Topic: Our Pasts Make Us Who We Are -- Harvest Festival-- The Swim

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 15:38 EST
The Makayen barn was all bedecked in strings of lights crisscrossing along the rafters. Bales of hay were stacked as seats throughout the inside and outside of the barn; picnic tables and benches were organized down the center of one end of the barn and were laden with food and drinks. On the other end of the barn a dance floor was marked off with railroad ties, metal folding chairs lined along the walls on that end of the barn for those too shy to dance.

Pumpkins of all shapes and designs littered the floor with candles alight within. Lanterns were hung along the walls and placed in the middle of the picnic tables inside the barn and outside, thin colored paper in hues of orange, red, gold, and pale green were wrapped around the lantern globes so that the harvest colors were cast about in a soft glow.

The band's instruments consisted of fiddles, banjos, acoustic guitars, bass guitars and drums that were ready to liven up the evening with various forms of music, guaranteed to be loud and boisterous. There were couples dancing the two step upon the dance floor, others sitting in the folding chairs at the sidelines clapping to the beat.

The farm women were busy pulling various meats from the oven, fresh biscuits and rolls, gravy, and all of the other hot foods were being whisked from the stove to the tables. The men were sitting back with their drinks, upon the bales of hay, catching up on the news from surrounding farms and talking about sports. Some were watching the friendly game going on between the teenage boys out in the yard. Children were running here and there, any mother in shouting distance was the mother that had authority. It truly took a community to raise a child, after all.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 15:44 EST
Alys was the middle Makayen child and the only girl so it was her duty, at the age of fourteen, to be beside her mother working and playing hostess for the Harvest Festival.

Mara Brooks, also fourteen, Alystelle's best friend and near sister; was being quite the agreeable young woman and helping. The Brooks family wasn't as strict and old fashioned as the Makayens so it wasn't entirely necessary for Mara to spend so much time helping, but she did anyway and for that Alys was grateful. This good behavior didn't go unnoticed by Alys' parents either. Good traditional values, that is what they thought when they saw the youngest of the Brook's children pitching in to do the women's work.

While the "women's work" was being performed, Alystelle carrying an apple pie she made with her own hands, those pools of cerulean peeked up momentarily to rest upon the perfectly angelic face of Daniel Brooks. She immediately stumbled and almost lost the pie she had worked so hard to bake in the heat of her mother's kitchen.
"That's what you get, Alystelle Elizabeth Makayen. You know better than to watch a boy and not watch your own dumb feet." She chastised herself softly with that honey dripping southern drawl, gaze drawn right back down to those bared little feet, half running across the grass to deliver the pride of that pie to the table.

She couldn't help but to sneak one more glance over at Daniel, playing football in the yard with the other boys, older men watching and cheering on the young man with the lightning speed and agile feet. Alys found herself smiling, despite the earlier admonishment she had given herself.

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 16:47 EST
Taken from live play and posted with permission from Daniel Brooks player.

Danny was, of course, showing off. The teams had to separate Danny from David, both athletically gifted and being groomed for college and hopefully professional careers; but Danny was the clear star. He didn't go all out, especially considering they invited Joseph to play and were making sure the younger boy got his share of the ball and was allowed to bend the rules and would often time miraculously avoid being tackled, but Danny did embarrass both his brother and William on multiple occasions. Danny's father would talk to whomever about his son's prospects and the college recruiting, but that wasn't on the young man's mind. He would sometimes allow eyes to stray toward Alys, making sure she was watching before he would pull off something spectacular and sport a wide lopsided grin that he would send her way. They had been playing for a while in the heat, and it had caused his almost mop-top hair to be matted to his head with sweat, his damp shirt clinging to his wide chest.

After the game was decided and one brutal collision, the elder men decided to call the game before any injury occurred, and so Danny made an obvious-but-not-trying-to-be-obvious stroll toward that pretty girl who he was trying so hard to impress; the football tossed and caught in his hand, ever so casually.

"So," he said, tone of voice light, "Do I get to have some of your pie tonight?" That lopsided grin turned directly to Alys, point blank. He enjoyed teasing her with double-entendre jokes, even if she may not catch them all. It was all playful, not a hint of malice, and just the way his humor went. It was sometimes juvenile, and he snickered at how lame the joke was. Bright green eyes still danced over her face, trying to gauge her reaction to the icebreaker.

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 16:49 EST
Taken from live play and posted with permission from the player of Alystelle.

She had placed the pie on the table in the barn and gathered up four cups full of iced sweet tea, she would have gotten just one but for obvious reasons (such as not getting killed by her father) she got enough for all four boys. Balancing them like a well-trained waitress, she strode out of the barn and slightly closer to where the men were, and rested one hip upon a stacked hay bale. Drinks were placed atop the haystack as she watched the ending of the game, wide cerulean pools enlarging further as she watched a particularly frightening collision that had her suddenly standing with a hand clasped to her chest, breath frozen in her lungs. She watched Danny get up as if nothing had occurred, finally exhaling as he did so. Then she faced another problem as he was walking straight towards her! She fought down the panic that threatened to force her into a dead run away from him and no matter how fast he was, she would be faster just to escape the painful reminder of her awkwardness.

"H-hi D-danny!" She squeaked out a little too brightly then swallowed several times. The hand that had been clasped to her chest in such tender worry over his well-being was now lifted to the hollow of her throat, a sure sign of just how nervous she was, as was that stutter. "Sh-sh-sure you can h-h-have s-s-some p-p-pie. I-I m-made it m-myself!" She boasted proudly, though in a nearly unheard voice. Honeyed curls were twirled nervously around her index finger, eyes staring at the pale pink of her painted toes as they wiggled freely in the cool grass. Of course Alys never even guessed that there could be any other meaning to his words than what he said, so purely innocent was her mind. What she did notice, as she peeked up from beneath that mantilla of golden brown lashes, was the way his grin tugged one corner of his mouth up and dimpled. She also noticed that he was sweating profusely. "I-I b-brought you s-s-some s-s-sweet tea if you w-want it." She lifted a glass quickly to hand to him and bumped it right against that iron chest of his, sloshing a large amount of it down the front of him. "O-o-oh! sh-sh-shoot, Alys! D-d-dumb g-g-girl!" She glanced up at him with softly pleading eyes, "I-I'm s-sorry, D-danny!" The poor girl was just flustered to no end by him, by the idea of even speaking to any boy, but mostly by speaking to him.

Just then William, David, and Joseph ran over to them and clapped Danny on the back before grabbing the cups of tea Alys had left sitting for the three of them. They looked between Alys and Danny, shrugging slightly at the silly clumsiness of girls before they sprawled upon the ground to drink their tea and talk about football and girls.

