Disclaimer: All these incredibly awesome characters and world belong to the lovely Richelle Mead

AN: Thank you to all the people who have reviewed and liked this story it means so much to me. Just basically a BIG BIG thank you to everyone who's read it :D

3. I'm Sorry

I was delaying going downstairs. I didn't want to be early to Latte in case Eddie was first one to arrive and start questioning me. So I waited.

Last night's event replayed in my head like a film. Jill angrily telling me that I wasn't captive to the lily or the Alchemists that I had to decide head or heart. I had walked out of the cafeteria after, wanting to avoid the questions that would surely be bombarded on me by Eddie and Angeline if I stayed.

The words Jill had directed to me were purely Adrian's, Jill was just the vessel delivering them. I had stayed up nearly all night, my mind thinking over what Jill had said "You can't let them control you Sydney. You need to decide. Are you going to follow –to trust – your head or you heart?" And each time I kept telling myself that there was nothing to decide, but each time I tried convincing myself that I couldn't help but feel like it was a lie.

Since it was Saturday we were heading to Clarence's. The school had loosened it leash on Angeline since the incident in assembly a few weeks ago, so she was able to stay longer than what was usually allowed which for her and along with the rest of us meant we got to stay out longer. Before that would've been a blessing but now, not so much. The fact that both Angeline and Eddie wouldn't be there would make everything just as awkward. Adrian, Jill, Dimitri, Clarence and I. I could tell even from now that this day was going to be very uncomfortable.

I checked my phone again it was three minutes past eleven I decided to stay for three more minutes knowing that everyone else didn't think punctuality was as important as I did.

I still hadn't been called by the Alchemists to inform me on Zoë but I was anxiously waiting for the call. When I got the call I would hopefully be told more of what her role here in Palm Springs will be and reason why she was here. I wasn't unhappy to know she'll be here with me but I was unhappy that it even came to this. Zoë wasn't supposed to be the Alchemist the job was hereditary and I had been chosen years ago since my older sister Carly had been passed over. But my father still taught Zoë as a backup in case anything happened to me. And it was quite obvious nothing had happened to me, yet. I couldn't help but think that Zoë being sent here was some sort of warning.

A knock suddenly sounded at my door. I answered it, meeting Angeline's blue eyes.

"What's taking you so long? We've been waiting for ages." I glanced down to my phone and saw with slight shock it was ten past.

"Oh. Sorry. I guess I just lost track of time." I looked at Angeline's appearance she was still wearing her everyday clothes. "Aren't you going to change for your date?"

"At Clarence's, I didn't want to Eddie see yet." She smiled at me before grabbing my arm. "C'mon I don't want to be late."

We reached Clarence's as the days heat was at its max. The palm tree's surrounding his house casting shadows as we drove down the driveway the only reminder that we were in Palm Springs. Clarence's house was made of grey bricks a stark difference from the usual large flashy houses. Though the outside was bleary the inside was a complete opposite filled with everyday technology and was much more homier than the outside.

After we were met at the door by Dimitri, Angeline had grabbed both mine and Jill's arms practically dragging us to one of the vacant rooms. On the way we passed the lounge, I shot a quick glance to see Adrian lounging in a seat his attention on the TV. He heard us and turned his head, his eyes resting on me. I quickly turned away a blush on my face. A slight flutter went through me and I didn't know why. I noticed Jill looking at me a smug look on her face as we entered a vacant room. I averted my gaze and focused on Angeline who was currently emptying the contents of the bag she bought.

"You have to help," she said, picking up two different dresses. One was a knee length white dress with a flared out skirt and a tight sleeveless bodice with a small criss-cross design on it. The other dress was a strapless maxi dress with a design of different patterns in warm colours of pinks, yellows and maroon. "I bought these last week with Jill, but I don't know what one to choose."

"The white one," I said immediately.

Jill rolled her eyes. "Just because you have an aversion to colour doesn't mean Angeline should as well." She nodded her head to the maxi dress. "That one."

"No. It's not just because it's white. The other dress will blend with her hair." I stated. The maxi dresses colours held oranges and reds that matched with Angeline's wavy hair. "With the white one, her hair is a good contrast."

Jill narrowed her eyes looking between both dresses before finally laying her eyes on Angeline, Jill looked like she was going through an internal conflict as she stared at Angeline. She finally let out an exasperated sigh. "That one," she said pointing to the white dress.

"Really!" Angeline exclaimed a smile pulling at her lips. "I thought that too. But I wanted your guy's opinion first."

She shooed us out of the room as she changed. I turned my attention to Jill.

