~chapter twenty-three - part one: renunion and seperation
Brian and Fatima examined each other cooly. "I have a request," Brian began, breaching the silence. "I need a favour of you."
She didn't want to extract another reaction like last time, so Fatima just nodded for him to continue.
"It's about one of the dancers."
"Who?" Fatima asked instantly. Though she loved the guys to death, she was extremely protective of her dancers.
"Faith." Brian waited to see if there would be a reaction, but none appeared. "I want you to fire her."
"Fire her?!" Fatima demanded. "Why?"
"Because," Brian stated, not wanting to disclose his reasons. He didn't want to give Faith a bad rep, or ruin her career, that would be cruel... he just wanted to fire her and watch her drop off the face of the earth. Was that too much to ask? "I can't dance with her around."
"I can't fire a dancer just because you don't like to dance around her," Fatima scoffed. "Sorry Bri, but no."
"Please!" He was getting desperate. Faith was on his hate list. In fact, Faith was his whole hate list. She was the only member. "I really don't want her to tour with us."
"And just who can I train to fill her spot in one day?"
He had no answer for her, just hung his head.
"Come on now, don't be ridiculous Brian. I can't fire her, not with one day left 'til we leave." Fatima gazed at him solemnly. "Plus, not being able to dance around her is one weak reason." Her eyes twinkled, amsued.
"I'm dead serious, Tima, I don't want her to come on tour." Brian pleaded with his eyes.
"Sorry, I can't," she declined.
"Perfect," he sighed. "Just beautiful."
- - -one day later- - -
"So will you come?" Brette's gaze was hopeful. 'Please say she'll come,' Brette begged silently. 'Please!'
Dana was skeptical. "I dunno..." she said, then glanced out at the idling car. "I really shouldn't..."
"Shouldn't?!" Brette scorned.
"Shouldn't," Dana confirmed unhappily. Then, deciding she needed justification for not going, she opened her mouth. "What about..." She caught herself before going any further. 'What about Brian?' was what she almost said.
"What about what?" Brette raised her eyebrows. "There is no reason why you shouldn't come."
"I just don't feel like it," Dana insisted.
"Come on," Brette cajoled. "It'll be fun." Until you realize you're at an airport, freak out, and run away, Brette thought pessimistically.
"I don't want to go!" She insisted stubbornly.
"God, Dana I have never seen you be so un-personable." She surveyed Dana with a critical eye. "You really need to get out in to the world of the living."
With solemn eyes, Dana reproached Brette. "How about this..." she began, pretending to think. "No thank you."
"Come on!! It'll be so great," Brette continued. "You'll have an awesome time, and everybody will be-"
"Will you shut up if I come?" Dana asked sharply.
"Yes," Brette said firmly.
"Fine." Dana frowned. Then, as a second thought, she added: "I can't believe you're making me do this."
"Making you?!" Brette protested.
"I said I don't want to go," Dana shot back irritably.
"But you want me to shut up," Brette smiled.
"Yeah, and the wanting you to shut up is stronger than not wanting to go to the mall." Dana rubbed her finger tips together, trying to restore feeling in her cold hands.
Brette wanted to jump for joy, but she restrained herself. "Well," she prompted. "Grab your shit."
With a heavy heart, Dana wandered towards her bedroom, listening to her feet drum along the floor. She changed her tee-shirt, and buttoned a long sleeve shirt overtop. Then, with one final glance in the mirror, she returned to the hall.
"Are you ready?" Brette inquired pleasently.
Dana grunted her readiness.
"Let's go!" With an enthusiastic laugh she grasped one of Dana's hands in hers. They locked the door, and Brette skipped towards the stairs.
Dana lagged behind. "Why are you so peppy?" She wondered.
"I happen to be in a good mood." Brette shrugged. "Is that a problem?"
If looks could kill...
"Oh, give it up!" Brette said, exasperated. She opened the front door and stepped outside. "You don't have to be such a bitch!" Brette instantly regretted her impulsive nature when Dana's face displayed shock and hurt.
