A friendship forged means another that's lost…
A/N: Hey guys I am so so so so sorry that this has taken about a million years. Still here is the third chapter. I still want to know where you want this to go so tell me!! And on with the story!
God protect me from my friends; from my enemies I can protect myself
-Proverb
Leonardo walked down the hallway slowly, trying to buy himself some time to force his mind shut. Or at least try. Although the masters may not be able to read his mind without his ok, he was darned sure that Isabella could. He could feel Isabella prodding his mind lightly, to let him know that she wanted to know where to meet him. He took in her location and began to head there. He tried to feel her again but as abruptly as it came, Isabella's mind had closed. He searched but found nothing. It irked him that she had such control over her powers. Control over his too.
Come on Leonardo…Clear it! Concentrate harder!! Isabella cannot know of this doubts you are having. If she really is as loyal as she is precious to the masters, your doubts will be your end. Come on Leo, you cannot be the first to let your guard down.
Leonardo screamed in his head. Isabella could easily pluck this doubt from his brain, but if she didn't know it was there in the first place then she would not know what to look for, and maybe he would be safe. But for now, he needed for his mind to stop screaming it.
Come on! Shut up! What is wrong with you?! You don't want her to know do you?!
Leonardo shook his head violently. He never knew what Isabella was all about. She always seemed so aloof and ignorant but he could see beneath those eyes her questions, the meaning behind them and sometimes, even swift glimpses of pain. She intrigued him, she reminded him a little of Aurora. Guarded, cold and indifferent to the vampire world but inside was another person agonizing to emerge. However, as alike as the Aurora that he loved with his soul as she was, it did not mean that he could trust her. Not yet. He never actually spent a lot of time with Isabella. In actual fact he would think that she avoided him most of the time.
Stop thinking Leo!!
Geez what was wrong with him? He shut his eyes and started repeating "stop thinking Leo" in his head. He didn't need to see the path before him. His 'inner eye' saw it for him, but as he turned round the corner he heard a voice mimicking his thoughts.
"Stop thinking Leo." The voice of a woman mimicked. It took Leonardo a second before realizing that this was 1) not his voice and 2) spoken aloud.
"Well, hello." The voice said casually before he his eyes could open.
Leonardo's eyes snapped open and he almost gasped and did a double take, but he caught himself just in time standing his ground. Isabella was suddenly face to face with him. He didn't even see her coming. Damnit! She was good.
"Isabella. What a surprise." He said after collecting himself.
"What, you couldn't sense me?" Isabella asked innocently, smirking at him. She knew that was below the belt.
He chose to ignore it knowing he could not win.
"Walk with me?" he asked sweetly offering his arm. It was a kind of peace offering to her.
Isabella stood still for a second as if she was confused, then she shook her head and took his arm graciously. Isabella was once again stunned by that beauty behind the hood. She hated it. What right did he have making her speechless like that? Still she took the arm with feigned confidence.
"Where are we heading?" he asked.
"I don't know why don't you guess?" Isabella said challenging him to try to read her mind.
Could he?
"Do you miss her?" he asked suddenly out of the blue still hidden beneath the hood.
Isabella stopped. Shocked this time, no one had ever asked her if she had been affected by this emotionally at all. It was all: Isabella taking revenge on behalf of the Volturi. She stood there motionless. Refusing to answer and refusing to move on.
"What?" she finally managed.
"Aurora. I know it's awkward me asking like this. We don't even know each other. But I need to know why you're on board this war." He asked again voice barely a whisper.
"I…I…" her breath caught in her throat as she thought how to answer his questions.
"I don't get it. You don't trust me. I could feel it. I could sense it. You were hiding from me. Why are you asking me this? What do you want me to say?! You can't do this you know. Appear out of nowhere and ask me such questions!! What is your problem? Do you have fun watching me squirm? Well fun's over!" Isabella asked heatedly in a whisper.
Leonardo was stunned himself. Why he said what he did he had no idea. He could not believe that he said that, but there was something in his head that whispered him to trust her. It was almost as if Aurora was speaking.
Trust her, my love. She is the most powerful, and most kind. Even if she doesn't know that yet.
That voice had whispered that and he had trusted it. Isabella's outburst brought him back to reality. What was he thinking? He didn't even know her. If he trusted anyone too soon, he would fail. Suddenly, Isabella grabbed his wrist and put her fingers against where his pulse should be had he still a beating heart. It was like a suction feeling. He had his guard up as usual but Isabella barged through that easily sifting through what she needed to know and letting him know what she knew. It seems like she did not forget her manners after all. She did that for about only 3 seconds but she had the information she needed. She removed her fingers from his wrist with a little panic in her eyes as she looked around cautiously.
