He's gone, Iris thought as she hugged her knees. Diego's gone and I didn't even get to say goodbye.
If only she hadn't let him go. The plane crash never would have happened if he hadn't gotten upset with her. Why did she call her best friend such horrible things?
Now she was all alone. She had no one, absolutely no one, left.
She eventually cried herself to sleep and dremaed of heaven, of a warm paradise. It took her w while to realize she was wrapped in a soft blanket. No...
They were wings.
She looked up.
"Hello, Angel," Diego said with his usual bright smile.
"You're the angel here," Iris said, laughing, tears rising."Your angel," Adam corrected.
She ran her fingers through the feathers of his wings. They looked so stiff and as hard as steel, yet they slipped right throug her fingers.
"Well?" he asked casually.
"What?"
"You got your wish. Say goodbye..."
Note: Tell the people you love just how much you care about them before it's too late, for life is too short.
I'll be stopping here to write more.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Stories Of Love, Loss, And Hope (Fifth Passage!)
He's gone, Iris thought as she hugged her knees. Diego's gone and I didn't even get to say goodbye.
If only she hadn't let him go. The plane crash never would have happened if he hadn't gotten upset with her. Why did she call her best friend such horrible things?
Now she was all alone. She had no one, absolutely no one, left.
She eventually cried herself to sleep and dremaed of heaven, of a warm paradise. It took her w while to realize she was wrapped in a soft blanket. No...
They were wings.
She looked up.
"Hello, Angel," Diego said with his usual bright smile.
"You're the angel here," Iris said, laughing, tears rising.
"Your angel," Adam corrected.
She ran her fingers through the feathers of his wings. They looked so stiff and as hard as steel, yet they slipped right throug her fingers.
"Well?" he asked casually.
"What?"
"You got your wish. Say goodbye..."
If only she hadn't let him go. The plane crash never would have happened if he hadn't gotten upset with her. Why did she call her best friend such horrible things?
Now she was all alone. She had no one, absolutely no one, left.
She eventually cried herself to sleep and dremaed of heaven, of a warm paradise. It took her w while to realize she was wrapped in a soft blanket. No...
They were wings.
She looked up.
"Hello, Angel," Diego said with his usual bright smile.
"You're the angel here," Iris said, laughing, tears rising.
"Your angel," Adam corrected.
She ran her fingers through the feathers of his wings. They looked so stiff and as hard as steel, yet they slipped right throug her fingers.
"Well?" he asked casually.
"What?"
"You got your wish. Say goodbye..."
The Answer To Yesterdays Passage!
"There's no room for me in your life, Ellie," Noah told his golden-eyed lover. He couldn't even think how many times he thought about who was using who. Noah loved Ellie, but sometimes he couldn't help but feel guilty. Then again, Ellie was married, but Noah had still allowed himself to fall for her knowing this. That's probably all she wants me for, Noah thought. The passionate nights that her husband doesn't give to her.
"What?" she shot out. "How can you say that?"
"Ellie, you're married to Ben. He's your husband."
She frowned. "But I've told you so many times; it was an arranged marriage. He always showers me with presents, and he's shown me more than once that he cares about me, but I just don't love him the way he loves me."
"That doesn't change the fact that your his wife."
Tears welled up in her eyes.. "But Noah, you know I love you. I-"
"There's no room for me in your life," Noah repeated.
She took his hand. "That doesn't matter. What matters is that there will always be room for you in my heart."
Note: There are no boundaries in love. Nothing can tear two people apart.
"What?" she shot out. "How can you say that?"
"Ellie, you're married to Ben. He's your husband."
She frowned. "But I've told you so many times; it was an arranged marriage. He always showers me with presents, and he's shown me more than once that he cares about me, but I just don't love him the way he loves me."
"That doesn't change the fact that your his wife."
Tears welled up in her eyes.. "But Noah, you know I love you. I-"
"There's no room for me in your life," Noah repeated.
She took his hand. "That doesn't matter. What matters is that there will always be room for you in my heart."
Note: There are no boundaries in love. Nothing can tear two people apart.
Stories Of Love, Loss, And Hope (Fourth Passage!)
This is a pretty short one...
"There's no room for me in your life, Ellie," Noah told his golden-eyed lover. He couldn't even think how many times he thought about who was using who. Noah loved Ellie, but sometimes he couldn't help but feel guilty. Then again, Ellie was married, but Noah had still allowed himself to fall for her knowing this. That's probably all she wants me for, Noah thought. The passionate nights that her husband doesn't give to her.
"What?" she shot out. "How can you say that?"
"Ellie, you're married to Ben. He's your husband."
She frowned. "But I've told you so many times; it was an arranged marriage. He always showers me with presents, and he's shown me more than once that he cares about me, but I just don't love him the way he loves me."
"That doesn't change the fact that your his wife."
Tears welled up in her eyes.. "But Noah, you know I love you. I-"
"There's no room for me in your life," Noah repeated.
She took his hand. "That doesn't matter. What matters is that there will always be room for you in my heart."
"There's no room for me in your life, Ellie," Noah told his golden-eyed lover. He couldn't even think how many times he thought about who was using who. Noah loved Ellie, but sometimes he couldn't help but feel guilty. Then again, Ellie was married, but Noah had still allowed himself to fall for her knowing this. That's probably all she wants me for, Noah thought. The passionate nights that her husband doesn't give to her.
"What?" she shot out. "How can you say that?"
"Ellie, you're married to Ben. He's your husband."
She frowned. "But I've told you so many times; it was an arranged marriage. He always showers me with presents, and he's shown me more than once that he cares about me, but I just don't love him the way he loves me."
"That doesn't change the fact that your his wife."
Tears welled up in her eyes.. "But Noah, you know I love you. I-"
"There's no room for me in your life," Noah repeated.
She took his hand. "That doesn't matter. What matters is that there will always be room for you in my heart."
The Answer To Yesterdays Passage!
Aaron was mesmerized as he stared at the strange human before him. Human with wings. He still didn't think it was possible. He never believed in angels, but here was one right in front of him, one so beautiful and goddess-like, he was almost blinded by her glory.She drew her sword and swung, sending the beasts pursuing him flying. She swung again, and then another time, then another, and then once more, not once stopping to catch her breath. When she finally got irritated enough, she pointed her sword in the air and a flame grew around it. There was a blinding light, and when Aaron was able to see again, all of the beasts were scattered, lying dead on the ground. He looked over at the angel so-called Camille as she dropped her sword and resumed to stare at Aaron."What the hell just happened?" he asked, almost positive that he would see this majestic creature once again."Simple, really," she responded, her voice as heavenly as her sky-blue eyes. "I just saved your sorry ass."
Note: Sometimes our savior can come in the most unexpected way.
Note: Sometimes our savior can come in the most unexpected way.
Stories Of Love, Loss, And Hope (Third Passage!)
Aaron was mesmerized as he stared at the strange human before him. Human with wings. He still didn't think it was possible. He never believed in angels, but here was one right in front of him, one so beautiful and goddess-like, he was almost blinded by her glory.
She drew her sword and swung, sending the beasts pursuing him flying. She swung again, and then another time, then another, and then once more, not once stopping to catch her breath. When she finally got irritated enough, she pointed her sword in the air and a flame grew around it. There was a blinding light, and when Aaron was able to see again, all of the beasts were scattered, lying dead on the ground. He looked over at the angel so-called Camille as she dropped her sword and resumed to stare at Aaron.
"What the hell just happened?" he asked, almost positive that he would see this majestic creature once again.
"Simple, really," she responded, her voice as heavenly as her sky-blue eyes. "I just saved your sorry ass."
Hint: Salvation
She drew her sword and swung, sending the beasts pursuing him flying. She swung again, and then another time, then another, and then once more, not once stopping to catch her breath. When she finally got irritated enough, she pointed her sword in the air and a flame grew around it. There was a blinding light, and when Aaron was able to see again, all of the beasts were scattered, lying dead on the ground. He looked over at the angel so-called Camille as she dropped her sword and resumed to stare at Aaron.
"What the hell just happened?" he asked, almost positive that he would see this majestic creature once again.
"Simple, really," she responded, her voice as heavenly as her sky-blue eyes. "I just saved your sorry ass."
Hint: Salvation
The Answer To Second Passage!
Sorry I fogot to post yesterday.
She looked at herself in the mirror, still anxious but excited. She observed herself, trying to criticize any imperfection. She was praying that there wasn't anything on her wedding dress that she couldn't see. Today was the last day she would be a free woman, for tomorrow was the day she would become Mrs. Nikki Summers.The door opens, then is slammed, and she stirred when she saw her fiancé, Jared, in the reflection of the mirror. "Jared, what are you doing here?! Oh, God, you weren't supposed to see me in my-"She stopped herself short when he realized he looked worried."What's wrong?"He ignored her. He didn't even look up, as if he hadn't even heard her.Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She gasped at what she saw.Disturbing cuts and bruises appeared on her body, and her wedding dress was suddenly covered in blood. And then she remembered her nightmare the night before.It was still feint, still a blur. But it came to her now. She had been sitting on the cliff that looked high over the ocean, up into the sunset. She had thought she was in paradise, the beauty and peacefulness of that moment - all shattered by the feel of hands against her back, pushing her over the edge."Jared?" she said unsure, tears rising in her eyes, hoping it wasn't true. It can't be, she thought as her heart raced. It can't be.She reached out to rest her hand on his shoulder. "Jared, I-"But her hand passed right through him.His phone rang, and he took a quick, deep breath and answered. "Did you find the body?"She gulped as she could hear someone on the other end all too clearly."Yes," the person replied. "She...she was in the ocean. She most likely fell onto the rocks, considering the bruises on her body-"Jared shut the phone. He let out a sob, as did Nikki."No," Nikki cried, shaking her head ferociously. "No, it can't be! Please, you have to hear me. I'm right here. Jared? Jared!"His name echoed through the room. She noticed him shiver, and then whispered, "I'll never forget you, Nikki. How could I? You're going to be buried on our wedding day..."
Note: A person may die, but your love for them never will.
She looked at herself in the mirror, still anxious but excited. She observed herself, trying to criticize any imperfection. She was praying that there wasn't anything on her wedding dress that she couldn't see. Today was the last day she would be a free woman, for tomorrow was the day she would become Mrs. Nikki Summers.The door opens, then is slammed, and she stirred when she saw her fiancé, Jared, in the reflection of the mirror. "Jared, what are you doing here?! Oh, God, you weren't supposed to see me in my-"She stopped herself short when he realized he looked worried."What's wrong?"He ignored her. He didn't even look up, as if he hadn't even heard her.Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She gasped at what she saw.Disturbing cuts and bruises appeared on her body, and her wedding dress was suddenly covered in blood. And then she remembered her nightmare the night before.It was still feint, still a blur. But it came to her now. She had been sitting on the cliff that looked high over the ocean, up into the sunset. She had thought she was in paradise, the beauty and peacefulness of that moment - all shattered by the feel of hands against her back, pushing her over the edge."Jared?" she said unsure, tears rising in her eyes, hoping it wasn't true. It can't be, she thought as her heart raced. It can't be.She reached out to rest her hand on his shoulder. "Jared, I-"But her hand passed right through him.His phone rang, and he took a quick, deep breath and answered. "Did you find the body?"She gulped as she could hear someone on the other end all too clearly."Yes," the person replied. "She...she was in the ocean. She most likely fell onto the rocks, considering the bruises on her body-"Jared shut the phone. He let out a sob, as did Nikki."No," Nikki cried, shaking her head ferociously. "No, it can't be! Please, you have to hear me. I'm right here. Jared? Jared!"His name echoed through the room. She noticed him shiver, and then whispered, "I'll never forget you, Nikki. How could I? You're going to be buried on our wedding day..."
Note: A person may die, but your love for them never will.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Stories Of Love, Loss, And Hope (Second Passage!)
She looked at herself in the mirror, still anxious but excited. She observed herself, trying to criticize any imperfection. She was praying that there wasn't anything on her wedding dress that she couldn't see. Today was the last day she would be a free woman, for tomorrow was the day she would become Mrs. Nikki Summers.
The door opens, then is slammed, and she stirred when she saw her fiancé, Jared, in the reflection of the mirror. "Jared, what are you doing here?! Oh, God, you weren't supposed to see me in my-"
She stopped herself short when he realized he looked worried.
"What's wrong?"
He ignored her. He didn't even look up, as if he hadn't even heard her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She gasped at what she saw.
Disturbing cuts and bruises appeared on her body, and her wedding dress was suddenly covered in blood. And then she remembered her nightmare the night before.
It was still feint, still a blur. But it came to her now. She had been sitting on the cliff that looked high over the ocean, up into the sunset. She had thought she was in paradise, the beauty and peacefulness of that moment - all shattered by the feel of hands against her back, pushing her over the edge.
"Jared?" she said unsure, tears rising in her eyes, hoping it wasn't true. It can't be, she thought as her heart raced. It can't be.
She reached out to rest her hand on his shoulder. "Jared, I-"
But her hand passed right through him.
His phone rang, and he took a quick, deep breath and answered. "Did you find the body?"
She gulped as she could hear someone on the other end all too clearly.
"Yes," the person replied. "She...she was in the ocean. She most likely fell onto the rocks, considering the bruises on her body-"
Jared shut the phone. He let out a sob, as did Nikki.
"No," Nikki cried, shaking her head ferociously. "No, it can't be! Please, you have to hear me. I'm right here. Jared? Jared!"
His name echoed through the room. She noticed him shiver, and then whispered, "I'll never forget you, Nikki. How could I? You're going to be buried on our wedding day..."
Posting the note tomorrow! Hint: things that last forever.
The door opens, then is slammed, and she stirred when she saw her fiancé, Jared, in the reflection of the mirror. "Jared, what are you doing here?! Oh, God, you weren't supposed to see me in my-"
She stopped herself short when he realized he looked worried.
"What's wrong?"
He ignored her. He didn't even look up, as if he hadn't even heard her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She gasped at what she saw.
Disturbing cuts and bruises appeared on her body, and her wedding dress was suddenly covered in blood. And then she remembered her nightmare the night before.
It was still feint, still a blur. But it came to her now. She had been sitting on the cliff that looked high over the ocean, up into the sunset. She had thought she was in paradise, the beauty and peacefulness of that moment - all shattered by the feel of hands against her back, pushing her over the edge.
"Jared?" she said unsure, tears rising in her eyes, hoping it wasn't true. It can't be, she thought as her heart raced. It can't be.
She reached out to rest her hand on his shoulder. "Jared, I-"
But her hand passed right through him.
His phone rang, and he took a quick, deep breath and answered. "Did you find the body?"
She gulped as she could hear someone on the other end all too clearly.
"Yes," the person replied. "She...she was in the ocean. She most likely fell onto the rocks, considering the bruises on her body-"
Jared shut the phone. He let out a sob, as did Nikki.
"No," Nikki cried, shaking her head ferociously. "No, it can't be! Please, you have to hear me. I'm right here. Jared? Jared!"
His name echoed through the room. She noticed him shiver, and then whispered, "I'll never forget you, Nikki. How could I? You're going to be buried on our wedding day..."
Posting the note tomorrow! Hint: things that last forever.
The Answer To Yesterdays Passage!
From the moment he saw her, he felt an instant connection, a strange tug. The pull Zeke felt toward her was so strong, he couldn't help but follow her to her locker and, for some reason, bug the hell out of her.He watched her set her combination into place, then pulled down as it clicked open. He said not a single word as he continued to observe her as she put books in and took other books out. She glanced over at him finally and spoke. "Can I help you? Are you lost or something?""Yes, I can't find my way out of your eyes," he said, giving a sideways smile, realizing exactly how cheesy that sounded.The girl swallowed, the she looked furious. "Stop before you eve start. You're just like all the rest. I don't want to be part of you little joke. I'm not a game that you can just play whenever you feel like it, you jerk!"He could hear the tears in her voice, see it in her beautiful deep green eyes. He leaned against her locker, inches away from her face, and whispered, "I would never do that." Then in a louder voice: "Even if I did, I wouldn't just play you, I'd do everything to win you."She shoved him away. "Win me? she said fiery. "What am I, a prize at the county fair? I'm nobody's possession!"Zeke realized his poor choice of words, and tried to defend himself. "That's not what I meant.""Then what did you mean?" she retorted weakly, in a strained voice.He looked down and happened to see her hands, and the L-O-V-E on her knuckles in permanent black Sharpie.He smiled as he recalled her familiar handwriting. He took her her hands in his and looked back up at her. "I meant that I would do everything to win your heart, like I have before. I meant that I know you, Hailey. Your favorite color is jade, you hate ketchup, and that for some reason you love the number fifteen. You're scared of aliens coming down to invade earth and you're a freak for books about angels and you believe in true love. I remember you, and I never forgot you. The question is, do you remember me?"He showed her his own knuckles with the letters T-R-U-E, one on each knuckle in permanent black Sharpie.
And the theme (note) was:
Note: Love does not find you, you find it. And if you lose it, then it will come back.
And the theme (note) was:
Note: Love does not find you, you find it. And if you lose it, then it will come back.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Fallen by Lauren Kate (And the sequel Torment)
Okay so I know I haven't posted in a while but I've been busy now that I am in high school, and that I haven't done anymore stories. That's because I always get stuck halfway, so instead, I'll be doing "Stories of Love, Loss, And Hope" - random pieces of stories that whip up in my head that kind of have a main idea, and so I thought I'd post one of those every week and have you guys (And by you guys, I mean Eliora =P) guess what it is! But before the first piece, I want to talk to you guys about probably one of the best love stories ever: Fallen by Lauren Kate! This book is probably the most romantic book ever, based on a girl names Luce. She is accused of killing her friend (boyfriend?), so she is sent to a reform school (or whatever it's called). She meets Daniel, and there's something familiar about him, something that makes Luce strangely drawn to him, but everytime she tries to get closer, he keeps away. There's a reason for his staying at a distance from her: He's a fallen angel. And not only that, but he's been around for ages. And there was something else: Luce has been with Daniel many times before. They are stuck in a cycle where they cannot even be together because the truth has killed her before, which is why he stays as far away from her as possible; to protect her. Can Daniel break this cursed cycle they have been damned with, or is Luce doomed to her repeated fate? Find out by reading it! Torment, the sequel is also out now. (And so is the sequel to one of my other favorite books of all time, Hush, Hush!)
Okay, I thought that review would be shorter but oh well! Here's the first passage of "Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope"!(Remember to try to guess the main idea!)
From the moment he saw her, he felt an instant connection, a strange tug. The pull Zeke felt toward her was so strong, he couldn't help but follow her to her locker and, for some reason, bug the hell out of her.
He watched her set her combination into place, then pulled down as it clicked open. He said not a single word as he continued to observe her as she put books in and took other books out. She glanced over at him finally and spoke. "Can I help you? Are you lost or something?"
"Yes, I can't find my way out of your eyes," he said, giving a sideways smile, realizing exactly how cheesy that sounded.
The girl swallowed, the she looked furious. "Stop before you eve start. You're just like all the rest. I don't want to be part of you little joke. I'm not a game that you can just play whenever you feel like it, you jerk!"
He could hear the tears in her voice, see it in her beautiful deep green eyes. He leaned against her locker, inches away from her face, and whispered, "I would never do that." Then in a louder voice: "Even if I did, I wouldn't just play you, I'd do everything to win you."
She shoved him away. "Win me? she said fiery. "What am I, a prize at the county fair? I'm nobody's possession!"
Zeke realized his poor choice of words, and tried to defend himself. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" she retorted weakly, in a strained voice.
He looked down and happened to see her hands, and the L-O-V-E on her knuckles in permanent black Sharpie.
He smiled as he recalled her familiar handwriting. He took her her hands in his and looked back up at her. "I meant that I would do everything to win your heart, like I have before. I meant that I know you, Hailey. Your favorite color is jade, you hate ketchup, and that for some reason you love the number fifteen. You're scared of aliens coming down to invade earth and you're a freak for books about angels and you believe in true love. I remember you, and I never forgot you. The question is, do you remember me?"
He showed her his own knuckles with the letters T-R-U-E, one on each knuckle in permanent black Sharpie.
I'll post the note tomorrow! (That's what I'm gonna call the main idea, notes!)
Okay, I thought that review would be shorter but oh well! Here's the first passage of "Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope"!(Remember to try to guess the main idea!)
From the moment he saw her, he felt an instant connection, a strange tug. The pull Zeke felt toward her was so strong, he couldn't help but follow her to her locker and, for some reason, bug the hell out of her.
He watched her set her combination into place, then pulled down as it clicked open. He said not a single word as he continued to observe her as she put books in and took other books out. She glanced over at him finally and spoke. "Can I help you? Are you lost or something?"
"Yes, I can't find my way out of your eyes," he said, giving a sideways smile, realizing exactly how cheesy that sounded.
The girl swallowed, the she looked furious. "Stop before you eve start. You're just like all the rest. I don't want to be part of you little joke. I'm not a game that you can just play whenever you feel like it, you jerk!"
He could hear the tears in her voice, see it in her beautiful deep green eyes. He leaned against her locker, inches away from her face, and whispered, "I would never do that." Then in a louder voice: "Even if I did, I wouldn't just play you, I'd do everything to win you."
She shoved him away. "Win me? she said fiery. "What am I, a prize at the county fair? I'm nobody's possession!"
Zeke realized his poor choice of words, and tried to defend himself. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" she retorted weakly, in a strained voice.
He looked down and happened to see her hands, and the L-O-V-E on her knuckles in permanent black Sharpie.
He smiled as he recalled her familiar handwriting. He took her her hands in his and looked back up at her. "I meant that I would do everything to win your heart, like I have before. I meant that I know you, Hailey. Your favorite color is jade, you hate ketchup, and that for some reason you love the number fifteen. You're scared of aliens coming down to invade earth and you're a freak for books about angels and you believe in true love. I remember you, and I never forgot you. The question is, do you remember me?"
He showed her his own knuckles with the letters T-R-U-E, one on each knuckle in permanent black Sharpie.
