The line goes dead and I lower my arm, just staring at my phone. What just happened? "Is everything okay?" I glance up at Adrian before looking back down at my phone. I shut it and put it in my pocket before looking up at Adrian again.
"Uhm, I don't know. I think Lyss just de-friended me." Adrian's eyebrows knit together and he frowns. "This has been such an awful day." I suddenly have the urge to cry. But no way am I doing that in front of Adrian outside on the sidewalk.
"We don't have to go out anymore if you don't want to."
"I'd rather be out than home right now." I look at my house and catch Brenda watching me from the front window. I shoot her a glare and she lets the curtain go. I shake my head while Adrian glances back at my house.
"Why don't you come over to my place? I know it's only next door but we can order a pizza, rent some movies, just totally veg out for the afternoon. Plus we have air conditioning." I laugh a bit and cross my arms.
"Why are you doing this for me? We've known eachother how many days now, three?" Adrian smiles in a nice way.
"I don't know why, exactly. But I just feel drawn to you." I feel my face flush. Hopefully he'll think it's just the heat.
"I feel the same way. I feel like I've known you for years and not just days."
"Maybe we knew eachother in another life." I chuckle and turn toward town. "Where are we going?"
"How are we supposed to rent movies from your house?"
**
I wake up to my phone ringing and drag it out of my pocket and stick it to my ear. "'Lo?"
"Sorry, did I wake you?" Drat, I should have checked caller ID.
"Sort of, I was just getting up though."
"It's seven in the evening." I yawn and look around, noting that Adrian is spooning my back.
"I know, dad. It's been a stressful day."
"So I've heard. Tell me, what exactly happened this morning?" I sigh and try to sit up a little without waking Adrian.
"Lyss got here this morning around 9. I'm not telling you what happened to her, but I'll say that it wasn't good. She asked me to lie to Bren cause it's none of her business either. So I told Bren that Lyss got drunk and into a fight last night. She threatened to talk to Lyssa's mom, which is not her place and I told her so. She didn't like that and we got into a bit of a fight."
"I heard about that part. She said you called her a self righteous bitch."
"Well she is." My dad sighs.
"What happened after that?"
"Brenda called Lyssa's mom because she showed up at the house with two cops. I got Lyss presentable and she took her home. After she left I was walking through the kitchen and Bren goes and says 'got what she deserved'. I went off on her and left shortly afterward."
"I heard about that, too."
"Then, Lyss called me a bit after and said Brenda told her mom she'd been doing drugs and partying and starting fights. None of which is true but she believed her and now Lyss isn't talking to me until I fess up to something I didn't do."
"What?" I sit up, angry now.
"Yeah, Brenda lied to April and told her all this shit that's not true and now Lyss isn't talking to me. Bren needs to mind her own business and keep her nose out of it."
"I'm sorry hon, I'll have a talk with her about that."
"Grandma asked me again to go live with her until I start school. If Bren keeps this shit up I'm going to take her up on it."
"She never mentioned that to me."
"Oh, I also got a text from mom last night. I haven't read it yet." I hear him curse over the line.
"What is she doing contacting you?"
"I don't know. I talked to Brax and he didn't get one."
"It sounds like you had quite the busy day."
"Which is the understatement of the year, dad. Look, I have to go. Just tell Bren to keep her big, fat nose out of other people's business, especially mine and my friends' business, and we're good. Otherwise I'm on the next train out of here." Without waiting for a reply I close my phone and set it on my lap. I rub my face and sigh.
"Where you going?" I jump and look down at Adrian. I hadn't noticed he'd woken up.
"Oh, nowhere right now." He snuggles closer to me and closes his eyes.
"Good, you're comfy." I smile. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, as okay as it's gonna be, I guess." He opens one eye and squints up at me.
"Anything I can do to help?" I chuckle and stick my phone back in my pocket, scooting down so I'm laying on my side, facing Adrian.
"Unless you don't mind keeping me in your closet for the summer, probably not." He glances at his closet and I laugh at his expression, like he's actually considering it. I poke his nose with my finger. "You're cute." I'm pleased when a slight blush creeps up his face. He sits up and reaches for his phone.
"Do you like Chinese?"
25 November 2011
The Impossibility Of Sensibility, Chapter 2
"Hurry, let me in!" I step aside to let Emmett in my room, shutting the door once I make sure no one's hiding down the hall. I lead Emmett over to my bed and we both sit down.
"What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night. You could have just waited until tomorrow morning, you know."
"Rob is snoring and I couldn't sleep."
"Well I was sleeping too. You woke me up." From the little light filtering through the window, I see him grin.
"Sorry. I had to wait until everyone was asleep before I could sneak over."
"But why'd you sneak over here?" Mother would certainly say that it's not proper to have boys sneak into your room in the middle of the night. But I didn't ask him to come. So this doesn't count, right?
"I wanted to see you." I feel another blush make its way onto my face and I'm grateful that it's dark.
"Why do you want to see me?" He doesn't answer for so long that I thought he might have fallen asleep sitting up, when he suddenly smiles again and looks up at me.
"Cause I like you, Jillian. I've liked you for a while. Every time I see you I've wanted to talk to you but never got the chance. Tonight you were finally alone, so I talked to you before my chance was up." When he takes my hand I jump about 5 feet in the air. When I can't hear my heartbeat anymore I can hear him laughing quietly. "I know we just met so it's impossible for you to like me too, but I'm willing to wait. I'll wait for however long it takes." I blush again and look down at my hands. Mother never covered this. I decide to say the first thing that pops into my head.
"Well, you won't have to wait for long." I say it so quietly that I thought maybe he hadn't heard me, so I look back up at him and clear my throat. "I like you, too." The smile that he gives me makes my stomach flutter in a way I've never felt before. I decide that I like it.
"Jillian? Would it be too forward of me to ask you for something?" My heart skips a beat, although I'm not exactly sure why.
"What's that?" I'm happy to see that this time, Emmett blushes. I catch myself thinking that he looks really cute when he blushes.
"Could I, um.. well, could I kiss you?" My heart starts beating faster and I can't think straight. He wants to kiss me?
"What if I'm bad at it?" He holds onto my wrists with his hands and shakes his head.
