My Alter Ego Charlie

Daily Dose Monday (58)

2013-06-03T20:33:00.001+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

Daily Dose Monday is a weekly meme where you get to share inspiring and awesome images with others! If you'd like to join in all you have to do is make a post on Monday and include images that you find inspiring and magical etc. that you would like to share with your readers. (oh don't forget to mention Good Golly Miss Holly )

Images: We Heart It

Hope you all enjoy!

Once Upon A Time 2 Poll

2013-05-27T20:27:00.001+10:00

Hi all,

So I figured I'd gage a reaction on how many people are interested in doing the Once Upon A Time 2. I've decided that if we can get at least 10 people interested I'll go ahead with the last preparations to get OUAT2 ready to post in the first few days of June.

There are only a few days left to get your ideas etc in to me so please email me at charlie@myalteregocharlie.com!

So Please comment below. (I've had to remove the poll as it is glitching with my website sorry!)

Once Upon A Time 2 Ideas

2013-05-05T10:54:00.001+10:00

Hi All,

Thanks to Susan (http://www.susankmann.com) for contacting me via Twitter this morning. It has pushed me to get my butt back into gear for the next Once Upon a time Competition challenge. I hope you all enjoyed the last Once Upon a Time because I did.

I won't be putting up the details just yet on Once Upon a time 2 but keep an eye out on this blog around the 1st of June because that's when I'll be posting up the details. So far this will run over the next six months. I found that last time with it running every few weeks alot of people decided not to enter as with a busy life it didn't allow them time to really put their best work forward.

Just like last time I will be giving away the end book to the 1st prize winners as well as giving everyone who has had their story put into the book, the opportunity to purchase this book so they too can have a copy. Like last time it will be the cost of making the book plus shipping that you will be paying for (No profit will be made off this book. That's the number one rule of this competition)

Towards halfway through the competition I'll be holding the Book Cover Contest where you will be given the chance to have the front and back of your Covers displayed on the final product and you will also be given a copy of the book once it has been published. This contest will run for the remaining three months of Once Upon a Time to give you enough opportunity to design an awesome cover.

Last time I had other bloggers help me choose a winner. This year things will be a little different. As I was having trouble getting responses from some of the bloggers in time to announce the winner, I'll be leaving it up to you readers to pick the story. And the one with the most votes wins. So please spread the word of this competition.

If you have any suggestions or ideas regarding Once Upon A Time, please either comment below or shoot me a line at charlie@myalteregocharlie.com . I'll be taking suggestions up until the end of this month (May) so please send me a line.

Oh yes, and this year Once Upon a Time will be held on My Alter Ego Charlie, not Spellbound By Books.

Thanks everyone, I look forward to your stories!

Daily Dose Monday (57)

2013-04-29T06:55:00.000+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

Images: We Heart It

Hope you all enjoy!

Charlie's Ramblings (50) What I've been doing

2013-04-28T19:39:00.001+10:00

So my attempts at cooking are slowly getting better. I've attempted a number of things including potato bake (Which when previously attempted found out the potato was still raw lol) and rissoles which the first ones fell apart. But like I said.. I'm doing better.

I'm on my last assignment on my photography course. I've been doing quite well surprisingly and with the last one involving six of my best photos for my portfolio I've been really focused on organizing some photoshoots so I can test out the skills that I've learned and hopefully produce some really good photos. It's all a learning process.

I don't know about anyone else but I've found I may have an addiction to tv shows! Arrow, The Beauty and the Beast, Hannibal, Elementary, Grimm, The Following. See.. this is where alot of my time is going lately.

I've also watched a few movies in the last couple of days. The Host - I think I cried a lot in that movie, The Guilt Trip - a mix of happy and sad, The Company You Keep.

Sometimes I wish there were more hours within a day!

Daily Dose Monday (56)

2013-04-01T20:56:00.000+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

Source: Pinterest.

