Off to Oz(or the cabin in the middle of the woods)

[cassie_newton_]

I stopped by to see if Avasa was all right since the last dream we shared I could tell he wasn't. Even if he is perfectly fine in dreams. He doesn't lie very well. Either way, I went to check on him, and met Willow (who's very pretty...beautiful really) and we all talked and somehow, I wound up being brought out to Avasa's cabin. I guess it really

Comments

[avasa_edan]

Avasa sat cross-legged in the middle of what would otherwise be called a living room if it weren’t spread out to include the kitchen and eating area as well. He hunched forward, drawing on a canvas a kaleidoscope of colors, white for the snow, yellow for the sand, and brown for the footprints they left behind. He had found some material in one of his cupboards from the time he drew Dawn’s portrait and was delighted with Cassie’s surprise at seeing them. Though what she needed more was sleep, and didn’t at all protest when he offered her his bed.

A small smile graced his features as he remembered the dream. It was nice, beautiful… he slumpt back on his heels -finally completing his work- and frowned. What did this all mean? He wondered. Why did he have such a deep connection with a girl he hardly knew… why did he spent more time with Cassie now than he did with Dawn, but that didn’t mean… did it? He loved Cassie, yes, but it wasn’t the kind of love he had for Dawn. It was the kind of love for a friend… wasn’t it?

Avasa rubbed his forehead, feeling the beginnings of a headache coming on. Being in Cassie’s company for the past few hours made all the white noise go away, but all that left him was time to think. And frankly, some of the things he didn’t like to think about.

Especially what Dawn would think…

[_dawnie_]

Dawn was a nervous wreck. She hadn't been able to concentrate on anything, still hadn't gotten to talk to Sophie... their schedules hadn't seemed to intersect yet... had barely been sleeping, and she'd gone by the house to see how Avasa was doing and had been told by Tara that Willow had driven him back home. Well, actually, what she'd said had been, "W-willow drove them back to the cabin."

Them?

Somewhere in the back of her mind, it had been nagging at her ever since before she and Avasa had fled Sunnydale for the long weekend. Cassie Newton, in her basement, holding hands with her boyfriend. Hearing the word them brought it all back.

She made her way down the woods path, deliberately walking slowly, feeling a churning in her stomach the likes of which she hadn't felt in a long time. She wasn't sure what to think about any of this. Okay, it was the plant, the Raven's milfoil thing. Fine. But why---? She forced herself to stop. This wasn't helping anything.

She stopped in front of the door, placing her hands flat on it. Normally, he was in the clearing waiting for her, because he always knew she was coming. She blinked, hard, and then tapped on the door.

[avasa_edan]

Avasa frowned, he handn't heard anyone approach... or anyone's thoughts for that matter. He opened his mind to the person on the other side of the door and just as always, was surprised by who was on there. "Dawn," he whispered silently and opened the door.

His face fell at her expression. "Dawn?" he reached out to her.

[_dawnie_]

Dawn's mind raced with confused thoughts: just look at him, he's so beautiful... how come nobody told me what was going on? why did I have to go to my house to find out he wasn't still there? I don't understand... I'm afraid that-- She swallowed. "Avasa?"

She went to him, fitting herself against his body, breathing in his familiar scent. For a few seconds she closed her eyes and was comforted. Then she opened them, gazing over his shoulder at the room... the far side of the room, the open bedroom door... a blonde lying on the bed.

[avasa_edan]

Avasa felt the loss in her hug, as if she was about to let everything go. He reached his mind out to her again and caught a wave of confusion in her thoughts. He put a hand to her cheek and tilted her head to face him, he shook his head and leaned in to her. “It’s not like that.”

[_dawnie_]

Dawn searched his eyes; it wasn't that she actually thought he'd cheat on her. He was so innocent in some ways, so honorable, as if he hailed from another century. It was just that she didn't understand. Didn't understand why Cassie always seemed to be around, why Avasa had seemed evasive in the car returning from their weekend, why she had been told the bare minimum about... whatever was going on.

She relaxed into his hold, making a conscious effort to unclench her frame. "I don't--" she began, taking shallow breaths, determined not to cry just because she was confused. She focused on his eyes. "...why?"

She wasn't sure what she was asking for.

[avasa_edan]

Avasa let out a hushed breathe and lowered his eyes, suddenly so painfully aware that if he didn’t tell her every detail of what he understood he’d loose her. Loose everything that they had built together. Built together over… he frowned and looked up. They’d met four days ago this time last year. In all the chaos of the past two months he’d forgotten one of the most important things to him. Meeting Dawn. He sighed and kept his eyes low, “I don’t understand why--” he glanced at his bedroom door where Cassie was sleeping peacefully. “It just-” He couldn’t keep her gaze, much less finish what he was about to say. happened.

"Ask me anything, and I'll tell you what I can."

[_dawnie_]

That wasn't quite what Dawn had hoped for, but she realized she was expecting too much in the current circumstances. She pulled in a soft breath and said, "What did you decide not to tell me in the car?" That was probably bothering her almost as much as Cassie's constant presence with her boyfriend, and was much easier to ask about.

[avasa_edan]

“Oh,” Avasa tried to make himself as small as possible. He’d never felt so guilty in his entire life. It was only a dream, he wanted to say, but knew Dawn wouldn’t see it that way. “We-there was a dream,” his eyes ticked over to the bedroom door, “she was in it.”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know what it meant,” he clarified.

[_dawnie_]

Dawn thought this over. "She was in it?" In it how? As in, rocking your world in it, or...what? "You mean you had a dream about her?"

She was mildly perplexed that he didn't seem able to look at her. What was that about? She stole a glance at the other girl again.

[avasa_edan]

"No," he replied quietly. "She was there. With me in the dream."

What was this feeling in him? Remorse? He hadn't done anything wrong... except for a kiss. Avasa kept his eyes downcast. He did do something wrong. He was a bad man.