"Impossible." I see him start to lean toward me and I freeze. I don't know what to do! What if he hates it so much that he never talks to me again? I don't get the chance to ask him because I suddenly feel his lips gently press against mine. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it's going to explode. He moves his hands from my wrists to rest against my arms.
I lean into him a little bit and he grips my arms harder, but it doesn't hurt, it actually feels kinda nice, in a weird way. Without warning, Emmett suddenly pulls away from me and stands up.
"I'm sorry, I have to go."
"What? Why?"
"I just, I have to go. I'll see you in the morning, okay?" Without waiting for an answer he bolts to my door, yanks it open, and takes off down the hall. I sit there for a few minutes, wondering what could have scared him so suddenly. Did I do something wrong? I must have. What else could it be? I get up and walk over to my door, half hoping that he'll come back, and half hoping he won't. When he doesn't come back a few minutes later I shut the door and lay back on my bed.
I pull the blankets up over my head and curl into a ball. Maybe he doesn't like me after all. Just then it suddenly makes sense. It was a joke! My brother's friends got him to do it! I knew he couldn't actually like me. It was all a joke to him. To get me to confess that I like him so he can tell everyone and they'll all laugh at me. I hate him. I hate them all.
"What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night. You could have just waited until tomorrow morning, you know."
"Rob is snoring and I couldn't sleep."
"Well I was sleeping too. You woke me up." From the little light filtering through the window, I see him grin.
"Sorry. I had to wait until everyone was asleep before I could sneak over."
"But why'd you sneak over here?" Mother would certainly say that it's not proper to have boys sneak into your room in the middle of the night. But I didn't ask him to come. So this doesn't count, right?
"I wanted to see you." I feel another blush make its way onto my face and I'm grateful that it's dark.
"Why do you want to see me?" He doesn't answer for so long that I thought he might have fallen asleep sitting up, when he suddenly smiles again and looks up at me.
"Cause I like you, Jillian. I've liked you for a while. Every time I see you I've wanted to talk to you but never got the chance. Tonight you were finally alone, so I talked to you before my chance was up." When he takes my hand I jump about 5 feet in the air. When I can't hear my heartbeat anymore I can hear him laughing quietly. "I know we just met so it's impossible for you to like me too, but I'm willing to wait. I'll wait for however long it takes." I blush again and look down at my hands. Mother never covered this. I decide to say the first thing that pops into my head.
"Well, you won't have to wait for long." I say it so quietly that I thought maybe he hadn't heard me, so I look back up at him and clear my throat. "I like you, too." The smile that he gives me makes my stomach flutter in a way I've never felt before. I decide that I like it.
"Jillian? Would it be too forward of me to ask you for something?" My heart skips a beat, although I'm not exactly sure why.
"What's that?" I'm happy to see that this time, Emmett blushes. I catch myself thinking that he looks really cute when he blushes.
"Could I, um.. well, could I kiss you?" My heart starts beating faster and I can't think straight. He wants to kiss me?
"What if I'm bad at it?" He holds onto my wrists with his hands and shakes his head.
"Impossible." I see him start to lean toward me and I freeze. I don't know what to do! What if he hates it so much that he never talks to me again? I don't get the chance to ask him because I suddenly feel his lips gently press against mine. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it's going to explode. He moves his hands from my wrists to rest against my arms.
I lean into him a little bit and he grips my arms harder, but it doesn't hurt, it actually feels kinda nice, in a weird way. Without warning, Emmett suddenly pulls away from me and stands up.
"I'm sorry, I have to go."
"What? Why?"
"I just, I have to go. I'll see you in the morning, okay?" Without waiting for an answer he bolts to my door, yanks it open, and takes off down the hall. I sit there for a few minutes, wondering what could have scared him so suddenly. Did I do something wrong? I must have. What else could it be? I get up and walk over to my door, half hoping that he'll come back, and half hoping he won't. When he doesn't come back a few minutes later I shut the door and lay back on my bed.
I pull the blankets up over my head and curl into a ball. Maybe he doesn't like me after all. Just then it suddenly makes sense. It was a joke! My brother's friends got him to do it! I knew he couldn't actually like me. It was all a joke to him. To get me to confess that I like him so he can tell everyone and they'll all laugh at me. I hate him. I hate them all.
Forever More, Chapter 4
"Bella, wake up." I jerk awake and sit up in bed. Draco turns the bedside lamp on and looks at me with sleepy eyes. It's been almost 3 weeks since the first time I had that dream and I've had it every night since. If that wasn't annoying enough, it's always at the same time. And it always effects me like the first time I had it. I look over at Draco and smile apologetically.
"I'm sorry." He shakes his head and yawns.
"Still the same one?" I nod. "You still don't remember anything?" I shake my head. I feel horrible for lying to him. But how embarrassing is it that I'm dreaming about my teenage daughter and her boyfriend, even if it's not me in the dream. I still feel everything.
"You go back to sleep. I'm gonna go down for a drink." He nods and lays back down, falling asleep as soon as he hits the pillow. Poor guy is getting almost as little sleep as I am. I get out of bed and head down to the kitchen, pouring myself a cold glass of water. As I'm taking a sip I happen to look at the fridge where Keera has a countdown to Christmas on it. The sudden realization almost makes me drop the glass.
The whole time I've been having this dream I've always wondered why it takes place in Cheyenne's room. But looking at the countdown I suddenly get why. Cheyenne's coming home for the Christmas holidays. She'll be here for almost two weeks. It's December 10th, which means only little more than a week before she gets here. And if what Alexander says in the dream is true, only a week after that before he sneaks into her room.
I set the glass on the counter before I can drop it. Which also means at least two more weeks of this dream. I groan and cover my face in my hands. I'm not sure I can take two more weeks of this. Draco certainly can't. I haven't been able to touch him, afraid that anything I feel for him right now is purely the after effects from the dream. I'm sure he's beginning to wonder what's going on with me. I just hope he doesn't think I'm cheating on him.
"Bella? Are you still down here?" I look up as Draco enters the kitchen.
