Together as .:One:. ||Aqua!||

[Sher is back :)]

These bruises
-Make for better conversation-
Loses
-The vibe that separates-

Prologue

It's been months since Vern and I got back fro the forest. We had some speed bumps since, but we still seem to pull together. It looks like nothing can separate us now. We have grown stronger since. Our relationship is like a magnet, if we drift apart, we always pull back. I can't get enough of him. I swear, my life is so much happier with him here. I don't know if he feels the same, but he sure does act like it.

My parents still have suspicions. No, they have not caught us in the act yet, but they have come close too. Since my last birthday though, they seem to accept it and act like nothing happens. They know I'm growing up. They realize they can't stop us from doing it anyways. Vern has especially grown on my father. My father likes him a lot, says he's, a gentleman, which of course I know he is! I still haven't met Vern's parents, I know he doesn't want me too, but I do. I just don't to leave them in the dark like that. They deserve to know where he is and who he is with.

Lately, he has been working like a dog. Every morning off to work, and every evening back. Pays off his bill every week. I don;t know how much he has saved up for himself, but I think it's getting larger and larger every day. I'm hoping almost enough so we can move out and leave my parents alone. I want to be independent and self sufficient, prove to them i'm not their little girl anymore, but it will take time. I just have to be patient.

Present Day

I woke up early again, the sun just rising. I had been waking up like that lately, and going to bed early. i guess I just have been tired. I didn't know if Vern was up yet, or still sleeping, but it was too early for work still. I looked out the window, a harsh rain bucketing down on the glass window, the strong winds blowing it to the sides and making it dance in the air. Another rainy day. I thought groggily.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning hit the ground in front of the house causing a huge crack of thunder and the structure shook for a minute. I jumped back and quickly exited my room. I decided to make myself breakfast since I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. A couple of fruits stood silently in the basket. I took a pear and started cutting it up and pt it in a blue bowl. Cantaloupe and a drizzle of honey followed. I sat down and ate the fruit staring out into the dark living room and out the window behind the television, watching the storm go on. An appearance of lightning flashed here and there, causing a boom to follow each, but not as strong as before.

It seemed pretty rough out there. I wonder if Vern and my dad were still going to go out logging today. It didn't seem safe especially near trees and swinging metal axes around. it was as if they were inviting an electrical shock to them personally. Or if a tree was struck, and fell, that could be a problem. It worried me that they both might still go out today. It scared the shit out of me.

These bruises
-Make for better conversation-
Loses
-The vow that separates-

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

225C19
88D443

A brief flash wakes me up. I'm confused for a moment, trying to figure out where I am. Then I hear the rain, the thunder, a leak somewhere in the house. I yawn silently, rising from my spot on the couch. I hear something in the kitchen, and I turn around, trying to make anything out in the darkness. Then, a flash of lightning illuminates the rooms, and I see a beautiful face for a split second. I smile, even though she can't see it. "Hey. What are you doing up?" I say quietly. I'm assuming it's early in the morning, since I remember Harmony going to bed early.

[Sher is back :)]

As i looked down at the bowl of fruit, I heard the slight creaking of the wood and looked up to see a figure, as the lightning quickly let out a burst of light, it brought Vern's appearance to life. "Hey what are you doing up?" he asks softly. I smile and take another bite of fruit before I speak. "Eating, the storm woke me up." I say pushing out the chair next to me for him. "Want some?" I say holding the bowl out for him. "Are you going to go out to work today? The weather seems a little dangerous." I ask as he takes a piece of fruit. This rain or lightning didn't seem to let up anytime soon, and in this time of the year, who knew if it ever would.

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

225C19
88D443

Harmony motions for me to sit down next to her as she eats. "Want some?" she asks, holding out her bowl of fruit. I smile and take a piece, popping it into my mouth. Cantaloupe. With a bit of honey, I think. "Are you going to go out to work today? The weather seems a little dangerous." I nod in agreement. The rain is pouring down hard, and the occasional lightning reminds us how dangerous it would be in an area filled with tall trees.

"Probably not. Maybe I can just relax and spend the day with you today," I say with a grin. Except the days that I don't work, we hardly get to spend much time together. Although that makes our actual time together a bit more meaningful.

[Sher is back :)]

He explains he won't be going out today, which comes at a wave of relief for me. I didn't want him risking injury, or possibly his life to get a few measly logs of wood. The rain gushed down the windows in rivers, it was good for the plants and trees, but horrible for market life today. i was planning on going out and getting a few supplies. "Ya, i was planning on going out today, but I think I'd rather stay dry in here, with you." I say before chewing up another piece if fruit.

