"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?"
21 November 2011
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?
16 November 2011
Forever More, Chapter 2
"Anny Behwl!" I smile down at my nephew, Malich. It's his 3rd birthday today and the family's getting together to celebrate.
"Malich, come here, auntie missed you." I pick him up and he rubs his grubby little hands in my hair. So much for my shower. "Wow, you're so big! I think you grew." He nods happily then squirms to get out of my arms. Jordan and his wife Lisa just got here with their two boys and Malich wants to go play. Thomas is their youngest at 4 and Malich adores him.
It's weird to think that all of my brothers are grown and have their own families. They're all married but Leon, who's engaged to be married next year, and all have their own kids but Leon. The family's betting on whether or not his fiance, Corrine, ends up pregnant before the wedding. Only Becca and I think it'll be after.
Nate and Becca have their daughter Heather, and their sons Oliver and Aaron. Jordan and Lisa have their sons Blaire and Thomas. Freddy and Kris have their daughter Lauren. Mark and Penny have Malich and are expecting another baby in February. And then there's Leon and Corrine. Phoebe is still pregnant and due in May. She found out she's having another girl and is really excited. As for Draco and I, we're content with our 4 and aren't looking to have any more kids. Especially since we have twins and don't want more of them.
I let Keera run off outside and go find a couch to sit on. I sit down beside Kris and Lisa, who are talking about preschools. Keera started last month, so it's been very, very quiet around the house during the day. I sink back into the couch and sigh, it's really comfy. "You look tired honey." I nod.
"It's this stupid dream." I've been having the same dream every night for almost two months. It's driving me crazy.
"What dreams?" Becca and Penny join us on the couches.
"Oh, Bell's been having weird dreams for a while now."
"Nope, the same dream, over and over."
"That's odd." I nod again.
"And annoying. You know I haven't had a nap in like 3 years and now I've been having one every single day." All 4 girls chuckle.
"You know Bell, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're pregnant again." I groan.
"Don't even joke about that. As my luck goes I am pregnant and carrying triplet's or something."
"Well I hope you figure this out soon. You look utterly exhausted."
"I feel utterly exhausted." Just then I hear a screech from outside. All 5 of us jump up and rush outside. My heart and stomach drop when I see a yellow jacket, Keera's yellow jacket, fall to the ground from 10 feet up. "Keera!" I run over but Draco beats me there.
"Did you bring your wand, Bell?" I manage to shake my head. "Someone start my car!" I'm vaguely aware of someone running back into the house toward the front door.
"Mommy!! My arm hurts!" I kneel down beside Keera's limp body and push the hair out of her eyes.
"I know honey, you're going to be okay." I look up to Draco. "Is it safe to move her?"
"Does anything else hurt, Keera? Your back or your head?" She shakes her head, tears and sobs escaping her.
"No, just my arm."
"Which one honey?"
"My left one." Draco positions her so he's not touching her left arm and lifts her up into his arms. I follow as he carries her through the house and to the car.
"Bell, Draco, I called the hospital and they're waiting for you." I climb numbly into the backseat and Draco lowers her in with me, her head on my lap. I stroke her hair while Draco gets in the drivers seat and speeds down the road.
"Draco, slow down, we don't want to get into an accident on the way there." He slows, but barely.
"Of all the days I don't bring my wand anywhere, this has to happen. Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"It's no one's fault. Accidents happen." He shakes his head. "She'll be fine, Draco. Just concentrate on getting us there in one piece." I'm surprised at how calm I am. Whenever Ethan had accidents like this I was always in hysterics and Draco was the calm one. Weird how it's reversed now.
Draco pulls up to the hospital 10 minutes later (when it should have taken 20 minutes) and parks right in front of the ER doors. "Draco, you can't park here, they'll ticket or tow the car." He ignores me and opens up the backdoor, taking Keera into his arms and carrying her into the ER.
I sit in the car for a few seconds, almost having a heart attack when someone knocks on the window. "You can't park here, miss." I stare at the policeman for a few seconds before registering what he said. I get into the drivers seat and park the car in a proper parking space. "Ridiculous. I can't believe it's 10$ just to park here." I walk back to the ER doors and spot Draco sitting in a chair. I sit down beside him and place my hand on his back. "Where is she?" He reaches for my hand.
"They took her into the back. They told me to wait out here for you." We sit in silence for a few minutes before a nurse comes up to us.
"Mr and Mrs Malfoy? She's back here." We get up and follow the nurse through a couple sets of doors and finally to a small room. Keera's laying on the bed looking very small and pale. "The doctor will be with you soon." I sit down on the chair and take Keera's right hand in mine. Draco paces around the small room.
