AN- I found out chi means who in Italian. Just wanted to let everyone reading to know I'm able to learn things. :-). I don't know what I've been reading to make me write what I wrote in this chapter…there's a lot of innuendos. Other than that this was one of those chapters your write in an hour. This bad boy is pretty long…I think it's up near 4000 words. Have fun…now a few words to my adoring audience.
Firilya- Tomi as the 'preacher' at the wedding was simply a thought of mine when I said who would make the worst minister to have? I came up with this thought after watching an episode of Friends where Joey (what were they thinking) was the minister for Monica and Chandler's wedding. I hope I keep him in character for the wedding in the next chapter. –crosses fingers-. Nahser said yes because he's cheap. Tomi did it for free…I'm not sure if I'll put the whole story of that in the story…I glad that Amberlee made you so happy…I lot more of her in this chapter but don't let Punkin's thoughts about her ruin it for you.
WitchWolf- I'm glad you like it…it's just pratice. I've written a gagillion Sharwyn lines so I can almost write them of the top of my head. Enough gloating. I like Punkin's comment about the wedding…of course her wedding is going to be better if she can get Meris to show up. I think he's gamophonic (fear of marriage and commitment).
CHAPTER EIGHT
I had never met someone that I considered a goody-goody that I liked…I guess at times I felt that Meris was but I just see him with rose colored glasses. That was until Amberlee stumbled her way into my life. Not only did we stay up all night talking about what I would sing at the Alagondar wedding but she was able to reveal a whole new side to me…a girlish side that I, much like everyone else in Neverwinter, thought I didn't have. Our nightly dialogues mostly consisted of my torrid ideas of Meris…at times I think I forgot the poor girl was just 13. As I finished up my school year, she stayed around my house and did a million little things, kept the peace between the crazies as well as cooked and cleaned after the squatters. And boy could she cook…I wanted to keep the girl around. Anyway with her help I made it to my last day of class.
"So just like two days until your big day," Akyrra said as we packed up the things in our room, as I prepared for my summer plans and she prepared for her spiritual journey.
"I wish you could hear me sing in front of all those people but…when chi calls, right." I said.
"Who's chi?" Akyrra asked as she rubbed the back of her hair.
"Your chi."
"I'm not chi…are you like feeling okay. I totally know people that have like caught nasty stuff because of all the totally hard studying." She asked as she felt my forehead. I think you've caught stupid.
"I'm fine." I thought of a way to change the subject, "So, you'll be alone Bardock all summer."
"Not really cause like Maxine is going too."
"Oh, is she the…"
"Bitchy little schoolgirl with short pink hair that like totally needs to be shaved off. Yep, she's the only thing that standing between me and Bardock eloping." Dream on. You think that you could get your instructor to go off with you. Please spare me the details. "I can see it now, we'll be sitting on top of the Netherese Mountains looking over the world and he'll tell me that the only thing more beautiful is…"
"You." I interrupted.
"Yeah, I totally tell you that before, huh chica." More times than I wanted to hear.
"Keep dreaming, I'll have Meris taking me out before you and any teacher in the Academy are in the sack together." I said as I picked up my stuff with a deep thrusted, I must having been getting stronger, since it was little trouble picking up the whole pack, mainly clothes, in one swift lift.
"Strange things happen in the mountains…strange things," the monk said as she exited and was intercepted at the door b Amberlee.
The two made a quick gesture to one another, smiled, and then Amberlee made her way into my room, "Cool…this is a dorm room." She looked comfortable in my favorite purple shirt and a pair of shorts that went to her knees.
I looked her over and got a quick twinge- envy. She could pull anything off. "Nice look."
"All of my clothes are drying," I believe she was indicating the food fight we had to break up last night. If my parents were alive they'd be digging their graves by now. "I thought it would be okay to wear some of your clothes and come help you, I'm…"
"Don't say you're sorry. You apologize for everything." I said.
"I'm…I'll try to stop. These clothes aren't important to you…they seemed a bit big for you so I thought they'd fit me well and maybe they were work clothes or something." Another twinge came- covetous.
She was easily a half foot taller than me but she had figure that any woman, let alone girl, would die for…she looked like a statue even her pale skin looked almost lifeless and near-perfect. That twinge went away along with the first as I told myself that I had a bigger chest and that's all that really matter.
"It's no worries…if I knew you had such little provisions I would have taken you shopping. Clothes are almost as important as air…maybe more depends on the season." I said.
"My family has to pack light. It's tough in the Silver Marches and we need to make sure we are prepared for everything so there's little room for clothing. But some shopping would be nice before we have to get fitted for our dresses."
