Emerald Envelopes

AJ's pov:

It was twilight when I woke. I had been terribly tired and ruffled up for the past few days and just needed to sleep for a while. I was in my old room. It was the same sea green colour, with the old picture frames and CDs hanging on the walls. I tried not to look around too much. Coming back was something I was not ready for. It was unsettling and made my chest hurt. But I'd do it a million times over for Delilah.

Delilah? Where was she? It was getting late, the skies were darkening fast. She'd wanted to swim and walk around, maybe she'd be outside, I thought to myself. Then I got out of bed and changed into a full sleeve t-shirt.

No one tells you but by noon it gets chilly near the sea. I figured Lilah must be cold too so I picked out one of my comfier sweatshirts for her before heading down.

The house was lit with warm yellow lights and the smell of vanilla. Sal was in the kitchen, as he usually was. But this time there was someone else with him.

Sal was kneeling and petting a dog. An Australian Shepherd, with white, black and hints of brown in its fur. She was just as I remembered. Way bigger. Yet the same.

Her big gray eyes popped up when she saw me and she ran towards me. She pounced on me barking and I fell to the ground. My face was being licked playfully by her and she wasn't stopping anytime soon.

"Cleoooo! Stop it girl! I'm here, I've missed you too!" I said holding her face in my palms."Oh you're such a good girl Cleo, it's been so long. You're so beautiful and big! Do you remember me? You were just a pup when I left!"

"Oh yes, she remembers you. She's missed all of you terribly. I think she thought you died with your parents. She must be very happy to see you Aidan." Sal said walking towards us.

"Oh Cleo. I missed you too, we'll go to the beach tomorrow okay? Like old times. I promise, I'm not leaving again. Okay girl?" I told Cleo. She'd sat down, half of her body was on me.

Sal chuckled.

"I can't wait for her to meet Delilah! Where was Cleo anyway?" I asked Sal.

"She had gone for her daycare. I brought her back while you were napping. She's freshly bathed and combed right now." Sal said going back into the kitchen.

"She's gorgeous Sal. What can I say, you've kept her very well."

There was a twinkle in her stormy eyes. And she was staring at me as if I were a ghost who was going to disappear any moment.

"Come here Cleo, it's time to eat." Sal called.

But she didn't budge. I bent down to her and pecked her furry head.

"I'm not going anywhere Cleo beo. Go eat food."

"Cleoo!" Sal hollered.Then she got up and made her way to the kitchen for dinner.

"Oh and Aidan come back quickly, dinner will be ready soon!" Sal said as I was halfway out the door.

Outside was just as I remembered, with the same smell of sea and summer. I could see the waves clashing against the beach, the grass wiggling in the breeze. The birds flying back to their nests, and I could hear distant sounds of a party going on not far away.

"Delil-" I was about to call for her, when I saw the picnic table by the field.

She and John were huddled together in the cold. Her head on his shoulder and his on her head. There was a lamp light up near them and it was casting yellow light and shadows all around them.

I knew it was just John. But-I still felt a little ping in my heart as I walked closer to them.

She was cold and her cheeks were stained with tears. I furrowed my brow, she'd been crying?John was fine, he had a calm expression. No creases at all.

I touched her shoulder slowly and bent till her face.

"Delilah? Why don't we all go inside?" I said and she didn't flinch."Lilah? Get up it's cold outside," I said shaking them a bit.

That's when they woke. John was shocked to life and Delilah opened her eyes with an expression that broke my heart. Another nightmare?She seemed worried and sad.

"Baby? Are you alright?" I asked reaching out to wipe her cheeks.

"Huh? Where am- AJ? Then who?" She was a little dazed as she turned to look at John.

"John?" She said in suprise.

He nodded and got up slowly.

"Yeah you fell asleep on my shoulder and, I must have dozed off shortly after. We're all tired, I guess." He said shoving his hands in his pockets.

