I offer you these two chapters in the hope you will forgive me for being such a slow updater!
Warning, Angst in chapter after this one!
Enjoy xx
Skye POV
As I got into Alice's car I threw my bag into the backseat, avoiding the curious gazes at her cute Porsche. I waved goodbye to Katie as she got into her car, chatting happily to her mum.
"When did you get your car here, Alice?" I asked, flicking through her music collection.
"I ran home at lunch." She said in an offhand voice. "And anyway, I'm so happy that you wanted me to take you shopping! We haven't in a while…"
"So yesterday doesn't count." I snorted.
"Well…no. It doesn't. It's never too early to go shopping." Alice stuck her nose into the air.
I found the CD I wanted, and pushed it into her fancy stereo set. I pressed play and waited eagerly, singing along to the lyrics the minute they came on…
"Keep your hand's to yourself…these lips, belong to someone else."
"Who is that?" Alice frowned. "It's familiar."
"And you know that you will never get on ittt…" I paused to nod my head to the music. "Duck yes. It's You Me at Six, Alice!"
Her confused expression made me grip my seat in horror. "You haven't heard of You Me at Six?"
I couldn't believe it.
She shook her head. "No…"
For the next half an hour I gave her everything there was to know – every lyric, every guitar chord, every drum roll, a blow by blow description of Josh Franceschi…by the time we reached Seattle, Alice was pretty much an expert.
"Wow." She laughed. "You must like them a lot!"
"I do." I said eagerly. "I really, really do. Know where do you want to go first?"
Alice dragged me to this new shop to buy me new make-up, before dragging me to another one to get me new jeans. I caught sight of a price tag and flinched, and from then on kept my eyes firmly on Alice. I learnt long ago that if I protested, Alice would buy me more. Seriously – the Cullen's are completely loaded. But I did protest when she headed towards Victoria's Secret.
"Alice!" I hissed. "You will not be buying me stuff like this!"
"It's not for you." Alice grinned. "It's for me. And it's time you learned the clothes of seduction, young Skye."
"But I wont be seducing anyone!" I burst out. I flushed as this tall, model like girl glanced in my direction with a smirk. I groaned as Alice pushed me into a small room with a curtain in one corner. She disappeared for a few minutes before coming in with loads of lingerie in her hands.
"Here's the deal. You decide which one looks better on me, and I'll allow you to stop for lunch. Deal?"
My mouth watered, and I shook my head in defeat as I sat on a stool in the corner. "Deal." I finally said.
After a few minutes Alice appeared, and I fought to contain my embarrassment and awe. She looked ridiculously sexy in a purple lace slip with garters that had black lace covering the purple, and as she struck a pose I took a hit on my own self esteem.
"You look hot, Alice." I giggled. "But I don't know if purple is Jasper's favorite colour."
"You're right." Alice sucked on her lip as she surveyed her other clothes. "Ok. Next!"
Alice then appeared in a white silk babydoll – don't get me wrong, she looked great, but it didn't seem very…well, Alice-y.
"Doesn't seem like you." I frowned.
Alice flitted to try on another one, and as she appeared for the third time I grinned. "Perfect."
She wore a yellow lace flyaway babydoll – and it suited her so perfectly I felt a small tinge of jealousy.
"I think you found a winner, Alice!"
She grinned and put her clothes back on. I hurried her along, and she laughed at my eagerness.
"What, can't wait to get out of this shop?" she smirked.
I shook my head. "No. it's lunchtime!"
I watched Alice and she texted Jasper, the emotions flickering across her face. I chewed my burger slowly, feeling determined yet scared. As of now, I had to be persuasive and pleading to get her to let me go to the concert – and I had to figure out a way of making sure my family honestly thought I was at Tina's.
"Alice?"
"Hmm?"
I put down my burger, swallowing my mouthful. Alice's eyebrows went way up when she saw me leave half of my burger, so she put away her phone.
"Yes, Skye?"
