Life's Lessons
by Mystik
~ August 1st, 2001 ~
Lesson 4: Hearts Can Be Broken
Welcome, welcome, you've tuned in to the first-class tour of my life (Talk about no privacy... *sigh*)! Guess what? Just three more days until I turn the big 14! Yep, it's been six whole years since the last lesson Anyway, this one promises to be more cheerful and...`occasionally' mushy.
Okay, the FYI on what's happened in six years:
Junior isn't Junior anymore. Now his name's Rocky, which he made up as soon as he could talk. (The first word he ever said was `rock')
Lydia and Stone are expecting their third child sometime after New Year. Three years ago, they had a little girl, whose name is Diamond (I swear, the next child they have is going to be called `Boulder' or `Granite').
Eve and Taius did get married and had a little baby girl who's a year younger than Ju... er, Rocky. Her name is Epphy. (Lydia and Eve say it's going to be a perfect marriage... blah). And now they're going to have their second and last child, which is due around the same time Lydia's is.
Mom and Mother haven't really changed all that much... Mom's as active and perky as ever, but Mother, having just turned fifty-one, is having a little trouble with accepting the fact she's aging. She has a weak ankle and has to walk with a cane... poor Mother.
And me you ask? What's happened to poor little me? Well, just hear my story and you'll find out. It takes place three days before my fourteenth birthday and about a week before the Winter Solstice dance...
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Cyrene studied herself in her body-length mirror. A lot had happened in the last few summers. Her once pixie-style hair now hung down between her shoulder blades; her baby fat was slowly diminishing. Breasts had practically sprung from her chest, making her an item of desire to most of the village boys. She stood a good three inches above her mom, taller than most of her age-mates.
The teen had recently taken up an interest in fighting with the staff and twin swords, taught to her by none other than Lydia and Xena. She knew all the strategies, tactics, and special battle techniques to easily win all the village fighting competitions, or at least the ones she was allowed to enter.
But, at the same time, Cyrene new about all the Greek scholars like Aristotle and Socrates, about the history of many countries, about famous poets and writers like Sappho and Homer. She also had about three different languages mastered while at the same time trying to learn some Egyptian.
Her mom always said she looked like a miniature version of Xena, and Cyrene's high cheekbones, fiery blue eyes, and ebony hair proved her right, while her mother always said she had the mind of her mom... `nough said.
"I need a vacation," she mumbled, pulling her hair back into a half-ponytail. "Rome would be nice... or maybe Africa..."
"How about going to help your mother set up for the Winter dance?" called Gabrielle from the other room.
Cyrene cringed. "You mean mother's outside? In the cold?"
"Yup... and without her medication. Would you mind bringing it to her while you're out there?"
The teen sighed and grabbed her wool cloak. "Yeah, I'm on it."
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Cyrene trudged through the cold, her coat wrapped tightly around her shoulders. The girl's breaths came out in puffs of smoke, and she absently watched them float into the air and then silently disappear.
She passed by some boys, who began to make cat call her.
"Whoo, shake it girlie!"
"Mm, mm, mmm, mmm! Tasty!"
"Baby, come `ere and share summa that good stuff with me!"
"Hey, don't leave! We just wanna see what those lips are like!" they called, guffawing as the blood rushed to her cheeks and she sped up her pace.
"Give `er a break, guys," said Donny as he watched Cyrene disappear around the corner. "It's almost `er birthday."
Donny's friend Petran laughed, "Oh, that's right. You two are the best of friends," he said in a high-pitched, teasing voice. "Jeez, Kingsdon, when're you going to see whatcha have? I mean, it's something everyone else wants. She's got tits to die for!"
"I'm serious. Leave the girl alone," he warned his friends.
"Ooh, we're soooo scared!" they said mockingly. "You're such a goody-goody, Kingsdon."
Donny sighed and ran his fingers through his long black hair. At fifteen years old, the teen was 6' 1", with wavy, almost shoulder-length hair and the same honey-colored eyes. He had a good build, stronger than most his age, but had been nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" at age 10 when he had refused to shoot a bunny rabbit for a village contest. He and Cyrene had been best friends since they had met almost seven years ago.
"Give it up, Kingsdon, you're overlooking the most beautiful girl in the village," said Petran, hitting his friend upside the head.
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"A little to the left."
Shift. Groans of effort.
"Down."
Another shift. More strained groans.
"Little to the right... perfect!" called Xena as the Winter Solstice sign was put up. She made an `ok' sign with her thumb and forefinger.
Stone wiped some sweat from his forehead. "You're going to be the death of us, Xena!" he said with a grin. "Why don't you go home and rest? I'm sure Gabrielle would like some company."
Xena shook her head. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Stone. But I suggest you get home before Taius faints from the effort of waiting hand and foot on two eight-moons-pregnant women!"
Stone nodded and ran off.
"Mother!" called Cyrene as she jogged up. "Mother, you forgot your medicine!"
The aged warrior turned around and smiled at her daughter. "Whew... good timing. I can barely move," she said, accepting the herbs and tea.
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My mother has to take herbs five times a day for her horrible, horrible arthritis. On some days in the winter, she can't even get out of bed because it hurts so badly. In the summer it's not that severe, but during the winter she barely goes outside because of the pain, and whenever she can go outside, she goes.
And it does no good for my parents' marriage, either. Mother keeps saying Mom should get someone younger, not ten years older. But, of course, Mom becomes the voice of reason and turns Mother's rage into hope. It scares me sometimes, but after almost fifty years of being together... it's kinda hard to doubt them for more than a few minutes.
Change of subject.
I was setting up some streamers with my helper, a little boy named Iwakus...
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"Hey, Iwakus, hand me some white streamers," said Cyrene, holding out her hand.
"Here," said a voice... that wasn't Iwakus's.
Cyrene looked down and had to clutch the ladder to keep from falling off. Standing there, looking at her, was Tonnu, only the cutest boy in the entire village! "Uh... um...thanks, Tonnu," she mumbled, shakily accepting the decorations.
"Listen, Cyrene," he said after she had returned to putting up the streamers, "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me?"
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I don't quite remember what happened after that (mainly because I fell off the ladder and bumped my head) but I'm pretty sure I managed a tiny `yes' and staggered home.
Tonnu had asked me to the dance! Tonnu! The one boy everyone liked! I could barely believe my memory (of course...the mild concussion gave me doubts but never mind that)! The very thought made me tickled pink and I spent the entire day squirming in my skin as I finished putting up the decorations. But word gets around fast in a small village like mine... and a few problems arose with my new plans.
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"How could you do this? We were goin' to the dance. Together. Like we always do!" said Donny angrily, not bothering to pronounce his words without an accent like he usually did.