"You're going to make yourself sick, stop it." He stops pacing and leans against the wall. "How does your arm feel, honey?"
"It still hurts but not as much." I smile.
"I bet it's not even broken." 15 minutes pass and the doctor finally makes his appearance.
"Hello Mr and Mrs Malfoy." He walks to the wall and turns on an x-ray window. He sticks an x-ray picture onto the window and taps his pen against the picture. "Well she didn't break anything. Just a bad sprain. For that I can put a splint on her so she doesn't move her arm too much. Nothing much else I can do." Draco and I both sigh with relief. "Don't let her use her arm too much for the first week or so. Is that her dominant hand?" I nod and look down at her arm. "She'll probably need help with anything she uses that hand for. Eating, writing, etc. The splint shouldn't get wet, so it would be best to help her bathe until it's taken off. I'll just go and get the splint and then you're free to leave." The doctor leaves the room and I look at Draco.
"See? Not even broken. She'll be just fine." He nods and smiles. "I should call everyone and let them know she's okay." I get up and walk over to him, stretching up on my tip toes to give him a quick kiss. I walk to the reception desk and a nurse smiles at me.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for a phone." She points down the hall.
"Walk through those doors and down to the end of the hall. The phone's on the right side." I thank her and wait for the big doors to open. Before I even start walking down the hall I get this weird feeling, like I've been here or done this before. Which is crazy because this is the first time I've been to this part of the hospital.
As I'm walking down the hall the feeling gets stronger and I suddenly realize why. This is my dream. A long hallway with doors on either side. I recognize some of the details from the dream. Like the date, which I feel like I should have clued into before now. I shiver and walk down the rest of the hall to the phone. I dial Mark and Penny's number and it's answered on the first ring.
"How is she?"
"She's just fine Mark. She only sprained her arm." I can hear Mark breathe out a sigh of relief then yell to everyone in the room that she's fine. "The doc's putting a splint on her and then we can go back home."
"Everyone's been worried, especially Aaron, he feels terrible."
"Why? It was an accident."
"Apparently not. He said they were arguing about something and he pushed her and she fell off the bridge." Mark has two huge oak trees in his backyard about 5 feet from eachother. Each one has a tree house for the older kids to play in. They were complaining about having to climb down one to climb up the other one, so the guy's installed a bridge connecting them. I'd tried it out myself and thought it to be pretty safe.
"Well, tell him it was still an accident and that Keera's okay."
"Will do."
"Okay, I gotta go Mark, we'll be back soon. Save some of that cake for me." He laughs.
"We haven't even opened presents yet. Malich refuses to do anything until his 'Key' gets back." I laugh a little.
"All right, well we'll see you soon." I hang up the phone, sigh and walk back down the hall. I get to the doors and let out a huge breath. They open for me and I rush back to Keera's room. She's sitting up on the bed with a metal splint on her left arm.
"Hi mommy." I smile and sit beside her.
"Hi sweetie."
"The doctor gave her some Children's Advil and said we're free to go."
"Are we going back to the party now?" I nod and help her down to her feet. I take her good hand and lead her down the halls and out of the hospital.
"Malich, come here, auntie missed you." I pick him up and he rubs his grubby little hands in my hair. So much for my shower. "Wow, you're so big! I think you grew." He nods happily then squirms to get out of my arms. Jordan and his wife Lisa just got here with their two boys and Malich wants to go play. Thomas is their youngest at 4 and Malich adores him.
It's weird to think that all of my brothers are grown and have their own families. They're all married but Leon, who's engaged to be married next year, and all have their own kids but Leon. The family's betting on whether or not his fiance, Corrine, ends up pregnant before the wedding. Only Becca and I think it'll be after.
Nate and Becca have their daughter Heather, and their sons Oliver and Aaron. Jordan and Lisa have their sons Blaire and Thomas. Freddy and Kris have their daughter Lauren. Mark and Penny have Malich and are expecting another baby in February. And then there's Leon and Corrine. Phoebe is still pregnant and due in May. She found out she's having another girl and is really excited. As for Draco and I, we're content with our 4 and aren't looking to have any more kids. Especially since we have twins and don't want more of them.
I let Keera run off outside and go find a couch to sit on. I sit down beside Kris and Lisa, who are talking about preschools. Keera started last month, so it's been very, very quiet around the house during the day. I sink back into the couch and sigh, it's really comfy. "You look tired honey." I nod.
