Review Section

Whisperedrainbow: Yes, it is a bit dark. I'm glad you like that. And, I do realize that I'm good, now.

MistyRiver17: Well, I would hate to deprive you of your presents any longer. (hands you a new chapter, all wrapped up)

Babygirl2006: Um, thanks. Hope you continue to think so.

Caprisun87: Well, here's chapter two. Enjoy.

BlackRoseOnFire: Wow, talk about weird coincidences, huh?

DurtiPr3ttyGrrl: You don't have to let this one go just yet. Probably after this installment, though, if the ending doesn't completely blow like the last one.

Livinlife09: Well, here I am to continue it.

IndieMoviePrincess: Wow.

ResonanceOfWisdom: I really do have a thing for threes. It's quite disturbing, actually.

Unpluggedoutlet: I'm always happy to spread the Joseph Arthur lurve.

Author's Notes

For those of you confused, yes, I did change the title of this story. Why? Because I'm the author, and I'm allowed to do that. That, and I feel this title works better for the things floating in my head than the other one did. So, there. I know it's taken me a bit longer to update this one than I normally take, but my life's been crazy, in a scary, wonderful, beautiful way. So, please, while I'm dealing with these drastic and amazing changes in my life, be patient with me.

Anatomy Of A Tidal Wave

Chapter 2

By Persephone's Nautical Nun

Ashley

I've taken to watching the sun rise.

For some reason, that seems important to me. I'm not as familiar with it as I should be. I've always spent my waking hours at night. The moon and the stars had become my friends. It didn't even occur to me that the only reason the moon shone was because of the sun.

So, every morning, before my walk across campus, I sit out on the landing in front of our third story apartment, and watch the sun come up.

I find it fitting that I should be one of the last people in the country to see it.

The door opens and closes behind me, and I feel, rather than hear, Spencer approach. I start a moment longer at the sun, and make my way towards the stair. I don't look behind me. I don't need to. I know she's following.

We don't talk much anymore. We do, but not about what's important. I still don't know why we stopped talking. Maybe we were just tired of fighting.

The thing is, we were getting somewhere in our fights.

When we fought, we fought big, and hard. Suddenly, we were revealing truths to each other before we had even realized them ourselves.

But, I guess there's just too much bullshit between us.

Sometimes, I think this is my entire fault. I was the one who originally pushed her into talking to me. Why did I stop?

Maybe I'm afraid of what she really has to say.

Still, at least all of this is better than how things were right after I got out of rehab. At least she's not cold and distant anymore.

I'm aware of her hand wrapped around mine as we pass the music building. I don't know how long it's been there, but it makes my skin crawl. Today's going to be one of those days where everything she does rubs me the wrong way.

I move my hand from hers and wrap my arm around my chest, laying my hand gently on the shoulder she bit a month and a half ago. She winces, and I'm overwhelmed with guilt, and a perverse pleasure.

I've become something I never thought I'd be. I've become silent, and passive, making me bitter.

I walk passed the building where all of the fraternities and sororities hold their meetings, noting each decorated door as I pass. I pause for a minute in front of the Phi Lamb door, decked out in blue and gold. It occurred to me that I hadn't been to one of their parties since my first semester here. They were thinking about making me a sweetheart.

I find myself shrugging and moving on, finding no point in thinking about my life before Spencer. After everything I've gone through, there's no way I could ever go back to that place. I may be bitter, but I could never go back to the endless partying, and drinking, and smoking, and snorting. I haven't just witnessed what I can do. I've experienced it.

Even that was a joke. Everybody in rehab knew it, even the counselors. I had no business there. I wasn't caving under the weight of responsibility. I was just a spoiled little rich kid who didn't know when to quit.

Maybe I still don't know when to quit. I don't know how to let go.

Maybe that's all there is between me and Spencer.

I walk faster, trying to escape these thoughts. If I just keep moving, maybe I'll be safe from whatever's looming above me. Somehow, I know that I shouldn't let go of her, and not just because I'm afraid to. Somehow, I know I have to fight whatever's going on between us.

I have to.