"I don't have to be such a bitch?" Dana questioned. "Excuse me, I only feel like crap and don't want to go anywhere. How about that? Oh, and you're making me go shopping with you even though I told you I didn't want to go anywhere. How about that?"
"Dana, I-" Brette lowered her eyes, and thought for a second.
Dana waited impatiently, and tapped her toe. "What?" She demanded after Brette didn't go on. The silence ensued, and Dana rolled her eyes. "Too bad for you," she muttured. "I'll see you later, have fun at the mall," she said, and turned to go inside.
"Don't!" Brette called. If Dana wouldn't come willingly, then Brette would have to lie some more. She sniffled a little sniffle, and waited for Dana to turn around. By the time she did so, there were tears glistening in corners of Brette's eyes. "Dana, I really want you to come," Brette whimpered.
"Oh Lord." Dana sagged her shoulders.
"You've been scaring me," she continued in the same weepy voice. "You don't want to do anything, you're sullen and it's really weird. I just wanted-" sob "-one night with the old Dana."
Dana was unmoved.
"An' I really don't like the way you're being so mean... it's not like you." That one was pathetic, Brette was fully aware, but she was running out of reasons to be crying.
"So I'm being a little strange, so what?"
"Just... come?" Brette looked at Dana with wide, innocent eyes. "Please?"
"Don't look at me like that," Dana chided. "You know I'm a sucker for baby eyes..."
'Exactly,' Brette thought, and held her eyes in the same expression.
Dana huffed her disapproval. "Fine," she grumbled. "But don't expect me to be pleasent."
"I won't," promised Brette.
"Good." She shuffled her shoe on the pavement. "So, let's go and get this over with."
They approached Dana's car quickly, and Brette was stuck with another problem. With Dana driving there would be no way they'd get near the airport. "How about I drive," Brette said quickly.
She looked at Brette suspiciously. "Why?"
Thinking quickly, she formulated reasons in her head. "Becauseeee... you look tired, and you could rest while I drive." Brette used her baby eyes again.
It was true, Dana was tired. And she didn't feel like driving in the least, so she gave up the fight. "Here."
The keys rattled as they exchanged hands. Brette held the keys as if they were the line that would take her to Heaven. She unlocked the drivers side door, and reached across to let Dana in. Car doors slammed closed, and the keys were quickly inserted. Brette checked the clock to find that she was a bit ahead of schedule, which, she decided, was a good thing. It would take the extra fifteen minutes to convince Dana to go into the airport. She turned the keys, pressed the gas pedal lightly, and much to her shock and dismay, the engine sputtered and died. "Jesus H. Christ," Brette swore. "Don't you think you could go a little easier on me?" She pressed the gas all the way down and turned the keys again.
Dana noticed the displeased look in Brette's eyes. She knew her car, and knew that the only reason it hadn't started was it's sensitivity. Too much pressure on the gas, and it wouldn't start. Not enough, and it wouldn't start. Dana unbuckled her seatbelt.
Brette banged her hands against the steering wheel angrily. Dana was leaving, there was no way they would get to the airport on time, the jig was up. "Hey Dana," she called, utterly defeated.
"It's okay Brette," Dana nodded her head a bit. "Get out of the car."
"Dana, I gotta tell you something," Brette repeated. She decided honesty was the best policy.
Dana waved for Brette to exit the car. "Get out, let's go-"
"I wasn't really taking you to the mall," Brette continued. She was desperate for Dana to not leave, and from the way Dana was walking out of the car, Brette suspected that she was indeed leaving.
"I know what to do," Dana insisted. "Get out." She rounded the car, and was about to bend down to look in the window. "I can fix the-"
"I was taking you to the airport to see Brian."
"-car... just... get... out..."
Both girls froze in spot. Brette's jaw dropped, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the wheel. Dana, on the other hand, nearly passed out. During the time they had been outside clouds had moved in and covered the sky.
"What?!" They both shouted at each other.
"How could you!" Dana shouted.
"You weren't leaving?" Brette demanded.
"No!"
Brette slumped against the car. This was one hell of a predicament she'd gotten herself in.
- - -earlier, at Nick's- - -
Brian looked at the wall dully.
"Frick."
