(This chapter contains five sentences each for: Jay/Theresa, Archie/Atlanta, Jay/Neil, Herry/Odie, Atlanta/Theresa, and Jay/Cronus.)
X.x.X.x.X
- 1. Jay x Theresa -
01. alone
So rarely do they get a moment to think, let alone relax; it's for this among many other reasons that Jay cherishes the fact that the door is closed and locked and all they have to do for hours is just sit and talk.
02. away
He never realized how empty his hand felt until now, with Theresa's slender, beautiful fingers finally filling it.
03. black
When Jay finally awakens, he doesn't have much of a chance to regain his bearings; as soon as his eyes are open, Theresa throws her arms around him and holds him tight, as if any moment he's going to disappear.
04. broken
Under other circumstances, she would have told him not to worry about it, no big deal- but that was the last momento she'd had of her mother.
05. dream
The trouble with dreaming is that sometimes, she doesn't know if she's dreaming or having a vision- either way, he's always there to hold her.
- 2. Archie x Atlanta -
06. fallen
Atlanta's heart clenches and she reaches out for him, but he's too far away, so very far, and he hits the ground with a thud that's more painful to her than it is to him, without even the strength to scream.
07. fire
Fire holds no fear for Archie, and a part of her is swept away by how much he suddenly seems to fit the role of hero, outlined by the blaze.
08. flower
"Dork," she says (not without some measure of fondness), but secretly she's touched by the gesture.
09. forget
When she realizes that of all the people in the group, Archie isn't back, she immediately dives back into the collapsing building, danger and Jay's orders be damned- they promised each other they'd always be there, and she isn't about to forget that.
10. grave
Everything is silent, and it's a silence she can't bring herself to break, because the way Archie looks down at the smooth stone is too heartbreaking.
- 3. Jay x Neil -
11. grey/silver
He just laughs, and puts his arms around Neil's waist, and points out firstly that the grey hair is in his imagination, and secondly that his hair is going to turn platinum, and look fantastic.
12. kiss
It's Neil who makes the first move, grabbing Jay by the collar and saying "forget about Cronus for ten seconds, would you?"- and pressing their lips together in such a way that Jay, the responsible leader, has trouble arguing.
13. mermaid
Jay stares for a second, but doesn't get much of a chance to question it, as the merperson laughs and flips into the air, looking delighted in his own beauty.
14. mist/fog
"This fog is going to wreak havoc on my hair and complexion," Neil whines, and Jay has to resist the urge to roll his eyes- he loves him, yes, but sometimes he can be such a pain.
15. nightmare
He wakes up to find Jay whimpering, clinging to his shoulder with one hand; when Neil wakes him up, he won't talk about it, but he's sweating and shaking, and Neil realizes that even their great leader has his fears.
- 4. Herry x Odie -
16. rain
The urge to grab Odie and sweep him up in his arms is incredible, and repressed only by shifting his focus to how damn nice the rain looks sliding off his skin.
17. red
They both notice that after Herry tells Odie red looks good on him, he takes to wearing it much more often.
18. reflection
It strikes Herry as they stand side by side, and he looks down at their reflections in the lake, just how much bigger he is than Odie, and rather than being afraid of what he might accidentally do, he is overcome with the desire to protect.
19. remember
He thinks the others have forgotten his birthday, until it turns out Herry was just stringing him along to give him a surprise party.
20. scar
Herry will occassionally show off his scars to the others, but for the most part, they're reserved for these quiet, shy moments, when they can simply lay together, mapping and re-mapping each other.
- 5. Atlanta x Theresa -
21. secret
No, it isn't hard being the only two girls on the team; they find ways to entertain themselves they don't want the boys having any part of.
22. silence
They stand, hand in hand, Theresa's long hair blowing in the wind and Atlanta feeling somehow tired- they stand, hand in hand, because what else is truly left to do?
23. snow
Two snow angels, side by side, holding hands with each other; Theresa and Atlanta look down at them and smile, just before Atlanta gets that certain, not-quite-mischievous grin and tackles Theresa down into the snow.
24. story
Theresa never much cared for fairy tales; after all, who said the princess had to want a prince?
25. tear
Theresa laughs, and when the others ask, she'll tell them that it was some beast that tore her shirt open- hopefully nobody will notice the bite mark on her neck.
- 6. Cronus x Jay -
26. thorn
Cronus could have killed him then, Jay thinks, against his will, as he stares at his reflection in the bathroom mirror- instead he did something else, something Jay can't decide if he really prefers over a life-or-death struggle.
27. together
He doesn't ask, because it isn't in his nature to do anything but take, but somehow Jay can't resist, can't pull away, can't close his mouth to Cronus's tongue or push away his hands.
28. touch
It becomes like an addiction, a drug Jay seeks out without even realizing it; he goes out alone, puts himself in precarious places, and is at once punished and rewarded with the touch of a sythe's blade against his stomach and a hand on his hip, and a smug voice above him saying, "you just can't stay away, can you?"
29. veil
They shroud themselves in secrecy, and Jay isn't sure whether Cronus actually cares what happens to him, or just likes watching him destroy himself.
30. white
They know they've been seen, and Cronus simply laughs- Jay himself takes a staggering step backwards, his heart going numb as it drops from his chest.