I'm sitting in the kitchen eating my breakfast when Emmett's older brother, Robert, comes and shoves my plate away from me. "What did you say to Emmett last night?" I look at him, confused.
"What? I didn't say anything." He pushes a finger in my face.
"Yes you did. He came into our room last night freaking out. He wouldn't tell me what, but I know it was because of you. And you're gonna tell me what." I feel tears start to well up in my eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Robert's eyes narrow and for a brief moment, I'm afraid he's going to hit me.
"I know you're lying and I'm gonna find out why. No one messes with my little brother and gets away with it. Especially not some spoiled little brat who thinks she can walk all over whoever she wants just because of who her father is. Nope, you're not getting away with this." With that he spins around and storms out of the kitchen. I stare after him, not knowing what to think. If Robert's so mad then maybe he wasn't playing a joke on me after all. But what if Robert's just pretending to be mad to scare me?
Not hungry anymore, I decide to go to my secret hiding place. I walk quickly to the backyard, hoping that I don't run into Robert again. Who knows what he'd do without anyone around to accidentally catch him. When I'm about 10 feet from the door of my place I stop. Something's wrong. There's a wall of leaves that covers the doors and whenever I leave I always place them just so. I remember back to the last time I was here, where I left them like I always do. Looking at them now, they've been moved and I'm sure someone's inside. That makes me angry. This is supposed to be my special place!
I walk the rest of the distance, pull the leaves aside, and step inside. It's a small play house that I found a few years ago. There's leaves covering it everywhere and a large tree is growing right beside it, so it's pretty much blocked from view from the outside. You'd have to really be looking to find this place. I've never told anyone about it, not even Sasha. There are too small rooms in the house. I use one as a living room and one as a bedroom. I like to sleep out here sometimes.
I hear someone bump into something and a loud crash in the other room. I quickly hide behind a big cardboard box while I wait to see who it is. I don't have to wait long as they stumble backwards out of the bedroom. I have to clamp my hands over my mouth to keep from gasping out loud. I watch as Emmett regains his footing and then curses loudly. He moves back into the room to right whatever it was he bumped into, and then he just stands in between the doors, resting against the frame. My head comes nowhere near the ceiling, but his is almost touching it.
He looks around both rooms and then goes back into the bedroom. I wonder what on earth could be so interesting, but I take the chance to stand in the middle of the living room, hands on my hips, and a glare on my face. Emmett is kind of intimidating, but nothing like his older brother. I get the feeling he wouldn't ever threaten anyone with his size, which kind of makes me feel better since he's about twice my size and at least 4 inches taller than my 4 foot 1. I put on my best brave glaring face and wait for him to come back out.
When he finally does he's looking at the floor and almost doesn't even notice me as he walks by. As he's about to open the door I clear my throat and he jumps and spins around. I have to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from smiling. "Holy shit, Jillian, you scared me!" I narrow my eyes.
"What are you doing in here?" He blinks a few times, no doubt waiting for his heart rate to go down.
"I found it and was curious. What are you doing here?" I roll my eyes.
"Isn't that obvious? This is my stuff." Instead of saying he's sorry, he suddenly cracks up laughing. My eyebrows knit together. "Why are you laughing, Emmett McCarty?" He drops down to his knees, hugging his stomach.
"The look on... your.. face. Is hilarious." I cross my arms and give him my best glare, but it just makes him laugh harder. Which results in making me smile. Somehow I can't stay mad at him. I sit down on the floor and cross my legs. I suddenly stop smiling as I remember last night. Emmett notices my change in mood and stops laughing, coming to sit beside me. "What's wrong?" More stupid tears make their way to my eyes.
"Nothing."
"Oh come on, you really expect me to believe that?" I sigh and look down at my hands.
"You left last night without telling me why." Emmett takes one of my hands and my stomach flips.
"I'm sorry. I can't really explain why I left, but I'm willing to make it up to you." I can't help but stare at our hands.
"How?"
"Anything you want starting now."
