Fan Fiction ❯ Shadowed hearts. ❯ Old Friends, New love? ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: Old friends, new love.

Azriel opens her eyes, sits up and stretches her arms out, glancing at the clock on her bedside table. She slowly crawls out of bed and walks out of her bedroom, and goes to the kitchen. She makes herself a cup of coffee. Sitting down at the table, she rests her head on her hands, her thoughts wandering. She sips her coffee slowly, a contented sigh escaping her lips as she tastes the bitterness of the coffee, swallowing slowly, letting it scald the back of her throat. She picks up the phone and dials a number. She waits for a minute. Getting only a voicemail box, she hangs up. She stands up and walks out of the room. She makes her way to the bathroom and turns the shower on, the room quickly filling with steam. Pulling her clothes off, she steps into the shower, letting the water soak her hair and run over her shoulders and down her back. She leans forward and touches her forehead to the cold tiles. Where is he? He wouldn't have gone on another trip without telling me would he? I just hope nothings happened to him. The feeling of the hot beads of water cascading down her back draw a soft moan from her lips. She begins to slowly wash herself, the hot water and the steam waking her up fully. A few minutes later she steps out of the shower and wraps a towel around herself. Just as she finishes brushing her hair out, someone knocks on the front door. Azriel murmurs to herself, before yelling, "Just a minute!" and walking towards the door. She gets the door and peeks through the window but all she can see is blond hair reflecting the morning sunlight. She opens the door and gets tackled to the floor. "EEP!" she yelps, and sees the face grinning down at her. "Holden!" Holden laughs and says, "I thought it was about time I got you back for all those years of `glomping' me." He suddenly notices that she's only wearing a towel and quickly helps her up and shutting the door behind him. Azriel giggles, "want some coffee? Though it looks like you've already had way too much sugar." Holden grins, "Yup. I'd love some coffee, please." Azriel leads him into the kitchen and pours him a nice hot cup of coffee and sets it down on the table, before pouring herself a second cup. "Holden, I've been trying to get in touch with you for 2 days." She looks at him with concern. "I've left you countless messages. Where have you been?" Holden looks at her thoughtfully. "Sorry, I was off visiting Mum." An expression of relief overcomes Azriel's face. "How is she?" Holden sighs. "She's sick… Caine's up with her. She'll be alright though." Azriel nods. "How have you been?" He asks, a smile on his face. "I've been ok. I ran into an old friend of yours. I've been trying to reach you since then." Holden perks his head up. "Who was it?" He asks, somewhat intrigued. "Kisoka." Holden blinks. "Do you know where she's staying?" Azriel nods. "Here. I think she's gone for a walk though." Holden nods. "It's been a while since I saw her." Azriel nods her head and takes a sip of her coffee, enjoying the taste. "So how have you been, other than the thing with your mother?" Holden smiles and says, "I've been pretty good. I've missed being around you though." "Hey, that's your fault!" Azriel says with a grin, "You're the one who's always off traveling and seeing things. Maybe you can take me along on your next trip." Holden giggles. "That'd be good." A click comes from the front hallway. Kisoka walks into the kitchen and smiles at Azriel and says, "Heya, sorry I left so early. I needed some fresh air." Kisoka notices the blond haired boy sitting at the table and whispers, "Holden? Is that you?" Holden turns around and smiles. "Yup. Is there anyone better looking?" Kisoka walks over and ruffles his hair, before giving him a hug. She sits down and leans her head on Azriel's shoulder. Azriel strokes the other girl's hair softly. Holden notices and watches with interest. "Are you two...?" He asks softly. Azriel tilts her head to the side and looks at him. Kisoka lifts her head up and shakes it softly. "No, we aren't. Though, I need to talk to you Holden. It can wait though." Holden nods, noticing the flash of pain in Azriel's eyes. "I'm going to go have a shower and get changed, if you two don't mind." Kisoka says softly. Azriel nods her head and Kisoka walks off to the bathroom. "Az, what is it?" Holden asks softly. Azriel looks at him and whispers, "I do want to be something with her." Comprehension flashes over Holden's face, and he reaches over and strokes her cheek softly. "Tell me about it." He says softly, the smile on his face heart warming. She sighs softly, nodding her head, "Ok, I'll tell you, but first, let me go put some clothes on." Holden nods his head and Azriel quickly ducks out of the room and runs to put on some clothes. A minute later, she walks back into the kitchen, dressed in a pair of jeans and a shirt. She notices a fresh cup of coffee in Holden's hands and mutters. "Should I get the riot gear now?" Holden grins and shakes his head. "You'll live without it." "But will my house?" Holden grins again, deliberately not answering. "Now, weren't you going to tell me what's going on, Az?" Azriel nods and takes Holden by the arm and leads him out to the lounge room. He sits down on the lounge and she sits next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Kisoka's been back 2 days, but we caught up again a few months ago." Holden's eyes widen, but he doesn't say anything. "She and I started talking, and became close friends. I talked her into moving in with me about 2 months ago. I think I've been developing feelings towards her… I'm afraid that she wont feel the same towards me." She sighs softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about her being here earlier. I wanted to, just something stopped me, every time." Holden nods again, "It's ok. I can't say I understand entirely, but I get the gist of it. So have you shagged her yet?" Holden ducks down quickly, narrowly avoiding the playful swat Azriel throws his way. "No, I haven't. Yet." Azriel grins teasingly at Holden. Holden messes her hair up, a mischievous grin on his face. "OI!" Azriel yells and jumps him, pinning him to the floor and proceeding to tickle him.

