Disclaimer: I don't own L.J. Smith's "Night World series" or its
characters. I didn't write "Like a Virgin," and I have only played DDR-
never invented it!
Author's Notes: Thanks to all of my reviewers! This one is for you! It is Friday and I now have thirteen reviews-cool huh? I promise to get to the plot soon; it is just so fun to write about all of the sadness that comes before or after!
Music had a way of sneaking up on you. The haunting rhythm, the fluent tingle down the spine. The chilling notes stirred like ghosts behind the eyes resurrecting inane imaginings and unbearable heartbreak. Music could be dolce and gentle like a halcyon summer day. Today was no such day. Beethoven. Strong, dashing and somehow sad.
Mary Lynnette had a taste for Beethoven this night. "Moonlight Sonata," in the hours of darkness without a moon and a coming dawn holding little light. The throbbing beat of the piano forced tears out of her eyes. She set down the book she had been reading. Emily Bronte this time. The innocent romance and ironic structure of the novel did nothing to quell the tender pangs shooting through her heart. Or what was left of it.
She had cried her eyes out repeatedly over the course of two months; time made it hard to look back on the past events. But she had to. She had to make this pathetic emotional pain stop. Mary Lynette reasoned that this had to be some sort of lesson in growing up but in the back of her mind she knew better. Love wasn't a lesson; it was the instruction. She had failed the test. As circumstance stood there would be no re-examination.
* * *
September was blustery. This autumn month the time when schoolbooks were dusted -boots and jackets pulled out of their hibernation in the summer closet. Mary Lynette enjoyed the bite of the cold air on her skin, the whirling of leaves along the sidewalk, the rustle of the wind through her tangled hair. Lately she had to brush out her dark locks at least four times a day, but it was worth it.
"Are you coming over this afternoon? You know, a last girl get-together before you leave for the university? It wouldn't be right if we didn't at least go to the movies or something before you pack up and leave this boomtown," Jade called out of the car window.
The automobile was barely gliding down the one lane road but no one else was on the street to complain. In the backseat of the ancient car the nearly identical grins of Rowan and Kestrel encouraged her to accept.
"I don't know, I thought I should go home first and make sure I packed everything. You know what a worrier I am." Mary Lynette trailed off. She knew that her argument was weak. She knew that, even without their supernatural abilities, the Redfern sisters saw through her feeble excuse, but hoped they wouldn't call her on it.
"Your going home isn't going to force him to call you any sooner than if you were over at our house. In fact, he might even call our house first- being family and all. Plus, you will have loads more fun with us. We could bring Mark and force him to sing karaoke again, remember the last time? I don't think I will ever forget that constipated look on his face as he tried to recite the lyrics to "Like a Virgin"! Tell me that you honestly don't want to leave home with a memory like that fresh on your mind," Jade smiled in a way that forced even the exasperated Mary Lynette to smile back.
"Okay that settles it, get in," Kestrel threw open the squeaky car door and stretched out a hand of invitation. Rowan sat next to her sister motioning with her slender fingers.
"I don't know. Maybe I should just go home and check one more time. I'll stop by in an hour or so," Mary Lynette turned away from her blood sisters feeling guilty and frustrated all at once.
"Ash wouldn't want you to be so agitated over this," Kestrel shouted after the retreating back of Mary Lynette.
She stopped walking, turned back to face her friends like a duelist at dawn.
"Who said anything about Ash?"
"Please! We know you miss him. We want you two to work out, but you need to stop worrying. Come on, you don't have any choice, you are now being abducted by evil vampires," Kestrel darted towards Mary Lynette and snagged her around the forearm.
Over Kestrel's shoulder where she was slung, Mary Lynette laughed for the first time in a week.
"You could have just asked."
* * *
"Come on Mary Lynette, you are the only one who hasn't tried the game," Jade dragged Mary Lynette with inhuman strength.
The television was awash with bright flashing lights and a strain of upbeat music that permeated the ceiling rafters. A pink, white, and blue dance pad slathered with huge directional arrows lay positioned directly in front of the TV screen.
"You can do it, just try. Even Kestrel got the hang of it, that should tell you something," Jade smiled at her own comment unaware of the malevolent scowl her sister was currently bestowing upon her.
"What is this thing anyway?" Mary Lynette couldn't resist asking.
Whoever had invented something this zany game probably had something wrong with his head.
