NOTE: PLEASE REVIEW THIS CHAPTER OR I WON'T SLEEP AT NIGHT! oh and go check out my friend Daverz page. her penname is xXxTakeMyHeartAwayxXx. she only has a little bit but i read the second chapter and it is HILARIOUS. lol. so yes. do so. oh and btw, the song representing this chapter is Save Us by Cartel. Tis my favorite song ever!
But it seemed to be taking a long time. You sighed and walked into the waiting room and pulled out your cell and checked to see if you had any messages. You had two unheard messages.
"Hey Jade, it's me Davey. I'm just calling to ask where you are. It's been a few hours and I'm getting worried. But I know that you obviously have a really good reason so hit me up with a call and fill me in later. Bu-Bye."
You bit your lip and listened to the next one.
"Hey Jade, this is Hayley. I'm calling to see how Aimee is doing. I'm hoping she's getting through okay; she didn't sound good when she left. Take care of her, Jade…I called her sister and told her about everything. She seemed worried…that's a little new so I'm hoping it's a good sign. Her name is Candace Penn. Technically, they're step sisters but no one really emphasizes step anymore. Um, that's all I can tell you for now…um here's her number,"
You memorized the number and dialed it. It rung a few times before someone answered and said, "Hello?"
"Um hi. You don't know me but your friend may have mentioned me. My name is Jade Puget and I…"
"Oh my god! It's you! Yes, Hayley told me everything! How is she? Tell me!" she yelled eccentrically.
You swallowed and said, "I'm not sure. They're not telling me anything,"
You heard her sigh angrily as she said, "Well, I'm going over there now. I'll be there in a half hour. What do you look like?"
You bit your lip and said, "Um, I don't know. Look for blonde and brown hair. Trust me, you'll know. I stand out."
"Fine. Bye then," she said dully before hanging up.
"Stubborn chick. Damn," you said as you waited for some results. But after a while of waiting, you started hearing someone stampeding in and causing a scene. You looked at Shaquell who was sleeping peacefully on her chair. You bent down and shook her lightly. She woke up slowly as you pulled her up and ran out to the lobby where you saw a girl about 5'9" She had long brown hair and piercing blue eyes that stood out as much as Aimee's emerald eyes.
"Candace?" you said, causing her to look up and seem somewhat disappointed.
"Oh my god. I know you said you'd stand out but this wasn't what I was expecting," she said while looking you over sparingly. You sighed and shrugged and looked her over with the same ambition.
She then smiled widely revealing perfect teeth. She ran over to you and stopped right in front of you and giggled a little before saying, "I'm just kidding! You're cute! How old are you?"
You stepped back and said, "34…"
She cocked an eyebrow and said, "Are you serious? Wow, you're older than I thought. I'm 26."
You leaned on your leg and said, "Really? You look like you're 18 or something."
She smiled and said, "Yeah, I get that a lot. So anyways, how is Aimee?"
You looked over at Shaquell who was sheepishly looking at the ground and avoiding eye contact.
"She's been in there forever. I don't know what they could be doing," you said shaking your head. Then a doctor walked out. He took one look at your group before taking a double take and walking over.
"You're the family of Aimee Ross?" he asked skeptically. You looked at each other and dully said, "No, Candace is the only one related."
"Come on back then. Family first."
You held back a gasp as you yelled, "But what about us? We're the ones who brought her here!"
He shrugged and gave you a gesture as you followed him into the room. As you walked in, you saw Aimee sitting up happily against her pillow.
"Aimee, you look…really good…" said Candace. Aimee made a face as her sister came into the room.
"What are you doing here?" she said in a low tone.
"I thought I'd come and try to patch up our relationship…seeing as you refuse to call me your sister," she explained sarcastically.
"It's your fault that my mom kicked me out. You told her so many lies about me and then you left me alone with your older brother! She thinks I'm a whore now because of you!" Aimee yelled at her.