"When does that end? When you leave tomorrow?" I see him shake his head out of the corner of my eye.
"Nope. As long as you want me here."
"You mean until you start to annoy me?" He laughs quietly and runs his thumb over the back of my hand. My stomach does another flip and my heart starts beating faster. Emmett takes my chin in his right hand and guides my face to look at his. Instead of letting go, he moves his fingers to rest on my neck. I'm faintly aware that I should be embarrassed that my heart is beating so fast, but as soon as he starts lowing his face to mine, every thought leaves my head.
I didn't think it could get much better than last night's kiss, but this one beats it by a long shot. He presses his lips gently against mine, moving them in a way that feels like nothing I've ever experienced. I never thought kissing could ever make me feel so warm and cold all at the same time. I wonder what this new feeling it is that I'm experiencing. I don't get long to wonder as Emmett pulls his lips away from mine and smiles dimply at me. I hadn't noticed until now that my breathing is fast and my face is flushed. It pleases me in a way I can't quite pinpoint, to see that Emmett's is, too.
I didn't think it could get much better until he takes my right hand and kisses it. The gesture is so sweet that I can't help but smile. He smiles that dimpled smile, a smile that is quickly becoming my favourite smile, and helps me stand up. I decide to fix the bedroom later as he leads me away from my, now our, special place up to the main house.
29 November 2011
Forever More, Chapter 5
"When's the train getting here, mommy?" I look down at Keera. She's pulling at my arm.
"Soon, I think. I bet if we're real quiet we can hear the train before it gets here." This works but probably not for long. She's almost as excited as I am to be seeing her older siblings, so I can't blame her for jumping around. I look over at Draco out of the corner of my eye. He's talking to one of the twins friend's dad. He looks over at me and catches my eye for a second before looking away. Things aren't any better between us. In fact, I'd say they're almost worse.
"Mommy! I can hear it!" I look away from Draco and sure enough, I hear the loud whistle of the train engine announcing it's arrival. The Platform suddenly gets much quieter as parents and siblings alike wait for their family members. "I can't see it! Where is it?" A few people around us chuckle.
"Shh, it's coming. It'll be here soon." She jumps up and down again, trying to get a better view. A minute or so later I finally see the bright red steam engine pulling along a train full of kids. It looks exactly as it always has. Once it finally pulls into the station I have to wait 10 more minutes before spotting Ethan amongst the sea of people. Behind him is Bridget towing along Cheyenne. She's looking behind her and waves to someone. I don't give it much thought, only wanting my kids in my arms.
"Mom! Over here!" I half drag Keera behind me as I dodge through the people toward Ethan. I almost run into him and throw my arms around him. I thought it would get easier, having 3 of my kids gone for months at a time, but it's only gotten harder.
"Ethan! Oh I've missed you guys."
"I missed you too, mom. Bridge, Cheyenne, over here!" The other two come running up to me and I take all 4 of my kids in my arms. After a minute or two I finally let go of them and take a closer look. Ethan seems to have grown at least 2 inches, making the height difference between him and his twin sister more pronounced. It looks as if he's almost taller than I am. I make a mental note to measure when we get home.
"Where's dad?" I look closer at Cheyenne, too. She doesn't seem to have changed too much. Her hair's longer and she looks skinnier, but nothing too drastic. Bridget looks exactly the same as she always does.
"He's here somewhere. Talking to Patrick's dad, I think." My 3 older kids grab their trunks and follow Keera and I through the now smaller crowd to their dad. He excuses himself from the conversation as Bridget lands him with a giant hug, then Ethan, and lastly Cheyenne. I might be reading too much into it, but she seems distracted and restless. Like she's waiting for something.
Draco leads the kids to the car while I tag along behind. I wonder what people see when they look at my family. A happy couple with a happy family? It could only be further from the truth right now. "Mom, come on! Heather said they're having a welcome home party at her house and I don't wanna be late!"
