A/N: I figured out my iPod has an app on it that lets me type documents! So I WILL be able to update over my 6 week vacation! You are VERY welcome! And I hope you enjoy this chapter, even if there's not much of importance happens. Don't worry, the drama will occur VERY soon! ;) Please review and thank you to EVERYONE who has done so! I LOVE YOU ALL!
Moments
I took Chelsea back to the Animal Shop when she stopped crying. But I didn't like her expression; she looked dazed and her face was blank, as if all her emotion had just left her face. It scared me a bit.
Mirabelle and Julia practically jump on us when we stumble in the door. It was a bright sunny day outside, but Mirabelle made us both mugs of hot chocolate.
We're both sitting on the couch, my arm wrapped tightly around her. She absently sipped her drink and I didn't even touch mine as I gazed upon her in concern.
"What happened?" Julia asks softly as she kneels down next to Chelsea.
Chelsea's eyes blink and the vacant look doesn't disappear from her face. She sips the hot chocolate, but her hands shake as she brings the cup to her lips.
Gently I take the mug from her and set it on the ground, making a small tinkering sound. Her head leans against my shoulder but her arms lie uselessly in her lap.
I catch Mirabelle and Julia exchange worried glances. I couldn't help but be grateful that Chelsea had been able to cover up her bruises, or else we'd be facing the grand inquisition.
"Chelsea?" Mirabelle whispers to her, but she doesn't respond.
"Chelsea, please tell us what happened." Julia asks, her face creased in confusion.
Abruptly the door flies open, smacks the wall and I see two pink haired people standing in the doorway.
"Chelsea! We saw what happened to your house!" Elliot blurts out, his glasses lopsided on his face.
"What?" Mirabelle and Julia cry out in unison.
Elliot pulls them out of the house; to show them Chelsea's house probably. Natalie walks slowly over to us and kneels down.
I take the note from Will out of my front pocket and hand it to her without a word. Her eyes scan over the words that were burned into my mind, and then they widen in surprise.
She hands the note back to me and I tuck it back into my pocket. Then she takes Chelsea from me and wraps her arms around her in a tight hug. Chelsea doesn't move for a second but then she wraps her arms around Natalie and I sigh in relief.
When Natalie releases her, Chelsea leans back into my arms and wraps her arms around my waist. I wrap my arms around her too, glad she wasn't in that daze anymore.
Natalie snorts. "I guess we won't be looking for him anymore."
"Who? Will? Why?" Chelsea's brow furrows in confusion.
"No reason." I whisper to her as I kiss the top of her head gently.
She smiles slightly and then looks up at me. "Thank you Vaughn."
I shrug and pull my hat over my blushing face. Chelsea laughs and leans her head on my chest. A sigh escapes my lips; she would be fine.
Mirabelle, Julia and Elliot walk back in the door, worried looks on all their faces.
"Oh Chelsea!" Julia runs over and plucks Chelsea up from the couch to wrap her in a bear hug. Her body tightens up even as she hugs Julia back.
My eyes narrow. Who knew what damage that could do to her? Both Natalie and I knew not to hold her too tightly, but no one else did.
"I'm so sorry about your house dear." Mirabelle consoles her.
Chelsea laughs and shrugs as Julia releases her. " I don't mind. Gannon was going to upgrade my house anyway, so it's no big deal."
No big deal my ass. I knew she was just putting on a show for them; I don't think she was the kind of person to cry around others. It made me feel really...special...that she felt she could cry around me. Though I think if I ever was the reason for her tears...I don't even know what I would do. But it would pain me more than any physical injury could.
"Well you're welcome to stay here until then dear." Mirabelle offers with a smile.
Julia squeals and I feel my mouth open in shock. "Omigod!" She giggles like a frivolous school girl. My eyes dart to Elliot and I nearly throw up on the couch at the sight of the adoring look he was giving her. "It'll be like the best sleepover in the history of sleepovers! We can do each others hair, and nails and..."
The rest of her speech is wasted on me. Chelsea would be sleeping in the same house as me again. That's happened two times; one ended in extreme embarrassment and the other in pure bliss. Who knew what might happen the next time?
Chelsea smiles, but I notice that she glances at me nervously. I do my best to look indifferent. "Thanks guys. I really appreciate it."
Suddenly the devil walks out of the back room. He flashes his bright grin at Chelsea. "Did I hear that right love?"
My eyes narrow at Skye as he walks gracefully up to us. "Is the beautiful young lady really going to be sleeping under this roof?"
Julia squeals again, oblivious to Skye's obvious flirting.
"Yes she is! It's going to be amazing!"
Skye winks at me and I scowl at him. "I'm sure it will be something we will never forget." His voice may sound like velvet to some people but I felt like his voice was trying to strangle me.
Natalie speaks up. "Who are you?"