Delilah seemed concerned. But she kept sitting on the picnic table.

"Um you guys take your time, I'm heading in. See you later." John said and ran to the house.

I looked back at Delilah and gave her my sweatshirt.

"It's cold, wear that. It'll keep you nice and warm." I said.She put it on and jumped into my arms.

"I had a nightmare," she said.

"Yeah I guessed, how come though? Those have been so good lately? Out of the blue again."

"I don't know, but it was horrid, there were guns and Ghost and the Russians and you....you were dying over and over again. And it was as if I was frozen. Not able to move. To do anything." She said.

"Breathe Lilah, we're safe. Ghost is gone. And I'm right here." I said touching her cheek.

"I know, I'm just a bit anxious I guess." She sighed.

"Well I have a suprise for you," I said all jolly.

"What? What is it?" She asked looking at me.

"Hm there's someone waiting for you in the house, wanna come meet them?" I said.

"What? A girlfriends ghost? I'm good." She teased.

"Oh shut up and walk." I said and she laughed.

That's all I needed. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Delilah's pov:

As we walked back to the mansion, I was staring at AJ. He was home, yet he seemed a bit uneasy. Maybe it was the fact that not everyone in the crew was here? Or that John was acting weird? Or just him coming back to a home full of Ghosts.

He wore a black full sleeve t-shirt and his gold hair was everywhere. He must have just woken up. Before we entered the house he went ahead of me and opened the door slowly. Then asked me to follow. My nerves were getting the best of me, but he just seemed so excited for whoever it was I was going to meet.

We stopped after the entrance. John was by the stairs and he was smiling too.I was a bit puzzled.

"Cleo, meet my love Delilah. And My love meet my light Cleo," AJ said grinning wide.

"Who's Cleo-" but I didn't have time to finish another word. As I was pounded by a very hairy creature. I went straight to the ground and Cleo was on top of me licking me furiously.

I started laughing.Then I calmed her down and made her sit. Both my legs were sprawled on either side and Cleo was sitting in the gap between.

She was a wonderful doggie, with deep gray eyes and a fluffy, soft coat of white black and hints of brown. Her tongue was hanging out and it seemed like she was smiling.

"Aw Babygirl aren't you adorable," I said scratching the behind of her big ears.

She'd bent her head to the ear I was petting, she seemed to be in a playful mood.

"She is beautiful! Is she your dog?" I asked AJ.

"Yup, dad had got her about the time I left. Though I'd spent all my time with her. Cleo beo." He said, looking right into her gray eyes.

"Why don't y'all wash up and get ready for dinner. It's been a long day. I'm sure you're tired and want to call it a day, early." Sal said.

We all admitted it and washed up before having dinner. Dinner was light and easy, Sal had made us soup and bread. We were all quite full from lunch anyway.

Before leaving up for bed I went to thank Salazar for his kind hospitality. And he told me if I was a friend of Aidan's, I was a friend of his. That made me smile.

He was putting up little candle lights around the house, with their own glass containers. And switching off the main headlights everywhere.

"Why are you doing that Sal?" I asked as he handed me one candlelight.

"It's going to rain today, maybe even a storm. The lights are bound to go off. We need to be prepared." He said with a small smile.

I nodded and took the light, before he went away down the storeroom alley.

I felt a soft brush against my legs and saw that Cleo was sitting by my feet.

"Hey girl? You want to come with us tonight?" I asked bending down to pet her.

When I pet her in the darkness I felt a collar around her neck. One I hadn't noticed before.

"What'd you have there, Cleo beo?" I asked as I got the light closer in order to see the collar.

It was glinting in the light. It was thick and dark brown. With gold embellishments. On the top it had a name engraved into it. CleoBut what suprised me was that there were emeralds embedded around the strap. Sized as big as pebbles. Since Cleo was so furry one could hardly see them. But they were there. How odd?Were they real?

