A list of priorities
(Acne!)

A very stressed Edward Bone woke up on Saturday morning.

He groggily pulled himself out of bed and put his feet on the floor. He was wearing some grey and white pyjamas and the material was starting to rub uncomfortably against his legs. He rubbed his blue eyes and got up. The room spun a little, but he grabbed onto the top of his mahogany dresser until the dizziness passed. He could smell bacon frying downstairs, but also a whiff of burnt toast and badly made scrambled eggs. His mother never made breakfast like that.

I mean, I know she was a little tired and resting in bed when I came home, Edward thought as he threw on a black Billabong shirt with the logo in white, But I've never known her to skip on breakfast. Something just seems wrong. Slipping into sea blue jeans, he ambled down the hall and into the bathroom. Perched on the counter, he took his Arm and Hammer toothpaste and began brushing. Once he was finished, he looked into the mirror. Combing his messy blond hair down, he scrutinized his acne. It was mostly subsiding, with just little splotches around his nose and on his chin. It didn't look that bad, really.

Until he saw it. The monster of all monsters. The biggest and the most horrible of all blackheads in the world. The ultra-zit. Sitting there, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, in the middle of his forehead. His friggin forehead.

Needless to say, Ed panicked. He flew down the stairs into the kitchen to see his father cooking. No wonder it smelt so awful. His mum must be really, really sick.

"Hi Dad," Edward said, his words rushed, "You seen mum around anywhere? I really really need to talk to her. I need some money. For that new acne-relief thingy. Proactin? I have no clue. Is she in bed?"

"Yeah-" Charlie Bone started, but before he could finish, Ed had already zoomed up the stairs going to his mother's door.

Opening the door, Edward saw his mother lying in the bed she and Charlie shared. The purple/blue covers where up to her chin and she was dozing peacefully. When Ed entered, she woke and blinked at him drowsily. Something about her voice put Edward on the edge. Olivia didn't seem like she had full control of her sense, "Edward. How lovely. Is there something you need?"

"Money," Edward answered, completely unabashed, "I got this huuuge zit on my forehead, see. I want to try that new stuff but I'm broke. It's only a couple of pounds."

"Why d'you need to cover the zit?" Olivia asked, her eyelids drooping as she fell back onto the pillow.

Edward twidled his thumbs, "I'm going to the Pet's Café. Gemma's going to be there."

"Gemma..." Her voice was faint and she almost seemed asleep again, "There's a couple of pounds on my dresser. Gemma... she's a lovely girl. A lovely girl. I saw her brother the other day..."

Ed froze, all thoughts of zit panic forgotten. Instead, a new chill entered him and he was unable to speak for a moment. Fighting down the urge to just crawl into a hole a die, he managed to choke out, "Mom? Gemma doesn't have a brother."

--

Caitlyn arrived earlier than usual at the Pet's Café. It was still closed, but she knew that the owners would be glad to let her in. On her left shoulder, sifting through her hazelnut curls, was small parrot. It's green and yellow feathers contrasted amazingly with her soft hair.

She took a deep breath and knocked at the door nervously. Today was the day that she was going to confront him, admit to him her feelings. She had delayed too long, and now that Lydia girl was moving in on her territory. Pushing a loose strand of curls behind her ear, Caitlyn turned her make-up covered eyes to the window of the shop, trying to see inside. The lights were on, so someone must be up. Anxiously, she knocked again.

When no one came to let her in, Caitlyn tried the doorknob. To her relief and astonishment, it opened. She slipped in silently, hoping that no one would notice her in the mildly lit room. She went behind the counter, wondering what would happen if she caught Kai sleeping. Would he think that she was a pervy lady?

A noise from the kitchen attracted her attention. She tiptoed over to the door and peeked in nervously. What she saw nearly took her breath away, and she almost collapsed onto the clean tile floor.

Kai was standing there, handsome as usual. He was wearing some rock band shirt. It was black and tightly fit his form. Some words in orange blazed across. Tokio Hotel. His short and messy hair flopped down around his ears and hung slightly over his eyes. His eyes, today a shade of nearly molten gold, fit perfectly into his tanned face. His jeans fit his legs, accentuating every detail of his finely formed muscles. The stud in his ear was a silvery white. His fit frame was resting on his arm, which was leaning on the wall. Between his - amazing, handsome - body and the wall, another form was resting.