"What are you doing? You have to work in the morning." He smiles sleepily and leans against the opposite side of the counter. He doesn't hug me anymore. He's afraid of scaring me off. Secretly I'm thankful that he doesn't try to, but it hurts for some reason that I can't explain.
"S'okay. You coming back to bed?" I nod and then take another long sip from my recently forgotten glass of water.
"Yeah, I'll be up in a minute." He turns to leave but then stops, turning back to face me. The look on his face surprises me.
"Okay look, I've tried to give you space, cause it's obvious you need it. But I'm not sure I can take much more of this, Bell. You won't kiss me, you won't hug me, hell, you won't even touch me anymore. I was gonna leave it alone until you figured whatever it is you need to figure out, but I'm done. What's going on?" I look up at Draco, feeling so many things at once.
"I know, you're right. I'm sorry. It's this dream." He crosses his arms.
"You told me you don't remember it."
"I know, I'm sorry for lying. I get embarrassed even thinking about it. It's hard to tell you."
"Try me." It hurts that he's being so mean to me, but I can't say I don't deserve it.
"Okay well this is gonna sound completely absurd, but for the past couple weeks, I've been dreaming that I'm Cheyenne." His eyes narrow.
"But what about Cheyenne makes you shy away from me whenever I come within 5 feet of you?" I feel my face get hot.
"That's the embarrassing part." I pause but Draco doesn't say anything. I take a deep breath and sigh. "In the dream I wake up in our bedroom and then walk to Cheyenne's room. When I open the door Alexander is waiting in there for her. He snuck out of his own house to ours to see her." I stop then, hoping that Draco can guess the rest of the dream. By the look on his face, he can and has.
"Bell. That's crazy."
"I know. Don't you think I know that? Before you came down I figured it out. It's gonna happen over Christmas holidays. That's the only time she'll be here for more than a week until next summer." I remember something about the dream I hadn't paid attention to before. When walking down the hallway I can see stockings, the ones that Draco and I tie to the banister for the kids.
"Are you seriously telling me that you're dreaming about having sex with Cheyenne's boyfriend?" I cringe at the tone in his voice.
"Not me. Cheyenne. I'm her in the dream." He shakes his head. "You don't believe me, do you?"
"I don't know, honestly. That's just crazy. There's got to be more you're not telling me." I shake my head sadly.
"That's it." Draco sighs.
"I think I'm gonna sleep down here tonight." I feel as if he just took my heart out of my chest and stamped all over it with his foot. I have to keep myself from crying. "I'll see you tomorrow after work." I nod slowly and watch him walk in the direction of the guest room. Only when I'm sure that he's shut the door do I let myself cry. Draco and I rarely fight and this is just crushing me.
I wander upstairs without any real memory of how I got up here and get back into bed. It feels cold and empty without Draco in it so I get back out and walk down the hall to Keera's room. I open the door slowly and walk over to her bed. I move the blankets and curse mentally as she sits up, rubbing her eyes. "Mommy?"
"Shh, it's okay. I just had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you tonight?" She nods and scoots over so I have more room. I lay down beside her and take her in my arms, hugging her to me. She falls back to sleep almost right away, but it takes me much longer. It feels like my chest is broken and I can't breathe right. I finally fall asleep just as the sun is coming up.
"I'm sorry." He shakes his head and yawns.
"Still the same one?" I nod. "You still don't remember anything?" I shake my head. I feel horrible for lying to him. But how embarrassing is it that I'm dreaming about my teenage daughter and her boyfriend, even if it's not me in the dream. I still feel everything.
"You go back to sleep. I'm gonna go down for a drink." He nods and lays back down, falling asleep as soon as he hits the pillow. Poor guy is getting almost as little sleep as I am. I get out of bed and head down to the kitchen, pouring myself a cold glass of water. As I'm taking a sip I happen to look at the fridge where Keera has a countdown to Christmas on it. The sudden realization almost makes me drop the glass.
The whole time I've been having this dream I've always wondered why it takes place in Cheyenne's room. But looking at the countdown I suddenly get why. Cheyenne's coming home for the Christmas holidays. She'll be here for almost two weeks. It's December 10th, which means only little more than a week before she gets here. And if what Alexander says in the dream is true, only a week after that before he sneaks into her room.
I set the glass on the counter before I can drop it. Which also means at least two more weeks of this dream. I groan and cover my face in my hands. I'm not sure I can take two more weeks of this. Draco certainly can't. I haven't been able to touch him, afraid that anything I feel for him right now is purely the after effects from the dream. I'm sure he's beginning to wonder what's going on with me. I just hope he doesn't think I'm cheating on him.
"Bella? Are you still down here?" I look up as Draco enters the kitchen.
"What are you doing? You have to work in the morning." He smiles sleepily and leans against the opposite side of the counter. He doesn't hug me anymore. He's afraid of scaring me off. Secretly I'm thankful that he doesn't try to, but it hurts for some reason that I can't explain.
"S'okay. You coming back to bed?" I nod and then take another long sip from my recently forgotten glass of water.
"Yeah, I'll be up in a minute." He turns to leave but then stops, turning back to face me. The look on his face surprises me.
"Okay look, I've tried to give you space, cause it's obvious you need it. But I'm not sure I can take much more of this, Bell. You won't kiss me, you won't hug me, hell, you won't even touch me anymore. I was gonna leave it alone until you figured whatever it is you need to figure out, but I'm done. What's going on?" I look up at Draco, feeling so many things at once.
"I know, you're right. I'm sorry. It's this dream." He crosses his arms.
"You told me you don't remember it."
"I know, I'm sorry for lying. I get embarrassed even thinking about it. It's hard to tell you."
"Try me." It hurts that he's being so mean to me, but I can't say I don't deserve it.
"Okay well this is gonna sound completely absurd, but for the past couple weeks, I've been dreaming that I'm Cheyenne." His eyes narrow.
"But what about Cheyenne makes you shy away from me whenever I come within 5 feet of you?" I feel my face get hot.
"That's the embarrassing part." I pause but Draco doesn't say anything. I take a deep breath and sigh. "In the dream I wake up in our bedroom and then walk to Cheyenne's room. When I open the door Alexander is waiting in there for her. He snuck out of his own house to ours to see her." I stop then, hoping that Draco can guess the rest of the dream. By the look on his face, he can and has.
