Cell

Two weeks then love will be again,
Four until slumber can be had
But I'm tired of the waiting.
Purgatory finally taking it's toll
As these scars just keep multiplying
Cause there's no escape,
And the music will only make us deaf.
Yet pryomaniac tendencies
Whisper sweet nothings in my ear,
Promising a means to the end
While nourishment only further disgusts.
So as I stand on this ledge
The pavements sings,
A sweet solemn lullaby
And as I plumment
Towards those arms of solace
I always stand to wake,
Broken and weary
In an empty bed.

Confrontation

545


Liam and I arrived fashionably late to The Beat as I had suggested we go for dinner beforehand because it was sure to be a long night. I was wearing one of my sexy black dresses though as I was on a date I decided to be tasteful and not wear anything too revealing. Liam wore a nice dress pant and shirt combo. Mariam was the first to great us.

"And who is this Veronica," she inquired holding out her hand for Liam to kiss; he kissed it instead.

"Mariam, why this is Liam."

Quickly returning her hand to her side Mariam replied, "well I haven't seen him around here before."

"I usually don't hang out in places like this."

"Oh," Mariam looked at him in disgust. Placing a hand on Liam's arm I asked him to get me something to drink.

"What would you like dear?"

"Anything. Surprise me." I knew this would keep him busy for awhile. We kissed before he headed to the bar.

"You're a horrible person." That was nothing newsworthy. "Veronica you certainly could have picked a better toy."

"He's not a toy. I happen to really like him." Mariam looked at me sideways.

"Please tell me you're kidding because Morpheous will definitely not be happy."

"Is he ever? No I'm not kidding. Is it wrong for me to want something different?" I eyed the bar and was thankful for the long line.

"Different? I swear Veronica you've changed lately and not in a good way. This Liam is not one of us and when he finds out you---" My eyes flashed red cutting Mariam off.

"Don't you dare mention that tonight."

"Well I'm sorry dear but if it's not me it will just be someone else. You can't hide who you really are." Mariam took a sip of her champagne."

"I don't plan to."

"Well either way I'm sure that's the least of your worries."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well if Liam was any other toy you could pull it off but because he's different Morpheous will notice."

"And?"

"And he'll be angry. He still has a thing for you Veronica. Technically speaking you still belong to him." I could feel my anger rising.

"I belong to no one Mariam."

"Keep telling yourself that. Oh well look who's back." I saw Liam walking towards us and I softened. Surprisingly he was empty handed.

"All the drinks had odd names and when I tried asking the bartender for a description he blew me off."

"Isn't that interesting." I ignored Mariam's remark.

"It's ok love, I'm not feeling too well anyway."

"Did you want to leave?'

"So soon you two? But you just got here."

"Sorry Mariam but my bed sounds really good right now."

"Well then good night."

"It was nice..." Mariam walked away before Liam could finish his sentence. "To the car my lady," he said grinning while holding out his arm. Smiling I took his arm in mine and we headed to the exit. On the way out I caught Morpheous staring at us from one of the balconies causing me to shiver. "You ok sweetie?"

"Hmm? Oh yes, just fine."

Finding Sanity

519


I watched James carefully as he cleaned my wounds.

"And here I thought you had given me all of your razors"

Smiling a bit, certainly not afraid of what I had done, I replied, "well I always have a backup".

"Don't you trust me Maria?" There was a tinge of hurt in his eyes that triggered the guilt to start flowing.

"Of course James, you know I do, but sometimes I just need to cut. You know how it is."

"I still wish you wouldn't."

"At least I'm not trying to kill myself anymore." I laughed; he didn't. While he began bandaging my arm I kept my mouth shut. James was the Simon to my River though we were definitely beyond a brother-sister relationship and since I wasn't family I felt as though I was an unnecessary burden. Even so there was a light to all of this because James enjoyed taking care of me plus I kept him company, when I wasn't getting under his skin. Though all in all my illness was finally useful for something: keeping someone else sane.

"You're all set." I made myself comfortable on the bathroom counter while James put the first aid kit away.

"So James how was your day?"

"Besides coming home to a bloody mess? Boring." We both laughed and I jumped down from the counter then placed my arms around James' neck.

"Ah James, where would I be without you?"

"Probably dead." I smiled even though he was exactly right. He gently kissed me on the lips then inquired about dinner.

"What about Chinese?"

"If we had money for take-out."

