5 Two at a time.

Chapter 4

"Owee, now, that was amazing, that man was really a God's touch." Liza said. She was washing apples while I was storing away other damageable groceries in her fridge.

His picture which had stayed in my mind since I met him hours ago crossed through my mind. He is a god’s touch indeed. "Bebz, do I have to remind you that he is some God's touch who can't leave your ARTERY ALONE?" Actually, that isn’t really a problem, new problem down here. Audrey reminded me that he is a prince, a prince. I don’t want to get caught up with those kinds of things. But since I also don’t want to indulge myself in another set of problems, I plan to let it go for now. I am good as it is.

"Come on that doesn't pass." Liza sassed "Some other excuse for your sudden interest earlier?" she pressed. She always passes for 'sassy'

"Audrey kept pushing. Like that address thing, I didn't mean that!" I exclaimed defensively, I really don't know where that came from...well I do and it wasn't me, it's not the first time Audrey make me do things that make me look bad girl. Grabbing a grass from the cupboard, I pulled myself some juice and came to stand beside Liz as she finished cleaning other fruits.

"This is so unfair, there is a chance of losing your life!" Liza sympathized. She looked into my eyes hers oozing with worry. Liz always took my side, I do not want people who are by myside to get worried. I want them to be happy just the way I am happy they are with me.

I avoid the urge to roll my eyes. Brah, that's no chance. Instead I change the topic. "Now, what's with Mr. Ps?"

"Peterson or past and memory, you mean? Duh!" she rolled her eyes, he must be gone for good.

Sorry boy, a by-goner already. Liza is always up for new shit and get bored easily, it is worse in her relationship, in and out! Audrey snickered. These two really are something! What about me? No, I'm not in this! I don't take risk in that area. I mean men, my life is such a mess because of them. If dad was there I'd still have a mom, right?

Liza is Liza after all, carefree. "But, there is this Brian I think, already hitting my phone with messages," she pulled out her phone as if to prove her point "uhuh, how cute." I internally scoff, probably not too cute to not be hurt.

Liza is content, a keen eye and girl, an unbelievably good advisor she makes even though she is a crazy- jumbled up woman. She is also a very good friend and she is always there for me. Zoe is too, I didn't talk about her, she lives in Maine while we live in Alaska...quite a distance but she is there too.

On the contrary, I'm a quite person, who surveys everything and everyone around me, that's my habit from my childhood. I find people quite interesting. It is interesting how everybody seems to be the center of their own universe or how everybody is different yet similar to everybody else. I sigh mentally... I don't know how I and Liz make good friends but obviously we do.

Liz Grabbed an apple from a tray she had put them on after cleaning them. We both went to the living room. Liz’s living room, like her house is large. She likes chocolates, that’s why her living room is all chocolate and white from the chocolate couch and sofa which sat across each other, a white arm chair that was set beside the sofa, and the small space between them was filled by a glass table. The walls were painted white and were decorated with two paintings, one of a traditional woman and another of painted flowers. Spacious. Not that clean though not like unclean in that sense of stains on the walls and the floor, it is just that her crazy brain reflects in her surroundings. I removed a single high heel on the sofa, threw it to the floor and then sat down. "Well now what?" Liza asked sitting in couch across me.

"'What' what is?” Liz sighed, just me being inattentive.

"What's your plan?"

"Don't know, Contact him?" I know I have got to do something but I don’t know what that is and I really hate dealing with men, the only men I really deal with is my dad. My life is pretty lonely though I like it that way. I don't want to deal with people's characters upon noises in my head.

"Did Erika or Samantha tell you anything new last night?"

"No, nothing at all. Just how happy they were after meeting him. Oh boy, people need to be a little more helpful!" I tugged at my braids with a sigh, one of these days I ought to. Liza pulled me into a sister hug comforting me.

I stifled another sigh, another comforting thing would be a hamburger because right now I'm so hungry.

"But don't worry, as much as my life is pathetic, I'm not confident I want to let go yet. I'm sticking around until YOU are annoyed." I assured her with a mocking tone. She scoffed at me and I scoffed back.

After all I'm a better choice!

****Alarcus

"I met her today." I informed treating my glass of wine "When I went for a walk." I added slowly.

"What do you think about her?" Wade asked sipping on his grass of whiskey which has come to look red as blood was added. HHH yes...yes most of the time we drink mixed.

