A/N: Chapter five! Sorry for the delay. Anyway here it is, chapter numero cinco(number five)!
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Darren looked up from Whisper's face to Evra's, which bore an expression of raw astonishment. Sam's face however, looked grim and knowing. There WAS something different about Whisper…and Sam…
He knew.
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They hadn't spoken once of what happened around the fire. Over the next few weeks, Darren had been watching Whisper's every move. She moved gracefully, and when she walked, she made absolutely no sound. She didn't speak especially often, and when she did, it was either quite timid or quiet, a snide comment, or reprimanding someone. She was pale, and her eyes varied from light gray to charcoal, and there were slight shadows around her eyes, with those long, black tresses framing her face, but it all suited her. She looked sick, but was still gorgeous. She wore very modest clothing, usually a dark grey long-sleeved shirt that gently hugged her graceful curves, and a black flowing skirt, or black pants. It seemed to Darren that she was incapable of looking bad in anything she wore.
Her behavior was very strange. She looked as if she always had a book in hand, or else a sketching pad and a pencil (or a stick or charcoal, if she felt so inclined). She was always occupied in her own little universe. One of the times she had been sketching, Darren had sneaked up behind her and peered over her shoulder at her picture. It was a beautiful piece, it was of a rose. He had been extremely quiet, and he made no signal that he was there, but still she talked to him.
What do you think? She had said, not turning around, but continuing to shade the rose.
Well it's um – er… nice. He had replied, startled.
At that, she had turned around and smiled at him. It wasn't an especially happy smile, more of an appreciative one.
I'm glad you think so.
That had been the week before. Whisper seemed to be the type of person who didn't fit under any particular category. She was unique. One minute, she would be reading off somewhere under a tree, and the next, she would be sitting between Darren and Evra, following their conversation (usually with Sam) pensively, occasionally making a comment or sarcastic joke. Everyone at the Cirque had grown accustomed to seeing Sam, accompanied be Whisper, showing up at Evra and Darren's tent to hang out with them. Darren had grown used to Whisper's presence, although he still sometimes got a chill when she was around.
She also seemed to be adapting. She was increasingly comfortable in Evra and Darren's company, constantly looking less and less like she was expecting Darren or Evra to suddenly snap, whip out a gun, and blow her head off. Even still, she looked a bit wary.
Today, a few minutes before the sun would glow orange for the sunset, Sam, Evra, Whisper, and Darren were lounging around inside Evra and Darren's tent. Whisper was seated on Darren's hammock with a sketching pad and a stick of charcoal, sitting across from Evra (who was in his own hammock), sketching him. Sam sat on the floor, and Darren was currently walking in.
"Hey," He said disinterestedly, plopping down on his hammock next to Whisper.
"Hey, to yourself, you just screwed up Evra's left ear." Replied whisper, who looked slightly flustered at Darren's sitting so close to her.
"It's not my fault you chose my hammock to sit in and draw. It's my hammock, I'm allowed to sit in it whenever I so desire." He retorted.
"Have it your own way," She muttered.
He looked around at Evra, who was sprawled out lazily over his hammock. Then his gaze shifted to Sam, whose left eyebrow was lifted so high, it was threatening to disappear into his hair, twisting his face into a knowing smirk.
"What are you sneering at?" Darren shot at Sam, feeling heat rise up into his cheeks and ears.
"Oh, nothing…" Said Sam, who was doing very badly at trying to suppress a laugh.
"Yeah, it had better be nothing," Darren said quickly, his voice cracking slightly.
Sam just looked away, continuing to smirk in reply. Sam had been suspecting something between Darren and Whisper ever since the night around the fire, though he had not directly said anything of it. He kind of liked the idea, of Darren and Whisper together. He had been dropping little hints and little comments to each of them, to sort of – nudge them along a bit.
"Okay, just about done," Whisper said to Evra.
"So I can move now? Good, I was starting to get antsy." He said, stretching. "Let me see it." He added, gesturing to the paper in Whisper's arms. She handed it over slowly, and he took it. His face didn't change for a second, but gradually it was adorned in an expression of awe. His eyes widened, and his mouth even opened a little bit.
