26th November 2019

CLOVER

Mike swiftly slipped a blindfold over my eyes before I could see where we were going.

"Ah Clovie, no peeking," He sang out, his voice brimming with excitement. "It's a surprise!"

"Not even a little peek?" I tried again, my fingers curling around his wrist. "Please, Mikey?"

"Haha, nice try, but I'm not caving in this time," He laughed out, before whispering into my ear. "For one thing Cloves, I can't see your puppy eyes."

I grunted in annoyance, knowing that he was fully immune to me right now.

Everything had elapsed when I'd been sitting in the Realm of Noah, hearing my friends talking about Chantelle. That's when I'd been sucked into a spontaneous dream, with Mike at the end of it, waiting to engulf me in his warm hugs.

We'd talked. We'd kissed. We'd exchanged stories about our lives apart. We'd floated on clouds in a sea of sunset, admiring Mike's architecture of my dream. And just as I was about to comment something clever, he'd conjured a blindfold, claiming that he had a surprise for me.

"Aren't you going to give me a hint?" I asked him, hoping to uncover what it was.

"Well, that would spoil the surprise, wouldn't it?" He chuckled.

"No, it wouldn't," I argued.

"Yes, it would!"

"No, it-"

"Oh wait... We're here," Mike told me, sounding slightly stunned, "I didn't notice."

I could feel Mike's hands at the back of my head, removing the silky blindfold and turned me towards whatever the surprise was.

I opened my eyes, nearly gasping at the sight before me.

Mike and I were standing in the headquarters of the Astrascends, looking through the clear glass panels into a humungous lawn. I knew that it was called the Launchpad, the place where Spirits lined up to ascend into the Realms above.

Right now, hundreds of Spirits were standing solemnly upon the lawn as if they were awaiting a signal. Iridescent silvery globules glittered before each of them, glowing under the starlight in a mesmerizing manner.

"Welcome to the Astrascends, Clovie," Mike grinned, as we settled down upon a couch that adjoined the window. "I bet you've never seen them Ascend before."

"How are we here, within seconds?" I gaped at Mike. "Doesn't it take at least fifteen minutes by the Portal Bubble?"

"Well, let's just say that I have contacts," He gave me a secretive wink. "Being the Head of the Astrascends does give you power-"

"Give you power?" Came a voice from the doorway. "If Clover knew how much you had to beg me-"

Shay stood there, her arms crossed as she glared at Mike. Her white-blonde hair was now in a braid, falling onto her shoulder and reaching up to her mid-thigh, reminding me of an angry Rapunzel.

"Excusez-moi?" Mike turned around immediately, mustering his best glare towards Shay. "Beg you? Shay Williams, you owed me a favour!"

"Anyone would've yelled at Isaac," Shay rolled her eyes. "Durvont, you should've used your human skills and given him a black eye, to say the very least."

"Well, I don't go around punching people," Mike retorted. "What makes you think I'm a bully like you, Williams?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot that you don't pick people your size!" Shay guffawed, turning towards me. "Clover, did you know that he stole chocolate from that Spirit kid yesterday?"

"I'm not surprised," I giggled. "Mike is a kid stuck in the body of a teenager."

"Exactly!" Mike gave me a sideways hug. "Clovie understands my needs!"

"Your Clovie is laughing at you," Shay pointed out with a smirk.

"Go get a life, Shay!"

"I'm part Enlightened, I don't have a life!" Shay argued. "Get your facts checked, Durvont!"

"You're a what now?" I asked just as Mike opened his mouth to yell. "Is that even a thing?"

"Well, I didn't know until I became one," Shay shrugged. "You see, it was Isaac's power, but somehow it latched onto me."

My head filled with questions at her words. But Shay looked too morose all of a sudden, and I realised that it wasn't something she wanted to talk about.

Seemed like Mike had noticed it too.

"Well, I'd really enjoy going into the details," Mike broke our silence, "But I think they're going to Ascend."

Shay walked up to the glass panel, her face brightening instantly. I followed her line of sight to see her watching Violet upon the stage, who was now going to address the audience.

"I'm gonna go," Shay said, turning towards us with a smile. "Enjoy the solitude, you love-birds!"

