groovygamers.com

Wednesday night Colin and Sarah planned a dinner & movie at her house.

Wednesday morning and like all important things, Sarah has forgotten to mention inviting Colin for dinner to her parents.   

"Mom? Can we have lasagna tonight?  Because... I kind of told someone that we were having lasagna tonight... and I kind of forgot to tell you and Dad that I invited them over for lasagna tonight."

"Colin?"  mom asks casually.

Sarah shakes her head, "No, it's this boy Col... wha??"  She looks at her mom amazed.  "How did you know?" 

"Honey, I'm a parent, we're supposed to know these things."

Her eyes narrow as she peers at her mom with suspicion for a moment.  Is she reading my mind or something?

"So.... is it okay if he comes over for Dinner?  We were just going to hang out and watch a movie afterwards.  I still haven't decided what yet.  I figure I have most of the day to come up with something."

"Sure honey.  We'll be happy to meet your boyfriend."  She throws an emphasis on the last word and gives her voice a whine.

"Mother!"  Sarah feels mortified.  A boyfriend... It's too weird.  God what was I thinking?
She grabs her lunch sack and heads out the door.  Two steps out she pops her head back in.  "Thanks Mom.  See you later!"

OOC: Okay, you're all set when you guys want to start.

Sarah texts Colin in the afternoon between classes. 
Dinner at 6  Want to meet after school? 

broke up? wtf details later!

Sarah stares at her phone. 

At 6 o'clock minus a few seconds, Colin rings the Rollins' door bell.

He never had this much trouble deciding what to wear. He spent nearly ten minutes looking at his wardrobe, then decided that comfortable was the way to go, since he was already nervous enough. He chose some of his favorite pieces of clothing. A sky blue T-shirt, high necked and long sleeved; light brown pants, maybe not too elegant, but warm and comfy; and a nice brown hoodless hoodie, with a golden eagle seemed over his heart. He found that appropriate, he was both nervous and soaring. He wrested his hair into submission and in the end it was behaving better than Sarah has ever seen it, black and flowing. In the end, he looks quite sharp. Only the faint trace of a scar remains on his neck, and he's decided to explain Sarah everything anyway.

His mother kept looking at him as if he was quite funny, as restless as he was on the way out, but he resolved to ignore it. She just said "Don't be late." and he kissed her goodbye.

So he waits at the door, silently praying he'll make a good impression and won't screw up anything, since he's like this evening to be the first of many others.

Colin is greeted by what he assumes to be Sarah's mother answering the door.  "You must be Colin."  she says with a smile, "Come in.  Sarah is upstairs, she should be down any minute."

Sarah heads home after school and helps clean up around the house.  She stays clear of the kitchen which is Mom's or rather Mart's domain.  A truly dire secret she has sworn to keep for her brother.  Despite his obvious joy in cooking he insists on keeping it a secret from anyone outside the immediate family.  Just as well.  Part of the bribe to keep Sarah quiet was a steady supply of his cookies.  After everything is touched up for company and the junk hid behind valiantly straining closet doors she heads upstairs to change.  Along the way she sneaks a bread stick out of the kitchen and munches it on the way up the stairs.

Sarah puts on a v neck grey tshirt and a long skirt the color of burnt pumpkin.  She grabs some flats and pops them on.  Sitting on the bed she tugs up the skirt and glares at her legs, daring them to show a single hair.  The pre-dawn attack was apparently a complete success as she could not spot a single enemy left standing.  Satisfied she dropped her skirt and munches some more.

When the doorbell rings she races down the stairs for the door but not faster than Mart races out of the kitchen.  By the time Sarah is at the bottom she can hear the sounds of some racing game roaring from the den.  She hears her mom answering the door anyway and realizes she's still holding a bread stick.  She tosses it back up the stairs and brushes herself off. 

She walks into the living room to find a well dressed and polished Colin.  After a moments silent amazement she smiles, "Hi.  Come on in.  You're right on time.  Oh uh, Colin this is my mom Diane." 
 
She blushes to the roots when they both casually turn their attention to her standing in the entryway. 

Her mom chimes in first, "I'm glad Sarah finally brought you over to meet us."  She offers her hand and gives Colin a warm handshake.

