Post by Natasha Black on Aug 10, 2021 8:40:40 GMT -5
Intently she listened to Catcher advice, she really shouldn't be accommodating to others just trying tobe nice, she had always tried to be the girl who made everything easy for others and to make people happy with her. Now that she has gotten older and had learned no matter how hard you tried there was always going to be at least one person out there who didn't like you. He was right there was no reason to be jumping through hoops to try to please the world." The gummies actually help a lot, I'm a bit less..everything" she smiled they help keep her mood more balanced and make her feel more together. She watched him bite his lip and look at her asking a question that she wasn't sure how to answer. "Putting up with someone, not exactly sometimes the attention you get at a party can be too much. Sometimes you just find someone you can tolerate to be around. His name is Evan, he's the guy I blew off at the door. He helps keep the jerks away, nothing more. He is a bit too happy to be around all the time". There was nothing really wrong with Evan. He was nice but she knew he probably liked her more then she did him. She almost thought she should have mentioned Evan at all; he didn't mean anything to her and she didn't want Catcher to get the wrong impression. She never thought about the ones that never approached her, she never thought she was unapproachable. Did she have a resting bitch face that scared others off?
Listening to Catcher inquire about her time at school had made her feel he wanted to find a way to be more involved with her school life. So far he hardly knew anything and she wanted to share her experience with him. "A roommate, it's actually weird sharing a room with a girl, an average girl with a mundane life. Most of the time the only thing she has to worry about is if her clothes match her shoes." She was a bit envious of Daniella, she was pretty and had a sassy personality to boot. She was always trying to Tash to get out and have fun instead of doing her work. "Daniella is nice, she sort of reminds me of Seth. She is fun and likes to have a good time. I lucked out." Tash began to feel she was wasting too much time talking about herself and people that Catch didn't even know so she stopped tonight was about them and not all about strangers.
The Dory story actually sounded a little tragic but sometimes the best things about life were the memories you wanted to treasure. To lose them constantly would be a tragedy."Let's stop talking about a sad fish she is happy in the end. Let's just be happy too." What made her happy was Catcher mentioning that dying her fur was just a joke but if he were to paint her blue she would have a mark that he left on her himself. She probably uses blue nail polish everyday to make him feel closer. She had something to keep him close,Tash still hadn't told him about her tattoo, the one she got just for him. It wasn't just a crescent moon for any reason. The night at the beach when the first kisses the moon wasn't full, it was in the most perfect crescent moon she had ever seen. She tells him sometime but tonight wants the night.
Hearing him say that he'd talk to Veronica was nice but it wasn't his responsibility to say anything Tash just had to be less stubborn and talk to V herself. "I won't make the same mistakes I did with you. You came to see me. It's possible I just have to do the same with V, just go and apologize." She had been thinking about inviting her out to visit. If Veronica enjoyed her visit then maybe she would want more for herself also. She had been going through similar hard times too but they both seemed to find different paths to travel.
She watched Catcher's expression as she talked about the birds. She had never told him about her nightmares about dying alone in the woods somewhere and seeing herself without eyeballs laying on the ground as birds ate every inch of her. She really didn't have that dream anymore, she knew she didn't have to worry about the vampires much anymore and with that her bad dreams went away. She was scared about getting killed in the woods by one and no one ever found her. "If I came to a vampire harming someone I know there would be no hesitation to kill one." She was very protective of the ones she held dear to her heart. It was some of the reason why she didn't like Candi, she didn't trust her being around Catcher was a good thing. Tash hated Candi for moving into his house and stole some of his attention away. If she wasn't there would have Catcher seen her feelings more clearly? She got in fight with Candi more and more before she left, it was always over something stupid. Tash knew she should have been more mature, and stop picking fights.
" The boobies already know they are special.Why do you think they dance?" They had their own way to display affection; it was actually sort of cute. She wishes that it could be as simple for her as it was for the blue footed creature.it might have been why she replied to his next question like she did. She knew he didn't actually mean he'd take her way but Tash she could muse it. She wouldn't mind having him all to herself for a while uninterrupted like they were tonight. No obligation to others to consider. "In dream we'd have a here and now, but when did I say never? This time, right now is imperfect. We both know it." Her words tugged at her heart,how she wished this was their time to be as one but she had an opportunity she just couldn't throw away. Not many people got their school completely covered by an academic scholarship,she was one of the lucky ones.Without her good grades she might have stuck in La Push working a job she never found fulfilling, but at least she had a future where she could see herself helping others.
She heard his next words and it wounded her a bit, that's what allowed her to push past her barrier and let him in,she didn't care if he wasn't him, he didn't need to be Quil was in her past, she never wanted to see him again. She does everything in her power to do so. She would rather die then to see his face again not knowing if seeing him would undo all she had done to sever the string that tied her to him.
As held onto him hearing that whenever he was between Veronica had been no more it made her feel less like she was living in her shadow. Less like she was trying to fill an empty hole in his heart where he held a piece of Veronica with him. She felt now maybe he sees her intention more clearly now. She hadn't just thrown herself at him to fill a void in both of them. She had seen him for who he truly was. She had her demons that he hoped one day would be with her anymore and he had his scars which left marks but they too could fade. It was possible with time she could tell him how she truly felt about him. Maybe she'd have to let a pen be her sword and let out everything she needs to say in a letter instead of letting it pour out of her mouth.
" Koalas aren't your consolation prize, I never said that. I just want to make the most of tonight, because I love...when you smile and I didn't remember when you told me that you like the fuzzy little creatures but it's been my goal to get you here since." She moved along wanting tonight to not be a painful memory of a beautiful night the once shared but one in which he remembered she truly cared about him. " I might have some potential evidence to support this claim. I came here once during the day." Him bringing up the goat barn made her blush a little. He had come to her rescue then also. She still had his t-shirt that she said she lost but she slept in it every once and a while. Most of his smell had faded away but it was very sentimental. "The goat barn, that was just me being stupid, I'm not sure why that even happened. I'm sort of glad it did. It was the first time I didn't have to seal your attention off someone else." Everywhere she went there was always someone she felt like someone was always interfering with plans to be with him alone. She sneaked into his bed some night when she had been over and snuggled up to him every once and while. She didn't even know if he ever noticed or he thought he was dreaming.
They had made it to the koalas and she watched him as he hopped the barrier. She stood there watching as he pulled off branches and fed them the eucalyptus leaves off to see if the little marsupial would eat them. Seeing his face light up with a smile made her fall even more deeper for him. He was so gentle and sweet not many people probably saw this side of him. She chewed on her fingernail and watched for a few minutes standing unmoving as she had a moment alone with the tiny creatures hoping he remembered this moment as one that would forever be close to his heart. If this night had to end here she didn't mind it was something she was glad she could help him experience.
Pulling off her boots to be more agile, she got herself over the enclosure walls without difficulty and landed softly. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and moved around the tree where Catcher was standing. "I can't remember how they tell them apart, all I know is that the boy's name is Steve and the girl's name is Daisy." She lifted her phone, snapping a few candid pictures as he focused on the gray ball of fluff. "If it's Daisy's if you hold your arms like this she might climb up on you. She was hand raised by people." She positioned his arms in the way she had been told to when she had paid for a private experience with them, knowing she would try to get him here one day. Stroking the little koala she gently moved its hand to reach onto Catcher jacket and she climbed up into his arms. "Just hold still." She snapped a few more pictures.
Last Edit: Aug 11, 2021 9:18:08 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 11, 2021 7:11:34 GMT -5
Her choice of studies was eccentric, but it seemed to benefit her and he foresaw a profitable niche future for her, occasionally finding the academia defended her intellect from people who judged her by her appearance. It also created a direct link to her friendship with Cloud and it amused him to hear of his friend’s enthusiasm in her career path; the rocker sounded like a proud parent. As she described a discombobulated thing she was having with the stupefied figure at the steps, he squinted his eyes in puzzled interpretation, making sense of it all with the most basic of comprehension.”So… you take gummies but you can’t deal with someone that’s too happy… and sure, pick a guy to fend off the rest.” He nodded gradually, struggling not to tease her and snappily motioned with his head in a quick rotation that he was impressed, still trying not to laugh at her predicament; it was nothing he had ever experienced and he was relieved never to be in her position.
A little fascinated and a little haunted that ultimately her feelings did not override her logic and she went with what sounded like a secondary version of a good boy to help her through her day. The main nagging thought that she had in fact, chosen someone, chosen over him, was shoved like dirty laundry into a dark closet of his mind for the time being. An uncontrollable smirk creased into his cheeks and he was positively charmed to learn about Evan; it was probably the one discovery he needed to be enlightened and lighten up. ”You don’t have to tell me if he is more, he is what you want him to be. A classic boy toy…” He said so as though he got it, he got her whole problem, as though it was all a black comedy, a challenging satire that made fun of the tropes he didn’t like but unknowingly perpetuated. Factually, she didn’t need to hide anything from him, he enjoyed her little affairs at college including her short description of Daniella; he had expected something to change and he got the memo, entertained. Overly perceptive he was tackling her while wearing blinders for things regarding this part of her life that he didn’t want to endure. Though the information rattled him somewhere, it wasn’t realism enough yet. It only served to make him want to walk through the fire that she would likely have thought might burn their bridge. But her influence had made him uncertain if he would ever go through with anything anymore. Even if she were to regret telling him, he believed she told him for a reason and selected the easier route; remaining as unbothered as he had been when he saw the man. On the flip side, he wondered if she would even care if he had to go to a co-ed school, live in co-ed dormitory and concluded she mostly wouldn’t; if their roles were reversed, she would behave supportively and he had to try. It was a shame that she always urged him to be free when he didn’t want to be an assumed lothario, regretting the image that formed in a reputation he didn’t deliberately build.”I get the feeling she doesn’t like me, but if you say she’s anything like Seth… I’m… pleasantly surprised.” Life was quite dull so when she mentioned mundane and simple girl troubles, he thought back to Candela and how she was trying to avoid that at all costs, moving forward from her past. They were both illustriously proving to the world that they could be different and mattered, and he ran a hand swiftly through his hair, realising Natasha and the person she hated most actually had a lot in common.
The sad fish turning happy made him think about the perks of being a fish if he were reincarnated.”I’ll be thanking Claude… for me, coming to see you…” By now, he thought he could tell her why he was there. However there were a number of motivations and none of them seemed to work in his favour, none of them an idealized romantic gesture or anything he could piece together that wasn’t skewed to ending their ties or a vain reconciliation for a hopeless dream. Covering it up for now with the half-truth was better than nothing or admitting he would always be the first to try to mend their rift. They would have the shortest arguments but the longest indifferences until he broke, afraid to be a toxin in what they made a relationship. ”You didn’t make a mistake, Asking you to stay around until…”He still wasn’t entirely clarified on the situation Natasha experienced with Candela, neither women had detailed anything but he knew it was a misunderstanding involving him and cut off, wanting to know her side of the story if she told.”That was my doing.” In terms of Veronica, she would have better results taking the initiative and he hoped Natasha’s sentimental attachment would allow both of them to be uplifted once they smoothed over; after all that they had been through, they deserved a lifelong friendship. That whole talk about killing vampires, she could have a field day doing that with Veronica and he folded his arms, pensive that his friends really needed a confession stand to deliver their gospel; they would see why they were bound.