And with the snap of her fingers, Shay vanished instantly, only to reappear on the stage a few seconds later.

We glanced out of the window, noticing that the Spirits were now inside their own glowing Portal Bubble. They looked like fancy Spirit lightbulbs, glowing enchantingly in the twilight.

"It's so pretty," I let out a breath, leaning against the glass panel. My breath didn't fog up the grass, suddenly reminding me that I wasn't a Spirit.

"But not as pretty as you," Mike replied smoothly, his eyes staring at me with all the intensity in the world.

I looked at him, knowing that tears were blurring up my vision. I couldn't believe that I was here again, right next to Mike and watching the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

It overwhelmed me like never before.

"Shh, it's okay, Clovie," He whispered. "I know that my pick-up lines are cringe, you don't need to cry for that."

A laugh escaped my lips, a happy thing that choked its way out of me.

"I was so worried that you wouldn't like it," He muttered, looking relieved at my expression. "I've always wanted to watch the Ascension with you, Clover. It reminded me of the huge distance between us, and I'd sometimes wonder if I would ever see you again."

"I wondered that too," I admitted, looking up into his warm brown eyes. "If there was ever a future for us."

"We're like Ren and Noah," He pointed out. "We just need to meet up as often as possible. It's going to be hard, but we'd have to get used to it."

Like Ren and Noah.

Who were now in the Earthly Realm, as humans.

I stared at Mike, but my mind had suddenly come up with the best idea ever. He raised his eyebrows in concern as my smile grew wider, making me look almost creepy.

"Um, Clovie?" He ventured nervously.

"Mikey!" I laughed at him. "You don't have to stay a Spirit... Noah knows how to turn you into a human!"

Mike blinked once. Twice. Thrice.

Then his jaw dropped.

"OMG, are you serious?" His voice had dropped an octave. "Like an actual, living breathing human?"

"Yes!" I squealed in excitement. "Oh, you can see Ren! And your parents! And you could take over LOLtube again!"

His mouth still hung open, his eyes widening at all the possibilities.

"How?" He croaked as he finally managed to speak. "How did Noah do that?"

"Well, he made a permanent Realm in the Earthly Realm, and with that, he made himself a human body," I blabbered. "It's so easy Mikey, you'll have a body within a day."

"Wow," Mike let out, looking impressed. "Do you think he'd create a body for me?"

"Why wouldn't he? Especially when he made one for Johannes," I told him.

"One for Johannes?" His smile vanished instantly. "You mean Sir Johannes, the guy who possessed and murdered me?"

"Yeah..." I froze, my eyes widening in realisation.

Mike sat still, his eyes focused on a faraway peak of the icy mountains. I immediately regretted blurting out the words, knowing that there was a ninety-nine per cent chance that Mike wouldn't see the situation for what it was.

I mean, how could he?

Johannes had possessed him without his knowledge for months. And when the truth had come to light, he'd fled, after heartlessly murdering Mike. To add to his list of tortures, Johannes had stabbed me and nearly tricked Ren into becoming his partner before attempting to strike us down with a bolt of lightning.

And he dared to scream that he was innocent when his crimes had been brought to light.

The man was nothing short of a snake.

"Why in the world would Noah-" Mike glanced at the ceiling as if he were referring to heaven, "Create a body for the most despicable person I've ever met?"

He glanced at the floor as if Johannes was sitting upon it and glaring at him.

"Mikey, he didn't have a choice-"

"Is Noah possessed?" Mike looked at me in alarm.

"No!" I replied quickly.

"Are you sure?" He repeated, his eyes wide. "You could never make out that I was possessed..."

"Noah Stark is a higher Spirit," I explained, even if the doubt lingered in my head. "I think he'd know if he were possessed. Besides, he only struck a deal with Johannes-"

"That's even worse!" Mike smacked his head. "My sister is doomed!"

"Mikey-"

"Cloves, we need to get to Ren immediately," Mike looked urgent. "She can't be hanging around with Noah, especially when Johannes is nearby... Who knows what he could be scheming next?"

"But-"

"No buts!" He stood up. "Clovie, once the ascension is over, we are heading over to Ren and warning her against Noah-"

"Noah isn't dangerous-"

"Yet!" Mike emphasised. "Poor guy, he's already been through so much, only for him to fall into trouble again... But again, I always knew that his brashness would lead to something like this."

