Melted Emeralds (Double Life)

A/N: This short story wanted to get written asap -it didn´t let me go to bed and it was late, so I just wrote it. I really don´t know where it came from but here it is. It has nothing to do with Double Life, so not spoilers there, well, just a couple but not major things -maybe- lol Anyway, the things that are on DL: ofc, the characters and what Nichole can do. I liked this one and if I had to place it in DL time-line it´d happen years later from the current DL time and even that´s just to show they´re older. 

So, here it is, some kind of FF of my own story haha

****

this was a pix and someone made it look artsy like this. I liked it.

“Are you ready to go?” Joshua asked entering to the apartment. Besides the owner he was the only one with a key. He knew well that the only person in the place had heard him right when he got out of the elevator.

“Shoes and purse” a voice came from the bedroom. He sat on the white couch. A black cat came and purred against his leg, he petted the animal, he´d gotten it for the owner a couple of months ago.

“Why did Helen made it formal?” a young woman in a midnight blue dress that hugged her chest and waist came to the living room

“You look so beautiful, Nichole” he complimented, she smiled

“Like what you see?” she turned around revealing the v-shape on her back, it showed all the way down to the small of her back, a few thin straps of the same fabric made a pattern on her fair skin

“Wow” he had to thank Helen for making it formal. He didn´t get to see Nichole that way too often

“You never grew up of staring at me, did you, Josh?” she teased turning to see him. He grinned. “Are we leaving?” she raised her eyebrow. He stood up and she walked ahead, he closed the door and eased his hand on hers. She was wearing gloves, the same color as her dress, they covered her arms an inch above her elbows.

They walked hand in hand into the hotel.

“Happy birthday, Helen!” Nichole said to the hostess. Joshua handed his cousin an envelope and quickly draped his arm on Nichole´s shoulders, she leaned a little into him.

“You are so cute together!” Helen said unaware that Nichole was less than comfortable with touching people and Josh´s arm around her prevented from it to happen.

The couple walked in towards the drinks.

“I almost thought the love-birds weren´t coming” Aaron bumped fists with his twin

“Missed us that much?” Nichole said, Aaron laughed

“Damn, Nic, you look hot!”

“Watch it!” Josh playfully said narrowing his eyes. His twin laughed

“Dump this guy –Aaron motioned towards his twin- I´m just like him but ten times better” he winked, she raised an eyebrow

“I prefer the twin who doesn´t have a crooked nose” she smirked reminding Aaron of his broken nose. Even though he didn´t have it crooked he touched it a little self-conscious

“I´m still hotter” he narrowed his eyes at her

“No, thank you, not interested” she poked her tongue

“I´m here for whenever…”

“Stop flirting with my girl in front of me, jerk!” Joshua punched his twin

“Afraid I´ll get her?”

“As if…”

“I’m here, you idiots!” Nichole playfully pushed them and they all laughed

“Hey, let´s dance, People!” Helen pulled the twins by their arms. They had a drink in hand, Josh also had Nichole´s hand in his.

Helen kept bringing people to the dance floor. Aaron easily found someone to dance with.

“Josh, it is not my thing to spend a night on high heels…” Nichole leaned close to Josh´s ear, her breath tickled him. He knew what she wanted. She still wasn´t comfortable in large crows and Helen had gone all out for her 21^st birthday

“Do you want to leave?” he smiled

“Yes” she nodded

“Without trying the cake?” he inquired, taking advantage of her liking of sweet things

“After the cake –she sighed, he grinned- but we´re sitting now”

“Ok” he walked behind her not letting go of her hand but still watching her trade-mark walk, he felt like kissing her exposed neck, she looked back at him with a smirk.

As promised, after the cake and close to midnight, due to the coaxing of the birthday girl, they walked out the party towards the parking lot. Joshua was holding her, his arm around her waist. He nuzzled his nose on her cheek as they went out of the hotel doors, she leaned away of him a little.

“You look like a million dollars in that dress” he whispered into her ear, she chuckled a little. He kissed her temple and she tensed a little.

“So gorgeous” he said breathing closer to her

“Give me the keys, Josh” they stopped on the side of the car, on the passenger side. “You´re drunk” she rolled her eyes

“I’m not drunk. I could walk a straight line” he let go of her, she let out a breathy laugh

“You’re calling me gorgeous. You´re drunk” she concluded

“I´d call you that every day if you let me” he said, he knew he was somehow right, he´d drunk but he wasn´t drunk, just a bit tipsy though compared to a sober Nichole, he was.

“Just give me the keys. I don’t want to die yet” she crossed her arms over her chest, she was still smiling, that small smile of hers.

“I won´t give them to you” he said and she narrowed her eyes

“Then I´ll get them” she pursed her lips

“Be my guest” he smirked, she laughed

“Look at what alcohol does to you” she quickly pushed him against the car and went for his blazer pockets. He was definitely not drunk, he thought.

“Where did you put them?” she said too close to his face. Ok, now I´m definitely not drunk, he thought. She fished in one of his pants’ pockets, his eyes grew wide.