"Bell. That's crazy."
"I know. Don't you think I know that? Before you came down I figured it out. It's gonna happen over Christmas holidays. That's the only time she'll be here for more than a week until next summer." I remember something about the dream I hadn't paid attention to before. When walking down the hallway I can see stockings, the ones that Draco and I tie to the banister for the kids.
"Are you seriously telling me that you're dreaming about having sex with Cheyenne's boyfriend?" I cringe at the tone in his voice.
"Not me. Cheyenne. I'm her in the dream." He shakes his head. "You don't believe me, do you?"
"I don't know, honestly. That's just crazy. There's got to be more you're not telling me." I shake my head sadly.
"That's it." Draco sighs.
"I think I'm gonna sleep down here tonight." I feel as if he just took my heart out of my chest and stamped all over it with his foot. I have to keep myself from crying. "I'll see you tomorrow after work." I nod slowly and watch him walk in the direction of the guest room. Only when I'm sure that he's shut the door do I let myself cry. Draco and I rarely fight and this is just crushing me.
I wander upstairs without any real memory of how I got up here and get back into bed. It feels cold and empty without Draco in it so I get back out and walk down the hall to Keera's room. I open the door slowly and walk over to her bed. I move the blankets and curse mentally as she sits up, rubbing her eyes. "Mommy?"
"Shh, it's okay. I just had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you tonight?" She nods and scoots over so I have more room. I lay down beside her and take her in my arms, hugging her to me. She falls back to sleep almost right away, but it takes me much longer. It feels like my chest is broken and I can't breathe right. I finally fall asleep just as the sun is coming up.
21 November 2011
The Impossibility Of Sensibility, Chapter 1
"Jillian! Darling, oh, there you are." I look up from my book to my mother. "The guests are arriving and you musn't stay up here in your room all evening." I sigh to myself. This is so unfair. I don't even like any of these people! Why can't they all just go away and leave me alone? Instead of telling Mother what I'm thinking, I mark my page and set it aside to follow her downstairs to the lobby.
Today is my big brother's 16th birthday and he's having a big party. I'm supposed to be helping, but I'd rather just hide until it's all over. I try to sneak off to my secret hiding place in the woods behind the house, but one look from Father sends me in the other direction, toward Gregory's party and his stupid friends.
I love Gregory, really. Whenever we're alone we always do the best things. We play outside for hours and hours until we're called in for dark. He reads me his favourite stories and tells me about the things he'd like to do when he's older. He's great. But whenever his friends are around, well, he's not very nice. I'm always the little sister that is made to tag along wherever they go. I'm annoying to them. I asked him once why he acts like that, and all's he said was that's how it is.
I stand in a corner, almost hidden behind a big potted plant, while Gregory's friends talk and laugh and ignore me. I sigh again and wonder what Sasha is doing right now. I asked Father if I could spend the party at her house, but he said no. I then asked if she could come here to play, but he said that it's Gregory's party, not mine, and I must respect that. I don't see what the big deal in having her here is.
I lay my head against the wall and close my eyes. Not fair! No one here likes me! I feel angry tears make their down my cheeks and I wipe them away. The last thing I need is for someone to see and call me a cry baby. I want to sit down but Mother always tells me that it's not ladylike to sit on the floor. I don't see the big deal. I play outside and sit on the ground all the time.
"What are doing here all by yourself?" I look over to see a boy looking at me. I look away and glare at the floor.
"I'm hiding. Go away."
"Aren't you lonely?"
"No."
"Can I hide with you?"
"No. I said go away." Mother would certainly get me into trouble if she heard the way I was talking to this boy. He doesn't ask me anymore questions so I thought he'd left, but when I look up he's still standing there. My curiosity gets the better of me. "You don't look old enough to be one of my brother's friends." When he shakes his head his dark curls shake with it.
"I had to come. My brother was invited and my parents are gone for the weekend." He looks as annoyed by all of this as I feel.
"Well I'm glad you came. Now at least there's someone here to talk to." He grins and a dimple forms in his left cheek. I smile back and step over to let him stand beside me. "My name is Jillian Marion. What's yours?"
"Emmett McCarty. Why didn't you go somewhere else?"
"I tried but my father said no." I make a face and Emmett laughs at me.
"I'm glad I had to come, too." I look up at Emmett.
"Why?" He dimple-grins again.
"Cause you're cute and funny. I'm glad that I got to meet you." I can feel my face get warm as a blush creeps over it. It's the first time a boy has ever said I'm cute or funny. Boys usually tend to avoid me. Mother says it's because they're still worried about girl germs and will grow out of it soon, but I always worry that I'll always have them and no boys will ever like me. "How old are you, Jillian?"
"I just turned 12 in February." Emmett definitely looks older than my 12 years. His shoulders are wide and he's pretty tall, but he's still got that young look to his face.
"I'll be 15 in September." My face falls. There's no way that a 14 year old would ever like me. Before I can decide what to do next the plant is pulled back and I look up to see my mother.
"Jillian Elizabeth Marion. It's is not proper of a lady to be standing in corners behind plants alone with boys. Dinner will be ready soon and you're expected at the head table beside your brother. Come on, now." She gives Emmett a slight nod and pulls me along with her. I look back at him and smile apologetically. He mouths something to me but I can't quite make it out. See you soon? I'm not sure.
Dinner goes by in a blur and, not soon enough, I'm back up in my room, laying on my bed. I found out that Emmett and his brother are staying here for the weekend until their parents get back. I'm happy and sad all at the same time. Happy because I get to spend another day with Emmett, and sad because I know he'll never feel the same way about me as I do about him. I won't ever find anyone. The thought makes me want to cry.
I read a few more chapters of my book and mark my page, setting it on my bedside table and turning out the lamp. I'm not really tired yet, but if my light is still on when Mother makes her rounds, I'll end up in trouble. I roll onto my side and hug my teddy bear close to my chest.
