A/N: Writer's block. One-shot troubles. Schoolwork. Sorry, I love you all.
Edward: I suppose I'll be giving extra hugs?
Me: Yes, anyone who reviews and still loves me even though I hardly ever update can have two hugs, even a kiss on the cheek if you're up to it.
Bella: -Hiss.-
Me: Oh get the hell over it. You made out with the mongrel.
"Ayden, I don't know how I feel about you fighting," Edward murmured again, still trying to convince me he was right.
"Edward, I'm not a baby. I am just as strong, if not stronger than you. I can do this. You just have to trust me."
Midnight training was long over. I'd performed extremely well, according to the military man of the family. He seemed immensely proud of the work done by all his newest soldiers.
Everyone had parted ways by daybreak to rest. Edward had come to get me just after our session, and had spent every second since trying to convince me not to fight—a futile effort, of course.
"You're still the youngest in this family, and we're all going to be worried. It really scares us to think of you out there…fighting with us. It was hard enough for Bella and I to stand by and watch you take on one vampire. This won't be easy on any of us—worrying about you and still trying to win. I'm just saying, Ayden, we would all feel much better if you sat this one out."
"Well, why is it that Cole, while still having been a vampire for only a year, can fight while I can't? That newborn strength is gone, dear brother, and he's just as much the baby of the family as I." I sat back against the soft chair, folding my arms across my chest.
Edward sighed. "Ayden, he's one of the men—we can't afford to be in battle without him. And he's technically still older than you."
"By one year! I'm fighting, Edward, and there's nothing you, or anyone in this family for that matter, will do about it. If anything happened to any of you…" I trailed off, my emotions going into overload. "I couldn't live with myself, knowing I could've prevented it. And while you might think I'll be no more than a distraction, I promise I will prove you wrong with the first kill."
I glared at him icily before storming dramatically out of the room. Rather than face anyone I had the possibility of screaming at, I ran. My favorite thing to do, yet it seemed I only did it when I was unhappy. I stopped once I came upon a blooming, rainy tree settled in the exact middle of the encroaching forest. Once I settled upon a dry branch, I listened to the sounds of the forest. Rain filtered quietly through the leaves of surrounding trees, birds chirped their happiness for spring softly. My own dry sobs tore away at the peaceful atmosphere.
"I can't let them do this," I murmured quietly to myself. "They're not gonna just count me out without my consent."
I stared stubbornly ahead at the gray morning sky. I finally surrendered to myself and sighed. I wouldn't let them win, but my anger had been completely out of line. Hopefully no one had been too offended by the outburst, Cole especially. I had more or less said I thought more of myself than of him.
I hate my inability to shut my mouth.
Realizing I had no other logical option, I hopped down from the tree and walked leisurely back home, savoring the spring rain. Having taken my time, I wasted an hour just walking. Edward, Alice, and Cole were sitting on the white banister directly above the brick patio when I finally returned.
"Welcome back," Edward sighed, running a tense hand through his messy hair. "Still convinced I'm wrong?"
"Yes," I answered immediately. "You are. I understand, Edward, I really do, that everyone is concerned for my safety. But please, just give me half the chance I deserve."
"She's right, Edward, and you know it. We need her. She's just as important to this family as anyone else." Alice continued her defense in her thoughts, as it showed on Edward's face.
"Fine," he finally sighed. "You'll fight. But Cole, you're not going to be like Jasper and try to keep everything from her. She fights. You fight. Unless something happens to her, you ignore her presence. Got it?"
"Got it," Cole muttered, looking at his hands. "As long as I'm worthy of fighting. I don't know, Ayden, what do you think?" He glared at me indifferently.
"Cole," I sighed. "Do you honestly believe I meant that?" I moved to sit beside him. "You know how I get when I'm angry." I gave him my most impressive pout, and looked up into his newly golden eyes. "Please don't be mad. I didn't mean any of it, I swear," I murmured in the cutest voice I could muster.
He sighed, defeat heavy in his breath. "How can I be mad when you do such things?" He chuckled softly. "You're too adorable for your own good, you know that?"
"Yes, yes, I know," I giggled, hugging him tightly. "I am amazing, aren't I?"
"Well of course. How else could you have gotten me?" He smirked.
"Well obviously my devastating appearance could've done the trick on its own."
We laughed, Edward and Alice joining us. A hunt was in order for the four of us, having nothing better to do with our extended free time before another boot camp with Jasper. Trees helped us hide ourselves as we singled out our prey. A herd of deer had just entered a nearby field, and four mouths began dripping with venom. Our eyes glazed over, and animalistic tendencies reigned.
After eliminating the herd, Alice took me shopping. We walked, holding hands, around the mall Alice and I most preferred. After finding the most adorable Jimmy Choo's at Saks, new skinny jeans, and a Brown University sweatshirt, Alice dragged me to one store we'd never thought to enter: the tanning salon.
"What in God's name is going through your head?" I hissed as she smiled at the orange girl behind the bright blue counter.
She turned to glare at me, and then turned her attention back to the bubbling blonde. "Do you have any beds available at the moment? We need to get in right away."
"Yeah, for real. You so totally do," the girl said, popping her gum afterward. "Uhm…thirteen and fourteen are available. Do you know what to do?"
"Yeah, I think we'll both lay five minutes. Thank you!"
Alice grabbed my arm and dragged me down the long hallway to the doors that read 13 and 14 in large black letters.
"Why are we tanning?" I asked as I stripped myself of my clothing.
I pushed the blue button on the wall, and the bright UV bulbs lit up. Alice and I closed the lids simultaneously, and I could hear Alice turning on the radio in her room.
"Because I've always wanted to try. Why not?" she responded nonchalantly.
"Alice, why are we really here? You've never expressed interest in darker skin before. It's not very natural for us."
She sighed heavily. "You want the truth Ayden?" she whispered. "There's a damn good chance we won't live to see many more days, and I wanted to settle my curiosity, ok? I mean, maybe our skin doesn't even tan. Who knows? We will after today. That's just one more thing I may cease to exist knowing."
"I'm sorry, Alice. I…I didn't know. Do you really think our chances are that slim, though?"
The beds shut off, and we quickly dressed. Neither of us said a word until we finished stuffing our bags into the backseat of the Porsche. I was buckling my seatbelt before Alice conveniently decided to finish our earlier conversation.
"These vampires have been fighting for hundreds of years, Ayden. We're all good at what we do, and we have certain advantages, but they know exactly how to tear us down. It's anybody's call, I just want to make sure I do what I feel I need to do before then."
I nodded my acceptance of her speech.
And so we decided to make a list. The list was pages long, each line describing something Alice and I had always wanted to do. We didn't tell anyone about it, but Edward knew anyway. He said he didn't care anything about it so long as we were careful.
Each day was packed with events we needed to do, should these truly be our final days. Hours were spent in my room planning silently, and we only left our duty when called upon.
"Alice?" I asked after four secluded hours in my room, "What did you do with the clothes I bought today?"
"In the closet. You should know me better than that, silly."
I laid the pencil on the desk before me, smiling.
"What?" she said nervously, a smirk creeping into her features.
"I think we should take a campus tour tomorrow."
She beamed at me. "Sounds good," she chimed, turning back to her list.
A/N: I'm sorry it's so short. Bleh. Read my new one-shot NOW. Kthnx. Anyway, the days are winding down, and school is drawing to a close. Tomorrow is Honor's day. :( Oh, and I think Imma start offering new incentive for reviewers: submit a review, and I'll reply with a random, but interesting fact. :D Review!