Enjoy

Songs I'm Lovin' (9) Small Bump

2013-03-05T20:29:00.000+10:00

Songs I'm Lovin' is a new little feature that I'll be bringing up from time to time that will include the film clip and the lyrics of a song I'm lovin' right now. Sometimes I'll even point out my favourite part of the lyrics that caught my attention! Feel free to join in!

Just last weekend I got to see Ed Sheeran in concert at the Riverstage in Brisbane. It was AWESOME! This is one of my absolute favourites of the ones he sung!

[Verse 1]You were just a Small Bump unborn, in Four months you're brought to life,You might be left with my hair, but you'll have your Mother's eyes,I'll hold your body in my hands be as gentle as I can, but for now you're scan of my unmade plans,Small bump four months you are brought to life[Bridge]and ill whisper quietly, I'll give you nothing but truth,If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you[Chorus]you are my one, and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.you are my one, and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.And you'll be alright.[Verse 2]You're just a small bump unknown, you'll grow into your skin.With a smile like hers and a dimple beneath your chin.Finger nails the size of a half grain of rice.And eyelids closed to be soon opened wide a small bump, in Four months you'll open your eyes.[Bridge][ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/small-bump-lyrics-ed-sheeran.html ]and I'll hold you tightly, and tell you nothing but truth,If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you[Chorus]you are my one, and only.and You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.you are my one, and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.And you'll be alright.[Verse 3]and You can lie with me, with your tiny feet when your half asleep, I'll leave you be.Right in front of me for a couple weeks.So I can keep you safe.[Chorus]Cause you are my one, and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.you are my one, and only.You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.And you'll be alright.[Verse 4]cause You were just a small bump unborn for four months then torn from life.Maybe you were needed up there but we're still un-aware as why.

Daily Dose Monday (55)

2013-01-28T21:47:00.002+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

all images are from Pinterest

Hope you all enjoy!

Random Writing: Life

2012-12-31T21:06:00.000+10:00

It's strange. It's not until someone you know passes away before you stop and take a look at your own life and wonder, am I wasting it?

Am I telling the people I care about that I love them enough or am I just expecting them to know?
Am I going to look back at the things I've done and said, and think that I could have done things different? Could I have been somewhere else with someone else compared to where I ended up?
Am I going to be proud of the things I've done in the past if I were to die tomorrow?

Are we just taking life for granted? Expecting there to be another day, month, year to accomplish things, patch things up, follow our dreams?

We all need to make every moment count.
Take time out to tell people you care. Never take too long because nobody really knows how long we all have before it's our time.

Make memories, take pictures, write something. Give the people we all leave behind something to remember us by. Because once we go, that's all they will have of us.

Daily Dose Monday (54)

2012-12-24T08:37:00.003+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

Photo Source: Pinterest.

Enjoy and have a safe Christmas!

Random Writing: A letter to you.

2012-12-05T19:31:00.001+10:00

A letter to explain.

Dear You,

I don't know what you think or feel but I've got to be honest. I'm in two minds about all of this. For one I'm glad that you are moving on to new things and that you are getting things sorted out for yourself but I'm not happy that things are being left the way it is.

I did the things I did because you pushed me to. Yes you. If you weren't so busy keeping yourself happy, you would have seen everything that was sitting in front of you the whole time. But I guess I am to the point that I've come to terms with you leaving. Me. Because in a sense you are. I'm not getting all DnM with you because I know things can't just be black and white and so to the point but I'm saying this now so that I can move on from this.

I really did care. And I do think she's lovely. So I hope you are happy. You probably won't ever see me but if you do I will be different. You can keep your bet because sweetheart it was never about the cost. It was about the moral of having to pay up then anything else. And you never kept your end even after it all.

You seemed to have wiped me and that kinda hurts but at the same time it's okay because it's about time I moved on without breaking into pieces.

So I wish you luck, and hope you will understand my motives.

Love me.

Random Writing: Pieces of me

2012-11-26T21:17:00.002+10:00

Pieces of me.

