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Catalina, California
Sixteen and Seventeen Years Old
Sixteen and Seventeen Years Old
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After dancing together a the bonfire...
Aren nodded, concurring with the need to go back to the condo. Jet lag wore his body down, and his limbs were beginning to feel as though his very bones were made of lead. However, the euphoria from having his old best friend here had kept his spirits high enough that he'd thus far been able to sufficiently ignore the exhaustion, but as she was retreating to her own room, he figured that it was the perfect time for him to follow suit. A sigh escaped him, and he wondered how she intuitively knew that he'd been staying in this room. He reached for the door knob with a chuckle, a few octaves deeper than what she'd remember, "Seriously, Shandra... I can make it to my room without your assistance." The native teased, grinning the same lopsided grin that she'd known from Montana.
And then it dawned on him. Someone else's stuff might have been in the room. Oh no. This was just too good; he'd picked the room that she did. "Moahk... tell me something. Which room is yours?" He'd die if she had chosen this one; apparently all subtlety was lost on Old Man, and he'd wanted to make sure that Shandra's path and his would cross.
Wait. A fleeting thought that he'd brushed aside as nothing more than a prediction of what was to come had Shandra chosen to stay on the reservation, came to the forefront of his mind. Red haired comrade will stand at the crossroads, on one path, the path that will choose which destiny belongs to you. He hadn't understood then. He had three years. Three extra years here. Where would that put him? Five years ago, he'd been so sure of the answer, and even now, his heart beat only to see the mountainous view of Montana.
But Shandra was back in his life. How many of the other things were true as well?
Never again would he question the Shaman's words of wisdom. Too bad she didn't say what he'd decide.
He blinked, forcing him out of his thoughts and to stare back at the red head he'd known so well in their youth. "Looks like we're roomies for the night." The playful tone was thick with implications, and he laughed right after, not able to hold himself to actually entertain that idea.
Shandra didn't say anything for a moment after that. The idea was...rather weird but it wasn't like she hasn't actually shared a house with him before. Shandra shrugged and motioned around, silently indicating that this was her room. She crossed the room and pulled open the closet where her two bags sat. She let the small backpack with her rollerskates in them fall in there too.
"Fine...we'll figure it out in the morning alright?" She tilted her head and then nodded to the bed. "Go ahead, get to sleep...I'm not tired so..."
Not that he needed to know that she didn't actually sleep, but oh well. He'd get the bed - she didn't need it. She just needed a bit of space to do whatever to keep her occupied till morning so she didn't disturb others.
A rush of air escaped his nostrils as Shandra suggested he take the bed. There was no chance in hell that that would happen. A lady would get the bed; that's how it worked. "I'll find a new room at dawn." He said, ignoring for now her other comment.
"But before I even think of sleeping" On the floor, missy, He raised an eyebrow and the corner of his mouth tipped upwards. "I owe you a story."
He sauntered in after her, and plopped down on the floor and took a deep breath so that he could get into the mode of re-creating. Telling one of the old tales passed down from generation to generation required a proper mindset. Aren shook out his hands, releasing himself from the grips of jitters so that his voice would come out like honey, smooth, luring.
"Once in the earliest of summers, when the weather proved too hot for anyone to sleep inside, a beautiful aakíí named Feather-woman slept outside in the high prairie grass..." He finished the story with a smile, as was called for. Poia had always been one of his favorites, and for good reason. It especially fit him now, where he was displaced, just like Feather-woman. She'd made his night, and Aren silently wondered if she realized how much he loved telling stories. Had he ever told her? He couldn't truthfully recall if he'd mentioned what role he wanted when he was of age. But she probably knew anyways; after all, his spirits always livened when someone asked him to tell one of the Blackfoot tales.
After Poia was told, Aren sighed and shook his head with the slightest notion. "By the way... I adamantly refuse to take the bed; the floor suits me just fine, thanks."
