Blowing off steam TAG: Chris Dupree on Labyrinth Gardens

Kasey Braye

December 18, 2007 12:25 AM

Blowing off steam TAG: Chris Dupree by Kasey Braye

Kasey was steamed like an artichoke after her conversation with Matt. After stalking out of Cascade Hall, she decided that she needed to go somewhere that was a little bit cooler in temperature to cool off. She decided on Labyrinth Gardens, so that was where she headed. If you were there you could have seen the steam coming out of her ears.

"I can't believe this! This stupid..." She mumbled angrily with her eyes shut as she walked to try to keep the tears from falling from her eyes.

Her legs walked even faster than she normally did because she was so angry. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes shut when she walked right into someone. "Ooof!" She said as she steadied herself to keep from falling.

She opened her eyes and saw him. "Sorry." She said to him, looking right into his eyes. "I didn't mean to walk into you. I guess I just wasn't paying attention..."

Kasey watched him for his reaction to her. She was completely over Matt. She was in love, really in love this time. And this time she didn't want to blow it.

"I'm Kasey. Kasey Braye" she said to him, as she held out her hand to him.

0 Kasey Braye Blowing off steam TAG: Chris Dupree 0 Kasey Braye 1 5

Chris Dupree

December 19, 2007 9:02 PM

I wasn't expecting a steamed artichoke by Chris Dupree

Chris had just finished his long run in order to keep in shape for Quidditch. He was wiping his sweaty face with the towel he had brought when something, or someone, ran into him. Flinging the towel over his shoulder, he looked down to find a young girl, maybe a first or second year staring back at him and apologizing. “No, it’s fine. Really,” he told her. “I wasn’t watching where I was going either.”

Even if he hadn’t been cleaning off his face, he might not have noticed her, as his mind was often preoccupied with one of four things at any given time. The forerunners being Lexi and CATS, but mostly Lexi. Once he had some time to process everything that had occurred (as well as having talked to Bella), he had made the realization that while her kiss with Nick had hurt his pride, it hadn’t been the issue and that she had been right to breakup with him. With the mess that was his life, he wasn’t able to offer her anything of substance at this moment, but in the future, he hoped too. He had promised that he would and he believed in following through.

On the note of follow through, he should probably be doing something perfectly with the girl. She looked like she had been upset. Before he could ask though, she stuck out her hand and introduced herself as Kasey Braye. Automatically, he took her hand and responded in turn, “Chris Dupree.” Then, back on to his current thought, he asked, “Are you lost?” The Gardens could get fairly intricate and people had been known to lose their way.

0 Chris Dupree I wasn't expecting a steamed artichoke 0 Chris Dupree 0 5

Kasey

December 22, 2007 1:33 PM

How about a salad then? by Kasey

Kasey felt awful about not watching where she was going. Even when he said it was fine and that he wasn't watching either she didn't feel any better. Kasey remembered what she had done to Camren and Caden, and wondered for a short second if this was how they felt. 'No! They put it upon themselves! They aren't my fault!' she thought looking up at the boy who she was sure was an upper classman. Maybe even older than Matt!

Kasey glanced down at her shoes, 'Who am I? I can't think that about my cousins! Can I?' Kasey looked back up at him.

'First Cam and Caden, then Matt, and now this boy... Am I destined to have no friends or boys here?' Kasey asked herself as she looked into the boy's eyes. It was almost like his eyes were sucking her in. She needed not to fail this time. He was just perfect!

Kasey put out her hand and introduced herself, and he took it. 'Chris Dupree.' Kasey smiled at Chris. "Nice name!" Kasey's eyes glittered and she shook her head at him. "I'm not lost, I was just angry, but I'm not anymore. So... Uh... Thanks..."

0 Kasey How about a salad then? 0 Kasey 0 5

Chris

December 25, 2007 1:43 AM

I'd prefer a hearty steak by Chris

Why was she staring at him like that? Chris shifted his eyes away uncomfortably, before looking back at her. When he did, she stuck out her hand. Gingerly, he took it, not wanting to seem rude, and she provided him with her name. Kasey Braye. It didn't sound familiar, so either she wasn't an Aladren or somehow she had been missed, and he briefly wondered which House she belonged to, but failed to voice the thought.

Rather, he thanked her for her compliment, though, he didn't think his name was anything special. Actually, it was a nickname and a quite common one at that. With a grin, he said to her, “Well, I'm glad you're not upset anymore. You shouldn't wander too far into the gardens by yourself. It's easy to get lost.”

With this he shifted his weight, ready to move past her, “Anyhow, I have to get going.” He wanted to take a nice, long, hot shower to wash away the sweat and ease his muscles. Then, he had a ton of homework to do. They just kept piling it on in preparation for the upcoming tests.

