Tick... tock... tick... tock...
Alisha was listening to the clock on the wall of her room, trying to calm down her tornado of emotions, trying to think of a plan. Fate had changed for her sister, but she wasn't so sure of her own fate. On her phone was a message from Bryan, even after their dinner was crashed, even after her efforts in making sure fate wouldn't repeat itself, even after all the planning, she couldn't change her own fate yet.
She had been sitting next to Eliza, shocked by her arrival and looked at the new man that had entered the table. He was also quite good-looking, but his sense of fashion made her cringe. He truly didn't change even five years into the future, he was the same unfashionable but delightful man. "Mr George, wonderful of you and my sister to join us. Why are you two here though?" Alisha bit through her teeth while asking this, trying to mask some of her shock.
"Yes, yes it is! I didn't want Boring Bryan to fry your mind, ha ha ha! Your sister was quite the pleasure thus I became curious as to what you were like, I'm sure Diana will understand!" He chirped.
"Diana? My mother? What does she have to do with this?" Asked a curious Eliza.
"Ms Richards is sleeping with Bryan over here, has been for a while now, she couldn't keep her hands off young meat. You know what your mother is like Liz. She asked him to come on this blind date rather than George so that I don't marry into a good family. Diabolical bitch. No offence Liz." Alisha explained bluntly. She truly didn't have a filter. Bryan's eyes widened as he blushed, he didn't expect Alisha to know so much, in fact he wondered how she knew, he was sure that he had hidden the affair.
"Does your father know?" He asked, obviously afraid. He sighed in relief when he saw Alisha shake her head no, but her next words made him stiffen up.
"I could tell him though, that you have sex with Diana three times a month, when she goes to visit her 'sister'." Alisha, didn't think she'd have the opportunity to blackmail Bryan, but the arrival of her sister solved some of her problems.
Her sister, Eliza, was shook. What? How could mother be sleeping with someone my age? Why didn't Alisha tell me? I understand why she called her a diabolical bitch, but I don't understand how she knew all this. Her thoughts wandered, she paled slightly and George grabbed her hand and squeezed it. His warm fingers calming her heart a little. They nodded at each other and turned to the pair next to them.
Alisha had a pleasant look on her face, but Bryan looked embarrassed and angry. George knew that Bryan was a dangerous person, he was someone obsessive and possessive, he viewed people as objects, and once he grew attachment he wouldn't ever share that 'object'. He was shocked to see that he was interested in Alisha when he walked in, but now that she had angered him he was scared as to what he would do.
"Bryan, Alisha, stop joking around! Who cares about Diana, right? Let's all just have a good night and then part ways. Waiter, could I please have some of the Napalotina Penne?" He dazzled the waiter with his signature smile, and turned back to everyone at the table. He continued, "Bryan, lay off this wonderful lady. Next time I'll attend my own blind dates, if I ever have to have anymore." He winked at Eliza, who giggled, slightly blushed. Alisha rolled her eyes at them, of course they would flirt in front of her. She felt like she was living three years from now, when all they did was flirt but keep a distance at the same time.
"Get a room you two." Bryan bellowed, and he turned to Alisha, "Don't blackmail me little princess. If I wanted to I co-"
"Take everything away from me?" Alisha interrupted him, "And then what? Lock me up in a mansion and take everyone I love away from me. I am Alisha Richards. Mr Bryan think twice before you ever threaten me or my sister. I know more about you than you think, so make sure you never cross me or anyone I love. And break it off with Diana, or else my father will destroy your family." Alisha knew that the man he was currently never changed in the past, and that it was her own fault that everyone she loved had died.
Yes, this man killed them, but he too was a coward. Just like her. If she had stood up for herself more, if she had perhaps even cared more, the past future would have been different. But he was a sociopath, and a powerful one. She needed him to know that she couldn't be crossed, because she had more power than him. All the information about her came from Diana, she knew that. So, she had to cut Diana off from him, she knew that the way things were currently mean that he would stick around for some time.
"Calm down Alisha." Instructed Eliza, her voice powerful as per usual. "Bryan, you can't fight the Richards, not as you are now. My mother, though flawed, is still my mother. Please stop the affair now, before my father finds out. And he'll find out from me, not my sister." Eliza was always a powerhouse, but seeing her release her Alpha Aura on someone like Bryan, who was supposedly the same but seemed like an Omega currently, was a fantastic sight for Alisha and George.
George liked powerful women, similar to Eliza, and the more he talked to her and saw her in action, the more he realised that he was incredibly attracted to her. But the future was unknown across from them, the entire night went as Alisha tried to make Bryan dislike her, and Bryan did the opposite. He simply was too intrigued by Alisha.
In the past he was surprised at the connection they had, their compatibility on a conversational level, but now he was more focused on her disgust towards him. He also still believed they were compatible, but in terms of not only conversation but how they handled people. It seemed that her time with him had been counter-productive.
The night was coming to an end, but Alisha wasn't sure of Bryan's opinion of her, she was hoping that he wouldn't ask for her number. Surprisingly they all had chosen to leave at the same time as the last time she had done this, eleven sharp. She said her good byes and waited for Eliza to too, Eliza already had George's number and wasn't interested in Bryan's.
Tip! Tap! Tip! Tap! Their heels clicked as they all walked away from the boys, reached their car, gotten inside. They were slowly approaching the gates, driven by Mr Thompson, she noticed a white limousine behind them. She assumed that Bryan was in it because the number plate was 'BRYAN', but there could always be another Bryan. She fiddled with her thumbs, why was the gate taking so long to open? A few seconds went by but to Alisha it felt like hours, she needed to leave the wretched restaurant. Bryan's car was so close, he was so close, how would she escape him if leaving was taking so long?
"Mr Thompson why can't we leave?" She asked impatiently.
"I dunno ma'am." He answered, bored.
"Please go ask then." Alisha responded through gritted teeth, seething in anger. Her expression was enough for Mr Thompson to jump out of the car and ask.
She looked at the clock on her phone, wanting time to pass quickly, needing it to in fact. Hurry up, she thought, why is this taking so long? Her knee almost vibrated because of how quickly she was tapping her foot, she felt hot from her nervousness but was too scared to notice. Her helplessness made her want to scream and cry. Where was the damned driver?
Tap. Tap. Tap. Her head immediately turned, fear hung in her eyes, her hands trembling as she forced herself to reach to the window opener. Bryan's face stared back at her, and he smiled warmly at her pale face.
"Alisha, I almost forgot to get your number. I'd love to meet again." No! No, no, no, no, no, no! She screamed in her mind. I was so close, why did it have to happen again? She kept up her smile though, and gave him her number. His arm reached out and his index finger ran through a strand of her silky waves, he kissed it and touched her cheek. Another warm smile left his lips, and he turned wished her a good night, as did she. Her pale face trying to keep up with his obscure actions, trying to pretend it was welcomed.
Her resolve dissolved as soon as he left, she shut her window, her head collapsing, her heart surging with pain. With her vibrating hands, she picked up her phone, it shook with her as a tear dropped onto it. Eliza turned to her sister, shocked at the response and unsure of what to do. She too had had an odd night, she had learned about things she wasn't aware of in Alisha's past life, she knew more now about the people around her than she ever had.
"Ally, are you okay? What's wrong?" Alisha sobbed more upon hearing Eliza's care for her, had she failed to protect Eliza again? She felt so helpless against fate, so bloody helpless.
"Eliza, what could I ever do? I failed, I failed again!" Her voice cracked in her tears, she didn't know how to fix the situation. She only knew that as an older sister she had to protect her Eliza, and she felt like that was no longer a possibility.
"Failed? I- I don't know what you're talking about. It turns out I don't know a lot about the world. But I know one thing, I had the best night ever because of you. Thank you for setting me up with George, thank you. I love you, Alisha, please remember that even if you fail or whatever, I will always love you." Unknowingly, Eliza had hit the nail on the head. It was always like this with her and Eliza, they both had an understanding of each other that went beyond friendship, a bond that most half-siblings don't have. Perhaps blood ties meant something special for this pair.
"Thank you, Elly, I love you." And Eliza wiped her tears carefully, and they hugged. Truly a heart-warming scene. Too bad it only lasted a second.
Bzzzz! Alisha's phone fired as a notification lit up her screen, a message from Bryan reflected her eyes. And the tears fell again. No, no! She repeated in her head, but all she could do was open the message with unwilling fingers. All that was written was a casual 'Heyyy', but the same text had been sent to her before. The damned 'Heyyy'.
Thus, she lay on her bed after they had reached home, staring at her screen, wondering what she would do next. At least Eliza's fate had changed, at least, for now, I have some control over my future, she assured herself.
After a final sigh, she replied to Bryan with 'Hi.', to let him know that she wasn't reciprocating his enthusiasm and didn't want a conversation. She put down her phone, assuming he was asleep now, since he always slept before 1 am, regardless of the situation. It was already 1:05 am.
"Today is uncertain, tomorrow is a mystery, but that won't stop me." She promised herself, a promise that would keep her going in the future.
A promise that had kept her going till her final breath.