“Aha! Found them!” she shook the keys in front of him. He took her hands and kissed them both, her brown eyes were so warm. He directed her hands to his shoulders wondering if she´d comply, she was as weary to touch as ever. Tentatively he rested a hand on her waist and pulled her close

“Liked the dress a lot, huh?”

“Can´t take my eyes off of you”

She grinned showing her teeth a bit; her hands went to the side of his face. “Your eyes look like melted emeralds when you get all sap with me” she flicked his nose gently, he chuckled

“You´re beautiful, what can a guy do?”

“You just had too many drinks”

“Not true –his other hand softly caressed her cheek- I just like you like crazy”

“Thank you” she leaned in and placed a chaste peck on his cheek. He leaned closed to her, going for a real kiss.

“Time to go!” she pulled away

“Want me to drive you to your place? Or coffee at my place and then you drive yourself?” she drove out the parking lot

“Don´t want you to drive on your own in the middle of the night” he reached for her hand. They lazily held hands

“My place, then” she said.

The drive was quiet besides the soft music on the radio and the occasional chuckle on her part when Josh kissed her hand.

She opened the door, flicked the lights on, tossed her purse and keys on the table near the door and got rid of her shoes as she walked past the coffee table to the kitchen where she turned on the coffee machine and looked for the coffee bag on a cabinet. She´d heard Josh behind her but she couldn´t help but be surprised when he put his hands on her hips and planted a kiss on her shoulder. She stifled immediately and turned around.

“Josh…” her voice was soft but sounded like a warn, he smiled, big emeralds danced with light in his eyes

“So beautiful” he leaned in and a hand over his chest stoped him. “What is it, gorgeous?” he asked innocently but with eyes starting to fill with concern.

“You know I can´t get carried away… I don´t want to hurt you” she had a pained expression that he wanted to erase

“We know you are not going to hurt me” he stared deep in her eyes

“Do we know that for a fact?” she closed her eyes. He dotted a kiss on her cheek

“We´ve done this” he murmured against her skin

“And this” he kissed her other cheek

“And this” a light brush against her lips and he felt her smile

“And this” he opened his mouth a little so that he caught her bottom lip with his, she did smile this time.

“You´re not going to hurt me” he rubbed her arms downwards he stopped at her hands and guided them to his shoulders

“But…” she started to protest and he silenced her with a soft kiss, his hands on her hips, her hands gripping his shoulders, he deepened the kiss still making it slow. He felt her more relaxed and he took advantage of this pulling her closer, she hugged him, one of her hands on his hair, the other on his back. She was finally kissing back, with some reluctance that he planed to erase. He let her lips go and pressed his cheek with hers

“My beautiful, Nichole” he whispered against her neck, he knew she was smiling because she was completely relaxed as she guided him to her lips again.

He felt a little dizzy and alcohol had nothing to do with it, his hand had gone lower on her back and one of her legs loosely tangled with his, his heart was beating faster. She let go completely and he was afraid he did something wrong.

“Your coffee” she said glancing to the mug on the counter

“I don´t want coffee…” his smile was gentle. She stared at him, his breathing had not gotten better and her dress was not helping

“Your eyes smile” she said a moment later. He knew he had to give her time. He raised his eyebrows to enquire “They seem to smile when you´re happy. They remind me of the forest” she gave him her half-smile, her hands still around his neck and his hand on her back as the other was still too low to be still on her back “You have the most beautiful eyes” she said and smiled

“Can I use your love for my eyes to get you to kiss me?” he tilted his head, she breathed in a little sharply and then chuckled with a light shake of her head

“That desperate you are? You´re already groping my butt” she narrowed her eyes

“Am I not allowed?” he played coy but he knew touching the girl was a little tricky, she still got all anxious but he was more than willing to wait. She watched him for a long moment and he got nervous, his hand loose on his side now.

“Your eyes look deeper –she commented- and dilated” she smirked

“They want to see you more” Josh said and felt himself being tugged for a kiss. He´s not that much taller, a couple of inches only but he still leaned down and picked the girl up, not stopping to kiss her, she wrapped her legs on his waist, he caressed her leg and gasped into the kiss, her dress was no longer covering her legs, he was touching exposed skin. Suddenly he felt the room was too warm and his legs didn´t want to stand up anymore. He stumbled his way to the living room, the closest to the kitchen- he sat on the white couch, she was still on his lap.

“Eager much?” she teased, he took off his blazer

“You´re so hot” he kissed her neck and shoulders as he massaged her exposed thighs. He felt her hands on his chest, he let go wondering if she wanted to stop him, all he saw was his shirt open, he raised an eyebrow at the girl straddling him and pushing his shirt down his arms, she only shrugged. More kisses happened.

“Wait, Josh” her soft voice stopped him as he was on his way to lay her down. He sat back, both of them breathing labored.

“Are you ok?” he forces himself to go out of his dazed state

“Where do you think this is going?” she motioned between them

“I like touching my girlfriend –he pecked her on the lips- and I also enjoy her hands on me” he´s as honest as always, she smiled at him, he noticed is her real smile, her eyes were bright

“Ok, but we´re not going any further” she had a small frown as if she was afraid he´d go mad. He kissed her forehead making the frown go.

“That´s ok” he said but she knows it´s not, he´s all worked up.

