CHAPTER EIGHT:
[center]The boy between six-and-ten or eight-and-ten summers was before her, on his knees. Juliet couldn't tear her eyes from him. From his eyes-a startling green or the dark, halo of hair about his head, she couldn't tear her eyes from this dark angel.
Managing not to break her gaze he took Juliet's hand. "Your hand is like a holy place my hands are unworthy to visit." He eyed her as he continued, "If you are offended by the touch of my hand, my two lips are here like two blushing pilgrims..."
Shyly, Juliet returned her eyes to look directly at him through her eyelashes.
"...ready to make things better," he eyed her, his smile mischievous but trusting as he pressed his burning lips to the skin of her wrist. "...with a kiss."
"Good pilgrim," she began softly continuing with the flirtation, "you don't give your hand enough credit. Just by holding my hand you show polite devotion."
He smiled up at her.
"After all," Juliet went on, "pilgrims touch with their hands the statues of saints." She flattened her palm against his and he mimicked her movement until their fingers were delicately laced together. "Holding one's palm against another is like a kiss."
Puzzled he stood up, managing not to break their hands embrace. "Don't saints and pilgrims have lips too?"
"Yes, pilgrim, they have lips. That they're supposed to praywith." Juliet contended, feeling disappoint in her stomach, sure this was the line that would end this flirtation.
"Then, saint, let lips do what hands do," he motioned towards their interlaced fingers. "For I am praying for you to kiss me." He gazed down at her, letting his longing and need give color to his words. "Please grant my prayer so my faith doesn't turn to despair."
Her cheeks instant began to flame a fiery red as she tried to keep up the charade. "Saints don't move," she whispered. "Even when they grant prayers."
Taking her into his arms, with one hand holding her to his chest by her waist, he murmured back, "Then don't move while I act out my prayer." He took her face in his other hand, bent down and gently kissed Juliet.
Juliet's heart froze as he continued to kiss her deeply, pressing her to him, his hand passionately cradling her face in his hand. In all of her three-and-ten summers, never had she felt her lips tingle from such contact.
Finally he pulled away.
"No!" Juliet cried, snapping out of her reprieve. She didn't want it to be over yet.
He smiled eager to keep up the charade too. "Now my sin has been taken from my lips to yours," His eyes widened."Sin from my lips?" He shook his head. "You encourage crime with your innocence." He brought her back to him. "Give me my sin back," he commanded, his voice rough before he bent down to kiss her again.
And this time Juliet responded; wrapping both her arms around his neck and standing on her toes as both his hands twined her waist. The contact between them grew impassioned as her body melted into his, hurting from how hard she was pressing herself to him. Juliet's long slender fingers reached up the back of his neck and began to twine them in his luscious hair, black of the night.
This time, however, when they pulled away from each other, Juliet's smile was so dazzling it could’ve rivaled the light of the stars. "You kiss by the book-like you studied how," she whispered, her hands sliding down against his chest.
He smiled and had just resumed his lips "prayer" when someone began to call for her. "Madam..."
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I sat up in bed, my lips tingling something awful. I was almost surprised to be found alone. My lips were tingling so bad I almost wondered if the kiss ending my dream was real.
I struggled to remember what had happened but it was already gone, only thin, shimmering threads of memory floated near, teasing me as they danced and darted out of my grasp. "Ugh-a-ma!" I groaned as I climbed out of bed. I hate this feeling. I hope I never get amnesia otherwise I'd go insane.
It was only after remembering the night before with Taylor that I floated downstairs for breakfast.
"Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feeling' everything’s going my way." I sang happily as I pulled out a box of cherry Toaster Strudel out of the freezer.
"Well, someone’s in a good mood today." Brendan commented from the doorway before he made his way over to me.
I smiled at him over my shoulder before going to throw a casual arm on his shoulder and kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning, Godfather." I said cheerfully, tossing a cherry strudel into the toaster.
He eyed me suspiciously, "Why so exuberant, princessa?"
I turned around to face him, my back against the counter. "I just wanted to say thank you so much for the party."
Brendan raised a eyebrow. "Really?" He asked sounding surprised for reasons I couldn't understand.
Solemnly yet (as he said) exuberant, I nodded, gathering my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head. "Yes. It was one of the best nights of my life." Not that I can tell him exactly why.
