Authors Note:
I am so blown away by the reviews I have been getting. Thank you so much to everyone who's been reading and following and favoriting. I've been so motivated to write for this. Originally, I was going to have one long chapter but decided to split in into two chapters. Once you read them, you'll understand why.
Chapter Eight and Chapter Nine is dedicated to Brooke! Mommy 2.0! She gave me this idea awhile back and I finally got to the point where I could use it so this is for you Brooke!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Fifty Shades Trilogy
"What is going on?" I start to shake. Why were we at the airport? "Dad, just tell me. My mind is running away with me right now." I step out of the car and Skyler comes around and stands next to me.
"You're not ready to go back to school yet so your mother and I decided that you might need a little getaway." He shows nothing. I can't read my Dad right now. He's emotionless.
"What kind of getaway?" Skyler is curious too. He's never come with us anywhere. What were my parents up to?
"You two are going to stay with Teddy till Sunday while your mother and I go to New York for business." My mouth drops. My father, the Christian Grey, is letting me go with a boy to Harvard for a weekend without them?
"I really do think that you're getting sick Dad. We should go home and you should get some rest. I'm not kidding." I lean against the car door. Dad smiles and lets out a chuckle and I let a smile grow on my face.
"Let's go." I say to Skyler and grab his hand. I can feel his excitement growing just as much as mine is. "I hope you're not scared of flying."
"I'm more scared of your dad being in the same plane as me then flying." We both start laughing as we go up the staircase to the plane.
"It's been awhile since I've been on here." Mother relaxes in a seat with my father next to her and take her hand to plant a soft kiss on her cheek. I envied my parents. They deserve everything they have and so much more. Watching them love each other like they have makes me the undeserved. How can someone love me when I can't even stand mw own presence.
"The last time I was here was when we went to drop off Teddy at school. That was a whole two years ago." I replay that moment in my head. Teddy was so anxious yet excited to be going to Harvard. I was an emotional mess when he left. Teddy is my person and always will be. After he left, Skyler and I were inseparable. Skyler turned into my person.
I look over at him as he absentmindedly stares out the window. "What are you thinking about?" I slide a little closer to him.
"You. Me. Us." He whispers and looks over at me. I take the chance to look at Skyler and I mean really look at him. His chocolate hair lays softly on his forehead. Bright grey eyes just like mine. Rounded nose. Sculpted lips. I never realize how handsome and gorgeous Skyler is until now.
"What about you, me, us?" I tilt my head in curiousity. What is he thinking? I feel like a stranger to him right now. Ever since I told Skyler about my problems, I'm discovering that he's fighting his own inner demons.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out myself." I'm confused. "Don't worry about it Phoebe. We're going to see Teddy, why aren't you excited?" My confusion is taken over with excitement.
"I am excited. I haven't seen Teddy since Christmas because of that internship he's been taking. Does he know we're even coming?" Teddy hates surprises just like Dad. I don't understand why they do. I love surprises. Dad is good at surprising me with things. Except for this surprise. I'm wondering if he's really letting me get a break or if Teddy is going to lecture me about school so he doesn't have to.
"Yes, we called him yesterday to make sure he didn't have anything this weekend. By the time we arrive he should be out of class and free for the rest of the day." We were about to take off when Skyler starts to shift in his seat.
"What's wrong?" He looks over briefly and I can see his discomfort.
"I hate take-off's. They make me nervous." He looks out the window and sees the plane moving on the runway and quickly closes his window. I find his discomfort cute.
"You'll be fine. Don't think about it. Let me distract you." I take his hand and start drawing and writing on his palm with my finger. "What did I just put on your palm?" I smile.
He smiles too. "You wrote Phoebe." I kept on drawing until the pilot told us we were safely in the air. "Already?" Skyler raises if eyebrows. "I guess you do know how to distract me."
"It's not that hard. You're really easy to entertain." I try to put in the double meaning and he catches it.
"Rude! Where are your manners, Grey?" He sarcastically says.
"Up your -" I'm about to say.
"Phoebe." I'm cut off by Daddy's stern voice. I pout in response and turn back to Skyler who's grinning ear to ear right now.
"Not fair!" He laughs.
"I wasn't the one who about to say it. Especially with your dad around. Manners! Do I need to teach you some?" I hit him playfully. I covers his face with the pillow by him in defense and I keep at it until he gives up. "Okay, okay! You win. I'm sorry." He still smiling and I know he's lying.
