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Post by Chris Strongheart on Oct 12, 2006 18:46:42 GMT -5
OOC: Tags for Bloom and Sky. Let the fireworks ensue  Christine bent down and examined several of the different chocolate varieties, trying to find something that would satisfy her sweet tooth. She glanced up at Sky out of the corner of her eye and gave a soft laugh, her eyes twinkling. "Sky, you do realize that you took a person with a very large sweet tooth to a chocolate shop and told her you'd pay for whatever she wanted, right?" She continued to examine one of the fudge types when she heard the bell of the door ring and she lifted her head to take a look to see who entered. She drew her head back in faint surprise at seeing Sky's ex walk in. Last she had heard, the girl was pretending to be Ariel the little mermaid. She gave a polite nod and internally winced, knowing that this was going to be an interesting encounter. |
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Post by Sky on Oct 31, 2006 22:35:25 GMT -5
"Sky, you do realize that you took a person with a very large sweet tooth to a chocolate shop and told her you'd pay for whatever she wanted, right?"
Smiling weakly, Sky shifted on his feet before he replied, mentally crossing his fingers that Christine wouldn't notice his less than upbeat tone, "What can I say? I'm just trying to treat my girl the way she ought to be treated."
As soon as those words left his lips, though, Sky felt his skin immediately burn in response and he quickly ducked his head to prevent Christine from seeing. What a phony he was. What a pathetic, lying, loathsome, traitorous coward. As if he actually believed that treating Christine to whatever candies she desired - even if it was at a premiere candy shoppe - could possibly make up for what he had done. As if she could be bought off - even if she didn't know that that was what was happening.
Because the truth of the matter was, he had meant to tell her. He had. After dropping Bloom off in Alfea's courtyard a few mornings ago, he had meant to go straight back to Red Fountain and to sit Christine down and to tell her exactly what had happened. That Bloom was back and that he had kissed her. Yes, he had tried to tell her - had gotten so far as saying 'Christine, I need to tell you something' - but he hadn't been able to follow through. Hadn't been able to bear the thought of losing her trust. Of seeing pain flash through her eyes. Of knowing that he had betrayed her in the worst possible way.
He had told himself that he would still tell Christine the truth - when the time was right. The only problem with that was that the time never seemed to be right. Or perhaps, it was more like that with each passing minute, telling the truth became more and more difficult - and pretty soon, Sky was virtually convinced, coming clean would be impossible.
Lost in his thoughts, at the sound of the bell ringing, signifying someone's entrance into the shop, Sky gave a start. His head jerking toward the door, Sky froze as he felt as though his stomach had leapt into his throat. A cold feeling taking over his body, Sky took a rigid step forward as he said lamely, "Bloom."
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Oct 31, 2006 22:43:21 GMT -5
Christine tilted her head and unconciously took a step closer to Sky and leaned against him. "Uh.. if you want, you can go over and say hi," she said weakly, quietly. Silently, she knew she'd lost Sky, somehow, or would be losing him. And it just wasn't fair.
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Post by Bloom on Nov 3, 2006 16:13:07 GMT -5
Depression was not something that was easily cured, but if one thing could help it, it was chocolate. With each passing day and each person she reunited with, Bloom found her memories returning and growing stronger, but no matter how strong they became, the past few months that everyone else remembered wouldn’t return. It only seemed to confirm her theory: it had been a spell that had made her act so appallingly, a spell by a certain person who had everything to gain from making Bloom look bad before taking her out of the picture completely. It may have worked for a while, but now that the spell was broken, she was sure she could work on freeing everyone else. She just had to be careful.
Stepping into the shop for some refuelling, so to speak, Bloom wasn’t prepared to have to put the act on so soon. Seeing who was there, she wanted to just turn back and bolt, but it was too late. The bell on the door had given away her presence. Freezing momentarily, the hurt and betrayal in her eyes as she gazed at Sky turned into something much colder as she shifted her attention to the girl on his arm. The way she possessively leaned into him, probably enforcing her spell, really made Blooms blood boil. But she had to be careful. As sure as she was about her theory, she couldn’t risk another incident like the fiasco with Princess Diaspro. She had been so sure that it was Icy in disguise... there was still a chance that things weren’t so cut and dry here.
She wanted to run, it hurt so much to see them together either way, but she had to stay. She might learn something important, she just needed a moment to collect herself. Lowering her head, she snatched a box of candy from the shelf, but her shaky hand made it almost impossible to read the print on the package.
