3rd August 2019

RENEE

As our bubble landed on the frosty ground, Shay stood there, her pale blond hair fluttering like a flag in the wind. She was dressed in flowy white robes, and I realised that she was in her higher form as a Spirit Guide.

She threw a sceptical look at the Portal Bubble where Mike and his gang tumbled out. Opening her mouth and closing it quickly, she swallowed her usual sarcastic insult like a bitter pill.

"Hey, you guys," She tried to sound cheerful. "Renee, I thought it was going to be just you and Clover."

My reply was cut off by Mike and his friends loudly laughing at what was probably the lamest joke in the world.

I glanced back at Shay who looked exasperated, if not slightly pained.

"These people were trapped by Sir Johannes, and I just rescued them. They're going to be here until they find a way to get back into their bodies." I explained.

"Sir Johannes?" Shay nearly gasped. "These people worked with him?"

"No, they were possessed by him. He wanted to destroy our souls, but we managed to escape before that."

Shay still looked frightened, but she didn't say anything. She snapped her fingers and two Spirits appeared, looking expectantly at Shay.

"Renee, this is Matt and Kyle. They will guide your friends to a safe place," She explained, before turning to them. "The Apartment, you guys."

"Okay, Shay," They replied in a sing-song voice, probably mocking her.

Shay rolled her eyes, but she looked visibly relaxed around them. I could see why these guys seemed as chill as Noah did.

"Where are we going?" I asked Shay, as Matt and Kyle introduced themselves to the LOLtube gang.

"To see Noah," She replied, just gesturing me to follow her. I waved goodbye to Clover who looked slightly suspicious to see Shay with me but shrugged it off anyway.

"Noah told me what happened," Shay said after a while, as we trudged down a narrow path. "He's been crying for hours."

My heart constricted at her words and I stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

"What Noah did was wrong, he shouldn't have confessed right when you were trying to reach the White Realm," She spoke softly, a contrast to her usual harsh tone. "But, trust me, he meant every bit of it. He has fallen too hard for you."

I just walked behind her, choosing not to answer.

I always thought that what I felt for Noah wasn't love, but rather just teenage infatuation. I never felt as though I'd grown enough to experience love, and even two days ago when Noah told me the words, I wasn't ready to tell it back.

My transformation was the first thing that made me realise that maybe my feelings ran deeper than what I thought. And as I travelled solo for sixteen hours straight, every little thought reminded me of him.

It was as though I'd made my world revolve around him.

It scared me, honestly, because I used to be so sure that I wouldn't get sucked into a serious relationship like that. I was Renee Durvont, and I thought I would spend the rest of my life with my mechanical cats.

Then Noah came into my life and changed everything for the better.

Shay led me into a cave-like enclosure, possibly the slimy cave Noah had been complaining about. We entered a clearing and I saw Noah in a Portal Bubble, sleeping peacefully.

Spirits never slept.

As the bubble dissolved, Noah woke up again, looking confused for a moment before his eyes landed on Shay, throwing her a glare.

"Noah, you can come out..."

"I don't want to talk to you, backstabber," He spat out furiously.

"I didn't want you to create more problems!" Shay argued. "See, Renee is fine now!"

He looked at her questioningly, before I stepped forwards, immediately feeling his burning gaze upon mine.

I love you.

I couldn't look up, not when he was staring at me like that, with so much intensity that it hurt.

"Renee," His voice sounded hollow.

"I'll leave you two to reconcile," Shay muttered, giving us much needed privacy.

I swallowed, unable to dissolve that lump in my throat, feeling my chest tighten as he walked closer.

But not close enough. He stood at least two feet away from me, watching me tentatively like I would explode any minute.

I don't blame him. I did go into a rage before I left for the White Realm.

Does he think that I'm still angry with him?

I looked up to see Noah avert his gaze, looking very interested in a stalactite above my head.

"Noah, look at me," I spoke telepathically since my throat felt non-functional at the moment.