Satisfied, Brendan nodded as he moved about the kitchen to make a cup of coffee using the Kerger. "That's good because that party cost a hell of a lot-
"Godfather," I admonished, shaking my head at him. Mamma and Daddy didn't approve of using cuss words to express displeasure or to emphasize a point.
"My house, my rules," he counter-argued before continuing. "-a lot of money to create and make happen. However, after last night I got to thinking."
The toaster beeped and I grabbed a pair of tongs to pull out my strudel and set it on my plate without burning my fingers. "Yes?..."
"I was thinking that for my birthday I might throw a party too." I was nodding along to this until he added, "Only instead, my party will be princess themed."
My mouth dropped open before I started laughing. "Princess themed?" I splattered, squeezing icing on the top of the Toaster Strudel.
Brendan nodded. "Go big or go home, right?"
I couldn't hide my grin. "Sure...I guess so."
"And there will be red and pink roses everywhere for decoration. And there will be tea parties with those little sandwiches-"
"Okay, okay I get the point!" I laughed as I took a bite.
Brendan shot me an exaggeratingly smiley face "But I haven't even the best part yet."
Oh, gosh, I bemusedly glanced over at him. "And that would be?"
Brendan grabbed my hand and twirled me around the kitchen. "There will be dancing."
We were still dancing when someone grabbed me by the hand. "Nick!" I grinningly protested once I saw it was him. "Wha-"
"Have you seen the news?" He asked.
Brendan glanced over at me and I shook my head before Brendan answered, "No...Why? What's wrong?"
Nick just shook his head. "C'mon."
He lead us to the living room where the TV was on mute but the screen showed it all. Something was burning. The whole screen was covered with a aerial view of downtown Los Angelos which was being decimated by this deadly fire. The flames were dark red and orange, billowing out and breathing out this horrible smoke the color of fresh charcoal.
A hand flew to cover my mouth as I shakingly sat down. "Oh, God..."
"And this is the same place-" Brendan began.
Solemnly, Nick nodded. "Yes."
Looking ill, Brendan stood up and hurried out of the room as Frankie entered, followed by Joe...
"Did you guys see the fire?" He wanted to know.
"Yes, Tank." I nodded as he came to sit next to me.
Nick eyed Joe warily, recognizing he was in a foul mood from his brooding expression and the dark cloud around him. "You look like you have something to say." He commented.
Joe shook his head. "No, actually, nothing new anyway." He turned away but not before muttering, "Damn, fuc-"
I stood up. "Joe, seriously? You're going to pull that now?"
Joe's scathing laughter mocked me before he snapped, "You don't know the whole story, princess." He turned and went stomping through the doors leading to the backyard.
I got up and ran after him barefoot, before I finally managed to grasp the fabric of his shirt. "What's been with you lately?" I cried.
Joe whirled around so suddenly, a cool, sharp wind whipped through the air. "Someone died in that fire, Alexie."
I stumbled back half a step. "What?" I choked.
"Yeah, that's right, someone died. And not some random person either but someone we actually knew." Joe went on each word he spoke a slap in the face.
"Who?"
"Leigha." He stonily answered.
"Leigha?" I cried.
"Wait, Demi's cousin Leigha." Nick interjected.
"Yes. So don't you dare tell me to give those Teabags the benefit ofthe doubt when my girlfriend is in mourning!" Joe snapped.
"You don't even know for sure that it was them!” I shot back. "None of us do!"
"Oh yeah? You want to say that to Demi'sface, princess?" He responded, his words a stinging slap in the face.
I shut my mouth and found myself looking away.
Looking unsurprised, Joe nodded. "That's what I thought."
"Just because you're older doesn't mean you know everything!" I hotly shot back before I could stop myself. "I probably know more about Teague's then you do."
He scoffed. "And how's that?"
"Because I've actually talked to one!" I cried.
In half a second, he was in front of me, my arm painfully twisted in his grip as his eyes fixated on me. "You stay away from them, you hear?"
Frankie ran over to him. "Joe!"
Nick followed, trying to get him to let me go. "Joe, stop it!
"I'm not playing this time, Alexie." He ignored them. "You stay away from them. They only bring pain and destruction." His eyes went unseeing and to himself he whispered, "We should know."