“I´m sorry” she kissed his jaw

“It´s ok, gorgeous” he placed a chaste kiss on her mouth, she didn´t let go for a moment and then she stopped completely. He leaned to a side, he was half-way on the couch, he put his feet up, she laid pretty much on top of him, his arm over her shoulders, they cuddled, she felt him kiss her head. She idly traced patterns with her index finger on his chest and stomach, both as toned as ever.

“TV?” he rubbed her arm

“Yeah” she kissed his collar bone

“If we’re not… going there, those don´t help at all” he gave a strained chuckle. She said a soundless “oh” and tried to get up, his hand on her shoulder prevented it, and she looked up to him.

“I still want you pressed against me” he grinned; she chuckled and shook her head. The next morning she woke up cuddled with Josh, eased by his rhythmical breathing and cozy warmth. She smiled to herself, closing her eyes again, it’s still early, she thought.

The Valley of Shadows

*Emo times -cough- written back in February*

I know nothing anymore.

Shadows lurk all around me

All I have are shallow lights

Unable to walk straight

Denied of freedom, of feeling

Denied of freedom to choose

Tied of hands and feet

A mere puppet, a broken one

Trying to be tough

Wanting to go on 

My lights are put away

I´m all by myself in the valley of shadows

Where sorrow is the air

My cry goes out of the walls of my skin

They don´t reach the sky

I pop a pill. I swallow.

I pop another pill and another and another... I lost count

I am mildly numb to fake a smile and keep pretending a few more hours

I am chaos and I take tears and screams and cursing with me

I´ve known pain for so long that I have become pain

I share, oh, how much of it I share

It never ends, it never fades, and it never goes away

How could it leave me?

Mumblings all around me

My hands carry distress;

My feet drag death to whatever light was left

Red, rimmed eyes, shadowy eyes

Nights are not to rest, a never ending nightmare

Hurry white, pressed narcotics wipe my tears away

My Beautiful

You just show up,

A word or two:

No time has gone by.

I´ve got your back

A small light you are,

Playing the strings of my soul

You know it well

You tuned it to your heartbeat

I can´t deny you

A verb that carries no action

I am your subject

Won´t you be my complement?

You show up

I was convinced I had forgotten

I was convinced of never again

You pushed it all away like dominoes

With such delicacy

With such economy

With so much power

You messed my mind,

My senses, my everything

And it´s so much better

And I like it

And I wanted it

Double Life: Half Way

“Address?” read the text that had made Josh pause the video game him and his twin were playing. Aaron was telling him to hurry but he was surprised. Was Nichole really coming? Instead of replying he called her.

“I thought you were ignoring me” he said when the girl picked up after three rings. He´d gone out to the yard

“I was” she said nonchalant but for some reason he knew she was giving him her half-smile and he was right.

“Are you really coming?”

“Only if you give me the address”

“Great! Hey, where are you? We could go pick you up” she didn´t answer for a long while “Nichole…?”

“Let´s meet half-way. Give me the address and I´ll call you back later to tell you where to meet, is that ok?” she said calmly and his eyes went wide, that was more than he´d had expected from her. He´d thought she´d be difficult and told him she could get there on her own. “Is the invitation no longer effective?” she inquired when he didn´t answer

“No! …I mean –he ran a hand through his hair- yes, it´s still effective. I´m glad you´re coming”

“Good. I´ll call you later” she hung up

“Hey!” Aaron protested when Josh paused their video game again to watch his phone “What´s wrong with you?!” Josh only rolled his eyes and got up “Where are you going?”

“Out”

“But we’re in the middle of this game!”

“It won´t go anywhere”

“Boys, I´m running late! –Maggie came down from the stairs- I´m sorry I won´t be here to welcome your friend but… emergency –she made a sad face- apologize to her from me, Josh” she kissed the boys´ cheeks

“It´s ok” Josh said

“What? What friend?” Aaron narrowed his eyes following his twin to the door. Josh took the car keys “Wait!” his twin called after him “Mom, what friend?” Joshua and Maggie looked at the other with a small smile, each opening a door of their respective vehicles, Aaron gasped.

“Nichole´s coming” he stated “I gotta see that” he walked towards the other door of the car where Josh had gotten in “Mom –he said not getting in yet- why I am not allowed to bring my girlfriend to spend the night?” he protested

“Well son, first of all you don´t have a girlfriend and second of all you are not ready to be a dad” she gave him a mischievous smile and drove away

“They love you more” Aaron crossed his arms over his chest once he got in the passenger seat

“Pffft you’re taking your friends to sail with grandpa. I think you´re loved enough, jerk” Josh pulled away of the garage

“How did you convince your girlfriend to come?”  Aaron asked with genuine curiosity after a while of just listening to the music on the radio. Josh chuckled

“You know she´s not my girlfriend and I don´t think I can coax her to do things”

“I bet you could coax her, she and mom were gushing about the beautiful green in your eyes” he rolled his eyes

“She was not gushing, she just said green had been her focus, not that it was beautiful on my eyes, besides, if that´s the case, you have the same green on yours”

“…And… not your girlfriend but I assure you that you stayed in her room the last night we spent at Burgeoys” Aaron stared at Josh as if daring him to say otherwise

“Where do you even take those things from?”

