09. Family Time, A hard decided to make.

"Well, look who finally came to visit." 

"Hi mom."

"Where have you been?, You hardly come to see me."

"I'm sorry about that, I just thought you might want some time for your mother-daughter bonding."

"That's very sweet of you, but it doesn't mean you should be far from your mother."

"Okay, I'll visit more often." My phone vibrated in my pocket and I reached for it. "Ugh, why did I take this thing with me?" Bianca had sent a text. She had been arrested and was being charged with murder.

"Did something happen?"

"Hmm?, No. I just need to quickly take care of something."

Hang on, I'm on my way. 

I replied and shoved the phone back in my pocket.

I was on my way to Bianca when I noticed her friend, Chloe wandering around. She looked confused and lost so I walked up to her. "Chloe?,"

"Sam, oh thank goodness. I don't know what's happening, I'm freaking out. I think something's wrong with me."

I wanted to ask what the problem was and how I could be of assistance but something happened. A man walked by and he bumped into her--or rather, he walked through her.

"It's okay, I understand. Come with me." I took her hand and led her to the park. She looked confused but she didn't say anything. When we got there, we went through the passage way that was there and I led her to the underworld and handed her over to Thanatos. "She doesn't have a drachma, could you spare one for her?"

"Hmm... alright."

"Thanks old man."

"Working even on vacation, are we?"

"I couldn't just leave her."

"Okay, well I'll tell your dad how hardworking you are."

"Very well then. I must get going now, I have somewhere I need to be." I turned to Chloe who still looked a bit confused. "Don't worry, he'll take care of you." She nodded and I left her with Thanatos.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thank you for coming to see me." Bianca looked relived as she saw me.

"What happened?"

"Well, I went to my place this morning and to my utmost horror, I found Chloe's corpse there. I called the cops but they arrested me as the prime suspect."

Her hands were shaking and her eyes were red, obviously she had been crying. I wanted to hold her, to pull her in my arms and reassure her that she would be fine but I decided against it. Instead I just tapped her hand and she held on to my hands. "I didn't kill Chloe, she was my best friend, she was like a sister to me. There's no way I could have... I would never..." Her voice croaked as she chocked back a sob and I squeezed her hand gently.

"It's okay, I believe you. I'll make sure I get you out of here, I promise." I went to speak with the officer in charge and he said they were going to run an autopsy on Chloe's body and when the result comes out, they would decide on the next line of action.

The autopsy showed that Chloe had died of abuse of drugs so Bianca was released. She was thankful she wasn't jailed for a crime she was innocent of but she mourned for her best friend.

"Should we go out?" She stared at me, probably shocked by my question.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"It appears I am. Are you interested?" She slowly nodded and I handed her a muffin I had gotten for her on my way. "I'll pick you up tomorrow by twelve."

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When I arrived at her place, she was already waiting outside. It was twenty seven minutes after twelve and she just stood there, waiting patiently. She wore a sleeveless dress that stopped right above her knees. It was a bright blue color and was flair from the waist down. Her hair was gelled to the back, really bringing out the roundness of her cute face and she added extra color to her already red lips, giving it a unique raspberry pink color.

"Hi, sorry I'm late." I unlocked the passenger's side and she got in.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't show. Nice car." She looked around, admiration present in her bright blue eyes.

"Thanks. It's uh...it's my grandma's."

"Wow, your grandma's got style."

"Hehe, I guess so. What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes. Tell me about your family."

"Oh, I never knew my family. I grew up in an orphanage, ran away when I was sixteen and I had been on my own ever since."

"I'm sorry."

"It's cool. I met officer Bronco about five years ago and he had been taking care of me since then so... it's fine."

"Okay."

"Yeah. So where are we going?"

"Oh uh...there's somewhere I like visiting when I want to get away, I don't know if you'll like it though."

"I'm sure I'll like it, let's go."

All through the drive, she didn't say a word, she didn't even look at me. She just kept staring at her phone. I pulled the car to a stop and that was when she looked up. "We're here."

"The park?"

"You don't like it?"

"No of course I do. I used to love visiting the park when I was younger. I'd come here with Chloe and Chris and we'd go on all the rides." She had a distant far away look in her eyes as she spoke, and whenever she mentioned Chloe, her expression turned sad.

"Come on, let's go." We went in and after a few minutes, she was back to her cheerful self. We went on a few rides and even went through the tunnel of love together. She wanted to have ice cream so we went to the stand together. There was a bubble machine next to the stand so she hopped around like a little kid, popping them.

Just watching her made me happy, I really hated seeing her sad. I honestly felt bad for her, she lost the one person that was like a sister to her, and the other person she trusted so much broke her heart. I wish I could undo everything, and make her genuinely happy again, but it was impossible.

She caught me staring and flashed me a bright smile and I smiled briefly before looking away.

Our date went pretty well, she didn't say a word about liking me and I had to admit, I was a bit disappointed. After our date, I dropped her off at Bronco's before going back to Demeter's.

"How was your day honey?"

"Uh...pretty good. How was yours?"

"It was splendid. Mother and I went shopping."

"That's great, I'm glad you're happy."

"Aww thank you. Are you happy?"

Was I happy?, I should have just answered yes but that answer didn't feel right. I wasn't happy, I was falling in love with someone I could never have. Someone I would never see again when I return home, someone I would never be able to forget. This trip was nothing like I had expected, when I first got here, I expected being pissed off by some mortals, I expected not being used to the sun and the environment but I never thought, not even for a second that I would fall in love.

"Samael?"

Mom was staring intensely at me, concern knitting her brows together. "Yes Mom, I'm happy." I didn't have the heart to tell her what I was going through because she would just put the blame on herself.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course. I should go to bed, I'm kinda tired."

"Alright dear, good night."

"Good night."

When I got out of the shower, I laid on the bed and shut my eyes tight, trying with no luck to force out Bianca's image from my head. Her eyes, her cute nose, her lips...her million dollar smile. It all started with a simple kiss. An anything-but-simple kiss.

I wanted her, needed her, more than I had ever wanted or needed anything in my entire life. I wanted to take care of her, wanted to treasure her, I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but how was I supposed to tell her that she was in love with a one hundred and thirty year old god without freaking her out?.

Thanks for today hottie, I really appreciate you being there for me.

I smiled at the message and was about to reply her when another came in.

I wish you'd let me be there for you too.

I held the phone to my chest and closed my eyes. I considered calling her and telling her everything, telling her how I felt and what was stopping me from reciprocating her feelings. I decided against it and kept the phone under my pillow. 

I had only three months left to spend here and I'd never see her again. I decided that it would be better if she never finds out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey."

"I'm starting to think you're stalking me."

"Did you forget?, I know someone who works here."

"Right, my mistake." I turned my attention to the drink in front of me and didn't say anything else. She sat on the stool next to mine and was staring at me. "Could you stop that?"

"I called you yesterday, why didn't you answer?"

"I didn't feel like it."

"Why are you being like this again?, I thought we were cool."

"Why won't you just leave me alone?"

"Because I love you."

"You're a fool."

"Maybe, but I belong with you. I'm your fool."

"We can never happen."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You'll only get hurt in the end."

"Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all." She closed the distance between us and placed a hand on my thigh. "I know you want me, I can see it in your eyes, I hear it in your voice..., I feel it in your touch...." She got up and put her hand on my shoulder. She stared at me, her eyes wide and imploring. Wanting.

Her breath became mine as her mouth lingered over mine. Our lips were just inches apart and with every word she said, my hunger for her grew even more. "....so why don't you just give in?"

I didn't know how I managed to avoid kissing Bianca. I staggered out of the building and didn't stop walking until I was sure I had enough distance between us. 

I didn't know what to do so I went home. Dad was happy to see me because he thought I had decided to come home early.

"Bored of those mortals right?, I told your mother going up there was not a good idea but she wouldn't listen."

"Actually dad, I'm still gonna go back."

"Oh."

"Yes, I just came down here to grab something."

"Alright then."

"Hey little bro." I turned to face the gorgeous woman that stood in front of me.

"Hey Amara, it's good to see you again."

"Yeah. How've you been?"

"Oh just normal I guess. You?"

"I'm good."I went to my room and after a few minutes, she walked in. "Knock knock."

"What's up?"

"Can we talk?"

"Sure." She sat beside me and just stared at me. "Is... something wrong?"

"I feel like I should be the one to ask you that."

"What do you mean?"

"You might be able to fool dad, maybe even mom but not me. What's on your mind?"

I didn't know if telling her was the right thing to do but I was desperately in need of someone to talk to. "Amara, if you wanted something, and you wanted it badly but you know that if you have it, you'll regret it later because you'd end up hurting that thing. Would you still go for it?"

"If you love someone and you know that being with that person would only bring her pain, would you still do it?"

"But... I love her."

"Samael, have you considered what would happen to her when you have to leave? Would it be worth it to have her now only to leave her heartbroken in a few months?"

"I guess not."

"I know it's not going to be easy but you have to do what's best for both of you."

She was right. Dating Bianca for three months then leaving would be the most cruel and selfish thing I could do to her, and I would never do that. "Thanks."

"Anytime."