I am really sorry it has taken me so long to update… forgive me?

ANIK

I regretted it instantly. Not because there was now blood on Edison's face, the jerk deserved what he got. But because of the appalled look Emma threw at me as soon as she entered the room.

'God, Anik what did you do?' She exclaimed, shoving past me to Edison who… had no shirt on.

He had his shirt scrunched in a ball and was wiping away the blood trickling down his nose. Emma fussily took the shirt from him and dabbed at his face before turning peevishly to me.

'What the hell was that for?' She demanded.

'He asked for it,' I retorted, folding me arms defiantly.

'I heard the conversation,' she snapped. 'You weren't exactly keeping it quiet. Firstly I don't 'belong' to anyone, and secondly, you don't have control over my life. I am capable of making my own choices. And you,' she added, turning to Edison. 'I've just met you, and was just starting to trust you. Don't start picking fights with my best friend.' Edison opened his mouth to retort but Emma just glared at him. There was a tense silence where Emma stared at Edison, Edison stared at me… and I stared at Emma. She finally broke the staring contest by sighing and collapsing on the couch, tucking her knees under her chin.

'If we are going to break the curse,' Emma muttered quietly, 'we have to work together. It's not going to work if you two are trying to kill each other. We all have the same goal. To… untiger you both. Now I know it would break some kind of 'manly oath' or something to forgive each other, but… just get over it okay?' I shifted my gaze from Emma to Edison, and arched an eyebrow. I extended my hand, which he shook firmly, his eyes never breaking contact. Emma breathed out a sigh of relief and knelt next to the DVD player.

'Who wants to watch a movie?'

EMMA

We settled on a Lord of the Rings marathon, something Anik and I used to do every year on my birthday. I felt a little guilty, as this was something that was special to us, but I couldn't have Edison watching Iron Man or Thor as his first movie, as that was the only other film Anik owned.

Anik switched to his tiger form as his 24 minutes were up. I lay down and nestled my head in his soft fur, and his tail curled around me. Edison took the armchair, and helped himself to a bag of popcorn, which he refused to share.

Edison thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy, saying his favourite character was Samwise, which was my favourite character. He was very impressed with the special effects and was amazed by the technology in the 21st century. When the credits of The Return of the King rolled up he couldn't stop the smile on his face.

'Awesome!' he exclaimed, chucking a handful of popcorn into his mouth, and then proceeding to wipe his greasy, buttery fingers on the furniture. I rolled my eyes and stretched, adjusting myself on Anik's bony frame. It was late, the stars were out and my eyes were beginning to close. I stifled a yawn and drifted off to sleep.

I couldn't find him. The fog was blinding, and I groped aimlessly out in front of me.

'Anik!' I yelled. 'Anik!' The panic started to kick in as I desperately continued to call his name. There was only silence. A prickle of anxiety crept up my spine and I shivered, swinging around to see if I was being followed.

Almost instantly the fog began to clear and I could see Anik's long, lanky figure sprawled on the grass. I ran to his side and picked up one of his hands. It was ice-cold.

'No no no no no no. This can't be happening, this can't be happening. Anik wake up,' tears began to stream down my cheeks as wretched sobs shuddered through my chest.

'Come back. Don't leave me. Come back...'

I jerked awake and my eyes flew open. I was on the couch, a scratchy woollen blanket clutched in my hands. My heart rate began to slow down as I realized it was just a dream.

'Emma,' a voiced whispered and I jumped.

'Anik?'

'Yeah. Are you okay?' He came into view, his hair dishevelled and his eyes blinking away sleep. I breathed a sigh of relief and fell into his arms, wiping away tears that had somehow appeared.

'Shh, it's okay. I'm right here. Do you want to tell me what happened?' I shook my head and just let him hold me, gently rocking back forth until my sobs quietened to small hiccups. With Anik I felt safe, and I wanted was his arms to stay wrapped around me. He kissed my forehead, and when I woke up in the morning he was still on the couch with me, my arm draped over his tiger torso.

'What are you doing here?' Edison hissed when he came into the lounge room and saw me asleep, lying next to Anik. He jolted awake, rubbing his eyes.

'Huh?'

'You were supposed to sleep in your own room.'

'I had a nightmare,' I answered, confused. 'What's the big deal?' Edison's eyes blazed as he glared at Anik in disbelief.

'Breakfast is ready, Emma,' was his only answer and he disappeared from the room.

I sighed and got changed in Anik's bedroom, while he went straight to breakfast in his Buzz Lightyear pyjamas that were way too small. I emerged in jeans and a T-shirt advertising a band I didn't even like anymore. I walked into the kitchen to Edison and Anik avoiding each other's eyes and stuffing themselves with pancakes. Kelsey bustled around the kitchen humming to herself while Ren sat separate from the boys researching India flights and accommodation. Then it hit me; nine days until we leave for Mumbai.

With this thought in my head I sat down and helped myself to a stack of pancakes, drizzling maple syrup and lemon juice on top. Edison, who seemed to be in a better mood after eating widened his eyes.

'If you eat all of that you're going to burst!' he exclaimed. Anik snorted and replied,

'That's nothing. You should see her on a day she's actually hungry.' I glared at him, taking a large bite of my pancakes.

'You are both hypocrites. I saw how much you put on your own plate.' They both smiled, but then they noticed the other smiling and focussed back on eating.

Ren logged off his laptop and rubbed his eyes.

'Eat up kids. Today we begin training.'

Please review, favourite or follow!