Managing to get my arm out of his grip, I let Nick safely pull me to his side as he glared at our brother. "What are you talking about?"
Joe snapped back to reality, but his expression was suddenly animated, his eyes on fire as he hissed. "They're the ones who destroyed this family."
"Is that what you believe?" I demanded. I turned to look at the others. "Is that what all of you believe? That because we're supposed to hate them, that they're the devil?" No one said anything and in the silence my voice broke. "Mamma taught us to believe in the best of people—all people."
"But she isn't here now…" Joe coldly spat. "Is she?"
I didn't even see Nick's fist until after it had smashed into Joe's jaw.
"Nick!" I cried before I ran and jumped on his back, holding him back as he struggled against me.
"Are you serious, Nick?" Joe demanded after spitting blood out on the grass. His eyes never wavered from Nick's face which remained ice. "You're going to punch your own brother over them? You're going to hurt me over those f'ucking Teagues?" He glared at
Nick stonily for a long moment before slowly and deliberately saying, "Nice to see where your loyalty lies."
Nick stared back at him but he didn't move or say one word.
Joe just shook his head. "I'm out," he said turning back towards the doors.
"Where are you going?" Frankie asked, rushing to him.
"Over to Demi's," he snapped glaring at Nick and I both in turn. "She needs me." And then he was gone.
We stood there in silent before Nick rubbed his reddening hand. "Ow."
I'll get you some ice, I quietly muttered to him.
I had just come back outside, as Frankie disappeared upstairs, when suddenly with the weight of the world on his back, Nick sank down into a lounge chair. Maybe, he began with a shake of his head. Maybe he's right.
I almost dropped the ice pack. What?
Maybe he's right. He repeated thoughtfully to himself more than to me. Could it be that they all are right and we've fooled ourselves long enough? Maybe its time that we were completely loyal to what we're supposed to be.
You mean taking sides, don't you? Sharply, I demanded. I wasn't even expecting him to deny it but I was praying for him to. He didn't say anything. He wasn't even trying to deny it. You're trying to become one of them-a Teague hater!
He still didn't say anything.
I rushed to his side and grabbed his hand.Nick, you can't do this! It's not right!!
[b]I'm not sure what is anymore, he finally retorted glancing up to look up at me. But I can't let this continue to contribute to our family's destruction anymore than it already has.
So you're saying that you don't think there's a sliver of anything good in them worth saving? I cried.
No, Alexie. he somberly said getting up and walking towards the doors. I'm starting not to.
What happened to us? I wondered as I sank into the chair. We never used to be like this. Joe never used to be this angry and iltolerante person. And Nick certainly never thought anything was completetly terrible about anyone.
But I knew what had changed them. It was the thing that had changed us all.
Death.
"Hey." He said out loud.
I turned around to look at him, hoping my dejection didn't show. "Yeah?"
"You and me," he began.
I smiled slightly. "Stick like glue,"
"Just like Fred and Ginger do," we finished together, smiling at each other.
No matter what Twin, I got your back, okay? Nick went on.
I nodded but the different directions all of our lives were taking us made me unsure of how long any of us would be able to keep this promise.
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Pulling out my phone, I hurried upstairs for my bedroom. I let the door slam behind me as I darted into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. My fingers were dancing down my contact list until I found Taylor’s number. I pressed the call button before sitting down on my
wicker box for magazines.
The phone rang for a couple minutes before he answered. "Hello?"
I couldn't help it. The moment I heard his voice, I sat up and I couldn't stop my grin from growing. "Taylor?"
"Yeah..." he pointedly replied.
"It’s me," I went on, swinging my legs back and forth.
"Oh. What's up?"
And now I had to get back to the purpose of this call. My stomach twisted and my smile diminished. "Have you seen the news today?" I asked, biting my lip and twisting the bottom of my shirt in my hand.
I could hear some shuffling before a door closed. "No...why? Were we-"
At that I shook my head. I hadn't even thought of that. "No, it’s not that." I paused. "This may actually be worse."
"What the hel-"
"Taylor!" I cried warningly.
Frustrated, Taylor sighed. "Just tell me, Alexie."
I got up and stood in front of the mirror, my hands on my counter. Sighing I said, "You know how there was that huge Lett versus Teague fight yesterday?"
