Olivia started banging her forehead against the vending machine. She couldn't believe what had happened. Could her friends have seen something she wasn't sure and she didn't want to know! What was more embarrassing was how she offered to buy drinks for everyone. How the hell was she going to take them all back! She groaned and laid her head against the machine.
"You ok?" a husky voice asked. Olivia immediately stood up straight and turned her body to Eli. "Why are you here?" she asked as she tried to hide the possible red mark on her forehead. Eli took a plastic bag from his pocket and said "I'm here to help. It's a lot for one person to bring back plus you don't know what my friends like to drink."
"Thank you!" she said while tears were starting to well up. Eli panicked and grabbed her hand that was covering her forehead "What's wrong are you hurt?". Olivia shook her head no and replied "Sorry I just feel relieved for the help." Olivia tried to take her hand back but Eli started to tighten his grip.
"You know I ran for a bit trying to find you. There are a lot of vending machines here and only one of you so do you mind if I re-charge my internal battery for a bit?" Eli asked with a serious face. Olivia giggled at his question before answering "Sure."
"Thanks." He said before pulling her closer and resting his head against her hair. He placed her hand over his heart and Olivia could feel his lips barely touching her forehead. Olivia was stunned she didn't know what to do! She felt her face flush with the way he charged his batteries. Her heart was pounding so loudly that she couldn't hear a thing, Eli was too close again! She could smell the sweat off his body and wondered how hard he ran to find her.
After a minute or two Eli sighed and let her go. "Fully charged. I'm gonna buy the guys their drinks and start packing them ok." he said as he quickly turned towards the vending machine. Olivia blinked a couple of times trying to bring her mind back to reality. "Ya ok... once your done I'll get the girls drinks." she said in a daze. "No need just let me know which ones they like."
Olivia still couldn't snap herself out of it, so she just automatically replied "pudding tea, ice tea and orange juice." Eli let out a small laugh "That's so cute who likes the pudding tea?"
"Me." Olivia answered. It was silent between them again. Once Eli bought the drinks and packed them neatly into the bag he looked at Olivia. "You know" Eli started. Olivia was finally back from god knows where and focused her attention on Eli. "if I had your contact info I can just message or call you if I'm trying to find you again."
Olivia automatically pulled out her phone and set up the the interfacing system "I'm ready." She said now it was Eli's turn to slightly flush as he pulled his phone out to receive the information after a few seconds their display screens notified them of the new contact that was added. Eli pocketed his phone and grabbed the bag. "Ok I guess it's time to go back and watch the play. Come on Olivia let's go back."
Olivia placed the phone against her chest before she asked Eli "Is it ok if I call or text you just because I want to?" Eli stopped in his tracks and turned around. He looked directly into her eyes and started to walk a little closer. Olivia didn't dare to move. Eli was directly in front of her, his breathing was a little unstable and she thought she did something wrong so she asked again. "It's ok right? I promise not to bother you to much."
Eli let the bag slip out of his hand. It landed with a thud on the ground. One hand wrapped itself around her delicate waist the other hand to the back of her head, he pulled her forward and kissed her. Olivia's eyes widen by the sudden sensation.
She couldn't think, this was her first kiss and it was with Eli. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. After a moment they finally separated and took a step back from each other. Olivia placed the tips of her fingers against her lips as she look at Eli.
Eli bent down and picked up the bag he looked at Olivia his face was unreadable. "We should go back now before they worry." He turned around and didn't start moving till he heard Olivia say "Ok."
.....
Desmound, Earie and Zephyrus woke up at dawn and were shocked to see Norell missing from the camp site. Suddenly some rustling could be heard behind them. They quickly turned and saw Norell appear from the trees but he was not alone. Three beautiful maidens appeared behind him. As Norell and the maidens made their way to the camp ground Norell spoke to them.
"Last night I came across a magical spring where I found my future bride. She can not marry until her younger sisters have been married off first. I told them stories of all your valor during our journey together and hope that you can bond and find true love with them.