Cyrene hung her head. "I'm sorry, Donny... but he asked me and I couldn't just say `no' to Tonnu!"
"What's `o great about `im?"
Cyrene bit her lip. Uh oh... She was digging herself into a hole. "Um, well..."
"Yeah, yeah, `he's the cutest boy in the whole village,'" spat Donny in a high-pitched tone. "Seems to me he's takin' advantage of his popularity with the ladies..." he mumbled.
The girl sighed and nodded her head. "You're right, Donny. I shouldn't have done canceled on you, but can't I go with him just this once? I'll go with you to the New Year's dance!"
Donny just looked at her.
"And the First Bloom of the Season dance?"
"Well... okay..." said the boy after a long silence.
Cyrene jumped up and wrapped her long arms around his sturdy neck. "That's my big, smart, funny, handsome Donny Wonny..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," mumbled the boy, outwardly looking disgusted but inwardly smiling at the attention.
"Fonny, Ronny, Bonny, Zonny, Gonny..."
He shook his head and smiled. "You win, you win. I'm not mad at you anymore."
"Thank you, Donny." She kissed him on the cheek.
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Let me explain to you where all this flirting and kissy-kissy stuff is coming from. Well, first, let me emphasize that Donny and I are just friends. Of course, now you're probably going `that's what they all say!' but it's true!
When we were eleven years old, the other kids began to make fun of us and say that we were going to get married someday. And, being the age when we still believed in cooties, both of us made a bet over who would be the first to fall in love with the other. That shut them up for a little while, but ever since we've been acting like we're a couple when we're not... and it's all a plan to not fall in love with each other. Our logic tells us that if you have too much of someone you don't want to be with them anymore, so we do that.
You know what they say: Don't date your best friend.
So, as we grew older and more mature, we saw that the decision not to fall in love was for the best... no heartbreak.
Or so we thought...
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Cyrene held a dress to her body and sighed. The old dress had belonged to her mother when she was thirteen... almost seventy years ago! It wasn't exactly out of style, with a v-neck cut and made skin-tight...
But she couldn't wear it to the Winter Solstice Dance when her date was Tonnu! She would be the laughing stock of the whole village!
Alas, the teen didn't have anything else to wear. "I'm gonna look like a joke..."
"No you're not," said Gabrielle as she entered the room. "You're gonna be the envy of the dance." She moved beside her daughter.
"Not in this!"
Gabrielle could barely hide her smile. "You're right. This old thing would never do!"
"But this would." Xena slid into the room with a sly smile, holding up a beautiful black dress.
Cyrene began squealing. "Oh my gods! You're kidding! You bought me a brand new dress?!" she snatched up the garment and held it up against her body in the mirror. "It'll fit perfectly! How did you manage?"
"Eve made it during her free time," said her mother, putting an arm around Gabrielle.
The teen smiled at her reflection in the mirror, then turned to her mothers and gave them a hug. "It's perfect, thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
Xena pulled back and stroked her daughter's face lovingly. "You're welcome, Sweetie... Man, all grown up now, huh?"
"Yup. All grown up and going out with boys," confirmed Cyrene, kissing the aged warrior on the cheek.
Xena cringed. "Let's leave that out, shall we?"
Cyrene laughed and nodded. "Okay, Mother."
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Donny skipped a stone on the water, counting the number of jumps with a grin. "Five jumps. Beat that, Missy," he said, turning to Cyrene.
Cyrene searched the riverbank for a moment and found a nice flat rock. "Watch and weep," she replied mischievously. Tossing the rock across the water's surface, she laughed as it bounced six times. "Gotcha. Now fork it over!"
The boy sighed and dug through his pockets, soon producing a dinar. "This isn't fair."
"And why not?" asked Cyrene as she pocketed the coin.
"Because you always win and I'm running out of spending money," whined Donny, poking out his bottom lip.
Cyrene tossed a small purse at him. "Here. That's all I've won from you in the last week."
Donny raised an eyebrow. "I hate you," he said, eyes twinkling mockingly.
"I know."
They gazed at each other silently, each of them with their own private thoughts. After about two minutes, Cyrene exhaled slowly and said, "Donny, if you don't want me to go to the dance with Tonnu... I understand. I'll go with you like always."
"Cyrene... it's fine with me. I mean, I should be happy that you're going to the dance with the most popular guy in the village, right?" He looked at his shoes, hands jammed in his pockets. The young man began to walk away. "Sure is more worthy of you than I would ever be..." he mumbled.
"Donny... Donny, come back!" called Cyrene after him, but he kept a steady pace. "I didn't mean to hurt you..." she whispered, but her words were swept away by the wind.
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That was the first real `fight' Donny and I ever had. Usually, it's just an argument that gets solved with a playful kiss or the occasional bribe... but neither of us had ever walked away from the other like that. I was torn, standing there as I watching his retreating form heading towards the village. He couldn't rule my life... but I just loved him--as a friend--too much to lose him like that. I broke his heart and had to set it right.
But the sun was resting on the horizon; I had to get home soon. It seemed I was going to have to settle this later.
I asked Mom about it that night. She told me not to make any sudden decisions; that I should think long and hard first. I took her advice and slept on it, thought about all the next day, and then slept on it again. I knew it had all but thrown his heart down and stomped on it when he found out that I was dancing with another; and had known it since the day he walked away from me at the river. But I was running out of time... and it was my birthday.
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Cyrene groggily pulled herself from her bed and stumbled over to her vanity, where she proceeded to splash water on her face. Looking up into her reflection, she grinned. "I'm fourteen today," she said to her reflection, wiping her face. The girl pulled on a sweater and some trousers then ventured into the living room.
"SURPRISE!" shouted the crowd of people who were gathered in the room.
The teen fell back on her butt and screamed in surprise. As she realized what had happened, the blood rushed to her cheeks. "I knew that."
Xena helped her to her feet with a chuckle. "Happy birthday, sweetheart!" said the woman, hugging her daughter and letting her cane fall to the floor.
Cyrene, still in a daze, returned the hug and glanced around the room. She saw all her friends, and then there was Rocky, Lydia, Epphy, Eve, Diamond, Tonnu, and...Donny quietly standing in the corner.
The room was decorated with brightly colored streamers. Not to the point of being childish of course, but just to add a bit of joy to the scenery. In the dining room, the table had been covered with a bright white tablecloth and on top sat the biggest cake Cyrene had ever seen in all her fourteen years.
She laughed as confetti was dumped down on her head. And someone called out "Get the party girl!"