His mouth was agape as he thought about the dancing boobies and in his mind an outline about this came through; it neither confirmed he remembered nor seemed to be a figment of imagination and he swallowed, jovial to be learning something new from her. That joviality began dispersing as a part of him suited up against her open ended words. It was essentially ‘never say never’ but to him that was never and then the whirlpool in his locked mind tomb slipped out messages about Evan and he shiftily looked around, eyelashes the only things shielding him from the sight of her. He was balking at the implications of not resisting her baiting suggestion. All compromises seemed to be off the table and he couldn’t fathom why, he would have found out from Evan within minutes and he recoiled that she seemed to be both resentful of love yet unable to be alone and the only constant in that was him. His mind was envious of his heart, so bad in love, lying to himself that she could finally fix him. Each time the feeling faded, that she was so afraid of him walking away; each time, he found her stronger than ever and he wanted to walk away. How could he walk steady when she made ground come alive with her inconclusive rejection; he couldn’t even be terse with her. A metaphorical corkscrew driving into his temple, he was at an impasse that for a few months at a time she could not take it and he began thinking love was only temporary once more, unwilling to agree or disagree with her.
When she mentioned his smile, he looked down awkwardly, uneasy that she noticed traits he didn’t pay any mind to. These days there were fewer smiles all around and he tried not to think about what else she saw in him. Catcher ended up glancing up at her, fidgeting with the short back of his hair, a faint curve of a shy smile distracting her. Then she blushed and he eased slightly, reminded of how they behaved as teenagers; that shirt he lent her was never meant to be returned and he had hoped she didn’t really lose it moving into the dorm. Everything she left behind, he would look at from time to time before she retrieved it. Some nights he thought she was with him and he would wake up late, wishing he never woke up at all if it had been a dream. Still it was him trying to reach her, looking for her in ways that only brought him down. Other nights, she fell asleep under the pale moonlight and he would gaze at her thinking when the night was done she wouldn’t be there again. Those times, he waited for a pelting rain, the persistent sound a comfort to the melancholy, the emanating warm smell in petrichor singing away his blues. He would feel everything in his bones, and feel it on his skin that she taught him a heart shouldn’t go where it didn’t belong.
”There’s never been a time you have to do anything to have my attention. It will always be undivided.”What would it have taken to have her know that? There were a handful of people who would contest her adamantly; he could already hear Cloud complaining and see Candela rolling her eyes. Ironically, it was Veronica who would be pushing him out the door to get to her as fast as possible as if they would reach finality; there was too much confusion within him to tell her what she thought was intuitive and fruitful would never yield anything because he decided Natasha was right, their time was imperfect. It was a decision to avoid feeling fucked up like he had been before he saw her. She would grow frustrated as he was with no signs to guide him and he often wanted a farewell to all the places he had been in attempting to rewrite their finale. He wanted her to always depend on him, know that they wouldn’t live forever and they would see it all clearer when they were older, and he would thank the gods they were together but it probably wasn't going to happen.” If it was the first time, I don’t want it to be the last.”
He looked at her properly now, long enough to meet her in a soft earnest stare. The truth was she had succeeded in her goals without needing to say or do more. Having not counted on anything when he told her about koalas, he still wasn’t insensitive to how she had listened; it had registered in his mind how she cared enough to hint and talk about coming here on multiple occasions. There was too much to appreciate in how genuine she was as a friend, that it overshadowed any yearning to know how dear she might hold the things she knew about him; she had all his trust. ”You… definitely learned a lot about them from a day trip.” The koala was climbing slowly onto his arms and shifted to adjust to it repositioning, clambering without the expected grip. It wasn’t as heavy as he thought it would be, the size exaggerated by the cushy fluff of fur and a layer of squishy fat that made anyone want to squeeze. ”I’m trying…” He was mesmerized by its fanning ears, rougher white textured hair lining it like a muffler that flicked around when it moved, in ways he had never imagined possible. As its nails clung onto his shoulder, he held it as though it were a tired child; worried he was not holding it right but also just allowing it to do what it wanted, unable to predict what it did next until it settled and they were still. They were serene as the motionless trees and it was restful, more soothing than he could explain to anyone.
As Natasha suddenly took photos, he was dazed and absentminded for a few moments before looking back at her, and watching the head of the koala move close enough he could smell and feel the fur on his face; it broke any barrier of caution with the wild animal and he stood hugging it until they experienced a natural tranquility. ”There are no words… for my thanks.” Setting it back on the branch slowly, he moved in a lean, letting it crawl partially off, taking its time as he waited for it to steady and start holding onto the tree again. It curled into the original position, the big face rounding to peer back at them and petted it, this time laying his face on the body as if it were a pillow he wanted to nap against. Then he pulled back and admired the koalas for a moment before turning to see she was barefoot. ”Did you want…”to hold Daisy. He stopped and looked beyond the barrier to listen, sharpening his ears; the sound of footsteps and wheels muted after a door. They were safe, everything was fine but he petted both Daisy and Steve for a final time and held out his hand to take hers, persuading subtly to leave as he led them towards their stuff, picking her boots up to see if she even wanted to wear them anymore. ”We should visit something you want to see…” Placing the combat boots in front of her feet in a neat pair, he checked the bag of feed they had and matched what was left with what range of animals they could find in his head. ”Most of this section will eat everything in the bag.” Then he knelt down and foraged in their snack bag, taking out a chocolate covered rice crispy bar to eat before holding multiple options of things for her to point, dropping the ones she may not want back into the bag. ”Since the bunny is most likely locked indoors, we’ll just see it another day.” He felt like he was falling as he was trying to fly in looking for answers in whatever high that hope would provide, but he wasn’t sure he would ever see it through. Although that day would have to wait, he brought it up so she would be clued in that he did want to spend more time without it having to be a whole plan, not wanting to dampen the mood more than he felt like he was doing, entrapped in his own wavelength. She didn’t want to tie anyone down but there was no other place he would ever want to go, and he was getting used to her, used to this back and forth she bewitched him with, an elastic heart effect.
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 11, 2021 14:19:45 GMT -5
Watching how tender and caring he was to the koalas, made this outing to be more special to her then maybe even him. He was always so quiet and stoic around others but they never really got to see this other part of him. It was moments like this she missed when he was not around, a glimpse at his soul where many people only got to see the mask he wore to shield his true self." You don't even need to thank me. It's nothing really, they are too cute to resist." She watched him with Daisy and fashed a few more pictures. They would be a memory of this night together, even if she wasn't in any pictures tonight. He stopped for a second, she too held her breath in the distance there was someone but where they were at the moment they were safe from getting caught by anyone.
Waiting for him to pet the koalas one more time she took his hand when he held it out to her and followed him out. Gentlemanly, like he placed her boots out in front of her, she slipped her socks back and pulled her boots on quickly. "Something I want to see?" She hadn't really thought about what she wanted to see at the zoo. She watched Catcher dig through the bag of snacks. He held out a few different ones and she took a snickers out of his hand as he held it out to offer it to her. Opening the wrapper she took a bite and groaned in stratification,it had been a while since she had one last and she forgot how good it was. Mouth half full she began to speak. "Something that we can feed some of those veggies too also I'm also thinking maybe a tortoise.. not wait a giraffe." She clapped her hands together in excitement. She loved giraffes though she had mentioned it before, tortoises were a close second they always looked so old and wise. She wanted to smile but she could feel the caramel all over her teeth so she grabbed the wine to help wash it away. She didn't want to drink too much because wine for some reason always made her tired and she didn't want to waste a minute with Catcher because it made her tired. She placed the top back on the bottle and leaned her head on his shoulder. She knew at sometime the evening would end and they have to part ways again. It pained her to think about it knowing she would try her best to hold back all her feelings not wanting to see him sad. She wrapped her arm around him, walking slower than when she had taken him to the koalas. The giraffes weren't too far away but she just wanted to be close to him. She didn't even really care if she saw them or not. They would always be there if she came back again.
"You're right we can always come back, see the rabbits. Though next time we can go to an amusement park ride some Rollercoaster,or somewhere scary like for halloween? if you can't make it back, I'll just have to come to you." She wants to make plans,if she could get him to commit to anything she knew the next time she might see him and it would make departing a little easier. She knew if he made a promise tonher he wouldnt break it.She too would cross ocean if she need to see him again.She guided him down the trail,the pebbles on the path shifted under their feet as the trail winded down a slight hill, encloses lined both sides of the trail but whatever animals lived within seemed to be silent as they moved down the path, they probably got tired of being on display all day and enjoyed the evening where the silence was welcomed.
"Are you going back to La Push or traveling? You mentioned New York and Hollywood to Cloud and never told me you've been to those places before." She always wanted to ask but never had a moment to. She had not traveled much in her life, besides moving from Canada and never traveled anywhere in the states. She wanted to know him more; she always felt when they were together they always talked about her and what she was doing more than what Catcher was up to. "You are so mysterious sometimes you know that right? I can feel I can see you behind all of that, don't be scared to talk to me. I'm sure there is nothing you can say that will change how I feel." He knew most of her like an open book if he asked her to tell him almost anything.
Tall fences started to come into view and she knew that this was the giraffe enclosure. It was the only reason why the fence was so tall. She let go of Cather’s arm and stopped at the wooden barrier and started tapping on the fence post seeing if she made some noise they would show themselves and come close. Slowly a head popped out of the shelter and started walking in their direction.
Last Edit: Aug 11, 2021 14:33:38 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 13, 2021 3:37:19 GMT -5
Peering up at her as she ate the snickers, he smiled to himself as he looked back down shuffling the things he had been pulling out, listening to her speak with the caramel slurring her words; she was a happy child again as long as the bar lasted and he remembered the snack in a whole new meaning. ”Giraffes it is.” When she started clapping, he stood up barely hiding his amusement at her excitement, holding the bags that had lessened in size with one hand. It was something perfectly perky that had disappeared from her altogether since he had been back in town and he stared at her for a little longer than he intended before hastily answering. ”If they don’t eat everything we could give the rest to a tortoise.”It was unusual she suggested tortoises, they were usually pretty inactive but at any rate, whatever would have never crossed his mind was interesting and he enjoyed her perspective, the ideas she presented him often made him feel fulfilled; he didn’t find that in almost all other people.
As she drank from the bottle, he noted she consumed less than when they had hard liquor at the beach and the night of prom. It was likely for a few reasons, he wanted to establish that they were doing the same thing, he was avoiding drinking more and letting the effects of what he had ingested at Claude’s wane. He really wasn’t dependent on being intoxicated to have fun with her, to enjoy her company at its fullest they mostly didn’t need anything, just time. The more alert he had been the more he could reminisce with every little reminder, like the feeling of going back in time with a song, the way memories were supposed to be. There was something precious in that because he hadn’t built enough with her in the past and those days seemed senseless and inexplicably misused. They met when he had just turned seventeen, he was facing that he had been acting too stupidly then. She was on top of the world, and he just wanted to be taken back so he could live in that dream with her. As they strolled, her head leaned on his shoulder and he accepted that this was how his weathering heart felt things were the way they should be. In that moment, all he operated on was the blanketing kind of love that she made him feel, in that closeness she was his girl and he didn’t care about anything else.