"Aww, please."

"Maria we are low on funds plus we have plenty of food in the kitchen." Taking my hand in his James led me to "our" kitchen so I could see that he wasn't lying. I made myself comfortable on the kitchen counter this time. "You know we do have chairs," he said smiling at me.

"Chairs are boring."

"And yet their purpose is for us to sit in them."

"And yet my purpose isn't to sit in them." James searched the pantry contemplatively.

"So what is your purpose Maria?" This question irked me a little.

"I don't have one. I thought that was clear." James took his head out of the pantry and looked at me solemnly.

"Everyone has a purpose."

"Well I'm not everyone, so I guess I don't fit that category. Which wouldn't be a problem if you had let me die." He came over to where I was sitting and hugged me, tight.

"I care about and love you and believe you have a place in this world, that's what I didn't let you kill yourself. That is why I'm here now." I hugged James so tight as if letting go would allow him to disappear.

We stayed in the embrace for at least five minutes, until I felt it was safe enough to let go.

"So what about stir-fry? I think we have a kit left in the freezer." I smiled and nodded. "Great," he said before heading to the freezer.

Maybe I was wrong, perhaps it was James who kept me sane.

An Ossies World

467


My caregiver did the routine morning check to make sure we had everything for academy before patting us each on the head and rushing us out the door. Unlike most of my siblings I enjoyed academy. They usually just complained how things were easier back in the Low Days with no regard for they were called the Low Days. With the meeting between the Ossies and our race we were shown the intellectual light so to speak. Even though our minds, as humanoids, aren't developed enough to posses as much knowledge as the Ossies I strive to get pretty close.

Getting on the white bus I searched for Julie. Finding her we exchanged a smile before I sat down.

"Hey Alice."

"Salutations Julie." She proceeded to giggle.

"Why do you always say that? That's their word you know."

"No it's not, they just implement it."

"You know it's okay if we're not as smart as they are, the Ossies have already made it clear that we're inferior. So just relax sometimes."

"That's not true. The Ossies are working with us to improve our civilization."

"More like enslaving our civilization." There was an awkward silence between us for awhile as I didn't feel up to arguing with Julie. Even though the Ossies had made it clear that their intent was only to help our race, to progress quickly without destroying ourselves, which is where we were headed in the Low Days, many didn't take well to the change. The Ossie caregiver units especially irked those that were against change.

"Did you do your arithmetic," Julie inquired breaking the silence.

"Affirmative. It was pretty simple." Instead of commenting on my responses she decided to bite the bullet instead.

"Really? I had trouble with number six."

"Well I could help you with that." Julie already had her textbook out and we spent the rest of the ride going step by step through the problem.

When the bush arrived at the academy we all hurriedly shuffled off.

"Hey thanks for the help Alice. See you third period." Julie and I went our separate ways for the morning.

Arriving at my first class of the day I took my seat next to Cameron.

"Morning Alice." Smiling I greeted him back.

"Easy time with your homework I suppose."

"Certainly and I expect the same of you."

"Hah, of course, easy as pie." Cameron pretty much held the same view as I on the Ossies and about striving to reach their level of intelligence. That's one of the reasons I was always joyed to see him.

"How's your caregiver Cam?"

"Well, and yours?"

"Well also." I was going to add something more when our instructor walked in. Quiet was expected once an instructor stepped into the classroom so I saved the thought until later.

A New Stream

507


"But why is the rum gone," JD inquired like a child wondering why the candy had disappeared. We went through this routine at least once a week.

"Because you drank it all at the party last night."

"All of it?"

"Pretty much though you did have some help." Oh was all JD said in reply but I'm sure he had no recollection of anything and was just taking my word for it. JD isn't someone you could call very bright. In all actuality he had the mentality of a child, guess it was due to this that I felt it was my duty to take care of him. I considered him my little brother and the commune was truly the best place for him.

I shook my head and walked away to see if there was anything to eat. The kitchen was empty as everyone was probably still asleep after last nights festivities. It wasn't even noon yet. Finding nothing appetizing I decided to go hang out on the roof and ponder the great ponderables. River put a bit of a damper in those plans.

"Surprise to see you up this early," I said while carefully climbing out of the second story window. "Took a chaser did you." She seemed deep in thought and didn't react to my comment.

"I didn't drink much." Sitting next to her I attempted to follow River's line of sight and ended up finding a squirrel to quell my visual ADD.