I fiddled with my hoodie. "Well…I…er…"
Alice brightened up instantly. "Oh my gosh, you've started your period?"
"No, Alice!" I felt like banging my head on the table. And hiding under it at the same time.
In the bird world, female birds generally don't have periods. And because of my bird genes I was horrendously late for mine. I probably would start mine any day, but Alice hadn't seen it coming any time soon, so I felt disappointed.
"It's something else." Again, I was stuck on how to begin and Alice guessed once more.
"You like a boy?"
"NO!" I practically shrieked. An old lady went tut tut, but I ignored her.
"You remember You Me at Six?" I demanded. Realizing I was being stared at, I lowered my voice. "Well, there's this concert here this weekend, and Tina invited me to go with her."
"That's great!" Alice was excited. "I can't wait to hear them live!"
I took a deep breath. "Well, that's…kinda the point." I said slowly. I looked down at the floor, scuffing my shoes. "I don't want any of you there, hovering round my shoulder."
Alice was silent. I looked up at her, and she was looking at me strangely. "So you're saying you want to go to a concert by yourself…without us." She said slowly, as if trying out the words.
"Come on, Alice!" I sat up straight, jabbing at my chest. "I'm sixteen, I'm gonna drive next year, I can defend myself against any human, and if anything happens I'll call you right away!"
Alice's eye glazed over for a minute before she started talking again. "Yes…I can't believe I can see it happening, you really do want to go…" Her eyes snapped back to me again. "Ok. I'm in. but only if you can convince Edward; otherwise it's off. Without his co-operation it will be useless."
"Aw, man!" this time I actually did bang my head off the table. "Alice, why pick the hardest person to convince?"
"One, because I can't keep him from reading my mind, and two, you're closest to him. You should tell him."
"But he'll say no!" I wailed. "He's so over protective!"
"And for good reason." For once, Alice wasn't bubbly and smiling. Her face took on a strangely serious expression, and she leaned across the table to speak quietly to me.
"You are one of the most precious things in Edward's life. Although he cares for his coven very much, we are vampires, Skye. Nothing except other vampires and werewolves can harm us – which isn't many and isn't often. But you on the other hand, are part way human – meaning you can still die very easily. And Edward cares for you very much. You're the little sister he never had."
She straightened up and picked up her bags, looking at me once more. "You should treasure your time with Edward, Skye. You never know what could change in future."
Her words made my mouth drop open. I didn't understand. It was like her words were…a warning.
A warning that Edward was leaving?
That night, as I climbed into bed, I put my IPod plugs into my ears, intending to listen to relaxing, calming music. As I snuggled down into bed Esme flitted into my room, kissing my cheek. I gave her a hug, and was surprised when Carlisle appeared, giving me a hug too.
"Goodnight Skye." He smiled.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. But something made me open them again.
Through the slight crack in my open door I saw Esme and Carlisle holding hands and looking into each others eyes deeply. I felt a tug at my heart, and indescribable loneliness welled up inside me. I turned around and buried my head into the pillow, unknowing that my IPod had clicked onto shuffle.
I was sitting in the living room, watching Esme and Carlisle as they slow danced around the room. They looked so perfect. I opened my mouth, but I couldn't speak.
Carlisle stoked Esme's face. "You're so beautiful, Esme." He whispered.
And then my world was twisting and turning and spinning, and I ended up in the cafeteria, watching Emily sit next to Oliver. He put his arm around her, hugging her close.
"I really like you, Em." He blushed.
Emily's face reddened. "I like you too, Oli." They leaned towards each other to kiss…
Emmett and Rosalie were messing around in the garage, both covered in oil. "Come here, you naughty girl." Emmett grinned.
Rosalie winked. "Come and get me."
He flitted to her side and drew her close for a long, passionate kiss, showing their love in physical intimacy…
And then I was alone, facing a mirror. No one was next to me or around me. I touched my reflection, feeling confused.
"Where is he?" I whispered, my hand balling into a fist. "Why am I alone?"
Warning, Angst in next chapter!
Review please xx