0 Chris I'd prefer a hearty steak 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi Stafford

December 25, 2007 12:17 PM

Politely intruding by Lexi Stafford

Lexi Stafford was, to put it nice and simple, screwed. Like royally, completely, totally, and in every way, shape, and form screwed. For the first time (well, not precisely the first time, but the first time in a very long while, which was close enough for her), she was tempted just to give Dalila the blasted prefectship.

“Nobody warned me about having to have a date,” she muttered angrily as she half-jogged through the labyrinth gardens in search of the most awkward conversation imaginable. She almost wanted to stomp, but that wouldn’t be dignified, and, while all reports said her ex-boyfriend was in the labyrinth somewhere, she had no clue where, and the conversation didn’t need any more uncomfortable facets to it. “It would have been helpful to know, but no, let’s leave Lexi out of the loop as long as possible, and not give her time to go talk to another boy who doesn’t have a girlfriend or date already without resorting to desperate measures. God, I just love my life.”

Actually, this wasn’t quite true, though it did make for good melodramatics. Lexi did have a reasonable amount of time left though, with the drastic imbalance between boys and girls at the school, she wouldn’t be surprised if everyone already was paired up. And, yes, Devian had asked her and would still probably be perfectly fine if she told him she was no longer with Chris but…no. Beyond being a year younger than her, he rubbed her the wrong way, even if he seemed nice enough and had gotten her that beautiful rose. She also could have probably asked Dillon if measures grew desperate enough, just because they had the whole ‘common house’ bond, if nothing else, but the sketchy half-stranger date was an actual last resort.

So here she was, in search of the ex-boyfriend she hadn’t talked to since she dumped him, and hadn’t conversed in any way with since she told him to rot in hell. Joy, rapture, bliss, and all those other things. “I really love my life,” she muttered again bitterly.

After much searching and more than a few denials that her plan was stupid, since he’d probably have left the labyrinth gardens by now, with her luck, Lexi finally found her ex-boyfriend talking to a much younger student. “Oh, hello, Kasey,” she said brightly once she’d identified the first year. “Are you doing well?” Then she turned to Chris Dupree.

She hadn’t been expecting the onset of both pain and unsquelchable attraction when their eyes met for the first time since she’d broken things off. The former was understandable and beneficial even, since it would remind her not to lose her temper. The latter was dangerous, and she reconsidered her plan for a moment. He’d implied she was a whore, his fiancée had called her a whore, and anything more than a mutually beneficial acquaintance now was going to end up destroying her. Still…she couldn’t get the image of him punching the wall out of her mind, and the temptation just to go back to where they were at the astronomy campout was almost overwhelming.

“Damn, I’m doomed,” she muttered inaudibly, and then raised her voice once more. “Hey, Chris. I was wondering—could we talk?”

0 Lexi Stafford Politely intruding 0 Lexi Stafford 0 5

Chris

December 28, 2007 6:13 PM

Worrying over the polite intruding by Chris

He was just about to leave and he was so close to doing so when lo and behold out of everyone in the school that could have appeared it was the only one he would have wished for. He stood still for a moment while she talked to the first year, unsure of what to do, before coming to the decision that he should leave. The last thing that Lexi had said to him included the words rot in hell, a memory that he would rather not have, but then there were a lot of memories he would rather not have.

Before he could go, though, their eyes met and his breath hitched. Everything he wanted to say, to do rose to the surface and he fought it back down. Now was not the time. He was further surprised when she spoke, not just spoke, but to him, wanting to talk. It would be the first time they did since…everything. Without meaning to, he raised an eyebrow at her. It was one filled with question. Was it about the letter? Was it about Marie? Was it about the necklace? Was it for the closure that people seemed to talk about? None of this was voiced. Instead, he replied, “Yeah, sure.” It was a lame response, but he didn’t quite know what else to say without knowing what was on her mind.

He glanced at the first year. He felt a little sorry for her for being stuck in the middle of the two of them. Turning back to Lexi, he asked, “Where do you want to talk?”

0 Chris Worrying over the polite intruding 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi Stafford

January 01, 2008 6:19 PM

And continuing along with things by Lexi Stafford

Lexi hadn’t thought her plan this far through. In her mind, while she knew things were going to be awkward, there had not been quite as much duality and conflict in her feelings. Her hope that now that they were broken up she and Chris would seamlessly fit into what they were before dating, with just a few fond memories of the past, was for naught, at least on her part; for all she knew, Chris had already moved on, which would be fine with her. Actually, it would be more than fine. The sooner her ex-boyfriend found someone new, the sooner Lexi could stop worrying that she was being led on, even if she didn’t want to get involved with him like that again.