"What's up Riv?"

"Nothing, just enjoying the view." Looking at the nearly identical houses I couldn't find satisfaction with this answer.

"Right. What's really going on in that mind of yours?"

"Why are you here Mags?"

"Because there was nothing good to eat in the kitchen."

"No. What made you come to the commune?"

"Well I never really got use to the whole college thing and I didn't like the idea of becoming a corporate yuppie. This seemed like the best place." River still wasn't looking at me.

"Do you really see yourself being here for the rest of your life?" I really didn't want to think about the rest of my life.

"Riv, what's the mouse turning in there?"

"Sometimes it just seems that we're running away from the world, that I'm running away."

"Running away? I just see it as a big 'fuck you' to the mainstream." River lowered her head so I got serious. "Hey, no one's keeping you here Riv. You can go whenever you like and if the world isn't to your liking, the commune will still be here." I paused a moment before adding, "if you want me to go with you, I will." River turned to me smiling.

"What about JD?" I laughed.

"As long as he has rum he'll be fine."

"You're the best Mags."

"I know," I boasted resulting in River hitting me. We both laughed though in the back of my mind I hoped I wouldn't have to leave this place.

A Different Kind of Fruit

381


"I wonder what kind of fruit a 'starberry' is," James pondered out loud.

"It's a fruit native to the third planet in the twelfth galaxy." Sarah rolled her eyes figuring everyone knew this before realizing her mistake. James just laughed.

"twelfth galaxy? There is no such thing. Good answer though." Sarah started humming as she had seen done in the old shows. "Wait. You were serious?"

"Maybe." Sarah picked up her pace. James paused in his step before catching up with her.

"Well what do they taste like?"

"Like starberries." James laughed a little.

"Well do they taste like strawberries?"

"What are strawberries?" A look of confusion came over her face, James mirrored it. "You know that little red fruit, sometimes people dip them in chocolate." He shook his head. "I really don't know you." Sarah stopped walking, looking James in the eye.

"One could easily say that's your own fault. People hardly ever ask the right questions. Knowledge is relative."

"But you've been here five years, as far as I know, and we've been friends for two."

"Time means nothing James. You should know that." He didn't know what to say. "Even if we had only known each other for a year we would still be friends. Time wouldn't change that fact but if you think that whatever new information you know about me will, then I don't know James." What new knowledge had he just acquired? Without having the courage to ask the right questions in order to venture further he had nothing.

"I couldn't imagine us not being friends Sarah."

"You have a pretty limited imagination then." He shook this remark off.

"I mean what- whoever you are, you are still the girl I went to sophomore homecoming with. The girl who has crashed at my house more times than I can remember. And the girl who I stay up with till dawn pouring out my soul to. What I'm trying to say is that no matter what, you will always be my friend, my best friend." Even though Sarah wasn't too keen on physical contact James hugged her anyway.

"They're kind of sweet."

"Huh," James said while letting go."

"Starberries. They're kind of sweet." They both smiled and continued walking.

Times Like These

*I'm trying to get into the hang again with the writing excises and this was my first one in a long time. It's not the best but certainly something.



It was only morning in the technical sense as the clock read A.M. though time didn’t matter much these days. The neon green numbers flashed three and I had two options: stare at the peeling walls as sleep eluded me or try to be of some use to the others. Throwing on my old jacket I left my bunker.

Ending up in the children’s quarters I greeted Tal.

“I thought this was your sleep shift.” I smiled and shrugged.

“It’s difficult to get sleep nowadays.”

“This is true, though your body will get tired eventually.”

“Until then I’ll leave the sleeping to the children.” I looked around at all the slim beds. “How are they?”

“Well all their vitals are stable and the EEG seems good. There hasn’t been a nightmare in days.” Poor things, there isn’t a week that goes by in between nightmares from one or the other and we cherish the peaceful nights. Who wouldn’t be plagued by nightmares in this world. The children are lucky enough to have solely caught glimpses, if anything, of what’s out there yet only a couple were actually spared the aftermath. Tal tried to cover up a yawn.

“Sounds like you need some coffee.” I sure could’ve gone for some.

“I’m fine,” Tall lied while monitoring diagnostics with complete concentration.

“C’mon, you don’t even have to move.” He smiled while looking at me from the corner of his eye.

“Alright, guess I could use a bit of a pickup.”

“You take it black right?”