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 16:52 EST
Taken from live play and posted with permission from the player of Daniel Brooks.

"Oh no, I'm all wet!" He laughed as the tea did nothing but make the already wet shirt just a little bit wetter. It was already dirty and had a few tears along the front and the collar, exposing collarbone. Both of his hands curled around her smaller hand as he took it along with the now nearly-empty glass in a soft grip. The other boys ignored as they all knew better than to upset Danny, as he'd handed out many a butt-kicking to them all without much effort. As the sweat dripped from his chin and jaw to his shirt, he lifted her hand and the glass before separating the two to tip the drink back to swallow quickly. Licking his lips with a loud "ahh" he dropped his gaze back to those wonderfully uniquely-colored blue eyes. Just quiet for long moments as he looked between them before it dawned on him he should probably talk before she thought he was crazy for staring at her. "Thanks, Alys. You're not dumb! I was gonna go for a swim anyway, if you wanted to come along with me."

He tilted his head into the direction of the pond as more sweat fell from his brow over his face. One hand lifted to take the hem of his shirt and lift it upwards to wipe it across his sweaty face. It was just something that he did, not paying any mind that he was showing off a tight and clearly defined abdomen, allowing a long view as his athletic shorts rested low upon his hips, the waistband of his boxer shorts visible. It was a lot of skin to be flashing, and he was quite unaware that it may affect her in some fashion. "What do you say? Get away from everyone and just be you and me for a little bit?" The grin wasn't as lopsided now, but turned more hopeful; eyebrows lifted in a small pleading manner.

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 16:53 EST
William heard Danny soothe is little sister and hid a smile behind his cup of tea as he took a drink. The eldest of the Makayen children, at sixteen years old, he stood six foot four inches tall already and boasted a not so modest two-hundred and thirty pounds of solid muscle. As much a brute as he appeared, he was the opposite in nature. Especially when matters concerned his siblings, mostly Alys as she drew the most wrath from their father.

William wasn't the brightest of young men. He could think for himself and he was a decent student but he would never be a scholar. He loved the farming life more than anything and couldn't imagine doing anything but taking over his father's farm when he grew older. He knew Alys dreamed of the day she could leave, wishing for college and the big city. He also knew his father would never allow her to go. There were times when William wanted to turn his father's "discipline" back upon him. Instead, he just did everything he could to protect Alys in every other way. He did a lot of her physical chores, deciding she was much too tiny to lift anything, he took the blame when she did something wrong and he watched out for her when she made stupid decisions. Which he knew she was about to make when he heard Danny ask her to go swimming.

Clearing his throat, William spoke over the rest of them with his deep booming voice. "Hey, Danny, yeah I think I would love to go swimming. How ?bout you guys...David, Joseph? Alys...do you and Mara wanna go? I'll tell mom." And so he saved the day once again. He looked at Danny and shook his head lightly, making his displeasure very clear. They might be the best of friends but he would stand for no nonsense where his little sister was concerned. He pretend jokingly shouldered him as he mouthed the words, "My father," and that was all he said, arching a golden brow and tilting his head in the direction of his father, walking their way. He didn?t necessarily had a problem with Danny spending time with Alys, he trusted his friend, but he didn?t want something to be said where his father could hear and take it out on his little sister. Besides, the idea of swimming with the Brooks girl was not an unpleasant one at all.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 16:55 EST
"S-s-so s-s-sorry, Danny!" And she swallowed heavily as his hands engulfed her much smaller one and drew it towards his face. Her lashes lowered slightly until he released her hand which she snatched back like he had burned her. Head tilted ever so slightly, honey colored curls spilling over one of her shoulders, she watched curiously as he stared at her. She decided he must be thinking just how ugly she really is, so she took a step back from him and then froze in her tracks when he spoke.

"I-I'm n-not? You d-don't th-think I-I'm d-dumb?" And whatever opinion she had, deciding he was so angelic earlier, just intensified. Hearing how dumb she was numerous times a day, it was like water to a man in the desert, his kind words. Even if he didn't really and truly mean them. He said them and that made her feel pretty good.

She was just about to agree to go swimming, though she knew it was a sin to be alone with a boy, her father and the preacher man told her this before. She spotted her father stalking over to them and took another step backwards, eyes widening guiltily. Then sweet William saved her once again. She glanced over at him and nodded her head slightly. "Yeah, Willy, I'll go get Mara." And gone was the stutter, as there was no nervousness with her brother. Her gaze flashed to Danny momentarily, and she forced down the gasp at seeing so much exposed skin, forcing her eyes up to gaze upon something safer than his belly. Such a scandalous boy he was! A deep blush rushed over her delicate features and she sped off towards the barn, careful to avoid her father's path.

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 16:57 EST
Taken from live play and posted with permission from the player of Daniel Brooks.


Danny wasn't intimidated by the much taller William. For one, they were friends; and Danny had both been hit by and hit larger men than him on the football field and in his martial arts classes. It wasn't arrogance, but just confidence and a no-fear mindset he had. Next time he would have to be more subtle with his suggestion, but he chuckled and nodded to William. "Yeah, of course everyone is invited. I was just asking Alys first since she was here and got me a drink so I was being nice," he grinned as he lied through his teeth. William wasn't the only one who had thought about engaging the old man. It infuriated Danny to see Alys treated so poorly and the fact he knew of the violence. But his mother and father had made sure to keep Danny from anything that may jeopardize his future, and that included a nasty spat with an older man.

His attention was back to Alys and he laughed, trying to keep the mood light with the overbearing tension rising. "Don't be sorry, silly! And nope, you're not dumb at all. I mean, you know, I think you're pretty smart and cool and..." of course he wanted to admit something else, that there were feelings for her he couldn't quite wrap into words or a physical expression, but they had to remain to himself thanks to both his inability to voice them, and because of the lack of privacy. "And you're very nice to make pie and tea!"

He almost winced, thinking how lame that was. But instead he smiled toward her before she sped off, dropping his shirt after she caught that glance. It seemed like he caught the flicker of a glance and blush, as he was biting his lips to contain a smile.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 17:01 EST
The excitement that had bubbled up at his invitation, which she had taken so personally, was exhaled as she listened to him explain to her brother, his reasoning in asking her along. The hint of a shy smile that had tugged at the corners of her lips fell away to show her disappointment for the briefest of moments before the mask of indifference was again in place. This was the look that Alystelle wore most, indifference. She feigned indifference at a life more unfair than she would ever be able to voice.

