The Tie That Binds, Part Five

Last time Velvet was trying to make everyone paranoid of Paige and Fiona dreamed of Velvet's funeral. What will happen next, I wonder...

The Tie That Binds, Part 5

January 5, 1743

Fiona poked her head into Paige’s room. “Paige,” she called.

“Yes Fiona.”

“Where are you.”

“I’m in the closet.”

“Paige, I had the strangest dream last night.”

“What about?”

“You!”

“What about me?”

“Well everybody was in the sitting room except you. And Velvet looked really weird, she was the only one staring at the floor. I don’t know why she was, but she was! Ther was no snow, but there was a grave on the other side of the yard. So I went over there and read it!”

“What did it say?”

“Well, It said;

Paige Melinda Fostor
Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you.”

“Weird,” Paige said after a moment. “How did you know that my middle name is Melinda?” [Maybe because she’s your sister?]

“I don’t know.”

[Almost completely dialogue. Yeah, I was getting bored with this story, all right. I’m surprised I made it this far.]

* * * * *

Velvet walked up to the stars and down the hall to Paige’s room. “Hellow you two, what are you talking about?”

“Fiona was just telling me about a dream she had of me dying and seeing my grave!” [That's a conversation starter.]

“Really,” she paused a moment. “And did the headstone say;

Paige Melinda Fostor

Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you.”
[I think I wrote this over and over]
[because it took up space]
[and made the story look longer]
[than it actually was]
[And if you think this is bad]
[Just wait till we get to]
[The Enemy Within]

“Yeah,” Paige and Fiona said at the same time after a horrified silence.

“How did you know?” Fiona asked.

“I had the same dream.”

“When?”

“Two nights ago.”

“Weird.”

“Very.” [It’s not just weird, you dumb asses! If two people had dreams about my funeral I would be fricken paranoid as hell!]

* * * * *

At dinner the three girls sat uneasily at the table.

“Is there anything wrong,” Hesta asked her daughters worriedly.

“No mother,” Fiona answered. [The #1 rule for writing YA Lit, teens NEVER go to their parents when they have a problem.]

“I was thinking,” said Paige.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” said fifteen year old Jonathan, the youngest. [Boy, they sure popped those kids out fast… And didn’t Jonathan come across as much younger at the “picknick?”]

“Be quiet Jonathan,” said Fiona. “Paige was talking.”

“Well anyway, I was thinking mabey me, Fiona, and Velvet could all go to town again soon.”

“Well, Paige, as soon as the snow is gone you can go. [But Velvet walks an hour and a half to the Danner’s in the snow and no one gives a fuck? No wonder she wants to kill everyone!] And you’re not going to abandin each other next time,” there father said staring at Velvet and Fiona across the table.

They both sank low in their seats. “We’re sorry mother,” and sank low in their seats. [New worst written paragraph yet! And weren’t they talking to their father?]

“May I be excused,” Velvet asked.

“Yes you may,” Edward said.

Velvet pushed her chair out, stood up, and left the room. Everyone was eating in silence a while after that.

Then Edward spoke. “That reminds me. I need to get to town before it gets too late.”

“Why father,” Paige asked somewhat interested.

“I need to buy some more wood Paige.” [Because apparently Paige didn’t buy enough.]

“May I go with you.”

“No, you may not.”

“But why, father?”

“Becaust it is getting dark out, and it is very cold.”

“But I want to go.”

“Paige, I said no.”

“Paige, I. . . . Uhh. . . . Have something to show you in my. . . Ahh. . . Room,” Fiona said. [Subtle.]

“I don’t want to see what you have to show me Fiona.”

“Paige, just go see what your sister wants to--.”

“Stop all the fighting. I cannot take all the fighting,” Hest screamed.

“But I want to go to town,” Paige yelled. [I can only hope I didn’t actually act like this.]

“I said no, Paige,” Edward said trying to control his anger.

“Paige, just come on,” Fiona said grabbing her sisters arm and trying to drag her out of the room.

“Stop it! Shut up! All of you,” Hesta screamed.

“I don’t want to shut up, Hesta,” Edward screamed at his wife. [No wonder their children are such bitches]

“Mother, Father, Paige! Please, can’t we all just get along,” Fiona screamed. She was usually the one who was always in control of herself. But not at this fight.

