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Post by Diane McLain on Dec 12, 2009 1:41:18 GMT
It had been a busy day for Diane; she had found that half of her presents had yet to be bought, and that almost all of the shops were out of what she'd wanted. Honestly, she had just wanted to distract herself. Lily-Mae had been keeping her company in her room, but it still felt lonely without Mayu there and this morning she had found the note telling her that she wasn't coming back. She'd hidden the note in her pocket, leaving quickly before Lily could ask her anything about it. And since then, she hadn't stopped. And now, she looked up at the glittering of the lights on the Christmas tree, one hand holding the note in her pocket tightly, the other stopping her from chewing on her ankh necklace. And it all fell down on top of her.
She stepped forwards, sitting down on one of the nearby seats, watching all of the couples cuddling up for warmth, thinking of Melville with Mayu in his strong arms, ready to snap her like a twig... She looked down, suddenly aware that a tear was falling from her eyes. She brushed it off quickly; it was too cold to cry.
Desperately lonely, she turned to her phone, thanking herself that Antosha was so high in the alphabet, and if he didn't answer Brynn was only one click away. She put the phone to her ear, saying under her breath, "Come on... answer..." She heard it click, saying quickly, "Antosha, is that you?"
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 12, 2009 1:50:03 GMT
Antosha had been at the Fair since it opened much earlier that day, crack of dawn almost. He had a funnel cake in his hand, covered in powdered sugar, when is phone began to sing "I like my coffee black just like my metal." in his ear. Thankfully the bluetooth was in or he would have never been able to answer in time. "Yeah, Anto speaking. What's the emergency?" He said, using his usual answering machine voice.
He already knew Diane was on the other end, just like he knew she was upset. Mayu leaving had upset them all, De especially. Not that she really had left, but it felt like betrayal to all of them. Even the ones who wouldn't admit it, Antosha could feel it in their own hearts. He munched on the funnel cake thoughtfully, wandering around the stalls while he waited for Diane to answer.
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Post by Diane McLain on Dec 12, 2009 1:57:02 GMT
"Antosha!" she said, sounding a little too desperate as she grabbed onto the phone, making sure that she was catching every single word that he was saying. It was a little loud, but she ignored it assuming he was just outside somewhere. "Oh, Antosha! I-I got a letter from Mayu today..." she explained to him quickly, not quite sure what else to say, even though she wanted to have a proper conversation with him. "It says... hang on, I've got it here,..." she said, as a rustling sound could be heard down the phone. "'I'm sorry but I don't think I'll be coming back, please forgive me." she repeated, speaking so fast she tumbled over her words. "What does that even mean?"
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 12, 2009 2:01:31 GMT
Antosha sighed over the phone, making it like a crackling sound. "Oh De..." he said softly, shaking his head. Nearby lights flashed the words "Winner" to a test your strength game. "De, it means exactly what it said. She's been worried about you, so rather then keeping you that way she want you... She wants you to think she's chosen Melville over you. She knows the risks, and she's taking the chance." he explained moodily. Not that he would admit it, but he was probably the last one to see Mayu before the side switch. They had to say goodbye one last time, besides, who else could she give everyone's presents to?
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Post by Diane McLain on Dec 12, 2009 2:16:10 GMT
She looked around, the bright lights were beginning to hurt her eyes as she felt them welling up again, "But I want her to choose me," she said, pausing and looking down as she realised what a spoilt brat she sounded. She sniffed back her tears, telling Antosha, "I-its not fair... no one ever chooses Melville over me. Never." she said, shivering. She was beginning to get odd looks, and so kept her voice down.
She tried to cover her face with her hand to stop people looking as she spoke into the phone, "I-I-" she tried desperately for something to redeem her, to make her not sound so spoiled to Antosha, but she couldn't think of anything. "It's all I've ever known..." she said slowly, feeling like the world was suddenly upside-down.
