Awakening: Third Stage

Chapter Eleven

"Wicked Game"

Homecoming

"I didn't know you could dance this well." Tish smiled as the music finally came to an end.

"Actually, I can't." Tino admitted. "I'm pretty much used up on slow dances. I guess we could always do the Twist if you want to keep going."

"Ugh, I think I can feel wrinkles on my face just hearing you say that! I'm really going to have to broaden you for the ballroom." Tish smirked.

"That might not be such a bad idea. Think of our junior prom next year. I've got to do better for you." Tino admitted.

"And it's not unappealing to spend long hours together arm in arm. . .who am I kidding?" Tish giggled. "You know we're just going to end up making out!"

"Yeah, I'm nothing if not irresistible." Tino laughed.

"Now you're just fishing for compliments."

"There's just one problem." Tino sighed. "We're in here and Lor is outside."

"What was she like out there?" Tish asked. Tish shuffled her feet, unable to think of anything helpful to say after Tino related the account of Lor, who was still standing outside in the rain. "Oh, Lor. . ." she whispered as Tino finished. "Tino, we have to help her somehow."

"I know, I know." Tino groaned in frustration. "I'd like to, really, but like we agreed earlier right now I think it's best if we just let her be. I think she really does need to just be alone right now. She doesn't want us seeing her like this."

"So what should we do?"

"Well, I know it sounds a little cruel, but I think all we can really do in this situation is just try to enjoy are evening and agree to help Lor when she's ready. At least, that's what I thought we decided." Tino felt unsure. He slowly began to move in time to the new, slow song as the music picked up again.

"Right. . .okay, yeah, I guess that's what we should do. . ." Tish said hesitantly. Sighing, Tish causally took the lead of the dance to save Tino some embarrassment.

"Unless you don't want to. . ."

"No, it's not like that at all, Tino.  Forget it. Besides,, it would be a shame to let this dress go to waste." Tish whispered, slipping her arms around Tino's neck. "There's still a slow dance or two left, if you think you can manage." She brought her left hand back around to gently poke Tino's nose with her index finger.

"I'll manage! Even if I am out of fresh moves. . ." Tino smiled. "You're right, that dress does look great on you."

"So you keep saying." Tish smiled, leaning a head on Tino's shoulder. She let out a sound that was part hum and part purr, then whispered "Don't get used to it."

"I know." Tino slid his own arms around Tish's back, the feeling of smooth skin and silky hair both pleasurable and comforting. "But it's still great."

"Thanks." Tish blushed. "I'm just sorry this year's homecoming is happening under such lousy circumstances. Poor Lor, she must be devastated. As soon as we can, we have to help her!"

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do
I'd never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
I'd never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

No I don't wanna fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't wanna fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you
With you (this girl is only gonna break your heart)

"Yeah, I'd say that would be an accurate assessment. I wasn't entirely certain before, but I think that she might actually be in love with Thompson."

"Or, she's built him up so much in her mind that this is what he's become."

"What, you mean like idealizing?" queried Tino.

"Exactly."

"I don't know. I guess that's possible, but it isn't something I can imagine doing. I mean, when you love someone, you just know it. It's not something you doubt."

"How so?"

"It's like how I love you, Tish. I just know it, deep down, and it feels so right, so…I guess it's not easy to explain, it just is." Tino sighed contentedly.

Tish took a step backwards. "Wait, what exactly are you saying?"

"With Lor?"

"No! With me. Did you. . .did you just say you love me?"

Tino blushed profusely. "Um, well, I guess so, yeah." Tish squeaked, her eyes screwing shut and her head shaking back and forth vigorously. "Tish? You okay?"

"No. . .no!" she choked. "You can't! It isn't. . ."

"It's okay, Tish. I'm totally fine with it. I talked this over with my mom, and she said at some point I have to let those feelings out. I guess it's something that's slowly grown over the years. It's weird how these things just sneak up on you. . ." Tino trailed off as he saw that Tish was weeping. "Tish? What's wrong?"