I'd never thought loving someone I couldn't have would be as hard as it was. I'd let the months roll by, not keeping my feelings in check. Knowing, and yet not knowing at the same time, where it was going to leave me. Possibly a little lighter since he took part of my heart. I wasn't sure if I'd even get it back. Or whether I'd want him to give it back. Because I think that would probably hurt a helluva lot more than I was feeling right now.

It started in summer break and I was definitely not to blame. Maybe a small part. But the rest was all him. I'd been swimming with friends. I'd known him from his group that used to meet at the waterhole with every other classmate for the past five years. For exactly four of those years, I'd hadn't uttered a word to him or his group, but by the fifth year, he came over and started chatting to us girls, like he had only begun to notice our group. I hadn't understood why but it was kind of nice having new people around. Audrey, Heather and Claire were great company, but when it came to our conversations it always revolved around gossiping, shopping and cute boys. I'd only just begun to get a little tired of it. None of us had a boyfriend but in turn each had a crush on one of the boys from school. Except me. Boy, I didn't realise at the time how lucky I was, and how hard I was going to fall.

"Triny come over here!" Audrey called to me. I pulled myself out of the water and wrapped a towel around my waist and walked over. A guy who towered over Audrey stood in board shorts and a singlet.
"Hi, I'm Trinny." I smiled and shook his hand.
"Jesse," he smiled back. He flicked his dark hair out of his eyes. Those eyes were an ocean of blue with a hint of green.
"Jesse and the other guys have invited us to a party down by the lake. You up for it Trin?" I nodded excitedly and glanced over at my other two friends.
"Great, I'll see you guys at about 7 then." He looked at me a little longer than necessary then turned and headed back to his side of the creek.
We rocked up at the lake house about a minute to 7. Both Audrey and Claire were in the process of fixing up their hair. Heather took a swig out of her flask which contained mostly vodka and a smidgen of orange juice. 'To take the bite off it' her brother had said. I was only a little nervous. I'd been to my fair share of parties but this was the first time that all four of us would be there. I could hear Green Day playing inside.
The door opened and revealed to girls dressed in halters and mini skirts. The smiled widely and gestured for us to come inside. With the door open the music was almost deafening but we stepped through, our own smiles plastered on our faces. We did the introductions and were led out the back.

Heather's brother managed to smuggle three flasks of alcohol so we had been pretty lucky. I looked around. The place was lit up with fairy lights. A pool table stood to the left of the back patio, on the right a long bar that covered the width. There was maybe a little grass before being greeted by the biggest pool I'd ever seen. My eyes found Audrey's and they were as wide as my own. She mouthed a wow before we were bombarded by the boys from the swimming hole. There was so much chatter that I couldn't catch everything that was said until Jesse came around and handed me a beer.

"Glad you could come. What do you think of the place. Pretty awesome hey?" He looked around as he said it and all I could do was nod and agree.
"If you want to come around here you can put your stuff down and jump in the pool. Or we can all sit round the fire and talk." He nodded to the campfire halfway down the paddock and my mouth dropped. This place was huge. Easily three times the size of my parents property, and then some.

"Campfire it is." I responded.

We spent alot of the night getting to know eachother and before long I could feel the effects of the vodka kicking in. We danced and laughed. Then danced some more. Midnight came too soon and we all had to go. Technically we weren't meant to be at a party without parents but luckily Heather's older brother told us he'd pick us up and take us back to their place.

"I had a good time Trin." He smiled. He was a little drunk too but I didn't care.
"Me too. We will have to do this again." I said and hesitated trying to read his body language. He leaned in, and as if I knew what he wanted I tilted my head up and our lips met. It was short and clumsy but my head swam from the moment that i leaned into him for support. His arms wrapped around me and too soon the kiss ended. He leaned back.
"Wow." I murmered before opening my eyes. He stared into mine and I blushed realizing I'd said that out loud. He gave me one last kiss and walked us out holding my hands the whole way.

