Okay, I know this one's short but it's important. I'll put up the 4th chapter as well today so you don't get upset.
The next few months pass in a blur.
Alice spends her time, in between working two jobs and going to school, hanging out with the Spencer kids. As it turns out, Sarah and her have the same taste in books, and Kate and her have the same taste in movies. Reid takes any chance he can to play pool against her again, but he never bets money on their games. Caleb and Tyler bond with her less, but during group events they always make an effort to include her. Pogue returns to work but now his stories about his friends are constantly interjected with Alice's own thoughts and opinions.
The week before Pogue's birthday is where time seems to slow down again.
"Trust you to be born the day before Christmas Eve," Alice laughs as she finishes up an oil change on a bike, "You're really not going to throw anything?"
"Nope," Pogue laughs, cleaning an engine piece, "This year it's just me, Sarah, Kate, and the guys." He flicks a bit of grease at her, "I'd invite you too-"
"But Ram's coming home and I'm spending Christmas with him up in our family house in Maine," Alice finishes, "I know. I would have loved to come but family comes first." She shrugs, giving him a look.
He doesn't know how loaded that statement actually is.
"Exactly," There's something in his eyes she can't place as he says that before he turns back to his engine part. She finishes up the oil change, rolls the bike to the front of the shop, and clocks out with a 'goodbye' in the general direction of Pogue.
Her truck carries her down to work at Brody's, but her mind is on Pogue's expression. Maybe he's got his own burden to carry.
The girls and her go see a movie the day before she leaves for Maine.
"I'm so excited for Pogue's birthday," Kate exclaims before they go in, "It's going to be great!"
"I know," Sarah gushes back, uncharacteristically happy, "It's going to be incredible. I missed what it was like for Caleb."
"Missed what?" Alice frowns and they both look at her in surprise, "I know Caleb didn't have a party or anything but we're you with him that night? In the Putnam barn?" She looks at Sarah.
Sarah and Kate look at each other before answering.
"Well, yes," Kate flaps her hands around.
"But it's not the same, not one on one. Pogue's birthday should be better because it's inner circle," Sarah says carelessly, "Minus you of course," She adds as an afterthought.
"Uh huh," Something in Alice sinks, but she ignores it. "Come on guys, let's just go get our seats," She starts heading toward the theater, not bothering to check if the girls are following her or not.
The day of Pogue's birthday, December 23th at exactly 3:27 in the afternoon, Pogue ascends in Ipswich. At the same time in Maine Alice starts convulsing on the bathroom floor, her back feeling like it's being burned away. It ends after a minute, and her brother leans over her, his face framed with worry.
The other kids ask what happened later on. Her brother doesn't mention the truth, her episodes coming and going randomly, and Alice avoids looking at her back.
That night, in her room she shares with her brother, she checks and another emblem is there, perfectly black like the other two, perfectly positioned down her spine, right under the second one.
She wonders again what it could mean.
Hope you liked it! Please R&R so I get feedback!
-Margii