“You never came to my room… besides if you don´t want her to be called your girlfriend you should seriously stop disappearing with her. Everybody at school knows you two are together” Aaron had a raised eyebrow. Josh laughed

“We are not together”

“I mean, come on! Now it´s not only her that´s unattainable but you with her”

“That´s silly, Aaron, and you know it”

“Of course it is but, and I quote the girls, that´s something that increases your hotness points” Aaron made quotation marks and Josh laughed again

“Aaron I never knew you were such a gossip, I bet you compete with the girls”

“Shut up, it´s not my fault that you make gossips possible and it’s not my fault girls are around me”

“Gossip girls –Josh smirked and Aaron grumbled- but hey, you´re my twin, so your hotness points must be higher by association as well” Josh said barely able to continue without laughing

“I’m hotter than you. I´m the better twin”

“You wish”

An hour later they pulled over on the side of a park. Josh took out his phone and dialed

“You got her number?”

“Duh! And you realize this now?”

“Hey! Where are you?”

“Across from the fountain, on the swings”

“Mmmhh, oh, yeah, I see you”

“You brought tweedledee” she smirked once they were close

“Ha! Ha! Ha! –Aaron faked a laugh- you wanted to be left alone with your boyfriend?” Aaron matched her smirk

“Of course, got a problem with that?” she raised her eyebrows. The boy looked at his twin who was just shaking his head

“Ready to go?” Josh asked her

“Yeah” she stood up and bent to pick her duffel bag, suitcase and shopping bag. The boys didn´t let her carry any of her things, instead they carried them to the car for her. She fought a smile that tugged at her lips.

“No driver?” she asked when they got to the car

“Nope, I´ll be your driver today” Josh smiled

“Please don’t kill me” she faked a gasp and took her hand to her chest. The leaves bracelet making a sound as they crashed against the other. They both smiled when their eyes met. Aaron cleared his through in a loud manner

“…And you still deny it” he said to no one in particular

Double Life: Collecting

I really liked this one

A/N: Is this moving too fast?? it feels like it but it seemed it couldn´t be any other way... 

**

“Get me out of here now”

“What? Why?” the voice said through the receiver

“Just do it, Nat… You owe me –Nic heard the woman gasp- get me out of here tonight. I want you personally to come for me… I got a few punches”

“What? Why? They were not supposed to hit you!”

“Whatever, just come and get me now… and bring me cash” she hung up on the woman

At around eleven at night, Nichole got up and grabbed her duffel bag, it hadn´t been unpacked.

“Are you escaping?” Rox whispered

“Kind of”

“The jerk´s going to kill me” she sounded scared

“He´s not and if he tries anything, let me know”

“How?”

“Give me your number, I´ll call you” the girl quietly whispered the numbers and Nic saved it on her phone “Take care, Rox”

“Thank you for standing up for me”

“Don´t worry. Later Rox” Nichole quietly walked out of the place

~~

“No driver this time?” Nichole said getting on the SUV. Natasha was driving

“I´m not supposed to take you out… and you´re not supposed to want to want to go out… why…?”

“I´m tired of jerks”

“Ok… -the woman seemed unsure- where are you going?”

“Just take me to the closest decent hotel and leave me the cash”

“You have no destination…?”

“No… but our deal was, you do what I say, no questions asked” she reminded the woman.

A few hours after midnight they arrived to an inn. Natasha registered Nic with her name for two days. Once in her room Natasha tended Nic´s cuts and bruises

“Nic, I told you to be careful”

“So, in your mind, I caused this?” the girl raised an eyebrow

“No, but I told you to run and not fight”

“I ran but if I was pulled by my hair, I had to do something” Natasha stared at the girl and after a while she sighed

“Ok, rest and don’t get me into much trouble”

“Sure, sure” the girl said lying down “Make sure to give me this night free”

“Ok… -Nat turned- next week I´m picking you up to have your day with Mii”

“Mmh” the girl said. The woman got out and locked the door

“Good night, sweetheart” she whispered

The next morning Nichole got up around eleven in the morning, feeling all sore. Her hair felt like wires after having that fight with Vincent. She took a long shower until her stomach started to growl. She asked her lunch to be brought to her room together with a large ice-tea and a bowl of fruit.

After lunch she thought in calling Rox but she was probably at training so she made a mental note to call her during dinner.

A sound woke her up, the T.V. was on and she´d fallen asleep while watching it, a movie with a lot of guns and explosions was just starting, she sat up and after a while she ventured out of her room.

She went to local stores, she bought some clothes, a small suitcase, and a few books in a small bookstore and then she visited art related stores.

During dinner, she called Rox and was pleased to find out Vincent had listened to her words. She ended the call promising Rox to call her at dinner the next day again. A couple of hours after dinner she got a call.

“What do you want?” she answered the phone

“Are you still where I left you?”