They had talked about amusement parks before, about the rides and how fun it was during Halloween to have the theme change for one night in the year. People went all out and the adventure parks were the same, something they would never forget doing if they went. He recalled stating that Cloud liked Disneyland and everyone had piped up, loving the idea. They could have a road trip there if they wanted and he let himself flow with the suggestion, a gently content smile spreading and softening his face. ”We should go. If we don’t, we probably never will… so let’s do it.”
As they neared the taller wooden fencing, he knew it was where the giraffes lived, no other exhibit needed such a high border and he suppressed the nervousness that came with wondering about time, realising they would never go to a theme park if they didn’t swear to accomplish the first point on a bucket list. ”I made it back didn’t I?” He tilted his head as they walked, looking at her to stress it before assuring her calmly. ”I will always make it back. I promise.”Saying so, she had his word. If he ever failed her, he would no longer merit any of her time. There was a gripping sensation in his chest, one similar to what he had experienced when he saw her and Seth again, an ache that was for life, calling him to them like they were strings he couldn’t stretch too thin, shortening over time, returning him. He stopped in his tracks as she let go and went over to the wall to knock on it until hooves sounded, structuring an explanation she deserved before continuing until he was beside her, peeping into the fake African grassland.
”I’m not going to be in Washington.” Talking to her about himself was actually much harder than he thought it would be and he chalked it up to the fact he hardly gave himself a minute to think about these things on his own. It happened when it happened, that was how dreadful it was. His situation was unpleasant and entangling for anyone who found out, an infinite maze or labyrinth but he strained anyway. ”I have to go back to school. I was pulled out… but I had a chance to do one last thing before I really had to be straightened out. I didn’t really think I’d ever find anything with anyone ever again here... I should have thought about that… but...”He abruptly paused, scrunching his face briskly, causing his eyes to squint, disgruntled and looking beyond her. It would be a new place once more, he had to be enrolled to a disciplinary academy and it was what he did to himself.Going public versus private here had been the biggest contention before and he repeated it with great manipulation. Based on connections and his pedigree, his choice was still unsatisfactory but it was no more than further defiance; he transferred to Virginia instead of Westpoint.
Reopening his mouth, he still formed nothing so he just inhaled, held it and then finally exhaled, dropping his shoulders, caving. ”I’m not mysterious…” Half rolling his eyes, he was tickled by her statement coming out of the blue, but that response was a mere whisper, somewhat doubting himself. It wasn’t exactly because she might judge him that he had difficulty, it was just how he was programmed, writing it down for her would be as smooth as butter but speaking, seeing her in the eyes, not under the influence but wrought with emotion, was an Olympian task.”I was between New York and Los Angeles, as well as Vancouver like I had said when we met. There were other places too. My mother is a socialite, who… surprisingly is also a workaholic. I don’t consider my father as much of one. That’s about as much as Cloud knows but he had been to those cities, where we met once. It wasn’t really a meeting; we just walked into each other at a club downtown and went our separate ways. Apparently he saw that I got into a fancy car and I had to explain myself when he recognized me at the tattoo shop, so I finally remembered.” As liberating as it was to reveal parts of him, it was also baring his soul to the world despite there not being anyone else present and he wasn’t sure how to proceed. All he reconsidered were the nasty details about his family life that would upset her as she had felt so deeply for him when they talked about wounds at the beach; the precise thoughts of his parents, his life trickling to him in the same format as that evening.
”Cloud will be back in those places one day, he belongs there. He just… likes to talk about it.”It didn’t really seem fitting or coherent to the conversation but he hoped she would understand why Cloud brought it up and seemed to be so enthusiastic about leaving; he had nothing against this place or any other as he traveled, he just had his sights set and he made it clear he wanted Catcher to witness his glory. The world was a great wide open for Cloud. The only unfortunate part was that he believed the latter also belonged in that world, and he might have but it made him spiral easily. He was open to Natasha visiting him, going anywhere she wanted with him but he was reluctant that she was tied to this place, her home, her family; things he couldn’t separate her from so he made no invitation.
Catcher was still reserved but gradually changing his mind as the history rolled out and he grew more transparent, still holding out on why his name was so strange. ”I haven’t even told Seth. The point of being here was to do something new. My parents separated for good now so I’ve had more leeway but everything I did, was worth not having to be who they expected me to be. Not having to be around a load of crap.”He was exhausted as a puppet, sick of seeing the underhanded things rampant in society, covering extra marital affairs in his home, enduring the violence that befell him and the conditional affections he received.
The paced hooves had reached the edge and silently, he peeked upwards to see a funny face looking down; they were small compared to the awkward animal, perhaps puny as its head came swooping down between them. The long neck had bent over the edge of the railing and stretched outward, flimsily and he backed off a bit with the bag of food the giraffe could smell. It was giving them such a dry look yet batting the thick eyelashes, lackluster in seducing them for treats, flaring nostrils and he opened the bag to give Natasha a leafy vegetable, dodging the greedy face trying to rob his handful of green. In an attempt at avoiding the looming head, he withheld the rest of the bag so the flapping lips wouldn’t steal a taste. It made him giggle, and he waited for her to break the pieces to feed it, knowing the purplish blue prehensile tongue was usually quite the attraction for visitors, shockingly dexterous like a tentacle that nobody wanted to be licked with.
Last Edit: Aug 13, 2021 3:38:04 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 13, 2021 20:10:58 GMT -5
The more plans they made, the easier departing would be for her. She never liked goodbyes because sometimes they were truly the ending of whatever people once shared with each other, what was worse when that goodbye truly meant a full on departure to never see the person return.She couldn’t help but have the biggest smile as he agreed to go to a theme park and do it by roadtrip. "You mean you are down for spending closer to twenty hours in a car with me just to get to Disneyland?" She hadn't spent that many hours with him constantly and she worried that maybe she say something dumb or do something that would change what they had. He had made her life better, worth living outside the four walls of her bedroom. He brought wonder and dream of a better future, without him she probably wouldn't have had the courage to even go to college.
"You did make it back and for that I'll be forever grateful. You really don't know how much you helped me" He had been like the sun after an eclipse lightning up the sky once again pushing a way the shadow in the darkness. She never thought someone could help get her depression, but just by showing up at prom a little bit of positivity and glitter helped push her in the right direction. "I'll hold you to that, if you don't I'll hunt you down." She wasn't being serious, she wasn't one to go chasing after anyone. If they seriously cared they made an effort to be in her life.
Standing at the fencing his next answer caught her guard a little. She didn't expect him to stay in Washington, he hadn't stayed long the last time unlike her, he didn't have all the connections that tied her to this state. Family, pack obligations, school at the moment all kept her here. She just watched him as he spoke, taking in every word like she was trying to commit it to memory like she needed to one day need it to pass a quiz. She just stood so still, she wanted this to know him more deeply. She felt as though she understood more,how he might see himself looking in the mirror than seeing a still photograph. Another dimension to him which she knew would connect them even deeper: his words tied little knots in the stitches of her heart. "Life has a strange way of putting the people who need each other the most together. School..will one day be done for us both so we can leave it all behind."
As he began to reveal more, all her problems seemed small compared to him. She envied people, sometimes wishing she had grown up with mother but sometimes family dynamics didn't always make sense to her because of it. She had grown up living a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle, he was well traveled and came from money. She almost regretted asking him her questions, almost now feeling as if she was too inferior to wish for anything more with him. " I really can't even understand what that would be like, life with accomplished parents, expensive cars and fancy clubs. You don't seem the type, I'm not judging you I just…it's just different from how I see you. You're so down to earth, like you don't really care what most people think of you. I don't think you should either. You're perfect the way you are, don't change too much when you are gone, okay." She just stared at her feet for a moment. It was nice to finally know how Cloud had met him and how he thought he knew Catcher better. Tash knew it wasn't knowing him better it was knowing better but him differently. It was just another part of his life tapestry, with every moment she spent with him more would be revealed like she was wiping away the dust to see a bigger picture. She peeked through gaps in the fence to see the gentle giants heading towards them. They were even bigger than she thought they would be but the way they walked across the grass was almost silent so that their moment didn't interfere with their conversation. "Cloud is destined for bigger things, he is a good musician. Don't tell him I said that though he will think I like him or something." She and Cloud had a weird friendship, to Tash he was just like one of the guys from Sam's pack. They teased each other and bantered back and forth. She had no bad blood for Cloud she just envied his and Feather's freedom sometimes never really being tied down anywhere. She couldn't see a future like that for herself.
Seth hadn't even known about his parents or the reason why he came back Tash felt honored to be someone he was willing to be so open with. "I'm glad you did come back, even if just to get away to do something for yourself.I think you deserve a world of your own design not one someone pick for you. I want you to always remember your are special Babe, don't put up with anyone's bullshit.' She was serous she wanted to see him happy by this own making and not depend on anyone else for it,even if it included her losing him. Tash knew she wasn't always apart of his life plan and she wouldn't be the thing that messes it up for him. She aways love him even if his life took him in a direction where she wasn't with him anymore. Instead of getting emotional again she decided to joke to hide her melocolly" Remember though if someone is really unbearable just phase and eat them." She was only joking, but she thought it would be very amusing to see someone pass out like Raf did when he first saw Veronica.
She jumped when the giraffe head popped between both of them as he wanted the snacks they had to offer. She didn't know why they liked their big goofy faces so much. It might just have been their big floppy lips or their giant glossy black eyes, or just the way they seem happy all the time. She listened to Catcher laugh and took out a handful of greens for him standing up into her tiptoes held in out to the giraffe and its long purple tongue slipped out of his mouth and licked at her fingers. She screamed slightly out of excitement and a little fear worrying if it might bite her fingers. When the handful of greens were gone it began to try and lock her hair she ducked and swerved to avoid it. "Give it more before it eats me."
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 14, 2021 2:58:50 GMT -5
Deep down he knew she would never come looking for him, even if school would be over in time, more things would pull at them from all directions, especially towards her. It was all up to him, always and forever and he wondered to what end they could rest in a future they couldn’t see. Until then, he would smile and hide that he believed these would probably be the only years they could be happiest. He looked at her blankly like she was out of her mind, unable to comprehend what he just heard. They had just broken the law to spend time together, and though she couldn’t share in his musings, it was evident to everyone who was sick of him always prioritizing her that he was isolating from them in order to buy extended minutes with her.”You don’t think I would?” It made him rushed, urgent that they should just get in a car and go. This rashness, he was going to have to contain for several months and now it was irking him like a jitter that he couldn’t just toss a bag of her stuff into a car and hit the open road. Throttle down a desert highway like route sixty-six. Catcher had to convince himself that it didn’t matter what she worried, she would likely always doubt their ability to withstand couple problems but she would be shown what it really was when the time came. ”It’s a bit longer than that, but stopping anywhere along the way is the best part.”
His coast to coast achievement had already been unlocked but she would never know how much better it would be with her than it had been without her. In all those hours cruising they would go through all the terrains, changing at every state border like they were traveling on a fantasy world map. What seems like an anxious drag would transform into an exciting dream. He remembered seeing campers, vans and every traveler’s activity out in the expanse; they could stop and stay anywhere. ”I’ll be there when school ends for you. Don’t forget.” By then leaves would be shades of red, Autumn would have crept up waiting for Winter but he wouldn’t throw this away; they would have the holidays too.
