"What are you talking about?" the girl giggled and felt her face heat up as the boy smiled in her direction.
"I told you, I love you. For the first time in my life I have found someone with whom I can share everything, you my dear. I love you and everything that you are. Your beauty, your intelligence… your smile.."
He went on realizing he had her full attention,
"I could ask for nothing more than what you are, and for who you had made me to be. A better person, in better spirit. And though it has taken much courage to tell you this, so that you may hear what I have felt for you for so long, I knew that it was worth the risk, because if it not now then when? What I ask, is that you give me nothing more than your heart. What I ask, is for your love"
She felt her heart flutter after every word, and as she looked into his eyes, she knew he meant every word. How could she refuse? After all, she felt exactly the same way.
"I accept!" she cried with joy.
"I shall give you my heart, and all the love that I posses! I am yours eternall-"
A bang as loud as thunder rumbled the room. The door flung open, the windows shattered into a million pieces. The boy and girl were frozen in position as the walls began to rot and the ceiling began to crumble over them.
Soon only the girl was left. Her form and expression had changed to pure sadness, and the boy was nowhere to be found.
The setting was gloomy and dark, and the girl with black, raven hair sat alone on her knees with her face towards the ground.
Tears filled her eyes and flooded over her cheeks as she held on to something tightly, as if her life depended on it, in her hands.
It was a ring.
A small golden ring with a lone diamond perfectly in place.
She rocked back and forth sniffling as sounds could be heard around her.
'the child has abilities we have never seen'
'she must be tested!'
'she must be isolated!'
'she is dangerous!'
'She's a freak!'
Voices surrounded her, but she ignored them and continued to sob.
'Don't touch her! Leave her alone! She is just a girl, an innocent girl!'
'Hush yourself young man, go home or else'
'or else what!? I'm not leaving without her!'
'then I guess you won't be leaving at all'
Gun shots. Then absolute silence.
The girl stopped crying and slowly rose from her knees. The tears had disappeared, and the only expression that was clearly portrayed was
Regret and
Innocence.
A gasp of air brought Wally and Artemis back to life. The two were lying down beside the other, coughing and taking deep breaths as their hearts pounded and hands trembled.
They gasped until they caught a good blast of air and were calmed by the feeling of one hand holding on to the other's tightly.
They had not yet realized it was their hands holding each other or even who sat beside them, but as they turned to face each other, they couldn't hold back a smile.
"Artemis!"
"Wally!"
They said at the same time.
They slowly lowered their heads to see their hands were holding the other, but neither broke away, they only smiled and soon met eyes.
Wally couldn't hold himself back as he reached to pull Artemis' head towards his and he kissed her as strongly as he could.
He kissed her and held her as close as he could, he was afraid of her being taken from him all over again, afraid he would lose her the minute he let go and opened his eyes.
Artemis was surprised at first, but she instantly melted into his kiss. She didn't hesitate to kiss him, mainly because she could no longer deny her feelings.
She loved him,
And he loved her.
As soon as their lips parted, they kept the other close.
"where are we?" Artemis asked as they both looked around.
"I don't know.." Wally turned to face the archer and saw her silvery eyes glisten as beautifully as they always have.
"Artemis… I.. thought you… I thought you were dead.." he sighed as he spoke, it looked as though it hurt for him to say it out loud.
He spoke softer, and rested his hand on her cheek
"I thought I lost you… i'm not going to let you go another second without letting you know, Artemis I love you. I don't know if you feel the same way, of course I can only hope that you do… but I needed to tell you before anything else happened, that I love you Artemis… hopelessly, blindly, and vulnerably in love with you…"
His heart felt sore as he spilled the words on the golden haired girl who sat only inches away from him, he was trying to see what she was feeling other than an obvious strike of shock that hit her by his words.
She was speechless. Absolutely speechless.
The sixteen year old boy she has known for so long had never said anything like that, had never talked in such a soft and serious tone.
Wally West had never felt more eager in his life (which says a lot for him). He needed to know if she felt the same way. And he could only hope that it was yes, because if it was no, he knew he'd never recover.
Artemis looked right into the speedsters green glowing, emerald like eyes with a response she was not sure would sound right. But she said it as boldly as she could,
"Wally… I…" she sighed, she couldnt do it, even with all her strength.
Wally looked down, she didn't realize it, but her response was killing him.
"I get it…" Wally said before Artemis had time to say anything else "I can understand if you don't feel the same way"
Artemis looked up and finally realized how hurt she had made him, but he was misunderstanding her completely
"No Wally, I do! I just… I have a hard time… saying those things…"
She had hoped that took his pain away and smiled when she realized it did. He was smiling too.
He suddenly gave her a warm embrace and kissed her head.
The hug was just as warm as they both remembered. Just as comforting and welcoming as it had been so long ago, and despite not knowing where either of them were, nor how they were together, at that moment it didn't matter.
What did matter, was the simple fact that the archer and the speedster were together.
"wake up"
The voice of the girl returned.
"Both of you, it is time to wake up. Now."
Artemis and Wally ignored it and only hugged tighter.
"There will be time later, but for now you
Must
Wake
Up."
"Silence. Eyes open. Hands open. Hearts closed awaiting to be opened once more with the key that was made only to fill in that gap and no other. The heart will not open to anyone else, but the beholder of that key."
I am awake, but I wish I was still sleeping. Dreaming, with him. But he is somewhere else and so am I. Why can't we dream with our eyes open? Crystal connected us through dreams, why can't she connect us now, together, awake?
It frustrates me, but I know, patience.