She shook herself out of the sudden melancholy that threatened to break that mask upon her face, chastising herself mentally once again for being a silly ugly little thing that someone like Daniel Brooks couldn?t possibly be interested in. Not that she wanted him to be! She knew that was wrong, wanting a boy to notice her.

She placed a much practiced smile upon her face, the very same one she gave anyone that had somehow managed to injure her feelings. She wasn?t being unfair to Danny in being upset, she didn?t blame him one bit for the way he was with her. He was a very nice boy, a boy with manners; therefore it made sense that he would be nice to her for bringing him a drink. She never would have believed he was doing anything other than being nice even if he had not made his motive clear.

And then he was speaking to her again, why would he waste his time trying to make her feel better, she wondered. ?I-I th-think you are v-very n-nice and s-s-smart and c-cool t-t-too, D-D-Danny. I-I?ll m-make you t-t-tea and g-give you s-s-some p-p-pie anyt-t-time you w-want.? She nodded slightly to punctuate that profession. Of course, she didn?t mean it in any way other than she would bake him a pie, she didn?t have his ability with double entendres nor the knowledge it took to make them effective. Such an innocent, she was.

She ran towards the barn, stripping off the pink ruffled apron that was tied around her waist. She located Mara, speaking with her mother and walked towards them, pausing once she arrived. She stood back politely and waited for them to finish their conversation, peering around the barn at the party-goers. ?Alystelle, we are finished speaking, thank you for your patience and your manners.? Mrs. Brooks had the friendliest smile and the kindest green eyes. Alys found herself gazing into them and letting down her guard just a little. She spoke very softly, her stutter still present but not as pronounced as with the woman?s son. ?Th-thank you Mrs. B-Brooks. I h-hope you are h-having a f-fine t-time.?

Mara Brooks

Date: 2011-06-09 17:03 EST
Daniel?s mother smiled warmly at the girl, then studied her silently as she watched Alys draw Mara away for a private teenage girl conversation that she was certain involved Daniel and William. Mrs. Brooks was not at all fooled by her son, Alys, Mara, or William. She knew her children harbored feelings, teenage first love, for the pair of Makayen children. Unlike her husband, Mrs. Brooks had no objections and no intentions of standing in the way of Danny and Alys. She knew her son was able to balance his feelings for the girl with what was necessary to secure his future. In fact, she was convinced that Danny performed better when Alys was around to watch, she had witnessed that a few minutes earlier. She smiled a little as she heard Mara?s gleeful squeal, no doubt it was something to do with the eldest Makayen boy, whom Mrs. Brooks found to be one of these sweetest natured people she had ever known.

What had Mara squealing, of course, was the fact that William had asked Alys if Mara wanted to go swimming as well. The girl was absolutely smitten with the older boy and she didn?t hesitate to toss up a hand to her mother in a ?see you later? gesture before grabbing Alys by the hand and dragging her off to her house to put on swimsuits. Alys had to wear a much more modest suit and cover up with a t-shirt and shorts as well or her father would switch her legs until welts cropped up. So, for her sake, Mara always wore a more modest than usual suit so as not to make Alys feel like she was missing out. The girls grabbed six towels and stuffed them into a bag along with other essentials.

Before they left the house, Mara grabbed Alys? hand again and smiled. ?Someday we are going to be real sisters, Alys. I will marry William and you will marry Daniel and all of us will live somewhere together where no one will ever hurt you again. Daniel will take care of you just like William does.? Such teenage naivety, and definitely not shared by Alys.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 17:04 EST
She blinked rapidly in shock and shook her head. ?No, Mara, I won?t marry Daniel. He is real nice and I am glad we are friends but that doesn?t mean we will get married. When you marry my brother, it will be the best day of my life, though. You are already my sister.? She hugged Mara impulsively and then giggled a little, grabbing her friend?s hand and dragging her out the door. ?You get the others started for the pond, I need to go get something.?


Alys snuck off to the barn as the other kids ran off to the pond and grabbed a piece (for Daniel of course) of the apple pie she had baked, covering it with a napkin, before she followed them. She was actually smiling again, a rare thing for her most days. Today, however, was not most days. Today she could laugh and swim and play with the other kids and pretend her life was not as bad as it really was. And even though he didn?t like her in the same way, Daniel was there. Not that she liked him in any way other than a family friend, of course!!

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 17:06 EST
William watched his sister and Mara Brooks emerge from the house finally. A goofy grin turned up the corners of his lips, seeing that they had changed clothes, which could mean only one thing?Mara was in a swimsuit. Now normally, William was the poster child for gentlemanly behavior. He had no intentions of behaving in less than a gentlemanly fashion towards her today but he didn?t see a problem with sneaking a peek or two.

He glanced around for his father, bright blue eyes tracking where the man had moved off to once Alys was no longer talking to Danny. He nodded to himself in satisfaction, knowing that his father could play horseshoes for hours and never notice what was going on around him. They could probably get to the pond and have a great time without him ruining it.

He watched Mara and Alys separate and frowned slightly as his sister went into the barn and Mara came striding over. ?What is she up to, Mara? We need to get out of here if we are gonna go.? He ran a work roughened hand through his short raggedy blonde hair in exasperation. ?You know what, I?m just gonna go get her. If my father sees me with her, he won?t pay any attention like he would if she was alone. Can you go round up the others and get them started towards the pond and then meet me back here? Alys and I will walk down there with you.? He quirked a little smile her way, a wink of one of those dazzling blue eyes also offered, and he was off to the barn to collect his wayward sibling before luck ran out and his father happened to notice something amiss.

Mara Brooks

Date: 2011-06-09 17:08 EST
Mara had been surprised at Alys? denial of her future marriage to Danny. All of the siblings of the two families knew that Danny had a crush on Alys and that Alys had a crush on Danny. They also knew that the two miscommunicated more often than not. No one said a word, the younger boys because Danny would administer butt-kickings in retaliation, William and Mara because they had their own non-romance to deal with and they really just wanted the two to work it out together.

Sometimes Mara just forgot how horribly shy and backwards Alys was with boys. It never ceased to amaze her how her friend suddenly dissolved into a stuttering heap of nerves anytime Danny was around even though they had spent the past eight years in one-another?s company frequently. Their families were close; the six of them had all been friends without any difficulty in their relationships with one another until a couple of years ago. Then suddenly Alys stuttered whenever Danny was around and Danny behaved like some ridiculous goof. Mara herself had become a giggling silly girl. David had become more brooding around Danny and Alys and tried to show off all the time, Joseph more insistent to join every single game or interaction. The only one that Mara thought hadn?t changed was William. Stalwart William was the glue that kept them altogether, or so decided Mara.