Come with me, hurry. I'm sorry for the pain, but it has to be done. It won't last, just hurry……trust me.
Trust her. It was just like what the voice had said. Pain? What pain? Before he could unravel her speech, he felt as if his brain was being squeezed. He almost dropped down to his knees with the pain but Isabella caught him and moved with vampire speed into her quarters.
She dropped him onto her bed unceremoniously as he still stood writhing and moaning. With a flick in his direction, no more sound escaped his lips no matter how much he willed them to come out. She went about in a rush. Knocking things down in the process and waving her arms around like a mad woman on a mission completely ignoring Leonardo on her bed thrashing around trying to escape his own mind. Leonardo could hear her faintly through his pain, muttering what sounded like spells in a language he had never heard spells being uttered from before. Suddenly, she stopped in the middle of her room and spoke words from that strange language again, but this time louder. Her eyes were closed and her hands spread wide.
Leonardo could feel something changing in the room but the pain was distracting him quite a bit. The grasp on his brain lessened a little and he lay there spent from thrashing and now just looking at her and hoping she would soon be done and lift this horrible spell off him. Unexpectedly, she opened her eyes and what Leo saw made him jerk backward in- yes he did admit this to himself- fear. He saw eyes of pure gold.
Just as quickly, he looked away not daring to look further into those eyes of fierce golden fire. It hurt him to look into those eyes. It felt as if she were burning him alive from the inside for those 2 seconds it took for his eyes to linger on her venomous ones. With one last breath, she howled a last word and threw her head backwards and Leonardo could have sworn that a lightning bolt ran through her body.
The room shook violently for three seconds and diminished slowly. And with that so did his pain. Isabella stood there, perfectly in the middle of the room not moving an inch when the room was making everything shake and she held that pose until the room stopped shaking altogether. She then collapsed onto the ground and he recovered enough to hear her erratic intakes of breath. It only lasted for a second before she composed herself and stood upright once again in all her glory. Leonardo still lay there almost in a fetal position unable to move or speak or redeem himself for letting anyone- especially Isabella- see him in this state. Isabella moved to him slowly and sat gingerly on the edge of her bed.
"I'm sorry for that Leonardo. I couldn't risk it." she said and to his discontent sounded as composed as ever.
He could not answer. He could not move. He closed his eyes so he could escape her inspecting eyes embarrassed beyond belief. She only sighed and got up, turning her back on him as he heard something being poured into a glass. The liquid was thick and the dull thud it made when hitting the glass told him it was not water or any edible human liquid. His senses were way off to tell what it really was. Besides he was a vampire, in this state only blood could revive him.
She turned around and walked back toward him. He could not see her as he was unable to move from his position. He heard the thump of the glass hitting the wooden table next to the bed he was on and then he felt her wonderfully smooth, hard fingers caressing his cheek. She helped him into a sitting position with little difficulty and tried to smoothen out his now unkempt long blonde hair. She then brought the glass to him. The content of it was shining fresh red.
Blood.
As she brought it to his lips he devoured the entire thing in one gulp. It was warm, just like when it left a human's body. He felt his strength returning to him slowly. Isabella, after seeing his thirst went to bring more. After four glasses, he was feeling mobile again and could now move and speak. Not as he did before but well enough for her to hear.
"What. The hell. Was. THAT?!" he gasped between breaths.
"Well, I needed to protect our dirty little secrets. And I'm sorry to say but you couldn't do that. You could have tried, but secrets are the most dangerous thing to keep around here. So I needed to protect you. From whatever you needed to say. And I swear I did not pry. I have no idea what you have to tell me…well ok some, but I needed to see where you were coming from, if you were just a spy. So, I closed your brain. Little difficult with you because you are so powerful and your natural instincts fought against me, and lost. Sorry about that. It had to be done while I protected us." She said earnestly.
"Protect us? You just did this exorcist thing. How do I know you haven't just summoned the demons of the Volturi? And that they are all outside your door right now waiting to kill me." Leonardo asked perplexed.
Isabella grinned. Actually grinned. Happily. Bearing teeth and all. Then of all the things she did, she let out a giggle. Isabella Swan giggled. And that was all it took to stun Leonardo. This vampire, no matter how ferocious in legend, was beautiful.
"You're funny. I'd give Aurora that. She definitely gave her heart to the right vampire then huh?" Isabella teased. Teased as in she was funny. Isabella Swan. This day just keeps getting better and better.
"I loved her. More than life itself." He said solemnly.
