Cleaning the Shop `` Alyssa

[Alyssa :)]

"You can stay if you want because my dad won't be coming back till tomorrow afternoon or until his hang over is gone which ever one is better for him."

Aidan smiled. It sounded like his dad. Speaking of, Aidan was probably going to get in trouble for staying away from work so long. He should get back. "I'll stay," he declared, completely ignoring his thoughts. He smiled at Felicity, giving her hand a playful squeeze.

"Everything happens for a reason though. Besides its not like I haven't been hit before. I'm a big girl and I can fend for myself."

Aidan laughed. "I know, I've experienced you fending for yourself in action," he joked, grinning. If the girl could punch him in the knee that hard, he knew she could take care of herself. But he still needed to explain to her why he was so upset. He looked down at their hands. "I know," he repeated, "but...you're a girl. It's like a man abusing his wife. It's not right." He looked up at her now before continuing, "With me and my dad...I probably deserve half the beatings anyway. You didn't deserve that. He shouldn't have hit you."

Aidan knew he was dwelling on this for too long, but he felt like he had needed to get that out. And now that he had, he was done talking about it. Now the teenager sat, looking deeply into Felicity's beautiful blue eyes. He let out a content sigh after she kissed him again. It was nice finally knowing he could do that without being slapped. He embraced Felicity, hugging her against him as she leaned on him.

"So..." he started. "Are we going to get cleaning? Or...are you going to?" He smirked, secretly happy he didn't have to help her.

(lol i knew that earlier post would come in handy [i'm talking about the big middle paragraph] XD although i feel a little weird copying myself...)

[Allison]

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[atrb=background,http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd455/Revenge_xx/FelicityPostingTableMiddle_01.png] "Life would be boring if there was no wild side" "I'll stay." Felicity felt a bit of happiness as Aidan decided on staying. This guy was different from the one she met on the beach, he was nicer and more passionate. The guy she met on the beach was rather cruel and wanted to show off about everything. After a week that was a huge change. Why had he changed so much? She had no idea how to answer that question. Why did she even care? Well she didn't know about her own changes that she had been going through. "I know, I've experienced you fending for yourself in action," She laughed gently as the images of Aidan holding his knee while laying in the sand filled her mind. The anger she had felt about all his name calling had gotten to her. Then he was stupid enough to follow her. Of course she would lash out in one way or another. She really had changed since then. Crazy. Then she remembered how she tried to help him up and how he just pulled her down. She had landed awkwardly on top of him with one hand in the sand trying to prevent their bodies from touching. Then he managed to slid out from under her and she collapsed to the ground. "I know, but...you're a girl. It's like a man abusing his wife. It's not right." She bit on her lip trying to stay quiet because she wanted to protest about every word he had just said. Just because she was a girl didn't mean she was bound to be abused! Besides those girls who let men abuse them had no courage to defend herself. But like a good listener she kept her mouth shut and sat out his mini lecture. "With me and my dad...I probably deserve half the beatings anyway. You didn't deserve that. He shouldn't have hit you." When Aidan said he probably deserved half his beatings, she felt bad. Nobody ever deserved to be struck by any figure. "You don't deserve them. Nobody deserves to be hit." She replied gently under her breath. She was about to say she deserved that slap to the face because she offended her father but that would down right go against what she just said. So she mentioned nothing about her father and his rough slap. He pulled her near and she felt safe again, well safer than after her father had come. Gently she placed her head on his chest. The elegant beat of his heart echoed in her thoughts. It was beautiful. Her heart sounded nothing of the sort with the odd skips that occasionally happened. She hated that but there was nothing she could do to have it changed. Gently she sighed and laid her arm onto of his. Smoothly she ran her fingers across his skin in a sort of circular motion while focusing her blue eyes at the barrel. "So...Are we going to get cleaning? Or...are you going to?" His voice drew her out of her thoughts and she looked up at him with a slight frown. She didn't even want to start cleaning. Couldn't she just continue sitting with him and have the safety of his arms around her? Sadly she knew the answer to her mental question was a no. "I guess I should start the tedious task of cleaning this lifeless shop." She replied while turning her gaze to the ground again. Word Count: 563

