Regina spent every day talking to Xander.
At first, it was difficult. She would send a thought to him, and he would end up being busy or talking to someone. He would then politely remind her about phones by texting her back. After several days, Regina finally caught on and started to text.
Xander is the oldest of three at the age of twenty-one; he had two younger sisters, Robin at seventeen and Ruby at fourteen. He had graduated from school a couple of years ago and was working for his uncle full time. It wasn't his lifelong dream to carve wood all day, but he said it wasn't bad.
Xander was surprised when he found out she had bought two of his crafts. He said to blame their Fated bond while she insisted it was because they were good. He didn't seem to believe her.
As the week passed, Xander would mention going on a date every once in a while. It wasn't until Mavis explained what a date was that Regina agreed to do one that Friday.
After that, Mavis and Atta kept having secret smiles. One day, Aisha even turned down going to the mall because she said she was busy. Regina had a bad feeling that they were doing something with Xander.
Xander, who had not been texting her since yesterday evening. The date was tomorrow, and he hadn't contacted her at all.
Regina threw her phone to the bed as she sat at her desk. Laying her head in her hands, she knew it was all because of the date.
Mavis said they were special occasions were couples did things and grew closer. So, why would Xander stop texting her? Wasn't the whole purpose, to know each other more?
With no one to talk to or do anything with, Regina tried to entertain herself. She did crosswords and puzzles; she loved the books that were full of them. After getting bored with those, she watched meaningless tv and scrolled through useless social media. No one was home; they were all doing something, without her.
By dinner, Regina was thoroughly bored. Nothing caught her attention, and she just wanted to do something with someone.
"So, you excited for tomorrow?"
The idea of doing anything made Regina excited.
'Absolutely, it's been forever since I've seen Xander.'
"Seven days isn't forever, Luce."
'Blame this Fated bond thing.'
Mavis and Atta shared a laugh while Regina pouted at her taco. Was it so bad that she wanted to be with Xander so much?
"Oh, it's fine. Mavis and I were just as bad. She lived further south, and I can't tell you how much money I spent driving to her town. She probably thought I was a goof."
"I did because of that haircut you had. You looked like an egg, and it was not attractive, I'm sorry. You're never allowed to shave your head again."
Atta made a fake face, and the two continued laughing and joking.
Regina smiled at them and the happiness surrounding them. If this was what being Fated meant, she would do it in a heartbeat. Someone there to love you, support you, and spend all day with you, it sounded perfect. And if he could cook half as good as Atta, she would be set for life.
From texting with Xander, Regina knew he wouldn't hurt her. He practically raised his sisters after his parents died. He always was in communication with her. Whether he had plenty of time to chat or if it was one simple text saying he would be busy for several hours.
It all sounded too perfect. The wolves may be connected, but there isn't a rule that the humans will too. Perfection may be something too high for someone like her to reach.
Leaving the kitchen, Regina decided to go to bed early. The sooner she fell asleep, the sooner it would be tomorrow. And with tomorrow came Xander, and following him was peace and clear thoughts.
****
Something was beeping, and it made Regina want to silence it. Who is making so much noise in the morning anyway!
Regina peeked an eye open to see a strange box on her desk. Since it wasn't there yesterday morning, she assumed the noise was coming from that.
Regina got out of the bed to turn the stupid thing off, letting out groans and mental complaints. Thankfully there was a button, and the silence was welcomed.
Just as she went to go back to the bed, it was nine in the morning, a flash of pink caught her attention.
Underneath the box, there was a pink paper with what looked like writing on it. Regina didn't have any pink paper; she didn't like pink.
Regina pulled on the paper and held the small note to her face.
'Goodmorning, Gina.'
She sighed and carried the note to her bean bag chair. It was Xander; he had started calling her that earlier in the week. Of course, it was him.
'For the date today, I planned a fun activity. Mavis said you liked riddles, so I decided to try my hand at it. Follow the notes, and I'll be waiting at the end.'
