The Heart's Decision ((Brantley))

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine slowly pulled back the white lace curtains, letting in the afternoon sunshine. The rays fell upon her pale face as she stared miserably out the window. There were endless green lawns that went on for miles and miles, the next small house only an acre away. Jasmine loved living in the country side. She cherished all the open space, and the fact that there was nothing to really confine you. Now, her family was going to be moving half way across the world, to live in a small apartment in the city. It would be long, just long enough for her aunt to collect money for a small flat, or whatever they called it down there in the states. There would be no more magic for Jasmine. Even though she was of age to perform charms and such, but she wouldn’t be allowed to continue in the states. Well maybe, but only when her aunt wasn’t around. Jasmine’s Aunt, Lana, really didn’t like her niece using magic around the house, especially with chores. So, Jasmine never used her wand in front of her. It never really bothered Jasmine not using magic around the house too much. She always assumed that anything to deal with a wand and a simple incantation reminded Lana of her sister, Jasmine’s mother. Everyday, Jasmine wished her parents were still around. She couldn’t remember anything about them. They had died when she was so young, and that frustrated her. What Jasmine was going to miss the most about her life in England, was Brantley.

Trying hard to push back her memories of him, Jasmine closed her eyes. It had been only a week since she told Brantley about her family’s move. That was the last time she was going to see him. Feeling a lump rise in her throat at the thought, Jasmine leaned her forehead against the cool wall. She shut her eyes even tighter to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. There was nothing she could do about it. Ellie was supposed to tell him that she was leaving today when Jasmine had dropped off her horses for the younger girl to take care of the day before. She had remembered the look on Brantley’s sister face when Jasmine told her. Closing her eyes even harder, Jasmine felt a tear slide down her face. There was a small knock at the door, but Jasmine ignored it. “Jazz…are you ready, honey?” asked a Lana's soft voice, as she swung the door open, taking one look at her niece, frowning. She knew that Jasmine didn’t want to leave. Rubbing her eyes, Jasmine lazily closed the curtains, blocking the sunlight, leaving the small room dark. Nodding her head gradually, she turned around to pick up her carry-on and suit case. “Jasmine....I know you really don’t want to go, but a new change of pace will be great for us.” Lana smiled a small smile as she leaned forward to help Jasmine pull the top of the lever on her roll away suitcase up. Jasmine didn’t say as word, but instead just moved out of her aunt’s way. Yes, she was giving everyone the cold shoulder, but Jasmine didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t happy about moving, so why pretend to be?

The airport was only hour away, and the Anderson family rode there in silence. Jasmine sighed as she fiddled with the strap of her shoulder bag as they waited in line to go through security. Her passport was in hand, with her boarding pass and ID stuck inside the blue covering. Handing it over to the balding man looking through passes, he skimmed over it briefly before handing it back to Jasmine. Taking it, she put her things through the X-Ray machine, walking through the metal detector. Chad stood next to her, collecting his bag. He didn’t say anything, but she could tell he was as depressed as she was. Setting the strap comfortably on her shoulder, she followed behind her Aunt down the concourse. There was a loudspeaker with an English accent talking about airport procedures, followed by other languages saying the same thing. “Are you two hungry?” Lana asked as they passed by small restaurants. Looking into the window, Jasmine watched the business men read through papers, sipping tea in their formal wear. Shaking her head, she let Chad answer for her. Lana just sighed as she directed the two toward the boarding area. Finding three empty seats, Jasmine sat down at the end, Chad next to her. The seats were facing the large open window, which showed all the planes coming into dock. They only sat for thirty minutes before the women called them to board. When their seating area was called, Jasmine stood from her spot on the bench. She handed the lady her boarding pass before heading down the long isle, but stopped in her tracks hearing her name being called.

[Brantley Chapman R7]

Brantley didn’t know what he was doing. The only thing he could get through his mind was that he couldn’t let Jasmine go. He had paced in his room with Ellie on his bed for hours and hours that morning, wondering what to do – how he was going to live his life without the woman he loved in it. At the same time Ellie did, he came to a conclusion. He wouldn’t. Ellie had smiled brightly and jumped off his bed, rushing down to get the car ready as Brantley change out of his pyjamas into a pair of dark blue jeans and a grey t-shirt. He tore a brush through his hair and then slipped his feet into his boots before rushing out of his room, grabbing his wallet. Brantley was running off pure adrenaline and fear. Adrenaline for the fact of getting to that airport and the fear that he’d already be too late or that he wouldn’t be able to persuade her to stay. He couldn’t think of that, though, he had to get there. So, with Ellie in the front seat of his black Volkswagen Eos Brantley turned the engine over and sped off down the dirt road toward the main city. The car was a gift from Ellie for his seventeenth birthday, and she had become ecstatic that he had started to use it more often. Brantley hadn’t ever been one for cars, but recently he had this need…for a fast car. Ellie called it the ‘boy’ in him, but he just figured it was about time. He had figured as he sped down the road from his house, what a better time to use his Eos than at that moment?

“Do you know which terminal she’s at, Brantley?” Ellie asked as she hurriedly buckled her seat belt and then gripped the arm rest on the door. He smirked and glanced over at his younger sister’s hand as her knuckles turned white. Brantley raised the speed a bit and Ellie let out a small squeak as they made their way onto the main road. The airport was about 30 minutes away, but Brantley could definitely get there in half the time. And he had. He left the car with Ellie in the loading passengers area, and hopped out of it quickly. There were people all around and Brantley was crushing through them. The one thought on his mind was that he had to reach Jasmine. He had to reach her. Of course, Brantley hadn’t factored in the security and the fact that he didn’t know what gate Jasmine would be lingering near, so that would be a presented problem. Brantley didn’t really care, though, he needed to try. And try he would. Brantley hurried into the airport, dodging people as best he could and ploughing over those who he couldn’t dodge. He spewed apologies from his lips every second as he kept his gaze ahead to the escalators that led to the floor of security. As he reached the escalators, Brantley didn’t stand on them and wait for them to get to the lower floor – instead he took the stairs two at a time as he ran toward the security floor.