"It's called Dance, Dance Revolution, but we call it DDR. The kid at the arcade told me that it was really popular nowadays. I asked him if he knew where I could find one and he offered to loan me his. I think he likes me; to bad he had more zits than personality. Oh, well. The game is pretty cool though, huh?" Jade Redfern, was a sight to behold when she was pleased with herself, she seemed to glow.
"Okay. So what exactly do I have to do?"
"Well, first you take off your socks. Then place both feet in the center circle, like that. Then select the song, like this. Uh-huh, and push start. Okay, now all that you have to do is hit the arrow that corresponds to the one on the screen, it's simple really," Jade stepped back as the song began.
"Hey little bumble bee, I know what you want from me. My heart goes boom, boom, boom you go zoom, zoom, zoom. come and rescue me."
The arrows and beats flashed on and off screen leaving Mary Lynette hurrying in a mad rush to keep up. The game was harder than it looked. By the time the song had ended she was exhausted and the grade "C" didn't help.
"It is okay Mary Lynette. You can try again later. Come on and cool down. Why don't you get a glass of water out of the kitchen and sit down here with me and relax. I've tried that horrible game four times already and don't plan to go again for five," Rowan nudged Mary Lynette towards the kitchen.
All three Redfern sisters sat reclined on the couch, so alike and yet so different. Rowan was dark, chocolate hair and eyes. The intensity had washed out by the third sister who was as light as Rowan was dark. Jade inclined her head back towards the entrance to the kitchen and listened to the refrigerator door open.
"I'm really concerned about her," Jade began.
"Me too," both Rowan and Kestrel said simultaneously.
"What do you think is going to happen?"
"I don't know," Mary Lynette, answered Jade's question, "I suspect that Ash will waltz back into town and ask me to run away with him or something like that. It should be every girl's dream, but I just can't find anything wonderful about it."
"Don't worry. Whether or not you decide to peruse a relationship with our harebrained brother, we still love you like a sister. If you need anything don't hesitate to come over and talk. We promise to always listen," Rowan grinned but there was sadness in her gaze.
"I know. I really love you guys. I never thought I would be able to say something like that to a bunch of girls but I really am glad you decided to come and terrorize our town," Mary Lynette sipped a glass of her water.
A group hug ensued. Sensitive Rowan, mischievous Jade, fierce Kestrel, and kind Mary Lynette all stood together in a tight hug, tears in their eyes. Water splashed on to the dance mat forgotten.
"Are we sappy or what?" Jade giggled.
"What," Kestrel's typical no nonsense reply was weakened by the wetness running down her cheeks. If she had seen herself she would have blushed.
* * *
Ring-
Ring-
"Hey, Mary Lynette could you get that? The oven timer is buzzing and if we want the rolls to turn out I have to watch them so they don't burn. Kestrel is out back and-"
Ring-
"Okay, okay you don't have to give me all of the details. I don't mind. It could be him," Mary Lynette reached for the receiver.
From her seat at the oak kitchen table, Rowan smiled at the biscuits already cooling in the breadbasket.
"I love you," a husky voice whispered out of the earpiece.
"Excuse me, but I think you have the wrong number," Mary Lynette informed the caller.
"Aren't you Mary Lynette? Come now, you can't have forgotten the pleasing tone of my voice have you now love?"
"Ash? How are you? Where are you? I-" Mary Lynette inundated the receiver with questions.
"Excited to hear me love? Nice to hear you too. I happen to be just inside the airport. My flight, 674, is scheduled for six o'clock this morning, Eastern Time that is," Ash informed with joy vibrating in his voice.
" This soon? Oh, that is great but I think we have a lot to talk about before we just jump to action. I have mixed feelings still, and I-"
"Will you stop troubling over it. We can work it out. That's the kind of things soulmates do. Trust me. I have been around quite a few over the last year. I can't wait to introduce you. You'll love them, they'll love you," his voice rushed on in an excited babble. In the background a shout echoed for a particular flight.
"Sorry Mary Lynnette, I have to go, they're calling my flight. I'll see you soon. We'll look at the stars together and I can tell you all of the good things I have done, will do. Tell my sisters to pick me up at the airport, I-I love you, we will make this work," Ash stated.
"Ash-I don't think this is such a-"
"I have to go-," and the conversation ended.
