~ three months later ~
James. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but during the past three months since I’ve been held captive, I’ve found comfort in his words.
He didn’t really try so hard to make me his, either.-It was like I saw the James that was underneath all the cockyness, and his rich entitlement.
I would often ask about Nova and Eric...and if I was ever going to get out of here or not. He would only reply with how Nova was doing and would completely ignore my questions about Eric and myself leaving this Greenwood castle or not.
James told me that Nova has become depressed since I’ve disappeared, and that he&rsq
I didn’t realize where I was going until I rammed into something -more like someone.- I looked over towards the person I slammed into as I quickly got back onto my feet again. It was Eric and his precious map of his torn in half, I’m assuming due to our collision. It looked like he had seen a ghost for a second before he quickly stood up and stepped towards me. “Luna,” he said breathlessly as he reached out for me to wrap his arms around me. I couldn’t. I chose this path, I couldn’t bring him down along with me. He had already gotten arrested because of his links with my father and my family in general. Even though I just met Eric not that long ago, I already felt so much love toward
The wind tore at my skin and my hair as I ran; my feet hitting the ground, a definite purpose in each of my steps. The sound of my shoes hitting the path was methodical and repetitive, one foot after the other again and again. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins and tears stinging my eyes, my heart pumping for the rhythm of my footsteps. I heard him calling my name, his voice a mere echo in the dense forest, but I ignored him. I knew what I had done.I could not undo it. "Luna! Luna, stop!" My breathing was heavy from both exertion and emotion, trying to make myself stop crying.
September 18th — three months earlier Beams of sunlight streamed through my window; the slats of my blinds chopping it into a myriad of rays that lazily slid across my quiet room. The whir of the ceiling fan was the only source of sound, a soft and lulling noise that almost made me want to go back to sleep. The blankets on my bed felt warm and soft against my skin and the sound of a lawnmower picked up outside. — no doubt one of the neighbors is hoping to get some yard work done. It was a Saturday right in the middle of September — the welcome transition between summer and fall when the weather was neither hot nor cold, just pleasant. The eighteenth of September; a few days away from the twenty-first, the technical first day of autum
It was a tall boy with dark hair and eyes a color that matched the trees surrounding us, his lips a healthy pink. His cheeks were flushed with a peach color and his eyes narrowed as he focused on the ladybug poised on my hand. "That's a beauty," he said, a slight rasp to his voice. "Look at that red color on the dorsal area. Do you mind if I collect it?" "What for?" I asked, scooting slightly away from him. I had no idea where he had appeared. It was strange. I was puzzled. "Observation," he answered evenly. "It's the first Coccinellidae I've seen in this forest. Don't worry, I'm going to set it free once I'm done." I stared at him as he reached into the bag slung over his shoulder and retrieved a tiny jar with holes poked into the top of it, screwing the top off and
I took a moment to watch him walk ahead, bent over his map and looking up every so often at the trees to ensure he was going the right way. A few yards away he stopped and looked back at me. "Well? Are you going to just stand there?" I shook my head and returned his easy smile, stepping around the small plants on the ground and beginning to follow Eric back through the forest. Eric alternated between looking at his map and out at the forest, his brow furrowed as he navigated through the woods. He hummed lightly under his breath, posture relaxed and straight, towering about half a foot above me. I had never wanted to learn about someone so badly, yet I did not know how to begin. "How did you choose to come to Madison?" I asked as we walked.
My mind drifted to Eric's happy birthday to me. And Ithought it funny that a generic "happy birthday" from astranger I hadn't known two hours ago meant more tome than those of people I had known for years.Nova and Genevieve were getting home just as I was, Genevieve talking on the phone — as usual.She waved to me halfheartedly before walking into her room, indicating she was on an important call.Nova looked up at me, a grin on her face. "Happy birthday," she said, reaching for my free hand and squeezing it.I smiled down at her. "Thank you.""Where'd you get that?" She reaches out to brush her fingertips against the pink petals of the peony.I looked down at the flower in my hand. "O
The late morning and afternoon was spent in that perfumed, stuffy salon. Kendra, our routine hairdresser, jabbered on about nonsensical topics as she was washing, drying, asking if I wanted highlights, straightening every crimp and curl from my hair, clipping my nails, buffering them and covering them in rich black nail lacquer. I just nodded along to whatever she said, not replying much. Genevieve sat across the salon, reading a magazine as she had her hair curled, and Nova squirmed in her seat as a manicurist tried to file her nails. "It must be so fun going to all your dad's parties, huh?" Kendra asked me, painting a second coat of color onto my nails. She wasn't much older than me, maybe twenty five, at the most. She was tall and stick thin and had caramel colored hair.
I made my way over to the beverage area, pouring myself a glass of lemonade. I was bringing the cup to my lips when I heard a familiar voice speak my name."Luna."It was a familiar voice, yes, but not a voice I wanted to hear.I turned to greet James Greenwood, the eldest son of Garrett Greenwood, my father's everlasting competition.He was my age, and had been trying to get me to date him since we were sixteen. Unfortunately for him, the feelings were not mutual."James," I said with a nod. "How are you?""Fine," he answered. "Nice party. Your stepmother is definitely an entertainer.""Yes.""How have you been?"