The next morning I had moved everything into another room while Alex went to go talk to Belle. I had just finished when shouting could be heard coming from one of the upstairs rooms.
"No Belle! I would rather you keep your damn prophecies to yourself!" Alex yelled at her before slamming the door and heading down and out the front door of the house.
My heart ached but I knew better than to go after him to cool him down at this moment. It was no longer my place to do that. I crawled into the bed in the room I was in now and cried.
"Mija?" Lars voice called to me from the door way and I rolled over to see him looking concerned at me.
"Hey Lars, Alex and I ended things since Belle told me he'd end up alone and in pain if we didn't." I let him know what was wrong. "I'll be alright and so will Alex. In time."
"Yeah, I was in the room with Belle when Alex came in. I know it has to do with Alex finding love but he doesn't know this. We can't tell him either, restrictions are there on those things for reasons."
"So even if we tried we couldn't tell him?"
"There are ways but it wouldn't be worth the risk of the consequences of changing fate. I know that and I keep telling her to leave the predictions in her mind until she is asked for them. She says that majority of the time she does, but when she sees herself telling someone she can't avoid it."
He shook his head and sat down next to me, "Mija, I'm sorry, I knew you both were happy, so I didn't tell you both sooner that I already knew it was going to happen this way."
"Lar, Alex and I are adults. We will be fine, we agreed that our friendship will still be there in the years to come." I reassure him.
"Yes, I know. But it's not easy to see two people you care about be in pain." He patted my hand.
"Don't worry Lar. It's only temporary. Besides we have larger matters at hand that need our immediate attention. The show is in 3 days!" I exclaim trying to change the mood around.
Lar nods, "Indeed you're right. I need to go get Temple to work his magic."
"Temple?"
Lar smiles, "You're going to have control yourself, Mija. You're in for another surprise while we're here."
'oh man..... I don't think I can handle anymore surprises.'
"As long as it's a good surprise."
Lar just winks and and tells me to get ready.
....
Temple is something else. He's a Oni that I wasn't sure about at first. His facial features made him look mean and fierce like he was going to eat me at any second, but he acted giddy as a child.
When Lar introduced us he shook my hand eagerly and then smelled my hand telling me welcome sister and had me sit in a chair. Lar chuckled at my reaction which was mildly wide eyed, because Temple was quite fearsome looking. After catching up with each other Lar asked for his and Belle's Elixirs.
"Belle needs her Elixir already? I wasn't expecting her to need it till next week at least." Temple said striding over to an old ornate Japanese cabinet that he unlocked to reveal tons of drawers labeled with spidery markings and pulled out two of the drawers.
"Yes, I was coming so I said I would pick it up for her." Lar crossed his legs and clutched his knee.
"Well, here is hers." He pulled out a small box of little glass vials that clinked together when he set the box down.
"And yours." He smiled setting a smaller box of the vials in front of Lar.
"That will be 8000 Euros, my good friend."
I paused looking at Lar, what the hell was he buying exactly?
Temple noticing my look laughed. "You didn't tell her what you were coming for did you?"
Lar shook his head with a smile. Temple motioned for him to follow him and they went into the next room while I sat there. I waited for at least 15 minutes before these two very handsome gentleman came into the room from the door me and Lar had walked through and sat down.
I didn't know what to do as they both were staring at me quite intently. "I'm sorry gentleman, I'm not sure where they went but they should be back soon."
The men burst into laughter and I became slightly indignant at that. This made them laugh harder.
"Mija, you really don't recognize me?" The brunette haired man said.
WHAT THE FUCK?!
"LAR!?" I pinched myself really quick as I couldn't believe my eyes. "Then you're Temple?" I asked turning to the dark haired gentleman who nodded at question.
My mouth just hung slack open for a minute before clearing my throat. "Well that was certainly not what I was expecting."
....
Back at Lars place we found out that Alex had not come back since this morning. So Lar shaking his head gave Belle her Elixir and told everyone to just start packing the trucks with the stuff and gave me a shrug of his human shoulders. I had to touch him a few times because this was the weirdest damn thing I've seen in my life. It didn't sound or look like him but was able to snap us back to his place with no issues. So it had to be him right?
Lar finally looked at me and said, "Mija, if you poke me again I'll make you walk the stage in that gown."
I quickly retracted my hand that was going to poke him again and smiled being caught red handed.
We all rode in the trucks or the vans to the fashion shows event area. Everyone there was busy setting up the stage and lighting, running cords and hooking up the sound system. When we arrived the people going over the progress of everything saw us and came quickly over.
"May I help you?" She asked looking at all of us. Lar and Belle stepped forward.
"Ciao, I am Devon Bisset, of Esencia de Vida.(Essence of Life) This is my wife, Aida Bisset."
