[Rav C. Room] Memories

[rileybabe]

Andie sat quietly staring into the fire. Russell was back. She didn't know what to think. She had really missed him, and yet... when she had hugged him in the library, he had behaved awkwardly, almost as if... he... no... that couldn't be right. Could it? Could it be possible that he wanted nothing to do with her? Andie sighed. "Oh Russell..." she whispered softly, "Why won't you just tell me how you feel? What are you afraid of? Do you really want nothing to do with me? Or am I just being paranoid? If you don't then I'll leave you alone and never bother you again, but I have to know. I need to know how you feel... I have to." Andie closed her eyes and sighed. She didn't realize that the person she wanted to be with the most, but couldn't was standing right behind her...

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell cleared his throat and walked into the firelight. "Evening, Andie," he said slowly, taking the seat across from her, near the fireplace, looking at her. He had not heard everything she had said, and he was somewhat glad for that. He smiled politely at her and locked his fingers together, leaning on his knees. "How are you?" he asked conversationally.

[rileybabe]

Andie looked up, startled. "I-I'm okay. I guess." she replied quietly. She looked at Russell, "How are you?" she asked tentatively. Andie's gaze returned to the flames. "So, how much did you hear?" she asked quietly.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell smiled at the girl across from him and sat back in his chair. "What do you need to know?" he asked, not that he wanted to know though, but he thougt he'd be polite. While he looked at Andie, Russell tried to get his thoughts in some sort of logical order.

[rileybabe]

Andie looked at Russell, red curls shining in the firelight, her emerald green eyes serious, a long moment of silence stretched between them. Finally, she spoke. "You know what it is, Russell." she replied quietly, seriously. Her eyes looked straight into his, as if she would find the answer there.

[Russell Parkhurst]

All mirth fled Russell's eyes, as though running from some dreadful beast. Russell stood up and wondered to the fireplace. He lifted his arm and leaned his elbow on the mantle. He looked into the fire, searching for the right words to say what he needed to. He lifted one foot and played with a loose thread in the carpet beneath his feet.

Finally, he planted his foot on the ground again. "Andie," he said, taking large strides to kneel by her side. He took her hands in his and looked into her beautiful eyes. "Andie," he said again, "you're an incredible person and you are incredibly beautiful. But what you are looking for, what you are wanting from me, I cannot give. I can't give you the proper love you deserve, the full attention you so rightly deserve."

[rileybabe]

Andie blinked, tears coming to her eyes. "Russell, don't you understand? I want to be with you. I don't care how hard it is, I don't care what others say. I want to be with you, and you alone, I know we can make this work. We just have to be willing to try." she smiled, "Do you remember the first time we met?"

[Russell Parkhurst]

At the mention of the first time they met, Russell smiled his lopsided grin. "Of course I do," he said softly, bringing her hand up and kissing her hand, "but Andie, you are too precious to me for me to be dishonest with you ... and myself. See Andie, the thing is, as much as I ... like you I like another too. If I could change that I would but affairs of the heart are unpredictable and untameable. Andie," he looked at her face once more, "I truly am sorry."

[rileybabe]

Andie fell silent. Russell liked someone else as well? Taking slow deep breaths in an effort to calm herself, she finally spoke. "Why didn't you say something earlier?" "Did you just conviently forget?" she asked, her voice trembling with anger. "Or were you just leading me on at the lake?" Andie took a deep breath and turned away. After a long moment of silence, she spoke. "So, who's the other girl you like? Anyone I know?"

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell stood up as Andie pulled away. He looked at her for a minute or so, trying to choose the best way to handle this. "I didn't tell you before because, before, I didn't know ... well, not for sure. And I'm not going to go into that with you. It would be unfair on you and on her."

[rileybabe]

((changed it))

[rileybabe]

Andie turned and glared at Russell, her gemstone eyes were hard and when she spoke her voice was frigid. "Go away Russell. If you were keeping something from me before, then why the hell should I belive you when you say you're 'sorry'?" Andie's face was pale, she shook with anger, and her voice trembled with rage. She turned away from Russell. "I never want to see you or talk to you again." she whispered as she stared into the flames, a single tear of sadness, hurt, and anger rolled down her cheek

[Russell Parkhurst]

When Rus saw the pain and hurt in Andie's eyes and heard the anger in her voice, he backed away very quickly. "I've never given you any reason to trust me," he whispered, running his hand through his hair, "so now there is no reason for you to trust me."

He walked towards the door way to the happy cheerful world but stopped when his was in it. "All I can say is that I'm sorry that I hurt you and that I'm glad I stopped it as soon as I did. We would never have worked and you know that." And with that he left, closing the door behind him.

[rileybabe]

Andie just stood there staring, a million thoughts running through her mind. Finally she sank down to the floor, buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

[Adriana Kent]

Adriana slowly walked down from the girl's dormitories, reading the book she was holding out in front of herself. She wasn't paying much attention to anything around her until she thought she heard the sounds of a girl sobbing. Looking up from the book, she peered around the room. A crumpled form on the floor caught her eye. "Oh no," she muttered as she crossed the floor quickly to reach the girl she recognised as Andie. She had no idea what would make Andie react the way she was and, so, was quite worried. Kneeling down at the girl's side, Adriana placed the book beside her and said as calmly as she could, "Shh... What's wrong, Andie?" She peered curiously at the girl, still worried.