"Oh, Tino. . ." tears continued to fall down her cheeks. "I. . .I just can't. I can't!"

What a wicked game you played, to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you

And I don't wanna fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't wanna fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you

"I'm. . .sorry." Tino reflexively apologized. "I didn't mean to upset you. I shouldn't have said something like that so suddenly. Ah, geez, how stupid can I be?"

"You're not stupid." Tish got out after taking a deep breath. "Tino, you're not in love with me."

"What?"

"Let me finish. You've never been with anyone else in your life but me. The only other woman you ever had any interest in besides me was Tasha, and that was a crush!" Tish slowly shook her head. "You haven't had the experience yet, nor have I. You might think you love me, but I can't accept that."

"What's so wrong about being in love with you? Did I say something wrong here? I always figured the day I came clean and said those words to you, it would be like some sort of celebration, and you'd cling to me the whole day."

"Things aren't always what you expect. Tino, it's not that I don't like you or anything. But I just can't accept it that you love me with our inexperience. I won't do that, to either of us. I care about you too much for that, as a friend above all else! We can't go this far. I won't let you limit yourself to only me, not when we're both so young."

"But, Tish. . ."

"That's the way it has to be, Tino. I'm sorry." She cried, now, but refused to sob. She had to be stronger than that, for his sake.

"So what am I supposed to do? Pretend I don't have these feelings? Tish, I know what I want, and I want to be with you. I can't fight against who I am, what I feel. I understand if you're not ready to say something like that, Tish. It's not like I'm saying we need to get married or anything! Please believe me!"

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do
I'd never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you
I'd never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

"It's too soon in your life to fall in love with someone, Tino. Even me." Tish stared.

"I know what I feel is right." Pleaded Tino.

"Why?" Tish cried out, voice starting to give. Her tone lowered to a whisper. "I never asked you for this, never pushed you for more. Why can't you leave it be?" She raised her glasses with her left hand, wiping away tears. "Why?" She looked up at Tino, questioning.

"Because I felt you deserved to know." Tino said quietly.

No I don't wanna fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't wanna fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you (this girl is only gonna break your heart)

"That's not how it works."

"It's what I know inside." Tino felt frustration creeping into his voice.

"Don't do this to us!" Tish's voice hit a shrill peak, making it sound as though she were being assaulted and drawing the gaze of onlookers. "Don't do this to us." She begged in a whisper.

"What am I supposed to do?" Tino began to worry he would cry himself, he already felt the early warning symptoms coming on, eyes growing moist. "Take it back? We both know I can't do that."

"You have to."

"Tish, what is going on here? I had always thought this would be such a happy time for us! I don't know why you feel how you do about this, it just doesn't make any sense! Maybe you're not ready, or maybe you're just scared of what could happen if you accept what I said to you." Tino grew exasperated. "But how you can just stand there and think there's something bad about this, it makes no sense!"

"I'm trying to protect you, Tino!"

"And I appreciate that. But I don't need another mother, I've already got one of those! I need you to be my girlfriend!"

"What would you know about it!" Tish shouted, slapping Tino across his left cheek. Recoiling in horror and gasping at what she had just done, she gazed at her own left hand, feeling the sting from the impact. "Oh. . .Tino, I. . .I'm sorry, I."

No I... (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
(This girl is only gonna break your heart)

Tino stiffened at that moment, realizing that the conversation was largely at an end. For whatever her reasons, Tish Katsufrakis was refusing to accept his feelings for her. "Fine, Tish. I guess that's how you feel. We have a problem here, it seems, but you're just going to have to work it out for yourself. I'm falling in love with you. That's how I feel. It's not something I can help, something I can stop doing or change, anymore than Lor can ignore what she feels for Thompson!" He yelled, pointing outside beyond the double doors that led outside to rain and Lor's last known location. He panted, out of breath and unable to keep up a show of anger towards someone he had come to care about so much. Tino's face fell. "Tish, don't do this to us."