"Say it like you mean it or else I won't stop!" I tug his pillow away and start hitting him with it. I can hear my mom laughing in the background. I feel like a little child again. I haven't done this type of stuff in a really long time. It's really refreshing to let go.
In that little millisecond of my thoughts, Skyler managed to grab the pillow and hit me playfully. "I'm sorry." I puts it down and looks straight at me. I feel vulnerable. It's almost Skyler can see right through me. For some reason, Skyler's apology didn't seem for the pillow fight but for something else. The thought gives me the chills.
"Are you cold?" Obviously Skyler's concern radiates because I'm cold. He grabs the blanket in front of us and drapes it over me. I lean against his shoulder as he puts his arm around me. I can feel my dad's eyes on him but decide to ignore him and enjoy Skyler company and heat.
I feel little nudge on my shoulder and I stir a little. The lights above my are bright as I open my eyes but quickly decide to close them again. "No." I hear the whisper in my ear. I groan in protest. "Phoebe, you need to wake up now. We're about to land." I open my eyes reluctantly and sit up slowly. "Good morning sunshine." I narrow my eyes at Skyler. Everyone knows that you don't wake Phoebe up when she's sleeping. It's a huge mistake. "Awh, don't frown at me. You're going to see your brother soon." He smiles and I still keep my frown.
"Your mean for waking me up." I lean back against the seat and close my eyes again. I felt a sharp tickle to my side and jolted up with surprise. "Skyler!" I laugh and try to get him to stop. "Stop!" For a few seconds he didn't but as the plane comes to landing he begins to get nervous again. "Don't think about it. We'll be down in a little while." He nods his head but the tension remains. I was scared of flying too but the amount of traveling my dad did, you have to get over the fear.
Couple of minutes later we were landing at the airport and everyone was out of their seats. "I hate long flights." Mom and Dad both stretch from the long flight. I'm even sore from the nap and getting up took some time. The closer we got to the gate, the higher my excitement gets. "Someone's excited." I turn to Dad who's smiling away while holding Mom's hand.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be? Aren't you excited to see your son whom you've shipped across the country?" I smile innocently.
"I didn't ship him off. He wanted to go and I had no place to stop him." Dad got defensive. I find it cute. I rarely get to see Dad this laid back and off CEO mode.
"So if I want to go across the country by choice, would you let me?" Daddy tilted his head as if he didn't understand and I already knew the answer to that question. I don't understand why Dad let Teddy go to Harvard but he wants me to stay and go to WSU like my mom did. I don't mind staying there since my mom went there but knowing he doesn't want me to leave makes me more mad and I crave leaving and coming to the East Coast.
It takes me a second to spot my brother. He's just a younger version of my dad. I ran towards him and he's open his arms to me as I jump onto him. "Teddy!" I wrap my arms around him so hard he almost falls backwards.
"Hey Phebs. I've missed you little one." I puts me down but still holds me. "You look so different."
"Do I? How?" I felt the same. Didn't change anything to my daily routines.
"It's called growing up." I roll my eyes at him. He's such a future Christian Grey. I can feel it already. "How are you? Dad said you ditched school which isn't normal." I swallow and try to hold back the tears. Dad talked to Teddy about me already. He knows I'm hiding something. That's why I'm here, for Teddy to get it out of me and report to my dad.
"I'm fine. I just had a rough first day at school and wanted to get away. We'll talk later." I hear the footsteps behind me close in.
"Teddy!" Mom comes to Teddy and gives him a kiss on the cheek and he does the same. "How are you, boy? Behaving, right?" Teddy rolls his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at your mother. It's rude." My dad says behind my mom and she rolls her eyes knowing he can't see her. "Don't think I don't know you just rolled your eyes, Ana."
"How do you do that? You can't even see my face." The two of them were staring at each other. I couldn't help but laugh. Dad tilts his head a little to look at me and suppress my laugh.
"What's so funny Phoebe?" I know my dad is being playful right now. It's a pleasure to see.
"You're funny. Can we go? I need to catch up on the time we lost with Teddy." I whine like a little girl. We needed to go. I need time with my big brother.
"Yes, you may go. Sawyer is staying here with you." I narrow my eyes at him. Teddy already has security here. Why do we need more? Before I can argue, Dad raises his hand and I know I'm silenced. "Sawyer is staying with you. Now, we have a flight to catch and we'll be back Sunday afternoon to have a meal with Teddy before heading back." And with that said, everyone is off.