Briar Moss turned over again,
gazing through the window at the stars. His Shakken seemed to be basking
in the light of the full moon, and he smiled happily. It was so beautiful…
just like someone he knew… Sandry. Her auburn hair, blue eyes, and mischievous
face flashed across his vision and he blinked, putting the pillow over
his head.
"I even see her when she's not
around…"
"Who's not around?"
Briar shot up in bed, looking around
frantically. There she was, Sandry, perched on his windowsill with Daja
behind her.
"Uh… uh…"
"AW! Is wittle Bwiar poo in wuv?"
Briar scowled at Sandry and threw
a pillow at her, which she easily caught and threw back. It hit him smack
dab in the middle of his face, and he fell backwards onto his bed. When
he sat back up, Sandry and Daja where both giggling uncontrollably, Sandry
almost falling off the windowsill.
"What DO you girls want?"
"Well, we couldn't sleep, so we
came to drag you out of here to go sneaking!"
"Why didn't you get Tris instead?"
"She wouldn't come. Wouldn't wake
up." Sandry gave him a crooked smirk and his legs started to feel like
jelly. "So do ya wanna come?"
"You certainly don't act like a
noble Sandry…"
Sandry giggled and yanked her slipper
off, throwing it at him. He growled and caught it, tossing it back.
"Ok… I'll come."
"YAY!" Sandry jumped off the sill
and grabbed his arm, dragging him towards the window. He groaned and snatched
a shirt off the floor, but let himself be yanked around by the small and
fiery girl. He managed to slip one arm in before he was dragged through
the window, and when she let go he slipped his shirt all the way on.
"Ok, where are we going? And do
you have permission from Lark?"
Sandry's cheeks turned slightly
pink.
"Uh… no… I guess we'll go do that
huh?"
Daja giggled.
"I was wondering when you would
think of that LADY Sandry."
Sandry stuck her tongue out at
Daja, who only laughed harder. Briar shook his head.
'Girls…'
'Tee hee. BRIAR I HEARD YOU!' Sandry
mind-screamed.
Briar clutched his head and glared
at her. "SANDRY!"
She placed a small hand over his
mouth and he shut up immediately. Daja started to giggle so hard she almost
fell off the roof, and Sandry looked at her in confusion. Daja mouthed
something and Sandry nodded. Briar looked between them in confusion.
'I give up. Girls are too hard
to understand.'
'I HEARD YOU AGAIN!'
Briar yelped and scowled, trying
to push her hand away. She only pushed on his lips harder. He decided to
try something and flicked the tip of his tongue out, barely touching her
hand. Her eyes widened and she pulled away, looking at him in disbelief.
"B-Briar!"
Briar smirked at her and started
to climb down off the roof into the front yard. Daja walked over to Sandry,
and they had a furious yet short whispering session.
"Girls! Are we gonna go ask Lark
or not?"
Sandry looked down at Briar and
smiled a little.
"Alright Mr. Full of himself."
Without a second thought, Sandry
flung herself off the roof.
Briar yelped as she hit him and
they both went sprawling to the ground. Daja, watching, laughed softly
and climbed down, moving over to help them. Soon, it was all Daja could
do from not dying of laughter. Briar and Sandry were pretzled together,
limbs looking like they were in very complicated knots. A blinding light
was soon above them, and they looked into the stern face of dedicate Rosethorn.
Sandry and Briar were even more
frantic to get away from each other; both knew what it probably looked
like.
"What ARE you doing?"
Sandry grinned up into Rosethorn's
face.
"Uh… well… ya see…"
Briar cut in. "Rosethorn, the girls
came and got me out of bed because they quote: "Couldn't sleep, so we decided
to do some sneaking!" Then they talked me into coming with them. We were
coming to ask you permission! Honest!"
"We were Rosethorn." Daja chimed
in. "You can have Niko test us if you like."
Rosethorn shook her head. "No,
it's quite alright. What are you two doing in that position?"
Sandry and Briar looked at each
other for a long moment, then began frantically trying to disentangle their
limbs.
"Sandry jumped off the roof and
landed on Briar. They are TOO un-coordinated to get themselves untangled."
Daja explained, looking at Rosethorn with solemn eyes.
Rosethorn sighed. "Leave it to
Sandry…" She bent down and started to help the two teenagers. Sandry sighed
in relief as she was finally pulled away from Briar, and his heart was
filled with momentary hurt.
'She doesn't like to be near me
anymore…?'
'Of course I like to be near you
Briar.'
Briar bolted and stared at Sandry,
who had an angelic expression on her face.
"What? I'm innocent! I'm just a
little angeeeeeel."
"If you're an angel I'm a tree."
"Well, technically you are. Rosethorn,
where is people-tree soil?"
"HEY! Sandry! That's not nice!"
"Says who?"
