Francy's p.o.v

We walked outside in the garden. The sky's hue was gentle, between cloud and baby-blue. It was one of those spring days with a subtle breeze that somehow heightened the warm rays of the sun.

I was impatient and wanted to blabber everything out to Elric, but I also had so many questions about what was happening with the game development competition.

"What happened with Remi?" Elric asked.

"We got into a fight." I sighed and raised my head to look at him. His eyes had a particularly pretty shine in the daylight. "She is a traitor."

He smiled and brushed my hair back. "You want to talk about it?"

I shook my head. "You first. Did they call you back for the disqualification?"

"No..But we moved a bit forward ." He smiled.

"That's great. " I smiled back. "How did you do that?"

He avoided eye contact.

"Elric..what did you do?" I asked suspiciously.

"I did what was necessary." He replied without blinking.

"Oh my god." I gasped. "I'm going to have to visit you in prison."

"You don't even know what I did." He complained.

"I know whatever you did was bad. Very very bad." I narrowed my eyes. "You hacked somebody didn't you."

He refrained from answers.

I grabbed him by his jacket. "Do you have any idea what the consequences would be if you get caught? You could go to jail! You told me you're not doing that anymore. Do you want me to die of worry? So who is it? Who was the evil bastard that I'm going to kill? "

Elric smiled. "You two really are siblings."

"What? Ugh.." I tugged him by the jacket with both hands. "Focus Elric. Who did this?"

He just chuckled.

"Are you laughing? Is this funny to you?"

He suddenly wrapped his arms around my neck and hugged me. I was nudged closer into his chest and he held me in a sweet warm hug. His breath fanned over my neck and his lips barely touched my earlobe as he whispered. "Don't worry so much"

My agitation completely dissipated. My grip loosened and I ended up hugging him back.

Why was it that I turned into jelly when he hugged me like this?

"I'm okay now." I answered.

Sly man. He really had me wrapped around his finger.

He released me from the hug. "It was another hacker that sent the accusation. I don't know what grudge this hacker has against us but Ace and I are going to find out."

"How?" I asked.

"We have proof he is going to be at a gaming competition here in our city. It's gonna be held this summer and Ace and I are going to find a way to attend the event to find this person. But It might take some of my time.. "

This summer..."I see.."

"I know I said we'll spend all my free time together but um this came up and..."

"About that.." I stopped him. "Oh god, I don't know how to tell you.. Um.."

"Hmm?"

I shifted my weight from one leg to the other. Um.. How do I bring this up..

He leaned forwards. "Well.."

I panicked. "I guess it's the season of competitions. I entered one as well."

He stood there confused and obviously caught off guard. "What kind of competition? You didn't say anything."

Um... "Well I didn't know if we would get in, but we did and.."

"Wait, Francy start from the top. I haven't slept properly in few days, I'm a bit slow today."

I inhaled. "Okay so. Remi and I had an idea for the perfect aesthetic project and we sent a pitch to a world-famous magazine that organized a competition of that sort. We got accepted and they will fund our project."

Elric's face broke into a wide grin and he suddenly swept me off my feet and spun me in a hug. "That is great, baby. I'm so proud of you."

I smiled. "You're proud of me?"

"Yes. Absolutely. That is amazing.. You're amazing. You're gonna be an international star."

A wave of satisfaction and pride washed over me. "You really think so?"

He smiled. "I know so. Why were you worried to tell me?" He asked.

Right. That part.

"Well, the idea was to go to the house we own in the country and redecorate it. The magazine approved the idea but since we only have two months for the project they want us to live there in order to get the best results. And these people are professionals that pay and give advice for best possible results." I paused. "They want us to live there. For two months."

Elric stood there frozen. "Two months? When?"

"This summer."

He couldn't say a word.

"Uh but don't worry." I raised my hands to comfort him. "As much of an honor this is we're not gonna go. Remi doesn't want to leave Kai and I want to use every free moment I have with you. You're already busy as it is and what would happen to our relationship if we both are too busy to make it work." I took his hand. "I want to be with you."

He had a complicated look in his face. Was he annoyed? Worried? Relieved?

"I .. uh. Wait.." He used his free hand to rub his eyes and then sighed. "Baby I think you got this all wrong."

"Hm?"

"I'm so glad you want to make this work and think of me, but my god, if you feel like this relationship will fall apart if we're both busy, then I'm probably not that good of a boyfriend."

"No." I stopped him. "You're.."

He held my chin. "I don't want you to just dream. I want you to go all out on this competition and bring me a win cause you're more than capable of doing it."

I bit my lower lip. "But I have to leave for two months. How will we make this work if we're both so far apart and busy?"

He let go of my chin and hugged me. "You did so much to support me so allow me to support you now. I'll figure out a way to make this work for both of us."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "But I'll miss you too much."

He kissed my neck, my cheek and worked his way to my lips. "By the time you blink we'll be back together, you'll see. I plan on being with you for a long time and we'll have to deal with unexpected stuff."

I smiled. "Hearing you say that we'll be together for a long time make me feel at ease."

He pressed a kiss on my lips. "So when do you plan on going? After your birthday I hope?"

I shrugged. "Remi just canceled on me cause Kai asked her to stay and she doesn't want to leave him like that. So I don't know if we're even going to go."

He grinned. "You deal with Remi and make a plan. I will deal with your brother."

"You will?" I smirked. "How?"

"I got my ways. I mean aren't I, his future older brother in law."

I smiled. Well, when he puts it like that I have nothing to worry about.

****

Francy's p.o.v

"I'm so happy for you." Ace hugged me. "Why didn't you tell anyone you applied?"

I pulled away the hug smiling. "Well...I wasn't sure I will get in the competition."

"We need to celebrate this. I'm staying here tonight." He brought out his wallet. "My treat. Let's go and buy some celebratory food and drinks."

"On you?" I gasped excitedly. "Are you sure? What if I want cake and champagne?"

"Champagne?" He raised his eyebrow.

"We won't tell mom and dad won't we. I'm going to be 18 soon. I at least want some champagne." I smiled.

He nodded. "Okay okay. Like I said it's on me." He then stroked my hair worriedly. "Don't tell mom and dad tho. Promise me."

I nodded my head confused. "I promise."

He just put a hand around my shoulder. " So, what kind of cake do you want? Should we go and pick?

I jumped and hugged him. "Oh thank you brother thank you. Let me just get my things and we'll go."

Lucy's p.o.v

Once Francy was gone Ace turned towards me. "You're fine with this?"

"I have to be." I crossed my arms. "It's only for two months. I can hold out. I think."

"It's still two months?" Ace sighs. "If I were in your shoes I doubt I'd have the will to let my girlfriend go."

I shook my head. "Two months will go by in a blink. And I want Francy to be happy so I'll deal with it."

Ace gave me a look raising his brow.

"Don't say a word..I'm trying not to talk myself out of it. Not to mention I have to change Kai's mind as well."

"Kai?"

"Yes. Francy didn't tell you that Kai doesn't want Remi to go. Remi naturally said she won't go because of it. If I get Kai to change his mind then they can go and incidents will be avoided."

Francy walked back into the room dressed and ready to go. "I'm ready."

"I don't want to be here when you try it. Good luck." Ace waved and pushed Francy to walk faster. "See you later."

I sat down on the couch and pulled out my phone texting Kai to come down and keep me company.

Next chapter coming tomorrow. ❤