Forbidden

~Chapter Ten~

Hi, everyone! Chapter ten is here, in honor of me returning to school tomorrow. Shucks, so no more regular updates!

This chapter is dedicated to my YAAL theatre friends...they've saved me more than once. I love you, guys and gals!!!!

After drooling over Logan Lerman for a while, I'm posting cutie-patootey Mackenzie Foy, who plays the ever adorable Layla Elliot!

ENJOY!!!!!

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~Chapter Ten~

Arabella placed the last folder carefully in her messenger bag, her homework for the day completed. She let out a sigh of ecstasy. Even homework was exciting here on Earth.

            “Erin!” the croaky voice of Bill called up the stairs. “It’s time for supper!”

            “I’ll be right down, Mr. Gresham!” Arabella replied. “I’m just finishing packing my schoolbag!” His footsteps receded into the kitchen. She grinned, picturing the elderly couple’s face in perfect detail. Bill with his rough, time-worn face, filled with crannies of wrinkles, while Marcia had a sweet, soft temperament, her eyes rimmed with laughter lines. They were two of the best companions Arabella could have ever hoped to come by on Earth.

            “Key words? ‘On Earth.’”

            Arabella whirled around, her curls flying by her sight as she faced her mocker. She groaned inwardly. “Griffin, what are you doing here? I thought I told you—several times—to let me be.” Her voice came out firm, but with a barely noticeable, frightened squeak. She bit her lip; she knew that Griffin had heard it.

            Griffin stepped forward, his glorious face turned up in a smirk, warm brown eyes glittering with appeal. He was the last person Arabella had wanted to be behind her. “Yes, I know,” he admitted slyly, taking her hand. Arabella flinched, but didn’t push him away. “But you weren’t listening to me. I thought that I should come down here and talk some sense into you.”

            Arabella gulped. “Please go away. Unless you have something extremely important to tell me, go back. Please,” she finished weakly.

            Griffin cupped her face in his other hand, raising her gaze to meet his. “Bella, sweetheart, you know that I can’t do that,” he said innocently. “I had to get special permission, so I’m stuck here for a while.”

            Arabella’s heart fell. She should have known that he wouldn’t have let Griffin go so easily. “Of course,” she agreed in a whisper.

            “But don’t you worry,” Griffin continued, his thumb stroking her hand. “I’ll watch you like a hawk. No one will hurt you. I promise you that.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against Arabella’s, causing an electric spark to shoot between the two. With that, Griffin’s form dissolved instantly, and he was gone.

            “Erin, my dear?” Marcia called, her soft voice echoing through the halls. “Are you coming?”

            “Yes, Mrs. Gresham, I am!” Arabella responded, her shy phrase ringing back. “I’m sorry, I just had a little issue with the buckle!”

            Buckling her messenger bag, Arabella glanced outside, her window giving her a clear image of the night. Stars sparkled overhead, with barely a cloud covering them. The moon smiled down on the Earth, sending happy sparks of light across the street. And there, partially obscured by some shrubbery, stood Griffin, his grin piercing into the house, knowing that Arabella was the only person who could see him.