[Alyssa :)]

What Felicity didn't know was that she was the reason Aidan had changed so much. Lying in bed every night for the past week, thinking about Felicity, had made him change. He had wanted her to like him, and obviously she was different than the other girls. If he teased the other girls in town, they would laugh and blush and soon enough they'd like him, but this girl...she was different. Aidan had had to really think about how to get her to like him, and he ending up sticking with old-fashioned just being nice. And it actually wasn't that hard because he did have a nice side, though he usually saved it for the little District 4 kids he loved so much. But now, holding Felicity with her head resting on his chest, Aidan knew the change was worth it.

When he asked if she was going to start cleaning, Aidan laughed at the frown he got as an answer. "I guess I should start the tedious task of cleaning this lifeless shop," was what she said after. He grinned when she didn't move. Well, he would have to help her get up then. Aidan quickly slid one arm under her legs and the other behind her back, then he lifted her up before she could react. "Well, you better get started then!" he said, a big smile still plastered on his face. "Gosh you're light. Do you eat anything?" He chuckled at his own teasing and carried her over to the water spill, being careful that he didn't slip. "You can start here." But he didn't set her down. Instead, he looked into her eyes, their beauty distracting him.

(oh. my gosh. this is so much shorter than yours. i feel stupid.)

[Allison]

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[atrb=background,http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd455/Revenge_xx/FelicityPostingTableMiddle_01.png] "Life would be boring if there was no wild side" "Well, you better get started then!" Felicity glanced at him as he picked her up. How could she get started when he was holding her off the ground? She didn't like being in his arms anymore, it was fine when she was on the ground but now she was down right scared. Her muscles contracted as she wrapped an arm surely around Aidan's neck. Why had he picked her up? She would have moved eventually on her own, she wasn't a baby after all. "Gosh you're light. Do you eat anything?" His comment was odd and so was his question. She was all ready self conscious about herself. Matter of fact most girls were anyways but she never thought she was so light. Silently she sat in his arms while trying to figure out how to answer his question. Honestly, she rarely ate but some of that was because of money issues and the other was just her worry about the way she looked. For a short second she looked up at him before looking at the ceiling. "Of course I eat," She stated to his teasing way, "just not as often I should I suppose. Have you ever just considered you're strong?" It was true that he was strong because he had such an easy time picking her up. Was it from all the time he spent making tridents? She didn't know and now it really didn't matter because she just wanted to be put back down. "You can start here." Well now she had a place to start cleaning. That is only if he put her down because after all she couldn't clean from his sturdy arms. She looked at him and smiled softly. Why did he have to keep looking at her? After a second she broke away from his gaze to study the soapy water that still was sitting upon the wooden floors. Hopefully her playful ways hadn't warped the wooden panels to much. "You know I kind of need to be set down if you want me to start working. But then again the thought of not cleaning is even better. Only you're stuck here until I finish cleaning and I know you're going to have to go home at some point or even eat." She teased poking him in the chest with a dainty finger. Word Count: 388

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan laughed when he felt Felicity tense up in his arms. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, he tightened his grip on her to reassure her that he wouldn't drop her. Of course, if she had to grip him this tightly when she was only a few feet above the ground, she probably wasn't comfortable enough in the air to be reassured by just a tightened grip.

"Of course I eat, just not as often I should I suppose. Have you ever just considered you're strong?"

Aidan frowned when she hinted that she probably didn't eat enough. But before he could say anything about that, he heard the next thing she spoke. "I guess I am pretty strong," he boasted, somewhat jokingly. "Probably from all that forging and training I do." Then he realized he'd slipped. Aidan had just admitted that he trained for the Hunger Games, which also meant that he wasn't against the Games. His eyes darted to hers to see if she caught his blunder and if she would be disgusted with him for being okay with the Hunger Games. He hadn't specified what kind of training, after all... Who am I kidding? he thought to himself. She's smart. She'll notice. But he still really hoped she didn't.