They could watch the horizon, reach the cities that meet the sea and touch the mountains that met the clouds. Drive through the mists in the Appalachians to a new world. He had marveled at the nature with an endless playlist, windows down to feel the ageless wind. Something would kick in; an exhilarating ride in his bloodstream. Instead of an empty seat, he would see her live out an adventure; find a life changing happiness in the journey. They would wake under the sunshine on a perfect day and sleep when it was ending, beneath the vastest of black skies, everything in the galaxy closer than imaginable. They would have every day discovering something brand new.
”You can tell the others but keep the road trip between us.” He winked at her, a slanting smile emerging as he let eagerness define him, fishing his hand into their bag, unwrapping something within; he wasn’t going to describe to her what would happen if everyone wanted to carpool and make an entourage but he figured she understood why it should be a secret. Each place had its own flair, and he could smell the air now just thinking about how nice it would be to get her out of there. Sitting in the car might become his favourite place to be, he wouldn’t be alone running red lights, and they would be wild and free.”They can figure their way themselves.” The thin white plastic tube he held and stuck into his mouth was a flat lollipop that clicked with his teeth as he bit it to hold it in place, grinning broadly at her, sucking on it so it flicked as he shrugged.
He could hear the notes in her voice weaken and her reaction to his biography became modest, seeing her look down almost lost. Tilting his head, he felt selfish for letting her know things in the way he did, not really considering how she would take it so he placed both hands on her shoulders lightly, trying to meet her eye line. ”I’m gonna say this again, just forget about it. It’s not like all those things are mine, they belong to my parents. I am who you know me as.”They just made it somehow; it hadn’t always been lavish and grand but their home was a ghost town since the beginning. Watching her as he affirmed his sentiments, he took both her hands instead as though she was a moping little girl over dropped ice cream, gently enticing her to neglect what made her uneasy. He couldn’t tell what bothered her but assumed it was that he seemed to have two lives, one that set up a force field between them. ”I do care what some people think of me…“ When she called him perfect, he was flattered but vehemently sure she was wrong; in his humility he didn’t know what to say to it and pretended that never left her lips, removing his hands and himself from the equation, blushing clumsily.
”He thinks everyone likes him anyway and they do… but I’m not gonna tell him…” Pulling out the sweet, he had opened his mouth and almost silently laughed, incredulous that she didn’t realize that even if Cloud knew she didn’t like him, the others certainly thought she did especially Veronica, even he felt the chemistry. Partially joking, he just dismissed it the way she wanted him to. The world would know his name, Cloud would be famous but he didn’t need that manic ego fed right then, he already had enough encouragement but Catcher would hold off so that when Natasha would tell him in person, it would mean something.
He caught his breath as a beat skipped his pulse and slowly fed himself the transparent red lollipop, as doe eyed as bambi, files of thoughts flying and the computer in his brain malfunctioning every time she called him babe. She toppled that trance when she humoured him with what wolves could do and he skimmed the look on her face to see if she was really making fun of the Rafael situation. ”If you’d told me that sooner, I’d have eaten a whole Hawaiian snack as you all think he is.”He exaggerated with the way he spoke, but truly was retelling all he ever seemed to hear about Rafael. He hadn’t told her about the date that sank like Atlantis but now everyone knew the human had seen the act of phasing, made aware of their existence as well as Claude’s true vampiric form so he guessed she had gathered everything straight from the other sources who had been there.
The giraffe tongue slimed her, and she let out a girly yelp as her hair frizzled from the animal’s contact. It caused him to almost drop the pop that turned into a hollow flavoured stick he was twirling and chewing on out of his mouth. ”It’s gonna eat everything…” He waved another leafy plant as he moved away from her walking backwards so the neck wouldn’t have as ample room to agilely thieve the vegetables from them, distancing the glutton head.”Save those for the tortoise if you want.” Tossing the bag over to her with the last stems, he held the organic cluster bait out so the giraffe would wrap its purple tongue and take it from him, forgetting her temporarily, crunching hungrily and brushing his hand with the wet muscle that made him clammy. Weird didn’t cut the feeling of that purple feeler and he wiped the back of his fingers on the side of his jeans thoroughly, not taking his eyes off the gobbling hairy face. ”If you give the rest, move away after.” She looked like she had touched a tesla coil, static defying gravity in fluffs on the crown of her head because of the whiskered mouth trying to eat her and he walked back over, picking a few strands and smoothing it a little. ”I think it’s had enough though…”
Just as he said that, the animal straightened its immense neck and observed them from high above, the little ‘horns' and silhouette so comical. Its head so small for its body, was crushing what was left in its jaws as it moved along the boundary eyeing her and the bag, not giving up yet. Mirroring, he took a few steps to follow and just let the giraffe give them a short tour of its manmade habitat, displaying its pattern and full strides until it reached the end, still hopeful for the rest of their feed in her arms.
Last Edit: Aug 14, 2021 3:01:35 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 15, 2021 9:52:38 GMT -5
Dashing away from the fence quickly, so that the giraffe couldn't reach the remainder of the vegetables she didn't realize she forgot to tie up her boots. She stepped on one laces causing herself to tumble over and fall on her butt. She sat on the ground laughing. She thought she was over this clumsy thing,but sometimes when her mind was occupied by more important things, she became a little less graceful. Right now her mind was occupied with thinking about the future and how she could get the word in her mind to push past her lips tonight, but like monsters in the day they were fighting to keep hidden inside. She wanted to tell Catcher how she wished the future could be now,how she couldn't wait to travel down endless roads with his hand in hers watching the scenery fly by as the cool air blew through deciding on their hairstyle. This thought would help get her though the months departed. She wouldn't be alone Daniella was there as her new partner in crime, Evan would be whatever she needed him for and her other friends were just a few hours away. She wished she could be the moon so she could always be close to him and hold him in her light but all she was a little closed off wolf girl trying to find a way to make sense of what her heart wanted.
Pulling her black laces tight she tied them so they were both secure and wouldn't come loose again." Just when I thought I was so graceful tonight I go and do this." She didn't get up instead, she laid down flat with her arms at her sides looking up at the stars. The sky looked so bright without the lights of the city disturbing its darkness. She turned her head and looked up at Catcher, " Why would you think I tell anyone we were going on a road trip? Not when I'll have to make up at the second we spend apart. You not being in Washington is going to be impossible for me to come see you on a weekend." Her eyes moved off him, and she looked back to the twinking sky above."You caught me all up in these future plans. You're like my own personal dreamcatcher instead of keeping the bad dreams away. You're making me look forward to the future." She used to hold on so much to the past, unable to see a future for herself. Now with Catcher in her life she could see herself doing more, seeing more of the world then the one that was designed for her. She knew if he made a promise with her he wouldn't break it. He had a way of making her feel that she was important, like she mattered for so long she had felt like she didn't.
Tash sat up and leaned back on her hands in a reclined position. Pulling out her ponytail,. She shook out her hair letting it fall naturally into position. "If we can't send ourselves across the country I'll send you letters, or maybe just a little stick drawing." She smiled up at Catcher her doodles wouldn't be get but she knew he would find them amusing. Tash used to love to draw but that had been something she also stopped doing over the time. She was so out of practice they might even be a chore to draw. "In a way you can see what is going on in my head. One day in the future when we can run free maybe I will even let you hear my thoughts." He didn't phase often. For him it wasn't something he enjoyed much, for her it was the opposite; she felt freedom in phasing now. After keeping her wolf trapped in so long, and finally allowing that part to be free she dropped some of the anger she had held in for so long. It was the hangover morning that helped her notice that her anger had changed her from who she used to be. If she just was a little nicer maybe she and Candi wouldn't have started off on the wrong foot. Since then she gets out every once and a while just to burn off steam.
She finally got back up to her feet and brought whatever she had left over in the bag of vegetables with her. She tucked the little pieces of hair that fell in front of her face behind her ears, she moved so close to Catcher she could feel his breath on her. She had words in her that were almost poetry and she let them flow out of her hoping they made as much sense to him as they did to her " You saw me at my worst, and I am still afraid to let you in but you have to give me time to calm the storm in my head." She blinked, locking her brown eyes on his and picked up his hand and squeezed it tightly trying to commit to memory what they felt like when he wasn't with her anymore."When you're with me I can see past the clouds and I need to learn how to do that myself when you're not around. You could write me letters too and help me chase the rain away but just having you in my life I've seen the light shine better everyday. One day soon when there's no more gray, I let you see what I think about instead of the pain and loneliness that used to occupy my brain." She knew she probably sounded stupid,she really just should have turned it into a song and sang it too him it would have sounded better presented with a meoldy instead of on its own. She screwed her face up trying to make light of the whole thing."Ugh forget that I said all that, it sounds too much like a cheesy love song." She let go of his hands. "On second thought maybe I should take up the offer on writing songs with Cloud. If I can string words that well together without thinking I could probably make millions." Kicking the ground she laughed awaquardly She stepped away she didn't have to see the tortoise anymore but didn't want time to keep moving if it could stand still forever she never need anymore then what she had right now.
Last Edit: Aug 15, 2021 17:09:27 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 16, 2021 5:14:01 GMT -5
Almost a freeze frame, watching her fall down gave him a start. She had wobbled so quickly and he was about to ask her if she was alright when she fell, laughing at herself and talking about how ungraceful it was. As she suddenly laid down flat, looking up then past him to the starry sky, he turned his head to see what she was viewing and it was nothing short of a spectacular vision.”You...made a mistake?" Kneeling down beside her, he shook his head simply and told her the truth, smiling lightheartedly; he had never seen her make a physical mistake and the hangover didn't count."It’s cute.”
They basked in the starlight for a while before she sat up and he glimpsed her shake out her hair from the corner of his eye, taking that she was letting loose. ”You know what happens when Cloud or Seth find out… We’ll be on our way before I tell them we’re going to Disney.” Explaining, he was pointing out that one of them was bound to let slip and it wasn’t bad, it was just that they were both defenseless against the expected excitement of their friends. He was never great at denying Cloud or Seth, and it seemed almost unfair not to invite them, so they should albeit calculatedly. ”They’ll get excited, tell everyone… probably make it a race.” There were familiar excuses and predictable situations that would arise and he just thought to himself how unbelievable it was that he had such great friends who loved obstructing him from getting in too deep with her to no avail.
”It’s funny you say that…” His eyes were glimmering at hers like she knew something she shouldn’t; when she looked up to the sky once more, he did so too in time to see an airplane’s lights flashing across. The way she described it was making an eponym of his name and he took a pause to study her, swiping his hair along the sides with both hands to flatten it so it was more level. Deciding she was a clever little panda, he pensively rested his chin in his hand trying to remember what he would have said years ago when he had thought things through; now he was so immersed he was forgetting. ”The reason Cloud laughs at me by calling me Rêve is because it means dream. It's also the origin of Catcher Reeves. It is my name. Instead of using my father’s surname, I sorta flipped it.” He pursed his lips into a tight line and relaxed the hand in a gesture like there was nothing more to it all, big eyed and looking away with bated breath at her reaction.
