I want to thank everyone who's taken the time to review the first two chapters. Positive or negative, they're always fun to read.
Let Me Tell You About....
Chapter Three: The Moon Up Above
Marco knew something
was up with his best friend. And every other human member of the Animorphs.
He just didn't know what.
And it pissed him off.
No, that wasn't right.
He could handle everyone acting weird. What pissed him off was no one would
tell him what was up, not even Jake. Whenever he asked someone what was
wrong, the response was basically "Fuck off."
And ironically, that
was the one thing that wasn't happening in the Valley. Rachel would
probably kill him if she knew that he knew she and Tobias were having sex,
but what else would she have been doing sneaking out into the woods at
night? And then Jake had told him about finally sleeping with Cassie.
And that's when the
shit appeared to have hit the fan.
A week later, even
the adults were beginning to catch on that something wasn't right. The
Animorphs had gotten into fights amongst themselves before; it happened
when you only saw the same dozen people every day. But they'd always worked
it out in a few days, and never had so many people been acting so weird
at once.
Rachel's moodiness
was probably the most noticeable. Instead of spending every free moment
with Tobias or Cassie, she tended to wander the perimeter of the camp aimlessly.
Apparently the only one who could have a slightly meaningful conversation
with her was Jake, since he would walk with her sometimes.
Or that's what Marco
assumed they did.
Marco had had it with
everyone else avoiding eachother, or openly antagonizing eachother, as
was the case with Tobias towards Rachel and Jake. Talking to them individually
hadn't worked, so perhaps getting everyone together at Ax's scoop would.
Ax was hunting for Tobias; Marco was going to find everyone else.
Cassie had been easy
to find. Without her best friend or boyfriend to spend time with, she stayed
around the cabins, either with her parents or Sara and Jordan. That evening
she'd been with the latter two, playing some intricate hand clapping game
Marco remembered girls always playing in elementary school. Cassie had
promised to go to Ax's scoop as soon as they'd finished the game.
When he hadn't found
Jake at his cabin, Marco figured he was out with Rachel again. They'd been
hanging out together more frequently and for longer times the last few
days. Marco took it as a good sign: the cousins had been kind of strained
even before this newest outbreak of arguments. If they could patch up that
relationship at least one good thing would come out of all this.
It took some wandering,
but Marco eventually heard Jake and Rachel talking softly. The sun had
set by then, so with only a half moon to light his way, Marco was mostly
counting on his hearing to guide him. So he panicked a little when they
suddenly stopped talking.
He kept walking in
the direction he'd last heard them from, hoping he'd stumble across them.
And that's almost exactly
what happened.
Just before he got
desperate enough to start calling for them, Marco tripped over a tree root.
He threw his arms out, hoping to balance himself on the tree the root belonged
to, but he couldn't get a good grip. He fell face down in the dirt.
And that's when he
saw Jake and Rachel. There were only a few shrubs separating him from them.
The reason Marco hadn't seen them was they were sitting on the ground.
Kissing.
"Holy shit," Marco
whispered.
They weren't making
out. It wasn't even a very passionate kiss. Just a slow, tender one.
Marco had only been
watching for a few seconds when Rachel pulled away. "We need to head back,"
Rachel said softly. "People will start to wonder where we are."
Jake brushed an errant
strand of hair off Rachel's forehead. "Yeah." But neither made any
move to leave.
Marco figured he'd
seen enough. He stood up and boldly marched through the brush. "What the
hell
are you doing out here?" he demanded. All witty comments had been shocked
out of him by The Kiss.
"What business is it
of yours?" Rachel demanded with a death glare.
"Well, if your little
make out sessions are the reason for the sudden chill that's overcome our
little band, then I'm making it my business 'cause you two are going to
get us all killed."
Rachel was up in a
flash and had Marco pinned against a tree before either of the guys knew
what was happened. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about,
Marco."
"I saw you and Jake
kissing," Marco enunciated slowly. "What else do I need to know? Your wedding
date?"
Rachel was about to
slam Marco against the tree again, but Jake pulled her back and forced
her to let go of Marco. "What are you doing out here, Marco?" Jake asked
in his low tell-me-the-truth-or-face-the- consequences voice.
"Looking for you two
so we could have a group meeting and figure out what the hell is going
on. But I think I know now, so I'll leave you two alone. Don't forget,
the condoms that I'm sure Rachel has. I don't think we have maternity morphing
outfits."
Rachel lunged for Marco
again, but Jake beat her to it and tackled his friend to the ground. "What
is your problem, man?! This shouldn't be a big deal!"