"Ren," He replied, finally meeting my eyes, his ocean blue ones brimming with guilt and shame.

And that's what pained me, seeing him like that, like he'd made some irrevocable mistake that I couldn't forgive him for.

"I'm so so sorry," Noah cleared his throat and spoke out aloud. "I shouldn't have confessed, I shouldn't have stopped you from reaching the White Realm -"

"You were just worried about me," I reasoned. "Noah, I overreacted, I was being unreasonable."

"You transformed involuntarily. That isn't overreacting, only pure and powerful emotions make you ascend like that..." He corrected, looking deeper into my eyes.

"My love was real, my rage wasn't," I told him, feeling my heart hammering in my chest.

He looked away at the mention of 'love', his cheeks flushed red.

"Ren, you don't have to say it back... Unless you mean it," He mumbled awkwardly. "I don't even know what I was thinking, I complicated everything..."

"Do you regret confessing to me?" I looked straight at him, and Noah stopped fidgeting.

"What? No! I just... It wasn't the right time or place... And I didn't want to do it through telepathy," He was looking at his sneakers, blushing profusely.

"You've been meaning to tell me this for days, haven't you?" I said, discretely moving closer so that Noah didn't notice.

"Yeah," He sighed, still looking at the ground.

"You wanted to hold my hands," I said, grasping my palms in his, "And look into my eyes," I looked up, and saw his blue eyes watching me with shock.

I could get lost into those brilliantly blue eyes, that soft, vulnerable gaze, trembling as I moved closer and closer to him.

"I love you, Noah Stark," I whispered, as he placed his forehead on mine. "I always will."

His face cracked into a small smile, before he closed his eyes, making a single tear roll down his left cheek.

"Is this how you wanted it to be? Your confession?" I asked as I gently squeezed his hand.

"Yeah, but this was way better," He opened his eyes again, "So much better."

I let go of his hand, only to wipe the stray tear. And that's when he whispered it back.

"I love you, Renee Durvont. I always will."

I must've smiled a million times in my life, but this smile, right here with Noah: I would remember this for eternity.

*****

Thirty minutes later, we found ourselves with Shay, who was giving us a tour around the Headquarters of the Astrascends.

"This is the Launchpad," Shay announced, leading us into a huge crater the size of a football stadium. It was filled with twenty Portal Makers, and Spirits all lined up, ready to step into the Portal and ascend through Realms.

In a way, it was a beautiful sight. Everything glowed, arranged uniformly, waiting for the signal. I noticed that Shay didn't look weary anymore, instead, she strutted like an army officer watching her troops prepare for battle.

"This batch will go to the After Realm," She told me and Noah. "And the one scheduled four hours later, they've already been to the After Realm, so they'll be heading over to the White Realm."

"How many people per bubble?" Noah asked.

"Three per bubble for After Realm, and one per bubble for white Realm," She answered. "We preferred it that way because they need that alone time to retrospect."

I thought about my alone time, crying and overthinking for sixteen hours straight.

I saw Noah clench his jaw, absorbing his surroundings like a hawk. Despite Shay giving us a tour of the place, and treating us nicely, he looked like he was treading on enemy ground.

"So, do they know that if they go to the White Realm, they're meant to stay forever?" I asked.

Shay laughed. "They're better prepared than you, Renee. And yes, we only send the ones who intend to join the Enlightened. The remaining work in the After Realm." She explained.

"Where's Isaac?" Noah questioned, as he eyed a building on top, something that looked like an office.

"He only visits when he can, he is a part of the Enlightened after all," Shay answered, shrugging casually. "That's why he's left me in charge of the Astrascends."

"That sounds dangerous," Noah muttered. "How are you holding off the ISA?"

"We are well guarded. And it's not just by a Shield," Shay explained. "For example, you cannot reach the headquarters until you've been invited by Isaac or me."

"What if someone betrays you?" Noah questioned.