"At Italiana?" He questioned.
I nodded. "Yes."
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well, it reached the tipping point..."
I could hear his confusion plain in his voice as I heard something in the background that sounded like a soda opening. "What do you mean?"
"Sometime last night someone they-they burned the whole place down." I
hurriedly finished.
Something dropped and Taylor swore. "What?"
"And-" I began only he interrupted me.
"There's more?"
"Yes. Because someone, well...they died."
He swore again. "That sucks as-"
"Taylor!"
"Sorry. That sucks b]butt[/b]." He amended with a smirk in his voice. "But what does this have to do with anything?"
"Don't you understand?" I cried. "This is going to drive the animosity levels of the city sky high. The Letts are blaming the Teagues. Who, in turn are claiming we set the fire in order to frame them. Already there's been two Teagues versus Letts fights on 34th street."
"The street dividing Monroe and Callan?" Taylor wanted to know.
I nodded before I remembered he couldn't see me. "Yes, and right now the last thing anyone in L.A. would be is tolerant of the two of us together."
Taylor chuckled and shook his head. "So that's why you called," understandably he said.
"Yes-" I started only then he interrupted me.
"-to call today off." Taylor finished darkly.
I dropped the phone in the sink. "Wait-what?" Scrambling for it but unable to grasp it with my nails, I used my palms to guide it back to my ear. "No! That's not it at all."
"Enlighten me then," he shot back in that stupid cocky voice of his I hate.
"I'm just checking to see if you're still in." I tried to explain.
"I've never been out, Alexie. And I haven't been the one questioning things every step of the way." I heard a loud voice in the background and Taylor's muffled response. "Look, I have to get back to set. Are we still on for later or what?"
I sighed and crossed my eyes as I sat back down. "Yes, Taylor."
"Good. Then I'll pick you up at ten by the spot."
I smiled. "Oookayy."
He chuckled and lowered his voice before adding, "Bye, baby."
My smile brightened, and my stomach flipped. "Goodbye."
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After getting dressed, I headed downstairs when I saw that Joe was standing in the foyer looking out the window. At first I was about to slip back upstairs or quietly into the kitchen but I knew I couldn’t hide from him, from this forever. So instead I walked up to him and quietly stood next to him looking out the window. “I'm sorry… for earlier.” I began meaning
to stop there but I couldn’t help adding, “But you can't really mean that.”
He didn’t turn to look at me as he responded. “Mean what?”
I swallowed hard, "Everything you said about Teagues and-"
Joe shook his head. "Yes, I do. The truth is we only have each other left. You, me, Nick, Frankie and Kevin. That's it."
But what about Demi, Joey?" I protested. "And Selena, Bliss, Brendan and everyone else here?"
"Just us, that's it," he repeated sharply , his expression stone cold. "You don't get it, Alexie. What happened, everything’s changed. Despite the mayors efforts any progress between us and the Teagues has backfired."
"Okay," I shrugged, "so we'll build it back up."
"Someone died, Alexie!" He exploded again. I jumped and he lowered his voice before he repeated himself. "Someone died. And there's nothing anyone can do to take that back."
Leaning away from him, my eyes wide, I cautiously asked, "And so?"
"It changes everything. Anything bad between the Teagues and us..." he paused and looked out across the sea. "Well, it's about to get a lot worse."
[center]The boy between six-and-ten or eight-and-ten summers was before her, on his knees. Juliet couldn't tear her eyes from him. From his eyes-a startling green or the dark, halo of hair about his head, she couldn't tear her eyes from this dark angel.
Managing not to break her gaze he took Juliet's hand. "Your hand is like a holy place my hands are unworthy to visit." He eyed her as he continued, "If you are offended by the touch of my hand, my two lips are here like two blushing pilgrims..."
Shyly, Juliet returned her eyes to look directly at him through her eyelashes.
"...ready to make things better," he eyed her, his smile mischievous but trusting as he pressed his burning lips to the skin of her wrist. "...with a kiss."
"Good pilgrim," she began softly continuing with the flirtation, "you don't give your hand enough credit. Just by holding my hand you show polite devotion."
He smiled up at her.