"It shouldn't be a
big deal?!" Marco repeated. "Where should I start, with the moral issues
that come up with kissing cousins, or how pissed I am that you didn't tell
me, your best friend, what was going on?"
"Don't you dare start
on the morality shit," Rachel said, mostly to herself. "I've dealt with
that enough this week."
Marco, however, overheard.
"Obviously not enough if you went on ahead and kissed him again."
Jake stood up and took
Rachel's arm to keep her from going after Marco as he stood. "Y'know, maybe
this is why I didn't tell you, 'cause I didn't want you to freak out."
"Well you should have
given me the option, instead of leaving me to find out on my own." Marco
picked a twig out of his hair. "I'm going back to camp. I won't expect
to see you back there tonight." He flinched slightly as he turned away
when he saw Jake put an arm around Rachel's shoulders, but he didn't say
anything else. He marched directly to Ax's scoop.
Ax was waiting there
with Tobias and Cassie. Cassie was trying to make conversation, but Ax
wasn't the greatest conversationalist in the best of times, and Tobias
was being his now usual silent, brooding self.
"Meeting canceled,"
Marco announced flatly. "I figured it all out."
"Oh, God," Cassie moaned.
She leaned forward, head in her hands.
Fuck them, > Tobias
muttered. He flew off.
What happened?
> Ax asked, thoroughly confused.
"Were they having sex
again?" Cassie asked, her sobs just barely restrained. "Just tell me that.
Were they?"
Marco blinked. He hadn't
thought Jake and Rachel might have needed that condom he suggested.
"No, they weren't. I didn't know they ever had." Cassie just nodded. Marco
sat next to her. "Cassie -"
"I'm sorry you had
to find out - well, however you did. Someone should have told you."
"You have nothing to
apologize for. It's all them."
Much to his surprise,
Cassie laid her head on Marco's shoulder. "No it - well, yes, it is. But
I should have said something when you asked. I'm sorry." She sniffed. "I'm
so, so sorry."
Awkwardly, Marco put
an arm around Cassie. "It's okay. I'll get over it. It was just a shock.
I was looking for them and then, bam, I found them. Kissing."
Cassie's self restraint
finally broke. She began to sob. Ax discretely left, leaving Marco alone
to do the job of comforting her that should have fallen to one of
the two people the girl was crying over.
"Rachel, he's in shock. What would your reaction be if you caught him and Tobias in the situation he found us?" Jake reasoned.
Rachel stopped pacing in front of Jake. "Don't change the subject. Let me vent. Or I'm going to go back to camp and kill him. And Tobias." With a sigh, she sat down against a tree. "I thought I'd already lived through hell, but I think I'm just digging myself down deeper."
Jake sank down next to her. "Will you stop taking all the blame? This isn't like you."
Rachel sighed and leaned her head on Jake's shoulder. "Marco just got to me. I've gotten silence from Cassie, anger from Tobias. . . I didn't need that."
"I think it might be time to come clean with everyone. Marco, Ax. . . even Cassie doesn't know the whole story."
"And how do you propose we get everyone together for this meeting?"
"I'll figure that out. Just be ready to get together tomorrow morning."
Rachel smirked. "So no wandering off to brood on my own?"
"Definitely not," Jake admonished with a smile. He stood, then reached down to help Rachel up.
"So do we go back together?" Rachel asked when she was facing Jake,
Jake shrugged. "Might as well. Everyone knows now, right?"
Rachel began to walk. "Except the parents. . . and I think it's going to stay that way." Jake nodded in agreement. So he was surprised when Rachel grabbed his hand as they walked. And didn't let go until they were in sight of the cabins.
"It's really important that I talk to her," Jake said.
Jordan shrugged. "Fine. But when she tries to kill you for waking her up, don't come crying to me."
Jake shook his head at Jordan's warning, but was still careful when waking Rachel up. He shook her shoulder gently, then stepped back out of her reach when she began to stir.
Rachel pulled her pillow over her head. "What?" she demanded groggily.
"I've gotten everyone together. They're waiting for us."
Rachel glanced out from under her pillow to look at Jake's face. I could get used to this wake up call. . . . she thought. Whoa! Where the hell did that one come from? "Did you have to make it so early?"
"It's almost noon, Rachel."
"Seriously?" Jake nodded. "Shit."
"Come on. We're at Ax's scoop, but I don't know how long everyone will stay." Jake left them to give Rachel a chance to get ready alone.
Getting ready in the Valley only took a fraction of the time it took in the outside world. Without a full closet or a working shower, there wasn't much for Rachel to do. She ran her fingers through her hair, pulled jeans and a T-shirt on over her morphing suit, and was ready to go. Besides, she didn't feel like dressing up to meet the Inquisition.
