The Aislin Chronicles
Part XVII
A/n: Hmm, yeah, sorry I was so slow. It's long, though, I hope it makes up for it. Jesus, seventeen parts already? Why that's positively crazy.
4-14-03
3:46 PM
Dad has to take me shopping sometime soon because we both remembered yesterday that Syd's birthday is creeping up in, oh… Three days and we haven't gotten her anything. Not that Dad really needs to. I mean, engagement ring? He'll get her something anyway, I'm sure. And we'll probably go out to dinner at a nice fancy restaurant expensivo. You like that Spanish? I'm trying to use it more often so I get better. It's really fun. Sort of.
Um.
Oh, so I walk into first hour today and everyone (and by everyone I mean Jess, Adam, Kathleen, Dee, and Fini) practically jump up all excited about the engagement. And Danny had no idea what was going on, which was hilarious. It turns out Jess can't keep a secret, so she told Kathleen, who called Dee and told her because she didn't realize this was supposed to be a secret, and Dee was with Fini so she found out. And Jess, when she called Kathleen, had been in the same room as her older sister and her boyfriend, who happens to be Adam's brother, who told Adam. Leaving Danny in the blue.
3:53 PM
And that was possibly the most annoying story I've ever told. No more of that.
Hmm, school was all right today. I didn't like the waking up early bit. That sucked. We're starting a geometry unit in math. So far it's fricken easy. We're learning the names of shapes. And drawing them. Oh so difficult. Having a good time with Ian.
3:56 PM
Guh. Ian!
3:57 PM
Did I mention how much I missed him?
3:58 PM
And his ridiculously blue eyes?
3:59 PM
And his smirk that would make me blush if my cheeks weren't rosy twenty-four-seven?
4:04 PM
Needless to say, it's lovely having him back. :Sigh: He's perfect.
Oh, I was talking about school, wasn't I? Hm. Let's not. Oh, let's. You don't want me to babble on about Ian for six hours. Because I could. Probably. We're making these booklets of everything we've written in English this year. Everybody's is longer than mine because I missed the first four months of school, but it's just as pretty. Or it will be.
Yeah, talking about school isn't nearly as much fun as talking about Ian. I'm going to go watch telly until Papá gets home from work (check that español again).
4-17-03
8:41 PM
My oh my, I can feel a looong entry coming on. So much has happened since Monday. Nothing really major until today, but I definitely should have written sooner. Okay, I cannot tell this on chronological order- I just don't have the patience anymore. Screw Tuesday and Wednesday. For now.
So we're out to dinner for Syd's birthday, and I went to the bathroom after dessert and I was coming back and… Gosh darn it. I have to start from the beginning, I just can't do it. Ugh. I'm still screwing Tuesday and Wednesday for the record.
On Monday evening (yes, I'm going back that far. But still screwing- okay, you get it) Daddy Dearest and I went on a shopping expedition. Our mission: find Sydney a birthday present. I must say, he had a more difficult time than I did. I mean, he has to top an engagement ring. I just have to look cute and smile and hand her something. It's nice having the easy role for once, but I felt bad for him. I tried explaining to him that it didn't have to top the engagement ring because that wasn't exactly a present. It's just a birthday, she probably just wants to know that he's thinking of her.
8:53 PM
Well, that's what I said, that's not quite what I think. I… Whatever. Anyways, he bought it. But he still didn't know what to get her.
You know what? I'm going into too much detail. To make a long story short, he planned out a nice evening for her on Friday (since I'll be gone at an Activity Night and sleeping over at Jess's house) including dinner and a movie and a massage and… Stuff they do when I'm not home. Naughty naughty. I'm assuming that. Ick. Why do I think such things?
I opted to buy her a gift certificate to that bookstore she likes and the DVD of Breakfast at Tiffany's, since she likes it so much and Dad said she didn't have it.
