Chapter 1.2

A couple of nights later, I took off for the library to read up on inventions others had made in hopes they could inspire me. While scanning the pages covering a possible approach to a time machine, I feel the couch sink on my left. Glancing up, I jerk in surprise as Drake opens his own book to do some research.

"Do you normally take to stalking girls you've just met?" I jest as I recover from my initial shock.

"Just the beautiful, intelligent ones," he smiles, returning to his book.

After finding the information he needed, Drake heads to put his book back on the shelf. As I saunter over to return my own book, he invites me to the local sports bar promising a drink and a dance. Not one to turn down such an opportunity I accept and we head over.

With the drinks done with, we tear up the dance floor a little less reservedly since there are no other patrons to see my ridiculously bad moves. Drake isn't so bad himself, and I find us getting closer and closer by the minute. What did I do for the Watcher to give me a chance with such a good looking guy?

"You're a doctor then?" I say, as we take a break from the dance floor, "Ray's mom, Abbey thought about going into that before joining the local forensics team."

"I hope to be one someday, but at this point I'm a paramedic. I'm still saving lives which is what I signed on for, but not being a grunt would be nice too," he replies, forcing a laugh before diving into his reasoning, "After my sister, Bellatina passed and left her daughter, Ellymae to me, I decided to make saving others my life's work." 

"Enough of that though," he finishes, taking my hand, "I really like you, Ary but it's not fair for you to judge me by myself. My niece is the biggest part of my life and if you and I decide to make this serious, she'll have to approve first."

"I've never really thought about having children before," I say as I calculate the rest of my response, "I admire that you'd put her opinion before your own though. I agree, I should have the chance to get to know her too if she is going to be a part of this."

"Are you my new Auntie?" the little redhead asks me as soon as I approach her before rambling on, "My Uncle says that my Mommy was real pretty, and you're real pretty too, so that should mean you're my Auntie! Right?" she says, suddenly nervous.

As I struggle to deal with the girl's energy and rash assumption, I begin to like her, "I'm not you're Auntie, but I could be in the future if you'd like me to be. I like your Uncle very, very much and I hope to get to know you better too."

"Well I hope you'll be my Auntie," she says uneasily, "but I have to do my homework, can we play later?"

"Of course we can sweetie," I respond, seeing Drake has finished changing out of his work attire.

"Ellymae is just the cutest little girl," I whisper to Drake, "She's just a ball of energy!"

"You don't even know the half of it. I get tired out from her easily before I even go to work!"

"Uncle Drake?" her little voice interrupts our gossip session, "I forgot that Cleora invited me to sleepover tonight, can I go, please?!"

"Since you've finished your homework, then you may. I'll stop by next door in the morning to make sure you're ready to go to school, okay?"

"Okay!" she agrees, rushing off to pack her bag.

Once she's gone, Drake steps a tad closer to me and reaches out as if to embrace me, but falters at the last moment and awkwardly brushes his hand down my arm.

"Listen, I know it's unfair for you to have to win both of our affections. If you'd rather pass us by, then here's your chance. I'd rather end it now than after we get in too deep," he sighs, turning around and walking away to hide his emotions.

I give him a moment of privacy in order to gather himself before following him over. When he turns around, I lightly caress his face while imagining what it would be like to walk out now.

As the gap between us closes, I know I'd regret leaving him for the rest of my life. I'd always wonder if we would have worked out.

To convey my meaning, I lean forwards and our lips lock. After a moment we both pull away, not looking away from each other for even a second.

"I could never imagine leaving someone so genuine and handsome like you; I'd be crazy too," I whisper huskily. I've never felt such a pull to a man before; the feeling is incredible and I want more.

Once again, we embrace in what feels like a never ending kiss. Unable to control ourselves, we slowly stumble to the bedroom without breaking contact.

Only right before we consummate our relationship do we break for air, acknowledging the desire in one another's eyes. For the rest of the night, we alternate between taking short naps and making love; both not wanting the night to ever end.

In the morning, we rise early so Drake can drive Ellymae to school. We pause half way through getting dressed, neither wanting to leave.

"I'm sure Raydenne must be wondering where I am," I giggle ashamedly, "She's normally the one staying out all night."

"At least you're with a good man," he winks in return.

Before I have a chance to crack a joke about his ego, he pulls me in for one last kiss. We finish getting dressed and head on our separate ways, promising to see each other tomorrow.

Chapter 1.1

I had broken a cardinal rule, "Never leave a woman alone in a sketchy bar," and now I was paying the price. Not only had my sister stayed out the rest of the night, she still wasn't home and it was the afternoon. Normally when she sleeps around, she sneaks out and gets home sometime in the middle of the night, but today feels different. The bartender had lost interest before I left the dive, and no one else had been at the bar, so who could she be with? The sheer amount of worry lodging in my heart aches with every passing moment. Even working on my new project isn't helping. What if she was kidnapped? Or ended up in the hospital?

As my stress is about to reach its breaking point, the sounds of a car entering our residential community pique my interest. Whipping around, I cross my fingers hoping it's not the police dragging my sister's ass home once again. It's not, and I let out a frustrated sigh at the unrecognizable car. When it slows to a stop right in front of our house, however; my worries dissipate. So Raydenne found a guy to spend the night with who isn't a loser? This is an interesting development.

Loping over to the car, as to give the impression that I wasn't worried sick all morning, I pull on a forced grin and greet my sister in a tone as fake as my smile. Turning to thank the man getting out of the drivers seat, I almost choke on my words as my eyes fly wide.

