W.I.T.C.H. - "Cat" Caleb AU
Caleb blinked his green eyes several when he saw the figure walk through the rip in the Veil, not recognizing her. The hair was too short, much too short - even for Will and Irma (the only two guardians he knew that had short hair). And those weren't the clothes a Guardian wore (even if they distantly did look familiar), and those were the only people who really had any business coming through the tears in the Veil. He reached back for his sword, swearing colorfully in his native tongue when he didn't find it. How could he have forgotten his sword - the one thing he swore he would never forget since it saved his life more times then he could easily count.
"Some hero you are," she spat as she approached, coming to stop in front of him, irritation clear in her voice and gaze. "You left your sword behind at Will's? Had I been serving Phobos, I would have kicked your ass several times over because you were unarmed and not expecting an attack, Caleb." She brushed her dark bangs off her forehead, her hand accidentally smearing the green markings near her eyes.
"Chris?!" he cried, surprised when he finally recognized the girl, no, woman - for this was no girl (hadn't been for a long time, he remembered - she had been nearly full grown when they first encountered each other all those years ago) - before him. "The hell did you do to yourself?" He wasn’t sure if he liked the change in her appearance - he found himself strangely missing her long hair (the long hair that he was secretly allowed to brush when things were quiet in the Rebel camp and they could be just a boy and just a girl and not fighting for their lives). That was an odd feeling - he wasn’t in love with her. Definitely *wasn’t* in love with her. He was in love with Cornelia - *wasn’t* he?
"Someone had to lead the Rebels. Obviously since you're *here* and not doing a damn thing for them there, *I* had to," she said, a weariness entering her voice. She reached up and wiped her face, smearing the green markings.
A thin tail swished in irritation at her rebuke - one that he didn't feel was necessary (or overly warranted). It wasn't like he could lead the rebels - not while he was stuck like this. What rebel in their honest mind would listen to him when he look liked one of the shapeshifters that served Phobos?
"The hell was that?" Christine asked, reaching over to touch the tail that had caught her attention. Her eyes slowly glanced up and noticed a set of cat ears, flattened against his head. "Someone needs catnip."
"Very funny," Caleb said, looking like a miffed cat. "And don't ask. We haven't figured out why I look like a reject from that musical CATS yet."
Christine giggled at the pronouncement - she had remembered his bitter complaining that he had to be the mannequin for Hay Lin after she had listened to the music one too many times over at Irma’s and claimed she now had inspiration for clothing - he utterly hated being Hay Lin’s dummy. "So, do I give you catnip? Or, perhaps... A squeaky mouse?"
Caleb's eyes lit up at the mention of the squeaky mouse, but then caught himself in time before he out and out reacted like the cat he appeared to be. "Not fair." He crossed his arms over his chest and sulked. Why was it that he always reacted poorly to something she either said or did? It was stupid - they were grown-ups, they shouldn't be acting like children when they were older then others, but it seemed that no matter what they did, the childish reactions always got in the way.
"Awwwww, does the little kitty want his squeaky mouse?" Christine asked in a teasing sing-song. She didn’t know why she was teasing him like that - she really didn't. It just felt right though, sort of like the 'little boy little girl I pull your pigtails only because I'm crushing on you and little boys don't like little girls' type of reaction. Made her really wish she outgrew that phase - she had honestly thought she had, but somehow Caleb always drew her back into that phase.
Caleb continued to silently sulk; feeling very put upon by the way the healer was treating him.
Christine rolled her eyes and walked over to him, and gently placed her head against his chest, her head even with his heart. “I’m sorry, ‘leb,” she murmured, shortening his name affectionately, something that he allowed only her to do - not even Cornelia could shorten his name and she was *his* girl. She gently stroked his soft fur on his chest since he had been shirtless under his duster.
“Ah, stop acting like a girl, Chris,” he said, not too gently pushing her off him, causing her to fall to the floor from the lack of balance. It was his one defense against the way it felt when she shortened his name, stroked his fur. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, to show her that he did care for her, cared for her more then he should.