Shandra listened politely, attentively even, as Peta continued on with his story. He seemed to throw himself into it, and it gave the story a little more life. The ideas were different from whatever she'd grown up with, but she was so fascinated by the differences. Maybe it was one of the reasons she'd always been good in some of the classes at the academy - even to the point where she was supposed to be tutoring Vallon, though that had gotten put off because of the whole hell thing.
But Peta seemed to have such a connection to the story, more connection than she'd ever felt for something like that. He was so passionate in his telling...smiling and frowning at the right time, his voice raising and lowering in certain points. Deepening and lightening. He really gave himself to the story. Maybe that's what had her so enthralled - that anyone can be that tangled up in the story.
After the story however, it was her turn to frown in the right spot. She crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at him, wondering just what it would take to get him up on that bed and asleep so she can start her quiet exercises. She'd have to wait till he was deep in REM till she actually started to make noises though.
"No...Peta, please just take the bed," Shandra started, her voice so uncertain sounded it really did seem like that had been a question. "I'm not going to need it..."
The redhead paused, her lips still down turned as her forehead creased. Should she tell him? -- She was sure by now he'd figured out that her eyes were glowing and that she was a mutant...but still. She...didn't like telling secrets about herself. But how big of a secret was it?
At the academy, probably not much of one since she didn't really take an insane amount of steps to hide it.
"I don't...actually sleep. So, just...take the bed?"
Wait... She didn't sleep? What the hell? Even if she didn't though, she'd need a place to rest, relax. "No. Sleep or not, I'm taking the floor." His voice was persistent, unchangingly so. Had she forgotten that he had always proved to be the most person she'd ever known?
Even with five years past, she'd have to remember how he'd insisted on everything, all the time.
"Moahk... do you really think that just because you supposedly don't sleep that I'm going to say, 'Okay! I'll go ahead and take control of the bed tonight!'" He rolled his eyes heavenwards with the thought; that would never happen. "Fat chance, Moahk."
He grasped hold of his knees, crossed his legs at his ankles and rocked back and forth. He'd win this one, and she ought to know that. You couldn't out-stubborn a stubborn mule, and in this instance, he was the mule.
"Really...?" Shandra couldn't help but ask, raising an eyebrow at him rocking back and forth. "You...don't want to use the bed even if I'm not going to sleep?"
That idea seemed a little insane to her. He had no qualms about staying in the same room, but taking the bed was apparently off limits. It made her blink a few times - she was sure that if he had understood she wouldn't use it he would. Maybe a little unsure but still. Was he really going to let the bed go to waste?
"Come on Peta, just take the bed. Please?" the redhead tried again, her lips down turned.
She really didn't see why he thought that he needed to be stubborn and refuse. What good would him sleeping on the floor really do? What harm would it be for him just to take the comfortable place...?
"Really...I don't sleep. I was just going to kind of find something to do with my time," which meant read, study, and work out - oh, and maybe steal the bathroom and have a nice soak while everyone was asleep.
He'd just realized that she'd been calling him Peta this whole time. If word got around to the others... and he was made fun of for it, he might have to sock her in her arm. Well, not really... but the image did cause a smile to play in his features. "Shandra... read my lips." He raised a finger to point at his mouth to emphasize his point. "I'm not taking the bed... and you can't call me 'Peta' anymore.. at least. Not in public."
When it was just them, he wouldn't care. But to have a repeat of that damned plane ride... not so much.
"You can do whatever you please. I'm still sleeping on the floor." There was no way she'd ever get him to change his mind, even if she thought her logic was flawless... it wouldn't work on him. Ways of the past? Yes, and he was stuck on them, thanks very much.
Shandra's nose crinkled up lightly, folding her arms. She let out a deep exhale of air as she shook her head. Peta was stubbornly clinging to being all chivalrous, which meant he was clinging to the idea of sleeping on the floor. It really didn't make sense to her, not in the least. But what could she do?
Other than try to move him...
Shandra gave a little "push" with her powers towards him, just to see how on center he really was.
He fell backwards as something pushed him, but he quickly regained his poise before he came to know the floor as his landing pad. ]"Shandra..." Aren shook his head and crossed his arms dramatically across his chest.