The possibility that there might be someone else at the scene also hadn’t made an appearance in her master plan. Fortunately, Kasey was just a first year, not someone that either she or Chris were particularly close to (again, for all she knew), so there wouldn’t be any strange questions on either side about why the two of them were so much as speaking to each other after all that hostility, another major worry. However, Chris didn’t seem resentful or still angry, so it could work out for the best.

The question of where to go was another thing that Lexi hadn’t thought through. It really would have been easiest to just stay here, but they had a witness, and the poor first year didn’t need to be exposed to the ugly conversation that was sure to pop up if the two fifth years continued to talk for long enough. On the other hand, it was fine that she hadn’t thought ahead; the conversation wasn’t going to be affected by where they were. “Doesn’t really matter; we can just go find someplace quiet, I guess.”

She tried not to make eye contact as they walked, looking down at the ground as soon as she was certain Chris was coming. It didn’t take long to find an acceptable space, there being probably dozens of little enclosures, isolated paths, or whatnot. Trying to keep this conversation from seeming too much like the last one, Lexi opted for the first abandoned section of path rather than one of the open sections, though the latter was better suited to this kind of discussion.

After stopping, she determined that it would be impossible not to look at her companion when requesting he accompany her on something akin to a date, though in their case it definitely wasn’t, and glanced up, though she still avoided eye contact again and kept her hands firmly in her pockets to keep herself from doing something stupid (saying something was less easy to control, though she thought she could manage it).

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she began hesitantly, not sure what to say anymore or what should be ignored out of the former couple’s history. Actually, now she just felt like an idiot. Whatever his later correspondence was supposed to mean, he had essentially told her he didn’t want to see her again, and here she was, harassing him still. She wouldn’t blame him if he just decided to yell at her to leave him alone. “I just wanted to—” Apparently she couldn’t go through with this after all, now that she and Chris were face to face. What had seemed like a good idea in her head was really a terrible one; he probably hated her now, and she thought he was a lunatic, and he was going to end up rejecting her anyway, and it would hurt, even though she couldn’t deny that she would completely deserve it. “Actually, never mind. It was dumb, and it doesn’t matter, and I’m really sorry for bothering you in the first place.”

And now she was even more screwed than before, because now she had to think of a way out of this situation. Unfortunately, nothing brilliant, or even better than mediocre, came to mind. “You can go back to whatever you were doing before I was an idiot and disturbed you” was the only conclusion she could think off, offered with a rueful, semi-self-mocking smile.

0 Lexi Stafford And continuing along with things 0 Lexi Stafford 0 5

Chris

January 05, 2008 4:51 PM

Well, then by Chris

Chris followed a few steps behind Lexi, both to enjoy the view and because he didn’t want to crowd her, thus making whatever this was more awkward. He was led to an isolated area, which from his perspective was a good idea since if a scene were to occur once more, it wouldn’t be on display for the whole school to see.

He leaned on one shoulder against the wall, still facing her, watching and waiting. She seemed rather nervous and he didn’t blame her for he knew the feeling, but at least she knew what the topic of conversation was, which was an advantage. Though, the tension released slightly when she began with ‘I’m sorry to bother you.’ In theory, it meant that she wasn’t going to yell at him. Of course, this could easily change within five minutes. She certainly had been born with the correct hair color. It was fiery, like her. He flexed his fingers, itching to run them through it. Okay, he had to focus on what she was saying, which was…nothing?

He studied her for a moment with serious blue eyes. Obviously, she was rethinking what it was that she was going to say and he paused on questioning her. The last time he had, well, that had been an utter disaster and left him in his current status of single avec fiancée. However, they had to talk eventually. Or at least, he had planned on it. This wasn’t quite how he pictured it, but then life rarely was what was imagined. Straightening up from the wall, he cupped his hand under her chin, tilting her head up to make eye contact. He didn’t get closer, but he wanted her to know that he meant the words he was going to say. “Lexi, you are many things, but an idiot isn’t one of them.” He cleared his throat, before saying the next part; afraid it would open up a can of worms. “And neither is a whore. I’m sorry for what I wrote or said out of anger. There really is no excuse for it.”

Once this was said, he released her chin, worried that he would lean forward and kiss her. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, as he fought for control. Opening them again, he ran a hand through his hair, and gave a puff of breath. Continuing, he said, “Anyhow, I know that I don’t deserve to be, but I’d like to be a part of your life, because I want you to be a part of mine. So, I hope we can eventually be friends.”

0 Chris Well, then 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi

January 05, 2008 7:15 PM

Yes, well by Lexi

Alright, so it had been a bit silly to think that Chris was just going to leave, but Lexi had had one moment where she had actually considered it might happen. The other possibility had been another inquisition, which would have probably resulted in another fight or at the least severe misunderstanding (and Bella would have likely become even more disgusted with the two again, as the Teppenpaw suspected her brother’s girlfriend felt about her and Chris on occasion).