Christine looked stunned for a moment before narrowing her eyes in justified anger and deciding to get even. She leaned over, grabbed the tail and yanked - hard.
Caleb stifled a yelp of pain at the yank on his tail - after all, she had just grabbed and yanked a good portion of his spine. His green cat-like eyes narrowed in anger and he hissed under his breath before pouncing on the girl.
Christine let out a surprised shriek and then started to hit his left shoulder - triggering a nasty wrestling match on the floor.
Hay Lin walked in to the basement to see what was going on, only to find Caleb having pinned Christine under him and both were breathing heavily. “You do know we have these things called beds upstairs, right…?”
Both blushed wildly as they struggled to get up off each other.
Hay Lin giggled as she watched the pair struggle to separate. It was so obvious there was a spark between them - and it amused her to no end that neither of them seemed to pick up on it. In fact, none of the other guardians seemed to see what she saw - well, maybe Will did too, but Will wasn't saying anything so Hay Lin wasn't quite sure. Everyone seemed convince that because Caleb and Cornelia had dreamed about each other for like what seemed forever that that was the one true pairing. She gagged mentally - Cornelia was barely 14 and Caleb was nearly 20 (or, at least he appeared to be nearly 20). She knew she should be supporting Cornelia - but, that was really, really robbing the cradle... on both their parts, since they weren't quite sure on Caleb's age, after all, he *was* originally flower so, theoretically - he could be *younger* then Cornelia.
“Uh, sorry about your shirt,” Caleb said, noticing that he had torn the shirt Christine had been wearing. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten about his claws. Once again, a feeling of shame and despair welled up in his chest as he thought about what he did and what he had become. How could he forgotten those claws? He could have injured her... or worse. More and more the thought that he truly was the monster he appeared replayed in his head, troubling the young man.
“It’s okay,” Christine said, removing the tatters of the shirt from her thin frame. A sports bra covered her chest - helping her to maintain some semblance of modesty. She offered him an embarrassed smile. "Didn't like that shirt anyway."
“So…” Hay Lin said, drawing out the o for as long as she could while the two recovered. “How’s Elly?”
“As well as to be expected given the current state of Metamoor,” Christine said, looking weary as she thought about what was going on while she was picking up supplies from here in Heatherfield - as useful as the goblin thing, Blunk, was, she had no desire to pay his outlandish fees for stuff that would later turn out to be junk. Let Caleb deal with Blunk when he was back leading, she'd get supplies for the rebels without having to pay Blunk (which pleased her greatly since she didn't fully trust that friend, and she used the term very loosely, of Caleb's). “We just might have Phobos pushed back to the confines of the castle. We don’t have him beat yet - but give us time.”
“Us?” Hay Lin repeated. Somehow she was getting a bit worried about the use of the word us. It sort of made her think that the team was being fractured.
“I’m the leader of the rebels,” she said, pride clear in her voice. “So, that’s where I’ve been for the past few months.”
“You planning on living there?” Hay Lin asked, arching her eyebrow.
“Maybe, don’t know yet. Have a lot more going for me there, that’s for sure,” Christine answered quickly, getting up from the floor. “So, would it be okay if I got a quick shower and a quick bite to eat before I go back?”
Caleb’s tail twitched as he listened to Christine and Hay Lin argue about the details of what they were going to do - Christine just wanted a simple shower and a simple meal while Hay Lin wanted her to stay around for a bit and relax (something that Christine definitely needed but was too proud to say that she did). “Why not let Christine make her own decision as to what she wants to do? She is a big girl, Hay Lin.”
Both girls blinked at Caleb’s siding with Christine. Hay Lin tilted her head and looked at him - wondering who switched their Caleb with a pod person (and mentally winced at the thought - okay, maybe that phrase would have worked better if Caleb wasn't originally a plant to begin with). “Uh, sure, Caleb,” she said, sounding like she was in sheer disbelief that he was siding with Christine.