I'm drifting off to sleep when I suddenly hear a soft tapping. I try to ignore it and fall asleep, but it keeps tapping and I finally get too annoyed to ignore it. I sit up and look around the dark room, trying to locate the sound. Nothing. Just as I'm about to lay back down it starts again. Someone's knocking at my door? I get out of bed and slip on my night coat while walking over to my door. I unlock it and open it, half expecting one of Gregory's friends to be playing tricks on me. Instead, the door opens and I see Emmett standing in front of me.
"Emmett? What are you doing here?"
Today is my big brother's 16th birthday and he's having a big party. I'm supposed to be helping, but I'd rather just hide until it's all over. I try to sneak off to my secret hiding place in the woods behind the house, but one look from Father sends me in the other direction, toward Gregory's party and his stupid friends.
I love Gregory, really. Whenever we're alone we always do the best things. We play outside for hours and hours until we're called in for dark. He reads me his favourite stories and tells me about the things he'd like to do when he's older. He's great. But whenever his friends are around, well, he's not very nice. I'm always the little sister that is made to tag along wherever they go. I'm annoying to them. I asked him once why he acts like that, and all's he said was that's how it is.
I stand in a corner, almost hidden behind a big potted plant, while Gregory's friends talk and laugh and ignore me. I sigh again and wonder what Sasha is doing right now. I asked Father if I could spend the party at her house, but he said no. I then asked if she could come here to play, but he said that it's Gregory's party, not mine, and I must respect that. I don't see what the big deal in having her here is.
I lay my head against the wall and close my eyes. Not fair! No one here likes me! I feel angry tears make their down my cheeks and I wipe them away. The last thing I need is for someone to see and call me a cry baby. I want to sit down but Mother always tells me that it's not ladylike to sit on the floor. I don't see the big deal. I play outside and sit on the ground all the time.
"What are doing here all by yourself?" I look over to see a boy looking at me. I look away and glare at the floor.
"I'm hiding. Go away."
"Aren't you lonely?"
"No."
"Can I hide with you?"
"No. I said go away." Mother would certainly get me into trouble if she heard the way I was talking to this boy. He doesn't ask me anymore questions so I thought he'd left, but when I look up he's still standing there. My curiosity gets the better of me. "You don't look old enough to be one of my brother's friends." When he shakes his head his dark curls shake with it.
"I had to come. My brother was invited and my parents are gone for the weekend." He looks as annoyed by all of this as I feel.
"Well I'm glad you came. Now at least there's someone here to talk to." He grins and a dimple forms in his left cheek. I smile back and step over to let him stand beside me. "My name is Jillian Marion. What's yours?"
"Emmett McCarty. Why didn't you go somewhere else?"
"I tried but my father said no." I make a face and Emmett laughs at me.
"I'm glad I had to come, too." I look up at Emmett.
"Why?" He dimple-grins again.
"Cause you're cute and funny. I'm glad that I got to meet you." I can feel my face get warm as a blush creeps over it. It's the first time a boy has ever said I'm cute or funny. Boys usually tend to avoid me. Mother says it's because they're still worried about girl germs and will grow out of it soon, but I always worry that I'll always have them and no boys will ever like me. "How old are you, Jillian?"
"I just turned 12 in February." Emmett definitely looks older than my 12 years. His shoulders are wide and he's pretty tall, but he's still got that young look to his face.
"I'll be 15 in September." My face falls. There's no way that a 14 year old would ever like me. Before I can decide what to do next the plant is pulled back and I look up to see my mother.
"Jillian Elizabeth Marion. It's is not proper of a lady to be standing in corners behind plants alone with boys. Dinner will be ready soon and you're expected at the head table beside your brother. Come on, now." She gives Emmett a slight nod and pulls me along with her. I look back at him and smile apologetically. He mouths something to me but I can't quite make it out. See you soon? I'm not sure.
Dinner goes by in a blur and, not soon enough, I'm back up in my room, laying on my bed. I found out that Emmett and his brother are staying here for the weekend until their parents get back. I'm happy and sad all at the same time. Happy because I get to spend another day with Emmett, and sad because I know he'll never feel the same way about me as I do about him. I won't ever find anyone. The thought makes me want to cry.
I read a few more chapters of my book and mark my page, setting it on my bedside table and turning out the lamp. I'm not really tired yet, but if my light is still on when Mother makes her rounds, I'll end up in trouble. I roll onto my side and hug my teddy bear close to my chest.
I'm drifting off to sleep when I suddenly hear a soft tapping. I try to ignore it and fall asleep, but it keeps tapping and I finally get too annoyed to ignore it. I sit up and look around the dark room, trying to locate the sound. Nothing. Just as I'm about to lay back down it starts again. Someone's knocking at my door? I get out of bed and slip on my night coat while walking over to my door. I unlock it and open it, half expecting one of Gregory's friends to be playing tricks on me. Instead, the door opens and I see Emmett standing in front of me.
"Emmett? What are you doing here?"
The Boy Next Door, Chapter 11
Before anything can be said I spin around and all but sprint into my bathroom. I close the door behind me and lean against it. What was that? I have no answers for myself.
I brush my teeth and rinse off my face then put a small amount of makeup on. I'll probably sweat it off the second I step outside but I don't care. Before going back out to my room I peek through the keyhole to see that Adrian isn't in there. I stand back up, take one deep breath, and push the door open.
I'm about to climb out the window when I change my mind and find a more flattering top to wear. I also trade my shorts for a skirt, slip on some flip flops and then stick my head out the window. Adrian is standing against the wall in the cover of the shade. "I'm wearing a skirt so don't look up."
I quickly grab my purse and sunglasses and swing my leg out the window. I look down to make sure Adrian isn't looking up my skirt, then start down the ladder. Truth be told, I absolutely hate heights. I've never been on a roller coaster and never plan on it. I don't even like looking out a window in a building that's more than 3 storey's up.
I climb, ever slowly, down the ladder, praying the whole time that I won't fall. When my foot hits the ground I breathe a sigh of relief and stick on my sunglasses. I was right, I'm sweating already. "Took yah long enough. I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to go up after you." I stick my tongue out at Adrian.
"Ha ha, you're hilarious." He smiles while taking the ladder down.
