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Post by Riven on Dec 17, 2006 8:09:04 GMT -5
It was a strange feeling when Sky suddenly snapped and went completely off on him. Sky was accusing him of everything he tried so hard to make them believe, yet instead of feeling proud that he’d finally convinced them of it all, it actually stung. Angry at his sudden stab of weakness, Riven felt his own temper flare. Since his mother had left him with nothing, he’d sworn never to let anyone else get into the position to be able to hurt him like that again. He vowed never to let anyone get close, and hardened himself against needing anyone. He had convinced himself that he didn’t need anyone. Almost.
“Good! Because I was finished with you long ago!” Riven exploded, taking a step toward Sky. “But don’t even try to make this all about me. We used to be the best! You, me, Brandon and Timmy. Nobody could touch us! You were the one that ran us into the ground. You and Christine. We were finished long before I left.”
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Post by Sky on Dec 17, 2006 9:54:55 GMT -5
Throwing his hands up, Sky backed away from Riven as he said through gritted teeth, "Nope, I'm done. I meant what I said, Riven, so this - whatever this is right now - I'm out. Let's just leave it alone because you know, I don't think there's anything left to be said between us. Anything else would be a repeat of what's already been said and that's just a waste of my time. Clearly we both have what we want; I'm out of your life, you're out of mine and neither of us ever wants to see the either one again. Looks like things are finally settled between us. So have a good life, Riven, and goodbye."
Without another word, Sky strode from the observatory. As the distance between himself and Riven increased, Sky felt his anger slowly ebb away and once again, all that was left was the sickening knowledge that everything Riven had said was the truth. Well, Sky thought as he exhaled deeply and ran his hands over his tired eyes, he couldn't change the past, but he could change what he was doing now. He could restore to his team their former glory. It would just require hard work: extra practices, a great deal of studying, and most of all, making everyone believe again that they could rely on each other - that they worked as a unit, not as individuals.
Deep down, Sky knew that Riven ought to back with them, that without his presence and skill, the team would never quite be as it had been, but his pride had been wounded and for the moment, Sky couldn't fathom going back to the observatory to grovel and beg for Riven to return.
As he slowly walked the hallways of Red Fountain, lost in thought, Sky smiled grimly. So he had finally figured out why Red Fountain had never gone co-ed. It was because of the things that had splintered his team apart - the drama that happened when teammates fell for each other. Something that would probably inevitably happen if Red Fountain were to ever 'modernize' and start admitting females in the same proportions as males. Saladin knew it and that was probably why he had almost kicked Christine out when it had been revealed that she was in fact a girl.
Remembering Riven's jibe at Christine, the thought flitted through Sky's mind as to whether he was right. That most of the reason for the team's failures had been because of all the things that had gone down between himself and Christine. That perhaps it would be better if they did just go back to how it had been - himself, Brandon, Riven and Timmy.
Sky had to admit, the idea did sound kind of appealing.
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Post by Riven on Dec 17, 2006 10:10:17 GMT -5
Gritting his teeth, Riven uncharacteristically let Sky have the last word. He was done with words. If the prince had waited for a reply, it probably would’ve come in the form of a fist to his pretty little face. Positively fuming, he clenched his fists and watched Sky walk away, his eyes burning holes in the retreating boy’s back.
They both had what they wanted. They never had to see each other ever again. So why didn’t this feel like closure?
Yelling in frustration, Riven turned and brought his fist back before slamming it forward into the stone wall. Pain shot through his hand and up his arm, but he merely clenched his jaw against it. He knew why it wasn’t closure: because Sky had still won. With Riven gone, he’d still lead them down into destruction. Who would be there to fix this mess?
The fact was, he did care. He could deny it all he wanted to everyone else and to himself, but he cared. He had worked hard to make a name for himself here, to make his team the best, and he wasn’t going to let some snot nosed little prince and a girl ruin that.
“We can be great again,” he said to himself, rubbing his throbbing hand. That settled it. Whether Sky liked it or not, he was coming back.
He hoped it was the latter.
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