Tish looked up at him with a pained expression. "Love is like ice cream, Tino. You can't just eat only one flavor and decide it's your favorite. You have to try a variety until you can be certain which one is best for you. And I will not allow you to limit yourself to only one flavor until you try the others." She then slowly turned her back to him, partly to drive her point home and partly so he wouldn't see her cry.

"Tish?"

"Go home, Tino. I'll be fine."

"But, Tish, I-"

"I said go home!"

And that, it seemed, was that. Feeling completely spent, Tino, made his way away from the center of attention without even bothering to salvage his dignity. Once her beau had disappeared into the dance crowd, Tish dropped to her knees and bawled her eyes out. Tino Tonitini walked off to a life of diminished expectations.

Nobody loves no one. . .

Crossing the dance floor, a very dazed and confused Tino was picking his way towards the exit, trying to figure out exactly what had just happened. Carver caught up to him as he neared the doors. "Hey, T. I've been lookin' all over for you! Man, that was brutal! What happened out there? Are you two gonna be okay?

It took Tino several seconds to process his friends' words, and even as he did, his response sounded automated. "I don't know."

"You wanna, you know, hang for a bit? Talk about. . .sports and. . .stuff?" Carver asked, trying to be there for his friend.

"I have to go. Something's come up. I'll. . .um, call me when you get home, okay Carv?"

"Uh, sure." Carver felt concern for his friend. "You okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"Do you want-?"

"I said to call me later!"

"I will, but T, I just wanna-"

"JUST DO IT!" Tino shouted, walking out the double doors and hearing them slam satisfyingly behind him. And as he looked ahead, Tino was startled to see a certain girl staring wide-eyed at him.

Her eyes were piercing. Wide as saucers, Tino felt as though Lor were dissecting him with her fierce gaze. Her hair was still matted over her head, giving her a trampled yet somehow powerful look. She was mesmerizing in her silence, as though daring Tino to say something. The rain had died down to a mist, creating a haunting backdrop to her from as she stared into his soul.

"You. . .ah, I mean. . .you're still. . .here?" Tino asked, feeling paralyzed.

"I don't have anywhere else to go." Lor responded, a solitary blink the only break in her stare.

"You've seen better days."

"I saw that look on your face when you came out here. You've looked better yourself. What happened to you?"

"I don't really know." Tino sighed. "Tish and I had a fight. Let's just say that things aren't too good between us right now. Hopefully she'll cool down and we can talk it over again."

"Ok." Lor responded. "That I get. So why are you out here with the Queen of the Losers?"

"I guess tonight I'm just another subject of the Kingdom. Man, and to think two weeks ago we were psyched about tonight. This sucks."

"They haven't even played any good songs since I came out here. Nothing my speed, anyway." Lor sighed. "I don't even know what I'm doing here. I should go."

"Don't go!" Tino said hurriedly. "You, ah. . .you're the only other person here I can relate to right now. We're both going through some rough relationship manners."

"Roadkill?" Lor suppressed a small smile.

"Totally. C'mon, let's dance."

"Dance?" Lor started laughing. "You and me? Tino, if you're trying to cheer me up with a good joke, you're succeeding."

"Hey, I'm totally serious. Besides, unless I miss my guess, they just started playing our song."

"You mean 'How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?' Yeah, that's a classic."

"No!" Frustrated, Tino crossed the distance to Lor, taking hold of her hand and pulling her up to his level. "Come on, like this." He put one arm on her right shoulder and slowly guided her through a few steps.

