Jewel: The Beginning

CHAPTER 5: Flashback to Reality

His ring band was white gold, with a black stone, and on it were two silver arrows crossing through a gold heart. We had the same ring, his just had a more masculine band than mine. That’s when I had the flashback hearing Dad’s voice:

“…legend has it there are only two rings like that. Not just that they LOOK alike, but they are the same, just that the female’s box is pink and the male’s one blue. But when the boy and the girl that wear the two rings meet each other while wearing the rings were meant to be together. And when they first meet, it’d be like little Cupid had struck the two with his little arrows and that they would fall in love. However, the love is not just a crush, but true love.

“… We would love to see that lucky boy who has it. She said she had someone who bought it, but never showed their face, spoke, or anything. So it’s a mystery whose boy has it. So Jewelie, what do you think?”

“Honestly daddy…I don’t care much about the love thing right now, Blech. But, I guess it could happen. What’s life without a little magic?”

My flashback to reality came instantaneously. I realized that I have fate trying to play me, now saying that I found my true love. That was shocking. Only sixteen and I found my true love. Crazy world. I wondered if he noticed the rings. But then I re-remembered the very last thing I said “What’s life without a little magic?” Wow, at that point, I never realized how true that was. Maybe I was supposed to let magic be in my life. But I can’t let it be there more than it already is…

“Brayden?”

“Yes?”

“Please tell me what you’re thinking. It’s killing me seeing that look on your face.” I said that last part without thinking. But I realized that it did kill me to see that look. But I think seeing that look on anyone would do that to me; perhaps even if it were Carey.

It takes a few painful minutes before he speaks. “Look,” he struggles, “I know…I know how much you want to do things your way, especially from all that Irina has told me about you; but it doesn’t seem logical to me. I bet you that…that that man will have men surrounding him, not having a second thought of NOT doing magic. So, if he has men helping him out, using the thing YOU refuse to use, you would have no chance to get to him. What…what I am trying to say is," he pauses, reajusting himself so he can grab both of my hands with his, "is that you need someone or someones there to help you. And frankly, that whoever helps you needs to have magic. And well, I not only do I feel the need to help, but I know I must help.”

“You don’t have to though, Brayden,” I say, “I don’t want you to do something because you feel obligated.”

“But I want to help. Isn’t that enough? Besides, I know you’re trying to prove a point to him—what your parents were trying to prove.”

“And what exactly is that?” I cried…this whole thing was emotional for me. He really wants to be with me. Does he even know that it’s just from us wearing the same ring?

He pauses for a second, looking at me like I was dumb, “That magic can work with non-magic. Look, Jewel, I know you don’t want to use magic. But let me be your magic, and you can do whatever it is that you want to do.”

He stops at that, finished. He didn’t have that painful look on his face, which satisfied me that he got what he wanted off his chest. I see that he is letting his offer sit with me. Since he was done speaking, I looked back down at our twined hands. I just noticed that both our rings are on…on the ring finger. How funny, it’s as if we were already, bound. I couldn’t think of a better word. I sat there for a few minutes, thinking through his offer. What he said goes against everything I have been working for the past six and a half years. In all honesty, his plan makes more sense than mine; it’s far more realistic, if there is such a thing with magic involved. It could also be the only solution; that is without ME using magic. Not to mention, with his plan, we could be together. But is that just from the rings, or does he really feel this way about me, do I really feel that way about him?

My thoughts were interrupted by Brayden, “Jewel?”

“Hmmm?” I replied, still distracted by my last thoughts, I wasn’t even seeing, my eyes ended up closing the more I thought.

“Where did you get your ring?” I open my eyes and look up at him. He is holding a confused look in his face, he’s looking at something to the left, but it’s higher that before, I follow his gaze; he must have lifted up our hands to take a better look at my ring while I was lost in my thoughts. I didn’t even notice that my hand had moved. Well, at least he noticed the rings.

“I got it from my parents for my birthday right before…right before it happened. Why?” Thinking back really quickly, I remembered what my dad said, “…we would love to see that lucky boy who has it. She said she had someone who bought it, but never showed their face, spoke, or anything. So it’s a mystery whose boy has it.” Wow, he’s had his ring longer than I have had mine then. Well, he is older than me anyway, he’s eighteen.