Before I can even finish a thought about how attractive this man is, he interrupts my greeting, "I know this may look awkward, but it's not what you think."

"And how do you know what I think? Surely it is as it seems. It's always the same story," I reply sarcastically.

"Listen," he says, checking to see if Raydenne is out of hearing range, "I've heard of your sister's... reputation, but when I saw her stumbling around downtown by herself, I couldn't just leave her, you know?"

"So you picked her up, took her back to your place, and then proceeded to take advantage of her. Since her reputation speaks for herself then it wouldn't be rape, because if she was more sober she'd be doing it anyway--"

"Please," he says, interrupting me for the second time, "Just hear me out."

Rolling my eyes, I concede and prepare for his elaborate story on how he didn't actually fuck my sister. I'd heard this before, too. Once they see me, they try to cover up their escapade with Ray in hopes they'll "get me" as well. I don't understand how so many guys can fantasize about bedding sets of sisters.

"As I was saying," he says, running his fingers through his hair out of slight frustration, "I couldn't leave her, so I picked her up and took her to my place for the night. My niece lives with me and I would never, ever, set such a poor example for her."

"You expect me to believe that," I reply as more of a statement than a question.

"Call my niece and find out the truth for yourself then."

"Fine," I respond with a sigh, "It's getting late, thanks for bringing her home safely...?"

"It's Drake, and you're welcome...?"

"Arycella."

"Right. Maybe I'll see you around then, Ary," he replies with a wave before hopping back into his car.

As I watch him drive away, I let out a burst of air I feel like I've been holding for years. I haven't felt that giddy over a man since... well, ever? I'm the practical sister who doesn't believe in true love and happily ever after. My relationship with Mama Esse and Mama Abbey hadn't exactly helped out either. While they do love each other, having to deal with the circumstances surrounding our births had cast a shadow on us in their eyes. They love Ray and I dearly, but we aren't theirs like Sabelyn is.

Casting off the jealousy directed at our younger sibling, I walk back to my inventing table. Ten minutes later I realize I haven't been doing anything, just zombie-ing out, daydreaming of Drake. Realizing he had hinted at wanting to see me again, I do a little happy dance before heading up to bed.

After being cast some knowing glances from Ray, I tuck in for the night, looking forward to dreaming.

Chapter 1.0

 

My name's Arycella, and before you ask how to say it, it's pronounced "Air-eh-sell-ah". The set of boobs the mixologist is staring at behind me belong to my sister Raydenne, "Ray-den". Half-sister, if you want to get technical. If we look familiar, you've probably seen our moms Abbey and Estrella Sperie on the cover of some adventure magazine; no autographs please. We each take after our own mom to the tee, minus our eyes, but that's a story for another day.

Tonight, I'll just get us more acquainted since you're going to be observing our lives and the lives of our descendants. Here's a better view of Raydenne and the man she's currently eye fucking. He goes by the name of Duane Keys and is the mixologist of Joe's Garage here in Queenstown. Normally, I wouldn't spend my evenings at this dive, or at any dive bar for that matter, but lately my sister has needed a logical brain around.

Ray's what you'd call... easy I suppose. Too easy even. Every time she hits the bar it begins the same way. First come the coy glances, followed by some not-so-innocent flirting and later, suggestive remarks. 

As the hours tick by slower than the drinks she's downing, the comments turn lewd and soon the bartender is making provocative gestures and my sister is getting ready to take him home.

It's at this point that the bartender realizes one of three things. One: That he is so getting laid tonight. Two: That she is drunk, and going home with her wouldn't be the right thing to do. Or three: That she's that girl that's been sleeping around with the bartenders at *insert any bar name here*.

Tonight, our bartender has landed upon the second option and is subsequently trying to appear distracted and uninteresting in hopes to fend off her drunken advances. I wouldn't blame him either. Watching a girl miss her mouth while trying to drink is never that sexy.

Before you get too many hard feelings for her, I should take a moment to light upon her good side. Ever since she was little, the canvas has spoken to her and these days she's making her money with a brush in hand. During the daylight hours, she's a doll, albeit a little dramatic and snobby. Even so we get along almost perfectly, but that may be because I'm usually immersed in my own work.

If I'm not at home, you can usually find me at the junk yard digging through trash piles in search of viable material. Inventing gizmos and what-cha-ma-call-its is my passion, it's almost as if the metal speaks to me. It may sound crazy, but I wouldn't change my profession for the world.

Back in the present, it's time to make my leave of this dump. Since it's obvious that the bartender is no longer interested, my duty as rational adviser is done and I can go home to sleep in peace. Whatever my sister does at this point won't even make my "Top 100 Things I Care About" list; she's on her own. I have a long day of inventing planned for tomorrow, so I will need every ounce of sleep I can get, and at this hour I'll be happy if  I can get 6 hours in.

That's the difference between Raydenne and I. I'll spend days planning each prototype before I even touch metal, but all she has to do is throw paint at her easel and lo-and-behold, a masterpiece is born. There's a touch of animosity towards each other deep under our skin, just like any other set of siblings; we're generally good at keeping it in check, but the more desperate Ray becomes, the harder it gets to hold it in. It's better off for us to make our way home separately, preventing any possible arguments along the way. In the morning, we'll each wake up and shake off the bad memories and get back to being friends again, but for tonight we'll go our separate ways.