She hadn’t suspected any sort of contact, minor though some might consider it. She told herself the reason she didn’t pull away was the shock, but in some part of herself she had to admit that she simply missed some of the physical parts of their former relationship. Looking him in the eyes again from this close seemed different as well; somehow she felt smaller and…less secure and in control (which she’d never admit to him) than she had while they were dating. The realization that all she had to do was move a few inches toward him crossed her mind as well, though she brushed it off immediately. Complications like that weren’t necessary, however fun they might be.

The apology was definitely unexpected as well, and for a few seconds Lexi did nothing but stare at Chris in shock. “I-It’s fine,” she said hesitantly when she finally regained her voice. It wasn’t entirely, but ‘I forgive you’ sounded so formal, and she had earned whatever she had gotten, so complaining wasn’t fair. “Although I suggest you run the idiot one by my brother first; he has some excellent evidence against that point. And—as far as I can recall, you never actually called me a whore, just hinted very obviously at it, and that I deserved. The actual name-calling was really more your fiancée. You know, however she found out, you might want to mention it to her that I’m not your whore anymore,” she added as an afterthought. Though I really wouldn’t mind starting that up again a small, very wicked part of her mind suggested, which Lexi hastily squashed (mostly).

Refusing to allow herself to feel regret when Chris pulled away, she shook her head with an ironic chuckle. “If you’ll remember, Chris, I suggested that we try to become friends again, or whatever was possible, in the first place, and you” she poked him relatively gently in the chest with her finger, “shot the idea down rather magnificently. However, my original offer still stands. I would love it if we could manage to be friends, even if only eventually, or however far we can come. Bella might kill us otherwise, and…I’ve missed you.” The admission hadn’t been intended, and Lexi cursed a little on the inside, not because she hadn’t wanted to say it (true, but it was too late now) but because there went her lovely attempt not to say anything to her ex-boyfriend that she hadn’t thought through first. At least this time it had been relatively safe.

She supposed that she had a marvelous lead-in to asking him to the ball, but then decided that should wait until the two had seen if they actually could get along as friends. Right now there was one other thing she really wanted to know. "So, did you really punch a wall?" Lexi asked with a semi-wicked grin. \r\n\r\n

0 Lexi Yes, well 0 Lexi 0 5

Chris

January 08, 2008 6:49 PM

Well, okay by Chris

At the mention of Marie, his eyes narrowed slightly. He had hoped that she would have left Lexi out of whatever sick game she was playing at, but as it stood, he was unable to make the point known that he wasn’t going to be with her. He would find a way out of the arranged marriage. In the meantime, he would, however, make it known to Marie that he wasn’t with Lexi anymore, but only for the latter’s sake. His fingers brushed back a piece of hair from her face, “You never were.”

He shrugged his shoulders slightly. “I was angry and things were said in the heat of the moment.” He snorted lightly at the idea of Bella. He had no doubt that she would kill them both if things continued as is. She was a force all her own, but she was his best friend, which was both a blessing and a curse. A curse, because he wasn’t able to discuss certain things with her that he might have with a guy. Plus, dealing with the awkwardness of teenage bodies. But it was a blessing due to the fact that she offered the female perspective to his life and she made sure he didn’t continue to act like an idiot in matters, such as his breakup, by doing things, such as punching walls.

A faint hue of red touched his face and he turned his face to the ground to hide it. He kicked his foot a bit on the ground, before looking up to meet her eyes. “Yeah, though I think the wall won.”

0 Chris Well, okay 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi

January 08, 2008 11:44 PM

Well, yeah by Lexi

She was touched by Chris's defense of her and...her honor, she supposed. Maybe just her lack of whoreness. Whatever. "Her choice of words, not mine," Lexi replied with a shrug. With every intention of stopping there, somehow her thoughts couldn't communicate with her mouth, and the Teppenpaw strongly suspected it had to do with Chris's physical semi-endearment. She needed to get a hold of herself, and get over this. "She seems to be a completely charming person, your Marie. Got a lovely letter from her near the beginning of the school year, care of your cousin. Another completely enchanting individual, I must say. He asked me to the ball, you know, though he seemed to think we were still together. Got me a really pretty rose, too, though I can't for the life of me figure out why." Right. After she managed to find the nearest cliff, Lexi was going to go hurl herself off of it. Could she sound any more like an idiot?

There wasn't anything to say to the statement that things were done in anger. After all, she had done the same thing, hadn't she, and far more viciously than Chris. And it didn't matter how much she regretted it now--what was done was done. If she and Chris could be friends, that was more than she ever would have anticipated. They didn't need any lingering feelings of hers mucking things up when there was going to be nothing between them (she couldn't help but interpret 'when I'm free from Marie' as 'when hell freezes over' coming from the Aladren; despite whatever his feelings may be, he did have a duty to his family, and she respected that, even if she couldn't understand it).