” So… Miss Natasha Black...” Catcher shut off his overthinking and apprehensions to take her hand and bring it close to him, making himself reintroduce himself more appropriately than he had ever done with anyone he met there, despite not kissing it. Just this once and he would be back to exactly who she was used to. It was unearthly to pronounce the words but he said them as regularly as possible, wondering why it was so strenuous, his gut already aware; it was because he couldn’t stop caring what she thought as he did with every single thing he did or said to her and this wasn’t something he could alter once it was given. A piece of history was being written, something he had avoided for as long as he could in this town. Sighing, his voice was as sincere as it was charming but his gaze fell on the back of her hand, the slender fingers clasped in his and he covered it with his other, lowering hers in a dedicated hold until it was gently back where it had supported her. ”As Rêve de Saint-Clair, it’s been an honour to remake your acquaintance.”It was executioner style, he was killing himself; he was just 'St.Clair' before he showed up here, a whole other chapter she might read in his head one day. Managing a faint smile, he appeared almost faded, giddy with relief and suspense it was out, ready to be another buried bygone before standing up again acting his way out of his insecurities as usual.
Tucking his hands in the pockets of his jacket was in its own way, a hugging comfort for himself and he perked up with an almost cheery tone when she mentioned stick drawings. ”They let us have care packages… just don’t send food, they’ll make me eat it all at once.” He looked at her amused that he couldn’t imagine her writing letters to him every week, but mentioned that for fun; listening to her say she would send him his beloved stick characters made him almost look forward to being away. Mail days were the ones everyone awaited even if they had downtime with personal devices and he would try to communicate, unable to know if she’d ever be available. Once his letters were out of his hands, they were wherever the cadre wanted them to be. He couldn’t express to her that her doodles were not only reminders of their everyday selves, but easily the clearest depiction of what she saw because she always nailed the faces; it brightened his mood. Each one, he kept like a collage.”You can’t keep me out of your thoughts even if you tried.” Because if they phased together he would make the most of it, he teased her; that included having a whole superhuman, transcendent experience of penetrating her mind which had been so impossibly barred from him.
Then as if the universe blessed upon him, he smelt the scented heat radiating from her, felt the whisper of her words against his skin. She recited what she felt so close to him as she got up and walked over, a moment to die for. There had been only one other person in his life who wrote him lyrics and what she was intimately conveying was expelling the place that had held in his heart. It was as though she targeted his soft spot and when she started visibly trying to undersell everything, tossing his hands and scrunching up her expressions, he held her face making her quit being so flustered. ”I will write you, every day... Even if you don’t get them…”
Drawing a deep breath, he touched his forehead to hers, closing his eyes and speaking to her peacefully. ”Songs are supposed to speak from within. It’s why we can’t live without them.” He wanted to tell her he would wait for her, but it wouldn’t come out. Time did not heal all wounds but she needed that possibility and he surrendered to her explanations, relying on what was between the lines. Letting him in or showing her things did not have anything to do with falling in love; if the feeling flowed both ways, it would be sad to see them go."When that day comes, don't hold back." There was no longer a point to fight it; there was no being on one knee, no waiting for an invitation from a lover with pleas. He could only believe she would never fully give up on him while she embarked on self-healing, that it would never be too late for her to walk in his direction someday. But even the sun sets in paradise. Taking a step back, he still caressed her face but they were arm’s length and he judged her before letting go. Forgetting what she said was never happening, it was no proclamation of love but it was still better than anything he had heard her say to Quil and vice versa. It had promise, no finality; it kept them alive. ”You’re vying for that cheesy top spot but I regret to inform you, it’s been taken.” It was pretty clear who the winner of that competition was and it wasn’t up for grabs anytime soon; speaking so formally, he had quipped. ”You know, Cloud’s a rapper for starters... so he better be good at saying things without thinking.” He changed his sound but his whole thing is about relaying as much of his thoughts and feelings as possible so if she wanted to win a rap battle, there was no one better around to practice with. ”But if I come back and you’re twerking in some video, I might kill him.”There was no way she would do that, not new Tash or old Tash, he thought but then again, he never understood why that seemed to magically happen with all new age female rappers and he just made a face.
As she laughed awkwardly, he put an arm around her and manipulated her to walk with him aimlessly. There was a passage hallway that diverted from the open road and he chose it. Dark with only LEDs that lined what seemed to be glass encasements flanking the underpass walkway with exotic fish; it was like entering a cave through a corridor lit up by massive amounts of ripple reflections that shone on the paved ground. His arm slid off her, and he stepped ahead slightly, not breaking for the little exhibits along the sides, his eyes wandering until he was fully in the fish bowl effect of the prime spot of aquarium. They were just tiny people facing a glass divide that cut through the ocean wonders as though they were in hundreds of feet to the sunken depths of an imagined underwater world. A submarine’s point of view, he watched from the window to see the immense kelp forest billowing with a false current, fish of all sizes mingling until the shark rounded its patrol, dead eyed. Their human frames were illuminated by the flickering waves of light blue glow, produced from the pure navy space they were staring into. It was nothing short of mesmerizing and meditative; he turned to her, a glowing renegade in the ethereal deep sea. While their candle still burned, he was taking so much to heart he knew he had been building different thrills to avoid this one fizzling out and he had to ask in case he would never put out the flame.
”I just need to know…” In his eyes she was going to run until she couldn’t anymore. It was going to hurt with their hearts on the floor and all he wanted was them to be able to touch the light of the morning together. He could feel her heart rest upon her soul, but just because she couldn’t have the world see her like that, she could let him and all wouldn’t matter. In time he may never be there for it; in time it might be someone else for her. Was she going to play this part until there were no tears to dry because he was actually no different? Did she want to stay in the place where she started instead of taking his hand, never letting go even if their path slowed her down. They were too young to play dead and right then they didn’t have to keep their pretty mouths shut; already choking on his pride, there was no use crying about it. ”Don't you ever want to fall in love again?”
Last Edit: Aug 18, 2021 1:51:03 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 17, 2021 8:52:42 GMT -5
The way he mentioned Seth and Cloud, she could almost picture them trying to chase the car down the road just to jump in the backseat just to join Catcher on the journey. They would be a bit disappointed they couldn't ride with him but they could always carpool together to get Seth to pull a camper behind his truck. "Will just tell them we're leaving together around ten and just head about with the sunrise. They might be a little mad but they won't stay mad at you for long, you're like everyone's best friend." He may have not found it true but she never really met anyone who actually disliked Catcher. It always seemed everyone he met made feel special in some way. She admired him for that, under his leather armor he had a heart made of gold, she knew not everyone would see it but it shone as bright as the sun if you took the time to really get to know him.
She almost regretted calling him her dreamcatcher but it seemed to spark a thought within him as he began to talk about Cloud and how he called him Rêve and how it meant dream it made to her nod. "Oui...Je parle un peu français. I know what it meant.. I don't know if you had to change it. Unless you are in the witness protection program." She laughed making light of the situation, joking instead of judging. Names were never really important to her, parents usually held more meaning in names as they passed it onto their children like a legacy.
Catcher had taken her hand into his. He has called her by full name,when he did she felt the butterflies flying around in her stomach,he added miss in front so formal. Was she right where they butterflies or was it just anxiousness? It had seemed like an eternity since she had felt about how when you loved and made you feel,when someone who truly cares for you. She stared back at him waiting to hear his next words,hoping what he was going to say wasn't a game changer. When he finally introduced himself she smiled "Well Mister Catcher Rêve de Saint-Clair,the pleasure is all mine." She was happy it wasn't like he was a different person just because of his name. She watched him stand up and move.He was still Catcher,the leather jacket wearing motorcycle riding boy who stole the heart of many girls at school. Now he was a man, who held hers. She would have ripped it out and given it to him, but she still needed it herself, she had lost completely once. Catcher helped her find it again,she was just too scared to hand it over right now.
Care packages were a better idea than just a few little stick people drawn on a piece of paper, she could send anything she knew he probably would do things a little more easier to get through their time apart."Okay I promise no food but I can't promise you to get things you forgot you might need or that I won't send you little random momentos." She would send him little things as reminders of their time together; she didn't want to be left behind again.Thats why she stood up and let her words spill out like lyrics speaking her truth. Hearing he would write her letters too was such a beautiful sentiment. The art of writing had seemed to have died with the invention of emails but she was still a romantic, she loved hearing stories about bundles of letters people kept safe for decades as they gave them a glimpse into a time that will never be again. She would cherish Catcher’s just the same.
She felt his forehead on hers,his words about herself made her feel less dorky, she thought they were some of the worst words she ever strung together and here he was standing with her being so sweet and gentle. He was so good, she wanted to heal so she wouldn't dampen his light with her darkness. Everyday she felt a little less scared of living her future."I won't, that one day will come soon." Tonight was making it so difficult for her not just to come out and tell him how she felt but this time she wanted a foundation one as strong as steel and concrete and she crumbled without it.
Tash's mind drifted off her own thoughts, she knew if there was a competition of the cheesiest lines ever spoken Rafeal would have won hand's down. It was like every time that man spoke to Veronica he had his own cow to make an endless supply of it. Though it was very ridiculous, at least he was trying to show how he liked her one day his presostants might pay off. "I almost want to make him a trophy for all his hard work." One with a mouse overgrown muscles hoisting a giant block of cheese over its head like a bodybuilder. It would probably make the funniest Christmas present. "Oh I know he is a rapper, but anyone can spit lyrics without thinking, they might not always be good but he is talented so he could write a good love song if he tried." She rolled her eyes had he mentioned twerking, she be the last you see dancing in any video she barely liked her picture taken yet alone video footage that probably last forever. " For sure you see me all over the world shaking my ass for attention," she shoved him playfully before he placed an arm around her and began to be guided in a direction of Catcher’s choosing.
She wasn't sure where they were going but where they were going but where they ended up was like an underwater city, tanks full of fish surrounded them like they were the only human occupants of Atlantis. She hadn never seen so much water held within man-made acrylic boxes. It almost made her feel bad for the creatures but at this point they probably thought they were still living free in the ocean. Everything with the watery cases look very magically recreated making the atmosphere feel like you were one of the creatures who lived there. His words cut through the silence, like a knife they felt so sharp though what he was asking wasn't something dangerous, he deserved to know his feelings and her thoughts. She was trying to show him all night how she felt but she just wanted to see if he would notice. She felt she couldn't let him know how much she wanted him to be hers, if she did it might ruin everything. She wished she just found the confidence within herself to let herself be free.
Moving his arm off her shoulder, she moved closer to one of the tanks. She put a finger to the glass and began to drag her finger along the glass, writing out a few words with her finger tips. "Well I guess you ask that at some point."She might be not really able to say her words but she could spell them out. She let her fingers traced out the words yes beside that she drew a little heart and she finished off with a little u beside the heart. When she was done she stood in front of the glass and blew warm air onto the shiny flat surface so she could remember where she had just stood. Grabbing Catcher's hand she pulled him over to where invisible words had been left on the glass. She blew on the glass reviewing her little message. Instead of showing him the whole message she just only let him see the YES. The rest she knew she was the only one to know it was every there. She pulled him close, pressing her face into his chest. She could feel the leather beneath her fingers hear his heart beating in his chest . it came out unexpected like a little whisper of thought it escaped her mouth."I might have already fallen."