Sarah's dad walks in from the kitchen finishing chewing a bite of bread stick before shaking hands, "It's nice to meet you Colin.  Dinner will be on the table in just a few minutes.  Why don't you and Sarah go try and drag Martin away from his video game for dinner?"

Sarah nods and after introductions, leads Colin through the Living room and into the den.  Mart seems completely submurged in his ATV game as he sends the four wheeler flying over a jump. 

She smiles at Colin.  "Hey Mart?  Company is here." 
Without taking his eyes off the screen Mart replies, "Be right there."
Sarah sighs, "Mart?  Maa-aart.  Earth to Mart?"  She tries a different tactic, "Forty percent off at the BoardZone?"
Mart looks up and turns around hitting the pause button with his thumb in the same movement.  "Forty percent off sweet!  I need a new..."  Looking up and spotting Colin he realizes he's been had.  "Don't play me sis or I'll go dig out the baby pictures for your guest." 
Sarah was not to be daunted by her little brother, "Great, we can show him that cute little picture of you with the cowboy hat."

Mart opts for the better part of valour, dropping the threat and hops up extending his hand, "Hi, I'm Mart."

Colin looks at her in his usual, quite flattering way and smiles.

"Good evening." he says to both, but for a moment he has eyes only for Sarah.


Colin shakes her hand with a smile. "I'm very glad to meet you too, Mrs. Rollins. I wasn't sure if I should bring something so I brought a little dessert, I hope you don't mind."

He offers her a sealed bowl with a little ice cream cake, with a whipped cream topping.


"Nice to meet you Mart, I've heard a lot about you."

Diane smiles and takes the salad bowl, "Thank you Colin that was very thoughtful of you!  I'll go put it in the refrigerator."


Mart grins, "I hope it was the good stories.  Like the bungee luge."

---
Dinner is soon on the table and Sarah sits across from Colin and Mart sits beside him.  Mom and Dad sit at the head of the table and the conversation starts as the salad gets passed around. 

"So how was school today kids?" asks Robert. "Anything interesting happen?"  The question has become a loaded one this year but despite events it has still been almost universally answered in the same way as always.

Sarah and Mart both answer, "Good.  The usual."

Diane turns to Colin, "Maybe you can enlighten us a bit more than our daughter on recent events Colin?  How was your day?"

Colin tries to remember.

"No, I'm afraid that one was left out. You'll have to tell me."


"Well, it was fine, I guess." he says after rubbing the napkin on his lips. "Nothing really remarkable about classes, and fortunately, no strange or dangerous events. What keeps it from being a nice day is that two friends of ours in the newspaper staff, well they had a big fight yesterday and kind of broke up. Upon what I think is a misunderstanding, something that could be worked out, but they're both... quite emotional. I tried to talk to them both, since they were in a very poor mood. I hope they find a way to talk to each other soon. Other than that, I've tried to work a bit on a little photo project of mine, but it didn't turn out as I wanted. It's made of mostly dark scenes, and I can't quite get the lights as I want them. But I'm probably boring you. The school is quite excited about Halloween, and today it was pretty much all about parties and costumes."

Robert looks at Sarah and then Mart, "See?  Is that such a difficult thing to manage?  School highlights And a personal point of interest.  Marty take notes."

Mart rolls his eyes.  "Yes father." 

Sarah grins at Colin, "See the trouble you get me into?"

Diane smiles and continues, "Are you the one who gave my daughter the camera bug?  She's been wandering around taking pictures of everything for over a week now.  She wont let us see any of them though I've noticed that we've had to replace the printer's ink supply twice.  Have you gotten the chance to see any of these masterpieces yet?" 

Sarah shrugs, "They just aren't any good yet.  I'm still figuring it out and when I get some decent shots you can take a look.  Maybe this weekend I can get some shots of Mart at the skate park."

Diane smiles, "That would be nice.  I think a few still shots might be less frightening than the videos his friends make of his stunts." 

Robert adds, "Maybe we can frame one and send it to that nice woman from the insurance company who keeps threatening to raise our rates."

Mart says to Colin, "You should have brought your camera today.  This is the first and last time you're ever going to see Sarah in a skirt."

"I wear skirts!" says Sarah hedging, "Occasionally."

"Whatever.  You're more likely to find a million dollars on the bus than find Sarah in a skirt," continues Mart.

"Martin," is all Robert has to say to let Mart know he's hit the limit on at least this topic.

