Eres Academy

The letters carved in big gold letters stood before me. Even in the storm it's name emitted power.

And memories...

Before I knew it, I was driving towards the majestic golden gates.

An intimidating knight approached my car. I rolled down my window and faced him.

"Name and business?" He asked.

"Paige Bennet, and uh..." I thought of what my business here was. "I'm an alumni."

"An alumni?" The knight raised his brow and eyed me closer. The way he eyed me scared me.

Suddenly the arch of his brows disappeared. "Ma'am, by any chance, are you Ashley Bennet?"

I pursed my lips and nodded. "The very same."

And just as it came, the intimidating look of the knight disappeared and was replaced by a jolly smile.

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am, you may enter." He then whispered to an earpiece. "Open the gates."

Suddenly the golden gates of Eres automatically opened before me.

"Thank you." I smiled and the knight held his hat and nodded.

I drove passed the gates and into the campus.

Just like before, the pine trees stood where they used to be. I drove passed the sports fields, the coliseum, the amphitheater, the oval of flags. I stopped my car when I spotted the grand palace in front of me.

There was our school. It's ivory pillars stood amidst the storm, it's marble walls, and glass windows that reflected the lighting in the sky.

I drove slowly around the school. This is it. The place that changed my life. Completely.

Every corner of the castle's hallways had the ghost of my past memories. Those corridors where I used to stroll around with Aicko and Shari during break. The hallways where I used to run around to steal Aiden's food. The hallways where I stood up to Blake on my first day. All those moments seemed too long ago. And they all happened in this school.

I drove past the castle and at the distance I saw the cheerful lights of Elite square. As I rolled up, the warm lights of the square greeted me. I smiled as I saw students walking with umbrellas through the shops, restaurants, and malls. Some shops looked familiar but many of them seemed new.

The square was indeed the life of the Campus. It seemed like the rain has stopped. I opened my door and stepped outside. The cool breeze of the after storm filled in. Students walking in groups buzzed around. Oh how I missed being one of them.

After a while I stepped back inside my car and started to drive again. I drove through the square eyeing all the familiar places that made every bit of the place feel like home. Before I knew it I was away from the square and back in the dark woods.

I needed to head out. Many people were looking for me. I pulled myself together and readied myself to drive out of campus and back into reality. There wasn't any use of crying or dwelling on the past.

As I drove through the dark pine tree road I suddenly stopped.

To my left was a place I'd never forget. I rolled down my window to see the tree. It's size was a lot bigger now, it's leaves rustled in the wind.

My heart started to hammer against my chest as I approached it. The rain was completely gone now, but my heart still felt the gloom.

The bench under the tree was still here.

I rested my hand on the tree's trunk before sitting down on the bench. At that moment flashbacks started crossing my mind. All the memories he and I had under this tree flooded in.

From the time we were enemies, to the time we were friends, up to the time we were together. This tree witnessed many of those.

After all these years.

I found myself, sitting at our favorite spot, but for the first time, I was alone.

He was no longer by my side at our spot. And it's my fault. I pushed him away. I broke what we had.

I lost him.

"I did this." I whispered in between tears.

The memory of him walking away from me at this spot 8 years ago replayed in my head.

I pushed him away even if he'd do anything to stay.

And I didn't stop him.

I didn't stop him...

The thought roamed inside my head.

The next thing I knew, I was dashing towards my car and driving out of the campus as fast as I could.

"Aiden," I had my phone stuck in between my ear and shoulder as I drove past the traffic lights.

["Peggy where are you! We've been looking for you for hours!"]

"I'm going to the airport."

["Wait? What?!"]

"Could you check the information on all LA flights to London."

["Why to London- Oh I see,"] He immediately understood what I was trying to do. ["So it's a game of tag?"]

"Shut up, just tell me the info."

["All flights this evening was probably delayed due to the storm."]

I suddenly felt hope. "So, all the flight passengers would still be there?"

["Not sure, but the storm's subsided by now, but I'll go and check."] I heard him start the engine of his car. Looks like he's headed to his airline's as well. ["You really think you could catch him?"]

"That's why I need your help!"

He laughed. ["Alright, I'll do what I can. Best of luck to you Peggy."]

I went full speed when the traffic light went green.

"Please...please...please." I prayed that I'd get there in time.

I've let him go once... I won't again.

As soon as I parked in the Airport's parking lot. I ran through the crowds of people.

People who recognized me started murmuring and whispering but I didn't care. I needed to get inside.

I tried to blend-in but the guard of the airport stopped me.