Heather's brother Jack waited in his beat up commodore, a smirk on his face. Jesse and I swapped numbers and I jumped in and waved goodbye. The moment Jack turned the corner we all giggled and high fived!

That's how it started. One simple good willed gesture. He was a good looking guy and was into me, and I was head over heels for him from the first kiss.
Somehow, the last thing I'd expected was him breaking my heart. But hey, I'm getting ahead of myself here.
(c) M Freeman "Charlie" 2012

To Be Continued ...

Charlie's Ramblings (49) Too Much?

2012-11-20T21:34:00.003+10:00

Sometimes, I feel like there is so much that needs to be done, and that I want to do and I only have so many hours in a day to achieve this. Running two blogs (Which have been slightly neglected.. I'm sorry) working full time, studying Photography, raising a kid, keeping up my review books and attempting to write my own stories... no wonder I feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends. It makes me wonder whether I'm doing too much? And the funny thing is, I'm not willing to give up any of it. Although not having to work full time would be awesome but only achievable if I actually won the lotto.. also known as Keep Dreaming!

I never participated in NaNoWriMo this year, and I feel completely slack about it. I just didn't feel like I had a story that was worth telling by the time Nano came around. As a writer you'd think I'd be beaming with story ideas, verses, anything that could kick start a good story. I did, but like last year and the year before, I'd tried to write from an idea I'd had, not knowing where to go with it, and halfway through Nano.. it was a big flop. I mean seriously, a big fat mental blank/block whatever you might call it.

Did anyone else feel like that.. or am I the only one?

Anyways that's all from me for now. I vouch to write a little more often on here that I have been lately so stay tuned.

Charlie

Daily Dose Monday (53)

2012-11-05T20:55:00.001+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

Source: Pinterest

Enjoy!

Daily Dose Monday (52)

2012-10-29T21:06:00.000+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

All images are from We Heart it

Enjoy!!

Daily Dose Monday (51)

2012-10-22T22:10:00.003+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

All images were from WeHeartIt

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Songs I'm Lovin' (8) I knew You Were Trouble

2012-10-16T21:23:00.000+10:00

So I'm loving Taylor Swift's new songs that she's bringing out and am definitely playing this one to death!

Once upon time

A few mistakes ago

I was in your sights

You got me alone

You found me

I guess you didn't care

And I guess I liked that

And when I fell hard

You took a step back

Without me, without me, without me

And he's long gone

When he's next to me

And I realize the blame is on me

Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

So you put me down oh

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

Now i'm lying on the cold hard ground

Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

No apologies

He'll never see you cry

Pretend he doesn't know

That he's the reason why

You're drowning, you're drowning, you're drowning

And I heard you moved on

From whispers on the street

A new notch in your belt

Is all I'll ever be

And now I see, now I see, now I see

He was long gone

When he met me

And I realize the joke is on me

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

So you put me down oh

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

Now i'm lying on the cold hard ground

Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

When your sadest fear comes creeping in

That you never loved me or her or anyone or anything

Yeah

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

So you put me down oh

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

Now i'm lying on the cold hard ground

Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

Trouble, trouble, trouble

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

Trouble, trouble, trouble!

Taylor Swift I Knew You Were Trouble lyrics found on http://www.directlyrics.com/taylor-swift-i-knew-you-were-trouble-lyrics.html

Daily Dose Monday (50)

2012-09-24T20:17:00.001+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

all images were found on We Heart It

Hope you all enjoy these.

Charlie's Ramblings (48) Brisbane Writer's Festival 2012

2012-09-07T21:50:00.000+10:00

I feel like I've neglected this blog somewhat! I hate leaving it here without posts but time seems to be so limited lately that other things have had to take precedence.

Went to the Brisbane Writer's Festival today, and had a blast. It's always so good to be surrounded by so many like minded people and WRITERS! I did a fair bit of writing waiting for the events that I paid for too.