Last Edit: Aug 18, 2021 11:23:56 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 18, 2021 6:54:09 GMT -5
All of the things she said made him smile contently to himself, entertained by her jokes and light comments that were evidently to break the ice of his confessions.
As she talked about the proper things he might need or forget to bring, he reminisced the protective side of her, the ever practical, responsible person she was; the borderline sister he had forcibly labeled her as previously. Whatever she sent or didn’t send, he was just happy she even thought about it; that was all that counted, he didn’t need a materialized care, he just hoped to hear her joyful voice if he called. He had been surprised by her indication the day he was waiting for would come soon, as if a cage full of birds had flown free but he said nothing; too early to rejoice, too late to have much faith. It might have prompted every unrestrained thought he could have to cross him but he realised it also caused him to begin missing the ghost of her as he had done when they stopped talking. That ghost was waltzing in his house, she was the only version of her he could keep, the only one no one else could see or take and the comfort he found when he didn’t have the humility to re approach her like he did tonight.
Her sarcasm infected him and he laughed at the notion of Rafael being presented a trophy for his efforts in wooing Veronica. Nodding sporadically in wonderment and bemusement, staring at her, he was agreeing and curious to what that might look like but asking her would ruin it; unaware of her plan he could be part of the reaction everyone would have if they awarded the big man. She could have written an equally brilliant love song with what she had said to him, he thought as she complimented Cloud’s abilities but he wouldn’t be able to convince her, he would just believe in her. He hadn’t been remotely baffled by the fact she understood French but it was another thing to hear it and he blushed a rosy hue as she answered admirably. Usually, the foolishness in life came from his end, not hers and he relented that she would never be twerking no matter how under the influence Claude’s banana pills and Cloud’s dare games could push her and his eyelids fluttered in flirtation as she had shoved him, enjoying her girlish playfulness. It gave him love as he reveled in her schoolgirl behaviour with his schoolboy crush.
Not a speck of dust was on the transparent divide, a solid piece of sound proof barrier from the ground to an infinite ceiling, he watched schools of colourful fish circle as larger predators dashed out to break that cycle. An artificial shipwreck decorated the scenery and from the broken debris an eel would slink out as the shark stalked the perimeter, emotionlessly repetitive in the silence.
In denial, what she said meant an array of things but he knew what it truly was. There was nothing to be afraid of but everything to lose; nothing would ever change them even when some things were irreversible after tonight. If having no regrets was all she wanted; it was all he wanted. The night had fallen; shrouding him, emboldened that everything they ever dreamed of could happen and then disappear when day rose. They would still awaken without each other but he could make it better, hold her tighter and it would be nothing but right. She was there for him, a reason to survive and he was there for her until he’d lose his mind.
He moved as she had beckoned him, dropping whatever he held, swiftly yet slowly towards the pristine glass. The word revealed itself in a mist of steam as she blew and he watched as it appeared to fade cloudily inching in from the outer border so it would disappear forever. His hand reached to touch it in a trace, the dampness at his fingertips before it was gone, slivers of drying fingerprint smudging through what she had written. All of him wanted all of her but he felt far away and unable to choose what he felt was squeezing his heart, suffocating his breath. She had been untamable but it was fate. It was all worth it to show her even if he couldn’t say love. As something devilish and fearless possessed him, flashes of white light splattered across the distant opening where they entered. The individual columns that built the structured walkway connecting to the window, they were now glimpsing the mermaid kingdom in, illuminated like a torched roman temple. They had strolled down without a care in the darkness but the echoes of grumbling claps of thunder depicted a fatalistic allure, ancient and as mystical as the Atlantis behind them, and he saw right through her as she whispered.
As the storm clouds would part to reveal the dancing moonlight, he made a promise to her without words. It was over for them before they could begin, after this everlasting kiss if he could just have it. He had held her, brushing her face until he was holding it amorously as she lay against his chest. Nothing felt better than this as her hair scrunched and curled in his grasp, an affectionate mess. The pressure tugging as his hand reached the back of her head turned her face up, leaning back to see her eyes long enough what he saw in them was a chaser shot of adoration. Then he kissed her like he had never kissed her before.
He had seen her shine in the dark like the gem she was and they didn’t have to hide when nobody was around. Her lips set off the explosion of fireworks he had imagined a thousand times. It opened everything within him like treasure, jewels glimmering brighter than all the eye could see. The brighter they shone the larger the shadow they cast but he gave in to taste her, pressing her against the cold glass wall. He was a flame, and she was a fire; they would strike like firestones no matter how much he tried to stop it, for this time they would light up the world together.
Tireless, he felt the yearning for time to stand still, a conquest he could not overcome then or now. This kiss he had waited years for, gripped her and in that instant she gave him an answer, she was the only one in the entire world for him. They were the only ones to exist in their universe, planets in eternal orbit; the black and empty hole that was his hopefulness pulling them in, he would never escape her. She was unlike anyone he had ever met. It unlocked a force greater than annihilation; it breathed him life after the repeated death that was uncertainty. Crippled by what he knew would be a bleeding love, he kissed her as though he was drowning and she was air itself.
When he broke from her, they were still so close his lips were halfway there; the warmth of her breath sweet and still inviting. It was a poison masked with the deceitful flavor of a cure, numbing and rapidly exhilarating his pulse. She was the heat of a thousand suns, the radiance like gold in daylight. He had wished this moment to life, eyes half open, breathing as his senses checked he wasn’t helpless in an imagination. The scent of her perfume hypnotic, nearly silencing the thoughts reviving him, as he let go of the most sensual feeling he had in touching her. He had been starving in the weeks leading up to this, almost as uncontrollable as the amount of distractions he had used to curb it; this was a different wolf in him. It was an awakening for all his senses, and a deadening to his reality, not wanting to listen to the stabbing that was patience and fighting the quivering that was passion, he still had no remorse for what he wanted to do to her and what he did. The collision of their bodies had been a song of ice and fire.
Backing a few paces to distance himself, he gazed at her, desires melding with angst, the space between closing off the intensity of all he wanted from her, encasing the devotion that seemed too raw to be given. If he didn’t move, he would have kissed her again, knowing he would make a string of errors from there on. She would shield herself again and he would face rejection once more. He was the opposite of protecting her heart, his own was beating invisible in his hand and he reached into his back pocket to pull out her necklace. He held it delicately, the chain dropping the locket out of his palm so it spun as he looked at it solemnly before unclasping it and putting it around her neck, lingering as he laid it where it belonged.
”I should take you back…” It was the only thought that could extinguish him. Even if he took her back, he didn’t want to leave her there. He wanted to fill their days with endless wonder, retake their childhood in his stride as she slept the summer by his side. Even if it rained it wasn’t a storm he couldn’t weather but he was on his own. As the thunder sounded and the lightning split the starlit sky, the pavement would soon shine like silver; all the lights along the way would be misty in a river. He couldn’t admit to anyone if they couldn’t result in something, he was falling in love with her in a garden of roses and everyday he was learning but when the night was gone, so was she. If he couldn't have her, that truth would never see the sun. Their worlds would go on turning, only his without the happiness she could find in hers.
Last Edit: Aug 21, 2021 2:15:35 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 19, 2021 7:22:10 GMT -5
She couldn't believe she let them slip past her lips and out into the universe. Those few words had the power to change so much. She wanted to hold them in longer but losing him forever would be her biggest regret in life. She just pressed her face against his chest if he just hadn't asked she wouldn't have answered. Falling in love the way she had the first time was a complicated mess. Last time her heart had been guided by fate, This time it was guided by her own feelings, no supernatural pull to tell her who she should be with. What happened with Catcher was different,this time everything was her choice and she was guarded,confession of love should have been avoided even more since soon they would be departing. She was about to say something, possibly apologizing for letting the words free but she felt his hand pull her chin up to face him. She looked into his eyes trying to say sorry but instead his lips crashed into hers.
It wasn't their first kiss, she had stolen many before but this kiss meant the most. It was changing her world, the whole meaning for existing before didn't matter. It was nothing else that mattered to her but Catcher in this moment. She felt his body against her pushing her up against the cool glass and her heart beating faster with every second. His lips were like the drug she craved. She never would be able to give him up.She wanted this to be her forever, never wanting this moment to end. She pulled herself up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arm around his neck running her fingers though the back of his hair. She knew that everything good had to end and he pulled away. She was still very close and she let out a very quiet "Catch..that was...I shouldn't have said anything." Tash didn't want to do this before he left; she didn't want him to feel the pain parting might cause them again.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out her necklace, she thought she had lost and she was glad to have it back. It once belonged to her mother and she had gotten it for a gift for her sixteenth birthday. She still as he placed it around her neck and clasped it shut. "Where did you find it?" She picked up the chain and ran her fingers across the smooth pendant. She hadn't noticed till now but a storm was rolling in. She could hear the thunder rumbling in the distance and a flash of lighting lit the entrance of the tunnel almost signaling that it was time for them to get going. They were leaving this underwater world but it would forever be burnt into her memory, the place where she let her heart speak freely, a place that changed her reality. "You shouldn't...but we both know we can stay here forever." She grabbed the bag with the snacks but left whatever food that was for the animals behind, they wouldn't need. With his hand once more she drug her feet as lead him to the open of the tunnel. Taking all the time she could possibly take." You know it's just the weekend, I can sneak you in and you can sleep over. My bed is not that big but I'm sure will fit comfortably." She smiled as they walked out into the open air a few light raindrops fell and hit her in the face. Usually she would hate the rain but tonight she welcomed it. It was as the world was washing away all of her earlier reserves. She walked him back in the direction they came in,down the manmade path that helps shuttle people through the zoo. When he was gone she would miss him more than he'd actually know but she wouldn't tell him. She knew she would be fine,she had distractions and friends close by.He probably would have had a harder time being in a place that could be completely new to him. All she could hope was that he would be alright."I also understand you have to go to get stuff in order before you head to…?" She hadn't even asked him where he was headed if not Washington. Wherever he went it would be his new home until school was over or longer if he decided after. Wherever Catch was she'd make it through the days but at night dream of a world where only they exist."Will always have tonight, This has been the best day of my life.."
Last Edit: Aug 19, 2021 7:26:18 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 21, 2021 1:50:52 GMT -5
Their phenomenal hearing was a blessing and a curse. Although she seemed paranoid she had let slip part of how she felt, he assured her without too much of a reaction, neutralizing it with an almost heroic yet heart wrenching smile. Before she would blame herself, he tilted his head from side to side shrinkingly, shrugging in a slow roll of his shoulder; she had nothing to worry about, he wasn’t going to do anything with that information because she didn’t even want him to know. He couldn’t completely believe what he heard either and he felt like he was seeking escape but incapable of physically doing so; eating at himself in a loop like an ouroboros with its tail in its mouth.”It was behind some cushions on the couch.” It was an accident that she lost it but he let his memories stray to when she told him she often hid things behind the pillows on a sofa, in order to be less melancholic; it was as funny as her stashing shoes beneath them. They had so much he couldn’t forget and his safest bet was to somewhat disconnect.
