Call It In The Air

[xknomex]

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

eek you'll back!!!!!

no need to apoligize for anything, i just hope everythings okay!

can't wait for your next update!

[susanf6230]

Looking forward to update, love this story and the previous one, you are an amazing writer.

[monkeysmoke]

Ok I'm feeling a little rusty so its not that long or anything but didn't want to keep you waiting any longer. enjoy! xx

chapter 6

Aden could hear Belle's footsteps approach the house before she had even reached the front door.

"Wow, for a while there I thought you had made a run for it." Aden joked from his immobile position on the sofa, he let himself inhale the faint smell of jasmine that lingered whenever Belle was nearby.

"Well I did think about it, but then I realised how totally and utterly helpless you are right now, and why would I pass up on oppurtunity to see you like that? I mean, I may never get the chance to blackmail you like this again, best to take advantage of your crippled state whilst I can" She jibed back at hime as she entered the centre of the room.

"Blackmail?" Aden raised his eyebrows at her "Taylor, I underestimated you"

"Well yeah, I mean, how much is this parcel worth to you?" Belle held Annie's present, stretching out so that it was raised high above his head.

Aden shrugged trying to seem complacent. But Belle watched his eyes silently gaze up at the parcel eagerly and could see how much it really meant to him. He shot a look at her and grinned "Well, I guess if its the only way to recieve mail these days then I guess I could give you a little smooch, so long as you don't go getting any ideas" He watched the unamused look on her face as he teased her, before he was brought back down with a thump

"ouch!"

He said half heartedly, holding the object which had just been dropped on his head, only realising a moment later that it was Annie's gift that Belle had deliberately dropped on him.

Belle folded her arms, "watching you suffer is payment enough for me"

"aw honey, don't be mad" Aden replied mockingly "Like you said, I'm dependant on others now, I need to make the most of what I've got. There's no need to get jealous, it's not my fault that my best resource is my..."

"Just open the damn parcel" Belle snapped impatiently. She sat herself in the armchair opposite him and folded her legs eyeing the parcel, waiting for him to comply.

Aden smirked at her from across the room. "Why are you so eager to see inside the parcel anyway Belle? Don't tell me Annie didn't confide in you about this?" He sat up, goaded by the fact he was right, and how much this was obviously infuriating her.

Belle tried to look unphased by the remark, brushing down her clothes as she replied sternly "No, she didn't"

"Well, then maybe I shouldn't open it in front of you" Aden suggested, turning the parcel round in his hands and studying it.

"Why not?" Belle asked a little too urgently, sitting up in her chair as she did so.

"Maybe it's supposed to be a secret. I mean, why else wouldn't she tell you Belle? You are practically sisters after all" He continued.

"She probably just forgot" Belle rationalised to herself, although the question struck her deeper than Aden had intended it to. Why hadn't Annie said anything? She knew about Belle's visits to the hospital after all.

"Right..." Aden said, unconvinced. "Well, either way, I think I'll just wait til later, something to look forward to after dinner"

Because waiting till later would really infuriate you, and you look so sexy when your angry" He replied cheekily.

Belle was infuriated now "Oh please Aden, like its anything that interesting anyway. It's probably just chocolate or something. You're just worried you'll embarass yourself by being so helpless again" Belle goaded at him, realising that was the only chance she had of him actually doing it.

"Belle, I don'tknow what handicap you suffer from, but in case you forgot, they removed one of my kidneys, not my hands"

"Oh really? You could have fooled me the way you fumbled around with that paracetamol box earlier. Come to think of it, your a bit of a clutz at the diner too, are you sure there'snot a medical problem there somewhere?"

"Nice try Taylor, but reverse psychology won't work on me,

"Fine, then seeing as your couch ridden, I'll open it myself" Belle replied, swooping down for the parcel.

Aden clasped it tightly, holding it close to him "Fine. Alright I'll open it now, don't lose your knickers over it..." Aden glanced up at her cheekily "Or maybe..."

"Just open it" Belle snapped at him, her cheeks flushed red and she took a step away to compose herself.

Aden carefully unwrapped the blue tissue paper, revealing a small, soft, white canvas. A painting was drawn on it, at the centre of which sat two shadowy figures, one that looked like an outline of himself, and the other of a girl, much smaller than him, clasping hands, both crouched down on a golden beach behind a mass of purple and grey rocks. A light blue sky surrounds the rest of the canvas. Aden thought back to the day on the beach, when Annie had thanked him and he had revealed a different side to himself, a part of himself he'd never revealed to anyone before. He'd felt his whole self become unveiled to her. He stared hard at the figures in the painting, the boy's head was bent down low, his hand fasted tightly to the girls, the girls head rested on the boys arm. He was so sure that was what Annie had painted, and yet he couldn't really accept that she had. He had never actually told her anything, but at the time it had seemed so certain that she knew. This painting seemed to highlight that moment, make it real somehow, and he felt unveiled to the world again.