“Thanks,” Christine said as she breezed by the pair and headed directly for the bathroom to clean up. She chirped a greeting to Yan Lin as she walked by the older woman and promptly locked the door to the bathroom.
“Mind telling me why you sided with Chris, Caleb?” Hay Lin asked, looking over at the apparently now ex-Rebel. She arched an eyebrow as she waited for her answer.
“Fighting her will just make her decision final. She’ll stay in Metamoor, you heard what she said, Hay. That she has more going for her there then she does here. That worries me,” Caleb said, looking over at Hay Lin.
Hay Lin nodded reluctantly. “I know - I’m worried about that. I thought she liked Heatherfield - I wonder what she found in Metamoor that she liked better,” she said quietly. “And, you know, she did surprise me. The hair, the clothing, the make-up… It’s like she was trying to mirror you for some reason.”
“Yeah, I noticed. Don’t remind me,” Caleb said, his tail twitching. He sighed quietly. “I’m sure she has good reason.”
~
Christine shifted her shoulders and let the duster fall to the floor, where it was soon joined by her sports bra, pants, and her underwear. The boots sat nestled under the pants, hiding somewhat. She brushed her bangs off her forehead and examined herself in the full-length mirror. Her hands lightly touched each fresh scar, committing it to memory. She remembered each battle, each healing, each life she saved as she looked at the scars. She had begged the Oracle to keep her powers from destroying the scars - she needed them, wanted them to stay so she remembered who she was, what she was, what she was giving up to save those who needed her.
She stepped into the shower and turned the water on as hot as it could get before tempering it lightly with the cold water. She stood in there, letting the water hit her pale skin - turning it a rich shade of red before it faded slowly. She allowed the water spilling down from the showerhead to not only to hide her tears but also to hide the sound of her heart wrenching sobs, mourning the lives she could not save, the life she would not be allowed to live if her power continued to rob her of her life to save those so close to death.
After a few minutes (at least, that's what she thought it had been) she stepped out of the shower and walked over to the tattered remains of her outfit - which seemed to have gone missing, only to have been replaced with the same one she remembered Caleb wearing. She smiled a bit and quickly dried off before slipping the outfit on, the smile getting a bit brighter as she saw it had been altered to fit her. She buried her face in the soft scarf, inhaling the soft flowery scent that Caleb seemed to produce. It had the effect she had been hoping for - the instant cheering that she needed after the emotional roller coaster she had just been on.
She reached for her make-up kit, that someone had thoughtfully put back in the pocket for her, and pulled it out. She flipped it open and started to mark the outlines in a dark green before slowly blending in the lighter green - mimicking the marks on Caleb’s face. She ruffled her hair for a moment and stared back at the image before her. Caleb seemed to stand before her in the mirror - albeit a clearly female one. Her smile faded as she viewed the image, tears pricking in the corners of her eyes, but she composed herself and headed back to where Hay Lin and Caleb were waiting for her.
Caleb turned when he heard the footsteps approach them and his jaw nearly dropped when he saw the distinctly feminine version of himself appear in the doorway. “Chris?” he asked, his voice catching a moment. It was unnerving to see what he would have looked like had he been female. Light, she was beautiful - silently making him wish that she didn't have to paint the green streaks and just be herself for she truly shined right then.
“Yeah?” she responded, tilting her head in question. “Something wrong?”
“The fact that you make me look cute as a girl?” Caleb noted. “You… uh... look nice,” he offered lamely when he noticed the look of sheer, immediate and painful death that *both* girls were giving him.
“Go play with a ball of yarn, Caleb,” Christine muttered under her breath. She was annoyed with Cat-Breath (as she was now dubbing him) - or past annoyed at this point. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with her emotions and he always seemed to make her feel the ones she didn’t want.
“Don’t make me pounce on you,” he hissed.