“I am not going on missions tonight” Nichole spoke firmly

“But…”

“Natasha, listen to my words, I´m not going to go on missions tonight and I am not going to go on any mission in the next seven days”

“But Nichole we have two more targets for you and… your father wants them…”

“Deal with Karl. I´m not going and you promised, no, you owe me and if you don´t keep your words this time I will disappear –she put emphasis on her words- and you can´t forget who took me out of that shitty training… I wonder what that will look like if I´m suddenly gone” Natasha could hear the smirk in Nichole´s voice.

The woman fought for something to say but she was mostly surprised of how the little scared girl was no longer following orders blindly, she had her own plans and though Karl and herself still had the upper hand, it wouldn´t last longer. She´d fear of this when Ashley´s death occurred but no, Nichole just closed up and kept doing as she was told. She had to wonder if the boy from her drawing was the one who had triggered this but she couldn´t expect it to be otherwise, however, she´d thought it´d take longer. Natasha felt an odd fascination for the girl as she´d always felt but now more than ever before. The woman also felt proud that the girl was so clever and strong and that she was no longer following blindly even if this same thing could get her in serious trouble… Natasha wondered how much longer they´d be able to control the girl.

“Nichole I can´t do this…”

“You can tell him you haven´t found them… what you have to remember is that I´m not going and that you owe me this” the girl hung up on her.

Natasha closed her eyes briefly when she opened them she saw the red dot that represented Nichole´s location in the inn where she had left her move to Burgeoys which couldn´t be because the school was at least six hours away, then the dot went to the training camp three hours away from the inn, then it moved to where Nichole had been on the woods the first time she showed how aware of her power she really was, then it went all the way to the area surrounding Crystals house, where Natasha was. The girl was making a loud statement to which Natasha gasped and stood wide-eyed watching the girl´s location change. She never knew the girl was aware of how to do that and right then, the dot faded for a second, not enough for the machines to beep in alert but enough to be proof of what the girl had said, she´d disappear if so she wished.

The red dot hadn´t moved from the inn the entire night but Natasha had to wonder if Nichole was really there, she couldn´t afford sending someone to keep an eye on her… she had taken her out of the training camp without permission but also she was fully aware of how enhanced the senses of the girl were…and after what she´d done last night she was wondering if even herself wasn´t as aware of that as she pretended, so for the time being she was going to let her be… even if it´d mean getting into some troubles.

Natasha had been watching the red dot move almost without blinking, early in the morning, the dot moved to the surrounding areas just like the day before, as she watched this her boss called, she lied through her teeth. “We´re still looking” she assured him, he´d growled and coldly demanded her to rush her investigations, no matter the cost.

“Ugh, Nichole…” Natasha massaged her temples with her thumbs as she tried to figure out what to do to give the girl seven days off

Double Life: Obstacles

“I´m so hungry” Nichole sighed as she kept running the track. It was still a couple of hours before dinner. She was at the back of a long line of runners, almost all of them males. She felt tired; it had been a long week of exercises and two nights in a row of lack of sleep. This was a new place; she had to be more careful than at Burgeoys, which took a lot of extra effort. Finally a whistle was blown signaling the end of running time.

“Ok, ladies – harsh voice started- it´s time to start the good stuff” the tall man with crew haircut said with a cold expression. All about him shouted “severe”

“The new ones will be assigned to a more experimented leader… All of the groups will compete at the end and you don´t want to lose that one –he grinned mischievously- You will obey your team leader and he or she will represent me” he nodded and some of the boys and girls went to stand next to him.

Nichole, a guy and other girl about her age were in the team of a tall guy with yellow-like eyes. After being assigned everyone separated in small groups.

“I’m Vincent Bran and we´re not here to bond. If you two –he addressed the girls- are here it is because your folks have no idea what to do with you and I have the misery of having to train two girls. You will not make me look bad by not doing things the right way!” he sounded irritated “Just because you´re girls I won´t go easy on you. I don´t discriminate –he smirked- I´ll treat you like everybody else. Did you understand?”

“Sure” the girl next to Nichole said rolling her eyes. Nichole nodded, her eyes not leaving his.

“It´s yes, sir from now on!” he shouted take a step closer to them “now, get out of my sight” he said in the same irritated tone.

“Who are you again?” the other girl in Nichole´s team asked during dinner

“Nic. You?” she replied

“Roxanne, but call me Roxy” she replied, brushing a few of her black and purple hair out of her eyes. Nichole nodded once.

“So, why are you here?” Roxy asked after a while. Nichole glanced her way as she was chewing her food

“To become a better killer” she said calmly making Roxy snorted

“Funny” Roxy rolled her eyes and sighed “It´s so terrible to be here” she said mostly to herself, Nichole only watched her “We´re in a place full of black sheep…” she twisted her mouth

“Cristales! Sanders!” Vincent shouted the next morning. They ran towards him. “What kind of shitty name is Cris-ta-les? It can´t be pronounced!” he said, Nichole seemed bored

“What´s your other last name?” he addressed Nichole while looking at the clip board he was holding “Strassberg” he said and she winced inwardly, it could be hard to track the many identities Natasha and Karl had created for her… The most often identity included Natasha´s last name; it made it easier for Natasha to deal with taking her from place to place.