"Good idea and maybe we could get some swimming in before tonight too…" then he walked in fresh off another dazzling semester of classes, at the pace he was going he'd be on the top of his class and mine.
"Is this…a…ah…bad time," Meris asked as he ducked his way into my room. Such a rule-breaker.
"No it isn't," I pushed Amberlee's shoulder lightly, "My friend was going to…ah…" I tossed my pack at her, "take my stuff to my house."
"I was," then a light came on in her head, "Oh yeah I was, see ya, Meris." She waved with her free hand and tried to keep her smile inside as she disappeared out the door.
"Do I know her?" Meris scratched his head. Such a cute look on you.
"I doubt it. She's one of Nasher's nieces, Amberlee. I thought she'd be totally different than she is."
"That's… nice. So you're…kind of…are attending…" I know where this was going, poor Meris, he always had trouble with talking about his emotion.
"Sure." I said with a big smile.
"Sure…what?" he asked.
"You were going to go on for 20 minutes about the wedding and try to muster up the courage to ask me to it, usually I'd love to see you struggle through it but I've got a full plate today." I said.
"My goal was 10 minutes." Meris defended himself. "I don't want to be the jerk with no betty at the wedding."
"Betty?" I asked.
"Yeah, you know a lass, a lady."
I couldn't hold it in, the laughter just erupted, "You're such an old man…it's so charming. I'll be glad to be your date to the wedding."
"Date!" the half-demon nearly jumped out of his skin after that statement.
"Yeah, that's kind of how it works…you ask me out to go somewhere with you on a certain date and…"
"I-I-I was told that I needed to go with someone…I didn't want to go on a…romantic thing."
"Well what do you want to call our date," I said with a smirk.
"I just want to make sure you're…taken care of…you know…have someone watching your back…"
"I'd rather have someone staring my front," catch my drift.
"Ahh, there's a lot…of…things that could happen. Big crowds are attractive for thieves."
"I'm one of them so I doubt that I'd be their prey."
"Well…if you go by yourself…ah…the hooligans with no dates will be calling for you all night."
"Good answer…I guess you can be my guard for the wedding," I said. It's a start…with Meris I gotta take what I can get.
"When do you want me to meet you?" he asked allowing me to set him up. The guard thing had to be paid back.
"Tonight at six…my house in Blacklake and bring something that you don't mind getting wet," I said. I really wasn't trying to sound as suggestive as that came out.
"Isn't that a bit early…"
"You're my guard, right. Amberlee and I need to go swimming and I think having a strong, brave guard around will help us feel com-fort-a-ble," I said as I left the room.
"I…don't know…" Meris argued.
"Amberlee and I will cook you something," my mother taught me that the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
"I'll be there." Another point for my mother.
XOXOXO"So what happened, he didn't propose did he?" Amberlee asked as I caught up with her.
"He can't even admit that he's taking me out on a date but at least he's going somewhere with me…well us, first."
"He's going shopping with us?" Amberlee asked.
"No…he's going to 'guard us' as we swim." I explained.
"Oh." Amberlee seemed confused, "Are all guys this complicated?"
"The good ones I hear are," I said with a little chuckle.
"If he's going swimming with you, than it's not fair. Why don't I get a guy?"
"You're only 13, you don't need a guy." Although you won't have a problem getting one.
"Are you always so prejudice," she asked with a little grin.
"Probably," I said dryly, "He'll just sit on the edge of the lake and meditate or read a book anyway. Guys really aren't that much fun anyway."
"I can see why you think he's so cute though…I mean his eyes are so striking and they even match his skin. By the way I've never seen a race with purple skin…I believe he's elven though…"
"He is…well he's half-elven like you are…"
"You're kidding."
"No but he's half-demon also."
"…Half…demon…" she said with a puzzle-that's-missing-a-piece look.
"I think they call his race Daemonfey…but he's not wicked. He's very polite and well-mannered."
"He's a…demon," she swallowed, "But I didn't sense an evil spirit from him."
I jumped in without thinking, "Cause he's not evil."
"I thought…I was told that all demons are evil." She said.
"Well, there's always an exception to a rule and Meris is the exception, he doesn't even act like a demon. I think he just nervous around me and other girls."
"Well, if you say so but he tries anything than I'll have to use my talents to subdue him."
XOXOXOAfter we squander a great deal of my inheritance on new clothes and cool jewelry, we prepared to go to the lake for our swim. I was customary in Neverwinter for students to go for a swim on the first official day of summer, of course that being when school's out. I wore what I always wore; purple shorts over my knees and a thick tee shirt that went past my elbows. But Amberlee wore less…a lot less than I'd be comfortable in…
"It's called a bathing suit," Amberlee said with her fists on her hips. The 'suit' was only suited for bathing but I had to admit it showcased all of her elven features. The two piece garment was topped by a pair of triangular pieces of fabric delicately held together with a few threads thrown over her shoulders and across her back. Looking downward at her sturdy abs leading to the bottom of the 'suit'. It was little more than a pair of briefs but was thicker and gave a bit more coverage for her posterior. All you could see on the girl was legs…long, well-built, flawlessly tanned legs.