"I finally know now after reading your mind. I was always baffled as to how she could be the mate to one of the most vicious and vile vampires. I could always feel love radiating from her but it wasn't the same love as Caius. Caius's feelings were not love. It was desire, plain unadulterated desire. I sense love like a song, and hers was beautiful. Yours matched hers. That's how I know. Caius's song was more…a conquest. Well, I have known people who have different love songs but still love fiercely so I didn't pay any mind. But now I know. The both of you are two parts of a whole. Two songs completing each other and if only you could hear your song, you would know what I meant. I know now that that love was what kept her going. It wasn't love for Caius. It was love for you. That love motivated her to go on living a lie because she needed to protect you. I am truly sorry for your loss Leonardo. Truly. Aurora was my friend and she made me see that I didn't need to always be that hard cold vampire I seem to be. She made me feel again. Well, at least a little. Feeling is hard work you know!" Isabella said to him laughing at the end.
This was the most Leonardo ever heard Isabella say and every word she spoke was like a note she sang. Beautiful yet dangerous.
"Yes. Tell me about it. Feeling can suck!" he said teasing back "Thank you Isabella, for all that. For telling me what she felt. Maybe you can tell me more of how her life was like. I would appreciate it and love to hear it."
This was more than weird. They went from not knowing each other, to trusting one another with their lives to bantering like old friends to giving heartfelt confessions in mere minutes.
"I would love to tell it to you. Aurora would love it if she knew I could tell you. But not now, we have more pressing matters at hand. Of Aurora, I shall tell you all about as our journey progresses. But now, I think we need to exchange some information. Come on, give me your hand. Let's do this the easy way ok? You are already weak and to talk more will make you weaker. I can read your mind, and you can read mine. I don't actually need to hold your hand if you don't want me too, but it'll be easier for you to read mine. Trust me." She said lightly unlike her usual somber and indifferent tones.
Leonardo gave her his hand and there they forged their full trust in one another and their silent alliance.
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Schuyler threw her things into one of the many new designer trunks that her new guardian -'Uncle Charles' now- the mega media magnate had so 'generously' ordered to be brought to her room for their move.
It was just ridiculous.
She had just moved in barely a week ago and now she was being uprooted again. And this time not across the block, but across the freaking state. The things in her trunks that were far from being pristinely folded and organized gave her a little satisfaction. It made her feel as if she had at least some semblance of control in her life by refusing to conform to the right way of…packing. Of course the maids have offered to do it for her but she stubbornly refused. The things that she owned have grown increasingly and her wardrobe now filled with Force 'approved' public clothing.
The reason for his was because at the right second of which she came into the doors of the Force penthouse, there to greet her was the Forces stylist and fellow blue blood, Mischa Dalton and her army of shoppers, make up artists, hair stylists and everything and everyone related to what Schuyler would call torture. Schuyler had tried to resist at first but after exactly 15 minutes of protesting, she gave in. Mischa has that effect on people and Schuyler was surprised that she was not excluded. Still she gave her fair share of grumbling and whining letting Mischa know just how much she hated this, not that it halted Mischa by a second. And so while she stood by the foyer, bags and all still by her feet, she was being poked and prodded by Mischa's people.
At first she was grateful that no one was there to witness her humiliation but she was wrong. She soon realized that watching her, teetering gracefully on the banister of the second level stairs was the one and only Jack Force and on his face was the most beautiful and aggravating smirk Schuyler had ever seen.
She felt like throwing something at him for not helping her but she could not move an inch or she would be reprimanded. So she chose to glare at him in what she hoped looked very menacing. Jack just continued to smile dauntingly at her. Then he got up and turned to leave, but not before whispering the words welcome home Schuyler so softly that only Schuyler could pick it up, and if Mischa could, she gave no indication of it. Those words that he said helped her more than she would admit. His acceptance meant the world to her and she was embarrassed by it, so she chose to bask in those words and believe them whether it was true of the other inhabitants of this household or not.
Charles had been away on 'official business' when she arrived, but came back 36 hours ago with sudden news that they would now be moving to a town named Forks. Mimi had thrown a fit at being stuck in a godforsaken hick town with no Chanel, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs or Neiman Marcus but Charles' tone had been final. Besides, he said it was only until we finished our business there.
Schuyler had not missed the 'we' used in said sentence but chose at the moment to ignore it. Within 8 hours of the discussion, Mimi had been able to rope Bliss Llewellyn into joining them and Schuyler felt glad that the only girl that she would know in a new town wasn't Mimi. She was however mad that Charles felt the need to further separate her from her grandfather Lawrence Van Alen. Wasn't it enough that he got custody of her? Wasn't it enough that he had her move to this large, imposing and fragile house filled with things of such grandeur that Schuyler felt afraid to touch anything in fear of ruining it.
