Date: 16 Oct 2001 03:21:18 -0000
From: Cristina <genx002@candies.com>
Subject: realizations-5

Disclaimer: See 1st Chapter for regular disclaimer.

Note: Sorry I took so long with this one.  It took a little more thought to
decide where I wanted to go with the story.  Anyways, be happy, this is the
final product of six tries.  You're lucky it wasn't seven.

Chapter 5

  I woke up an hour later with Athena still on top of me.  I guess all that
drama had taken it's toll on me.  I was exhausted and still wanted to sleep
but I knew I had a few issues I still needed to deal with while I was
visiting the land of the living.
     "Hey.  You finally decide to wake up?"

     "Yeah.  I wish I hadn't."

     "Too many things happening at once huh?"  She asked reading my
thoughts.

     "You know me too well."

     "Makes you easier to deal with."

     "I take that as an insult."

     "I'd take as a compliment knowing I could've said much worse."

     "And you think you're in love with me."

     "I don't think, dear heart, I know."

     "Then you need to come with me."

     "I knew that was coming."
  She reluctantly got up and followed me out to my car.  I considered just
driving around to avoid the subject.  I knew it was inevetable, but I just
didn't know what to say to her.  I didn't even know how I truly felt about
her.  I knew I felt something.  Something urging me to find out.  I pulled
the car into an empty parking lot.  We sat in silence until Athena finally
spoke up.
     "Look.  I don't expect anything out of this.  If you don't feel the
same then tell me and I'll understand, but don't lead me on to think that
you do feel something for me when you don't."
     "Athena you honestly think I'd lead you on?"  It was more of a
statement of shock than a question but I was still waiting for an answer.
     "I don't know.  Would you?"  She looked at me searchingly.  I leaned
over and kissed her for reassurance before I stated simply and honestly,
"No.  Never."
     "Then what do you want out of this?"

     "I think I want to give this a chance."

     "Then I guess if you really want to maybe we could work something out
but don't get your hopes up."

     "Really now.  Five seconds into the relationship and you're already
getting cocky.  If I wanted cocky I'd get a guy."

     "I admit that is a different way of looking at it."

     "Well I guess that takes care of one problem."

     "I take it you're refering to the Dominique thing?"

     "Yeop.  That would be problem number two."

     "Damn I thought we could just forget about it and hopefully pretend
that it doesn't exist."

     "No such luck.  I'd never be able to sleep at night knowing that I
could've knocked off years of therapy by sucking it up and confronting the
problem."  Raising an eyebrow she questioned that prospect, "Sucking it up
huh?  I think I kind of like that idea."

     "Love you too, but not right now."  I said grinning wickedly.

Back Home

  Standing at the front door, Daniel and Jake were still fighting the urge
to hold hands as they had the entire walk back from the resturaunt.  The
urge subsided for a moment as Daniel fished for his keys.  Finding them
about as quickly as Jake had found his invitation to come in, they both
made their way into the house.  Locking the door behind them, Daniel soon
found himself pinned against that very door.  Jake had found an old way to
release his newly found passion on Daniel.  The feeling was familiar but
genuine in its own unique blend of lust and love.  Knowing the house would
not be empty forever, the two made their way to the bedroom to continue
their explorations there.

Houston

  Knowing I needed more time to think, we headed back to Athena's to catch
up on some much needed R&R.  We curled up on the couch and watched some
movies for the rest of yet another emotionally draining day.  We must have
dozed off because the next thing I remembered were soft gentle lips
brushing against my face.

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