“Uh, hi, remember me?” Hay Lin said, waving a hand to catch the pair's attention. “I really don’t want to watch you make out with Chris, Caleb.” Granted, it was mildly entertaining - but she didn’t want her elderly grandmother to walk in and drop dead from seeing both Christine and Caleb go at it like sex-starved rabbits. (And that was analogy worthy of one Irma would use. Frightening how Hay Lin thought of it first.)
“We’re not dating!” the pair spazzed. They looked at each other as they heard the other answer at the same time they did. Christine blushed and quickly looked away, her gaze drifting to the left, while Caleb cleared his throat and looked away, his gaze drifting to the right.
“You two are so cute while in denial,” Hay Lin said, a laugh clear in her voice.
“There’d have to be something there in order for us to be denying it,” Christine said. “And there’s absolutely no love between us.” Okay, so the last bit was said a bit hastily - but she wasn't about to admit to having anything with Caleb, not when he was still in love with Cornelia (at least that's what she thought - having been gone from Heatherfield for months and no longer keeping up with the gossip from there). She was not going to steal her friend's boyfriend from her - she liked to think she was above that.
“Then why are you dressed like him?” Hay Lin asked, tilting her head slightly and arching a thin eyebrow. She had a rough idea, but she wanted either of them to confirm it. Chances are De Nile was going to be high that day.
“Ah, um… well… ah…” Christine said, trying to come up with a reason - and failing. Miserably.
“Easy. The rebels would listen to her better if she resembles me,” Caleb said, his tail swishing. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea - but understood the reasoning behind it. Still didn’t mean he liked it or approved of it.
Christine flushed slightly. She wasn’t used to Caleb leaping to her defense like that - it was an odd feeling. "What he said," she agreed, knowing that no more words needed to be spoken on that matter. To Caleb and her, the matter was settled - she’d continue the “ruse” until Caleb was able to return to what he did best, lead the Rebels. She was good - he was better.
Hay Lin pursed her lips together and nodded in acquiescence. “All right, let’s get you fed before you have to go back, Chris,” she said quietly.
"You go ahead, Hay. I want to talk to Chris before we join you upstairs," he said, shooing the younger girl back upstairs. That didn't make her happy, if judging by the rant escaping her lips in Mandarin.
edit: 6/12/14
I write like
Stephen King
I Write Like. Analyze your writing!
"Some hero you are," she spat as she approached, coming to stop in front of him, irritation clear in her voice and gaze. "You left your sword behind at Will's? Had I been serving Phobos, I would have kicked your ass several times over because you were unarmed and not expecting an attack, Caleb." She brushed her dark bangs off her forehead, her hand accidentally smearing the green markings near her eyes.
"Chris?!" he cried, surprised when he finally recognized the girl, no, woman - for this was no girl (hadn't been for a long time, he remembered - she had been nearly full grown when they first encountered each other all those years ago) - before him. "The hell did you do to yourself?" He wasn’t sure if he liked the change in her appearance - he found himself strangely missing her long hair (the long hair that he was secretly allowed to brush when things were quiet in the Rebel camp and they could be just a boy and just a girl and not fighting for their lives). That was an odd feeling - he wasn’t in love with her. Definitely *wasn’t* in love with her. He was in love with Cornelia - *wasn’t* he?
"Someone had to lead the Rebels. Obviously since you're *here* and not doing a damn thing for them there, *I* had to," she said, a weariness entering her voice. She reached up and wiped her face, smearing the green markings.
A thin tail swished in irritation at her rebuke - one that he didn't feel was necessary (or overly warranted). It wasn't like he could lead the rebels - not while he was stuck like this. What rebel in their honest mind would listen to him when he look liked one of the shapeshifters that served Phobos?
"The hell was that?" Christine asked, reaching over to touch the tail that had caught her attention. Her eyes slowly glanced up and noticed a set of cat ears, flattened against his head. "Someone needs catnip."
"Very funny," Caleb said, looking like a miffed cat. "And don't ask. We haven't figured out why I look like a reject from that musical CATS yet."
