16 Chapter 16 - I Love Him!
JANUARY 21st 2005 - FRIDAY
CAMPFIRE – A FEW MILES FROM SAM ULEY'S HOME
Xavier hadn't slept, but he pretended to for Angela's sake – the girl tended to awake at random times in the night, checking to see if The Eternal was still at her side.
Eternals didn't need to sleep – the Cosmic Core installed in their synthetic forms held endless Cosmic Energy, and though Xavier had come to know he was biological and not synthetic, it was the same pretty much.
However, Cosmic Energy rippled out of every part of him – bones, flesh, lungs, nerves, brain matter…
'I will probably never be able to sneak out for as long as we are together,' Xavier groaned when Angela awakened for the third time that night.
Sunlight peeked from behind the mountains.
It was a signal to Xavier – a signal that it was safe to move, and as he floated himself to a standing position, Angela – sensitive as she was – finally stirred awake.
It was as if she could sense his absence, especially in unknown environments. What greeted her eyes was Xavier's divine body shining brilliantly with the sun as a background.
Angela was once again reminded of how lucky she was, and similarly, Xavier stared at Angela's single left breast peeking from behind the white sheets.
The image was exquisite.
"You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," Xavier muttered – a truth in the morning was not how he liked to start his day, but some truths slipped before they could be contained.
"Thanks," Angela blushed. "You always say sweet things to me in the morning, and every single time I feel inadequate, but this morning – messy hair, dirt-covered body, sleeping on the ground. This is actually the first time I feel your words are genuine."
'Because it is the first time they are,' Xavier muttered mentally, but his mouth said something different. "Because you finally have the confidence to go with your beauty."
Angela gave Xavier a deadpan stare. "We are not having sex this morning – that would take hours."
"Darn," The Eternal cursed playfully.
"I'm serious," Angela complained, grabbing her phone and checking the time. "We literally have an hour until the first bell rings. Unless you want my parents to hear that I skipped school twice in one week."
"Nope…" Xavier shook his head, imagining Angela's father. "I have been dodging your father, but with a little more push, he is going to come looking for me, specifically."
"Dad's fine…" Angela lied through her teeth. "He still kinda likes you."
"Come on!" Xavier scooped his girlfriend into his arms.
"Wai—"
Sometimes, Angela could sense when Xavier was about to do something particularly amazing; though, amazing could be termed in another way – dangerous!
WHOOOSH
Angela felt the world blur in Xavier's arms, and the next second, they were high in the air, having leaped over twenty meters to the center of the nearby river.
SPLASH
Xavier ensured Angela remained in his arms as they sunk to the bottom, and for her credit, Angela knew that any movement would just make the situation more difficult for Xavier.
One second…
Two seconds…
Five seconds…
Ten seconds…
The duo remained submerged for a full ten seconds before breaking through the surface of the water near the shore. They both felt refreshed, energized, and most of all, very awake.
"I swear…" Angela groaned in mock anger, splashing water in Xavier's face. "You pull stunts like these too much!"
"I promise to stop…"
"You always promise that," She groaned.
Xavier smirked, and embraced Angela, twirling her in the water.
It was a breath of fresh air for them both.
The moment – alone in the forest, a river of their own, nobody around for miles, and splashing about like children. Angela felt as if Xavier engineered these events specifically for her memories.
It made her heart clench – thinking that someday, Xavier would no longer be around.
'I love him,' Angela's mind spun with the realization. 'I really fucking love him so much…'
There were high school relationships that felt like love, but Angela knew that could change as soon as graduation came around, but right now, she felt the pressure of love – a love that would last her a lifetime.
Even if they didn't end up together, Angela could see herself a decade in the future, telling her grandchildren about the one that got away – the love with Xavier Ikaris Aionios.
"I love you," Angela blurted.
"I know," Xavier replied, leaning in and taking her lips. "I more than love you – for someone like me, the greatest thing I can give you isn't my love, but a place in my memories. So, to you Angela Weber, I will always remember you."
Though the words weren't quite right, Angela felt her heart heavy with pleasure, sadness, and acceptance as if Xavier had given her something more important than his confession.
The duo slowly, and sensually washed each other in the river, and casual conversation of sweet words filled Angela's ears. It wasn't until the bath had finished did Angela realize exactly why they were there.
Something Xavier never mentioned.
Something she knew he would never say.
'He is preparing me to survive in a worst-case scenario. He showed me how to light a fire, where to sleep, where to bathe, what fruits to eat.'
Everything was a lesson.
Xavier warmed Angela's body for a couple of minutes after exiting the water, then the duo got dressed, packed their things, and made way for the car parked outside of Sam's house.
The Eternal made an exception to walk as slowly as possible, examining Angela's beautifully swaying hips from behind as the beautiful river water sparkled in her still-wet hair.
He knew that wasn't the only thing that was wet… but now was not the time for such thoughts.
"There is a natural, earthy smell that comes with bathing in rivers," Xavier explained. "I hope you don't mind it when the others at school notice."
Angela shrugged her shoulders. "Our clothes will mostly block the smell, but I do need sanitary pads," She didn't hide the fact that her menstrual cycle was due.
Xavier, unlike most guys, was not averse to spending time with his girlfriend during her bleeding days – as a matter of fact, he welcomed the idle time that came once a month.
"We'll get you some on the way to school," The Eternal opened the car door, and Angela slipped inside. "I know the kind you like," He further explained.
Angela cozied herself in the car, and when Xavier slipped into the driver's seat, she leaned forward to give him a quick, well-deserved, kiss on the cheek.
"I need to talk about female hygiene with you more often," Xavier joked as he started the car.
"Please don't…" Angela groaned, fearing the monster she had awakened.
"So, what's the volume of bleeding we expect every month?" Xavier started the questionnaire in his mind.
Angela groaned, knowing this would be a long ride back to school, especially since Xavier observed her enough to well-enough know the answers to the questions he was asking.
۞۞۞
DING
Xavier attempted to put the hummer on a cruise so he could toss the phone outside the window – he was about to destroy his third phone for the month.
As if reading his thoughts, Angela grabbed the phone and read the message on his behalf.
Angela internally groaned that, unlike ordinary guys, Xavier preferred to cheat without the use of any electronics, making it harder to determine when he was disloyal.
Well, that was the case back then.
Though she remained mostly uncertain that he wasn't going to be disloyal anymore – at least, not with an ordinary girl.
"Bella wants to give you a ride to school," Angela read the text
"Hmmm…" Xavier fell into silence as he decided the best course of action. "Tell her to leave her car behind, I will give her a ride this morning."
Angela's fingers slipped across the phone's screen, typing the message in a politer manner than Xavier's tongue had relayed.
DING
"She doesn't want to," Angela relayed.
"Tell her I wasn't asking!"
Angela quirked a brow and once again wrote something a bit nicer, and a bit more convincing.
--------------
Xavier parked the car in front of Charlie's house, and Bella slowly made her way to the car, hesitating a couple of times before finding the courage to hop in the backseat of the hummer.
"For a moment," Xavier smirked. "I thought I would have had to jump out of the car and throw you inside."
"You do know my dad has guns?" Bella suggested, eyes darting from Xavier to Angela and back. "I – I mean—"
"It's fine, Bella…" Angela giggled. "Once, Xavier slept with a girl in the backseat of a car in front of my house, dropped her off on my block, circled around the neighborhood, and picked up another girl who he also slept with in the backseat. Then, he had the audacity to see me going to school and offer me a ride…"
"Damn…" Bella chuckled as she imagined the scene, thinking that it sounded exactly like the Xavier she knew. "And what did you do?" She questioned in anticipation.
Angela shrugged. "I was late, so I got in the car," She admitted. "Don't let his tough façade fool you – if he learns your name before he sleeps with you, he will take care of you."
Angela and Bella had broken the ice and started to chatter.
The tension between them disappeared bit by bit, and very soon, they were discussing Xavier in detail even though the said person was in the car with them.
VROOOM
Xavier glanced at the car on his right, noting it was very familiar.
"Your Bugatti…" Angela commented.
Xavier smirked and lowered his window, and likewise, Jessie – in the Bugatti – lowered the tinted windows. There was no need for a declaration of competition between the friends who had been to jail together.
"Ha ha ha…"
Deep, maniacal laughter ripped free from Xavier's throat.
Jessie, for her part, warned her passenger to put on their seatbelt.
VROOOOOOM
VROOOOOOM
PSSSHHHTTT
Bugatti and Hummer – both belonging to Xavier – departed in a blur of movement, hitting sixty miles per hour in a matter of three seconds flat.
-------------------
Bella was the first to hop out of Xavier's car, feeling sick to her stomach and a bit wobbly in her knees. The race was not only intense, but a couple of times, she actually saw her life flashing before her eyes.
Bella had learned something new about Xavier – he thought himself a racecar driver.
As for Jessie, she was much more reserved when it came to turning corners, but the tomboy was indeed the better driver of the two.
Bella withheld the bar that was threatening to burst out of her throat, and Angela timely grabbed her hair to keep it out of the impending vomit's way.
Thankfully, no barf came.
And the reason for that was that Bella raised her head to see The Cullen's glancing at her with a rather interesting expression.
There was no Edward, but subconsciously, Bella felt that she couldn't barf in front of The Cullens no matter what.
It was the feeling of a daughter-in-law wanting to please her mother-in-law, not that Bella was very interested in Edward Cullen.
Xavier stepped out of the car, and Angela signaled him with a smile as they examine Bella – it would seem, the girl had a crush aside from Xavier.
Angela was pleased with that information; though, she wouldn't admit it – she did feel a bit of a threat from Bella when it came to Xavier.
Bella, Angela, and Xavier disappeared amongst the crowd of high schoolers.
-----------------
It wasn't until the day's second session that Xavier's expression experienced a profound change.
A simple note from a former lover – Blake, one of the first girls Xavier had bedded when he arrived in Forks.
It was only the third virginity he had taken in two lives.
The note didn't go into detail, but Xavier could fill in the nasty little gaps where it was necessary, and his hands crumbled the letter to oblivion with the help of a little Cosmic Energy.
Xavier raised his head to meet Blake's trembling eyes – with just that glance, she felt safe and secure, knowing that Xavier would handle everything else.
Blake's trembling stopped, but she still sunk into her seat, subconsciously avoiding contact with the boy behind her.
Xavier realized the damage had been done, and now, the offenders would face the wrath of an Eternal that didn't give a fuck about any higher power.
The bell rang…
Xavier was as calm as he previously was, and only those that truly knew him could detect the storm simmering beneath the darkest depths of what should have been a soul.
Heading to the next class was necessary – even if The Eternal was not a student.