Giggling a tiny bit at how embarrassed Chris seemed to be about this whole thing and at his response, Lexi grabbed his hands playfully and examined the knuckles. "Well, I can't see anything remaining from your...encounter with the wall, which you may never live down," she added instantly, "So surely, even if you did lose, it can't have been as bad as all that." She realized a second after she touched him that this was a bad idea. Them looking into the other's eyes, and her holding his hands? A really bad idea.

Still, it at least made her feel a little less awkward about what she felt needed to be done, just to get over this and allow the two of them to move on normally. Biting her lip nervously, she moved a hand up to his cheek. "Please, Chris, don't....fight, I guess," she said, a little more pleading in her voice than she would have liked, and then she kissed him.

It wasn't a terribly long kiss, lasting a few seconds at the most (she didn't really trust Chris not to protest in some way, and she didn't have the right to expect he wouldn't)., and she dropped her hands to her sides as soon as she pulled away. "I'm sorry." The feeling of deja vu and irony, given that this seemed to be shaping up a lot like their first kiss in a way, made her want to laugh insanely a bit. However, she had more self-control, even if she lacked it in other areas. That similarity also helped a tiny bit with her ultimate purpose. "I know that's not something friends, or even semi-friends, if we've gotten there yet, and I doubt we have, do, and I had no right, and it's not happening again. It's just...'last cigarette that you know is your last before you quit' kind of thing. Closure."

0 Lexi Well, yeah 0 Lexi 0 5

Chris

January 13, 2008 1:25 PM

We like the word well by Chris

Devian? Devian had given Lexi a letter from Marie. Devian had asked Lexi to the ball. Devian had given Lexi a rose. All the warnings that Nicoletta had given him about their cousin flashed through his head. His hands balled. His jaw clenched. His eyes flashed. Devian was soon to be a distant memory.

Controlling his tone, because he wasn’t about to ruin the tentative friendship that he had with Lexi, he said, “As your friend, do me a favor? Stay far away from Devian.” He hoped that she didn’t take it as a him telling her what to do. It wasn’t meant that way, but he also didn’t want to worry her unnecessarily. For all he knew, the problem was resolved with her dumping of him.

When Lexi grabbed his hands, Chris glanced down in surprise, then back to her eyes. A slight chuckle came from his lips at her light joke. It only lasted a moment, though, as suddenly her hand was on his cheek and she was asking him not to fight. A moment’s pause came with the kiss, before he responded. It wasn’t a passionate kiss, but it was gentle, allowing her to determine what the kiss was, knowing it would be quite awhile before he would be able to kiss her again, if ever. It was a sweet good-bye to what once was. A childhood romance, as they were no longer children.

Finished, she dropped his hands. He smiled softly at her and took her hands in his. Leaning forward, he kissed her nose and rested his forehead on hers. “It’s okay, Lexi. I understand.” And he did. He would always love her, but life was too complicated for them to continue as they were or to pick up where they left off.

Pulling away, he slowly let go of her hands, sliding along until the tips of their fingers brushed, before putting his hands in his pockets. “So…speaking of not having the right and last cigarettes...any chance that I can convince you to go the ball with me?” He smiled his most charming grin, hoping that she hadn’t agreed to anyone else, because aside from the fact that he really did need a date, he wanted to go with her, even just as friends.

0 Chris We like the word well 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi

January 13, 2008 4:05 PM

It's because it's what this relationship isn't by Lexi

For the umpteenth time, Lexi wondered just what the relationship between Chris and Devian consisted of. She and Chris had never really discussed his cousin while they were dating (actually, most of the time they were together, they hadn’t discussed much of anything for any extended period of time), and she’d only talked to the latter a couple of times. However, the things she had noticed had seemed strange, and more often than not contradictory. Like, for instance, Chris’s latest request.

Noticing his sudden tension, she gave him a curious look at his question, but nodded. “Alright. Why, though? He’s claimed the two of you are friends, and he seems nice enough, if a little overly flirtatious sometimes. Still, you are his cousin, so you would know him better.”

The next part of the conversation continued the strangeness she was feeling, though it was directed in a different manner. Kissing him had been an impulsive mistaken decision, and Lexi had believed that Chris, being the more logical of the two (usually), would have put a stop to it almost immediately. However, he kissed her back unexpectedly, and that shook everything up. When they broke apart, there was a split second that she imagined the one kiss might have done the trick. Unfortunately, the next moment he touched her, and she recognized instantly that it had only made things worse.

Closure? Hah. She’d almost forgotten how sweet and endearing he could be, and the kiss had only served to fan the embers of attraction that had been smoldering ever since their eyes had first met when Lexi had found him talking to Kasey. There had never been anything platonic as a basis for their relationship. Yes, they had liked each other well enough while dating, but attraction had always been at the basis of everything with them. She’d been foolish to believe that it could have just faded when the relationship did, and downright idiotic for thinking that kissing him again for whatever reason would help make it go away.