Christine giggled at the pronouncement - she had remembered his bitter complaining that he had to be the mannequin for Hay Lin after she had listened to the music one too many times over at Irma’s and claimed she now had inspiration for clothing - he utterly hated being Hay Lin’s dummy. "So, do I give you catnip? Or, perhaps... A squeaky mouse?"
Caleb's eyes lit up at the mention of the squeaky mouse, but then caught himself in time before he out and out reacted like the cat he appeared to be. "Not fair." He crossed his arms over his chest and sulked. Why was it that he always reacted poorly to something she either said or did? It was stupid - they were grown-ups, they shouldn't be acting like children when they were older then others, but it seemed that no matter what they did, the childish reactions always got in the way.
"Awwwww, does the little kitty want his squeaky mouse?" Christine asked in a teasing sing-song. She didn’t know why she was teasing him like that - she really didn't. It just felt right though, sort of like the 'little boy little girl I pull your pigtails only because I'm crushing on you and little boys don't like little girls' type of reaction. Made her really wish she outgrew that phase - she had honestly thought she had, but somehow Caleb always drew her back into that phase.
Caleb continued to silently sulk; feeling very put upon by the way the healer was treating him.
Christine rolled her eyes and walked over to him, and gently placed her head against his chest, her head even with his heart. “I’m sorry, ‘leb,” she murmured, shortening his name affectionately, something that he allowed only her to do - not even Cornelia could shorten his name and she was *his* girl. She gently stroked his soft fur on his chest since he had been shirtless under his duster.
“Ah, stop acting like a girl, Chris,” he said, not too gently pushing her off him, causing her to fall to the floor from the lack of balance. It was his one defense against the way it felt when she shortened his name, stroked his fur. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, to show her that he did care for her, cared for her more then he should.
Christine looked stunned for a moment before narrowing her eyes in justified anger and deciding to get even. She leaned over, grabbed the tail and yanked - hard.
Caleb stifled a yelp of pain at the yank on his tail - after all, she had just grabbed and yanked a good portion of his spine. His green cat-like eyes narrowed in anger and he hissed under his breath before pouncing on the girl.
Christine let out a surprised shriek and then started to hit his left shoulder - triggering a nasty wrestling match on the floor.
Hay Lin walked in to the basement to see what was going on, only to find Caleb having pinned Christine under him and both were breathing heavily. “You do know we have these things called beds upstairs, right…?”
Both blushed wildly as they struggled to get up off each other.
Hay Lin giggled as she watched the pair struggle to separate. It was so obvious there was a spark between them - and it amused her to no end that neither of them seemed to pick up on it. In fact, none of the other guardians seemed to see what she saw - well, maybe Will did too, but Will wasn't saying anything so Hay Lin wasn't quite sure. Everyone seemed convince that because Caleb and Cornelia had dreamed about each other for like what seemed forever that that was the one true pairing. She gagged mentally - Cornelia was barely 14 and Caleb was nearly 20 (or, at least he appeared to be nearly 20). She knew she should be supporting Cornelia - but, that was really, really robbing the cradle... on both their parts, since they weren't quite sure on Caleb's age, after all, he *was* originally flower so, theoretically - he could be *younger* then Cornelia.
“Uh, sorry about your shirt,” Caleb said, noticing that he had torn the shirt Christine had been wearing. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten about his claws. Once again, a feeling of shame and despair welled up in his chest as he thought about what he did and what he had become. How could he forgotten those claws? He could have injured her... or worse. More and more the thought that he truly was the monster he appeared replayed in his head, troubling the young man.
“It’s okay,” Christine said, removing the tatters of the shirt from her thin frame. A sports bra covered her chest - helping her to maintain some semblance of modesty. She offered him an embarrassed smile. "Didn't like that shirt anyway."
“So…” Hay Lin said, drawing out the o for as long as she could while the two recovered. “How’s Elly?”