"Mike, stop." I stood up too. "I have a feeling Shay would know, she's part-Enlightened, isn't she? If it were a problem, I think she'd have tried to contact Noah before things got worse."

Mike bit his lip. I had a feeling that he was contemplating if he could trust Shay or not.

"Just think about it," I said again. "If anyone needs to be warned, it's Noah. And I think Shay can do that pretty well."

Mike looked away from me, seemingly deflated. I could see his concern for Ren, his strong urge to ensure that no one had to go through what he did, and I couldn't help falling in love with him all over again.

"It's okay," I whispered, entwining my fingers through his. "They're so happy that they're finally together."

Mike simply shook his head.

"I hate saying this," He heaved a sigh. "But nothing involving Johannes ever lasts."

"Maybe they'll be an exception," I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I really hope so, Clovie. God, they could use the peace while it lasts," He sighed.

I cast a glance around the empty headquarters, glad for the privacy. We were at the glass windows now, with a full view of the Launchpad and the dusky sky of the Before Realm. I could see the snowy mountains in the distance, suddenly realising that the Astrascends were located in a valley among the mountains.

"So, you don't want to be a human?" I asked him.

"Not until I know every single detail about what I'm getting into," He told me cautiously. "Besides, the Astrascends is my home now. They're like the family I've always wanted."

"What about me?" I raised an eyebrow, hiding my smirk.

Mike stared at me, his cheeks glowing pink as he threw me a shy grin.

"I have an answer for that," He whispered. "But it's too cheesy."

"I like cheesy," I leaned closer, eagerly.

"I want you to be my forever," His voice was barely audible. "There are days I've imagined us living together, buying a house, raising kids, growing old-

I closed my eyes, trying to control my happy tears.

"I know that it's scary. I don't even know if we'd be lucky enough to live in the same Realm. But fate owes me for ending my life this quickly, and I can't help but hope that it owes me a life with you."

"Oh, Mike-"

"We don't have to think about this now, Clovie. We don't have to have this conversation if you don't want to."

"But I want to have this conversation!" I interrupted. "I want a life with you too!"

He watched me, first stunned, then elation spread over his handsome features, from his carved cheekbones to the chiselled dimples at his mouth. His eyes looked golden in the light, just like the streaks of hair that crossed his eyebrows.

"Really?" That was all that he'd managed to say.

In response, I kissed him.

I could feel how vulnerable he felt. How his heart danced in his chest, right next to mine. How our mouths moved in rhythm to the heartbeat, as his fingers caught my curls and my hand against his chest. How this was everything I wanted, and how I wished it would last forever.

"Five..." Boomed the loud voice through the speakers, breaking our kiss. Mike glanced outside the glass panel, noticing that the countdown for the Ascension had begun.

"They're ascending to the White Realm, its a seventeen-hour trip," Mike explained as my gaze fell onto the magical sight before me.

"Four!" Announced the voice. "Three!"

"I've never seen this before," I told him, elated. "I never knew that Ascension could look so beautiful."

"And romantic," Mike rested his chin upon my shoulder. "Not to mention the fact that we've got the best seats."

"Two!" They called out, extra loud. Mike slipped his hand into mine, clutching tightly.

"One!"

The Portal Bubbles rose into the dusky sky, the burnished hues of the horizon adding brilliance to the gilded globules. I watched the sight with bated breath, too afraid to blink for the fear of missing even a second of this mesmerizing sight. Below in the Launchpad, every Spirit cheered in success, knowing that taking up the journey was a victory in itself.

"This was... Wow," I sighed deeply.

Mike beamed at me, the warm crinkles around his eyes melting into his pale skin. There was something incredible about the way he looked at me, something that stirred emotions I hadn't felt before.

He wanted to be my forever.

Mine.

For eternity.

"Just wow?" He lifted a shoulder.

I smiled back at him, before unleashing my inner cheesiness.

"Because nothing 'wows' me as much as you," I smirked.

*****

(A/N : Hey Guys! I hope you're all okay!
I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to update once a week. It's been really hectic, and I've also had a huge writer's block with this chapter. It's no wonder, since it's been eight months since I've written Clover's pov.)