A dial tone filled her ear adding to the confusion already jumbling her thoughts. They would work it out. Wouldn't they?
Author's Notes: Thanks to all of my reviewers! This one is for you! It is Friday and I now have thirteen reviews-cool huh? I promise to get to the plot soon; it is just so fun to write about all of the sadness that comes before or after!
Music had a way of sneaking up on you. The haunting rhythm, the fluent tingle down the spine. The chilling notes stirred like ghosts behind the eyes resurrecting inane imaginings and unbearable heartbreak. Music could be dolce and gentle like a halcyon summer day. Today was no such day. Beethoven. Strong, dashing and somehow sad.
Mary Lynnette had a taste for Beethoven this night. "Moonlight Sonata," in the hours of darkness without a moon and a coming dawn holding little light. The throbbing beat of the piano forced tears out of her eyes. She set down the book she had been reading. Emily Bronte this time. The innocent romance and ironic structure of the novel did nothing to quell the tender pangs shooting through her heart. Or what was left of it.
She had cried her eyes out repeatedly over the course of two months; time made it hard to look back on the past events. But she had to. She had to make this pathetic emotional pain stop. Mary Lynette reasoned that this had to be some sort of lesson in growing up but in the back of her mind she knew better. Love wasn't a lesson; it was the instruction. She had failed the test. As circumstance stood there would be no re-examination.
* * *
September was blustery. This autumn month the time when schoolbooks were dusted -boots and jackets pulled out of their hibernation in the summer closet. Mary Lynette enjoyed the bite of the cold air on her skin, the whirling of leaves along the sidewalk, the rustle of the wind through her tangled hair. Lately she had to brush out her dark locks at least four times a day, but it was worth it.
"Are you coming over this afternoon? You know, a last girl get-together before you leave for the university? It wouldn't be right if we didn't at least go to the movies or something before you pack up and leave this boomtown," Jade called out of the car window.
The automobile was barely gliding down the one lane road but no one else was on the street to complain. In the backseat of the ancient car the nearly identical grins of Rowan and Kestrel encouraged her to accept.
"I don't know, I thought I should go home first and make sure I packed everything. You know what a worrier I am." Mary Lynette trailed off. She knew that her argument was weak. She knew that, even without their supernatural abilities, the Redfern sisters saw through her feeble excuse, but hoped they wouldn't call her on it.
"Your going home isn't going to force him to call you any sooner than if you were over at our house. In fact, he might even call our house first- being family and all. Plus, you will have loads more fun with us. We could bring Mark and force him to sing karaoke again, remember the last time? I don't think I will ever forget that constipated look on his face as he tried to recite the lyrics to "Like a Virgin"! Tell me that you honestly don't want to leave home with a memory like that fresh on your mind," Jade smiled in a way that forced even the exasperated Mary Lynette to smile back.
"Okay that settles it, get in," Kestrel threw open the squeaky car door and stretched out a hand of invitation. Rowan sat next to her sister motioning with her slender fingers.
"I don't know. Maybe I should just go home and check one more time. I'll stop by in an hour or so," Mary Lynette turned away from her blood sisters feeling guilty and frustrated all at once.
"Ash wouldn't want you to be so agitated over this," Kestrel shouted after the retreating back of Mary Lynette.
She stopped walking, turned back to face her friends like a duelist at dawn.
"Who said anything about Ash?"
"Please! We know you miss him. We want you two to work out, but you need to stop worrying. Come on, you don't have any choice, you are now being abducted by evil vampires," Kestrel darted towards Mary Lynette and snagged her around the forearm.
Over Kestrel's shoulder where she was slung, Mary Lynette laughed for the first time in a week.
"You could have just asked."
* * *
"Come on Mary Lynette, you are the only one who hasn't tried the game," Jade dragged Mary Lynette with inhuman strength.
The television was awash with bright flashing lights and a strain of upbeat music that permeated the ceiling rafters. A pink, white, and blue dance pad slathered with huge directional arrows lay positioned directly in front of the TV screen.
"You can do it, just try. Even Kestrel got the hang of it, that should tell you something," Jade smiled at her own comment unaware of the malevolent scowl her sister was currently bestowing upon her.
"What is this thing anyway?" Mary Lynette couldn't resist asking.
Whoever had invented something this zany game probably had something wrong with his head.