"After all," Juliet went on, "pilgrims touch with their hands the statues of saints." She flattened her palm against his and he mimicked her movement until their fingers were delicately laced together. "Holding one's palm against another is like a kiss."
Puzzled he stood up, managing not to break their hands embrace. "Don't saints and pilgrims have lips too?"
"Yes, pilgrim, they have lips. That they're supposed to praywith." Juliet contended, feeling disappoint in her stomach, sure this was the line that would end this flirtation.
"Then, saint, let lips do what hands do," he motioned towards their interlaced fingers. "For I am praying for you to kiss me." He gazed down at her, letting his longing and need give color to his words. "Please grant my prayer so my faith doesn't turn to despair."
Her cheeks instant began to flame a fiery red as she tried to keep up the charade. "Saints don't move," she whispered. "Even when they grant prayers."
Taking her into his arms, with one hand holding her to his chest by her waist, he murmured back, "Then don't move while I act out my prayer." He took her face in his other hand, bent down and gently kissed Juliet.
Juliet's heart froze as he continued to kiss her deeply, pressing her to him, his hand passionately cradling her face in his hand. In all of her three-and-ten summers, never had she felt her lips tingle from such contact.
Finally he pulled away.
"No!" Juliet cried, snapping out of her reprieve. She didn't want it to be over yet.
He smiled eager to keep up the charade too. "Now my sin has been taken from my lips to yours," His eyes widened."Sin from my lips?" He shook his head. "You encourage crime with your innocence." He brought her back to him. "Give me my sin back," he commanded, his voice rough before he bent down to kiss her again.
And this time Juliet responded; wrapping both her arms around his neck and standing on her toes as both his hands twined her waist. The contact between them grew impassioned as her body melted into his, hurting from how hard she was pressing herself to him. Juliet's long slender fingers reached up the back of his neck and began to twine them in his luscious hair, black of the night.
This time, however, when they pulled away from each other, Juliet's smile was so dazzling it could’ve rivaled the light of the stars. "You kiss by the book-like you studied how," she whispered, her hands sliding down against his chest.
He smiled and had just resumed his lips "prayer" when someone began to call for her. "Madam..."
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I sat up in bed, my lips tingling something awful. I was almost surprised to be found alone. My lips were tingling so bad I almost wondered if the kiss ending my dream was real.
I struggled to remember what had happened but it was already gone, only thin, shimmering threads of memory floated near, teasing me as they danced and darted out of my grasp. "Ugh-a-ma!" I groaned as I climbed out of bed. I hate this feeling. I hope I never get amnesia otherwise I'd go insane.
It was only after remembering the night before with Taylor that I floated downstairs for breakfast.
"Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feeling' everything’s going my way." I sang happily as I pulled out a box of cherry Toaster Strudel out of the freezer.
"Well, someone’s in a good mood today." Brendan commented from the doorway before he made his way over to me.
I smiled at him over my shoulder before going to throw a casual arm on his shoulder and kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning, Godfather." I said cheerfully, tossing a cherry strudel into the toaster.
He eyed me suspiciously, "Why so exuberant, princessa?"
I turned around to face him, my back against the counter. "I just wanted to say thank you so much for the party."
Brendan raised a eyebrow. "Really?" He asked sounding surprised for reasons I couldn't understand.
Solemnly yet (as he said) exuberant, I nodded, gathering my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head. "Yes. It was one of the best nights of my life." Not that I can tell him exactly why.
Satisfied, Brendan nodded as he moved about the kitchen to make a cup of coffee using the Kerger. "That's good because that party cost a hell of a lot-
"Godfather," I admonished, shaking my head at him. Mamma and Daddy didn't approve of using cuss words to express displeasure or to emphasize a point.
"My house, my rules," he counter-argued before continuing. "-a lot of money to create and make happen. However, after last night I got to thinking."
The toaster beeped and I grabbed a pair of tongs to pull out my strudel and set it on my plate without burning my fingers. "Yes?..."
"I was thinking that for my birthday I might throw a party too." I was nodding along to this until he added, "Only instead, my party will be princess themed."
My mouth dropped open before I started laughing. "Princess themed?" I splattered, squeezing icing on the top of the Toaster Strudel.
Brendan nodded. "Go big or go home, right?"
I couldn't hide my grin. "Sure...I guess so."