Above is the view of Brisbane from the State Library. It looks awesome but at the same time the water is so dirty and brown that it kind of looks yuck. Hate to say it.

I learnt alot from listening to both Joanne Harris and M.K. Hume. It's awesome hearing how their characters come to them and it's alot like how my characters appear as well. Actually there were so many similarities to the way I create things that's scary but also mainly awesome.

The photo above is of one of the birds attacking the little garden thingies.

I have to admit they looked pretty cool.

All in all an awesome day and my zombie story is underway. So hopefully I will be able to share some of it with you.

Daily Dose Monday (49)

2012-08-20T20:04:00.000+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

All images were found on WeHeartIt

Enjoy!

Daily Dose Monday (48)

2012-08-13T20:40:00.000+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

Source: milenachka.tumblr.com via Larissa on Pinterest

We Heart It : http://weheartit.com/entry/34738518

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Source: deesecret.com via Silje on Pinterest

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Hope you all enjoy!

Daily Dose Monday (47)

2012-07-30T20:21:00.000+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

Possible Violet Continued. Close encounters

2012-07-24T21:35:00.000+10:00

Here is the next part to Possibly Violet. Again, this hasn't been edited very much so there may be mistakes throughout but hopefully it's not too bad.

***

After the movie, I’m up out of my seat and to the door before anyone else. Something’s not right. The moment I exit the cinemas and past Time Zone I’m hit with the most intoxicating smell and taste of strawberries that I’m gagging for fresh air. I know something is about to happen. I know I’ve got to get out of the shopping centre. Out of all the things I’ve written down I’m not sure what will happen but I can feel it in the air. It’s bad.
I run outside towards Mum’s commodore and stop in my tracks. The rain is pelting down, and some of the streetlights in the direction I’m going in have blown giving the road and eerie yet familiar feel to it. A serious sense of déjà vu washes over me but I can’t seem to get my bearings. While I’m standing still stuck in thought, someone shoves past me and jogs over the road and stops when he drops his wallet, coins spilling everywhere. For a split second time seems to stop and everything clicks into place.
The headlights appear but the guy is oblivious and I wave to get his attention and yell and scream but he doesn’t hear me.. I’ve almost reached him when I realise he has got his ear phones in. The car is almost upon us as I grab his arm, not worrying whether our skin touches and tug him to the side just as the car past where we were just standing. I want to cry out in relief but I can’t because we are both pinned in the middle of the road by another set of two headlights that are coming at us way too fast from the other direction. He’s not moving, and I’m frozen to the spot.
I close my eyes a few seconds before impact and take the brunt of it on the side. The wind is knocked out of me but I’m surprised at how little it hurts. I’m scared to open my eyes, to find my legs aren’t where they were a minute ago or that my blood is everywhere because I’m unbelievably warm. And pinned to the ground. I can hear short sharp breaths and I wonder whether it’s coming from my oxygen deprived lungs or I’m already dead and floating above my body.
But when I open my eyes I find I can’t see. I can’t see past the thick black jacket that seems to block out all my vision, or the shaggy black mop of hair covering a perfect angular face, and for a moment I’d died and gone to heaven when I meet his eyes. He breathes my name and my arms break out in goosebumps. I blink once or twice before the sounds come back in to focus. There’s screaming and crying, the smell of burnt rubber, sirens, light flashing and blood. Lots of it. I try to look past Blaise but he moves in my direction.
“Don’t Violet. It’s bad.” And just like that the wind is knocked out of my sails and a single tear slides down my cheek. I’ve lost him. I know he’s not going to make it, and he’s okay with that. In fact I know right now he’s thankful that the car hit him instead of me which is how it was supposed to happen. But I couldn’t know these things on my own. I knew it the moment I touched him. Thoughts, images, visions of the very near future came flooding in instantly, taking over any logic I had. I begin to wonder if it wasn’t my fault? If I didn’t cause it all to begin with. Maybe if I hadn’t tried to help things might have ended differently. Blaise helps me up off the ground and brushes me off. I try to look at the back of me to get the dust off my jeans and a sharp pain shoots up the centre of my back.
