Chapter 4: We Meet Again

Normal POV:

Alyssa and Pogue (and the rest of the brothers) all awoke at about the same time, to a darkling. Alyssa had woken up screaming, which scared Sky so much that she claimed she almost shit her pants. Pogue woke up breathing heavily, angry and confused about the rude awakening.

"Holy shit!" He exclaimed, pulling on his jeans and grabbing his phone. He dialed Alyssa's phone number, wondering if someone had sent her a darkling too. She picked up almost as soon as it started ringing, recognizing his phone number. She hoped he knew something about what had just happened, though she guessed that he probably hadn't.

Alyssa had told Sky about what had happened, and she explained it as best as she could, but you could tell Sky wasn't really clear about it.

Alyssa's POV:

"Pogue!" I exclaim happily.

"Hey," he says in his deep voice. "Someone sent me a darkling."

"Me too" I say, the happiness fading from my voice. "You don't know anything about it do you?"

"No. I don't think the guys do either." He says.

"Oh." I say, somewhat disappointed, even though I figured that he wouldn't.

"Yeah…" there was a short silence, not quite awkward, I don't really know what the silence was exactly. It was a silency silence. "I talked to Reid yesterday…" he adds.

"About?" I ask. I didn't mean to sound like I didn't care, but that's the way it came out.

"About…" he paused "us." He says, like it was almost obvious.

"You don't need his permission to be with me." I say, kind of harshly. It was true though.

"I know…" he says. "It helps though."

"I'm a big girl." I say. "And if you haven't noticed I can take care of myself."

"I know but he really cares about you and he just doesn't want to see her get hurt."

I sighed. "I know. Wait, what did he say."

"He said if it makes you happy." He says, which made me smile.

"Okay good." I say, laughing a little. Reid was going to hear about this from me later.

"Hey want to go see a movie or something tonight?" he ask, which reminded me that Sky wanted me to double date with her tonight.

"Sure, but would you mind if it was, you know, a double date with Sky?" I ask.

"Yeah sure." He says. I was glad that he wasn't disappointed that it wasn't going to be just us.

"Alright be here at about six?"

"Okay see you then." He says.

"Buh bye!"

"Buh bye sunshine."

"Hey." I say in a serious tone. "I'm not sunshine in any way." I laughed. So did he.

"Alrighty. Bye!" he says and hung up.

The date went pretty well, only… it didn't seem like a date, it seemed like a friend thing… but it'll change wont it? Yeah so Sky was on a date with Chris, wait no Jack? Oh I don't remember who it was this week… anyway not the point! Maybe its just because he's you know, always been kinda like a brother. I mean obviously I'm not gonna date my brother, but you know what I mean. I like him, and he likes me, so there isn't anything wrong right? Ugh! Okay, I'm not in high school anymore! I'm not just going to sit around and try to figure this out. I'll confront him about it and see if he feels the same. Or maybe I'll just think and think and think until my brain explodes. I have the guts of a chicken shit. What if he doesn't feel that way? And what If I don't like him anymore, what if –

"Alyssa" Pogue interrupts my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I say, smiling, and staring up at him, trying not to think about the thought currently floating around in my head.

"It's just that-" he stops. "Nevermind." And he starts to turn around. I grab his arm.

"No wait." I say, wondering if he was thinking the same thing I was, but hoping he wasn't. I don't know why I didn't want him to. I did. Oh what the hell. "What?"

"It's just that, this didn't… it didn't really fell like a date, you know? And I don't know why. Maybe it's just because, you know, it's a double date, or maybe it's because, I don't know, we aren't right for each other." He paused, and I felt my heart drop. I knew it didn't feel like a date, but I didn't want to just give up. I didn't want to sound like I was begging either though. I hated that, feeling helpless. I couldn't bring myself to it. I won't beg.

"Oh." I say, with as little emotion as possible.

His face formed into a shocked expression. "You- you agree?" he says.

"I guess, I mean I don't know. Whatever." I turn my head, and roll my eyes a little bit. I knew I looked stupid.

"Oh, well if you think, I mean if you want to, you know see other people, I mean it's not like we were, going out or anything." He says, still looking kind of shocked. This was unbelievably high school like. Its so juvenile it makes me want to puke. I'm bigger than this. But is he? Of course he is. He's older. Or maybe that's the problem… he too old. He was too old seven years ago, and he's still older, and he'll always be older. But for some reason I don't think that's it. We're at an age where it's acceptable right? It's only 5 years. It's really not that much. If that isn't it then what-

"So, I mean, I guess so. I mean we could see- we could yeah." He says, kind of awkwardly.