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Post by Sky on Nov 3, 2006 18:48:16 GMT -5
Glancing down at Christine, Sky hesitated for a moment before he gave her a brief nod and said, forcing himself to sound slightly bored with the idea for her sake, "Yeah, okay - I guess it wouldn't hurt to go talk to her."
As Sky gently disengaged his arm from Christine's grasp, he then shoved his hands deep into his jacket pockets before taking a steadying breath. Of course, he knew the right thing to do would be to invite Christine to go with him to talk to Bloom, but he couldn't take that chance right now. The last thing he wanted to have happen was for Bloom to say something to Christine that not so subtly indicated what had taken place between the two of them at the lake. So even if Christine ended up feeling like she was being snubbed - like he wasn't ready to introduce her to Bloom as his new girlfriend - it had to be done. It wasn't that he was okay with lying to Christine or anything, which he was very aware that he was doing by withholding the truth - it was just that he didn't like the idea of humiliating her in a public place. The truth was going to come out sooner or later, Sky knew, but he just preferred that it happen . . . well, not here.
As he moved toward Bloom, Sky gave a slight cough to signal his presence before he said stiltedly, gently rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet, "Uh . . . hey there, Bloom. In the mood for chocolate, I see?"
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Post by Bloom on Nov 3, 2006 18:58:11 GMT -5
Pretending to be completely fascinated with the box of whatever it was she was holding, Bloom jumped a little when Sky cleared his throat, suddenly closer than he had been. Her downcast eyes taking in his feet as he rocked on them before rising to his face, she raised an eyebrow and gave him an odd, awkward smile. His stating the obvious probably would have caused her to burst out laughing under other circumstances, but at the moment the smile was a surprise to even herself.
“No, I hate the stuff,” she joked, half-heartedly. Her eyes flicking over his shoulder to the other girl, she carefully placed the box back on the shelf.
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Post by Sky on Nov 3, 2006 20:52:02 GMT -5
A ghost of a smile crossing his face at Bloom's attempt at a joke, Sky absently ran the tips of his fingers over the tops of the chocolate boxes before he remarked, his eyes averted from her, "So, uh . . . how have you been? Adjusting to everything all right?"
In the days that had passed since his encounter with Bloom by the lake, Sky had known that sooner or later, he would have to see her again. Of course, he had known that said meeting would hardly be easy, but he hadn't quite expected this feeling that he was currently experiencing - something akin to having someone rip out his stomach and then stomp all over it, he imagined. In short, he felt queasy. Very queasy. That probably had something to do with the fact that Bloom's appearance at the shoppe was completely unexpected - something he hadn't been prepared for in the slightest. He had figured that when he next saw Bloom, he would have figured out exactly what to say, but now, with her standing there before him, that plan was thrown to the wind. Somehow, he would have to find a way to get through this meeting - a meeting, that perhaps wouldn't be so terrible if this conversation was any indication of how the rest of his time with her would go. Perhaps they would stick with safe topics; perhaps she was just as willing as him to pretend that what had happened at the lake . . . hadn't. Maybe . . .
Realizing with a start that he had lost himself in thought, Sky quickly glanced at Bloom before he said, knowing that by now she must have spoken again, "Uh, sorry . . . what was that again?"
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Post by Bloom on Nov 3, 2006 21:33:38 GMT -5
Okay, so things were awkward, but it was hard to believe he could ask such a question so nonchalantly.
“Adjusting all right? Adjusting to missing months of my life? Adjusting to losing you? No, not so much,” she said, wanting to reach out and still his fidgeting fingers with her touch. But he wasn’t even listening to her, which was probably for the best. He was obviously uncomfortable and distracted, and Bloom hated it. It wasn’t supposed to be like this between them.
When he eventually asked for her to repeat what she had said, she shook her head.
“Nothing. It was nothing,” she replied sadly. She supposed this was the point where she was supposed to ask for an introduction, but part of her wanted to put that off as long as possible.
Somehow I doubt the “if I ignore her, she’ll go away” theory actually works.
“We should get together sometime,” she suddenly blurted out, almost knocking half a dozen boxes of chocolates from the shelf as she moved to put her hands in her pockets. “I mean with Stella. With Stella and Brandon. If the three of us try to talk to him, maybe we could jog something loose or something.”
Talk about a subject coming out of nowhere. And darn, she didn’t even have any pockets. Flailing and potential merchandise damage for nothing.
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Nov 3, 2006 22:30:48 GMT -5
Christine walked over and dipped into a polite curtsy, greeting Bloom. "How do you do?" she asked softly. She glanced up at Sky, hoping he'd be polite and introduce the other girl to her. It would only be fair since she wasn't sure if this was who she thought it was.
