JUDE'S POV
I tried my best to believe, to stay strong and not lose hope that easily but I just couldn't.
"Wh-what do you mean it won't work?" I asked Aiofe. "Is there not something we can do?"
"We can try another method though but it'd be more painful and could weaken you"
"Are you certain it'd work?" Lilith asked and Aiofe shook her head with a low sigh.
"Not really but we can try."
Harper made her way to this chair beside Jo's bed and sat on it. She extended its height and continued turning it from side to side then tilted her head to the left and kept on listening.
"And if it doesn't we'd lose Jude too?" Mum inquired quite harshly and Aiofe shivered a bit at the coldness in her tone.
"Mum..."
"Not now, Jude"
"Can you guys keep it down and let me talk?" Harper asked and all eyes turned. Lilith and Lucerne gave her a death glare, Alan and I gave her a confused one, Ashley seemed used to it while Aiofe... well, she was out of it.
"I can travel more than a decade?"
"No you can't!!" Ashley quickly said 'cause it seemed like the little girl had no idea what she was talking about.
"Okay, I can't but I know a method we can try"
"Uhhh.... " Ashley begun giving Harper the look but the little girl didn't seem too bothered and carried on.
"The only reason you believe I can't travel that far behind is because it is energy draining and you believe I'm not strong enough but that's where strengthening spells come in." Harper stated while everyone watched her in awe, pride and some mixed feelings.
"We just need witches. I'm not that weak so let's say about four to seven witches would do the job. If you guys are still paranoid, I could wear a glacora. Just chillax for now.
"Wow " Aiofe mumbled under her breath in admiration and Lilith tossed the girl a smile.
"You're so smart. I am even beginning to like you"
"I'm a very likeable person, aren't I?" Harper said as she twirled her blonde hair and turned to Alan. He gave her a smile and patted her head.
"Yes, you are. Very smart and likeable."
I just stood there and watched the scene play out before me. I wasn't going to let the demon called hope creep in and poison my mind once again. I'd rather see the results than celebrate the uncertain.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and turned to face the window, looking at the mountain and the foggy sky from a distance. From the corner of my eye, I saw Alan give Harper a mini pack of skittles and then head towards my direction. Soon enough, I felt his presence beside me but the scent of his perfume hit my nostrils first.
He just stood there looking out the window and gracing me with his presence, not turning or talking to me. I let out a sigh and as if on cue, he let out one of his own.
"Are you okay?" Alan inquired softly. He didn't turn towards me and his voice was nothing but a whisper. I shook my head in response and he snaked his hand round my waist as if to reassure me that he's here. I let my head fall to his chest since I couldn't exactly lean on his shoulder due to height differences while he drew small soothing circles on my waist.
We just retained that position until we heard someone clear their throat behind us. In a synchronized manner, we both turned to face the person. It was mum.
"Sorry to disturb but we need your attention." I gave her a tight lipped smile and nodded.
"So, how are going to do this?" Lucerne started. "Tomorrow, we need to go somewhere because of Jude's friend so we can't really do the strengthening spell."
"You guys can actually go. Aiofe and I would try to find powerful witches and make the portion so hopefully by... tomorrow is Wednesday right??"
"Yeah..." Aiofe said and Lilith nodded.
"Hopefully, by Friday Harper would time travel. Settled?"
Yeah's, okay's and alright's filled the room for a moment. Aiofe and Lilith talked extensively about the spells and ingredients to prepare the portion. Every other person felt out of place so we decided to leave them to it.
Alan led me out of the room and we began walking out. After about 15minutes, the environment started becoming unfamiliar to me which was weird since I've been in Hendrix most of my life.
"Al, where are we going?" I asked after a moment. He shook his head and replied with
"Hold on, we're almost there."
I let out a breath through my nose and bit my bottom lip as the wheels in my head began turning. Before I could even say Jack Robinson, he had his left hand obstructing my vision. I wrapped my hand round his waist for support and let him enjoy the moment of surprising me.
"You can open them now" I opened my eyes and was met by a medium sized tent that could accommodate at least four people. On the other side of it was a small but irregularly shaped lake. A slight wind blew which resulted in a couple of ripples on the water. A small smile crept to my face as I admired the simple yet breath-taking view.
"Do you like it?" Alan asked softly.
"I really do" I replied with a soft smile. "Can I go in?" Alan nodded holding back a grin. He escorted ne in and we sat down comfortably, me placing a blanket on my legs.
He gave me a pack of chips and grabbed a chocolate bar for himself. I opened the extra-large pack and took a bite of the chip.
"So, how'd you find this place?" I asked curiously but focused on the packet of chips in my hands.
"I really can't recall" Alan said with a dry laugh at the end. "But I do remember I found this place while taking a late night walk"
"Oh nice but I expected something more interesting"
"Like me rolling down a staircase and finding a cool spot beneath the stairs?" Alan asked referencing to one of her embarrassing moment when she rolled down the stairs in front of a number of people.
"Oh stop it, Al. I thought you loved me" I said landing a small punch on his shoulder.
"Well, I do but some things are better left said"
"I thought it was unsaid"
"You shouldn't have said anything babe"
"Some things are better left said" I replied using his words against him. Alan rolled his eyes in response while I munched on my last chip.
"Can I have another chip?"
"Nope"
"Why not?"
"I just don't want to give you"
"Then give me your chocolate"
"Nope"
"Yes"
"Nope"
"Then I'd have to take it myself." I finally said a little bit irritated that he wasn't giving me. I adjusted my stance like an animal ready to attack its prey and pounced on him but I was too late. He put nearly everything into his mouth and all I could do was watch as he ate it while laying on top of him. He swallowed and my eyes followed his every move.
