[[CONFESSIONS]]


Heyo everyone, writing this chapter at like, eleven thirty at night on the same day I posted chapter 2. Wow, big day for fanfic huh? Still, guess I'd alreddi written the second chapter, I just had to do the HTML and all that so I could post it up. Sorri bout the 2nd chapter btw, it was kinda long for summat you guys all had to wait so long for. Still, you'll all get to see this one when I get five reviews, which shudn't take to long considering I got seventeen for the first chapter. Anyway, this ones better than the last one, I promise, despite the fact that I'm writing it so late at night. I think this fic will end up being about five chapters all up, and I'm hoping to get them all written by the end of next month. I've got a new fic in the works, which will be Kel/Neal and heaps better than my last Kel/Neal, which I think I'm going to remove because it reeli reeli sucks! But yeah, I'm blabbering and I bet no-one will actually read this newayz. So I'll get on with the story. But plz note that the fourth chapter will not be added until I have a total of thirty-five reviews for all chapters (That's like twelve more reviews I think. But it's a good chappie!! It'll be worth it!!)

Jill


Disclaimer: I'm too tired to make this creative. I'm not Tamora Pierce and I dun own nothing. Plz don't steal my plot. On with story:

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Chapter Three: When Doves Cry

How can you leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold?
Maybe I'm just to demanding,
Maybe I'm just like my father to bold,
Maybe you're just like my mother,
She's never satisfied,
Why do we scream at each other,
This is what it sounds like,
when doves cry,

When Doves Cry-Guy Sebastian

Briar gasped in shock as Sandry grabbed his hands and practically dragged him down the steps and off the wall. He almost tripped as she pulled him down the stairs, over the large grass area in front of them and into one of the various toolsheds that lay scattered around the temples grounds. As a plant mage he recognised that the tools in these sheds were important to the temple and should not be disturbed, but defending the tools didn't seem worth an argument with Sandry in her current mood. This type of determination was scary even from a noble, and given the way he had acted towards Sandry lately he didn't want to push his luck. He was sure she'd only brought him here so she could yell at him in private.

Only when Sandry had led Briar to the farthest part of the toolshed did she finally drop his hand. Leaning against the wall, she breathed heavily after the brisk walk. Briar watched her, standing in the pale moonlight that trickled in through the toolsheds only window, and for a moment he could imagined that she didn't hate him, that they were just here as friends or more, and that she wasn't about to yell at him.

That was before she spoke.

But she did, suddenly, after she'd completely stopped panting and had been breathing normally for several minutes. Just as he had thought that perhaps, just perhaps, the situation hadn't been as grim as he'd thought and she may just actually want to talk, or sit, or stare out the sheds grimy window.

But she spoke, so calmly and so sweetly. As though to a favourite cousin and not a foolish ex-foster brother.

"So, did you miss me?" she questioned, turning around to look at him, her eyes gleaming in the pale moonlight "Or did you just miss tormenting me?"

Briar stared at the ground, blankly, knowing he would deserve every moment of what was coming.

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Sandry moved away from the wall swiftly, enjoying the lightness of her footsteps and Briar's embarrassed squirming. She was glad of her decision to bring Briar here to talk, instead of staying on that horrible cold wall, having their conversation overheard by the nosy mages behind them. Focusing her thoughts back on the task at hand, Sandry took the time to remind herself that revenge was never sweet. But that didn't mean she wouldn't draw out the process of crossing the floor to stand in between them as much as she could. She could make him squirm a little, but ultimately if her friendship with Briar was to survive, she would have forgive and forget. Swallowing the last traces of the lump that had gathered in his throat as she had cried, she put on a brave face. This was her chance to tell her story and she intended to leave nothing unsaid.

"Why do you do this to me?" she asked, glancing suddenly upwards to meet his eyes. "This whole, one-day-we're-friends-the-next-day-I-won't-talk-to-you-thing…Its just strange Briar!" she saw the sadness in his eyes as she stared at him. Perhaps there was hope yet…"I mean, I thought we were friends, I thought of you as a brother…" Sandry looked away as she said the word and so never saw the flicker of sadness that crossed Briars face as she said that word…'brother'… You never thought of him as a brother a nasty little voice at the back of her mind said. He was so much more than a brother to you. Sandry told her mind to shut up. She was rebuilding a friendship, nothing more.

