Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga.
BPOV
"I-I love you." her voice choked up.
"Back? Where are you going? Skylar?" I waited for her to answer, but only heard her laboured breathing.
Then the lien went dead.
I stood up, interrupting whatever childhood story Will had been telling.
Everyone looked up at me, curious. Sam just glared.
"Brady?" I glanced at Emily, suddenly realizing how much I had been shaking. "It's Skylar, isn't it?" I nodded once and Em sighed. "Go then."
"Thanks...And congratulations." I ran out the front door, trying to shake the feeling that I was already too late.
She'll be back soon...
It wasn't long before I was knocking on the Bronson's door. No one answered.
"Shit." I took the spare key from behind the plant by the door.
Once I opened the door, I took about five steps away from it.
Was that incense?
Whoever had wanted to conceal their scent had done a pretty good job.
I braced myself, before entering eh house.
I ran upstairs, blinking rapidly as the smell got stronger.
Her bedroom door was open. And upon searching her room, I found most of her clothes missing.
Where would she have taken all those clothes too? And why?
I went back outside, hoping to find some trace of where she went. But of course, the incense had burned out my sense of smell. By the time I could use my nose again, she'd be long gone.
I tried to call her, but it went straight to her answering machine.
She turned her phone off. You have got to be kidding me. How was I supposed to...?
The Bronson's care pulled into the driveway, almost running me over.
Mr. B screeched to a halt, inches from hitting me.
Mrs. B ran over to me while her husband sat in the car and glared.
"Brady! Are you okay? What's wrong?" I didn't answer. "Where's Skylar?" I gulped once, avoiding her gaze.
"Karen?" I looked up at the sound of Mr. B approaching. "What's wrong?" I glanced at Mrs. B; she was staring at me, her eyes watering.
"I don't know. Brady please, where's my daughter?" My gaze dropped as I realized just how much trust Skylar's parents put in me.
"I can't," I whispered, my head hanging as failure hit me. Not only had I disappointed Skylar's parents, I had lost my imprint, for who knows how long.
"Why not?" Mr. B's voice was hard.
"Because I don't know."
SPOV
I waited anxiously at the airport. I was so paranoid that at any second, Brady would come running through those distractingly loud, sliding doors, and drag me out.
He'd take me back, and lock me up forever.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking around my passport. My heart was pounding so loudly, I was sure that everyone else in the terminal could hear it. Not that there were many people here, but still.
It had been three hours since I'd been gone.
I had already spent two thirds of the little money I had on taxi fare and cookies and cream chocolate bars. The rest of my money was tucked safely away in my purse.
I glanced up at the screen of departure times.
One more hour.
One more hour to continue freaking out. One more hour of glancing at the door every five seconds, whether it opened or not. One more hour of feeling extremely guilty.
I felt horrible. Brady and mum were probably worried sick. But they should know I'd keep my word.
That, and I couldn't stay away from Brady forever. Being a few hours from him made my heart ache.
I didn't even want to imagine what the plane ride would be like...
BPOV
I couldn't stop pacing. I swear I had been like this for hours.
The sun was starting to rise, and Skylar was long gone.
"Brady.' I stared at Mr. B. He glared at me from the kitchen entrance. Mrs. B was in the kitchen, baking. She and Emily had some of the same habits.
"Hey Mr. Bronson." I started pacing again.
Skylar's phone was still off, but she would have to turn it back on eventually, right? And she didn't have caller ID, I knew that. So, as long as I kept calling, I'd get to her eventually.
The thing is, I didn't know where she was. What was I supposed to do once the call went through?
Well, I might as well make sure she was safe first.
"Brady." Mr. B sighed when I didn't stop.
"Sorry, what?" I stared at him blankly. Why was he talking to me again?
"Did you talk to her brother?" My eyes narrowed.
"I don't have a number."
"That's not what I meant." I stared after him, his words spinning in my head.
That's not what he meant...
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
I paced out the door, taking the half iced cupcake Mrs. B held out to me as I passed her.
That's not what he meant.
I shoved the cupcake in my mouth. I was good, but I couldn't focus on that.
I phased once I thought it was dark enough.
Brady? I nodded in Collin's direction as he approached me wearily.
The whole pack had been out her for hours, searching for her.
I had told them there was nothing to find, but Jake and Sam had called this search party anyway.
You were right, there's nothing here. Sorry bro. I shrugged. I told them so.
Call Brent? My head snapped up as Sam stopped in front of me.
I was still thinking about that?
Yeah, I don't know what he means though. I frowned into the trees.
