A Date! (Xeryth)

[Phoebe]

Phoebe looked into the beautiful Azure eyes of Xeryth and she saw something there. She wasn't sure what the emotion was perhaps if she had fully awaken then she would be able to tell but as such she only had her telekenetic abilities. She felt the kiss on her cheek and watched in utter dismay as he stood to leave.

She had gone too far. With those three little words the happiness had slipped out of her life. She stood and picked up her purse smoothing down her dress she walked to Xeryth. She knew that he could read emotions but that didn't keep her from trying to hide them anyway. She touched him on the shoulder and moved around in front of him. She hugged him tightly not harming him just tightly.

"I'm sorry.." she whispered as she kissed his cheek gently. "I ruined it.. didn't I?"

She stepped back and wiped the tears off her cheeks as she looked up at him. She had ruined the best thing she had ever had by moving too fast. Sure they had held hands and kissed and even spent the night side by side once. But confessing love was a completly different story and now she had ruined any chance that she had been given to get closer to the young boy she cared so much for.

"I'll go.. because it's my fault... you.. you can stay." she said softly. She turned him around to face the tree again gently as with a flick of her eyes a net hung up in the trees fel l loose and red and white rose petals fluttered down spiraling gently in the wind raining down on the spot they had just been.

"I'm.. so... so sorry.. Xeryth" she whispered as she turned and began to make her way back to the city slowly as she had no reason to run no want or need to get anywhere fast. She was dejected and so she just walked.

If he wanted to. He could catch her and she really hoped he would but she had a feeling that he wouldn't. That she had ruined things forever. And that hurt her deeply. Deep down inside.

[Xeryth Varson]

As she spoke, once more, Xeryth could do little bit bite his lip, looking on with worried eyes that were beginning to wet. The sadness of it all, his own compounded with Phoebe's, was getting to be too much for Xeryth. Unlike Phoebe, however, he didn't have the wherewithal to hide his feelings, and his eyes began to quiver as tears began to form. Even so, words simply could not form in his lips. She turned him around, and let loose the rose petals. In a beautiful little tornado of gentle chaos, they swirled downwards. It seemed so perfect, so right, and Xeryth, then and there, lost it.

A little sob, quiet, but not silent, left his lips, and tears began to drip from his face. He knew the truth. She hadn't ruined anything. She had done everything perfect, she had been perfect... she was perfect. Mustering up the last of his courage, Xeryth spoke out, more confidently than before, somehow finding the words in his own sorrow. The sudden speech would hopefully cause her to stop, if only for the moment, to hear what he had to say. Unwilling to turn around, unable to face her, Xeryth spoke.

"Phoebe. Please do not say such things, they only cause more pain for the both of us. You are wonderful, so wonderful, and this could not have been your fault. It was mine. Mine and mine alone. Blame my upbringing, blame my family, blame anything, but in the end... this was my doing. You've done so much for me. I can't thank you enough. Phoebe..."

Xeryth faltered again, his confidence leaving and his usual inability with words hitting him like a sack of bricks straight to the gut.

"Find... find peace..."

Tears fell from the boy's face as he said it, squeezing his eyes shut to try and stop them, but to no avail.

[Phoebe]

It wasn't the words that made her stop it was the quiet sob and her heart fell even more as she turned in time to hear his words and she dropped her purse moving over to him slowly.

She didn't like to see him so sad. She hated to see his tears. She stood beside him and took him into her arms and she lay her head on his shoulder as she gently rubbed his back. She was worried now not about the night or about their relationship but about him. Her love and devotion to him pouring out into the air around them as she tried to soothe the only boy she had ever told she loved.

There was something about the way that he touched her heart like no other. It wasn't because he was psychic or that he was cute. It was him. The way he was quiet and the way he was so sweet to the tiniest particle in his body. The way he held her that first morning and the way they had spent that whole day together. The subtle things he blushed and the way he didn't mind her hands running through his hair. There were so many small things she loved about him. His beautiful eyes and the way he had those meek little smiles. Even the mischevious ones set her heart fluttering.

She pulled back gently and wiped the tears from his cheeks as she looked into his azure gaze once more. All her care and concern for him and not herself came out in her eyes as they softened and kissed his lips gently.

"It's not your fault. Never blame yourself because you weren't raised in a house with a picket fence." she said softly as her hand stroked his cheek gently.