“May I be excused.” They all turned to stare at Jonathan. [Single sane person in the entire story.]

They were all staring at Jonathan until Velvet came back into the room. “What is going on,” she asked.

“Nothing, I will be going now,” Father answered.

“Where?”

“To get some wood.”

As he left, everyone else stood in an uneasy silence.

I’m going to my room,” Velvet said.

* * * * *

January 6, 1743

“Vivian, are we going to do today,” Evet asked.

“We, are not doing a thing! “I’m, going for a walk! You, are staying here!”

“But why?”

“Because I said so!”

* * * * *

“As she was walking threw the woods, she noticed a strange animal in her path. What could it be, she wandered out loud--”

Her story [I guess she was reading???] was interrupted by a loud knocking on her door. “Who’s there,” she called out.

Now one answered. Frustrated, she got up and opened the door.

“Velvet, why didn’t you answer me? Velvet! Speak!”

“Fiona, we are in terrible trouble!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Paige!”

“What about Paige?”

“She’s dangerous, Fiona. Very dangerous!”

“Get out of my room, Velvet. Get out, and stay out.”

* * * * *

“Aunt Marlo,” Evet said inocently.

“Yes Evet,” she replied.

“Vivian was being mean to me.”

“Again?”

“The little girl nodded her head yes.

“Well, I’ll have to have a talk with that girl.”

Evet just kept looking at her aunt strangely as she played with her long red hair that was so much like her own. [For my life I can’t remember what Evet had to do with the story at all.]

* * * * *

Adi was walking threw the woods as he noticed a pretty red head. As he aproached the strange girl, he senced something about her. Something different from other girls. Something strange. Something Evil.

“Who are you,” he asked when he aproached her. [He’s either brave or stupid, considering that she’s “Evil.”]

“I might ask you the same thing,” she snapped.

“My name’s Adi,” he told the girl. [Adi never had a last name.] “What might yours be?”

“It just might be Evet,” she said playing with ha strand of her long red curly hair. “But it’s not. It’s Vivian Danner,” she said.

“That’s a nice name,” he replied to Vivian.

“No it’s not. I hate the name.” [You sure know how to attract a guy, Viv.]

The were silent for a couple of moments. “I’d bett go,” she replied and took of.

He watched as she took off. She was a nice girl, [I thought she was “Evil”] but he liked the girl he saw the other day better. If only he could see her again.. . . . .

* * * * *

The day went by slowly for Velvet. She had absolutely nothing to do. [What about chores?] Earlier that day she gave a so-called warning to Fiona about Paige. Fiona kicked her out of her room. Mostly because she was starting to scare her. After that she was walking down the hall and she wasn’t paying any attention to what she was doing, that when she got to the stairs she slipped and fell all the rest of the way down.

A little while after that her father told her they were getting another servent. It wasn’t exactly thrilling to get a new servent. They got them all the time. They all quit and came to work for them all the time.

After that Velvet went outside. Very unaware that she had no shoes on and that there was still half a foot of snow on the ground. [WTF?] She got frostbite a bit badly. And then there was lunch.

Paige made it her treat of course. She made oatmeal mixed with a bunch of spices. And it was also very hot, and, she spilled it all over herself. [Not on her black dress!] And it hurt like hell. But now she was Justin sitting in the sitting room very bored.

Then there was a short knock on the door and then Vivian stepped in. She always did that.

“Velvet, your sister told me what happened to you today!” She did say it sincerely, but Velvet could tell she was trying very hard to contain her laughter.

“Just go ahead and do it Vivian.”

“Do what?”

“Laugh.”

“What makes you think I want to laugh?”

“Well first-of-all, I fall down the stairs and land on my head. [And she didn’t hurt herself?] Second-of-all, I go outside in my barefeet without realizing there was a half a foot of snow on the ground. And third-of-all, I spill hot oatmeal all over myself! Why wouldn’t anyone want to laugh about that?”

“Okay, Okay, I give in! It’s hilarious! I’ve never heard anything so funny in my life!”

“Ha, ha, ha.”

“Oh, Velvet, guess what?”

“What?”

“I met a boy in the woods.”

“Wonderful. What did he say? Did he ask you to marry him?”

“You don’t have to be so sarcastic.”

“Yes I do.”

The two were silent for a moment. Then Velvet spoke.

“Did you find out what his name is?”

“Yeah. It’s Adi.”

* * * * *

Fiona walked by the doorway of the sitting room just in time to hear the last thing Vivian said.

Adi, she thought. The guy I met in the woods. “Well I’m not going to let her have him so easily,” she murmered out loud.

* * * * *

And that’s as far as I got. Finally, merciful God, it’s over! All I remember about my original plan for this story is it was supposed to go through every day for the entire year and almost everyone in the storty died. Velvet was the murderer, and how they pinned her to the murders, was her black velvet ribbon she always wore in her hair was found at a crime scene, thusbeing the tie that binds her to the murders. I was just cool like that. ^_^

Next time: I bring to you my New Years Resolutions.

The Tie That Binds, Part Four

Last time Fiona was tormented by nightmares and Vivian counted the clouds. This story's so boring I'm posting the next two days! w00t!

January 3, 1743

“Great I’m out here again. I might as well count all the damned clouds. One damn cloud. Two damn clouds. Three damn clouds. Four damn clouds. Five damn clouds.” If only Velvet could see me now, she thought. “I wonder why it didn’t snow yesterday. Dam it’s windy out here.” [Why are you counting clouds? Better yet, why are you out at dawn every morning?]

She pushed a piece of red hair out of her face. Then the snow began to fall. “I spoke to soon,” said Vivian Danner.

* * * * *

“It’s snowing like it’s never snowed before,” said Hesta Fostor.

“Mother, it always snows like that,” said Velvet.

Hesta looked at her daughter sadly. Velvet was a true beauty, but had very bad manners. Velvet was such a negative girl. She was always dressed in black for some reason. Hesta didn’t know why. [Because she’s Goth.]

* * * * *

Several hours later the snow was about a foot deep. And everywhere till the eye can see was white. “It’s beautiful,” said Paige as she looked threw Fiona’s bedroom window.

“It sure is,” she said. Why doesn’t she just leave, Fiona thought.

“It’s so dark out I wonder what time it is,” said Paige.

“Yeah, me too,” Fiona agreed.

“Hello people,” said a voice from the doorway.

Fiona knew emiediately it was Velvet. She looked beautiful in her black dress with lacing at the coller.

“I’m going to my room now,” Paige said.

When Paige left, Velvet hurried over and sat on the bed. “Fiona,” she whispered in a horse voice, “have you noticed anything strange about Paige lately.”

“No, why?”

“Because I think she’s plotting against us.”

“Where did you get an idea like that?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a gut feeling. But Fiona, Paige is dangerous.”

“How can she be dangerous?”

“Because she is.”

She is very scary, Fiona thought. [Paranoid, maybe. But scary?]

“Be careful Fiona, Paige is very dangerous. We have no way of knowing what she might do next.” With that, she stood up and walked out fo the room. Her hair--down for once--flowing gently behind her.

“Velvet is very scary,” Fiona murmered out loud, “very scary indeed.”

* * * * *

“It is so dark outside,” muttered Paige. “Why does it always have to be so dark when it snows? Why do I always have to talk to myself? Why do I always ask myself questions? I don’t know. I just don’t know.” [I don’t even need to snark Paige, do I?]

As she fingered her long black hair she went over her past in her head for some reason. [And what is this past?]

* * * * *

“More damn clouds. That’s all we need, more damn clouds.” Vivian Danner was a very negative person. “I hate these clouds.” [And I hate you. Why are you in this story?]

* * * * *

It had been two days since he had had his encounter with the mysterious girl. But still, he--Adi--could not get her out of his head. She had barely said anything to him. She just studdered. “I really wish I could see her again.” [Perhaps he thinks she’s mentally challenged, and therefore, “easy.”]

* * * * *

“Damn, damn, damn, damn clouds. I really hate these damned clouds.”

* * * * *

“It is so boring, so so so so boring,” Velvet kept muttering to herself. [So is this story.] She kept on muttering that to herself until she fell into an uneasy sleep.

In her dream she was in the sitting room. Everyone she knew was dressed in black. Every was there except Paige.

Where’s Paige, she thought.