"And there will be red and pink roses everywhere for decoration. And there will be tea parties with those little sandwiches-"
"Okay, okay I get the point!" I laughed as I took a bite.
Brendan shot me an exaggeratingly smiley face "But I haven't even the best part yet."
Oh, gosh, I bemusedly glanced over at him. "And that would be?"
Brendan grabbed my hand and twirled me around the kitchen. "There will be dancing."
We were still dancing when someone grabbed me by the hand. "Nick!" I grinningly protested once I saw it was him. "Wha-"
"Have you seen the news?" He asked.
Brendan glanced over at me and I shook my head before Brendan answered, "No...Why? What's wrong?"
Nick just shook his head. "C'mon."
He lead us to the living room where the TV was on mute but the screen showed it all. Something was burning. The whole screen was covered with a aerial view of downtown Los Angelos which was being decimated by this deadly fire. The flames were dark red and orange, billowing out and breathing out this horrible smoke the color of fresh charcoal.
A hand flew to cover my mouth as I shakingly sat down. "Oh, God..."
"And this is the same place-" Brendan began.
Solemnly, Nick nodded. "Yes."
Looking ill, Brendan stood up and hurried out of the room as Frankie entered, followed by Joe...
"Did you guys see the fire?" He wanted to know.
"Yes, Tank." I nodded as he came to sit next to me.
Nick eyed Joe warily, recognizing he was in a foul mood from his brooding expression and the dark cloud around him. "You look like you have something to say." He commented.
Joe shook his head. "No, actually, nothing new anyway." He turned away but not before muttering, "Damn, fuc-"
I stood up. "Joe, seriously? You're going to pull that now?"
Joe's scathing laughter mocked me before he snapped, "You don't know the whole story, princess." He turned and went stomping through the doors leading to the backyard.
I got up and ran after him barefoot, before I finally managed to grasp the fabric of his shirt. "What's been with you lately?" I cried.
Joe whirled around so suddenly, a cool, sharp wind whipped through the air. "Someone died in that fire, Alexie."
I stumbled back half a step. "What?" I choked.
"Yeah, that's right, someone died. And not some random person either but someone we actually knew." Joe went on each word he spoke a slap in the face.
"Who?"
"Leigha." He stonily answered.
"Leigha?" I cried.
"Wait, Demi's cousin Leigha." Nick interjected.
"Yes. So don't you dare tell me to give those Teabags the benefit ofthe doubt when my girlfriend is in mourning!" Joe snapped.
"You don't even know for sure that it was them!” I shot back. "None of us do!"
"Oh yeah? You want to say that to Demi'sface, princess?" He responded, his words a stinging slap in the face.
I shut my mouth and found myself looking away.
Looking unsurprised, Joe nodded. "That's what I thought."
"Just because you're older doesn't mean you know everything!" I hotly shot back before I could stop myself. "I probably know more about Teague's then you do."
He scoffed. "And how's that?"
"Because I've actually talked to one!" I cried.
In half a second, he was in front of me, my arm painfully twisted in his grip as his eyes fixated on me. "You stay away from them, you hear?"
Frankie ran over to him. "Joe!"
Nick followed, trying to get him to let me go. "Joe, stop it!
"I'm not playing this time, Alexie." He ignored them. "You stay away from them. They only bring pain and destruction." His eyes went unseeing and to himself he whispered, "We should know."
Managing to get my arm out of his grip, I let Nick safely pull me to his side as he glared at our brother. "What are you talking about?"
Joe snapped back to reality, but his expression was suddenly animated, his eyes on fire as he hissed. "They're the ones who destroyed this family."
"Is that what you believe?" I demanded. I turned to look at the others. "Is that what all of you believe? That because we're supposed to hate them, that they're the devil?" No one said anything and in the silence my voice broke. "Mamma taught us to believe in the best of people—all people."
"But she isn't here now…" Joe coldly spat. "Is she?"
I didn't even see Nick's fist until after it had smashed into Joe's jaw.
"Nick!" I cried before I ran and jumped on his back, holding him back as he struggled against me.
"Are you serious, Nick?" Joe demanded after spitting blood out on the grass. His eyes never wavered from Nick's face which remained ice. "You're going to punch your own brother over them? You're going to hurt me over those f'ucking Teagues?" He glared at
Nick stonily for a long moment before slowly and deliberately saying, "Nice to see where your loyalty lies."