“As well as to be expected given the current state of Metamoor,” Christine said, looking weary as she thought about what was going on while she was picking up supplies from here in Heatherfield - as useful as the goblin thing, Blunk, was, she had no desire to pay his outlandish fees for stuff that would later turn out to be junk. Let Caleb deal with Blunk when he was back leading, she'd get supplies for the rebels without having to pay Blunk (which pleased her greatly since she didn't fully trust that friend, and she used the term very loosely, of Caleb's). “We just might have Phobos pushed back to the confines of the castle. We don’t have him beat yet - but give us time.”
“Us?” Hay Lin repeated. Somehow she was getting a bit worried about the use of the word us. It sort of made her think that the team was being fractured.
“I’m the leader of the rebels,” she said, pride clear in her voice. “So, that’s where I’ve been for the past few months.”
“You planning on living there?” Hay Lin asked, arching her eyebrow.
“Maybe, don’t know yet. Have a lot more going for me there, that’s for sure,” Christine answered quickly, getting up from the floor. “So, would it be okay if I got a quick shower and a quick bite to eat before I go back?”
Caleb’s tail twitched as he listened to Christine and Hay Lin argue about the details of what they were going to do - Christine just wanted a simple shower and a simple meal while Hay Lin wanted her to stay around for a bit and relax (something that Christine definitely needed but was too proud to say that she did). “Why not let Christine make her own decision as to what she wants to do? She is a big girl, Hay Lin.”
Both girls blinked at Caleb’s siding with Christine. Hay Lin tilted her head and looked at him - wondering who switched their Caleb with a pod person (and mentally winced at the thought - okay, maybe that phrase would have worked better if Caleb wasn't originally a plant to begin with). “Uh, sure, Caleb,” she said, sounding like she was in sheer disbelief that he was siding with Christine.
“Thanks,” Christine said as she breezed by the pair and headed directly for the bathroom to clean up. She chirped a greeting to Yan Lin as she walked by the older woman and promptly locked the door to the bathroom.
“Mind telling me why you sided with Chris, Caleb?” Hay Lin asked, looking over at the apparently now ex-Rebel. She arched an eyebrow as she waited for her answer.
“Fighting her will just make her decision final. She’ll stay in Metamoor, you heard what she said, Hay. That she has more going for her there then she does here. That worries me,” Caleb said, looking over at Hay Lin.
Hay Lin nodded reluctantly. “I know - I’m worried about that. I thought she liked Heatherfield - I wonder what she found in Metamoor that she liked better,” she said quietly. “And, you know, she did surprise me. The hair, the clothing, the make-up… It’s like she was trying to mirror you for some reason.”
“Yeah, I noticed. Don’t remind me,” Caleb said, his tail twitching. He sighed quietly. “I’m sure she has good reason.”
~
Christine shifted her shoulders and let the duster fall to the floor, where it was soon joined by her sports bra, pants, and her underwear. The boots sat nestled under the pants, hiding somewhat. She brushed her bangs off her forehead and examined herself in the full-length mirror. Her hands lightly touched each fresh scar, committing it to memory. She remembered each battle, each healing, each life she saved as she looked at the scars. She had begged the Oracle to keep her powers from destroying the scars - she needed them, wanted them to stay so she remembered who she was, what she was, what she was giving up to save those who needed her.
She stepped into the shower and turned the water on as hot as it could get before tempering it lightly with the cold water. She stood in there, letting the water hit her pale skin - turning it a rich shade of red before it faded slowly. She allowed the water spilling down from the showerhead to not only to hide her tears but also to hide the sound of her heart wrenching sobs, mourning the lives she could not save, the life she would not be allowed to live if her power continued to rob her of her life to save those so close to death.
After a few minutes (at least, that's what she thought it had been) she stepped out of the shower and walked over to the tattered remains of her outfit - which seemed to have gone missing, only to have been replaced with the same one she remembered Caleb wearing. She smiled a bit and quickly dried off before slipping the outfit on, the smile getting a bit brighter as she saw it had been altered to fit her. She buried her face in the soft scarf, inhaling the soft flowery scent that Caleb seemed to produce. It had the effect she had been hoping for - the instant cheering that she needed after the emotional roller coaster she had just been on.