The ringer on her brand new iPhone went off. The phone was a gift from Oliver who said that it was easier this way for him to talk to her and so she wouldn't miss home too much. The face on the screen and the ring tone said that it was Oliver.
"Of all the songs you could have personalized your ring tone to; it had to be 'Barbie Girl'? Have you lost your mind? Where are you anyway? You were supposed to be here an hour ago!" she fake grumbled.
"Sky, do you know that Mimi is a pathological neat freak? And I'll be able to bet her millions of trunks are wayyyy more organized than yours. You sure you want Mischa catching you mix your underwear and your sweaters? I mean isn't that like girl cardinal sin number one?" he asked casually.
"Wait….what do you mean Mimi…I mean, how do you know I'm not as neat! And wait…what underwear…what are you even talking about?!" Schuyler said exasperated at her friend. What was that boy going on about?!
"Hi." a voice said but Schuyler could not make out where it was coming from. The sound emitted from her phone and yet it was scarily in close proximity. She walked out of one of the racks in the huge walk in closet that came with the room and came face to face with Oliver, leaning against the doorframe and holding his matching iPhone to his ear.
Schuyler hit the end button and glared at him, pretending to be mad.
"What do you think you're doing? Wasting phone bills? You know there are actually people in Africa who need the money to live, not waste it on phone minutes because they think its fun!" Schuyler spat still upholding her charade of anger.
"Oh come on Sky, live a little. I was just wondering if your phone worked. But seriously, I walked into Mimi's room thinking it was yours and nearly got hurtled by all her 'packing personnel' and I swear there were like 15 vintage Louis opened and everything was effing color coordinated! And designer coordinated and pieces of clothing coordinated." He said incredulously.
"Wha-? Wait how do you know how it was organized?" Schuyler asked curious.
"I asked," he answered casually "besides, you don't know that you can learn many things by being in Mimi's room for less than 10 minutes? For example? I never knew that your shirts and blouses absolutely CANNOT be in the same suitcase!! Geez, I didn't even know they were different types of clothing article. Mimi, has a problem." He concluded.
"Now he realizes this." Sky muttered under her breath and went over to give her friend a hug. After all, she could only be mad for so long. She hadn't seen him for quite some time and she missed him, yet now it was her turn to leave.
"Oh, and by the way, nice digs. I like your new crash pad. It's pretty cool. But if ever I am to come here again, please, oh god please don't let me see Mimi without her make up on! I do not want to know what's behind that ugly exterior." Oliver said checking out Schuyler's 3 open Louis's and all the articles of clothing jumbled up inside in no particular order.
Schuyler laughed as she grabbed more stuff from the racks, yanked the hangers off of them and threw more stuff inside.
"Sorry about that. You could have called to say you were downstairs and I could have showed you my room instead of you having to rummage around this house and finding certain…unmentionable people. Who let you in anyway?" Sky asked.
"Oh…um…just…Jack. You know he was on his way out and all that, saw me outside and took pity on the lone kid." Oliver answered almost nervously.
"Of course, Jack. And by the way, if you haven't noticed, I don't think you will come here anymore seeing as I'm leaving for no-man's-land tomorrow and leaving sweet, grimy, polluted New York City. So if you want a tour, you should tell me today." Schuyler joked, hoping that Oliver wouldn't really ask for a tour.
Thankfully, he didn't.
"Nah, I'm good. You can show me the kitchen though." He said thoughtfully as Sky laughed heartily and hooked her arm around his, dragging him in the direction of the kitchen.
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Twenty minutes later and Oliver and Schuyler were sitting on the island with an enormous tub of ice cream in front of them. Finally, Oliver braved to ask the million dollar question.
"So…what's going on?" that pretty much summed up everything.
Oliver wanted to know a myriad of things, but everything was clashing around in his brain so much that he could not decide which to ask first. What was going on with her and Jack? Why in the world of god was she moving across the state and leaving him here alone? When was she going to come back? Is she ever going to come back? What more did she find out about the silver bloods? He heard that the blue bloods went to war with another species of vampires. The other species of vampires. Did Schuyler hear about that too? Did she witness the battle? Is that why in her letter she kept saying that she was training? Training for what? With whom? How has Mimi been treating her after she saved her life? How has it been living with the Finicky, Frustrating Forces? And most importantly of all, how was she?