"Ma'am where are your passport and flight details?" The guard eyed me.

God how many guards are going stop me tonight?!

"I- left them with my friends, their already inside."

The guard frowned and shook his head. "I'm sorry ma'am but I'm going to need your passport and flight details."

Shit! Do I still need to ask Stella to bring me my passport and to book me a flight just for me to catch up with Blake?

But he'd be gone by then. I didn't have time.

"Sir please, I don't have time." I tried to squeeze myself past him but he was too strong.

"Ma'am, I'm going to ask you to leave." He said in a stern voice.

"Sir ple-"

"Let her in, She's with me." Aiden suddenly appeared beside me.

He was in a complete business suit and shades which seemed weird given that it's night. But since he was the CEO maybe he'd have to dress the part.

"S-sir." The guard was shocked. "O-of course." He moved to the side and Aiden pulled me with him inside the airport.

If I wasn't in a hurry I'd turn back to the guard and stick my tongue at him but I didn't have time for that.

Aiden and I ran through the airport and stopped when we go to the departures place.

"Thanks." I said when I caught my breathe.

"Anytime." He checked his watch. "You need to hurry, my secretary sent me Blake's flight details. His flight's already boarding by now, he's at gate 7A."

"Alright, How do I get there?"

"This is my Secretary." He pointed to the guy who just joined us. "He'll bring you there, now go, hurry!"

I nodded. "And what will you be doing?"

He showed me his phone in his hand. "I'm trying to stop his plane." He then turned around as he answered the call.

"Air traffic control, this is Adrien Dawson, abort flight AEC7031."

"Follow me Miss." Aiden's secretary said. I nodded and followed him as we headed for Blake's gate.

Once my eyes read gate 7A my heart thudded. The passengers were already boarding.

I thanked Aiden's secretary and joined the crowds of people as I searched for him.

"Excuse me, pardon me." I squeezed myself through.

Maybe he already boarded.

I sighed and stood on one of the seats and stood on my tippy toes to get a better eye. I still couldn't find him.

I had no other choice.

"Excuse me!" I raised my voice to get the attention of the people lining up to board. "Has anyone seen a guy, about 6 feet tall or something, He's got dark hair and green eyes and well-"

The people just stared at me as if they didn't had any idea of what I was talking about.

I sighed. "Well if you've ever seen someone like him please tell me." I sounded so desperate. But I really was.

"Because I have something to tell him."

The people shrugged, others shook their heads, letting me know that they didn't have any idea. More and more people boarded until there was hardly anyone left.

Maybe Aiden didn't get to stop the flight. Probably it was beyond his power to stop it.

What if Blake was just on the other side of the boarding bridge and was seated on the plane thinking that I didn't love him. What if Blake was already on his way to England by now?

My tears flowed down. He'd probably think that I didn't care... that I let him go. Again. "I didn't get to tell him."

"Tell me what?"

My eyes widened when I heard the voice. I stood up and turned around to see the pair of green eyes that I wanted to see.

"Y-you're here." I was speechless.

"No, this is just an illusion." He joked.

I frowned and walked closer to him. Before he could react, I hit him hard on the chest.

"Hey-" He suddenly stopped when I hugged him. The second I felt my face on his chest, my tears streamed down. "I'm sorry." I whispered.

"I'm sorry I didn't listen. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry." I cried in his arms.

I felt his heart beat against his chest, and I was sure that he felt mine.

"I'm-"

"No, stop," I cut him off. "Before you say anything else, I need to get this off my chest."

He looked at me letting me know that he was listening.

"I'm tired of pretending." I looked up at him. "And I won't continue acting as if I- as if I do not love you. Because I do." I looked straight into his eyes. "I love you."

He looked speechless. Which is why I suddenly felt shy. I let go off him and looked away. "Ok that's all I have to say, you can go now before you miss the plane."

He chuckled. "Oh so you want me to leave now?"

"Yeah." I looked away so he wouldn't see me blush. "You should go home to England."

"I'm not going anywhere." He chuckled again before his hand got my chin and made me face him.

"Why..." I sounded stupid. One minute I'd do anything to make him stay. Now out of embarrassment I'm shooing him away.

"Because," He looked into my eyes. "I found my home again. You are my home."

I felt my tears again. Only this time, they were of joy.

He kissed me. In that kiss I knew that he meant every word and I knew he felt the same. When we parted he kissed the top of my head and whispered into my ear.

"I love you Paige. I always have."

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This isn't the end yet.