Call Brent. How were we supposed to do that? I couldn't just yell his name into thin air and hope for him to answer...could I?
Brent?
Brady, what're you doing? The pack listened in on my thoughts with varying degrees of amusement.
Brent.
What. Everyone froze. No way. I completely forgot that Brent was a wolf too.
That's what he meant...
Where's Skylar? He didn't say anything at first.
Why?
Cause she's gone. Collin answered before I could.
We heard Brent's laughter for about five minutes before he spoke again.
You lost my sister? Good job Brady. I applaud your wonder watch dog skills. I'm jealous. He chuckled again and my fur bristled.
This is no time for jokes Brent. We need to know where she is. The command in Sam's voice silenced us all, including Brent.
Well, she should be on a plane right now... A plane?
I was about to ask, when Brent's presence started to disappear.
It's been nice talking to you guys, but I gotta go... Happy searching! And with one last chuckle, Brent was gone.
Damn it! A plane to where?
SPOV
I was nervous as I stepped off the plane. I had intended to spend the plane ride sleeping, but my guilty conscious wouldn't let me...
Once I found my luggage, I walked outside. I had kind of assumed that Brent would be waiting for me.
I guess not...
"Uh, excuse me, you wouldn't happen to be Skylar, would you?" I looked up blankly, pushing back my damp hair. California was hotter than I expected it to be.
"Yes. Who...who are you?" She smiled. Her hair was black, and it looked like it had different shades of blue streaks in it. I couldn't really tell, because it was pulled up in a bun on the top of her head. She was wearing shorts, and a larger t-shirt I recognized almost immediately.
"Sonya. Brent asked me to come over and pick you up. It's nice to finally meet you Skylar. Brent has told me a lot about you." I smiled, getting up off the cool cement to shake her hand.
She was a few inches shorter than I was which was kind of weird. I was usually the short one.
"Nice to meet you too." She grinned again, and picked up my suitcase before leading me to a faded green Toyota.
"Just to warn you, the apartment's kind of a mess. I finally convinced your brother to let me repaint. It was horrible before I moved in, trust me." She grinned at me again over her shoulder. I smiled and nodded. Before she moved in?
She put my suitcase in the back seat, before gesturing to the passenger side door.
Her car seemed small. But maybe that was because I was so used to Brady's huge truck.
Brady...
"So, tell me about yourself Skylar. Brent only told me so much. Then again, I doubt any older brother would know much about their sister." She smiled again as she pulled out of the pick-up zone.
Sonya seemed nice. She smiled a lot, and if what she said meant anything, she probably a great sense of humour too. A perfect match for my brother.
"I guess not." I laughed nervously. "Well, I moved from Australia to La Push. I love photography and school in general, but Spanish is kind of hard." Sonya laughed a little as she stopped at a red light.
"I know how you feel. My mom is from the Philippines, but when I was six, my dad moved us all to where he was from, Quebec. I grew up there, learned Filipino and French. Neither language got me very far here though." She smiled again.
"Quebec? That's so cool! The coldest place I've been to is La Push."
"Yeah, well the climate change between here and Quebec is kind of extreme." I nodded.
Sonya had turned onto a more residential road. I hadn't even noticed her turn off the highway.
She drove into the underground parking of an apartment building. By the looks of it, there were at least ten floors.
I had no idea how Brent could have possibly afforded something like this, after a month.
"Luckily, you didn't pack too much, so we can take the stairs." I took my bag from the backseat, and followed Sonya to a door labeled "Stairs".
It wasn't until we stopped climbing the stairs, that I realized what I had just done.
I just ran away from home. To see my brother.
I shook my head at myself as Sonya unlocked the door at the end of a brightly lit hallway.
"Brent! We're back!" Sonya yelled into the apartment before letting me in. I put my nag down by the door, keeping my shoes on.
The apartment was pretty big. The kitchen was about half the size of my room at home, and the dining room was exactly like the one we have in La Push.
I walked down the same hallway Sonya had disappeared down, and entered, what looked like, the living room.
All the furniture was pushed to one side, but there was a TV in the opposite corner of the room. The floor was covered in a plain white sheet of cloth, and there was painters tape everywhere.
"It's okay Skylar, the paint's not wet. Make yourself at home." Sonya left down a different hallway, calling for Brent who still hadn't appeared, and I awkwardly sat down on the couch.
I peered down at the pictures on the coffee table in front of me. I picked the first one up and smiled.
It was one of the only pictures Brent and I had taken together as kids.
I was in this frilly pink dress, and my parents had somehow coaxed Brent into a suit.
