It's Complicated

[»Míríel«]

Neron blinked at Zak's response. This guy cut the chase for sure. Who on earth would be so straight forward with someone in that manner. It was shameful. Neron shook his head slightly and let out a sigh. He couldn't help but let a smile come over his lips, Jaedon had her hands full on this one.

When JAedon muttered I'm gonna kill him, he chuckled slightly. Shifting neither his gaze nor his body in their direction he stooped down and picked up a rock. He fiddled with it, learning every curvature of the stone's surface through his sensitive fingers. "Yes, why don't you get happier Jaedon, it would do you some good. After all he seems like a nice sort of fellow and he has an obvious attraction to you, perhaps it's meant to be." The smirk still present on his face, though he was turned from them, he tossed the stone out at the water and watched as it sunk down through the water, spinning and flipping on it's way down.

[saerwen]

Jaedon could have screamed. She was about to spiral out of control when she had a thought...a very evil thought. This thought would save her from dropping her skin and it would give her some very cold satisfaction. She was going to play around with this guy. It was a test of Neron mainly, and if Neron passed, then she could have fun breaking Zak's heart and maybe even eat him if she got into it enough. She hadn't had some meat in a while.

She then turned her cold eyes away from Neron, changing them as she went to a warm and welcoming look that then held Zak. Then in a very curious way she said, "How could you make me happy? I'm pretty hard to please sometimes."

Zak felt his heart jump at her actually considering his request. She was a sucker for his good looks. Third one he had met thus far. The first two had been very tender and they fell quickly. After the incident with Cecily and Eventide he had gone into the city to look for some nicer girls, and he had found some. "I am very good at finding ways to please pretty girls. It just depends on if your the gentle kind of girl or the rough kind." He then let himself freely look at her. She was glorious, he was convinced now that she was going to be worth more than two weeks. She had the perfect hour-glass shape. Skinny, tall, and well muscled legs. His admiration was turning to desire very quickly. He wanted to touch her. Jaedon had seen this and was laughing inwardly. She wasn't even trying hard.

[»Míríel«]

Neron almost couldn't believe his ears. Was Jaedon serious? The smirk on his face fell to the usual stoic position. He was so tempted to look, he wanted to see this with his own eyes, but he couldn't. If he turned then it would be accepting defeat, Jaedon would win. So he continued to stare out at the sea, this time tossing a larger rock that made a splash as it hit the water.

Inside he was seething darkly. Jaedon wouldn't go for such a weakling, such a... HE didn't need to finish his sentence. "Oh, she's definitely the rough kind, don't listen to her if she says the soft kind. I have tried to be soft with her, but she doesn't understand that lingo. " Tightening his grip on the other rock he was holding for a moment he then released it and tossed it from hand to hand in indecision. Then with a quick movement he let it go, and it glided on the top of the water for half a second. "Though watch out if you try to touch her she can break your finger in a flash. " It was getting to him, another man being interested in Jaedon, it aroused a fire within him that he hadn't known before.

[saerwen]

Zak listened to the dark guys words and took them seriously. As a past lover this guy would know, but it was obvious that whatever their relationship had[/b] been, it was gone now. Zak was free to move in.

"Well, now that you know, what do you propose to make me feel better, to feel happier?" Jaedon looked at him with imploring eyes.

Zak grinned. Now this is what he had wanted to hear all night long. "Well," he moved even closer to her and put his hand on her back. "How about we go back into the town and get us some food for a picnic, then head out to the beach for a 'relaxing' afternoon? Or maybe skip the picnic and the beach and just go to my place."

Jaedon was having so much fun she almost lost herself in her pursuit. This guy was WAY too easy. What on earth was this guy thinking? That I look good and he is having some major desire issues. Jaedon answered her own unsaid question. "What a day... Sounds like some fun to me. Although, lets skip the picnic, I'm not really in the relaxing mood." She was speaking even more seductively now.

"You've got me wrapped around your finger. I hope that you know just how rough I can be." Zak chuckled at this girls apparent desire to flee from her previous relationship. She was ready for someone to treat her right again.

"Oh, I'm more worried about you." Jaedon said as she grabbed the collar of his shirt. This was going to be the last bit of play. She was taking this last step, and if it didn't work then she would know that Neron wasn't in the least bit jealous. Pulling his collar hard, she yanked him close and putting her hand around Zak's neck pulled him down to meet her lips in a rather passionate kiss. Jaedon knew that if she watched Neron he would know that she was playing with him, so she closed her eyes and just waited. Zak just slipped the hand that was on her back all the way around and pulled her a little closer. Her body was warm.