"Why did you pick the maxi dress?" I asked her.

"Because I liked it." she said dryly.

I let out a sigh. "Well when you were choosing it looked like… I don't know. It just looked like you were thinking about something else than the dress."

She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring down at me. "You don't know what you're talking about, I was choosing which one would look better on Angeline and that's it, nothing else."

"But the maxi dress obviously wouldn't look good on her. You know fashion. So why did you tell her to pick the maxi?" I looked at her my eyes widening as a sudden thought occurred to me. "You didn't tell her to wear it so she'll look bad. Did you?"

Jill silence answered my question.

"Jill! She's your friend. You can't—"

"I know!" she yelled. I winced from her sudden loudness. "You don't understand, what it's like to see them together…" she closed her eyes momentarily as her voiced dropped. "It was a mistake. I chose the white one in the end didn't I? So no harm done."

"But you still thought of doing it." I said with accusation.

"But I didn't though, that's what matters." She moved away from me knocking on the closed door. "Done yet?"

"Wait—okay, done," Angeline called, as she opened the door.

I widened my eyes at her appearance. "Wow. You looked great." She smiled at me running her hands over her dress. Her hair currently lay in it strawberry blonde waves around her shoulders whilst the dress hugged to the shape of her body. She didn't have any makeup on yet but she looked stunning without it.

"You think so?" she asked optimism shining in her eyes. I nodded back at her. She gave me another smile in gratitude. "I can't decide on my makeup though, that's,"—sending pointed looks to me and Jill—, "is what I really need you two for."

"You don't need makeup," Jill said to her. "You already look great without it."

"Really?" she asked as Jill and I nodded. "Okay, no makeup but maybe some lip gloss. Hey, do you know what type he likes?"

"Apple," Jill answered immediately.

"Oh," Angeline answered, her excitement deflating. "I don't have that type."

"I do," Jill answered hesitantly. "You can borrow it." I could tell Jill was trying to make up for trying to get Angeline to wear the maxi dress.

"Thanks," she answered. "I've never known what type he liked, it's kind of a weird thing to ask 'hey Eddie just wondering what your favourite scent is?' but thankfully you knew. I bet Adrian's favourite scent is smoke," she added sarcastically.

"No," I said with seriousness. "It's pine." I didn't actually know it was pine he had never told me, but twice I had smelt something that emitted the pine scent so I just assumed it was.

"Pine?" she asked, scrunching her nose. "I had to live around that stuff most of my life and it doesn't smell that great, how do you know anyway?"

"Yeah, Sydney. How do you know?" Jill asked.

"He told me." I said in defence.

Jill simply raised an eyebrow at me before turning her attention back to Angeline. "Ready?"

"I think so." Angeline checked herself in the mirror once again before slipping on gold coloured ballet flats. "Okay," she breathed. "Now or never."

We headed out of the room and started towards the lounge when we nearly reached the door Jill stopped us. "We'll let you walk in by yourself. It'll be more effective."

I sent Angeline a reassuring smile as I entered the lounge. I felt eyes on me but resisted the urge to look up.

"Where's Angeline," Eddie asked me as I went to sit down next to him.

"There," I said, as she entered the room.

Eddie turned his gaze to where Angeline stood, his eyes widening a look of wonder on his face.

"Wow," he whispered beside me, before he stood walking towards a smiling Angeline. I saw him whisper to her as she gave him a bright smile. I couldn't help but have a smile despite myself as I watched their exchange.

"You two should get a room," Adrian said. I glanced towards him expecting to see a snarky smile but instead he was looking intently at me, a pained look on his face. Noticing my gaze he looked away. I stared at him for a few more seconds before commanding myself to stare back towards Angeline and Eddie.

"Shut up, Adrian," Angeline said. A light blush colouring her cheeks.

"You're one to talk," Eddie said back lightly to Adrian.

Adrian gave him a smile in response. "Touché"

"You look lovely, my dear," Clarence said, his soft eyes gazing at her with caring smile.

"Thank you," she answered back, her finger absentmindedly twirling a strand of her hair. "Sydney and Jill helped with the dress though."

"They picked the right one then," Dimitri said in approval.

"Yeah, who would've thought Sydney wouldn't be the only one who can wear white."

I knew she was teasing but I felt the need to defend myself. "I wear other colours."

"Like…" she said with a small laugh.

"Blue," I stated. Angeline simply looked at me.

"And red," Jill chirped in to my surprise.

"Red? Oh red. Like the dress you wore at the dance. Well I haven't seen you in red since, you should wear it again."

