December 23rd, 1998
Love. How does someone truly know when they have it? Adelaide Parker was only 17-years-old… well… for a little while longer at least. In a few hours, she would be 18… one year older… one year closer to graduating and being an adult and… trying to figure out how to navigate her family life with her true passion of enacting change in policy… if her parents would ever allow her to do it. Anyways, back to the whole point of this… 17-years-old… could anyone really know what love was at 17? Maybe… maybe not. Either way… this thing that Addie had with Leo… if it wasn’t love, she didn’t know what it was. Adelaide had loved before, but only towards her siblings and family. She had never… had this. Even with her ex-boyfriends… she had… never felt like this… like her day was brighter simply by his presence in it. She had never felt like she had a need to be around someone, but with Leo she wanted to be around him whenever she had the chance… she felt butterflies when he touched her… when he looked at her. She found an endless smile on her lips when he was with her and she… really loved that feeling. He made her want to be better… he challenged her… and she loved that part the most. Adelaide was quick-witted, but he didn’t hold back either, and it worked.
It was currently 10:51 PM and Addie was alone in Leo’s apartment, a book in her hand as she laid on his couch in a fully decorated condo. There was a tree in the corner right next to a window overlooking the entire city - and honestly, it was probably her favorite view in Beryl. She couldn’t count the number of times she and Leo just sat on the patio, enjoying the night sky together with their arms around one another… which usually ended with her falling asleep and somehow ending up in the bedroom. 7 months together and… god… she just wanted more - so, yes, Adelaide Parker considered this to be love. On the topic of her boyfriend, Leonardo hadn’t been home for the day - having some work to complete for his dad’s business leaving Addie alone to finish decorating. Most of the decoration had been put up together over the last few days. Her mind went back to the laughter that left both of their lips as they went tree shopping, the way he had let her jump on his back to put the angel on the tree, the way she had to argue and win against him that real trees were better than that fake stuff that just reached the market. So what if it left a little mess? Nothing could beat the smell of a fresh Christmas tree. And… Christmas: It honestly was her favorite holiday and… maybe it had something to do with the fact that her birthday fell the day before. Though, if anyone asked Adelaide, it was just… all of it. She loved decorating, she loved the cold, and especially the snow - which is why the window was currently open letting the freezing cold into the condo as Addie snuggled under a blanket in one of Leo’s shirts - and, she bloody loved desserts.
Currently Gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate sat on the counter, cooling from when Addie had finished baking just minutes earlier. The smell was divine and it just brought memories of happy days. Maybe the worst part of Christmas in Beryl, however, was that it had yet to snow. Usually, by now, London was filled with the fluffy white substance. Beryl, however, was a harsh cold with no snow in sight, and honestly, Addie was just waiting… hoping for some snow before her birthday… though the weather forecast wasn’t too optimistic.
Addie was lost her train of thought, however, when she heard a short buzz from her Nokia. Her eyes moving up from the book that she had supposedly been reading for the past hour (though honestly at this point she had just reread the same three paragraphs over and over again, retaining none of what was written). Looking at the device, she found a small message from Blue Royalty, and the instant she had received the notice, Addie heard a doorbell. With a sigh, she walked over to the door knowing exactly what to expect: outside the door was a letter from the famed game that she was regretting joining. Why Addie had joined… well… for the fun of it but she didn’t realize how bloody manipulative it was. Thankfully her tasks hadn’t been too bad, but the ones she didn’t like she just opted out of. Unlike most other students, Addie had actually read the 100-page waiver the school made her sign to participate in the game. What did she learn about the game?
- You have to bloody sign most of your rights away at the beginning, whether you’re playing or not. Either way, non-participants can still be involved and participants are not allowed to utilize any help during said “tasks”. Any reveal of the game to outside sources can result in the game suing you for breach of contract charges. Oops… Addie had already broken that rule. Honestly, she wasn’t too keen on hiding things from her boyfriend and usually ended up telling him about the game and she had even told her brother in the past.