'P.S. I carve wood; I don't make cute little notes. If this all sucks, just go along with a smile.'
Regina let out a laugh at the note followed by a yawn. This was cute and all, but it was also nine in the morning. She didn't more until ten; it was a well-known rule.
Still, the idea of getting to hang out with Xander gave Regina new energy. She got up to go to her desk to brush her hair when she noticed another pink paper.
'A story, they say, can take you away,'
'But a book still needs a place to stay.'
They were riddles! She loved riddles, along with all other types of puzzles. This would be more fun than she thought, as long as Xander had written interesting ones.
This one, for instance, was easy—a bookshelf.
Regina went over to the bookshelf, and the note wasn't very hidden. It was even bright orange and sticking out an inch out of a book.
Regina pulled it out, excitement building.
'From dirt, to paint and everything in between,'
'I'm your number one companion in keeping clean.'
Soap. These riddles weren't really that hard, but they were cute.
Regina finished getting dressed, wearing what Mavis called fancy clothes. This was a date, and she didn't want to be looking like she just got out of bed.
Once she was ready for the day, Regina went to the bathroom. Right under the soap dispenser, there was a bright yellow note. Where was Xander getting this paper from?
After checking her hair in the mirror, Regina lifted the soap and picked up the next clue.
'Standing quietly against a wall, you rarely notice me though I'm tall.'
'Inside, I keep a lot of treats. Open my door, and then you'll see.'
The pantry, easy once again.
Running down the hall, she ignored Mavis's and Atta's smiles. How else would Xander know she liked riddles? Their behavior yesterday made sense now; they were planning this with Xander.
Opening the pantry, she looked around for any bright colored paper. To her dismay, she couldn't find any paper in the whole pantry. With the earlier ones, Xander didn't hide them, so why would he start now?
Standing against a wall, not something in the wall. But you only get food from the pantry and the fridge. The fridge.
Letting out a loud sigh, Regina closed the door and went to the fridge. Right when she opened it, she noticed the green note on the milk.
'Keep me open; keep me closed. There's really nothing I oppose.'
'But when it rains or when it's cold, to keep me shut is what you're told.'
This one was interesting; it was a window, but which in the apartment? Regina glanced at Mavis and Atta, who jerked back to their bowls and devices. They were enjoying this too much.
Regina glanced around the room and smiled. He really wasn't good at hiding. The blue note was easily seen through the morning light. Regina walked over to the window, plucking the letter off and reading it.
'Round and round, that's the only way for me! I take with me all your laundry.'
'No need to fret, they're safe with me. I just want to make them clean.'
A washing machine, this one actually made her smile.
Rushing over to the small room, the red note stood out against the white machine.
'For the movie, you pop some corn.'
'When the food is ready, the buzzer will warn.'
Going back to the kitchen, Regina paused when Mavis and Atta were both gone. She liked it better when they were in her sight and unable to do anything.
Still, she continued to the microwave where a purple note was waiting.
'I have drawers and also a nice flat top.'
'For homework, I'm helpful -- keep working, don't stop!'
Regina paused, unsure of what the note was saying. She had already been upstairs in her room and found the first note on her desk. How could she have missed another?
Maybe it was talking about Atta's office, but that would mean letting Xander get into his house. Atta wasn't fond of the man, strangely, and Regina couldn't picture him letting Xander in willingly.
That would leave her desk, Mavis and Atta didn't have one in their room. There was a desk in that one room at the end of the hall, but she wasn't allowed in there.
Regina went to her room anyway; it wouldn't hurt. If anything, she finds nothing and ends up looking through the packhouse. Checking once more wouldn't hurt.
Reaching her room, Regina didn't see any colored paper in the room. But on her desk, there was something new.
Getting closer to the desk, Regina noticed the object. It was red, made of wood, and fit perfectly in her hand. Picking it up, Regina couldn't help but smile.
