Chapter 9. Back to Normality.

There was an electric charge connecting them as their lips met. It was as if the world around them dropped away, leaving only them.

Talia was initially in shock but as the kissed deepened she knew that it felt right. Brodie was the man she was supposed to kiss for all time.

Brodie was beside himself with joy. Nothing in this moment could be sweeter than kissing this delicate creature in his arms.

Talia parted her lips so that Brodie could explore her mouth with his tongue. This being her first ever kiss she followed his lead.

They pulled apart, breathless. "Talia...that was... Wow!", he held her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. 

"Mmhmm", Talia leaned her face into his palm before pulling away from him. 

The loss of contact between them left Brodie feeling bereft but before he could bemoan the fact, Talia had crawled over to his lap and cuddled in close to him. Her body fitting in the gap between his legs and chin perfectly. 

Both of them sat like this for a long time. Occasionally he would stroke her hair or plant a feather like kiss on her head. This was the picture of contentment. 

Talia's stomach rumbling signalled that it was time to go. Neither of them were very willing to leave. 

"We'll have to do this again. How about tomorrow? And the next day, hell, let's do this everyday!", Brodie exclaimed. 

Talia giggled, "As much as I love that idea. It's back to normality for me tomorrow. I've still got to graduate.", Going back to the humdrum of school was going to pale in comparison to the moments she'd just spent with him. 

"Hmmmph. I guess you have a point.", he said sulkily. "What do you want to do after you graduate."

"I want to study medicine. I've been looking at universities all over the country. The best medical programmes seem to be up north.", she happily told Brodie her future plans as they walked. She hadn't realised that he had stopped dead in his tracks and had a frown on his face. 

"What's up? Why did you stop?", Talia asked him. He looked upset. 

"You're going to leave? What about me? You'd be willing to leave me... and your parents?", he added the last part on, he didn't want to come across as totally selfish. 

"It's not like that Brodie. I've been an outsider for most of my life. I've never had friends and in the end decided I didn't need any. I focused all my energies on studying hard so I could leave and start fresh. Be someone else, be someone that another person would want.", she genuinely didn't think that what she had said would be upsetting. 

This has always been her plan. Everything that had happened over the last couple of days had came out of nowhere and she hadn't thought about the consequences. 

"And what about now? I don't want you to leave! The thought of not seeing you...please don't go! I want you!", he held both her hands in his, he had never pleaded for anything before. There was never anything he wanted enough to beg. 

She looked into his sad, desperate eyes, "You want me now but what happens when you wake one morning and find your destined mate. No matter how you feel, the moon goddess picks your mate. That would break me."

"No! I won't let that happen! I'll reject my mate. Listen Angel, this...whatever this is between us... It feels like... more. I can't describe it but it's not ordinary attraction.", Brodie wouldn't let her go. 

Talia's heart hurt when he said he would reject his mate. Why did it hurt? Shouldn't she feel happy? 

"You say that now but you may not want to when you meet them. I don't want to be the cause of pain to anyone else.", Talia looked down.

She didn't think she had the strength to look him in the eye. If she did she might grab hold of him and refuse to let go ever again. 

Brodie was crestfallen. He was hurting. Did she not realise that?" Lets get back. It's getting late.", he turned and started walking to the the entrance of the forest. 

Silently, she followed him, her eyes glistening with the tears she desperately didn't want to fall. 

Much to soon they reached the edge of the dense trees. Talia had been trying to think of something to say to make it all better. 

"Brodie, I'm sorry. I didn't realise that talking about leaving would upset you. I really want to go and study medicine but there is a selfish part of me that doesn't want to leave you either.", Talia sighed. 

He stared into her eyes, searching deeply, "Which part of you is stronger? If I asked you to stay would you?" 

"I.. I don't know. Do you want me to give up on my dreams for you?", Talia asked seriously. She would be left with nothing if and when he found his mate. 

Brodie was both angry and saddened by her question. "Well, I guess we have the answer then!", he stormed off, leaving her calling to him. 

Tears were now freely flowing down her pale cheeks. This had been the most perfect afternoon and now it felt as though it lay in tatters at her feet. 

'This is why it was better being alone', she thought to herself darkly as she trudged the short distance back to her house. 

In a few short hours Talia had soared to the clouds and bumped back to earth with dispair. 

Quietly, she opened the door, not wanting to explain what had happened to her mother. Once Talia had made it to the safety of her room, the tears that had been threatening to fall, came like a silent, torrent flood. 

This wasn't like her. She was not a girly girl who got caught up with what a guy felt about her. 'What a guy though', she thought. 

Talia wiped her face roughly and lay on the bed, going over t he last words they had spoken before falling into a restless sleep.