“Hold it, sir,” a security guard said as Brantley tried to push his way through the security line. Brantley stood impatiently, looking over the man’s head as he placed his hand on Brantley’s chest in an authoritative way; “No one but passengers can enter past this area.” Brantley looked at the small man now as a flicker of thought that Brantley could take him down in an instant ran across his mind. He knew it wasn’t going to do him much good to assault a security guard, so he just glared at the man and then turned on his heel and headed back toward the restrooms. He wasn’t going to give up. This was one thing that Brantley loved about being a wizard. He could easily apparate past that blasted security line. He entered the restrooms and checked under a stall to make sure it was empty before stepping inside and closing the door. He locked it and then pulled out his wand, wasting no time in disapparating from the restroom stall past the security to the restroom stall by a bookstore. He pocketed his wand and set off once more toward the terminals. Brantley hadn’t any idea where Jasmine was or what her flight number was, it was by pure luck that a voice had come on over the intercom and mentioned the flight for the state Jasmine was leaving for. Brantley took a quick left turn and then headed toward the gate number the woman over the intercom had stated.

Brantley’s legs carried him faster, his arms pushed people out of the way – some of the people gave him a rude hand gesture or said some foul remark – but Brantley didn’t notice. He was so close. So close! The people were boarding as he reached the gate and quickly his blue eyes scanned the seats. He didn’t see her. Brantley’s heart stopped in his chest, he was too late. She was already boarding the plane. His eyes drifted to the passengers handing their boarding pass to the flight attendant and he spotted Chad. Jasmine must’ve just gone in. Without thinking, Brantley jumped over the desk that stood in front of the ramp and started to step inside; only to have someone grab his arm. They pulled him back, saying he couldn’t go back there, but that didn’t stop him from screaming; “JASMINE!”

[Jasmine Anderson]

Jasmine stood frozen in her spot as she heard her name echo through the tunnel walls. It couldn’t be. Was Brantley here? That was his voice, but what is she was just hearing things. “Excuse me Miss, you are holding up the line,” the flight attendant said, pointing to the long line of passengers. Jasmine mumbled an apology, taking that one step onto the plane until she heard her name echo again. It had to be him. She couldn’t enter the cabin. Not knowing that Brantley had made this trip all the way to stop her. Quickly turning around on her heels, Jasmine stepped out of the people’s way, making her way over to the side. There was a large window covered with plastic that blew gently against the summer wind. “Jasmine, what are you doing?” Lana asked as her aunt’s slender figure weaved her way through the thick lines. What was going to do? Hearing her name being called again, Jasmine literally felt her heart leap for joy. She wasn’t just hallucinating. Lana seemed to have heard it as well, her own blue eyes staring down the tunnel. Jasmine stared into her Aunt’s eyes, searching for any clue on what she was thinking. She could see that familiar twinkle of guilt glitter against the sunlight. “Lana…” Jasmine began but was startled as her Aunt shushed her quietly. “It’s alright Jasmine. You don’t have to come to the States with us…it was selfish of me to take you away from everything you’ve worked so hard for here.” Was she hearing this correctly?

Blinking back the confusion, Jasmine turned her head down toward the tunnel. She couldn’t hear his voice anymore. Maybe security was taking him away. “You should stay here with Brantley, Jazz. You have a life here with him….” Before she could even finish her sentence, Jasmine leapt forward, wrapping her arms around her aunt. Lana just smiled, returning the hug, and stroking her nieces back gently. “Thank you,” Jasmine whispered trying hard to hide her tears. She could feel her Aunt’s tears against her hair, which was making it even harder for her not to cry. It was a curse Jasmine had. She always cried when others were balling their eyes out. Lana pulled away, her smile small, but surprisingly happy. “Go…but just remember to call, or write when you can.” Jasmine grinned, nodding as she turned around to leave, but was stopped when someone tackled her against the wall into a hug. “I knew you would come to your senses, Jazz!” Chad cheered helping his cousin regain her balance. Jasmine laughed, sticking her tongue out at him for the last time. “The plane is about to take off,” the flight attendant butted in, about to close the doors. Jasmine watched as her aunt and cousin board the plane before taking off down the long isle off the ramp.

The flooring under her shook with each step as Jasmine ran. She finally reached the end, stopping and panting while looking around for Brantley. Noticing those beautiful light blue eyes off in the distance, Jasmine grinned seeing him being pulled away by two security guards. Laughing at the sight, she quickly ran toward them; “Please stop! Brantley!” she screamed noticing the two men stop to turn around in the direction of her voice. Huffing Jasmine dropped her carry-on on the guard, her hazel eyes gazing into Brantley’s own. Without even thinking, she grabbed him by the end of his grey shirt tugging him down to her own height, planting a kiss on his lips. The security guards stared at each other, letting go of Brantley’s arm as Jasmine continued to kiss him. Feeling her own lungs beginning to burn, she pulled away from Brantley, her breath heavy. Taking a deep breath, she leaned in toward his ear, “You owe me big for saving you from having to be taken down for questioning.” Grinning she turned toward the guards who seemed to quite understand the situation. “I’m sorry that Brantley has caused you such trouble, officers,” she said sweetly, looking from both men, before gazing back at Brantley. “I’ll personally see him outside myself.”

((OOC- RECORD! 15 minutes! *book marks this post* ))