"It's called Dance, Dance Revolution, but we call it DDR. The kid at the arcade told me that it was really popular nowadays. I asked him if he knew where I could find one and he offered to loan me his. I think he likes me; to bad he had more zits than personality. Oh, well. The game is pretty cool though, huh?" Jade Redfern, was a sight to behold when she was pleased with herself, she seemed to glow.
"Okay. So what exactly do I have to do?"
"Well, first you take off your socks. Then place both feet in the center circle, like that. Then select the song, like this. Uh-huh, and push start. Okay, now all that you have to do is hit the arrow that corresponds to the one on the screen, it's simple really," Jade stepped back as the song began.
"Hey little bumble bee, I know what you want from me. My heart goes boom, boom, boom you go zoom, zoom, zoom. come and rescue me."
The arrows and beats flashed on and off screen leaving Mary Lynette hurrying in a mad rush to keep up. The game was harder than it looked. By the time the song had ended she was exhausted and the grade "C" didn't help.
"It is okay Mary Lynette. You can try again later. Come on and cool down. Why don't you get a glass of water out of the kitchen and sit down here with me and relax. I've tried that horrible game four times already and don't plan to go again for five," Rowan nudged Mary Lynette towards the kitchen.
All three Redfern sisters sat reclined on the couch, so alike and yet so different. Rowan was dark, chocolate hair and eyes. The intensity had washed out by the third sister who was as light as Rowan was dark. Jade inclined her head back towards the entrance to the kitchen and listened to the refrigerator door open.
"I'm really concerned about her," Jade began.
"Me too," both Rowan and Kestrel said simultaneously.
"What do you think is going to happen?"
"I don't know," Mary Lynette, answered Jade's question, "I suspect that Ash will waltz back into town and ask me to run away with him or something like that. It should be every girl's dream, but I just can't find anything wonderful about it."
"Don't worry. Whether or not you decide to peruse a relationship with our harebrained brother, we still love you like a sister. If you need anything don't hesitate to come over and talk. We promise to always listen," Rowan grinned but there was sadness in her gaze.
"I know. I really love you guys. I never thought I would be able to say something like that to a bunch of girls but I really am glad you decided to come and terrorize our town," Mary Lynette sipped a glass of her water.
A group hug ensued. Sensitive Rowan, mischievous Jade, fierce Kestrel, and kind Mary Lynette all stood together in a tight hug, tears in their eyes. Water splashed on to the dance mat forgotten.
"Are we sappy or what?" Jade giggled.
"What," Kestrel's typical no nonsense reply was weakened by the wetness running down her cheeks. If she had seen herself she would have blushed.
* * *
Ring-
Ring-
"Hey, Mary Lynette could you get that? The oven timer is buzzing and if we want the rolls to turn out I have to watch them so they don't burn. Kestrel is out back and-"
Ring-
"Okay, okay you don't have to give me all of the details. I don't mind. It could be him," Mary Lynette reached for the receiver.
From her seat at the oak kitchen table, Rowan smiled at the biscuits already cooling in the breadbasket.
"I love you," a husky voice whispered out of the earpiece.
"Excuse me, but I think you have the wrong number," Mary Lynette informed the caller.
"Aren't you Mary Lynette? Come now, you can't have forgotten the pleasing tone of my voice have you now love?"
"Ash? How are you? Where are you? I-" Mary Lynette inundated the receiver with questions.
"Excited to hear me love? Nice to hear you too. I happen to be just inside the airport. My flight, 674, is scheduled for six o'clock this morning, Eastern Time that is," Ash informed with joy vibrating in his voice.
" This soon? Oh, that is great but I think we have a lot to talk about before we just jump to action. I have mixed feelings still, and I-"
"Will you stop troubling over it. We can work it out. That's the kind of things soulmates do. Trust me. I have been around quite a few over the last year. I can't wait to introduce you. You'll love them, they'll love you," his voice rushed on in an excited babble. In the background a shout echoed for a particular flight.
"Sorry Mary Lynnette, I have to go, they're calling my flight. I'll see you soon. We'll look at the stars together and I can tell you all of the good things I have done, will do. Tell my sisters to pick me up at the airport, I-I love you, we will make this work," Ash stated.
"Ash-I don't think this is such a-"
"I have to go-," and the conversation ended.
A dial tone filled her ear adding to the confusion already jumbling her thoughts. They would work it out. Wouldn't they?