As Apate busied herself with the coffee maker, she glanced at each of her 'friends' faces, her gaze lingering on Alex, and then her sister.

"I suppose this place is just some old dustrag," she sighed, throwing Alaizabel a cruel smirk. "Appropriate for some of us."

"Anyway, I quit the modeling gig. It was too much stab-you-in-the-back crap for me," she added with a theatrical sigh. "Mom said to tell you that she'll let you come back if you swear to give......Damn, I forget his name....another shot."

Hitting the switch on the coffee maker and letting it complete her job for her, she threw a glance at Alex. "So, what's up with you? What were doing while my sister was out on a date with a rich guy and an expensive car?"

Alex didn't look up when Apate talked to him he wasn't interested the thought of Aine with somone else was almost more than he could bear he didn't understand the feeling of jealousy came from but he didn't show them "i was away that's all and now im back not much to tell really" he finished his food and put the plates down on the side turning he strode past everyone "im gonna go get a shower then maybe go for a ride fresh air sounds good right about now " throwing Apate a slight glance he made his way to his room closed the door and went to get a shower.

in the shower the hot water and steam clouded everything allowing him to relax muscles letting go he leaned against the wall letting the water flow over his head matting his hair to his neck and face he traced the long scar across his arm with a finger and let the moment relax him.

"You had to say that?" snapped Aine, glaring at her older sister. "Make the guy sound so freaking fabulous?"

She ignored the look on Apate's face, clearly reading 'why should he care?'.

Sighing in disgust, she slid off the counter, making her way upstairs and back into her room. Snatching her Mp3 player, she popped the earbuds into her ears, and jumped back down the stairs, three at a time, her combat boots making loud 'thuds'.

Slipping through the kitchen relatively unnoticed, she ducked into the wine cellar, drawing her legs up under her and blasting The Offspring's (Cant Get My) Head Around You, singing softly under her breath.

By the time he'd finished his shower and gotten changed he lost interest in going out on his bike he pulled on his black t shirt and blue jeans he made his way down stairs avoiding everyone save one person but where was she? he flipped out his mobile and listened to the receiver no one answered but he herd the gentle sound of Aines ring tone sounded down? the basement?
he wandered down the stairs to the wind seller "Aine you here?" he wandered in moving down between the racks.

Aine leaned her head back against the wall- the song had changed to Led Zeppelin's Over The Hills And Far Away, and she was sing along to this one, too- this time a little louder.

"Many times I've loved, and many times been bitten, many times I've gazed along the open road....Many times I've lied, many times I've listened, many times I've wondered how much there is to know," she sang softly, and though she didn't hear Alexander's call, she suddenly saw him moving. "Jesus!"

Yanking one of the earbuds out, she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Hey, Alex."

Alex turned and walked toward Aine he knew she was upset and this time she was showing it he went straight over to her and embraced her letting her arms stay at her sides he rested her head against his and let her feel that he knew how she felt.

Aine let herself momentarily fall against Alex, another small sigh escaping her lips.

"I thought she wasn't gonna come," she admitted, moving hesitantly and pulling him down to sit next to her. "And then she does and.......Who know what she's gonna do, right? She does have a habit of tangling everything together, and then pulling on the right string so that everything falls apart."

Letting her head fall against Alex's shoulder, she continued hesitantly. "And.....I don't like her being around. She's mean to Alaizabel, she's mean to John......The only time she ever is nice to me is when I ask her to make me a cup of coffee." A weak laugh escaped her lips.

"Some vacation. My older sister turns up and starts throwing insults around."

Apate had arrived. Alaizabel could hear the girl's voice as clearly as an air raid siren. She groaned, got up and went over to close the door, fished out her mp3 player speakers and plugged it in, setting it to play "Dreadlock Holiday" by 10CC. As the music reached her ears, she took a deep breath and grinned. Her pale pink pajamas ended up in a heap on the floor as the wardrobe was flung open.

A white sundress with a pattern of daisies round the hem was selected, along with a pale yellow cardigan. A large daisy clip tied her hair into a messy bun. She pulled on some knee high white socks, planning to wear her wellies if they went out, and knowing that brambles would scratch her knees. "I don't like cricket... no no, I love it, ehy,". The sun lit the pale blue walls with a wonderful glow, and Alaizabel ran her fingers through her fringe to straighten it as she headed to the bathroom.

Brushing her teeth, she looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't have a hangover, which was a blessed miracle. She washed her face, scrubbing it till it was red and glowing, patting it dry with a towel. She got into the kitchen as John was sitting down, and made herself a cup of green tea, taking a grapefruit and slicing it neatly into pieces, putting them onto a plate.

Apate, Aine and Alex came down, and the atmosphere abruptly dropped. "I suppose this place is just some old dustrag, appropriate for some of us.". Alaizabel looked up briefly, realised the comment was aimed at her and shrugged, before taking a bite of grapefruit and promptly going back to ignoring Apate's existence. Apate managed to aggravate Alex and thus Aine, and the two stormed off one after the other.

John had hardly looked up during the whole episode. Apate was lounging next to the coffee maker looking smug. Alaizabel bit into another slice of grapefruit, feeling it wake up her stomach. She washed it down with green tea, then got up to make toast and scrambled eggs. As the kitchen filled with the smell of frying egg, she cast Apate another ponderous glance. Toast went into the toaster. Ketchup and brown sauce were placed on the table. Knives and forks. A jug of water and a few glasses. The toast popped up and Alaizabel buttered it, all the while emanating an indescribable presence. Alaizabel looked up at Apate just as she realised she'd made two plates of egg on toast. Alaizabel put them on the table and motioned for Apate to sit down. She poured a glass of water for both of them and pushed one towards the other girl. She then squeezed a dollop of ketchup onto her own plate and began eating, finishing her tea and taking a sip of water too. Throughout the whole thing she had said nothing.