“Is there any other way?” We both indulged in a laugh. After patting Tal on the back I headed to the kitchen hoping we still had coffee in stock.

I never really liked kids however after all that had happened my parenting instincts kicked in. Guess I’m only nurturing in the wake of tragedy.

Reaching the kitchen I ran into Jen.

“Hey.”

“A late snack Jen?” She laughed melodically.

“If you call coffee a snack.” I grinned.

“It is when everything else is in cans or freeze dried. Can you spare two cups?”

“Of course,” she said while putting down her own cup. I grabbed two mugs out of the drain, Jen poured the coffee. “Where you staking out this time?”

“Nursery.” Jen smiled softly.

“They’re angels in the throes of hell.”

“Yeah…there sure are.” I picked up the mugs. “Well I better get back before Tal falls asleep.”

“Tell him hi for me.” Turning towards the doorway I gave her a nod before leaving.

*****

“Coffee anyone?” Tal was fighting the sleep in his eyes.

“Right on time,” he said as I handed him one of the mugs before taking a sip from the other one. I made a face as Tal began to drink his.

“Oh by the way Jen says hi.”

“What duty is she on?”

“Um...kitchen duty. She’s the one that made the coffee.”

“Well it certainly—“ Tal was cut off by a spike in the EEG. It was coming from Samantha; I could see her twisting in that tiny bed. Tal got the sedatives.

“I’ll do it,” I offered, holding out my hand. He gave me the pill packet.

Filling up a cup with water I head over to Samantha. Placing the cup and packet on the table next to her I knelt at her side. “Sam,” I sang gently wiping the sweat from her brow. “Sam, wake up dear. You’re just having a bad dream.” She woke with a start. “It’s okay dear,” I said while grabbing the pill packet.

“I was…”

“I know sweetie, it’s okay now.”

Once she knew what was happening Sam asked, “Do I have to,” referring to the sedatives.

“Don’t you want to get back to sleep?”

“Not that way.” Samantha thought for a second. “Can we go for a walk Danny?” I gave the idea some consideration. If a walk was going to help her get back to sleep then I’d oblige.

“Certainly.” I took her elfin hand in mine and saw Tal smiling as we headed out of the children’s quarters.

Unfound Benediction

Damnit just say it, I told myself, it was the only way to keep him form walking away for good.

"You intrigued me," I blurted. He stopped so I continued. "That night, at the party, you intrigued me." He smiled cynically.

"You mean the one where you wouldn't talk to me when I spoke to you?" I diverted my eyes and tried to redeem myself.

"It was loud and you made no indication..." He was now standing next to me, towering really, once again wearing a suit jacket with no tie.

"Parties are loud but I'll forgive you." He later added, "I guess". He motioned for me to sit on the concrete step, nonchalantly he joined me. "I was partly there for them, partly there for my own pleasure. More so the latter."

"Them," I questioned like a child.

"The others, your family though they more so own you. You know who they are." This was true, I did know but I wanted confirmation.

"Why did they send you there?"

"As a watchdog, though I highly resent that. To make contact but it apparently wasn't the time."

"Sorry," I knew that it was my fault.

"Well it really wasn't the best setting."

"I was sad when you left."

"I think that was more the beer talking than anything else. Nice costume you had on by the way."

"Thanks." Impetuously I had the urge to put my head on his shoulder however I knew it would be inappropriate.

"Go ahead," he said reading my mind, "your intentions are innocent." So I did, kind of awkwardly at first until he put his arm around me. I suddenly was aware of the chill in the air.

"Who are you? I don't even know your name."

"Well my name isn't really important. Call me Liam, you have a fondness for that one. As far as who I am, I'm a nobody really."

"Like me."

"No you have a purpose Miranda. That is the title your apparent mother gave you right?"

"Yeah..." I said reluctantly though the shock soon dissipated.

"Well Miranda, you have a purpose. Maybe not the most fun but I'm sure you have some idea of what it is."

"Am I important to them?"

"Depends on how you define important. You definitely are an expensive project." Liam laughed slightly, more to himself than to me. "Either way you work with what you got. That's life."

He removed his arm which I took as a signal to remove my head. Liam's hazel eyes shined like gold. "There's a possibility they fucked up kid and unfortunately there are no miracles." That possibility was more of a fact to me. "Sorry." I nodded my head, there was nothing he could do yet I still didn't want Liam to leave.