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Cyrene's blue eyes were as wide as saucers as yet another present was set before her. "How many of these are there?" she asked, sitting up in her chair to rip it open.
"Just this last one," replied Gabrielle, eyes twinkling proudly.
The teen let out a deep breath and accepted the box. She shook it a few times, then preceded in neatly untying the bow, placing it aside, and then ripped the paper into shreds, as was her present-opening routine.
"Wow! I can wear these to the dance!" exclaimed the teen, holding up a pair of leather sandals. Placing the present to the side, she clapped her hands together and said, "Okay, now who's ready for cake?"
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The festives lasted all day. They talked about the past years, but mainly of the upcoming dance. Cyrene found herself surrounded by her age-mate girls, each asking so many questions about Tonnu.
"Does he really smell like they say?"
"Are you guys going to kiss?"
"Did you faint when he looked at you?"
"Are you guys going to kiss?"
"What happens when a slow song comes on and you have to dance really close to that luscious bod of his...?"
"Are you guys going to kiss?"
Cyrene dealt with all questions accordingly, and she soon found it was time for the party to end. She bid farewell to her guests and was about to begin clean up when a deep, accented voice made her freeze.
"Um, Cyrene, could I talk with you for a second?"
The girl slowly turned around to look at her long-time best friend. "Sure. Mom, can we go for-"
Gabrielle nodded and shooed them outside, shutting the door without so much as a word. The bard then looked out the window and watched her daughter's retreating form. "Eli, give her strength. She's just a child!" said the bard as she watched her only child go decide whether to make or break a lifelong relationship.
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Donny kept his hands shoved into his pockets as he and Cyrene walked along the side of a riverbank. Over the past six years, the duo had nicknamed the large creek `Our River' because it was where they spent most of their time. For hours on end on hot summer afternoons, they would talk and laugh while drinking or swimming in the cool, comforting water. During the winter they would be daring and occasionally slide around on the ice... but now they walked in silent regard of the other with happy childhood memories flooding their minds.
"Remember the time when we were ten, during the windy season, and you flew a scroll attached to a string and slid across the water with it?" said Cyrene as she stopped, turning to the sky.
"Yeah... I still haven't gotten that out of the tree," replied Donny, pointing up into a large oak tree where, by the light of the moon, you could just make out the remnants of a papyrus scroll. They took a seat on a rock, as far away as possible whilst right next to each other.
Cyrene chuckled at the happy memory.
"What about the night after your twelth birthday party? We decided we were big kids and camped out here... but the bugs almost ate us alive and we had to rush home," said Donny, a grin forming on his handsome face.
"Uh huh... and all the other kids were afraid of us because we looked like we had the mumps or the chicken pox," joked the girl.
"And what about that time Tonnu..." He stopped himself and looked at his shoes.
Cyrene's grin faded. She stared at the back of his head for a minute, hoping and praying for the right words to say. "Donny..."
"We've already talked about this, Cyrene," interrupted the young man, his accent slipping through. He looked at her. "You're going to the dance with Tonnu and I want you to have fun. It's not my place to decide who you dance with."
Cyrene studied her best friend for a second. His dark, handsome features were transformed to hard, cold features by the moon; chiseled and detailed in the dim light. Honey-colored eyes turned down, he kept licking his lips and playing with his thumbs nervously. "You're not telling me something," she said sternly. Her eyes narrowed at the boy. "What's bothering you?"
Donny shook his head. "Nothing. I'm fine... just a little cold, that's all," he said, refusing to look her in the eye.
"Please, tell me. I'll help you," pleaded Cyrene, her voice softening to nothing more than a whisper.
The young man hesitated, and then replied, "I'm sorry for being mad at you before. I've never gone to the dance without you and, to tell you the truth, was a bit scared you'd enjoy someone else so much you'd never go with me again. But, really, it's that I feel like I'm not your good enough for you. When I see you train with the staff with your mother... it's amazing. Or when your mom takes her classroom outside and I can watch you learn. Did you know that when you concentrate you stick your tongue between your lips? Every boy in the village wishes to be with you. You're smart, powerful, understanding, and beautiful all at the same time... and it makes me see someone else deserves you... not some accented foreigner who doesn't know how to make a fist."
Cyrene was hit by double blows. Scared of losing me? Not good enough for me? "Donny, I had no idea," she said, putting her hand over his. "Look, I told you that I'm just trying new things with Tonnu. He'd never take your place in my life. But Donny, are more than good enough for me. You're better than me. And I'm glad you don't fight. The world isn't ruled by warriors anymore."
"I'm not better than you...how about...equal to you?"
"Okay, equals," said Cyrene without bothering to hide her grin. "You are my equal in every way possible.
Donny took her smaller hands into his larger ones. "Not your equal in mind. Not your equal in beauty. Not your equal in power. Not your equal in respect. Not your equal in spirit... but maybe, just maybe, your equal in heart; maybe even soul." He leaned forward so their faces were just inches apart.
Cyrene suddenly felt hot. The blood rushed to her face. She closed her eyes and--
"Donny boy! Donny, where are ya?" called a voice into the night.
A curse left Donny's lips as the two teens pulled back. "I'm coming, Da!" he shouted back. Turning to Cyrene, he stroked her cheek a moment before standing up. "I'll see you later... have fun at the dance."
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Then he left. Without so much as a backward glance. I felt like killing his dad... but I knew it wouldn't be too nice. Donny's heart was aching to tell me how he felt... and all I could do was sit there and watch him, just like before. So many times, when we were alone, I let him walk away with his heart broken.
Anyway, two days later, just before I left for the dance with Tonnu, I looked at myself in the mirror in disgust...
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Another sigh escaped Cyrene's lips as she fixed her hair in the mirror. The black dress fit perfectly; it was tight in all the right spots and did good for her slightly muscular form. Her hair, pulled back into a loose braid, complemented her face shape and eye color.
She looked stunning... but didn't feel that way. She felt like the lowest thing to ever walk the face of the earth.
Xena entered the room and kissed her daughter on the head. "There's my Little Cyrene. You look beautiful, Sweetheart." She leaned heavily on her cane.
Cyrene frowned. "Beauty is only skin-deep, Mother."
The old warrior smiled in sympathy. "Cyrene, I'm not going to tell you what to do about Donny. All I'm gonna say is to really think about the pros and cons. You two haven't left the other's side since the day you met. I don't want to see that relationship crumble." She gave her daughter another kiss on the forehead. "Your date is waiting. Come on."
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Heads turned as Cyrene and Tonnu entered the dance. Tonnu, dressed in a white tunic and black trousers, gave the other girls there nods, causing them to gasp in surprise and sheer awe. Cyrene, dressed to kill in her tight black dress, just glued her eyes to the floor.