I'll post the note tomorrow! (That's what I'm gonna call the main idea, notes!)
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wings: Final Chapter!
Aaron’s P.O.V.
I searched and searched through the papers for the drawing of Elena, finding nothing.
“Looking for this?”
I froze. I turned slowly, and realized even slower that my brother was standing right in front of me, holding up the drawing. He held it out and waited for me to grab it.
I reached out for it, feeling a strange warmth as I gripped it carefully between my fingers.
“Just wanted to say good luck,” Adam told me, smirking. “Elena won’t be easy.”
“I kind of figured that out already,” I muttered.
He laughed, then looked at me sincerely. “I’ll miss you guys like hell.”
I smiled. “Luckily, that’s not where you’re going.” I lowered my voice. “I’ll miss you, too.”
“Take care of her and my Naomi for me. This isn’t goodbye, but I still just wanted to let you know that I’ll always be watching, so don’t think of doing anything stupid.” He gave me a look of warning. “If you ever break Elena’s heart…you don’t even want to know.”
I shook my head. “I could never hurt her.” I looked down at Elena’s drawn face.
“Thank you, Adam,” I whispered, still looking down. “I promise you, I’ll try to make her as happy as you did.”
“No,” he told me. “You’ll make her much happier. I know you will.”
“There was something I always wanted to ask you, but I was afraid you’d get mad.”
“What is it?”
“How’s she in bed?” But when I looked back up, he was gone, leaving a golden piece of paper in his place on the floor. I picked up his note.
Find out for yourself, the paper read, and I smirked.
I ran back downstairs where I found Elena thanking Diego and Cam for watching Naomi while we were gone, the drawing and Adam’s note in my hands.
I noticed little Naomi and the dog Cam had gotten for me as a present sleeping on the pullout couch, which Elena had found in the basement a few days ago.
After they left, Elena took Naomi up to her crib, and we plopped down on the bed. She was suddenly on top of me, biting her lip and leaning in seductively. Her lips met mine, and I pulled her closer, not wanting to let her go for even a second, now that I finally had her all to myself.
I was relieved that I could finally be with her without feeling guilty, without having to restrain myself.
I pulled away slowly, and laughed when I saw that she hadn’t wanted me to. “I thought you said it was too soon?” I told her, smug.
She shrugged, and I pulled Adam’s note out of my pocket. “I saw Adam and asked him how you were in bed,” I explained, holding out the paper to her.
Her eyes skimmed the note, then looked back at me and the smile on my face.
“Oh, shut up and kiss me,” she muttered, throwing the paper over her shoulder.
Happy to oblige, I thought as I laid my lips on hers, anxious to have her in my arms as I‘d imagined so many times.
Finally.
Epilogue
Skye’s P.O.V.
We had done something special for Adam’s funeral. Since he had always wanted to go to Brazil, and he surprised me by taking me there on our honeymoon, we decided to whip up a ceremony in his honor. We wanted his memory to live on, not bury it in the depths of our mind like the majority of people. Everyone that knew Adam, Aaron, Naomi, the dog and I, his mother and her boyfriend and daughter, my father, Noah and Ariana, and even Cam and Diego, came dressed in white. We all gathered at a beach in Rio and got in a circle in the water just before sunset. Everyone said a few words, then threw a white rose in the center.
Everyone had returned back home to San Diego except for the four of us. Aaron had insisted on staying her a while longer, why, I didn’t know.
And now I was meeting him at the beach. I hadn’t seen him the whole day. I’d just found a note.
We’ll be waiting at the beach at sunset, it read. I have a surprise for the family.
My throat had tightened at the word family.
When I got there, I found him with Naomi and Charlie, which is what he had named the dog, sitting on a checkered blanket surrounded by rose petals and candles.
“A picnic?” I asked him as I walked up to them, touched.
“It’s more than a picnic. Isn’t it, Squirt?” he said, looking down at Naomi as he stood. Then he looked at me, his adoring eyes melting my heart. “It’s a proposal,” he finished.
I felt my lips begin to quiver as he got on one knee, pulling out a ring. I found it ironic that Adam’s twin was proposing to me. Déjà vu.
“I love you, Elena,” he told me. “And nothing would make me happier than for you to marry me.”
“Not one for words, are you?” I asked him as I took the ring from his hand and placed it on my finger.
“You know I’m more of one to take action,” he said, rising, smirking the smug smile I’d seen too many times.
“You can say that again,” I said smiling as I laid my lips on his, his hands around my waist holding me closer as the sun disappeared behind the horizon.
Charlie barked and Naomi cooed loudly, and I realized this really was family. A family that I could expand with Aaron, and nothing would make me happier than to do so. I smiled as we kissed, knowing that there was only one thing to call this joy I felt.
Love.
I searched and searched through the papers for the drawing of Elena, finding nothing.
“Looking for this?”
I froze. I turned slowly, and realized even slower that my brother was standing right in front of me, holding up the drawing. He held it out and waited for me to grab it.
I reached out for it, feeling a strange warmth as I gripped it carefully between my fingers.
“Just wanted to say good luck,” Adam told me, smirking. “Elena won’t be easy.”
“I kind of figured that out already,” I muttered.
He laughed, then looked at me sincerely. “I’ll miss you guys like hell.”
I smiled. “Luckily, that’s not where you’re going.” I lowered my voice. “I’ll miss you, too.”
“Take care of her and my Naomi for me. This isn’t goodbye, but I still just wanted to let you know that I’ll always be watching, so don’t think of doing anything stupid.” He gave me a look of warning. “If you ever break Elena’s heart…you don’t even want to know.”
I shook my head. “I could never hurt her.” I looked down at Elena’s drawn face.
“Thank you, Adam,” I whispered, still looking down. “I promise you, I’ll try to make her as happy as you did.”
“No,” he told me. “You’ll make her much happier. I know you will.”
“There was something I always wanted to ask you, but I was afraid you’d get mad.”
“What is it?”
“How’s she in bed?” But when I looked back up, he was gone, leaving a golden piece of paper in his place on the floor. I picked up his note.
Find out for yourself, the paper read, and I smirked.
I ran back downstairs where I found Elena thanking Diego and Cam for watching Naomi while we were gone, the drawing and Adam’s note in my hands.
I noticed little Naomi and the dog Cam had gotten for me as a present sleeping on the pullout couch, which Elena had found in the basement a few days ago.
After they left, Elena took Naomi up to her crib, and we plopped down on the bed. She was suddenly on top of me, biting her lip and leaning in seductively. Her lips met mine, and I pulled her closer, not wanting to let her go for even a second, now that I finally had her all to myself.
I was relieved that I could finally be with her without feeling guilty, without having to restrain myself.
I pulled away slowly, and laughed when I saw that she hadn’t wanted me to. “I thought you said it was too soon?” I told her, smug.
She shrugged, and I pulled Adam’s note out of my pocket. “I saw Adam and asked him how you were in bed,” I explained, holding out the paper to her.
Her eyes skimmed the note, then looked back at me and the smile on my face.
“Oh, shut up and kiss me,” she muttered, throwing the paper over her shoulder.
Happy to oblige, I thought as I laid my lips on hers, anxious to have her in my arms as I‘d imagined so many times.
Finally.
Epilogue
Skye’s P.O.V.
We had done something special for Adam’s funeral. Since he had always wanted to go to Brazil, and he surprised me by taking me there on our honeymoon, we decided to whip up a ceremony in his honor. We wanted his memory to live on, not bury it in the depths of our mind like the majority of people. Everyone that knew Adam, Aaron, Naomi, the dog and I, his mother and her boyfriend and daughter, my father, Noah and Ariana, and even Cam and Diego, came dressed in white. We all gathered at a beach in Rio and got in a circle in the water just before sunset. Everyone said a few words, then threw a white rose in the center.
Everyone had returned back home to San Diego except for the four of us. Aaron had insisted on staying her a while longer, why, I didn’t know.
And now I was meeting him at the beach. I hadn’t seen him the whole day. I’d just found a note.
We’ll be waiting at the beach at sunset, it read. I have a surprise for the family.
My throat had tightened at the word family.
When I got there, I found him with Naomi and Charlie, which is what he had named the dog, sitting on a checkered blanket surrounded by rose petals and candles.
“A picnic?” I asked him as I walked up to them, touched.
“It’s more than a picnic. Isn’t it, Squirt?” he said, looking down at Naomi as he stood. Then he looked at me, his adoring eyes melting my heart. “It’s a proposal,” he finished.
I felt my lips begin to quiver as he got on one knee, pulling out a ring. I found it ironic that Adam’s twin was proposing to me. Déjà vu.
“I love you, Elena,” he told me. “And nothing would make me happier than for you to marry me.”
“Not one for words, are you?” I asked him as I took the ring from his hand and placed it on my finger.
“You know I’m more of one to take action,” he said, rising, smirking the smug smile I’d seen too many times.
“You can say that again,” I said smiling as I laid my lips on his, his hands around my waist holding me closer as the sun disappeared behind the horizon.
Charlie barked and Naomi cooed loudly, and I realized this really was family. A family that I could expand with Aaron, and nothing would make me happier than to do so. I smiled as we kissed, knowing that there was only one thing to call this joy I felt.
Love.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Wings:Chapter Seven And Eight
Monday's Chapter
Skye's P.O.V.
As soon as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, I appeared in the brightest place, nothing but the sky, and a flat white field around me. The middle of nowhere. Nonetheless, it was beautiful.
I saw Adam right in front of me from where I stood, my face deep in his chest. I quickly realized that I was in Adam’s embrace. I felt arms around my waist, and something even softer wrapping my entire body, as if we were both in a warm blanket.
But this was no blanket. There was nothing on earth as soft and warm as this. And as hard. It was stiff and as hard as steel, but yet, it was so blissfully soft. It made me feel protected and loved at the same time. It was the most heavenly thing I ever felt.
I lifted my face and observed what this thing surrounding us was.
They were…wings.
Holding me close to Adam.
My lip quivered as I looked up at Adam’s face. He was looking down at me, smiling.
“Hello, Angel,” he said softly.
“You’re the Angel here,” I whispered as I felt his wings. It was so steel-like, and yet, the feathers slipped through my fingers with ease.
“Your Angel,” he whispered back.
He let his wings spread out away from me. I took a step back.
He was so beautiful. There was a light, I noticed, that surrounded him. He was glowing all over. His violet eyes glowed with a grey around the edges that I’d never noticed before. His wings had a faint gold shimmer to them. And his smile, that had always seemed to gleam, was whiter than ever.
He reached down for my hand and slipped his fingers though mine.
He began pulling me forward, his way of insisting that I walk with him.
“They offered us a contract, you know,” he began casually. He looked over at me, waiting for me to say something, then continued when I didn’t.
“We had to turn it down.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I refused.” He shrugged and looked down at me again. “I never told you this, because I knew you would disagree, but I was going to quit the band once this was all over.”
“How come?” I asked
He let go of my hand and stopped walking. “Elena, I had you and Naomi to worry about. Do you actually think I’d leave you to perform around the world?”
I winced. “Was the offer that big?”
“Yes.”
“Then yeah, I do think that! Why didn’t you take it? It could have been such a big opportunity for you.”
“I don’t give a damn about opportunity when it comes to family,” he said in a strong voice. Then, in a softer tone, he told me, “I would give up anything for you and Naomi.”
When a tear made its way down my face, Adam said cautiously, afraid to set something off, “Being…an angel means that I have the knowledge. Of everything. Every thought that ever ran past your head, every moment in your life, every tragedy that you cried about, every feeling you’ve had, every secret you ever kept from me.” He paused to give me a second to take that all in. “I don’t know how my mind can just see it all, but it can. I know everything about you, Aaron, and everyone else in the whole world. Everything about the past, the present and future…And even how things would have been if they had occurred differently.”
I swallowed, realizing what he meant by this. He saw how it would have all turned out if he had never…died.
“Would you like to see?”
“Yes,” I whispered, nodding.
He took my hand again, and it all went black.
Then we were back in the hospital.
Today's Chapter
Skye's P.O.V.
I saw myself, with the same worried expression that I’d wore when I was anxiously waiting for news on Adam, Aaron by my side.
The same Dr. Alvarez attended us, and we stood.
“They’re all fine,” he assured us. “A few cuts, here and there, but they’ll be all better after some well-needed rest.”
I watched myself sigh in relief. “Take me to him,” the replica in front of me requested, the same thing I had said before, but now in an anxious voice.
Adam and I followed the clones down the same hallway, into the same room. Everything was the same in the scene that had been, except this time, I was relieved and happy as I saw Adam walk out of the room, a large bandage wrapped around his waist. The bruises and scratches were not as graphic as they had actually been.
Dr. Alvarez walked back the way we had come, and I dug my face into Adam’s chest. He whimpered quietly as he flinched, and I leaned away quickly. “I’m sorry,” my clone told Adam’s clone. The fake Adam smiled. “Worth it,” he said, then pulled me back into him.
“Glad you’re not dead,” the fake Aaron muttered softly. I watched as I pulled away from Adam to let him face Aaron. Adam laughed. “Glad you didn’t hope I was.”
Aaron joined him in his laugh, and then they both stopped abruptly.
And then, just when I thought that Adam and Aaron could never repeat what they had done at the wedding, they pulled each other into a firm hug, patting each other softly on the back.
The scene in front of me fainted slowly, then disappeared entirely, and we were back at the white field.
Adam squeezed my hand and held it up to where his heart should have been, but I couldn’t feel it beating. I sucked in a breath of air.
“Whether I’m dead or alive, Skye, I’ll always watch over you and Naomi.” He paused, then continued. “And like I said, I know everything. And I know that you love me, but I know that you love Aaron much more. Maybe you don’t know it, but I do. So I want you to be with him.”
I looked over at him, tears in my eyes. “But-”
He placed a finger over my lips. “Being with someone else doesn’t necessarily mean you have to let go.”
I sighed in relief, realizing what his words meant. That I could live my life and not have to worry about losing him.
“I’ll always be with you, watching over you, in your heart, in your dreams.” Adam placed his hand on my cheek and closed his eyes. He opened them again. “I love you. And I always will.”
He leaned in, and pressed his lips against mine.
It was the most heavenly thing I ever felt, better than the warm and protected feeling of his wings around me, holding me close to Adam. Better than any kiss from him before, any from Aaron.
It was pure bliss.
And then he was fading.
No! I thought. You can’t slip through my fingers. Not now.
I was alone in the white field.
My eyes flew open.
Ninth Chapter! (Bonus for understanding my late posting.)
I stayed frozen where I was for a few moments, making sure that I remembered every second of that dream, relived when I realized I did. I remembered it as clearly as I would have remembered it if it had actually happened.
My heart racing, I heard Aaron next to me ask, “Are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.”
“Not a ghost,” I said slowly. “An angel.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I saw Adam,” I explained.
He looked at me in sympathy. “Skye, I’m sorry, but it was just a dream.”
“No, it wasn’t. Well, it was, but he-” I froze as I saw something glow a feint gold light. I gasped as I reached out for the feather laying on Aaron’s shoulder and held it up in front of his face. His eyes widened as he observed.
“Still don’t believe me?”
His hands began shaking. “I…I don’t-”
“Here.” I put the feather in his hand. “Try to bend it.”
He did as he was told, and when he couldn’t no matter how hard he struggled, he exhaled in shock. “B-but how?” he stammered.
I put my hand on his cheek. “Because it really was him,” I whispered.
I felt his body shiver. “What…what did he say?”
I looked down at my hand as I let it fall from his face. “To move on. To live my life and be happy. With you.”
He lifted my head with his hand. “Are you?” He asked me, hopeful.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I remembered Adam’s words about living my life and not having to let go. Nothing else could possibly make me feel more at peace than knowing that I could trust his reassuring words.
I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I realized that I didn’t really lose Adam at all. He was gone, and I had felt like the world would end when I accepted this, but he would always be with me, watching over us.
I opened my eyes.
“Yes,” I answered.
He smiled the biggest smile I’d ever seen from him, and for the first time ever, as he rested his lips on mine, I felt no guilt, felt that this is what Adam would want for me, felt that I could finally be truly happy.
Final Chapter will be posted on Friday!
Skye's P.O.V.
As soon as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, I appeared in the brightest place, nothing but the sky, and a flat white field around me. The middle of nowhere. Nonetheless, it was beautiful.
I saw Adam right in front of me from where I stood, my face deep in his chest. I quickly realized that I was in Adam’s embrace. I felt arms around my waist, and something even softer wrapping my entire body, as if we were both in a warm blanket.
But this was no blanket. There was nothing on earth as soft and warm as this. And as hard. It was stiff and as hard as steel, but yet, it was so blissfully soft. It made me feel protected and loved at the same time. It was the most heavenly thing I ever felt.
I lifted my face and observed what this thing surrounding us was.
They were…wings.
Holding me close to Adam.
My lip quivered as I looked up at Adam’s face. He was looking down at me, smiling.
“Hello, Angel,” he said softly.
“You’re the Angel here,” I whispered as I felt his wings. It was so steel-like, and yet, the feathers slipped through my fingers with ease.
“Your Angel,” he whispered back.
He let his wings spread out away from me. I took a step back.
He was so beautiful. There was a light, I noticed, that surrounded him. He was glowing all over. His violet eyes glowed with a grey around the edges that I’d never noticed before. His wings had a faint gold shimmer to them. And his smile, that had always seemed to gleam, was whiter than ever.
He reached down for my hand and slipped his fingers though mine.
He began pulling me forward, his way of insisting that I walk with him.
“They offered us a contract, you know,” he began casually. He looked over at me, waiting for me to say something, then continued when I didn’t.
“We had to turn it down.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I refused.” He shrugged and looked down at me again. “I never told you this, because I knew you would disagree, but I was going to quit the band once this was all over.”
“How come?” I asked
He let go of my hand and stopped walking. “Elena, I had you and Naomi to worry about. Do you actually think I’d leave you to perform around the world?”
I winced. “Was the offer that big?”
“Yes.”
“Then yeah, I do think that! Why didn’t you take it? It could have been such a big opportunity for you.”
“I don’t give a damn about opportunity when it comes to family,” he said in a strong voice. Then, in a softer tone, he told me, “I would give up anything for you and Naomi.”
When a tear made its way down my face, Adam said cautiously, afraid to set something off, “Being…an angel means that I have the knowledge. Of everything. Every thought that ever ran past your head, every moment in your life, every tragedy that you cried about, every feeling you’ve had, every secret you ever kept from me.” He paused to give me a second to take that all in. “I don’t know how my mind can just see it all, but it can. I know everything about you, Aaron, and everyone else in the whole world. Everything about the past, the present and future…And even how things would have been if they had occurred differently.”
I swallowed, realizing what he meant by this. He saw how it would have all turned out if he had never…died.
“Would you like to see?”
“Yes,” I whispered, nodding.
He took my hand again, and it all went black.
Then we were back in the hospital.
Today's Chapter
Skye's P.O.V.
I saw myself, with the same worried expression that I’d wore when I was anxiously waiting for news on Adam, Aaron by my side.
The same Dr. Alvarez attended us, and we stood.
“They’re all fine,” he assured us. “A few cuts, here and there, but they’ll be all better after some well-needed rest.”
I watched myself sigh in relief. “Take me to him,” the replica in front of me requested, the same thing I had said before, but now in an anxious voice.
Adam and I followed the clones down the same hallway, into the same room. Everything was the same in the scene that had been, except this time, I was relieved and happy as I saw Adam walk out of the room, a large bandage wrapped around his waist. The bruises and scratches were not as graphic as they had actually been.
Dr. Alvarez walked back the way we had come, and I dug my face into Adam’s chest. He whimpered quietly as he flinched, and I leaned away quickly. “I’m sorry,” my clone told Adam’s clone. The fake Adam smiled. “Worth it,” he said, then pulled me back into him.
“Glad you’re not dead,” the fake Aaron muttered softly. I watched as I pulled away from Adam to let him face Aaron. Adam laughed. “Glad you didn’t hope I was.”
Aaron joined him in his laugh, and then they both stopped abruptly.
And then, just when I thought that Adam and Aaron could never repeat what they had done at the wedding, they pulled each other into a firm hug, patting each other softly on the back.
The scene in front of me fainted slowly, then disappeared entirely, and we were back at the white field.
Adam squeezed my hand and held it up to where his heart should have been, but I couldn’t feel it beating. I sucked in a breath of air.
“Whether I’m dead or alive, Skye, I’ll always watch over you and Naomi.” He paused, then continued. “And like I said, I know everything. And I know that you love me, but I know that you love Aaron much more. Maybe you don’t know it, but I do. So I want you to be with him.”
I looked over at him, tears in my eyes. “But-”
He placed a finger over my lips. “Being with someone else doesn’t necessarily mean you have to let go.”
I sighed in relief, realizing what his words meant. That I could live my life and not have to worry about losing him.
“I’ll always be with you, watching over you, in your heart, in your dreams.” Adam placed his hand on my cheek and closed his eyes. He opened them again. “I love you. And I always will.”
He leaned in, and pressed his lips against mine.
It was the most heavenly thing I ever felt, better than the warm and protected feeling of his wings around me, holding me close to Adam. Better than any kiss from him before, any from Aaron.
It was pure bliss.
And then he was fading.
No! I thought. You can’t slip through my fingers. Not now.
I was alone in the white field.
My eyes flew open.
Ninth Chapter! (Bonus for understanding my late posting.)
I stayed frozen where I was for a few moments, making sure that I remembered every second of that dream, relived when I realized I did. I remembered it as clearly as I would have remembered it if it had actually happened.
My heart racing, I heard Aaron next to me ask, “Are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.”
“Not a ghost,” I said slowly. “An angel.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I saw Adam,” I explained.
He looked at me in sympathy. “Skye, I’m sorry, but it was just a dream.”
“No, it wasn’t. Well, it was, but he-” I froze as I saw something glow a feint gold light. I gasped as I reached out for the feather laying on Aaron’s shoulder and held it up in front of his face. His eyes widened as he observed.
“Still don’t believe me?”
