Chapter5
935 Words
The moon hovered pale and distant, fading as dawn crept into the sky. Aurielle stood on an unfamiliar stone, the air smelling of pine and cold earth. Somewhere far away, a howl echoed — low, restrained, searching.
“Aurielle.”
The voice was calm, deep, heavy with something unspoken. She turned, catching only a glimpse of golden eyes before light shattered the dream—
A hand nudged her shoulder.
She frowned, the last echo of that feeling slipping away as her body sank into the mattress.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”
But Aurielle only groaned and turned to the other side.
“Wake up, or we’ll be late,” Leah insisted, shaking her harder. “Wake uppp!” she squealed. “It’s eight o’clock already. The festival starts at eleven!”
She stirred as sunlight filtered through the curtains. Leah stood at the foot of the bed, already dressed, while Isabella leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes sharp and assessing.
“You were talking in your sleep,” Leah said. “Like… really intense.”
Aurielle pushed herself up slightly. “I was dreaming.”
“What… day is it?” she muttered.
Leah froze, then stared at her like she’d committed a crime. “It’s La Tomatina.”
That did it.
Aurielle shot upright as if electrocuted. “The La Tomatina Festival?!”
Leah grinned. “Finally. Yes. Today. In Buñol.”
Buñol.
Hours away from Valencia.
Aurielle threw the covers aside. “Why didn’t you say that from the start?”
“I’ve been waking you up for hours,” Leah said dramatically.
Isabella stood by the door, arms crossed, observing silently. “You’re awake. Good. Go get ready. The festival won’t wait.”
“Wai—wait.” Aurielle froze. “I forgot something.”
Leah groaned. “Tickets?”
Aurielle nodded miserably. “I didn’t buy one.”
Isabella smirked. “Relax. I already got one for you.”
Aurielle gasped. “You did?”
“Of course. Now move.”
Aurielle leapt off the bed and hugged her. “Thank you! You’re the best.”
“If you keep hugging me, we won’t reach Buñol on time,” Isabella said sternly—though she hugged her back anyway.
“I can’t be left out!” Leah exclaimed, throwing herself into the hug. “Group hug!”
“Leah, you’re crushing me,” Isabella complained, wriggling free. “And you’re wrinkling my clothes.”
“Whatever, Mrs. President,” Leah teased.
She turned to Aurielle with a wicked grin. “Go freshen up. Lucas will be there. You need to look breathtaking.”
“Oh, stop,” Aurielle muttered.
“She’s already blushing,” Isabella noted dryly. “Her face is redder than the tomatoes will be.”
Laughing, Aurielle rushed into the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, she emerged wrapped in a towel to find her clothes laid out.
“Twenty-two years old,” Leah announced dramatically, holding up a white blouse and jeans. “My token of love.”
Aurielle laughed. “You’re impossible.”
She dressed quickly, and when she stepped out, both girls paused.
The white blouse hugged her perfectly, the jeans accentuating her slim waist and soft curves.
“Wow,” Leah breathed. “A goddess.”
“No makeup needed,” Isabella added.
Aurielle rolled her eyes. “We’re all beautiful.”
Leah grabbed a hairbrush. “Sit.”
“No time,” Aurielle said, quickly tying her hair up and letting a few strands fall loose around her face. She applied a soft lipstick—just enough.
The others did the same.
A horn blared outside.
“That’ll be Tanguy,” Leah said, already heading out.
Downstairs, Tanguy leaned against the car, grinning. “Ladies. Stunning as always.”
“La Tomatina!” Leah shouted.
“You’ll make me deaf one day,” Tanguy muttered. “I don’t know how I survive you.”
“Oh please,” Leah shot back. “You can’t live without us.”
“If it were only you, I could,” he said smugly.
“How dare you—”
“Enough,” Aurielle laughed. “Let’s go.”
Buñol was already overflowing with people when they arrived.
“Tanguy, I can’t see Lucas,” Isabella said.
Aurielle called him, guiding him to their spot.
When Lucas appeared, he stopped short.
Aurielle took his breath away.
Three weeks apart suddenly felt criminal.
She looked radiant—natural, glowing, beautiful in a way no video call had captured.
“She gets more beautiful every time,” he murmured.
He pulled her into a tight hug. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” she whispered.
“Ugh,” Isabella interrupted. “Stop feeding us dog food.”
Lucas laughed and greeted the others.
Soon, the competitions began.
Aurielle, Leah, and Lucas joined the greasy pole challenge while Isabella and Tanguy watched, shouting encouragement.
Slipping, laughing, struggling—until finally Aurielle and two others managed to pull the ham down.
Applause erupted.
“Well done,” Lucas said, kissing her cheek.
Then came the main event.
Tomatoes flew.
Leah struck first.
Chaos followed.
Laughter, screams, red-stained clothes.
Tanguy smeared tomatoes down Leah’s back and bolted.
“Tanguy!” she shrieked, chasing him through the crowd.
Isabella aimed at Aurielle—missed—and burst out laughing.
Lucas retaliated. “That’s for my girlfriend.”
High-fives. More tomatoes.
Running. Slipping. Laughing.
“Stop there, Tanguy!” Leah yelled, her voice echoing above the madness.
And for the first time in a long while, Aurielle felt completely, wonderfully free.
- Writer