“I’ll drive you home if you like. I had a mate drop me in tonight so I could probably use a lift home too.” I know that last part was probably said so I couldn’t back out of giving him a lift so I just sigh and nod.
The ride home is silent and though the tightening in my chest isn’t so bad, I can’t wait to get home and write in #652 so I can at least talk again. I’m sure Blaise thinks I’m in shock and maybe I am, I just know I’ll feel better with all four walls around me and no one around while I offload what seems like a lifetime of visions into the notebook. Even though it’s only one nights worth.
Blaise parks the car up quietly out the front of my house. I’m aware it’s getting late but at least Mum and Dad trust me enough not to wait up for me. They know if there was a problem I’d always get in contact with them. Thankfully It’s never had to happen.
There are so many things I want to say to Blaise. I want to ask him about his eyes and how he’d gotten to me so fast when that car was coming and why he’d grabbed me instead of the guy I was trying to help. Yet, once again my little curse renders me speechless and while he waits for me to say thanks I am standing there awkwardly, wishing I’d brought my notebook so I could at least write a thank you. He slides his hands in his pockets and leans up against the car.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me something.” I almost laugh at the words that leave his mouth. If only he knew. I’m tempted to blurt out everything but I wonder whether that feeling to confess isn’t tied in to the fact that I can’t talk about it. Even if I wanted to share why I can’t speak and freak out near anyone else, the curse won’t let me. I’ve never worked out why, it’s just another annoying thing about it.
I search in my bag for a scrap of paper and a pen and begin writing. I hand him the piece of paper and wait for his response.
“It’s complicated?” He reads out loud. I can see the confusion in his eyes and as much as I want to elaborate and give out more, the idea of actually following through with blurting everything out scares me. I’ve never shared this secret with anyone, other than Ellie.
“You can trust me Violet. What’s complicated?” He eyes me curiously and I’ve probably just made things worse. I point to the note and shrug. I can’t help but feel turned upside down. Just yesterday things were normal, well normal enough. Now Blaise comes on the scene and things go haywire.. I write another note telling him to wait while I run upstairs and quickly offload everything into my notebook. It takes a good ten minutes before I sneak back downstairs, notebook in hand, palms sweating as I unlock the back door and creep up the side of the house to let him in through the gate. I pull out two chairs and put them round the table and sit down. It’s 10pm and I don’t know whether I’ve actually found the courage to tell him or we are just sitting here and having a nice chat but I bring down notebook #652 just in case.
“I can’t stay long. I’ve got people waiting up for me. Not that I don’t want to stay for a while. They are just a little protective of me, if you know what I mean.” It’s odd to hear him rambling a little as if I’m making him nervous, but I’m glad he clarifies why he can’t stay. I take a deep breath.
“I don’t even know what to say. I know you must think I’m a freak, who knows maybe I am. But ever since you have been showing up, things are beginning to get weird. I don’t want to say that it’s your fault or anything but I kind of get the feeling you are partly to do with it. Does that make sense?” I watch as he stares at me than past me, before swivelling his head around and looking to the back of the yard. I can’t help but think he may be avoiding answering me.
“Why are you talking to me now? I’ve gone to Bellington High School for three years and so have you, so I can’t help but wonder why I get the time of day with you now?” I know I’m coming across as slightly bitchy but the fact that he seems to be paying more attention to the garden down the back than what I have to say is really getting on my nerves.
I push my chair back and that draws his attention to me instantly. I don’t even think about what I’m doing until I’m halfway down the back yard and he follows me down the back asking me what I’m doing. I stop at the garden he’d been staring at the whole time..