Candace swallowed guiltily and said, "I know and you don't know how much it hurts now that I realize what I've done. Back then, I thought you were some cheap slut with a grudge who only wanted to make my life hell because my dad married your mom. I made a huge mistake but do you think I could ever face you again after it was my fault that you got raped? Hell no, I ran away. But I'm back now okay? Can't we try to make the best of this?"
"What if I don't want to make the best of this?" she replied angrily yet stubbornly.
"Whatever. You know, at least I'm trying to fix things for us. You just push everything away like you always have. Why don't you let anyone close to you? Do you really like being alone?"
Aimee didn't say anything. You sighed and decided to end the fight there and said, "So how is your head? No brain damage, hopefully?"
She smiled at you shyly and said, "Nope, my head just throbs like a bitch."
Candace made a face as she noticed the connection between your eyes, leaving an aura between the two figures in the room.
"Aimee, they are going to do a few more examinations before they let you out so we're going to be waiting out there, okay?" you leaned in and told her. You just about puckered your lips and almost kissed her forehead but then remembered that it was still a bit awkward between you two so you held back.
You stood straight up and walked out with Shaquell and Candace.
"No one told me you two had a 'thing'! I thought you were just some guy she met!" Candace spilled out.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" you questioned dumbly. You didn't want any sister sister rivalry to occur. Then again, it's not like they would fight.
"You can't hide anything from me, Jade. You two must be dating! I've never seen her smile like that when you walked in," she implied. You shrugged and said, "I don't know if you can call it a 'thing' because we haven't really done anything,"
She looked at you blankly and said, "You're a shitty liar. You left eye twitches when you lie. It's like you have a memory flash or something. I know this because whenever I try to lie, it happens to me. Sadly, I don't have the trait of unbreakable lying like Aimee does. Poor girl, I have no idea what she's gone through. It must be a lot."
"So, back there you said it was your fault she got raped…how could you do something like that?" you asked.
"Here, I'll tell you everything that happened," she started as you fell along into the storyline.
:Aimee's point of view:
You sat up as the doctor finished examining you. You felt oddly hyper as you walked out of the hospital room wearing the torn blue jeans you wore earlier with your black AFI shirt over your tight long-sleeved white shirt. You licked you lips as you walked into the lobby and looked for Davi or Jade. You could not believe that your sister had come to see you.
"What arrogance…coming and seeing me after she left me alone for all those years. And now she's coming back to apologize? I don't think so," you thought stubbornly. You finally saw Davi near the water fountain as you smiled and prepared to yell for her when you saw Jade standing with his back towards you talking to your sister. You felt a tinge of jealousy ping you in the gut as you questioned yourself on whether you should go over there and scream at them or try to play it off and ignore them. It ended up being neither as you approached them and faked a smile and said, "Hi Jade! I feel better!"
He smiled warmly and said, "Hey little girl, you scared the heck out of me. Your sister here was just telling me some stories of what you were like as a kid."
You twitched. You thought, "Must. Not. Slap. Her. Must. Hold. Back. Rage."
You bit your lip and said, "Well isn't that nice? Um, I'd like to go home now. So, shall we?"
Jade noticed you anxiety and said, "Yeah, we better go, Candace. Davey must be worried sick about all of us. He probably thinks we died."
You twitched and turned around from him as you tried to coax yourself that it was his fault for making you this mushy and emotional person. Things were so much easier when you just never let anyone in to your life. You exhaled and sat in the passengers seat while leaning your head on the glass. You stared at your reflection while in deep thought.
You looked up at Jade and stared longingly as he drove you home. He looked up every now and then, causing you to look down at the floor ashamed.
As he drove up to your house, you rubbed your head and said, "Well, I guess I'll see you later…Thanks for everything…"
He smiled at you friendly. Davi then came up from behind you and said, "Bye Jade, tell Davey I'll miss him when you're on tour!"
You then sighed and stepped out of the vehicle and started walking towards your house. "Don't look back," you thought to yourself, "it'll only make it hurt worse."
You got chills as you walked inside your cold house. You felt all of your emotions pull on you as you remembered how your life was before you met AFI.
