Sky cocked her head to the side, a slight smirk playing on her face as she delved out her cards "Royal flush." She accentuated the 'Fl' of the flush, her tongue clicking against her teeth, the sharp points peeking from behind rosy lips.
"HOW?" Leah stood up abruptly, almost taking the table with her.
"I swear she has another power." Collin lamented and his head hung and his less then appealing hand hit the table, two pair.
"Face it, my awesomeness is simply far superior to yours." The smirk on Sky's face broadened further, her mismatched eyes alight with laughter and Collin caught himself staring, blushing profusely before snapping his attention else where.
Brady looked on with a slight concern. His twin had been doing that often since her sixteenth birthday had passed nearly a year before. He hoped that it was simply a small crush, Sky was a beautiful girl, this much he knew was undeniable, but she was a pack brothers imprint as well, and Paul would be anything but forgiving if Collin let his stray thoughts linger in his head in wolf form. With a quick foot stomp under the table he got his brothers attention long enough to give him a warning glare. Collin returned the glare but ceased his staring for the moment. Brady resigned himself to hunting his brother down later and having a discussion with him. Even if Sky never took Paul's imprint past that of a brotherly protector, Paul would still dismember his pack brother for so much as touching her.
"I'm off to bed, I have a trip in the morning." Sky beamed. It would be her first trip to Alaska, and while Alice had visited just last month, she was still eager to test her newly blossomed abilities, mainly the fact that she could run faster then the worlds leading sports cars. Her main directive for the weekend…Beat he uncle Edward in a sprint…across the continent. The prize? She would be allowed a car, not that she needed one, but as with all teenagers, getting your first car is a right of passage, and Sky was like most teenage girls in that aspect. She differed greatly in others, mainly, that boys were never on her mind. She never squealed in delight over a hot and upcoming actor, she never glanced or gave a pretty blush at any of the boys in her high school. Not that any of them would survive the pack should they pursue her. Brady could understand why she would be hesitant, but she was flat out ignorant of it, not one stray thought, not a lingering fantasy spoken in whispered giggles to Leah, not that he could ever picture the tall beauty giggling on any level. No one seemed particularly worried about it, hell Paul was probably on cloud nine over the fact. He didn't see how his pack mate wouldn't be concerned about it. Sky was his imprint, and as with all other imprints. It is expected through experience for them to at one point…mate? He knew that this weekend Sky would turn 17, and to most that would still be considered too young for such actions, but not such thoughts. His eyes wondered to her back as she rummaged through the icebox for a drink to take with her. Her long curls brushing her lower back as she did so, an occasional dismissive grunt left her lips as she picked through her options.
"Hey Leah." He murmured lowly, catching the older she-wolfs attention. She turned her head and cocked an eyebrow at him, an endearment he believed the older female might have actually picked up from her younger counterpart and partner in crime.
"Can I talk to you? Later… About Sky." He whispered even lower.
"What about me?" The sound of a chair sliding across the hardwood floor disrupted the quiet bubble Brady had hoped to accomplish with Leah. 'So much for discreet' He sullenly thought to himself. Sky's hearing had taken a leap in the direction of freakishly good as well as her speed, although she could not hear as well as her wolfish guardians, she was still incredibly attuned to everything.
"Earth to Brady, the home planet would like to say…HELLOOOOOO is anyone in there." Her sing song voice snapped his attention back to her mismatched gaze, and for a split second he felt himself falling before the swirling pools snapped to a shuttering stillness. He blushed; it was a well known fact that you weren't to look into her gaze without properly warning her, she had yet to conquer the anomaly of her eyes, although she had made great progress.
"Sorry." He mumbled, his blush spreading further when he remembered what it was he wanted to talk to Leah about, and now Sky, because there was no way the girl would let it rest now that she knew he was talking about her on any level.
"Sky." He began, his voice squeaked slightly, causing Leah to snort out a very un lady like laugh. He sent her a quick glare before clearing his throat and beginning again.
"Sky, are you gay?" Leah spit out her drink…all over Collin, who was still sitting stalk still, his widened eyes giving away to his shock. Brady shuttered a look up to Sky's eyes, giving her ample time to still the swirls , if they were activated. One delicate eyebrow was tilted at that endearing angle, her head cocked to the side in the manner Paul had dubbed 'The Sky look' That was once more, incredibly endearing .