Vincent took them to some kind of obstacles track where there was dirt and irregular paths everywhere, they had to jump, run, crawl and climb. Roxy kept falling and Nichole kept helping her to get up making Vincent angry. He ran his face over his face every time Roxy fell.

“Since you´ve been useless all morning, you´re staying out of lunch and keep practicing –he pointed Roxy- and you –he addressed Nichole- since you´re such a good Samaritan you´re staying with her… and don’t dare to stop” he threatened. The guy that was in their team looked them like saying “I´m sorry” but he turned and left with Vincent

Roxy was shaking and maybe on the verge of tears, her make-up was ruined.

“How come you´re fine doing this?” she asked Nichole who was still standing close to her

“I´ve got more practice with it, you get used to it after a while”

“I´m tired and I’m starving” Roxy was talking with a short breath

“Rest” Nic sat on the grass and gave the girl a chocolate bar. Nichole unwrapped one of the tiny lollipops Josh had given to her. Roxy sat next to her and started to nibble her chocolate.

In the next week, they missed a lot of dinners. Roxy still couldn´t keep the pace so tonight Vincent was staying with both of the girls.

“Faster!” he´d shouted a while ago, tonight, like three of the six nights it was raining. Roxy fell once again and Nichole went to help her but Vincent pushed her and started to shout. “Get up, now!”  He also shouted about how much of a failure she was. Roxy´s breath became shallow and labored. Still on the ground she reached for her pants pockets, Vincent grabbed her by her shirt and picked her up, still shouting, a small inhaler fell on the ground. Once Vincent let Roxy go, she fell again, she was breathing hard and Vincent never stopped shouting

“She´s having a hard time breathing!” Nichole said picking the inhaler and going to Roxy. Vincent slapped Nichole´s hand away when she tried to give the gray object to the girl. The guy picked Roxy again and started to shout as he shook her.

“Leave her alone, Vincent!” Nichole hissed and he directed his attention to her once she lightly pushed him away from the girl to give her what she needed.

“Did I give you permission to do that?” he shouted to Nichole who was squatted next to Roxy

“Did you prefer to kill her instead?” Nichole growled

“She could die for all I care… faking that to avoid training” he snorted

“You´ve made us stay under the rain, she´s got asthma!” Nic stood up

“It’s her fault for not doing things right. I´m not going to look bad because of a loser like her” he shouted

“Shut up, Vincent, you don´t want to end up killing her!” Nichole said with annoyance

“Don´t talk to me like that” he tried to slap her but she ducked his hand, it seemed to make him mad.

“I’m talking to you like the jerk you are!” she raised her voice

“What did you say?” he lunged for her and once again she avoided his hands, he got angrier. She kept avoiding him but because he was well trained he had a lot of resistance and in the end he caught her by pulling her braid when she had to slow down to avoid stepping on Roxy.

He pulled hard making the girl stagger back and then forward because he pushed her, she kept her balance but he managed to grab her shirt and threw a punch at her on her shoulder, she winced and when he pulled her close to him again she slammed the base of her hand against his nose, it started to bleed but he didn´t let go, he went for another punch, on her ribs, she kicked on his crotch as hard as she could, he grunted in pain and fell on the ground where Nichole kicked him once to make him turn around to lay on his back.

“You will never hit me again” she hissed “and you won´t mistreat Roxy anymore” he grabbed her foot and tried to twist it but she pushed down making his fingers twist at an odd angle. She bent down “If you ever try anything against us again, I´ll kill you” she pointed her dagger to his neck. His eyes widen marginally. Weapons were not allowed unless they were given to them. He smirked.

“You´re going down” he tried to take the dagger from her but she got up fast. He lunged for her again but this time she didn´t try to avoid him, instead she kicked him on the gut hard enough to knock the air out of him, and she kicked him again to the ground and then again

“Don´t make me repeat myself” her voice sending shivers to him, she had the eyes of the monster which made Vincent wince inwardly

“Or what?” he still said with an angry voice but he´d recognized the monster and it showed in his voice

“Or… you´re dead” her voice calmed, the stance of the monster, confident enough to know that she´d win against him. He relaxed then, giving up the fight and she got up then and went to Roxy. She extended her left hand to the girl still on the ground.

“Let´s go, Rox”

Nichole was sitting against a tree, it was raining a light drizzle. She had her earphones on, she was listening to her piano song when it got interrupted as she felt her pocket vibrate, and she pulled the phone out.

“How are you doing?” read the text from Josh. He´d been texting her once a week

“I’m ok. You?” was always her answer. He often texted back with a few comments on what he was doing at the time, she hardly ever answered back.

“We’re going camping next week. Come with us, please” this one had taken a while. She looked at it for a while but then she quickly put the phone back in her pocket. She heard someone coming closer. She stood up.

“I come in peace” Vincent said once he saw her stance, she only stared at him, the guy bowed his head and shook it “Look, I have to be tough, I can´t have my team losing but I respect you for standing up against me” his hand was in a casket, he had something over his nose as well

“You didn´t have to be a jerk to make Rox get better, she´s never done any of this before. You could´ve killed her”

“You both were sent here to learn this way”

“It doesn´t mean you have to be an asshole, Vincent”

“You can´t keep insulting me, Strasberg”

“I will if you keep insulting me and Rox”

“We can´t lose”

“You will if you keep this way… besides what does it matter if you win or not? It´s not like it´s your life depending on it”

“It will matter”

“No, it won´t, a piece of metal won´t make any difference but a lost life does make the difference”

“You´re here to save lives, huh?” he smiled lazily and she looked away

“What is it with you suddenly acting human?”