"Is this the end? The next few weeks will only be a memory? It's over…"
Davi shrugged and said, "I guess it is…"
You then heard your cell ring and picked it up and looked at the screen. C. Penn. "Damnit, what does she want?" you yelled as you answered harshly, "Hello?"
"Hey Aimee! I really want to apologize for coming on so strong earlier. I know it's not your fault for being the way you are. Well, I was wondering if you'd want to go out for dinner or something. It'd be convenient since I know you're low on cash and I really want to get along with you. Maybe you can bring a friend. Maybe Jade?"
You paused and questioned yourself on why she mentioned Jade. She wouldn't try anything, would she?
"Um, I don't know. I'd have to call him and see if he's busy…plus I'm sure he's sick of me by now."
Candace chuckled and said, "I don't know about that, he seemed to be pretty interested at the hospital,"
You shook your head and said, "No, don't even try to lead me on with that…but I will call him and see…one sec,"
You then turned and asked Davi, "Are you busy tonight?"
She looked to the floor shyly and said, "No…but I was planning on staying home. Why? Has something come up?"
You covered the receiver and said, "Well, Candace wants me to go out to dinner with her but she wants me to bring Jade. But I don't want him to go."
"Why?" she asked confusedly. You bit your lip and said, "I don't want to annoy him…I've kind of seen him a lot in the last few weeks."
"Jade wouldn't care. He's not like that," she argued. You sighed in defeat as you slid your hand off the phone and said, "Look, I appreciate the offer but I really don't want to go. I…just think I need some time to myself for a while. You understand, right?"
You heard her sigh on the other end and say, "Yes, it's fine if you don't want to. The last thing I want is to smother you. I guess I'll just call Jade and hang with him. All my friends are out of town and I just don't want to be alone."
You twitched. Her alone with Jade? This thought agitated you as you compromised and said, "I guess I'm not that anti-social tonight. I guess I'll go with you as long as you pick me up. I'm out of gas. I have been since I left here in the first place."
She smiled and said, "Great! I'll be there at 6!" before hanging up.
You sighed and said, "Damnit, why must you do this to me, Jade?"
"Huh?" Davi asked confused. You moaned and stomped down the hall and into your room as you plopped onto bed and screamed into your pillow. You then looked up at your clock as it read 3:00 on the screen.
You had 3 hours before you'd be forced to go with your sister to dinner to make sure she doesn't try anything with Jade. It's not like she would but the thought itself drove you crazy.
You moaned as you rolled over and looked straight up at the ceiling. You thought thoroughly about how your felt and why you were feeling this way.
"I don't like Jade…so why am I acting like this? Is it because he was the only guy who kissed me for real?" you thought aloud.
"What did you just say?" you looked up and saw Davi in the doorway. You then let your head fall back as you sighed frustratingly. She walked in a little and said, "Aimee what's wrong? You look really pale."
You felt your lip quiver as you said, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm so confused right now."
"Why?" she asked as she sat down on the bed. You rolled over and faced the opposite wall from her and unconscientiously shouted, "Because ever since Jade came into my life, things have become so much different from before. I don't even know who I'm supposed to be anymore. I can't be cold and unattached like I used to be! Every time I try to pull away again, something keeps pulling me back and right now that thing is jealousy!"
Her eyes widened as she said, "I had no clue…you love Jade. I should've known from the beginning when you started smiling more! He's the reason you're so happy! He broke through your shell and you can't handle it, so now you're coming to me for guidance."
You felt tears slide down your cheeks as you pulled your knees to your chest and said, "This can't happen to me. Not after everything I've gone through. I'm so scared…I can't give in. It makes me sick every time I think of being with him. Yet…I want him so bad. Just sedate me already; I can't handle this pressure!"
She blinked and said firmly, "The only way you're going to be able to decide is if you admit you're in love with him. It doesn't matter if you are or not but when you say it, how you feel will explain it all,"
You shook your head and buried between your knees.
"I can't say it…"
"Say it!"
"No, I told you! I can't say it!"
"I'm going to hit you if you don't! Now say it, damnit!"
You then threw your hands in the air and screamed, "Fine! I'll say it! I…Love…Jade!"