Then Fiona answered her question. “Poor Paige, poor Paige. To die that way. Murdered.” Then she started crying.

I have to get out of here, she thought in her dream. Then she tood up and ran outside. Her long blond hair tied in a black velvet ribbin. [Plot point!]

When she was outside she saw there was no snow, but there was a closed casket on the other side of the lawn. She ran right over to it. She saw the place where they aparently planned to bairy the casket. At the head of the grave she saw the headstone.

She read it;

Paige Melinda Fostor
Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you

She walked away from the grave and faced the casket. “Paige can’t be dead,” she murmered out loud. Then she pulled open the coffin lid and peered inside.

“Noooo. . . .” she screamed when she saw her sister’s body. There was dry blood all over her neck. Her eyes had already sank into her head.

Velvet woke up and sat up in bed. She stood up and walked over to the window. It was nighttime. Everyone was probably already asleep. She walked away from the window and out of the room. She walked down the hall to Paiges room. Then stepped inside. Her sister was sound asleep. She went back out into the hall and back to her room.

* * * * *

January 4, 1743

“It is such a lovely day today,” said Fiona as she stepped into the sitting room.

“It sure is,” said Paige.

“Paige, why don’t you go upstairs and get dressed so we can go outside.” [in the blizzard.]

“That is a marvelous idea. I’ll go up there right now and get dressed.

Then she went up the stairs and down the hall to her room. Before she got to her room she noticed someone in the shadows staring at her. Who is that, Paige thought. Then Velvet stepped out of the shadows.

“Why are you staring at me like that, Velvet?”

“No reason,” Velvet answered quite quickly. Then Velvet walked up to her and said. “Be very careful Paige. Very careful.” Then turned around and went to her room.

Velvet is a scary girl, she thought. “Very scary girl.”

* * * * *

When Paige was dressed and ready she went downstairs. “Fiona,” she said.

“Yes, Paige.”

“Have you noticed anything strange about Velvet lately?”

“NO, not really. Why do you ask?”

“Oh. . . . . Uhh. . . . No reason!”

“Well then, let’s go outside then.”

* * * * *

“I am bored. Very, very, very, very, bored. Can’t something exciting ever happen,” Vivian Danner kept mumbling to herself.

“Vivian, I want to do something,” said Vivian’s three year old cousin Evet Danner. [again, Evet=Yvette]

“Evet, there is nothing to freeken do. No why don’t you just shut your little damn mouth and go to your room!”

Startled by the scolding tone, Evet starting screaming. “Ahhhhhhhh. . . . . . . “

“Evet, be a good girl. Plese don’t cry. Ummm. . . I’ll read you a story. I’ll do almost anything.” [I kind of wish she’d sell her soul to the devil to make the kid shut up. It would make this story more interesting. You‘d think it would be more interesting, considering it‘s supposed to be about witchcraft...]

“Ahhhhh. . . .”

“Please shut up before you wake up mother and father.”

“Ahhhhhhh. . . . . .“

“Vivian what is all that noise out there,” asked her mother, Marlo Danner.

“Nothing mom,” she answered her mother.

“Are you sure,” her mother asked, “You haven’t been yelling at Evet again, have you?”

“No!”

* * * * *

As Velvet was walking down the stairs to go outside she was struggling in trying to keep all her blonde hair in a bun. “I hate my damn hair. I really hate it. I really really reall--”

“Velvet,” said her mother Hesta. “What are you doing.”

“I’m. . . . . uhhhhh. . . . . . Going outside. Bye.” Then she did go outside. As she was walking across the yard to the spot Fiona and Paige were she noticed they were in the exact place the grave and casket were in her dream. Weird, she thought. Mabey it means something. No it can’t mean anything. . . . Or mabey it does.

* * * * *

“It is so much fun out here,” said Paige.

“Yes I know. There hasn’t been this mash snow since. . . . God knows when.”

“That is true. Fiona!”

“What?”

“It’s Velvet, she’s staring at me again.”

“Sooo. . . . What’s the big deal? I mean Velvets an odd girl. She is always staring at people.” [They all know Velvet's a freak.]

“I know. But, she’s scaring me. I don’t like it when she does that.”

“Velvet, come over here,” screamed Fiona.

