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65: EVERY STORY NEEDS A DRESS UP MONTAGE
Last Updated:
2023-06-24 21:15:05
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The Mate Agreement 66: PROM IT UP
Time flies by quicker than I could grasp.We’d stayed in Bonnie’s Boutique until it was almost sundown the previous day, but I ended up finding the perfect dress. Or at least what both Wilma and Bibah agreed was the perfect dress. To me, it seemed a little too much for prom.By the time we got back to school, I was too exhausted to do anything else, so I crashed into bed and welcomed the slumber. Early the next morning, Evin woke me up to remind me that today was my last chance to get my academic bearings properly done; transcripts, reports, and the official college application recommendations for those of us with the intention to pursue higher education.So while the rest of the seniors bubbled with excitement and counted down the few hours until prom, I went from one administrative office to another, getting everything for my graduation ready. But I liked it, because it took my mind off things I didn’t want to think about. Like William Ravenstone. Mostly.It had been more than twent
Last Updated : 2023-06-25The Mate Agreement 67: FRAGMENTS OF MY SOUL
I slip out of the ballroom.My feet hurt from dancing in heels, so I kick off the red shoes and hold them in my hand as I make my way outside. I can hear the soft bass of Wildest Dream by Taylor Swift playing back inside, and it’s so hauntingly beautiful hearing the bridge out in the hallway that I’m tempted to go back in.But I’m too sad. My heart feels too heavy.And the sound of the downpour of rain outside pulls me.The wind is howling, swaying the branches of the trees in the distance. I take a deep breath; a lung-full of the scent of rain on sand. I step into it, barefoot in the grass, my silk dress trailing behind. Craning my head up towards the sky, I feel every raindrop on my skin, eyes closed lips slightly parted. It’s magic. It’s comfort. It’s peace. It’s perfect. Almost. I unpin my hair and shake it, flinging droplets of rain.I can still hear the soft echoes of the song from the ballroom, and like a mad woman, I begin to twirl barefoot in the rain, dancing, crying, singing
Last Updated : 2023-06-26The Mate Agreement 68: GRADUATION
I stand near the school gates, tapping my foot. My black heels sink a little into the damp earth with each movement, causing me to stumble slightly here and there. I keep my gaze on the gate with rapt attention and laser focus, impatiently waiting.I glance down at my phone. No calls, just a message from Bibah telling me to get back to the hall, that graduation is now in full swing. I dial my mom’s number.I look back to the gates again, chewing my bottom lip. My mother is running thirty minutes late. But that isn’t all. She always, always answers her phone, but this is the twelfth time I’ve called, each going to voicemail.I wait for the beep as the call goes to her answering machine. Her voice floods my ears for the twelfth time, mechanical and formal.*Camille here, leave a message.*“Mom, where are you?! It’s starting already. Call me back as soon as you get this, please.” I say, then sigh and end the call, hoping she’s just in a place that had little or no service.I tuck the pho
Last Updated : 2023-06-27The Mate Agreement 69: COUP
I’m not particularly fond of planes.There’s something about the flying pieces of metal that’s just unnatural to me. I’m not exactly scared of heights, but being a thousand feet in the air and stuck in a moving contraption of metal and technology is a bit unnerving. Or maybe it is just my claustrophobia kicking in.I lean back in the ridiculously comfortable seat. William had booked us both first class tickets on the plane heading for Deveras. I’d flown coach once, but this is much nicer. I sigh, and sink deeper into the seat. We’d manage to make it in time for the flight thanks to Akio’s transporting skills and his older sister’s fast car that literally teleported us to the airport.“Comfortable?” William asks, leaning sideways in his seat to watch me.I nod. “It’s just a flying piece of metal anyways.”He chuckles, then a worried expression envelopes his face. He takes my hand, looking at me seriously. “It’s going to be okay, you know that right?” He whispers.I’m not so sure.If an
Last Updated : 2023-06-28The Mate Agreement 70: BANG
I kick the door behind me close softly with the heel of my foot, earning a warning glare from the man pointing a gun at my head. He presses the barrel deeper, applying enough pressure that I’m pretty sure will leave a mark on my temple.I pray by some universal miracle that William takes a hint of the closed door. Impossible, almost, but a girl can hope.Lucien takes his time walking down the stairs.I glare at him steadily.He looks slightly older than the last time I’d seen him. The neatly kept beard is new, but the dark curly hair with streaks of white here and there is something I’m familiar with. The cigarette in the corner of his thin lips glows; smoke enticingly rising upwards in a wiggly line. For someone in his late forties, he sure doesn’t look his age.I guess evil keeps a person young.He smirks, and it takes everything in me to not lunge at him and punch that stupid expression off his face. He flicks the cigarette on the floor as he reaches the bottom of the stairs, and s
Last Updated : 2023-06-29The Mate Agreement 71: A FRENZIED CAR CHASE THE LEXIE WAY
The sun glares down at me; too bright for being in the dark for too long. There’s danger in the air, oxygen burning up my lungs. Every muscle in my body begs to jump into action.A gunshot!Adrenaline pumps in my veins. It feels like salvation. Everything is somehow sharper, stronger, faster. The crisp breeze blows through the tendrils of my chopped hair as I sprint out of the driveway, towards the parking lot, eyes searching for the car and for Lexie.I spot the faded blue 80’s Volkswagen Rabbit pickup just as Lexie honks at us. I don’t turn around to see the armed men giving chase. Neither does William. He flings open the door of the backseat, and slides inside, my mom still limply thrown over his shoulder.I follow suit; cramping myself into the front passenger seat next to Lexie, she throws the backpack on her lap to mine, and I push it into a heap at my feet and slam the door shut.“Go!” I yell, looking into the rear view mirror and seeing the armed men take aim on the vehicle, r
Last Updated : 2023-06-29The Mate Agreement 72: UNLIKELY ALLIANCES
Lexie drives us to a field with an open stretch of land. It looks like the place had been commissioned for an industrial building, but the foundations were yet to be put in place. For what seems like stretch of miles in every direction, there are only industrial buildings and factories. We are a safe distance from Deveras civilization. William makes a phone call outside while Lexie and I stay in the car, the windows doing little to shield us from the pollution in the air.I move to the backseat and cradle my mom’s unconscious body. She’s breathing fine, but no amount of shaking or talking has woken her up yet. Most of her wounds are still fresh, unable to heal. Something must be impairing her fast healing abilities.My phone rings from the front seat.Lexie rummages through the dashboard compartment where she had stuffed most of the things I’d shaken out of her backpack, and hands me my ringing phone.“Thanks.” I say, collecting it from her, grateful not only for the massive help she
Last Updated : 2023-06-30The Mate Agreement 73: COLD AS DEATH
“Doctor, is my mother okay?”The doctor, an elderly man with a balding hairline and a grim face full of lines and creases from smiling too much or focusing for so long, sighs. He glances over to Luke Ravenstone standing behind me, as if asking for permission to tell me what is going on with my own mother, and when he receives a perceptive nod from him, he looks back to me.“We’ve done our best to pump out most of the silver in her system…”“Silver in her system?!” I interrupt, stumbling back from the wave of dread and trepidation that hits me. Luke balances a hand on my back to keep me from falling.“Yes…” The doctor confirms, nodding slowly, allowing me to take it in. “We found silver traces in her blood, which is why she couldn’t heal the wounds. The good news is, we’ve gotten most of it out…” He huffs out a breath, and I hold mine, bracing myself for the bad news coming. “But she’s yet to regain her consciousness, and we can’t really say when she’ll…”So my mom is in a coma.“Pleas
Last Updated : 2023-08-01
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The Mate Agreement 111: EPILOGUE
I can't help the grin as it stretches across my face. Even when I tone down my teeth display for the camera, my giddiness makes my grin return to its full glory.These are the kind of joyful moments in life when everything aligns perfectly, and the future gleams with a brilliance that outshines the sun.Similar to tiny fireflies, the fairy lights surrounding us emit a soft glow in the approaching evening. My gaze shifts to the rows of people smiling and mingling, the white roses gathered in their transparent vases, the band playing an old classical melody that Akio Kamio has cherished for most of his life, and ultimately to Bibah's radiant smile, outshining even the stars in the sky.Bibah stands gracefully in her wedding gown, a vision of elegance and modesty. The gown's creamy hue complements her radiant complexion, and the intricate lace patterns and delicate beadwork trace enchanting designs across the fabric.Her head is adorned with a delicate hijab, carefully draped to frame her
The Mate Agreement 110: THE END
The idea of dying... it's like staring into a dark abyss, wondering what lies beyond. Am I ready for it? Is anyone ever truly prepared to let go of everything they know? It's as if life is this intricate tapestry, woven with memories, experiences, and dreams, and death is that final thread that could unravel it all.I've heard people say that death gives life meaning. That the inevitability of our mortality forces us to seize the fleeting moments and savor them. Is that why we laugh, love, and strive to make a mark? To counteract the impending darkness?But what if it's not about the mark we leave, but the mark we've made on ourselves? Like, how every heartbreak, triumph, and mistake molds us into this intricate sculpture of a person. And maybe death is the moment when we step back and see the whole masterpiece.It's terrifying, though. The unknown. The thought of losing consciousness, of the world carrying on without me. Will I be forgotten? Will my laughter fade into the wind, like
The Mate Agreement 109: PREMONITIONS OF CHAOS
The mountain top stretches out before us, bathed in the silvery glow of the moonlight. Jagged rocks and hardy shrubs dot the landscape, offering scarce cover. The air is crisp and thin, carrying with it a sense of anticipation. A veil of darkness conceals the treacherous precipices that lie beyond the edges.My heart races as we stand on the precipice, the night sky a blanket of twinkling stars above. The wind whispers of secrets yet to be revealed, as William's gaze scans the vast expanse. This was the kind of place he used to love—a rooftop under the sky.His eyes narrow, a flicker of recognition passing over his features, like a spark trying to ignite a long-dormant memory. I hold my breath, hoping that this moment will be the catalyst, the key to unlocking the past he's lost.Before my thoughts can fully settle, a guttural shout splits the air, shattering the tranquility. My head snaps towards the disturbance, and my heart lurches as seven figures emerge from the shadows, armed wi
The Mate Agreement 108: MOTORBIKE
“Are you sure this is the place?”“Absolutely.” I whisper back at William, uneasily glancing around the empty expanse of the beach. It feels like we’re about to break into a bank and steal cash. “Unless she invited me for breakfast in a friend’s apartment, then I guess we’ll be knocking on a strangers door.” I add in a rush of huffed out breath.William looks skeptic. “Isabe-”I step forward and press the ringer, cutting off William’s words. Time had passed us by while on the boat, and now it’s past the normal curfew of the resort. The demarcated areas outside the resort -including the mountain we’d impulsively decided to go to- were now closed off for the day. Since Tamie has been here her whole life and her family owns the resort and I somewhat feel as if we’re friends now, I thought that maybe asking for her help would be a good idea.Silence continues to answer me.“Mochi definitely came out of here.” I mutter, frowning at the whole modern shack like it had personally offended me.