“What were you told about the rings? Because if you were told the same thing as I was, then I can’t believe it finally has come.” He looked out toward the outside of the tree, as to make sure we weren’t being overheard, or was somehow x-raying to find someone. Well, I really didn’t care too much of him searching for anyone, but I definitely didn’t want to be overheard. I never even told Irina, who is despite my aversion to magic, is my best friend as well as family.

I lowered our hands and was looking at the rings as I told him all that my father told me that night before my birthday. When I finished, I was still looking at the rings, waiting to see what he had to say. To see if he was told the same thing, or something different. But I didn’t hear him say what he heard, all he said was, “Interesting.”

I looked up at him then, feeling frustrated, I looked up at him, “Interesting? What do you mean by…?” And that’s when he kissed me again. It was a quick, but passionate one. He melted away my frustration in that kiss; he must have also done it so I couldn’t protest or try to stop him to understand his meaning. Luckily, he was answering my unfinished question, “Jewel, don’t you see that…that all this is happening for a reason. The fate that is bound from these rings made sure we were to be together. I’m sure we would have anyway if none of the terrible things happened, but because it did happen, it was to make sure nothing would be missed out.” All I could do was stare at him in shock. “Not to mention, I think it also helps prove my suggestion is what should be done under the circumstances.”

Well, I really couldn’t argue with him on that. Again, he made more sense than I could even try to go against. All I could do was nod my head. We sit there in silence, I lying my back against him, just feeling his breathing as I think over everything, I’m not sure what he was doing though, my eyes were closed. I could have fallen asleep lying there in the stillness. Naturally after having that thought is when he huskily whispered in my ear, “You don’t have to decide right now. You have a couple of years before you can leave Glenn and Abbey’s. But I will stick around if you want me to, I can find something to do in the meantime.” I nodded my head. “Come on,” he said gently this time, “let’s go back to the party. I think we have been away long enough for everyone to notice.”

I get up and start brushing the grass and dirt off myself as he gets up. I straighten myself, and look at him. He lips are holding a beautiful smile at me. He puts his arm around my waist, and leans down to kiss me again. I try to help out by getting on my toes some. It was over before I knew it, and I felt my face blushing as he held a grin on his face. We separate some, and he is on my right side, holding my hand now. I feel the pressure of his ring against my skin. We walk towards the edge, hiding behind all the branches, and then move them out of the way with the other hand of ours.

On the other side, we see that it is dusk, and there are only a few people outside. Among those people I see Irina and Robert. Robert was looking another direction, talking with another guy while holding hands with Irina. She looked awfully bored there. She sees me and waves at me. I automatically start raising my right hand, but about half-way up, I realize that I’m holding Brayden’s hand, so switch to my left hand. I blushed at my frustration and forgetfulness. I don’t think she saw me wave, because when I was lifting my right hand and saw me put it down, her eyes fixed on the hands Brayden and I were holding. She finally got a hold of herself before anyone noticed, and grimaced. Then she switched from the grimace to a smirk, from that look I let go of Brayden’s hand, now realizing that others would notice this too. Brayden didn’t protest, he just hugged me and we walked over to Irina and Robert. When we reached them, Robert and Brayden started talking. Irina gave me a significant look, I leaned towards her, and she leans over too, letting me whisper in her ear, “later Irie. Not while everyone is here.” We lean away from each other, and she gives me a shrug.

The night continued on, the party ending at 9 pm. Brayden and I were inseparable, which I think people noticed which I fully didn’t care about. I bet they simply noticed because I have been so averted to magic, and he was the pure essence of magic to them. Robert and Brayden helped clean up until 10pm. I have to admit that with them and Irina using their magic definitely helps the cleaning process go much quicker. The family and I all hugged the boys and thanked them for their help setting up and cleaning. They left out the front door, waving at us.

Irina grabbed my hand and we raced to the bathroom before the twins could get there, brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed. By the time we got into our bedroom, the twins were just at the top of the stairs. Irina and I got in our pajamas. I walked to my bed, slowly to bug her, on the other side of the room. Once I get situated, she’s already on her bed, facing me, ready for story time. She smirked and boldly said one word, “Spill.”