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Post by Sky on Nov 3, 2006 23:37:24 GMT -5
Beginning to open his mouth to respond, the words died on his lips, however, when Sky heard Christine's voice behind him. His heart quickening in a mix of dread and nerves, Sky wavered for a moment. Truth be told, he wanted nothing more than to grab Christine's arm and to steer her away before she heard something from Bloom that she ought to hear from him - but Sky also knew that doing something like that would speak volumes. If he did drag Christine away from Bloom at that moment, she was bound to be suspicious.
Swallowing hard, Sky then said, knowing that he was just going to have to play it out, "Bloom, this is Christine; Christine, Bloom." Knowing that Christine was bound to question his introduction, to wonder why he was acting as though she and Bloom had never met, he quickly ducked his head down to her ear and whispered so that only she could hear him, all the while amazed at himself for being able to keep his voice calm, "I'll explain later; let's just say she seems to have lost her memory."
Glancing back up, Sky forced a smile as he surreptitiously looked back and forth between Bloom and Christine. Hopefully, just hopefully, this would be it. They'd all say 'hello' and 'goodbye' and then he and Christine could leave before any bombs were dropped. Hopefully.
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Post by Bloom on Nov 4, 2006 7:37:25 GMT -5
Before Sky could answer, they were interrupted by the brunette who greeted them, complete with curtsy. Who curtsied anymore? What was she trying to prove? That she was more sophisticated, regal and polite than the lowly little earth girl? Sky’s parents must love her.
As the introductions were made, Bloom tried to smile, but the way Christine looked at Sky, and the way he leaned down to whisper secrets in her ear caused Bloom’s heart to plummet to her stomach. No, lower. They were whispering about her right in front of her! Talk about ouch.
Eventually when she was actually able to form words, all she managed was a forced “Hi,” with an even more forced and pained smile. Was it still too late to run?
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Nov 4, 2006 7:45:06 GMT -5
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Christine said softly, politely. Even if her heart was screaming otherwise. It was shaping up to be an uncomfortable experience meeting your boyfriend's ex - especially when said ex had trouble remembering that she was the ex.
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Post by Bloom on Nov 4, 2006 9:25:25 GMT -5
Bloom knew this was the part where she was supposed to parrot what Christine said, but there was nothing she could do to bring herself to say the words. She also knew this was her chance to find out some information, but the need to run just became way too overwhelming. She wasn’t ready yet to see them together. There were other ways to find out what she needed to know. She had to get out of there, and fast.
It was all these things that lead to her suddenly cutting off anything anyone else had to say and ploughing through with what would turn out to be a horrible, embarrassing display.
“I, uh, I really should go. I have to, uh... meet Stella somewhere,” she attempted to excuse herself, her eyes moving rapidly between the other two.
It’s nice to meet you. Just say it.
“I, um... okay, I don’t want to keep her waiting. I’m really sorry about the other night, Sky. I hope I didn’t make you too tired for classes. I know I was completely bombed and had to skip out on everything,” she blabbered, backing up a step. “So I’m just going to go and you just enjoy the – ah!”
Turning swiftly as she continued to babble, Bloom suddenly bumped headlong into a large display, sending the entire display of candy, as well as herself, tumbling ungracefully to the floor.
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Post by Chris Strongheart on Nov 4, 2006 10:51:06 GMT -5
Christine hid a wince expertly, well, almost expertly, her left eye shut and a faint pained smile crossed her features. "That," she said quietly to Sky, "looks painful." She was tempted to offer her hand to Bloom, to help her up, but obviously, well, it didn't seem like Bloom liked her very much.
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Post by Sky on Nov 4, 2006 11:12:00 GMT -5
It didn't take a seer to see that at the moment, Bloom was an accident waiting to happen. The way she was talking a mile a minute and making frantic gestures, Sky knew that something was bound to happen. But even though he sensed this, his reaction to Bloom's tumble onto the display board caught him off guard and delayed his response. As she was falling, Sky futilely attempted to reach out a hand to grab her, but instead, he only grasped air.
Wincing at the humiliated look on Bloom's face as she remained sprawled across the floor, Sky began to bend down to help her up and to gather the boxes into an orderly pile, but Christine's comment stayed him for a moment. Shooting her an unreadable look in response, Sky then squatted down and began stacking the boxes. Not wanting to cause Bloom anymore embarrassment than what she was already suffering, Sky replied nonchalantly, "You okay there?"
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