Mara blinked out of her musings and lightly shrugged her shoulders. ?She told me to get everyone started for the pond because she had to get something.? At the mention of Mr. Makayen, Mara cringed a little. ?Yeah, sure thing William, God knows that girl doesn?t need any more trouble with your dad.? She almost stammered the last couple of words as he smiled her way and winked. Mouth suddenly dry, she turned abruptly to go find Danny, David, and Joseph to tell them to go to the pond.

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-09 19:30 EST
Danny saw that flicker of disappointment and felt his heart sink to his stomach. He knew what she thought and he silently cursed himself for allowing it to happen. But before he could say anything else she was off toward the barn and he was standing still and smacking a palm against his forehead. Muttering about how dumb he was as he started to walk toward the pond, tucking the football under an arm. The wheels started to turn on how he could sneak off with Alys once they were at the pond, or how he could get her alone and away from everyone else. And of course trying to think of how to impress her, with what dives he could perform off of trees to try to show off. He did have some moves! He knew the others would catch up with him soon enough, but he was still impatient; constantly glancing back over his shoulder. Though really maybe he just wanted to see Alys in a swimsuit... or maybe she would finally sneak out with a bikini!

He grinned a goofy grin as he imagined the shy girl rocking a bikini like he saw in magazines, though he knew the odds were small and he wouldn't ever suggest it since it would likely only bring her more pain from her father. He then frowned at that -- he had no idea why his own mom and dad didn't try to stop the man more. He knew his father would sometimes speak up his disapproval, but he was a man who strongly believed it wasn't right for him to voice how others should raise their children.

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-09 19:53 EST
David and Joseph had been instructed by Mara to go to the pond, so they did. It didn?t take the boys long to catch up to Danny since they were running at top speed, racing one another as they were wont to do since Joseph had become so competitive recently. David, of course, backed off a little to give the younger boy a fighting chance.

William caught up to Alys just as she came out of the barn carrying that one piece of pie. A golden brow arched at her in question. ?Alys, we need to go if we are going. You are holding up the fun because you wanted a piece of pie? Since when do you even eat pie?? He took the laden bag from her shoulder and placed it upon his own and smiled at her. ?Dad is playing horseshoes so I think we should all be able to have fun without him noticing.? His gaze became serious once again as he stopped her and turned her to face him. ?Please don?t have a false sense of security over this and do something you know he would be mad at you for.? He didn?t mention Danny?s name but the silence spoke it in volumes.

William knew how his sister felt for his best friend. He also knew how Danny felt about her. Could he have gotten involved and helped the two settle everything? Sure he could have. Then he would have to watch out for her even more to keep her from doing something impulsive like sneaking off to see Danny alone. Oh he trusted Alys and somewhat trusted Danny not to overstep the boundaries but even innocent meetings would be construed as something far more explicit by their father and therefore would elicit extreme consequences from the man. William did not want to have to put the old man down, but he knew he would. He also knew it would do no good for Alys or himself if that happened. So he added quietly, ?Leese, please just keep your head out of the clouds today. I don?t want you to have to deal with dad, alright?? He smiled gently at her and turned to walk back to where Mara was waiting for them.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 19:54 EST
Alys was still smiling when William met up with her outside the barn. She giggled softly at his quizzical gaze and question. ?I don?t eat pie, it?s for Danny. He told me he wanted some of it so I thought it would be nice to bring him some.? She shrugged lightly and allowed him to take the bag from her, offering a quick ?thank you, Willy? and a wide grin at the news of their father being busy.

?Oh William, you worry far too much. What do you take me for anyway, a Jezebel?? Oh yes, she threw out her father?s favorite pet name for her and looked away when she accomplished her goal and saw William flinch. A soft sigh was heaved, ?I?m sorry. I am just so sick to death of not being allowed to do anything. I wouldn?t do anything I shouldn?t if I just had a little freedom to breathe without him coming down on me like a lightning bolt striking metal.?

She pinched William?s cheek teasingly and began walking again, ?Don?t worry, Willy?I don?t plan to get into trouble tonight.? That piece of pie was clutched to her chest securely as she began to run towards Mara, giggling as her good mood returned. She was about to have a few hours of near freedom.

Once they reached Mara, the three hurried towards the pond which was far enough away that no one at the barn or surrounding area would hear or see the Brooks and Makayen brood. Alys slowed her steps as they caught up with Danny and glanced at him through her peripheral vision, smiling shyly. "I-I b-brought you s-s-some p-pie. You s-s-said you wanted s-s-some of my p-pie." She stopped and held out the plate and napkin gingerly, careful not to smack him in the chest this time like she had with the tea. "You d-don't h-have t-to eat it, th-though." She peered up at him from beneath that thick veil of golden brown lashes, blinking a little nervously.

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-09 20:05 EST
"I do want to eat your pie," he said smoothly, his voice dropped low as he added what he thought was a flirtatious tone. Danny turned his head to flash that large lopsided grin to Alys, glad that she approached him after he inadvertently hurt her feelings before. His hand took the plate and napkin, again boldly sliding his hands over hers as he did so. "You look very pretty tonight." So she wasn't in a revealing swimsuit, it didn't much matter. He always felt a little lightheaded when she was around him, and her natural good-looks were enough without her having to show a lot of skin like some of the girls at school.

Not fearing a cramp, he devoured the pie, but was thoughtful enough to not chew directly in front of her, as he turned away when chomping and swallowing. The plate and napkin was set down on the path so they'd not forget it, and Danny snagged one of her hands as he tugged her toward the pond; and maybe a little bit away from everyone else. "Thank you very much for the pie!" he still grinned broadly as he glanced back at her. "So, uh, did you see that fake I put on your brother at the game? He thought he had me! I've been working on my moves even though I probably won't play running back in college. Do you wanna see some of the new flips I can do for the pond?" Nervous rambling as his hand squeezed around hers, brows lifting with each question and new train of thought he voiced.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 20:36 EST
Cerulean depths blinked a few times in confusion at his change in tone. As was the norm for the two, she knew he was teasing her and she just wasn?t getting it. This never upset her; instead it caused her to laugh because he sounded a little goofy with his voice lowering like it did.

The combination of that grin and his hand touching hers mixed with the compliment on her looks, though she knew he was just being polite, was enough to make her nervousness increase tenfold. ?Th-th..? gulp, ?th-thank y-you, D-Danny.? She blushed from her roots to her toes, from the mention of being pretty and from the embarrassment of that stutter that seemed to be worse in his presence. She was sure he thought her a terrible companion on this little excursion, so it was with great confusion that she followed along once he grabbed her hand and started to pull her behind him.

She smiled a little more brightly at his thanks for the pie, happy she had finally done something right. He was smiling so big it was just contagious and she felt herself start to relax a little as he talked. She snickered a little under her breath as his thoughts seemed to just shift to something new as suddenly as they were voiced. She swallowed a few times as his hand squeezed hers, brows furrowing a little in confusion. She blinked away the questions racing through her mind and forced the smile back upon her lips, not a difficult feat as his face was so animated, she was soon giggling again.

Surprisingly enough, she knew a little about football, considering her older brother was one of her best friends and he told her all about the sport once she voiced an interest. She never did admit the reason she had the interest and William never did admit he knew the reason. They had a sort of understanding when it came to Danny. She nodded a little excitedly and outright grinned, ?Sh-sure I wanna s-see the flips! And William rushed st-straight at you and you w-waited until the very last s-second and t-twirled out of his way. It w-was amazing and b-beautiful. Very g-graceful!? Her stutter was considerably less but it was her actual words that had her blushing profusely now, having never admitted to him or anyone that she thought he was beautiful. Not handsome, but beautiful?like something an artist sculpted. Yep, the shy little wallflower had a serious crush or maybe it was more, considering how many years it had been harbored. She cleared her throat and averted her gaze from his face, fearing the rejection she knew would come

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-09 21:15 EST
"Yeah, you think so?" he lit up as bright as the moon in the night sky as she gave that compliment. "I've been working on it! It's sorta like dancing. We should dance tonight! Maybe get the radio and they'll play some slow song?" Again going all over the place as thoughts spilled to words without filter. Once the pond was reached he released her hand and dropped it to the bottom of his shirt where he tugged it up and over his head and dropped it to the ground. Shoes and socks followed, and then he was pushing his athletic shorts down to leave him in a pair of dark boxer shorts.

Danny was slightly aware that he had a good body, lean and athletic, but he didn't consciously show it off. He was just comfortable with undressing in front of others, having done it a lot for football, and it was normal to take trips to the pond and hop in without bothering to get swim trunks first. And he had been like this a lot of times in front of Alys, though now was different.

He suddenly felt a little embarrassed to be half-naked in front of her, and he hid it by laughing nervously and rubbing the back of his neck. "So, um... I'm gonna do a big dive off the tree! Be sure you watch!" And he nodded a few times, very quickly. Weight shifted from foot to foot as he lingered in front of her, obviously debating something. Then the debate settled, he leaned toward her and smacked his puckered lips across hers, so fast that it was likely neither of them would really register that it happened until he was already scrambling up the tree, which is where he was now.

"That was for luck!" he shouted back to her as he reached a heavy branch. He kept his balance as he ran forward toward the pond, launching himself off the branch and doing a backflip in mid-air. He didn't land as nice as a diver could, and it was almost a belly flop, but at least the turn in the air looked graceful!

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 22:02 EST
?I r-really th-think s-so,? was her very soft reply, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. He melted away her momentary insecurity, though not overall, with the expression upon his face. The rejection she had been awaiting never came, instead an invitation of sorts. ?D-Dance? A s-slow s-s-song?? She swallowed and nodded a little. ?M-Mara packed a r-r-radio. B-but I-I d-don?t know how t-to d-dance. My d-daddy s-s-says it?s a s-sin.? Her gaze averted once again, ashamed that she didn?t know how to dance and even more ashamed that her heart had leapt within her chest at the thought of dancing. She had seen Mara dance and had wanted to try but was so afraid of what her father had told her, she had never attempted.

She gasped in shock as he stripped down to his boxers, turning her head so she wasn?t looking. Her gaze shifted over to where her brother and Mara were splashing in the water, delicate brows arched as she noticed her brother ,whom had been taught the same as she had, was without a shirt and was swimming in his boxers. Mara was swimming in her swimsuit but without her t-shirt and shorts covering. Alys wasn?t sure if she was the only non-corrupt person here or if she was the only boring one. She did steal another glance at Danny, still frowning a little since she had no idea what she was supposed to say or do as he stood there, moving from foot to foot.
Just as she was going to respond to his admonition to watch his dive, he leaned in and gave her that chaste little kiss. Only it wasn?t so chaste to her. It was the first kiss she had experienced and it took a full couple of minutes for her brain to register what had happened. Her hand lifted to press fingertips of her first two fingers to her lips as she watched him, now utterly confused. She really wasn?t a dim witted individual, just suffering from extremely low self-esteem so it just made no sense what-so-ever to her that he had kissed her.

She watched him back flip in midair and applauded. Once he entered the water, she stepped away from the bank where she had been standing and went to sit close to where Mara and her brother were swimming. They probably wanted their own privacy but Alys was too confused to even bother with thinking of their needs. She needed to think. She needed to process. What was an innocent little kiss to Danny shook her up and made her question her own morals. He probably had no idea just how religious her father was and what teaching had been crammed into her head. Her knees were drawn to her chest, arms folded upon her knees and her chin was placed upon her arms as she glanced at him out of the side of her eye.

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-09 22:21 EST
As he came up he blinked around, grinning as he asked "Did ya see that?" before he could really see. Dripping water was pushed from his eyes and he saw she had moved away and had something of a distant look to her face. Uh oh, maybe she didn't like that kiss? Maybe she didn't like him the way he liked her? His brows furrowed as he waded to the edge of the pond and climbed out, water dripping down his body and his boxers clinging tightly to his body. The night was unusually warm, so he wasn't cold as he walked out without any towel to dry himself. He slowly came up toward Aly, pushing damp hair back away from his face. "Um, you okay, Alys? You're not mad at me, are ya?"

He glanced to the side to see if the others were watching them, though they seemed busy and preoccupied with each other. It was good enough for him to see his sister and brother and friends having a good time. He was always the protective older brother and so when they were happy, he was happy. Except in this case where it seemed like this girl who he had a crush on, and yes, deeper feelings that rivaled her own, seemed to be distant and maybe upset at him. Again he shifted weight as he stood beside her, doing his best to not drip on her.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 22:54 EST
From the corner of her eye she saw him emerge from the water, heard him ask if she had seen his dive. Turning her head to watch his approach, cheek laying against her forearms upon her knees, she nodded lightly, ?I-I s-saw it. N-nice f-flip.? She watched the water drip from him and lifted her head so she could turn away from him to fish out a large towel from the big bag of essentials she and Mara had packed. The towel was held up to him, as she shook her head, speaking softly. ?I-I?m n-not m-mad, D-Danny.? That was all she could really say at the moment.

