Cloud

Timber Hudson was interested in…me? It took a long time to get past that fact. Sometimes I still thought of him as the super star who would have never given me the time of day back on Earth. Or maybe he would have if our paths had crossed. It’s hard to say. There are so many “what ifs” to factor into our situation. Those “what ifs” that I had to ignore if I had any hope of actually seeing how compatible we actually were. Because it was hard to not wonder. It always would be, no matter what, right? So I just had to drown them out.

( Read more... )

Another Achlivan Cycle Kiss.

* * * * *

As I gazed at Talia sitting across from me, her hand tightly holding the lead singer of Roleling’s, I realized how drastically different she and Chevelle actually were. Sure, they had a few things in common. I guess I’d always had a type, and that was intelligent, independent, and decisive. Without intelligence, I get bored. Independence is a must have given that I can’t have anyone clinging to me twenty-four/seven in my line of work. Decisive, well, usually, I need at least an hour to choose a restaurant on the fly. Yeah, I can be that bad. Those were the three common factors of Chevelle and Talia.

Appearances, they were drastically different. Talia being tall, but petite. Chevelle being about as average as a girl can get. Height, weight, proportions, she resembled the everyday eighteen-year-old. For some reason, she thinks that makes her undesirable to me. We’re getting there.

The way she and Talia handle life’s curveballs was also different as well as telling. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit stung that Talia was already dating another guy. At the same time, I realize I’m a total hypocrite seeing as how I had my eyes on Chevelle. I think what bugged me the most was that she jumped into his arms three days after I was taken from earth. Regardless of if she thought I was alive or not, three days? Wow. I didn’t even start thinking of Chevelle in a new way until at least two months passed.

However, she and Jake had history. He was the one who got away a few years back. The one she swore she was over, and that’s why it was okay for them to collaborate on songs all the time. Perhaps he was simply convenient, or maybe she realized just how much she still loved him. Whatever the case, they were together.

“No, it’s cool,” I said for the third time. “Seriously, I mean that.”

“And it doesn’t mean—” Talia began.

I held up a hand. “Let’s stop. The whole point I’m still meeting with you is to tell you everything that’s happened and what could be coming next.”

So I told her. About the Achlivans, why they came, and the offer on the table for her and Jake to take if they so choose. As long as they aren’t on my ship, I couldn’t care less. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that. Though I was starting to think about taking Chevelle up on the offer to burn the CD liner of Talia’s album. The tabloids said she wrote a whole new one dedicated all to me and the love we shared. I got a good laugh from that.

When I was done with my story, she chewed on her lip, clearly mulling everything over.

“Wow, you still want me to have a chance? You’re not writing me off to die?” she asked.

I shook my head. “That would be awfully petty of me, don’t you think? You, Nate, my parents, are all getting a chance because you’re important to me, and I’m important to them.”

“What about you?” she asked. “If Jake and I are together, and everyone has to be paired up, who—”

“You must have missed the part where I mentioned I have a female roommate,” I said quietly. “Not that we’re together.” Yet. “But I’m good so long as she wants me around. We’ll figure it out. Nate too. There are a lot of single women on the ship. I’m sure one true love is just around the corner.”

Talia frowned. “Tim…”

“I gotta go and prepare for my press conference,” I said, standing and glad for my time crunch because it was the perfect excuse for a quick exit.

Hard part was done. Closure obtained. Now I no longer had to feel guilty for thinking about kissing Chevelle anymore. Seeing Talia again did show me that I needed a little more time on my own before I did kiss Chevelle next. I had insecurities of my own to fight through, and only some of them we could battle together.

Another Achlivan Cycle Kiss

( Read on here! )

Notes: An alternate universe of the Achlivan Cycle. If you want to know more about these characters, you can read the book here.

