6Sorry about the previous cliffy. XD Enjoy this one while it lasts. =D
Chapter Three
Alison watched Arden play timorously with his pasta, avoiding the two women's gaze as they inspected him every now and then when they chatted dynamically. Ashley was at a medium height with short, straight light brown hair, pale skin, sky blue eyes and a serious and helpful personality. She was a nice woman with a good job as a Biology teacher at Sydney Girls High School.
"I heard you're looking for a teaching position, Arden." Ashley said in her deep feminine voice, bringing Arden's head up in a flash. "There's one open next door at Sydney Boys High School for a substitute. They'll take anyone that looks good. You should go for it."
"I think so too." Alison mumbled with a mouthful of pasta, watching Arden's reactions.
His face fell suddenly. "But I don't have any qualifications."
"You don't really need any for this place. If you're a substitute, they don't care even if you're a hobo in disguise." The ladies laughed at the end of her sentence with Arden joining in midway. Alison enjoyed hearing the man laugh. It was a deep, mellow timbre. "I'll see if I can land you an interview for tomorrow and I'll pick you up, okay?"
"Sure. Thank you so much, Ashley. I really appreciate this." His cerulean eyes sparkled with happiness, a sight that occurred very often these days.
"No problem. I'd do anything for a friend of a friend." She flashed him a lovely smile.
Arden returned one and left the table to go wash up, taking his sweet time to get there. Alison cringed mentally each time he hissed in pain but she made no move to help him. He needed to learn balance. Once he was out of earshot, Alison and Ashley were talking again only this time, it was about Arden.
"I can't believe the poor guy has amnesia. It must be really hard for him." Ashley said, sadness coating her tongue.
"Dr. Maclean told me that it's permanent." Alison whispered back. "He won't ever remember anything of his past life. It's heartbreaking." A stray tear fell down Alison's cheek. "I just wish I can help him."
"But you have, sweetie. You let him stay here until he's ready to get his own place and you're feeding him. Where did you find him?"
"A man came in claiming to have found him lying on the shore of Cronulla. He was bleeding and the guy got him out of there and to the hospital before his blood attracted any sharks. The sight was insane. His leg was broken in two places and I swear I think I saw his bone sticking out." Alison's face twisted up into a grimace. "His body was covered with his blood and they rushed him to the emergency room straight away. I recall him screaming. It was such a horrible sound, so sad I ended up a crying heap in the cleaner's room."
She fell into Ashley's welcoming arms and cried. Ashley crooned motherly, rocking the small woman back and forth. "It is okay, Ali. He's happy now. He's healing. He's fine."
"But h-he s-sound-ded s-so much like them, j-just like w-when t-they d-died." Alison stammered with her face buried in Ashley's shoulder.
Ashley sighed, frustrated at their situation. "You need to stop comparing things to your parents, Ali. Have you even accepted their death? It's been six months now." She murmured gently, patting her friend's back soothingly.
"I miss them so much."
"I know, sweetie. I know."
What they didn't know was that Arden has heard their entire exchange and was on the verge of breaking down. He never knew such a tragic event had occurred in Alison's life. She appeared to be so full of joy and hyper. Arden spun on his heel and left the kitchen, letting tears stream down his face.
Why was being a human so hard?
Arden ran through the city, his heart racing, his breath haggard. The sword was lead in his hands, his head throbbing with an angry headache. Blood, sweat, decapitated bodies and white feathers were scattered across the entire square, the only sounds heard were a young wailing baby and the howling wind, the baby's cries lost in its current.
Arden groaned with pain, his arms protesting. It's been ten hours. Ten hours of raging war. Rebellion. Death. Blood. So much blood. Arden's stomach lurched at the sight of a headless angel, his wings cut off wholly.
The black, furious sky rumbled; streaks of crooked lightning flashing. What was going through his head? Rebellion only ended negatively. How could he have let this happen? Let all this blood be shed? Why?