We looked adorable, but extremely unhappy.
The next one was of all of our family. Brent and I were still in the same ridiculous outfits, but we looked happy.
We were too busy laughing at each other to look at the camera, but we were smiling.
Our family had always functioned better when we were all together.
"I remember taking that." I jumped, almost dropping the pictures.
"God Brent, could you at least make some noise?" He smiled, backing away from me and his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry." We stood silence, and it wasn't until he raised an eyebrow at me, that I realized I hadn't seen my brother in a month.
"Brent!" I ran to him, almost tackling him in a hug.
He was taller and leaner than I remembered. I guess it was only a matter of time, he had phased after all.
Brent laughed, hugging me back.
"I missed you too Sky." I pulled away from him suddenly, frowning.
"You're such a... Jerk! How could you just leave like that?" Brent sighed, running a hand through his lengthening hair. That was another thing different about him. That and the fact that he was now significantly tanner than I was...
"I had too, you know I had too." My frown deepened.
"I know, but you didn't have to disappear." He smiled.
"So, I can't do it, but you can?" I glared at him. What was he talking about?
"I don't know... Oh. How'd you know?" Brent smirked.
"Everyone's freaking out back home. They called me to ask where you were." I panicked.
"Did you tell them?" Brent smiled, but shook his head.
"No. But I do have to ask... Why didn't you tell them where you were going? Are you ashamed of your older brother?" He raised an eyebrow at me and I looked down.
"No, it's just that..." I sighed. "I knew they wouldn't let me leave." Brent nodded understandingly. "Now I have a few questions." Brent shrugged.
"Shoot."
"How did you afford all this? The apartment, the furniture, the plane ticket?" Brent smiled sheepishly.
"You know, I would love to answer those for you, but I think you should unpack first."
"Brent..." I glared at him as he backed away towards the front door.
"No, seriously. By the time I get back, you'll be done unpacking!"
"Back?" My shoulders slumped.
"Don't worry; Sonya's here if you need anything. Oh, and thanks for coming out Sky. It seriously means a lot." I sighed.
"No problem," I muttered. Brent chuckled as I dragged my feet and my suitcase down the hallway.
"Your room's the last one on the left!" I shut the door behind me, before lifting my bag onto the huge canopy bed.
I was about to open the bag, when someone knocked on the door.
"Skylar? Can I come in?" She held the phone through the door before peaking in. "Phone for you." I frowned, but took the phone from her.
"Hello?"
"Skylar. Oh God, where the hell are you?" I stood in shocked silence. "Hello?"
"I'm, uhm... Brady?" How could he have possibly phoned here, without knowing where I was? Unless... Brent.
"Yeah. Skylar, you have to come home." I shook my head, turning away from Sonya's questioning gaze.
"I can't. I don't have any money for a return ticket, sorry."
"That's okay, we can send you some money. I need you to come back."
"Well... I need time away from La Push." Silence.
"You mean, away from me?" I sighed.
"I didn't mean it like that, you know I didn't." Another pause from his end.
"Yeah, well sometimes I don't know what you mean Skylar. You should have told me."
"I could have sworn I've told you this before... You don't own me Brady. I don't need your permission to leave."
"I never said you did. You could have at least told your parents though." I shrugged.
"They're not the ones calling me, are they?"
"Skylar, what're you saying?" I sighed again, staring at my still unpacked suitcase.
"What I'm saying is... I don't want to come home just yet. There's too much drama and..."
"You need time. From me."
"I didn't say that-"
"You don't have to." Neither of us said anything for a while.
"Brady, I-" Brady laughed edgily.
"Don't worry Sky, I'll be fine. See you if you decide to come back." What the heck?
"Brady, what're you saying?"
"What I'm saying, is that, you're right. I don't own you. You can do whatever you want. Enjoy your vacation." My eyes narrowed, my teeth gnashed together.
"Fine, I will." And then the line cut.
I stared at the phone in my hands for a good five minutes, before finally noticing the teardrops landing between the keys.
"Skylar, are you-. Oh no, Skylar, what happened? Are you okay?" I blinked at Sonya. Biting down on my bottom lip, I shook my head at her.
No, I wasn't okay. What had I just done?
Okay, well, I don't know how many mistakes this chapter has, but I know the last one had a lot, so sorry about that !
I still haven't figured how beta's work, how to get one, or even if I want one yet. So yeeeah...
Anyway, I've been waiting a while to get this chapter out for a while. It turned out okay, right?
PS: I hope no one died waiting for this !
Review ?(: