The Autumn Crystal

[Book one]

ᴵ ˡᵒˢᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵐʸ ˡⁱᶠᵉ

ᴏɴᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴇᴀʀʟɪᴇʀ

Stella shivered, rubbing her hand on the side of her arm, in which she carried her clothes in a big black suitcase, to keep herself warm. She was going somewhere but nowhere. She was walking in the direction of a countryside late at night, seeing the greenery shining even when she had not reached just yet. Not escaped just yet.

Cold wind blew on her face, making her short-length black hair jump on her face. She sighed. It was only late October. Did it have to be this cold? She should've booked a taxi before her phone died. After all, she left without any planning, any earlier registrations to a hotel or a motel. And from the looks of it, it seemed like a creep would kidnap her or she would have to sleep outside in the cold, or maybe if she could fit in her suitcase-- She scoffed, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵.

Her thoughts were cut off when she heard heavy, distant footsteps which made her steps halt. She remained still in her place, scared, before she gulped and turned around to see a shining white horse running toward her. She sighed out in relief. It was just a pretty horse. As she was about to turn around, she noticed the horse coming even more close to her, running and not stopping. She panicked and fell on the ground as her eyes widened seeing the horse standing on his legs whilst the man on top of him stopped it.

Stella breathed out the breath she didn't realize she was holding in.

"Oh, I am so sorry. Are you okay?" The man stepped down from the horse, rushing to see her.

Her breath hitched when she saw his hand reaching out for her before she quickly stood up not even glancing at his hand, "Yes, I'm fine."

His hand awkwardly went for her fallen suitcase and picked it up. "I am sorry. I saw you but I couldn't control Rain on time, y'know?" He apologized again, moving her suitcase to her side.

"It's alright." She looked up when he stood straight before her and god, did he look beautiful. His eyes were deep shade of blue and they stared right into her soul. It felt like all her secrets were exposed, like he could read all of her with just one gaze. And the sharp long eyelashes did no justice, they just added to that gaze.

He smiled, "Hi. I am Ace."

Stella blinked, realizing she was staring at him. "Stella."

"Where are you going so late at night?"

The question made her frown. She didn't want to answer it because she was clueless herself as to where she was going. Somewhere but nowhere. But she did know where she wanted to go. A place which she could call home.

"I don't know." She mumbled, at last.

He furrowed his eyebrows, still a little smile on his face, "You don't know?"

She shook her head and asked, "Do you live in this area?"

He nodded, "That. There's my home." He pointed out a white house at the corner, making her eyes follow where he was looking at. It was a big and aesthetic house with a huge lawn. It was beautiful. Stella found herself thinking if someone were to look at him and imagine where he lived, that white aesthetic, brightest looking, would be the house to imagine. That too, with a horse, she assumed.

She shook her head internally to clear her thoughts and looked at him again. "Then, do you know if there are any hotels here?"

"I do know…" He eyed her, making her panic. "But it's two hours by car and…" He took the phone out of his pocket to check the time, "It's midnight."

She sighed out in disappointment, "So late." She whispered to herself.

"Do you not have a place to stay?"

She nodded.

He hummed before saying, "Have you ever ridden a horse?"

"No…"

"Would you like to try it…with me, going to my home, and you can stay there?"

She blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. Confused. "What?"

"You are most welcome to my come to my place to sleep in tonight since you came unprepared with just a suitcase and even left your piano at your old place."

Stella widened her eyes slightly, "How do you know I have a piano?"

"You just, y'know, look like a piano person." He said, more in a questioning way.

"Okay." She responded in the same way.

"Well?" He spoke, raising his thick eyebrows.

"But why would you want a stranger in a house?"

"Why not?" He shrugged. "There's nothing strange with having a stranger in the house. Plus, what could… a five-feet four-inch human do to a six-foot one-inch one?" He said, chuckling.

She squinted her eyes at him, "Are you making fun of my height?"

He pursed his lips, still a little smile playing on there. "No. Just stating the facts."

She held herself back from rolling her eyes, "And how do I know a giraffe won't hurt me if I go to his house."

"Are you calling me a giraffe?" He chuckled.

"Who else is here?"

"My horse, Rain." His hand went up to pet Rain, between his eyes. "Who knows? You could call a horse a giraffe. Some people are dumb y'know."

She glared at him.

"Anyway, what may I do to earn your trust, milady?" He bowed with his hand on his chest.

The glare disappeared from her eyes and she smiled. The smile came up on its own when she saw him bowing so elegantly.

"Ah!" He stared at her, "You smiled. Is that trust enough?"

"Hm?"

"You were all gloomy a second before. And I made you smile. So, is that enough trust?"

"Uhm, I don't know."

He pouted. "What can a man with a horse do come on? I am alone anyway, hm?" He whined and after a beat, "Wait. You don't really have a choice but to come with me."

"I do have a choice."

"Yeah, but it is sleeping outside in the cold risking a creep to god knows what?"

Exactly, my thoughts.

"So, what's it gonna be?"

She hesitated for a second but then nodded, "Thank you—"

Her words were cut off by him saying, "Great! Let's begin our journey to home. Come on, Rain." He patted the horse's body and jumped slightly to sit on his back. "Come on up. He looked down at her.

She furrowed her eyebrows, tilting her head. "I have a suitcase with me." Idiot.

She saw him plopping down Rain's back and snatching her suitcase from her to run away in the direction of his home. Her eyes widened, perplexed and shocked. The horse was about to run after him but stopped when Ace shouted, his hand going up, "Stay there, Rain. I'll be back," As if he could understand him.

Stella averted her gaze to look at the horse. And then looked away immediately. It's like the horse was angry at her. It was just an animal but it felt so awkward between them. She cleared her throat and stepped closer to Rain.

"Hi." She reached her hand out to pet him between his eyes but the horse's head went away from her making her frown. She attempted it again. And again. And once again until they went in a full circle, and Rain was successful in avoiding her hand.

A chuckle was heard by the black-haired girl while still trying to pet the pretty white horse but failing. The faint colour of red took over her cheeks as he chuckled once more when she retreated her hand to her side as Rain walked over to where he was standing.

"Were you trying to pat him, between the eyes, here on the forehead?"

"No…" She looked away from him, obviously lying. "Maybe…Yes. I was. Sorry."

"Instead of being sorry let me take your hand."

"Huh?"

"Come on!" He said, clearly impatient and put his hand out to her.

She glanced down at his hand, noticing how big it was, and then glanced back at him, in his blue eyes. They looked so promising. She hesitated for a beat before she touched their hands together. The cold wind was still there but she felt like she had a warm quilt over her, protecting her from the cold. It was his hand. Big and warm. And her hand. Small and cold.

He grinned and took her hand up to Rain's forehead. "It's just Stella, Rain…It's just Stella." He talked to Rain as if he understands. As if he knew who he was talking about. As if he knew who Stella was. She stared at him whilst he stared at Rain, her name rolling off smoothly through his tongue. Was her name that beautiful? Or had it just become?

She jolted when his and her skin touched Rain's forehead. She looked at him, smiling immediately. Finally. She was able to pet him. Moreover, he leaned towards her touch. It felt nice. She could feel the stares she was getting from Ace, however, chose to ignore it. She was enjoying petting Rain.

"Nice, right?"

She nodded. "Very."

His lips curved up again and he kissed Rain— who seemed to enjoy all the attention— just beside their hands.

"Very." He whispered back.