He should have told her it wasn’t him who found it but if he had, everything would have played out badly. When it was brought to him, he had snatched it in surprise, saying nothing more than a thanks to Candela, unwilling to listen to her chastising him for pining after Natasha, keeping it on his person ever since; struggling in his disheveling state of mind during the last weeks, he had worn it constantly to avoid losing it. It was a strong reminder nagging him to see her again but now the important part was that what was hers had been returned; the necklace was cherished by its owner once more. It clearly meant a lot to her but he didn’t ask. He could see clearly that he grew attached to her things as much as he was to her and handing it over was like purging the pandemonium he was in every hour of every day until she had left her room with him.
”Everything I need is packed in three duffle bags. Everything else is waiting in Virginia.”She might realise he was leaving much sooner than he wanted to let on so he kept his statement brief but he didn't have as many things he could bring either, most were contraband, which would muddle her guess. His house would be taken care of and he relied on restraint to not talk about this with Natasha; nothing in his home life needed to be mentioned to her from there on out. They would be on opposite coasts and he hadn’t wanted to bother her about the time zone or geographical differences but he knew she would ask until he made sense to her. He didn’t fully want her to find him, in case she moved on; he wanted to be in control that it would look like they just drifted apart once more, instead of splitting up the way they were going to. It was a ‘don’t call until he calls’ situation and he wished he functioned differently. It was inevitable, he would bear with it until it manifested as a man staring back at him beside her, then he would stop chasing the dead.
She led the way back out begrudgingly and he was guilty of succumbing to emotions that cut short their escapade. ”You breaking the rules at your new school, we’ll see.” For some reason, he was often sarcastic towards her but it was probably an ‘opposites attract’ problem, yet he could see mirrors of himself in her that he didn’t see in anyone else. Catcher raised an eyebrow at her and chuckled while sighing, his skepticism a crutch; her willingness to do something reckless like that touched him. Even if he wasn’t planning on staying with her, no amount of sense in him wanted to refuse either; her offer fulfilled his need to find something that defined him as outstanding, significant or exceptional in her life. He hadn’t listened to anyone’s advice about her because he didn’t think they understood them when he hadn’t made heads or tails of things either, all he could hope to do was tear himself away before sunrise, have the courage to rip the band aid in the end. Trying to make up excuses when the offer was so appealing was in vain; even forming a negative hypothetical from her roommate’s point of view was unsuccessful; he just didn’t care about other people when he was adamant with what he wanted. He would have taken her home to his place but that fiasco was the wrong choice and a part of him felt that he should hand her over to a better chaperone like Daniella or even the watchful Evan.
They both trudged along the path and he looked at his hand she had taken, keeping up with her as a few spots of rain fell to the ground, dark round circles on the tarmac. The clouds were scarcely blowing by, fast twisting into shapes and the wind rustled the leaves on the trees they had passed, swirling cooling scents of the native plants. The sky was greying over the infinite black it had been, shading the stars so they glimmered only when the crackle of lightning sparked. What he was thinking was a step ahead of how he was feeling and when they made it to his bike, he wrapped up the bag of snacks that was smaller now and handed it to her, scraping the key into the hole as liquid trickled icily on the metal.
The air was thick with humidity; the wind was warmer and smelled like fresh soil. There were no other vehicles around them as they raced the weather; droplets landing on the side mirrors in small flecks and squiggling off in a trail of water, too slow in the speed they traveled. Cars were empty and lined the parking lot in front of her building in greater numbers than when they left; some students had returned and he could hear laughter and voices through the opened windows many stories above. Some were shutting the glass, the lights turning off and music fading with the thundering ambience, he observed as shadowy figures ran with purses or coats above their heads into the dorm.
The tires had been kicking up small sprays of water as they rode, but only when they stopped was it apparent that the rain got heavier. He sat on the bike and turned to look at her from the side with an urgent gaze that she should hurry inside, wordless in a farewell he wasn’t prepared for. But as time stood still, rain falling like tears from the sky on his face, water seeping through his hair slowed, trickling down like strands then hung, he yanked the keychain out and grabbed her by the wrist to run up the puddled marble stairs. Wet but not soaking, he changed his mind, knowing he would still disappear before the rain ends. When he clutched her, it wasn't much but it made him wonder what was in store for them and he let go of her like he had been burnt in the rush. As they stood beneath the shallow overhead barely sheltering them in front of the big electronic doors, he was about to hold out his hand for her keycard when a guy holding his hood over his face, shivered and slid his plastic card through the locking mechanism, drenching the carpet as he ran inside.
Glancing at the inappropriately parked motorcycle, he backed into the door maneuvering her inside swiftly, ringing his hands of wetness and pressing the elevator. He paused as the doors opened and finally acknowledged what she had said about the night. As soon as she had uttered that, he had wanted to hold her in compassion, she deserved so much more and he would’ve done anything for love but he couldn’t do that and disclaimed the gesture. ”The best day?” Pulling her in by a finger, he was jokingly scoffing at her, shadily smirking as he pretended to be appalled until other people entered the quiet lift. ”But I’ve only been around for the night...” He lowered his voice in the quiet, comical elevator music, whispering cheekily to her ear, his gaze flickering from her to the people who stood around them, unable to act like he belonged there, not halfway preppy enough. Every day that they had spent together alone had been better than the last, but in his quest to not be somber and downing the last few moments they shared, he didn’t dedicate any words that would profess his feelings anymore; trying to be helpful in lessening the blows to their forsaken relationship. It only took three months to make him crazy, and now their summer was as out of reach as winning her back in the winter. In his heart he knew the best day would be when she finally revealed for the world to hear, that she loved him.
With a loud ding, the doors cranked open and he latched onto her hand theatrically, compensating with smugness and walking out on her floor until they were at her address where he hesitated, sure he was making a mistake that would rewrite the stars. Beyond a few noises of utensils, water and people watching shows, it was silent; he stared at the door knob then down the hall where he had first arrived via the stairwell, and affixed his attention on the unlit slot beneath the door, the gap indicating no one was in the room. When they left, he noticed she was anxious about his presence and he cared about her fresh start even if it meant showing awareness he was a character people gossiped outrageously about everywhere he went, giving her a chance to really decide before the point of no return.”Are you sure?” He wasn’t entirely advocating against himself since he had been curious from the start when he stepped in there but this was passively placing the ball in her park; just another submissive thing he did even as he teased suggestively as if she had best hide her diary, reminding her he came with a warning label. ”I’ll see everything.”
Last Edit: Aug 21, 2021 2:31:40 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 21, 2021 17:23:35 GMT -5
Cushions, of course her precious trinket was hidden in the couch.it made her smile slightly knowing that it may not have been as lost as she thought it was. She just dashes it away like a raccoon. "Thank you for bringing it back." She wondered if this little piece of jewelry helped bring him back to her. She wanted to ask but seeing he had it with him tucked safely away it must have. She almost debated taking it off and slipping it into his jacket pocket but her necklace was almost like her own little comfort object, It had more value to her then being passed back and forth like a little piece of treasure.
"Vergina?" At this point it could have been Antarctica. It was so far away from Seattle it made her heart drop. She was no geographical genius but she knew it wasn't just a few hours drive away, it would take days by car and endless tanks full of gas. She'd need to get a job to even think of affording to get in a car to drive so far or even buy a plane ticket that might be more practical. She was going looking into on campus as soon as possible and if that didn't work then she maybe had to find something else. "Well, I'm sure I could.." She didn't finish the sentence and at times she couldn't do anything. Their division was enviable, It was some of the reason why she didn't want to let Catcher know how she felt to give high the take that feeling away like she had pulled a rug from underneath him. It made him feel bad. "Scratch that I don't know what I want to say. I just hope everything goes well in Virginia." Just saying the name of the state put a sour taste in her mouth and she would miss him a lot. Being so far away she would try to put a lot of thought into her care packages, Yash would have to make them extra special now.
Rule breaking or not she wanted more time with him and if that was going to land her in trouble she took every slap on the wrist gracefully. "I've been known to break a few different rules in my day and you're not going to wreck the place. What's the worst thing that is going to happen if someone finds us in bed together? We are grownups right.." She smiled hoping he would agree to say but knowing that he might just desire to leave after he dropped her off. It ate at her insides not knowing what would become of them, separations had a way of either causing the heart to grow fonder or destroy every bond that was ever built.
She kept looking back at Catcher, watching the wind tossell his hair around as she tried to tame her own with her so it would blow across her face to obscure her vision, but it never slowed them down as they made it back to where they had originally entered and snuck small opening the the fencing. Not wanting to get too wet she took the bag tucked into her jacket and held on tightly. She was a little terrified to be riding on a motorcycle in the rain as she had heard how dangerous it could be but as they moved through the streets she kept her eyes closed knowing her biker boy knew what he was doing. They lived in Washington and he rode in the raid all the time. The speed had decreased as they were pulling back into campus. The moment they arrived it seemed like the sky had open up, letting the rain fall heavier, for a second she almost thought he was wait for her to get off the bike so he could take off without any indication on a goodbye, she swallowed and as she did he pulled the keys out and she felt relieved. He quickly took her close, and her heart was beating hard again as they stood at.the door for a second thinking this might be their goodbye both a little wet by the rain standing outside her dorm. If this was to be goodbye she pushed him out into the rain and kissed him like the girl kissed her man in the notebook. It was such a romantic moment it had been put into her mind ever since she saw the movie.she didn't have to because he followed her inside.
Standing with him in the elevator she couldn't help but to play his game as he whispered in her ear softly she leaned her head over to whisper into his. "You saying you think you're the best thing that happened to me today?" She nipped his ear playfully. "That snickers was just..ummm" she started to laugh loudly but put her hand over her mouth quickly so she wouldn't disrupt the almost too quiet atmosphere in the elevator. With the ding of the elevator was pulled out from behind a few people as Catcher led her through the doors. Standing outside her room..she heard nothing but silence on the other side. Daniella hadn't returned yet so they would have sometime for themselves. She was a little thrown off by Catcher asking if she was sure if she wanted him there. She wouldn't have invited him up if she was concerned about what he would see behind her door. In a way she was glad to have him see where she was living right now. It gave him a glimpse into where she would be as she sat and wrote him letters. "Of course I'm sure, after tonight I should be letting you see a piece of me you may never have known before." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys, opening the door and letting him step in.
The walls were painted off white Daniella and she had plastered the walls with posters. Tash's side was more artwork, pictures of the ocean,forests, sunset, and space, where Daniella was covered with the newest hottest bands and movie stars. She loved rap music and Tash knew she probably would like Cloud. It would be hard to see Daniella flirty with her friend but it would probably be harlaious in the end. She has a corkboard where she had hung photos of home and all her family and friends. Near the foot of her bed, but other than her night stand was a photo of Catcher, she had taken candidly where he was leading against his bike wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of sunglasses. It had been pushed out of the way slightly by her laptop but it was still clearly visible. She didn't care if he saw it,it was always the last thing she looked at before falling asleep over the past few weeks apart. Now here he was in the flesh, thsr was always better than a picture.
She unzipped her red leather jacket and hung it up on a hook behind the door. The bag of leftover snacks was a little warm from being held in under it. She placed down what was left which was more just wine and the boozy bears. She grabbed a cup from the breakfast bar and poured out what she could of the bears into it pulling them out individually popping a few in her mouth. She offered the cup to Catcher and took a seat on her bed covered by a purple duvet. She tapped the bed beside where she was sitting encouraging him to sit down. "See nothing to hide or be embarrassed of."