"It's this stupid dream." I've been having the same dream every night for almost two months. It's driving me crazy.
"What dreams?" Becca and Penny join us on the couches.
"Oh, Bell's been having weird dreams for a while now."
"Nope, the same dream, over and over."
"That's odd." I nod again.
"And annoying. You know I haven't had a nap in like 3 years and now I've been having one every single day." All 4 girls chuckle.
"You know Bell, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're pregnant again." I groan.
"Don't even joke about that. As my luck goes I am pregnant and carrying triplet's or something."
"Well I hope you figure this out soon. You look utterly exhausted."
"I feel utterly exhausted." Just then I hear a screech from outside. All 5 of us jump up and rush outside. My heart and stomach drop when I see a yellow jacket, Keera's yellow jacket, fall to the ground from 10 feet up. "Keera!" I run over but Draco beats me there.
"Did you bring your wand, Bell?" I manage to shake my head. "Someone start my car!" I'm vaguely aware of someone running back into the house toward the front door.
"Mommy!! My arm hurts!" I kneel down beside Keera's limp body and push the hair out of her eyes.
"I know honey, you're going to be okay." I look up to Draco. "Is it safe to move her?"
"Does anything else hurt, Keera? Your back or your head?" She shakes her head, tears and sobs escaping her.
"No, just my arm."
"Which one honey?"
"My left one." Draco positions her so he's not touching her left arm and lifts her up into his arms. I follow as he carries her through the house and to the car.
"Bell, Draco, I called the hospital and they're waiting for you." I climb numbly into the backseat and Draco lowers her in with me, her head on my lap. I stroke her hair while Draco gets in the drivers seat and speeds down the road.
"Draco, slow down, we don't want to get into an accident on the way there." He slows, but barely.
"Of all the days I don't bring my wand anywhere, this has to happen. Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"It's no one's fault. Accidents happen." He shakes his head. "She'll be fine, Draco. Just concentrate on getting us there in one piece." I'm surprised at how calm I am. Whenever Ethan had accidents like this I was always in hysterics and Draco was the calm one. Weird how it's reversed now.
Draco pulls up to the hospital 10 minutes later (when it should have taken 20 minutes) and parks right in front of the ER doors. "Draco, you can't park here, they'll ticket or tow the car." He ignores me and opens up the backdoor, taking Keera into his arms and carrying her into the ER.
I sit in the car for a few seconds, almost having a heart attack when someone knocks on the window. "You can't park here, miss." I stare at the policeman for a few seconds before registering what he said. I get into the drivers seat and park the car in a proper parking space. "Ridiculous. I can't believe it's 10$ just to park here." I walk back to the ER doors and spot Draco sitting in a chair. I sit down beside him and place my hand on his back. "Where is she?" He reaches for my hand.
"They took her into the back. They told me to wait out here for you." We sit in silence for a few minutes before a nurse comes up to us.
"Mr and Mrs Malfoy? She's back here." We get up and follow the nurse through a couple sets of doors and finally to a small room. Keera's laying on the bed looking very small and pale. "The doctor will be with you soon." I sit down on the chair and take Keera's right hand in mine. Draco paces around the small room.
"You're going to make yourself sick, stop it." He stops pacing and leans against the wall. "How does your arm feel, honey?"
"It still hurts but not as much." I smile.
"I bet it's not even broken." 15 minutes pass and the doctor finally makes his appearance.
"Hello Mr and Mrs Malfoy." He walks to the wall and turns on an x-ray window. He sticks an x-ray picture onto the window and taps his pen against the picture. "Well she didn't break anything. Just a bad sprain. For that I can put a splint on her so she doesn't move her arm too much. Nothing much else I can do." Draco and I both sigh with relief. "Don't let her use her arm too much for the first week or so. Is that her dominant hand?" I nod and look down at her arm. "She'll probably need help with anything she uses that hand for. Eating, writing, etc. The splint shouldn't get wet, so it would be best to help her bathe until it's taken off. I'll just go and get the splint and then you're free to leave." The doctor leaves the room and I look at Draco.
"See? Not even broken. She'll be just fine." He nods and smiles. "I should call everyone and let them know she's okay." I get up and walk over to him, stretching up on my tip toes to give him a quick kiss. I walk to the reception desk and a nurse smiles at me.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for a phone." She points down the hall.
"Walk through those doors and down to the end of the hall. The phone's on the right side." I thank her and wait for the big doors to open. Before I even start walking down the hall I get this weird feeling, like I've been here or done this before. Which is crazy because this is the first time I've been to this part of the hospital.