"Wow" The voice startled him. He had forgotten that Belle was there. "Do you think Annie painted this?" Belle asked him as she stared at the painting.

Aden cleared his throat "Yeah"

"Thats amazing. Its really good" Belle gasped, letting her fingers glide over it.

"Yeah" Aden whispered, feeling his hands go clammy as he held the canvas between them.

"But why would she...?" Belle asked, letting the question remain unfinished. She didn't understand, or at least, she hoped she didn't. She knew that Annie was close to Aden, ever since he'd saved her from Axel, but this, this suggested something more. But Annie was just a child and Aden was so much older. Surely Annie would have said something to Belle, especially as she knew about Belle's feelings towards him. But then again, maybe she had deliberately kept quiet for the same reason. I mean, she hadn't even mentioned that she was going to give Aden a gift. Her thoughts were interupted by Aden

"you have to go" She heard him say roughly. She stared down at him but his eyes remained fixed on the painting.

"Excuse me?" Belle asked, trying to catch up with what was happening.

"You have to go"

"Why?"

Aden remained silent. He didn't know why really or he couldn't tell her he wasn't sure. He just knew that he felt exposed and he couldn't handle her seeing him this way.

"Aden why would Annie paint this for you?" She asked, trying to sound indifferent.

"Please can you just go, Roman will wonder where you are"

"But you can't even move"

"My dad will be home soon"

"Aden whats this all about? Why the sudden rush to get rid of me?" She asked, dread filling her stomach at the possible answer to that question.

"JUST GO" he yelled at her, unable to stop himself. He could feel himself slowly losing control and he couldn't bear for her to be there when he did.

Belle glared at him. She was certain. This was why Annie was so cheerful again, why she had visited him so often, why she'd never told Belle about the presents or what her and Aden talked about. It seemed so clear now. "Fine" Belle replied flatly. She felt herself move towards the door, could see herself from the outsie, walking like a zombie as she left the house and walked down the road towards her car, forcing back the tears as thoughts of Annie and Aden threatened to drown her.

[Taniya_K]

I've been waiting almost a year to find out that what present was and just wow! It was nothing that I thought it could be, but it was so fantastic. I loved how it brought back that scene from the other fic, and how it made both Aden and Annie.

The ending was sad, though. Poor Belle, although her logic is right, and I'm kind of hoping that Annie doesn't really have feelings for Aden.

Aden yelling at Belle to get out was too. But bless him, I can understand why he did it by the way you described his thoughts and feelings.

The banter, as always, was brilliant and spot on. Everything about the chappie was, except the end cos it was Can't have everything, I guess. Plus, your angst is just so great!

Really cannot wait for more! So glad that you've decided to continue this.

xoxo

[xknomex]

WOW. that present sounds AMAZING!!!! totally woth the wait, wow. and as Tan said about how it brought the other fic... simply amazing

Loved the banter between Aden and Belle and Aden's cheeky comments, hehehe

the end was how Aden yelled at Belle, i hope they make up...(maybe with a kiss? ) hehe

Cannot wait for more! and thank you so much for updating.

FANTASTIC chapter!!!!!

xxx

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 7

"Hey, how was school?" Kirsty asked as Miles slumped down next to her on the sofa.

"You know everytime I'm asked that I just feel like a rebellious teenager again" he replied, loosening his tie.

"I can't ever imagine you as rebellious Miles" Kirsty smiled to herself.

"Really? Who do you imagine I was at school then?" He asked curiously.

"Well, I kinda had you figured as the geeky type. That or the nice guy"

"Why does 'the nice guy' have to sound like an affliction?" Miles asked defensively.

"No, it's not... it's just..." Kirsty trailed off, unsure how to phrase what she wanted to say.

"Go on"

"Well its just... young girls are always drawn to the bad boys aren't they?" Kirsty stated.

"Well you certainly were" Miles joked. He watched Kirsty's tense, the smile immediately leaving her face. Realising his bad judgment he cringed "sorry, I forgot about Kane and everything, that was totally inappropriate"

Kirsty laughed, relieved. For a moment she thought he may know more about her past than she had divulged to him. "no, it's true, I was a sucker for a bad boy. Do you want a cup of tea?" She asked, trying to distract from the conversation at hand.

"oooh yes please" Miles clasped his hands together

"So, how was school anyway?" She asked him, switching the kettle on as she walked into the kitchen.

Miles yelled out to her from where he lay slouched on the settee "Yeah it was pretty good actually. I mean, Bartlett had a few short words about punctuality first thing but after that he cooled down."

