☄Darkness in the Way of My Dreams (1x1)

[Cloudsong]

Aer blinked, disappointed to hear her decline his suggestion. When would she finally give in and go into the water again? Silently he nodded, knowing it was best not to try and push her. She'll go when she's ready, he thought vaguely. Because he knew that Victoria wasn't one to just give up everything, even if she hadn't been in the water for so many years. Pushing her into doing something wouldn't get them anywhere; she wouldn't do it, first off, and she would just get annoyed with him in the end.

For a moment he was completely silent, just listening to the gulls above him. When Tori spoke up again, this time bringing up the subject of Aaron, he felt his throat grow dry. Prom? Would she be planning on accepting the guy's invitation? He forced himself to smile slightly, though it came out as more of a grimace. "Tori... it doesn't matter at all what Aaron says to me." It only matters what he tries to do to you... He had been wondering lately if maybe he should muster up the courage to ask her to prom... Though every time the thought crossed his mind, he would push it away. So many other guys would be asking her, and she was bound to accept another one. Asking her would only make things uncomfortable. And after so many years of friendship, he wasn't about to throw it away for an impossible dream. "He's just a jerk..." More than anything he wanted to ask her if she was going to actually accept, but he forced himself to stay silent, watching her closely for her reaction.

[тнε.τяαgιϲ.нεяσιηε~]

Tori couldn't help but to look at him surprised when he mentioned that Aaron was a jerk. It was true, but it wasn't like Aer to just bad mouth anyone. A small laugh managed to escape, she tried to hold it off, but she ended up laughing even more. Ten she turned her head to him and smiled.

"You're not thinking I'll say yes to him are you?" she gave him a playful smile and nudged his arm with her elbow.

"Aaron can go find some other girl out there. Plus, I don't think I'll be going to prom if my best friend isn't." her eyes trailed to his with a smile still on her face. Before she could decide whether to go or not, she needed to make sure that her best friend had a date too. It would be mean and selfish of her to go if he wasn't going. And she would rather spend a day with him, instead of going to the prom.

The light sea breeze blew their way, Tori closed her eyes and felt the wind. She leaned back as she falls on the board walk. Her eyes were still shut as she lays on the wooden ground, feeling the soft wind, hearing the ocean waves, and smelling the salty sea.

"Is there any girl you have in mind? I mean to ask to the prom." she asked him. She didn't move nor did she bother opening her eyes. She was quite comfortable and any movement would disturb that comfort. Her chest rose and sink as she took deep breaths.

[Cloudsong]

Though Aer felt a twinge of satisfaction hearing that she wouldn't accept his invitation, he still felt uneasy. It wasn't just Aaron asking her to the prom that bothered him... He didn't want anyone to ask her. Then he realized how selfish that sounded, and shook his head to himself. I'm not going to pretend I had a chance, he decided. It wasn't fair for him to ruin it for her; he just wanted the best for her. For her to be happy.

The question took him by surprise. For a long moment he was silent, gazing at her as she lay on the boardwalk, her hair spread around her head like a crown. "Yes," he finally said, his voice sounding slightly uncomfortable. "But I'll never ask her; she would just say no." He made sure not to give any more hints, not wanting her to figure out who he was talking about. "Besides..." His voice trailed off. "I'm not sure if I'll even go." He didn't fit in in school; why go and pretend that he did? It would only open the ground for bullying. Those thoughts weren't really the reasons behind his thinking, however; the truth was that he didn't want to go while Tori was with another guy.

[тнε.τяαgιϲ.нεяσιηε~]

Tori slowly opened her eyes, revealing her grey eyes. She flinched for the sun was directly at her but she sat up and looked over to Aer. "How are you so sure she'll say no? You haven't even tried yet." she smiled. "Well if my best friend isn't going then neither am I. I don't want you to be alone at the last day of highschool." she wouldn't mind spending that day with Aer before they depart for college. It was sad that he let his fear of asking the girl out get in he way of him having fun.

She wishes that there was a way for her to convince him to go to the prom, but since he doesn't push her with surfing, she'll do the same with prom. Tori let out a heavy sigh and got up to her feet. It was hard for her to say this but it was a long shot....."If I start surfing again....will you go to prom and ask her out?...." her eyes were to the ground. Her heart was pounding from nervousness just talking about surfing, but maybe this way she could persuade him to go.