“Cold turkey would have been so much better,” she muttered inaudibly as she tried to come up with an excuse to get out of there as quickly as possible, before she did something else stupid. With the way she was feeling, it was only a matter of time. To her consternation, Chris interrupted her thoughts with another incredibly unsuspected question. “Go to the ball?” she repeated slowly. “That was actually why I came out here in the first place to find you, and I would love to go with you. However,” she took a deep breath to try and keep her voice steady and calm, since this wasn’t the time for histrionics, “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.

“I know we’ve both said that we want to be friends, and I know it’s important that we try. But do you really think we can do it?” Another deep breath. “Right now the main thought in my head is wishing desperately that we could just go back to before the fight, before Nick, and I know we can’t and that I was the one to put us here in the first place, yet it doesn’t help. And, you know, maybe we had a shot before kissing just now which, however good intentioned, was another of my more idiotic moves, but now I can’t stop thinking about how much I miss kissing you, touching you, just being held by you, and that’s no way to start a friendship.”

On impulse, Lexi took a step closer to him and pulled his head down until their lips met again. This kiss was the complete opposite of the one a few moments before: rough, passionate, completely ungentle and much longer. She’d banked on his shock and the tension she hoped he’d been feeling as well to keep him from breaking away until she felt her point had been proven, as well as the fact that he was a 16-year-old male, something she’d used to her advantage before. When they finally broke apart, she continued in almost as calm a voice, though it took her a few minutes to get to the point where she could speak at all, and her steadiness was completely shot.

“I’m sorry if I’ve assumed incorrectly that you’re having the same feelings that I am, and if I was incorrect, and you felt no desire to do that, then please ignore everything I just said, and I’ll attempt to push it aside so that we can have a completely pleasant platonic relationship. However, if I was right…we’ve both agreed that we can’t be in a relationship with the situation as it is. If we’re friends, what do you expect us to do when one of us starts seeing other people? Or even if the strain gets to be too much?” She shook her head. “Despite whatever I’ve said recently, further reflection makes me almost positive this is impossible,” she concluded as she moved to attempt to get past Chris, who was in her way of escape. So what if it was taking the coward’s way out? She could live with that right now, before she embarrassed herself further.
\r\n\r\n

0 Lexi It's because it's what this relationship isn't 0 Lexi 0 5

Chris

January 13, 2008 9:20 PM

It certainly makes life interesting by Chris

“Just some things,” Chris replied, though, it wasn’t a full answer. He could only hope that she trusted him enough to take his advice. He gave a sigh. He wanted to be truthful with her, but he couldn’t quite explain it, not yet. There were too many things that weren’t adding up and things that were mixing together, which would be resolved when he had a chat with his dear cousin.

His spirit lifted when she said she would love to go to the ball, but plunged when she said it wasn’t a good idea, and waited for the explanation that was to inevitably follow. He chewed on the inside of his cheek to keep his mouth closed until she finished. He wished they could go back in time too, but also knew that they couldn’t. Yet, somehow, it seemed right to move forward, to grow. A smile touched his lips at her words of missing him and while not at the best time to occur, was an encouraging factor, as she continued on.

Well, sort of, as he was brought forth for another kiss, this one more unexpected than the last, though, still welcomed. He had missed her too and there was much he wanted to learn about her, but not this way. When the kiss was broken, he took a step back and took a breath while his heart returned to a normal rate and she began speaking again. Her words before were true, there was no doubt of that and she was right about the potential complications, but…

He grabbed her by the arms in her attempt to leave. He had left the last time and the argument had gotten worse and while this wasn’t an argument, he didn’t view her leaving as a way that would help the situation. He studied her a moment, biting on his upper lip, before taking a breath and beginning his own speech, “Lexi, I would be lying if I said there was nothing between us. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss you too. There are a lot of things I would be lying about, like how awkward this is going to be, but I think the friendship is worth it. I think you’re worth it. I still care about you. I…” He hesitated to say it, but thought it best, “I love you. Yes, I’ll be horribly jealous if you dated other guys, but I’d rather see you with other guys and happy, than not to have you in my life. That would hurt more.”

Finished, he let go of her arms. It was her choice now, to stay or go.

0 Chris It certainly makes life interesting 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi

January 13, 2008 10:56 PM

We'll always have interesting by Lexi

And, naturally, her dramatic exit was completely thwarted. That was, perhaps, the most surprising thing that had occurred so far in this conversation. Chris had actually stopped her from leaving. Not only was this entirely unfair, since he had gotten his melodramatic walk-out, but…he had physically grabbed her. Him doing that sort of thing changed the whole dynamic of this…whatever the hell they were in, and Lexi didn’t approve. Though when combining this with punching a wall…no, no, definitely not the time to think about that.

