Amber Mikelson

Five days, five days were left for the stupid Carnival. But that was not my biggest worry. My biggest worry walked in the cafe with an alarm like bell on the door. Earlier I thought Ian was brooding and dark, definitely good looking but now since I have seen him in my dreams I saw him in a different light.

For the first time in ten years I can remember a dream.

I was trying to pick up a knife but my hands trembled. In front of me was a girl with heavy head injury, another boy lay in the dark lifeless. I choke on my saliva as I noticed a tall silhouette walk towards me. The knife clatter to the ground with too much noise as the tall shadow hit my hand and I bite my lips to prevent the scream.

I do not want to give him the satisfaction.

"You are so fucking powerless." The voice snarled and it vibrated like it was not someone human talking.

I tried to cover my ears blocking his voice, accidently whimpering in the process. This made him laugh and he touched the tip of the knife to my hand. I embrace myself for the pain, the knife scratch through the skin to the veins and warm liquid to trickle both from my injury and my eyes.

But before that fire engulfed me, not burning or hurting fire, fire like warmth that make me gasp in relief. My body that was left energy less warmth surged through it as my assailant was thrown to the wall at my sides. Something broke as he hit the wall.

My saviour sat down on his knees cradling me carefully, his hands running down my hair. His each movement was working its magic on me, as it lit the fire of comfort in my otherwise hurt and cold body.

"It will be fine. I am here now." He whispered in a tone so gentle yet supportive that I felt my heart enjoy each beat.

And then he lifted my face to his with a slight touch of his calloused fingered to my chin. My eyes met his amber ones , Laserian O' Fearghaile sat there protecting me like a shield from everything bad in this world!

****

The dream was surreal to say the least but by the care filled eyes of Ian I knew it was anything but real. It left me perplexed as to how and why was I dreaming of Laserian.

It was not like I was infatuated. I agree he is damn attractive and all but his moody behaviour with me was not doing any good with his reputation .

"My usual." He said resting his elbow on the wooden counter and looking straight at me.

The look was accompanied by his usual frown.

I nodded and left to get his Butterscotch Latte.

"Amber." He said my name like a whisper and had I not been hyper alert to his every word and action I would have missed it.

"Yes." I answered placing his coffee in front of him.

Amber, my name was just a name but when he said it , it sounded like a melody. Maybe because he was such a good singer!

"Umm, So..have you heard about the carnival?" He asked in a real awkward tone.

And...enter Mr. Blush!

"Yeah I am writing a report for the newspaper team for that day. And I heard you are performing." I said trying to be as calm as possible when I am around him.

"What report?" He asked genuinely curious about it.

Not even my own family was ever interested in my work but he wanted to know, why?

"About something special in the town to celebrate the carnival. I heard you have a concert?" I asked excited to see him sing again.

"Yes, we have a performance. So what special have you found about the town till now?" He said still persistent on knowing about my work.

His behaviour was confusing me, well...when did it not?

"Well, it's an artist rendition that will be shared at the right time." I answered proud of my witty reply.

And notice a slight quirk of his lips.

"Okay I will give you five questions deal if you tell me about your project." He said with that quirk persistent on his lips making my heart beat faster and louder.

It was my natural behaviour around him, whacko heart beat, blushing cheeks, lip biting, curling and uncurling my fingers. Who was I fooling, I am clearly infatuated.

"Deal." I said obviously wanting to ask him five questions.

He nodded and left with the cup of coffee. And I counted even the seconds till my shift ended.

***

As my shift ended I walked to him, I noticed he was busy writing something in his song diary. My eyes noticed him writing very seriously, with a crease between his forehead. I noticed him shaking one of his legs as he worked.

Maybe I was staring like a hawk because he sensed my gaze soon enough and looked up with an arched brow.

"I thought I might disrupt the flow of thoughts. I hate when people interrupt me during writing." I explained my stupid behaviour.

He nodded and got up picking up all his stuff. We went outside silent all this while.

I prepared a mini-list in my head for the questions I wanted to ask.

