The Cliché Romance

Chapter 12

The party had been going for a few hours until Avril decided to go outside with the lute she was given. She felt her heart breaking. She felt like she left her father behind, and for what? A man who has no thought for others. Yet why did she have this craving for him? She longed for Reaver but she could never force herself to admit it, not as long as he was this way. It was like a cruel joke, a dream that is just out of reach. But maybe he wouldn't be this way if he wasn't caught up with the Shadow Court.

Avril sighed as her fingers began to pick at the lute's strings. At first is was just at random but then she began to play from her heart. She started singing gently to the music she played.

"I don't like you, but I love you. Seems that I'm always a thinkin' of you-Oh oh oh, you treat me badly, I love you madly. You really got a hold on me."

"I don't want you, but I need you. Don't wanna kiss you, but I need to-Oh oh oh, you do me wrong now, my love is strong now. You really gotta hold on me." Avril began to sing more boldly. "I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me. I wanna leave you, don't wanna stay here. I don't want to spend another day here-Oh wo wo ohh, you do me wrong now, my love is strong now. You really gotta hold on me."

Avril just sighed as she just continued to play without singing. She felt conflicted inside and she didn't know what to do.

Barry paced the hallways of the mansion, looking for Avril. He was very worried that he couldn't find her anywhere, so he decided to look outside in the courtyard. There he saw her, finally. She was standing out there in the moonlight playing the lute. As he watched her, he thought of where he might be if it hadn't been for her. She did save his life after all. But as he got to know her he seemed to grow attached to her and care for her greatly. He was about to go speak with her, that is until he saw Reaver approach her already. "No." He said to himself.

Reaver walked up to Avril as she played. " Avril." he said. She stopped and looked at him with a sigh.

"What do you want, Reaver." she set the lute aside and turned to face him with her arms crossed. She really didn't want to hear his nonsense right now. But it did surprise her that he was away from his guests.

"I want to talk to you about earlier." He sounded serious for a change.

"Ok." she said and sat down next to the fountain. Reaver seemed to be hesitant for a moment before he sat down next to her.

"I want to apologize for earlier. I've been thinking about it and you're right." she paused trying to think of how to phrase it right. "Back when I was that young man, I was enjoying my life. I had a family, and a beautiful young woman-Elizabeth. Whom I was going to marry. I had everything a man wanted. And I wanted it to stay that way." Reaver looked down towards the ground."I wanted to have Elizabeth forever. But I was afraid of losing her, I was afraid of dying. I didn't know if I there was such thing as an after life. Atleast, not for me." He paused and looked up at Avril, feeling shame and guilt."Since then I have had nightmares of that night. When I first made the deal for immortality. But I never meant to harm anyone. I just wanted to be happy. But I ended up losing everything I loved and cherished. Since then I never felt like I deserved to be happy, or anyone. And I guess my mind has become to twisted and dark that I haven't thought of it until now."

"Why are you telling me this?" she looked at him a bit confused, but she had a hint of sympathy in her eyes.

"I want to be a better person. I tire of these games. They have grown older than I and I want to feel this weight off of my shoulders. But I am a marked man, and I can never leave the Shadow Court and I am too much of a coward to just end it all." He looked back down feeling ashamed. Avril looked at him and sighed.

"I often wondered that since my mother died." she looked up at the night sky. There were so many stars. "I always wanted to believe in an after life. And I honestly believe my mother is watching me and that I will see her again some day." Avril looked back over at Reaver he looked at her. He was on the verge of tears and she could feel the heavy aura of regret on him. "I think Elizabeth would forgive you and she is watching you right now."

"I don't know how to stop." Reaver said." You know, after that night. I don't think I've ever truly cried about it." He looked down as tears fell from his eyes. He covered his face, trying to fight off the tears."I want out..."

Avril sat there, not entirely sure what to do. She was still until she felt that strange sensation from before, like it was telling her what she needed to do. Avril gently reached for Reaver's chin and pulled his face up. He looked at her a bit confused as she drew closer. She moved her hand behind his head and pulled him into a deep kiss. Reaver, for the first time, was shocked to have a woman kiss him. He honestly did not see this coming, nor was it his intentions. But he certainly wasn't going to complain.

Avril gently pulled away and looked Reaver in the eyes. He had a gentle look on his face and for once he truly smiled. She smiled back at him and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. "I guess you should get back to the party."

Reaver smiled gently and tilted her head up again. "They can wait." He pressed his lips against hers and ran his fingers through her hair. Her lips were everything he ever dreamed they would be and more. They were soft and warm, and he could feel her warm breath rushing past her lips. It was a delight he didn't plan on taking lightly. And for the first time in several decades, he loved her. He truly loved her.

Barry, who was still standing off in the distance, clinched his fists. He backed into the hallway and walked back to the party. He wasn't going to stand for this, not again.

A/N

ok I WAS going to write more for this chapter but I thought this was a great place to stop for now. Seems Barry is a little jealous. And who wouldn't be! I mean come on, I'm sure Reaver and Barry have had some fun together, I mean...yeah that kinda killed the mood for me...

The song I used was from She&Him You Got A Hold On Me. Thought this was perfect lolz PLZ R&R!