Lydia Lyson had her blond hair in a long shoulder ponytail. Her eyelids were heavy with green eyeshadow. Her freckled face was neatly scrubbed, and she was wearing a lowcut pink shirt with blue demin shorts. Compared to Lydia's glamourous look, Caitlyn felt not quite so pretty as she had before.

Thoughts flooded her mind. How long had they been here? What were they saying? Would they notice her? Hopefully they wouldn't. Caitlyn screwed up her eyes and turned away, pained. She should have claimed Kai long before. Opening her eyes, she turned to watch them again, curiousity getting the better of her.

Lucky Caitlyn was just in time to see Kai lean down and press his lips against those of Lydia. She wrapped her slender arms around him and Caitlyn noticed her height compared to his. Kai was 5 foot 9, pretty much a little too hard for Caitlyn to reach up and kiss. Tough she was pretty proud she had almost reached 5"4 this morning. Not so difficult anymore. But Lydia was probably even 5"7. A much better for match up for Kai. But as they said, opposites attract. Hopefully.

Don't make out, don't make out, Caitlyn prayed silently. But hey, they were both fifteen and one of them was kinda a slut. So poor Caitlyn had to watch them 'suck face', to transfixed from the sight of Kai to look aside.

His lips were touching hers, moving into hers. She was bending into him. They were perfectly aligned. He was probably trying to stick his tongue down her throat. Hopefully not. Lydia pulled herself up around his neck and Caitlyn couldn't bear it any longer.

She turned, slipped and fell, causing multiple pans to fall and land on the ground, making a echoing noise that rung loudly. Hoping they wouldn't notice (Haha, sure) she tried to creep away to the door. She had almost made it out when Edward's panicked face came into view from the other side and he trapped her in. Caitlyn stomped her foot, but Ed kept trying to push in.

"Caitlyn?" Kai's voice rang out across the empty café.

Shit. Shittttt. Caitlyn inflated her cheeks in frustration, glared at Edward and turned to face Kai, who had come out of the kitchen, a smile plastered on her face, "Oh, sorry. Alphonse flew off my shoulder and knocked off the pans."

"You're here early..." Said Kai, with a furtive glance towards the kitchen. His eyes just flickered every-so-slightly, and Caitlyn realized that she wasn't supposed to notice.

"Yeah, I got an idea about, y'know, what's going on and stuff... We still haven't told you what Ed found out about how you and Jacob got in there," Caitlyn said evasively. She didn't want him to know the real reason she had come.

"I have something to tell you about that day as well..." Kai started, looking down.

Edward made it in at that moment, eyes wild. Liam was in instantly after him. They both looked like they had received a horrible fright. Kai looked over them quickly and said, "Take the corner table."

In response to Caitlyn's pleading look, Kai ran a hand through his messy hair, "I guess I'll join you when I can?"

At that precise moment, Una Brown ambled into the kitchen. She shot a knowing look over the group of teenagers and said, "The store isn't open yet," in such a song-like voice that everyone relaxed at once.

Una flipped the sign on the door to say open, and Kai passed them all menus while advising them to try some new peanut butter and cranberry muffin special. Caitlyn couldn't concentrate, so instead she just shot looks around to see if she could catch a glimpse of the dreaded Lydia Lyson.

Liam brought her attention back with a slight cough. Caitlyn apologized and turned to face him, "Yeah?"

"I think maybe we should organize our thoughts, like make a list of what we need to do."

Before Caitlyn could even process the statement, Edward interjected, "Wait for Gem, Haley and Kai first. I'm sure they need to hear us as well. I know you hate repeating things."

Liam rolled his eyes and helped himself to a muffin.

--

The glass door clanged open and Gem hurried in. Her hair was perfectly groomed and everything about her seemd to be maximized to the fullest. She grabbed the seat beside Ed, and he quickly primped his messy blond hair. Gem stifled a laugh. She was dressed in analogous shades of green, blazing her department out to anyone sitting nearby. Even her flip-flops were green.

"Have you seen Haley?" Liam asked nervously, tapping his thin fingers on the table. Gemma shook her head resignedly, and they went back to staring at the table.