"Character? She seemed to be quite and quite confident with pride" I hesitated then answered "and I don't know if it's all men but she didn't give in to me. She is stubborn."

"Is she spoiled like the others?" I raised an eyebrow at the jolly man sitting cross legged in front of me.

"How do I know? This make it the second time, I'm not a deity you see!" I scoffed mockingly at my brother like friend. "But she was clothed simple, stylish and self-respecting." Plus, spoiled or not she is mine.

Wade made a tsk tsk sound "Whipped already!" he mumbled. I gave him a kick on the ankle and he gave me a big mocking laugh.

"Let's see what she's got then!"

I "Her name is Lilia Amare Quinn!"

"There you go namesakes!" Wade exclaimed loudly "she sounds sort of hard!"

"This is just the second time, but I was… ah, don't remind me!" I almost cringed at my own whining voice. Alarcus that came out really girly. "A friend of theirs called Liza was with her. She is pretty different I think, except they both look like people who don't give a damn."

"You should listen to yourself, you sound impressed!" I let out a hahaha made up laugh. Yeah maybe I'm a bit impressed by her differences but right now I can't define myself as impressed, rather frustrated because I don't really see what I'm going to do next. Seduce her, court her? Damn.

"What's next? I like this ride!" Wade asked thrilled. Of course you like this ride since you are not the pilot.

"I really don't know anymore," I let out a frustrated sigh. "all I know is that the “usual” won't work."

"Sure... now that's a good plan, isn't it?" Wade chuckled but he knew this was serious and I know he takes it as serious.

"Are you laughing?" I glared at him and Wade mouthed a quick 'no' avoiding another kick which I would be happy to give.

"Thankfully, Audrey will be of a good help too."

"Wade I want to protect this one, AND I 'M!" I vowed. Oh hell I am.

"Yeah, for the sake of all those girls who didn't and don't want to die young," Miluna announced sashaying into the room and added "and we are in this together!"

"Thanks. I need to go somewhere, see you guys! Where is Nathaniel by the way, He went back again?" I asked looking from Miluna to Wade.

"Yeah, the palace called." Wade said.

"That being said, please do my count 197, since we are in this together!" I yelled getting out of our private room.

"HEY, YOU ....." I could hear Wade calling to my departing back but I didn't look back.

He will probably find Miluna gone once he turn to her.

" You guys....SERIOUSLY...!" Wade was near tears. Good luck. I mentally prepared because right now I am on my way to them.

****Amare

Two girls were walking together but they seemed to be oblivious of each other’s presence, and they seemed to not be walking together at the same time. The rising sun showed that it was the early morning. They kept moving silently until they reached darkness where you couldn't see anything beyond it nor could they turn around and go the way they came, too afraid of what's hiding in the dark to do so. They both stood still as their sure faces turned to misery and tragedy, then their eyes shined this blue, bluer than the sky, with silent tears...

I woke up breathless in the darkness of my room. Samantha and Erika were reminding me that there is no way out of this, the only option there is, is to face this squarely. Gah, a girl can give all for good night sleep!

I am now 23 and I had lived waiting for this, waiting for him. But now that the time has come I'm sweaty as hell. I had told myself that I'd be in control, but now I'm on edge. Can you blame me though? The longest I have is months at the most, life or death. But still I had took a decision, I'm going to hold on to dear life. And for God's sake I'll hold tight!

Plus, I prefer being in charge of anything concerning me and some handsome-centuries-old guy isn't going to change that! Wait...did I say handsome? Well, so he is but I shouldn't say that out loud, but I didn't say that out loud... And you are blabbering to yourself lady. OOw I'm so scared. Come on grow a spine will you? Will do ma'am. Need to grow a brain and make a plan first though.

Now here I am, the sun is rising but I couldn't sleep since I woke up! I'm one of those people who don't sleep tight...actually I hate sleeping, all my demons are there in my sleep.

By now some light had managed to seep into the room through the curtains. Oh rejoice, winter is coming to an end. The winter season doesn’t really affect me, and everybody who have lived long enough in Alaska had already adapted to cold weather but still winter disrupts many activities, so thanks goodness it is ending. Plus, the end of winter signals the beginning of the spring season then comes summer and then after summer comes fall. I like autumn. I sigh sitting up in my bed, this is yet another uniform day!