Rachel didn't see any of the others when she left her cabin. The mustn't have decided give up on her coming to the meeting quite yet. However, Loren spotted Rachel the moment the girl left her cabin and ran to stop her.
"Rachel? Can I talk to you a moment?"
Rachel sighed. She normally loved to talk to Loren, and had begun to let herself think that the woman might actually be her mother-in-law one day, but now wasn't exactly the best time. "Can it wait? I kinda have to meet the others."
"This will only take a moment. It's about Tobias."
A dozen words came to Rachel's mind at that moment. None that she felt comfortable using around Loren, however, so she found another. "What?"
"Well, all of you kids, actually. Something's gone wrong, hasn't it?"
Rachel tensed. "What do you mean?"
Loren shook her head. "I think you know. I said something's gone wrong and you tensed up. You and Tobias don't hang out together, neither do Cassie and Jake. This is the first time in a week I've seen you hanging around the camp area." She put a hand on Rachel's shoulder. "I know none of you kids know me well. I still don't know myself. But I owe you my life. And the life of my son. I want you to know that if you ever need to talk, I'm a good listener."
Rachel wanted to talk more, but she couldn't. Not before talking to everyone else first; they were more important at the moment. She shrugged off Loren's hand. "Maybe another time, Loren. I've gotta go." She jogged off to Ax's scoop without meeting anyone else.
The rest of the Animorphs were still there, just as Jake had said. Cassie, Marco and Jake were each sitting on a small log that had been pulled into a circle around the scoop, while Ax stood nearby and Tobias perched on a tree branch above.
"I think someone had a long night," Marco muttered as Jake stood up to make room for her on the log he'd been sitting on. Everyone turned to glare at Marco. Even Ax focused all four eyes on Marco. No matter anyone's personal thoughts about Rachel's lateness, they didn't need it brought up so bluntly.
Rachel considered explaining that she'd met up with Loren, but decided Marco's comment didn't deserve a response. "Let's just get on with this," she muttered to Jake.
Jake took a moment to clear his throat. "Um, well, Rachel and I thought that, after last night, it was time to get everyone together for a talk. It's getting to the point where it's dangerous for us to have all this. . . this tension between us. It's going to get one of us killed eventually."
"Yeah, and shouldn't you have thought of that earlier?" Marco asked.
"What the hell is your problem?" Rachel demanded. "Why the hell are you being so - so - so outraged about this? I can understand being upset at being left out of the loop, but you're acting worse than -" Rachel quickly glanced at Tobias and Cassie, "than anyone else."
"Is it that hard to figure out? Do you have no concept of incest?"
Does it really matter that much? > Tobias asked flatly. I don't know about Cassie, but I certainly don't care that they're cousins. >
Marco raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Tobias sighed. Okay. It's a little weird, I suppose, but that's not the reason I'm pissed off. You guys don't know this, but I found these two out in the woods two nights after they slept together the first time ->
"Only time," Rachel interjected.
- saying they wanted to do it again. Never mind that the night before Rachel had said she loved me. >
"I guess I feel the same way," Cassie said softly. "You said you never wanted to hurt me, Rachel, that you didn't mean for it to happen. But you and Jake are out together, alone, every day, and last night Marco found you kissing -"
"Don't blame Rachel, please," Jake interrupted. "Not for the last two. I would go out to find Rachel. After she'd leave the main area of camp. I wanted to check that she was okay. I. . . I didn't think anyone else would. And last night. . . ."
Rachel picked up the story. "I was complaining to him last night. My. . . well, to be honest, the same sob story I've been repeating every night for the last week. Why'd we let it happen, why haven't we fixed it, what the hell do I feel for whom and. . . I don't know. Next thing I knew he was kissing me. And then there was Marco."
There was an awkward pause before Ax spoke. I'm sorry, Prince Jake, Rachel, but I believe I am quickly becoming confused. >
Oh boy, Jake thought. "Um, what about, Ax?"
Marco mentioned 'incest,' but I've never heard of that term. >
"Andalites don't have kissing cousins?" Marco quipped.
"Do you have a death wish or are you being an ass on general principle?" Rachel demanded.
Marco ignored her. "Ax, incest is when two people in the same family have a romantic relationship. And when the relationship progresses to sex, it's illegal."
Ax nodded. Yes. I can understand that. To prevent vecol children, correct? >
Jake sighed. "Yeah, Ax. That's right."
I do not know the full details in these circumstances, but I don't believe Rachel and Prince Jake intend to have children. >
"Of course we don't," Rachel snapped.
Then my opinion is they should have been more open about their relationship from the start, but I see nothing morally wrong with this situation. >
Rachel smiled slightly and was just about to thank Ax when Tobias broke in. What's morally wrong is how these two weren't honest with me or Cassie. If they had just come clean immediately, I would have been pissed, yeah, and I would have wanted some distance, but there'd have been no reason to throw the whole Valley into turmoil. >
"How many times, and in how many ways, do I have to apologize?" Rachel demanded. "Are you not going to be happy until I'm fucking you again, Tobias?" Rachel looked at the rest of the group. "Jake and I made a huge mistake. We don't deny it. But we aren't sadists. I didn't sleep with Jake, one time, because I wanted to piss Tobias off. I'm not proud of the way it happened, but. . . " Rachel suddenly lost her momentum and trailed off.
"Y'know what?" Marco said suddenly. "It's obvious we're not gonna get anything else done here. They've apologized and tried to rationalize it. I'm not sure how much of it I buy. Just. . . give me some time to think guys. 'Kay?" Without waiting for a response, he stalked off.
"I guess that's the end of it, then," Jake said. He glanced nervously from Tobias to Cassie. "Did this help at all?"
Cassie shrugged and stood up. "I don't know. I think we need to talk, just you and I. Will you come with me?"
"Of course." Jake went over to her and the two walked off in silence, leaving only Rachel, Tobias and Ax in the scoop.
Rachel was about to head off on her own when Tobias stopped her, saying in private thought speak, I think we need to talk, too. >
Rachel looked up at him. "Fine. Lead the way."
Tobias fluttered from branch to branch, leading Rachel through the woods until they reached a clearing Rachel knew all too well. It was the clearing they used to meet in to have sex. Why here? Rachel wondered.
Tobias landed and morphed to human so he and Rachel could talk properly.
"Um, what's up?" Rachel asked. She was nervous. Being here made her nervous.
"I want to know where we stand now," Tobias said flatly. "I'm not going to waste any more anger over you and him if we don't have a chance anymore."
Rachel sighed. "I don't know where we stand either, Tobias."
Tobias shook his head. "No. I can't accept that. I need to know if I should wait for you or move on."
"Why do you need to know now? Why is it so important to you?"
"Because I loved you, Rachel. I still do, and that's why I'm so angry. Do you know how hard it was for me to admit to myself that I liked you, let alone loved you? Now do I try to forgive you and love you again, or should I start all over again?"
Frustrated, Rachel sat on the ground and ran her hands through her hair. "Okay, Tobias. You want me to tell you exactly how I feel now?" Tobias nodded. "I love you. I always will. You'll always be my first love, I will never, ever, forget that."
"But?" Tobias prompted.
"But. . . well, I'm still not sure what it is exactly that I feel for Jake. I mean, after all the times I've wanted to hurt him. . . he's turning out to be completely different than I thought. But whatever it is I feel for him, it wouldn't be fair, I guess, to ask you to wait. I don't know what's going to happen with Jake, if anything will. Hell, maybe Cassie's convincing him right now that she's the one for him. But I guess I can't ask for you to wait for my feelings to sort themselves out." A pause. "I'm sorry, Tobias."
"Yeah. I am too."
"What?"
"Do you love her?" Cassie repeated, slower this time.
"I can't answer that, Cassie."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not a fair question. Did you know within a week that you loved me?"
"No," Cassie admitted. "But I didn't have sex with you until I'd known you well for three years. I know you two say that happened on accident, but something must have been there. If you two hadn't felt anything for each other, it never would have happened."
"I don't know if I love her, Cassie. I care alot about her, but maybe it really is just the family connection."
Cassie shook her head as Jake said that. "You were never close family, Jake. You both have told me that before."
"Well, then, I guess. . . "
Cassie took Jake's hand. "Please. I need to know the truth. I can't be hurt any more than I already am."
Jake gently pulled his hand away and looked at the ground. "Then maybe I do love her," he said softly.
Cassie nodded. "Okay then. I guess I don't have anything else to say. I'll see you around." She began to walk away.
"Cassie, stop." Jake quickly covered the few steps Cassie had taken. "You're still upset. Please, don't be. I didn't want to hurt you. I never have and I never will."
"I guess I lied when I said I couldn't be hurt any more. I didn't really expect you to answer. At least not that." Cassie shrugged. "Just give me some time, Jake. I'll be fine, now that I know the truth."
"Cassie. . . ."
"No, Jake. It's over. It's not going to work anymore. I just need some time to get over you now. Now that I know we're really done."
"Yeah. I guess I can understand that."
Cassie nodded and smiled wanly. "Good."