As Chris spoke, Lexi saw what Bella had told her was true, for that split second before she nearly stopped breathing. It was very different to have someone tell you they loved you in a letter than in person. Her knees actually nearly gave out, something she was never going to tell anyone, and for a moment she hated either herself or Chris, or both of them, for having/causing that reaction. Still, to say something like that would be petty and childish, and in truth Lexi was enjoying hearing this far too much to force him to stop.

When he let her go, she rubbed her arms for a second or two, trying to think. What was one supposed to say to a declaration like that? She couldn’t tell him she loved him back, because she didn’t know. She thought she might, or that she might have been starting to, right before they broke up, but that was a while ago, and things had changed. So she decided for another semi-joke.

“Well, fortunately for you, then, there really aren’t that many datable guys at Sonora.” Even beyond saying something, what she was supposed to do physically was going to be a nightmare. After all, they’d already had enough awkward standing and looking at each other, and an admission like that had to be monstrously difficult. So, after a bit more internal deliberating, she stretched up on her toes to wrap her arms around him in a (completely friendly) hug.

“So, are we going to be the normal kind of friends, or the kind that makes out on very special occasions?” she whispered into his ear (it and her mouth being very close, since she was still hugging him. And, well, maybe it was partly payback for the shock she’d just gotten). “I’m perfectly open toward the latter, but if that’s the course we take, we might not want to mention it to my brother. He’s still recovering from my dating his roommate in the first place. A friends with benefits sort of thing might kill him, and then Bella would kill us, and just think of all the fun things we'd miss out on doing.”

0 Lexi We'll always have interesting 0 Lexi 0 5

Chris

January 14, 2008 6:45 PM

Without a shadow of a doubt by Chris

At her words, Chris let out a breath that he didn’t know he had been holding. He wasn’t expecting her to say she loved him back, but to hear that the dating possibilities were limited made him smile. In truth, he didn’t think anyone, including him, deserved to be with her, yet it didn’t mean he wouldn’t try later.

Unexpectedly, her arms wrapped around him and his heart stopped for a moment to be so close again in such a short span of time. His arms automatically wrapped around her. He liked how she just seemed to fit in them. Her face near his, he closed his eyes, breathing in her scent, unsure of when he might get another opportunity, but then she spoke and her suggestion nearly made his breath hitch.

His hands trailed to her waist and he turned her, so that her back was to the wall. It was a subtle shift, but one that put him back in control of the situation. The advantage of her mouth being near his ear was that his was near hers. Roughly, he whispered, “Lexi Stafford, you are going to be the death of me.” His mouth ghosted over her neck briefly, before coming back to her ear, “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Was this something he wanted? It would put them back into nearly the same position that they were in before minus the commitment. Though, that might not be a bad thing, considering that he couldn’t make one to her. Not yet. But was she sure that she really wanted this? His fiancée had called her a whore, which this was proving the point more. At least before, there had been a relationship.

Another negative to the situation was that she would be a distraction to him when he needed to concentrate on other matters. He needed to get rid himself of Marie and Le Masque. In the shorter term, he had CATs. They both did, but then, this would be wonderful stress relief and there was something so deliciously evil about the whole matter. He really was tired of playing the good guy all the time.\r\n\r\n

0 Chris Without a shadow of a doubt 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi

January 14, 2008 9:15 PM

For better or worse by Lexi

Okay, so maybe it was slightly evil, but Lexi was finding great satisfaction in messing with Chris right now. Retribution, she supposed, for any and all confusion she’d been feeling because of him. She giggled at his declaration, completely missing his maneuvering except for the distant and mostly unnoticed feeling of the hedge against her back. “I don’t think so. You’re no good to me dead, after all.” She nipped his earlobe playfully. “However, if you don’t think you can handle any more, we can stop at any time. Just say the word.”

His question wasn’t answered immediately. After all, it was a fairly serious situation she was entering, emotionally even if it was rather light in a social sense. It was probably only going to end up making things between them worse in the end, but it could be reasoned out. It was going to make becoming actual friends far more enjoyable, and if they were perhaps using each other a little, well, things happened. No promises, no real ties. Just a casual fling. And if one or both of them found someone else, well, theoretically they could still be just regular friends afterward. Lexi liked to look at the optimistic side of life. “Yes.”

However, she didn’t go back to kissing Chris yet. There was still one more thing that needed to be sorted out before the two of them got distracted. “So, what do we tell people? Are we just going to be simply good friends in public, and save…everything else…for when we’re alone?” It made more sense to her to do things that way. Less chance for judgment, since she knew there were people who wouldn’t approve. She didn’t even know if she’d mention anything to Dalila if that was the option they decided to take. Yes, the roommates were best friends but…Dalila was in a steady relationship. A nice, happy, uncomplicated steady relationship. She couldn’t understand Lexi’s situation. Lexi didn’t quite understand it herself. However, she also didn’t want to make Chris feel like she was ashamed, or something, so, for once, she relinquished the controls of the situation.