When she finally forced her eyes up again, she noted that Briar wasn't looking at her either. Not a good sign with Briar. Had he turned mute? Why wouldn't he say something?

"Look," She said finally, exasperated with him and his games "Do you hate me or something? Is it because I'm a noble? Because there's not really very much I can do about that I'm afraid. Do you have anything to say for yourself? Because I bought you here so we could talk, I thought that when I saw you crying that perhaps you were upset about this. Because I am Briar." She felt the tears well up in her eyes again "I want to work this out"

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Briar could see that she was crying, but he wasn't quite sure what to do about it. Thieves never cried, or if they did they did it quietly in corners, as though it was their secret. Usually, such people were ignored or even beaten up by others for being sissies. But Sandry didn't seem ashamed of her tears another reason we could never be together Briar thought. We have such different understandings of... everything. Looking into her eyes, he saw the hurt she hid there. Suddenly, those eyes met his, and he felt his face heat up. Yet he couldn't pull his gaze away. It was like they were calling to him, in the same ways that his plants called him. It was like…Wait! His mind called to him. It'll be a miracle if you even get to talk to her again! Let alone…that…Focus!!

"So," Sandry finally said, looking away and blushing. "Are you going to tell me why you've ignored me for months on end?"

Briar blinked in surprise. Hadn't that look been enough, hadn't she seen? Didn't she know? Then again how could she? He wasn't even sure himself. Or perhaps you just don't want to be sure his mind whispered. He ignored it.

It couldn't let it end like this.

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Dream if you will a picture,
Of you and I engaged in a kiss,
The sweat of your body covers me,
Can you, my darling,
Can you picture this,
Then if you can, a courtyard,
an ocean of fire that's in blue,
animals strike curious poses,
they feel the heat, the heat between me and you.

When Doves Cry - Guy Sebastian

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Sandry watched Briar as he sighed and sat down on the floor. She really hoped he finally had something to say. She needed him to talk or this whole thing just would not work out. She stared at her feet. She just didn't know what to say. Maybe the crying had just been an act, a trick of the light. How could he go from one emotion to another so damn quickly! From such a display of emotion, to this…nothing. Perhaps she should just give up. Maybe they just weren't meant to be friends…

Suddenly, as though he had read her thoughts, he said the first words she'd heard him say for several months. Quickly, as though he was nervous about the whole thing:

"I'm sorry Sandry" he blurted "I'm sorry I ignored you and I'm sorry I can't tell you why. Can you forgive me?"

She looked at him. She'd promised herself she wouldn't let herself accept his apology without a full explanation. And yet, standing there, looking into his eyes, she knew there was something deep there that he wasn't ready to touch on with her yet. Not now. There was fear in his eyes, and a longing. Perhaps he too, needed an explanation. From himself.

Almost despite herself, Sandry smiled at this new side of her friend. She'd never seen him get emotional before. Perhaps she meant more to him than she'd thought. Maybe it was worth a try. Even though he'll always have to be a brother to me she reasoned nothing more. She immediately kicked herself for the thought, before coming out of her trance to find Briar staring at her expectantly.

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Briar's heart skipped a beat as Sandry smiled at him. After her long silence he'd thought she must be going to yell at him again. But that smile had told him otherwise. He didn't even need her to mutter the next few words, although he was glad that she did anyway.

"I can always forgive you Briar" she whispered "If you promise never to do it again"

"Oh I can promise that" He felt himself grin. That damned smile of hers was infectious.

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Wow! That was easily my longest chapter yet! And, I hope you've all noticed, it has been posted VERY promptly. Don't forget to check out my joint fic with mah freend LJ. Our joint account is Uncovsclueless, or summat lyk that. Stick it in search and it'll come up with summat newayz.

Wow, just re-read that chappie. Wasn't as good as I thought it was. Damn. Oh wellz, next one will be better.