"Okay." I said breaking the silence and in an attempt to gain highness' attention.

But when I turned to look at him, he was already looking at me.

I decided to ignore the pure coincidence.

"Favourite colour?" I asked giving him a sweet smile.

He shook his head, clearly amused, "Really?"

I nodded like a little kid.

"Hazel green."

If he had said it even without looking straight into my eyes I would have blushed but he said it looking deeply into my hazel green eyes and I felt a delicious curl in my stomach.

I blinked and looked away.

"My mother had hazel green eyes." He said explaining his choice.

I should have felt deflated but I felt really proud and warm inside, he loved his mother, very much.

I nodded and gave him a consoling smile having no damn idea what to say.

"Your happiest memory?" I said remembering his second question.

"Not a one I could remember." He said it in a real disconcerting way, like he didn't care but it hurt like hell.

I felt a pang of hurt in me and I closed the distance between. Before I could think straight and be scared of him. My hands gripped his palm. My gesture surprised him as much as it did me. But I gave him a reassuring squeeze.

And this time the stiff guy beside me turned to look at me with a frown that yelled confusion. Why was he confused that I would try to support or help him?

"Don't be a sexist Ian, girls can be brave and supportive too." I said indignantly, all this while the electricity buzzing through me from the point i touched him.

Did he feel this? His face was passive as he was over the shock now. And thankfully he didn't push me away. Taking it as a free pass I edged closer to his warm being, giddiness washing over me.

He rolled his eyes at my sexist comment and chuckled. The sound itself made me happy. God I had it so bad when it came to Ian.

"My favourite animal is Panther as well." He said before I could ask.

And automatically my hand rose in a high five. It was something me and Candice did when we liked same things.

He gave me a dry look and I immediately put my hand down, a little embarrassed.

"And my favourite Hood member is also Marc." He said answering another question.

"Of course he is, he is your best friend and tolerate you." I teased and checked to see if he was annoyed by my statement.

"True, he tolerates me more than he should." Ian said surprising me with that adorable and at the same time sexy grin.

Should I tell him, he was my favourite Hood?

"You have one question left." He offered nicely.

"Umm.." I thought gravely so that I can ask something important.

The dream flashed before my eyes , Laserian and his amber eyes, he hugging me, consoling me, protecting me.

"Your ideal type of girl." I blurted out the question.

Real smooth Amber, real smooth!

His eyebrows cocked at my question and I am sure I turned into a walking tomato.

"Someone simple, loves animal, likes to read and accept me for who I am." He explained carefully avoiding looking at me.

With each quality my heart drummed louder and some heavy weight fell into my stomach. I was really close to his ideal type!

Day dreaming much Amber?

What the hell was I thinking, he doesn't even consider me friend.

"Now my turn Amber." He said with a strange glint in his eyes like he had a plan in mind.

"No, not so early, I never asked the questions you answered yourself." I played dirty.

So, yeah, I did, big deal!

"Do you always cheat Mikelson?" He said not annoyed at my childish behaviour.

Today was my lucky day.

"One question." He said with a final tone.

"Only one?" I asked with my puppy dog eyes.

My father said I looked really like an innocent puppy while doing that so I tried melting his heart.

Shockingly he groaned instead of glaring at me for doing all this.

"Amber Mikelson, One question means one question. Don't play dirty with those eyes." He said the words with genuine frustration.

I took a sharp breath as he said those words, Laserian the great was affected by my gullible eyed look? I must be really good at this. It was an achievement in itself to make the Ice Prince respond let alone melt at anyone.

I pouted and said, "Fine one."

He sighed naturally relieved.

"Why did you tell me to call you Ian when even Marc calls you Laser?" I asked.

The air around became heavy with tension. I felt apprehensive. What if I just offended him? So what if I had, he had done it zillion times.

But now we were atleast cordial towards each other.

"Because I wanted to." He said those words simply, plainly without any emotion.

He was looking straight ahead but my eyes were set on his sharp jawline.

Because he wanted to?