Velvet and Fiona, thought Paige. I should have known. They don’t want to be around me. I mean, Fiona is eighteen and Velvet is seventeen--

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard her sister say, “Velvet, hurry up!”

* * * * *

Why is Paige looking at me like that? Velvet thought uneasily, and why does Fiona keep screaming at me. I might as well go over there. [This is starting to get a bit redundant. Okay, MORE redundant.]

As she was walking over there she noticed that the snow was not at all as deep as she thought it was. “Hi Fiona. Hi Paige. What are you two doing,” she asked.

“We’re just standing and talking,” Paige answered tirely. [That’s not a word.]

“It’s kind of cold out here,” Velvet said acnowlnging [Even if that IS supposed to be acknowledging it still doesn’t work at all right here.] the fact that it wasn’t cold, but stand right there was giving her the creeps.

“I isn’t cold out here Velet,” said Fiona who had just been standing there, aparently lost in thought. [There’s snow on the ground. It’s cold.] “Mabey you’re sick.”

“I don’t think so. I’m going over to the Danner’s house.”

“Bye,” Fiona and Paige said at the same time.

* * * * *

“So many damn clouds. So, so, so, so, many damn clouds,” Vivan was repeating the phrase over and over again. [Inspiration a bit dry?]

“Vivian, I want to do something,” said Evet. Evet had long red hair and dark blue eyes, just like her cousin.

“You want to do something. I know what you can do! Go to hell!”

* * * * *

Velvet walked up to the Danner’s house just in time to her Vivian yell go to hell to her cousin. Velvet aproached the door slowly and tapped on the door. She waited a moment, then a figure apeared in the window, then Vivian opened the door. [That’s the worst written paragraph yet!]

“Oh hi Velvet. What brings you here?”

“I was just in the neiborhood. You know what, I had the strangest dream last night!”

* * * * *

When Velvet got back to the house that night, everybody was asleep. So she quietly climbed the stairs and went to her room.

* * * * *

She was in the sitting room. Everybody except Paige was there dressed in black and weeping. Except Velvet she just sat on the chair and stared at the floor. I wonder what she’s thinking about, thought Fiona.

Fiona didn’t want to stay there. It was scaring her the way everybody was. She got up and walked outside. “Hmmmm, no snow.”

She noticed a casket and an already prepared grave on the other side of the yard. Fiona really wanted to find out what was going on. Then she walked over to the grave with the headstone.

She gasped as she read it:

Paige Melinda Fostor
Born January 12, 1727 - Died February 4, 1743
Aged 16 years, 23 days.
Rest in Peace
We will miss you

Fiona woke up right away and sat up in bed. “What a horible nightmare. Another horrible nightmare. I hate these nightmares so much. So much.”

* * * * *

It is so boring this time of morning night. So very very boring.”

* * * * *

I was telling my mother how awful this story is and she replied, “And you wondered why I never wanted to read your stories.” Mean mother. Anywho, next time: the final installment of The Tie That Binds! I would say it’s the thrilling conclusion but I would be lying. There is a nice argument though. ^_^

The Tie That Binds, Part Three

The Tie That Binds, Part 3

Last time: Velvet and Paige had a fight because Velvet and Fiona ditched her bitch ass back in town. The parents yelled at Velvet and Fiona took a walk into the mysterious woods and met an even more mysterious man. I wonder what clever plot twist will happen next. The suspense is killing me!

January 2, 1743

“Mourning already,” Paige mumbled half asleep. Then she sat up and noticed it was still dark outside.

* * * * *

She was outside, she didn’t know why. She saw Vivian Danner screaming, standing over the dead bloody body of Adi. Fiona woke up screaming. Then Paige ran into the room.

“Fiona, what’s wrong,” she asked.

“Nothing, just a nightmare,” she said.

“It’s okay Fiona, it’s okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” said Paige. “Nothing at all.”

And how wrong she was. [Oooh, foreshadowing.]

* * * * *

When Paige left, Fiona got out of bead and over to her dresser where she kept all of her belongings. Then she noticed something. Her dresser was a mess. And that the only person whos been in there, was Velvet.

* * * * *

It was a little before dawn, but Adi didn’t care. He loved it outside before dawn. He looked up at the sky and noticed some clouds. “Snow clouds,” he mumbled to himself. There was going to be a blizzard, he new it! Better get inside before it starts, he thought.