"Just need to return this and we're free to go." I follow him to his grandma's shed, silently thankful that my random act of forwardness didn't turn anything awkward. "Hold on, just gonna run inside for a second." He jogs across the backyard and disappears into the house. Without thinking about it, I look up at his bedroom window. From this angle I can partially see into his room.
Suddenly feeling a little like a stalker, I turn around and walk to the other side of the house. I just about have a heart attack when I'm tapped on the shoulder. I spin around to see Mrs Findlay. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?" I clutch my chest and smile.
"Only a bit. What are you doing out in the heat?" She holds up a watering can.
"Flowers get thirsty too. Are you waiting for Adrian?" I nod. "He just went into the house." I nod again and stick my hands in my pockets. "Well, you two have a good afternoon." I watch for a second as she limps over to one of her flower beds. I don't know why she's bothering to water them as they all pretty much look dead. I'm no gardener though so maybe there's a trick to it or something.
I shrug and turn back toward the house just as Adrian is walking up to me. He changed into different shorts and grabbed sunglasses. "Ready to go?" I sling my purse strap over my shoulder and nod.
"Where are we going?" I walk alongside Adrian as we head toward the street.
"I don't know. You're the tour guide, remember?" I smile and run through places in my head. Before I can get far my phone rings in my purse. I frown, because I don't remember turning it back on, but check the caller ID to see that it's Lyssa calling from her house phone. I almost rip the phone apart in my haste to answer it.
"Lyssa! Are you okay?" There's silence on the other end. "Lyss?" She whispers into the phone.
"Sorry, hang on okay?" I hear muffled sounds through the receiver and wait a full two minutes before she comes back on the line. "Sorry about that. I just had to make sure no one saw me with the phone."
"What's going on?"
"What the hell did you tell Brenda? My mom seems to think I was partying, doing drugs, having wild orgies, and starting fights all night."
"All's I told her was that you got drunk and got into a fight. Anything else Bren said she said on her own."
"That's not what I'm hearing, Emma. My mom's gone crazy. I'm grounded until school starts, she made me call Dustin and break up with him. She even wants me to tell all of my friends that I'm going away for the summer so I can't hang out with anyone."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No. She told me I have to tell you that I don't like you and don't want to be your friend anymore."
"That's ridiculous." I expected some type of argument, maybe that she told her mom where to shove it, or that there's no way we're not hanging out this summer, but I get nothing but silence. "Lyss, you're not going to listen to her, are you?"
"I don't know, Emma. I find it hard to believe that all you said was I got drunk and into a fight." I almost drop the phone, I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"You're not serious. You actually believe Brenda over me?"
"Why would she lie?"
"Because she's a bitch! You know exactly how she is, Lyss!" I hear a sigh over the line.
"I'm sorry Em, but until you tell me the truth I don't want to talk to you."
I brush my teeth and rinse off my face then put a small amount of makeup on. I'll probably sweat it off the second I step outside but I don't care. Before going back out to my room I peek through the keyhole to see that Adrian isn't in there. I stand back up, take one deep breath, and push the door open.
I'm about to climb out the window when I change my mind and find a more flattering top to wear. I also trade my shorts for a skirt, slip on some flip flops and then stick my head out the window. Adrian is standing against the wall in the cover of the shade. "I'm wearing a skirt so don't look up."
I quickly grab my purse and sunglasses and swing my leg out the window. I look down to make sure Adrian isn't looking up my skirt, then start down the ladder. Truth be told, I absolutely hate heights. I've never been on a roller coaster and never plan on it. I don't even like looking out a window in a building that's more than 3 storey's up.
I climb, ever slowly, down the ladder, praying the whole time that I won't fall. When my foot hits the ground I breathe a sigh of relief and stick on my sunglasses. I was right, I'm sweating already. "Took yah long enough. I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to go up after you." I stick my tongue out at Adrian.
"Ha ha, you're hilarious." He smiles while taking the ladder down.
"Just need to return this and we're free to go." I follow him to his grandma's shed, silently thankful that my random act of forwardness didn't turn anything awkward. "Hold on, just gonna run inside for a second." He jogs across the backyard and disappears into the house. Without thinking about it, I look up at his bedroom window. From this angle I can partially see into his room.
Suddenly feeling a little like a stalker, I turn around and walk to the other side of the house. I just about have a heart attack when I'm tapped on the shoulder. I spin around to see Mrs Findlay. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?" I clutch my chest and smile.
"Only a bit. What are you doing out in the heat?" She holds up a watering can.
"Flowers get thirsty too. Are you waiting for Adrian?" I nod. "He just went into the house." I nod again and stick my hands in my pockets. "Well, you two have a good afternoon." I watch for a second as she limps over to one of her flower beds. I don't know why she's bothering to water them as they all pretty much look dead. I'm no gardener though so maybe there's a trick to it or something.
I shrug and turn back toward the house just as Adrian is walking up to me. He changed into different shorts and grabbed sunglasses. "Ready to go?" I sling my purse strap over my shoulder and nod.
"Where are we going?" I walk alongside Adrian as we head toward the street.
"I don't know. You're the tour guide, remember?" I smile and run through places in my head. Before I can get far my phone rings in my purse. I frown, because I don't remember turning it back on, but check the caller ID to see that it's Lyssa calling from her house phone. I almost rip the phone apart in my haste to answer it.
"Lyssa! Are you okay?" There's silence on the other end. "Lyss?" She whispers into the phone.
"Sorry, hang on okay?" I hear muffled sounds through the receiver and wait a full two minutes before she comes back on the line. "Sorry about that. I just had to make sure no one saw me with the phone."
"What's going on?"
"What the hell did you tell Brenda? My mom seems to think I was partying, doing drugs, having wild orgies, and starting fights all night."
"All's I told her was that you got drunk and got into a fight. Anything else Bren said she said on her own."
"That's not what I'm hearing, Emma. My mom's gone crazy. I'm grounded until school starts, she made me call Dustin and break up with him. She even wants me to tell all of my friends that I'm going away for the summer so I can't hang out with anyone."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No. She told me I have to tell you that I don't like you and don't want to be your friend anymore."
"That's ridiculous." I expected some type of argument, maybe that she told her mom where to shove it, or that there's no way we're not hanging out this summer, but I get nothing but silence. "Lyss, you're not going to listen to her, are you?"