Shortly after Schuyler was being forced live under her 'uncle's' guardianship, Oliver and his family were called upon important family business in Spain for 2 weeks. Schuyler had been emailing him, writing him and he had been sending her increasing amount of parcels with hidden presents to soothe her despair. He felt bad for leaving her in such a time of need but he had no choice for once and finally just gave Sky an iPhone with a line so he could call her without her worrying about what the Forces would think if they got their phone bill. As if they cared or even glanced at their bills. He just got back and promised to help her pack if he could enter the 'sacred sanctum of the Force residence.'
"Things are…complicated. Mimi and I are not friends. God no. But I think we've come to an agreement of; if you stay out of my life I'll stay out of yours? It helps with the snide comments and hallway sneers. I have no idea what's gotten over Charles and why he feels the need to ship his entire family to a place where people live in towns and villages and they talk to one another like they've known each other their entire lives." Sky said shuddering
"Sky, isn't that kind of what we are now? Everyone knows everyone because we've been in school together since kindergarten.
"I know that, but I mean…it's different. We're New Yorkers. We don't like new places and people. It's like…a rule. I don't know, but the good news is that Bliss is going to be there. Don't ask how or why." Schuyler said taking another scoop of ice cream.
"Right. Now that is the first rule for anything concerning the inner workings of Mimi Force's head." Oliver chuckled.
"That girl can convince the pope to party." Schuyler said laughing with Oliver.
"Yes, I can and don't you ever doubt that." Mimi said suddenly coming into view.
Schuyler and Oliver instantly shut up. Mimi looked at them both in distaste and finally, after taking a bottle of soda from the refrigerator, turned to leave. But of course, not before giving an order to Schuyler and Oliver.
"Schuyler, why don't you and your friend make yourselves useful and visit Bliss to see if she's packing properly?" Mimi said as if to children.
"What does packing properly entail?" Oliver asked perplexed.
"Oh why am I bothering to pretend? As if I would let you check if Bliss is properly packing. I will do that. However, I was being asked by Mischa to get you out of the house so she can get people to pack your stuff with ease. Apparently, you aren't getting anywhere with that. Mischa almost had a coronary after stepping into your room 10 minutes ago. So I say this only once; get out of the house and let Mischa do her work, or get strapped down to a chair and watch her do it. Either way, I still get the amusement." Mimi said haughtily.
"Now wait here just one moment. I am packing my things just fine. I am not an invalid you know and neither am I a child. I can choose what I wear and what I bring without Mischa." Schuyler ranted to no one and everyone.
"Well I'd like to see you say that to Mischa." Mimi said looking at her cuticles boringly.
"And, hello? She can't strap me down to a chair and do things by her own will. I'm a vampire with super strength for god's sakes!" seethed Schuyler.
"And she's Mischa." Mimi stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Well you can just tell he-" Schuyler began but she got cut off by Mimi's palm in her face.
"Stop right there. Listen you little half blood freak, I am not your little negotiation centre alright? I did Mischa a favor because that poor woman went into your room and came out looking like she just saw a silver blood. But nope, it wasn't any silver blood that scared her. It was priceless couture being strewn around together with those rags that you picked up from the dumpster and called clothes. To add to this disgrace, they weren't even folded! So while Mischa hyperventilates, in my kind nature (at this Oliver choked on his ice cream) I decided that I could deliver Mischa's little message for her after what that poor woman has gone through. I am not going to go negotiate your little situation with her. Either get out of the house, or go up and face the fury of fashion fanatics scorned," Mimi said sharply leaning across the island to get into Schuyler's face. "Oh, and half blood? That woman does love her couture."
"But-"Schuyler tried again but again Mimi cut her off but this time facing Oliver.
"Listen here hazard-Perry, get this babbling buffoon out of this house or out of my face if not I swear to god I am not responsible for what I do next." She snapped.
Schuyler looked at her irritably as if she wanted to argue but Oliver, knowing better steered her out of her chair and abandoning their ice creams, went for the door. Schuyler slammed the door extra hard and felt a tiny bit of satisfaction but it did not last long.
"Urgh! That little….."
"Mimi?" Oliver said filling in her blank.
"Right!" Schuyler said indignantly.
"Come on friend. Let's get you some fresh air. And then maybe we really should visit Bliss."
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After Oliver bought them both raspberry ice creams, the both of them decided to hang
out at central park. It was a nice day after all and Ollie was still burning with questions.
"So…you still haven't told me what's going on with everything." Oliver prompted, trying to continue where they left off.
"Uh…so you know the blue bloods went to war." Schuyler said.
"Yes. I do. Father and Mother must have looked like they were going half insane for a reason right? But I don't know much I must say." Oliver said prompting her to go on.
"Yes. I…I don't know what to say to that. I don't even know much because no one would tell me. I know Mimi didn't go because Jack forbade her. She was still weak from the blood trial. Jack however went. So did Charles obviously and so did Grandfather. All Jack told me was that when they got to Italy, sides weren't drawn as clearly as was expected. It was Blue Bloods versus Silver Bloods versus the Bloodless. And even then some crossed sides. There were some of the Bloodless that somehow took our side, and some Blue Bloods that have betrayed their fellow brethrens. Silver bloods were more savage than usual. They killed everybody. It came to a point that no one knew who the enemy was anymore and everyone retreated. Now times are dangerous in the Blue Blood community. We don't know who has double crossed us and who stays faithful." Schuyler said solemnly.
"Now I know why father and mother looked so worried and frantic. All I feared was that you were attacked or something. Then they told me that you were spared from war and you cannot imagine how relieved I was." Oliver spoke slowly.
"Oh I was spared from war because Jack pleaded with his father and Lawrence and well…everyone to keep me from it. I don't know. He told me that over his drained body will I fight this war. He said he didn't care what he told anyone or what everyone thought but he didn't want me to fight in this war." Schuyler said looking a little embarrassed.
"Really…why?" Oliver asked carefully not really sure he wanted to know the answer.
"He said it was because…uh…he said that his heart couldn't take it. Jack said…that if I went he wouldn't be able to fight to his fullest because he will always know that I am in danger. He told me to stay here for his sake." Schuyler whispered uncertainly.
"And you agreed?" Oliver said a little incredulous because he knew how stubborn Schuyler was.
"Well…Jack he…he has a way of convincing me to do things. And I didn't want him to worry." Schuyler said quickly.
"Well I'm sure he didn't then. What did he do to get you off?" Oliver asked in a monotone.
"He…well, he went before the committee and told them that because I was half blood I half the strength the rest of them had and I wouldn't be an asset but more of a liability; a burden that had to be watched at all times. When that was met with hesitation because I did do Mimi's blood trial, he tried to pass a motion that denied everyone that had not matured the chance to fight. But then he realized that that meant that he wouldn't be able to fight and the Blue Bloods have not seen a battle without Abbadon. So he decided to make the motion a non compulsory thing. Every young blue blood can fight but will not be forced to. And that worked. And because I have given him my word, I backed down. Lawrence was pleased by it too. He knows I want to prove my worth but he says I'm not fully trained." Schuyler explained to Oliver who was staring at her with hard cold eyes.
"So Jack get's to look like a hero. Keeping his wife and his mistress safe while he goes out there and saves the day as I'm sure he did." Oliver said patronizingly.
Schuyler looked at him indignantly.
"I cannot believe you just said that." She said barely above a whisper her voice oozing with her hurt and disappointment.
"Well its true isn't it?" Oliver continued almost cruelly noting the hurt in her voice that his frustration chose to ignore, "Mimi is as good as his wife. The Queen in the Blue Blooded community; but then there's dear sweet you who he is besotted with. And because he cannot keep you but just cannot find it in his heart to let you go, you become as good as his mistress. Isn't it?"
Schuyler felt tears forming round her eyes. He was her best friend. The person she found comfort in. The person who didn't judge her. The person she could look to for a shoulder to cry on. The best friend she had known since childhood. Now all she saw in those once kind and warm hazel eyes was a stranger. Another person just waiting to pounce at her at the slightest mistake. Schuyler had counted the days to when he would be home. Now she wished he never would have come home.
"Why would you say such things?" Schuyler asked desperate for an explanation that could salvage something that they had damaged in the past few minutes.
"Because you never see what's in front of you. Because he can never and will never choose you and here you are at his beck and call like you want to be hurt. Then when he leaves you again and disappoints you again and hurts you again, you come back to me and expect me to pick up the pieces." Oliver hissed in fury.
"No Oliver. It's not like that. I think he really loves me." Schuyler said wanting so much to be angry at how Oliver was treating her but failing. All she felt was hurt. Deep, bone jarring hurt. It was as if Oliver had taken her heart and sliced at it repeatedly and carelessly not caring how much she bleeds.
"That doesn't mean he'll ever choose you." Oliver said in a tone so malicious Schuyler couldn't help but gasp.
Schuyler had never seen Oliver like this before. Her friend was always patient and kind and sensitive with his words. This monster version of Oliver did not become him and Schuyler was far from being hurt now. She was afraid. Where was that sweet boy she had loved? The friend she had cherished?