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 12, 2009 2:27:49 GMT
Antosha stopped at the sound of her voice, suddenly feeling like there was a little girl on the line rather then De. He shook his head and plunged on into his response. "Diane. Get a hold of yourself. Mayu will come back to us when Mayu wants to come back to us, no sooner and no later then that moment. Now, if you can't accept the fact she has chosen Mel, then your just going to have to deal. Enough of us have chosen your side already. Be happy." he tried to keep the snappiness out of his voice, but somehow he knew parts had slipped through.
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Post by Diane McLain on Dec 12, 2009 2:34:11 GMT
She took in a deep, shaking breath, holding onto her body tightly. She knew exactly what she was sounding like, and she silently thanked Antosha for being so frank with her, "I really... I don't want sides, Antosha. I know I don't get a lot of say in that, but I just wish that people could accept that you can be with us both separately, just not together..." she told him, "I mean, if I honestly had to say who's side I would be on... I wouldn't-" she took in a breath, trying to think about her answer, "Yeah, I'd probably pick me, but I'd rather pick neither, or both. I don't like who I am when I'm with him, and he'd probably say the same about me."
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 12, 2009 2:44:38 GMT
Antosha let a moment of silence take over the phone, the wind being the only sound left. "May I be frank with you De? No secrets, no judging, no nothing?" he asked, taking in a shallow breath. It would be hard to tell her, but really, someone had to. Maybe she wouldn't get mad, maybe she would. But even if she got pissed and hung up on him, at least she knew what it was like.
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Post by Diane McLain on Dec 12, 2009 2:48:48 GMT
She felt the silence running through her like a sword, knowing that inch by inch everything was crumbling away. "That depends. Are you going to tell me that I'm a acting like a child?" she asked, closing her eyes tightly. "I already know that. But yeah, be frank. I accept nothing less than brutal honesty." she said, bracing herself for being hurt, but at least knowing the truth.
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 12, 2009 3:11:13 GMT
Antosha sighed, trying to take what he was about to say down a notch. "I know you don't want sides hun, but that's the way things are going to be. With you two, there can be no neutral, it's impossible. It is either Diane or Melville, no other way for us. The whole school is going to be divided because of it, I know I've already lost my sister because of it. With you? We can't be friend with both of you, hun, you would flip out on us every time we came back. It just won't work. Unless you two can overcome your hatred, the school will be divided. Outcasts versus us." he waited silently for De to digest his words.
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Post by Diane McLain on Dec 12, 2009 3:18:35 GMT
She paused for a long time, listening to the wind. She was looking down, but she could have gone blind at that moment and not noticed. So, it would be separating her friends, or putting together the unmentionable. They were like fire and water, like oil and water, only more violent. Like the experiments she watched in Science and Magic, where the teacher dropped magnesium into water, warning them all not to look into the bright explosion...
She breathed out. She couldn't deny it hadn't been what she was expecting, but she knew she had to know about it. "Do you- do you think that we could, that..." she paused, finding it hard to even say, "That me and Melville...?"
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 12, 2009 3:30:16 GMT
"No." Antosha laughed, starting the walk home to the forest. It was getting far to late for him to continue talking, so soon he would have to wrap up the conversation with De. "Stop by my dorm later, I have something for you. You don't mind Christmas early, do you?" he asked, smiling to himself as he passed the main doors into the festival.
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Post by Diane McLain on Dec 12, 2009 3:36:44 GMT
She wiped away her tears, giving a half laugh at the idea of getting Christmas early, though it did upset her how quickly he brushed away the idea of them mending their broken relationship - or at least pretending to for the sake of their friends. "Um, sure, I'm a bit of a bah humbug sort anyway. I could do with some cheer." she said with a sigh, "Oh, and I got you and Julie something as well. Just a little thank you." she looked up, and then at her watch, "I'll come over later, but now I've got to get around the shops before they all close. Love you!" she shut down the phone before he could even respond. She wasn't in the mood of hearing anything that made her cry again, even if it was for the best.
-fini-
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