"Come on lady Cleo let's go to bed." I said finally getting up and heading towards the rooms.

I would be sleeping in AJ's old room. And John would be in the room above, the one next to the rooftop. Since we didn't want to disturb the late Mr and Mrs Jones room.

I opened the door to his room and felt soft breeze swirl around me. Cleo went in quickly and settled herself near the open window.

It was already raining and the lights were out too. AJ sat in bed with a book and there was a candlelight next to him.

His chest was bare as he was wearing only pants. His face was lit up with the soft yellow of the candles.And his eyes seemed like burning emeralds.

"Delilah, you okay?" He asked when he saw me come in.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" I asked.

"Well, I know you don't exactly like thunderstorms. They make you anxious." He said.

I fell soft.

"You got me." I said and crawled into bed next to him.

He put his arms around me and kept his book down.

I saw his bandaged bullet wound and felt a pang of pain.

"How's the wound?" I enquired.

"Better. But it still pains a bit. Don't worry though Sal helped with the bandages today." He said sweetly.

"Maybe we can go to a local hospital again tomorrow?"

"Maybe. We'll decide later." He said and I understood, he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"Hey babe? Do you know anything about the collar Cleo is wearing?" I asked him.

His face was above mine. He kissed the top of my head and answered. "Collar? I don't remember a collar." He replied. "When I was here, she was too young for a collar. Her neck was too tiny."

"Well she has one now, with emeralds around it." I answered. "It just seemed out of the blue."

"Emeralds? No way." He said looking at me.

"Have a look at it." I told him. And he slipped out of bed with a candlelight. Bent down and examined the collar.

"The heck? My parents put their life savings in this house. There's no way they could have afforded that." He said coming back to bed.

"Maybe Salazar?" I questioned.

"He's not nearly rich enough. That collar is embedded with emeralds. That stuff costs a lot," he said.

"Well we can ask Sal tomorrow. I'm sure he'll know something." I suggested.

"Yeah you're right. Let's just sleep right now." He said yawning.

"AJ-Today for the first time. I felt weird with John. There's something going on with him." I said.

"I know Lilah. I'll talk to him. He's just been through a lot aswell. And I don't think he's used to being without G." AJ answered.

"Yeah he seems-lonely."

Right then a flash of lightning tore through the sky. The curtains by the window were going crazy. And Cleo started whining.

"She's just like you, hates storms." AJ said shutting the windows. Cleo came by the bed now and sat down right underneath AJ.

"Listen up girls. Both of you will be fine. You're both brave as hell."

I laughed."Alright genius," I said and snuggled with him.

"Kiss me before you fall asleep Delilah." AJ whispered.

"What?"

"I've missed your kiss all too much today. Especially when you were with John half the day." He said all pouty.

"Someone Jealous?" I teased him.

"Just Kiss me, baby." He demanded.

I raised up a bit and kissed him gently on the lips. He tasted like Vanilla and Coffee. The mint lingering behind.I could tell he was smiling.

I was smiling too.°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The next day I woke up too a frantic phone call at 8 am. It was Willow.

"Willow?" I whispered trying not to wake AJ up.

"Delilah! Oh God I missed you!" She said cheerfully.

"It's been only a day Willi," I said grinning. I'd walked out of the room and climbed up till the roof.

"I know! But still! This is the first time I've been away from all three of you at once! And especially after we all became so close!" She said high pitched.

"I know Willi, I miss you too. Did you talk to Irene and Sam?"

"Yes, she'll call you later I guess. She's on her honeymoon period with Sammy. She says she's never been so in love."

"More like never been in love, period." I laughed.

"I know. I'm so happy for them! How are you! And AJ? How's his wound?" She asked.

"He's fine, still healing. And Hawaii is so beautiful. I can't wait to explore today!" I said."Also? Any new news about the heist? New theories?"