[»Míríel«]

This whole situation was getting more and more aggravating. What was Jaedon doing? This twerp was useless and way to mold able in between those witch fingers of hers. Neron knew he well enough that she wouldn't even pay much attention to these guys usually unless she was increasingly bored. Then when she was through with them she would throw them away like yesterday's garbage.

Yet this knowledge didn't make the disgust and jealousy go away. Especially when she started talking in a seductive manner. "She can't be serious...she can't" HE let his gaze shift toward the pair. They were getting increasingly closer now. Then came the kiss. Neron just stood there and stared. "She didn't....she didn't just...." Neron blinked once or twice before it finally registered. He didn't know what to do, could Jaedon really like this guy? NO it had to be a game, it had to be. Jaedon wasn't one to jump into relationships, especially when it was with someone like Zak.

Striding forth he ripped Jaedon from Zak's embrace with a snarl, "That is enough." HE looked at Zak with distaste. he had not been kind to Jaedon or Zak and he didn't mind if he jostled both of them a bit by his grip. HE didn't meet Jaedon's eyes but instead glared at Zak for a moment. Then turning his gaze to JAedon he hissed, "What do you think you are doing?" He released her arm like it was burning him and then looked at Zak once more. "If you touch her again you will get much more than strong words from me. " Not caring to look back to see if the two followed his directions he walked away. A storm cloud seemed to be over his head as he continued until he was on the farthest point of the island, alone. The island was in a tear drop shape and they had been at the biggest part, or the bottom of the teardrop. So he walked around the hill and rocky slope and went all the way out on the peninsula that made the thinnest part of the land. His violin case stood by itself, left behind. It rested not to far from the pair, in a place Jaedon would probably see it. Neron had been to disturbed to remember even his most beloved friend.

Here the wind was the harshest, and the water the loudest. Closing his eyes he let the water sprinkle him with it's salty mist, the wind buffet him and drown out all other noise. "You like her..." His eyes cracked open slightly, "You bloody lizard you like her." He clenched his eyes shut and lifted his face to the sun. "But she obviously she doesn't care to much about you, otherwise she wouldn't have even touched the other guy." HE sighed. " Then again it could be one of her games she is always playing...But why would she do that? Why?" Then the realization came to him. "Because you blasted fool, she doesn't know if you like her, even if she did I doubt she would care. You have treated her like the dirt on your feet ever since you have met her. Perhaps if you treated her nicer, she obvious was hungering for some kind of attention. Then he shook his head, "No, don't go simpering down to her feet with a flower and beg her to like you, if she likes you, she will have to like the real you." Holding his head between his hands he muttered "Curses." It was then he noticed the absence of his violin.

[saerwen]

Jaedon had half expected Neron to just make some snide remark and then walk off. She had been playing a game that was going to test him, but it would only make him angry if he actually cared for her. That was all that she had wanted during this, and Zak had come at the perfect time to use him for that single purpose. When Neron pulled her and Zak apart she was in shock. Why else would he have done that if he didn't care for her? Why?! Her green eyes brightened like stars were shining out from them. Neron did care. As he scolded she felt sorry for what she had done, wishing that she could take back the kiss, but she also was glad that her scheme had worked.

Zak just looked at Neron with a smirk on his face. He loved it when other fellows got mad that their girl was wanting him. He was enjoying the anger that seemed to latch on to this guy. He was so jealous, it was crawling all over him. "Oh, looks like he still wants you, sweet heart. Who could blame him?" He spoke as he watched Neron walk away. He had not noticed that Jaedon was no longer close to him. She was no longer giving him those seductive, imploring looks.

"It's so sad how small some people's brains are. But who could blame you since you don't even know me." She turned her eyes on him. They were cold and cruel. "I trust that you will remember this day when next you come around me."

Zak was more than slightly confused, but he understood as soon as she came up behind him, putting her hand over his mouth as she used her arm to strangle him. As soon as he was out she released the pressure on his neck and let him fall to the ground. She walked past him as she muttered to the unconscious Zak, "Just be glad I decided that you wouldn't taste as good as a squirrel."

She walked over to the violin case that Neron had left behind in his anger and haste to get away. She tenderly picked it up, being careful that she had a firm grip. He must be furious with her now...As she walked she thought about what she was going to say. Lately she had been forced to say a sincere apology. She was not used to that, but she knew that an apology was in order here. She sucked at apologizing because she was too prideful to say she was wrong, but she was going to admit it to herself this time. When she found Neron, she didn't go up to him right away. She stood a little ways behind him with the violin in hand. Then silently inhaling quite a bit she spit it out.