“I´m heavy on pain killers, you did serious damage in me –he smiled as if he was pleased- I´ll be the same tomorrow”

“I won´t be here tomorrow but if I know you´re abusing Rox, I´ll make my threat come true”

“As if you could”

“It seems like I can” she pointed to his casket, he rolled his eyes and walked away, he was walking slowly.

Beautiful

beautiful
Your tiny hands hold me to the world as gently as you small, uncoordinated hugs
beautiful
Your big bright eyes make the sun go pale
beautiful
Your smile without a single teeth is the most innocent and happy thing I´ve ever seen
beautiful
You´re foreign to the world of  pain and sadness,
beautiful
thank you for taking me with you to your world of rainbows

Double Life: Goodbye

A/N: another part that wasn´t supposed to be included but I sort of need it for the rest of the story, so idk here it is ...the funny part is that it´s longer than the rest of the posts in DL -It was supposed to be finished before 8:00 to give me time to read it over. I´m so slow and so lazy to actually read it over. I´m such a bad writer haha 

****

“I didn´t think she´d stay” Jonah commented absentmindedly

“Who?” Josh asked. They were both backstage, taking a peek at the audience”

“Nichole… she never stays to watch this show… she usually leaves the night before”

“You sure know her habits, huh?” Joshua smirked

“No!” Jonah was too quick to answer. Joshua laughed quietly.

The girl in question was on the side of the crowded auditorium. Josh´s parents and brother were in the center of the place. The students had been presenting plays, poetry and other of their talents. Up next there was the music club presentation and Jonah´s solo. Nichole was among the people that stood up and clapped for him, she had a pleasant smile and her clapping hands were wrapped on the midnight blue he´d gotten for her. He smiled as he bowed to the crowd.

After the Music Club there was a play presented by the small children followed by the Art Club presentation where there was singing along with the music. The last performance of the evening was the seniors’ farewell performance.

“You were great!” Maggie hugged her son

“Thanks” Josh smiled as his dad patted his back

“Where’s your friend, Josh?” Maggie asked looking around and so did Josh. He spotted her walking gracefully out of the auditorium. He went after her, his family behind him.

“Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Arlington” Nichole smiled pleasantly

“Good evening” Josh´s dad greeted back

“Hello, Nichole. How are you?” Maggie smiled

“I’m good, thank you. How are you?” the girl was polite

“Well… actually –the woman smiled, she had the same smile as her sons- I was wondering if I could talk to your parents” the woman had a melodic voice. Nichole furrowed her eyebrows and looked towards Josh and back to Maggie. The boy´s eyes were the same, he wasn´t surprised about this and his twin wasn´t either, she found that more than a little irritating but she kept her composure, allowing her training to take over her.

“I´m afraid I’m not going to be able to help you on that. I´m here by myself today”

“Oh… Well, you see, I don´t know if Josh has mentioned this but my sister has this art gallery –the girl nodded- and I want to invite you to stay a few days with us. My sister would love to meet you and I´d love if you´d agree to it –she smiled, her grey eyes smiled too- and if your parents could let you”

“You are very kind. I´ll tell my family about your invitation” she smiled and felt the twin´s eyes on her. She was sure Josh knew her smile wasn´t genuine, she felt glad that after only one day of meeting Maggie she´d seem to like her but there was no way she could tell Karl about this. She was supposed to keep a low profile not to catch the attention of Karl´s newest business partner’s family. She was not like the rest and situations like this made it more evident.

“Can I at least have your mother´s number?” Maggie pleaded. For some reason Nichole didn´t find it annoying as she had expected.

“Mom!” both twins said in a hushed tone at once

“I´m sorry Nichole, but I´d like to invite you to dinner and I don´t want to get you into trouble”

“Oh” Nichole half smiled. She´d realized from whom Josh had inherited his stubbornness

“Mom, you don´t know if Nichole had other plans” Aaron said in the most respectful and loving tone Nichole had ever heard him use

“Of course –she smiled to her son- I´m sorry” her apology sound sincere

“It´s ok… I don´t have other plans” Nichole felt drawn to this woman. She wondered if it had to do with being Josh´s friend or if it was because they had the same expression or maybe it was just her kindness.

“Would you like to join us?”

“Maggie, I´m sure you´ve overwhelmed our son´s friend by now” her husband rested his arm over his wife´s shoulders

“You´re right, you´re right –Maggie shook her head- I apologize again…”

“I will go –Nichole smiled- so you won´t have to keep apologizing” the girl half-smiled and the Arlington family chuckled

“Thank you! –Maggie said as if the girl was doing her a favor- I´d like to let your family know, so that they could give a call to the school to let you out”

“I have my ID. I´ll let them know”

“You already turn eighteen?” she seemed surprised

“Got an ID to prove it” the corner of the girl´s mouth went upward

“Alright, let´s go” Mr. Arlington said motioning for the young ones to walk ahead.