* * * * *

“One damn clouds, two damn clouds, three damn clouds.” I really am pathetic, she thought, standing out here staring at and counting all the damned clouds. “I better get inside before it snows.” [I think I was starting to run out of ideas.]

* * * * *

Velvet was outside, in the middle of the woods the sun had been up for a while now. It felt as if it wer ten a.m. [Because she’s psychic like that.] “I really should go home now. I’ve been out here for five hourse,” she mumbled to herself. [There’s a lot of mumbling going on in this chapter.] Then she turned around and headed home.

* * * * *

It was ten-thirty wen she got home. Everyone was sitting down to breakfast when she walked into the sitting room. [They have a very late breakfast for a family of farmers.] “Hello every body, I’m home,” she said.

“Velvet, where have you been,” asked mother.

“Out,” was her simple reply.

“Velvet, whould you like some delicious breakfast,” asked Paige. “It is my specialty.” [I’m really wanting to smack Paige. They so need to do meaner things to her.]

“No thank you. I’m going over to the Danners,” said Velvet. Then she turned and left. [What was the point of even going home?]

* * * * *

About an hour and a half later she arrived at Vivan Danners. She knocked on the door lightly. A minute later Vivian opened the door.

“Why, hello Velvet,” she said. “What brings you here?”

“I was just in the nieborhood and felt like dropping by,” said Velvet. [Yes, “in the nieborhood” is an hour and half away.]

“Well com in,” said Vivian.

“Well Vivan,” said Velvet. “How the hell is everything.

“You won’t belive this,” Vivan said, “think mourning I was outside, and I was counting all the damn clouds.”

“How stupid,” Velvet said sarcastically.

* * * * *

Dear Diary,

I really think somethings really wrong with Velvet. She has been acting so weird lately. I don’t know what to do, because, well, you know Velvets a difficult person. She’s scary.

Sincerely yours,
Fiona

[It seems Fiona actually writes letters to her diary.]

* * * * *

It was very late that night and Paige could here all the sounds Fiona was making in the room next to Paige’s. [Sounds naughty.] She kept screaming over and over again.

Why does she keep screaming Paige thought. [And why does no one else care?] “I’m going over there to find out. I wonder why everybody else can sleep.” [Me, too, Paige. Me, too.]

* * * * *

She was outside running threw the woods. She was so scared. “Where am I? How did I get here,” Fiona murmered out loud. Suddenly she knew where she was. Fiona was in a place her mother had always told her not to come. She remembered one time when she was eight. Her and Velvet were out in the woods. Velvet said she was coming here and that no one could stop her. Fiona never knew if Velvet ever came here or not, but Velvet did come running out of the woods screaming that there was a monster chasing her.

Then she started screaming once she noticed the dead body of her sister Paige.

* * * * *

“Fiona, wake up,” Paige said.

“Paige, what are you doing here,” Fiona asked her.

“You were having a nightmare, Fiona. Just a nightmare,” Paige said.

Then Fiona said “it had better be.

* * * * *

Next time: Vivian counts more clouds, Velvet has a prophetic dream and starts to put her evil plan into motion.

The Tie That Binds, Part Two

Okay, so I said The Dollhouse Murders. I know. I found the book and brought it to my house. I was hardly ever there and never got around to reading it so I brought it to my mother's. My mother swears she saw it somewhere but can't remember where. Fred (father-type-person) said he put it in his box with the shirts I got him for Christmas so crazy cat Splinter wouldn't mess it up. Then took the box to work to show to his friends (I gave him ones that have funny sayings on them) and left said box at work. So I'm screwed right now. And I compensate with more of the titillating tale of the Fostor sisters. Lousy trade, I know. But anyway. . .

Last time Fiona and Velvet left their hated little sister in town and had a picnic. And Paige has just come home and seen. Oooh, I wonder what's going to happen next!

The Tie That Binds, Part Two

“Fiona, I thought you said Paige wasn’t coming on the picknick,” said Jonathan. Velvet was the next to notice Paige staring at them in fury wearing her powder pink laced dress.

“Fiona,“ said Velvet, “Paige is here.”

“What is she doing here, I thought we left her in town,” demanded Fiona. [Like she wouldn‘t come home eventually.]

“I do not know,” said Velvet.

Then Paige came running toward them, screaming “Why did you leave me in town?”, she demanded over and over again. She was really angry. [No shit. I would be, too.] When she got up to them, her face was red. “I know what you two are up to. Just because I am the youngest, [Umm, Paige, Jonathan's the youngest.] and the prettiest, does not mean you can desert me and leave me in town while you guys come home and have a picknick,” yelled Paige. “You two are just jelous.” [They probably are.]

Suddenly Velvet started laughing. She could not help herself. “Jelous,” she screamed still laughing, “of you.” She was still laughing.

Then Paiges look showed more than anger. Paige ran at her at full speed. Then the two girls were tumbling in the dead leaves pulling each others hair, screaming.

* * * * *

“What is going on out there,” said Hesta Foster, her dark green eyes wide with worry.

“I do not know darling” said Edward. “I will go check.”

* * * * *

“Girls, what are you doing,” demanded father.

Fiona watched as her father pulled Paige and Velvet apart. Her mother screaming at them to stop fighting. As Fiona walked off into the woods, the cries of her sisters and mother became softer and softer the father she went. It’s strangely quiet out here, she thought. Things are always strangely quiet in the woods. Once when she was ten, her, Velvet, and Paige used to play hide-and-go-seek in this part of the forest. “Things are so nice and quiet out here,” she mumbled to herself. Then she heard something.

Footsteps! She heard footsteps. Then she knew she wasn’t alone.

* * * * *

“Paige, Velvet, what is the meaning of this,” asked mother.

“Velvet and Fiona left me in town mother,” said Paige.

“Speaking of Fiona, where is she,” said father.

She probably ran away so she wouldn’t get into trouble, thought Paige miserably.

“Velvet. Why did you and Fiona leave Paige in town?”

She is trying to be patient with her, thought Paige. It is impossible--. . . . .

Her thoughts were cut short by Velvet when she jumped up and said, “She is fifteen years old. Me and Fiona do not have to babysit her any more.”

For a minute everybody stood in silence. Then the silence was cracked when Velvet said, “I’m going to my room now.”

“I will go start supper,” Paige volunteered. [Suck up.]

* * * * *

“Who’s there,” Fiona said in a horse whisper. Then the most handsom man she had ever seen stepped out in front of her. “Who are you,” she asked in a voice a little above a whisper.

“My name’s Adi,” he said. “What’s yours?” [Pronounced Uh-dee. Named after “the most handsom guy in school” of course.]

“Mine,” she said.

“Yeah, yourse,” said Adi.

“Umm, I don’t know,” she said wonder what her name was. [My, he must think she’s intelligent.]

“You don’t know your own name,” Adi said.

“I ought to go home now. My, my, my mother doesn’t like me too. . . . uhh. . . . do stuff with strangers. [I’m sure she doesn’t. *wink*] Bye,” she said. She turned around and headed home.

* * * * *

By the time Fiona got back home it was very late. It’s very late, she thought. I’m in trouble. Then she saw a figure in the darkness. “Who’s there,” she said.

“Me,” was the reply.

Fiona recognized the voice at once. It was Velvet. “Hello, Velvet, shouldn’t you be in bed,” Fiona said.

“I’m seventeen. I may do what I please,” Velvet said in a very low voice. “Mother and Father would like to speak to you Fiona.”

“Why,” she asked.

“I’m going outside now. [I’m taking a wild guess and thinking she called into the house where she was going, though it sounded like she was already outside… I don’t know. I’m confused.] Fiona, where were you.”

“I was just on a walk threw the woods,” said Fiona.

“Okay,” came Velvets horse reply. Then she steped outside into the dark night.

* * * * *

“Mother, Father,” said Fiona. “Velvet said you wanted to speak with me.” Then Fiona saw that they were already asleep. They probably were tired of waiting for me, she thought. [What caring parents…] Then she headed down the hall to her own bedroom.

* * * * *

And that’s all for January 1st. It got marginally more interesting. Next time on The Tie That Binds: Diary entries, bad dreams, and Vivian counts the clouds.

By the way, does anyone know how to do strikethough on here?