"We're not going to be late. The party isn't for another 3 hours. We're going home first anyway." Cheyenne sighs in annoyance. "And since when do you actually like going to these family things?" She's hated them since she was 7.
"Since now. Do we really have to go home first, dad?"
"Yep. Now come you lot, into the car you go." I get into the passenger seat as the kids file into the van. I notice that Cheyenne sits at the very back. Very odd for her. She usually likes to sit as close to me as she can get so she can tell me all about everything. I give Draco a look and nod back to our oldest daughter. He looks at her from the review mirror and shrugs, putting the car into gear. He surprises me by looking back over at me. "I'll talk to her later."
It's been almost 2 weeks since he's said anything but "what's for supper" and I almost have a heart attack. Even in the short amount of time that Cheyenne's been with us, it's obvious there's something going on with her. Hopefully he's noticed it too and maybe we can begin to work things out. As much as I'm dreading this dream actually coming true, I hope it comes quickly. I want to be able to hug my husband without wanting to physically attack him.
With the way Draco drives it takes us about half the time to get home than it would have taken me to drive, which gives us about 2 more hours until this party starts. I want to talk to Cheyenne but figure I'll let Draco deal with her for the time being. So, instead, I focus on my other two children. I ask Ethan to help me make lunch, listening to him tell me about the makings of his first year at the school. I get Bridget to help me clean up lunch so she can tell me all about her time there.
During lunch I noticed that Cheyenne was very quiet and Draco just looked mad. I feel bad for Bridget because I'm only half listening to what she's telling me. I'm annoyed that I won't have the chance to talk to Draco until tonight when we're back home from the party. "Mom, you okay? You're not listening."
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. I'm just a little distracted." Bridget suddenly gets a serious look on her face.
"Mom, I think there's something wrong with Cheyenne." I stop drying the bowl I'm holding and turn to face my daughter.
"Why do you think that?"
"I dunno. She's been real quiet lately and usually you can't get her to shut up. She doesn't talk to anyone anymore except Alex. They're always together, like all the time." I frown. For some reason an alarm goes off in my head.
"Have you tried talking to her?" Bridget nods.
"Yeah, but she won't talk to me anymore. We used to be almost as close as Ethan and I are. I miss her." This worries me but I can't let Bridget know that.
"I'm sure she's okay. Your dad and I will talk to her and figure it all out. Don't worry, okay?" Her ever present smile lights her face back up.
"Can I go?" I nod and she runs off. I finish drying the lunch dishes and then put them away, sitting at the table when I'm done. This new information from Bridget worries me. Without really meaning to, I think back to the dream. I think through it and new emotions seem to make themselves known. Before all I could feel was the confusion and then the passion. Now there's something else, and I'm not sure I like what I find.
"Soon, I think. I bet if we're real quiet we can hear the train before it gets here." This works but probably not for long. She's almost as excited as I am to be seeing her older siblings, so I can't blame her for jumping around. I look over at Draco out of the corner of my eye. He's talking to one of the twins friend's dad. He looks over at me and catches my eye for a second before looking away. Things aren't any better between us. In fact, I'd say they're almost worse.
"Mommy! I can hear it!" I look away from Draco and sure enough, I hear the loud whistle of the train engine announcing it's arrival. The Platform suddenly gets much quieter as parents and siblings alike wait for their family members. "I can't see it! Where is it?" A few people around us chuckle.
"Shh, it's coming. It'll be here soon." She jumps up and down again, trying to get a better view. A minute or so later I finally see the bright red steam engine pulling along a train full of kids. It looks exactly as it always has. Once it finally pulls into the station I have to wait 10 more minutes before spotting Ethan amongst the sea of people. Behind him is Bridget towing along Cheyenne. She's looking behind her and waves to someone. I don't give it much thought, only wanting my kids in my arms.
"Mom! Over here!" I half drag Keera behind me as I dodge through the people toward Ethan. I almost run into him and throw my arms around him. I thought it would get easier, having 3 of my kids gone for months at a time, but it's only gotten harder.
