70 Chapter 70 - Cocoa Corner

Faun retired to his room, this time he took some of his baking with him, feeling less terrible than the day before. He put on a show to try to pass the time but his thoughts and attention kept straying.

Maybe it was because there was a chance he would leave soon, he felt a little sad even though he wouldn't be leaving for two more days. He also missed what he used to have, the little cottage that held all of his happy memories, he already missed Declan - or at least, the version of Declan he used to know.

Declan occasionally returned to his room at various times of the day so it was a little surprising to not hear his door open as the hours went by. Faun fought the urge to make the short trip to Declan's room, It was almost time for lunch too so it was better he didn't.

Besides, if he kept clinging to Declan like this, he wouldn't be able to leave. He had to start cutting off ties now so he could make the decision to go, even if it cut his heart in two, even if he had to leave some of himself behind.

A part of him had already been left behind in the sunlight-filled cottage so what was a little bit more. Even as he thought that, he couldn't help but wonder about what Declan was doing. Would he also eat lunch? Did he even remember to take care of himself…

-*-

Declan had intended to take a walk outside but that was hours ago and he still hadn't taken that walk. Instead, he went to a private part of the gardens where no one really went to and just laid on the grass.

If he closed his eyes tightly enough, he could lie to himself that he was lying in the opening in the woods behind his cottage, bluebells would be in bloom and he would be resting his head on Faun's legs and not his rolled-up suit jacket.

But he wasn't, there weren't any bluebells in the gardens and he was all alone.

Sometimes, Declan wondered if he should have just taken Faun and made a run for it but he knew that would have just been a temporary solution. They would always be on the run and his past would keep chasing him.

This was fated to happen sooner or later, he just wished that he could have handled it better.

He hadn't eaten breakfast and he didn't want to move, not unless Faun was the one cooking for him. The thought of Faun's cooking made him hungry, until reality sank in and the weight on his heart was enough to fill him up.

The sunlight was gentle on his face, black hair finger combed and falling away from his face as he stared up at the blue sky, his eyes growing heavy…

-*-

Allan sat at his table in his room, his brows furrowed as he made notes. He had chosen the date he did because he knew that Declan had a long court proceeding that day and he needed to keep his brother away.

Dealing with the bodyguards would be easy what would not be easy would be getting the hybrid out of the palace without attracting undue attention. After that, it would be easy to get him out of that North. He had enough time to prepare though, and then he would move on to phase two of his plan.

-*-

Lola didn't have to wait very long because Gillian hurried back, her hair was down from her ponytail now and she clipped it back on both sides to keep it out of her face. She wore leather pants, a black tank top, and a black jacket over it, making her look really different from before.

And was she always that tall?

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting," Gigi said a tad breathlessly, a bright smile on her face.

Lola had to look away, she couldn't remember anyone being that excited to be around her. Most were intimidated and the select few didn't care to.

"You didn't," She said quietly, rising to her feet and walking over to her side.

Gillian held open the door for her without a second thought and Lola found herself floundering. Had she been treated so badly that a few friendly gestures were enough to make her fall apart?

"So… where are we going?" She asked with a small smile, somehow ending up shorter than Gillian although she was in heels.

Gigi glanced at Lola, "It's a bit obscure, it's called Cocoa Corner." She filled her in, leading the way out of the palace.

Lola had been expecting that they would be driven out so she was surprised when Gillian led the way to her car and proceeded to open the door for her before getting in the driver's seat.

"You're driving?" She asked with big dark eyes, trying not to let it show that she was affected by the princess' little gestures.

"Yeah, do you mind?" Gigi hesitated when she noticed that Lola wasn't getting in the car.

"No, I don't!" Lola replied in a rush, wincing at how desperate she sounded. The invitation to get cake was just going in ways she couldn't have predicted - and she didn't exactly hate it.

"Do you go there often?" Lola asked as they drove away from the imposing building. She asked to make conversation but she also really wanted to know.

Because she had kept her distance from Gillian, she knew next to nothing about her. She only knew that she had just recently finished university because Allan had mentioned how she compressed her courses so she could be done in a shorter time.

"Not really," Gigi shrugged, not too eager to admit that it was a hotbed for lovers so it would be strange if she went there alone. "But I make a lot of orders."

"They're that good, huh?" Lola said lightly, leaning forward to tinker with the stereo. "You don't mind if I play some music, do you?" She inquired, hoping that music would help with the awkward atmosphere.

"I don't," Gigi mumbled, worrying at her lower lip. She couldn't help but worry if Lola was putting on music because she didn't want to talk to her - Had she been too pushy?

To her surprise though Lola played music from a familiar artiste and then turned it down so that it played without interrupting their conversation.

Gigi's hope bloomed again and she smiled, "You also listen to them? No way! I do too…"

Lola turned to her with sparkles in her eyes, "Really? They're very underground so I haven't met anyone who also listens to them…"

Gigi had to stop herself from smiling so much when her face started to hurt but it was hard to when Lola was animatedly talking about the kind of music she loved, complete with hand gestures and occasional excited clapping. Maybe she had been too quick to jump to conclusions earlier...