"Give up... I'm not taking the bed. Not unless you give me another dance, to a song of my choice this time." That should be enough to keep her from forcing the issue of the bed any further.
And if it wasn't, well it was a win-win situation for him. His eye brow crawled up towards his hairline, waiting for the answer he expected to come: Have fun sleeping on the floor.
The redhead's nose didn't unwrinkled at the thought of him wanting to be bribed with another dance. Damn...she definitely wasn't going to repeat that exercise anytime soon. It had been embarrassing enough the first time and she didn't need him picking out a song either. Although...his music choices were bound to be safer that most stations right? - She wasn't willing to bet that.
"I'll find a way to get you into the bed sooner or later you know..."
But for now, she just started doing sit ups. Hey, it might look odd, but he was the one that didn't want to go to sleep....
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The rest of the night had been a bit amusing. Apparently Peta had wanted to get the quickest room to get out of as well as she had hours previous. Hence why his bag had been found in the room she’d “claimed” as soon as they got there. Only, she supposed it was her fault…she kind of had a habit of tucking her things away. Still, most people seemed to have favored the second story rooms as they were slightly bigger as well as having a better view.
Of course, they found this out when the both of them wondered right into the same room…bumping hands on the doorknob. The whole situation had been rather frustrating and amusing to say the least. Peta wouldn’t give in and just accept the bed. And since neither of them wanted to wake anyone up to go find another room (and Shandra wanted to stay on the bottom floor since she didn’t actually sleep) they both ended up having a stubborn-off over who got the bed…or rather, who didn’t so the other one could. In the end, she ended up just doing random stretches and exercises after listening to the story of Poia.
And she ended up wrapping a thick blanket around him, and tucking a pillow under his (Peta’s) stubborn head before she went back to all the exercises and stretching. Though she noted that it stared to feel better than it should, just the movements in general, the more the sun rose. It was…rather nice. It felt like her whole body was tingling, but in the better way than it did when her powers. She didn’t feel…well, she didn’t feel like she was going to snap someone in half, but instead felt like her whole body was just singing to her.
And the scents coming from the kitchen when someone went to cook ? – Heavenly.
Still… she kept her focus on the stretching and the mostly in place exercises she could put herself through in a near silent fashion using only a small part of the room. She’d taken a few breaks to grab something to drink here and there, but overall she hadn’t rested for more than an hour total – and that was broken up into break times. She was determined to stay in her room and prove to Peta that she doesn’t nor hasn’t slept in a while. She had a feeling that he hadn’t truly believed her. That and she was waiting for everyone to wake up so they could figure out who’d be finding a new room since she had a feeling that it wouldn’t be very conducive to anything if they kept trying to out stubborn each other on this issue.
How big was this place anyways – were there any rooms left? Did they have a mutant with them that could be shipped in or something that could make another room within the day? – The idea of shipping in a mutant in a big crate just to build a room made her giggle.
Oooh, was that bacon she smelt?
The smell of food wafted through the air, catching his senses with a rolling desire to satiate his morning's hunger, and if there'd been any doubts that he was awake, they would have been gone now. Instantly his eyes shot open and he sat upright, with no ill effects from sleeping without a mattress. This though, was likely due to the fact that he was used to it; his grandparents had taken over the boys' room, and he had opted to sleep on the carpet so that his brothers could take the hide-a-bed couch.
Shandra was already awake, unless of course she'd snuck out to find somewhere else to sleep. Doubtful... but a possibility all the same. But he caught a glimpse of fiery red locks and he exhaled a breath that he'd not meant to hold onto. The image of her hair made his hands grab a fistful of his; and he thought about her roundabout way of saying that his was different than the others. He supposed that he could braid it, but that was typically a girl's fashion off of the reservation. Contemplatively, Aren tilted his head to the side and considered how upset the girls would be if he chopped off his lustrous locks. That did it. Aren clambered over to his dufflebag and pulled out a small, handcrafted knife and bunched his hair up into something similar to what was called a "pony tail." He drug the edge of the knife over his hair, and immediately his head felt five pounds lighter.