Okay, next order of business, today. This afternoon I wrapped Sydney's presents before they got home from work. Then I lounged around dreaming of (not saying HAHA you'll have to wait until I get to screwed-Wednesday. Oh my gosh, I'm taunting a journal. I'm pathetic), well dreaming of blankity-blank for awhile, and then Sydney and Dad came home, and they told me to get dressed up-ish because we were going to a fancy restaurant. Wahoo!
I must admit… We looked pretttty. So pretty that I insisted on finding that digital camera they got me for my birthday and taking pictures. Why I've forgotten about that thing I am unsure. I wish I had had it with me up north during spring break. Oh well, too late now.
Now that my detour is finished I took pictures of us all prettified and Dad and I grabbed the presents and we went to dinner. I took more pictures, Sydney loved her presents, and I ate this chicken and pasta type deal that wasn't half bad.
We started talking about wedding plans then. They haven't set a date yet, but I know it's going to be pretty soon. They wanted it small, just close friends and family at the service, but they'll have a big reception and they said Jess and Kathleen could come and stuff. Sydney said we could start dress shopping this weekend if we had time. I said yes not even thinking about the project I have to do with– NO! I said I wasn't saying until it was screwed-Wednesday time! So we might not go this weekend, it depends on. Certain. Schedules. Um.
So then we got dessert while discussing tuxedos (I think) but somehow we got on the subject of swimming pools. Don't ask. But that led to their honeymoon (kissy kissy) and they talked about possible places. I told them to go someplace warm. And romantic. I didn't say romantic but I was thinking it. I can see Dad taking her back to Paris. We shall see.
When I finished eating I went to the bathroom. When I came back I overheard Sydney say something about Jack, and how, well… Okay so I was kinda smushed between some dude's chair and a waiter so I was trapped and had to overhear, all right? I don't even think they noticed I was coming. But I heard Jack mentioned, then I heard Syd say, "He told me he likes you more than Danny."
At first I was kind of thinking that it was weird she was talking about my friend, especially when she was talking about Jack. But then I realized that she's only met him once, at my birthday party, and same with Dad, and there definitely was no way that they knew enough about him to be talking about him. So I started thinking about it. Jack told Sydney that he likes Vaughn more than Danny. Dad seemed pretty content with her statement. It makes me wonder though, who is this Danny character?
I've been wondering ever since we left the restaurant. My brain hurts. I think it's finally time to hit up that screwed Tuesday/Wednesday. I feel a little bad that I neglected them. Well. Not really.
Okay, so, Tuesday! We got papers to schedule for school next year when we're big, bad eighth graders, the oldest and wisest among those (pre)teens of MacDonald Junior Academy. Yes indeed I was quite surprised that we schedule now, I thought we just said, "yeah, I'm coming back," and they handed us a schedule. And. I'm taking choir next year. I'll be will Jess and Adam, and I've heard the choir director Mr. Tutt is really cool. I'm so excited. Of course I'll also be taking Spanish again and all the core classes but… Not more gym! Yay!
Is that all that happened Tuesday? I can't even remember anymore. Okay, now I'm sad that I neglected it since I can't remember what happened. Well, I'll move on to Wednesday and if I remember anything from Tuesday I'll just interrupt.
Oh my gosh. Wednesday. It was just my average, normal, Wednesday, when I go to math and WHAM! Frierson pulls a quick one on us- big geometry project due in awhile. We have tons of time to do it, but here's the thing: we need a partner. We have to, using a theme, take pictures of geometric shapes in everyday life and label stuff like 'obtuse' 'parallel lines' 'right triangle' and such and put them on a poster all prettiful.
So guess who asked to be my partner?
THAT'S RIGHT! IAN DID!
Oh he was so smooth about it, too. After Frierson went to get our homework sheets he leaned over and whispered, "Hey, Ais, wanna do that project together?" So of course I said yes! I was so excited I nearly screamed, but thankfully I hid my emotions well and calmly answered, "Sure," though I may have been blushing. Or smiling. Or something that surely would have embarrassed me had I not been so enthralled by the cuteness of boy in front of me. Sigh!
