Complexity
A/N: This isn't actually really relevant, but it does help if you read it. I might not post for a month or so, but I might also post. I have some really crazy bad-ass stuff going on in my life, including my book, which is actually more trouble then its worth, but still. So…keep a heads up for a chapter. And: Maeleene, I was going to name it Rationality, but I will consider Consistency, ameliamarie15, congrats for winning! The name was Break Even!
Soundtrack: Smile- Avril Lavigne
Chapter Seven: Can you come and make the rain right?
Nightmares.
Not the kind she is used too- the kind where you lose everything and you fall and fall and stop, then fall some more as your loved ones gather around your body. She isn't that surprised to see Arthur standing next to Carol, and her mother, and her cat, Bubbles…
Only to see them walk away.
The next day she can't look anyone in the eyes.
Carol tactfully doesn't mention it, but Arthur doesn't know Ariadne the way Carol does. But he knows how to cheer her up.
"A boat ride?"
Carol skitters out of the dorm with an excuse that sounds like, "need to get the cat." Carol hates cats. Hell, she doesn't even have a cat.
Arthur's smiling. "That won't work, Arthur. I'm afraid of boats, I'm afraid of fish unless it's on my plate, I'm afraid of animals, I'm afraid of drown-falling," she blushes. Arthur tips his head. "Were you going to say 'drowning'? You don't know how to swim?"
"You're going to learn how to die in a couple of seconds."
The threat is half-hearted. Still. Arthur rocks backward on his heels, disbelief coloring his face.
"I'll catch you. Or take you to the hospital."
"I'm not going, Arthur. Only if I fall down the stairs will that be needed."
"I didn't think you were that clumsy."
"I didn't know you were this suicidal."
"Please?"
Ariadne considers slamming the door in Arthur's face. But today is Saturday, she muses. She has nothing else to do but drown. "Fine. You pay my medical bills." She also adds something under her breath. Arthur ignores that.
A few minutes later, she finds herself paddling away. The boat tips back and forth a little as Arthur paddles. She clutches the sides, face green. "Can you paddle a little, oh, I don't know, better? If I fall out you're coming with me. And if I get this scarf wet, so help me Arthur-"
She pauses. She was going to say Arthur's last name, but she doesn't know it. She considers him.
"What's your last name?"
He glances at her, and then focuses on the calm body of water. "I like to think I don't have one," he mutters.
Delighted, she scoots closer.
"It can't be that bad. Hey, what's your name?"
"Baskov."
She tests it out in her mouth. It sounds clunky and foreign and beautiful. Arthur Baskov. It's better then her own last name, Johnson. She smiles to herself. Arthur's Russian, a thought she hadn't given much attention to.
"I like it. What's wrong with it?"
"It reminds me of my family."
"Oh."
There's an awkward silence. Arthur continues rowing.
Ariadne starts to notice, uncomfortably, that there are other people on the water. Couples, smooching and coddling. She shifts.
"Hey, Arthur-"
The boat tips- just a bit- and it would've righted itself if Ariadne hadn't flung herself to the far side of the boat, rocking it the other way, and the boat dumps her out. Before she goes, she grabs Arthur by the tie and pulls him with her. He laughs. Then she's
He snags her around the waist and brings her up for air.
"I told you," she spits out, and lets loose with a whole bunch of curse words. He waits her out, and then rights the boat. As he's climbing inside, she splashes him. HE helps her onto the boat.
Purposely, she tips the boat over and holds on so she doesn't fall out. He splashes back into the water.
"Say sorry," she says with all of the air of a princess. He glares up at her. "Really," he says. He starts to shiver.
"Really. Say it."
She's soaking wet, one of her favorite scarves ruined, her hair sodden and plastered to her forehead, and yet she refuses. He wonders…
"Fine. I'm sorry."
She allows him back into the boat, grinning. He starts row again. "I told you," she says, smiling. "I told you."
"Let me make it up to you," he says, bringing the boat to land. She looks at him, pushing her hair out of her face. "How?" she questions suspiciously. "Let me buy you breakfast."
She gives a huff. "It better be good," she says. He grins at her.
"It will be."
A/N: Such a cliffy! Review! Review! Review!