Third Times The Charm

Chapter 1

Memories are a pain to think back on, especially those that you wish you can forget. Twirling the ring around my fore finger I stared at the craftsmanship as my mind went back to when I was eighteen, still young and full of dreams for what I could become. One day that I can remember clearly was the day when our basketball team win against the Northern Eagles, a team that was unbeatable through the season. What made the day unbelievable was not the win but that idiotic boyfriend of mine that had decided to walk up to me in that stupid mascot uniform, going down on one knee with the biggest smile on his face.

A sad smile touched my lips as I remember how that nerd looked like, his sandy blond hair that was just lightly touching those glasses of his, his golden eyes that reminded me of a precious piece of gold. He was about a head taller than me and thin as a twig, but I still loved that boy with everything I had even if we started dating for the wrong reasons.

He was part of my future dreams but I was so scared to take that step with him that I ran, I was so sure that it would be the end of us and that thought scared me more. So I was so shocked when I heard my name being called and my arm being pulled back, he chased after me and pulled me into his arms with a horde of apologies that kept flowing. He leaned back when I had calmed down, giving me one of those cute smiles of his.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so I'll wait a bit more and ask you again."

I couldn't help but call him an i***t and all that he did was laugh, he truly was my whole word.

Letting out a sigh I stood up from the ground, staring up at the fast blue sky. I can't remember when was the last time I went home, I usually just arrange a holiday to meet my parents somewhere and why of all days am I thinking about this?

There is no way that I can be home sick,absolutely no way that I can be missing anything when I can see everything by just a phone call away. Finding half a city on land that resembles Atlantis is a great find, it's something that any archeologists could ever dream of finding. Getting into that stupid gate is another problem, at least it's so secured that not even grave robbers can get in. I arrived here yesterday day when the head archeologists mumbled something about a much-needed holiday and left, we are still waiting for his return back to the camp.

Stepping back I looked back at the large stone gate, drawing of strange animal carved into the door with Atlantean writing. A culture ahead of their time, what a shame it is that they have been wiped out of extinction. At least I found a strange ring today, another piece towards an unsolved puzzle. Turning around I headed towards the rope ladder, greeting each worker as the work on a piece of the wall. Climbing out of the hole I was met with the desert sun, giving the san I once over I couldn't help but wonder how it would have looked when it was just the ocean. I made my way towards the camp, grabbing a half-frozen bottle of water out of the cooler. Pulling the dust mask off I took a sip of water, shivering in pleasure as I started cooling down.

"How was the trip Elsine?" Andrew came up next to me, opening his bottle to take a large drink.

"We're not even close to finding a way to open that gate, at least I found this today." I grinned as I held up the ring to him.

"That's so sweat of you love, but I'll have to decline. I've got a very jealous wife that don't believe in men having more than one spouse." he winked at me before taking the ring from my hand.

"Thank goodness for that, I don't think I would be able to live with you. How she puts up with you is a heaven-sent bliss." I grinned as he nodded his head.

"You have no idea, with that kid on the way I'm starting to wonder if it was our trip to that love lair of Grainco that gave me that push to become a father." he grumbled, lifting the ring towards the sun.

"Don't tell me you believe in cur..."

"Moss Elsine! Miss Elsine!" a kid from one of the locals ran up towards us.

"Hello Raji, what's wrong?" I smiled at the boy.

"We received a package for you." he held out one hand with the package and another for his payment.

"I believe there's a mistake Raji, I don't receive any package." I grumbled, staring at the brown piece of paper as if it could kill me.

"Here you go my boy, give me that package and thank you for the help." Andrew grinned as he handed Raji a few coins before taking the envelope.

"I'm telling you Andrew, there's been a mistake. I have never received anything before." I sighed taking the envelope from him.

"Well what I can tell you is that since I know more about rings than you do, I'll be taking this and go find out as much as I can. You can go and see if that is poison or not, because remember Robin will come and pick you up for girls night." he smiled before disappearing between the tents.

I made my way towards my tent, taking of my close when I found that steel bathtub already full of water. I really will need to thank these guys more for taking such food care of us!

Placing the envelope on my bed, I stripped and climbed into the luke warm tub, taking my time to clean myself well. I laid of a bit in the tub, just listening to the wind that started picking up speed and the laughter of everyone here. At times like these I'm really glad I made the choice of disappearing from that small town.

After a few minutes I climbed out and dried off, changing into a pair of skinny black jeans and a backless blue silk shirt. I left my hair wet towards one side as I did my make-up lightly. I was never a drop dead gorgeous beauty, I had plain black hair with emerald-green eyes. My skin was a golden colour due to the amount of time I spend in the sun and light freckles that covered my nose.

"I'm glad to see you already dressed up." Robin laughed as she barged into my tent.

"I know that your mother has raised you with manners Rob." I sighed as I bent down to put on the pair of black heals.

"She did but I never paid much attention to it, what is this on your bed?" she giggled, holding out the envelope for me.

"No idea." I shrugged, standing up to test my balance on the heals as the envelope was being opened.

"It's a wedding invitation." she mumbled

"A what?" I frowned, taking the cars from her grasp and reading it through.

My heart dropped to the floor as all sound disappeared, now I really wished I had given this thing back to Raji.

"Els? What's wrong?" Robin grabbed my arm as my eyes read the invitation again.

Dear Miss Elsine Greenwood,

You are hereby invited to join Miss Charlotte Grey and Mister Carter Mc Nelly on their wedding day...

Carter?

Wedding?

No this can't be happening!