But there is a warning if you do fall in love with one of these maidens you will need to face a test concocted by the elder sister. If you fail you will lose your life and the maiden will lose her freedom and be bound to the spring as a fairy." Norell paused as he looked at everyone's faces individually before continuing "The maidens can only stay in our realm for 29 more sunrises, please brothers tell me what you think."
Earie was the first to speak "I am Earie. My brothers and I are all orphans that our villages did not want. We may not have much but I will give my all to you if you win my heart. I ask that you do the same as I try to win yours. My strengths are setting up traps, pelting and crafting, which of you will step forward to try and win my favour." The youngest of the sisters stepped forward and proclaimed "I am Yedda and I will take your challenge!" Earie took Yedda's small hand and stood to the side.
Desmond walked forward and placed his fist over his heart as he spoke. "I am Desmound, I do not know how to speak to a maiden. I don't know how I am supposed to even take care of you. I only know the life of a warrior and can hunt any animal but if you can be patient with me and help me learn to properly love you I will pledge my life and love to you."
This time it was the eldest of the three sisters that stepped forward "I am Vaidehi, I too do not know how to care for a man but I know how to take care of others. I can mend your wound, mend your clothes and fill your belly. I believe we can learn from each other so I will be with you." Desmound stretched out his hand and Vaidehi gently placed hers into his. They too took there place to the side.
Finally it was Zephyrus turn. "I am Zephyrus. I am always the last one. I come from a town by the sea and know how to fish and farm. As for my strengths I believe I have none but i continuously try to improve what I have learned. I am the only choice left and I do not want you to push yourself to try and love me but I would like to at least know your name."
The young maiden was shocked and decided to step forward "I am Dhara and I can tell you that you Zephryus are an honest and patient man. I believe that you wanted your brothers to chose first before you made a move. I will tell you now I had the same thought about my sister and secretly hoped that you would be still available as I have fall for you at first sight. Please take my hand and slowly come to love me in return." Zephyrus took Dhara's hand, pulled her close and kissed her. "I have already fallen in love with you."
Many moons and sun had fallen and risen and at last it was finally the day of the Harvest Moon. The couples lead by Norell made their way to the spring to face the elder sister. They each stood as a pair before the sister ready to do what they had to so that they could stay together. "Welcome" she looked at each pair before she and continued "I see you each found love and are ready to face my test." Each couple held each other closely and nodded their heads.
" Very well, men that my sisters have chosen step forward." Each man let their lover go and did as they were instructed. " On this table you will see three bottles of potion. You must drink to the very last drop and allow the magic to work. It will asses your heart and determine your love to be true if your heart has doubt the magic with kill you where you stand! Do you wish to proceed?" The sister asked.
Not one man hesitated, they all grabbed their bottles and drank the potion down. The men waited and waited and waited when finally they started to wither in pain. They grabbed their hearts and fell to their knees before sub-cumming to death.
The younger sisters all ran to their lovers. They could not believe that they had died and threw themselves on top of their bodies crying for their lose. Norell's face paled, he slowly walked up to each brother and wailed his heart out. He rearranged their bodies so that they could rest peacefully. He turned to the elder sister and said "I believe in my fallen brothers. I witnessed their love blossom. I think you never truly wanted your sisters to leave as the pain is unbearable."
"You are correct Norell, I believe that no man could ever deserve my sisters and planned to kill them from the start. What say you young ones were my actions just? If you so choose to join your lovers all you need to do is kiss his lips and be with him in the afterlife." The sisters quickly kissed their lovers and waited for death but instead they were surprised. Suddenly the corpses embraced them.
"You all passed my test. Love is never one sided it must be mutual and with this I give you my blessings to live your lives with prosperity." She turned to Norell and said "As I promised I am yours in truth every action you have shown me has won my heart over and over again. So I ask you to name me so I can be bound to you and your world." Norell thought for a moment and finally said "I name you Sakura, as you are my goddess that I have found among the cherry trees."