The Invisible Silver Lining [CURRENTLY BEING EDITED]

Chapter 11

A/N Picture is what Xander's car looks like.  

Dedicated to chazza_ludwiglove. Thankyou for reading my stories and for voting! And thankyou so much for your wonderful comments :3 When I read them, you're so sweet it makes my day

-CFF 

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I have drama on Tuesdays and Thursdays, that's my new schedule. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have regular ed classes only. Fridays I'm school free, except for homework. I'm surprised I'm kind of tired after only a week of school. After hours of read-thru's, projections, posing for costume measurements, and loading materials for sets to the back storage room, we are finally done. Xander walks up to me with a proposition, "Hey Emilee, you interested in getting coffee or something?" I raise an eyebrow. Xander smiles softly, "No, not like that. I just wanted to get to know you a little bit better. Totally friendly." I take a breath. For a minute there, I thought....but its nothing. I smile back. "Yeah. Coffee is exactly what I need before I fall asleep." Xander laughs, and turns to walk out of the theater building. I wave a goodbye to Blake and Christy, a red-headed sophomore I met here, she's playing the Nurse, before I turn and follow him out. We head out to the parking lot, apparently Xander's gonna drive as he leads me to a black Mercedes Benz. Wow. He has got a sick ride. But I'm kinda glad he's driving, cause I took the bus to school today. He pulls keys out of his pocket and unlocks the car with a click. Its a four seater, but there are only two doors. He gets in the driver's side and I walk around to the passenger's. He pulls out of the parking lot. "Where do you usually get coffee?" he asks as we drive onto the highway. I smile, "Moxie Java. Best place ever." He smiles, "Alright, but I don't think that's the best ever."

"Really? You prefer some other place?"

"Absolutly. There's a place over by the Beverly Hills Center. Its really amazing, called Danny's. Hand-ground coffee beans, over a hundred flavors, and the best pumpkin muffins you can get your hands on."

I smile, "That sounds amazing. You go there often?"

"All the time. I'd show it to you now, but its closed." I look at the clock to see the numbers 10:48. My eyes widen. "Oh wow. Is it really that late?"

"Yeah. Doesn't feel like it does it?"

"Absolutly not." We exit off the highway and pull into a drive-thru of the nearest Moxie Java. I reach into my purse to count how many bills I have. "My treat." Xander's voice stops my counting. I look up at him as he continues. "Please? I really want to." I debate. If I let him, will it be too forward for what I've said in the past? I settle the matter with, "Alright, but I get it next time, deal?" He nods, saying with a smile, "Sounds good. What do you want?" I lean against the leather seat. "Tall mocha frappe please." He orders, getting one tall mocha frappe and one grande mocha frappe. He hands me the smaller one as he starts driving again. I take a sip and smile. "Thankyou, that's perfect." I look out the window as Xander pulls into a parking lot next to a playground surrounded by walkways and trees. He looks over at me. "Common. Coffee's better while you're walking." He pushes a button and both car doors rise. I get out as he does, pressing the button once more to close the doors. We start to walk down one of the pathways. The moon is full, giving us more than enough light to see by. The tall trees surround us, making us momentarily invisible to the world. No one else is out here so its nice and quiet with only the sounds of our voices and our shoes hitting the pavement as we walk. And as we walk, we talk and we drink, just getting to know each other more. "What year are you Xander? Freshman? Sophomore?"

"Junior."

"That was my next guess. You like USC? Like, is it a good fit for you?"

"Yeah, I'd say so. Its pretty sick, and there's always new people to meet, and new opportunities to live in. I think you'll like it here. Its a good school."

"Glad you think so, thanks."

"What made you want to come here? Anything particular?"

"I know its an everyday story, but I really want to be an actress professionally. Its my dream. So I get my degree here, at a good school, and can look for an agent at the same time. And its close to my family."

"Family is good. Those are all good reasons."

"What's your family like?"

"Well. I have me, obviously, And then younger siblings Natalie and Nicholas. They're twins. And then I have another sister, Sophia, who's the youngest of us all. And then Mom and Dad of course. They're all up in Canada."

"You're Canadian?"

"Yeah. Yes I am."

I smile, thinking to myself. I know she didn't know he was Canadian. I know Liz.... I wipe the smile off of my face at the thought. Xander asks another question, "What about you? Who's in your family?"

"Just me. Just me and my mom and my dad. Now." The last word I whisper, soft enough so that he won't hear it, or so I think. "What do you mean now? What happened?" He asks. I look down at the mocha in my hands. "Now. Its just us now. After the..." My voice breaks, not allowing me to finish my sentence. I try again, "After..aft..af," but its no use. The tears catch in my throat and I feel one slip out of my eye and down my cheek. Xander doesn't say anything, just stands there. I'm such an idiot for starting to cry like this, specially now. I need to be strong, be firm. You're a weakling if you start to break down at any reason. After a minute, I feel one of Xander's strong hands rest on my shoulder. The tears still come, faster and faster unhesitatingly. Then the hand moves again, and I feel Xander's arms wrapping me in a warm strong hug. Its not a romantic one, but rather one full of friendly sympathy and comfort. I don't fight it, but rest my head against his chest as he holds me in my sorrow, his arms wrapped around my shoulders as he holds me to his torso. We stand like this for a while before my tears dry up.

I feel a yearning in my heart, a want, to get this burden out, to tell someone about it. So I try again, opening my mouth and speaking softly. "After the accident. My sister... she was... hit by a motorcycle. Driver died on impact. She died on the way to a hospital. She just wanted to have fun, to shop with her friends. Why did I let her go out? Why didn't I make Liz stay home? She would have been fine, she would have been safe. I would still be able to take her to my place, to our spot. She would still be laughing and smiling and making friends." My tears have come back, my body shaking with the sobs that rack it.

My voice is much louder now, drenched in the pain and anger that fill me whenever I think of her. "Why the hell didn't I stop her?! Why the hell didn't I know she would die?! She's dead now Alexander! She's dead...and its my fault. I wanted her to go, to get out of my hair. She was driving me crazy...and I was being a jackass because I cared about my stupid little world with my stupid little self instead of what mattered." My hoarse voice has reduced to a harsh whisper, "Instead of her." All this time, Xander hasn't said anything, just held me to him, letting me pour out my heart. I step out of his arms, bringing a hand to my eyes which are probably massively puffy and red. "Thankyou." I mumble, not meeting his eyes. "You're welcome. I'm here to listen." His voice is soft and gentle. He hands me my drink, which until now, I didn't realize he had taken out of my hands and held it. I curl my fingers around the cup as Xander leads me out of the park, to his car, and back to my house.

"Thankyou, for listening." I tell him again as we stand on the front porch, with as much sincerity as I can produce. "It helped. A lot." He smiles at me softly, his eyes reflecting the soft glow of the moon. "You're welcome. I want to listen, to help. If you want to talk more..." He hesitates, "You can call or text me. But if not, I'll see you next week." He reaches into his jacket pocket to pull out a slip of paper, covered in pen marks. I nod, taking it, and slip inside the house, glancing at him once more before I close the door, his blue eyes watching me.