"I'm sorry, Neron. I was being rather childish." She started to bite her lower lip as she held the violin case out to him. "You don't want to leave your only beautiful girl behind on this island. She'll get mad if you forget her." She looked at the violin, knowing how precious that little girl was to him. She almost envied it.

[»Míríel«]

"The wind is so strong in my ears I thought it sounded like you apologized." Neron turned towards Jaedon. Of course it would be her, she wouldn't be able to leave him alone. Fixing her with a burning gaze he continued. "I see you are finished sucking the face off that guy. I didn't expect you to grow tired of him this quickly though." He let his gaze drift down her form with disgust in his eyes, that is until it settled on his violin case. "As for leaving my beautiful girl." He gazed at it for a moment. Never had he left his violin before, even when everything was erupting, literally, around him. She had always been at the top of his list, always. Why hadn't she been this time? Snapping his eyes back up to hers. Without saying anything more he reached out and took her from Jaedon's hands.

There was something in the back of his mind that was whispering to him to be nice. IT was chiding him for being so rough with Jaedon. She had apologized, slightly, yet Neron could feel nothing but anger at this moment. Letting his eyes run over the case carefully to make sure it wasn't damaged he let his free hand rest on it for a moment. "She be angry at first, but then she would understand, she always does. " His eyes slitted slightly as his mood switched once more."And don't worry about being childish Jaedon, seemed like you were being rather like a adult there. plus why would I care?" "Now tell me Jaedon, did you just come here to return my violin case or did you come for some other reason?"

[saerwen]

"You heard me very well. If you want I'll say it again just so you can make sure." she narrowed her eyes at him. Why was he always so defensive and tough? Then she recalled that he had every right to be angry with her. He liked her and she had just kissed a complete stranger. If nothing else he could be angry at her for making it awkward.

"I was tired of him two seconds after he appeared. Did you serious think I liked him?" She smirked. "I would have thought you knew me better than that." She watched as he took the violin. She was thinking about just walking away after that because he was obviously mad at her, but then he kept talking. "Well, I don't know why you would care Neron...There had to be some reason you pulled us apart." She spoke soberly. He had almost taken all of the thrill away from her recent 'discovery'.

When he asked her why she had come she just stood there for a moment thinking. What had she been expecting? What had she wanted? Had she just come to give him the violin? She chuckled, laughing at herself. "I couldn't just leave her there." she paused again and then continued after suppressing an embarrassed blush. "I guess I came to say sorry. But it seems that you are in no mood to hear it..." She left off as though she was going to keep talking, but then just turned around and started to leave. She felt mad at herself for not saying more, but she wasn't going to push him any further. She had already played with him enough today. She blushed in shame as she thought of how cruel she had been to him, probably for the first time in her life.

[»Míríel«]

Neron listened to everything she said, but he answered in silence. HE didn't know how to say what he wanted to say in a way that wouldn't be, not him. Seeing Jaedon genuinely sorry had touched him, thought he hated to admit it. She was coming along and it seemed that this little episode had atleast kept her mind off killing herself. "She needs you there Neron, she needs you." His mind turned back to the past, they had always been at each others throats in a flash. Even the smallest things could spark off a fight. Then as they grew to know each other they began to change each other, little by little. It was like iron sharpening iron, there was a great amount of sparks, yet the end result was better, and more useful than before. New boundaries were being opened for these two, new horizons that never would have been achieved without each other helping the other out.

When she turned and started to walk away Neron stopped denying himself and the anger dissipated. HE knew that if he didn't tell her what he wanted to right now, he would regret it for the rest of his life, a moment like this would probably never arise again. So walking quick enough to catch up to her he grabbed her by the shoulder to stop her movement. This time his touch was gentle and kind. Walking in front of her he met her gaze with a hard look, which then turned soft as son as it studied her facial features. "I knew you didn't like him, but that still didn't dull the pain of what you did Jaedon, I don't like being pushed into a game. That's not why I came to stop you though. I came to say thank you. Thank you for letting me come after you, though I did need that kick start, but most of all, I want to thank you for bringing back my violin. " Reaching under her chin he tilted it up toward him slightly and then bowing his head he touched his lips against hers. IT was gentle, tender, warm, yet it had a controlling quality about it, much like the way he held his violin. Then almost as quick as it had started he pulled away slightly and with a smile of mischief on his lips he muttered, "Now don't tell me that wasn't better than that other punks." He let his hand, which had been under her chin brush softly against her cheek and then run through her raven hair. Neron knew that this wouldn't be the end to their many quarrels. This time around he did know that though they would be battering each other around, they would be a lot better for it than before. No, this wasn't an end to their growth to be better people, it was the beginning.