He shifted his dull gaze to Nick. "Yeah?"
Nick raised his eyebrows skeptically. "Holy, think you could smile anymore?"
Brian didn't say anything at first. "You're energetic enough for the two of us."
"No, not quite." Nick smiled broadly.
"Why are you so happy anyway?" Brian looked at his duffle bag. "It's not like we've never done this before."
His broad smile took on a mysterious air. "No reason..." Nick trailed off.
"What were you gonna say?"
Nick cocked his head to one side. "When?"
"You said 'Frick', then you looked at me, then you made a stupid joke." His sullen attitude was making him very unpleasent company. "What were you originally gonna say?"
"Oh, that. Forget that, it wasn't important." Nick shrugged it off.
"No, seriously." Brian was curious to know. "What were you gonna say?"
"Just-"
"Nick!" Rachel walked in, and kissed Nick on the chin. Brian watched with an increasing state of hopelessness. Nick, noticing Brian's expression, stepped away a bit, gesturing for Rachel to go easy on the PDA's.
She looked at him, then Brian, then back at him. "Oh," she whispered.
"Hi Brian..." Rachel said, almost as an apology.
He clucked his tongue. "Hi," Brian said shortly.
"So, are we going?" Rachel looked at Nick expectantly.
"Why, are you eager to watch me leave?" Nick joked.
"You know it," Rachel giggled.
Nick pulled Rachel into an affectionate hug. He leaned close and whispered in to her ear. She laughed at what he said, and whispered back. Nick gave a little chuckle, and nuzzled her neck.
Brain watched them for a moment, then picked up his duffle bag. With an angry glare he opened the door. "Let's go," he instructed without looking back.
"Did we do something?" Rachel murmured softly.
Nick kissed her hair. "No, it's just that he can't do something."
"Oh?" she asked innocently.
"Don't worry about it," Nick shook his head. "He's just having some problems, that's all."
- - -later- - -
"I can't believe you!" Dana exclaimed.
"I was only trying to help," Brette repeated weakly.
"It's none of your business!" Dana retorted sharply. She then sighed and glanced up at the dark sky. Only a half hour ago the sky had been promising a beautiful day, one with flowers and enchanting scents that seduced and mesmorized. Now it smelled like a paper mill and looked just as bad. "Brette, I know you only want to help, but if I wanted help then don't you think I would have asked?"
"I- I dunno, I guess so."
"You guess so," Dana imitated. "Exactly. I'm a big girl Brette, I can do it myself."
"Then why aren't you there doing it yourself?" Brette shot back.
"I'll do it my way, on my time."
"You don't have any time," Brette replied, shaking her head. "Dana, you don't have any time to deliberate over this, you need him."
"Why not?" Dana was suspicious. "You're wrong, you don't know what you're talking about. I have all the time in the world."
"He's leaving tonight." Dana closed her eyes, and Brette suspected that she was either getting ready to cry or hit someone. "Didn't you remember?"
"No," Dana admitted. She opened one eye half way and examined Brette's stony expression.
"Don't tell me I'm wrong." The words were like a death warrent. "Come on Dan. Take the chance, run with it." Brette opened the door, and stepped out. She dangled the keys like a toy. When Dana didn't move, Brette rolled her eyes in disgust. "Fine. it's your life. But don't you dare come whining to me about this loss, because this one is your fault." She dropped the keys on the rough pavement, and walked away. Outside she appeared angry, cold, and upset. Inside she was screaming for Dana to pick up the keys and speed like hell to the airport.
- - -at the same time- - -
Rachel guided her car out of Nick's driveway, and on to the street. Trees zoomed past, and in no time flat they were whisking down the highway. Nick eyed Brian. "Are you okay?" he asked at length. "I mean really okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Brian blinked a slow, steady blink. "I'm just a little burned out, that's all."
"Are you sure?" Nick watched for a reaction. "You haven't wanted to talk about anything since... since, well, Dana."
At the very mention of her name Brian was sure he would die. It had been his hope that no one would ask about her, and that no one had noticed the horrible events that had occured. Of course, he knew that it wasn't possible, but he hoped all the same. "I'll be just fine," Brian insisted.