Hopefully it wouldn't look too bad. But if it did, he'd just have to go beg a native on the island to fix it. Surely one of them would know how to crop hair in a correct fashion. Aren released the grip on his hair and shook it out before he gathered what he'd literally just sliced off and threw it in a sandwich bag that he rummaged from his bag. If he didn't think that sending it home would leave a few of the girls riled up, he'd have thrown it away. But having them fret would make the shipping all worthwhile.
Once done, Aren stole a glance at Shandra, ignoring the hunger for now. When had she gotten so painfully attractive? Sure, she was pretty before, but it was like he was just now noticing it, that he'd only just opened his eyes to gaze upon the beauty she'd become. A coy grin slipped into his features and he hugged his knees, rocking back and forth for a moment before stalking over to her, each lithe step a bit more flirtatious than the last. "Good morning, Shandra."
He didn't stop until he was just in front of her, and he did his best to resist the urge to trail a finger down her cheek. Something wasn't right here. This was Shandra... his best friend so many summers ago.
“Morning,” Shandra replied back, arching her back to feel and hear the satisfying pop as she crossed her legs before she looked back at Peta.
He got in closer, she could almost feel the heat from his body. And just the idea of the warmth was soothing. Why was he so close? Shandra was almost tempted to lean back, but at the same time she wanted to lean foreword into the body heat of the larger framed person in front of her. Honestly, how weird would it have been for her to tackle him just to curl up on top like a cat because of the warmth he was putting out? --- Some part of her was tempted to find out…the other was wondering where the hell that thought came from.
"I'd venture to guess that you didn't sleep, just as you promised." Even if she hadn't - which he suspected to be the case - he'd have not taken the bed she'd insisted upon in a million years. It'd have been rude.
“Nope, didn’t sleep,” Shandra replied, fingering some hair out of her face so it wasn’t just a wild mess despite the braid she’d attempted to put it in – somehow that had come way too loose over the night.
Her pale hand reached out despite herself and ran her hand through the choppy mess that was his hair. Again, she couldn’t help the twinge of remorse that shot through her system. It had been unusual for guys to have such long hair, sure, but it wasn’t unheard of. And now…it was…a startling difference from how she remembered him. When did Peta grow up so much?
“Maybe we could find someone to even it and layer it out?” She offered up, her words just whispers as she brought her hand back to herself.
His eyes bore into hers, an intensity within the chocolate pools that he'd not ever directed at her before, but something within him was.. giddy, excitable. And the sheer sight of her lovely countenance was enough to stir the feelings within him. He winked, actually winked at her was the next line slid from the depths of somewhere he hadn't known existed. "You know.. if you'd needed entertainment for those hours, I'm sure I could have foregone that type of sleep for another kind." What on earth was he saying?
A velvet chuckle escaped his chest, deeper than he'd used before. "If you want to take me up on that later, I'd happily oblige your request." Napi! If she didn't smack him, he would. Just as soon as he was able to do so. Because this wasn't awkward in the least. Hitting on your best friend made you cool. Right.
What the hell is going on?
Shandra had similar (enough) thoughts. When had his voice changed that much? Why did she not want to move away? Her face colored, her skin warming and flushing at his words. Fair skin and honest embarrassment tended to color said fair skin. And like previous times…games were one things – the honest truth often left her with more concerned embarrassment. And by the sound of his voice, that was as honest as it got from him. But it was so different from the Peta she remembered. Right? ---She wasn’t so sure actually…
Why did she still want to curl into the warm chest like a cat? …Something was up. Damn…why did she not care? No…better question when his words registered beyond her remorse for his hair -- When did Peta turn into an Antonio?
“Umm…Peta?” Shandra spoke out, blinking, with uncertainty as she stayed comfortably in her spot – just looking up at him as though he were going to answer some great big mystery for her. “Wha…what?”
