Rini blushed as Helios leaned back, taking another bite of a rib tip.
"We have to support the fruits of their labor," said Michiru. "Tonight, we will put the proceeds back into the school funds to help us with school supplies and food.""
"Are you the friend that Helios was telling me about?" Rini asked. Helios turned to look over at Michiru with a wide smile.
"Haha!" she nodded. "I am the third-grade schoolteacher in town."
Helios nudged Rini, who gave him a look that Haruka caught, signifying some growing energy between the two. "Rini, I was talking about early childcare."
"Are you interested in becoming a teacher?" Michiru asked.
"My roommate thinks I would be a good candidate for that program, but I'm already in the law program."
"That can come in handy in that field," Haruka said.
Michiru walked down the patio steps, heading toward the fire to take pictures. She spun around and took a picture of the three of them, surprising Rini and Helios. She giggled as she made her way back on track to the fire.
Helios and Rini sat in comfortable silence. They ate and watched as children performed their town's legend about the witch. She wakes from sleep in the deep forest. She casts a spell. It will bless the people with good fortune if they give something in return.
A few people from within the cabin came out to witness the performance. What the witch wanted in return, for the most part, was up to interpretation. Helios had whispered in her ear. The children would often offer canned goods. But Rini sensed this was where the X-rated version came in.
Everyone clapped and cheered for the children. They gave a wonderful performance. The crowd dispersed back to their normal activities. Helios jumped down from his tan boots, hitting the ground with a loud thud from the dirt underneath. He signaled for Rini to jump down, and he would catch her.
She leaned forward, pushing herself off the edge. He caught her in his arms and lowered her with care. Still holding her hand, she led the little group of people dancing in front of the fire.
The two danced with her twirling and dipping her. The crowd around them seemed to move in unison; the beat of the music thumped as the fire crackled around them. They laughed as they watched some patrons start to take off their shirts, yell, and howl like wolves.
Max ran about chasing the children with a stick. Helios ran after him, making sure no one got hurt by the stick.
Rini took a seat on a log. Closing her eyes and letting her body feel the heat. The weather was still, with no breeze. She felt a calm lure her into a trance as she opened her eyes, staring at the fire burning high.
"Hey!" Helios sat down next to her with the container of cookies in one hand.
Helios took a bit of time staring at Rini. "You know the party doesn't end tonight."
She looked over; her eyes darkened with the same look she had given him earlier in the car. "There will be a smaller gathering at a friend's house. We get to taste the witches' offerings from last year."
"Oh yeah?" she leaned; her voice was husky.
Helios stared at her, taking a slow bite of his cookie, his eyes darkening. Another round of howling echoed from the partygoers, with Max and Helios joining in. Rini giggled.
He stopped when Rini reached over to brush some crumbs off the corner of his lips. "Are they good?" she asked.
He nodded, taking his time as he swallowed. Rini noticed his Adam's apple; she felt tempted to kiss and suck his neck. He leaned forward. A dog barking and children screaming snapped them back to reality. They stood up to find Max playing with another dog at the party. The two were chasing each other around the fire.
Helios whistled to signal for Max to come.
"Are you ready?" he asked, both of them noticing the scene changing and Haruka getting restless. Parents were gathering their children. Helios checked the time: 11:00 PM.
Rini nodded. Helios took her hand, saying his goodbyes to Michiru, who was overseeing the scene. He noticed a few plainclothes police officers standing guard.
The sound of footsteps walking up the trail, taking them to the parked cars, echoed through the woods. People were talking, children laughing, and making noises with their party favors. They both headed to the car.
She giggled as Helios called Max rude. He closed the door, leaving Rini and Max a few seconds together with her petting him. Helios took his place, starting up the car as it rumbled to life. He pulled out, following a few cars that had already made their exit.
Helios turned on the radio. Rini relaxed and closed her eyes. The breeze came in through the windows. A sense of peace radiated throughout her body. She hadn't felt like this for a very long time. Helios remained quiet; he did not want to disturb her. She looked so calm, a state he hadn't experienced in a while.
Rini opened her eyes, seeing that they had arrived back at her place of stay. Helios put the car in park and shut off the engine.
"Digits?" he asked.
Rini unbuckled her seatbelt, reaching into her back pocket for her iPhone. She unlocked her phone and then handed it to him.
"You are cute."
"Are you looking through my photos?" she asked, reaching for her phone and him playing keep-away.
"I messaged myself," his phone, located in the center console, lit up. "But you're cute, though."
He handed back her phone. Rini took her phone and exited the car. She closed the door, leaning into the window with a smile. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders and framed her face in the window.
"That was fun," she said in a gentle voice.
Helios leaned forward, his hand on the steering wheel.
"The party is beginning."
"Goodnight," she said as she backed away from the window and started heading up the driveway to the door. Helios watched to confirm her safe entry. Helios started up the car backing off the driveway and heading home for the night.