| "In Progress" by Allison Joslin |
| Connor trailed her to the table and as soon as she relinquished the tray, on the waiting hot plate, he snagged a kabob and began eating. "At least get a plate," Aliki said. Which got Drake's comment,"So he needs one but you don't." "Yeah, so deal with it," Aliki snapped glaring at him. Henry slipped his arms about Aliki and kissed the top of her head. She tilted her head back and smiled up at him. "I love you," she whispered before he gently kissed her. "Ew! How grossly cute," Connor commented. "Why don't you be cute and kiss me," Lilac complained from where she was filling a plate with salad. Connor smiled and leaned in to kiss Lilac, causing her to drop a spoonful of salad on Drake's lap. As Drake started cursing the phone went off. "Gotta get that," Aliki spoke slipping free of Henry's arms, "Might be about the show tonight." "I forgot about that," he muttered as Aliki disappeared into the house. "You've had a long day its no wonder you forgot," Connor commented as he grabbed another kabob. "Fuck," Henry gasped reliazing that Connor and Lilac must've been in their room when he got home and found Aliki. "That's right. We heard the whole thing," Connor hurriedly said as Lilac tried to slap a hand over his mouth. Henry shook his head, sighed and grabbed a plate. "Is Aliki still on the phone?" Cyan asked as she glanced at the outdoor stereo system's clock. "I guess so," Henry replied noticing that twenty minutes had past since Aliki'd taken that call. "I'll go check," he added standing up. As he entered the house he saw the phone hanging down agains the wall and a tendril of blue hair on the sceamy tan plushy hallway carpet. "Aliki!" he shouted as he broke into a run through the rec room to the hall. Aliki lay crumpled on the floor her hair covering her face and a hand clutched at her throat. "Aliki?" Henry squeezed out as he knelt down and gathered her into his arms. As he worriedly moved the hair way from her face she stired, moaning as though in distress. "Love can you hear me?" he asked as she blinked her eyes several times. "What..." her voice trailed off as she saw the phone hanging against the dark brown hallway wall beside her. "Oh Goddess," she whispered witha horrified look, "Nate's been in an accident." "Your brother?" Henry asked watching the emotions fly across her face in a dizzying speed. "Yes," she replied, "I've got to call them back." "Call who back?" Lilac asked as she and Connor stepped out of the rec room. "My parents," Aliki intoned flatly. A voice was suddenly heard from the phone. With a grimace Aliki looked at Henry, "They didn't hang up." Henry growled as the phone voice got louder and insistand so that they all knew it was a male. Aliki grabbed the phone before Henry had the chance to slam it back on the reciever. "I'm here, just was a little shocked that's all," Aliki spoke before mouthing sorry to Henry. Henry shrugged his shoulders and glanced at the plate carrying Connor and Lilac, "Was there someething you needed...Like the kitchen." "Oh right," Connor spoke up nudging Lilac down the hall. "But I want to know why they're calling," Lilac muttered as they went through a swinging door. When Henry made to stand Aliki grabbed his hand and squeezed. He shut his mouth as he saw her tears. With a gentle sigh he gathered her up while she listened to the man who'd tried to destroy everything they had. Five minuteds later Aliki hung up and immeaditly broke into quiet choking sobs. "Shhh, love," Henry whispered into her hair a long with a lot of sensless caring babble as he stood and stode to the back palor. There he plunked down onto the squishy sienna leather couch, while Aliki calmed down. "Tell me what happened," Henry spoke softly as she wipped away the few remaining tears. "It was a car crash." she stated before going into all the details of Nate's accident. A little while later Henry knew that Nate had been racing illegally in his two year 2007 ? , when the car next to him spun out of control and nicked his fender. It'd sent his car flying into a light post. So now Nate was in the hospital with a broken left arm and wired shut jaw. He was lucky to survive considering the delay in his air bags deployment. "He's lucky I'm way over here in Ireland instead of home in Issy," Aliki muttered punching the couch. "I'd give him a big 'What the Hell were you thinking' lecture," she added as Lilac popped her head into the room. "Uh...Aliki its seven," Lilac spoke pointing at her watch. "Shit!" Aliki exclaimed jumping up and hurrying from the room. "I'll get you a plate of food," Henry said following her out into the hall. "Thank you," she replied standing on tip toes to kiss him. "If you hurry I'll give you an extra treat," she whispered in his ear. Giggling Lilac watched Henry rush towards the kitchen as Aliki skipped towards the stairs. |
| First Page | Second Page | To be continued |
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