* * * * *

Wicken, Timber, Lara, and myself all surrendered peacefully to these…attackers at the mall. All of us congregated by the entrance as instructed, and we waited…and waited…until some guy named Paul separated us. He pointed at us like cattled and commanded us to go when called—or else. Wicken was called away with the first group of people. Mostly young adults around his age. I’m not sure what that meant. Timber and I were the only grown-ups in our group. The rest were all kids.

Timber, Lara, and I were the last to leave. We teleported to a space ship. Yeah, a space ship, teleportation, wild stuff. Then we were put in an apartment, and I think that puts us up to pace.

I’m pretty sure I started hyperventilating, or maybe I fainted. One minute I was standing, looking in our swanky new pad, and the next I’m slumped against Timber’s chest.

“Here,” he said, helping me into a dining room chair. “I’ll get you some water.”

“Thanks,” I managed.

Paul seemed to nod with approval. “Yes, you two will get along well.”

“That’s great and all, but that matters why?” I asked.

Timber brought me the glass of water just as Paul dropped the next bombshell on us – we were expected to act as a couple. Live together. All the other things that come with dating. Not right away, but eventually – or else. Some screwed up form of an alien dating service. Flattered they put me with Timber Hudson, teen heart throb, and actor extraordinaire, but…no. We don’t know each other.

Timber pointed that out.

“Get to know one another and we can reevaluate the situation,” Paul said. “You’re not being forced to do anything. Only highly encouraged.”

“I have a girlfriend,” Timber said.

Paul sighed. “This is temporary. We’ll find you a suitable arrangement that makes everyone happy. For now, don’t cause a fuss or the Achlivans will send you to go live with the trouble makers.”

Yeah, that probably wasn’t a good idea.

“What about Wicken?” I asked. “Is he here?”

“The other young man you were with at the mall?” Paul asked. I nodded. He smiled. “He’s been placed on another ship. You will reunite on Sanctuary.”

“Huh?” I asked.

“I’ll explain later.”

Of course.

Paul glanced between Timber and I. “For now, just be reassured you are safe and this is a good thing.”

A few more minor details were given. When he was coming back to show us around our new habitat, etc. Once he was out the door, I pinched myself. Yeah, this was all real.

“I need food,” Timber said.

I laughed. “Funny, I was just thinking that.”

“Really?” His dreamy one blue and one green eyes were wide.

“Subconciously, yeah.”

“What do you eat?”

I raised an eyebrow. “What don’t I eat?”

“Guess I’ll let the kitchen tell me.” He moved into the next room, and I watched him explore the cupboards and refrigerator for a little while. He seemed quite comfortable in there, and there were a lot of choices for him to pick from.

While he cooked, I took the time to calm down. I had to turn my brain on and stop oogling over him. I needed to think.

The three of us ate some pasta dish that had roasted tomatoes and asparagus and it was amazing. I ate two bowls. Lara eventually went to bed, seemingly unfazed by the whole situation which was weird since she couldn’t be older than six. Her parents didn’t sound like good people though from what little she told us. She was probably better off.

“We have to pretend we’re a couple.” I groaned.

He scoffed. “Gee, thanks.”

“You’re not the problem,” I mumbled. My cheeks flushed with heat. How could Timber be the problem? He was perfection in human form.

“It’s just acting,” he said. “Won’t be hard to do.”

I laughed. “Please…” It’d be easy for me to be attracted to Timber – I already was. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a straight female on the planet who wasn’t attracted to him. Him attracted to me? Whole other story. I was a normal, slightly chubby, eighteen-year-old girl. Not a super model like all of his highly publicized relationships. Comparatively, I was gross.

“I’m not joking.” He moved closer. “From the little I know of you, I can tell you’re a catch. Pretty and smart.”

He thinks I’m pretty? He thinks I’m pretty! Ugh, I’m pathetic. Of course that’s all I can think about. Timber. Hudson. Thinks. I’m. Pretty.

Then he kissed my cheek ever so gently.

“See? Easy.” He winked and left the dining room.