“Well, I figure if I stand down here with you I might be able to keep your attention because it seemed like you didn’t hear a word of what I’d said.” Blaise stands there watching me intensely, his jaw clenching shut like he’s fighting the urge to say something he shouldn’t.
“It’s… complicated.” The moment it’s out of his mouth I know I won’t tell him anything. I cross my arms over my chest now wishing I’d put my jacket on before storming down here to make a point. I run my hands up and down my arms to warm them up. I turn away to head up and he reaches out for me.
“Don’t touch me. I mean it. I don’t want to know anything more about you than what you tell me.” I turn and it’s only when I’m halfway up the yard when I realised my slip up. I don’t wait up for him, instead I head up the side of the house, slip through the gate and wait by the car. Hopefully he gets the hint.
“Violet, VIOLET?” Blaise calls out quietly but urgently and I’m on alert straight away. I make my way back to where I thought he was standing and can’t see him anywhere.
“Blaise where are you?” The shake of bushes to my right is enough to both spook me and hopefully answer my question. I strain to listen for Blaise but I can’t hear a thing. I panic. I search through the gardens lining the back fence, careful not to disturb any wildlife that could have snuck through from the bush. I come up with nothing. My chest is tightening with that awful panicked feeling, when Blaise breaks through the garden to my left and run full pelt my way.
“Get to the lights quick!” Blaise yells and I spin on my heel and run as fast as I can. I can now feel something behind me. I’m far enough that they won’t touch but definitely way too close for comfort and I’m picking up my pace to make it towards the patio light. Blaise stands with his back against the wall of the house, his chest heaving from exertion. I land next to him and it’s only then that I can smell the blood. I look to him and am horrified to see three deep claw marks on the top of his left arm. I don’t get a chance to ask him though. The growl that comes from where we just were echoes and vibrates through the air and I swear I can feel the energy creeping up my skin and goose bumps break out. That awful predatory sound I’m sure I’ve heard before, a long time ago.
My eyes adjust quickly to the bright light but I’m still having trouble seeing where the growl comes from. My heart’s pounding in my chest and at any moment it may stop from beating so hard.
All of a sudden the night takes on a more sinister look. I never used to fear the dark but standing here now, I can’t help but think how easy it would be to disappear without a trace. Another growl pierces the air and I jump and huddle closer to Blaise. I can feel myself vibrating slightly. I wish I could say I’m not scared but to be quite honest, I’m freaking petrified. Blaise stands still with his hand covering the claw marks to stop the bleeding. He’s taken off guard just as much as I am by the suddenness of the attack. But I can’t help but think he wasn’t surprised. Every so often I catch the glimpse of a thought bubble appearing above his head only to watch it disappear as quickly as it begun. I’m definitely in no position to question these new abilities but I wish I knew why it’s all happening now.
Blaise pulls his phone out of his pocket and quickly dials a number. All I can hear is the voice on the other end say ‘I told you so’ before they disconnect.
“Can’t we just scare it off or something? It could be a neighbour’s dog.” I say hoping he will say yes, but the quick shake of his head tells me otherwise. I don’t say anything else. My back hurts from pushing back against the house hard and I ease off a bit.
The side gate swings open shortly after and I see the blur of clothes fly past in the dark, followed by another two. I suck in a breath and Blaise turns his head to where I’m looking. He leans down.
“Helps arrived.” His eyes follow something in the dark but I can’t see what it is. A bright light flashes suddenly and branches snap breaking the silence. Another loud growl echoes in the night and then nothing. I realise I’ve closed my eyes when Blaise brushes his hand against mine and gives it a small squeeze before letting go. His gloves are all soft and fuzzy. Like it has had one too many washes. He disappears out from under the light without a word and I’m left alone. My skin prickles from the cool night air where Blaise was leaning against me just a moment before.
I never get a chance to meet the so called ‘help’ that arrives because both them and Blaise disappear without another word and I’m left to fumble my way inside. There’s a note waiting for me on the kitchen bench.

