AN: I do not own the Twilighty things we all know and love.

R&R!!


"Oh. Tell Marla that she needs to pay better attention."

"Marla." Audra's voice was velvet smooth. She spoke softly as she clicked the cheap phone closed. Her eyes closed slowly. She waited for Marla to say something. "Marla." Her voice had gained the firmness. "I suggest that you answer me." The air seemed to thicken with Audra's silent rage.

"Y-yes?" Marla cowered slightly, but she still stood proudly with her stubborn chin sticking out.

"Marla, we've had this talk before." Audra took a step forward, eyes still closed. "You know that you need to listen, or your life is forfeit. We do not need, nor do we want that, Marla." Audra's eyes slid open slowly. "I do not want to have this talk again."

Marla lowered her head. "Yes, Audra." To an onlooker, it might have looked like an older sister scolding her younger sister. Marla briefly thought about that before she said, in a dangerous tone,"You're not my sister or mother, Audra."

Audra stiffened, narrowed her eyes, and lowered herself to eyelevel with Marla. Her voice lost all calmness it had had as she said,"Marla, you are my responsibility. I am older than you and wiser. I am like your dead mother because I watch out for you, like I do for all the rest of you. Do not cross me in such a manner again."

Marla shrank back in fear. Audra had never really shone her anger or asserted her authority in a manner such as this in a long time, and when she did show it, it reminded Marla about her friend.

Audra rose to full height. "I am going home." Then, she turned and left.

Marla lay there for a moment before she called Antonio.