The Mate Agreement 107: SPEEDBOAT DINNER
“Maybe we should call it a win win and stop here.” I suggest, leaning back as the last few chuckles escape me, my laughter finally subsiding.William raises a triumphant eyebrow as he rearranges the chess pieces back to their normal starting formation. “Giving up already?” He taunts, smirking.“You wish.” I reply, rolling my eyes before sighing. “I’m just tired of staring at the pieces.”We have been playing cheating chess since after breakfast when I got back to the suite from my conversation and walk with Tamie. William had brought his chess board along from the pack estate, and had suggested we play it, in hopes that he might remember something again. There has been no luck in that area, but at the very least, we’ve had an unexplainable amount of fun as the hours flew by. We fixate on morals of the game, creating new rules, and finding more ridiculous ways to justify breaking the classical rules of chess.The sun is setting now, painting our beach-side view of the window a brillian
The Mate Agreement 106: LUCKY GIRL
The very next morning, I wake up early, get out of the ball dress I ended up sleeping in, and took a quick shower, changing into more comfortable beach shorts and a loose tank top.When I leave the bedroom, William is still curled up in the sheets, sleeping. I call the room service and other an elaborate breakfast, hoping to return the heartwarming gesture he had done to me when we got here.Out of the breakfast of waffles, fruits, and a jug of a fancy cocktail blend fresh from the Island’s own produce, I only manage a single waffle before leaving the suite and closing the door softly behind me.Now, where the heck do I start looking for Tamie?I go out to the beach, taking the trail where William and I had first seen her walking her Pekingese dog. Well, more like where we saw her dog about to drown and rescued him.It’s a sunny day, the sand warm as the soft, fine grains slip in and out my flip flops. The ocean’s waves laps eagerly at the shore, and I squint into the far distance, in
The Mate Agreement 105: YOU’RE KINDA HOT WHEN YOU NAG
Leaving the chaotic ballroom behind, we retreat to the quiet safety of our room. The tension of the night still lingers between us, though now it's wrapped in a cocoon of slight awkwardness.William doesn’t say anything, still steaming with remnants of his anger, and neither do I, as we enter the bedroom and he shrugs off his jacket. I notice a few specs of blood staining the front part of his white shirt.“You shouldn’t have done that.” I sigh, retrieving a first aid kit from a nearby drawer, sitting him down at the edge of the bed and gently begin tending to the cut on William's lip, my touch both soothing and reproachful.He winces at the disinfectant that touches the small split flesh where the silver rings had made impact."Oh, now you can feel pain?" I chide softly, dabbing the wound with an antiseptic swab. "Stop being such a baby. I know you were defending me, but there are better ways you could’ve handled the situation."Like poisoning the bastard.Or gutting him in a dark al
The Mate Agreement 104: LOST TO WHIMSY
We spend the rest of the night and the following day simply talking and exploring. William asks a lot of questions about our time in Acadia Academy, and I try my hardest to answer him to the best of my ability, although none of my answers end up triggering his memory.Soon, the night of the ball arrives.Preparing for the ball is a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement. The vibrant energy that courses through me is infectious as I carefully choose my attire for the evening; my makeup already done and my hair painstakingly pinned up into an updo. The dress, a delicate masterpiece of flowing midnight blue silk, shimmers with an iridescent glow in the soft light of our suite. Its off-shoulder neckline adds a touch of elegance, and the intricate lacework along the bodice and hem hints at the craftsmanship that went into its creation. With every twirl in front of the mirror, I feel like a character from a fairytale.I don’t even remember when I bought the dress.The air is electric as I
The Mate Agreement 103: IMMERSED
I gradually stir from my peaceful slumber, the room cast in a gentle twilight as the sun dips below the horizon.I yawn.How long have I been asleep?As I stretch and sit up, I notice a beautifully arranged plate of dinner on the nearby table and a goofy smile overtakes my face. William must’ve kept it there for me. I glance around the bedroom and the living room for the second time, looking for him, but I don’t spot him anywhere.Where did he go?My stomach rumbles in response to the inviting aroma of the garlic butter stake and potato skillet, and I find myself savoring the delicious flavors as I sit at the edge of the bed with the tray and devour the food.Sated and content, I decide to take advantage of the cool evening air and to also look for William. I change out of my t-shirt and jeans into sleeping shorts and a bralette, despite the cool weather. The sliding glass door leads me to the terrace, where the world is adorned with the soft glow of moonlight. My gaze is drawn to the