Edward opened his mouth to compliment Gemma on her hair when the door opened again, and a thin black-haired figure slipped inside. His mouth was wide open and his eyes were panicked. He had loose jeans and white sneakers, with a baby blue polo over a black T-shirt. Coming over to their table and plunking himself on the padded seat beside Liam and Caitlyn, Haley stammered, "There's- There's trouble at the bookshop. There's a thief that wants something! We need to do something!"

Caitlyn fretted, truly feeling bad for him, and patted his hair down ligtly. She did her beautiful frown thing and said, "That's awful. But isn't that the police's job?"

Liam and Ed nodded, but Haley shook his head, "No- The police can't handle this!"

"Then why do you think we can?" Gemma asked quizzically, leaning across the wooden table to him and nearly smushing a good number of muffins.

Haley swallowed, and when he spoke, his voice was rapid and nervous, "This person - this thief. They can control shadows. It's one of the Endowed!"

"That's more urgent than finding the flyer," Gem remarked to Edward, and told Haley that they would explain everything when Kai could get to them ( At Caitlyn's reminder). So they all settled down to wait.

When they had sighed what seemed to be the 375th collective sigh that day, a tinkle on the bell above the door made them look up. Entering was a tall boy, with a slightly Polish looking face.

His head was narrow, and his cheekbones stuck out in an attractive way. His nose was slanted just right against the incline of his face. His chin tapered into an almost sharp point. His eyes were set back slightly, and his ears were at the right position on his head. The boy's wary green eyes contrasted perfectly with his ashy grey hair. It was spiked down across his faces as bangs on one side of his face, and on the other in was spiked off to the side. The back also stood out, and it reminded Caitlyn of one of those manga drawings. Emerald studs dotted his right ear, as well as a few gold hoops. His right eyebrow was pierced twice, and he had a snakebite piercing on his mouth.

His body was slim and narrow, and the clothes he was wearing were slim-fitted. He wore a thin black T-shirt with a pink striped light-material shirt overtop. His black jeans were low-down and a chain hung from his white belt.

His pale hands were covered with gold and silver rings, and he wore white and black Circa lowrider shoes. All in all, he had the general appearence of 'cool'. Caitlyn couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"Hey! Lyson!" The boy called, lounging against the wall. Caitlyn would have estimated him to be fifteen or sixteen, "Hurry up! Your Dad busted his ass off to get the guy to give him fishing rights. If you don't fucking come out of there, he's going to murder you!"

Lydia's annoyed call wafted in from the kitchen, "God, Kendrenski. Just because your father thinks my father should go fishing with him doesn't mean I have to go!"

"Uh," The boy started, "Yeah, it kinda does. Get your ass out here. I dislike you just as much as you hate me, and I'd rather get this over with. The later we wait, the heavier traffic's gonna get. That's more time in the van with me. I'd like to get to the fishing spot and just chill, y'know?"

"Fine!" Screeched Lydia, "I'm coming! I call shotgun though!"

Sighing, the boy ambled over to Caitlyn's table. He looked more mature than Kai due to their different styles. The boy looked far more inapproachable.

"Iszak. Iszak Kendrenski. Sorry if I'm bothering you, I don't think Lyson's gonna be coming out for awhile," Iszak said, somewhat exasperated.

"Oh. Uhm," Squeaked Caitlyn, trying to think of something to say.

"Gemma. Gemma Torsson. Those people are Edward Bone, Haley Yewbeam, Liam Gunn and Caitlyn Sage," Gemma saved Caitlyn's life as she gestured to her friends around the table.

"Lydia's in the kitchen with Kai," Was all Caitlyn managed to say.

Iszak shot her a knowing look, then frowned, "Torsson? Bone? So you guys are Endowed?"

Swallowing, Caitlyn nodded slowly.

Iszak's mouth opened slightly as if he was trying to think of something to say. Then a grin spread acorss his face as he replied, "Cool! What can you do?'

"I-Illusions..."

"That's cool," Iszak flashed her the most dazzling smile and Caitlyn began to babble whenever she opened her mouth.

"I fly," Said Gem flatly, "I think you're having a pretty bad influence on Caitlyn."

Caitlyn blushed and thwaped her friend on the arm, "Of course not! You come her often then... Iszak?"

"Now that I know you guys do, yeah," Iszak chuckled, running spindly fingers through his carefully worked hair.