Arden woke the next morning on Alison's lounge, his neck stiff. Having memories attacks during your sleep wasn't a lovely experience. That was it. This was what he was. A fallen angel made to communicate and start anew on Earth. There was one thing Arden knew for certain during his life in his previous lush and beautiful paradise: rebellion always ended with death or damnation; two of the worst punishments in the universe.
Agreeing into becoming a rebel was possibly the dumbest, most stupid idea that he had ever agreed to. But the wealth of power had been so tempting... Arden forced the past away from his mind, determined to focus on the present and future now. The past was history and nothing could change that.
Getting up, he carried himself to the bathroom and brushed his teeth with the toothbrush Alison gave him last night. Alison's hospitality and her acceptance of his 'condition' were beyond thankful. Arden felt so fortunate to have encountered her for without her, he had no clue where he was would be.
When he entered the dining room, he was welcome with a mouth-watering aroma. On the table with a grinning Alison at the end was basically a gourmet breakfast.
"I would kiss you again but my mouth would be full." Arden said, grabbing the seat closest to the food and to Alison.
"You're welcome." Alison said in the midst of chewing her French toast. "Ashley got you an interview for ten o'clock today."
Arden dropped his fork, a piece of scrambled egg falling out of his mouth. "I don't know what to say." He blurted out, aghast.
"How about thank you?"
"Yes, mother."
Alison sniggered, finishing up her meal. It was seven in the morning, three hours until his interview. 'I suggest you take a shower. You smell really, really bad." To emphasize her statement, she waved her hand over her nose, crinkling it adorably.
"I repeat again, yes mother." He stabbed her hand softly with his fork, smiling. She gaped, stabbing him back with twice as much power. He yelped, bringing his hand to his chest. "You're so mean!" he complained, pouting like a child.
"For a twenty seven year old, you're so immature. But then again, boys are trees; takes them a hundred years to grow.' She smiled triumphantly, leaving the dining room with her plate. Arden smirked.
She loved having the last word.
"You have the job."
Arden's eyed bulged out of their sockets. "What?"
"I said; you have the job." The headmaster of Sydney Boys High School rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Thank you so much." Arden had no words to express his gratitude and elation. This was his first human job. He was beginning to enjoy living like this more and more each day. "When would you like me to start?"
The headmaster's tanned, leathery face warped into a delighted grin, an unearthly gesture on the man. "You seem eager, son. But I'm sorry. With that cast, you'll have to wait until it comes off. The spot is yours so don't worry. You seem like a good man so I'll await your return soon."
Arden nodded, an unsteady feeling in his gut.
"See you soon, boy!"
When Arden left the office awkwardly, because of his crutches, Ashley was anticipating his return, pacing around the administration office nervously. When she heard the door shut, she whipped around, her eyes wide. "TELL ME!" She cried, jumping up and down, resisting the urge to leap onto him to demand the answer out.
Arden hung his head, his ability of acting coming into use. His blonde locks hid his tiny smile. "I'm sorry..."
Ashley's face softened and she placed a sad smile on her face. "It's okay."
Arden's face immediately radiated with joy, a wide grin on his face. "But I got the job."
Ashley squealed, clapping her hands. Then she frowned up at him. "You had me fooled for a second. Don't do that to me ever again."
"Yes ma'am." Arden grinned wider, glad he'd managed to trick her.
"I can't wait to tell Alison. She'll be so proud of you."
"You think?"
Ashley's eyes studied Arden. "Absolutely,"
They went out to lunch and just after it, they passed the medical centre and Ashley spotted ear plugs. In an instant, she bought two pairs and shoved one is Arden's hands. He gave her a perplexed expression and she said one word to explain, "Alison."
"Oh! My! GOD!" Alison shrieked. "I can't believe it!" Alison tried her best not to squeeze the life out of Arden as she hugged him to near death. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Can you get off me, Alison? I think I'm going to lose feeling all over my body." Arden choked out. When Alison released him, with a soft apology, he exhaled deeply. For a woman, she sure was strong. He wondered whether she'd considered for that sport where people try to punch each other's lights out.
"I'll drive you to the city tomorrow, 'kay"? Ashley said with her hand just about to close the front door.
Alison made a cute pout. "Won't you stay for dinner?" She whined.
Ashley rolled her eyes. "I have a ton of exams to mark. Being a teacher isn't easy. I'll call you tomorrow. Love you!" With that, she shut the door.
"Well that was interesting." Arden said, trailing after Alison to the kitchen at the maximum speed he could with his crutches. Speaking of crutches, Arden asked a question that had been gnawing on him. "How long do I have to wear this cast for?"
"Another five weeks. You'll live."
Arden groaned and headed to the living room to sit on the lounge. He adjusted his pillows and blanket to sit on it neatly, his arms crossed over his chest. He was sulking, a fact oblivious to Alison. It was merely until she was placing dinner on the dining table when she saw him in the same position he'd been for the past half an hour, his lips still in a pout.
She sighed, exasperated. "Arden, it is dinner time. Please don't mope around. I don't like people when they're upset. They kill my buzz."
Arden heard the strain in her voice. He went to the dining room and sat down, leaning his crutches on the chair beside him. "I'm sorry, Alison. I just hate not having both my legs." He said, nibbling his salad. "Great cooking again," He complimented.
"You're such a gentleman. So rare to find." Alison mumbled under her breath, stabbing her fork into her pasta and salad.
Arden took his time with his dinner, all the while his eyes on Alison. She appeared to be exhausted; her blonde hair in her face and her hazel eyes dull. "Bad day at work?" He inquired.
Alison's head nodded glumly. "Not particularly work but I'm not my best today."
"May I ask why?" Arden promised himself he'd back off as soon as she showed reluctance. As soon as he saw the conflicting emotions in her eyes, he did as he swore. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me."
Alison sighed heavily. "I will tell you, Arden, just not today." She ran a hand through her hair and cleared the table silently. Arden watched her every move, picking up anything out of place. Her hands were trembling visibly and darks bags underlined her eyes.
"I'll do the washing. Go have so sleep. You look like you need it." Arden said, attempting to snatch the ceramic plate from Alison's hands. She let him and slumped against the plaster wall of the dining room. She rubbed her hands over her face then smiled a tiny smile.
"Thank you, Arden. I guess this is like payment towards your boarding, eh?"Alison hugged Arden awkwardly then left with a sorrowful air behind. Arden couldn't get his finger around it as he washed their dishes in the sink, a frown on his face. He had no clue on what could be bothering Alison. She didn't seem the type of person to be dampened easily – with her sparkling nature and all.
After Arden had completed the dishes and put them away, he picked up A Walk To Remember and flopped down onto the lounge gently on his back, the book already open to his favourite parts. He wasn't a hopeless romantic but he could be at times when it came to soppy, dramatic love stories. He wasn't the flirting type either, a talent he resented.
The next morning when Arden woke up, Alison was up already, humming along to a 1970s song on the radio, cooking breakfast. Arden smiled lazily, happy she was back to her old self.
"Morning, sunshine!" She sang cheerily, a yellow summer dress hanging loose on her body, matching her golden hair reasonably. "I'm so proud of you, you know. You've managed to pull yourself together after your accident, land a job, get a massive pile of cash from a relative and pass your immigrant test. You're a smart man, Mr. Kennedy."
"I still can't get past the fact that I have a last name."
"I suggest you do, mate." Alison served their food on plates and carried it to the dining room. "Did you want to go to the pub tonight?"
Arden frowned. "Pub?"
Alison gasped with mock horror. "You've never been to a pub?!"
Arden shook his head, still frowning.
"You're coming with me tonight and that's final."
"What if I don't want to? I have no idea what this thing is."
Alison's hazel eyes hardened and she glared up at him for a few seconds. "You will and that's final. You need guy friends. Not just me and Ashley."
"And what if I don't want guy friends?" Arden was starting to enjoy this.
"Too bad," She shook her head and dug into her breakfast. "Idiot."
You know where the button is. Please make me happy. Flames are grudgingly accepted.
~ Love Fia