Omnious

*Saphira's POV*

It was fall break and mom had to work again, so I was on my own. I decided to call Amanda and spent the day at our private beach. Maybe I could clear my head. Moms words ran through my head at an uncontrollable speed, so fast that it made me dizzy.

"You're not in love now, are you?" she had asked. I was laying on the beach and put some music on with my phone. Music always seemed to cure all things. Maybe now it could cure my confusion.

"Oh my God!" I Said out loud. It was true. I was starting to fall for him, was I not?

"What's wrong?" I heard someone yell from behind me. I jumped up immediately.

"What are you doing here?" I asked when I saw Lynn standing there. Then I saw she was crying.

"Lynn, are you okay? What happened?" I asked.

"Thomas started dating." Lynn said in a whisper. "How would you know that?" I asked dubious. "Well… because it is really obvious at this point."

"Obvious how?"

"The reason I came here without any notice, is because I had to... Well. Uh.. Escape." She saw my confusion.

"You don't get it, do you? He is with her at my house!" she said with shock in her eyes.

"Can you just please come with me," she asked with puppy eyes. "I don't want to be alone with them, but I do want to see what they are up to." I frowned. That made no sense.

"Sure." I wanted to see this girl for myself. She couldn't nearly be as pretty as Lynn was. Of course Ben would be there…

Lynn didn't want to be alone not, even for the short drive. So I came along with her. She promised to drive me back tonight.

We were sitting near the pool, spying on Ben and his friends. "Do you know her name?" I asked while looking at the blond girl with blue eyes. "I think its Stephanie." Lynn said sighing.

"Do you know how he met her?" I asked. "This morning I heard her say something about her surfing, but I don't know if that's how they actually met." Lynn said pouting her lips. "The athletic type," I stated with one eyebrow raised.

The two of them were totally different in every sense of the word. It seemed Ben was avoiding me today, but we all made plans to go to the beach tomorrow. Ben had called his friends and they would join too.

They were gone for a while now, but Lynn still didn't look any better. She looked sick. Not love sick, but really sick. "Lynn, are you okay?" I asked.

"You look green," I said before Lynn got up and ran to the bathroom. Her mom followed her. It turned out she really was sick.

"Don't worry dad, I'll take Saphira home," Benjamin offered. My feelings were all mixed up now. Was being alone with him something I wanted or not? Not that he asked me if it was. My stomach flipped and my heart was making jumping jacks.

Without a word, he opened the passenger door for me. He started the engine and we drove off their property. His cologne was very concentrated here in this small space. My head was swimming. "So," we both said at the same time. His lips curved up into a sweet smile.

"What was it, you were going to say?" Ben asked still smiling.

"Well, I wondered if there was something I'd done to upset you today, since you ignored me a little?" Did I really just ask him this?

"Why would you think that?" he said astonished. "Well, err.. I don't know. It just felt that way," I said looking down and started fumbling with my hair. "It was more something between me and a friend. I didn't want make you sad, I'm sorry," he apologized. I still didn't look up.

When we were waiting at the traffic light, Ben held one hand on the steering wheel and with the other he pulled up my chin, until I had to look at him.

"I'm not mad at you," he said, while looking into my eyes with intensity. My heart started to stutter. He traced my cheekbones with his thumb. "You are making this much too complicated for me," he murmured to himself.

The lights turned green and he released me. I still felt the warmth of his hand on my skin.

Benjamin walked me to my door. "Actually, about what I wanted to ask you before. Will you be at the beach tomorrow?" He raised his hand to my hair. Then he gently brushed it along my face. I kept my eyes on his. Waiting for my breath to turn back to normal so I could speak.

He tilted his head to the side and smiled at me, patiently waiting for me to respond. "You, keep turning my brain into scrambled eggs," I muttered accusingly. Benjamin touched the tip of my nose with his index finger and laughed quietly.

"Lynn probably will still be sick tomorrow, though," I said biting my lip. "Well that's true, I guess. But I'll be there," Benjamin said significantly.

"You'll be out there on the waves," I said and pouted my lips like a sulky child. He scrutinized my face before speaking again.

I saw he fought back a laugh. "I promise, I'll be there to keep you company." He said smoldering me with his beautiful hazel eyes. Was he serious?

I couldn't find my words, so I just nodded. Benjamin took that as an agreement. "I'll pick you up at noon." he said with a slight smile on his face.

"See. See you tomorrow," I stuttered while he was already walking towards his car. Then he turned around. "Oh, Saphira?" he whispered. I couldn't breathe. "Goodnight, Ma Belle Evangeline."

*Jasmine's POV*

"Naima, what time will Saeed and Jaleesa be here?" I asked while sweeping the house. "Ahm, I guess around noon," she said as she praised herself in the mirror. "Why don't you dye your hair?" Naima shrugged. I rested my chin on the stick of the broom and glanced at the mirror reflection.

"To be more like you, you mean?" I questioned.

Sure we looked entirely different. My eyes were green, hers were brown. I had wild curls and her hair was straight. She had a tan and I was kind of pale. Her hair was pitch black and mine was blond. "Yeah, maybe then you would look like less of a freak," she said flatly.

"As a matter of fact, I think that you should wear contact lenses, when my future husband comes here to meet me." What was she talking about? "Your future what?" I asked confused.

"Haven't you heard… We have received a phone call from an American family." I froze in place and my mind immediately went to Benjamin. He wouldn't do that to me. Although I never spoke of my feelings, he was a man with great mind. He surely knew how I truly felt about him.

"Where in America do they live?" I asked trying to sound casual. "Boston." She said smugly. Relieved as I was, I flew around her neck. "I am so happy for you." I cheered.

Our joy didn't last long. When Saeed entered the house, it was like he sucked all the happiness, life and light out us. It was like he was the darkness himself.