It's past noon now and I was here repeating my consistent of a day. Through the open window of my office I could see the world outside, the sun trespassed the coldness of the winter kissing away the whiteness that covered the earth and putting some heat on our shivering backs. I took notes of what I was seeing, an author can use this in the future. I heard a knock on the door. That can't be Liz, who could it be? Stupid me, of course I have to open to find out, but here I am, staring at the door as if I think I have superpowers to open it without touching it! Wait, what if I did? Maybe I will find out that I'm a lost princess of some sort, and then an old man is going to awaken my magic. I snort at my stupid thoughts. Ha! Even a lost princess, can't have this trophy life.

I walked to the door and opened it, my eyes went saucers on my head! Something ran through me, something good, but I couldn't explain it.

Alarcus was standing here in front of me looking handsome, confident and all. I couldn't find my voice at first. Don't blame me, what can you do when a godlike man suddenly shows up from nowhere...okay he is from somewhere.

"Hi Amare" he called in that handsome voice of his.

"MacQuinn!" Finally. That's all I could gather! "Um yeah, come in" okay he didn't ask but then, does he have to ask?

"Thank you." he said as he came in. He eased himself onto the light yellow sofa, his legs crossed at his knees. Gosh, this godlike man doesn't fit in my house at all! Wait! Did I just down- speak my own house? Okay, I may have a little house but it's mine!

He sat there watching me wordless, now I feel like he is seeing my organs "You look neat." good... that's what disturbed people like me say to guests first, or did I get this one right?! He really look good though, he was wearing blue jeans their ends disappearing into the black boots he had on, he had covered his built chest in a tight gray t-shirt and a leather coat to top it all.

"Really? Thanks." they say ‘you too’ Mister, may be Alarcus is disturbed too! "And are you going to stand there forever?"

Okay. So right now I'm standing at his left, facing him as if I'm a child waiting for a command, I'm getting scared in my own house! But he didn't have to say that, this man... but he didn't say it! So my beautiful free tenant, Audrey is stirring and helping me not at all. I feel like running away and live him alone in this house. But then, when did running away become my last solution every time trouble is near, when last did I forget that I need to stand my ground? Grrrrr, I could scream right now.

"Aah, I was wondering, if you would like to have anything, sir." did I say that I'm good at making up things on spot? I don't do big lying though. And I used respectful-tone so that paid for it. The man is staring at me.

"Come on, we both know me!" he said, an easy smirk on his lips. Sorry? Ooh, he didn't need that.

"Just for custom then?" stupid you, are you implying that you do things for custom? Audrey giggled mockingly. Meeting this man says death is near and I only have my house to hide in but he is here too! People! I sighed mentally.

"Alarcus or MacQuinn. You can use any of them" he said in a displeasured tone. Did he just force me to be friendly, he might regret that. "Take a seat."

Woah, boy this is my house! Why is he ordering me? Needless to say I'm not that brave, so I don't say anything instead I sat down obediently in the baby blue arm chair living a distance between us. Are we a cat? Why this bitch? Shut it! I swore at Audrey while smiling at Alarcus. That's me, two actions at a time.

"Are you guys fine?" he is referring to the both of us, right? I think so.

I might die in 3 months, aren't I fine now? But what's the use of telling him that? I'm not going to have people feel sorry for me. Plus if I say something bad, Audrey might make me minced meat, so there.

"We are fine." I answered in plural too. Wait, Alarcus is actually staring in my eyes, like he is reaching inside. I started looking at everything but him. Don't blame me, blame his capturing gaze.

"Nice house." he said studying every angle of my house, his eyes traveled from the dark orange walls to the stained white almost yellow sofas occupying the living room, he observed the small potted flower at our left and the painting and portraits that added life to the wall. I have to admit, this man is nice, not that I'm going to say that.

"Thanks." I smiled. He doesn't fit though, not that I'm going to say that too. Actually the only things I want to do are curling up into a ball and hide under the same sofa he is sitting in. I being slightly agoraphobic is not helping me at all in this situation. But he knows he is handling this game, I shouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

"Want to show me around?" WHAT?! No no no. Innocent him gave me a teasing grin, I'm sure he could see the horror in my eyes.

"No!" I stormed before thinking. Why? I don't know...just no. "I mean not really, sir aah, Alarcus." I started scratching my cheeks, something I do when I'm really stressed.

Suddenly, he reached out and held my hand which was scratching my cheek. He stroked it gently. "It's okay, no rush." I looked at his large, smooth pale hand holding my small black one. It is not okay, and he knows it. At least can it be okay? Or is it black and white? Hopeless?