Post by Catcher Reeves on Aug 22, 2021 7:23:35 GMT -5
Catcher didn’t feel like he deserved her thanks but he wasn’t going to make her take it back. Her energetic response to the location he would be in for the next few months staggered him; it was in her voice, the tone and she seemed to squirrel into her own head with some kind of panic. He just smiled to himself at her naivety and unnecessary stress; he had plans for her if she wanted to visit. There was a benefit to being versed in this form of academic life as his father had served; if he wanted her to bring herself, it would be only herself that she needed to ensure. He would front the leg work but so far he wanted to judge for himself if they could even keep their end of the bargain throughout the separation; while he couldn’t leave to see her, he had the option of inviting her to the military ball before holiday block leave. The other thing she didn’t need to know was that it happened shortly before his birthday and if it wasn’t for having an excuse to see her before he returned, he would skip the formal dinner event altogether. The reality was that he had more to worry about than she did if he wanted to be graced with her presence on the other side of the country. The mechanics of getting her there was just in his pocket, but being persuasive that way with someone as independent as her made him nervous.
”It will.” He confidently answered with all the knowledge he kept from her. It was intimidating to say things in person and he was quite certain ink would yield smoother results when the time came. Leaving him the option of just appearing in front of her the way he had done tonight, in case he decided not to put them through such a boring ordeal was some sort of backup; part of him thought it would be a shame to miss the ceremony as she would be the gorgeous envy of all other dates. Despite that being a booster to his ego, he also didn’t want subject himself to never living down the fact every guy he had to interact with there would obsess over her and bother him to no end that he failed to make her his girlfriend before arriving and after she meets everyone. There was no decent way to explain everything without breaking his pride and opening himself to stupid jokes or locker room talk.
He had eyed her with more than total skepticism as she said she broke rules and then added they were grown-ups; she might be a fully- fledged mothering adult but he was aging backwards, potentially a toddler when he let himself loose. The only salvation in that being he was an easy child. Drawn to her idea; it was both being in a comfortable bed with her close to him and the notion that slander and gossip in a lie only they knew the truth to, changed his motivation. To have kissed her one last time in the rain before clearing off, he was now here in the warmth of her private space. Back to the present, he had gasped inaudibly from her little trick in the elevator, their playful bantering side returning, which always stimulated happiness. He viewed her as an equal in sass when she did or said things like that, unsure if he was charmed by her because of this engaging intellectual thing they did. It always won him over, more so than any other flirtation even though he couldn’t get those instances out of his mind no matter how hard he tried; the coquettish eyes, the suggestive fingers, the ticklish nibbling and her candied kisses were scorched, burnt into his head as though there was supposed to be a moral to that story.
”It looks nice.” Regarding the room, his eyes scanned around at the posters and obvious separation in the décor, still somehow harmonizing as well as he could see Natasha getting along with her roommate. He should have been there to help her move in but she had taken that out of his hands and he drifted to the window, drawing the curtain to the side lightly to see the view she had. ”It’s good your room has a view.”Whoever living on the first two floors and facing the parking lot had the short end of the stick. Her perspective wasn’t into a barren zone, but the back of the building where it was lush greenery, trees that would change colours with the seasons and he was glad for her to feel nature from watching; it was her second home as a wolf stuck amongst humans. Seeing it would be a solace if she ever needed peace and quiet; a comfort no one else would be here to provide her. It soothed him to know she could dream of the wild even on campus.
Exploring, he was on the opposite side of the bed as she sat down, glimpsing a photograph behind her laptop at her nightstand, not trying to see himself frozen in another time. It brought a revelation that when she saw him next, his hair would be shorter than she had ever seen it; not entirely cropped but tidier and short enough it would be a shock to everyone who knew him. By impulse, he brushed the half damp and sticky waves cleanly out of his face, marveling at college surroundings he had never pictured in his life for a period before taking off his own jacket to hang it next to hers at the door. ”It’s finally fair now. I’ve seen your room, you’ve always seen mine.”Of course there was nothing embarrassing here, quite the difference from his bedroom. For a second, his excitement brought sheen to his eyes and he undid his shoes clumsily, taking the cup from her hand and filling his mouth with mostly the alcohol, sparing the remaining leftover gummy bears. ”Does this mean you’d let me read your diary?” He was joking at the ‘nothing to hide and all’ situation; not even remotely convinced she would write a journal and he followed up by flopping onto her neatly made bed, leaving his outline like a casualty at a crime scene. Looking at the ceiling squarely beside her, he began musing that the empty space above was brighter than the morning and they were not really there at all as his socked feet dangled over the edge. ”I wonder what it would be like to go to a normal school like this.” Either way transferring, he had gone to an unconventionally snobbish art school before this hundred eighty degree change; he would never experience college as she knew it.
His bunk would be so plain and standard; the colour scheme of everything in 'Pinks and Greens', reverting to world war era. In a way that was the simple life and he didn’t mind, but everyone would have no expression of personality as part of the curriculum.”I’ll be going from liberal… to the complete opposite.”Nobody would decorate anything and he would be very possessive of photographs of her in case anyone ‘borrowed it’. There would be female cadets but they wouldn’t be in the same area and would only be fraternizing very rarely with ultra specific rules; a list long enough he didn’t read it all, making up his mind not to get caught up with them. All the focus was on learning, becoming men of honour and prepping the uniform the rest of the time so there was never a visible crease; dreading laundry day was something he assumed she wouldn’t get. On top of that, he had to stay sober and detoxed of all drugs, which meant Cloud had to curb his addiction too in order to hang out since a simple test would show marijuana contamination just from breathing fumes. Though nicotine was allowed, it was limited and he would have to chew gum if he was craving it, the reprimand making him pout like he was never going to survive, as he lay there.”So, what were you going to do this weekend? The party tonight seems to still be going on.”
Rolling to his side and shifting up, he poked her then tickled her sides and neck, avoiding retaliation and defenses by blocking her with her purple duvet, pulling it up and crawling to her headboard, feeling some fatigue wash over him. The pelting ran smacking against the window panes drummed a sleepy tune, cozy and restful as the dim light of her lamp added to the ambience. He couldn’t remember when he slept and when he had woken up, slowing his flippant behaviour to snuggle her from behind, resting his face on her shoulder, eyes wide open trying to forgive himself that she showed up in his life and he couldn’t get enough of it, starting to regret her. ”I’ll miss you...”
Post by Natasha Black on Aug 22, 2021 15:25:56 GMT -5
Having Catcher in her dorm room was almost too serial, he had never been over to her house. She would have invited him but they would have never had any privacy and she didn't need Billy checking in constantly to make sure they were keeping their hands to themselves. " It's okay, you are not allowed to put any holes in the wall so posters are as much decoration as I can have." She didn't think her room defined her much, she decorated it plainly by choice because here she was Natasha Balck just another ordinary university student. She wasn't a daughter or the chief, or the girl whose life was defined by being a shapeshifter. Here she had more secrets than ever to hide, she couldn't let anything slip. She slipped her boots and tucked them under her bed where she kept them when she didn't wear them. She had stored many items underneath to help utilize the little space she had in her dorm she kept in the everything tucked away neat and tiny so if she and Daniella ever invited anyone to hang out the room would be relatively clean. " The view is the one thing I enjoy. Past those trees there's a forest I haven't explored much but it is a possible escape if I need one." She had mapped out places to go if she was having a hard time coping and just needed time away. She knew she couldn't aways escape the pull to just get out and let the wind blow through her fur. She has to be careful because the campus was riddled with cameras so she would have to head as deep in the woods as she possibly could get. The last thing she needed was a full out hunt for a giant white wolf stalking the University. She would hide that part of her for the whole duration of her stay at school, she wouldn't even tell Daniella. " I'm not going running unless I really need to."
She watched him hand his jacket on the door, and he mentioned how it was finally far he saw her room. She would have classified it as her; it was just a place for her to rest her head and do her homework. Back home her space was less organized. Her walls were painted gray, she had little trinkets and nature items like little interesting looking rocks and sea glass she picked up off the beach. She had a few plants in hanging baskets and her bed faced the window so if she ever wanted to sneak out; she could easily climb out of her bed and straight out the window. It helped living in a one floor house to be able to come and go as she pleased without needing to explain much. It was how she often left home after she would say she was turning in for the night and head to Catcher's. "In a few years it will be fair, this place is too intuitional, not what I consider mine." He took the cup and drank the liquid from it as he did.She slipped off her socks and chucked them into the laundry basket in the corner. It was looking like it was about to overflow, tomorrow she would have to spend the time doing her laundry but right now she didn't want to think about tomorrow.
She looks at him playfully with her mouth half open in shock " If you really want to, then take a peak but it is extremely verbose and boring.You probably just want to see if you made little heart doodles in the margins with your name in the middle. I regret to inform you that this is totally too childish and you won't find anything like that in there." She was being most honest there were no hearts but his name was written on many pages in her journal up till the last few weeks. Now it had mentioned his name little less but he was still a recurring theme. She watched as he flopped down on her bed and she looked him up and down as he laid there musing about going to a regular school, this made her ferrow her brow like he wasn't completely telling her something. "Regular school? Aren't all schools regular?" She just thought he was going to a school with whatever field he wanted to study in, not an unorthodox school. She hadn't asked yet but she assumed he would just give her answers on where he was going or what he was studying with prodding him too much. Sometimes with Catcher finding things out was like pulling teeth.
Weekends usually seemed gongo by too quickly. Besides doing her laundry she tries to get out in the evenings and she sleeps in when she could instead of sitting around her room bored. " There's supposed to be some big party over at one of the frat houses tomorrow night. Daniella will make me go with her for sure after leaving her with Evan as her wingman." She had learned too well this summer the value of having a good friend looking out for you in situations that might get out of hand. "I no longer consume anything at parties unless I know exactly what it is." She had a few experiences over the past few months experimenting with things Claude offered to try but she realized the road of substance wasn't one she traveled down. All she took now was her gummies that were made by students right on campus. As she looked over at Catcher he had shifted in bed as leaned his head on her shoulder. His words fell heavy on her heart as she had no way to make the pain of her absence. " I'll miss you too.." she leaned her head over his kissing him on the forehead softly. "You'll know where I am every morning when I wake up and every evening when I go to bed. Just imagine your here with me."
She stood up gently and got off her bed and kneeled on the floor pulling out a gift bag instead of letting him open it himself she reached in and pulled out a framed picture of herself. It was one Billy had taken before prom. Her hair was still the dark shade of brown that it used to be before she chopped it off herself and dyed it blonde but it was the night that he came back into her life. "I was going to leave this behind for you, I just.." she didn't want to rehash anything. What happened the night she left didn't matter. She passed him the frame and walked over to the corner of her room, pulled off her t-shirt, she reached into the closet and pulled out the one that belonged to him and put it on before slipping off her jeans returning back to the bed climbing up resting her head on his lap to look up at his face. She saw him, his true self and evey moment she was with him she own him the words even more"I love you Catch"
Last Edit: Aug 24, 2021 8:07:09 GMT -5 by Natasha Black