Her gaze returned to watch William and Mara once again, noticing this time that the two were both facing them, listening to the exchange. ?D-Do you w-want to s-s-sit w-with m-me?? She asked so quietly he might not have heard her, suddenly so shy she felt ready to run as far from him as she could.

A wave was directed at Mara and William so they would stop worrying about her and go back to their fun. She envied their fun, honestly and admitted as much to him at that moment. ?Th-they are s-s-so lucky. N-no w-worries, h-having s-s-so much f-fun.? Her head was tilted as she watched them, honey kissed curls spilling over one of her shoulders. Staring in amazement at her brother, she wondered how he was able to just let loose and have fun, going against everything their parents had taught them. She decided she would talk with him about this later. Her gaze shifted over to Daniel, an uncertain smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-09 23:37 EST
He took the offered towel and sat next to her, legs crossed under his body Indian-style. Using the towel to wipe off his head first, then shoulders. Close enough so their arms were touching at the sides, his green eyes finding her gaze once turned upon him, a smile sent back to her. "I'd love to sit with you!" as if it wasn't obvious as he had already planted himself next to her and was in contact with her arm. "And yeah, I know. I kinda wish we'd be able to do that. Just have fun and dance and not worry," his voice was soft and not accusatory, he knew why she was so reserved. But it didn't change anything regarding how he felt about her.

He wasn't impatient, just hoping that someday she would be with him and not under the threat of her father, and he tried to offer that hope to her. He let one hand squeeze her knee; hardly inappropriate contact but not without showing affection. Especially when it was combined with the warm smile on his lips and the small gleam in his eyes. "So, um, you know I like you a lot, Alys," the words came out quietly, and somewhat randomly much to his surprise. It was just that thought coming out without him actually thinking before speaking. "So if there's anything you want or that I can do..."

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-09 23:38 EST
She swallowed heavily as he made comment about William and Mara, nodding almost imperceptibly. Her voice matched his in volume and tone, though hers was a little incredulous. ?You w-want t-to d-dance w-with m-me r-r-really? W-why?? Cerulean hues were widened a little in disbelief, she just could not grasp the concept of Daniel Brooks wanting to dance with her. And if that wasn?t enough of a shock, something that she could not wrap her teenage mind around, he dropped another bombshell on her, along with the hand on her knee and that smile that had fueled her mental escape when times were at their worst in her home.

Her mouth suddenly felt like cotton, dry and unable to form words appropriately. She tried, gave it her best effort, stutter be damned. Her hand rested at the hollow of her throat as she turned that dazzling blue gaze upon him fully, eyes widened. ?I-I-I?? She struggled with the words, growing so frustrated she actually growled lightly, quite an outburst for the little wallflower. She tried again with similar results and just gave up trying to speak to him, flustered and embarrassed beyond imagining. She had no verbal outlet for her feelings so she made the boldest move of her young life and tentatively slipped her much smaller hand into his larger one, fingers curling lightly around his. She was able to keep her gaze upon him for a moment longer before she bashfully looked away, surprised by her own audacity, though not surprised enough to remove her hand from his.

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-10 00:05 EST
"Well, dancing would be fun, I think. Just to kinda be close to you and all that," he mused, finding it difficult to say what the appeal was directly. It was being close, to have her head against his shoulder, to let her feel and hear the sound of his beating heart. Many things could happen and be communicated in that unspoken dance, where lyrics and movements did all the talking. The smile stayed on his face, eyebrows lifting a little and the grin turning somewhat lopsided as she growled; that wasn't anything he had ever heard from her before! But then she was slipping her hand into his, which he instinctively returned by squeezing it with a firm grip. Absolutely leveled by that gaze of hers, her eyes more devastating than any tackle he'd ever been hit by on the football field. He felt a lump in his throat and his body was suddenly flushed and hot, despite still being damp and mostly undressed. This was an internal heat being pumped through his veins.

It was the first step toward something more, he just knew it, and he had never been happier in his young life. As her face turned away he leaned in again and brushed his lips across her cheek, letting them linger this time so he could maintain the proximity to her, and allow himself to breathe in her sweet scent and bask in the rush he felt in his belly of being so close to the girl he had felt these feelings for; for as long as he could remember.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-10 19:52 EST
Surprising herself once again, she nodded immediately in agreement when he said dancing would be fun and for the exact reason he listed. She was rather shocked at her own forwardness, first holding his hand and now imagining what it would be like to dance? and to dance with him.

They were of a similar mind at the moment regarding ways to communicate. She was still mentally kicking herself for being so tongue tied that she couldn?t convey to him what she needed to. She was relatively certain this was because it was a sin to like a boy, just like her parents told her, and to confess something of this nature at her age while unmarried was probably even worse. Being certain that her father had told her the truth and she had just experienced the result of that truth still didn?t stop her from wishing she could tell Danny. The girl was stubborn if she was anything. No one liked her the way Danny did. She didn?t want him to confess this to her and not be able to reciprocate, no matter if it was wrong.

The way his grin turned crooked when she growled almost caused her to laugh, a little grin did twist upon her lips, feeling a bit out of place. Somehow he was always able to cause such a reaction, no matter how down in the dumps or nervous she was. She knew he wasn?t making fun of her stutter, he acted like he never noticed it at all?another thing she was exceedingly grateful for. Her heart pitter-pattered when he squeezed her hand and that silly grin promptly turned into an introverted smile.

The lingering press of his lips to her cheek caused golden brown lashes to flutter closed as her fingers curled a little more tightly around his. She knew she should pull away from him, but she made a decision in that instant. For this one moment she was going to be happy. A kiss on the cheek wasn?t that immoral, after all. With that decision, the tension seemed to flee. When she moved her lips to speak, the words flowed smooth as honey, no trace of the stutter though her voice was barely more than a whisper. ?I really?like you too, Danny.?

Will Makayen

Date: 2011-06-10 23:04 EST
William tried not to impose upon his sister?s privacy but he was frowning a little at her and Danny being away from the rest of the group. If their father walked up right now, she would be in so much trouble there would be nothing William could do to help her. He watched Danny kiss her and caught himself before he walked over behaving like some macho big brother. Alystelle deserved some happiness. Even if she was playing a dangerous game by behaving this way out in the open where she could be caught. It couldn?t be with a guy he trusted more than Danny, so he took a deep breath and ran a hand through his ragged blonde hair and climbed a tree on the opposite bank of the pond and then swung back and forth before flipping in midair and landing in the water. Bright blue eyes searched until he found Mara to be sure she had been watching.

He was stripped down and behaving in the exact opposite way he had been raised. That was simply because he didn?t buy into all of the nonsense his parent?s spouted off. He had wanted to talk to Alys about it so many times but decided she needed to come to her own conclusions regarding the truth of matters. He was doing nothing that could be misconstrued as anything dishonorable so he had no problem with himself. His gaze shifted back to Mara, the corner of his lips ticking up in a grin. "Are you afraid to mess up your hair or something, Mara? Or maybe you think there is a monster in the pond? I promise I'll protect you." He was laughing outright now.

Mara Brooks

Date: 2011-06-10 23:25 EST
Mara had been watching Alystelle and her brother for the entirety of this exchange, from the moment that Alys separated from her and William?s sides. Unlike William, she had no desire to try to break up the scene. Sure she knew Alys was treading foreign waters but she knew her brother was as well. She also knew how her brother felt about Alys and he wouldn?t take advantage of the younger girl. She almost squealed when she saw him kiss her best friend and then snickered when he ran off. God but he was goofy around Alys.

She probably wouldn?t have been nearly so focused upon the two of them if William had taken some interest in her. She sighed as she watched him swing off of a branch like Tarzan into the pond, flipping like her brother did in midair, though not backwards. ?Showoff!? She half laughed at him as she pulled the CD player from the overstuffed bag of essentials she and Alys had packed. A mixed CD was removed from its case and inserted into the player, she pushed play and then turned it up.

She heard William taunting her so she jumped up and quickly removed her shirt and shorts to reveal a modest one piece suit, definitely not her norm. She jumped into the water with a little scream before her body grew used to the cool water, immediately splashing at William. ?I?ll show you who is afraid, you are gonna be crying for mercy by the time I am done!? She swam over and hopped onto his back with her arms atop his head to try to force him under the surface of the water, laughing hysterically the whole time. This was all going on as Danny and Alys were sitting there holding hands. An oh-so-appropriate song was suddenly flowing into the warm evening air and Mara stopped trying to dunk William, glancing over at her brother and Alys with a little smile upon her lips.

We're both looking for something
We've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide

Looking at you, holding my breath,
For once in my life, I'm scared to death,
I'm taking a chance, letting you inside.

Feeling alive all over again,
As deep as the sky, under my skin
Like being in love, she says
For the first time
Maybe I'm wrong,
But I'm feeling right where I belong
With you tonight
Like being in love
To feel for the first time

The world that I see inside you
Waiting to come to life
Waking me up to dreaming
Reality in your eyes

Looking at you, holding my breath,
For once in my life, I'm scared to death,
I'm taking a chance, letting you inside.

I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as the sky that's under my skin
Like being in love, she says, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Where I belong with you tonight
Like being in love to feel for the first time

We're crashing
Into the unknown
We're lost in this
But it feels like home

I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as the sky that's under my skin
Like being in love, she says, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Where I belong with you tonight
Like being in love to feel for the first time

"First Time"~Lifehouse

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-11 00:36 EST
He was sure that they were secluded enough and in a position where if her father were to approach they would be able to take notice and be sure that he wouldn't see the private get-together between himself and Alys. Besides at this point if her father threatened her, Danny was at a point that he would lay the man out without giving thought to it; she was opening up and seemed happy and he would not let anything ruin this moment for either of them.

Lips lingered over her soft cheek for another heartbeat or two before he pulled back, catching those words and plucking them from the air. The unusual smoothness and the lack of stutter was immediately noticed, and he felt a shudder shake through his entire body from it. At that moment he felt like he could fly, this sweet and shy and magnificent girl who he had silently held a torch for and admired for years was reciprocating the feelings for him. She was so special and seemed like she was unattainable, he barely hoped that a moment like this would ever happen, yet here it was. Everything else was pushed to the background as he attuned his eyes to her face and concentrated on the feeling of her hand in his, adjusting it so his longer fingers entwined in hers. He then lifted her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it as a young gentleman who was courting a sweet farm girl should.

Suddenly, a moment after he finally registered all of that, and immediately grew excited, nearly bouncing as he sat. "You do?!? I mean, I've liked you for a long time and it's like, a really really deep sort of like that I dunno, might be something else, and I've wanted to like, ask you out and do stuff with you for so long but I didn't know if you wanted to..." He rambled on, not quite sure what he was saying as he spilled out things that had been on his mind and tip of his tongue for so long. But here he was, gazing upon her beautiful and innocent face in the moonlight and he swore he would never ever see anything in his life that would compare; she was like the girl that poets wrote sonnets for. And he knew he would one day take her away from all of this so they could have their storybook ending.

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-11 01:07 EST
Her free hand lifted to press to his cheek as his lips lingered for another moment, eyes still closed, soft smile still resting upon her lips. That smile widened further as he kissed the back of her hand and she finally dropped her hand from his cheek once he started speaking.

She nodded as she forced her gaze to his, deciding this wasn?t a moment to be the wallflower. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure he could hear it from where he sat next to her. Swallowing, she worked her jaw a couple of times to speak in response to him and found herself silenced once more. She closed her eyes again and took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to relax herself enough that she could speak. The words finally formed upon her lips and she spoke very softly and slowly and to ensure that stutter remained at bay long enough for her to voice her feelings. Cerulean hues met the gaze of forest greens and held this time. ?I do. A lot?more than a lot. I have for years. I didn?t think someone like you?? Thin shoulders were shrugged a little to emphasize that it didn?t matter what she had thought.

It was a very surprising thing, her not even doubting that he was being sincere. Very unusual considering her self-esteem issues. Somehow she just knew he told the truth about his feelings. She felt it as much as she felt her own. She reached up once again, timidly at first then gaining confidence from the look in his eyes, and rested the palm of her free hand to his cheek. ?I?m happy.? She was, probably for one of the few times in her life, completely happy and at ease.

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-11 17:59 EST
"You didn't think someone like me what?" the question was asked, his voice soft and the inflection showing that he already knew the answer; or at least he knew it deep down. He very well could have asked her the same thing and known exactly what the response would be. Forest green eyes were held captive by her deep pools of blue, and he felt like this was the beginning of what he had hoped would start for years. Holding her hand, spending time alone with her, away from the troubles of the world; her father, the expectations placed upon him... This was it.

His head tilted so his cheek could be nuzzled by her hand as he was acutley aware of the feeling of her touch upon him. He was also aware that he was staring right into her eyes, that his heart was racing faster than it ever had before, that his mouth and lips had suddenly gone dry... and that he wanted to kiss her. If he was ever sure of one thing in his life, it was that. He had wanted to kiss her since they were small children, and now that the both were on the cusp of adulthood, this kiss would mean something. Years and years had been building up to this one, perfect moment. Where he had her so close, their feelings out in the air, and nothing screamed for a kiss to happen as much as this moment did.