Skye notices her for the first time. Smoothly he floats over everyone else to stand in front of her. "I'm Skye, darling maiden. Vaughn's brother."
"Half-brother." I mutter darkly under my breath. It ticked me off to the ends of the earth to even think that he was related to me.
"Oh." Natalie looks up and down him, her face blushing softly.
"You know," Skye begins to whisper to her, but I can hear. "The sun rose just to see your beautiful face this morning."
Her face darkens in colour and I growl at my half-brother. Natalie backs out of the house after mumbling something about meeting Pierre.
Julia grabs Elliot's arm. "Will you go shopping with me? Please?" Then last word rises a pitch and I can practically see him melt.
They leave with smiles on both of their faces. Mirabelle chuckles as she heads to her room; unknowingly leaving Chelsea and I alone with a body containing pure evil.
"So Chelsea." Skye flashes another smile at her as she sinks down on the couch. He sits down next to her, far too close for my liking. "You know, if I could rearrange the Alphabet, I would put U and I together."
I growl at him. "If I could rearrange the Alphabet, I would put F and U together."
Skye simply smiles and waves me off. "Chelsea, you won't be able to deny it. We're meant to be together. It's written in the stars."
I'm up and dragging him out of the room before he can react. When we're out of sight I slam him against the wall.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I growl at him menacingly.
He gives me that smile that I loathe with my entire being. "Brother, we both know that you've never been able to hold on to a girl long."
"Only cause you're always interfering!" I practically bite his head off, referring to all the times Sabrina and I had ever fought. All. His. Fault.
Skye waves his hand again, like the details were of no importance. "I'm simply making this easier on you."
My eyes narrow at him and I tighten my grip on his shirt so that he's a few inches off the ground.
"You leave her alone or I will personally make sure that you won't ever be able to steal anything ever again." My voice is low but echoes with the meaning of the threat I won't hesitate to carry out.
His eyes widen but he smiles at me. "You think she's the one don't you?"
My face darkens. "That's none of your business."
Skye smirks. "Alright brother. I will let up a bit, but I can't help if she chooses me instead."
I realize him suddenly so that he's sprawled on the floor. He rises as smooth as ever, flashes a grin at me and then begins to walk back to the main room.
I follow close behind him to find Chelsea talking to a girl I've never seen before. Her hair was black and done up in a fancy hairdo. Her eyes were a deep gray that contrasted her light complexion. She wore a red robe adorned with jewels.
Chelsea looks back at me and smiles. "Vaughn! This is Lily. She's a treasure hunter."
"A treasure hunter huh?" Skye smiles and slips in front of Chelsea to give his dazzling smile to Lily. "I'm Skye, a bit of a treasure hunter myself."
Lily smiles. "Really?"
He smiles. "Yes. The stars help guide me."
I snort. "That's BS Skye." I turn to Lily. "He's a thief."
Lily's nose crinkles in distaste. "I don't take what belongs to others. Treasures that are owned have no romance."
She turns to Chelsea. "We shall meet again later. It was nice to meet you." Chelsea smiles at her.
Lily nods her head at me, a gesture I return, and then she leaves the house.
Skye is frowning. "Ouch. I'd better go straighten this out with her." He runs after her, finally leaving me alone with Chelsea.
She collapses on the couch, a pained look crossing her face as she holds her hands tight against her sides. My eyes widen surprise as I sink down on the couch beside her.
"Hard to imagine that it was only this morning we were eating breakfast in that mess." She whispers as she leans back against the couch.
It was a little hard to believe; but it was something I would never forget. Even though it was the second time I'd waken up with her in my arms, it was an amazing sensation to know that I had fallen asleep with her too.
She groans a bit as she shifts position. "You want some Advil?" I ask her softly.
Chelsea nods and I take some out of my pocket. I give it to her as well as her hot chocolate. She takes the medicine and then sips at the hot chocolate.
I ignore mine sitting on the ground. As inconspicuously as I could, I watched Chelsea. A bit of a rosy blush came to her cheeks as she drank the warm drink. Her hair fell delicately over her shoulders and my fingers were itching to run through it. Her soft lips graced the mug as she drank and for a second I wish that I was the mug.
Suddenly she sniffles and puts down the mug. Then she sniffles again as she leans on my shoulder.
"Chelsea...?" I'm concerned about her; but then again, I'm not used to emotional woman.
She utters a strained laugh. "My mother bought me that camera as a graduation present."
I scowl, but I didn't know what to say. So I just wrap my arm around her and she snuggles into me. There's a smile on her face, so I guess I did something right.
We sit like that for a long time. I never thought I would enjoy simply sitting with a girl again. Her hair smelt like a waterfall and I could lose myself in the sensation of her skin against mine. Now I could understand why it was so easy for girls to seduce guys; they were just too amazing to refuse.