"KENDRENSKI!" Lydia was at the door, barking like a rabid dog. Iszak got up, waved and sauntered off.

Caitlyn just sat there like an idiot and stared after his retreating figure. Absentmindedly, she picked up a ring that had slipped off of his finger onto the table. It was silver with an anarchy symbol on it. She put it into her pocket, unaware of everything going on around her.

"Is she okay?" Asked Kai, who had come from the kitchen to sit beside her.

And everything returned to normal. Kai floated infront of her vision and all thoughts of Iszak Kendrenski had vanished, "Yeah. Fine."

Without further prompting, Haley launched into his narrative, "There was this shape. A black shape. She had these shadows and she controlled them. She like, moved them around and they crept in the windows and took stuff. That's why I went home early. There's an Endowed person and we have to find out who it is and how to stop them!"

"I can ask my Dad if he knows anything about that kinda of talent," Edward said, "But when I was eavesdropping, they said something about Tristan. They said something about a flyer. My mom - my mom said that Gemma had a brother."

Gem frowned, but Kai interjected, "There was this voice in the wall. It led me and Jacob Tilpin out of the corridors. It didn't come with us - it said that inside was safer."

Caitlyn remembered something, "When Ed was listening to Audrey and Ezekiel! Ezekiel said that Jacob and Kai had been put there to keep them out of Audrey's way. Jacob because he had too much control. Audrey must be doing something, she must have a plot. Ezekiel asked her to drown someone! Kai, can't you ask Jacob Tilpin what he knows?"

Liam pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, "I think the shadow problem is the most urgent."

As Liam scribbled down the first item on the list, Haley ventured forth, "It sounds like figuring out who the voice in the wall is second. and why they're there."

"When we know that, we can figure out more about Audrey and who she wants to drown," Kai added.

"What about 'the flyer' and Gem's 'brother'?' Edward asked, straining to see Liam's list.

"They should come last," Gem said reluctantly, "Audrey is more important. Someone could die!"

Liam nodded and shoved the list into the centre of the table. It read:

1. Deal with the shadow controller - figure out who it could be and how to stop them.

2. Find the voice in the wall again and ask it questions.

3. Learn more about Audrey.

4. Figure out who the flyer is and who Gem's brother is.

"I should go," Edward said as he looked at his watch, "Can we meet here tomorow?"

"Can't," Said Kai nervously, "I have a date."

"It's restocking day," Haley added.

"Essay on History," Caitlyn informed them.

Gemma rolled her eyes as she added, "I'm gonna go flying around the city to see what I can discover."

Ed groaned, "Fine, fine. But everybody think about these things and we'll talk on Monday."

They left the table as one, pushing in their chairs and heading towards the door. Kai hung back, waving cheerily as he threw on an apron to help the other guests. Edward and Liam headed as one to Ed's house where they could watch Sweeney Todd in the privacy of his room. Gemma tagged along with them, much to Ed's delight. Caitlyn walked to the bookstore with Haley, who was planning on making sandwiches. The day dragged on slowly, none of them wanting to enter Sunday.

--


OMFG

TOOK SO LONG TO WRITE D:

I kept staring at it willing it to write itself, plus I had exams.

Sorry for the crappy ending of this chappy. I needed it finished so badly.

Mizz Reviewer- A Lydia Lyson plushie that screeches.

Shadow- You were wrong but you still get a Tristan plushie.

Storms- Ed plushie that runs around screaming stuff about zits.

Dot- A Iszak plushie that grins and waggles his eyebrows, as well as a Haley plushie that looks at you shyly.

SHOMG DOTCIKI. YOU ARE THE BEST! -glomphuggles-

Really.

I have to go check out your wonderful oneshot.

-smushes Roy plushie-

And review Butterfly again.

BUT EXAMS ARE OVAHHH!

May I'll be inspired just a tad more.

Thank you everyone :3

This chapter goes to ShadowRose for being the newest one of the bandwagon.

I hope you all enjoy this new chapter. I am planning to make this book 24 chapters long. Just so I can make a sequel -winks-

Go crazy.

The voice in the wall IS NOT Emma Tolly

Tristan's father IS NOT Asa Pike.

o: o: o:

Love always

Eagleh.

GRAMMAR ERRORS ARE PERFECTLY EXCUSABLE. THEY'RE PROLLY LOTS. I WAS TIRED D: