Down Here On Earth.
Sydney wasn't sure how long she stayed on her bedroom floor, shivering in the cool desert air with that numb feeling hollowing out her soul. She didn't feel like doing anything except stare blankly at the floor. Eventually, she got up and moved to her bed. Physically, it was an improvement. But no matter what she did, she still felt empty.
She drifted to sleep staring out of here window up at the moon. She dreamt that she was standing up on it, looking down on the planet she left behind. All of her worries and cares were left behind with it. She was free. Finally free of the alchemists, that cursed lily, and all of her responsibilities.
She was finally free of the rules against humans and moroi being together.
Sydney felt a hand slide over her shoulder. She turned and saw a man. She couldn't make out a face in her dreamy haze, but the green eyes told her it was Adrian. She wasted no time in grabbing him and pulling him down to her level. He kissed her back just as eagerly, pulling her as close to him as he could. Sydney loved every second of it. She even loved the feeling of his fangs scraping against her neck…
Sydney's eyes fluttered open. It was morning and the sun lit up her room. She wasn't used to her room being so bright considering how she was up and busy by this time. When she thought about last night, she didn't care that she was neglecting her responsibilities. She was still a human girl who needed time for herself. Right now, she needed that time.
She needed that time so badly that she even opted for ignoring her cell phone when it started vibrating on her nightstand. Sydney buried her head under a pillow, hoping whoever was calling her would stop. But the phone kept ringing and ringing and ringing.
She sat up, snatched her phone, and answered with a harsh, "what?"
"Sydney?" she heard Dimitri's concerned voice through the phone. "Are you okay?"
Sydney sighed. She wanted to yell at him and tell him to leave her alone but that wouldn't accomplish anything. There wasn't any reason to take her frustration out on him, especially when she really wanted to take her frustration out on Adrian. It was Adrian's fault after all. If it weren't for him, she'd never gotten drunk, still would be a virgin, and wouldn't feel like a giant turd.
"I'm alright," Sydney replied with a much nicer tone. "I'm just feeling a little under the weather."
"I hope you feel better soon. Especially since Mr. Donahue has invited everyone to his home for dinner to celebrate Sonya and Mikhail's marriage, " Dimitri said.
"That's nice of him," Sydney replied. Then she thought of everyone. "Wait, is Adrian going to be there?"
Dimitri sighed. "Yes. I don't know what happened between you two or why you've both been strange since the vampire hunter incident, but please play nice. For Mr. Donahue."
"Of course," Sydney assured him. There wouldn't be any problems with Adrian as long as minded his own business and kept away from her.
It was too much to wish for a night free of Adrian. The moment Sydney and the gang got out of her car, Adrian pulled up. She didn't know what possessed her to slowly walk behind the rest of them, allowing time for Adrian to catch up and fall into step beside her.
"Hey Sage," he greeted, looking her up and down. "You look really good tonight."
Sydney wanted to roll her eyes. She knew that she looked decent. Good even. Adrian telling her that was just a redundant statement. But the way he was staring at her made her feel a little self-conscious. Maybe it was just the outfit she was wearing. After all, Kristin and Julia picked out the knee length, floofy, light pink skirt and the white shirt with the lower neckline than she was used to. Plus, they adorned her with white wedges and pink make-up on her just to make her look extra girly tonight. She should've protested against them a little more.
Sydney shook off the butterflies Adrian was giving her and continued into the house.
After dinner, Sydney sat alone, watching everyone talking among themselves. She was really just raking up the courage to talk to Jill. Jill was still angry with Sydney and she was afraid that Jill might not want to help her.
Eventually, Sydney stood up and approached Jill and Eddie. After apologizing to Eddie for taking Jill away, she led them outside into the garden. The sun had just set, leaving the darkening blue sky streaked with orange. It also made it more comfortable to Jill, who took a seat on a bench next to a bush of white roses.
She glared up at Sydney. "What do you want?"
Sydney considered taking the seat next to her but then thought better of it. Jill was pretty angry with Sydney. Probably angry enough to use magic around her. Sydney didn't want to do anything to upset her further.
"You're bonded with Adrian," she started. "And neither of us seems to remember what happened. I just wanted to know if you know what happened. I just… I don't like having this gap in my memory."
Jill sighed and began to relay the story to Sydney. Not for Sydney but for Adrian, who also wanted to know what exactly happened. "Adrian went to the St. Patty's day party and got drunk, as you know. He was just going to drive home but then he thought of how angry you'd be if you knew he drove home drunk. Especially if something happened to his car. And he wanted to see you so he called you. And you came, just as he expected.