0 Lexi For better or worse 0 Lexi 0 5

Chris

January 20, 2008 9:16 PM

In sickness and health by Chris

Chris had asked if Lexi was sure, but he hadn't said yes or no to the proposition. Ignoring all her questions, he brought up the one he wanted an answer to, the one that she hadn't said yes or no to. He kissed her nose, then asked, "So, you never answered, will you go to the ball with me? It wouldn't be unusual seeing as we're friends."

Once she answered, then he would give her his and if need be, work out all the details of whatever they were. Though, they were good questions. Exactly, what would they do, if this was pursued? He assumed that they would tell people that they were friends. He knew there was no one that he would tell anyhow. The only person that he would ever would be Bella, but he didn't think that was a good idea, given that she was dating Lexi's brother, which just would make the entire situation awkward. No, it was best that if they were just having fun that it be kept secret.

Keeping secrets was something that he was good at. One had to be in order to survive in his family. Besides, Lexi would be one to keep, his favorite one. It was also a little exciting, the idea of a secret relationship. The danger of being caught at any moment. Aside from that, keeping it a secret would be a good thing with stalker Marie on duty. He nearly gritted his teeth at the thought of the she-devil. If it hadn't been for his cousins, he would have followed his sister's lead into disownment.

0 Chris In sickness and health 0 Chris 0 5

Lexi

January 20, 2008 10:24 PM

We're definitely not that serious by Lexi

Chris would conveniently ignore all the things Lexi wanted to discuss (or do) and focus on the one thing she didn't. While she knew that the ball wasn't really that big a deal, and plenty of people were just going to be going with friends, or whatever, it still felt like it was going to feel like a much bigger deal than it theoretically was. She didn't even know if attempting to be friends was going to end up working out or not. Sure, they were both well-intentioned about the whole thing, but intentions didn't mean anything when everything came to a head. And even if they were friends, people were going to assume that there was something else going on (they might be right as well, but she didn't have to focus on that). It was a potential recipe for disaster.

On the other hand, there was a strong chance she was over-analyzing things. She and Chris could be friends. No, they would be. They would have a completely un-tense and uncomplicated relationship that would be centered on nothing more serious than them being friends. And, with that in mind, and them both being prefects and having to have dates anyway, it did make a warped kind of sense. Or at least it eliminated any legitimate complaints she could have about the idea.

"If you're sure that's what you want to do, then fine. Actually, no. Wait. Can you dance? I have a reputation to uphold and all, and it wouldn't do for me to have a partner who can't." The tone was lighter than she was feeling, which wasn't new for this conversation. Whatever else she had said, however playful she might have been or sounded, she still had her worries and her doubts. Lexi merely expected them to dissipate after a while. "And Bella'll probably be incredibly proud of us for going together, if only because it means we're friends. You know, I think she thinks we're not worth the effort of fixing sometimes."

0 Lexi We're definitely not that serious 0 Lexi 0 5

Chris

February 06, 2008 9:35 PM

You started it :P by Chris

Chris gave a grin. He had taken dance lessons when he was younger. It was all part of the training on how to be a good pureblood elitist. Holding onto her waist, he shifted them suddenly and then, grabbing her hand spun her out and back to him. Holding her in the appropriate spots, he danced around a little with her. He was being goofy and lighthearted, but it was fun to do so, to act like a teenager instead of an old man. Holding her to him, he said, “I think your reputation will be fine.”

He made no mention of Bella, aside from a small frown that appeared, thinking about what had happened between Lexi and him earlier this year, about when he had punched a wall, to now. Were they worth fixing? Bella was his best friend, but he didn’t understand her need to make things better, especially in regards to him. If things were broken, then one fixed them, but they weren’t things, they were people. It was up to them to fix themselves, wasn’t it? Otherwise, they would just continue the cycle.

He looked down at Lexi. Were they a cycle? No, he wouldn’t let that happen. The last time they had been involved, it had been intense, but it hadn’t been built on friendship. They might have been having fun this time, but he planned on building the friendship too, then maybe one day, the friendship and the fun would come together into something that could be built into more. Maybe that was the only way of fixing things.

Changing to a grin, Chris brushed some hair out of her face, “So, about all these questions you had…I think that only friends in public would be best. I don’t need my roommate getting angry at me for being a corrupting influence over his little sister.” He said this part in semi-jest, but it was true to some degree. It was a big brother thing, he supposed, though, he was shut off from currently performing any of his own.

0 Chris You started it :P 0 Chris 0 5