His hands began shaking. “I…I don’t-”
“Here.” I put the feather in his hand. “Try to bend it.”
He did as he was told, and when he couldn’t no matter how hard he struggled, he exhaled in shock. “B-but how?” he stammered.
I put my hand on his cheek. “Because it really was him,” I whispered.
I felt his body shiver. “What…what did he say?”
I looked down at my hand as I let it fall from his face. “To move on. To live my life and be happy. With you.”
He lifted my head with his hand. “Are you?” He asked me, hopeful.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I remembered Adam’s words about living my life and not having to let go. Nothing else could possibly make me feel more at peace than knowing that I could trust his reassuring words.
I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I realized that I didn’t really lose Adam at all. He was gone, and I had felt like the world would end when I accepted this, but he would always be with me, watching over us.
I opened my eyes.
“Yes,” I answered.
He smiled the biggest smile I’d ever seen from him, and for the first time ever, as he rested his lips on mine, I felt no guilt, felt that this is what Adam would want for me, felt that I could finally be truly happy.
Final Chapter will be posted on Friday!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Wings: Chapter Seven
Aaron’s P.O.V.
Her lips wouldn’t stop quivering. We were still in the waiting room, anxious to hear from someone. I didn’t know who we’d hear about first, because Adam, Noah, and Ariana had all been in that car. We still didn’t now how it happened.
A middle-aged man in a long, white jacket walked up to us a few minutes later, and we stood. Dr. Alvarez, his nametag read.
“Mr. and Mrs. Walker are both just fine, but I’m afraid your husband is in grave condition.”
It took Elena a moment to take it all in. “Take me to him,” she finally pleaded.
The doctor led her, and I followed behind them.
He stopped at the door. “I’ll let you have minute alone with him.” Alvarez walked away.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Elena walked into the room with her head held high.
I was still standing right around the corner, afraid of what I would see once I walked in. I hesitated as Elena had, but then finally rounded that small corner. I froze as soon as I could see what was in front of me.
There was my brother, laying on the bed shirtless, revealing all of his injuries. He was a replica of me, now that his eyes were closed. If it weren’t for the dozens of bloody scratches and stitches and horrid bruises, I’d think I was looking in the mirror.
Elena stood by the bed and laid her hand on Adam’s. His eyes opened slowly, and he smiled weakly.
“There’s my girl,” he sighed. “How are Noah and Ari?”
“They’re fine,” Elena told her in a thin voice, on the edge of breaking. “And so will you.”
He suddenly winced in pain. “I was only two blocks away,” he began in a rough voice. “So close. So stupid! It’s all my fault. I should have been more careful.”
“Please,” Elena whispered. “Don’t speak.”
He raised his hand to Elena’s face. She held it there.
“I love you,” he told her. “And tell Naomi that, too. Tell her I’m sorry that I won’t be there for her.”
“No,” Elena cried. “Don’t say your goodbyes just yet, Adam. Don’t you dare leave me!”
He took one last look at Elena before looking over at me, still standing by the door.
“Take care of them,” Adam whispered. His hand fell from her face and his eyes closed.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
“No!” Elena shrieked.
I came up from behind and pulled her away, because I knew that if she got a hold of Adam, she would never want to let go.
She struggled to break free from my grasp, reaching out for Adam, crying, as doctors rushed into the room, crowding over the corpse.
I had to bite down hard on my lip to not let Elena go. It was almost impossible for me to deny Elena something she really wanted, especially this.
She finally gave in and dug her face in my chest, sobbing.
My brother was gone. He was dead, and I could feel that a small part of me had gone along with him.
The silence in the car was killing me.
Elena just sat there, her tired eyes red and puffy from all of her sobbing. Her hands were clenched into fists, knuckles turning white.
I had never seen this devastated, and I wanted so badly to comfort her, but at the same time, I was afraid to even lift a finger and set something off.
I couldn’t help but feel guilty. All the times that I held Elena while he was away, all the times I laid my lips on hers…
And now he was gone.
Just say something already, I told myself. Anything.
But when I opened my mouth, she beat me to it.
“Pull over.”
I closed my mouth again and obeyed. I turned the key in the ignition and turned to look at her.
She was looking right at me, and the pain in her sad blue eyes was obvious.
That’s it, I thought, giving in to my need to comfort her. I wrapped my arms tight around her, holding her close. Her nails dug into my skin as she cried.
“It’s not fair,” she mumbled into my neck.
I smoothed her hair, feeling her pain. “No, it’s not.” I paused. “Listen, Elena, I’m sorry for all of this. I’ve been making you suffer by not keeping my promise in letting you live your life happily with Adam.” I chocked on the last word, and Elena cringed.
“Sounds like the guilt is eating the both of us alive,” she whispered. She took a deep breath and pulled away from me.
I wiped away a tear that was making it’s way down her cheek. “Some birthday, huh?”
She flinched, and I sighed, turning the key again.
I was parking the car in front of the house a few minutes later. When I went around to open the door for Elena and help her out, she was staring at the house, a sadness in her eyes. They looked scared.
When she hopped down from the car, I squeezed her hand. She pulled away from my grasp and started to run.
“Damn it,” I mumbled as I got back in the car, hoping that my hunch of where she was going was right.
Skye’s P.O.V.
I could hear my sneakers against the pavement as I ran.
I couldn’t face Naomi. I wouldn’t be able to look into her violet eyes, into her eyes that were so much like her father’s had been.
How could I ever enter that house again, with all of those burning memories still alive inside my head. Adam was a fire in my heart, a flame that refused to die.
And I wouldn’t let it. I couldn’t allow myself to forget him so easily. I couldn’t be happy now. I couldn’t ever have been happy. It was almost as if being miserable was my unfortunate fate, my inevitable destiny.
And then I burst through the doors, gasping and choking on my tears as I looked around.
It was exactly as I remembered it. The place where we’d met. Where Adam had proposed to me…
I fell to my knees and sobbed into my hands.
“I thought I might find you here.”
I looked up at the stage. I must have been hallucinating, because I could’ve sworn I saw Adam right there, in the flesh.
I slowly realized that it was Aaron who was standing in front of me.
A whimper escaped my lips, and he jumped down from the stage and put his arms around me. “Let’s go home. You need to rest.”
“Home!?” I shrieked. “What makes you think I can ever step foot in that house again?”
I dug my face in his chest, and he held me closer. “Because I’ll be there to help you through it,” he said in a somber voice.
I looked up at him, touching his face with my fingertips. “No. More than ever, it could never work between us.”
He winced. “Why not?” My hand dropped from his face, but he pulled it up to his lips and kissed them softly. I pulled my hand away. “Why can’t you just try to move on? I know it hurts. It hurts me, too. But couldn’t just do it for me? For Adam?”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Because it’s not fair to him! You want me to forget about him, as if nothing had happened. I could never do that to him!”
“Not fair to him!?” He asked, his voice incredulous. “Skye, he’s dead! You’re going to except that sooner or later!”
“How could you sat that so easily?” I cried. My whole body shook, and my throat already hurt badly from all of the crying, let alone the yelling. I was too weak for this, too tired.
“I’m sorry,” he said in a soft voice. “But I need a better reason than that to why you can’t just try to love me the way I love you. The way Adam always loved you.”
“Because I couldn’t possibly bare it! Do you have any idea how I would feel having to look at you everyday and remember?” I looked down.
“Nothing’s impossible, Elena,” he said softly in a hopeful voice, lifting my face to look at him. “You look just like him. Too much like him.” I swallowed hard. “I just can’t right now, Aaron. I’m sorry. It‘s too soon.”
He sighed. “I tried not to get my hopes up too much. Anyway, just come back to the house. You need sleep. Please. I’m begging you.”
“Fine,” I answered him. “I’ll sleep. But make me go back there. Not yet.”
He forced a smile. “The car’s out in the back.”
Her lips wouldn’t stop quivering. We were still in the waiting room, anxious to hear from someone. I didn’t know who we’d hear about first, because Adam, Noah, and Ariana had all been in that car. We still didn’t now how it happened.
A middle-aged man in a long, white jacket walked up to us a few minutes later, and we stood. Dr. Alvarez, his nametag read.
“Mr. and Mrs. Walker are both just fine, but I’m afraid your husband is in grave condition.”
It took Elena a moment to take it all in. “Take me to him,” she finally pleaded.
The doctor led her, and I followed behind them.
He stopped at the door. “I’ll let you have minute alone with him.” Alvarez walked away.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Elena walked into the room with her head held high.
I was still standing right around the corner, afraid of what I would see once I walked in. I hesitated as Elena had, but then finally rounded that small corner. I froze as soon as I could see what was in front of me.
There was my brother, laying on the bed shirtless, revealing all of his injuries. He was a replica of me, now that his eyes were closed. If it weren’t for the dozens of bloody scratches and stitches and horrid bruises, I’d think I was looking in the mirror.
Elena stood by the bed and laid her hand on Adam’s. His eyes opened slowly, and he smiled weakly.
“There’s my girl,” he sighed. “How are Noah and Ari?”
“They’re fine,” Elena told her in a thin voice, on the edge of breaking. “And so will you.”
He suddenly winced in pain. “I was only two blocks away,” he began in a rough voice. “So close. So stupid! It’s all my fault. I should have been more careful.”
“Please,” Elena whispered. “Don’t speak.”
He raised his hand to Elena’s face. She held it there.
“I love you,” he told her. “And tell Naomi that, too. Tell her I’m sorry that I won’t be there for her.”
“No,” Elena cried. “Don’t say your goodbyes just yet, Adam. Don’t you dare leave me!”
He took one last look at Elena before looking over at me, still standing by the door.
“Take care of them,” Adam whispered. His hand fell from her face and his eyes closed.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
“No!” Elena shrieked.
I came up from behind and pulled her away, because I knew that if she got a hold of Adam, she would never want to let go.
She struggled to break free from my grasp, reaching out for Adam, crying, as doctors rushed into the room, crowding over the corpse.
I had to bite down hard on my lip to not let Elena go. It was almost impossible for me to deny Elena something she really wanted, especially this.
She finally gave in and dug her face in my chest, sobbing.
My brother was gone. He was dead, and I could feel that a small part of me had gone along with him.
The silence in the car was killing me.
Elena just sat there, her tired eyes red and puffy from all of her sobbing. Her hands were clenched into fists, knuckles turning white.
I had never seen this devastated, and I wanted so badly to comfort her, but at the same time, I was afraid to even lift a finger and set something off.
I couldn’t help but feel guilty. All the times that I held Elena while he was away, all the times I laid my lips on hers…
And now he was gone.
Just say something already, I told myself. Anything.
But when I opened my mouth, she beat me to it.
“Pull over.”
I closed my mouth again and obeyed. I turned the key in the ignition and turned to look at her.
She was looking right at me, and the pain in her sad blue eyes was obvious.
That’s it, I thought, giving in to my need to comfort her. I wrapped my arms tight around her, holding her close. Her nails dug into my skin as she cried.
“It’s not fair,” she mumbled into my neck.
I smoothed her hair, feeling her pain. “No, it’s not.” I paused. “Listen, Elena, I’m sorry for all of this. I’ve been making you suffer by not keeping my promise in letting you live your life happily with Adam.” I chocked on the last word, and Elena cringed.
“Sounds like the guilt is eating the both of us alive,” she whispered. She took a deep breath and pulled away from me.
I wiped away a tear that was making it’s way down her cheek. “Some birthday, huh?”
She flinched, and I sighed, turning the key again.
I was parking the car in front of the house a few minutes later. When I went around to open the door for Elena and help her out, she was staring at the house, a sadness in her eyes. They looked scared.
When she hopped down from the car, I squeezed her hand. She pulled away from my grasp and started to run.
“Damn it,” I mumbled as I got back in the car, hoping that my hunch of where she was going was right.
Skye’s P.O.V.
I could hear my sneakers against the pavement as I ran.
I couldn’t face Naomi. I wouldn’t be able to look into her violet eyes, into her eyes that were so much like her father’s had been.
How could I ever enter that house again, with all of those burning memories still alive inside my head. Adam was a fire in my heart, a flame that refused to die.
And I wouldn’t let it. I couldn’t allow myself to forget him so easily. I couldn’t be happy now. I couldn’t ever have been happy. It was almost as if being miserable was my unfortunate fate, my inevitable destiny.
And then I burst through the doors, gasping and choking on my tears as I looked around.
It was exactly as I remembered it. The place where we’d met. Where Adam had proposed to me…
I fell to my knees and sobbed into my hands.
“I thought I might find you here.”
I looked up at the stage. I must have been hallucinating, because I could’ve sworn I saw Adam right there, in the flesh.
I slowly realized that it was Aaron who was standing in front of me.
A whimper escaped my lips, and he jumped down from the stage and put his arms around me. “Let’s go home. You need to rest.”
“Home!?” I shrieked. “What makes you think I can ever step foot in that house again?”
I dug my face in his chest, and he held me closer. “Because I’ll be there to help you through it,” he said in a somber voice.
I looked up at him, touching his face with my fingertips. “No. More than ever, it could never work between us.”
He winced. “Why not?” My hand dropped from his face, but he pulled it up to his lips and kissed them softly. I pulled my hand away. “Why can’t you just try to move on? I know it hurts. It hurts me, too. But couldn’t just do it for me? For Adam?”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Because it’s not fair to him! You want me to forget about him, as if nothing had happened. I could never do that to him!”
“Not fair to him!?” He asked, his voice incredulous. “Skye, he’s dead! You’re going to except that sooner or later!”
“How could you sat that so easily?” I cried. My whole body shook, and my throat already hurt badly from all of the crying, let alone the yelling. I was too weak for this, too tired.
“I’m sorry,” he said in a soft voice. “But I need a better reason than that to why you can’t just try to love me the way I love you. The way Adam always loved you.”
“Because I couldn’t possibly bare it! Do you have any idea how I would feel having to look at you everyday and remember?” I looked down.
“Nothing’s impossible, Elena,” he said softly in a hopeful voice, lifting my face to look at him. “You look just like him. Too much like him.” I swallowed hard. “I just can’t right now, Aaron. I’m sorry. It‘s too soon.”
He sighed. “I tried not to get my hopes up too much. Anyway, just come back to the house. You need sleep. Please. I’m begging you.”
“Fine,” I answered him. “I’ll sleep. But make me go back there. Not yet.”
He forced a smile. “The car’s out in the back.”
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wings: Chapter Five And Six
Sorry for not posting on Monday, but I was making preparations for my high school orientation. But here's Modays's post, and today's!
Chapter Five
Skye’s P.O.V.
I plopped down on the bed, exhausted. Good thing Naomi was sleeping peacefully in her crib.
“Rough day at work?” Aaron asked with that smug smile of his. It made me wonder why he always smirked mostly around me.
“Yeah,” I answered. “Thank God tomorrow’s Friday.”
I had Friday’s off, and Aaron had Thursday’s, which was why he was home today. He had tomorrow off also because it was his and Adam’s birthday.
It was already two weeks since Adam had left, and I had been so glad when he called and said he was coming over to visit for his special day.
Aaron pulled me closer, and I let him.
This had become something normal at nights, and I felt guilty for letting it become something, but I’d gotten too used to it.
“Tell me something,” I began, wondering. “Before the wedding with Adam, you said you’d leave me alone and let me live my life with Adam. But ever since Adam left, you’ve done everything but that. Why?”
I looked up at him, and his face gave nothing away. “Because…Because I just can’t. No mater how hard I try, I can’t find myself able to give up on you. I didn’t want to come between you and Adam, because I never wanted to do anything to hurt my brother, but I just don’t care anymore. I want you too badly.”
I saw a different side of Aaron I’d never seen before as he said this, saw him in a new light. Almost like the old Aaron, the kind, sensitive Aaron, but with something that I’d never noticed before. The Aaron that…the Aaron that could feel. Felt pain, felt needs. A vulnerable Aaron.
I had a moment of weakness, and I couldn’t resist pulling his face to mine. His arms gripped tightly around my waist as I pressed my lips against his, and he moaned softly when I slipped my hands through his shirt. He ended up taking it off.
I realized that I had wanted this since the last time we had kissed. I wanted to taste his lips, wanted him to hold me close and kiss me fiercely. I could feel his need to be close to me, to hold me like this all the time. This was the same need I felt for him.
We didn’t need or want to come up for air when our breathing became heavy. We just needed to be close, wanted to feel each other’s desire for this.
My mind was blank as Aaron continued to kiss me. Every one of his touches made me shiver in pleasure. His lips followed every movement mine made. He made his way down my neck, then back up to my mouth. He tugged on my shirt, and I climbed on top of him. He licked my lips, and a moan of my own escaped from my throat.
Adam’s kisses had never been like this. They were so much better…
That thought snapped me back into reality. I pulled away quickly, panting for air.
I was still on top of him, but I couldn’t force myself to stand up. I bit my lip as his heavy breathing tickled my skin.
He closed his eyes and sighed. “And that’s why I’ll never give up.”
Chapter Six
Skye's P.O.V.
The doorbell rang.
“Hey, Cam! Come in.”
He stepped inside, a little girl’s arm in one hand, a big box in the other. It looked like an oversized shoes box, with a big bow placed on the cover.
I took the box from his hand, and he pushed his bronze hair out of his green eyes.
I opened the box to sneak a peak, and out came a furry little head with floppy ears, it‘s tongue hanging out of its mouth a little.
“Oh, wow, Cam! You got him a puppy?”
He shrugged. “I’ve been friends with him for a while now. I know how much he’s always wanted a retriever. And I thought maybe it’ll give Naomi some company.”
“Are you sure he’s okay in there?” I asked him.
As if to answer my question, the puppy barked, not too loudly thankfully, and hid back into the box.
“He’s fine. It's not like I've kept him in the box all day. He comes up for air when he needs to.” Cam smiled. “So where are the birthday brothers?”
“Adam’s not here yet, but I think Aaron’s upstairs getting ready.”
“No I’m not,” I heard Adam say, coming up behind me. He looked down at the little girl and knelt down to her level. “And who is this?”
“I’m Lila,” the girl answered in a high-pitched voice.
“She’s my little sister,” Cam explained.”
“Well, let’s get this princess a seat,” he said, wear a sweet smile I’d only seen him wear when he’s with Naomi. He grabbed Lila’s hand and steered into the living room. Cam followed.
Cam and Diego were the only ones we invited, still waiting for Adam and the band. I’d been sitting by the phone all day, hoping to from him.
Aaron came back into the room. “Could you help me with something, Elena?” he asked, tugging at my sleeve.
“Yeah, right. I know you well enough that this is just one of your stupid dirty tricks to get me alone.”
“Well, yes,” he admitted. “But that’s not why I want to get you alone.” He put on an innocent smile that melted my heart. “I want to give you something.”
I sighed and gave in.
I followed him up to his room, and he closed the door. He started searching from some papers on the desk, and pulled out a notebook. He began skimming through the pages, and stopped a few pages into it.
He swallowed, and handed the notebook over to me.
It showed a head, with a cascade of long, black hair that flowed past a bare neck and smooth shoulders. The face revealed full, soft lips under a perfectly drawn nose.
All of this was in pencil, except for the eyes, which he had colored in with a vibrant blue.
It was me.
I sucked in a breath of air. “I-I didn’t know you could draw,” I stuttered.
“Well, it was never really a hobby of mine, but I was always told I was good.”
He looked down at his drawing and ran his thumb by my drawn face, from the brows, down to my neck and shoulders. “So I drew you,” he finished in a thin voice.
I shook my head fiercely as I slammed the notebook down on the desk. “Why are you giving me this? Why are you doing this to me? Why, why, why?”
“I told you already.” He gained up on me, only inches away from my face.
“And I told you already: It’ll never happen!”
“Oh, yeah?” he chuckled. “Then why are you so close?”
I was about to correct him and tell him that he was the one that was close, when he closed the little distance there was between us.
I shoved away a little later than I should have, but as soon as I did, I let my hand swing right across his face, so hard, it hurt my hand.
“I’d say I had that coming but ow!” he said, rubbing his cheek.
I scoffed and turned to march back downstairs.
Some thank you for such a thoughtful gift. It looked just like me…
When I entered the living room, Lila was pulling on Diego’s black hair, making Naomi laugh hard. I joined them for a while. When it started to get dark, I began to worry. Adam said he’d taken an early flight. The phone rang, and I was irritated and a little bit jealous when Aaron beat me to it.
With an exchange of words, Aaron’s face pulled down into a look that just looked broken. When he hung up the phone, he didn’t take his eyes off of me, then he was fumbling to take something out of his pocket. He pulled out his keys, then grabbed my wrist and started tugging me toward the door.
“Could you guys keep an eye on Naomi? We won’t be gone long.”
I couldn’t be more confused as Aaron rushed me into the car.
“Aaron, where are we going? What’s going on?”
“The hospital,” he answered, shoving the key into its place. “There’s been an accident.”
Ooh, cliffhanger!!! Sorry, guys.
Chapter Five
Skye’s P.O.V.
I plopped down on the bed, exhausted. Good thing Naomi was sleeping peacefully in her crib.
“Rough day at work?” Aaron asked with that smug smile of his. It made me wonder why he always smirked mostly around me.
“Yeah,” I answered. “Thank God tomorrow’s Friday.”
I had Friday’s off, and Aaron had Thursday’s, which was why he was home today. He had tomorrow off also because it was his and Adam’s birthday.
It was already two weeks since Adam had left, and I had been so glad when he called and said he was coming over to visit for his special day.
Aaron pulled me closer, and I let him.
This had become something normal at nights, and I felt guilty for letting it become something, but I’d gotten too used to it.
“Tell me something,” I began, wondering. “Before the wedding with Adam, you said you’d leave me alone and let me live my life with Adam. But ever since Adam left, you’ve done everything but that. Why?”
I looked up at him, and his face gave nothing away. “Because…Because I just can’t. No mater how hard I try, I can’t find myself able to give up on you. I didn’t want to come between you and Adam, because I never wanted to do anything to hurt my brother, but I just don’t care anymore. I want you too badly.”