Thus, young Danny closed his eyes, tilted his head, and slowly began closing the distance between his puckered lips and hers.

Mara Brooks

Date: 2011-06-11 18:35 EST
Mrs. Brooks was quickly walking along the path that led to the pond. She wasn't calling out to the group for fear she would be heard by the adults back at the barn. Not that she should worry about that, as there was loud live music blaring from the barn and then the loud crooning of teenage angst coming from the CD player Mara had brought out. Still, she exercised caution if for no other reason than her own peace of mind.

The scene she happened upon unexpectedly, though she should have been prepared for it, had her half smiling and half cringing.
She wasn't one of those mothers that commanded her children to never experience what it was like to be a teenager. She knew teenagers danced, flirted, kissed, and fell in and out of their little puppy love romances. She wanted her children to live their lives to the fullest, to never look back with regrets because they held themselves back. Not to say she wanted them to be wild or do more than the innocent "normal and usual." She wanted them to be kids, plain and simple.

So, she walked into a bittersweet moment between Danny and Alys. She knew her son had cared for this girl for years, before he could call that caring more than a feeling of protective brotherhood or friendship. It had started out as such and she had watched it blossom into so much more. So to interrupt the moment, and she knew it was the first one, that he could finally express his feelings to Alys in a way that only a kiss could...this panged her heart. There was no help for it though.

She coughed loudly as she walked to the pair, intense green eyes focused upon her son. "Mr. Makayen is looking for his children. Your dad is with him and trying to talk about random gossip to slow him down so I could warn you kids." What she was saying, without embarrassing Alys, is that her father was looking for her."Danny, you and I will go for a walk until your hair dries and the other kids will walk back to the barn so that Mr. Makayen can see them all together and perfectly behaved." She turned a warm smile upon Alys, noting that the girl still hadn't let go of her son's hand. "Alystelle, darling, we will speak with your mother about you coming with Mara and I for a picnic lunch this week." Her gaze shifted, amused, to Danny. "If my son just so happens to already be at the park, well...there is nothing I can do about that. I wouldn't deny my own child lunch, would I?" Another smile was offered to the girl that had become like a daughter to her over these past eight years.

She walked the short distance over to where Mara and William were splashing and beckoned them out of the water, informing William of the problem and suggested solution so he could go gather the other kids and go back to the barn. A casual gait carried her back to her son and Alys. "Alright, Alys...we will see you at the barn in a little while."

Alystelle

Date: 2011-06-11 19:21 EST
She found it difficult to breathe when he looked at her so intently, and as much as his gaze was held captive, hers was as well. Her eyes, her heart, her very breath were captive in this moment. ?I-I d-didn?t th-think?? She took in a slow breath and exhaled just as slowly, once again calming herself, though never pulling her gaze from his. ?I didn?t think someone like you could like someone like me?in?in that way.?

Her thumb smoothed lightly across his cheek as he tilted into the soft caress. She sucked in a raggedy breath, heart pounding so hard in her chest she was certain ribs would be breaking. Nothing in her life had prepared her for the moment that she would caress Daniel Brooks cheek as he held her hand, stared into her eyes, and leaned in for a?

Panic bubbled up within her until she was gasping for breath, unable to pull away or do anything but widen those deep pools of vivid blue as she watched him inch closer. This was all in slow motion for her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she remembered dreaming this very dream before she had been taught how wrong it was to think of a boy in such a manner.

She was rescued from having to fight between her innocent desire for that kiss vs. what she had been taught. She heard Daniel?s mother cough and quickly turned her head to watch the woman approach, unsure if she was relieved or disappointed by the intrusion.
She heard only the words ?Mr. Makayen? before her heart filled with dread. The feeling must have been plastered upon her face because Mrs. Brooks was smiling awfully sweetly at her. Instead of letting go of Danny?s hand, she tightened her grip as if holding onto him would prevent what she considered to be the inevitable. She nodded as his mother laid out the plan that would hopefully keep her from being blistered with her father?s belt.

Did he feel that same disappointment as she did at the thought of unclasping their hands and disentangling their hearts? She didn?t want to go back yet, even though only a moment earlier she had been in full panic mode when he tried to kiss her. She was confused by her own thoughts and reactions to him but one thing she wasn?t at all confused about was how she felt about him.

The hand that was nuzzling his cheek gave a gentle brush of knuckles over his jaw before withdrawing. She sighed softly and tried to smile and look grateful as Mrs. Brooks spoke of giving her another chance to spend time with him. ?Thank you, ma?am,? was all she said before his mother walked away to speak to William.

Alys leaned forward and pressed a whisper of a kiss to Danny?s cheek before letting go of his hand and standing up. Her voice nearly faltered as she spoke, ?I don?t want to go back. I want to stay with you.? Not a stutter to mar the outpouring of her emotion into that simple statement.

Daniel Brooks

Date: 2011-06-11 20:34 EST
... and Danny felt his heart leaping and doing somersaults for joy as he was about to land his target, but then he heard his mother's voice and Alys turned her head, and he lurched forward and nearly toppled over. At least he was able to stop himself before he fell on top of the poor girl, so in the end he just pulled the most ungraceful attempt at a kiss that his mother -- or anyone else for that matter -- had ever seen. A cough left his throat as a poor attempt to cover for that blunder, and he gave his mom the sweetest smile that he could; the disappointment and embarrassment was likely very clear on his face, but he didn't hate his mom for interrupting. Better her than Alys' father.

He felt the same disappointment at having to release her and that heart which had gone so high now sunk as he faced the prospect of being separated, even if it is just a short period of time. The sigh was cut short as her knuckles traced down his jaw, it was nearly enough to make up for the sadness as her hand released his.

The low was short lived when her lips did eventually touch him, even if it was just a cheek and even if it was barely there. It was still good enough to send a beaming grin to his face and for him to stammer slightly before he could speak. If this were another time he might wonder if Alys noticed that role reversal between them. "I want you to stay," he was able to voice back, the mixed emotions easily conveyed in the words. It could not and would not happen, and it was for the best that it did not, but it was still difficult to let her go.

And so Danny acted grown-up and responsible and walked away from something he never wanted to walk away from. He went to gather his clothes and find his mother, unsure of what he should discuss with her about tonight. As he walked away, he stole another look back to Alys, wishing he could say and do more before that moment ended; but it had already passed, just a memory that he would vividly remember during countless nights.