Goodies

Aubrianne Ivanov

Nevertheless, despite all this indecisiveness, one thing I do know is that I am ready for some shopping. Therefore, after talking with Mr. Grey, Daniela and I will do just that. I fix up a quick breakfast, and by fix, I mean heat up Daniel's dinner from the night before and get orange juice.

Sitting at the counter in the middle of the kitchen, I reminisce about yesterday evening into last night while I ate.

The library, I moan as I bite down on the burger. You could get lost in there. I pondered a moment... oh, and the amusement park. Daniel and I had so much fun there.

He won me a giant teddy bear, and I was also pretty good with the rings. Ring toss is what they call it, where you are given four rings, you aim and toss the ring at what you want, or what you might consider an easy target, and whatever it circles you get.

We walked away with a two-liter soft drink, a bottle of cheap whiskey, a scented candle, and two champagne flutes.

We have definitely gotten a lot closer. Daniel opened up to me last night, and so did I.

At the park, we went on almost all the rides. I begged him to return with me some other time to finish the rest of the rides we did not get to venture on, and I smiled. Wrapping up my meal, I went to my room to get ready.

I was finished and ready to go by nine fifty-five am. I decided on dark-colored jeans, a loose-fitting, classy white top with pearls lacing the front portion, and comfy flat pointy toe shoes. I took one final look in the mirror when I heard a buzzer. This one has to be the one by the gate.

Leaving my room, I made my way out front. Looking through the curtain, I peeked out, trying to get a glance at who it might be, and saw a couple with a basket in the female's hand.

I quickly pressed the buzzer to let them in, through the pedestrian gate, but instead, the main entrance opened. Yikes, guess I have to figure out which is which.

I opened the door to greet them on the porch and was greeted by that hot summer breeze. As they saw me, they immediately started waving and had broad smiles on their faces. OK, I said to myself as I smiled back. Not creepy at all.

We will indeed have great weather today. Glancing around and up to the sky, squinting my eyes, I looked up to the sun, shining bright in all its glory, clouds white and spread out in odd shapes in the vast sky. Not a dark cloud could be seen in the distance.

They came up to me on the porch, and the female excitedly said, "Hi, I am Kiirah Jaxton, and this is my husband, Brody Jaxton. We were eager to come by to meet and greet you."

She turns and sweeps her free hand behind her, my eyes following her movements to the expanse of the area she was gesturing to, the basket still safely tucked in the other hand as she says, "and wanted to welcome you to our lovely neighborhood."

Face still furnished with a bright smile, "We brought you this." She held the basket out for me, "it's a welcome basket," She said all in one breath. I reached to take it from her, not leaving her hanging.

"Thank you, thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Jaxton," I responded with a warm smile, ensuring I secured the basket of goodies in my hands, "I am..."

"Oh, please call me Kiirah," she cuts me off, and the husband adds, "Yes, please call me Brody, no need to be so formal with us."

OK, I tried again, "Kiirah, Brody, so nice to meet you both, I am Aubrianne Ivanov, and I just moved here from Clifton Hill." I informed them casually as I propped the basket on my waist, like you would a child.

"Oh, Clifton Hill, nice! Very far though, I've never been," Kiirah says, "me neither," said the husband. "I am sure it must be nice there."

"Yes, it is, but nothing compares to Transcendent Lotharios," I answered, looking around. "Here is different by far." They both raised a curious eyebrow; I simply continued, "It is different in a good way, that is for sure. The architecture and structures of these buildings, the city, everything, are just amazing and otherworldly."

Kiirah and her husband stood side by side. Both pleased, they beamed, and I continued to take them in. Both seem very fit and toned, like they worked out a lot.

Kiirah had gorgeous caramel-colored skin, gorgeous hair, and a pair of beautiful brown eyes, and she was slimly built but fit. And Brody was also fit. You can see his muscles, and he is medium-built.

Kiirah went on to say, all perky and welcoming, "we live two houses down on the right. Feel free to come to visit anytime," she turned again and pointed to the house, ensuring I took note, and I did.

It was a lovely two-story home on the opposite side of me.

"Oh, and on Friday nights, we have game nights, so anytime you're up for it, just come over. We would be delighted to have you..."

We all turned to the sound of tires rolling up.

I don't have any plans for Friday night, so why not? I thought about it and said, "Of course, I would love that, and I can come this Friday if you have me."

"Nonsense,' she waved a hand. "Of course, we would, it starts at eight pm. OK, now, we are heading out. We will let you get back to it. Nice meeting you, Aubrianne, and see you Friday."

I waved goodbye with my one available hand as they turned and headed out the gate, "lovely to meet you guys as well, bye."

"Bring a guest if you like," Kiirah, now looking at Daniel, had called over her shoulder.

I smiled and said sure, "I just might,"— when Brody said, "OK, bye, neighbor."

"Goodbye, guys," shaking my head, I smiled and waved at them again as they headed out.

They skipped out the gate and down to their home. Looking into the basket, I see it's more treats for me. I couldn't help but smile. By the looks, I may not have to cook for a month.

Lifting the basket, a broad grin plastered my face. I showed Daniel and said, "Hey, I will be out shortly. Let me put these away and grab my bag."

I placed the basket in the freezer, grabbed my bag and phone, and met Daniel in the SUV.

"Hey Aubri, good morning. I see you had some more visitors."

I smile broadly and say, "Yes, just that one couple, though. The Jaxton's were the first I actually got to meet."

"Sweet, you will eventually meet them all," Daniel offers.

Then soon after, as the SUV pulled onto the main road, we were on our way toward the mountains, and as we got closer, my mind was quickly overrun by thoughts of this meeting with Mr. Grey and finally getting to the bottom of what was going on.

I was actually anguished to find out the truth.

I felt like I couldn't go on another day without knowing if I had made a colossal mistake in uprooting my life and coming here for nothing.

I was also nervous about what I might find out. But mainly, I was in anticipation of getting to the truth of the situation, and as we drew nearer, I couldn't stop that feeling in the pit of my stomach, nervousness? Anxiousness?

I wondered, and yes, hoping and praying I did not make a mistake.

Daniel and I only talked a little...When all too soon, or maybe not soon enough, we pulled up to a massive gated community with a huge sign that said Transcendent Lotharios Crescent Moon.

Interesting, I randomly noted that the folks here seem to have a thing for wolves and the moon. In addition, I thought, 'Crescent Moon.' I repeated it in my mind.

But I no longer dwelled on it as the gate sprung to life and opened. I watched as Daniel acknowledged the guards.

We drove until we pulled up by a vast two-story home. Lovely, I thought, and hoped this was the stop to Mr. Grey, but then my heart started beating fast, trying to escape the confinement of my ribcage.