Havemercy Fic - Crossing the Line (19/29)
Title: Crossing The Line
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,592 for this chapter
Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to the wonderful Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett, although there may be one or two of my own creation :)
Summary: When he decides to search for an art tutor, little does sixteen year old Etienne know that he's about to embark on an adventurous summer of
maturity, secrets and self-discovery. However, he's not the only one in the family who's been hiding things, as Castle Nevers will never be the same again.
Author's Notes: The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that there are now 29 chapters, rather than 28...This is the new chapter! Unbetaed, as I only finished it a few hours ago, and I didn't want to disrupt the posting schedule :/ Enjoy!
( Previous chapters)
Jude
This was the best summer ever.
It was incredible how in such a short space of time, moving to the country changed from being something I hated to something I was so thankful for. Even just lying here in the garden with nothing to do seemed perfect, when I had Etienne beside me.
When we’d first moved to the country, several months ago, I hadn’t enjoyed it very much at all. I was away from all of my friends, my home, everything I had ever known. I knew that we had to move, as Dad couldn’t afford for us to live in Thremedon anymore. I didn’t like to complain, not when he was doing all that he could for us, but I couldn’t help feeling miserable. Starting my lessons at the local school lessened my boredom, and things had started to get better, but I felt that I could never be as happy as I had been in the city. The boys at my school made fun of me because I didn’t know how to hunt or even ride a horse, and when I started to make friends with the girls they were even more cruel. I started looking forward to the summer as a chance to get away from them, but by the end of the first week of the holidays I was bored and lonely. Alfie was always working or spending time with the friends he’d made, and I wondered how he could fit in so well here when I didn’t know how to.
Etienne changed everything.
At first, I’d been glad just to speak to someone my age who wasn’t taunting me. He was kindness and warmth and friendship, and I couldn’t describe how much I loved spending time with him. We’d always been close friends, and the way I saw it our friendship remained when he told me of his feelings; it was only augmented by the moments we could steal to hold each other and served as the foundation of something even better. The more time I spent with him, the more I cared for him, and I looked forward to his visits with an enthusiasm that bordered on zeal. I wanted to share every part of me with him, and wished to know everything of him in return. There were no secrets I could keep from him, nor would I wish to. I only knew that everything seemed more when I was with him: my happiness more real, myself more complete. The alacrity with which my feelings were growing was a little scary, but it was a good kind of fear.
The day that he kissed me, it had been so hard to part from him. We’d gone downstairs to see what Dad wanted, and when Etienne left I took his hand, squeezing it softly. He returned the pressure, and I couldn’t help pulling him in by our clasped hands for a hug. I gave a quick kiss to his shoulder, and I could see his nerves as he pulled away. I watched him walk down the path, unable to take my eyes off him until he had disappeared round a corner.
Since that day, everything had been perfect. I felt like I was growing closer to him all the time. Of course, our relationship had taken a decidedly physical turn. I couldn’t stop myself from giving him even small touches, like a hand between his shoulders as I looked at his art, my leg pressed up against his as we sat too close eating lunch, my fingers brushing his whenever I thought my dad wasn’t looking.
That had been the only problem: keeping this a secret from Dad. I knew that Etienne was not ready to tell him yet, and that he was anxious about his reaction. A few days after he’d confessed his feelings, I’d asked if it was okay for me to tell my father.
He’d bit his lip. “I’m not sure.”
“It doesn’t feel right, keeping this from him,” I said, smoothing a hand down his arm.
“Do you really think he wouldn’t mind?”
He doesn’t care about me being a Nellie, so he won’t care about this.”
I could see that he was thinking about it. I reached down to take his hand and tangle our fingers together.
“I just - can we wait a little longer?”
I squeezed his hand, disappointed, and he pulled me in for a hug.
“I don’t want him to hate me,” he murmured, very quietly, near my ear.
I tightened my arms around his waist. “He won’t.”
Our time together over the last few weeks had felt like a dream. I’d never been this happy, and it was all because of him. I was content just to be in his
presence. Like now, for instance, relaxing in the garden, enjoying the late summer sun. He lay beside me, his eyes closed as his fingers played with the grass. The sun had brought out the freckles on his face, and I thought the effect made him look even more beautiful than ever.
He turned his head and opened his eyes. I smiled, trying to cover my embarrassment at being caught staring.
“What?” he asked, smiling back.
“Nothing,” I replied. “Just admiring.”
He looked away as he blushed, and I thought even that small movement endearing. When he looked back his eyes were twinkling, in the way they only did when we were alone.
“I had a dream similar to this,” he admitted in a quiet voice.
“You dreamt about me?”
“Sorry.” He scrunched up his nose. “It was inappropriate, and-”
“No,” I stopped him quickly. “I like it.” I gave him a sly smile. “So what happened in this dream?”
He reached out to swat me half-heartedly, but I caught his hand and raised it to my lips, kissing the back of it. “Well?” I prompted.