She reached for her make-up kit, that someone had thoughtfully put back in the pocket for her, and pulled it out. She flipped it open and started to mark the outlines in a dark green before slowly blending in the lighter green - mimicking the marks on Caleb’s face. She ruffled her hair for a moment and stared back at the image before her. Caleb seemed to stand before her in the mirror - albeit a clearly female one. Her smile faded as she viewed the image, tears pricking in the corners of her eyes, but she composed herself and headed back to where Hay Lin and Caleb were waiting for her.
Caleb turned when he heard the footsteps approach them and his jaw nearly dropped when he saw the distinctly feminine version of himself appear in the doorway. “Chris?” he asked, his voice catching a moment. It was unnerving to see what he would have looked like had he been female. Light, she was beautiful - silently making him wish that she didn't have to paint the green streaks and just be herself for she truly shined right then.
“Yeah?” she responded, tilting her head in question. “Something wrong?”
“The fact that you make me look cute as a girl?” Caleb noted. “You… uh... look nice,” he offered lamely when he noticed the look of sheer, immediate and painful death that *both* girls were giving him.
“Go play with a ball of yarn, Caleb,” Christine muttered under her breath. She was annoyed with Cat-Breath (as she was now dubbing him) - or past annoyed at this point. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with her emotions and he always seemed to make her feel the ones she didn’t want.
“Don’t make me pounce on you,” he hissed.
“Uh, hi, remember me?” Hay Lin said, waving a hand to catch the pair's attention. “I really don’t want to watch you make out with Chris, Caleb.” Granted, it was mildly entertaining - but she didn’t want her elderly grandmother to walk in and drop dead from seeing both Christine and Caleb go at it like sex-starved rabbits. (And that was analogy worthy of one Irma would use. Frightening how Hay Lin thought of it first.)
“We’re not dating!” the pair spazzed. They looked at each other as they heard the other answer at the same time they did. Christine blushed and quickly looked away, her gaze drifting to the left, while Caleb cleared his throat and looked away, his gaze drifting to the right.
“You two are so cute while in denial,” Hay Lin said, a laugh clear in her voice.
“There’d have to be something there in order for us to be denying it,” Christine said. “And there’s absolutely no love between us.” Okay, so the last bit was said a bit hastily - but she wasn't about to admit to having anything with Caleb, not when he was still in love with Cornelia (at least that's what she thought - having been gone from Heatherfield for months and no longer keeping up with the gossip from there). She was not going to steal her friend's boyfriend from her - she liked to think she was above that.
“Then why are you dressed like him?” Hay Lin asked, tilting her head slightly and arching a thin eyebrow. She had a rough idea, but she wanted either of them to confirm it. Chances are De Nile was going to be high that day.
“Ah, um… well… ah…” Christine said, trying to come up with a reason - and failing. Miserably.
“Easy. The rebels would listen to her better if she resembles me,” Caleb said, his tail swishing. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea - but understood the reasoning behind it. Still didn’t mean he liked it or approved of it.
Christine flushed slightly. She wasn’t used to Caleb leaping to her defense like that - it was an odd feeling. "What he said," she agreed, knowing that no more words needed to be spoken on that matter. To Caleb and her, the matter was settled - she’d continue the “ruse” until Caleb was able to return to what he did best, lead the Rebels. She was good - he was better.
Hay Lin pursed her lips together and nodded in acquiescence. “All right, let’s get you fed before you have to go back, Chris,” she said quietly.
"You go ahead, Hay. I want to talk to Chris before we join you upstairs," he said, shooing the younger girl back upstairs. That didn't make her happy, if judging by the rant escaping her lips in Mandarin.
edit: 6/12/14
I write like
Stephen King
I Write Like. Analyze your writing!