Then Aidan felt her little finger poke him in the chest, and he listened to what she was saying. "You know I kind of need to be set down if you want me to start working..." was how she started, and Aidan was pulled out of the stupor her eyes caused him to have. "Oh. Right," he said, laughing and placing her slowly and carefully on the floor. Then he pushed himself up onto that creaky counter again, ignoring the complaints yet another time.

[Allison]

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[atrb=background,http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd455/Revenge_xx/FelicityPostingTableMiddle_01.png] "Life would be boring if there was no wild side" felt his grip tighten around her. Well now she felt a bit safer but still not entirely. Why did he have to pick her up? Maybe to show off his strength or to try and cheer her up. The strength made more sense to her than if he was trying to cheer her up. She sat perfectly still just to prevent any trouble for her carrier. At the moment she was really tempted to kick her feet around, better not though cause his arm and it might just be weird. "I guess I am pretty strong." There we go! She had managed to find that cocky, side of Aidan again, despite his joking tone. Oddly enough she missed that side of him. Though she didn't miss the teasing and name calling. The worse part of his name calling was Blondie, she hated when people assumed she would be okay with that. "Probably from all that forging and training I do." Training. She found herself frowning that he was training for the games. How could anyone support the blood bath of their fellow friends or family members? Silently she looked at the ground because she couldn't bear the thought of anyone training for their own slaughter. For the longest time as a little girl she wanted to train so she could be strong but that stopped when she realized what the people were truly training for. There was nothing nice for her to say and she was going to stay silent, pretending she never heard anything. "Oh. Right," Her feet touched the ground and she sighed softly in . She listened as the counter groaned under his weight again. That probably isn't good. She thought while walking around the counter to get a mop. Then she came back and started mopping up the soapy water, stopping to wring out the mop into the bucket. Well this was one way to clean the floor. She worked in silence still mad that he was training to be a tribute. Does that mean he would volunteer? She bit her lip as she wrung the mop out again. Word Count: 356

[Alyssa :)]

Truthfully, Aidan didn't know why he had picked Felicity up either. Maybe because he didn't want to stop touching her. Or maybe he did just want to show off his strength. Either way, he found it quite enjoyable. Maybe he'll do it more often, and next time he'll just throw her over his shoulder. Aidan smirked when he imagined how Felicity would react to that.

When Felicity didn't say anything when he mentioned training for the Games, Aidan sighed inwardly with relief. However, this relief was blinding him. If he wasn't so caught up in how happy he was that she didn't say anything, he would've noticed her facial expressions that said something totally different. But maybe it was good Aidan didn't see these hidden messages because if he had seen them, he would've been plagued with worry and nervousness. He didn't want this to disgust her, so maybe it was a good thing he didn't see that it did.

Actually, despite the fact that he wanted to hide it from Felicity, Aidan did like training. Combat was something he was good at, which therefore made it enjoyable. And it was another thing to do to make his dad proud, though he didn't like admitting that that was part of the reason why he did it. It also gave him a chance to let out his emotions and aggression, especially after a beating.

And really, he wasn't against the Games. He loved watching the Careers win every year, and he believed that none of the kids from poor districts could have good enough lives to want to go back to them anyway, so they might as well die instead of having to live through a poor life. He had actually been planning on volunteering for the Hunger Games, himself. That is, he had been planning to before he met Felicity...but now he wasn't so sure.

He didn't notice Felicity's facial expressions while he held her, but as he watched her mop up the floor, he did notice when she bit her lip and avoided looking at him. "What's wrong?" he asked curiously. He was seriously clueless. Classic, naïve Aidan.

