Special Place

sorry if it's short

 

      The sun shone brightly in Alexiana's face as a faint tapping brought her out of her slumber. She yawned, sitting up, the tapping echoing in her room. Looking over to her window, she noticed little pebbles hitting against it.

      Pebbles? She questioned in her thoughts.

      Slowly walking to the window she looked to see Nikolae tossing small rocks up to her room. Alexiana opened her window with a soft smile on her face. He stopped throwing stones and waved at her, his face lighting up.

      “Hey, sleepy head,” he called up, “Going to spend all morning up there? C'mon, let's hang out.”

      Her eyes gleamed with a happiness that radiated all around her, “I'll be right down!”

      Alexiana closed her window and slipped into a purple dress and pounded down the stairs. Running into the kitchen she hugged onto Saphire.

      “Hello, honey.” she turned around, smiling.

      “I'm going to hang out with big brother today!” she giggled, her blond hair bouncing on her shoulders.

      “Well have fun, sweetie,” Saphire called out towards her as she ran out of the house.

 

      Nikolae stood outside, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. His baggy blue t-shirt was wrinkled and his hair was a mess, but Alexiana didn't mind. Her purple dress moved in the wind as she jumped into his arms.

      “Well aren't you in a good mood,” he commented, placing her down.

      “What did you want to do today, big brother?” her musical voice rang.

      He took her hand in his and started to walk, staring up at the clouds. He hadn't thought of anything for them to do. Honestly he didn't think he was even going to bother with seeing this strange girl again, but when he woke up all he could think of was her brilliant blue eyes and warm smile. This mysterious child had him lost for words; she seemed so familiar but he didn't know why.

      “I'm going to bring you somewhere special,” he replied after much thought.

      Holding her hand, his feet broke into a run towards the woods. Alexiana laughed, flowing him as they raced through the path, dodging branches and roots. The forest was full of color, all of which blurred by them as they ran. Slowing down, Nikolae brought her off the trail and down a hill of blue hydrangeas. At the end was a small field, and in this field was a pond. The water glistened from the sun.

      Alexiana let go of his hand absently and walked into the field. The grass was so green and the sun warmed her skin. Smiling she stood as the wind tossed her hair, pulling at the end of her dress as well.

      “It's beautiful,” she sighed, looking at him.

      Nikolae walked to her, smiling, “I've never shared this place with anyone.”

      She twirled around and landed on the soft green grass, giggling, “Why not?”

      He sat beside her, staring at the clouds, “My mother use to take me here, when I was feeling sad.”

      Alexiana looked at him, her smile fading, “Oh...”

 

      “Alexiana...I need to know. Your dreams; why...who are you?” he looked at her, his hazel eyes full of confusion.

      She sat up, staring off into the water, “I've asked myself that same question and all I can think of as an answer is... that I am Alexiana Skye Miller. I am a child who lives with her cousin, who misses her sister, and who still cries for her mother...there is nothing special about me, so I don't know why I have these dreams.”

      Nikolae placed a hand on her shoulder, “I'm sorry...”

      Turning to him, she smiled, “Do not feel sadness for my past. Instead smile for my present and my future. That is what I've been told, and so I live it. I may still cry, but I don't let it affect me. I smile everyday because I've been given a reason to.”

He took her hand and traced the lines on her palm with his finger, “What would that reason be...?”

      Alexiana stood, pulling him up with her, “You.”

      She pulled him forward and together they ran towards the water. Alexiana's laughter filled the air with a musical sound and the seemed to shine brighter. Everything sparkled with life and Nikolae felt her happiness radiating from her small body. For once in years, he felt a genuine joy pulse through his vein as they splashed water at each other. They spent the day together finally resting in the grass as the sky turned a pinkish hue.

      “I should bring you home,” Nikolae turned to Alexiana.

      Her body laid motionless in the green grass. He sat up quickly, panic taking over. Shaking her body slightly, he called out her name. There was no response.

      “Oh my...Alexiana!”

      Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she stared up at his worried face.

      “What?” she held back a yawn.

      Nikolae pushed her over playfully, “You were just sleeping. God, don't do that!”

      “I'm tired, though...” her voice trailed off.

      Standing, he took her in his arms, “Then I'll carry you home.”

 

      The sky darkened as Nikolae carried Alexiana back to the forest trail. He stared at her face, so peaceful, as she dreamed. Fireflies surrounded them, some landing on her soft, pale skin. As he walked through the forest, he thought of how this small girl brought him a moment of joy.

      Why do you feel so familiar? He thought, staring at the sky.

      Nothing in his life made sense anymore. Alexiana had found a way to catch him in her web and now he couldn't find his way out.

      Do I want to get out?

      Nikolae shook his head. He didn't want out. For some unknown reason, he didn't want to leave Alexiana's side. The village came into view and he continued for her house.

      I will never leave her side, he told himself, Never...

      Alexiana's house towered over him as he held her tightly. Knocking with his foot, his heart ached at the thought of leaving her for the night. A young girl, about the age of eighteen, answered the door. Her warm golden eyes sent a shiver down Nikolae's spine as she smiled at him.

      “I see you've brought my cousin home. Thank you so much.”

      He handed over Alexiana's warm body to the girl and kicked some dirt.

      “Um,” he stammered, “I...she...can you let her know that I....um...never mind. Sorry.”

      With that Nikolae ran from the house. He headed to the other side of town, where he lived. Reaching his house he paused, taking a breath.

      “I'm so glad I met you...Alexiana,” he whispered, walking inside.