A short time later, right after breakfast, Ashton and Alicia walked side by side through the manor, leaving the breakfast hall behind them.

‘We should tell our parents that we’re going out’ Alicia voiced then.

‘Awww.’

‘Oh come on Ashton’ Alicia frowned at him disapprovingly.

‘I really don’t want to.’

‘I know.’

‘They’ll probably try to stop us.’

‘You think so?’ Alicia replied.

Ashton grimaced slightly, half-turning away.

‘They still don’t know I sneak out to practice dancing’ he mumbled. ‘I wish I could tell them... but….’ He bit his lip then, brow furrowed. ‘I am afraid.’

They slowed then, coming to a stop in one of the hallways.

Alicia turned to him.

‘What are you afraid of?’ she asked him then.

‘I’m…’ Ashton began reluctantly, his voice weak and feeble. ‘I’m…afraid of…’

He turned his head away then, shoulders slumped. But he said no more, lips together now.

Alicia sighed wearily at him, feeling suddenly hopeless.

‘Come on’ she said, linking her arm with his. ‘Let’s go find them.’

They walked away again, arm in arm. They went to find their parents, drifting through the manor, they found them a short while later. Isaac and Maya had fallen asleep upon the sofa in one of the other rooms, the games room. This was one of Ashton’s favourite rooms in the manor. It was a large room, warm and inviting, the walls lined with wooden panels, and there was a lot of rich emerald-green within the room. There was a pool table on one side, an air-hockey table, a poker table, a hearth that was now absent of flames, and a small bar in the corner of the room.

Isaac and Maya now were draped over the lush emerald sofas, both fast asleep. Maya slept on her side curled up in a ball, and Isaac lay back, sleeping with his mouth open, arms splayed and leg hanging off the back of the sofa.

Alicia could not help but stifle a small chuckle behind her hand as she saw them.

‘Oh, that is cute’ she whispered, straightening up again and lowering her hand. ‘I would feel terrible to wake them.’

Ashton walked around the sofa to see them better.

He smiled silently to himself, he loved his parents very much, it made him so happy to see them happy.

‘They probably won’t even notice us gone anyway’ Ashton said, glancing back up towards his sister. ‘Let’s just go, and leave them in peace to rest.’

‘If you say so, let’s not be too long in that case. I wouldn’t want to worry them.’

Ashton and Alicia left the manor quietly, telling no one where they were going and avoiding all others, the maids that wandered the house going about their businesses, and the gardeners outside tending to the plants. Everyday they were here, but as the siblings moved swiftly, they managed to avoid all wandering eyes.

Ashton walked ahead now down the steep steps, the path they followed dipped sharply, leading to a tall and slender iron gate. There were several about the property at the edges, different places to come in and out, but Ashton’s favourite was this one, because it was the most secret.

Beyond this gate was nothing but a small and completely empty courtyard, leading to a slim alleyway between two buildings, a laundrette and a dance studio, which in turn led out onto the sidewalk. The end of the alleyway was drab and dark, causing it to be easily overlooked. No one used this way, not for many years, save for Ashton and Alicia.

Ashton took a deep breath to gather himself, glancing up and down the road, seeing the steady flow of cars toing and froing. The town around their home was always busy, the streets filled with people. Their tranquil home surrounded by beautiful and spacious gardens was like a little paradise, hidden within the town, tucked away within the organised chaos.

Alicia took Ashton’s hand excitedly, pulling him down one way, heading the most direct path towards the edge of the town.

‘I’ve not been here for so long’ she breathed, not slowing her pace, ‘it feels to strange to be back, but I love it!’

Ashton couldn’t help but smile as he ran after her, his hand still in hers. He picked up his pace, grasping her hand tighter now and jogging to keep up with her, now side by side.

They ignored all else that was around them, within their own little world, nothing existed to them but each other, and their destination.

In no time at all, they had left the bustle behind them, and for the first time in a long time, Ashton was able to step off the concrete and onto the sand, feeling the familiar and wonderful texture beneath him.

He smiled wider now as Alicia let go of his hand, dropping to her knees and pushing her splayed fingers into the sand.

‘Its warm’ Alicia beamed, looking ever so beautiful in the sunlight. ‘I love days like these, these are the best.’

‘I wish you didn’t have to go back’ Ashton spoke suddenly without thinking. ‘I… I miss you when you go. And saying goodbye never gets easier.’

‘I know’ Alicia replied, rising to her feet and brushing the sand from her knees and the skirt of her pretty white dress. ‘It’s the same for me too.’

She ran her fingers through her pale-blonde hair, gazing out towards the ocean, towards the cliffs.

‘Come on’ she said without turning back, ‘lets go see if we can find that den we made again.’

‘That’s long gone’ Ashton scoffed.

‘It might still be there’ Alicia replied indignantly, beginning to pout a little.

‘The sea would have washed that away ages ago’ Ashton waved at her.

‘Let’s go find out’ Alicia said, making her way carefully forwards, walking at a gentle pace. ‘And remember’ she said glancing back at him, ‘no running. We don’t want you cutting yourself on sharp rocks again.’

‘Are you ever going to let that go?’ Ashton sighed, walking slowly after her. ‘That was so long ago.’

Alicia said nothing to this, merely giggled and winked at him cheekily in reply.

They drifted towards the ocean, Ashton walking a step behind his sister.