****

Kisoka stands next to the door, leaning against the wall, having heard what Azriel said, her mind racing. Kisoka knew she had some sort of feelings towards Azriel, but had never thought to act on them. All her previous relationships had ended badly. She listened to the sounds of the giggling and laughter coming from the next room. How can I ask him to go back? There's only pain there for him. And how am I going to tell Az how I feel towards her? What if it ruins our friendship? Even if she does have some feelings towards me, they'll disappear when I ask Holden to go back there. A sigh escapes from her lips and she puts on a happy smile. She then walks into the next room. "I leave you two alone for 20 minutes and I come back to find you both rolling around on the floor. Too much sugar for the both of you." She giggles softly, before noticing the pair are crouching. "Crap." She manages to say before they both pounce and pin her to the floor, beginning to tickle her mercilessly. She writhes about laughing without restraint, before turning into her cat form and escaping to the other side of the room. "Hey! That's no fair! Cheater!" Azriel calls out, pouting. Holden joins in the pouting, and Kisoka returns to her normal form, and says laughingly, "Neither is ganging up on me!" Little does she notice Holden's snuck up behind her, until he's already pounced, tackling her to the ground, before Azriel leaps too, pinning them both and proclaiming, "AHAH! I win!" Holden whispers into her ear softly, "Let's get her." Kisoka grins and nods, as they both push upwards at the same time, tipping Azriel off, Holden pinning her legs, while Kisoka gets her arms, both of them tickling the trapped girl mercilessly. "Eeep! Stopit! Lemme go!" Azriel cries out, laughing uncontrollably. Both Kisoka and Holden grin and keep on tickling.

****

A couple of hours later, Kisoka and Holden are walking along the beach near Azriel's house, talking about how their lives had gone since they saw each other last. Holden told her about how He and Sloane had broken up, and how he'd started to travel. Kisoka had told him about how she had gone to spend time with the harpies, then came back and met up with Azriel, and how things had developed between them. She'd even told him about her feelings towards Azriel. Kisoka sits down in the sand and Holden sits down beside her. She sits looking out at the waves for a few minutes, before finally saying, "I went back to see the harpies for a few days. Arcana asked me to ask you to come home, atleast for a few days." "This is my home," Holden replies, "Since Home is where the heart is." "You know what I meant. Your mother wants you to visit, even if it's just for a few days." Holden nods his head, "I know. I'll go in a few days. I need to spend time with Az before I go." Kisoka nods her head and whispers "I'll come with you if you'd like." Holden considers this for a moment. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay with Azriel. She'll probably want you here." Kisoka shakes her head, before leaning it on Holden's shoulder, "I don't think she'll want me around at all, when she figures out I was the one who asked you to go back there." "No. She cares for you enough to forgive that. I knew I'd have to go back there eventually. It was inevitable, in the end. I was just hoping for more time before I went back. But now is as good a time as any." He leans his head down and rests it against hers.