"But what about-" I almost bring up the kiss, then stop myself.

"What about what?" Pogue asks.

"Nothing." I say coldly. I turn away, but he stops me.

"What was it?" he says, looking at me innocently.

"Nothing Pogue." I say, almost yelling. "Just leave me the fuck alone." And I turn to leave. He doesn't even try to stop me this time. He just stands there and looks confused. I wipe away a small stream of tears as I see Sky approach me. It's about 9 now.

"Alyssa, I'm going back to Dan's for a little while okay?" Dan. That was it. Ah, well. There's really no point in remembering. He'll be gone in a week or so.

"Alright." I say. "Do you know when you'll be home?"

"Not really. I'll try to get back by two." She says, and she skips away. I realize this leaves me ride-less. And I don't have enough money for a cab. But I'd rather die then sit in an enclosed space in traffic with Pogue. So I start to walk. I hear Pogue calling my name out his window, but I pretend not to hear him. I'm so immature I know. But I hate him. I really do. He broke the heart that I didn't know I had until I met him. And I also wont know what to say when Reid calls and asks me what's up between me and Pogue. He won't say anything so I guess I wont either. I probably won't talk to Reid for a while either. It takes me a while to walk home, but I finally get there. I run up the stairs and quickly unlock the door. I take my phone out of my coat pocket. Hmmm… an unknown number. I check my voicemail.

"Hi Alyssa!" I hear a familiar voice say. "It's Sarah. I haven't to you in so long! Pogue gave me your number, so I guess he also told you Caleb and me are getting married. Well call me back as soon as you get the chance."

I argue with myself over whether or not to call her. I finally decide to, and quickly dial the number that she called from.

"Hello, is Sarah there?" I ask.

"This is her. May I ask who's calling?" Sarah says.

"Oh Sarah. Hi!" I exclaim. "It's Alyssa!"

"Alyssa! Hi. Jeez, you sound so grown up! I mean, duh, you are all grown up!" She laughs a little.

"So I guess you and Caleb are going good, since your getting married." I say.

"Yeah… so Reid was telling us about you and Pogue. How's that going?" she says. I can hear the smile in her voice.

And all the sudden, I lose control of myself. I burst out in tears, and I can't stop myself.

"Alyssa? Alyssa what's wrong?" Sarah asks. I can hear the worry in her voice.

"He we… a few days ago we- and then and now-" I stutter, and then I sob loudly and sniffle a few times. "Can you hold on a second?" I ask, trying to stay calm.

"No problem." She says. She was always good at cheering me up.

I put the phone down and blow my nose. I pick it back up. "Sorry about that." I say, still sniffling. I take a deep breath. And then I explain everything. Even the kiss.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset too." I add. And I really don't. I feel kind of bad about it. I mean, she should be happy because she's getting married.

"No! It's fine, really. Listen, do you want me to talk to him for you?" she offers.

I really think about this. Maybe-

"Or maybe I can talk to Caleb and he'll talk to Pogue."

"NO!" I yell. "No! He'll tell Reid. He said he'd kill Pogue. And I really don't think he was kidding.

"Fine. I guess I could talk to Pogue though. If you want."

"You will?" I ask.

"Of course Alyssa!" she says happily

"Thanks Sarah!" I say, just as happy.

"No problem. Well, I gotta go, but I'll talk to you soon okay?" she says

"Alright, bye." Click. She hangs up. I decide to get some sleep. That's all that I think will help me now. But nooo, no sleep for Alyssa because as soon as Sky gets home, bam! Evil cackle (which she seems to have been practicing.), pretty girl appears, shoots the whatever it is at us, and we duck and cover. Sky starts to torture her with her mind (because she doesn't age, which is pretty useful.) The girl obviously doesn't know about Sky's powers because she's fucking screaming her head off. She quickly leaves with a loud BAM and me and Sky are standing there completely curfuddled (Haha! I love that word!") So, no, no sleep for Alyssa… at least it took my mind off Pogue. For now…

Damn… I don't know if I like this chapter. Review and tell me what you think!!! D thanx thanx thanx!