I saw a different side of Aaron I’d never seen before as he said this, saw him in a new light. Almost like the old Aaron, the kind, sensitive Aaron, but with something that I’d never noticed before. The Aaron that…the Aaron that could feel. Felt pain, felt needs. A vulnerable Aaron.
I had a moment of weakness, and I couldn’t resist pulling his face to mine. His arms gripped tightly around my waist as I pressed my lips against his, and he moaned softly when I slipped my hands through his shirt. He ended up taking it off.
I realized that I had wanted this since the last time we had kissed. I wanted to taste his lips, wanted him to hold me close and kiss me fiercely. I could feel his need to be close to me, to hold me like this all the time. This was the same need I felt for him.
We didn’t need or want to come up for air when our breathing became heavy. We just needed to be close, wanted to feel each other’s desire for this.
My mind was blank as Aaron continued to kiss me. Every one of his touches made me shiver in pleasure. His lips followed every movement mine made. He made his way down my neck, then back up to my mouth. He tugged on my shirt, and I climbed on top of him. He licked my lips, and a moan of my own escaped from my throat.
Adam’s kisses had never been like this. They were so much better…
That thought snapped me back into reality. I pulled away quickly, panting for air.
I was still on top of him, but I couldn’t force myself to stand up. I bit my lip as his heavy breathing tickled my skin.
He closed his eyes and sighed. “And that’s why I’ll never give up.”
Chapter Six
Skye's P.O.V.
The doorbell rang.
“Hey, Cam! Come in.”
He stepped inside, a little girl’s arm in one hand, a big box in the other. It looked like an oversized shoes box, with a big bow placed on the cover.
I took the box from his hand, and he pushed his bronze hair out of his green eyes.
I opened the box to sneak a peak, and out came a furry little head with floppy ears, it‘s tongue hanging out of its mouth a little.
“Oh, wow, Cam! You got him a puppy?”
He shrugged. “I’ve been friends with him for a while now. I know how much he’s always wanted a retriever. And I thought maybe it’ll give Naomi some company.”
“Are you sure he’s okay in there?” I asked him.
As if to answer my question, the puppy barked, not too loudly thankfully, and hid back into the box.
“He’s fine. It's not like I've kept him in the box all day. He comes up for air when he needs to.” Cam smiled. “So where are the birthday brothers?”
“Adam’s not here yet, but I think Aaron’s upstairs getting ready.”
“No I’m not,” I heard Adam say, coming up behind me. He looked down at the little girl and knelt down to her level. “And who is this?”
“I’m Lila,” the girl answered in a high-pitched voice.
“She’s my little sister,” Cam explained.”
“Well, let’s get this princess a seat,” he said, wear a sweet smile I’d only seen him wear when he’s with Naomi. He grabbed Lila’s hand and steered into the living room. Cam followed.
Cam and Diego were the only ones we invited, still waiting for Adam and the band. I’d been sitting by the phone all day, hoping to from him.
Aaron came back into the room. “Could you help me with something, Elena?” he asked, tugging at my sleeve.
“Yeah, right. I know you well enough that this is just one of your stupid dirty tricks to get me alone.”
“Well, yes,” he admitted. “But that’s not why I want to get you alone.” He put on an innocent smile that melted my heart. “I want to give you something.”
I sighed and gave in.
I followed him up to his room, and he closed the door. He started searching from some papers on the desk, and pulled out a notebook. He began skimming through the pages, and stopped a few pages into it.
He swallowed, and handed the notebook over to me.
It showed a head, with a cascade of long, black hair that flowed past a bare neck and smooth shoulders. The face revealed full, soft lips under a perfectly drawn nose.
All of this was in pencil, except for the eyes, which he had colored in with a vibrant blue.
It was me.
I sucked in a breath of air. “I-I didn’t know you could draw,” I stuttered.
“Well, it was never really a hobby of mine, but I was always told I was good.”
He looked down at his drawing and ran his thumb by my drawn face, from the brows, down to my neck and shoulders. “So I drew you,” he finished in a thin voice.
I shook my head fiercely as I slammed the notebook down on the desk. “Why are you giving me this? Why are you doing this to me? Why, why, why?”
“I told you already.” He gained up on me, only inches away from my face.
“And I told you already: It’ll never happen!”
“Oh, yeah?” he chuckled. “Then why are you so close?”
I was about to correct him and tell him that he was the one that was close, when he closed the little distance there was between us.
I shoved away a little later than I should have, but as soon as I did, I let my hand swing right across his face, so hard, it hurt my hand.
“I’d say I had that coming but ow!” he said, rubbing his cheek.
I scoffed and turned to march back downstairs.
Some thank you for such a thoughtful gift. It looked just like me…
When I entered the living room, Lila was pulling on Diego’s black hair, making Naomi laugh hard. I joined them for a while. When it started to get dark, I began to worry. Adam said he’d taken an early flight. The phone rang, and I was irritated and a little bit jealous when Aaron beat me to it.
With an exchange of words, Aaron’s face pulled down into a look that just looked broken. When he hung up the phone, he didn’t take his eyes off of me, then he was fumbling to take something out of his pocket. He pulled out his keys, then grabbed my wrist and started tugging me toward the door.
“Could you guys keep an eye on Naomi? We won’t be gone long.”
I couldn’t be more confused as Aaron rushed me into the car.
“Aaron, where are we going? What’s going on?”
“The hospital,” he answered, shoving the key into its place. “There’s been an accident.”
Ooh, cliffhanger!!! Sorry, guys.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wings: Chapter Four
Aaron's P.O.V.
I stepped into the storage room, the only place where it was fresh in this hellhole, sighing in relief at the cool breeze blowing in through the vent. I always came here on my break. It was always kind of ridiculous to me about how hectic and chaotic this place got at times, and I was grateful that my break started during the rush hour, when things got most busy around here. My friend Cam had the same luck, but for some reason, he was still in the kitchen, taking food to the tables.
I took a look outside in the kitchen through the crack in the open door, and I found myself observing Elena once she barged in through the doors.
Max, another waiter that worked here, handed her a notepad. “I already brought out the drinks to Table 7. You take the orders.”
She shrugged and walked back out. She came back two minutes later asking for an order of fries along with a hamburger. She brought orders in and out, and it fascinated me how easily she could handle it, even though she’d only been working here a short period of time now.
I chuckled as I popped a gum in my mouth.
Elena suddenly rushed in, grabbing a fistful of straws from a box and sticking them in her pocket. She then looked behind a few boxes and pulled out the bag of sugar. I noticed she was beginning to pour it into the salt container and chuckled.
“That’s not salt,” I sighed, shaking my head. She’d been here for a few months now, and she’d learned fast, but yet she still couldn’t tell the difference between the salt and the sugar. I held back a smile as I realized that such an independent woman still couldn’t completely get the hang of things.
She dipped her finger in the bag and licked it. Her eyes narrowed as she put the bag back on the shelf. I thought quick and locked the door with my key while she searched for the salt.
When she turned to leave and saw me blocking the door, she sighed. “Move, Aaron, I need to get this to Table 4.”
“Good luck,” I said under my breath as I moved over. When the door wouldn’t budge, she slammed the salt container on the shelf next to her and faced me, hands on those perfect hips of hers. “No games, today, Aaron, please. I’m not in the mood.”
“Oh, Skye,” I said sympathetically. “You need to relax. You know what they say about all work and no play…” I smirked.
“Give it a break already,” she almost growled.
“You know what you have to do to get out of here. And, no, it’s not saying the magic word.”
*Gives You Hell*
I hooked my finger inside her jean’s belt flap so she couldn’t pull away. Her jaw set as I leaned in and kissed her fiercely.
Her lips were as soft as I remembered them. There was no flavor like there always had been, it was just her and her bare, feather-like lips. I moaned as I kept my mouth pressed hard against hers.
I felt a pinch on my lower lip. I leaned away slowly and ran my tongue over it. “Did you just bite me?”
She smiled and held up my key and rattled them in my face. “I suggest you never try that again unless you want to get locked in here.”
I licked my lip again. “That depends: will you be locked in with me?”
She rolled her eyes and unlocked the door. When she came back to grab the salt she’d left on the shelf, she froze and took a gum out of her mouth.
I smirked. “Want to give it back?”
She scoffed at me as she threw the gum down on the ground.
Ouch.
I stepped into the storage room, the only place where it was fresh in this hellhole, sighing in relief at the cool breeze blowing in through the vent. I always came here on my break. It was always kind of ridiculous to me about how hectic and chaotic this place got at times, and I was grateful that my break started during the rush hour, when things got most busy around here. My friend Cam had the same luck, but for some reason, he was still in the kitchen, taking food to the tables.
I took a look outside in the kitchen through the crack in the open door, and I found myself observing Elena once she barged in through the doors.
Max, another waiter that worked here, handed her a notepad. “I already brought out the drinks to Table 7. You take the orders.”
She shrugged and walked back out. She came back two minutes later asking for an order of fries along with a hamburger. She brought orders in and out, and it fascinated me how easily she could handle it, even though she’d only been working here a short period of time now.
I chuckled as I popped a gum in my mouth.
Elena suddenly rushed in, grabbing a fistful of straws from a box and sticking them in her pocket. She then looked behind a few boxes and pulled out the bag of sugar. I noticed she was beginning to pour it into the salt container and chuckled.
“That’s not salt,” I sighed, shaking my head. She’d been here for a few months now, and she’d learned fast, but yet she still couldn’t tell the difference between the salt and the sugar. I held back a smile as I realized that such an independent woman still couldn’t completely get the hang of things.
She dipped her finger in the bag and licked it. Her eyes narrowed as she put the bag back on the shelf. I thought quick and locked the door with my key while she searched for the salt.
When she turned to leave and saw me blocking the door, she sighed. “Move, Aaron, I need to get this to Table 4.”
“Good luck,” I said under my breath as I moved over. When the door wouldn’t budge, she slammed the salt container on the shelf next to her and faced me, hands on those perfect hips of hers. “No games, today, Aaron, please. I’m not in the mood.”
“Oh, Skye,” I said sympathetically. “You need to relax. You know what they say about all work and no play…” I smirked.
“Give it a break already,” she almost growled.
“You know what you have to do to get out of here. And, no, it’s not saying the magic word.”
*Gives You Hell*
I hooked my finger inside her jean’s belt flap so she couldn’t pull away. Her jaw set as I leaned in and kissed her fiercely.
Her lips were as soft as I remembered them. There was no flavor like there always had been, it was just her and her bare, feather-like lips. I moaned as I kept my mouth pressed hard against hers.
I felt a pinch on my lower lip. I leaned away slowly and ran my tongue over it. “Did you just bite me?”
She smiled and held up my key and rattled them in my face. “I suggest you never try that again unless you want to get locked in here.”
I licked my lip again. “That depends: will you be locked in with me?”
She rolled her eyes and unlocked the door. When she came back to grab the salt she’d left on the shelf, she froze and took a gum out of her mouth.
I smirked. “Want to give it back?”
She scoffed at me as she threw the gum down on the ground.
Ouch.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wings: Chapter Three
Aaron's P.O.V.
“Fine, but I ain’t doin’ it for free. I‘m not gonna spend my day off work babysitting without gettin’ paid,” Diego said through the phone, his voice sounding a bit annoyed.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s fine. Just be here at eight.”
“Oh, and no bullshit about extra shifts. I know you too well, my friend. Besides, I don’t want to hear you going on all day Tuesday with another episode of Aaron, Enamorado.”
I laughed. “Well, at least it’s not Diego, Desperado.”
I told Diego I’d talk to him tomorrow when Elena walked into the room, Naomi in her arms. “You know Spanish?” she asked me as she placed the little squirt in her crib.
“I took a class in high school.”
I entered the bathroom that was in the room, turned on the water and hopped into the shower. It was only after I was finished that I realized there were no towels.
“Shit.”
I heard Elena start going down the stairs, so I called her name before she could leave.
“Skye! Where are the towels? I don’t see any!”
“Aren’t there any in there?”
“Nope.”
It was silent for a moment, and then her feet shuffled. “Um. Hold on, I’ll get you one.”
The door opened a crack a few seconds later, and her hand slipped through it, holding a white towel. “H-here,” she stammered.
I stifled a laugh and took the towel from her hand. I wrapped it around my waist, then stepped out, seeing a baffled look on Elena’s face. Now I had to laugh.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Naomi grab the edge of her crib and pull herself up. She reached out for me, so I picked her up. I kissed her forehead, and Elena smiled weakly.
“Dada,” Naomi suddenly cooed.
My eyes widened. I swallowed hard and placed Naomi back in her crib. I looked at Elena, and she looked flabbergasted. “She…she called you-”
“Easy now,” I told her, bringing up my hands in front of me in a defensive way. “Don’t forget that I look a lot like Adam. I’m sure it’s just an innocent mistake.”
I instantly noticed her tense body relax. “Right, sorry.” She pursed her lips. “I just thought she could tell the difference. I guess I thought wrong.”
My fingers made their way from her hand up to her shoulder, and I noticed I left a trail of goose bumps behind where my fingers had brushed her skin. I could almost see a path rising up her arm. “Don’t worry about it,” I said softly.
I grabbed my boxers and a pair of jeans from my bag and went back into the bathroom to put them on. Elena was shivering the slightest bit when I stepped back out.
I groaned. “Please don’t tell me this has anything to do with what Naomi called me.”
She looked down. “Kind of.”
There was nothing I could possibly say, so I sighed and sat down on the bed next to her.
I pulled her back and laid her head on her pillow. A.k.a. me.
“What happened to this Aaron?”
I shrugged. “He got bored. You could see more of this Aaron if you let me…”
She ran her hand up and down my stomach, and her warmth felt too good.
“No,” she said in a hushed voice, but continued to soothe me with her soft touch.
She continued to do this until I felt her eyes flutter close, her eyelashes brushing against my chest.
“Fine, but I ain’t doin’ it for free. I‘m not gonna spend my day off work babysitting without gettin’ paid,” Diego said through the phone, his voice sounding a bit annoyed.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s fine. Just be here at eight.”
“Oh, and no bullshit about extra shifts. I know you too well, my friend. Besides, I don’t want to hear you going on all day Tuesday with another episode of Aaron, Enamorado.”
I laughed. “Well, at least it’s not Diego, Desperado.”
I told Diego I’d talk to him tomorrow when Elena walked into the room, Naomi in her arms. “You know Spanish?” she asked me as she placed the little squirt in her crib.
“I took a class in high school.”
I entered the bathroom that was in the room, turned on the water and hopped into the shower. It was only after I was finished that I realized there were no towels.
“Shit.”
I heard Elena start going down the stairs, so I called her name before she could leave.
“Skye! Where are the towels? I don’t see any!”
“Aren’t there any in there?”
“Nope.”
It was silent for a moment, and then her feet shuffled. “Um. Hold on, I’ll get you one.”
The door opened a crack a few seconds later, and her hand slipped through it, holding a white towel. “H-here,” she stammered.
I stifled a laugh and took the towel from her hand. I wrapped it around my waist, then stepped out, seeing a baffled look on Elena’s face. Now I had to laugh.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Naomi grab the edge of her crib and pull herself up. She reached out for me, so I picked her up. I kissed her forehead, and Elena smiled weakly.
“Dada,” Naomi suddenly cooed.
My eyes widened. I swallowed hard and placed Naomi back in her crib. I looked at Elena, and she looked flabbergasted. “She…she called you-”
“Easy now,” I told her, bringing up my hands in front of me in a defensive way. “Don’t forget that I look a lot like Adam. I’m sure it’s just an innocent mistake.”
I instantly noticed her tense body relax. “Right, sorry.” She pursed her lips. “I just thought she could tell the difference. I guess I thought wrong.”
My fingers made their way from her hand up to her shoulder, and I noticed I left a trail of goose bumps behind where my fingers had brushed her skin. I could almost see a path rising up her arm. “Don’t worry about it,” I said softly.
I grabbed my boxers and a pair of jeans from my bag and went back into the bathroom to put them on. Elena was shivering the slightest bit when I stepped back out.
I groaned. “Please don’t tell me this has anything to do with what Naomi called me.”
She looked down. “Kind of.”
There was nothing I could possibly say, so I sighed and sat down on the bed next to her.
I pulled her back and laid her head on her pillow. A.k.a. me.
“What happened to this Aaron?”
I shrugged. “He got bored. You could see more of this Aaron if you let me…”
She ran her hand up and down my stomach, and her warmth felt too good.
“No,” she said in a hushed voice, but continued to soothe me with her soft touch.
She continued to do this until I felt her eyes flutter close, her eyelashes brushing against my chest.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wings: Chapter Two
Skye's P.O.V.
I woke up to Naomi’s soft coos. Whatever I was resting my head on, it was definitely not my pillow. I opened my eyes, and saw Aaron’s chest. I almost fell off the bed when I flinched away. I looked at his face, and he was wide awake, hands behind his head, looking very smug.
“I told you to stay on your side!” I barked at him, furiously shoving my hair out of my face.
He chuckled. “I did. I told you you’d be the one to try something.”
What? No. Impossible. I lay my head on Adam’s chest at night, but…
I pushed him off the bed. He landed with a pleasing thud.
“What’s your problem?” he asked.
I got up and took Naomi out of her crib, ignoring him. “You slept through the whole night for once…”
Aaron fumbled to get to his feet. “She didn’t. You were out cold, so I took the night calls.”
I instantly felt guilty.
“I would understand why you’d be so deep under. Bet I’m a way comfier pillow than Adam.”
That guilt instantly disappeared.
I pushed him back on the bead and went outside to the backyard with Naomi. I let her crawl around for a while, observing the crawling ants that were carrying crumbs of who-knows-what.
Naomi was so adventurous. She was mesmerized by everything. And she was so hyper sometimes. If anyone gave her just the tiniest of smiles, she would start jumping up and down. I remembered the day she was born, how scared I had been, and knew it had been worth the pain the second I laid my eyes on her. I went into labor the last Friday in March, nine o’ clock at night, when I was already getting ready for bed. But then my water broke, and Adam rushed me to the hospital.
When it was time to start pushing, I squeezed Adam’s hand as much as I could.
“I’m scared,” I said wearily. He squeezed back. “You’ll be fine. I know you’ll do great.”
The pain had passed quickly. It was the energy drained from me that had me exhausted. I had fallen asleep, and when my eyes fluttered open, there was Adam holding our baby, a tired but flabbergasted look on his face. He noticed that I was staring at him with the baby, and he smiled. “Do you want to hold her?”
That was kind of ridiculous question. Of course I wanted to. I held out my arms, and he gently laid her in my arms. I pushed the blanket out of her little, chubby face, and the first thing I saw was her wide-open violet eyes. One corner of her little mouth twitched, I smiled with her, almost bursting into tears.
My phone rang; my screen read the name Adam.
“Well, if it isn’t Adam, the man that’s going to get his ass kicked when he comes home.”
“I’m guessing you’re still mad at me,” he chuckled. “I’m sorry, Skye. I really am. I should have asked you first.”
“Damn right you should have,” I muttered. After a few seconds of silence, I spoke.
“So,” I began awkwardly. “How was your flight?”
I could sense him smiling, knowing that I could never really stay mad at him for anything. “Too long,” he groaned. “It gave me a lot of time to think about my two beautiful girls, which made me miss you even more.”
“I’m not a girl,” I told him.
“No, you’re not,” I thought I heard him mumble. But then he said, “You know what I mean. So how did Aaron behave last night?”
I laughed as I pulled Naomi up to sit on my lap. “He was a gentlemen. I’m the one that…I guess I’m so used to using you as my pillow that…well, I-”
“Oh,” he chuckled, realizing my innocent mistake. “Don’t worry about it. Look, I have to go, but I’ll call later, alright? Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I sighed as I shut my phone. Sundays were already boring enough, and now with Adam gone, it would be excruciating. I needed something to waste time. Play with Naomi, I supposed. I suddenly felt Aaron breathing down my neck, but it felt good. His breath smelled sweet, but minty. Clean, fresh.
“Got any plans?” he asked.
I shook my head no.
“Good. Because we need to find a babysitter for Naomi. We have to go to work tomorrow.” A smug smile was spreading across his face. I groaned. I’d almost forgot. The weekend was over. Time to go back to my waitress job at San Hun Hut…with Aaron. About a year and a half ago, before the wedding, I’d asked Aaron to help me land a job there. There had been a change of plans for a little while because of the…incident. But only a few days after the wedding, he told me I could start once the pregnancy was over and I felt ready.
“What about Diego? He’s off tomorrow.”
Aaron pursed his lips. “I’ll call him.”
He leaned down, his eyes on my neck, and my heart skipped a beat. He did this all the time, always teasing me. It was so annoying, but I couldn’t lie to myself…I liked it, and I hated myself for it. “We should tell him we’re working extra shifts,” he whispered in my ear, the wisp of his breath soothing to my skin. “Get some time alone.”
I swallowed hard. It disturbed me that, for just a split second, I considered this.
I woke up to Naomi’s soft coos. Whatever I was resting my head on, it was definitely not my pillow. I opened my eyes, and saw Aaron’s chest. I almost fell off the bed when I flinched away. I looked at his face, and he was wide awake, hands behind his head, looking very smug.
“I told you to stay on your side!” I barked at him, furiously shoving my hair out of my face.
He chuckled. “I did. I told you you’d be the one to try something.”
What? No. Impossible. I lay my head on Adam’s chest at night, but…
I pushed him off the bed. He landed with a pleasing thud.
“What’s your problem?” he asked.
I got up and took Naomi out of her crib, ignoring him. “You slept through the whole night for once…”
Aaron fumbled to get to his feet. “She didn’t. You were out cold, so I took the night calls.”
I instantly felt guilty.
“I would understand why you’d be so deep under. Bet I’m a way comfier pillow than Adam.”
That guilt instantly disappeared.
I pushed him back on the bead and went outside to the backyard with Naomi. I let her crawl around for a while, observing the crawling ants that were carrying crumbs of who-knows-what.