"Want to run that one by us again Brady?" Collin squeaked out to his twin, his blush coming to cover his face, giving the normal copper tone a rosy pink, and if it would have been any other instance Brady as sure he would be poking fun at his twin, but now was not the time.
"Do you..uh…like girls?" He asked from a different approach, hoping that phrasing it this way would be less embarrassing. It was not.
A soft laugh broke the awkward silence that had seemed to engulf the room for several seconds.
"Is there a reason behind that question, or are you just incredibly nosy tonight?" The slight tilt to her voice bordered on humor but there was a tint of seriousness there, not in a manner that implied she was angry, but generally curious as to why he would ask, and clarifying that it was a question meant to be answered and in no way rhetorical.
"Girls talk about boys…all the time." He added slightly exasperated thinking about the other female she-wolves that had joined the pack over the last decade. Leah was an exception, but everyone knew that the older she-wolf belonging to their brother pack had her reasoning. She had no intention of leading anyone on, for fear that her imprint would show up, and she would inevitably do to them what Sam had done to her.
"Care to elaborate?" Sky made herself more comfortable in her chair, quite ready for the long haul, a silent proclamation that she would hear this out to the end.
"You never talk about anyone…well anyone like 'THAT'." He emphasized, hoping that she would not expect him to elaborate.
"Why does it even matter?" Leah sighed, obviously already bored with the conversation. She was another of the wolves that thought nothing of this little fact. But honestly, it worried Brady. It wasn't normal behavior, having a tendency to shy from the subject because of her past would be normal, yes, but hormones would have a say either way, and she should be at a confusing point in her life, whether she chose women or men, it was a natural thing to be thinking of exploring, but it was as if Sky saw no differentiation between the two.
"Because it does." Brady answered tersely, this had nothing to do with Leah now that Sky would hear it directly from him, and he did not have the patience to argue the point with the older female.
"Fine, fine, but I'm heading back to my pack, Sky, as always…you are a cheat, and I love you to death." She gave sky a quick hug and a quick hair ruffle even though the girl was now the same height as her.
"I'm only a cheater if I cheat…you are just as horrible at poker as you are at tic tac toe." Sky answered before once more finding her seat and turning her eyes back to him.
"I'm gonna go…gonna go…do something." Collin quietly excused himself. Brady waited until he heard the screen door shut before turning back to Sky who was leaning her head in her hands, raising her eyebrow once more as if to say 'continue.'
"Girls your age should be hormone crazy by now, god knows we all went through it, guys, girls…everyone. You never get a crush, you never make girly eyes at anyone, not that I think you even know how, but I'm sure a Sky version of girly eyes at someone, the point is Sky, that you should be thinking of boys and…girl things involving boys…" He blushed further…'Why did I volunteer myself for this?' He lamented further.
"Are you giving me the birds and the bees talk uncle Brady? Because I am quiet aware of the mechanics of sex, I do read you know." She rolled her eyes, which was a typical teenage response, and Brady was glad that, other then this certain topic, she was every bit the general teenager.
"Sky…do you…do you like anyone in…well…" He couldn't bring himself to say it; he had after all, helped a great deal in the raising of Sky.
"Are you asking me if I am having sex…or if I want to be having sex?" Sky chuckled slightly as she took a drink of her soda, her gaze never leaving his. She had an unnerving ability to maintain your gaze, something her Uncle Edward had taught her apparently.
"The latter." He answered after a silent moment. Sky shook her head as she took another drink, her lips pulled back in a half smile.
"Do you ever think about…you know?" Sky cocked her eyebrow again, apparently finding his tongue tied state incredibly amusing.
"No, Uncle Brady…I'm not really sure why it matters, but nope, not really." She laughed once more and stood up, giving her body a quick stretch before bending over and giving him a peck on the cheek and a whispered goodnight before disappearing upstairs. Brady gave a sigh of relief. His worries weren't put to rest, but he was glad the conversation was over. Now he just had to worry about his talk with Collin, which he was sure would go anything but smoothly.