But you were tired and thirsty so Adrian got you a diet pop until you could get some coffee. The bottle must've been spiked because that when you started to get less uptight and stuff. You partied with Adrian until he became so drunk that the bond disconnected or whatever. That is all I know."
Sydney nodded. That seemed like a very probable scenario. But knowing how Adrian felt for her, she had to ask, "Adrian didn't roofie it or anything? Did he?"
Jill stood up and shouted, "What the hell is wrong with you? Do you really think so low of Adrian? So low of us Moroi? Adrian would nev-"
"It's alright Jailbait." Adrian spoke from nowhere. Sydney looked around, not seeing him, until he emerged from behind some bushes a moment later, brushing cigarette ash off of his silky green shirt.
"Were you eavesdropping?" Sydney accused.
"Actually, no. I was out here smoking before you two came out here to talk. I just happened to overhear." Adrian explained, taking the spot where Jill previously sat. "And Jill, would you please excuse us. I'd like to speak with Sydney alone."
Jill wasted no time going back into the house. She was all to eager to get away from Sydney (and back to Eddie.)
Adrian patted the spot next to him. Sydney rolled her eyes but sat nonetheless. Sydney was all too aware of the arm resting on the bench behind her and the heat coming from him. She resisted the urge to scoot closer to him.
"You know," he started, "I'd never roofie you. Especially just to get in your pants. I want you to come to me willingly. I want you to truly love me as much as I love you. And if I'm patient and persistent, you will. You're already halfway there."
Sydney turned to face him. "Adrian, I don't love you. I'm not halfway there either. And hypothetically, if I was, we still couldn't be together. You're a vampire and I'm a human. I'm not just a human either. I'm an alchemist. That makes it even more taboo."
"I know its taboo," Adrian said, bringing his hand up to trace the lily on Sydney's cheek. "I just don't give a damn. My love for you surpasses any rules and social norms. And when you stop deluding yourself, your love will too."
"Adrian, it would be better for you if you forgot about your feelings for me. If you moved on," Sydney said, surprised at how she had to force the words out. "And I don't love you. You need to realize that."
"Really Sage? Then why haven't you pushed my hand away?" he asked.
Sydney glanced at the hand on her face. She brought her own hand up and knocked his to the side. She missed the feeling of his hand as soon as it was gone.
Adrian chuckled, "You look like you regret that."
"I don't," Sydney lied through clenched teeth.
"Oh really?" Adrian asked, bringing his hand up. Sydney's eyes closed for a moment, relishing the feeling, before grabbing his wrist and yanking it down. All that did was earn another chuckle from Adrian.
"Don't. Touch. Me." Sydney demanded.
Adrian smirked, "It would be more preferable if you said 'don't stop touching me.'"
"I'm serious Adrian!" Sydney exclaimed. "I don't want you to touch me. I don't like it."
"Bullshit," Adrian said, sitting up straight. In one swift movement, he had a hand tangled in her hair and his mouth on hers.
Sydney whimpered against him, working her mouth against his. She brought her hands up to his chest, meaning to push him away. Instead, she found herself pulling him closer. She felt as though she were melting, particularly her brain. Like before, Adrian made her stop thinking. She stopped thinking about school, about how much she resented the alchemists, about her responsibilities. She stopped thinking about how wrong the kiss was.
Adrian pulled away a moment later to breathe. "See? You not wanting me is bullshit."
Sydney's mind began to work again. She ignored his comment and said, "You can't do that again. Ever."
"Even if you want it?"
"Yes Adrian. Especially if I want it."
"Sydney, can you just forget about the taboos and rules and do something you want to for once? Seriously, sleep in late, blow off school, drink regular pop. Kiss me," Adrian pleaded, staring into her eyes.
"Adrian, we're not up on the moon," Sydney replied, thinking of her dream. "It's not that simple. You can't just do what you want. Not without consequences."
Sydney stood up and started to walk away. Adrian grabbed her wrist, stopping her. "Sydney, please stay."
She pulled her wrist back. "I'm sorry," she said as she was walking away.
A/N:Guys, I'm sorry it took me a while to update. I want to update a chapter every 1 - 2 weeks. 3 at the most. I've just been really busy with school and it's newspaper (I'm the editor of it). Anyways I'm going to try to update it faster.
Also, Sydney doesn't seem like Sydney to me. She seems kind of OC-ish. Does she seem like that to you guys too? What can I do to make her seem more like Sydney. I'm ruining perfectly good characters ;_;
Anyways, Thank you guys for all of the reviews. You guys are awesome C: I probably would've forgotten about this if it weren't for you.