Naomi was so adventurous. She was mesmerized by everything. And she was so hyper sometimes. If anyone gave her just the tiniest of smiles, she would start jumping up and down. I remembered the day she was born, how scared I had been, and knew it had been worth the pain the second I laid my eyes on her. I went into labor the last Friday in March, nine o’ clock at night, when I was already getting ready for bed. But then my water broke, and Adam rushed me to the hospital.
When it was time to start pushing, I squeezed Adam’s hand as much as I could.
“I’m scared,” I said wearily. He squeezed back. “You’ll be fine. I know you’ll do great.”
The pain had passed quickly. It was the energy drained from me that had me exhausted. I had fallen asleep, and when my eyes fluttered open, there was Adam holding our baby, a tired but flabbergasted look on his face. He noticed that I was staring at him with the baby, and he smiled. “Do you want to hold her?”
That was kind of ridiculous question. Of course I wanted to. I held out my arms, and he gently laid her in my arms. I pushed the blanket out of her little, chubby face, and the first thing I saw was her wide-open violet eyes. One corner of her little mouth twitched, I smiled with her, almost bursting into tears.
My phone rang; my screen read the name Adam.
“Well, if it isn’t Adam, the man that’s going to get his ass kicked when he comes home.”
“I’m guessing you’re still mad at me,” he chuckled. “I’m sorry, Skye. I really am. I should have asked you first.”
“Damn right you should have,” I muttered. After a few seconds of silence, I spoke.
“So,” I began awkwardly. “How was your flight?”
I could sense him smiling, knowing that I could never really stay mad at him for anything. “Too long,” he groaned. “It gave me a lot of time to think about my two beautiful girls, which made me miss you even more.”
“I’m not a girl,” I told him.
“No, you’re not,” I thought I heard him mumble. But then he said, “You know what I mean. So how did Aaron behave last night?”
I laughed as I pulled Naomi up to sit on my lap. “He was a gentlemen. I’m the one that…I guess I’m so used to using you as my pillow that…well, I-”
“Oh,” he chuckled, realizing my innocent mistake. “Don’t worry about it. Look, I have to go, but I’ll call later, alright? Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I sighed as I shut my phone. Sundays were already boring enough, and now with Adam gone, it would be excruciating. I needed something to waste time. Play with Naomi, I supposed. I suddenly felt Aaron breathing down my neck, but it felt good. His breath smelled sweet, but minty. Clean, fresh.
“Got any plans?” he asked.
I shook my head no.
“Good. Because we need to find a babysitter for Naomi. We have to go to work tomorrow.” A smug smile was spreading across his face. I groaned. I’d almost forgot. The weekend was over. Time to go back to my waitress job at San Hun Hut…with Aaron. About a year and a half ago, before the wedding, I’d asked Aaron to help me land a job there. There had been a change of plans for a little while because of the…incident. But only a few days after the wedding, he told me I could start once the pregnancy was over and I felt ready.
“What about Diego? He’s off tomorrow.”
Aaron pursed his lips. “I’ll call him.”
He leaned down, his eyes on my neck, and my heart skipped a beat. He did this all the time, always teasing me. It was so annoying, but I couldn’t lie to myself…I liked it, and I hated myself for it. “We should tell him we’re working extra shifts,” he whispered in my ear, the wisp of his breath soothing to my skin. “Get some time alone.”
I swallowed hard. It disturbed me that, for just a split second, I considered this.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Wings: Chapter One
Here it is! Chapters will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fair enough?
A few weeks before Elena’s wedding, Adam had been offered a chance to play with his band, Ana Save Me, in Times Square. He turned it down because the date would have been on their honeymoon.
“I’d rather spend time with the woman I love than performing on stage in front of people that might not even like us,” he’d told me.
He didn’t turn it down when he got the chance a second time.
And now here we were, at the airport, with their little girl, already crawling at six months, saying goodbye.
“I’ll be sure to call you as soon as I get there,” he muttered, holding Elena’s hands in his.
“And everyday after that?” she urged.
He attempted a smile. “I’ll try. Whenever I can.”
Elena bit her lip. “Okay.”
Adam sighed. “I keep on telling myself that it’s only four weeks, but the more I say it, the longer it seems.”
She laughed. “Same here. I’ll miss you.”
He winced. Him leaving was just as hard for him as it was for her. “I’ll miss you, too.”
He looked over at me, holding little Naomi as she slept peacefully.
“I just started trusting you again, so don’t do anything stupid,” he demanded firmly.
“No promises,” I said under my breath.
There was an announcement; Adam’s plane was boarding.
I swallowed hard as Adam leaned in for one last kiss with Elena.
When he broke away, he took a deep breath. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” she whispered back.
He released her hand and bent over to kiss Naomi on the forehead. “I’ll miss you, my little Angel,” he said quietly, not wanting to wake her.
He took one last look at me, then walked over to his gate. He was no longer in sight.
I put a hand on Elena’s shoulder. “C’mon,” I whispered.
It was quiet in the car for a long time, except for Naomi’s soft snores in the back.
“You know,” I began casually, breaking the silence. “You picked the guy with the career that’s going to make your relationship with him impossible.”
She raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“Well, Naomi has already been keeping you two busy, but if Adam makes it big time, he’ll be even busier.”
“I already thought about that.”
“And?”
She sighed and said nothing.
“Things wouldn’t have been this complicated with me,” I mumbled.
She rolled her eyes.
I parked outside my apartment.
“I just need to get a few of my things.”
“Wha-”
“Didn’t Adam tell you? I’m staying over at your house.” A smirk began to form on my lips. Before she could protest, I disappeared into my apartment.
When I was came back, she was mumbling to herself, sulking. I laughed.
“Don’t worry, it’s just to help with Naomi. It was Adam’s idea; he felt guilty about leaving you alone with the baby and-”
“And he trusted you to stay and help? Out of all people?”
I acted offended by holding a hand up to my heart. “Ouch. Hurtful.”
She sighed gave me a cold stare. “Just don’t try anything.”
I chuckled. “ I won’t need to. A full week with just me, Adam’s twin, and you’ll be the one trying something.”
She smacked me on my knee, but I just laughed. “Since when are you so feisty?”
“Since you became my annoying big brother.”
I smirked. “That’s right, big brother.”
Her eyes narrowed and she held up her hand, clenching and unclenching her fingers like claws. “Don’t forget that I have the nails of a lion.”
That shut me up the rest of the ride home, but the smirk on my face never went away.
Skye’s P.O.V.
“You can just sleep on the pullout couch,” I told Aaron as we entered the front door, me carrying his only two bags while he carried Naomi.
“Um. Where is the pullout couch?”
“Where it always-” I began, but then stopped myself when I saw the empty space where the couch used to be. “Wha-”
“You should try calling Adam.”
I sighed and pulled out my cell phone as I walked up to my room and closed the door. He better pick up. The first thing I was going to rant about was the little decision he made without me about Aaron staying over. Then…Where the hell is the couch!?
It rang twice before he picked up. “Hello, Angel,” he said sweetly, and I almost felt guilty that I was about to yell at him. Almost.
“Don’t you ‘Hello, Angel’ me! Why Aaron? And where is the couch? There‘s nowhere else for him to sleep. We‘re still working on the baby‘s room.”
I heard him chuckle through the phone. “I know, I know. Calm down. Don’t get so worked up, Beautiful. It’s a test for Aaron. I need to see if I could trust him around you. Think you can forgive me and help me out?” He put on a fake sweet voice that sounded like he was pouting.
“Ugh! I don’t believe you! You’d take the chance of your brother sleeping with your own wife just to see if you could trust him again!?”
“Please? I really need you to do this for me. I want to trust my brother again.”
I sighed. I could tell he was being honest when he said this. “You better not be expecting a little ‘Welcome Home’ gift when you come back,” I muttered.
“Oh, I’m not,” he said, sounding smug. Before I closed the phone, I heard him clearly say in a sing-song voice, “But I’m getting it anyway…”
“What!?” I shouted into the phone, but he had already hung up.
Ooooh, he’s gonna get it, alright…
I stomped back downstairs, and Aaron greeted me back with an unwelcoming welcome.
“What’s this about sleeping with me?” He asked, stifling a laugh.
“Can it,” I told him, fiery. “I’m not in the mood. We’re going to have to share the bed.”
He opened his mouth to say something, probably something obnoxious, but I spoke before him. “You stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine. Got it?”
He sighed in defeat and nodded.
I grabbed Naomi from Aaron’s arms and took her upstairs. I changed into my sleeping shorts and t-shirt, and Aaron walked in a few seconds later.
“Which is my side?” he asked.
“The left,” I sighed as I cozied into the right.
“Sweet dreams,” he teased once he was lying down.
“Ugh,” I replied, and doze off to sleep.
A few weeks before Elena’s wedding, Adam had been offered a chance to play with his band, Ana Save Me, in Times Square. He turned it down because the date would have been on their honeymoon.
“I’d rather spend time with the woman I love than performing on stage in front of people that might not even like us,” he’d told me.
He didn’t turn it down when he got the chance a second time.
And now here we were, at the airport, with their little girl, already crawling at six months, saying goodbye.
“I’ll be sure to call you as soon as I get there,” he muttered, holding Elena’s hands in his.
“And everyday after that?” she urged.
He attempted a smile. “I’ll try. Whenever I can.”
Elena bit her lip. “Okay.”
Adam sighed. “I keep on telling myself that it’s only four weeks, but the more I say it, the longer it seems.”
She laughed. “Same here. I’ll miss you.”
He winced. Him leaving was just as hard for him as it was for her. “I’ll miss you, too.”
He looked over at me, holding little Naomi as she slept peacefully.
“I just started trusting you again, so don’t do anything stupid,” he demanded firmly.
“No promises,” I said under my breath.
There was an announcement; Adam’s plane was boarding.
I swallowed hard as Adam leaned in for one last kiss with Elena.
When he broke away, he took a deep breath. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” she whispered back.
He released her hand and bent over to kiss Naomi on the forehead. “I’ll miss you, my little Angel,” he said quietly, not wanting to wake her.
He took one last look at me, then walked over to his gate. He was no longer in sight.
I put a hand on Elena’s shoulder. “C’mon,” I whispered.
It was quiet in the car for a long time, except for Naomi’s soft snores in the back.
“You know,” I began casually, breaking the silence. “You picked the guy with the career that’s going to make your relationship with him impossible.”
She raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
“Well, Naomi has already been keeping you two busy, but if Adam makes it big time, he’ll be even busier.”
“I already thought about that.”
“And?”
She sighed and said nothing.
“Things wouldn’t have been this complicated with me,” I mumbled.
She rolled her eyes.
I parked outside my apartment.
“I just need to get a few of my things.”
“Wha-”
“Didn’t Adam tell you? I’m staying over at your house.” A smirk began to form on my lips. Before she could protest, I disappeared into my apartment.
When I was came back, she was mumbling to herself, sulking. I laughed.
“Don’t worry, it’s just to help with Naomi. It was Adam’s idea; he felt guilty about leaving you alone with the baby and-”
“And he trusted you to stay and help? Out of all people?”
I acted offended by holding a hand up to my heart. “Ouch. Hurtful.”
She sighed gave me a cold stare. “Just don’t try anything.”
I chuckled. “ I won’t need to. A full week with just me, Adam’s twin, and you’ll be the one trying something.”
She smacked me on my knee, but I just laughed. “Since when are you so feisty?”
“Since you became my annoying big brother.”
I smirked. “That’s right, big brother.”
Her eyes narrowed and she held up her hand, clenching and unclenching her fingers like claws. “Don’t forget that I have the nails of a lion.”
That shut me up the rest of the ride home, but the smirk on my face never went away.
Skye’s P.O.V.
“You can just sleep on the pullout couch,” I told Aaron as we entered the front door, me carrying his only two bags while he carried Naomi.
“Um. Where is the pullout couch?”
“Where it always-” I began, but then stopped myself when I saw the empty space where the couch used to be. “Wha-”
“You should try calling Adam.”
I sighed and pulled out my cell phone as I walked up to my room and closed the door. He better pick up. The first thing I was going to rant about was the little decision he made without me about Aaron staying over. Then…Where the hell is the couch!?
It rang twice before he picked up. “Hello, Angel,” he said sweetly, and I almost felt guilty that I was about to yell at him. Almost.
“Don’t you ‘Hello, Angel’ me! Why Aaron? And where is the couch? There‘s nowhere else for him to sleep. We‘re still working on the baby‘s room.”
I heard him chuckle through the phone. “I know, I know. Calm down. Don’t get so worked up, Beautiful. It’s a test for Aaron. I need to see if I could trust him around you. Think you can forgive me and help me out?” He put on a fake sweet voice that sounded like he was pouting.
“Ugh! I don’t believe you! You’d take the chance of your brother sleeping with your own wife just to see if you could trust him again!?”
“Please? I really need you to do this for me. I want to trust my brother again.”
I sighed. I could tell he was being honest when he said this. “You better not be expecting a little ‘Welcome Home’ gift when you come back,” I muttered.
“Oh, I’m not,” he said, sounding smug. Before I closed the phone, I heard him clearly say in a sing-song voice, “But I’m getting it anyway…”
“What!?” I shouted into the phone, but he had already hung up.
Ooooh, he’s gonna get it, alright…
I stomped back downstairs, and Aaron greeted me back with an unwelcoming welcome.
“What’s this about sleeping with me?” He asked, stifling a laugh.
“Can it,” I told him, fiery. “I’m not in the mood. We’re going to have to share the bed.”
He opened his mouth to say something, probably something obnoxious, but I spoke before him. “You stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine. Got it?”
He sighed in defeat and nodded.
I grabbed Naomi from Aaron’s arms and took her upstairs. I changed into my sleeping shorts and t-shirt, and Aaron walked in a few seconds later.
“Which is my side?” he asked.
“The left,” I sighed as I cozied into the right.
“Sweet dreams,” he teased once he was lying down.
“Ugh,” I replied, and doze off to sleep.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wings Playlist!
Fellow Readers:
The first chapter of Wings will be posted this Friday, but the playlist/sneak peek will be posted now!
Saltwater Room - Owl City
When he broke away, he inhaled deeply. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” she whispered back.
He released her hand and bent over to kiss Naomi on the forehead. “I’ll miss you, my little Angel,” he said quietly, not wanting to wake her.
He took one last look at me, then walked over to his gate. He was no longer in sight.
Last Of The American Girls - Green Day
I took a look outside in the kitchen through the crack in the open door, and I found myself observing Elena once she barged in through the doors.
Max, another waiter that worked here, handed her a notepad. “I already brought out the drinks to Table 7. You take the orders.”
She shrugged and walked back out. She came back two minutes later asking for an order of fries along with a hamburger. She brought orders in and out, and it fascinated me how easily she could handle it, even though she’d only been working here a short period of time now.
I chuckled as I popped a gum in my mouth.
Gives You Hell - All-American Rejects
I hooked my finger inside her jean’s belt flap so she couldn’t pull away. Her jaw set as I leaned in and kissed her fiercely.
Her lips were as soft as I remembered them. There was no flavor like there always had been, it was just her and her bare, feather-like lips. I moaned as I kept my mouth pressed hard against hers.
I felt a pinch on my lower lip. I leaned away slowly and ran my tongue over it. “Did you just bite me?”
She smiled and held up my key and rattled them in my face. “I suggest you never try that again unless you want to get locked in here.”
I licked my lip again. “That depends: will you be locked in with me?”
She rolled her eyes and unlocked the door. When she came back to grab the salt she’d left on the shelf, she froze and took a gum out of her mouth.
I smirked. “Want to give it back?”
She scoffed at me as she threw the gum down on the ground.
Ouch.
I Wanna - All-American Rejects
I saw a different side of Aaron I’d never seen before as he said this, saw him in a new light. Almost like the old Aaron, the kind, sensitive Aaron, but with something that I’d never noticed before. The Aaron that…the Aaron that could feel. Felt pain, felt needs. A vulnerable Aaron.
I had a moment of weakness, and I couldn’t resist pulling his face to mine. His arms gripped tightly around my waist as I pressed my lips against his, and he moaned softly when I slipped my hands through his shirt. He ended up taking it off.
I had wanted this since the last time we had kissed. It was hard to admit it, but I did. I wanted to taste his lips, wanted him to hold me close and kiss me fiercely. I could feel his need to be close to me, to hold me like this all the time. This was the same need I felt for him.
We didn’t need or want to come up for air when our breathing became heavy. We just needed to be close, wanted to feel each other’s desire for this.
My mind was blank as Aaron continued to kiss me. Every one of his touches made me shiver in pleasure. His lips followed every movement mine made. He made his way down my neck, then back up to my mouth. He tugged on my shirt, and I climbed on top of him. He licked my lips, and a moan of my own escaped from my throat.
I Never Told You - Colbie Caillat
He raised his hand to Elena’s face. She held it there.
“I love you,” he told her. “And tell Naomi that, too. Tell her I’m sorry that I won’t be there for her.”
“No,” Elena cried. “Don’t say your goodbyes just yet, Adam. Don’t you dare leave me!”
He took one last look at Elena before looking over at me, still standing by the door.
“Take care of them,” Adam whispered. His hand fell from her face and his eyes closed.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
The Only Exception - Paramore
I could hear my sneakers against the pavement as I ran.
I couldn’t face Naomi. I wouldn’t be able to look into her violet eyes, into her eyes that were so much like her father’s had been.
How could I ever enter that house again, with all of those burning memories still alive inside my head. Adam was a fire in my heart, a flame that refused to die.
And I wouldn’t let it. I couldn’t allow myself to forget him so easily. I couldn’t be happy now. I couldn’t ever have been happy. It was almost as if being miserable was my unfortunate fate, my inevitable destiny.
My Last Song - Dave Days (He's on YouTube)
“Glad you’re not dead,” the fake Aaron muttered softly. I watched as I pulled away from Adam to let him face Aaron. Adam laughed. “Glad you didn’t hope I was.”
Aaron joined him in his laugh, and then they both stopped abruptly.
And then, just when I thought that Adam and Aaron could never repeat what they had done at the wedding, they pulled each other into a firm hug, patting each other softly on the back.
The scene in front of me fainted slowly, then disappeared entirely, and we were back at the white field.
Keeping On Without You - This Providence
I felt his body shiver. “What…what did he say?”
I looked down at my hand as I let it fall from his face. “To move on. To live my life and be happy. With you.”
He lifted my head with his hand. “Are you?” He asked me, hopeful.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I remembered Adam’s words about living my life and not having to let go. Nothing else could possibly make me feel more at peace than knowing that I could trust his reassuring words.
I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I realized that I didn’t really lose Adam at all. He was gone, and I had felt like the world would end when I accepted this, but he would always be with me, watching over us.
I opened my eyes.
“Yes,” I answered.
Hey Princess - All Star Weekend
“Oh, shut up and kiss me,” she muttered, throwing the paper over her shoulder.
Happy to oblige, I thought as I laid my lips on hers, anxious to have her in my arms as I‘d imagined so many times.
Finally.
Kings And Queens - 30 Seconds To Mars
Charlie barked and Naomi cooed loudly, and I realized this really was family. A family that I could expand with Aaron, and nothing would make me happier than to do so. I smiled as we kissed, knowing that there was only one thing to call this joy I felt.
Love.
:O I know, I know: How could he/she!? (Or you'll probably be mad at me for the part where I gave away too much about the um beeeeep.) I've probably left you all with a lot of unanswered questions, but they will all be answered eventually, since I'm only posting the FIRST chapter on Friday. What do you think, one chapter each three days?
The first chapter of Wings will be posted this Friday, but the playlist/sneak peek will be posted now!
Saltwater Room - Owl City
When he broke away, he inhaled deeply. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” she whispered back.
He released her hand and bent over to kiss Naomi on the forehead. “I’ll miss you, my little Angel,” he said quietly, not wanting to wake her.
He took one last look at me, then walked over to his gate. He was no longer in sight.
Last Of The American Girls - Green Day
I took a look outside in the kitchen through the crack in the open door, and I found myself observing Elena once she barged in through the doors.
Max, another waiter that worked here, handed her a notepad. “I already brought out the drinks to Table 7. You take the orders.”
She shrugged and walked back out. She came back two minutes later asking for an order of fries along with a hamburger. She brought orders in and out, and it fascinated me how easily she could handle it, even though she’d only been working here a short period of time now.
I chuckled as I popped a gum in my mouth.
Gives You Hell - All-American Rejects
I hooked my finger inside her jean’s belt flap so she couldn’t pull away. Her jaw set as I leaned in and kissed her fiercely.
Her lips were as soft as I remembered them. There was no flavor like there always had been, it was just her and her bare, feather-like lips. I moaned as I kept my mouth pressed hard against hers.
I felt a pinch on my lower lip. I leaned away slowly and ran my tongue over it. “Did you just bite me?”
She smiled and held up my key and rattled them in my face. “I suggest you never try that again unless you want to get locked in here.”
I licked my lip again. “That depends: will you be locked in with me?”
She rolled her eyes and unlocked the door. When she came back to grab the salt she’d left on the shelf, she froze and took a gum out of her mouth.
I smirked. “Want to give it back?”
She scoffed at me as she threw the gum down on the ground.
Ouch.
I Wanna - All-American Rejects
I saw a different side of Aaron I’d never seen before as he said this, saw him in a new light. Almost like the old Aaron, the kind, sensitive Aaron, but with something that I’d never noticed before. The Aaron that…the Aaron that could feel. Felt pain, felt needs. A vulnerable Aaron.
I had a moment of weakness, and I couldn’t resist pulling his face to mine. His arms gripped tightly around my waist as I pressed my lips against his, and he moaned softly when I slipped my hands through his shirt. He ended up taking it off.
I had wanted this since the last time we had kissed. It was hard to admit it, but I did. I wanted to taste his lips, wanted him to hold me close and kiss me fiercely. I could feel his need to be close to me, to hold me like this all the time. This was the same need I felt for him.
We didn’t need or want to come up for air when our breathing became heavy. We just needed to be close, wanted to feel each other’s desire for this.