[Allison]

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[atrb=background,http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd455/Revenge_xx/FelicityPostingTableMiddle_01.png] "Life would be boring if there was no wild side" Felicity worked in silence as Aidan sat on the counter. After awhile the stiffened air had just gotten awkward. Should she hum a simple melody? Despite how much she wanted to she fought back every musical aspect she knew and continued to chew on her lip. She stopped for a brief second and looked out the window with longing in her eyes. Oh how she would love to be running along the beach shoeless right now. She felt herself leaning against the mop's handle and quickly snapped back to reality. With soft, gentle and rather skilled hands she drained the water from the mop. Finally the ground was puddle free all she had to do was clean the little bit of moisture with an old rag. Slowly she lifted the bucket of water and carried it to the door. Carefully with her back she opened it and head to the curb where she poured the water out. Then she was back inside and she exchanged the mop for a rag in the closet. Silently she knelled on the ground and pushed the rag in clean strokes across the wood floor, occasionally stopping to wring water out. "What's wrong?" The sound of Aidan's voice startled her slightly after such a long time of silence. She stopped, put the rag on the bucket's edge and rested her hands silently on her knees. Was he really asking that question? Clearly he hadn't seen any expressions she made after he mention the fact he had been training. Finally she pushed herself back to her feet so she could dump the water into the street once more. She paused while at the street curb and looked at the sky. How could she even begin to answer his question? There was no way he could without offending him and all of his hard work. With a smooth hand she ran her thumb against the lower lid of her eye. Tearless but she felt like crying none the less. She turned around and walked back into the shop, casually stashing the cleaning supplies away. Then she leaned against the wall and looked at her feet. Luckily enough they remained bloodless for the moment. After the silence of his un-answered question, Felicity finally looked at the career with an emotionless expression. She was down right confused and mad on the surface but deeper down there was an unknown emotion she couldn't even begin to explain. Lifelessly she leaned against the wall and searched his face with subtle blue eyes. She repeated the question in her head just trying to come up with some sort of acceptable answer. Clearly there were none because she was still standing in silence now with crossed arms. She stifled a sigh and pushed herself off the wall, then very casually walked over to Aidan. Without saying anything or even giving any warning, she pressed buried her face into his shirt and working ever so hard to fight of tears. What had gotten into her? Why was she on the verge of crying after what had caused her to cry the first time was behind them? Slow deep breaths filled her lungs with air as she raced to stay calm. Right now she really just wanted to curl up in her hammock with her mother's neck-less and just cry herself to sleep. "This whole world is wrong. The training. The games. The fact that we're treated like animals just so the Capitol can get a good laugh." She mumbled almost mutely into his shirt. Word Count: 585

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan watched. He watched as Felicity worked at the floor with her mop, then watched as she left the shop with her bucket. He watched the bells sway back and forth when the door opened and closed. Then he watched the fourteen-year-old wipe up the floor with a rag she took from the closet. He watched the muscles and tendons in her hand tense as she wrung out the ragged piece of clothe. But most of all he watched her face. Her serious, emotionless face, and wondered what made him so attached to her. But he couldn't find the answer in her face.

He asked the question, short and to the point. While Felicity continue to clean and didn't answer his question, Aidan stared down at the counter and picked the connecting rubber again. What had he done to earn this silence? Yes, he knew people had different opinions of the Hunger Games, but it didn't seem like Felicity had reacted to it when he mentioned training. (Of course she had, but Aidan hadn't seen it.) He wished he knew why Felicity was being so quiet. He wished he didn't have so many questions with no answers.

When she left the shop again, even though he'd just asked her a question, Aidan stood up, starting to get concerned. Was she okay? Had he offended her in some way? More questions. He shut them out as he took a step to the door, but then she was inside again. He stood, watching again, as she put the cleaning supplies away and leaned against the wall. He gazed at her face, still wondering the answer to the question he said aloud, along with the others in his head. Just when he was about to say her name, she looked up and met his gaze. Then she was searching his face. What was she looking for? Before he could think about the answer (not that he would be able to find one), she was walking towards him, and then she had buried her face in his shirt.