"It looks more like lingerie to me, "I said which cause her fair cheek to blush a little, "But if you're comfortable, than I'm content."
"Oh, I'm comfortable," she said as she struck a smooth pose, "Do you think it looks nice?"
"Nice doesn't even explain what I think of it," Trampy or maybe loose would be better.
"My mom says that I don't have any qualms about my body," and I wouldn't either if I were half-elf either.
"I'm sure that most just don't either," I let that one slip that caused the blue eyes from Amberlee to hide behind the huge smile she now had.
"Knock, knock," said the voice of Meris from outside the front door, "If I have to wait any longer I sprout roots and be stuck here." Was that an attempt at humor from Meris, he must be excited about our date?
"Quiet out there," I said, "We'll be out when we're ready. We opened the door and revealed our swimming gear.
"Ah…nice day for a swim," Meris said staring at the impressive frame of Amberlee. I felt another twinge coming as he seemed magnetized by her form.
"Guards aren't supposed to say anything and as I remember it they are supposed to stand behind their target," I said and quickly remembered the view he'd have of Amberlee from the vantage point, "Our at our sides…yeah that makes more sense. Stand by my side."
"I want a raise," joked Meris dryly.
"I wanted to give you one in my dorm room," I started.
"Okay, I might be 13 but I do know about all those things. If you two want to be alone…"
"No!" Meris said, "I mean I'm just making sure that you two are okay, and nothing happens." Smooth Casanova, smooth.
"Okay, how about you lead us to the lake, Mr. I-like-jailbait." I said as I pushed him forward.
"What's that suppose to mean?" he asked.
Amberlee said, "You were looking at me of course. I'll take it as a compliment but I doubt your girlfriend would do the same."
"She's not…"
"I know I was just teasing you," she said as we started out.
"Yeah, you seem to be good at that kind of thing," said Meris.
XOXOXOThe lake was empty. I couldn't believe it. Everyone always came to the lake on the last day of school but I guess Sharwyn's wedding had disrupted the whole flow of everything. So Amberlee and I swam as Meris sat and read a book, I should have placed a bet.
"How long are you two going to swim?" he asked as the sky began to turn red.
"Until our clothes peel off," I said as I treaded water with Amberlee next to me.
"We'll this book only has some many pages and it's getting boring to seeing you guys just sit there in the water." Meris said.
"You wanna see us do something else," I teased.
"If it involves you two getting dry and letting me get home and get ready for the wedding than yes, I would."
"Nope that's not what I want to do…I want to see who can…" I quickly swam out of the water and with my pickpocket-like speed I swiped his boot off his foot.
"Hey, what are you going to do with that?" Meris asked as he jumped up to run after me.
"I'll give it back. Amberlee wanted to see how good of a swimmer I was," I said and with heroic strength flung the black boot halfway across the wide lake.
"You little-" Meris said.
"I'll get it back don't worry," I said and disappeared into the lake. I had this all planned out, and Amberlee knew about it. I'm so clever. There's always more than one way to make a guy kiss you. I grabbed his boot and sat Indian style under water for at least a minute. Good thing I had trained myself to hold my breath for long periods of time…I think it's because as I kid I used to throw tantrums and hold by breath until I was blue. That and other kids always wanted to hold their breath longer than me and of course me and my ego…we couldn't ever let that happen.
"Meris, it's too deep some has to help her and I'm a bad swimmer," Amberlee lied but thankfully it worked.
"It has been a long time," Meris said as I heard him dive into the water. Here comes phase two, I flopped to the floor of the lake and closed my eyes.
"Punkin," I felt his hand graze mine, "stop joking." I didn't budge. "Come on." He grabbed me around my waist and pulled me up to the surface. Wow, he was even stronger than he looked, I wish I could have got a peek at him underwater.
"Is she okay?" Amberlee asked touching my skin. "I think she's not breathing do you know how to put air back into her."
"No," Meris said dreadfully.
"Just put your lips on her lips and breath…I'll find someone else to help." She said and ran off.
"Wait. I can't. I…crap," Meris said as he put his lips over mine. It was twice as intimate as I ever thought it would be and apart from me deceitful to force it to happen it was everything I thought it would be. Stars trickled down my spine and my skin felt like it was on fire. I knew my dominating heartbeat would give me away as he continued on.