"I don't know, Emma. I find it hard to believe that all you said was I got drunk and into a fight." I almost drop the phone, I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"You're not serious. You actually believe Brenda over me?"
"Why would she lie?"
"Because she's a bitch! You know exactly how she is, Lyss!" I hear a sigh over the line.
"I'm sorry Em, but until you tell me the truth I don't want to talk to you."
Forever More, Chapter 3
"Mommy, I want this off." I lift Keera out of the bathtub and set her on the floor.
"I know, honey, but the doctor said only one more week." She sighs as if one week is forever. She's only had it on for 2 1/2 weeks and she's complained every single day of it. I keep reminding her that if she hadn't of been playing on the bridge she wouldn't have fallen off it. But that doesn't seem to matter.
I dry her off, get her dressed, and let her go play. I'm about to walk down the stairs when there's a tap at the window. I turn toward it to see Cheyenne's owl, Casper. I open the window and let Casper inside. After giving me my letter he goes straight to her room where there's food waiting for him. I walk to my bedroom and lay on the bed, opening the letter.
Hi Mom! Ethan and Bridget are hovering over me, so I can't write what I actually wanted to ask you, but they say hello to you, dad and Keera. How's her arm? Is she still complaining every chance she gets? I guess there's two reasons for the letter. I was reading up on dreams and sometimes they can be a prediction of some sort of future. If you get any other ones maybe you should ask someone or look it up yourself. Anyway, E&B keep bugging me to let them write so I told them they can send you their own letters, so be prepared for a couple more soon. Send dad and Keera my love. Write back soon! Love you mom.
-Cheyenne
I wonder how on earth she heard about that dream but figure she probably heard it through the grape vine. There aren't many secrets in a family as big as mine. I also wonder what the original intent had been to her letter. She doesn't usually keep things from me, so it worries me a little. I yawn and decide to write her back later, falling fast asleep.
I wake up and look at the clock, doing a double take. The clock says it's just after 3 in the morning. I look beside me but I don't see Draco anywhere. My eyebrows knit together in confusion. He's never awake at this time, let alone out of bed. I get out of bed and walk to the bedroom door, opening it slightly and peering down the hallway. Nothing.
I open the door wider and take a step into the hallway. On closer inspection I can see a small ray of light at the bottom of Cheyenne's door. I frown. When did I turn that light on? I go in there once every week to dust, but never turn the light on.
I walk slowly down the hall to her room, stopping when I reach the door. I assume it's probably just Keera. She likes to go in there and play with Cheyenne's old toys. But why she'd be in there at 3 AM is beyond me. I take a breath and inch the door open. What I see when it does open completely surprises me.
"Alexander? What are you doing here?" Alexander is Cheyenne's boyfriend of almost a year.
"Waiting for you." Alexander smiles and walks over to me. I try to ask him why he'd be waiting for me, but the words don't come out. Instead I can feel myself smiling back. It's as if my body has a mind of it's own. I close the door behind me and lock it then turn back to Alexander. When did Cheyenne get a lock on her door?
"I'm glad you came. I've missed you." Alex wraps me up in his arms.
"Oh baby, I've missed you. It's only been a week but it feels like it's been so much longer." I feel myself nodding and then looking up at him. I see longing in his eyes and I'm suddenly sure I don't like where this is going.
"How'd you get here?" Alex leads me to Cheyenne's bed and sits me on his lap. My mindless body straddles his lap and bends down to kiss him.
"Night Bus." A low moan escapes his throat and the feeling gets stronger. I don't want to be here. He cups my cheeks in his hands and pulls me into a long, deep kiss. My mind is screaming no but my body is reacting differently. I can feel the longing in it.
With sudden clarity I realize what's happening. I'm in a dream, and in this dream I'm Cheyenne. And I can't seem to get out of it. I watch helplessly as my 14 year old daughter and her just as young boyfriend get intimate in ways that no 14 year olds should be. I try to block it out but I can't ignore the feelings that are inside her. I'm grateful when it's over and Cheyenne starts to fall asleep.
"Bell? Bella? Wake up." I jolt awake and jerk into a sitting position. It's light outside, it's almost 4:30 PM, and Draco is looking at me concerned. "Bella, are you okay? You're pale." I open my mouth but words fail me. My body is still mixed up in the dream. Draco sits on the bed beside me, clearly concerned now. "What's going on?"
"I... had a dream. It seemed so real." He scoots closer to me and takes me in a hug.
"Well it's over now, don't worry." The feelings that I get when he touches me are so powerful I have to fight to control myself. I shrug away from him and stand in the middle of the room. I can see the confusion on his face.
"I think I'm gonna go take a shower." A sly grin makes its way onto his face.
"Want some help?" Just imagining him in the shower with me almost makes me lose control so I shake my head. I don't want what happens with us to be the aftermath of a dream about my daughter and her teenaged boyfriend. The thought makes me shudder.
"No, it's all right. I think I just need a few minutes to myself. Why don't you order a pizza for supper?" I can tell that Draco's still confused but he doesn't press me for details, which I'm grateful for. Before he can get closer to me I all but sprint to the bathroom and shut the door. Once inside the safety of the bathroom the feelings ease up a little and I'm able to think straight.
I remember the letter that I got from Cheyenne just an hour earlier and the fact that she had wanted to ask me something, but couldn't because her brother and sister were hanging around. What does she want to ask? I ask myself this while I turn on the water. I'm hoping the water will wake me up completely.
45 minutes later I sit down at my desk, a piece of paper in front of me. I'm not sure of what to write. Should I ask her how close she thinks she and Alexander are? No.. that would only scare her and she probably wouldn't tell me then. Has she done it already? Oh god, I hope not. I'm not sure Draco would be able to handle that. He'd probably kill the poor kid.
Hi Cheyenne. I'm glad you wrote back so soon. I know how busy life can be at Hogwarts. Keera's arm is almost healed. Just another week with the splint and the doctor's giving her a free bill of health. She's excited to get it off, she doesn't like the thing too much. Tell your brother and sister that I would love a letter from each of them. The more the merrier. Two reasons for your letter? What might that first one be? Dad and Keera send their love back. Write me soon. Love you, mom.