You felt a sick feeling in your stomach suddenly but it turned into one of those warm heartfelt feelings you get after doing something good.
"Feel better?" Davi asked. You glared at her and said, "I hate you so much right now. You know how much I hate it when you're right about things I wish would be wrong,"
She made a face and said, "That's not exactly the reaction I was anticipating but I'll just take what I can get. But there's no doubt that you're completely in love with him. You need to tell him. I'm pretty sure he'd be glad to hear it…don't hit me, please!"
You shook your head and said, "I'm not going to do it. You know that…"
"Keep telling yourself that. You know it's going to change as soon as he gets here," she said as you grunted in dismissal of the subject.
You walked into the bathroom and looked at your severely smeared make up. You decided you'd redo as you thoroughly wiped it with a tissue. You then thickly reapplied it and looked yourself over in the mirror. Your eyes were bloodshot and your face was grossly pale.
You didn't bother trying to get ready since you just figured it would be a simple thing. You changed your clothes into a tank top with a slim black zip-up hoody. You wore tight black pants with a pair of vans slip-on shoes. You put on a little lip-gloss as you noticed time pass extremely quickly.
It was already 5:30 by the time you were done. You washed your hair in the sink earlier, which apparently took more time than you intended. You blinked a few time as you brushed your wet hair and gelled the back so that it was spiky. You put on a light pink headband to pull it off.
You heard a knock at the door as you ran to it and opened it, expecting your sister standing there with a goofy grin on her face. But instead, you found yourself looking up to see Jade in a black collared shirt with a hot pink tie and black pants.
"Wow, we match!" you heard him comment. You smiled awkwardly and said, "hehe, yeah. Isn't that funny?"
"Well, let's go!" he said excitedly as he grabbed your thin arm and dragged you to the car. He opened the back door for you as you climbed in, expecting him to shut the door and go for shotgun but instead he said, "I'm going to sit back here with you so you don't have to ride alone!" before plopping right next to you.
The ride there was slightly awkward and uncomfortable as you finally arrived. You felt inferior and ugly as your sister got out of the car, wearing a long sleeved striped hoodie with tight blue jeans. She was perfectly Jade's height, which left you feeling rather small, being only 5"3.
You walked behind them as they walked into the restaurant. You felt really down for some reason and felt like you could cry any minute. You tried to shake the feeling but it was really getting to you as you watched Jade and Candace converse.
"Aimee, you're really quiet. Is something wrong?" you heard Candace say to you. You looked up and lied, "I'm not really feeling too good. I think I'm just going to have a water or something so I don't get sick."
"Wow, you've been feeling sick a lot lately. I hope you didn't catch anything from one of the guys," Jade said. You winced and thought, "Yeah, knowing that, I bet I caught it from you."
You simply endured them with a shrug. Candace sighed and said, "So, what have you been doing with your life, Aimee? Do you have any goals?"
You exhaled and said, "I kind of have been wanting to write a novel. But I don't have a computer and I'm too impatient to write on paper. But I have the whole storyline plot in my head."
Jade smiled and said, "A novel, huh? I like reading. What kind is it?"
You paused and said, "It's a romance novel…it's about a 25 year old woman who is going through a shitty time in her life because she's dealing with some family issues since her mom has Alzheimer's and is literally losing her mind. She works as a journalist who's been far too busy trying to industrialize herself over spending time to find a love life. Therefore, she has none and is really lonely and is dealing with some external self-analyzing. That's all I can really explain for now. I'm not exactly sure what is going to happen yet."
"It sounds deep," Jade commented, "It sounds like something I wouldn't mind reading."
You smiled slightly and said, "Well, I don't know what's going to happen yet. I haven't really had much inspiration."
"Well, then maybe you need to get out and get some inspiration," he said bluntly while raising an eyebrow.
You made and face before thinking, "Did he just flirt with me?" You then shook your head and told yourself, "No, I'm freaking out over nothing again. He's not into me like THAT,"
You only shrugged at his comment as if it wasn't anything new. You simply expected this whole night to be like this but getting no where. So you thought.