"You never know what might happen you know. Not all blue blooded history is set in stone." Schuyler whispered unable to locate her voice.
"Oh you disgust me," Oliver spat "You are acting like a love sick girl completely infatuated with a guy who doesn't even want you. He's intrigued by you, yes. He's curious by you, of course. But you don't realize that once a guy like Jack Force has his way with you and looses interest -like I know he will- you will be tossed aside like a used rag; dirty and unsightly."
"Why are you saying such things? Oliver what happened to you?" Schuyler said still a little afraid by him.
Oliver scoffed.
"You. This is all you." he said defeated and he looked at Schuyler as if he couldn't stand to look at her any longer and stood up to leave, leaving Schuyler alone at the park bench in central park looking so lovely as tears streamed down her face that an artist stopped to draw her, a photographer paused to capture her face and various men and women to look back to wonder what had caused such a sight.
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It was three days and Schuyler's phone did not ring, her computer did not beep and her door did not ring. Oliver had abandoned her. And now she had to leave. She went home and tried so hard to make this his fault like it had so sounded, but the more she thought of the scene, the more she found fault in herself. She went home determined not to cry over her friend who had betrayed her, but the tears kept falling. She had locked herself in her room and under the covers for three days not caring what went on beyond it. She hadn't eaten or drank in three days not needing to in reality. She heard Mischa's people drag her suitcases in and out of her closet and down the hall. She heard numerous bubble wraps wrapping her belongings and putting them in trunks. But she didn't care. She wanted Oliver to apologize because she refused to being so horribly humiliated already, and she waited, but nothing.
This was the last day. The last day she would be in New York until god knows when and as much as she didn't want to leave with her relationship with Oliver so fragile she was going to have to if he didn't come to see her in four hours.
"Okay, get up! You've been in that bed for long enough and in those clothes since…I don't want to know when. You have to leave in a couple of hours and you have to get dressed!" Mischa's demanding voice yelled as she flung the blankets off Schuyler.
"So? I can take a shower which will be 10 minutes and put on clothes which will be less than 2 minutes seeing as I intend to wear sweat pants and a comfortable t shirt. So let me sleep!" Schuyler said protesting; although sleep was something that she did not get much off in the past few days.
Mischa gasped in disapproval.
"Nope! Get up, the maids have drawn you a bath. There's some berry scented soap and scrub you can use to hopefully rid you of that…Urgh…smell. Then you shall meet me here where I will do your make-up, hair, clothes and etcetera. Now move." Mischa said her tone leaving no room for discussion. She yanked Schuyler up by her skinny weak arms and steered her towards her bathroom.
When Schuyler lowered her body into the bath, she had to admit, it felt good. The hot water released her tension and she closed her eyes, feeling herself relax even more. It was too soon before Mischa was pounding at the door and insisting that Schuyler get out right now.
Hours later, her hair was blow dried to perfection her body, yanked into various new clothes that she had never seen before. Her face, already naturally lovely was spared the bulk of the prodding but her eyes and lips weren't.
When they were done, she had to say she looked pretty convincing as a Force. Her hair flowed in waves like a dark silk river down her back and shoulders. Her eyes also dark and alluring, her face pale yet pinched with a natural rosy glow and he lips pale and glittering. She wore reasonably comfortable pants for a long plane ride that were a dark green color and lethal looking heels that she knew would kill her feet. The lighter green tank top they put her in felt soft against her skin and the dark indigo cashmere cardigan even softer. To complete the look was a rugged looking jacket that although not from a place that screamed Schuyler- because it was Marc Jacobs- looked like something Schuyler would wear.
All in all she thought she looked pretty good if she did say so herself. However, the transformation probably would make Oliver hate her even more. She began to do something to make her reflection look less impeccable but the moment her fingers reached her lips to try to smear it, it was slapped away.
"Don't touch anything," Mischa reprimanded "God. You are so beautiful, girl. Why don't you just put some effort? Well if I do say so myself, you were beautiful even with those ugly clothes and tangled hair. Oh, what am I going to do with you?" Mischa said exasperated at this girl's ignorance of her perfection.
"I…don't know…" Schuyler answered honestly.
"My god, no wonder Mimi sees you as her rival. You're the only girl lovelier than her. Just…maybe it's best she doesn't realize that and we don't tell her okay?" Mischa said and Schuyler thought this was the first time she sounded a little more human and less of a fashion robot.