Shay smiled. "Isaac knows who would betray us, and who wouldn't... He's all-knowing, isn't he?"

I nodded. "That explains everything."

Noah didn't reply, now frowning at the ground, deep in thought. Something seemed to be bothering him, but I didn't ask him, not when Shay was around.

Very soon, Shay led us to a huge, multi-storeyed building, with Spirits buzzing in and out. It seemed that the very life of the Astrascends was concentrated here, and Shay's grin widened as she walked closer.

"This is the Apartment," She crossed her arms, looking smug again. "This is where the Spirits stay before they ascend."

"Is this where my friends are?" I asked Shay.

"Yeah, they're on floor three-hundred and eighty-seven. Door number 24," She answered swiftly.

"Thanks," I answered, as she handed me a key to the apartment.

"Isaac wants to meet up with you guys, probably tomorrow," Shay informed. "So just stay here until then, I guess."

"Goodbye Shay," Noah said, his smile forced. "I guess we should be on our way."

And before she could say anything, he steered me towards the main lobby, heading straight to the lift.

*****

"Renee! You're here!"

Clover crushed me into a hug, looking like she was having the time of her life. Behind her, Mike grinned at me, eating a large sandwich.

"Yeah, Shay told us the way here," I answered, and only now did Clover notice Noah behind me.

"Ren! You didn't tell me he was coming," She smiled up at Noah. "I'm so glad to meet you, Noah!"

"Me too, Clover," He grinned, looking as excited as she was.

"Noah?" Mike questioned, "Noah who?"

Clover sent him a look, and Mike was immediately struck with realisation. I suppose Clover must've told him about us.

"Hi Mike," Noah walked forwards, extending his hand. "I'm Noah, Renee's boyfriend."

Mike took his hand, but he didn't look too happy. I wondered if he was going to go into an 'over-protective brother' mode and if I had to warn Noah about it.

"So, you're a Spirit..." Mike paused.

"Yup," Noah smiled. "I used to be a Spirit Guide, but now I'm a higher Spirit."

"And you're dating my sister," Mike nodded towards me.

"Yeah, I am," Noah answered cheerfully.

"You live in different worlds," Mike pointed out, "And the ISA is hunting you two down."

I knew what Mike was getting at. His concerns were real, but I could take care of myself.

Right?

Noah smiled at Mike like he wasn't affected by the question like I was.

"It's like the whole universe is conspiring against us, isn't it?" He chuckled.

"Noah, this isn't a joke," Mike frowned.

"And neither is our relationship," Noah answered firmly. "Maybe I've made a million mistakes, but this isn't one of them. Trust me, Mike, I care about Renee as much as you do. Hurting her is the last thing on my mind."

"That was so beautiful!" Clover cried out after a moment. "Noah, I didn't know you were this intense guy."

"I didn't either," Noah smiled sheepishly at me before I gave him a one-armed hug.

Mike just nodded, but I could see that he was impressed with the answer. He wasn't going to let his guard down that soon, but the fact that he accepted us made me happier than anything.

"Watch out, guys!" Yelled Simon.

"Flying carpet coming through!" Daisy screamed gleefully, as they whooshed past us on what appeared to be a drab grey carpet.

"Wait, Renee's here too," Violet shouted. "Turn around, turn around!"

They stopped in front of us, all of them greeting me warmly, and asking me if I wanted to ride the carpet.

"The possibilities here are endless," Simon grinned, patting the carpet as if it were a pet. "We just need to imagine it, and it happens."

"This is so cool," Noah looked amazed. "This is exactly what the Spirit Realm needs, more fun and happiness."

Within the blink of an eye, there stood another carpet waiting for us, with Clover sitting on top of it, ready to steer it.

"So, who wants to go on a flying carpet with me?" She questioned.

And that's when I knew that the next few days were going to be amazing.

*****

(A/N : I'm really sorry for the late update you guys! However, here's the good news, I'll be updating more frequently this week, so watch out for the random updates!)