He glanced to the kitchen window, as though checking my father wasn’t watching, though we both knew he and Alfie were out of the house. Then he shuffled closer, and pressed his lips to mine quickly. “That,” he declared, with a smile of his own.
“Oh yeah? Anything else?” I could feel my own grin. One of the best things, I reflected, was how much more confident Etienne was now compared to how he had been when I had first met him.
“Hmm,” he said, pretending to think. He propped himself up on an elbow. “Maybe a bit of this.” He leaned down over me and kissed me again, and this time I moved my hand to cradle the back of his head so he could not move away.
I lost myself to the feel of his lips, his tongue, his hand so warm where it rested lightly on my chest. I lost all sense of time, my senses filled with Etienne. I wanted to stay in the moment forever, to be always content in this space occupied by just the two of us, together, with no one outside to look down on us; without the fear of his family that I knew was always at the back of his mind.
After a while, he pulled away.
“I should probably go soon,” he commented.
I pouted and wrapped my arms around his waist, holding him to me. He chuckled, and I could feel the vibrations against my chest. He settled down, lying half on top of me, drawing shapes on my shirt that made my skin underneath tingle. My lessons were due to begin again in two weeks, and though we were both aware of the impending deadline, neither of us liked to acknowledge it. I didn’t know how often I’d be able to see him once school started again - most likely only at weekends, and not even every weekend, for his parents would surely get suspicious. I never wanted this summer to end; I wished more than anything that time could slow down so that we could linger in the late sun for longer. I held him tighter.
“Jude,” he whined. He propped his chin on his hand, resting over my heart, so that he could look at me properly. He must have felt how hard my heart was beating for him. I reached out and ran my fingers through his hair.
“I really must go,” he said quietly.
“I know.”
He leaned forwards to kiss my temple, then got up and off me. I shivered at the sudden loss of his warmth. He offered a hand to pull him up, then we walked slowly back into the house, close so that our arms kept brushing.
When we reached the front door, he turned to me. “I guess I’ll see you on Friday.”
He pulled me in for a hug and I slipped my arms around his waist, where they already felt so familiar. I buried my face in his neck, hating that we had to spend the next day apart. I pulled back, turning my head to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“Friday,” I agreed.
He smiled softly at me and we both leaned in for a quick kiss, knowing that if we held it for longer than a peck it would be difficult to stop. I forced myself to step away and open the door for him, then watched him down the path as I did every time we said goodbye. When he was out of sight, I shut the door with a sigh, already looking forward to the next time I would see him.
Next
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,592 for this chapter
Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to the wonderful Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett, although there may be one or two of my own creation :)
Summary: When he decides to search for an art tutor, little does sixteen year old Etienne know that he's about to embark on an adventurous summer of
maturity, secrets and self-discovery. However, he's not the only one in the family who's been hiding things, as Castle Nevers will never be the same again.
Author's Notes: The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that there are now 29 chapters, rather than 28...This is the new chapter! Unbetaed, as I only finished it a few hours ago, and I didn't want to disrupt the posting schedule :/ Enjoy!
( Previous chapters)
Jude
This was the best summer ever.
It was incredible how in such a short space of time, moving to the country changed from being something I hated to something I was so thankful for. Even just lying here in the garden with nothing to do seemed perfect, when I had Etienne beside me.
When we’d first moved to the country, several months ago, I hadn’t enjoyed it very much at all. I was away from all of my friends, my home, everything I had ever known. I knew that we had to move, as Dad couldn’t afford for us to live in Thremedon anymore. I didn’t like to complain, not when he was doing all that he could for us, but I couldn’t help feeling miserable. Starting my lessons at the local school lessened my boredom, and things had started to get better, but I felt that I could never be as happy as I had been in the city. The boys at my school made fun of me because I didn’t know how to hunt or even ride a horse, and when I started to make friends with the girls they were even more cruel. I started looking forward to the summer as a chance to get away from them, but by the end of the first week of the holidays I was bored and lonely. Alfie was always working or spending time with the friends he’d made, and I wondered how he could fit in so well here when I didn’t know how to.
Etienne changed everything.
At first, I’d been glad just to speak to someone my age who wasn’t taunting me. He was kindness and warmth and friendship, and I couldn’t describe how much I loved spending time with him. We’d always been close friends, and the way I saw it our friendship remained when he told me of his feelings; it was only augmented by the moments we could steal to hold each other and served as the foundation of something even better. The more time I spent with him, the more I cared for him, and I looked forward to his visits with an enthusiasm that bordered on zeal. I wanted to share every part of me with him, and wished to know everything of him in return. There were no secrets I could keep from him, nor would I wish to. I only knew that everything seemed more when I was with him: my happiness more real, myself more complete. The alacrity with which my feelings were growing was a little scary, but it was a good kind of fear.