"You are alive and truthfully isn't that all that matters that they gave you life at all. Xeryth even if you never want to see me again I will forever be blessed that I have known you. To have you as my first boyfriend.. to have you in my life at all will never have been a burden." she said softly as she kissed his cheeks and wiped away any more tears.

"Xer, what I told you a few minutes ago... it took every ounce of strength I had because more than anything I want you in my life." she ran a gentle hand through his hair and looked at him. "You mean so much to me. You have ruined nothing. If anything.. you've made my life here at the Academy better than I ever thought it would be."

Now it was Phoebe's turn to be quiet as she just waited for his words or lack of them as it sometimes was. She hugged him again and closed her eyes feeling his warmth. She then pulled back and waited.

[Xeryth Varson]

Xeryth sat quietly, sniffling as Phoebe came back, holding him close and telling him all the things she wanted to say, trying to dry his eyes and show him all the love she could. Xeryth was warmed by this, a small smile forming upon his lips. However, he quickly suppressed it. Phoebe loved him, this much he knew. But what was it that he felt? Had he lived a normal life, he may have known. But Xeryth was Xeryth, and not anyone else who had lived a life with a family and friends and an understanding of the world.

Xeryth was confused. For the first time in his life, he hadn't control over his mind or his emotions.

Slowly, his eyes met Phoebe's, and the sadness in them could put any man to his knees. The boy looked truly unhappy, and every ounce of his sadness was for the words he was about to say.

"Phoebe... Phoebe Weiss... you are the single greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Ever. With you... I've been happy. But... this... this is... it's so sudden for me. You know where I've been... you know enough of my past... I... I just don't understand things the way most do. All I ask of you, Phoebe Weiss... is that you... just give me some time. Some time to think... some time to understand... can you... can you do that for me, Phoebe Weiss? I... I'm sorry..."

Xeryth hung his head again, inable to look the girl in the eyes anymore. He felt terrible, but this was the best he could do for her. Did he love her? It's possible, Xeryth simply couldn't be sure... but he had to find out.

And in the meantime, he couldn't bear to lead her on any further.

[Phoebe]

The sadness in his eyes made her heart falter. She looked into those beautiful azure eyes and just wanted to cry. His words.. so sweet.. so innocent.. so heartbreaking all at the same time. She held back her tears but she did understand how could she not she was probably one of the few that really did know what had happened to Xeryth in the past. When he was done she swallowed ready to answer.

"Xeryth, when I told you I love you it was not a lie. I told you that I didn't say it half heartedly." she said softly as she looked deep into his eyes.

"I will give you the space and time you need. I will be here for you Xer." she let a single tear fall as she leaned in and kissed him one last time gently on the lips. "Promise me one thing Xeryth.. please it's all I ask. Promise me that when .. when you are done you will.. come find me. Please."

She touched his cheek gently again looking into those beautiful eyes for a moment. She offered him a gentle smile. She looked deep into his eyes memorizing every facet of them. They were always so deep in her mind. So heartachingly beautiful.

"If you ever need me. If you ever want to talk. You know where to find me. And you know that you can always talk to me mentally." she ran her hand through his hair one last time. "I love you Xeryth. Good.. good bye."

With a kiss on his cheek she turned and began to walk down the path that would lead her back to the city. From there she had no idea where she would go. But she knew that Xeryth needed time and she would give it to him. If he had anything else to say she would stop and listen but she continued to walk for now.

[Xeryth Varson]

Xeryth, for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, finally smiled again. The girl had understood, and Xeryth, despite how bad he felt, could not help but feel relieved by it. Perhaps things truly could work out in time. In time, Xeryth supposed, all would be figured out.

For now, though, Xeryth knew he couldn't do it.

"Th-thank you... Phoebe. I... I promise when all is said... said and done... I'll... I'll find you. I promise."

Xeryth bit his lip again and watched Phoebe disappear. The farther away she got, the worse Xeryth felt, becoming more and more despondent by each retreating footstep. He wasn't quite sure, but Xeryth had a sinking feeling that the further away Phoebe got, the farther away she would remain, until she was simply another unreachable object, a ruined plan thanks to Xeryth's stupidity and ignorance.

With little else to do, Xeryth simply sat down upon the grass. He had nowhere pressing to go, and nothing important to do. This night had been all about Phoebe and him, and all for Phoebe and him. Without Phoebe, the night seemed to lose all meaning.

Put simply, Xeryth just needed to be alone.