"Will we-"

"Of course," he cut me off. "I get around." Liam rose gracefully and dusted himself off. "And hey kid. Raising hell doesn't have to be a sacrifice." With that, he disappeared into the night.

Public Phantoms

Tired of lying for a living
Of hiding behind this steel mask
While unseen wounds accumulate
As tribute for a feeble soul
But the show must go on.
Sleep only comes
With insufficient lullabies
In dreamless lands
Where angels refuse to tread
And guardians are too weary
To settle uncertainties.
Pain and cold taking their rightful place
Veiling costs too steep
Behind tokens of solace.

Untitled

*Don't criticize this too much as it's pretty much raw material. No polish this time.

There she sat on her bed, back curled against the numbing concrete. The music was blaring and why not, her roommates did it all the time. This time was hers and she needed it; needed to feel the guitars around her while the door was locked, in her mind. Each moment that passed the noose seemed to get that much tighter. Then there was that little knife glaring beside her, not as rescue though not a friend of the rope. The blade offered release no matter how temporary. However one question remained: was the noose tight enough that release was required?

Alpha

Julie entwined her fingers with Samantha's as the tears began to stain her cheeks. Sam could clearly see that Julie was breaking yet she knew of nothing else to do except be there and keep the foundation.

It had at least been weeks leading up to this moment, the only signs were Julie turning more and more into herself and those intense stares at reality. Samantha had no way to prepare and continued putting this moment off in the distance praying, without God, that Julie would get better however the fair days were just that, fair. There wasn't much keeping Samantha from shattering herself except for her defense of looking at things objectively, although one can only detach themselves from existence for so long before it catches up. This time it came full speed ahead with marred survivors.

Julie turned away forcing Sam to look at her back, her spine seeming so fragile as she tugged at her hand. Samantha searched the universe for the right words to reverse this, to make everything better but everything was cold and black. She resorted to blaming herself then ultimately blaming Julie. Things weren't as bad as she was making it out to be. She was allowing this to happen and if she only fought harder... But Julie had been fighting for so long there just wasn't any willpower left. To be her savior, to preserve Julie, to preserve them if only Samantha could find a way, yet the tunnel seemed closed off.

Julie squeezed Samantha's hand allowing a tear to fall free. Sam waited as the silenced endured. A murmured voice cam from that fragile shell. "This isn't the end." Samantha questioned Julie, not knowing if she had heard correctly for this most certainly was la fin. Julie repeated herself and added, "be safe, love". Her grip loosened and her body curled in the contour of a sow bug. Samantha pulled fleece over the childlike figure and waited, for that was all that was left to be done.

Beyond

*Wrote this awhile ago but just recently did the final touches.

Here I am at the edge of the world because of them. They wouldn't come to me so I have no choice but to go to them. The passing of days and the ticking of minutes became pointless, my path being hidden by their exhausting mind games. I could feel the rotation of this planet every waking moment and even now as I stand at the edge it is giving me motion sickness. All this pointing to the fact that Terra 3 is not my home, though belonging never fit this skin. And the few (the rare) were always destroyed by the "higher" design making it impossible to bear this rock, forcing paranoia into my demeanor. Of course the hiding only made me restless which led to eschewed eccentricity. They ignored my screams that pushed the Richter so here I am, standing at the edge of this desolate bastille. Maybe now they'll hear my fall.

Abstract Semaphore

Swirling hues
Gripping at life,
Baring their story
With human emotions
Trials and tribulations,
Crying out warning
That only go unheard.
Ignored by perceptions
Of beauty and genius
Instead of the wisdom
Pouring forth like fountains.
Showing their tie-dye life source
Thriving in the light
Though breathing in the dark.
Listen to the whispering screams,
Learn the words
And the heed the message
For time is running out
With each passing brushstroke.

Costume Change

Betrayal of those
Who live for the fall
Of the yellow dwarf.
Fabric a palisade
Mind metamorphosis
In a reverse sickness,
Dreadful exposure
Something eschewed.
Music of saturnine sirens
Bring nothing but tears,
Internal mourning for
An accidental massacre.
Bent jigsaw with no role
In this social puzzle.

Playing with this doll's strings and singing novel lullabies that aren't up to par when the sandman awakens. For as consciousness alters, souls fall deep into the abyss showing that contrived tales are fallible knights of straw. And with each high noon pieces continue to fade while cries are masked behind an apathetic face, to ever deaf eyes.