- Even if you’re participating in the game, you have the choice to not finish the task - something Addie used more than once. If there was one thing Adelaide would never do, it was hurt people she cared about. So, she often avoided tasks involving her friends. The one she did partake in involved bringing these two kids in her Chemistry class together - but they already had an obvious crush on each other and Addie thought that was adorable.
- Five winners of the game would receive the title of “blue royalty” and have the ability to gain connections that would allow them any path of life they wanted. And… maybe this was the only part that interested her. Maybe… maybe this game could possibly help Addie connect with a female politician… get help on how to change the Monarchial system in England to allow girls the chance to join the house of lords.
Oh… and the note… Right… what was on the note?
Merry (early) Christmas and Happy (early) Birthday Adelaide,
We hope you didn’t think you could have a break from us. Blue Royalty is just getting started. This is your notice to keep an eye out for our next message over the next few days for your tasks. Completion of these tasks will be time-sensitive, and we hope you don’t dally when you get them. Reminder, you’re currently sitting at 6th place. Maybe with your cooperation, you’ll be in the top five. Good luck.
-Yours Truly, Blue Royalty
Time-sensitive? That was… well… mostly a new one. Usually, they’d give Addie the span of a party or event to complete the task so she couldn’t help but wonder how this was different. Either way, Addie didn’t have time to contemplate this question when she heard the door unlocking. There was an instant grin on her lips when she heard the door open, and without a second thought about the letter, Addie dropped it before going over to the door and wrapping her arms around her boyfriend before he could even fully get in. “You really bloody had to be gone all day?” she whispered, finding his lips on her own soon and easing into his touch. It was a while before he pulled away, though keeping her body near his as he looked into her eyes “I’m sorry Addie,” he whispered, bringing goosebumps on her skin, “but…” he added, finally letting her go to walk back outside and pick up a gift box. “I needed time to get your gift.”
Addie gave him a skeptical look, shaking her head with a soft laugh before pointing under the tree which was surrounded by gifts the two had bought each other and those her friends had bought for her and Leo. “Love, I think we bought enough presents you didn’t need to buy another Christmas gif…”
“This one isn’t for Christmas though, Addie… it’s actually for your birthday which according to my watch is… right about…”
Addie found her eyes widening at his words. Adelaide hadn’t told the man it was her birthday… part just didn’t want to make it a big deal about the day. She just wanted to spend it with those she loved which included him and her brother. Though, she found him looking at his watch and then smiling after a few seconds, “…now” . Addie looked back up at him before turning to the clock in his condo and finding that it was midnight. In her distraction of decorating, reading, and thinking - an hour had passed by and her birthday had arrived.
There was a feeling of warmth that overcame her as she wrapped her arms around him for the second time. Yes, love. No one could tell her differently that that was what she felt for the man. Adelaide hadn’t even looked in the box when she heard a little yelp from it - causing her to pull away and give the man a surprised look. He simply nodded towards the gift, and after a second, Addie pulled the top off to find the cutest little furry animal looking back at her. “Oh my…” she whispered, pulling the puppy out and holding the girl in her hands as she immediately started licking Addie. “Well hello to you too,” Addie whispered at the precious little puppy in her hands.
“What are you going to name her?”
It was a question Leo asked her after a few minutes of simply playing on the ground with the puppy. “She… looks like a Holly,” Addie grinned, picking the puppy up again and walking over to where Leo was standing - currently munching on a gingerbread. “You know I love you right? Merry Christmas Eve, my love,”
While this was only the start of the day for the two of them, it was a good start in Addie’s mind. Putting the puppy down, she grabbed Leo’s hand and led him out to the patio and as they often did. Laying her head on his shoulder, Addie found herself whispering “I wish this moment would never end,” though it was one that simply became better as a snowflake fell. “Leo…” Addie added with a sense of excitement. She didn’t say anything else, rather, immediately pulled him back inside - picking her puppy up as she ran to the elevator with him. The moment they were back to the lobby, she raced outside, standing under the night sky with her tongue out. Could this day… get any better?
Little did she know that nothing could stay perfect for too long, even if it was the perfect start to her birthday.
@Littlefeets - Part 1 of 2