Aidan held the girl to him, not knowing exactly why but wanting to comfort whatever pain she was having. He rested his cheek on the top of her head, wishing there was more he could do. But he couldn't do much when he didn't know the cause of her pain. Then she was speaking, and Aidan understood. She did feel something about the Hunger Games, and she felt very strongly about them too. She hated them. Telling Felicity that he trained for them was probably one of the worst things he could have told her. It was against her beliefs, against her values, against her thoughts, against everything. It was one huge thing to keep them apart. He gripped her tighter as if worried it would physically pull them away from each other.

"I'm so sorry," was all Aidan could say, though he pushed a lot of emotions into those three words. Concern, confusion, sorrow, a lot of them were there. But most of all, sincerity. He wanted more than anything right now for her to look over his training, to forget he had even mentioned the Games. Through his sincerity, he was begging her to forgive him.

[Allison]

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[atrb=background,http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd455/Revenge_xx/FelicityPostingTableMiddle_01.png] "Life would be boring if there was no wild side" Strong, well built arms wrapped around Felicity's small frame. Apparently he hadn't liked her walking away from him without answering his question and that was why they both ended up standing. To be honest she really didn't want him hold her and place his cheek on her head but she should have known better. After all today had been full of hugging, kissing and salty tears. Now there might even be more of them streaming down her face. Slowly the young blond unwrapped her crossed arms and let them fall to her side. She was to mad to hug him back. He was a career and that would never change until he was either eighteen or until he died in the games. That was something she feared because she wanted to stay friends with hum. If he was dead they clearly couldn't be friends. The only way they could was if she visited his grave but that would be like her talking to the wall of the shop. One tear streamed down her face and she moved her lifeless arm to clear it away before the salty liquid could absorb into Aidan's shirt. That was it. Her emotions had finally snapped and more tears would soon follow the leader. "I'm so sorry." He didn't even know what he was apologizing for or at least she didn't believe he had figured it out. Her dad was right, she was going to get hurt if she continued hanging out with guys but more importantly this guy. Tonight would be the last night she would hug, kiss or even acknowledge Aidan. She had to break away before she truly got attached to him as if he was a lost puppy. More tears managed to escaped through her tear duct but this time she didn't bother to wipe them away. She forced herself to move her arms and wrap them around as far possible around his body. Her thin fingers gripped his shirt and she twirled it in her fingers. What was she going to say now? She couldn't just say 'Everything is okay Aidan' or 'I forgive you for training for your own slaughter' because she didn't even know if she had the ability to forgive. I don't want you to die Aidan, she thought, you're the closest thing I have to an actual friend. Her thoughts were want she needed to say but the words clawed back down her throat as she went to speak. Finally she had enough of the tears plastering to herself and wiped her face on her shoulder. Her arms dropped back to her side as she lifelessly leaned against him. Break away. She needed to break away and finish cleaning that way they could separate faster. Maybe this would be just like a band-aid and she had to pull away fast or it would hurt even more. Without any warning or a word Felicity ducted out of his arms and briskly walked to some merchandise that her father knocked off the shelf. I'm sorry Aidan I just can't. She folded a large net and tied a rope around it to prevent from any more unfolding. Silently she continued the process before humming a slow, dark and solemn tune. If Aidan wasn't around she probably would sing a sailors song or something that could get her in trouble from the peacekeepers. She was one of the free minded people who never knew when to shut about and get away from trouble. After she finished with the nets she stopped and rubbed her arm. Did she want to turn around and look at the probably confused or even furious Aidan? She bit her lip again but to the point it started to bleed. The copper taste touched her taste buds as she sucked on the open wound. Guilt. She felt guilty about just leaving Aidan standing there. Word Count: 642

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan didn't understand why Felicity was being so cold to him. She wouldn't judge him that much just because he was a Career, would she? But the fact that she didn't hug him back proved he was wrong. And now Aidan was even more confused because she was crying. She's probably just worried about me, he thought to himself, realizing how much of a shock it would be to become friends--or possibly, more than friends--with someone and then realize they might die.