Just as I was about to speak, my dad comes into the kitchen looking a little annoyed and frustrated. He grabbed his jacket and boots. "Vern? What are ya waiting for? We have some trees to cut and a little rain isn't gonna get in the way." he interjects with a serious face. Instantly as Vern stands up, I grab his shoulder and put myself infront of him. "Dad? It's not just a little rain, it's a whole damn storm! You could get killed out there!" I said obviously scared and concerned for both my loved ones. He shook his head, "Harmony, you don;t understand. The quote for the month has been low and if were gonna have enough money to pay them bills, we have to work in snow, rain, and even if the whole damn world is falling apart." he argued getting angry with me.

[ooc: I had to throw in a little bit of excitement]

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

225C19
88D443

I smile at Harmony when suddenly, her dad's booming voice fills the room. "Vern? What are ya waiting for? We have some trees to cut and a little rain isn't gonna get in the way." I raise my eyebrows and look at him. He looks completely serious. He can't be for real! I think to myself. Harmony apparently thinks the same thing, because she speaks out against him. I want to agree with her, but I'm afraid to say so. What if he kicks me out or something? What if he makes me go out in the middle of this storm? I look at Harmony nervously, but then her dad insists, once again, that we should go out.

"Look, sir, I don't mean to be rude, but this storm is really dangerous. If anything, we'll have to make up for it in the next day or two. But I honestly doubt any other workers are going to be out there today," I say calmly. If I were to yell.. well I don't want to think about what would happen in that case. He already seems a little pissed, since Harmony is speaking out against him. But her boyfriend? Oh shit. This should be good. I swallow the lump in my throat and prepare myself for what he might have to say.

[ooc: eh. sorry if that sucked. I typed it all in like five minutes... :p]

[Sher is back :)]

"Look, sir, I don't mean to be rude, but this storm is really dangerous. If anything, we'll have to make up for it in the next day or two. But I honestly doubt any other workers are going to be out there today," I bit my lip as he said this. I was fearing the worse. "I don't give a damn Vern, lets go." he said swinging his coat on his shoulders and opening the door to leave. I had one shot to change his mind, so i tried my innocent act. "Daddy! Come on! Please?!" I said in the most innocent voice I could. He completely ignored me and walked out the door. I knew he heard me, but he wasn't giving up on his argument, he almost never did. I looked at Vern, a little bit of surprise on his face. He couldn't go. "You can't go..."

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

225C19
88D443

I don't watch. I don't let myself see Harmony's face, or her dad's anger. That will only guilt me into going. Am I really that weak? I hear her dad leave, but I keep staring at my bare feet. A shiver runs through me. Cold and helpless. That's what I am. Nothing more than a grain of sand in a hurricane. My eyes are starting to sting, and I look up at Harmony. "You can't go," she whispers pleadingly. I look into her eyes and step forward, slowly, slowly. Baby steps. Smaller, even. But I'm moving toward her, and we both know it. After looking into each other's eyes for what seems like an eternity, we're face to face.

"I won't," I promise. I'll stay here and protect her and be the best man I can be. For her. That's what love is all about. She risked being screamed at by her father. For me. This is the least I can do. And I'm going to do it. If he retaliates against me, or even worse, against his daughter, then I swear I will take out my anger on him. No one tries to hurt our relationship, even in the tiniest way. But, that makes me wonder...

Who's the enemy here?

[Sher is back :)]

It seemed almost as if a bit of courage built up in front of him, his face was solemn, but straightened out to be more serious. ""I won't." he said plainly. At this point I raised one eye brow. How was he going to make that happen? My dad will kill him before he has the chance to get struck down by a fallen tree! I sighed and looked at the ground a little depressed. I had no choice, he had no choice, how was he going to get out of this? "Bu-" I was ct off by that fiery voice my dad got again when he was annoyed. "Let's GO." he called back into the house strongly. It made me jump a little in surprise. There was something going on in his life that was making him like this. Was business really that bad? Was mom okay?

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

225C19
88D443

I reach out for Harmony's hand, taking it gently in mine. Then I hear her father's voice boom into the house, making me flinch. "Let's GO!" he shouts. I look at Harmony nervously, not knowing how to handle the situation. What am I supposed to do? Either option could very well get me killed. Go out into the woods in this raging storm or make her father even angrier. If you think about it, me being alone with him in the woods isn't such a good idea at this point. Look at how mad he is - he'd try to kill me! I can't go with him. "I'm not going..." I whisper to Harmony.

[Sher is back :)]

"I'm not going..." he says. I nod and step out of the house and close the door behind me, facing my dad. There was something more bothering him, and I needed to know. "Dad what's wrong? I know something is up, what is it?" I ask in a calmer voice. He looks at me with sorrowful eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Harmony. it's, It's your mother. She's not well. She has a bad cough, and no one knows if she will get better." he says grimly. I take a shocked step back, it was not what I expected. My own mother, might never be healthy again. Or even, die. It was a sick thought. I felt a frown begin to form across my face. I couldn't say a word, I was speechless. All I could really manage to say was, "Come inside." Just as the wind and rain pick up again, I open the door and lead him in. I look at Vern and shake my head sadly as he walks back to the couch and sits down, his head in his hands.