Fresh Air (OOC: during the V-Day dance)

[Demeter]

Flora stood at the edge of the lake, her green eyes focused on whatever was in the depths of the water. Behind her was the sound of music and laughter - the sounds of a party in full motion. She didn't care, really, she didn't. It was just another day - just another day alone, without someone to love her.

"The road you have traveled on is paved with good intentions. It's littered with broken dreams that never quite came true when all of your hopes were dying, my love kept you trying. And I do my best to hide the pain that I've been through...

When I cry at night and I don't think that you can hear me... I try to hide all the fear I feel inside... So I pray this time... You can be the man that I deserve 'cause I die a little each time when I cry...

I've always been there for you whenever you've fallen... When nobody else believed, I'd be there by your side... You don't know how I take it just once you'd like to make it then there'll be tears of joy that fill my loving eyes...

When I cry at night and I don't think that you can hear me... I try to hide all the fear I feel inside... So I pray this time... You can be the man that I deserve 'cause I die a little each time when I cry...

So I pray this time... You can be the man that I deserve 'cause I die a little each time when I cry," she sang softly, kneeling down by the water's edge. She could feel someone standing behind, staring down at her reflection in the water. She didn't turn her head, didn't stare at the reflection of the person behind her. "Yes?" she asked quietly.

She could sense someone behind her - she just didn't know who it was. Finally, she turned her head slightly to see who it was.

OOC: original lyrics www.theromantic.com/lovesongs/whenshecries.htm

[brandon2]

Brandon was a player but he had a deep love for women and he could not stand to see any woman upset. Because of that he was here at the lake, instead of hunting for Stella up at the party.

"Flora, I know I am not one of your girlfriends but do you want to talk?" Brandon asked not sure how to approch this subject.

[Demeter]

"Ever fall in love with someone and you hope and pray that you've found your match, only to find out that the one you love thinks of you as their younger sibling or worse?" Flora asked, turning her head back to watch her reflection waver in the water.

[brandon2]

"Not to the extent of what you are talking, at the time I thought it was love but now I know that it wasn't." Brandon responded in truth.

[Demeter]

Flora's hand splashed the water. "I've never fallen in love before so this is my first time and no one said love would hurt as badly as this." She sighed quietly. "And it doesn't help the fact that I'm of marrying age back home."

[brandon2]

"If they told you love hurt this bad would you fall in love?" Brandon asked. Not touching to subject of her being of age to marry.

[Demeter]

"I don't know but at least I'd be careful when it came to giving my heart," Flora said quietly.

[brandon2]

"That's just it, you can't control who gets your heart. They take it when you are not looking. It hurts when they don't return your love, that I do know." Brandon said.

[Demeter]

"I suppose," Flora said quietly. "I just hate the feeling of being used. At least, I should be happy I'm at Alfea and not at home. At home, I'd be in the process of getting married..."

[brandon2]

"We all hate feeling like we have been used. I don't think you could feel to happy when the person you love is here." Brandon said before adding, "Aren't you a little young to be in the process of getting married? Your only seventeen."

[Demeter]

"Not on my homeworld," Flora said quietly. "Because we females are delicate, we tend to get married early so we can try and get our families started as soon as possible."

[brandon2]

"Would it not be better to wait a couple of extra years so you are stronger? or do you get weaker with time? Cause from what I have seen, you can kick monster butt as well as any of the other girls." Brandon told her not sure what to think about her home planet.

[Demeter]

"Some women can manage more then one but some of us can't. And I'm utterly scared at this point. I really don't want to get married but if I go home, I run the risk. It's our curse if you want to look at that way."

[brandon2]

"Every curse is ment to be broken. You just have to find out how. And if you are not ready to get married can they force you?" Brandon asked still not liking this concept.

[Demeter]

A small twitch developed at the corner of her eye. "Unfortunately," Flora said, her voice weak. "There's someone back home that wants me to marry them and I don't want to. I don't know what to do but I'm sure something will come up to prevent it. Hopefully."