Disclaimer: If I owned the sons of Ipswich, I wouldn't be writing. J
- -
Half a day later…
I blame it all on PMS! That way, girls don't argue with you and men avoid the subject like death. I left campus. Went on a road trip up to my grandmother's place. I admired her. She worked three days a week in the city and lived on a stretch of beautiful land she's lived on since she was a child. Though the size of the land was considerably smaller. She had long since sold off pieces of it to friends and gotten rid of her horses, but it was still a beautiful peaceful place with plenty of space.
I was surprised not to find her there, but I had a extra key anyway. I opened the door and felt a sense of calm I didn't know I was missing. It didn't matter where I grew up, that feeling, that house was home.
- -
"Hey there."
Alona looked up to see Mr. Dreamy McSwoon-pants sit down across from her, but don't think for a second that I'm the only one who can hold a grudge (ie Gavin). She had spotted him early the day before and ditched him, opting for the long way to class. "Hey." She looked down at his plate as he started eating. She contemplated her two options. Given the early stage of her hopefully romance-to-be, she spoke. "Where were you the other day?"
Tyler looked up and smiled. "Where were you yesterday?"
She blushed. "I was pissed you weren't around."
Tyler shrugged. "I figured." he said going back to his lunch.
Alona blinked at him whilst eating her mozzarella stick. "You didn't answer me, you know."
He smiled and looked up again. "I went home."
"Home?"
"To Ipswich." he stated rather matter-of-factly.
Alona nodded. "Why?" she asked conversationally.
He sighed. "Family stuff." He wasn't technically lying. The four of them were like brothers and usually, what affected one of them, affected the others.
Alona smiled. I guess she like the idea of a family man. Have I mentioned my sister is weird?
The lunch ended eventually with Tyler asking Alona out to dinner. She had already promised me to meet up at Doyle's so she invited him along. He accepted and left her with a kiss. Corny, but cute.
- -
Sarah knew Caleb was distracted the moment he'd showed up after her last class. They had had plans to meet up later and go with Pogue and Kate to the bar she was working. Her parents were paying for tuition, but she needed to get a job for spending money. Caleb had asked to study together and she had conceded.
"What are you thinking about?" realizing he wasn't actually reading the book in front of him.
"Isabella." he answered absently.
Sarah's head popped up. "What?" she accused.
Caleb looked over at her and his eyes widened. "Not like that!"
"Right!" Sarah yelled stomping off and tossing the door in Caleb's face as he tried to follow.
"Crap." he muttered, running off to find his emotional girlfriend.
- -
When my sister and I would stay at the house, we would share a room. As we got older, I would come myself a lot more often so walking in, I was home. There were two beds but most of the stuff lying around was mine.
The dressers had pedants hanging from the sides. Inside, there were clothes we had left over the years. I opened the desk drawers and saw a picture of the family riding when we were ten. I smiled softly and closed the drawer.
I moved to my bed. There was a CD player hooked up. I pressed play and listened as the melody swept over me. I soon realized the song was Black Magic Woman by Carlos Santana and I laughed at the irony.
Looking up at the ceiling, I noticed had dream catchers galore over my bed. The closet door had a poster of Brittany Spears with darts in her head. Alona had chosen the poster, I had done the darts. It brought a smile to my face as I remembered all the good times at the house.
There was an armoire in the corner. I pushed myself up off the bed and walked over, opening the doors. There they were. All my books, well, those relevant to the craft. There were choice journals from my great grandmother and my grandmother, there were books on Wicca and basic principles, there were books dedicated to inquiring about the divine, some on Buddhist teachings and principles, and a bible. My religion was yet to be named, I liked to say. I pulled out one of my grandmother's old journals and returned to the bed.
That's where she found me when she returned from the store. The CD had switched to Eminem and I vaguely remembered her turning it off, covering me with a blanket, and turning out the light.
- -
Reid got to Doyle's late, but I was actually glad. I got there seconds before he did. I had sped double demon time to get there on time-ish. The first thing I noticed was Alona dancing with Tyler to The Donnas. It was funny, but cute.
I made my way to the bar and smiled at Harley. "Hey there." I said suggestively.
Harley tossed a gin and tonic in front of me. "Tease." he muttered.
"When do you get off?"
I felt an arm wrap around my waist and Reid's voice on my right. "Don't tell me your replacing me already." he commented sarcastically. I was glad he got the way I joked with my friends. "Sorry I was late." he apologized seriously.
I smiled. "That makes two of us. I just got here." The song changed to Garbage's Queer and I winked at Reid. "Wanna dance?"
He nodded and I threw my drink down my throat and pulled him onto the dance floor which was now less populated. I smiled as the chorus started and he tense a moment before laughing.
Passed that test with flying colors. I turned with my back to him grinding my hips backwards into his. He enjoyed it (hint hint) and I continued slowly moving my butt down and then up on his front. The music was slow and so were my movements, excruciatingly slow.
Finally, we both gave up and pulled each other out the door.
- -
Alona watched us leave and checked her watch. "A new record." she muttered.
Tyler was confused. "Huh?"
"Izzy. She just left to go bang your friend. They were here, what, less than ten minutes?" Alona always hated that I was so easy. Really I wasn't. I at least had a check list he had to pass. That put me just above easy, right?"
- -
Caleb had called Pogue and cancelled hours ago. He sat facing Sarah. He had just explained everything about the Isabella mystery. She seemed calmer.
"I'm pregnant."
Or not.
- -
Kate saw Tyler and Alona from the bar and smiled. She was about to take the drinks she had just received to Pogue when she saw Tyler see her and wave her over.
"Hey Kate." He turned to Alona. "Alona, this is Kate, my friend Pogue's girlfriend. Kate, this is Alona."
Kate smiled and sat down. "Hey. I was just getting drinks. You guys looked so cute over here." she said sort of gushing.
"Yeah. Yeah." Tyler said embarrassed. "Don't you have a boyfriend? Go find him."
"Your right. I'll go get him. He'll want to embarrass you too." she said running off.
Tyler cursed under his breath. "Lets go." he suggested.
Alona laughed. "Oh hush." she said smiling as she slapped his hand playfully.
- -
Reid dropped me off at my door. I only vaguely remembered I had left it when he kissed me. "Night." he said smirking.
I pulled him back and we stood making out against the door. That is until Caleb opened it. Then we fell.
"Isn't it past your bedtime?" Reid muttered, getting up and reaching down for me.
Caleb looked at us with, well, I don't really know what kind of look. "I'll see you tomorrow." he called. I wasn't sure if he was talking to Reid or Sarah who stood behind him.
Once he was gone, I looked over at Sarah and she burst into tears. Reid and I both rushed over to her. "Oh my god. What's wrong sweetie?" I asked pulling her to the couch.
Sarah glanced at Reid and then looked to me. She seemed weary of talking in front of Caleb's friend and I was praying I wouldn't have to kill the boy. Cuz that would just be messy, I thought with a smile. "I… I'm… pregnant." she spit out.
I tensed and she must have felt it, because she started crying harder. "Hey." I moved to sit next to her. "It's okay. It's okay."
I glanced at Reid and he looked not only utterly uncomfortable, but guilty. Of course I knew he wasn't responsible, but I was curious as to what he felt guilty. Of course, it could have also been him concentrating on remembering if he had put on a condom or not. That made smile.
I turned back to Sarah. "Hey." I consoled, rocking her. It's going to be okay, alright?"
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