Lorraine

He had his hand on my left cheek, fiery and firm. Avoiding the gaze of both him and my date I waited to be scolded.

“My precious Lorraine is this what you’re doing nowadays, hanging out with the likes of him.” The way Adrian emphasized him sent a chill down my spine. There was nothing I could say that would please Adrian and I was hoping that the cat wouldn’t be let out of the bag.

“Who are you,” Lucas inquired and protested simultaneously. Adrian removed his hand.

“Oh look it talks. Who I am is not important.” I mustered up enough courage to look him in the eye.

“Adrian, please.”

“What?!” His eyes glowed. “Lorraine don’t you think this brute deserves to be warned?” From the corner of my eye I saw that Lucas had stopped struggling with Adrian’s men.

“Can’t I be happy, just once Adrian?”

“But my dear you can only be happy with us. You destroy everything else, not on purpose of course; it’s just the way you are.” He was right and I fought to hold back the tears.

“Don’t listen to him Lorraine. You do deserve to be happy.”

“And she is Lucas, she just forgets sometimes.” Adrian moved to stand behind me, his scent of myrrh overpowering my mind. “You see this she-devil here loves feasting on hearts, figuratively speaking.” Adrian’s speech was more to me than Lucas. “I’m sure you’re a nice person, good willed and all, so try to see this as me doing you a favor.”

“A favor huh? Look we like each other alright and obviously you can’t handle that. Just go crawl back into whatever hole you came out of.” The dam had broken and the tears couldn’t be held back any longer.

“Well what do we have here? I think you made her cry Lucas. Oh I will be going soon enough and Lorraine will be coming with me.” Adrian positioned his face so close to mine that I could feel his breathe on my neck. “Would you like to tell the oblivious brute what happened to the last guy that had a thing for you?”

“Please Adrian,” I begged again.

“Well then I guess it’s up to me.” He dramatically cleared his throat. “The last guy, what was his name again? Bill? John? Ah whatever. Anyway the last guy is now an alcoholic. She didn’t just break his heart she ripped it out of his chest and mangled it beyond repair. Isn’t that right Lorraine?”
“I don’t believe you.” Lucas’ counterattack was worth nothing.

“Lorraine?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“A little louder dear, I don’t think he heard you.”

“Yes,” I said before burying myself into Adrian. He wrapped his arms around me.

“See Lucas, I don’t lie.” Adrian must have given them the signal to release him for his voice was so close.

“Lorraine, we all have our demons; let go of yours. Let yourself be happy.” I looked up, tear streaked face and all.

“Lucas, some of us are the demons.” Not being able to look at him any longer I turned my gaze towards the floor. “Your life will be better now.” Before he could protest Adrian stepped in.

“Now that you kids are done with your goodbyes I believe it’s time for us to go.” Putting his hand on my shoulder I walked with Adrian leaving Lucas behind.

I wondered if ending the relationship before it could truly start hurt him more than anything I would have done in the future. As if reading my thoughts Adrian said, “you did the right thing my dear.” Leaning into his body and getting lost in myrrh my mind stopped racing. I felt Adrian’s smile as we walked on.

The Diamondback

*Just a warning I'm not that great at dialogue, something I need to work on. And also I'm not discriminating against any culture or style in this piece just in case anyone thinks I am.


I was all dolled up which was awkward considering I hated make-up however it was necessary for where we were going tonight. That's right I was taking Jack to one of my dives and I felt a certain sense of honor since he always introduced me to new places.

Just doing the finishing touches the doorbell rang and my heart jumped. I opened the door and there stood Jack in his usual dress with that lovely smile glowing on his face. "Hey sweetheart," he said as I hugged him tightly. "Ready to go?" Jack's voice was deep but not to the point where it reminded you of cheesy sex songs.

"Yep." I grabbed my bag and keys as we headed out.

"You look..." Jack paused searching for the right word, "different." I could tell he wasn't satisfied with that one for he added, "in a good way of course." My smile had turned into a smirk.

"Of course." Jack looked down at what he was wearing.

"I feel like I'm underdressed." Turning my head to the side I looked him over and realized that I couldn't picture Jack in anything else; this was his style and I loved him for it.

"Don't worry, you look fine." Truth be told I really didn't have a style of my own and resorted to wearing whatever I felt fit the occasion. I held onto Jack as we drove off on his cycle.