[saerwen]

Jaedon hadn't been expecting him to come and stop her. She had expected him to just turn away and let her leave in a desperate attempt to calm down, but Neron's ability to surprise her had still not died. She was in shock when he gently stopped her, and she wondered what was coming. She was now expecting him to scold her and say that she had to stop playing games with everyone, but it was much worse. Every scolding that she had ever gotten had been harsh, critical, and unfeeling. Those were easy to forget for someone that was just as harsh and angry. Hearts that are hard aren't softened with stone, but rather with heat. Neron had made it impossible for her to block out his reproof with his gentleness...Her mind didn't know what to do with it. She was usually so strong, but now she felt like snow melting under the warm and gentle rays of the sun.

Mixing reproof with gratitude like honey Jaedon felt herself come to the brink of another blush. Why in the world was he being so nice to her all of a sudden? She was so confused. At first she thought that he was angry, but now he was sweeter than sugar. She was even more confused when kissed her. It was so quick that she thought she might have imagined it, until he made that rather cheeky remark. Jaedon blushed bright red and her green eyes got a little bit wider.

"Um, no..." She paused as she tried to push the roses out of her cheeks, but failed as she admitted. "I wasn't waiting for his." For the first time in her life she had someone caressing her without a second motive, without guile, without her hollow affections. She was not playing a role, she was not manipulating, she was simply enjoying the fact that Neron was actually touching her with the same gentle care that he held for everything else that was dear to him, like his violin. For the first time in a while, she smiled with something other than ill will. She was smiling because she was happy.

[»Míríel«]

"No? No? Well I guess he had more practice than me, but I'll let that drop for another question, you were waiting for mine?" He smiled down at her while he twirled her hair around his finger. "Well then I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Letting go of her hair he let it spiral loose and then fall back down in it's usual bouncy self. He let his eyes study her face once more before he continued speaking. "Don't push the blush from your face, it gives your cheeks like the summer sun and I am very fond of the sun."

Pulling her a little closer he put his lips to her forehead and let his embrace encircle her. "So now I can understand the strange feeling that has been flowing through me every time you entered the room. Now I can mark off disgust on my list." He laughed for a moment before continuing, "Though I must say, I was a little slow on the draw on this one." Then he parted from her again and took a step away, looking at her gently. "You may rub it in all you wish." The wind encircled the two, wrapping them in its strong arms and playing with their hair before it rushed past. This wind teased a letter out of his pocket and sent it fluttering in Jaedon's direction. Neron saw this and tried to catch it, but it slipped through his fingers. On it was another poem that he had written, he had just been trying to find a good place to put it for Jaedon to find. But now his disguise was going to slip through his fingers, just as the letter had.

[saerwen]

Jaedon had actually meant that she had liked Neron's better, but that was alright...She didn't like it because it was an extremely passionate kiss, but rather because it was heartfelt. Neron didn't just go around giving out kisses unlike Zak. Neron's kiss meant that he was earnest in his announced affection. She continued to blush as he played with her hair.

When he told her to stop trying to smother her blushes she blushed even worse. "I don't like it. It makes me feel silly." She bit her lower lip because even though she had said something that sounded like she was not going to do what he said, she stopped and the color stayed very alive.

Like the soil that a seed is planted in, Jaedon sucked up Neron's attention like water. She had never had any thing like this before and she doubted that she would ever let it go. Neron was right, there were people that cared about her, and he was one of them. When he gave her permission to rub in the fact that he was slow to pick up what his own feelings were she grinned. "So Mr. Smarty-Pants isn't so smart when it comes to emotions, eh? Leave to a man to be clueless in issues of the heart." She was teasing him, knowing that she really had no room to talk. "For once Mr. Speedy wasn't so speedy. I'll have to mark this day on my calendar." Then she bit her bottom lip. "Although, I am guilty of the same crime...I was just a little bit faster than you."