"Care to talk about it?" It was now Rachel's voice concerned with him.
"Maybe later..." Brian slid one hand into the kangaroo pocket on the front of his hoodie. A Nike logo was emblazoned on the front of the dark blue sweatshirt, and it was like a great hideaway. He could shrink down inside the sweatshirt and block out the world. Nothing would matter if it wasn't inside the material of his shirt. That way the greatest burden that could be found was a lint ball tickling his nose.
"You know that I'm here when you wanna talk," Nick reminded.
"Yeah, I know," Brian nodded.
"Never think that no one wants to listen," Nick continued.
"I won't."
"There is always someone here for you, I-"
"Nick, it's okay," Brian said with a half laugh. "I'm not suicidal or anything, you don't have to be my therapist."
"I'm just worried, that's all." Nick smiled a bit. "You seem so lack-luster."
"Don't worry," Brian consoled. "I'll be okay, I just need my space and time."
"Well you take as much space and time as you need," Rachel called from the front seat. "You know we're always here for you, honey."
Brian smiled faintly. Rachel sounded more like a concerned parent than the girlfriend of a younger friend. Her attempt at kindness didn't go unnoticed however. Brian appreciated any love he got.
- - -five minutes later- - -
The keys dropping to the pavement replayed like a great move from the world of sports. It was that amazing second when the goal goes in, and in slow-mo you can almsot hear the audience leap to their feet. The stadium, which feels like the whole world to the players, bursts out in a thunderous roar of applause. The team which has scored is ecstatic. Depending on the importance of the game, they may cry from sheer joy. Everybody on the winning side is thrilled.
The losers have a different take on the moment. Someone is overburndened with guilt, somebody else is blaming the goalie. The coach is thinking about a drill that could effectively correct the situation. The losing fans are now examining the moment in their minds, thinking about what the star defence may have done differently, or how that rookie forward should have covered his man. Depending on the importance of the game, the losers may also cry... but for a totally different reason.
But they will get one more chance, and there will always be another game. No matter how bad the mistake is, or how awesome the goal was, there will always be one more try. The losers will win, and the winners will lose. That is why sports are so great.
Dana didn't know where she fit. She wasn't sure yet if she was a winner or a loser. She didn't get one more try, and there wasn't one more game. And real life isn't so great. She stared at the keys.
"Lord," she began. She wasn't actually talking, the words were just running through her head. "Lord, I don't know what to do. I have never felt so lost, and I know that I can correct it by finding Brian. But does he really want me back?"
The sky opened, and sunlight streaked through the clouds for a very brief fraction of time.
"I know I'm not perfect," she continued. "And I know I'm totally wrong for him... I seriously doubt he feels the same, and I don't think that it could ever work, but so help me, I think I love him." She stared at the keys, then at the sky. "What do I do?" Dana asked outloud.
Another flash of sunlight peeked through a space in the clouds.
She dropped towards the keys a bit, and hesitated. Her key ring caught and reflected some light, momentarily blinding Dana. She blinked, and little red dots darted around in front of her eyes. Dana reached one hand down to steady herself, and her hand landed on something sharp. The keys dug into her palm upon impact. Her eyes flashed open in surprise. The keys sat there innocently, and she smiled faintly. Dana grasped the keys in her hand, and they felt warm. "Thank you," she whispered softly, and sneaked a quick and affectionate gaze skyward. "Thank you so much."
- - -later on- - -
Rachel's sleek silver car weaved expertly through the Orlando traffic. She pulled the car into the parkade, paid for parking, and cut the engine. "Well?"
Nick craned his neck, searching for the employee exits that lined the wall. "We use 24-B," Nick reminded the group.
Brian looked around for a door marked 24-B, but couldn't find it. "Are you sure it's on this level?"
"Yeah." Nick nodded his head confidently. "There!" He pointed to the door with 24-B written across it in yellow letters.
They gathered their bags, and checked for fans. With none in sight, Nick and Brian pulled the brims of their hats low and got out of the car. Rachel followed. The door was heavy, but unlocked, just as airport security said it would be. It closed behind them with a bang, and they started the long walk down the stairs.