The clink of cutlery and the warm sunlight allowed the kitchen to be serene and peaceful. Alaizabel tucked a stray strand of hair back into the bun, her feet swinging slowly back and forth, a little smile on her face. The birds outside were singing, and Alaizabel had quietly and firmly made her point.

Alex sat in the cool cellar with Aines head on his shoulder he didn't need to say anything just be there Aines sister was the worlds biggest pain in the ass and one that he really could do without when he and Aine had been together he had tried to get along with her but in the end she had other ideas people were weapons to that girl and he was the easy one to against her sister but then it had fallen apart he wouldn't let it happen again he traced the scar on his arm again and brushed his hand over Aines "it'll be ok shes here but shes just hot air don't let it get to you. if u rise to it she'll have won." his hands laid by his side now he looked deep in to the gloomy cellar "come for a ride with me? like old times i brought your old helmet"

"Yeah. Let's go," she said, rising to her feet. "I gotta go grab my jacket, 'kay?"

Flashing a quick smile at him, she bounced through the kitchen, ignoring her sister but detouring to give Alaizabel a quick hug. "Me and Alex are gonna go for a ride."

Smirking to herself at the sound of her combat boots, pounding against the floor as she hurried upstairs, she snatched her heavy, cropped, leather jacket, shrugging it on and bouncing back downstairs.

Alex grabbed his stuff butting on his thick leather jacket and combats placing his hands into the reinforced gloves he fetched Aines helmet in truth he'd carried it around for a long time it still had the *0 to bitch in 60 seconds" sticker on the back he stroked his face feeling the onset of his stubble coming through *stylish* he thought he grabbed the door handle and went out taking his bike off the kick stand he placed Aines helmet on his lap and revved the Black and red Stallion in to life allowing the sound to flow over him.

Aine laughed happily, running outside and slinging herself onto the back of the motorcycle, resting her hands on her knees.

"How long have you been carrying this thing around?" she demanded, taking it from him and securing it on her head.

Her arms tightened around his stomach, and another delighted chuckle escaped.

"Vroom, vroom," she said quietly, happily.

It was classically Aine that she was happiest when she was rocketing down road on a motorcycle, clinging to her best friend's back.

Alex smiled in all his time on a bike this was the most fun he revved the engine and sped down the gravel on to the road letting the bike kick up a cloud of dust behind him Aine hugging him tightly she knew she was supposed to hold the back bar but she always chose him instead he smiled and pushed the bike to top speed feeling the air rip around him Aine chuckling and laughing out loud totally fearless

Hugging him tightly, Aine felt the wind whip against her, felt the world rush past her in a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds and textures, and everything bad in the world melted away.

This was life- this was life.

This was the life that Aine never wanted to grow away from, the life that she would continue to live even if took everything she had.

Aine didn't want anything to change, and she most certainly wasn't going to let it.

The bike sped on Alex and Aine said nothing as the world flew by in a flurry of colours the bike rounded a corner and then another with each Aines grip around his waist tightened then slowing down he turned and let the bike pick its pace up heading back towards the mansion he headed back through the gate and Aine pointed over to the hedge ways to one side a secluded spot with shade a bench and a small pond he wove around the walls and let the engine fall silent as he knocked down the kick stand taking of his helmet he dismounted and raked his hands through his hair it was getting long now soon heed need to steal Aines bobbles to tie it up, the memory of those time struck him again and he turned to look at her shaking out her hair he couldn't move his gaze away.

"That was awesome," Aine said simply, dropping to the ground, lying on her back and smiling up at Alexander. "That was just......awesome."

Her lips quirked upwards in her odd smile, and she gestured for him to lie down next to her. As he did so, she shifted slightly so that the tips of her fingers brushed the side of his hand.

"You still haven't told me what you did while I was out with Captain Courteous," she reminded him, gazing at the sky, a sudden though striking her. "Hey, you weren't, like, out on a date and you don't wanna tell me about it, right? 'Coz, you know......"

She trailed off, catching sight of a cloud in a strange shape.

Alex placed His hand against Aines face and gently shifted her gaze back to him "no dates no girls i just left my folks and rode till i couldn't go any further" he gently stroked her face "like anyone could compare to you" his eyes showed pain then "when my brother came home well you know how it is i decided it was best i go i didn't know where you were but then Lizzy got in contact"
he smiled a genuine smile then "when she said you were going to be here i kept riding day and night sorry i was a day late" his hand left her face then and moved to her shoulder he looked down under the pressure of her eyes he could never hide how he felt or what was bothering him.

"It's good to see you," she admitted. "I.....I wasn't trying to sound jealous or anything, because I don't really have anything to be jealous over, or nothing....."

She sighed, inching closer to him so that her head rested against his shoulder. "What are we, Alex? Me and you? You're my best friend, you know that, right? And, sometimes, I wish....."

Then she bit her lip and sat up. "Lizzie'll be wondering where we are. We should get back to the house before she gets worried, right?"

He watched Aine jump up and head towards the house he couldn't help but sigh "what are we" he said to himself "i dunno" he let his gaze follow her as she slipped into the side door "but i know what i want" and with that he stood by the pond watching the clouds float by "Aine" he said to himself "i think i ....." he trailed of best get back he needed loud music and he n=knew just where to go the red room beckoned.

"C'mon," she called over her shoulder. "I want some ice cream!"

Under her breath, she added, "Or some alcohol."

Entering the house, she waiting in the entry hall for Alex, crossing and uncrossing her arms nervously.

Against her will, her mind kept returning to what she had said- she had come very close to admitting something she was pretty sure she would never be able to take back.

"Alex?" she called, quieter. "You wanna go blast some music and forget about the world?"