I shook my head adamantly.

"Why? It looks good on you," she said back.

I shook my head again. I opened my mouth to protest but Adrian beat me to it.

"You should," he said. "It really does look good on you."

I looked towards Adrian who eyes were looking at me with intensity and expression I couldn't read. It was one of the few moments where Adrian directly talked to me and I couldn't help the slight flutter of happiness that passed through me. I was missing him.

"I don't know," I answered lamely back, a slight blush heating my face.

"You should," he repeated again quietly. His gaze lingered on me for a few more fleeting moments before he turned away. Like that, the strange flutter of happiness slowly dissipated and was replaced by a sudden hollowness that I didn't understand.

"Where are you two heading?" Clarence asked as the topic of me and red dresses shifted.

"He won't tell me," Angeline said with a mock glare towards Eddie who smiled in response.

Clarence along with Dimitri chuckled at Angeline.

"If we don't leave now you get to see the surprise." Eddie turned his gaze towards me. "Sydney, can I borrow the keys?"

I fished the keys out of my bag passing them almost hesitantly to him.

"Don't worry," he said with a teasing smile.

I gave him a smile in response and was about to head back to my seat when Angeline suddenly slid her fingers around my wrist. I looked at her with surprise.

"Thank you," she said simply.

I nodded back. "Good luck."

After Angeline and Eddie left, Clarence had moved to his room for rest leaving Dimitri, Adrian, Jill and I in the lounge. It wasn't the exact fun I wish we were having, we were simply watching a movie no one seemed to care about. I was picking at non-existent lint when Dimitri started talking to me.

"Eddie said your sister's coming here after thanksgiving."

"Yeah, I only found out yesterday. I'm still waiting on an official call from Stanton to tell me of Zoë's role here."

Dimitri nodded in response before changing topics.

"Have you heard anything from Lia?" he asked.

I shook my head. "She isn't there any of the times I visit. I know she's hiding from me." Lia DiStefano was a Palm Springs fashion designer who made remarkable clothes that Jill and I had worn in the past. Me at the dance and Jill at the dance as well, but also at Lia's fashion show. Lia had taken an immense liking to Jill as Jill had the perfect runway body as most Moroi did. But because we were keeping Jill's location secret we wouldn't allow photographs, claiming it was our "religion" but Lia had tricked Jill into modelling her scarf and sunglasses to then publish them in the local magazine. I had been trying to contact Lia for a while now, but each time went unanswered.

"I think I might visit her tomorrow then," Dimitri said. I could imagine what Lia would do as soon as Dimitri walked through the door. Dimitri was strikingly good looking. He had dark brown hair that was currently pulled into a short ponytail and warm brown eyes that were mysterious and enthralling. But looking at him I couldn't help but think of someone with much more striking looks and much more alluring eyes.

"I guess you could, but she may actually be away."

"That's true. But it's best to check." Dimitri was also alert ready to fight in any situation, cautious with good reasons. There was safety with him, but not the same safety I felt when Adrian defended me from giving my blood.

"I'll go with you," I supplied.

He shook his head a piece of his hair falling into his eyes. "She'll probably run as soon as you get in a one mile radius range of the building."

I scoffed. "I don't think she's that adamant on avoiding me."

"Well Sonya said that Lia referred to you as the head of the "family", so maybe she is adamant on avoiding you."

"Because no one wants to face the wrath of Sydney," Jill said sarcastically.

I glanced quickly at her before turning my attention back to Dimitri. "Have you heard anything new about the Warriors of the Light?"

He shook his head. "There was nothing left in their compound to give us any new leads, but we have the guardians on watch for any strange behaviour."

I nodded back wishing I had taken one of their files when I was in their compound last month trying to rescue Sonya Karp a Moroi who they accused of being Strigoi. I had learnt only little from the visit to plead for her case but it was more than we originally had.

The Warriors of the Light were human and originally linked to the Alchemists but we had split off years ago, disagreeing on how we should treat the vampires. Alchemists wanted to keep their identities secret to keep them away from the human world but the Warriors of the Light wanted to eradicate the whole race, but at the moment they weren't doing so well.

Whilst I was there I had learned a little more about the mysterious Marcus Finch, he was an ex-alchemist which should be impossible there weren't any ex-alchemists. Ever. But then he was. He had betrayed the Alchemists somehow and now was in hiding an indigo tattoo hiding his original golden lily one. The only person I knew with any information about Marcus was Clarence, I had only learned little but it was enough to spark interest in me. I had to know who Marcus Finch was and I think I knew exactly how to find him.