24-B would take them down a few flights of stairs to a walk-thru utility tunnel. The tunnel took them under the road and into the airport. Brian knew from experience that once they reached the other side of the road, there would be another three or four flights of stairs, a long hall, and finally a soundproof room which they would wait in for everyone to arrive. Once all five boys were there baggage would be loaded and they would begin another long walk down to the plane.
They were through the utility tunnel in no time, and Brian tested the second door. It was unlocked, and motion sensor lights flickered on, illuminating the staircase. He checked his watch, noting the time. It was 6:14, and there was an hour and sixteen minutes until scheduled flight departure. They would be boarding in a little over an hour. Brian pulled his bags behind him, mentally running through a checklist, making sure that he had packed everything. It was 'busy work'. Anything to keep his mind off of Dana.
- - -a little later- - -
"Move!" Dana shrieked at the car in front of her. Traffic inched past the accident scene. "Hurry!" Even though the speed limit was posted at sixty miles per hour, the man insisted on driving at forty-five. Dana checked the clock, then her watch. 6:37 flashed in red numbers. Quickly, she did the calculations in her head. It would take atleast another twenty minutes to get to the airport. She didn't know exactly when Brian's flight left, but it could be any time soon. "Hurryyyyyy," she whined. "Come on... go faster!"
Finally, after what seemed like hours but was only really minutes, traffic started to move again. She pressed down on the gas, and started to swerve around cars. Dana knew that her car really couldn't handle going fast for long periods of time, but she was willing to risk it. To pass the anxious time, she began formulating what she would say.
"I will totally understand if you don't want to listen and if you don't want me to stay..." She shook her head.
"Brian, I have to talk to you." Dana rolled the sentance around in her head. "Good start," she decided.
"Brian, I have to talk to you. I know things have never really gone smoothly between us, and I know that I'm usually the reason why. I think you deserve an explination... no, too guilty sounding."
"Brian, there is a lot you don't know about me, and I think it's time you knew."
"Brian, we haven't had the easiest time together. It's been a lot of ups and downs, and there is some stuff we need to discuss... no, stuff we need to talk about."
"Brian, when I first saw you..."
"Brian, I know that I'm not worthy..."
"Brian, I have to tell you some things..."
Dana sighed.
"Brian, I love you."
- - -twenty minutes later- - -
"Where is she?"
"She left a while ago..." Brette drummed her fingers on the counter. "She should be coming."
"Well she isn't here yet."
"She'll be there," Brette insisted. Though she sounded confident, she wasn't really. Dana was a fairly unpredicatable person.
"He's got to board the plane in fifteen minutes..."
"Dana'll be there, trust me!"
"I sure hope so."
"She'll be there." The oven timer shrieked it's warning, and Brette peeked over. "Listen, I have to go, my dinner is ready."
" 'Kay... thanks for doing this."
"No problem."
- - -ten minutes later- - -
Dana pulled her car, affectionately referred to as the 'Tin Can', into a parking space. She jammed the keys in her pocket, and ran towards the cross walk. Dodging lumps of people that were walking across the enclosed bridge, she jogged into the vast airport. Dana was now faced with another problem: she had absolutely no idea where the guys were. They could be anywhere. In an airport with over thirty gates, locating one person could be a bit of a difficulty.
Walking quickly, she kept her head on a swivel. Her mission was Brian, and nothing would stop her from finding him.
"Over here!"
An excited voice pierced her thoughts, and Dana turned to find it's source. Not ten feet away from her were two ten-ish looking girls with 'AJ' and 'Howie' written all over their faces and arms. Huge black tee-shirts read 'BSB'. Dana almost cried, knowing that where there were Backstreet Fans there would be Backstreet. She ran towards the girls, who, inspite of their short legs, were walking very quickly. "Excuse me?" Dana asked loudly. They turned around, and Dana resisted laughing at the ridiculous hearts and cupids drawn all over the girls faces.
"Uh huh?" Their faces were expectant, but that look vanished instantly. "Ohmigosh, are you Brian's girlfriend?"