My mind was blank as Aaron continued to kiss me. Every one of his touches made me shiver in pleasure. His lips followed every movement mine made. He made his way down my neck, then back up to my mouth. He tugged on my shirt, and I climbed on top of him. He licked my lips, and a moan of my own escaped from my throat.
I Never Told You - Colbie Caillat
He raised his hand to Elena’s face. She held it there.
“I love you,” he told her. “And tell Naomi that, too. Tell her I’m sorry that I won’t be there for her.”
“No,” Elena cried. “Don’t say your goodbyes just yet, Adam. Don’t you dare leave me!”
He took one last look at Elena before looking over at me, still standing by the door.
“Take care of them,” Adam whispered. His hand fell from her face and his eyes closed.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
The Only Exception - Paramore
I could hear my sneakers against the pavement as I ran.
I couldn’t face Naomi. I wouldn’t be able to look into her violet eyes, into her eyes that were so much like her father’s had been.
How could I ever enter that house again, with all of those burning memories still alive inside my head. Adam was a fire in my heart, a flame that refused to die.
And I wouldn’t let it. I couldn’t allow myself to forget him so easily. I couldn’t be happy now. I couldn’t ever have been happy. It was almost as if being miserable was my unfortunate fate, my inevitable destiny.
My Last Song - Dave Days (He's on YouTube)
“Glad you’re not dead,” the fake Aaron muttered softly. I watched as I pulled away from Adam to let him face Aaron. Adam laughed. “Glad you didn’t hope I was.”
Aaron joined him in his laugh, and then they both stopped abruptly.
And then, just when I thought that Adam and Aaron could never repeat what they had done at the wedding, they pulled each other into a firm hug, patting each other softly on the back.
The scene in front of me fainted slowly, then disappeared entirely, and we were back at the white field.
Keeping On Without You - This Providence
I felt his body shiver. “What…what did he say?”
I looked down at my hand as I let it fall from his face. “To move on. To live my life and be happy. With you.”
He lifted my head with his hand. “Are you?” He asked me, hopeful.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I remembered Adam’s words about living my life and not having to let go. Nothing else could possibly make me feel more at peace than knowing that I could trust his reassuring words.
I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I realized that I didn’t really lose Adam at all. He was gone, and I had felt like the world would end when I accepted this, but he would always be with me, watching over us.
I opened my eyes.
“Yes,” I answered.
Hey Princess - All Star Weekend
“Oh, shut up and kiss me,” she muttered, throwing the paper over her shoulder.
Happy to oblige, I thought as I laid my lips on hers, anxious to have her in my arms as I‘d imagined so many times.
Finally.
Kings And Queens - 30 Seconds To Mars
Charlie barked and Naomi cooed loudly, and I realized this really was family. A family that I could expand with Aaron, and nothing would make me happier than to do so. I smiled as we kissed, knowing that there was only one thing to call this joy I felt.
Love.
:O I know, I know: How could he/she!? (Or you'll probably be mad at me for the part where I gave away too much about the um beeeeep.) I've probably left you all with a lot of unanswered questions, but they will all be answered eventually, since I'm only posting the FIRST chapter on Friday. What do you think, one chapter each three days?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
To Be Loved Playlist!
Here are some songs that I think go good with my story, and a specific piece that I thought it went well with. (And if it was a movie, Welcome To The Black Parade would be the opener.)
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
I dreamt about the day that Adam proposed to me three months ago.
I was waiting for him at the same place where we‘d met. He’d called me and told me that he had something important to tell me. I had no idea if it was a good or bad thing that he wanted to say to me.
I kept looking at the stage where Adam’s band had performed. I still remembered it clearly. I could almost see it, looking a bit faded, like in the movies. He spotted me in the crowd when they were just starting to sing the second song, Interrupted Love Scene.
I was telling you I drown in your eyes,
I was telling you I’m sick of goodbyes,
I never told you what was in my head,
I never told you what I should have said,
Because then he walked in.
His voice melted my brain, and my heart, all at once.
If My House Was A House - Owl City
I knocked on his door softly. He opened it a crack, and when he saw it was me, opened the door completely. He looked surprised. “Elena?”
“Could I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.” He stepped out and closed the door behind him. “What’s up?”
I hesitated. Then I spoke. “Do you have something against me? I don’t even think you’ve said a single word to me ever since Adam introduced me to you. I‘m sorry if I ever did anything to offend you, but at least let me know what I did.”
He looked down at the ground, then sighed. “I wish I could. But it’s too complicated. You probably wouldn’t understand.”
I crossed my arms. “Try me.”
He hesitated.
“C’mon, Aaron. Please.”
He sighed again. He was still looking down.
“She likes this guy I know,” he began slowly. “I want to be with her, but-”
“But?”
Then, not lifting his head, he stared at me seriously, so serious I thought I could die right then and there.
“Thing is…the guy’s my brother.”
Savior - Rise Against
Ever since I found out that Elena was going to marry my brother, I had forced myself not to think about her, to talk to her as little as possible, and I had done a good job at doing so. But after that kiss, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Her mouth was so soft, as if the world’s softest feathers were caressing my lips. And I tasted something sweet, probably a lip gloss with the strawberry flavor I tasted.
That kiss had changed me forever. But I knew for Elena, it wouldn’t effect her the tiniest bit. She was crazy for Adam, and comparing me to him was like comparing a grain of sand to the whole beach. No matter how much I wanted it, Elena would never choose me over my brother. I was no match for Adam, the guitar player in an up-and-coming band that all the girls would die for. I was just Aaron, known only as the book worm, and nothing more.
Even if she did choose me, I couldn’t do that to my brother. He was like a savior to me. A hero. He’d helped me though so much, helped me with anything and everything. He was only minutes older, but he was years wiser.
21 Guns - Green Day
Then she looked up at me with those big blue eyes of hers. “I think…I may have feelings for you.”
I sighed. If only.
“No,” I told her flatly, firmly. “You only think you do, out of guilt. But you love Adam.”
“Yes, I do, and a lot. But I love you, too.”
Journey To The End Of My Life - All Star Weekend
I sighed softly and laid my head back on his chest as Adam ran his fingers through my hair. He kissed my forehead.
This is how I always wanted it to be for us, the next long days of our lives together. I wanted to be with him like this, always right there, listening to his heart thump as it tells me he will be with me for the rest of my life.
All These Things That I’ve Done - The Killers
I ended up at the beach again.
When things were bad, I threw rocks. When things were really bad, I went swimming.
I sat by the shore when I got tired. The sand was hot, and my body burned even more from the already blazing sun, but I didn’t go back into the refreshing water. I stayed there, and hoped that it was possible that I can be burned until I was nothing but ashes, hoped that I can be put out of my misery once and for all.
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
My phone rang again. I wanted to launch it into the water like the rocks I threw. I hit ignore, and kept walking.
I had rarely been at my apartment the past few days. I was practically living at the beach now. I only went back to sleep. I came to the beach early in the morning, had my breakfast, lunch, and dinner there, and threw rocks in between. There was nothing else to do.
I listened to my voice mail. All of them were from Elena, all of them the same message.
It’s me. I have to talk to you about the wedding. Call me back.
I have to talk to you about the wedding. Please call.
Call me back, I convinced Adam to let you come to the wedding.
I didn’t give a damn about the wedding anymore. It didn’t matter if I could go. I wasn’t going, either way.
The final message began to play, and I stopped myself from pressing the delete key when I heard the urgency in her voice.
Aaron. I need to see you. Please. I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Be Yourself - Audioslave
We said our ‘I Do’s’, exchanged the rings, and finally, the minister said the words:
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Adam stepped closer and put one arm around my waist. He rested the other on my cheek. Slowly, he leaned in and my eyes fluttered closed as he pressed his lips to mine.
He was heavenly gentle, but when I carefully bit down on his bottom lip and tugged, he smiled and gave me a more passionate kiss. When he broke away, the guests cheered and began throwing flower petals.
Once I'm finished writing Wings, I'll post the playlist ahead of time, so that way, you can know what to expect, and get a little taste of Wings at the same time!
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
I dreamt about the day that Adam proposed to me three months ago.
I was waiting for him at the same place where we‘d met. He’d called me and told me that he had something important to tell me. I had no idea if it was a good or bad thing that he wanted to say to me.
I kept looking at the stage where Adam’s band had performed. I still remembered it clearly. I could almost see it, looking a bit faded, like in the movies. He spotted me in the crowd when they were just starting to sing the second song, Interrupted Love Scene.
I was telling you I drown in your eyes,
I was telling you I’m sick of goodbyes,
I never told you what was in my head,
I never told you what I should have said,
Because then he walked in.
His voice melted my brain, and my heart, all at once.
If My House Was A House - Owl City
I knocked on his door softly. He opened it a crack, and when he saw it was me, opened the door completely. He looked surprised. “Elena?”
“Could I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.” He stepped out and closed the door behind him. “What’s up?”
I hesitated. Then I spoke. “Do you have something against me? I don’t even think you’ve said a single word to me ever since Adam introduced me to you. I‘m sorry if I ever did anything to offend you, but at least let me know what I did.”
He looked down at the ground, then sighed. “I wish I could. But it’s too complicated. You probably wouldn’t understand.”
I crossed my arms. “Try me.”
He hesitated.
“C’mon, Aaron. Please.”
He sighed again. He was still looking down.
“She likes this guy I know,” he began slowly. “I want to be with her, but-”
“But?”
Then, not lifting his head, he stared at me seriously, so serious I thought I could die right then and there.
“Thing is…the guy’s my brother.”
Savior - Rise Against
Ever since I found out that Elena was going to marry my brother, I had forced myself not to think about her, to talk to her as little as possible, and I had done a good job at doing so. But after that kiss, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Her mouth was so soft, as if the world’s softest feathers were caressing my lips. And I tasted something sweet, probably a lip gloss with the strawberry flavor I tasted.
That kiss had changed me forever. But I knew for Elena, it wouldn’t effect her the tiniest bit. She was crazy for Adam, and comparing me to him was like comparing a grain of sand to the whole beach. No matter how much I wanted it, Elena would never choose me over my brother. I was no match for Adam, the guitar player in an up-and-coming band that all the girls would die for. I was just Aaron, known only as the book worm, and nothing more.
Even if she did choose me, I couldn’t do that to my brother. He was like a savior to me. A hero. He’d helped me though so much, helped me with anything and everything. He was only minutes older, but he was years wiser.
21 Guns - Green Day
Then she looked up at me with those big blue eyes of hers. “I think…I may have feelings for you.”
I sighed. If only.
“No,” I told her flatly, firmly. “You only think you do, out of guilt. But you love Adam.”
“Yes, I do, and a lot. But I love you, too.”
Journey To The End Of My Life - All Star Weekend
I sighed softly and laid my head back on his chest as Adam ran his fingers through my hair. He kissed my forehead.
This is how I always wanted it to be for us, the next long days of our lives together. I wanted to be with him like this, always right there, listening to his heart thump as it tells me he will be with me for the rest of my life.
All These Things That I’ve Done - The Killers
I ended up at the beach again.
When things were bad, I threw rocks. When things were really bad, I went swimming.
I sat by the shore when I got tired. The sand was hot, and my body burned even more from the already blazing sun, but I didn’t go back into the refreshing water. I stayed there, and hoped that it was possible that I can be burned until I was nothing but ashes, hoped that I can be put out of my misery once and for all.
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
My phone rang again. I wanted to launch it into the water like the rocks I threw. I hit ignore, and kept walking.
I had rarely been at my apartment the past few days. I was practically living at the beach now. I only went back to sleep. I came to the beach early in the morning, had my breakfast, lunch, and dinner there, and threw rocks in between. There was nothing else to do.
I listened to my voice mail. All of them were from Elena, all of them the same message.
It’s me. I have to talk to you about the wedding. Call me back.
I have to talk to you about the wedding. Please call.
Call me back, I convinced Adam to let you come to the wedding.
I didn’t give a damn about the wedding anymore. It didn’t matter if I could go. I wasn’t going, either way.
The final message began to play, and I stopped myself from pressing the delete key when I heard the urgency in her voice.
Aaron. I need to see you. Please. I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Be Yourself - Audioslave
We said our ‘I Do’s’, exchanged the rings, and finally, the minister said the words:
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Adam stepped closer and put one arm around my waist. He rested the other on my cheek. Slowly, he leaned in and my eyes fluttered closed as he pressed his lips to mine.
He was heavenly gentle, but when I carefully bit down on his bottom lip and tugged, he smiled and gave me a more passionate kiss. When he broke away, the guests cheered and began throwing flower petals.
Once I'm finished writing Wings, I'll post the playlist ahead of time, so that way, you can know what to expect, and get a little taste of Wings at the same time!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
To Be Loved: Final Chapter!
Well, here it is, the last, longest chapter, then I start posting the next installment: Wings.
Skye’s P.O.V.
Aaron’s words were still echoing in my head this morning. Over and over.
I still haven’t told Adam. He should know. He should have been the first to know! But I went and told Aaron instead. I didn’t know what I blamed myself more for: that I told Aaron first instead of Adam, or that I actually told Aaron at all and hurt him.
His reaction had been clear: there was no doubt that he despised me now. It was inevitable, I was sure.
I was deep in thought, and my coffee I got here at the airport got cold. The bitter taste brought me back to the present, and I heard Adam’s voice.
“Everything’s set,” Adam was telling me, sounding excited. “I double checked. Everything will be here on Tuesday, and then the guys will get the stuff ready for the wedding. All we have to do now is wait. ”
I gave a little smile. “That’s great. Look, Adam, I need to talk to you.”
He raised his eyebrow and sat down on the bed. “What’s up?”
“I don’t exactly how to say this, but…”
It took me a moment to figure out how to tell him, to find the right words.
“Well,” I began. “Um…What are your feelings toward…becoming a father?”
He straightened up quickly and looked at me with wide eyes. “You…you mean…?”
I nodded with a smile.
He exhaled, and his eyes lit up. They were practically glowing.
“Yes!” he exclaimed, laughing, completely forgetting about the groggy people around us. He stood, and brought me up with him. He held his arms tight around me. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled back to look at me, and he put his hands up to my face. “You make me the happiest man on Earth, Elena. I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you!” He began twirling with me in his arms, and I laughed out of pure joy. He stopped suddenly, and kneeled down, resting his cheek against my stomach. “You too, little one.”
He stood again and leaned in to kiss me, but then stopped himself.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said, grinning. “Everything’s perfect. It’s just that…well, I don’t want to kiss you just yet. I want to wait for the wedding.”
I stared at him with disbelief, but, despite myself, started to laugh. “You mean you aren’t going to kiss me until Wednesday?”
He laughed, too. “Yeah, I know it’s kind of ridiculous, but-”
“Don’t worry, I get it. You think it’ll be more romantic.”
He smiled and nodded. “Right.”
“Fine,” I said, and I brushed my fingers over his lips. “Suit yourself.”
Adam smiled under my fingers. “You’re a tease,” he muttered, and then kissed me on the forehead.
“That doesn’t count,” he told me, grinning again.
“My turn,” I heard someone say. I turned around, and there was my dad.
“Dad!”
“Come here, sweetie!” he yelled with arms wide open.
I ran up to him, and his arms embraced me.
“Careful, dad,” I muttered, then smiled. “You don’t want to squish your grandchild, do you?”
He pulled away and looked at me with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open a little.
He laughed almost hysterically. “I can’t believe it! Last time I came back from a trip, I found out you were getting married. Now, my baby’s havin’ a baby!” Then he looked down at me with glowing eyes. “I’m glad, honey. Congrats.”
No matter how good it felt to be with my father again, I couldn’t stop worrying about Aaron. Would he call? Would he pick up if I called? Would he come to the wedding that he knew he could now come to, thanks to my millions of messages?
I knew where he was. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. I just needed to gather the guts to actually go and talk to him.
“Um, Adam? Do you mind if I take your car? I need to check on Ariana, see if she has her bridesmaids dress.”
“Sure.” He fished in his pocket for the keys then flung them at me, and I caught them in midair.
“Thanks,” I said, then turned and began walking toward the door, then turned back again.
“By the way, you haven’t even told me who your best man is,” I said casually, afraid of what his response might be.
He gave me a little smile, then told me in a soft voice, “It’s still Aaron. So you better make sure he be there.”
I blew out a sigh of relief and smiled back at him. “I will.”
I started the engine as soon as I entered his Porsche, and drove down to the beach.
Just as I suspected, I found Aaron there, skipping rocks.
I stood behind him and cleared my throat.
“Oh, hey,” he mumbled, not even having to turn to know it was me. “How’d Adam take the news?”
“I’m here to know how you took the news.”
I heard something noticeably different in his voice when he spoke. The way he spoke sounded almost…relieved, carefree even. He sounded more relaxed than he’d been in days.
“Actually, I couldn’t be happier. I’m happy for you and Adam. And I’m also glad because it finally made me realize something.”
Finally, he turned to face me.
“It made me realize how strong your love is for Adam, and nothing I do could possibly change that.”
He took my hands in his. “I would never want to hurt you or my brother. But I can’t help my feelings for you. I love you, and I’ll always love you, but for the sake of your happiness with my brother, I’ll love you as I should; as a friend, as a sister.”
This made me suck in a gasp. For the sake of your happiness. This was a hard sacrifice he was making. For me. For my happiness. For my happiness.
“My true love will come,” he continued. “Some day. But for now, I’m just happy as long as you are.”
All of this made me wonder. Made me wonder what life would have been like without him, just me and Adam. Made me wonder what life would have been like, just us. Made me wonder if his true love would come one day and save him from the burden that I have become to him. Made me wonder how I would ever be able to thank him for doing this for me. Made me wonder that maybe everything could be happily ever after in the end after all.
“So you’ll come to the wedding?” I whispered. I couldn’t lift my head. He lifted it for me, cupping my chin in his hand so I was looking directly at him.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, just as softly as me. Then he removed his cupped hand from under my chin and gave it a soft, playful little nudge, clicking his tongue once. I smiled weakly, and he pulled me into his arms. His embrace did so many things at once. Sent a chill through my body, made my cheeks warm, gave me a shiver that ran up my spine, raised goose bumps on my skin. Most of all, it made me realize that I’d have to feel all of this every single time I was in his arms from now on, and that I’d have to get used to it.
“You look beautiful, honey.”
My father’s voice startled me. I hadn’t heard him come into the room. “Oh, hey, Dad.”
He chuckled. “I remember when you used to dress like this everyday when you played dress up. That too too always looked so cute on you. And now look at you.”
His kind, fatherly words gave me warmth, gave me confidence.
I never knew what was the reason behind the nervousness that brides got right before the wedding, but it was sure as hell happening to me. These pre-wedding jitters just added to my nerves.
But as I heard my dad’s reassuring voice, all those jitters and nerves disappeared. I looked myself in the mirror, and I didn’t see the same Elena Skye I’d always been. I saw the Elena Skye I was about to become. I saw the Elena Skye that would be a wife, that would be a mother.
“Can I come in?”
My jitters returned as I saw Aaron’s head poking in the room through the mirror.
Please don’t leave me alone with him. Please don’t leave me alone with him, I chanted in my head, hoping that it was possible to will my father to do so.
“I’ll just leave you two alone,” my father muttered as he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.
It was silent for three long seconds before Aaron spoke. “You look beautiful.”
“Yeah, that’s what you’re supposed to say,” I joked, though I felt an edge to my voice.
“Doesn’t mean it’s not rue,” he replied. “I mean, you just looks so…gorgeous. You’re surely going to knock em’ dead.”
I chuckled and looked down at the floor when I felt my cheeks grow hot.
“I wanted to give you something.”
My heart skipped a beat.
He held out a white box, with the length of a 12-inch ruler. Slowly, he opened it.
The first thing I saw was the beautiful silver necklace that showed a small fern hanging in the middle.
“I thought it would look nice with your dress,” he said softly.
Right above the necklace, there was something imprinted into the cardboard that held the necklace in place.
No man is worth your tears, but once you find one that is, he won't make you cry.
I felt my throat tightening, and I held my hand up to it. “It’s beautiful,” I croaked. “Would you-”
“Of course,” he said, reading my mind. I turned back to the mirror and saw as the mirror copied his movement, mimicked him as his hands quickly hooked the necklace on and then rested weightless on my shoulders.
I felt something had been missing, and now, everything was perfect. I joined Aaron as he studied me in the mirror. The necklace glistened softly in the light. It went beautifully with my flowing dress, and even with my hair with white lilies pinned to a few of the bouncing curls. My glossy lips were pink and smooth, and as I caught a glimpse of my blue eyes, which looked bluer than ever, my rosy-colored lips began to quiver and my eyes started watering.
“Aw, don’t cry, Elena. You’ll mess up that beautiful make-up of yours.”
I sucked in a deep breathe and turned to him. “Your right.” I gave him a sincere look. “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“It didn’t cost that much.”
“No, I said shaking my head. “I mean everything you’ve ever done for me, everything you are doing for me, and everything you will probably do for me. I don’t know how I’ll ever forgive myself for hurting you, and just know that I never meant to-”
“It was just a necklace,” he muttered. Then he chuckled and said, “Kidding.”
There was a knock on the door, and my father stepped back in. “Hey, kiddo, sorry to interrupt, but he have to get you down that aisle.”
“I’ll go tell them to get ready for the bride,” Aaron announced, and left the room.
My heart started pounding, and my stomach churned, though I was sure that was from the pregnancy.
I grabbed my bouquet as my father offered me his elbow, and I slipped my hand through his.
“Stop looking so worried,” my father told me. “Everything’s fine. Now put on that smile that the ‘too too’ you would wear.”
I smiled unwillingly as he told me that.
Usually, time was not on my side. Had bad timing, time went by too fast or too slow. I wanted things to go by fast today. But today, time was giving me a break. It seems as soon as we stepped out that door, we were already in the backyard, on the long, red carpet rolled out in front of us.
I took a deep breath and waited for my cue to start walking. The wedding march began, and the few dozens of people stood.
Left. Right. Left. Right.