My phone buzzed suddenly. I looked down to see a message from Eddie: hey can we stay out a lil longr? I texted him back: how long? I really wasn't keen on the idea – even though we were friends – that Eddie would be driving my Latte. Idk. But we'll be bac b4 curfew. I sighed in annoyance. But Jill and I need to get back too. His response came almost immediately. Ask Adrian 4 a ride. I glanced up to Adrian who was talking to Jill a small smile pulling at his lips. Fine. But take care of Latte. My phone buzzed again. Don't worry ;)

I sighed again as I looked towards Adrian and Jill. "Eddie's going to be out longer. He said he'll take Latte back to school for me."

"How'll we get back then?" Jill asked in slight annoyance.

"He told me to ask Adrian."

"Of course he'll give us a ride." Jill paused slightly a small spark lighting her eyes. "In fact I want to go now," Jill said abruptly, as she stood.

"Now?" I asked in confusion. "We still have two hours left."

She shrugged casually. "I guess I'm just bored."

That was true to an extent. If I was bored I knew that Jill and especially Adrian would be more.

"Well. Okay then." I stood as I addressed Dimitri. "Tell Clarence we said bye. And tell me how it goes with Lia."

He nodded back in affirmation. "I'll see you Wednesday."

I walked out into the hallway with Adrian and Jill trailing behind me. A small part of me was secretly thrilled at getting to ride in Adrian's car even though I really wished to be driving instead, I was still excited. His car drove like a dream and was purely amazing to experience. But the small thrill was clouded over by the fact that Adrian had used the car as an excuse to get close to me. He had told me he didn't know how to drive stick and I had believed him, it wasn't until after escaping the Warrior of the Lights compound did I realise he could drive stick and when I had confronted him I got an entirely different response than what I originally thought I would get. "Why? Because it was the closest I could get to doing this." And then he had kissed me. His words still rang in my head and a small queasy feeling wheeled its way into my stomach as I glanced over my shoulder. Jill was currently starring of into the distance a small smile at her lips and Adrian was looking at me but quickly averted his eyes. I turned my head back, why did Adrian kiss me? But there was no answer I could think of.

The heat of Palm Springs was still hot but to a cooler extent as we headed towards Adrian Springtime Yellow 1967 Ford Mustang convertible. I couldn't help but love his car. Even though I loved Latte Adrian's car was a classic.

"Wait," Jill said suddenly. I turned around to face her. "I need some blood."

"But you feed a few days ago," I stated.

"But I'm thirsty," she snapped.

"Jill…," Adrian said in quiet warning.

"I'll be quick. Just wait out here." She hurried off her brown curls bouncing along.

I starred at her retreating form. "Is she okay?"

Adrian gaze flickered to me before he looked towards a palm tree. "I… I think so."

"You haven't been drinking?" I asked hesitantly.

"Not enough to numb anything though," he said, looking towards me. "Why do you care anyway, Sydney?"

The way he used my actual name felt like a slap in my face. "Because I do."

"Well you shouldn't," he stated.

"But I already do."

He gazed at me with emerald intensity. "Because friends care for each other?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered with slight caution.

"I care for you," he said quietly, his eyes softly looking into mine.

"I know," I say quietly in reply, averting my gaze for an unspecified reason.

A still and unusual silence fills in between us.

"Do you want to drive?" he asked suddenly a faint smile pulling at his lips.

I smiled despite myself. "It's your car. But if you're sure…"

He gives me the keys his fingers brushing mine. I can't help the small intake of breath as his warm skin touches mine. Small sparks travel slowly through my fingers warming them with an unusual heat.

I glance up at him, his eyes are wide, starring at my hands before his gaze turned to mine.

"Sydney, about what happened …" he closed his eyes briefly pulling his hand away. "Never mind."

"Adrian."

"I'm going to go get Jill," he said, turning away.

"Adrian, wait." I grab his arm and feel it stiffen under my pulsing fingers. He stops. I try and muster something to say but I come up short. I loosen my grip slightly before saying the only thing I can think to say.

"I'm sorry."

Adrian glanced back at me with a surprised look written in his eyes. "There's nothing you should be sorry about."

He holds my gaze for a few more steady seconds before pulls his arm gently out of my grip walking back to Clarence's front door.

I stare at his lean retreating figure. But I am sorry. I know it within my core.

Okay so third chapter done. And tell me if my characters are OOC and also is Jill being too much of a bitch? Idk so please tell me.

Sorry if there wasn't enough Sydrian action but there will be soon ;)

Tell me what you thought.

Jenni(: