Fragile Pathways

Chapter Two

She didn’t bother closing her curtains again as she readied herself for the day with her mum. She hummed along to the radio in her room, playing some unknown songs, and some songs she knew very well. Whenever one she hadn’t heard came on she scribbled it down on a piece of paper for later.

Finally, after nearly forty-five minutes of rummaging through her boxes and bags, Ari came across a simple pair of faded blue jeans and a white shirt with her home town designed across the front. It was her first real day here, she might as well show England pride.

She left with her mother and Regulus at eleven to visit the pet store. As she walked the aisles with her dog, she placed every toy he picked up in the basket. By the end she had seven new toys and a tube of miniature tennis balls. They got her supplies that Hunter and Nick had not provided her with as well, and a new mobile phone.

When she returned home, Ari called a quick ''ello!' to Erich, who was sitting in the living room. He shot her a quick smile, listening to whatever was being said on the other side of his earpiece. "Yes, I know, John, but we can't afford that right now."

She ignored the rest of his speech and ran to her room, tossed her bags on her bed, and then raced Regulus to the back door. He leaped past her, sliding to a stop just before he reached the door. Ari giggled, opening the door, watching as her puppy ran into the yard, tackling his new toy she had thrown out for him. Smiling as he ran around freely, she wandered back into the house and made her way to the upstairs. She plugged her phone into the outlet in the family room(as her mum had called it) and she sat herself on the bay window, flipping through the television channels while keeping an eye out for Hunter and Nick.

The next few hours passed slowly, Regulus, Echo, and Hayley being her only source of entertainment. Within minutes of activating the phone once it was fully charged, however, she plugged in her friends’ numbers and sent them all a text. They had gotten her a long distance calling plan, and also text, because it was obvious she would be using an uncountable amount of minutes of long distance otherwise.

I am your newest stalker.

She typed out her message and hit send, grinning when Reese texted her back a few seconds later.

Oh my. I’ll have to watch my back, then. It seems this number is coming from the states, however. Shame. It must be hard to stalk someone across the sea.

She frowned at her phone. Do not remind me. You need to come visit. Now.

I will try. Let me just grab my money for a round trip to Nebraska from London.

Round trip? Oh, no. If you come, you are never leaving again.

Not even when you return home?

She laughed. She needed Reese with her. He was practically her entire life. She felt empty, now. Just as she hit ‘reply’ the doorbell rang.

She had been sitting on the family room couch with Regulus curled up to her side, eating out of a large bag of gummy bears. Regulus jumped down and bolted towards the door, Ari slowly following. Her dog was jumping on the door scratching at it, even slightly growling. She mumbled a quick ‘hush’ to her puppy before twisting the door knob, pulling the door open to reveal Hunter, Nick, and Erin. “’Ello!”

“Why ‘ello, mate!” The first twin grinned.

“It’s simply smashing to see you on this fine day!”

“Shut up!” Erin laughed, pushing past them to throw her arms around Ari. “I hope you don’t mind that I came. They were talking about it at lunch and I hid in their car.”