*****

"Hey beautiful, who's the looker you're with?" Impersonating French culture we gave each other a kiss on both cheeks.

"Margo, this is Jack."

"Well hello handsome and welcome to the Diamondback," Margo said smiling that flirty smile and pushing out her chest to bring focus to her corseted breasts.

"Why thank you." Jack had that dumb look on his face that most guys got when presented with a woman like Margo.

Their silent flirting could have gone on for quite awhile and I would have let it if I hadn't wanted to sit down as soon as possible.

"Any rooms left Margo?"

"Quite a few actually. I'd suggest number six suga. Want a dancer Bethany?" I definitely needed the entertainment.

"What's the wait?" Margo finally took her eyes off of Jack before answering me.

"It'll be about twenty minutes."

"That's fine."

"Alright," she wrote something down in the book, "give us five minutes and your needs will be taken care of."

"Thanks Margo, I'll be seeing ya."

"You sure will," she confirmed while eyeing Jack. I took Jack's arm in mine and headed to the rooms.

"Our needs will be taken care of?"

"What's the Diamondback experience without having a go at the hookah."

"Ah, I see." We both laughed.

"Bethany," someone interrupted. I let go of Jack's arm.

"Damien," I spat out sourly.

"It sure has been awhile."

"Well I've been busy." He eyed Jack unfavorbly.

"So I see."

"What do you want," I sighed.

"Just wondering. You see Beth," I cringed for I hated the shortening of my name, "you're barely allowed in here and you go and bring a guest that's unacceptable." I brought my eyes to Jack to let him know I could handle this for if I didn't he would've stepped in. I could tell he wasn't happy about holding his tongue.

"And what's acceptable Damien? Not all of our lives revolve around wearing fishnets and black eyeliner." He would have refuted my comment if the people nearby hadn't fell into a fit of laughter. I took Jack's arm again. "Now if you'd excuse us, we came here to relax." Walking away I could hear the others poking fun at Damien. "See Jack, told you you weren't underdressed."

"Haha, I guess not," he said while we down on the plush couch.

Seeing the hookah already waiting for us I said, "now all we need is our belly dancer."

"Belly dancer?"

"Of course, another experience of," we said in unison before laughing, "the Diamondback."

Satellite Angel

*The want is there but I'm not sure the need is. I'm not giving up just yet though. Try to enjoy.



Polished beauty taunting
Behind a glossy lens.
Zooming focus upon lips
Speaking silver tipped lullabies,
Upon eyes that
Forge connection
A link of pure illusion.
All set in silk skin
Too close to touch,
Where love is conjured
By such a performance,
Feeding
A broken reality.

*So finally wrote something. Thanks to RagDoll for sparking that motivation. I'm going to leave this one untitled for now so that phrase doesn't get too repetitive. Enjoy everyone.



English summer rain, that's what I imagined it to be as the April showers had decided to move to June. Sitting beneath the old willow tree I closed my eyes enjoying the sound of faeries playing and taking the drops that slipped through leaf security as blessing. A flash of lightening ripped through my eyelids and as the thunder rolled after it I was transformed, my entire being shifted to become a part of this phenomenon. Feeling a familiar peck on my cheek my eyes slowly opened as a smile washed over my face.

"Out here without me again?" Droplets from his spongy hair fell down Gideon's face and got lost in the soaking wet clothes.

"Sorry, couldn't help it. I didn't want to miss this if it had decided to pass like the rest." Gideon lightly nodded knowing the lure of Mother Nature's finest as I did. We both remained still basking in the pitter-pattering silence; this was us living dangerously.

Gideon then took my hand in his and we rushed into the open letting the cool drops bath us both before running and splashing and laughing. The moon glowing brightly above, bursting at the seams as we danced the night in the English summer rain.

untitled like a million things

Another poem that I happened to write today so it's not polished. Sorry about not updating story wise, the whole thing is still kind of in limbo. Ah well, enjoy.



I cannot give a thought
To forever,
The future being ever bleak
Yet there is comfort
In the unknown.
Plan after plan dished out
Like Prozac
To this melancholy nation,
And they keep hitting
Nettles burrowing beneath the surface
The spiders clawing away
As I suffer to betray them
Allowing the monotony of fabled certainty to
Kill their unborn sacs.
The collar being clasped
Just as solitude becomes love.
Infinite steel circle,
A ring of warped promise
To remind coming moments
Set by someone else.