With a faint smile, Dana shook her head. "Sorry, wrong person," she denied. "But speaking of which, do you know where the Backstreet Boys are... I have to pick up my sister." It was a weak lie, but the girls didn't notice or care.
"That way," the shorter of the two pointed. "If you see any of them, tell them that Erica and Julie love them."
The other girl giggled like she was doing something bad. "And tell AJ that Julie wants to have his baby..."
"I do not!" The girl, apparently Julie, shouted. "You like Howie's lips!"
Erica's face flushed. "So?!" She demanded.
"Um... I have to go now," Dana lied. The two girls were too caught up in their argument to notice. "Thanks," Dana called finally. She headed in the direction that Julie had instructed. The size of the crowd, and the noise level escalated the further Dana progressed. She turned around the final corner, and gasped. Rows of very excited girls were plastered against the plexi-glass wall that divided the gate and the rest of the airport. The entry to the gate was blocked by guards, with walkie-talkies slung through their belts like guns in holsters. Dana approached the guards quickly, pushing her way through the crowd with as much force a she could muster.
"You can't go past here, miss," the guard said quickly.
Dana had expected this, but kept going. "You have to let me by... the guys know me, it'll be okay."
"Of course they know you," he replied. "And I know Elvis."
"I'm serious!"
The guard held his sarcastic smile. "So am I."
She grunted. "Men," Dana spat. It was a fruitless attempt at insulting the guard and somehow getting back to Brian. And it yielded no result.
"So sorry," the guy offered rudely. "Bye!"
Dana pushed back through the group of girls, and walked up the wall, searching for the place with the thinnist crowd. Suddenly screams errupted from the far end of the glass wall. Dana strained to see over the crowd, and Kevin's dark hair became visible. The closer the guys got the her, the more panicked Dana became.
She elbowed people out of the way, pushing up to the front of the crowd. "Brian!" Dana screamed, pummelling her fists on the glass. "Brian!" He walked past, not even looking at the window. Dana continued banging her fists against the window, trying uselessly to attract his attention. Her shouts just blended in with the rest of the screaming, shouting crowd, as did her banging on the window. He walked, and went further and further away. "Brian!" Dana yelled again. She watched as he turned around and waved. It was then that she noticed it, sticking inconspicuously out of his jacket pocket. The little red light was flashing, and the antenna was up, indictating to Dana that Brian's cell phone was on.
- - -at the same time- - -
Brian tried to block out the bangs and screams. Nick was smiling and looking at the crowd, as were the rest of the guys, but Brian just contined to walk with his head down. On one side of him was the glass wall. On the other side was a thin partition that gave Rachel, Claudia, Kristen, and Amanda a place to walk, away from prying eyes. Dana was supposed to be walking with them, but that, of course, wasn't happening. He doubted that he would ever speak to her again, and if he did than the conversation would be less than trusting.
Brian stopped at the end of the hall, and turned to face the mass of screaming girls. He waved once again, and turned to disappear in to the second waiting room that had been provided. The shouts were still audible, but he was away from them at last. It was private... sort of. His cell phone jingled in his pocket, and he reached for it. "Hello?"
Dana froze at the sound of his voice.
"Hello?" Brian repeated.
She didn't know what to day. All her speeches, and all the thinking and practicing, and planning she had done failed her. "Brian?"
"Dana?" He was stunned, not expecting this at all.
She twirled the phone cord around her finger. "Ye- yeah. Can we talk?" It came out very pathetic sounding.
Brian had wanted nothing more than to hear those words for the past three days, and now, when he had only five minutes, she decides to say them. He sighed. "Where are you?"
"Here." Dana paused. "Well, at the airport."
He looked around. "Can you come 'ere?"
"I tried," she explained softly. "If you call off your little security guards... he wouldn't let me back." It was lame conversation, but Dana was in no mood for small talk. She just wanted to see him.
"Uh, yeah... just wait." Brian pressed hold, and shook his head. "Hey, John!"
John looked at him. "What?"
"Can you-" Brian stopped, and searched for his wallet. He pulled out a photo of Dana. "I want you to go out there and get this girl."
"Okay..." John examined the photo. "Yeah, but where is she?"