He wanted to tell me the name not even his best friend knew, his parents called him.

"By the way I like your name, it sounds..regal." I said trying to make my wild heart calm and ease the awkward situation.

"Thank you." He answered curtly with a gentle smile.

I realised I really, really liked Mr. Ice Prince smile.

"Now can I get my answers?" He asked with amused look.

He did really want to know about my project, I had no idea why but this made me happy.

I nodded and explained all about my work. He listened intently and nodded from time to time. I didn't mention about Vertians in my explanation.

"So you are still one place short." He asked thinking intently.

"Yes." I answered not sure where this talk was leading.

"And what is the fourth thing you told me about some forest path? How did you find it?" He asked with a frown.

His words sounded like a silent challenge.

"I was walking alone yesterday, I mean with my dog and he smelled something interesting and made straight beeline for the path. That's how I noticed that it was illuminated by moon in a peculiar and beautiful way." The lie came out smoothly and I breathe a sigh of relief.

He nodded with a calm look on his face.

"I know of a place that can help you." He said raking his fingers through his silk like hair.

His gestured made clear that he was nervous, nervous on telling me about something, nervous of helping someone. This made my heart go soft for him.

"When can you take me there?" I asked playing the dice, taking a chance.

He frowned lightly.

"Why will I take you, I can just tell you and you find it yourself." He said in a gruff tone.

I was getting use to his dual, Jekyll Hyde personality.

"No, you will take me there. I have no idea of the town whatsoever and I don't need half ass help. You are coming with me...or....or... I-I will not make you coffee anymore." I said giving him the lamest possible threat.

I thought he will glare, curse and walk away or just laugh
(that was long shot). But he closed his eyes, pinching the bridge between the nose he inhaled sharply.

"Fine, I will take you there. Meet me tomorrow after office, take your day off from Liquid Heaven." He said in a authoritative voice.

I opened my mouth to say something but he stopped me, "I will tell Marc about the day off and no nothing will be deducted."

I sighed in relief.

If someone told me Laserian , now Ian for me would help me I would have laughed and made fun of the whole situation but when it was happening all I could do was...feel infatuated. I mean who doesn't, when an ice Prince turns nice for you.

And by that I do not mean he turns nice for me, opposite might be true though. He hates me more than anyone else around.

"Do you like my coffee that much?" I asked trying to hide the surprise and curiosity in my tone but failed.

He looked at me, amusement dancing in those out worldly gorgeous amber eyes.

"What can I say? It is like energy shot." He said genuinely.

I was surprisingly happy like a kid with presents on Christmas when Ian asked to help me. And I was relieved that my project would be done..but most of all I was thinking..was this a date?

Surely not for Mr. Loner, but for me this was worth a shot!

I wanted to see what an artist like Laserian O'Fearghaile considered beautiful enough to share it with me.

"Good Night Amber." He said now releasing my hand.

All this while we were walking I held his hand and he never once pushed it away. It was like a natural thing, like my hand was made to fit into his.

"Good Night Ian." I said smiling at him with all my heart.

He turned around with a pensive look on his face but as I was about to enter the house, I heard his melodious voice call out to me, "I also have a tattoo Mikelson.

I turned sharply with my jaw hitting the ground probably.

But he was too far to be interrogated about the tattoo now. I hurried up after greeting my parents. I had so much to tell Panther today!

Yeah, I know not much happened but I wanted you guys to see their relationship develop as Laserian is such a 'ice prince'...see even I call him Laserian . Ian is just Amber's right ;)

Hope you like this one!

And I have few chapters planned ahead, so I can write as much as possible before Camp Nano, anyone else participating! :)

Ask me any doubts you have regarding story! I might answer if its not too 'spoiler' type XD

Info  people:  There is a third part of Can you series as you might have noticed on my profile..or not (hehe)

1. Can you see me?

2. Can you save me?

3. Can you love me?

And that will be end of Can you Triology...Weekend helped me think a plotline for Can you love me.... Is that insane ?

Okay..enough with rambling...

Read, enjoy and VOTE! :D