"Oh you're Esencia's designer, they said you'd be coming today, but I wasn't sure what time. Please follow me right this way." She motioned for us to follow her and she led us into a large hall that was being sectioned off into different areas that were marked with different designer names.
"You're area is in the back, Mr. Bisset sir, please let us know if you require anything else. Mrs. Bisset." She nodded to Belle and left with just a smile for the rest of us. We set up everything we needed to and did a check on the clothes made sure everything was set up ahead of time. We saw only one other designer who did the same thing. Once we were done Lar, or I should say ' Mr. Bisset ' said lets go and get something for dinner.
The whole time they were human Lar and Belle seemed very fond of each other, Belle looked like she was on cloud nine honestly. He held her hand that was around his arm and he made small jokes and comments making her smile and laugh. It was a complete 180 from what I had seen of their interactions. The way they looked together was adorable, anyone not seeing them before could say that they were deeply in love. Made my heart ache for Alex and John at the same time it was a very confusing feeling but at the same time I ached differently for each one.
While waiting to be seated at the restaurant I got a text from Alex wanting to know where we were and after our large party was seated he showed up shortly after. He strolled in like nothing and came and sat down near me but across the table. The farthest he could get from Belle.
"Sorry, I'm late everyone." He apologized as he sat down giving a curt nod and and forced smile as he did so. I couldn't help but look at him, stealing glances the entire time we were eating. It wasn't until the end when dessert was served that I caught him staring as my eyes lit up in how delicious the dessert was.
I probably looked like a toddler with the spoon sticking out of my smiling mouth with my eyes scrunched up. When I opened them he was looking at me a slight sad smile on his face. I turned beet red that even one of the stylists asked me if I was alright, I was looking flushed.
"Oh no, I'm fine. Just this is so good." I waved it off and kept my face down taking smaller bites trying to appreciate the dessert and avoid the intense gaze from Alex. When everyone was done and getting ready to leave, Alex tugged on my elbow.
"Walk with me back to the house, it is not far from here." He suggested.
"Alright."
When everyone had piled in we waved them off saying we were walking back. Belle gave us a look from her seat but Lar patted her hand before she said anything.
We started walking and he told me about some of the places we passed, what was good for coffee and some of the history of the older buildings.
"So Alex, did you want me to walk with you to show me some nearby sites or did you want to talk about something else? It's okay to talk to me still." I said putting my arm around his.
He looked down at my arm and placed his hand on mine.
"You know me too well. It's just hard to let someone like you go. You're amazing, hermosa. I can't believe a guy like me could have been so lucky to enjoy a single night with you, let alone all the days I've known you along with some very good nights." He grinned making me blush.
"You know you're not half bad yourself there Alex. I'm glad it was you, after John. I don't think anyone else would have been patient enough with me. Also, you are amazing in bed. It makes me jealous of the woman who'll end up with you." I say resting my head for a second on his shoulder as we walk.
"You? Jealous? I have a hard time believing that one." He chuckles. "But the sex part, I know I am good at that." He smugly starts to strut with his chest puffed up.
I giggle cause the sight reminds me of the cartoon characters that do that to impress the ladies.
He groans, "Oh don't giggle please..... It's so hard to control myself when I hear that."
I glance at his face and he does in fact look pained. It sobers me up from the little buzz I was feeling from being in his presence at ease again.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize hermosa, not for that. I was stupid to say that out loud. It is painful right now to hear but when you giggle I know you're happy and I'd rather know you're happy."
We come up on a little park, it's just a city square block with trees and some benches and a pathway and he directs me to take a seat. The night is cooling off and I rub my bare arms to warm them up. Alex sees this and removes his light dress jacket and covers my shoulders.
"So what should we do about the show?" I ask him.
"What about it?" He asks slightly confused.
"I need help in and out of my dress." I remind him.
He groans again, "Dios mio. Dame pan y dime tonto. (Give me bread and call me a fool) Okay I will still help you but I can not promise I will be able to control myself from kissing you one last time."
I look up at him searching his eyes, we know it's dangerous to tempt fate, and we know we shouldn't but we both react to each other and our lips meet anyways. Slow and steady, that's how he's always been with me.
When we part we reflect the pain in our eyes for one another, "I'll get someone else to help me, it may be better that way." I say reluctantly.
He just nods and looks away, "Well shall we head back before they send out a search party?" We head back and once there say goodnight wanting to say more, but I just hand him his jacket and go into the other room. I lay there after washing up sad and forcing tears back when a knock comes at the door. I open it to find Alex looking torn. I motion for him to come in and he pulls me to sit on the bed.
"I know I shouldn't ask this but sleep next to me tonight, nothing more. I won't be able to sleep knowing you're so close and feeling the same way I am."
I reach over and pull back the covers on the other side and motion for him to hop in. We curl up next to each other holding hands just staring at one another until we fall asleep.