Here's to those who love not too wisely, know not wisely, but too well
To the girl who sighs with envy when she hears that wedding bell
To the guy who'd throw a party if he knew someone to call
Here's to the losers, bless them all

Here's to those who drink their dinners when that lady doesn't show
To the girl who'll wait for kisses underneath that mistletoe
To the lonely summer lovers when the leaves begin to fall
Here's to the losers, bless them all

Hey, Tom, Dick and Harry, come in out of the rain
Those torches you carry must be drowned in champagne

Here's the last toast of the evening, here's to those who still believe
All the losers will be winners, all the givers shall receive
Here's to trouble-free tomorrows, may your sorrows all be small
Here's to the losers, bless them all

"I didn't know you could dance like this." Lor seemed somewhat shocked at how Tino was moving in such a, well, un-Tinoish way."

"Funny, I was about to say the same about you." Tino responded.

"Don't spread it around. This really isn't my strong suit." Lor tried to regain a little of her tough composure.

"We can stop if you want." Tino gave her an out.

"No way! I like dancing with you. I mean, you know, or maybe not, but. . ." Lor sighed. "This is kinda nice. Although next time we do this, I get to pick the pace."

"Deal."

Hey, Tom, Dick and Harry, come in out of that rain
Those torches you carry must be drowned in champagne

Here's the last toast of the evening, here's to those who still believe
All the losers will be winners, all the givers shall receive
Here's to trouble-free tomorrows, may your sorrows all be small
Here's to the losers, here's to the losers, here's to the losers
Bless them all!

Throughout the dance, Tino couldn't help but feel a little weird. Dancing with Lor was comfortable and agreeable, yet at the same time, it was nothing like holding Tish. It wasn't worse, or unenjoyable, just different. She fit into his arms in a completely different way. And there was the matter of guilt. Even though Lor was just his friend, here he was, dancing with another woman after just telling Tish he loved her.

"Do you still miss Thompson?" Tino asked, still feeling concerned for Lor.

"More than I could ever explain. But I do feel a little bit better about it all now. Thanks for, you know, being here for me and stuff."

"That's what friends are for, right?"

"Yeah. What friends are for." Lor said distantly.

"I got an idea." Tino said. "This dance has been nothing but pain. What do you say we get out of here and grab a little pizza. Nothing like a little comfort food after a rotten night."

"But I look like hell!" Lor pointed out.

"Eh, maybe they'll take pity on us and give us a discount. Besides, no one's gonna see you. The whole school is here tonight. C'mon, you know you want some."

"Ah, you talked me into it. But if I end up regretting this, I know where you live!" Lor reminded him.

"I'll keep that in mind." Tino smiled. The way Lor returned it gave him hope inside. They walked off the school ground into the damp night air, each feeling a little wiser and grateful for the ever present bond of their friendship.

This chapter was so not easy to write. It was difficult to get done for reasons of time, and on top of that, I felt I did something very painful with the two most prominent characters in this story. Still, I have my reasons, and even though it hurt me a lot, I did what I thought was best for them. I'm sure those still reading this story are divided between joy and sorrow. Many readers I'm sure are happy I finally broke up Tino and Tish, but at least I know a few of you out there think they were good together. Not being alone helps me feel good.

Mercifully, this story still seems to have a following, even after all this time. I'm eternally grateful for those who have been with it from the beginning. Some people are still discovering this long story for the first time. It's always uplifting to hear new people come in, but I won't ever forget the ones who have been with my since the story's infancy.  Without the support of the fans, both new and classic, none of this would be possible. Give yourselves a pat on the back.

Who knows where we're going from here? Third Stage is far from over, and I hope I've shaken things up enough to keep everyone's interest. This leg of the Awakening story my be a long one, so please bear with me!

Expect the next update at the usual time. Due to a recent shift in my schedule at work, I have a much more normal life, but much less time available for writing. Be assured that I will do everything in my power to keep updates to Awakening on schedule and at the same level of quality you have come to respect.

See you in 3 weeks!

Lord Malachite

Revised 7/4/04

1:46AM, EST

E-mail: rangerwriteryahoo.com

AIM: Asukaphile26