The day that he kissed me, it had been so hard to part from him. We’d gone downstairs to see what Dad wanted, and when Etienne left I took his hand, squeezing it softly. He returned the pressure, and I couldn’t help pulling him in by our clasped hands for a hug. I gave a quick kiss to his shoulder, and I could see his nerves as he pulled away. I watched him walk down the path, unable to take my eyes off him until he had disappeared round a corner.
Since that day, everything had been perfect. I felt like I was growing closer to him all the time. Of course, our relationship had taken a decidedly physical turn. I couldn’t stop myself from giving him even small touches, like a hand between his shoulders as I looked at his art, my leg pressed up against his as we sat too close eating lunch, my fingers brushing his whenever I thought my dad wasn’t looking.
That had been the only problem: keeping this a secret from Dad. I knew that Etienne was not ready to tell him yet, and that he was anxious about his reaction. A few days after he’d confessed his feelings, I’d asked if it was okay for me to tell my father.
He’d bit his lip. “I’m not sure.”
“It doesn’t feel right, keeping this from him,” I said, smoothing a hand down his arm.
“Do you really think he wouldn’t mind?”
He doesn’t care about me being a Nellie, so he won’t care about this.”
I could see that he was thinking about it. I reached down to take his hand and tangle our fingers together.
“I just - can we wait a little longer?”
I squeezed his hand, disappointed, and he pulled me in for a hug.
“I don’t want him to hate me,” he murmured, very quietly, near my ear.
I tightened my arms around his waist. “He won’t.”
Our time together over the last few weeks had felt like a dream. I’d never been this happy, and it was all because of him. I was content just to be in his
presence. Like now, for instance, relaxing in the garden, enjoying the late summer sun. He lay beside me, his eyes closed as his fingers played with the grass. The sun had brought out the freckles on his face, and I thought the effect made him look even more beautiful than ever.
He turned his head and opened his eyes. I smiled, trying to cover my embarrassment at being caught staring.
“What?” he asked, smiling back.
“Nothing,” I replied. “Just admiring.”
He looked away as he blushed, and I thought even that small movement endearing. When he looked back his eyes were twinkling, in the way they only did when we were alone.
“I had a dream similar to this,” he admitted in a quiet voice.
“You dreamt about me?”
“Sorry.” He scrunched up his nose. “It was inappropriate, and-”
“No,” I stopped him quickly. “I like it.” I gave him a sly smile. “So what happened in this dream?”
He reached out to swat me half-heartedly, but I caught his hand and raised it to my lips, kissing the back of it. “Well?” I prompted.
He glanced to the kitchen window, as though checking my father wasn’t watching, though we both knew he and Alfie were out of the house. Then he shuffled closer, and pressed his lips to mine quickly. “That,” he declared, with a smile of his own.
“Oh yeah? Anything else?” I could feel my own grin. One of the best things, I reflected, was how much more confident Etienne was now compared to how he had been when I had first met him.
“Hmm,” he said, pretending to think. He propped himself up on an elbow. “Maybe a bit of this.” He leaned down over me and kissed me again, and this time I moved my hand to cradle the back of his head so he could not move away.
I lost myself to the feel of his lips, his tongue, his hand so warm where it rested lightly on my chest. I lost all sense of time, my senses filled with Etienne. I wanted to stay in the moment forever, to be always content in this space occupied by just the two of us, together, with no one outside to look down on us; without the fear of his family that I knew was always at the back of his mind.
After a while, he pulled away.
“I should probably go soon,” he commented.
I pouted and wrapped my arms around his waist, holding him to me. He chuckled, and I could feel the vibrations against my chest. He settled down, lying half on top of me, drawing shapes on my shirt that made my skin underneath tingle. My lessons were due to begin again in two weeks, and though we were both aware of the impending deadline, neither of us liked to acknowledge it. I didn’t know how often I’d be able to see him once school started again - most likely only at weekends, and not even every weekend, for his parents would surely get suspicious. I never wanted this summer to end; I wished more than anything that time could slow down so that we could linger in the late sun for longer. I held him tighter.
“Jude,” he whined. He propped his chin on his hand, resting over my heart, so that he could look at me properly. He must have felt how hard my heart was beating for him. I reached out and ran my fingers through his hair.
“I really must go,” he said quietly.
“I know.”
He leaned forwards to kiss my temple, then got up and off me. I shivered at the sudden loss of his warmth. He offered a hand to pull him up, then we walked slowly back into the house, close so that our arms kept brushing.
When we reached the front door, he turned to me. “I guess I’ll see you on Friday.”
He pulled me in for a hug and I slipped my arms around his waist, where they already felt so familiar. I buried my face in his neck, hating that we had to spend the next day apart. I pulled back, turning my head to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“Friday,” I agreed.
He smiled softly at me and we both leaned in for a quick kiss, knowing that if we held it for longer than a peck it would be difficult to stop. I forced myself to step away and open the door for him, then watched him down the path as I did every time we said goodbye. When he was out of sight, I shut the door with a sigh, already looking forward to the next time I would see him.
Next