As I'm walking down the hall the feeling gets stronger and I suddenly realize why. This is my dream. A long hallway with doors on either side. I recognize some of the details from the dream. Like the date, which I feel like I should have clued into before now. I shiver and walk down the rest of the hall to the phone. I dial Mark and Penny's number and it's answered on the first ring.
"How is she?"
"She's just fine Mark. She only sprained her arm." I can hear Mark breathe out a sigh of relief then yell to everyone in the room that she's fine. "The doc's putting a splint on her and then we can go back home."
"Everyone's been worried, especially Aaron, he feels terrible."
"Why? It was an accident."
"Apparently not. He said they were arguing about something and he pushed her and she fell off the bridge." Mark has two huge oak trees in his backyard about 5 feet from eachother. Each one has a tree house for the older kids to play in. They were complaining about having to climb down one to climb up the other one, so the guy's installed a bridge connecting them. I'd tried it out myself and thought it to be pretty safe.
"Well, tell him it was still an accident and that Keera's okay."
"Will do."
"Okay, I gotta go Mark, we'll be back soon. Save some of that cake for me." He laughs.
"We haven't even opened presents yet. Malich refuses to do anything until his 'Key' gets back." I laugh a little.
"All right, well we'll see you soon." I hang up the phone, sigh and walk back down the hall. I get to the doors and let out a huge breath. They open for me and I rush back to Keera's room. She's sitting up on the bed with a metal splint on her left arm.
"Hi mommy." I smile and sit beside her.
"Hi sweetie."
"The doctor gave her some Children's Advil and said we're free to go."
"Are we going back to the party now?" I nod and help her down to her feet. I take her good hand and lead her down the halls and out of the hospital.
The Boy Next Door, Chapter 10
"Is that any way to say hello to your grandma?" I hear a chuckle on the other end of the line.
"Oh, I'm sorry! It's been a very bad morning." I plunk on my bed beside Adrian. Out of the corner of my eye I catch his arm move as if to go around my shoulders, but I guess he thinks better of it and moves it to his lap.
"What's going on?" I sigh deeply.
"I can't go into detail cause it involves a friend, but I'll say that Brenda really needs to mind her own damn business." I scoot back and sit with my back against the wall. I briefly wonder if Adrian feels awkward at all.
"You've been saying that for months."
"Well this time she went too far and got involved in something she shouldn't even know about. I was going to take care of it and now she's gone and ruined everything."
"You're sure you won't move here for the summer?" I smile.
"You know I can't, grandma. I have things to do here before I go off to college."
"Well you know the offer is always there, bunny."
"I know. So what did you call for?"
"I talked to Brax." Uh oh.
"What did he have to say?"
"Told me something about you and a young gentleman."
"I swear you're the weirdest grandma ever."
"You're changing the subject." I look at the back of Adrian's head and suddenly feel terrible for ignoring him right now. I'm so used to talking on the phone while Lyss is around that I guess I've forgotten my manners.
"I uh, can't talk about that right now."
"Is he there with you?"
"Yes. So I'll call you later okay?" I can just imagine the wink my grandma would give me if she were in front of me right now.
"All right. I look forward to your call."
"Love you, grandma."
"Love you, bunny." I hang up my phone and toss it into my lap.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting my grandma to call and I don't talk to her very often." Adrian turns around and gives me a smile.
"No, that's okay."
"So what are you doing over here anyway? I know I told you to come, but you said 'hang on I'll be over in 5' and then didn't do anything." I chuckle as he smiles again.
"Honestly, I didn't have a plan. I just didn't think you wanted to be alone right then." I feel a blush creep up my neck.
"No, I guess I didn't." Adrian is about to say something when my phone rings. Again. This time I actually scream. "Ahhhh!" I check caller ID to see that it's my dad this time. For a second I consider answering but decide against it. I can be lectured later. I turn off the ringer and stuff the phone under a pillow.
"Not going to answer?" I shake my head.
"Are you kidding me? I feel like I've talked to every damn person I know on the phone today. First my brother, then Lyss shows up, then you, then my grandma, now my dad. When will it end?" Either my rant or expression strikes him as funny because he suddenly bursts out laughing.
"I'm sorry, but it's just kind of hilarious." I roll my eyes in a playful way and then smile.
"Maybe I'll see it that way in a week or two." He grins and I feel my stomach do a flop. I debate whether or not to give him a surprise shove when there's a knock at my door. I thunk the back of my head against the wall.
"Emma?"
"What?"
"Your dad said he's tried calling and you won't answer. Is your phone working?" I roll my eyes and Adrian grins at me.