Our lips were just a hairline away and slowly but surely, the gap was closed. My top lip was enveloped in his lips and was made a captive to this pleasures. He bit my bottom lip and I let out a gasp in response to the painful sensation while he took it as his cue to let his tongue slide in. Our tongues danced to silent tunes and every touch lit up something in me.
We withdrew a bit to catch our breath but still unsatisfied, we once again broke into a kiss. We were no longer in a lying position, instead he was in a sitting position and I had my legs wrapped round his waist. His lips slowly detached from my lips and formed a trail of wet kisses down my neck which made me make sounds I never knew I could.
I let my fingers run through his hair and massage his scalp while his hands went beneath my baggy shirt and found its way to my breasts. I don't know if he used his power or not but both way, my shirt was off my body in the fastest possible way and I lay beneath him on the floor of the tent.
I let out a moan as an evidence of the satisfaction the pleasure he provided brought me and he let his kisses go all the way down to the middle of my bra. He let out soft breaths and I felt the warm air on my skin where he rested. He looked up to have a better view of my face which most likely had smudged lipstick and let out a groan.
"I really wish I could do as I please but I respect you and I understand you're not in the best state of mind for this. Besides, I promised you I'd wait till you're ready and of age, I'm not going to break this promise now."
I fought back a smile but I couldn't and soon it crept to my face.
"Oh my precious Ally" I gushed as I ran my fingers through his hair. He gave me the cutest smile ever so I just had to place a small kiss on his forehead, then his nose tip and maybe his lips. He tried to fight for dominance but I pulled away and gave him a tight lipped smile.
"Such a tease you are." He replied and I chuckled then let out a yawn.
"Why don't we take a little nap?" Alan asked and I nodded. He lay out his back with a small pillow beneath his head while I rested my head on his chest.
"""
I slowly opened my eyes and after some time, I sat up. It was already dark, like how long was I asleep? I wore my shirt then tapped Alan who was still asleep. He stirred in his sleep but didn't wake up. I let out a sigh, waited for a few minutes then blew air into his left ear to give him the impression there was a disturbing insect. His hand flew to his ear and he hit it. The impact wasn't that much but was still enough to wake him. He rubbed the ear for a moment and turned to the other side.
Before he could adjust the pillow, I spoke.
"Alan"
"Hmmm..."
"Alan wake up. It's already dark"
Almost immediately, he sat up and checked outside.
"Geez, how long did we sleep?" He mumbled as he searched for his phone. He tapped on the screen and the digits 7:15 was displayed.
"It's just seven, relax" Alan said and I nodded.
"I was beginning to think it was already past nine" I replied and picked the empty chips and chocolate packet so as to dispose later. I got out of the tent and felt my pockets for my phone but it wasn't there.
"Can you help me check for my phone?"
"Already picked it." Alan said getting out of the tent. I collected my phone mumbling a thanks to him and we walked hand in hand towards the part of Hendrix with more activities, engaging in small talk at intervals.
"I'm going to check on Jo. I'd chat you." I told Alan as I waved him goodbye. I turned to the infirmary while he turned the opposite direction.
""(Third Person's POV)
Ryker was currently in the room. He was sitted on a chair by Jo's bed and had one of her hands in his. He was dressed in a grey shirt and short with a black crocs. His hair was his usual messy but looked wet from a distance.
Jude dug her hands into her pockets as she walked to the other side of the bed. Ryker looked up and gave her a tight lipped smile.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly but didn't look at him so he could feel natural and not give her a forced or programmed response... if that makes sense??
"I can't say I'm okay but I'm better than yesterday." Ryker said after a few moments. Jude nodded her head and looked out the window.
"Aiofe thought of something, I don't know if you're aware" Ryker clicked his tongue so Jude carried on. "Basically, they're preparing a portion that could bring Jo back. This girl, Harper would time travel and give Jo the portion and hopefully if things go well, Jo would wake up."
Ryker nodded. He didn't seem so hopeful about it but his eyes sparkled a bit.
"I hope it does."
They sat in a comfortable silence and engaged in small talk until Jude left to her room.
"""
JUDE'S POV
It was currently 8:30 and the HSC officers were currently on their way. I didn't really do much since I woke up. Just showered, dressed in a joggers and shirt, ate some chips, journal-ed a bit, did some shape shifting exercises and that's basically it.
I disposed the chips packet and made my bed. As if on cue, mum called to tell me the officers were already at the gate of the dorm. I hurriedly wore my crocs and headed outside.
"So she has no roommate?" Officer Bryan asked me.
"Not anymore." Bryan nodded and wore his gloves. The other officers did the same.
"Can you please excuse us? Although two people can stay." Bryan stated. The house mistresses, and three other girls who just couldn't mind their businesses walked out leaving just mum and I.
Soon, the search begun and we still couldn't find anything.
"We haven't found anything useful" Another officer, Bruce spoke. Ryker's father, Jace nodded in agreement and I let out a sigh.
"What about this box?" Alex, a young officer who looked like he was in his early twenties said. All eyes turned to him and I squinted. The box looked old. It was a wooden box that looked so ancient. It was cubic in shape with an average height of 12cm. It had a lock too which increased my curiosity.
"Curiosity killed the cat" My inner voice said.
"Fuck curiosity" I mumbled.
Jace turned to mum and I then back to the box.
"We'd take this along. If we find anything useful we'd contact you. For now, let's hope everything goes well.
Mum nodded and with that, we left the room.