"I won't die if I go in the Games," he said weakly, trying to reassure her. But there was no way he could be sure of that himself. He very well could die in the arena, and that hadn't bother him before. It meant rejoining his mom. But now...it hurt to think about leaving Felicity, not only because he would miss her but also because he didn't want to cause her pain by departing from the earth.

Aidan had to take deep breaths when Felicity finally hugged him back as tightly as she could. There were too many emotions, and they were all too strong. He fought them back with deep breaths. But then she left him. She pulled herself out of his arms, and Aidan knew she was rejecting his apology. And it hurt.

Aidan watched, hurt and angry, as she didn't even say anything. She just casually picked up the merchandise her father had shoved off the shelves, ignoring him. The reminder of her father made him think of how he'd held her afterwards. She hadn't pulled away then.

Did this mean she was letting the Hunger Games separate them? This is what he'd been worried about when he first slipped up. Why'd he slip up in the first place? If he hadn't, she wouldn't be mad at him right now. They would still be talking and laughing, maybe even kissing some more. Aidan was disappointed and mad at himself. How could he have let this happen? Things had been going good, and he had enjoyed hanging out with her. Not anymore. Now, the tension and bitterness in the room was almost too much to bear.

"Fine," he said, voice sharp and eyes hard. "Don't accept my apology. I've just been standing here, confused, because two seconds ago we were on the same page, but now that I've mentioned the Games you seem to hate me. I apologize for whatever pain I've caused, and you just reject me. I didn't think you were the judging type." He stood facing her, his fists clenched again, chest rising and falling as he carefully inhaled and exhaled. Though this was for control over his words, not his hand. He would never strike her. Not like Clayton did.

[Allison]

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[atrb=background,http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd455/Revenge_xx/FelicityPostingTableMiddle_01.png] "Life would be boring if there was no wild side" "I won't die if I go in the Games," Aidan didn't know that whether he would say or not. Felicity wasn't that dumb and knew that there was still a chance he would die no matter how much he trained. She took in a deep breath and tried to push his idiotic statement away. His eyes burned into her as she worked and she didn't like that either. What was she suppose say? "Fine." The sharp voice scared her, it was the way her father used to talk when she was little. She let her hand dwell on the spear she was putting in a barrel. Then the wooden weapon fell in the barrel with a gentle thump. Still she faced the weapons she was picking up as Aidan continued. Don't accept my apology. I've just been standing here, confused, because two seconds ago we were on the same page, but now that I've mentioned the Games you seem to hate me. I apologize for whatever pain I've caused, and you just reject me. I didn't think you were the judging type." Oh yes because she was so judge mental! Just because she was working in silence, refused to say apology accepted and left from his arms. She placed her finger tip on one of the spear blades and looked at the ground. What had happened to the fun times they were just having? Softly she pulled her finger away from the sharp point and turned around to face Aidan. She pulled herself onto a closed barrel because she could feel her legs shaking in anger. "Really?! I'm judge mental!?" She asked rather abruptly in a confused tone. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry that I didn't accept your apology the second it came out of your mouth! I'm sorry that I actually have to think about what I say because if not I'll let something that doesn't need to be heard slip!" Her fingers scrapped against the barrel as if she was holding herself to her seat while her chest rose and flew quickly. She looked at the ground and took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry I'm not some girl who will just fawn around you and adore the fact you're a career." Slowly she pulled her hands away from the barrels siding and laid them in her lap. I'm sorry I ever thought we would be friends, she thought pitifully to herself. She put her hand on her stomach after a sudden wave of feeling like she would be sick got to her. None of this was wanted, her emotions had just gone crazy finally on this terrible day. All the color managed to drain itself from her face and carefully she set herself on the ground just to prevent a fall from the barrel. "I'm sorry..." She started again, softer but she ended up just trailing off and pulling her knees towards her chest. Shakily letting her elbows rest on them and tucking herself into a protective space. The games weren't even a game. Games didn't kill people. People kill people and she had just killed the possibility of a friendship. She was so stupid for not saying anything. His anger, confusion and what ever he was feeling was her fault. Word Count: 536