"No, they've closed the case. They're not looking into it anymore. They all think it was a gang meeting gone wrong, that's all. And they blame Ghost and the dead Russians for the robbery aswell. Jack made up a story about the money. That the rest of the Russians fled with it."

"I can't believe it pulled through." I said.

"I can't believe you got to go too Hawaii! While I'm still stuck here!" She said instead.

"Where are you anyways!" I asked.

"We're in Louisiana," She said. "Lily grew up here. We're at her family's house. Only her dad lives here. Irene and the others are in San Francisco."

"Oh wow."

"Yeah well, you're the furthest." She said chuckling. "With most of the money, that's why. Also I did not know AJ lived there!"

"Neither did I! Go figure." I said sighing."How's it going with Jesse? And the others?"

"Lily and Jake are good. Spending the quality time they needed. They're still a little shaken up though, you know with all the Ghost and Lily past bullshit. Jesse is sweet. I think I really like this guy Leila," she gushed.

"I'm so happy for you Willi. You deserve this after all the douche bags you've dated."

"I know!" She yelled into the phone. "Whoa shit, I think I woke them up. Talk to you later Leila! Stay safe!" She said and hung up with a kiss.

I chuckled at that and put down the phone.

The sea was blue and inviting. The day was getting clear. There were rays of sunlight pouring out through the clouds. Hopefully we can do stuff today, I thought.

"Whoof! Whoof!" I heard and turned back to see Cleo on the roof floor lying on her back.

"Oh Cleo! You scared me!" I exclaimed."What's up girl? Wanna go outside?"

She wagged her tail and I grinned.

"You're quite communicative, now aren't you?"

She just sat there and stared at me.

"Okay let's go, Cleo beo."Then she followed me down.

I quietly changed into a light blue sundress so as too not wake up AJ before heading down.

Sal was already up and cooking breakfast by the time I reached downstairs. And John was reading a newspaper.

"Good Morning gentlemen!" I wished them arriving at the kitchen table. They both wished me back.

"I'm going out for a bit with Cleo. AJ isn't up yet. I'll be back in time for breakfast okay?" I informed before heading out.

"Oh Miss Delilah? Could you check the mail as you come back?" Sal asked.

"Sure! And call me Lilah!" I said.

"Delilah!" John called out to me when I was almost outside.I paused and waited for him.

"Yes?"

He stopped and looked at me. His blue eyes sharp and demanding.

His breath hitched before he said, "Nothing, just be careful. It's slippery after the rain."

"Sure will." I said walking towards the cliff. Thinking what had gone wrong with John.--Cleo and I had walked all around the house by now. I could see small groups of people beginning to gather around the beach beneath us. All donned up with sunscream and ready to surf.

Cleo was quite in awe of the little raindrops that occasionally fell on her when she'd go into bushes. Tipping on her nose, making her sneeze.

I couldn't help but laugh.

On our way back, I was all ready to convince AJ to teach me surfing. I had an entire argument ready in my head.

When I saw the mailbox outside the house near the cobblestone path.

Oh right, the mail. I remembered.

I opened the lid and took out the mail. There was a handful of it.

Out of habit, I looked through it while walking to the main entrance.

Electricity bill.Surf contest.Local ads.

And then one particular letter stood out among the white and cream ones.

It was a green coloured envelope addressed to- Aidan Jones.

But the strangest thing was that it was crested with a tiny hard emerald. Stuck to it with solid golden glue.°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Hey y'all! I hope you liked this chapter! I'm heading in a new direction for this story. I've decided I want atleast 40 chapters in it before I put it to rest. Please do let me know how you like this new lead! And keep voting and commenting, it means the absolute world! New update soon.Again thankyouu so so much for the 2.26k reads! Xoxo 💜✨💫

PS: I realised that I wasn't exactly supporting too many writers that I know of here on Wattpad. But whenever anyone so much as mentions me I feel very very happy. So I intend to start helping and supporting other authors!Please go and check out these amazing authors and show them some love!

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