"Besides, you're wrong Martin.  Sarah came home with a beautiful dress a while ago for the homecoming dance.  Not to mention she borrowed one of mine for that party at the beginning of the year.  When Sarah came to me asking for a dress I was speechless," sayd Diane.

"Mom.."  pleas Sarah.

"Sorry honey, I'm just happy to see you getting off the computer and spending time with people," says Diane

"I've always spent time with people." Sarah argues.

Diane finishes off a bite of salad and counters, "Shooting them in a game over a computer line is not spending time."  

Robert says quietly, "Honey?  Can you pass the dressing?"

Mart hops up and says, "I'll get the lasagna."

Diane looks away from Sarah and the two parents exchange a look.  She passes Robert the dressing and he adds a dash to the side of his plate. 

Sarah just feels stupid.  Why am I defending myself?   

Diane looks apologetic and makes small talk about her school and the local events.  Robert tells Colin that he works in special accounts management for Lowell Accounting in the city.

Diane asks Colin, "What does your family do Colin?  Are they artistic like you or are they stuck with everyday jobs like the rest of us?"

"Sorry..." he says grinning.


"I'm afraid I'm guilty of that. And about her photos, she'll have to feel ready, madam. It kinda works like this: it takes time to finally do some works that satisfy you enough to make you want to show them, about a year and a half to enjoy them, and a lifetime after that to be totally embarrassed by them. As one gets better the jobs that looked nice reveal all the errors we didn't thought about."

"The ones my mother likes enough not to allow me to hide end up forever on our walls."


"That's was the black dress, wasn't it?" he lowers his eyes bashfully "She was lovely with that dress."


"Sarah is good with people, Mrs Rollins." Colin feels the need to defend her. "She's always able to make the others comfortable."


"My mother teaches American History at the University of Illinois. My father... he was Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, he worked as a rescuer and a fireman on naval bases and on battleships. He got a medal for heroism in times of peace."

"Sarah is good with people, Mrs Rollins." Colin feels the need to defend her. "She's always able to make the others comfortable."[/quote]

Sarah grins at Colin, justified.  Leaped to my rescue!


"My mother teaches American History at the University of Illinois. My father... he was Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, he worked as a rescuer and a fireman on naval bases and on battleships. He got a medal for heroism in times of peace."
[/quote]

Diane picks up on what is unsaid, "Oh I'm so sorry dear." 

The rest of the meal avoids any more personal questions in Colin's direction and stays on lighter topics.  Mart tells the story of how he broke his arm in two places jumping off the roof on his skateboard. 

Soon enough the meal is over and the dishes are returned to the kitchen. 

Colin replies with the story of when he was crossbiking and landed right into a wasps nest, and how he had to jump into river, bike and all, to shake them off his tail.


Colin offers to help clearing the table and washing or drying dishes, whatever is needed, which offers Mart the occasion to disappear and a moment for Sarah and Colin to remain alone with her mother.

As he passes besides Sarah he whispers in her ear "You're lovely with this skirt too. But nothing can beat the poetry of those lime green pajamas." he grins playfully at her, leaning back.

Sarah covers her mouth in shock, "Oh god!  You and your perfect memory!  I looked horrible that day!"  She shakes her head before smiling.  "Better not let my dad know you saw me in my pajamas."  She winks and finishes up cleanup. 

Mart is conspicuously absent from cleanup duty.  He has sailed outside for some night boarding on the relatively quiet street. 

After all is put away, Diane and Robert retire to the living room with some books and let Colin and Sarah put on a movie in the Den. 

Sarah pops in the movie and gathers up some snacks and drinks while it loads.  "What do you like for movie snacks?"

"You couldn't look horrible if you tried." Colin says, glancing around and caressing quickly her cheek.


"I'm usually not much for movie snacks. Pop corn?"

He waits for the movie credits to roll to see what she chose for their evening. He also explains her what happened between Donnie and Sylvia.

"I have something else to tell you. But i don't know how."

Sarah sticks her tongue out.  "The kernels always get in my teeth.  Very attractive.  Well if you aren't into snacks you can help yourself to a drink from the fridge or there is a water filter on the faucet and Ice from the freezer."  Sarah ditches the snack herself and mixes some juice and water together for a drink for herself. 