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan actually did believe he stood a chance in the Hunger Games. He trained very often (except for recently, it seemed), and was very good with a trident. Though if he did get in the Games, he hoped he could make an alliance with the other Careers quickly so they wouldn't kill him in the bloodbath at the Cornucopia. Then he would also be able to get a trident.

Shoving thoughts of the Games away--he would plan for that later--Aidan turned to the problem at hand. Felicity was finally talking, and she didn't sound happy. Although Aidan probably deserved it from snapping at her like he had. But he couldn't help it--he was angry, hurt, and frustrated. Not a good combination.

"Really?! I'm judge mental!?"

Umm...yeah! "Well just 'cause I'm a Career doesn't mean I'm a bad guy!" he said, sounding defensive. Though, to other District 4 residents, he was a bad guy. He flirted too much, sometimes being with two girls at the same time. He fought with other guys in the District. He disobeyed his father, though if they knew about the beatings they'd understand. The only good thing about him was he was nice to the children, and the kids loved him in return. But other than that...he wasn't a very good kid. Not that he saw himself that way. Sure, he knew he was intimidating, but the rest of it was just the way he was. It was his normal, so he didn't think it was bad.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry that I didn't accept your apology the second it came out of your mouth! I'm sorry that I actually have to think about what I say because if not I'll let something that doesn't need to be heard slip!"

"Well you could've said something..." he muttered. "Or at least looked at me. It seemed like you were completely ignoring me." Aidan, so defensive. They must've switched spots. On the beach where they met, Felicity was blaming him for everything. Now it was the other way around. But she was putting up a pretty good fight. He had just brushed it off and let her blame him as much as she liked. Not Felicity. She actually fought back.

"I'm sorry I'm not some girl who will just fawn around you and adore the fact you're a career."

This shut Aidan up. He hadn't been expecting that. They had just been talking about him, and but now it was more than that. Now it was about them, together, Aidan and Felicity. And he didn't know what to say about it. He liked their relationship the way it was. She didn't need to fawn over him.

"I wouldn't expect you to be," he finally said. "It's fine you're different than the other girls." But that was it. For some reason, he couldn't bring him to say anything else about it. Maybe because he did actually want her to fawn over him like the other girls. Maybe he did want her to adore that he was brave enough and hardworking enough to be a Career. But it was also nice that she didn't. It was a change from the rest of the girls, and it was kind of nice. But it would've been nice if she appreciated him a little more.

[Allison]