Nick stared back at him but he didn't move or say one word.
Joe just shook his head. "I'm out," he said turning back towards the doors.
"Where are you going?" Frankie asked, rushing to him.
"Over to Demi's," he snapped glaring at Nick and I both in turn. "She needs me." And then he was gone.
We stood there in silent before Nick rubbed his reddening hand. "Ow."
I'll get you some ice, I quietly muttered to him.
I had just come back outside, as Frankie disappeared upstairs, when suddenly with the weight of the world on his back, Nick sank down into a lounge chair. Maybe, he began with a shake of his head. Maybe he's right.
I almost dropped the ice pack. What?
Maybe he's right. He repeated thoughtfully to himself more than to me. Could it be that they all are right and we've fooled ourselves long enough? Maybe its time that we were completely loyal to what we're supposed to be.
You mean taking sides, don't you? Sharply, I demanded. I wasn't even expecting him to deny it but I was praying for him to. He didn't say anything. He wasn't even trying to deny it. You're trying to become one of them-a Teague hater!
He still didn't say anything.
I rushed to his side and grabbed his hand.Nick, you can't do this! It's not right!!
[b]I'm not sure what is anymore, he finally retorted glancing up to look up at me. But I can't let this continue to contribute to our family's destruction anymore than it already has.
So you're saying that you don't think there's a sliver of anything good in them worth saving? I cried.
No, Alexie. he somberly said getting up and walking towards the doors. I'm starting not to.
What happened to us? I wondered as I sank into the chair. We never used to be like this. Joe never used to be this angry and iltolerante person. And Nick certainly never thought anything was completetly terrible about anyone.
But I knew what had changed them. It was the thing that had changed us all.
Death.
"Hey." He said out loud.
I turned around to look at him, hoping my dejection didn't show. "Yeah?"
"You and me," he began.
I smiled slightly. "Stick like glue,"
"Just like Fred and Ginger do," we finished together, smiling at each other.
No matter what Twin, I got your back, okay? Nick went on.
I nodded but the different directions all of our lives were taking us made me unsure of how long any of us would be able to keep this promise.
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Pulling out my phone, I hurried upstairs for my bedroom. I let the door slam behind me as I darted into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. My fingers were dancing down my contact list until I found Taylor’s number. I pressed the call button before sitting down on my
wicker box for magazines.
The phone rang for a couple minutes before he answered. "Hello?"
I couldn't help it. The moment I heard his voice, I sat up and I couldn't stop my grin from growing. "Taylor?"
"Yeah..." he pointedly replied.
"It’s me," I went on, swinging my legs back and forth.
"Oh. What's up?"
And now I had to get back to the purpose of this call. My stomach twisted and my smile diminished. "Have you seen the news today?" I asked, biting my lip and twisting the bottom of my shirt in my hand.
I could hear some shuffling before a door closed. "No...why? Were we-"
At that I shook my head. I hadn't even thought of that. "No, it’s not that." I paused. "This may actually be worse."
"What the hel-"
"Taylor!" I cried warningly.
Frustrated, Taylor sighed. "Just tell me, Alexie."
I got up and stood in front of the mirror, my hands on my counter. Sighing I said, "You know how there was that huge Lett versus Teague fight yesterday?"
"At Italiana?" He questioned.
I nodded. "Yes."
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well, it reached the tipping point..."
I could hear his confusion plain in his voice as I heard something in the background that sounded like a soda opening. "What do you mean?"
"Sometime last night someone they-they burned the whole place down." I
hurriedly finished.
Something dropped and Taylor swore. "What?"
"And-" I began only he interrupted me.
"There's more?"
"Yes. Because someone, well...they died."
He swore again. "That sucks as-"
"Taylor!"
"Sorry. That sucks b]butt[/b]." He amended with a smirk in his voice. "But what does this have to do with anything?"
"Don't you understand?" I cried. "This is going to drive the animosity levels of the city sky high. The Letts are blaming the Teagues. Who, in turn are claiming we set the fire in order to frame them. Already there's been two Teagues versus Letts fights on 34th street."
"The street dividing Monroe and Callan?" Taylor wanted to know.