I look at my finished work and nod. It'll do. I call Casper and attach my letter to his leg. He leaves from the still open hallway window and I watch him as he flies away. What could my little girl possibly be getting herself into?
"I know, honey, but the doctor said only one more week." She sighs as if one week is forever. She's only had it on for 2 1/2 weeks and she's complained every single day of it. I keep reminding her that if she hadn't of been playing on the bridge she wouldn't have fallen off it. But that doesn't seem to matter.
I dry her off, get her dressed, and let her go play. I'm about to walk down the stairs when there's a tap at the window. I turn toward it to see Cheyenne's owl, Casper. I open the window and let Casper inside. After giving me my letter he goes straight to her room where there's food waiting for him. I walk to my bedroom and lay on the bed, opening the letter.
Hi Mom! Ethan and Bridget are hovering over me, so I can't write what I actually wanted to ask you, but they say hello to you, dad and Keera. How's her arm? Is she still complaining every chance she gets? I guess there's two reasons for the letter. I was reading up on dreams and sometimes they can be a prediction of some sort of future. If you get any other ones maybe you should ask someone or look it up yourself. Anyway, E&B keep bugging me to let them write so I told them they can send you their own letters, so be prepared for a couple more soon. Send dad and Keera my love. Write back soon! Love you mom.
-Cheyenne
I wonder how on earth she heard about that dream but figure she probably heard it through the grape vine. There aren't many secrets in a family as big as mine. I also wonder what the original intent had been to her letter. She doesn't usually keep things from me, so it worries me a little. I yawn and decide to write her back later, falling fast asleep.
I wake up and look at the clock, doing a double take. The clock says it's just after 3 in the morning. I look beside me but I don't see Draco anywhere. My eyebrows knit together in confusion. He's never awake at this time, let alone out of bed. I get out of bed and walk to the bedroom door, opening it slightly and peering down the hallway. Nothing.
I open the door wider and take a step into the hallway. On closer inspection I can see a small ray of light at the bottom of Cheyenne's door. I frown. When did I turn that light on? I go in there once every week to dust, but never turn the light on.
I walk slowly down the hall to her room, stopping when I reach the door. I assume it's probably just Keera. She likes to go in there and play with Cheyenne's old toys. But why she'd be in there at 3 AM is beyond me. I take a breath and inch the door open. What I see when it does open completely surprises me.
"Alexander? What are you doing here?" Alexander is Cheyenne's boyfriend of almost a year.
"Waiting for you." Alexander smiles and walks over to me. I try to ask him why he'd be waiting for me, but the words don't come out. Instead I can feel myself smiling back. It's as if my body has a mind of it's own. I close the door behind me and lock it then turn back to Alexander. When did Cheyenne get a lock on her door?
"I'm glad you came. I've missed you." Alex wraps me up in his arms.
"Oh baby, I've missed you. It's only been a week but it feels like it's been so much longer." I feel myself nodding and then looking up at him. I see longing in his eyes and I'm suddenly sure I don't like where this is going.
"How'd you get here?" Alex leads me to Cheyenne's bed and sits me on his lap. My mindless body straddles his lap and bends down to kiss him.
"Night Bus." A low moan escapes his throat and the feeling gets stronger. I don't want to be here. He cups my cheeks in his hands and pulls me into a long, deep kiss. My mind is screaming no but my body is reacting differently. I can feel the longing in it.
With sudden clarity I realize what's happening. I'm in a dream, and in this dream I'm Cheyenne. And I can't seem to get out of it. I watch helplessly as my 14 year old daughter and her just as young boyfriend get intimate in ways that no 14 year olds should be. I try to block it out but I can't ignore the feelings that are inside her. I'm grateful when it's over and Cheyenne starts to fall asleep.
"Bell? Bella? Wake up." I jolt awake and jerk into a sitting position. It's light outside, it's almost 4:30 PM, and Draco is looking at me concerned. "Bella, are you okay? You're pale." I open my mouth but words fail me. My body is still mixed up in the dream. Draco sits on the bed beside me, clearly concerned now. "What's going on?"
"I... had a dream. It seemed so real." He scoots closer to me and takes me in a hug.
"Well it's over now, don't worry." The feelings that I get when he touches me are so powerful I have to fight to control myself. I shrug away from him and stand in the middle of the room. I can see the confusion on his face.
"I think I'm gonna go take a shower." A sly grin makes its way onto his face.
"Want some help?" Just imagining him in the shower with me almost makes me lose control so I shake my head. I don't want what happens with us to be the aftermath of a dream about my daughter and her teenaged boyfriend. The thought makes me shudder.
"No, it's all right. I think I just need a few minutes to myself. Why don't you order a pizza for supper?" I can tell that Draco's still confused but he doesn't press me for details, which I'm grateful for. Before he can get closer to me I all but sprint to the bathroom and shut the door. Once inside the safety of the bathroom the feelings ease up a little and I'm able to think straight.
I remember the letter that I got from Cheyenne just an hour earlier and the fact that she had wanted to ask me something, but couldn't because her brother and sister were hanging around. What does she want to ask? I ask myself this while I turn on the water. I'm hoping the water will wake me up completely.
45 minutes later I sit down at my desk, a piece of paper in front of me. I'm not sure of what to write. Should I ask her how close she thinks she and Alexander are? No.. that would only scare her and she probably wouldn't tell me then. Has she done it already? Oh god, I hope not. I'm not sure Draco would be able to handle that. He'd probably kill the poor kid.
Hi Cheyenne. I'm glad you wrote back so soon. I know how busy life can be at Hogwarts. Keera's arm is almost healed. Just another week with the splint and the doctor's giving her a free bill of health. She's excited to get it off, she doesn't like the thing too much. Tell your brother and sister that I would love a letter from each of them. The more the merrier. Two reasons for your letter? What might that first one be? Dad and Keera send their love back. Write me soon. Love you, mom.
I look at my finished work and nod. It'll do. I call Casper and attach my letter to his leg. He leaves from the still open hallway window and I watch him as he flies away. What could my little girl possibly be getting herself into?
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