We decided we might go take some pictures this weekend. We want to go to the zoo and do it. Kathleen and Jess are going to UCLA's campus to take theirs. I don't really care where we go, I just want to spend time with Ian, Ahh! Ian!
Oh, and then I found out that our last Activity Night is tomorrow, so I'll be bringing my camera to that for sure. Taking more pictures. Cameras are fun, why didn't I use mine? I'm weird.
Well I suppose that was my neglected-days in a nutshell. And now it's quite late, and I must be getting to bed. Hmm. I wonder who Danny is. Hmm. Night.
4-18-03
3:43 PM
After much thought, I think Danny was one of Sydney's old boyfriends. And a fairly significant one too, if they were discussing how Jack likes Vaughn better than him. I kind of want to ask but… I don't know, what if I'm wrong and it turns out all weird?
3:51 PM
Okay, I'm going to ask Sydney when they get home: who is Danny?
3:55 PM
Should I just ask whenever, like casually over dinner, or should I wait until Vaughn goes away for a minute and ask her quietly? Decisions, decisions.
3:59 PM
Or. What if I asked Vaughn?
No, that would be weird, wouldn't it? And he'd probably just tell me to go ask Sydney anyway.
4:13 PM
Yeah, I'll just ask Syd.
6:47 PM
I forgot Syd and Dad's "evening alone" is tonight. When I remembered I decided not to say anything. Especially because last time I brought up something of their past (cough, Irina Derevko, cough) they ended up having a fight. So… I won't ruin their evening. They have days off tomorrow, I think I'll ask then. But just Sydney. I'll leave Vaughn out of it, I don't want to make him uncomfortable by talking about Syd's possible ex-boyfriend.
Anyway, Activity Night in a few, I'm pumped! Jess is picking me up so we don't separate the love birds for too long. I bet they're just dying for me to leave so they can go at it. God. You really must stop me before I say anything like that again.
4-20-03
3:30 PM
Well, dearest journal, it's been quite the eventful weekend. I've had most excellent days. But alas, school returns tomorrow. Oh well.
Activity Night! Oh! Can't forget about that. Not that I will, because, wow! But, um, okay. So Jess/Kathleen/me did the usual, we walked around for a bit waiting for everyone to get there then we went to the gym and mess around with the basketballs, Kathleen actually plays because she's good, um, anyways… Jess and I were playing two square (Bus stop! Cherry bomb! Shoe shiner! Ah, the good old days of recess. Yes, two square. I was winning) when who did I see head into the gym to start shooting around? Ian. Yes, my Ian. He was hanging out with his guy friends.
So Jess, the lil bugger, saw that I was paying more attention to him than our little game and she nailed me with a shoe shiner. The ball took a nasty bounce off my feet over to where Ian and his friends are playing. I was like horror-struck, and Jess was looking at me like, "Go get it!" like she didn't do it on purpose.
I'm not sure what happened but I skipped sort of over there following the path of our bouncing/rolling basketball. It hit this short kid with longish hair in the leg. He looked at it, then he looked at me, then he went back to his game. I gave him a weird look when he wasn't looking at me and leaned over to pick up my ball. And then I stood back up and there he was, taking a jump shot just inside that one blue line. He swooshed it, too. I didn't even realize I said, "Nice." Then he kind of threw his head back in acknowledgment of me and said, "Hey, Ais."
I thought I was going to die.
I did this weird jog and hopping thing back to Jess who was practically keeled over with laughter. I pretended to throw the ball at her but she only laughed harder and even fell on the floor laughing so hard.
Eventually after she stabilized and wasn't making fun of me, we (nosotros) walked around a little bit, located Dee, and started a little dancing circle. There wasn't much dancing going on, except for Dee, only because she's crazy like that. After a while about everyone was in there, including the guys from the gym. There was a big circle of them talking. Ian was over there, talking to guy who I think is named James. Jess started telling me that I should ask Ian to dance at a slow song. Then I got all giddy and girly and was like, "Oh my God, should I?" and freaking out.