Sarah's face falls.  She says, "That is terrible!  I mean, I never understood what sort of freakish full moon, eclipse, radioactive rays or whatever brought them together in the first place but I was glad they were happy... for a little while.  I like Sylvia but she's a ... very strongly opinionated.  I had a lot of fun going for a run with her.  I think she's great when she's focused on something but when she slows down and starts thinking about herself and her relationships... well that same strongly opinionated streak can do some major structural damage.  Oh that reminds me!  I should call her and set up another run for this weekend!  Sorry, just my wandering mind.  You've done what you can.  You aren't responsible for their personal lives and all any of us can do is be there for them if they want us."

The DVD main menu has come up by the time they return to the den.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h273/raventongue/geisha.png)
Memoirs of a Geisha

Sarah grins, "I thought I might get some good ideas for my costume from this and it has the added bonus of being a movie that will chase Mart out of the room if he bugs us."

Sarah smiles, "You are already off to a good start.  But if you want to tell me I'll hold off hitting play for a few minutes or I'll get distracted by the evil tv.  I know my processing limits."  In a more serious tone she adds, "I'm always ready to listen.  I'm sorry that I am a little too glib.  I know that sometimes you've got some terrible stuff to talk about and me trying to be funny doesn't help.  Is this one of those?  Another vision?  Or something else?"

"Yeah, well, if they could only find a way to be honest and not overwhelm each other, They could still salvage something. They were so cute together."


"Wow, thank you! I've been wanting to see this for a while. It won an oscar for cinematography and I've heard it's visually stunning."


"Something else. Something I've done. If this changes things between us... Well, I'll understand. I... I'm a killer."

"It all started when Kel called me on Sunday..." Colin tells her of Samantha, how they found her, how they helped her, and what they learned from her.
"I thought he could be possessed, like Rob was. I thought I could set him free."
He goes on telling her how he found Leland's address, and how he asked Kel and Donnie for help.
"I... couldn't tell you then. After seeing Samantha's memories... I couldn't even stand to think of you or the other girls and them at the same time. It was... too dirty. It should have had nothing to do with you. And maybe I was afraid of what I would have done. If I had to punish them, to give them back the pain they gave those poor girls... I didn't want that you could see me then."
He explains that the tattoo started to burn after he helped Samantha, and appeared the next day. He used it on Leland, and the demon appeared and attacked him.
"He shot a lightning bolt at me. It blinded me, and nearly knocked me out. So I start to pray to the spirits to help me."
He describes her the scene Donnie described to him.
"So the demon was gone. But Leland... The demon had already consumed too much of him. There was next to nothing of him left. Only ashes. I wanted to help him, because I thought it was the demon, and not him, who did those things to those girls, but.... there was nothing to do for him. I could only kill him."

"I've told the police, but I'm not sure they believe me. And now I'm afraid to go after the others, because it could look like I deliberately looked for Leland to kill him."

"Yesterday morning I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror. And I lied to you. I told you everything was fine, and you knew it wasn't. But I want to be honest with you. You deserve no lie from me. And if this disturbs you... well I'll understand, and I'll just walk out."

Sarah looks closely at Colin, "Did you just read that off the back of the box?"


When Colin's finished Sarah does look angry.  Her jaw sets and she's trying to figure out the right words to say.  She sighs, "You were right to not invite the girls along.  But for the wrong reason.  There's no way we'd have let the thing get off so easy.  And Sylvia at least would have tried to do something we'd have all regretted.  Though with Donnie's temper lately I wouldn't have invited him along either."

"You didn't kill anyone, and if you did, it was a demon so that's like bonus points.  The demon was wearing that kid like a disguise.  A demon in a skin suit is still a demon.  There was no more a person there than if Sylvia had created an illusion of the boy." 

She leans over and puts her head on his shoulder and stares at the image of the geisha.  "I can't imagine what you're feeling.  Thinking you've killed someone.  But I think you know that deep down you really just released him.  If there was any shred of Leland left he was a tortured trapped soul and you let him move on to... whatever comes next." 

Warm salt tears start dripping down Sarah's face, unbidden.  She blinks a few times and two lines of water leave tracks down her cheeks.  With her faced turned away from Colin she knows he can't see them yet. 

"I'm sorry.. I just realized I should uh... I'll be right back."  She hops up and races off for the bathroom hurrying past the living room before her parents can see her. 