"Says me! And I am the all powerful
Briar Moss!"
"And IIIIII am lady Sandrilene
Fa Toren. So what do ya think of that?"
"I give up Sandry… you win… AGAIN."
Rosethorn chuckled dryly.
"Don't you two ever stop flirting?"
Sandry and Briar's eyes widened
and they looked each other, cheeks pink, then at Rosethorn who was wearing
an "I hit dead on" Smile.
Daja was trying to contain her
laughter but it bubbled over, and she snorted, trying to stop herself.
Sandry started to laugh as well, and soon Briar joined in. A very sleepy
looking Lark walked over, yawning.
"What is so darn funny? You woke
me up whatever it is…"
Briar, Daja, and Sandry all looked
at Lark with angelic faces. She rolled her eyes.
"Rosie?"
"Oh, Sandry and Briar where flirting
again."
"WERE NOT!" They screamed in unison.
Lark ignored them.
"Well, that explains a lot. But
what are you kids doing up?"
"We wanted to take a walk, because
we couldn't sleep. Is it all right Lark? PULEASE?!" Sandry begged.
Lark sighed. "Oh all right. Here."
She tossed them the pendant that served as their pass, and strode back
into discipline, wrapping her robe tightly around herself. Rosethorn didn't
say anything and grabbed Briar by the ear, followed by a yelp.
"Hey! Rosethorn!" He yelled.
"Girls, I need Briar for just a
minute. Wait for him."
Sandry and Daja nodded, then huddled
together to whisper.
"He likes you Sandry! He likes
you!" Daja squealed/whispered.
"How do you know?"
"He does! When I know, I know!"
"I hope so! I like him… A LOT.
But you know that. Hee hee."
"Well DUH."
Sandry smiled and fell backwards
onto her rump, not even bothering to sit down gracefully. A small cloud
of dust arose and caught on her hair, clothes, and eyelashes.
Briar walked back, glaring behind
him in disgust.
"What?" Piped Sandry, tracing a
straight line in the earth with a stick.
"Oh… her."
"What did she want you for?"
Briar put on a sarcastic voice.
"Now, don't be trying anything funny with Sandry. I know you like her and
all, but she is small and somewhat helpless. If YOU are helpless, I'll
eat my pants."
"I'm helpless! I'm helpless! Do
you REALLY like me? Or was she just presuming?"
Briar blushed Crimson. "Uh…uh…
I don't want to answer that. Are we gonna go or not?"
"Of course! Let's go!" Daja laughed.
She ran to the gate, knowing Briar
and Sandry would follow. Briar started after her, but glanced behind him
to see a thoughtful Sandry still sitting.
"Sandry!"
"What?"
"Come ON!"
"Oh no! I'm helpless, remember?
You have to help me up!"
"Sandry…"
"I'm not moving. You have to help
me up."
"Some of the things I do to humor
you…" He muttered as he walked over to her and reached a hand out. She
grinned evilly and grabbed his hand tightly, ready to send him over her
shoulder. He was ready for the onslaught from her, and he knew she could
do it, although she was so much smaller then him. He braced his feet, shoved
back his shoulders, and yanked back, hard. Maybe a little too hard…
Sandry was yanked to her feet and
she fell into him, almost knocking him over.
"Guess I don't know my own strength…"
Sandry grinned and pushed away
from him, brushing the dust off her skirt.
Kissing noises came from the gate,
and then a slight "Thump" Sandry ran over, alarmed. Daja grinned at her
good-naturedly and pointed to one of Briar's former housemates clutching
his head.
"Daja! What did you do to him?"
Sandry kneeled next to the boy, concerned in spite of herself.
"Oh, he just got a little tap on
his head with my staff. Is that so bad?"
"No… I guess not…" Sandry tried
to stand up, but the boy caught her arm, smiling giddily.
"You're pretty."
"Uh… thank you… I think…"
"Can you be my girlfriend?"
"NO!" Sandry shrugged out of his
grip and stood up, glaring at him in disgust. Briar had silently watched
until now, and he grabbed Sandry's arm so he could whisper something in
her ear.
"Why don't you date him? He's the
boy all the girls flaunt over."
"Well, I don't. He's rude, insensitive;
he's an all around PIG. Plus, I already like someone else…" Sandry sighed.
'Someone else? Who?' Briar mind-asked.
'Oh… someone you know quite well…'
'Ha… some help you are…'
'I know!' Daja chipped in.
'DAJA! Don't you DARE!'
'Why not?'
'DAAAAAAJA!'
'Ok ok!'
'Daja! Be nice to little Briar
here and tell me who the lucky guy is.' Briar giggled in their minds.
'Ok!'
"NO!" Sandry yelled in real life.
The boy looked up. "No what my
flower?"
"I AM NOT YOUR FLOWER! NOW GET
OUT OF HERE!"
"Make me."