"Wait a second." He jabbed the hold button. "Dana, where are you?"
She looked around. "I'm at a payphone... by a little cinnamon place... it's called Cinna-Bon."
He turned to John. "She's at a payphone by Cinna-Bon."
"Okay." John raised one eyebrow, and took the picture. "I'll be right back."
"Dana, don't move." Brian clutched the phone. He wished he could just reach through the cord and touch her beautiful face, and hold her close to him. There was so much to say.
"I need to talk to you," Dana murmured into the phone.
"I know, we'll talk soon... just, don't go anywhere." Brian pressed his face as close to the little cell as possible. "John's coming to get you, and he's bringing you to me, and everything is gonna be okay."
She closed her eyes, and just listened to him breathe. It was so reassuring and loving. It was like listening to him breathe could save her life, and make it all better within a matter of seconds.
"Excuse me, miss?"
She turned around, still holding the phone. The guy held up a picture, and his eyes darted between the photo and Dana's face. "John?" Dana asked.
"Yeah."
"Brian, he's here." She smiled. "I'll be there in a couple minutes." John lead Dana away from the crowds, and took her 'the long way'. It felt like eternity passing, until finally Dana saw Brian's back. He was looking away from her, watching, waiting.
"Brian?" John called.
Brian turned around, and his eyes met Dana's. It was like he had never seen her face before, and lights were turning on. She was simply glowing, with a radiant look about her... or maybe it was just him, Brian couldn't decide. "Whatever," he mumbled. They approached each other warily. Dana suddenly lost all her nerve. She didn't know what to say, or how to begin, or even if she should be there.
"You made it!" Rachel clapped her hands, and jogged over to Dana. "Oh, Brette's a saint!"
"Pardon me?" Dana was still focused on Brian.
"She promised that you would make it on time, but I wasn't so sure," Rachel continued, locking Dana in a tight embrace. "You were so late already, and I just didn't think that you'd make it."
"Rachel?" Dana asked, even more confused. "What are you talking about?"
Rachel opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again with a smile of realization. "Never mind," she said. "You'll find out in due time." She backed away from the puzzled couple with the knowledge that she had had a hand in their reunion.
Dana and Brian looked at each other hesitantly. They still hadn't said anything to each other. Dana was a little unnerved. She had thought that the moment would somehow be different. Nothing major had happened, no hugs or kisses, or crying. Nothing.
"Hey," Brian said softly.
"Hi," Dana responded, equally quiet. His eyes seemed to question her. "You deserve an explination, and trust me, it will come, but-"
"Brian?" Kevin called from across the room. "It's time to board."
It was then Dana noticed that she and Brian were virtually alone in the room. "You're leaving?" Her heart sank.
Brian looked at Dana sadly, and nodded. "I am."
"Oh... okay." It wasn't the brightest thing to say.
"Yeah." Then, to soften his previous comment, he added: "Time wasn't on our side I guess."
"I guess." Dana felt like she was moving in a dream, like she was surrounded by Jell-O and it was inhibiting all motion and emotion.
Brian stepped forward jerkily, and enveloped her in a stiff hug.
"Bye." Dana wasn't thinking properly, but was more fixated on the prospect of never holding him again and how to make that second last forever.
"Bye," Brian repeated. He reminded himself not to look into her eyes, to avoid the rich green ocean only centimetres away from his face. But, as she pulled away from their awkward hug, he couldn't resist. He shifted his gaze, and their eyes locked. Brian was noticing all the detail in her iris'. The way there was some brown mixed in, but not enough to overpower the emerald green and make her eyes hazel. It was like a milky green sea that absorbed information at light speed, and was her window to the world.
"Your flight."
He looked at her face. "Parr'n me?" He wasn't thinking, and dropped the definition in his words.
"Your flight," Dana reminded. "It's leaving."
Brian noticed the plane had started it's engine, and appeared to be waiting for only him. "Yeaaright," he slurred.
"Well, good bye." Dana wrung her hands behind her back. "I guess... good bye?"
Brian nodded slowly and picked up his bag. "Good bye."
~chapter twenty-three - part two~
~chapter index~