Sky sat at the top of the stairs, her drink dangling loosely in her slender fingers. 'Pianist fingers' that's what her Uncle Edward called them. Long, slender, graceful and agile. But right now, they were simply digits holding a chilled drink. The cold seeping through the plastic and into the tips of those slender fingers, but her mind was else where. Was she supposed to be concerned that she knew of no one whom had stuck her interest? Everyone was either an adoptive 'Uncle', or 'Aunt.' Extending to Cousins, and siblings by Pack code. From what she understood, a healthy relationship sexually, did not involve people of any relation. She was quiet certain that the multitude of books she had poured over during her life 'And those were quiet a few' could not be wrong. Yet Uncle Brady seemed concerned about the fact. The only one that was of any availability according to her books, was Paul, but he was her chosen guardian. She was his imprint. An obligation brought on by his wolf heritage. She was quiet certain that romantic feelings were not to be forced. She understood that should she take a romantic interest in Paul that according to the imprint and his genetic code, he was to recuperate, whether he wanted to or not, and that simply was not how she pictured a healthy relationship was to ensue. Sam and Emily were different, as well as Kim and Jared, and Clair Bear and Quil. They all loved one another in a different way, and it could be clearly seen in every action they did for one another. Paul was not the same with her. He treated her like a kid sister, albeit and intelligent and strong willed one, a kid sister none the less. She knew that her family was very attractive, vampire and Wolf, so maybe she was desensitized to attractiveness? She shook her head at the thought. No attractive levels were based on a multitude of different levels of compatibility. There were many people she encountered that would be considered attractive, they just simply did not strike her interest in any way. She tried to imagine each available male in her school on a level beyond the quiet friendships she had established. Each image was analyzed and discarded with a head shake. There was no spark or inclination. Uncle Brady was right, maybe there was something wrong with her. She wondered if she should talk to her Aunt Leah about it, but thought better of it. Aunt Leah was not the best person to attain romantic advise from. And Sam was to fatherly, he would take it the wrong way, Jared would be a pervert about it, she could already map out his response to a pin point. The other wolves would blush should she randomly approach them, she did not know them well enough anyway, and she was certain that it would simply lead to an awkward silence. Her mouth quirked and screwed as she mulled over her predicament before settling on a plan. She would simply talk to Paul about it. He always told her the truth and not just something to placate her curiosity. She stifled a yawn. She would talk to Paul…tomorrow.
"Collin" Brady sighed out as his brother stomped angrily away.
"I didn't mean it like that." He whined when he noticed his brother falter in his steps.
"How exactly did you mean it?" His brother's darker brown eyes seemed to sear into his own gaze.
"I just mean…that…well Paul is a little hard to reason with, and I don't want my ass kicked trying to keep your ass from getting kicked." He smirked slightly when he saw a smile grace his brothers features.
"I don't think that past the imprint, Sky has any interest in Paul like that…and truthfully, I think he would prefer it be a pack brother to decide to sniff around rather then some punk kid." Brady smirked even as his brother sucker punched his arm.
"Sniff around…is that supposed to be some bad wolf humor?" Collin chuckled and he ruffled his hair slightly.
"Maybe…so, How exactly to you plan on going from 'Uncle Collin' to boyfriend?" Brady laughed at the face Collin made.
"It just sounds creepy when you put it like that." Brady laughed once more before shaking his head.
"Well good luck figuring that out, on top of the fact that she has absolutely, and I mean absolutely, no interest in sex what so ever." Brady gestured wildly with his hands, exasperation evident still from his failed conversation with Sky.
"Sex, is not even in the equation, that's just wrong…seriously, I just wanna take her out to the movies sometime, don't jump the gun." Brady nodded before smirking at his brother.
"Well, whatever you do, don't let the Cullen's know, god knows they would tear you apart happily along with Paul." Collin gave a shudder at the thought before they wondered in a zig zag pattern home.
Sky clicked her tongue gently, the sound repetitive and soft in the breaking dawn. Her bare feet dangled over the wooden fence, her gaze scanning the horizon until a high pitched squeal broke the silence and the lone figure of a horse trotted over the hill towards her, it's deep red coat had lost it's shaggy winter appeal, and now a sleek shine glinted in the sunlight. Sky laughed lightly when the animal decided to shove it's white face into her lap and give her a gentle push, a quiet demand for the sugar cubes she was sure it knew she carried.
"Easy Leo, you are going to shove me off the fence." The horse took no notice of her quiet plea as he once more shoved her in insistence. Finally relenting, Sky reached into her jacket pocket and offered the small white squares to the stud, who ate them greedily before licking her hand clean and wondering off to graze.