Now he had Shandra's attention, and such a feat wasn't an opportunity he was going to miss. The size shifter lightly tapped a finger on her nose and gave off a soft, velvety laugh. "I must have told you this a million times, but the red in your cheeks goes well with those flaming locks of hair. But you know what I'm talking about, Moahk." Aren whispered in her ear, inching closer to her face involuntarily. His eyes fell on her lips and a small grin formed on his; he knew exactly what to do, and his hand came up to cup her cheek and a low, sultry murmuring reached her ear. "This is just the beginning of the invitation."
And with that, he closed the gap between them, locking his mouth on hers in a tender but still demanding kiss. The feeling of her against him sent electricity firing through his veins, and he poured it into what he gave her. His other hand instinctively snaked around her waist and pulled her in closer; the warmth of her was savory, satisfying, and right now, he didn't think he'd ever let her go. He didn't want to let her go; she tasted wonderful, something he'd never even fancied before, and now he wasn't sure if it'd be something he'd ever forget.
Her head cautiously leaned into his hand as he touched her cheek. There was something almost timid to her own movement and she had no idea what she was afraid of, but her movements were almost skittish - unsure more like since she didn't really want to know what was happening. Her face was warm enough, on fire really, but the heat he suggested at was blowing over it like a cool wind. Words...words were...
'Oh, warm.'
She didn't move back, she didn't have to fear about what others thought, she didn't have to worry about it being awkward. How could she when she knew he remembered a slightly more outspoken version of herself? He didn't know the version of her that had flinched away from touch, he had just known the slightly fearful girl who was still trying to deal with running away from home for being a mutant.
Besides, it felt rather nice not to have to care. There was a comfort in the body pressed up against her, in the motion of the arm. Like she was being held down to the earth, a lifeline thrown her way, as it wrapped around her waist. There was an honesty in the movement, a certain ring of truthfulness that felt right. Open, not guarded...not practiced...not anything she was. Physically it felt wonderful, mentally and emotional - She'd let you know when she figured out how to describe the freedom to herself.
But there was a small voice inside his head, urging him to stop because this was just not normal; one didn't neck with their best friend. It wasn't enough to sound his retreat completely though; Shandra hadn't seemed to mind the close proximity. He leaned back to take in the visage that was Shandra's and Shandra's alone."Nitá'painahkimaa... and I think you would be perfect for the position." What was he saying? That he wanted a girlfriend? If he had been in the right mindset he'd have kicked himself again. Not only was it cheesy, and completely unlike him... this was Shandra, the girl who'd followed him around on the reservation for months, the girl that had introduced him to music of her culture, the girl who had been a completely innocent fourteen when he'd met her. And he couldn't see any of that now. The haze that the woman she'd become shrouded all past thoughts of her, blurred the unspoken boundaries that neither he or she had thought to cross.
The hand that had been cupping her face slid downwards to her shoulder and fell to rest there. Why did he want nothing more than to intertwine their bodies together, have the satin feel of her against him? Something was wrong, but with the euphoria coursing through him, those thoughts of fretting didn't do much to hinder what he'd already done, what he was moving to do again.
His lips hovered, just a hare's breath away from hers while he waited for her answer, an intensity brewing in his chocolate eyes.
She felt him moving back, and she heard his voice rumble something as she took in air, her breath lightly fanning down and her chest rising and falling. She wasn't sure if that was from the actual need for oxygen, or if her body was just trying to move on its own accord because everything in her felt alive. Why was she sitting so still?
"Wait...what position...did you want me in?" Shandra asked, when his question about her being perfect for a position filtered through her head, her voice breathless as she tried to make sense of what he had just said.
Everyone tended to speak foreign languages to her at the worst of times. Sure she knew nicknames from about five different tongues by now, but it had been about five years since she'd heard Siksiki. She wasn't even going to take the time to analyze how her own sentence sounded once it passed her lips.
Her eyes slipped down as she finally registered that Peta's hand had moved to her shoulder at some point. She looked back up to his eyes, almost as though she were in a haze herself and couldn't figure out what was wrong or right with self. She didn't even know why she was trying to analyze it in the first place! The look in his eyes burned - honest emotions open, displayed. How could he always be so open? And his eyes burned, they were searching her down...down...what color was the sky again?