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[atrb=background,http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd455/Revenge_xx/FelicityPostingTableMiddle_01.png] "Life would be boring if there was no wild side" "Well just 'cause I'm a Career doesn't mean I'm a bad guy!" Felicity could feel as the blood rushed to her face. "Did the words 'Aidan is a bad guy because he's a career' ever come from me? No!" She snapped back just seconds after his comment, a hand placed on her chest but quickly fell to her lap. How could he automatically assume she thought he was a bad guy? She bit her lip trying to avoid saying something else. Slowly she drew in a breath as she could feel everything drain from her face. Silently she leaned back and stretched out her legs. She couldn't even stay curled up in her little ball at the moment. If only she was a little kid again because then she could get away with a temper-tantrum and laying sprawled out on the floor with her arms warped around her face. Sadly she had to act at least like a young adult and be a bit mature because she had brought this on herself. "Well you could've said something...Or at least looked at me. It seemed like you were completely ignoring me." She pushed her hair out of her face and looked up at him. Then very slowly she tilted her head up to look at the ceiling. What did she say now? Clearly she had been ignoring him because she didn't know how to accept his apology. Should she just admit what she was really thinking of? No because that would start even more drama. The pressure of a needed sigh pushed on her chest but she held it back. She sighed just about as much has she rolled her eyes at their last encounter. Finally she let her gaze drop from the ceiling to her foot and nervously she wrapped her fingers on her shirt. There was the silence again. There she was once again just ignoring his words. There she was holding back what she really wanted to say because she didn't want to get into trouble. There he was standing there surly expecting another answer. There he was after seeing everything and he was still there. None of this was right. They shouldn't be arguing and he probably shouldn't even still be in the shop but he was still here. She looked up at him once more still trying to figure out what to say. "I know...I was... I...it was wrong..." She mumbled finally agreeing with him. She was wrong to not say anything or even acknowledge the fact he had tried to make things better. Wrong, something she never liked to be. Nervously she looked back at the ground and tucked her hands in her pockets. "I wouldn't expect you to be, It's fine you're different than the other girls." Well that was good to know or at least she thought it was. She wouldn't be one to fawn over anyone because that just wasn't who she was. How did girls spend every waking hour thinking about some guy? Wait. That was exactly what she had done up until today. She was just like every girl in this district who laid an eye on some hot guy. "I'm sorry." She spoke again, slowly rising to her feet. Numbly she walked toward the counter and ducked behind it. She blew her nose and threw the tissue in the trash before straightening up. Now she was to lost in her own mind that she had no idea what to do. She pushed herself up onto the ground and sat in the silence with her blue gaze toward the ground. Silently she waited for another onslaught of words from Aidan. She was done battling this, there was no point because she was wrong. People who were wrong never won a battle and she knew this was one she needed to end completely. Word Count: 637

[Alyssa :)]

"Did the words 'Aidan is a bad guy because he's a career' ever come from me? No!"

"Yeah, well..." Aidan struggled to find words through his confusion and muddled mess of emotions. "You sure are acting like you meant to! The first time I mention being a Career you start acting all pissy!" He didn't notice that Felicity was growing more ashen by the second--he was too caught up in his scrambled up feelings.

And now she was being silent again. His jaw clenched along with his fists, and he turned away from her. He raised an arm as if to punch items off the shelf, but then he realized how much he would look like Clayton then. He understood how the dad felt now. But he held back his punch and quickly pulled his arm back down to his side, though he was still fuming. Then suddenly, he spun around and was kneeling on the floor in front of Felicity, gripping her upper-arms in his hands. "Dammit, talk to me!" he growled, losing the battle with his emotions and shaking her a little bit.

"I know...I was... I...it was wrong..."

Aidan released her and fell back off his knees and sat on his butt, defeated. That was all he got. After their whole conversation about her ignoring him, she barely gave him a sentence. But at least she was agreeing with him. At least she softened the blow a little bit.

When he said it was fine that she was different than the other girls and she came back with an apology, Aidan was puzzled. His eyes searched her face, shining with curiosity now instead of anger or defeat like earlier. Why did she keep apologizing for being who she was? Obviously he liked her this way, so why would she feel the need to say sorry for that? He would never understand her. But maybe that was a good thing.

Aidan's eyes stayed on Felicity as she walked to the counter, only straying from her to give her privacy when she blew her nose. Then they were back on her face as she sat on the counter. He realized he watched her a lot, probably because he just loved taking in her emotions and the beauty of her face.

Now that the anger was almost completely gone, his thoughts weren't clouded anymore. But that made him realize how mean he had been, and he really regretted it. "How about we just...forget about it for now," he suggested quietly. He hadn't come to fight with her. He had come to spend time with her. Although now he should probably be getting back...

(Hehheh Aidan gets a potty mouth when angry, apparently XD but don't we all?)