"When are you going back to work?" Chelsea asks me suddenly.
I shrug. "Next week, regular time."
Chelsea begins to blush. "Well, when you g-get b-back, it'll be the 24th and I was w-wondering if...uh..."
My face must have been shocked because she stopped talking. Under her breath I catch the words 'never mind'.
It was 12th today. In the back of my mind I remember that it was Sabrina's birthday today, but I don't care. When I leave it would be the 19th and when I got back it would be the 24th; the Starry Night Festival. She was trying to ask me out on a date after finding her home destroyed.
I chuckle under my breath and pull her closer to me. She was defiantly not like most girls; and I liked that about her.
"Would you go to the Starry Night Festival with me Chelsea?" I whisper softly in her ear.
She blushes a deep red and I feel the warmth on the side of my face. My eyes close and I breath in; I wanted to hold her forever and never let go.
"Yes." Chelsea whispers the word but my heart hears it as if it had been yelled. I feel like the happiest man in the world, and I wanted to share it.
Suddenly I jump up and hold my hand out to Chelsea. I could feel adrenaline coursing through my body and I knew that excitement lit up my eyes. My face breaks out into a huge grin and Chelsea laughs. I notice something in her eyes; it was a strange thing, but I'd seen it before in her eyes.
"Dance with me?" I ask her, my heart pounding. "Please?"
She blushes again and slides her hand into mine. Immediately I take the lead and begin to spin her around the floor. There's no music playing, but I don't need any. Her laughter peals like bells and that's all the music I need.
Chelsea holds on to me as I spin her and twirl the both of us in a dance I make up as we go along. It's a fast paced dance, my adrenaline must have been coming out. She was laughing and I laughed along. She smiled and I smiled back to her.
We dance until both our feet are sore and then we continue dancing. Eventually we both run out of steam and are breathing loudly out of our mouths.
I wrap my arms tighter around her waist and slow the pace down to a would be slow dance. Her head rests on my chest and I close my eyes as I remember the last time we'd danced. I'd wanted to kiss her so bad that night. Well, I wasn't messing up again.
Gently, I place my fingers under her chin and tilt her face towards mine. Her skin felt like the smoothest material in the world to me.
Her big blue eyes look up at me with that same expression, as well as thanks. I guess she was grateful I was showing so much emotion. Well get ready for a lot more emotion girl.
My eyes close as I tilt my head down to hers. Her eyes close just before mine as her arms wrap around my neck. Slowly my arms snake around her waist and I pull her closer to me. Out lips meet in the sweetest touch of the world.
One of my hands rises to her face to cup her cheek in my hand as I try to pull her closer; to get more of the bliss she gave me. Her hand tangles itself in my hair, her fingers separating the wild silver mess like water. A low moan echoes from the back of my throat and shocks me; but I love it.
Chelsea seems to as well. Her heart is pounding furiously in her chest as it beats in time with my own over working heart. Then her tongue taps my closed tips.
She must have been as surprised as I was because she jumped back about a foot and out of my grasp. I'm a little dazed, but I could feel my face reddening as much as hers was.
"S-s-s-sorry V-Vaughn." Chelsea stutters. Little did she know that even though I was surprised, I wanted her to do it again. So I walk the few steps towards her.
"I-if y-you d-d-didn't w-want t-to-" I break her off in the middle of her stuttering excuse to kiss her full on the mouth.
I make the first move. My tongue reaches out and hers meets it. They intertwine as they melt together in imitation of a dance. We're both clutching at each other; both wanting more, even if we don't know what that is exactly.
Impulsively, I reach down to pick her up and spin her around while my lips were still on hers. She giggles and breaks off to clutch my neck. Chelsea was a lot lighter than I'd thought and I could spin her around easy.
Gently I set her down and she wobbles a bit. We both laugh at that and then we sit down on the couch. She wraps her arms around my waist and my arm slides around her shoulder. In content she sighs and leans her head on my chest. If I died right now I would die a happy man.
Then door to the Animal Shop slams open and my cousin stands in the doorway with about a dozen shopping bags on her arms.
"Have you two been sitting there all day?" Julia laughs. "What did you do all day?"
All day? I glance at the clock to find that it was just a little after eight at night. Time passed much faster than I'd thought.
"Oh well." Julia perks up even though neither of us said anything. "Chelsea, I hope you don't mind an early birthday present because you're going to LOVE what I got you at the store!"
"Julia, my birthday's not until the 21st of the month." Chelsea frowns.
Julia waves it off. "I also got something for Vaughn's birthday." Then she sticks her tongue out at me. "But you have to wait until your birthday."
I roll my eyes. "When's your birthday?" Chelsea asks me softly.
"3rd of Spring." I whisper back but my mind was already thinking of something else. While I may not be on the Island for Chelsea's birthday, I was on the island three days after. And I knew the perfect item to get her.