Violet,
Hope you had a good time at the movies. Your sister is staying at a friend’s place tonight and we decided to pull an early one. Will see you in the morning.
Love
Mum & Dad
P.S Just leave the keys in the fruit bowl. Thanks sweetheart.

I leave the note where I found it, chuck the keys in the bowl and sneak up the stairs, hopping over the squeaky step in the middle. My light is still on from earlier so I shut the door quietly and when I turn around I suck in a deep breath.
“What the hell?”
A small box sits on my bed with a green bow wrapped around it. My favourite colour. The curtains are gently blowing inwards, so I gather that’s how whoever it was that left this could get in and out. My hearts playing out the fastest tune the little organ can do without breaking or jumping through my chest. My back is to the wall and I stop and think. Why am I panicked by this box on the bed? But as soon as I think that I know it’s not the only thing I’m nervous about. I have this awful feeling the person who left the box may still be here. There’s nothing moved. Nothing taken as far as I can tell. But the atmosphere in my room seems, for lack of a better word ‘disturbed’.
I make sure any nook and cranny that could possibly harbour anyone is clear before I step any closer to the box. The feeling of someone being in my room has already begun to fade and I wonder how reliable my senses are at picking up this stuff. Maybe tonight with the scare has really thrown me off. I don’t know.
I lift the lid of the box, careful not to knock it or move it just in case something might happen. Peeling the tissue back, I discover the most gorgeous pendant I’ve ever seen. A small emerald gemstone hung in the middle, no bigger than my pinky nail. A few charms dangled either side and it sits on a long thin silver chain. I hadn’t the foggiest who it is from but it is beautiful and I can’t help myself. I slip the chain over my neck and when it’s in place the stone actually feels warm. It glows slightly and I can’t help but think how much it reminds me of Blaise.
I throw some pj’s on, flick the light off and jump into bed. I don’t even take the necklace off. It just belongs against my skin. My last thoughts before I drift off to sleep are of Blaise.

(c) Melissa Freeman 2012

That's it for now. Hope that whoever is reading this is enjoying it!

Songs I'm Lovin (7) Any Man Of Mine

2012-07-20T19:49:00.000+10:00

This is something that I needed to hear!

Any Man of Mine by Shania Twain

This is what a woman wants...

Any man of mine better be proud of me

Even when I'm ugly he still better love me

And I can be late for a date that's fine

But he better be on time

Any man of mine'll say it fits just right

When last year's dress is just a little too tight

And anything I do or say better be okay

When I have a bad hair day

And if I change my mind

A million times

I wanna hear him say

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I like it that way

Any man of mine better walk the line

Better show me a teasin' squeezin' pleasin' kinda time

I need a man who knows, how the story goes

He's gotta be a heartbeatin' fine treatin'

Breathtakin' earthquakin' kind

Any man of mine

Well any man of mine better disagree

When I say another woman's lookin' better than me

And when I cook him dinner and I burn it black

He better say, mmmm, I like it like that yeah

And if I changed my mind

A million times

I wanna hear him say

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I like it that way

Any man of mine better walk the line

Better show me a teasin' squeezin' pleasin' kinda time

I need a man who knows, how the story goes

He's gotta be a heartbeatin' fine treatin'

Breathtakin' earthquakin' kind

Any man of mine

Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I like it that way

Any man of mine better walk the line

Better show me a teasin' squeezin' pleasin' kinda time

I need a man who knows, how the story goes

He's gotta be a heartbeatin' fine treatin'

Breathtakin' earthquakin' kind

Any man of mine

You gotta shimmy shake

Make the earth quake

Kick, turn, stomp, stomp, then you jump

Heel to toe, Do Si Do

'Til your boots wanna break

"Til your feet and your back ache

Keep it movin' 'til you just can't take anymore

Come on everybody on the floor

A-one two, a-three four

Hup two, hum

If you wanna be a man of mine, that's right

This is what a woman wants...

Daily Dose Monday (46)

2012-07-02T20:50:00.000+10:00

Daily Dose Monday was created and hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly!

All images are from We Heart It

Hope you all enjoy!