It seemed like only a few steps before I was right in front of Adam, not being able to help but smile at how handsome he looked in his tux. Once I saw him, I saw no one else, not even Aaron.
Beautiful, he mouthed.
It seemed like only a few minutes had passed when it was time for the vows.
Adam spoke first. In my head, I was thinking, No matter what he says, don’t cry.
“Elena. My beautiful Elena. I believe it was fate that we met. In all my life, I never met someone as beautiful, as smart, as caring, as sweet, as perfect as you.”
Don’t cry, don’t cry, I said louder in my head.
"You’re my everything. A bee is nothing without it’s sweet honey, a singer is nothing without their voice, and I am nothing without you. I love you, and don’t you dare forget it.”
Damn it, I thought as the tears strolled down my face.
I began what I had rehearsed so many times. “Adam.” I smiled as I said his name. “There have been so many ‘best days of my life’ with you. This will be one of them.” I paused for a short moment. “And the next-” I took a deep breath and put a hand up to my belly. “Will be when the child growing inside me is born, with you right there by my side.”
Adam smiled. There were gasps and mutters from the audience. But I continued.
“And I hope to share many more ‘best days’ with you, for as long as our love will last.”
Love you, I mouthed.
We said our ‘I Do’s’, exchanged the rings, and finally, the minister said the words:
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Adam stepped closer and put one arm around my waist. He rested the other on my cheek. Slowly, he leaned in and my eyes fluttered closed as he pressed his lips to mine.
He was heavenly gentle, but when I carefully bit down on his bottom lip and tugged, he smiled and gave me a more passionate kiss. When he broke away, the guests cheered and began throwing flower petals. Adam gave me one more kiss, a soft kiss on the forehead, then picked me up and stood me on a nearby metal folding chair. I turned away from the crowd and shouted, “Ready?“ to the people behind me, then launched my bouquet over my head. I was surprised when Ariana caught it. I laughed when she looked at Noah with a smug look and he started whistling.
I looked over to where Aaron was standing and began to walk toward him. When I stood right in front of him, he held his arms wide open. “Come ‘ere, lil’ sis!” I wrapped my arms around his waist and he started to shake me left and right. We both laughed, but then Aaron stopped laughing for some reason, so I stopped, too. I looked up at him to see that he was staring at something in back of me, so I turned. There was Adam, standing tall, in front of me and his fraternal twin brother Aaron. And there I stood between both men that I loved, feeling small. I moved to the side and pushed them a bit closer.
Adam held out his hand. Aaron took it and they shook fiercely. I could tell both their grips were tight. And then my happily ever after happened. Adam pulled Aaron into his arms, patted his back and said to him, “I missed you, little brother.”
Epilogue
Aaron’s P.O.V.
I’d say things were finally back to normal, but they were never normal in the first place, so I’ll say that things are finally normal. Elena is happy, and that’s all I could wish for. The both of us really are like brother and sister now, always messing with each other. She has some kind of attitude toward me now. She acts cold sometimes, gotten real feisty. I always pretend to hit on her to tease her. (Or at least that‘s what I tell her.)
She’s six-months pregnant, and I’m actually pretty psyched. Adam is practically jumping up and down for the day to come.
Turns out Noah and Ariana did get married, about three months later. Shocker.
Everything’s normal, but that doesn’t mean that things aren’t different. Because things between me and Adam will never be the same again. It’s not completely awkward between us, but it’s not a stroll in the park, either. Our brotherhood has changed forever, our bond and trust gone, and it’s all thanks to the woman we could never say no to, to the woman we could never stay mad at. To the woman we will always love, Elena.
Skye’s P.O.V.
Aaron’s words were still echoing in my head this morning. Over and over.
I still haven’t told Adam. He should know. He should have been the first to know! But I went and told Aaron instead. I didn’t know what I blamed myself more for: that I told Aaron first instead of Adam, or that I actually told Aaron at all and hurt him.
His reaction had been clear: there was no doubt that he despised me now. It was inevitable, I was sure.
I was deep in thought, and my coffee I got here at the airport got cold. The bitter taste brought me back to the present, and I heard Adam’s voice.
“Everything’s set,” Adam was telling me, sounding excited. “I double checked. Everything will be here on Tuesday, and then the guys will get the stuff ready for the wedding. All we have to do now is wait. ”
I gave a little smile. “That’s great. Look, Adam, I need to talk to you.”
He raised his eyebrow and sat down on the bed. “What’s up?”
“I don’t exactly how to say this, but…”
It took me a moment to figure out how to tell him, to find the right words.
“Well,” I began. “Um…What are your feelings toward…becoming a father?”
He straightened up quickly and looked at me with wide eyes. “You…you mean…?”
I nodded with a smile.
He exhaled, and his eyes lit up. They were practically glowing.
“Yes!” he exclaimed, laughing, completely forgetting about the groggy people around us. He stood, and brought me up with him. He held his arms tight around me. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled back to look at me, and he put his hands up to my face. “You make me the happiest man on Earth, Elena. I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you!” He began twirling with me in his arms, and I laughed out of pure joy. He stopped suddenly, and kneeled down, resting his cheek against my stomach. “You too, little one.”
He stood again and leaned in to kiss me, but then stopped himself.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said, grinning. “Everything’s perfect. It’s just that…well, I don’t want to kiss you just yet. I want to wait for the wedding.”
I stared at him with disbelief, but, despite myself, started to laugh. “You mean you aren’t going to kiss me until Wednesday?”
He laughed, too. “Yeah, I know it’s kind of ridiculous, but-”
“Don’t worry, I get it. You think it’ll be more romantic.”
He smiled and nodded. “Right.”
“Fine,” I said, and I brushed my fingers over his lips. “Suit yourself.”
Adam smiled under my fingers. “You’re a tease,” he muttered, and then kissed me on the forehead.
“That doesn’t count,” he told me, grinning again.
“My turn,” I heard someone say. I turned around, and there was my dad.
“Dad!”
“Come here, sweetie!” he yelled with arms wide open.
I ran up to him, and his arms embraced me.
“Careful, dad,” I muttered, then smiled. “You don’t want to squish your grandchild, do you?”
He pulled away and looked at me with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open a little.
He laughed almost hysterically. “I can’t believe it! Last time I came back from a trip, I found out you were getting married. Now, my baby’s havin’ a baby!” Then he looked down at me with glowing eyes. “I’m glad, honey. Congrats.”
No matter how good it felt to be with my father again, I couldn’t stop worrying about Aaron. Would he call? Would he pick up if I called? Would he come to the wedding that he knew he could now come to, thanks to my millions of messages?
I knew where he was. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. I just needed to gather the guts to actually go and talk to him.
“Um, Adam? Do you mind if I take your car? I need to check on Ariana, see if she has her bridesmaids dress.”
“Sure.” He fished in his pocket for the keys then flung them at me, and I caught them in midair.
“Thanks,” I said, then turned and began walking toward the door, then turned back again.
“By the way, you haven’t even told me who your best man is,” I said casually, afraid of what his response might be.
He gave me a little smile, then told me in a soft voice, “It’s still Aaron. So you better make sure he be there.”
I blew out a sigh of relief and smiled back at him. “I will.”
I started the engine as soon as I entered his Porsche, and drove down to the beach.
Just as I suspected, I found Aaron there, skipping rocks.
I stood behind him and cleared my throat.
“Oh, hey,” he mumbled, not even having to turn to know it was me. “How’d Adam take the news?”
“I’m here to know how you took the news.”
I heard something noticeably different in his voice when he spoke. The way he spoke sounded almost…relieved, carefree even. He sounded more relaxed than he’d been in days.
“Actually, I couldn’t be happier. I’m happy for you and Adam. And I’m also glad because it finally made me realize something.”
Finally, he turned to face me.
“It made me realize how strong your love is for Adam, and nothing I do could possibly change that.”
He took my hands in his. “I would never want to hurt you or my brother. But I can’t help my feelings for you. I love you, and I’ll always love you, but for the sake of your happiness with my brother, I’ll love you as I should; as a friend, as a sister.”
This made me suck in a gasp. For the sake of your happiness. This was a hard sacrifice he was making. For me. For my happiness. For my happiness.
“My true love will come,” he continued. “Some day. But for now, I’m just happy as long as you are.”
All of this made me wonder. Made me wonder what life would have been like without him, just me and Adam. Made me wonder what life would have been like, just us. Made me wonder if his true love would come one day and save him from the burden that I have become to him. Made me wonder how I would ever be able to thank him for doing this for me. Made me wonder that maybe everything could be happily ever after in the end after all.
“So you’ll come to the wedding?” I whispered. I couldn’t lift my head. He lifted it for me, cupping my chin in his hand so I was looking directly at him.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, just as softly as me. Then he removed his cupped hand from under my chin and gave it a soft, playful little nudge, clicking his tongue once. I smiled weakly, and he pulled me into his arms. His embrace did so many things at once. Sent a chill through my body, made my cheeks warm, gave me a shiver that ran up my spine, raised goose bumps on my skin. Most of all, it made me realize that I’d have to feel all of this every single time I was in his arms from now on, and that I’d have to get used to it.
“You look beautiful, honey.”
My father’s voice startled me. I hadn’t heard him come into the room. “Oh, hey, Dad.”
He chuckled. “I remember when you used to dress like this everyday when you played dress up. That too too always looked so cute on you. And now look at you.”
His kind, fatherly words gave me warmth, gave me confidence.
I never knew what was the reason behind the nervousness that brides got right before the wedding, but it was sure as hell happening to me. These pre-wedding jitters just added to my nerves.
But as I heard my dad’s reassuring voice, all those jitters and nerves disappeared. I looked myself in the mirror, and I didn’t see the same Elena Skye I’d always been. I saw the Elena Skye I was about to become. I saw the Elena Skye that would be a wife, that would be a mother.
“Can I come in?”
My jitters returned as I saw Aaron’s head poking in the room through the mirror.
Please don’t leave me alone with him. Please don’t leave me alone with him, I chanted in my head, hoping that it was possible to will my father to do so.
“I’ll just leave you two alone,” my father muttered as he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.
It was silent for three long seconds before Aaron spoke. “You look beautiful.”
“Yeah, that’s what you’re supposed to say,” I joked, though I felt an edge to my voice.
“Doesn’t mean it’s not rue,” he replied. “I mean, you just looks so…gorgeous. You’re surely going to knock em’ dead.”
I chuckled and looked down at the floor when I felt my cheeks grow hot.
“I wanted to give you something.”
My heart skipped a beat.
He held out a white box, with the length of a 12-inch ruler. Slowly, he opened it.
The first thing I saw was the beautiful silver necklace that showed a small fern hanging in the middle.
“I thought it would look nice with your dress,” he said softly.
Right above the necklace, there was something imprinted into the cardboard that held the necklace in place.
No man is worth your tears, but once you find one that is, he won't make you cry.
I felt my throat tightening, and I held my hand up to it. “It’s beautiful,” I croaked. “Would you-”
“Of course,” he said, reading my mind. I turned back to the mirror and saw as the mirror copied his movement, mimicked him as his hands quickly hooked the necklace on and then rested weightless on my shoulders.
I felt something had been missing, and now, everything was perfect. I joined Aaron as he studied me in the mirror. The necklace glistened softly in the light. It went beautifully with my flowing dress, and even with my hair with white lilies pinned to a few of the bouncing curls. My glossy lips were pink and smooth, and as I caught a glimpse of my blue eyes, which looked bluer than ever, my rosy-colored lips began to quiver and my eyes started watering.
“Aw, don’t cry, Elena. You’ll mess up that beautiful make-up of yours.”
I sucked in a deep breathe and turned to him. “Your right.” I gave him a sincere look. “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“It didn’t cost that much.”
“No, I said shaking my head. “I mean everything you’ve ever done for me, everything you are doing for me, and everything you will probably do for me. I don’t know how I’ll ever forgive myself for hurting you, and just know that I never meant to-”
“It was just a necklace,” he muttered. Then he chuckled and said, “Kidding.”
There was a knock on the door, and my father stepped back in. “Hey, kiddo, sorry to interrupt, but he have to get you down that aisle.”
“I’ll go tell them to get ready for the bride,” Aaron announced, and left the room.
My heart started pounding, and my stomach churned, though I was sure that was from the pregnancy.
I grabbed my bouquet as my father offered me his elbow, and I slipped my hand through his.
“Stop looking so worried,” my father told me. “Everything’s fine. Now put on that smile that the ‘too too’ you would wear.”
I smiled unwillingly as he told me that.
Usually, time was not on my side. Had bad timing, time went by too fast or too slow. I wanted things to go by fast today. But today, time was giving me a break. It seems as soon as we stepped out that door, we were already in the backyard, on the long, red carpet rolled out in front of us.
I took a deep breath and waited for my cue to start walking. The wedding march began, and the few dozens of people stood.
Left. Right. Left. Right.
It seemed like only a few steps before I was right in front of Adam, not being able to help but smile at how handsome he looked in his tux. Once I saw him, I saw no one else, not even Aaron.
Beautiful, he mouthed.
It seemed like only a few minutes had passed when it was time for the vows.
Adam spoke first. In my head, I was thinking, No matter what he says, don’t cry.
“Elena. My beautiful Elena. I believe it was fate that we met. In all my life, I never met someone as beautiful, as smart, as caring, as sweet, as perfect as you.”
Don’t cry, don’t cry, I said louder in my head.
"You’re my everything. A bee is nothing without it’s sweet honey, a singer is nothing without their voice, and I am nothing without you. I love you, and don’t you dare forget it.”
Damn it, I thought as the tears strolled down my face.
I began what I had rehearsed so many times. “Adam.” I smiled as I said his name. “There have been so many ‘best days of my life’ with you. This will be one of them.” I paused for a short moment. “And the next-” I took a deep breath and put a hand up to my belly. “Will be when the child growing inside me is born, with you right there by my side.”
Adam smiled. There were gasps and mutters from the audience. But I continued.
“And I hope to share many more ‘best days’ with you, for as long as our love will last.”
Love you, I mouthed.
We said our ‘I Do’s’, exchanged the rings, and finally, the minister said the words:
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Adam stepped closer and put one arm around my waist. He rested the other on my cheek. Slowly, he leaned in and my eyes fluttered closed as he pressed his lips to mine.
He was heavenly gentle, but when I carefully bit down on his bottom lip and tugged, he smiled and gave me a more passionate kiss. When he broke away, the guests cheered and began throwing flower petals. Adam gave me one more kiss, a soft kiss on the forehead, then picked me up and stood me on a nearby metal folding chair. I turned away from the crowd and shouted, “Ready?“ to the people behind me, then launched my bouquet over my head. I was surprised when Ariana caught it. I laughed when she looked at Noah with a smug look and he started whistling.
I looked over to where Aaron was standing and began to walk toward him. When I stood right in front of him, he held his arms wide open. “Come ‘ere, lil’ sis!” I wrapped my arms around his waist and he started to shake me left and right. We both laughed, but then Aaron stopped laughing for some reason, so I stopped, too. I looked up at him to see that he was staring at something in back of me, so I turned. There was Adam, standing tall, in front of me and his fraternal twin brother Aaron. And there I stood between both men that I loved, feeling small. I moved to the side and pushed them a bit closer.
Adam held out his hand. Aaron took it and they shook fiercely. I could tell both their grips were tight. And then my happily ever after happened. Adam pulled Aaron into his arms, patted his back and said to him, “I missed you, little brother.”
Epilogue
Aaron’s P.O.V.
I’d say things were finally back to normal, but they were never normal in the first place, so I’ll say that things are finally normal. Elena is happy, and that’s all I could wish for. The both of us really are like brother and sister now, always messing with each other. She has some kind of attitude toward me now. She acts cold sometimes, gotten real feisty. I always pretend to hit on her to tease her. (Or at least that‘s what I tell her.)
She’s six-months pregnant, and I’m actually pretty psyched. Adam is practically jumping up and down for the day to come.
Turns out Noah and Ariana did get married, about three months later. Shocker.
Everything’s normal, but that doesn’t mean that things aren’t different. Because things between me and Adam will never be the same again. It’s not completely awkward between us, but it’s not a stroll in the park, either. Our brotherhood has changed forever, our bond and trust gone, and it’s all thanks to the woman we could never say no to, to the woman we could never stay mad at. To the woman we will always love, Elena.
Monday, August 9, 2010
To Be Loved: Chapter Four
Hey all, I know I said I'd post daily from now on, so I apologize for yesterday. (Things got a little hectic.) So to make up for it, I'm posting double! Enjoy! =D
Skye’s P.O.V.
I was happy to wake up to the same scent as yesterday, minty and musky. I smiled as I laid my head on Adam’s hard chest.
“I love the sound of your heartbeat,” I told him quietly.
I could hear it very clearly. It was strong.
Boom, boom. Boom, boom.
“Why?” he asked, chuckling.
“Because when I listen to it, I know you‘ll live a long life, so it makes me happy to know that I‘ll have you with me forever.”
He smiled and held me closer to him.
“Promise me something, Adam?”
“What is it?”
I hesitated. “Promise me that you’ll always remember that I love you. Always. Even if you someday lose your memory. Keep it in the back of your head. Remember it like you remember how to breathe.”
His face was blank for a moment, and then he closed his eyes. He opened them again and looked at me. He grabbed my hand resting on his chest and pulled it closer to his heart.
“I promise.”
I sighed softly and laid my head back on his chest as Adam ran his fingers through my hair. He kissed my forehead.
This is how I always wanted it to be for us, the next long days of our lives together. I wanted to be with him like this, always right there, listening to his heart thump as it tells me he will be with me for the rest of my life.
I felt like I was forgetting something, and I remembered. I looked at the time on the digital clock next to us. Eight thirty-seven A.M.
“Aaron’s supposed to pick me up,” I mumbled to Adam. “He should have been here by now. Did he call?”
“Don’t think so. I left my cell phone on. Didn‘t have time to turn it off.” He smirked.
“He would have called if he couldn’t come…”
Something wasn’t right. It wasn’t like Aaron. I know he kept his word, and he would have called if he couldn’t.
I got on my feet and stretched. I picked up my phone from the desk and dialed Aaron’s number. I stood outside our door and then saw Aaron’s phone shaking, vibrating on the little table. My heart ached as I considered the possibility that was forming in my head.
“Oh, God,” I groaned.
“What’s wrong?” Aaron asked, instantly by my side, caressingly kissing my shoulder.
“Aaron. He left his phone here. He must have come back for it and heard us. He heard us, Adam!” I hid my face in my hands, horrified.
“So? He still would have called. He‘s not the kind of guy to get all uncomfortable and freaked out about that.”
“You don’t understand, Adam! Aaron-” I covered my mouth quickly.
“Aaron what?” He said suspiciously, his eyebrows furrowing.
I closed my eyes. Should I tell him? I wondered. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he should know. I didn’t want to keep this from him forever.
“Elena, Aaron what?” He asked again. He rarely ever called me Elena, except when he was serious or worried.
I took a deep breath, and looked down at the floor. “Aaron, he…a few nights ago…he told me he had feelings for me.” I raised my head, though I kept my eyes on his mouth. I didn‘t have the courage to look into his eyes.
“He kissed me,” I whispered.
Slowly, I looked up. His expression was blank.
“And I thought for a while that I had feelings for him,” I said slowly.
Still blank.
“But I don’t,” I continued quickly, defensively. “I love you and only you. I know that now.”
The doorbell rang. I kept my eyes on Adam a few seconds longer, then walked downstairs.
Even more proof. He would have just let himself in using the spare key. He always did.
I opened the door and there stood Aaron. He had circles under his red eyes.
“Aaron…”
“Sorry I’m late,” he mumbled, looking at the floor as he stepped inside.
“Aaron,“ I said again. “I-”
Adam was suddenly right there, grabbing Aaron from the collar of his shirt, shaking him a little. He was fast.
“Damn, you, Aaron! How dare you put even one finger on her! Trying to steal my girl, huh?” I saw him pull back his arm, and I quickly pushed Adam away from Aaron.
“Please, Adam, stop! Please,” I sobbed. I had my eyes shut tight. I felt his body relax and he slowly wrapped one arm around my waist, and rested the other on the small of my back. I could feel him staring at Aaron over my shoulder.
“Don’t you dare come to the wedding.”
My eyes opened wide in horror. I looked at Aaron, and he just stood there, looking at the floor. He probably hated me now, and I couldn’t blame him. I’ve hurt him too much already.
I dug my face back into Adam’s chest, and I heard the door close.
I was anxious all the next day. When I woke up, Adam was gone. He left a note that said he went over to Noah’s to rehearse, and I knew he was staying longer than he needed to.
I tried to keep myself busy by cleaning, but there wasn’t much to clean, so I finished quickly. I went upstairs to the room, took out a book, and waited.
I heard a car pull up around six, then I heard the front door open and close. It was silent for a few seconds, but then I heard him begin to walk up the stairs, and I stood.
He entered, carrying his guitar case, and closed the door behind him.
“Hi,” I said quietly, forcing a smile, though only one corner of my mouth curved.
“Hey.”
We stood there quietly for a moment. The silence was almost deafening.
Then he dropped his case and pulled me close to him. I shut my eyes closed to prevent from crying. Didn‘t work.
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed into his shirt. “Please understand. Please forgive me.”
He held me tighter and rest his chin on my head as he smoothed my hair. “I understand. I forgive you.”
I clenched to him more. There was no distance between us, I was as close as possible, and yet it was never enough for me when I held Adam.
We stayed like that for a long time, in complete silence, just holding each other.
“Adam?”
“Yeah?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. I closed it, then opened it again. “Please let Aaron come to the wedding. I’d feel bad if he wasn’t there.”
“No,” he answered, gentle but firm.
“Please. I’m just as guilty.”
He looked down at me. I hated myself for causing the pain I could see in his eyes.
“I can’t, Skye.”
“But he’s your brother!”
He sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, but the answer is still no.”
My lips trembled, and I could feel tears in my eyes. “Okay,” I muttered, my voice only above a whisper. “Fine. Sorry I asked.”