"Such a user" She chastised as she dismounted her post and strolled up to him, bending over to stare at his pretty brown eyes as he ate. He gave a snort at her invasion of his grazing space, but paused a moment, as if quietly granting her permission to continue to be graced by his presence, before once more continuing to eat. Sky remained bent over a moment longer before dropping down cross-legged and plucking at the grass, her face screwed up in thought. Leo, seeming to have sensed her distress, stopped chewing a moment and snorted, effectively gaining her attention, as if to say 'Well out with it, what's on your mind?'
"Is there something wrong with me?" The horse snorted and shook his black mane roughly before continuing to graze, as if saying 'silly humans and their silly problems.' Sky chuckled slightly, envying the horse and his more simplistic life. She was certain he never questioned himself about his point in life.
"You know, there are better places to sit at…sixish in the morning." Sky smiled, not even bothering to raise her gaze from the lush green grass she was sitting on. She would know that deep baritone anywhere.
"Hi Paul, care to join me?" She offered politely, which was met with a gruff 'hnn'.
"A million and one chairs all over the place, and you want me to sit in the dirt…with you?" Sky turned her face to him, his silhouette darkened by the rising sun behind him, but his teeth flashed white as he gave her a half cocked smirk. She let her eyes flicker to the grassy spot beside her as if to say 'Dirt? I see no dirt...sit on the grass already.'
"Fine, fine." He relented as he plopped down beside her with all the grace of a blind bull.
"Like you could say no." She teased, but her face fell slightly, realizing that the fact was all to true. He really could not deny her. She let her gaze travel off into the rolling meadow, her thoughts taking a sadder approach. A strong hand brushed under her chin, tilting it over and up so that her gaze met a set of deep brown.
"Sky?" She hated how he always seemed to know if she was troubled, and even more so that he would not leave her alone until she had informed him what had brought about her melancholy mood. But now a new sadness caught in the back of her throat. Would he care if she was not his imprint, and worse yet, what part of him cared at all?
"Am I different?" Paul was at a loss as what to say to this. His mind working over what it could be that she was worried about.
"Why would you ask?" He wanted to make sure to see if this is one of those times that he is supposed to agree that she was different, perfect, and unique, or if it was one of those times that he was supposed to comfort her and tell her that she was just like everyone else. Girls were far to confusing sometimes, but for her, he would deal with it.
"Uncle Brady thinks there might be something wrong with me." Paul growled low in his chest, causing the stallion next to him to tense and move several feet away.
"Relax, He did not actually say there was something wrong with me, but I sensed his distress." Sky soothed, but it did no good.
"And what exactly DID he say?" He emphasized, already imagining a multitude of ways to punish the younger wolf for troubling his imprint.
"Because I do not wish to have sex" Paul Blanched… 'What?'
"But I am confused, everyone here is in someway my adoptive relative other then you, I am not supposed to want to engage in activities such as sex with them. Of this I am certain." Sky sighed quietly as she mulled this over further in the recesses of her own mind, unaware that her companion was shaking slightly.
"It is completely fine to never, ever, EVER want to have sex…EVER." Paul insisted, quiet certain that he would dismember any male who so much as thought twice about it.
"No one has showed any interest either." Paul sighed in relief at that fact before noticing that Sky's face turned more troubled at this statement.
"Am I undesirable? The boys at school show no interest, and I am quiet certain that in my sophomore year when I asked the boy Levi, to the girls dance…that he ran from me." Paul chuckled slightly at that. The boy ran because Paul hand one by one, sought out every male, in EVERY grade, and told them that if they so much as thought about touching her he would hunt them down and their mothers would cry when they say what he had done to them. He was not intending that no one go to the dance with her, but they not, touch, goo goo talk, make eyes at, or insinuate anything with her. They had simply taken it upon themselves to run like hell when she approached them…he might have been just a little harsh.
"You are not undesirable." He sighed as he noticed that she once more had a melancholy look to her face. He tinted her chin up once more, forcing her to look at him, and in the light of the rising sun, she was anything but undesirable, she was stunning beyond comprehension, and he was certain that the imprint had nothing to do with that. He searched his mind for the right words to say to help her understand that she was fine and things like this happened over time, but his thought process was cut short by the feel of a set of lips pressed against his own, his eyes widened considerably, but he could not pull away, so he sat there, shocked still, until the warmth of her lips left as well as the presence of her warmth beside him. By the time he came out of his stupor she was already walking across the meadow, her horse beside her in an even gate.
Sky…had just kissed him….and he didn't do a damn thing about it…shit..SHIT!
"Shit!" She was going to think he didn't want her.