When the letter slipped out of his pocket Jaedon reflexively grabbed it, hardly even thinking about it. She turned it over and saw her named was written in a heavy hand on the front. She sat with a quizzical look on her face, wondering what on earth Neron had been writing to her. She wondered what on earth it said, so after giving him a confused and questioning look, she opened it, wondering what she would find. It was another poem, just like the ones that she had been getting every day since the first one came on the beach. Looking up at Neron she considered for a moment...There is no way...Could he really...What made him... none of her questions were finished. This was a brand new poem, so it had to have just been written. She cocked her hip and placed the hand that was hold the note on her hip. "You are kidding right?" She wasn't angry, just in shock. She shook her head and laughed at herself. "I have got to be the stupidest..." she didn't finish her sentence. Then something else occurred to her. "Wait a minute, you are going to tell me that you didn't know how you felt about me, and yet you are writing me poetry? Not just Shakespeare or something like that, but your own compositions? I'm at a loss for words."She chuckled in disbelief as she shook her head. "Yeah, I am gonna rub it in...'til the day i die."

[»Míríel«]

Neron smirked at Jaedon, " Well if I were a girl, I would feel beautiful, but then if I were a girl I would do a great many other things than I do." The smirk deepened. When she started talking about marking it in the calender got an innocent face and played a long, "Hey men haven't known the wonders of a heart for many generations, especially those owned by females. Those still tend to mystify us. As for the slow realization of my own, I'll give you a plaque to commemorate this day. After all I doubt it will ever happen again. Then you can tell many people down the road that you lived to see the day when the great Neron wasn't on top of his game. Though..." He smiled at her mischievously, "None of them will believe you, of course, I have much to high a reputation."

Neron had to wince as Jaedon opened the letter and read the contents. "Oh I um picked that up here. I thought I would keep it from you..." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair in an exasperated manner. "I'm not going to get away with this am I?" He sighed once more and tried to defend himself, "Yes, they weren't very good were they, shameful pieces I have to admit. This, wasn't part of the plan, and neither was you finding out about it. So Just give me that and I will destroy the evidence." With that he lunged for the note, hoping to slip it out of her hand so he could tear it into tiny little shreds.

[saerwen]

"Shut your mouth, Neron, we are all very glad that you aren't a girl. You'd be manic-depressive and hormonal. Although, I'm hardly sure if your hormones are much different." She smirked at him. What picture...Neron as a girl...The thought made her have to suppress a long burst of laughter. Then he started talking about girls hearts. "Well, it's a good thing that girl's heart's are still mysteries for you all because if they weren't you boys would get bored. Girls can't have idle boys hanging around, they are a recipe for trouble." Then as a side note, "Oh, and I don't care about other people knowing. It is perfectly satisfying for just me to know. In fact, I am going to keep it as a secret so that I can laugh at the memory when you make me mad, which you are bound to do being a male."

"Yeah, cut the crap. Why were you writing me poetry?" Jaedon looked him right in the eye accusatively. She wasn't mad, just curious and not willing to put up with any of his mouth on this one. When he mentioned destroying it she laughed, "To late to destroy the evidence. You're caught red handed." When he lunged for it Jaedon simply side stepped him at the last moment, and turning from him shoved it down her shirt. She would like to see him try and get it now. Forget the commemorative plaque about his other blunder, she was gonna frame that poem. "Now answer my question." She turned back to him. "Why did you write me this poem? And another, why do you want to get rid of the evidence? If I know already, why get rid of it? You can't be embarrasses about it." She eyed him with amusement in her eyes.

[»Míríel«]

"I can tell you one thing, I'm glad I'm not a girl. That would be....interesting... Actually I'm glad I don't understand girls' hearts, if I did I'm sure I would only have more things to worry about then I already do. You are quite demanding creatures. " His expression was playful, "I believe you will keep it as a side note, and you will make many copies so you can stick them all around that pretty little mind of yours so at every turn you will pass by a reminder."

When Neron lunged for the poem, he knew that he was going to miss, but he might as well try. When it was yanked away he found nothing to balance himself or catch himself with. So his form crashed on the ground. Luckily, Neron had enough sense to grab his case and hold it, making his body absorb all the shock. Unlucky for him, he landed on his hurt shoulder. So his response, "Ouch...." wasn't from the fall in itself, but instead the landing on his shoulder. Picking himself up he set the case on the ground and with his unhurt arm touched his hurt shoulder, rubbing it slightly. Hopefully the wound hadn't re-opened. It had been something that hadn't wanted to heal, and he was having more trouble with it than usual.

Dropping his hand from his shoulder he brushed himself off a bit while his mind raced for an answer for Jaedon. "Because poetry is supposed to make people feel better." He straightened up but avoided Jaedon's eyes for a moment. Running his hands through his hair he brushed all the grass bits out. It was only then that he looked at Jaedon. "I wanted to let you know that somebody cared about you, because I thought that you would stop being so depressed. I was trying to help, and it was the only way I knew how."