He looked at me again and groaned. “Skye,” he pleaded. “Babe, please don’t-”
I looked away so he wouldn’t see my agonized, pathetic face.
He sighed again. “Fine,” he said through his teeth. “But just promise me something.”
I looked back up at him. “Anything.”
“I want you to remember something too. Remember that I would do anything to make you happy. I would do everything to make you happy.”
I nodded my head. “I promise.” I put my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead.
“Be honest with me,” murmured. “Do you truly love him? If he’s the one you want, then I won’t get in the way of your happiness. Like I said, I’d do anything. Even if it means letting you go…”
I felt as if my heart shattered into a million little pieces as I looked at him and saw the same pain in his eyes.
“No. I know who I want.” I dug my face into his chest, and he put his arms around me again.
“You’re still going to sing at the wedding, right?” I asked him, worried that he’d changed his mind.
I could hear a smile in his voice as he spoke.
“Of course I am.”
Aaron’s P.O.V.
I ended up at the beach again.
When things were bad, I threw rocks. When things were really bad, I went swimming.
I sat by the shore when I got tired. The sand was hot, and my body burned even more from the already blazing sun, but I didn’t go back into the refreshing water. I stayed there, and hoped that it was possible that I can be burned until I was nothing but ashes, hoped that I can be put out of my misery once and for all.
I grabbed a handful of sand, then slowly let it slip through my fingers. I did the same thing over and over, until I picked up a piece of glass with the sand. I observed the glass, and it reminded me of Elena. Everything was reminding me of Elena. When I closed my eyes, I saw Elena. When I opened them, I saw Elena. I couldn’t get her out of my head. But this piece of glass was different. Glass was easy to break. Glass was sharp. It was very delicate, but it could cut you just as easy as it was to shatter it.
Just like Elena. I shattered her, and she’d cut me without trying.
I didn’t realize I’d clenched my hand with the glass in it into a fist until I saw the dripping blood. I opened my hand and dropped the glass. I just continued to watch the blood drip.
Plop. Plop.
And here's the second bit. =)
Skye’s P.O.V.
“Hey, Aaron, it’s me. Please call me back. It’s about the wedding.”
I shut my phone and hid my face in my hands. He wasn’t going to call back. Not ever. It had already been a whole week. He hadn’t called back, and when I went over to his house, he wasn’t home. And if he was, he obviously didn’t come running to open the door for me.
The phone rang. I picked it up quickly. “Hello?”
“Hey, pumpkin.” It wasn’t Aaron. But I was glad to hear my father on the other end. “Dad! It’s so good to hear your voice!”
“I just wanted to see how you were doing and let you know I’ll be there Monday.”
It was Saturday. I felt tears in my eyes. “That’s great! I’ll be able to spend time with you before the wedding on Wednesday. I can’t wait to see you!” It was quiet for a moment. “I miss you, Daddy.” I hadn’t called my father Daddy since I was six. I felt like a little girl again. I was gonna start crying like one, too.
“I miss you, too, sweetie. I’m afraid I have to go now, though. I’ll call you when I arrive, ‘kay?”
“Alright. Bye.”
“See you soon, hun.”
I sat there frozen on the bed. Everyone was going to be there.
Everyone but Aaron.
The tears in my eyes escaped, and I sobbed into my hands.
“Angel, what’s wrong?” Adam was suddenly by my side, and he hugged my shoulders.
I took a deep breath. “It’s nothing. My dad’s coming on Monday.”
His brows furrowed. “That’s not the reason why you were crying, Elena. I know you.”
I sighed. I couldn’t tell him it was because of Aaron. “I don’t know, Adam. I have been really sensitive lately.”
Now Adam sighed. “I swear, girls are so complicated.”
He started to walk away, but I tugged on his shirt and held on tight to him. “Don’t leave.”
He wrapped his arms around me, the tightest he ever had before.
“Sensitive isn’t the only thing you’ve been lately,” he muttered.
He was right. I was feeling needy. For him. For a lot of things. I wondered why that was.
Despite my emotions, I forced myself to laugh and let him go. “Sorry.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be. Anyway, come downstairs. My mom’s here. She just got out of the hospital after having her baby, and her boyfriend’s taking us out to dinner.”
I felt surprise on my face. “How come you never told me?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “It never came up.”
“Well you could have at least told me about the dinner part. Now I have to get ready!”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll tell them to wait a few minutes.”
The whole night I held the baby. She was so soft and so warm, and already so beautiful. Her name was Macie. Adam’s mother told me that she was so happy that she finally got a girl, and I laughed. “Yeah, you must have been pretty busy with two boys,” I told her.
“Not really. Aaron was no trouble. Adam was the real rebel.”
I smirked. “Why do I not find that surprising?”
“Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Adam mumbled at me.
“Just some shrimp. I’m not all that hungry.”
Since Adam hadn’t mentioned anything about his mother and dinner, I’d already finished a big bag of chips and a pasta salad at home a few hours before.
I took a sip of my soda, then continued to coo at Macie.
As I held her, I felt a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tried to imagine myself with a big round belly, tried to imagine what it could possibly feel like having such a small living thing inside of you, kicking and making your stomach jump out.
It was a wondrous feeling, this warmth. It was stronger than anything I’d ever felt before.
We got home around nine. When I entered our room, it was humid.
“We really need to get an air conditioner,” I told Adam.
“Sorry, beautiful,” he said, taking off his jacket. “An open window’s the best I can do right now.”
I plopped onto the bed and dug my face into my pillow.
“Aren’t you going to change?”
I groaned in a whiny tone, and he laughed. “Fine, suit yourself.”
I kept tossing and turning the whole night. I couldn’t sleep in this heat. My forehead was covered in sweat. In the middle of the night, I began to feel my stomach churning, and I recognized the feeling. I ran to the bathroom and kneeled in front of the toilet.
The smell reeked. I forced myself to sniff it a bit to get it all out and over with.
It took several minutes. I rinsed my mouth with water and brushed my teeth, then looked at myself in the mirror above the sink. My eyes looked weary, tired. I went back to bed.
“You okay?” Adam asked, a worried look on his face.
“I’m fine. It was probably all of the shrimp I ate.”
I was telling myself this more than I was telling him.
A connection was forming in my head, though I didn’t notice until I could almost hear the clicks.
The emotions, the eating, the warm feeling as I held Adam’s new baby sister, the sickness just now.
I didn’t want to think about it, but I knew exactly what was happening to me.
Aaron’s P.O.V.
My phone rang again. I wanted to launch it into the water like the rocks I threw. I hit ignore, and kept walking.
I had rarely been at my apartment the past few days. I was practically living at the beach now. I only went back to sleep. I came to the beach early in the morning, had my breakfast, lunch, and dinner there, and threw rocks in between. There was nothing else to do.
I listened to my voice mail. All of them were from Elena, all of them the same message.
It’s me. I have to talk to you about the wedding. Call me back.
I have to talk to you about the wedding. Please call.
Call me back, I convinced Adam to let you come to the wedding.
I didn’t give a damn about the wedding anymore. It didn’t matter if I could go. I wasn’t going, either way.
The final message began to play, and I stopped myself from pressing the delete key when I heard the urgency in her voice.
Aaron. I need to see you. Please. I don’t know what I’m going to do.
I froze completely. I listened to the message over again. Her voice sounded worried, sounded like she was crying. I dialed her number. She picked up on the first ring.
“Hello?”
I said nothing.
“Hello? Who is this this?”
“Elena?” I muttered softly.
It was quiet on the other end.
“I’m at the beach. I’ll be waiting.”
I began pacing as I waited for her.
I found her sitting by the shore, not even looking around to find me. Wasn’t she the one that was supposed to find me?
I sat down next to her, and waited for her to say something, but she kept looking out into the distance.
“What happened?” If she was this quiet, something serious was going on.
She was silent.
“I went to a clinic today,” she murmured, still not looking at me.
My eyebrows furrowed. “A clinic? Why? What’s wrong, are you okay?”
She finally looked at me, with eyes so drowsy, they looked dead. And then, with one little halfhearted smile, she said, “I’m pregnant.”
I sat there frozen. Why was she telling me this? Was she trying to break me on purpose? Hadn’t she cut me enough already?
Damn it, Elena, I thought. Why me?
“You should go home and tell Adam,” I told her in a low voice. “He should know.”
I walked away.
Only one more part to To Be Loved, then comes Wings. ;D
Skye’s P.O.V.
I was happy to wake up to the same scent as yesterday, minty and musky. I smiled as I laid my head on Adam’s hard chest.
“I love the sound of your heartbeat,” I told him quietly.
I could hear it very clearly. It was strong.
Boom, boom. Boom, boom.
“Why?” he asked, chuckling.
“Because when I listen to it, I know you‘ll live a long life, so it makes me happy to know that I‘ll have you with me forever.”
He smiled and held me closer to him.
“Promise me something, Adam?”
“What is it?”
I hesitated. “Promise me that you’ll always remember that I love you. Always. Even if you someday lose your memory. Keep it in the back of your head. Remember it like you remember how to breathe.”
His face was blank for a moment, and then he closed his eyes. He opened them again and looked at me. He grabbed my hand resting on his chest and pulled it closer to his heart.
“I promise.”
I sighed softly and laid my head back on his chest as Adam ran his fingers through my hair. He kissed my forehead.
This is how I always wanted it to be for us, the next long days of our lives together. I wanted to be with him like this, always right there, listening to his heart thump as it tells me he will be with me for the rest of my life.
I felt like I was forgetting something, and I remembered. I looked at the time on the digital clock next to us. Eight thirty-seven A.M.
“Aaron’s supposed to pick me up,” I mumbled to Adam. “He should have been here by now. Did he call?”
“Don’t think so. I left my cell phone on. Didn‘t have time to turn it off.” He smirked.
“He would have called if he couldn’t come…”
Something wasn’t right. It wasn’t like Aaron. I know he kept his word, and he would have called if he couldn’t.
I got on my feet and stretched. I picked up my phone from the desk and dialed Aaron’s number. I stood outside our door and then saw Aaron’s phone shaking, vibrating on the little table. My heart ached as I considered the possibility that was forming in my head.
“Oh, God,” I groaned.
“What’s wrong?” Aaron asked, instantly by my side, caressingly kissing my shoulder.
“Aaron. He left his phone here. He must have come back for it and heard us. He heard us, Adam!” I hid my face in my hands, horrified.
“So? He still would have called. He‘s not the kind of guy to get all uncomfortable and freaked out about that.”
“You don’t understand, Adam! Aaron-” I covered my mouth quickly.
“Aaron what?” He said suspiciously, his eyebrows furrowing.
I closed my eyes. Should I tell him? I wondered. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he should know. I didn’t want to keep this from him forever.
“Elena, Aaron what?” He asked again. He rarely ever called me Elena, except when he was serious or worried.
I took a deep breath, and looked down at the floor. “Aaron, he…a few nights ago…he told me he had feelings for me.” I raised my head, though I kept my eyes on his mouth. I didn‘t have the courage to look into his eyes.
“He kissed me,” I whispered.
Slowly, I looked up. His expression was blank.
“And I thought for a while that I had feelings for him,” I said slowly.
Still blank.
“But I don’t,” I continued quickly, defensively. “I love you and only you. I know that now.”
The doorbell rang. I kept my eyes on Adam a few seconds longer, then walked downstairs.
Even more proof. He would have just let himself in using the spare key. He always did.
I opened the door and there stood Aaron. He had circles under his red eyes.
“Aaron…”
“Sorry I’m late,” he mumbled, looking at the floor as he stepped inside.
“Aaron,“ I said again. “I-”
Adam was suddenly right there, grabbing Aaron from the collar of his shirt, shaking him a little. He was fast.
“Damn, you, Aaron! How dare you put even one finger on her! Trying to steal my girl, huh?” I saw him pull back his arm, and I quickly pushed Adam away from Aaron.
“Please, Adam, stop! Please,” I sobbed. I had my eyes shut tight. I felt his body relax and he slowly wrapped one arm around my waist, and rested the other on the small of my back. I could feel him staring at Aaron over my shoulder.
“Don’t you dare come to the wedding.”
My eyes opened wide in horror. I looked at Aaron, and he just stood there, looking at the floor. He probably hated me now, and I couldn’t blame him. I’ve hurt him too much already.
I dug my face back into Adam’s chest, and I heard the door close.
I was anxious all the next day. When I woke up, Adam was gone. He left a note that said he went over to Noah’s to rehearse, and I knew he was staying longer than he needed to.
I tried to keep myself busy by cleaning, but there wasn’t much to clean, so I finished quickly. I went upstairs to the room, took out a book, and waited.
I heard a car pull up around six, then I heard the front door open and close. It was silent for a few seconds, but then I heard him begin to walk up the stairs, and I stood.
He entered, carrying his guitar case, and closed the door behind him.
“Hi,” I said quietly, forcing a smile, though only one corner of my mouth curved.
“Hey.”
We stood there quietly for a moment. The silence was almost deafening.
Then he dropped his case and pulled me close to him. I shut my eyes closed to prevent from crying. Didn‘t work.
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed into his shirt. “Please understand. Please forgive me.”
He held me tighter and rest his chin on my head as he smoothed my hair. “I understand. I forgive you.”
I clenched to him more. There was no distance between us, I was as close as possible, and yet it was never enough for me when I held Adam.
We stayed like that for a long time, in complete silence, just holding each other.
“Adam?”
“Yeah?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. I closed it, then opened it again. “Please let Aaron come to the wedding. I’d feel bad if he wasn’t there.”
“No,” he answered, gentle but firm.
“Please. I’m just as guilty.”
He looked down at me. I hated myself for causing the pain I could see in his eyes.
“I can’t, Skye.”
“But he’s your brother!”
He sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, but the answer is still no.”
My lips trembled, and I could feel tears in my eyes. “Okay,” I muttered, my voice only above a whisper. “Fine. Sorry I asked.”
He looked at me again and groaned. “Skye,” he pleaded. “Babe, please don’t-”
I looked away so he wouldn’t see my agonized, pathetic face.
He sighed again. “Fine,” he said through his teeth. “But just promise me something.”
I looked back up at him. “Anything.”
“I want you to remember something too. Remember that I would do anything to make you happy. I would do everything to make you happy.”
I nodded my head. “I promise.” I put my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead.
“Be honest with me,” murmured. “Do you truly love him? If he’s the one you want, then I won’t get in the way of your happiness. Like I said, I’d do anything. Even if it means letting you go…”
I felt as if my heart shattered into a million little pieces as I looked at him and saw the same pain in his eyes.
“No. I know who I want.” I dug my face into his chest, and he put his arms around me again.
“You’re still going to sing at the wedding, right?” I asked him, worried that he’d changed his mind.
I could hear a smile in his voice as he spoke.
“Of course I am.”
Aaron’s P.O.V.
I ended up at the beach again.
When things were bad, I threw rocks. When things were really bad, I went swimming.
I sat by the shore when I got tired. The sand was hot, and my body burned even more from the already blazing sun, but I didn’t go back into the refreshing water. I stayed there, and hoped that it was possible that I can be burned until I was nothing but ashes, hoped that I can be put out of my misery once and for all.
I grabbed a handful of sand, then slowly let it slip through my fingers. I did the same thing over and over, until I picked up a piece of glass with the sand. I observed the glass, and it reminded me of Elena. Everything was reminding me of Elena. When I closed my eyes, I saw Elena. When I opened them, I saw Elena. I couldn’t get her out of my head. But this piece of glass was different. Glass was easy to break. Glass was sharp. It was very delicate, but it could cut you just as easy as it was to shatter it.
Just like Elena. I shattered her, and she’d cut me without trying.
I didn’t realize I’d clenched my hand with the glass in it into a fist until I saw the dripping blood. I opened my hand and dropped the glass. I just continued to watch the blood drip.
Plop. Plop.
And here's the second bit. =)
Skye’s P.O.V.
“Hey, Aaron, it’s me. Please call me back. It’s about the wedding.”
I shut my phone and hid my face in my hands. He wasn’t going to call back. Not ever. It had already been a whole week. He hadn’t called back, and when I went over to his house, he wasn’t home. And if he was, he obviously didn’t come running to open the door for me.
The phone rang. I picked it up quickly. “Hello?”
“Hey, pumpkin.” It wasn’t Aaron. But I was glad to hear my father on the other end. “Dad! It’s so good to hear your voice!”
“I just wanted to see how you were doing and let you know I’ll be there Monday.”
It was Saturday. I felt tears in my eyes. “That’s great! I’ll be able to spend time with you before the wedding on Wednesday. I can’t wait to see you!” It was quiet for a moment. “I miss you, Daddy.” I hadn’t called my father Daddy since I was six. I felt like a little girl again. I was gonna start crying like one, too.
“I miss you, too, sweetie. I’m afraid I have to go now, though. I’ll call you when I arrive, ‘kay?”
“Alright. Bye.”
“See you soon, hun.”
I sat there frozen on the bed. Everyone was going to be there.
Everyone but Aaron.
The tears in my eyes escaped, and I sobbed into my hands.
“Angel, what’s wrong?” Adam was suddenly by my side, and he hugged my shoulders.
I took a deep breath. “It’s nothing. My dad’s coming on Monday.”
His brows furrowed. “That’s not the reason why you were crying, Elena. I know you.”
I sighed. I couldn’t tell him it was because of Aaron. “I don’t know, Adam. I have been really sensitive lately.”
Now Adam sighed. “I swear, girls are so complicated.”
He started to walk away, but I tugged on his shirt and held on tight to him. “Don’t leave.”
He wrapped his arms around me, the tightest he ever had before.
“Sensitive isn’t the only thing you’ve been lately,” he muttered.
He was right. I was feeling needy. For him. For a lot of things. I wondered why that was.
Despite my emotions, I forced myself to laugh and let him go. “Sorry.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be. Anyway, come downstairs. My mom’s here. She just got out of the hospital after having her baby, and her boyfriend’s taking us out to dinner.”
I felt surprise on my face. “How come you never told me?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “It never came up.”
“Well you could have at least told me about the dinner part. Now I have to get ready!”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll tell them to wait a few minutes.”
The whole night I held the baby. She was so soft and so warm, and already so beautiful. Her name was Macie. Adam’s mother told me that she was so happy that she finally got a girl, and I laughed. “Yeah, you must have been pretty busy with two boys,” I told her.
“Not really. Aaron was no trouble. Adam was the real rebel.”
I smirked. “Why do I not find that surprising?”
“Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Adam mumbled at me.
“Just some shrimp. I’m not all that hungry.”
Since Adam hadn’t mentioned anything about his mother and dinner, I’d already finished a big bag of chips and a pasta salad at home a few hours before.
I took a sip of my soda, then continued to coo at Macie.
As I held her, I felt a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tried to imagine myself with a big round belly, tried to imagine what it could possibly feel like having such a small living thing inside of you, kicking and making your stomach jump out.
It was a wondrous feeling, this warmth. It was stronger than anything I’d ever felt before.
We got home around nine. When I entered our room, it was humid.
“We really need to get an air conditioner,” I told Adam.
“Sorry, beautiful,” he said, taking off his jacket. “An open window’s the best I can do right now.”
I plopped onto the bed and dug my face into my pillow.
“Aren’t you going to change?”
I groaned in a whiny tone, and he laughed. “Fine, suit yourself.”
I kept tossing and turning the whole night. I couldn’t sleep in this heat. My forehead was covered in sweat. In the middle of the night, I began to feel my stomach churning, and I recognized the feeling. I ran to the bathroom and kneeled in front of the toilet.
The smell reeked. I forced myself to sniff it a bit to get it all out and over with.
It took several minutes. I rinsed my mouth with water and brushed my teeth, then looked at myself in the mirror above the sink. My eyes looked weary, tired. I went back to bed.
“You okay?” Adam asked, a worried look on his face.
“I’m fine. It was probably all of the shrimp I ate.”
I was telling myself this more than I was telling him.
A connection was forming in my head, though I didn’t notice until I could almost hear the clicks.
The emotions, the eating, the warm feeling as I held Adam’s new baby sister, the sickness just now.
I didn’t want to think about it, but I knew exactly what was happening to me.
Aaron’s P.O.V.
My phone rang again. I wanted to launch it into the water like the rocks I threw. I hit ignore, and kept walking.
I had rarely been at my apartment the past few days. I was practically living at the beach now. I only went back to sleep. I came to the beach early in the morning, had my breakfast, lunch, and dinner there, and threw rocks in between. There was nothing else to do.
I listened to my voice mail. All of them were from Elena, all of them the same message.
It’s me. I have to talk to you about the wedding. Call me back.
I have to talk to you about the wedding. Please call.
Call me back, I convinced Adam to let you come to the wedding.
I didn’t give a damn about the wedding anymore. It didn’t matter if I could go. I wasn’t going, either way.
The final message began to play, and I stopped myself from pressing the delete key when I heard the urgency in her voice.
Aaron. I need to see you. Please. I don’t know what I’m going to do.
I froze completely. I listened to the message over again. Her voice sounded worried, sounded like she was crying. I dialed her number. She picked up on the first ring.
“Hello?”
I said nothing.
“Hello? Who is this this?”
“Elena?” I muttered softly.
It was quiet on the other end.
“I’m at the beach. I’ll be waiting.”
I began pacing as I waited for her.
I found her sitting by the shore, not even looking around to find me. Wasn’t she the one that was supposed to find me?
I sat down next to her, and waited for her to say something, but she kept looking out into the distance.
“What happened?” If she was this quiet, something serious was going on.
She was silent.
“I went to a clinic today,” she murmured, still not looking at me.
My eyebrows furrowed. “A clinic? Why? What’s wrong, are you okay?”
She finally looked at me, with eyes so drowsy, they looked dead. And then, with one little halfhearted smile, she said, “I’m pregnant.”
I sat there frozen. Why was she telling me this? Was she trying to break me on purpose? Hadn’t she cut me enough already?
Damn it, Elena, I thought. Why me?
“You should go home and tell Adam,” I told her in a low voice. “He should know.”
I walked away.
Only one more part to To Be Loved, then comes Wings. ;D
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