10. love not war

☆ ゜・ 。。・ ゜゜・ 。。・ ゜★

1973
𝙎𝙖𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤

I had music blasting in my car as i drove to the store. The wind blowing through my hair, scarf tied around my hair and sunglasses on. I had to say, the 70s, i can get used to this life.

I got out of my car and strutted into the store and started my grocery shopping. My heeled boots clicked as I went aisle to aisle, shoving snacks and stuff into my cart.

"My heavenly Celeste." Jerry the homeless man that always sits in front of store said. He's a kind guy, always has a smile on his face, telling me stories about his past life. "Need help?" He gets up and grabs a bag from my arms.

"Thank you Jerry. Hows the day treating you?" I asked as we walked to my car.

"Everyday is a blessing." He smiles. We stopped as we saw two men checking out my car.

"Oh wonderful, cant wait for the conversation imma have when I get to my car."

"Stay groovy Cel." Jerry hands me my bags and I eyed the men. I flipped my hair back and walked towards them.

"Excuse me gentlemen." I cut in front of them and placed the bags in the back seat of the convertible.

"This your husbands? Hes got good taste."

"He does doesn't he." I played along.

"If he isn't around, I wouldn't mind take you a ride in it." One of them winks. If I could, I would send them into the restaurant that was a block away. "Maybe we can see how fast this baby goes."

"Too bad I don't have a husband, its mine."

"How can you afford a 70 Ford Mustang?" I cracked a smile as I got into my car. "How are they paying you? Women don't even get paid that much."

"The same way you get your junky one, working. By the way your cars are sitting over there." I pointed at the beat down cars by the end of the parking lot, it was theirs. "You wish you were me. Now if you dont mind, i got places to be." The song Cherry Bomb came on full blast. I put on my sunglasses, rev the engine and drove off full speed. I laughed as I pulled out the parking lot.

I parked in front of my apartment and got my bags and looked up to see Ajak and Phastos. I was stunned, dropped my groceries on the ground. The first thing I did was run up to them and hugged them.

"Ajak! Phastos!" I smiled as i pulled them to my level. It was so good to see them again. I pushed them back. "Come on in! Please!"

"Uh Celeste-" Phastos points at my groceries that were all over the street.

"Oh!" I ran down and quickly picked them up, running back to the apartment, welcoming them in.

"Do you need help?" Ajak asks as she comes to the kitchen.

"Oh no, i got it." I snapped my fingers and the groceries flew in the air, Ajak cracks a smile. "Please sit." They followed me to the living room.

"You should be careful, people will notice." I brushed it off.

"Thats why im living on the third floor." I winked. "So? Are we going home?" I licked my lips, played with my rings, hoping for a good answer, nervous for what they are going to say. The looks they gave just made me realize that its not going to happen. "Why do I even ask." I stood up, brushing my hair back. "Its just annoying at this point."

"That day will come, just not now." Im giving up on the idea of Olympia. So many years past and nothing. Its like it's not even real.

"Can we talk about something else? Like how you guys find me? I haven't told anyone where i live." I leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen.

"Kingo." This man always in my business. Im not even surprised.

"Bloody hell." I rolled my eyes. Okay but how did he know? I barely spoke to him since we all separated. Only we bumped into each other in Russia and thats it.

"He said he saw you hanging out with Freddie Mercury at one of his shows, paparazzi." Oh Freddie! How did I forget! That sneaky man.

"We went out for drinks. He's pretty funny. I also hung out with Elvis, and the Beatles!" I used to hang with celebrities every now and then, big and little. I just love the vibe they have. "Many more but i dont want to show off." I shrugged my shoulders.

"I bet the Salem Witch Trials were fun for you." Phastos said as he watched things move in the air still.

"I wasn't there when it happen, but i do know a woman, whats her name?" I started thinking. What was it? I know it. Her son is name Nicolas Stratch. What was her name? "Agatha!" I clapped my hands. "Agatha Harkness, she said that I would've been killed by her coven, yeah, that was a great topic." She was a very interesting person. Always talking about my powers, but my 5 years were up and moved before she did anything.

"How many people have you told?" Ajak looks around the small apartment.

"That im a Enteral?" She nods. "Zero. Agatha thinks im a witch." They gave me a look. The 'at least someone'. "Three but they're dead." Lydia, Charlotte and James.

"How long?"

"Since 1890. Plus her kids." I stayed silent. Charlotte and James died pretty early in their lives. Charlotte had a sickness and James was shot. When I heard that they died,  I just was numb. I failed.

"Wheres Druig?" They looked around again.

"Does anyone want cookies?" I headed into the kitchen, avoiding the question. I started taking out pans and the ingredients flying around. "I can bake them, in 1825, my friend Lydia taught me how to make these cookies-"

"Celeste..." Ajak caught on. I sighed and everything fell to the floor. Phastos jumps.

"We broke up." I looked down at my feet. The wound was still there.

"Wow, congratulations." Ajak elbows Phastos in the stomach. She whispered his name, telling him to apologize.

"I mean tragic." He shakes his head. "So tragic."

"What happened?"

"Lets just say he wanted to stay and i wanted to go.
Its been 153 years-" i closed my eyes as I had a lump in my throat. "You guys don't wanna hear it, so imma go make some cookies." I pushed it down and forced a smile.

"I know its hard to leave him." Ajak rubs her hand on my back to comfort me.

"Druig was the best thing that has happened to me and I left." I pinched my nose.

"Then why not go back?" I looked at the window, now the sun was setting.

"Go back? He probably hates me." I walked over to my collection of alcohol. I twisted the cap and took a sip.

"He doesn't hate you."

"Have you seen him yet? Then how do you know?" I yelled at them. I realized what I did since my eye turned green. "Sorry." I wiped my mouth with my arm. "If he wanted me back, if he doesn't hate me, he could've written to me, looked for me. Ive been waiting. Im still waiting but im slowly losing hope. Maybe its just for the best."

"Remember what I said, love-"

"Yeah..." i just nodded my head. We stayed quiet for a moment until Phastos broke it.

"How about those cookies you were talking about?" He claps his hands. "They sound good."

"Perfect." I head back to the kitchen and started making everything from scratch. Ajak sat there, feeling sad for how I was and Phastos learning how to make the cookies. They stayed until late night and I was left alone again. I played my record player and sat in the corner of the room with a box of things I've gathered during the years. Photos of Lydia, Charlotte and James, dried up flowers, letters from Gil, Sprite, Sersi, and I pulled out the photo of me and Druig. I wiped the tear from my cheek and threw my head back.

153 years. Thats how long I've been lost, broken. 153 years without him. And was it draining.