Mischa smiled at her and Schuyler felt warm at the heart. This lady who was torturing her for the entire length of the period the Schuyler had known her was now more of a friend to her than anyone else. Then Schuyler realized that she had no one. Jack had disappeared and not visited her once during her days of self exile- or maybe he just didn't care (the thought made her shudder)- Oliver now hated her and Bliss was probably off wondering how was it possible to ship her entire house to Forks. This realization made her heart break into a tiny million pieces and made the dark sadness in her eyes truly epic.
They would take the Forces helicopter to the airport and surprisingly Schuyler stood there with only Mimi Force and Trinity Force. She wondered where Charles, Jack and Bliss were because she longed to see a friendly face and she hoped on her life that she would not have to spend her entire day with the two people that hate her the most. Mimi, for stealing Jack, and Trinity, for being a mere reminder of who her husband really belonged to.
Trinity was looking around at everything in disdain as if it had all offended her somehow and Mimi looked bored and ready to create some excitement for herself in the form of Schuyler hunting. Schuyler wanted to ask where the other three were but didn't want to open her mouth in fear that her presence was to be known.
"Where is…everybody else?" she finally braved to no one in particular.
At first, no one seemed to hear her, or maybe they were just ignoring her. Then Mimi looked up at her as if on second thought and answered her.
"Bliss is overseeing the movement of all her belongings personally because she doesn't trust her help. So she'll be taking a separate helicopter and meeting us at the airport. Daddy and Jack were at Maine tying up loose affairs and making sure the yachts get to no man's land safely and they are already at the airport. Geez, half blood, didn't you realize they were gone? God where have you been? Jack hasn't been home in like three days and his stuff was already gone. Didn't you realize that?" Mimi asked condescendingly.
Schuyler just shrugged. Actually she did not realize that because she had spent the last three days under her covers. Did Mimi not realize that? Well it amazed Schuyler of how they could live under the same roof and not know anything that was going on with each other. Schuyler hadn't expected them to get along like bosom buddies but still she always thought that if you lived under the same roof as another person you would know if that person lived or died at least. Guess with Mimi that wasn't the case. Schuyler prayed to god that the helicopter ride was a short one. Then she realized that if things got out of hand, she could just jump out and nothing would actually happen to her. That thought actually comforted her a thousand times over.
They would be boarding the helicopter soon and Schuyler could not sit still. Was Oliver really going to let her go and leave their friendship in a lurch? What would happen when she was away? Was he just going to overlook the face that they have been friends for years and let this argument get between them? He really was going to abandon her in a new place friendless without even a friend in a distant country to comfort her.
As the minutes flew by, Schuyler became more certain of his decision. She finally decided to call him herself even if to yell at him for being so childish. She pressed the number one speed dial and waited for a dial tone.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Was all she got followed by an annoying woman's voice that said, "This line has been terminated. Please dial again. This line has been terminated. Please dial again" over and over and over again that it made Schuyler want to fling her phone into the river. How dare he change his number and not even tell her?! How could he cut her off like this?! Oliver has really gone too far this time.
When it was finally time to board the helicopter, Schuyler took her time. She wanted to see if Oliver really didn't turn up. He knew where she was going to be and what time. There was no excuse for him not to be there. He had to come to apologize, to say goodbye, anything! This was her Oliver, the Oliver who was always so painstakingly polite and kind. He was her conduit for god's sake. Wasn't there a rule that said a fellow conduit could not abandon his vampire in her time of need? Her heart sank deeper and deeper as every second went by.
"Schuyler! God hurry up and get in! We're going to miss the flight!" Mimi finally yelled impatiently.
"It's a private plane!" Schuyler yelled back over the noise.
"Your point being?" Mimi asked.
"It won't leave without you!" Schuyler yelled.
"So? Just get in!" Mimi yelled again rolling her eyes as a disapproval of Schuyler's impertinence.
"Alright. Fine. I'm coming." Schuyler finally said finally coming to terms with the fact that he really was not going to do anything and let her leave the country with their friendship less than stable. Schuyler climbed into the helicopter not caring that the wind was making her perfect hair all entangled.
As the helicopter flew further and further away, Schuyler felt her heart breaking even more. How could Oliver do this? She asked herself that about a thousand times and not finding the answer. Or not wanting the answer that she was given.
She was going far away from her home and her best friend was not there for her. He was probably looking for other best friends by now. Then the facts dawned on her and it hurt so much that the tears that she had fought at bay finally escaped seeping silently and slowly from the corner of her eyes. Flowing steadily enough to be seen if Mimi or Trinity glanced her way but not fast enough for her Kleenex armed fingers dabbing at her eyelids.
She had lost Oliver.