The band was currently warming up, making high and low-pitched tuning noises with their instruments. White and gold streamers hung from one end of the dance to the other, tied in the middle into a huge, impressive star. Tables were set up in a semi-circle, leaving a flat area in the middle for the dance floor and the band at the end.
Cyrene jumped as Tonnu put a hand on her shoulder. "You look stressed. Is something the matter?" he asked with forced sincerity.
"No...just thinking."
Tonnu gave her a fake smile and smirked at the other boys.
Ah... damn, thought Cyrene miserably as she saw Donny sitting at a table. Alone. She quickly averted her gaze as he looked up at her.
The band started up. "Come on, babe, let's dance," said Tonnu, practically yanking her onto the dance floor.
"I wish you would step back from the that ledge my friend. You could capsize the former lies that you've been living in and, if you do not want to see me again I would understand, yeah, yeah!" sang the lead singer.
The background music began, and with it the people on the floor began to dance.
Cyrene squirmed uncomfortably as Tonnu's hand inched down her back. "Tonnu... don't do that," she chastised.
Tonnu ignored her.
I wish I was dancing with Donny...She glanced around.
Lydia and Stone were dancing together, Stone bent at the waist to accommodate Lydia's growing belly. He whispered something in her ear and she threw her head back laughing while he kissed her neck playfully. They were always shamelessly flirting in public.
Taius and Eve were also dancing together, Taius bent into the same position. He rested his cheek against his wife's, gently leading her across the dance floor while quietly murmuring in her ear. Eve put her head on his shoulder and smiled. Unlike Lydia and Stone, Taius and Eve were more subtle about their relationship in public; they kissed briefly and never shot each other smoldering glances... just smiled and knew that it would all change as soon as they got home...
Cyrene also saw Rocky and Epphy dancing. Well, trying to dance. The teen smiled as her younger cousin yelled out when Rocky accidentally stepped on her foot. Epphy screamed at him for a second, then they both broke into giggles and Epphy stepped on his foot.
Her mother and mom were dancing. Despite their differences in height, Xena and Gabrielle fit perfectly together. The aged warrior just smiled down at her wife as they moved, neither saying a word.
Then, the teen looked to her dancing partner, who was eyeing the girls dancing next to them. She sighed and cursed herself for ever thinking Tonnu would be a great date.
Finally, the current band ended their song, took their bows, and exited the stage. Soon after they had disappeared, a young woman, no older than twenty, stepped up and gestured for everyone's attention.
"Hello and welcome to the dance, ladies and gentleman, kids and teens, to this year's Solstice dance." She paused to look over the faces of her audience. "This year the village council hired me to introduce all the things going on tonight." The singer laughed and shook her head. "But let's just get on with the music, huh?" That got her a cheer and everyone filed onto the dance floor.
The singer welcomed a man onto the stage with her. "This is my singing partner, Avid. We'll be singing a duet."
Cyrene looked at Tonnu, who was shooting lustful gazes at a tall blonde standing next to them. "Tonnu?"
He turned to her irritably. "What? I was just looking, babe!"
"Go to hell," she said with a smirk.
Tonnu, more than a bit taken back, could only stand with his mouth open as Cyrene ventured off the dance floor.
At this point, the male singer began. "I don't know where we stand anymore... You've got one foot in my life, and the other's out the door. And I can't believe this is happening to me."
The female singer broke in, "Deep inside I wanted believe... that somehow maybe someday there'd be someone there for me. And I hope I haven't lost my chance..."
They began together. "I don't wanna wake up with the reality of you not being here with me. So many possibilities, when will it slip away? And if your heart could speak, what would it say?"
Cyrene broke through the mass of people and looked around. "Donny?" she called desperately. "Donny, where are you?"
Looking down, the teen caught sight of boot tracks leaving the dance and heading towards the river. A smile tugged at her lips as she began to follow them.
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Donny stared up at the star-dotted sky thoughtfully. He sat in the spot where he and Cyrene at first met at Our River. As children, they had returned to the spot and carved their names into a boulder close by. It was still there and he fingered it absently. Guess I was never meant to be with someone. Maybe I'm meant to roam the world alone... like my father.
"Donny!" called a voice.
Startled, the boy turned around and was immediately met with soft lips coming down on his. Hands tangled in his long hair and blue eyes closed with a relieved sigh.
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Now, Donny and I have kissed before. We've hugged and seen each other in our underwear numerous times, but I've never felt as much fire as I did when we connected right then. A shock ran through my body as Donny finally realized who was kissing him and returned the favor.
I didn't want it to end. Right there, in that moment, I forgot anything else existed and it was just the two of us. It was heaven on earth... Alas, we had to talk and he couldn't do that very well with his tongue in my mouth, now could he?
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Donny pulled back and gasped for breath. "That was... intense," he said after a catching his breath.
Cyrene nodded in agreement and wiped her mouth. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." she stammered, the blood rushing to her face.
A smile graced Donny's features. He stroked the red blush creeping into her cheeks and cupped her face. "Cyrene, why aren't you with your date?"
"Because I told him he could take me to the dance. I didn't say he could dance with me," replied the girl in a matter-of-factly tone. She placed her hand over his. "Donny... I'm sorry for ever breaking your heart like I did. Please, forgive me?"
"Of course," he said without hesitation. They looked at each other in friendly silence for a minute then Donny held his hand out with a low bow. "May I have this dance, Cyrene?"
She curtsied. "I thought you'd never ask," she replied, accepting his strong hand.
The music from the dance drifted through the night as Cyrene rested her head on Donny's shoulder.
"You're scared, you're scared, you're scared, you're scared to say you love me," sang the male singer.
"I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared" came the female singer's voice.
"Oh no, no. Will you wanna stay? You don't have to run away."
"I wish I could believe in what I feel. Oh yeah... I've been fooled so many times before; I don't know what is real. Maybe I'm just fooling myself..."
"I'm running out of reasons to let go," came the male voice.
"Don't let go."
"Try'd opening up my feelings, but your door is always closed. And I find myself throwing my life away."
They sang together again. "I don't want to wake up with the reality of you not being there with me. So many possibilities, when will it slip away? And if you heart could speak, what would it say?"
Cyrene smiled into Donny's strong shoulder as they danced. "I love you, Donny," she whispered, but the soft humming of her dance partner and the music from the dance that had almost shattered her life drowned it out.
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We stayed out until the sun was coming back up. Donny and I laughed about old times and occasionally threw in parts of what we wanted to do in the future.
The village kids told us over and over that we would fall in love with each other... and we told them they were wrong.
Guess they were right after all.