Whisper watched his face intently, apparently studying his expression and facial features, so she could draw him from memory in the future, Darren supposed. The corners of her mouth curled upward slightly, in a half-smile that looked very Mr. Crepsley-ish. She was smiling a little bit at Evra's reaction, this time a warmer smile. When Darren saw that, he felt heat rise up once again into his cheeks and ears, but this time, not of embarrassment.
Evra apparently, was speechless. Or so Darren thought.
"I'm not half-bad looking." He said, a smile forming on his pale green lips.
"You…" Darren began heatedly, but Sam cut him off.
"Let him dream, Darren." Sam laughed. Evra promptly hit him over the head.
Darren ignored Sam.
"Can I see it?" Darren directed this question not at Evra, but instead at Whisper, knowing that she would be upset if he looked upon the drawing without her consent.
"As you wish." She said sarcastically, but Darren knew she was okay with it. He turned to Evra.
"Hand it over." Darren said. And Evra did.
It was more or less a perfect likeness of Evra. It depicted him, lazing about on his hammock, shirtless (which indeed Evra was, he wasn't very modest). His hair was draped carelessly around his face and shoulders, and the expression on his face was calm. His snakelike eyes stood out slightly, and one corner of his mouth was turned up. One arm was lying limply near his head, the fingers entangled in his hair, while the other was shown draped lazily over his middle. The light blanket was resting slightly twisted, covering up his lower half, but leaving one (clothed) leg exposed. The shading was phenomenal. Darren concluded that this was one of the most amazing sketches he had ever seen.
"It's…I…wow." Darren said feebly, having been caught off guard at this picture.
Whisper was getting flustered and slightly agitated at everyone making such a fuss over one sketch she had done. She knew Sam wouldn't care to see it, being her brother and already knowing the level of her talent.
"Uh…thanks. I'll just have it back then…" Whisper mumbled, slowly reaching for the sketching pad with Evra's picture on it in Darren's hands. Seeing that she was struggling with the situation, Darren quickly handed the sketchbook over and smiled at her. She met his gaze, and sent him a little, uncertain smile of her own.
Just then, Sam found it convenient to cough, causing all three of the others to jump and snap their gazes away from each other and look at him. He smirked.
"What? You guys were getting all quiet and creeping me out. Anyway, I've got to…er…go… wash mom's car. Yeah the car. I'll just um…leave then…" and with that Sam stood up and walked out of the tent, leaving just Evra, Whisper and Darren.
"I've got to pee. Be back in a minute." Said Evra, hurriedly rushing out of the tent flap after Sam.
Apparently not wanting to be left alone with Darren, Whisper quickly grasped her sketchbook and charcoal, and stood up. Darren followed suit. She began to make her way towards the exit, but Darren caught her by the arm.
What the hell am I doing? Darren thought worriedly.
At the feeling of him grabbing her arm, her head snapped up and she looked confusedly at Darren. He just continued to stare at her. She tried to take another step, but his grip on her arm held steady. He looked around.
"Darren, what are you…?" She began. Coming to his senses, Darren hastily let her go. He smiled bashfully.
"S-Sorry." He stuttered. She then blushed and smiled at him, and she walked out the door.
Darren stood, dumbfounded. What the hell had just happened? Why –
But his thoughts got no further, because Evra walked in, smiling suspiciously at Darren.
"What'd you do?" He asked, plopping down on his hammock.
"Nothing…Whisper just left." Darren said quietly.
"I can see that, you prat, I saw her walk out. But why did she look like she was high on something? Did you kiss her?" He said, smirking.
"Why in the world would I do that?" Darren demanded. For a third time, he felt his face and ears get hot.
"Because you like her, that's why." He replied yawning.
"But I don't…." Darren began.
"Shut up and go to sleep, lover boy." Said Evra, rolling over so that his back was to Darren. Darren simply stood there for a while, stunned.
A few minutes later, Darren had come up with something to say to that, but he heard Evra's deep and even breathing, suggesting sleep. So, he just plopped down onto his own hammock, falling asleep almost immediately, and landing in dreams of Whisper.
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A/N ha ha chapter five! Hope you liked!