Should I be guilty over this?"Punkin, please…this can't happen not again." Meris pleaded as I felt a droplet hit me…I hoped it was rain but I knew differently.
I feigned consciousness. "Oh, Meris…what happened?"
"You…it doesn't really matter. We need to get you home," he said as he tried to scoop me in his arms. Any other time I'd feel fine about it…since it was my most favorite place in the world but right now…I felt disgusted with myself."
"I think I can walk, thank you though."
"But you just nearly…"
"I'm fine…leave me my pride." I said as I slowly walked back home.
XOXOXO
I was nauseous. I felt acid sloshing around deep inside my stomach and my heart was racing like a thoroughbred stallion. He was a tough guy I mean he even took an arrow in his shoulder without flinching. If I knew he'd respond that way to thinking I had drown, I'm sure I wouldn't have done what I did.
Was this what guilt felt like?
"You don't look so good," Amberlee said as I made the table ready for all of us to have supper and she was in bring out her cuisines. If I didn't think I'd throw it back up, I'd sample her cookery. As I placed done the fourteen places I thought about why in Halueth's name my parents thought it was necessary to have a giant table for three people to eat at…I knew my mother entertained a lot before I was born but she was a bit excessive if you ask me.
"I'm fine…I'm just…" I couldn't think up a lie, I was caught.
"I don't think it was right the way we tricked Meris, he seemed…frazzled about the whole thing. I think I should tell him…"
"No!" I said brashly then backed off, "No. I'll tell him, I just don't know how yet."
"I think you should do it right away," Amberlee said as she carried over a green and orange thing in a large dish…it smelled mouth-watering.
"I can't…he probably won't go to the wedding if I do."
"You're a cute, popular girl plus you're singing at the thang, I'm sure anybody you ask will say yeah."
"I know. I'm a salmon in a sea of tunas but it's just…I…"
"You like Meris." She said bluntly.
"Yeah."
"And you don't want to hurt his feelings, right."
"Right."
"Than you have to tell him. The longer you wait the hardest it's going to be and the more it will hurt him." How does a 13 year old get so worldly?
"I guess…" I said.
"You know." She said.
"I do know. I just I'll tell him after supper."
XOXOXOAfter I had forced the steak-filled slobs out of my dining room, I was left alone with Meris, who insisted on helping clean up.
"You don't have to help me, I'm not invalid," I said as I grabbed a stack of plates and sat them in the sink.
"I want to help." He said with little emotion.
"Well…I need," I took a deep breath. Rip it off like a bandage, Punkin, "I need to tell you something."
"Okay."
"I faked it." Just as I said that Amberlee's mother Celeste marched in. Her prim and proper exterior was shocked at the statement and it was easy to see.
With a crooked, fake smile she said, "I'll just wash my hands in the bathroom."
"O-kay," he said as he scraped a plate.
"I didn't drown…I mean I was drowning. I can stay underwater for a very long time." I said sorrowfully.
"Oh…so that was…all to…"
"I didn't think…" I said.
"It's okay," Meris said looking away from me.
"Really, but it was wrong. I shouldn't have made you…"
"It was nothing. We've been trying to one up one another all year…since we met actually. I guess I can't fake my own death so you win…you're better."
"I'm not better. I fell terrible…if I could do it all over again…I'd just ask you for a kiss."
"You…did…all that…to kiss me?" Meris said.
"I'm sorry. I'm sure you wanted your first kiss to be special. Memorable…but I ruined it." I said.
"I wouldn't have thought that would have been your first kiss." I didn't know if that was a compliment or a cut. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.
"It was with a boy my own age." I said and looked at him. He was nervous…antsy.
"Oh…well…that's good." That's good…I knew what was going on.
"Was it your first kiss?" I asked.
"No."
"Do I get the privilege to know about it?" I asked sweetly. I knew I was the only person that was Meris as a amiable, engaging gentleman.
"Not really…since every time I see you…you rmind of it. I don't want to but I can't stop it…every time I think about it I see…I'm almost where I didn't want to go back to." I wasn't expecting that.
"I remind you of who…I didn't know. If I did I would have left you alone."
"That's not what I want. I want to repress those thoughts, those injudicious memories. I want to forget everything about my past…"
"We can only learn from the past…"
"What can you learn from having to kill your best friend?"
I didn't have an answer. I always thought Meris was this shy, diligent person that liked to be alone but I was slowly learning that he was alone because he needed too not because he wanted too. I never felt closer and yet further from him at the same to the extreme as that moment. I did the only thing that I could do… I hugged him, a friendly, welcoming embrace that I hope would pierce through his pain.