They went to the Italian restaurant on the town closes to Burgeoys. Mrs. Arlington with her melodic voice led the conversation, her sons seemed happy to answer to her questions and to add comments of their own.  She praised her sons again, Josh for his performance in the show and Aaron for winning the karate competition. Both of them seemed to value her opinion a lot, their father hardly spoke, he was quiet but as his wife praised their sons his green eyes lit up as if he too was proud. He also seem to give his whole attention to the boys when they narrated in detail their adventures in school, they often interrupted the other adding their perspective of the happening. Nichole found it interesting to see how close they seemed. They included her in their conversations, but she founded more comfortable to listen to them. Maggie inquired about her latest paintings.

“Well… I´m often doing sketches but they don´t always make it to the canvas…” she smiled a little

“The ones who do, I´m sure, are beautiful” Maggie said

“Thank you”

“She was my art project partner” Josh added. Maggie´s eyes filled with realization

“I feel like I know you a little bit more. I want to listen to them live though” she said to her son who grinned as he nodded

“What did you do?” Maggie asked Nichole

“A few sketches and paintings, green was my main focus”

“It´s a beautiful green, isn´t it?” she looked at her husband with those smiley eyes as she put her hand over his husband’s hand who lifted them and placed a small kiss on her hand.

They left a little after nine, the way back was mostly silent except by Maggie asking her sons if they had everything packed. They were leaving for home that night.

Josh was ready but Aaron said he needed more time “I told you to be ready, Aaron” said his mom in a scolding tone

“I´m sorry, I´ll hurry” he ran towards his room as they arrived in Burgeoys

“I´ll walk Nichole to her dorm” Josh said and Nichole bit her tongue

“Good bye, Maggie, good bye Mr. Arlington. Thank you very much for the meal” Nichole said with a small smile

“Good bye” Mr. Arlington said

“Good bye, Nichole. I hope you can meet my sister, give the boys a call if you accept my invitation and if your parents agree to it. Also, if you do agree and need to be picked up, just let us know, ok?”

“Ok, bye” she started to walk away

“I´ll be back soon” Josh said and jogged to catch up to her

“Thank you for joining us tonight” Josh said after a while of silent walk

“It´s ok… Now I see where you got that bluntness and stubbornness from… -she smirked- I had fun”

“We did too”

“When are you leaving for home?” he asked

“Never” she took a while in answering. He thought she was not going to

“You’re staying in school?”

“No”

“What… You… aren’t leaving for good, right?”

“I don´t know –she answered and he frowned- but I´m leaning towards staying… there´s something I want to do”

“What is that?”

“I want to know about your memory –she answered, he gasped- I need time to do that and of course, I also need whatever you could tell me or remember”

“Wow. Thank you” he really appreciated that, not even his parents had taken that particular memory as something important or worth knowing

“Mmh” they had reached her dorm

“Good bye, Josh” she half-smiled and turned to leave, he caught her hand, she turned back with raised eyebrows

“Where will you be going if you’re not going home?”

“…”

“Don´t tell me I ask too many questions” there was a hint of worry in his voice that made her half-smile

“I´ve got training to do”

“Ok” he said after staring at her for a moment “see you later” he said with open arms. She smiled a somewhat sad smile and shook her head slowly. He furrowed his eyebrows and his eyes seemed to grow pale.

“Told you I hurt people sometimes…” she said with a small voice. He took both her gloved hands and lightly squeezed them

“Take care and come back. I´ll call you” he smiled

“Good bye” her voice was barely above a whisper. His phone started to ring, he saw it and quickly waved, and then he started to run back. She saw him go.

Double Life: a place to stay

A/N: ok, this is sort of an extra.... I was wondering if this should be part of the next post or not and I couldn´t decide but somehow I think it´s just idk context or something, it´s not needed but I sort of liked it so I´m posting it

****

“What time are you going?” a sleepy voice asked to Nichole’s back. She was packing her things.

“Later today” she didn´t turn back

“That´s all you’re packing?” he said getting out of the bed

“Yeah” she turned her face to the side

“That´s all you´re packing?” he got out of the bed and walked towards her

“That´s all I´ll need for a while” she threw the duffel bag near the door

“You´re nothing like the other girls” he commented and she raised an eyebrow

“And you –she took a step towards him- are nothing like the others either… Look at you, breaking the rules until the last day, huh?” she said and his eyes widened a little but he ended up chucking.

“Will I see you after the show tonight?” he asked once they were outside her dorm. She merely gave him one of her half smiles and waved him good bye.

Splinter

everything´s you

it all sings your name

and you hurt all over the place

you´re like a splinter in me

it wasn´t enough for you to shatter my heart by you also went for my mind

in reverse order, 

there´s no one stranger than you

and that just makes you so much better for me

but you just ran away from me

with that smirk on your lips

you knew you were going to be missed, didn´t you?

you were candies, non sweet candies

and bitter chocolate and hot scorching tea

I was so into my bubble

you didn´t have to break it

but you touched it and 

now I can´t breath

you just grin 

as you make me think of you 

with every heartbeat