"Ethan! Oh I've missed you guys."
"I missed you too, mom. Bridge, Cheyenne, over here!" The other two come running up to me and I take all 4 of my kids in my arms. After a minute or two I finally let go of them and take a closer look. Ethan seems to have grown at least 2 inches, making the height difference between him and his twin sister more pronounced. It looks as if he's almost taller than I am. I make a mental note to measure when we get home.
"Where's dad?" I look closer at Cheyenne, too. She doesn't seem to have changed too much. Her hair's longer and she looks skinnier, but nothing too drastic. Bridget looks exactly the same as she always does.
"He's here somewhere. Talking to Patrick's dad, I think." My 3 older kids grab their trunks and follow Keera and I through the now smaller crowd to their dad. He excuses himself from the conversation as Bridget lands him with a giant hug, then Ethan, and lastly Cheyenne. I might be reading too much into it, but she seems distracted and restless. Like she's waiting for something.
Draco leads the kids to the car while I tag along behind. I wonder what people see when they look at my family. A happy couple with a happy family? It could only be further from the truth right now. "Mom, come on! Heather said they're having a welcome home party at her house and I don't wanna be late!"
"We're not going to be late. The party isn't for another 3 hours. We're going home first anyway." Cheyenne sighs in annoyance. "And since when do you actually like going to these family things?" She's hated them since she was 7.
"Since now. Do we really have to go home first, dad?"
"Yep. Now come you lot, into the car you go." I get into the passenger seat as the kids file into the van. I notice that Cheyenne sits at the very back. Very odd for her. She usually likes to sit as close to me as she can get so she can tell me all about everything. I give Draco a look and nod back to our oldest daughter. He looks at her from the review mirror and shrugs, putting the car into gear. He surprises me by looking back over at me. "I'll talk to her later."
It's been almost 2 weeks since he's said anything but "what's for supper" and I almost have a heart attack. Even in the short amount of time that Cheyenne's been with us, it's obvious there's something going on with her. Hopefully he's noticed it too and maybe we can begin to work things out. As much as I'm dreading this dream actually coming true, I hope it comes quickly. I want to be able to hug my husband without wanting to physically attack him.
With the way Draco drives it takes us about half the time to get home than it would have taken me to drive, which gives us about 2 more hours until this party starts. I want to talk to Cheyenne but figure I'll let Draco deal with her for the time being. So, instead, I focus on my other two children. I ask Ethan to help me make lunch, listening to him tell me about the makings of his first year at the school. I get Bridget to help me clean up lunch so she can tell me all about her time there.
During lunch I noticed that Cheyenne was very quiet and Draco just looked mad. I feel bad for Bridget because I'm only half listening to what she's telling me. I'm annoyed that I won't have the chance to talk to Draco until tonight when we're back home from the party. "Mom, you okay? You're not listening."
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. I'm just a little distracted." Bridget suddenly gets a serious look on her face.
"Mom, I think there's something wrong with Cheyenne." I stop drying the bowl I'm holding and turn to face my daughter.
"Why do you think that?"
"I dunno. She's been real quiet lately and usually you can't get her to shut up. She doesn't talk to anyone anymore except Alex. They're always together, like all the time." I frown. For some reason an alarm goes off in my head.
"Have you tried talking to her?" Bridget nods.
"Yeah, but she won't talk to me anymore. We used to be almost as close as Ethan and I are. I miss her." This worries me but I can't let Bridget know that.
"I'm sure she's okay. Your dad and I will talk to her and figure it all out. Don't worry, okay?" Her ever present smile lights her face back up.
"Can I go?" I nod and she runs off. I finish drying the lunch dishes and then put them away, sitting at the table when I'm done. This new information from Bridget worries me. Without really meaning to, I think back to the dream. I think through it and new emotions seem to make themselves known. Before all I could feel was the confusion and then the passion. Now there's something else, and I'm not sure I like what I find.
25 November 2011
The Boy Next Door, Chapter 12
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?"
"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?"
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.
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