I nodded before I remembered he couldn't see me. "Yes, and right now the last thing anyone in L.A. would be is tolerant of the two of us together."
Taylor chuckled and shook his head. "So that's why you called," understandably he said.
"Yes-" I started only then he interrupted me.
"-to call today off." Taylor finished darkly.
I dropped the phone in the sink. "Wait-what?" Scrambling for it but unable to grasp it with my nails, I used my palms to guide it back to my ear. "No! That's not it at all."
"Enlighten me then," he shot back in that stupid cocky voice of his I hate.
"I'm just checking to see if you're still in." I tried to explain.
"I've never been out, Alexie. And I haven't been the one questioning things every step of the way." I heard a loud voice in the background and Taylor's muffled response. "Look, I have to get back to set. Are we still on for later or what?"
I sighed and crossed my eyes as I sat back down. "Yes, Taylor."
"Good. Then I'll pick you up at ten by the spot."
I smiled. "Oookayy."
He chuckled and lowered his voice before adding, "Bye, baby."
My smile brightened, and my stomach flipped. "Goodbye."
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After getting dressed, I headed downstairs when I saw that Joe was standing in the foyer looking out the window. At first I was about to slip back upstairs or quietly into the kitchen but I knew I couldn’t hide from him, from this forever. So instead I walked up to him and quietly stood next to him looking out the window. “I'm sorry… for earlier.” I began meaning
to stop there but I couldn’t help adding, “But you can't really mean that.”
He didn’t turn to look at me as he responded. “Mean what?”
I swallowed hard, "Everything you said about Teagues and-"
Joe shook his head. "Yes, I do. The truth is we only have each other left. You, me, Nick, Frankie and Kevin. That's it."
But what about Demi, Joey?" I protested. "And Selena, Bliss, Brendan and everyone else here?"
"Just us, that's it," he repeated sharply , his expression stone cold. "You don't get it, Alexie. What happened, everything’s changed. Despite the mayors efforts any progress between us and the Teagues has backfired."
"Okay," I shrugged, "so we'll build it back up."
"Someone died, Alexie!" He exploded again. I jumped and he lowered his voice before he repeated himself. "Someone died. And there's nothing anyone can do to take that back."
Leaning away from him, my eyes wide, I cautiously asked, "And so?"
"It changes everything. Anything bad between the Teagues and us..." he paused and looked out across the sea. "Well, it's about to get a lot worse."
I open my teal tiny locker to grab my text books I
need to get for my next 2 classes.... I look down at my locker bottom and found a folded paper. I then picked up that note and read it in my mind:
Dear Rosemerry, I see you everyday,
You are unique and beautiful in your own very way, your hair so perfectly shined and smooth, I love it the way you groove,
I would love it when you drink tea, and i would able to see you, if you really want to know me, and despartley wana know who,
then why dont you, look behind you,
go ahead turn your gorgeous head around,
and Im standing behind you, turn around, now how
does that sound?
I turn my head around and found my man,
who is really tan, it was Taylor Lautner..........
need to get for my next 2 classes.... I look down at my locker bottom and found a folded paper. I then picked up that note and read it in my mind:
Dear Rosemerry, I see you everyday,
You are unique and beautiful in your own very way, your hair so perfectly shined and smooth, I love it the way you groove,
I would love it when you drink tea, and i would able to see you, if you really want to know me, and despartley wana know who,
then why dont you, look behind you,
go ahead turn your gorgeous head around,
and Im standing behind you, turn around, now how
does that sound?
I turn my head around and found my man,
who is really tan, it was Taylor Lautner..........
Taylor lautner was born on the day of feburary 11th 1992 in Grandrapids Micigan of course he grew and learned karate when he was the age 6 and got lots of rewards and belts like the the black belt and a bunch of rewards that he got enterdoesed to the new world of famous thats when he played in movies like sharkboy and lavagirl and in cartoon charaters like danny fantom and her grew more of corse played in twilight newmoom and ecispe and soon breaking dawn and fans go crazy over him now and all the boys are jealouse of him cause how girls go crazy over him they have pics,postars,and dolls and every thing of him mothers,fathers,brothers and familys go crazy cause shes braging how hot he is like my family and thats how taylor lautner became a hottie famouse guy