Damn where was this side of Peta a few years ago? (Then again, the girls might have tried to assassinate her or get her kicked out early if he'd been around.) That's right...he might...leave. Couldn't someone stay - just once? Why was the truth that they'd always leave always have to be right? Something, switched...anger...sadness...desire for something, just once to go right. She felt herself pushing Peta forward and down, her lips moving onto his own for a brief moment. She could feel his body heat through almost every pore in her body, through the thin cotton undershirt she had on and definitely through her mouth as she lay butterfly kisses to the corners. Her hands reached his neck as she moved her legs so she wasn't laying completely against him from the tackle like move she'd done before hand.
She moved her mouth back up to his as her hands reached into his hair and pulled out the binding. He'd undone hers...it was only fair that she have something to dig her hands into as she stayed over him. If the universe wanted to keep taking people away...maybe...she could try and keep them by force even if a part of her was whispering that this wouldn't last she could at least try. For once. For maybe the hundredth time. At least this version of trying was warm...and nice...and just had this certain thing that felt right.
He'd been waiting for that kiss for what seemed like an eternity of just hovering, his eyes begging her to close the gap between them, to choose him the way he'd already chosen her. And while it had been brief, the Native American suddenly found himself on the floor, underneath her as she kissed him a few times more and released his hair from its leather binding. His hands dove through her fiery tresses, wanting her to be closer to share the scorching feeling that raked over him.
Aren chuckled at the wording of her query, ambiguous in a way that most men would die to jump in on, to deliver a vulgar quip to the girl he was seducing. But this was Shandra. He took another look at her, cocking his head to the side. Did he want to seduce her? Really, at this point in time, he'd not have minded. And would he be like most men?
She seemed lost, in a daze from their rather personal embrace. And his eyes trailed over the form she'd grown into with a depth he'd never had intended to use on her. Napi! When had she grown to be so pretty, so tempting? How hadn't he noticed last night, or five years ago.
"I said you'd be the perfect girlfriend." He breathed the answer into her skin, just before laying another kiss on her lips, smiling through the action. "And," Aren raised an eyebrow, his expression quite cheeky. "This position suits me just fine." His hands trailed up to hold her fast where she was so that he'd be sure to not run off, one securing her waist and the other plummeting through the fiery tresses that had made her so contrastingly different to his people. One of his legs entwined with her own in his need to steal every bit of warmth that she had, and he reached up to kiss her earlobe, and trail a line back to her lips.
It confused him, the way his mind wasn't working properly; best friends were never meant to get this close to each other unless there had been a secret crush between them. And in all the things that Aren and Shandra were, he'd never anticipated them becoming romantically involved. But if they didn't after this, it was going to be extremely uncomfortable for the two of them, because this moment wouldn't likely leave them for a long time afterwards. A part of him knew that this was wrong, a part of him was trying to register just where these notions sprouted from; the majority of him really didn't care. They fit so perfectly together right now, and this was the path that they both had chosen to follow.
Who was he to fight Napi's will? And Shandra didn't seem to mind where this was headed. Had she always liked him? How had he missed that? Because all these years he'd only seen her as a friend, and he'd been certain that her emotions about their friendship reflected his own. Normally he was pretty good with intuitively knowing which girls liked him... at least, on the reservation. Apparently those off the rez were a whole different ball park.
"Moahk." His tone was deeper by tenfold, and he barely recognized it as his own. Aren's hands and lips worked of their own accord, readjusting her in their perusal, not even allowing that small part of him that told him to stop make a plea for them to quit, that they’d regret this as soon as.. what ever was happening lost its hold on the pair currently making out on the floor.
This felt right. And there'd be no regrets unless that nagging little voice had its way. Another hungry kiss, and he’d have continued with what they were obviously leading up to, but a Hispanic man barged in, screaming for him to get away from her.
Fate be changed, look inside, mend the bond torn by pride
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In collaboration with The Bunit
In collaboration with The Bunit