(sorry the post is choppy, I just woke up)

[Cloudsong]

Aer bit his lip at her suggestion. He was ecstatic to hear that she was so much as considering going back to surfing, but... His part of the deal was questionable. Though he knew that he could just pretend to ask some other girl instead of asking her, but then he might be stuck with going someone he didn't like... And I can't ask Tori. In the end, he nodded, knowing he couldn't pass up such a chance like this one. "All right," he said finally, voice hesitant. He would decide what to do later; all he wanted now was her to get back into the water. "I may ask her if you go back into surfing." At least it wasn't a complete promise that he would...

(My post is pretty bad... sorry Dx)

[тнε.τяαgιϲ.нεяσιηε~]

Victoria bit her bottom lip at the thought of her going back surfing, but she knew that Aer would by her side all the way. Though the way he said it, it seems like he wasn't sticking to the deal, so she smiles and shook her head.

"Hey! The deal was that you have to ask her, not maybe." she said playfully with a smile still on her face. Deep down, she was really worried and scared about surfing. But it was now or later. Her heart raced at the thought of surfing, but it wasn't impossible. Then she remembered her mother's smile and the way she would cheer and yell her name each time she got on the board. Even if Tori didn't win the competition, he mother would always treat her as if she won first place. Somehow, she misses that feeling. The thrill and fear of getting on the board while others watch in anxiousness.

"I'll start tomorrow night. I don't want anyone else to see me.....not yet..." her voice trailed of as she heads back to their tree house.

[Cloudsong]

"Fine, fine..." Aer muttered, knowing she was right. He would have to stick by his side of the deal. "Can I come with you tomorrow?" He would like to see her back on the board after so long. And maybe... maybe I'll ask her then. Then he stopped dead. What was he thinking? He couldn't do that... couldn't ruin their friendship... In all of their years as friends, he had never seen that she thought of him more than a friend. And those feelings wouldn't just randomly appear. And there was the problem that she may feel obligated to accept his invitation... "I've been practicing my surfing too." His tone was joking; he had always been a very bad surfer, though he did enjoy it. And being out with her was definitely a plus.

[тнε.τяαgιϲ.нεяσιηε~]

Tori wouldn't mind her best friend surfing beside her, so she nods; accepting his suggestion. She smiled as she made her way back to the tree house.

Moments later, she reached the big tree. She walked behind the tree and pulled out her old board. It was filled with dust and sand, mixed. She sits down on the grass not too far from the tree as she dusts off the boar with her hand. It revealed the white board with some pink and orange flower on the lower half. She sat down and stared at the board blankly for a few moments, then she broke her gaze and looked at Aer.

"So, where's your board?" she said trying to distract her mind from the memories that's about to over-fill her.

[тнε.τяαgιϲ.нεяσιηε~]

{bump}

[Cloudsong]

Tori wouldn't mind her best friend surfing beside her, so she nods; accepting his suggestion. She smiled as she made her way back to the tree house.

Moments later, she reached the big tree. She walked behind the tree and pulled out her old board. It was filled with dust and sand, mixed. She sits down on the grass not too far from the tree as she dusts off the boar with her hand. It revealed the white board with some pink and orange flower on the lower half. She sat down and stared at the board blankly for a few moments, then she broke her gaze and looked at Aer.

"So, where's your board?" she said trying to distract her mind from the memories that's about to over-fill her.

Aer followed her as they made their way to their hide-out. He took care to keep a distance between them, not wanting any awkward feelings to arise. Self-consciously he looked around, glad to see no one that he knew. It hurt him to think that sometime soon some boy would ask Tori to the prom, and she would accept. Why am I so ridiculous? he thought angrily. He forced himself to think of something else; he had to get over that idea before it could hurt him further.

As she went behind the tree and pulled out her board, he felt himself smile despite of his disturbed thoughts. It had been so long since he had seen her holding it again, and she looked uncertain. He felt so glad that she was going to give surfing another chance. "My board is back at home," he said.