"Yeah, can you believe he's still willing to employ me? I mean, I never even did a full days work" Kirsty recalled innocently.

"Mmmm" Miles replied, not wanting to reveal his own personal feelings on Bartlett or his behaviour towards Kirsty.

"I feel bad about it, but he seemed genuine about the offer, and I could really use the money so I thought I might take him up on it. Do you think that's taking advantage though?"

"Well" Miles pondered the question for a moment. His first thought being to warn Kirsty off. It was highly unusual for Bartlett to be so considerate and he coulsn't help feeling that there was something more sinister behind it. But then, Kirsty needed the money, and its not as if Miles had any proof of Bartlett's intentions which he could use to dissuade her. "I think you should do whats best for you and Ollie" he replied.

"hmmmm" Kirsty considered

"Oh, I saw Aden today at school" Miles added. Kirsty was always eager to hear of news of Aden. Miles had suggested they go and visit him ever since he'd come out of hospital, but Kirsty was always very insistent she keep her distance. She was adamant he wouldn't want to see her. Miles didn't fully comprehend her reasons behind this, but he'd dutifully check up on Aden himself, sometimes via Roman, so that he could report back to Kirsty on how he was doing. She was always so eager to hear about him, despite the distance she kept from him.

"What? he's back at school already? Surely he's not well enough yet" Kirsty asked, walking back round the sofa to stand in front of Miles.

"Well, I asked if he felt ok and he assured me he was fine." Miles shrugged. He had seemed fine earlier at school.

"Did he say how he was?" Kirsty probed, her eyes boring into him. Miles fidgeted in his seat under the pressure.

"not really. He said he was on paracetamol to help the pain but that otherwise he was fine."

"Right" Kirsty replied wearily.

"I know, he's alive and well and making a full recovery, its tragic" Miles joked.

"I'm sorry, I am happy he's ok" Kirsty replied truthfully.

"Whats up then?" Miles asked seriously, sensing something more weighing her down.

Kirsty sighed "Nothing really, I just...." There were a million things she wanted to explain to him at that moment. When Aden had been ill, it had been her willing him to get better and worrying about him that had distracted her from the secrets she was hiding from him, from everyone. Now, hearing he was almost better, there was nothing else to focus on but Aden himself. Her brother. The boy who had saved her son. The boy who had secrets of his own that he had revealed to her. She owed him so much and yet she was trapped into this web of secrecy that she couldn't escape.

Miles watched her, trying to gauge how she was feeling. Maybe she felt guilty for not seeing him, he wasn't sure. "Look if you want we can go round and see him. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you." Miles suggested.

Kirsty began shaking her head before Miles had even stopped speaking. "No, no I can't"

"Why not?" Miles asked for what felt like the millionth time, already awaiting the million and one excuses he knew Kirsty would give him; it was late, she needed to take care of Ollie, she didn't want to intrude...

Kirsty couldn't tell him the real reason. She couldn't explain that if she saw him and spoke to him, the secrets she knew might burst out of her because then she would have to reveal to Miles what those secrets were, and she was bound by her sons life to never do that. "I just can't Miles ok?"

"Kirsty I know you think you'll be intruding but you won't."

"Theres no one to look after Ollie"

"So take him with us? I'm sure of all the people Adens gonna want to see Ollie, and Ollie's practically recovered too. They're like blood brothers anyway now" Miles joked at her.

Kirsty felt struck down by the words. She looked at Miles. He was right, Ollie wasn't an excuse for not going. If anything not taking Ollie looked weird, suspicious even. She felt her options running out. There was only so long she could put off seeing him, especially if she were to start working back at the school.

"Ok" she sighed grudgingly "Let's go"

[Taniya_K]

Oooh, yay! Another update! And it was a Miles/Kirsty [i like these two in this fic, and this fic only! ]

I liked how Kirsty was trying to get out of seeing Aden, but I guess it was inevitable that she would have to see him soon. The reason at the end was good. I totally forgot that Aden had told Kirsty about his past. The meeting is gonna be very awesome/interesting.

Cannot wait for more

xoxo

[xknomex]

heheheh i love Miles, you write him soo well!!!!!

i'm glad Kirsty is going to go see Aden, although i'm not sure he's in the best of moods after what just happened with Belle

Can't wait to see what happens next..

eeeeeek i'm so glad this fic is back, i LOVE it!!!!

xx

[susanf6230]

Brillant, brillant, brillant.

[LAURZY!]

Ooooh! 2 updates

Loved them both, the ending to the first one was rather though!!! Loved Annie's present to Aden though, not at all what i was expecting lol

Loved the banter and convo's in both chapters, you write all those characters so well

Cannot wait for more, love this fic