TBC
by Mystik
~ August 1st, 2001 ~
Lesson 4: Hearts Can Be Broken
Welcome, welcome, you've tuned in to the first-class tour of my life (Talk about no privacy... *sigh*)! Guess what? Just three more days until I turn the big 14! Yep, it's been six whole years since the last lesson Anyway, this one promises to be more cheerful and...`occasionally' mushy.
Okay, the FYI on what's happened in six years:
Junior isn't Junior anymore. Now his name's Rocky, which he made up as soon as he could talk. (The first word he ever said was `rock')
Lydia and Stone are expecting their third child sometime after New Year. Three years ago, they had a little girl, whose name is Diamond (I swear, the next child they have is going to be called `Boulder' or `Granite').
Eve and Taius did get married and had a little baby girl who's a year younger than Ju... er, Rocky. Her name is Epphy. (Lydia and Eve say it's going to be a perfect marriage... blah). And now they're going to have their second and last child, which is due around the same time Lydia's is.
Mom and Mother haven't really changed all that much... Mom's as active and perky as ever, but Mother, having just turned fifty-one, is having a little trouble with accepting the fact she's aging. She has a weak ankle and has to walk with a cane... poor Mother.
And me you ask? What's happened to poor little me? Well, just hear my story and you'll find out. It takes place three days before my fourteenth birthday and about a week before the Winter Solstice dance...
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Cyrene studied herself in her body-length mirror. A lot had happened in the last few summers. Her once pixie-style hair now hung down between her shoulder blades; her baby fat was slowly diminishing. Breasts had practically sprung from her chest, making her an item of desire to most of the village boys. She stood a good three inches above her mom, taller than most of her age-mates.
The teen had recently taken up an interest in fighting with the staff and twin swords, taught to her by none other than Lydia and Xena. She knew all the strategies, tactics, and special battle techniques to easily win all the village fighting competitions, or at least the ones she was allowed to enter.
But, at the same time, Cyrene new about all the Greek scholars like Aristotle and Socrates, about the history of many countries, about famous poets and writers like Sappho and Homer. She also had about three different languages mastered while at the same time trying to learn some Egyptian.
Her mom always said she looked like a miniature version of Xena, and Cyrene's high cheekbones, fiery blue eyes, and ebony hair proved her right, while her mother always said she had the mind of her mom... `nough said.
"I need a vacation," she mumbled, pulling her hair back into a half-ponytail. "Rome would be nice... or maybe Africa..."
"How about going to help your mother set up for the Winter dance?" called Gabrielle from the other room.
Cyrene cringed. "You mean mother's outside? In the cold?"
"Yup... and without her medication. Would you mind bringing it to her while you're out there?"
The teen sighed and grabbed her wool cloak. "Yeah, I'm on it."
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Cyrene trudged through the cold, her coat wrapped tightly around her shoulders. The girl's breaths came out in puffs of smoke, and she absently watched them float into the air and then silently disappear.
She passed by some boys, who began to make cat call her.
"Whoo, shake it girlie!"
"Mm, mm, mmm, mmm! Tasty!"
"Baby, come `ere and share summa that good stuff with me!"
"Hey, don't leave! We just wanna see what those lips are like!" they called, guffawing as the blood rushed to her cheeks and she sped up her pace.
"Give `er a break, guys," said Donny as he watched Cyrene disappear around the corner. "It's almost `er birthday."
Donny's friend Petran laughed, "Oh, that's right. You two are the best of friends," he said in a high-pitched, teasing voice. "Jeez, Kingsdon, when're you going to see whatcha have? I mean, it's something everyone else wants. She's got tits to die for!"
"I'm serious. Leave the girl alone," he warned his friends.
"Ooh, we're soooo scared!" they said mockingly. "You're such a goody-goody, Kingsdon."
Donny sighed and ran his fingers through his long black hair. At fifteen years old, the teen was 6' 1", with wavy, almost shoulder-length hair and the same honey-colored eyes. He had a good build, stronger than most his age, but had been nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" at age 10 when he had refused to shoot a bunny rabbit for a village contest. He and Cyrene had been best friends since they had met almost seven years ago.
"Give it up, Kingsdon, you're overlooking the most beautiful girl in the village," said Petran, hitting his friend upside the head.
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"A little to the left."
Shift. Groans of effort.
"Down."
Another shift. More strained groans.
"Little to the right... perfect!" called Xena as the Winter Solstice sign was put up. She made an `ok' sign with her thumb and forefinger.
Stone wiped some sweat from his forehead. "You're going to be the death of us, Xena!" he said with a grin. "Why don't you go home and rest? I'm sure Gabrielle would like some company."
Xena shook her head. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Stone. But I suggest you get home before Taius faints from the effort of waiting hand and foot on two eight-moons-pregnant women!"
Stone nodded and ran off.
"Mother!" called Cyrene as she jogged up. "Mother, you forgot your medicine!"
The aged warrior turned around and smiled at her daughter. "Whew... good timing. I can barely move," she said, accepting the herbs and tea.
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My mother has to take herbs five times a day for her horrible, horrible arthritis. On some days in the winter, she can't even get out of bed because it hurts so badly. In the summer it's not that severe, but during the winter she barely goes outside because of the pain, and whenever she can go outside, she goes.
And it does no good for my parents' marriage, either. Mother keeps saying Mom should get someone younger, not ten years older. But, of course, Mom becomes the voice of reason and turns Mother's rage into hope. It scares me sometimes, but after almost fifty years of being together... it's kinda hard to doubt them for more than a few minutes.
Change of subject.
I was setting up some streamers with my helper, a little boy named Iwakus...
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"Hey, Iwakus, hand me some white streamers," said Cyrene, holding out her hand.
"Here," said a voice... that wasn't Iwakus's.
Cyrene looked down and had to clutch the ladder to keep from falling off. Standing there, looking at her, was Tonnu, only the cutest boy in the entire village! "Uh... um...thanks, Tonnu," she mumbled, shakily accepting the decorations.
"Listen, Cyrene," he said after she had returned to putting up the streamers, "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me?"
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I don't quite remember what happened after that (mainly because I fell off the ladder and bumped my head) but I'm pretty sure I managed a tiny `yes' and staggered home.
Tonnu had asked me to the dance! Tonnu! The one boy everyone liked! I could barely believe my memory (of course...the mild concussion gave me doubts but never mind that)! The very thought made me tickled pink and I spent the entire day squirming in my skin as I finished putting up the decorations. But word gets around fast in a small village like mine... and a few problems arose with my new plans.
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"How could you do this? We were goin' to the dance. Together. Like we always do!" said Donny angrily, not bothering to pronounce his words without an accent like he usually did.
Cyrene hung her head. "I'm sorry, Donny... but he asked me and I couldn't just say `no' to Tonnu!"
"What's `o great about `im?"
Cyrene bit her lip. Uh oh... She was digging herself into a hole. "Um, well..."
"Yeah, yeah, `he's the cutest boy in the whole village,'" spat Donny in a high-pitched tone. "Seems to me he's takin' advantage of his popularity with the ladies..." he mumbled.
The girl sighed and nodded her head. "You're right, Donny. I shouldn't have done canceled on you, but can't I go with him just this once? I'll go with you to the New Year's dance!"
Donny just looked at her.
"And the First Bloom of the Season dance?"
"Well... okay..." said the boy after a long silence.
Cyrene jumped up and wrapped her long arms around his sturdy neck. "That's my big, smart, funny, handsome Donny Wonny..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," mumbled the boy, outwardly looking disgusted but inwardly smiling at the attention.
"Fonny, Ronny, Bonny, Zonny, Gonny..."
He shook his head and smiled. "You win, you win. I'm not mad at you anymore."
"Thank you, Donny." She kissed him on the cheek.
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Let me explain to you where all this flirting and kissy-kissy stuff is coming from. Well, first, let me emphasize that Donny and I are just friends. Of course, now you're probably going `that's what they all say!' but it's true!
When we were eleven years old, the other kids began to make fun of us and say that we were going to get married someday. And, being the age when we still believed in cooties, both of us made a bet over who would be the first to fall in love with the other. That shut them up for a little while, but ever since we've been acting like we're a couple when we're not... and it's all a plan to not fall in love with each other. Our logic tells us that if you have too much of someone you don't want to be with them anymore, so we do that.
You know what they say: Don't date your best friend.
So, as we grew older and more mature, we saw that the decision not to fall in love was for the best... no heartbreak.
Or so we thought...
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Cyrene held a dress to her body and sighed. The old dress had belonged to her mother when she was thirteen... almost seventy years ago! It wasn't exactly out of style, with a v-neck cut and made skin-tight...
But she couldn't wear it to the Winter Solstice Dance when her date was Tonnu! She would be the laughing stock of the whole village!
Alas, the teen didn't have anything else to wear. "I'm gonna look like a joke..."
"No you're not," said Gabrielle as she entered the room. "You're gonna be the envy of the dance." She moved beside her daughter.
"Not in this!"
Gabrielle could barely hide her smile. "You're right. This old thing would never do!"
"But this would." Xena slid into the room with a sly smile, holding up a beautiful black dress.
Cyrene began squealing. "Oh my gods! You're kidding! You bought me a brand new dress?!" she snatched up the garment and held it up against her body in the mirror. "It'll fit perfectly! How did you manage?"
"Eve made it during her free time," said her mother, putting an arm around Gabrielle.
The teen smiled at her reflection in the mirror, then turned to her mothers and gave them a hug. "It's perfect, thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
Xena pulled back and stroked her daughter's face lovingly. "You're welcome, Sweetie... Man, all grown up now, huh?"
"Yup. All grown up and going out with boys," confirmed Cyrene, kissing the aged warrior on the cheek.
Xena cringed. "Let's leave that out, shall we?"
Cyrene laughed and nodded. "Okay, Mother."
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Donny skipped a stone on the water, counting the number of jumps with a grin. "Five jumps. Beat that, Missy," he said, turning to Cyrene.
Cyrene searched the riverbank for a moment and found a nice flat rock. "Watch and weep," she replied mischievously. Tossing the rock across the water's surface, she laughed as it bounced six times. "Gotcha. Now fork it over!"
The boy sighed and dug through his pockets, soon producing a dinar. "This isn't fair."
"And why not?" asked Cyrene as she pocketed the coin.
"Because you always win and I'm running out of spending money," whined Donny, poking out his bottom lip.
Cyrene tossed a small purse at him. "Here. That's all I've won from you in the last week."
Donny raised an eyebrow. "I hate you," he said, eyes twinkling mockingly.
"I know."
They gazed at each other silently, each of them with their own private thoughts. After about two minutes, Cyrene exhaled slowly and said, "Donny, if you don't want me to go to the dance with Tonnu... I understand. I'll go with you like always."
"Cyrene... it's fine with me. I mean, I should be happy that you're going to the dance with the most popular guy in the village, right?" He looked at his shoes, hands jammed in his pockets. The young man began to walk away. "Sure is more worthy of you than I would ever be..." he mumbled.
"Donny... Donny, come back!" called Cyrene after him, but he kept a steady pace. "I didn't mean to hurt you..." she whispered, but her words were swept away by the wind.
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That was the first real `fight' Donny and I ever had. Usually, it's just an argument that gets solved with a playful kiss or the occasional bribe... but neither of us had ever walked away from the other like that. I was torn, standing there as I watching his retreating form heading towards the village. He couldn't rule my life... but I just loved him--as a friend--too much to lose him like that. I broke his heart and had to set it right.
But the sun was resting on the horizon; I had to get home soon. It seemed I was going to have to settle this later.
I asked Mom about it that night. She told me not to make any sudden decisions; that I should think long and hard first. I took her advice and slept on it, thought about all the next day, and then slept on it again. I knew it had all but thrown his heart down and stomped on it when he found out that I was dancing with another; and had known it since the day he walked away from me at the river. But I was running out of time... and it was my birthday.
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Cyrene groggily pulled herself from her bed and stumbled over to her vanity, where she proceeded to splash water on her face. Looking up into her reflection, she grinned. "I'm fourteen today," she said to her reflection, wiping her face. The girl pulled on a sweater and some trousers then ventured into the living room.
"SURPRISE!" shouted the crowd of people who were gathered in the room.
The teen fell back on her butt and screamed in surprise. As she realized what had happened, the blood rushed to her cheeks. "I knew that."
Xena helped her to her feet with a chuckle. "Happy birthday, sweetheart!" said the woman, hugging her daughter and letting her cane fall to the floor.
Cyrene, still in a daze, returned the hug and glanced around the room. She saw all her friends, and then there was Rocky, Lydia, Epphy, Eve, Diamond, Tonnu, and...Donny quietly standing in the corner.
The room was decorated with brightly colored streamers. Not to the point of being childish of course, but just to add a bit of joy to the scenery. In the dining room, the table had been covered with a bright white tablecloth and on top sat the biggest cake Cyrene had ever seen in all her fourteen years.
She laughed as confetti was dumped down on her head. And someone called out "Get the party girl!"
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Cyrene's blue eyes were as wide as saucers as yet another present was set before her. "How many of these are there?" she asked, sitting up in her chair to rip it open.
"Just this last one," replied Gabrielle, eyes twinkling proudly.
The teen let out a deep breath and accepted the box. She shook it a few times, then preceded in neatly untying the bow, placing it aside, and then ripped the paper into shreds, as was her present-opening routine.
"Wow! I can wear these to the dance!" exclaimed the teen, holding up a pair of leather sandals. Placing the present to the side, she clapped her hands together and said, "Okay, now who's ready for cake?"
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The festives lasted all day. They talked about the past years, but mainly of the upcoming dance. Cyrene found herself surrounded by her age-mate girls, each asking so many questions about Tonnu.
"Does he really smell like they say?"
"Are you guys going to kiss?"
"Did you faint when he looked at you?"
"Are you guys going to kiss?"
"What happens when a slow song comes on and you have to dance really close to that luscious bod of his...?"
"Are you guys going to kiss?"
Cyrene dealt with all questions accordingly, and she soon found it was time for the party to end. She bid farewell to her guests and was about to begin clean up when a deep, accented voice made her freeze.
"Um, Cyrene, could I talk with you for a second?"
The girl slowly turned around to look at her long-time best friend. "Sure. Mom, can we go for-"
Gabrielle nodded and shooed them outside, shutting the door without so much as a word. The bard then looked out the window and watched her daughter's retreating form. "Eli, give her strength. She's just a child!" said the bard as she watched her only child go decide whether to make or break a lifelong relationship.
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Donny kept his hands shoved into his pockets as he and Cyrene walked along the side of a riverbank. Over the past six years, the duo had nicknamed the large creek `Our River' because it was where they spent most of their time. For hours on end on hot summer afternoons, they would talk and laugh while drinking or swimming in the cool, comforting water. During the winter they would be daring and occasionally slide around on the ice... but now they walked in silent regard of the other with happy childhood memories flooding their minds.
"Remember the time when we were ten, during the windy season, and you flew a scroll attached to a string and slid across the water with it?" said Cyrene as she stopped, turning to the sky.
"Yeah... I still haven't gotten that out of the tree," replied Donny, pointing up into a large oak tree where, by the light of the moon, you could just make out the remnants of a papyrus scroll. They took a seat on a rock, as far away as possible whilst right next to each other.
Cyrene chuckled at the happy memory.
"What about the night after your twelth birthday party? We decided we were big kids and camped out here... but the bugs almost ate us alive and we had to rush home," said Donny, a grin forming on his handsome face.
"Uh huh... and all the other kids were afraid of us because we looked like we had the mumps or the chicken pox," joked the girl.
"And what about that time Tonnu..." He stopped himself and looked at his shoes.
Cyrene's grin faded. She stared at the back of his head for a minute, hoping and praying for the right words to say. "Donny..."
"We've already talked about this, Cyrene," interrupted the young man, his accent slipping through. He looked at her. "You're going to the dance with Tonnu and I want you to have fun. It's not my place to decide who you dance with."
Cyrene studied her best friend for a second. His dark, handsome features were transformed to hard, cold features by the moon; chiseled and detailed in the dim light. Honey-colored eyes turned down, he kept licking his lips and playing with his thumbs nervously. "You're not telling me something," she said sternly. Her eyes narrowed at the boy. "What's bothering you?"
Donny shook his head. "Nothing. I'm fine... just a little cold, that's all," he said, refusing to look her in the eye.
"Please, tell me. I'll help you," pleaded Cyrene, her voice softening to nothing more than a whisper.
The young man hesitated, and then replied, "I'm sorry for being mad at you before. I've never gone to the dance without you and, to tell you the truth, was a bit scared you'd enjoy someone else so much you'd never go with me again. But, really, it's that I feel like I'm not your good enough for you. When I see you train with the staff with your mother... it's amazing. Or when your mom takes her classroom outside and I can watch you learn. Did you know that when you concentrate you stick your tongue between your lips? Every boy in the village wishes to be with you. You're smart, powerful, understanding, and beautiful all at the same time... and it makes me see someone else deserves you... not some accented foreigner who doesn't know how to make a fist."
Cyrene was hit by double blows. Scared of losing me? Not good enough for me? "Donny, I had no idea," she said, putting her hand over his. "Look, I told you that I'm just trying new things with Tonnu. He'd never take your place in my life. But Donny, are more than good enough for me. You're better than me. And I'm glad you don't fight. The world isn't ruled by warriors anymore."
"I'm not better than you...how about...equal to you?"
"Okay, equals," said Cyrene without bothering to hide her grin. "You are my equal in every way possible.
Donny took her smaller hands into his larger ones. "Not your equal in mind. Not your equal in beauty. Not your equal in power. Not your equal in respect. Not your equal in spirit... but maybe, just maybe, your equal in heart; maybe even soul." He leaned forward so their faces were just inches apart.
Cyrene suddenly felt hot. The blood rushed to her face. She closed her eyes and--
"Donny boy! Donny, where are ya?" called a voice into the night.
A curse left Donny's lips as the two teens pulled back. "I'm coming, Da!" he shouted back. Turning to Cyrene, he stroked her cheek a moment before standing up. "I'll see you later... have fun at the dance."
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Then he left. Without so much as a backward glance. I felt like killing his dad... but I knew it wouldn't be too nice. Donny's heart was aching to tell me how he felt... and all I could do was sit there and watch him, just like before. So many times, when we were alone, I let him walk away with his heart broken.
Anyway, two days later, just before I left for the dance with Tonnu, I looked at myself in the mirror in disgust...
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Another sigh escaped Cyrene's lips as she fixed her hair in the mirror. The black dress fit perfectly; it was tight in all the right spots and did good for her slightly muscular form. Her hair, pulled back into a loose braid, complemented her face shape and eye color.
She looked stunning... but didn't feel that way. She felt like the lowest thing to ever walk the face of the earth.
Xena entered the room and kissed her daughter on the head. "There's my Little Cyrene. You look beautiful, Sweetheart." She leaned heavily on her cane.
Cyrene frowned. "Beauty is only skin-deep, Mother."
The old warrior smiled in sympathy. "Cyrene, I'm not going to tell you what to do about Donny. All I'm gonna say is to really think about the pros and cons. You two haven't left the other's side since the day you met. I don't want to see that relationship crumble." She gave her daughter another kiss on the forehead. "Your date is waiting. Come on."
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Heads turned as Cyrene and Tonnu entered the dance. Tonnu, dressed in a white tunic and black trousers, gave the other girls there nods, causing them to gasp in surprise and sheer awe. Cyrene, dressed to kill in her tight black dress, just glued her eyes to the floor.
The band was currently warming up, making high and low-pitched tuning noises with their instruments. White and gold streamers hung from one end of the dance to the other, tied in the middle into a huge, impressive star. Tables were set up in a semi-circle, leaving a flat area in the middle for the dance floor and the band at the end.
Cyrene jumped as Tonnu put a hand on her shoulder. "You look stressed. Is something the matter?" he asked with forced sincerity.
"No...just thinking."
Tonnu gave her a fake smile and smirked at the other boys.
Ah... damn, thought Cyrene miserably as she saw Donny sitting at a table. Alone. She quickly averted her gaze as he looked up at her.
The band started up. "Come on, babe, let's dance," said Tonnu, practically yanking her onto the dance floor.
"I wish you would step back from the that ledge my friend. You could capsize the former lies that you've been living in and, if you do not want to see me again I would understand, yeah, yeah!" sang the lead singer.
The background music began, and with it the people on the floor began to dance.
Cyrene squirmed uncomfortably as Tonnu's hand inched down her back. "Tonnu... don't do that," she chastised.
Tonnu ignored her.
I wish I was dancing with Donny...She glanced around.
Lydia and Stone were dancing together, Stone bent at the waist to accommodate Lydia's growing belly. He whispered something in her ear and she threw her head back laughing while he kissed her neck playfully. They were always shamelessly flirting in public.
Taius and Eve were also dancing together, Taius bent into the same position. He rested his cheek against his wife's, gently leading her across the dance floor while quietly murmuring in her ear. Eve put her head on his shoulder and smiled. Unlike Lydia and Stone, Taius and Eve were more subtle about their relationship in public; they kissed briefly and never shot each other smoldering glances... just smiled and knew that it would all change as soon as they got home...
Cyrene also saw Rocky and Epphy dancing. Well, trying to dance. The teen smiled as her younger cousin yelled out when Rocky accidentally stepped on her foot. Epphy screamed at him for a second, then they both broke into giggles and Epphy stepped on his foot.
Her mother and mom were dancing. Despite their differences in height, Xena and Gabrielle fit perfectly together. The aged warrior just smiled down at her wife as they moved, neither saying a word.
Then, the teen looked to her dancing partner, who was eyeing the girls dancing next to them. She sighed and cursed herself for ever thinking Tonnu would be a great date.
Finally, the current band ended their song, took their bows, and exited the stage. Soon after they had disappeared, a young woman, no older than twenty, stepped up and gestured for everyone's attention.
"Hello and welcome to the dance, ladies and gentleman, kids and teens, to this year's Solstice dance." She paused to look over the faces of her audience. "This year the village council hired me to introduce all the things going on tonight." The singer laughed and shook her head. "But let's just get on with the music, huh?" That got her a cheer and everyone filed onto the dance floor.
The singer welcomed a man onto the stage with her. "This is my singing partner, Avid. We'll be singing a duet."
Cyrene looked at Tonnu, who was shooting lustful gazes at a tall blonde standing next to them. "Tonnu?"
He turned to her irritably. "What? I was just looking, babe!"
"Go to hell," she said with a smirk.
Tonnu, more than a bit taken back, could only stand with his mouth open as Cyrene ventured off the dance floor.
At this point, the male singer began. "I don't know where we stand anymore... You've got one foot in my life, and the other's out the door. And I can't believe this is happening to me."
The female singer broke in, "Deep inside I wanted believe... that somehow maybe someday there'd be someone there for me. And I hope I haven't lost my chance..."
They began together. "I don't wanna wake up with the reality of you not being here with me. So many possibilities, when will it slip away? And if your heart could speak, what would it say?"
Cyrene broke through the mass of people and looked around. "Donny?" she called desperately. "Donny, where are you?"
Looking down, the teen caught sight of boot tracks leaving the dance and heading towards the river. A smile tugged at her lips as she began to follow them.
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Donny stared up at the star-dotted sky thoughtfully. He sat in the spot where he and Cyrene at first met at Our River. As children, they had returned to the spot and carved their names into a boulder close by. It was still there and he fingered it absently. Guess I was never meant to be with someone. Maybe I'm meant to roam the world alone... like my father.
"Donny!" called a voice.
Startled, the boy turned around and was immediately met with soft lips coming down on his. Hands tangled in his long hair and blue eyes closed with a relieved sigh.
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Now, Donny and I have kissed before. We've hugged and seen each other in our underwear numerous times, but I've never felt as much fire as I did when we connected right then. A shock ran through my body as Donny finally realized who was kissing him and returned the favor.
I didn't want it to end. Right there, in that moment, I forgot anything else existed and it was just the two of us. It was heaven on earth... Alas, we had to talk and he couldn't do that very well with his tongue in my mouth, now could he?
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Donny pulled back and gasped for breath. "That was... intense," he said after a catching his breath.
Cyrene nodded in agreement and wiped her mouth. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." she stammered, the blood rushing to her face.
A smile graced Donny's features. He stroked the red blush creeping into her cheeks and cupped her face. "Cyrene, why aren't you with your date?"
"Because I told him he could take me to the dance. I didn't say he could dance with me," replied the girl in a matter-of-factly tone. She placed her hand over his. "Donny... I'm sorry for ever breaking your heart like I did. Please, forgive me?"
"Of course," he said without hesitation. They looked at each other in friendly silence for a minute then Donny held his hand out with a low bow. "May I have this dance, Cyrene?"
She curtsied. "I thought you'd never ask," she replied, accepting his strong hand.
The music from the dance drifted through the night as Cyrene rested her head on Donny's shoulder.
"You're scared, you're scared, you're scared, you're scared to say you love me," sang the male singer.
"I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared" came the female singer's voice.
"Oh no, no. Will you wanna stay? You don't have to run away."
"I wish I could believe in what I feel. Oh yeah... I've been fooled so many times before; I don't know what is real. Maybe I'm just fooling myself..."
"I'm running out of reasons to let go," came the male voice.
"Don't let go."
"Try'd opening up my feelings, but your door is always closed. And I find myself throwing my life away."
They sang together again. "I don't want to wake up with the reality of you not being there with me. So many possibilities, when will it slip away? And if you heart could speak, what would it say?"
Cyrene smiled into Donny's strong shoulder as they danced. "I love you, Donny," she whispered, but the soft humming of her dance partner and the music from the dance that had almost shattered her life drowned it out.
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We stayed out until the sun was coming back up. Donny and I laughed about old times and occasionally threw in parts of what we wanted to do in the future.
The village kids told us over and over that we would fall in love with each other... and we told them they were wrong.
Guess they were right after all.
TBC