Bab 76: Chapter 76 - A sky full of wishing stars
Lou and Isla shared several looks over dinner, practically holding a conversation with their eyes. The topic of their conversation was an unaware Faun who pushed his food around on his plate and stared blankly into space.
Isla jumped to her feet in relief when her phone rang, needing a break from the tense atmosphere. She excused herself and went to grab her phone, she planned to take the call in a different room anyway but one look at the caller ID had her sprinting to her shared bedroom with Lou.
"About fucking time," She scolded into the phone.
Declan's sigh of relief took a lot out of him, he suddenly wanted to sit down, "He's there, isn't he?"
"I'm not allowed to say that but I will tell you that you don't have a lot of time left." She said cryptically.
Usually, Isla wouldn't have said a single word but she couldn't stand to see Faun look so forlorn, "You owe me for this," She tagged on, hanging up before he could, a bittersweet smile on her face. She really hoped her friends would be okay…
The door to her room opened at that point to reveal Lou standing in the doorway, dressed in black sweats and a little yellow top Isla had gotten her.
"Was that D?" She asked quietly, walking in to place her hands on Isla's hips.
"Yeah, he should be on his way soon." Isla tried to say brightly but it came out a little sad.
"Come on, let's get back to dinner." Lou urged gently, pressing a kiss on her bleached blonde hair.
After their too-quiet dinner, Faun got up, "I'll help with the dishes-"
"Nah, I'll handle it." Lou cut him off, already cleaning up.
"Then can I sit outside for a bit?"
"Sure thing," Isla beamed, still trying to retain her cheery exterior.
Faun went out the front door and sat on the porch, the road wasn't very crowded. A duo of couples idly strolling past, a small family, a lady and her dog, a teenager on their bike…
Faun wondered what it would have been like to be born into a normal family, to worry about mundane things, to have a home… He looked up at the sky, it was completely dark now and he could better see the stars in Oakwood.
A shooting star went by after he had been sitting outside for quite some time, and he found himself remembering a scene from one of the shows he had watched. People wished on shooting stars but he doubted a wish was enough to fix all his problems, for that, he would need an entire sky of shooting stars.
Lou came out at the point, concern on her face, "Want to come in? It's getting really late." She quietly suggested.
Faun had actually lost track of the time, he didn't know that it had gotten that late already but a quick glance at the empty street in front of him confirmed Lou's words. He got up quietly and followed after her, the stars in the dark sky behind him twinkling brighter like they were about to fall.
The night felt endless, and it was just Faun that felt that way. He was up with the sunrise, taking his time in what would be his last proper bath in possibly the rest of his life. It was difficult not to get sentimental over mundane things like that.
Breakfast was somehow quieter than dinner had been, the silence so tense that the scraping of silverware on ceramic sounded deafening.
"So… uh, you'll be leaving this morning?" Isla tentatively brought up.
"Yes, and can I please ask one last favor?"
Isla expression soured like she was regretting bringing it up, she had half hoped that Faun would decide to stay another day. "Sure, anything!"
"Could you drive me to the cottage?" Faun forced himself to say.
Isla's hazel eyes widened imperceptibly, she hadn't been expecting that, it made her a little hopeful that maybe Faun didn't plan to completely leave after all. "You can count on me!"
"I'd love to tag along but unfortunately, I can't." Lou rose to her feet, she kissed Isla's cheek, and ruffled Faun's hair on her way out. "Take good care of yourself, okay?" She directed at Faun, her voice impossibly soft.
Faun nodded wordlessly and fixed his gaze on his toast to hide the tears brimming in his eyes.
Isla hurried after her girlfriend to whisper to her and give her a proper goodbye. "What should I do?" She asked desperately. Declan should be in Oakwood already but they hadn't been able to reach him since the night before.
Lou's pale blue eyes were heavy, "Nothing, he'll be fine, they'll both be." She gently but firmly said, leaning in for a kiss before striding to her car.
Isla sighed as she watched her leaving before heading back to find Faun done with his meal. "Ready to leave?" She asked with a strained smile.
Faun nodded again, he couldn't stand to be around them for much longer, even talking was enough for him to break down crying. So he was grateful when the usually chatty Isla said nothing to him as she drove him down familiar streets.
She stopped her car at the entrance to the woods and shot him a forced grin, "We're here! Want me to walk you there?"
"No, I'll be fine," Faun said in a choked voice.
Isla just reached across the divider and pulled him into a tight hug, "Don't do anything rash, okay," She said vaguely, not wanting to intrude any further.
Faun was out of the car as soon as she let him go, very, very close to remaining in the warmth of her hug. Why did he ever decide to leave his solitary life? It was easier to sleep on the cold hard ground when he didn't know the loving hug of another person, or the warmth of a little cottage and a royal werewolf who was just too cruel to him.
He walked down the familiar path without looking back because he knew that would be his undoing. The familiar scent swept over him, making his throat feel tight, a few more steps now and the cottage would come into view - He wasn't ready, and he doubted he ever would be.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone