Chapter 6: Heart Of Love
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Officially sanctioned as the team's control center operator, Darien was content. Ever since he had attained the role by unanimous vote, he had known that he would be busy "keeping tabs on the enemy", as Hope often said. But it didn't bother him as much as Mason Eckhart did, knowing that he was probably using Adam as bait to catch Hope. 'Well, let him try!' he thought sardonically. 'That wierdo may be a wise guy, but he sure ain't no wise man! He's a brainiac, but he ain't smart enough to care about no one but his own stupid self!'
"Hey, Darien, could you come back to reality, now?" came a voice behind him. It was Brennan, who had apparently noticed that he had spaced out for a second.
"Oh, hey, dude- I was just thinking about something." He smiled, but it was a distracted smile. "Brennan, have you ever been great friends with a girl and wanted more than just a friendship, but you wanted them to make the first move and yet also wanted to do that yourself?"
For a moment, Brennan was silent. Then, cautiously, he said, "Yeah, I know what you mean. I was only friends with Shal for some time, but I knew I wanted more than that. It was actually the day Lexa kissed me when I knew how badly I loved Shal. I finally got the courage to tell her that I loved her, and she didn't run the other way like I thought she would." Another pause, and then he continued, "Guess you want that with Hope, don't you?"
Darien nodded, now looking worried. "The thing is, she's old-fashioned, and I admire her for that. She doesn't wear revealing clothes or anything that advertizes sick things, her manner is always like that of a real woman, she respects her elders and peers alike, and she never uses swear words- maybe substitutes, but never swear words!
"And her vocab is overall incredible- you should hear or read some of the words she says or writes! She's a great example of a woman that actually behaves like one! I just wish she would step up to the plate, so to speak. Ruth, her favorite book character, did that, and she got a guy named Boaz. But, at the same time, I want a Sleeping Beauty storyline- and Eckhart is the sorcerer trying to keep me from saving Hope!"
Brennan smiled knowingly. "Well then, tell her."
Facing the electric mutant, the water warior said, "What good would that do? She'd probably hit the highway if I did! And even if she doesn't run away, then I don't know what would happen!"
"I don't know, either, but no one will unless you try it." Putting a friendly hand on Darien's shoulder, Brennan said, "C'mon, dude- ya gotta find out, don't ya? As those Nike commercials used to say, 'Just Do It!' If you're right and Hope's reaction isn't good, you can say, 'I told you so.' If I'm right, I won't actually say it, but I will let you know that's what I mean. Deal?" He held out his hand in the same gesture used to make a bet.
Looking quizzical for a moment, Darien realized he had little choice in the matter, so he shook his friend's hand, hoping deeply that his fear would indeed be disproven. "Deal!"
When Shalimar, Lexa, and Hope returned to Sanctuary, nearly nine hours after they had left, they had another woman along with them. She had silvery white hair and looked a little like Hope, but with twenty-five years difference. When she told the guys that she was Aurora Landos, Hope's mother, they were suspicious to begin with, but the retelling of her story, with Hope's help, they were convinced.
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There was a knock on Hope's bedroom door around eight o'clock that evening, and Hope was inside, reading the latest copy of Vive magazine. "Come in!" she called out, and the door opened, although she didn't really notice.
"Hey, can I talk with ya?"
Surprised, she looked up and made eye contact with Darien, the last person she had expected to see there. There was something about him tonight that made her want to blush, but she didn't know what it was exactly. 'Could it be the Spycer cologne he smelled of? Is it his khaki painter's pants, white shirt, white shoes, and jean jacket? Might it not be his always killer smile?' she started thinking at random. "Darien!" she exclaimed with a slight stutter. "I didn't know you were there!"
His laugh was easy-going as he said, "No biggie- just wanted to know if we could talk about something. I figured we could go down to the cafeteria for a while." Then, as if escorting her to the prom or some other big event, he held his hand towards her and, arm in arm, they went downstairs together.
As they were on their way, they were oblivious to the two pairs of eyes that watched them. One of the pair's owners, Brennan, whispered to Shalimar, the owner of the other pair, "Looks like they're getting very close to becoming an item." He sounded proud of himself for some reason.
Shalimar looked at him with curiousity. "Okay, Brennan- what did you do to him?"
Smiling slyly and rolling his eyes away from her, he replied, "Nothing!"
Despite her temporary scowel, she couldn't help but like Brennan's flirtacious attitude. Teasingly, she muttered, "Come on- let's see what happens!" With that, the two of them snuck down to the cafeteria, where Darien and Hope were talking together.
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"So, what's up?" Hope asked when they arived at their destination.
Darien was nervous as he said, "Well, Hope, first off, I kinda overheard what you were saying to Shalimar about wanting me to make the first move that first night you were here. It was an accident, honestly- I couldn't sleep at all. I was tossing and turning, trying to find a good position that would make me fall asleep, when I heard you crying in the next room.
"As I listened, I heard what you were saying about what you wanted to happen between us and how you were content with how things are unless- or until- I were to start something. I, ah, just wanted to say that I really appreciate it- your waiting, I mean. I mean, not many girls these days are willing to do that, so it's refreshing to know a girl will be patient enough and, ah, I just wanted to thank you for doing that." Then, clearing his throat in a nervous gesture, he asked, "So, Hope, I was wondering; will you be my girlfriend?"
His explaination was in itself a surprize to Hope; his question, however, was a pleasant shock. In a soft, coy voice, she said, "You really mean it?" His entire face took on a smile as he nodded. Then, in a teasingly haughty tone, she said, "And just why, Darien Talodine, would anyone- specifically Mason Eckhart- think that I won't do just that?" Then, in her normally sweet voice, she answered, "You know I will, Darien- you know I will."
Suddenly, in an unexpected gesture, Darien leaned down and, in the sweetest moment in Hope's keleidescope-hurricaine life, he gently kissed her on her lips. She had never been kissed in any way by any guy in her entire life, so she felt a flood of happiness overcome her when he did so. 'Oh, wow! Awesome, cool, fantastic, extremely great!' she thought as he slowly pulled away. Opening her blue eyes, she found that she was breathless and that her heart was soaring higher than ever before. "Oh my gosh, that was so wonderful!" she said in a joyous rush.
"Yeah- my first ever and hopefully not my last!" he exclaimed.
"Yours, too?" Her expression was full of surprize and glee. Then, laughing, she said, "It feels kind of nice to have one's first kiss, then, huh?"
"Yeah, it does." Then, holding each other's hands, they walked together to the lab/control room, where, Brennan and Shal were frantically attempting to cover up their spy operation.
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Officially sanctioned as the team's control center operator, Darien was content. Ever since he had attained the role by unanimous vote, he had known that he would be busy "keeping tabs on the enemy", as Hope often said. But it didn't bother him as much as Mason Eckhart did, knowing that he was probably using Adam as bait to catch Hope. 'Well, let him try!' he thought sardonically. 'That wierdo may be a wise guy, but he sure ain't no wise man! He's a brainiac, but he ain't smart enough to care about no one but his own stupid self!'
"Hey, Darien, could you come back to reality, now?" came a voice behind him. It was Brennan, who had apparently noticed that he had spaced out for a second.
"Oh, hey, dude- I was just thinking about something." He smiled, but it was a distracted smile. "Brennan, have you ever been great friends with a girl and wanted more than just a friendship, but you wanted them to make the first move and yet also wanted to do that yourself?"
For a moment, Brennan was silent. Then, cautiously, he said, "Yeah, I know what you mean. I was only friends with Shal for some time, but I knew I wanted more than that. It was actually the day Lexa kissed me when I knew how badly I loved Shal. I finally got the courage to tell her that I loved her, and she didn't run the other way like I thought she would." Another pause, and then he continued, "Guess you want that with Hope, don't you?"
Darien nodded, now looking worried. "The thing is, she's old-fashioned, and I admire her for that. She doesn't wear revealing clothes or anything that advertizes sick things, her manner is always like that of a real woman, she respects her elders and peers alike, and she never uses swear words- maybe substitutes, but never swear words!
"And her vocab is overall incredible- you should hear or read some of the words she says or writes! She's a great example of a woman that actually behaves like one! I just wish she would step up to the plate, so to speak. Ruth, her favorite book character, did that, and she got a guy named Boaz. But, at the same time, I want a Sleeping Beauty storyline- and Eckhart is the sorcerer trying to keep me from saving Hope!"
Brennan smiled knowingly. "Well then, tell her."
Facing the electric mutant, the water warior said, "What good would that do? She'd probably hit the highway if I did! And even if she doesn't run away, then I don't know what would happen!"
"I don't know, either, but no one will unless you try it." Putting a friendly hand on Darien's shoulder, Brennan said, "C'mon, dude- ya gotta find out, don't ya? As those Nike commercials used to say, 'Just Do It!' If you're right and Hope's reaction isn't good, you can say, 'I told you so.' If I'm right, I won't actually say it, but I will let you know that's what I mean. Deal?" He held out his hand in the same gesture used to make a bet.
Looking quizzical for a moment, Darien realized he had little choice in the matter, so he shook his friend's hand, hoping deeply that his fear would indeed be disproven. "Deal!"
When Shalimar, Lexa, and Hope returned to Sanctuary, nearly nine hours after they had left, they had another woman along with them. She had silvery white hair and looked a little like Hope, but with twenty-five years difference. When she told the guys that she was Aurora Landos, Hope's mother, they were suspicious to begin with, but the retelling of her story, with Hope's help, they were convinced.
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There was a knock on Hope's bedroom door around eight o'clock that evening, and Hope was inside, reading the latest copy of Vive magazine. "Come in!" she called out, and the door opened, although she didn't really notice.
"Hey, can I talk with ya?"
Surprised, she looked up and made eye contact with Darien, the last person she had expected to see there. There was something about him tonight that made her want to blush, but she didn't know what it was exactly. 'Could it be the Spycer cologne he smelled of? Is it his khaki painter's pants, white shirt, white shoes, and jean jacket? Might it not be his always killer smile?' she started thinking at random. "Darien!" she exclaimed with a slight stutter. "I didn't know you were there!"
His laugh was easy-going as he said, "No biggie- just wanted to know if we could talk about something. I figured we could go down to the cafeteria for a while." Then, as if escorting her to the prom or some other big event, he held his hand towards her and, arm in arm, they went downstairs together.
As they were on their way, they were oblivious to the two pairs of eyes that watched them. One of the pair's owners, Brennan, whispered to Shalimar, the owner of the other pair, "Looks like they're getting very close to becoming an item." He sounded proud of himself for some reason.
Shalimar looked at him with curiousity. "Okay, Brennan- what did you do to him?"
Smiling slyly and rolling his eyes away from her, he replied, "Nothing!"
Despite her temporary scowel, she couldn't help but like Brennan's flirtacious attitude. Teasingly, she muttered, "Come on- let's see what happens!" With that, the two of them snuck down to the cafeteria, where Darien and Hope were talking together.
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"So, what's up?" Hope asked when they arived at their destination.
Darien was nervous as he said, "Well, Hope, first off, I kinda overheard what you were saying to Shalimar about wanting me to make the first move that first night you were here. It was an accident, honestly- I couldn't sleep at all. I was tossing and turning, trying to find a good position that would make me fall asleep, when I heard you crying in the next room.
"As I listened, I heard what you were saying about what you wanted to happen between us and how you were content with how things are unless- or until- I were to start something. I, ah, just wanted to say that I really appreciate it- your waiting, I mean. I mean, not many girls these days are willing to do that, so it's refreshing to know a girl will be patient enough and, ah, I just wanted to thank you for doing that." Then, clearing his throat in a nervous gesture, he asked, "So, Hope, I was wondering; will you be my girlfriend?"
His explaination was in itself a surprize to Hope; his question, however, was a pleasant shock. In a soft, coy voice, she said, "You really mean it?" His entire face took on a smile as he nodded. Then, in a teasingly haughty tone, she said, "And just why, Darien Talodine, would anyone- specifically Mason Eckhart- think that I won't do just that?" Then, in her normally sweet voice, she answered, "You know I will, Darien- you know I will."
Suddenly, in an unexpected gesture, Darien leaned down and, in the sweetest moment in Hope's keleidescope-hurricaine life, he gently kissed her on her lips. She had never been kissed in any way by any guy in her entire life, so she felt a flood of happiness overcome her when he did so. 'Oh, wow! Awesome, cool, fantastic, extremely great!' she thought as he slowly pulled away. Opening her blue eyes, she found that she was breathless and that her heart was soaring higher than ever before. "Oh my gosh, that was so wonderful!" she said in a joyous rush.
"Yeah- my first ever and hopefully not my last!" he exclaimed.
"Yours, too?" Her expression was full of surprize and glee. Then, laughing, she said, "It feels kind of nice to have one's first kiss, then, huh?"
"Yeah, it does." Then, holding each other's hands, they walked together to the lab/control room, where, Brennan and Shal were frantically attempting to cover up their spy operation.