"Sorry, it's dead. I haven't plugged it in yet."
"I have him here, do you want to come get the phone?"
"No thanks. I was just going to eat and then go out."
"Where?"
"None of your business, Bren. Now go away." I sigh and get off the bed, frowning when I realize that my casserole is now cold. I'm starving but don't want to go down to the kitchen to heat it back up. I open one of the water bottles and take a sip while I think.
"So you're going to show me around after all?" I turn around and shrug.
"Since it seems I have nothing better to do, sure, why not?"
"Showing me around town should be on the top of your to-do list for the day." I raise my eyebrows as I cap my water.
"Oh, really?" Adrian nods while getting off the bed and going to his ladder. He lowers it down to the ground and starts to climb out when I stop him. He looks at me with a confused look on his face. Impulsively I walk over to him, lower my head, and give him a quick but hard peck on the lips.
"Oh, I'm sorry! It's been a very bad morning." I plunk on my bed beside Adrian. Out of the corner of my eye I catch his arm move as if to go around my shoulders, but I guess he thinks better of it and moves it to his lap.
"What's going on?" I sigh deeply.
"I can't go into detail cause it involves a friend, but I'll say that Brenda really needs to mind her own damn business." I scoot back and sit with my back against the wall. I briefly wonder if Adrian feels awkward at all.
"You've been saying that for months."
"Well this time she went too far and got involved in something she shouldn't even know about. I was going to take care of it and now she's gone and ruined everything."
"You're sure you won't move here for the summer?" I smile.
"You know I can't, grandma. I have things to do here before I go off to college."
"Well you know the offer is always there, bunny."
"I know. So what did you call for?"
"I talked to Brax." Uh oh.
"What did he have to say?"
"Told me something about you and a young gentleman."
"I swear you're the weirdest grandma ever."
"You're changing the subject." I look at the back of Adrian's head and suddenly feel terrible for ignoring him right now. I'm so used to talking on the phone while Lyss is around that I guess I've forgotten my manners.
"I uh, can't talk about that right now."
"Is he there with you?"
"Yes. So I'll call you later okay?" I can just imagine the wink my grandma would give me if she were in front of me right now.
"All right. I look forward to your call."
"Love you, grandma."
"Love you, bunny." I hang up my phone and toss it into my lap.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting my grandma to call and I don't talk to her very often." Adrian turns around and gives me a smile.
"No, that's okay."
"So what are you doing over here anyway? I know I told you to come, but you said 'hang on I'll be over in 5' and then didn't do anything." I chuckle as he smiles again.
"Honestly, I didn't have a plan. I just didn't think you wanted to be alone right then." I feel a blush creep up my neck.
"No, I guess I didn't." Adrian is about to say something when my phone rings. Again. This time I actually scream. "Ahhhh!" I check caller ID to see that it's my dad this time. For a second I consider answering but decide against it. I can be lectured later. I turn off the ringer and stuff the phone under a pillow.
"Not going to answer?" I shake my head.
"Are you kidding me? I feel like I've talked to every damn person I know on the phone today. First my brother, then Lyss shows up, then you, then my grandma, now my dad. When will it end?" Either my rant or expression strikes him as funny because he suddenly bursts out laughing.
"I'm sorry, but it's just kind of hilarious." I roll my eyes in a playful way and then smile.
"Maybe I'll see it that way in a week or two." He grins and I feel my stomach do a flop. I debate whether or not to give him a surprise shove when there's a knock at my door. I thunk the back of my head against the wall.
"Emma?"
"What?"
"Your dad said he's tried calling and you won't answer. Is your phone working?" I roll my eyes and Adrian grins at me.
"Sorry, it's dead. I haven't plugged it in yet."
"I have him here, do you want to come get the phone?"
"No thanks. I was just going to eat and then go out."
"Where?"
"None of your business, Bren. Now go away." I sigh and get off the bed, frowning when I realize that my casserole is now cold. I'm starving but don't want to go down to the kitchen to heat it back up. I open one of the water bottles and take a sip while I think.
"So you're going to show me around after all?" I turn around and shrug.
"Since it seems I have nothing better to do, sure, why not?"
"Showing me around town should be on the top of your to-do list for the day." I raise my eyebrows as I cap my water.
"Oh, really?" Adrian nods while getting off the bed and going to his ladder. He lowers it down to the ground and starts to climb out when I stop him. He looks at me with a confused look on his face. Impulsively I walk over to him, lower my head, and give him a quick but hard peck on the lips.
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