It was a heart, as cliché as it was. It was perfectly smooth and polished with a smaller heart carved out of the left side—a heart within a heart.
Flipping it over, Regina noticed a small carving in the wood. It was of a little bird, the letters X and C under it. A strange signature, but since it was also on the clock and the wolf, Regina knew it came from Xander.
There was a knock at the door, and Regina turned with a bright, dazzling smile. Only for it to drop when Aisha opened the door.
"I love you too, Regina. But you'll love me more if you come with me and get in the car. Someone is waiting for you."
Regina rolled her eyes but followed her friend anyway. She was going to see Xander, which made everything else worth it.
Aisha started by driving away from the packhouse. It was quite the drive, and Aisha used music and dancing to full the time. Regina liked it because it was funny to watch. Dancing in small spaces isn't' easy.
Passing by a sign reading, 'Swan Lake' Regina began to smile. One thing she had told Xander was her love of the outdoors. If given the chance, she would pick outside over indoors every time.
They drove past families in tents and people spending the day at the beach. Aisha was soon on less driven roads after talking to some people guarding a gate.
At one point, Aisha stopped, and the music went silent.
Regina sat straight in her chair, going quiet as well.
"Aren't you gonna get out? That's why I stopped the car."
The car doors unlocked, and Regina got out with a laugh.
Using the marked path, Regina found herself on the other side of the lake. If she focused, she could see brightly colored items in the distance.
"So, what did you think?"
Picking up the string once more, Regina turned and walked to where her Fated stood near the trees.
'I thought it was wonderful. The riddles were cute.'
Xander let out a chuckle before guiding Regina over to the small blanket set up in the trees. There was food, it was nearing lunch, and other items lying around.
"I talked to Mavis and Atta, even your friend Aisha. First dates are important, and I wanted it to be something you would like. I'm guessing you liked it?"
'I loved it, Xander.'
He seemed to turn even redder after that.
Sitting down, Xander opened the box revealing sandwiches, fruit, and drinks.
The lunch was perfect. She was using that word too much, but Regina didn't know any other way to describe it. Magical, wonderful, incredible, excellent, none of those words seemed to fit.
The waves and the wind through the trees made the background music. Xander would talk every once in a while, filling in the silence. The topics varied from favorite foods to hobbies to family and everything in between. Regina didn't talk much about the last topic; she didn't want to scare the guy away with her three families and Royal powers.
Xander was a quiet guy, one that waited for others to talk. He kept changing the topics back to Ruby and Robin; there wasn't much about him. It was like his whole life were those girls; it made sense. He said his parents died when they were young, Xander never got the chance to live for himself.
With the food gone, Xander pulled out a smaller box. Regina looked at him and sighed, unbelieving that one man would have so many gifts.
"I know, and I usually don't spend so much on gifts. I'm more for experiences than items anyway. But I heard that girls like things, and Aisha kept giving me suggestions. I said yes to make her shut up."
'So, the carving, riddles, and food was all her idea?'
"No, the riddles were Mavis's idea, the food and lake were Atta's, the last was Aisha's but the wooden heart, that was all mine."
In the end, he smiled, a genuine one that crinkled his eyes. Regina shook her head and motioned for the box to be opened. It was causing a sweet smell; she thought she knew.
Opening the box, Regina saw that it was filled with small sweets, and the smell became recognizable. It was chocolate!
Aisha had introduced her when they went to a sweet shop. After that first bite, Regina fell in love. The sad thing was that Mavis and Atta were both health nuts, not a lot of sweets in the house.
Reaching forward, Regina grabbed the treat and popped it in her mouth. Xander took one next, and the two quickly finished the box in silence.
They spent the next few hours out there under a beautiful blue sky. They didn't talk much, mostly just enjoying each other's presence. Time flew by, and soon the sun was beginning to set behind them. Regina and Xander completely missed what was happening around them, too caught up in their little bubble.
Comments (1)
See all