Then a slow song came on. All the girls like raced over to the guys circle and grabbed someone. Ian was like four feet away suddenly, and he didn't have anyone, so I did it. I asked him to dance. And we danced! Yes! That's right, I, Aislin the Brilliantly Bold danced with him! And it was like I was hugging him for three whole minutes but we were moving as we hugged, and… Ahhh. I loved it. We talked a little bit too. He said we couldn't start out project this weekend though, he forgot he had a soccer tournament. But he said next weekend we could get together for sure. Hehe. Get together. With him. Hehe.
That happened to be the last song of the dance, so we all left after that. At Jess's house she kept telling me I should ask him out, but I'm certainly not going to do that. That would be so awkward I think, I don't know. She's convinced he's in love with me. I think he… Well, I hope that he likes me but I don't know about these things. In response I was like, "Well, I think you should ask Adam out." She stared at me blankly then turned around. I know she was blushing. She likes him soooo much. She got to dance with him while I was dancing with Ian.
And by the way, I forgot my camera. So no pictures.
Then I came home on Saturday. Dad and Sydney were being cute again. I love when they're cute, it just makes me smile. They use these soft voices when they talk to each other and call each other honey and give each other little kisses on the face whenever they are in a one foot radius of each other (which is quite often, you can't keep them apart, I swear).
So Dad finally went to take a shower after a cute-fest of those sweet little kisses and a bunch of honeys. That's when I swooped down and decided to ask her about Danny. First she had to watch Vaughn walk away to make sure he didn't suddenly disappear on the way to the bathroom (?) then she sat down at the table and skimmed over the newspaper.
"So what do you say, Aislin, are we going dress shopping today?"
Rats, she said something first. "Oh, yeah." She kind of took me by surprise there. But my shock wore off and I said, "I have a question." She looked up at me, still sort of smiling. "At dinner the other night when I was coming back from the bathroom I couldn't help but overhear you say something about a Danny, and… I was just curious. If that's all right…"
I was pretty proud of the wording, I had been thinking about it since Thursday night. The smile faded from her face. She looked serious, not really sad or angry, just serious. "Yes, it's all right," she started, making me feel a little better. "Danny was my boyfriend a couple years ago, before I started working at the CIA, before I met Vaughn. Actually, Danny was my fiancé."
Oh God. I was a little bit off. Fiancé? I had to know what happened. I literally prayed that Dad wouldn't suddenly walk into the room for some reason and interrupt, I really wanted to hear this one.
She continued, thankfully uninterrupted. "I told him the truth about what I did shortly after the engagement, and SD-6 found out, and… They killed him. That's when I learned what SD-6 really was, that they were bad, and I joined the CIA and met your Dad. You know the rest." She finished with a weak flash of a smile.
I didn't know what to say. I thought about saying I was sorry for Danny's death, but then if he didn't die would she have met Vaughn? Would… No. I'm not playing what if again. Frankly, I didn't know how to respond. I decided not to say anything, so I just nodded. Sydney just went back to reading her newspaper. And I went back to my room. And that was that.
Hmm, later she knocked on my door and asked if I was ready to go shopping. I was, so we said bye-bye to Dad and headed out in pursuit of a dress. On the way to the first store I asked her again about this morning, like if it bothered her that I was asking. She said that it was really okay, and that I could always ask her any question.
We talked a lot that afternoon, about like everything (I may have mentioned Ian, eeeeeee!) Sydney didn't find anything that she liked, but we found some possibilities for me. They aren't bad. In fact, thinking about that baby blue one, it's growing on me. I want to go back and try it on.
And for today, well, today was just lazy and relaxing so far. I don't really have any homework which is nice. I've been kicking back and doing nothing. I love it. I think I'm going to go grab a snack now. ¡Adios!
A/n: Ahhh, it feels so good to have that chapter done. That took a while. Okay, let me think, next week is finals week, so there goes all fun and free time, then the day after school gets out I leave for Lake Michigan for a week with no computer. So there won't be an update until at least the middle of June. But I've got the next part planned out and hopefully I'll have it all written out for you to enjoy. Please review!