Hanging with Jerry and Dean

Nikki smiled at the compliment and dipped her head in acceptance. She opened her mouth to say thank-you, but then she cocked her head to the side, slightly confused as to why he was avoiding answering her question so adamently. She'd said it as a joke, and now his reaction and avoidance was making her wonder if there was something in the background. She'd replied not really because she wasn't sure what she felt for him. It wasn't as deep as love, but it was definately deeper than friendship.

She dropped into a sitting position in front of him, slightly on her knees. "Donovan. I'm the queen of avoidal. It won't work on me." she said softly, a slightly amused, yet confused smile on her face.

Nikki...I-...well...Nikki I...I haven't loved anyone in a long time...and I don't love you...but I would certainly like to pursue something with yo-
Hey, Donovan. You haven't forgotten me that quickly, have you?

And then his attention shifted to the woman. Nikki schooled her features into a seamless mask before her emotions showed at all. Inside, she was afriad, angry, and not sure if she wanted to cry or scream. But she looked completely calm and friendly. Her mind raced to place the situation and how to deal with it.

Whose that?

Whooooever she was, Donovan's closeness to Nikki had not been welcome. "I'm Nikki, just a friend. Nice to meet you..?" she said the words with gusto, though a glance was given to Donovan, with which if he chose to look, her eyes would have told him her doubt of the friend statement, and then left an open ended sentence for the other to finish, the epitome of friendliness and gentilty, though she didn't appreciate the other's abrupt appearance, nor what she chose to interupt. After this, she doubted he'd ever approach the subject again.

Nikki watched detachedly, but when Lilliana kissed him, her heart went cold. She felt like bursting into tears, but she was the queen of masks. She'd never told anybody, but she was actually utilizing her powers when she had a perfectly serene face, right down to her eyes. She forced her breathing to remain the same, and glanced at her watch. "Oops! I just remembered I promised Jaimei that I was going to help her with her science!" she jumped up, smile on her face.

"I'll let you guys have some time to catch up," she said cheerfully. She looked from Donovan to Lilliana, eyes dancing cheerfully, "Nice to meet you, Lilliana, Later Donovan." then she flipped a wave in their direction, walking off with a bounce to her step.

Everything said that she was fine. But if Donovan were to watch her walk for just a moment, he'd see that she was going through everything in her path, rocks and other things, with impunity, a sure sign that her emotions had gotten the better of her.

She walked to the entrance of the lounge, made sure the door closed behind her, flopped down on the couch of the now vacated room, and let a sob escape her lips. She flicked the TV on, shoulder shaking with dry sobs, no tears coming to her still happy eyes. "Stupid, Nikki. Completely stupid. What were you thinking? You're not lovable. You're not even likable." she whispered to herself, sinking deeper into the couch, the huge, tacky plush hiding her small frame from view.

She forced her shoulders to stop shaking when she heard his voice. Then she turned to look at him, face dry. Crying, yes, tears, no. Then she swallowed, the tears that hadn't come before filling her eyes at the sight of Donovan. All the sadness and heartbreak in her life showed through her normally well covered eyes as she searched his, and then she looked away.

She drew her knees to her chest, trying desperately to get herself under control. She didn't look like the self-assured 17-year-old she normally was, instead, she looked like an abused child. She felt like somebody had reached in, pulled out her heart, and left a gaping hole for the wind to blow through. She hadn't know he had that much control over her heart.

She looked up at him, eyes shimmering with unshed tears, she took a shaking breath. "She's the one you were in love with, isn't she?" she questioned, nothing in her voice. Just a broken spirit.

His hand touched her face, and her face burned, in a good way. Then his hand dropped away, and she felt the loss immediately. The tears finally overflowed, and she curled against him, crying silently. "Donovan, whatever happens, whether we're friends or something more." she gripped his hand, tipping her face to look up at him, childlike trust in her eyes, "don't leave me alone."

Tears trickled down her face, the only signs of what was going on within. She couldn't tell him that she'd changed her mind. She couldn't tell him that when Lilliana had kissed him, she'd felt her heart get torn out of her body and ripped to shreds. Her long lashes started to stick together from the unhindered tears, borne of long years of unmeasurable pain. "You have my trust." she whispered, almost unable to speak the words that she was so careful to guard.