Colin is left in a dim room with a geisha movie and drops of wetness on his shirt. 

In the bathroom Sarah jams a small towel against her mouth as she sobs.  "Lies!  Lies!  Lies!"

A couple of minutes manages to calm her down and the towel becomes a cold compress for her eyes.  Afterwards a few drops of Visine from the cabinet under her eyes hide the last of the evidence. 

A short while later she comes back through giving mom and dad an embarrassed grin and returns to the den. 

"Sorry to leave you hanging."

Colin laughs.

"Sorry, I must have been quoting the ads. Freak memory and all. But I try to keep track of the movies that gets awards in cinematography because they're usually good inspiration. Powerful imagery is powerful imagery even if it's moving. I've tried with videos, but they're not really my thing. I like catching right the right instant, and the picture telling you a story with no need for words. I like trying to distill an emotion, as if I was an alchemist. So I'm glad you chose this movie. I hope it's a good story too."


He slowly runs his fingers on his t-shirt where  Sarah's tears fell.

God and Great Spirit. How could I be so stupid? What am I doing to her?


"Sarah..."

He's sitting on the edge of his seat, as if he wasn't comfortable with what he's about to say.

"I can't do this to you. You shouldn't have to pretend things are fine and run to another room to cry. I... I have been selfish. I can't just come here and unload all my problems on you. You bring so much light into my life and I... I only fill yours with misery."

He raises his eyes to look at her through several layers of pain and guilt, and she's as beautiful and lovely as ever.

"You deserve better."

Sarah laughs and shakes her head, "I wasn't crying over what you said.  It's a little self absorbed to think you are the cause of all my emotional trauma."  She grins and kisses Colin's cheek.  Her arms wrap around his neck and she looks straight into his eyes to tell some truth.  "You don't bring misery to my life.  You've never once brought me sadness.  Mystery, yes.  A little worry and more than a bit of amazement has come along but no sadness."

Colin look into her eyes for a long time until he's sure she's telling him the truth. Then he hugs her back, as if he was holding something incredibly fragile and precious.

"And that is enough for you?"


After a moment, he asks her "What made you cry, then?"

"Definitely enough," says Sarah. 


She looks down for a minute, finally she shrugs and says, "That's my secret for now."

She looks back up.  "Do you still feel like watching a movie?"

It takes him a moment for Colin to react to that. Something hurts her enough to make her run away and cry, and she doesn't want to tell him what. He swallows that bitter taste in his mouth, telling himself he's not entitled to it, and looks back at her.

"I still feel like watching the movie. But every time I come to you and tell you my secrets, you make me feel better. Please, when you'll be ready, when you'll feel you can trust me, allow me to do the same for you."

"This is a secret I'm not sure I'll be ready to talk about any time soon," says Sarah.  "But... if I can, I will."

She curls up against Colin and hits the play button on the remote. 

Colin cuddles her, kissing her head softly, hoping that what he feels for her will just flow into her and help her sort out her problems even though she won't talk of them with him, and takes a decision in his heart.

After the movie, and after wiping his eyes dry, "I bought the tickets for homecoming. And I brought a sketchbook, if you'd like me to help you draw your costume. Either the Halloween one or... the other one."

Sarah brightens up at the suggestion, "I'd love any ideas for the Halloween costumes.  As for the other, well I went shopping and put something together.  It still needs a little touch up and a mask but other than that its ready to go I think.  It's not so much an outfit as just some comfortable dark clothes I can run in and stay warm.  I can show you... well not tonight.  My parents wouldn't be all that cool with you coming up to my room."

"Early curfew, no visiting your room, your parents must think I really am dangerous. Or maybe that you are." he jokes.

Colin takes the sketchbook from his windbreaker's pocket, and comes back to the couch. He starts sketching a simpler version of a kimono they just saw in the movie, then asks for her opinion.

"I've talked with the blackbird. He said I shouldn't bother with a costume or a name. He said that the natures of my powers are such that people will start to see the face they need to see, either comforting or terrifying, instead of mine, and then they'll quickly forget it."

"Sarah, when the dust around Leland's case will settle, I'll go after the others. I need to look in their eyes to decide what to do. They won't be demons, just plain bastards, and I shouldn't need help. You know why I didn't invite you, but if you say you want to come, you can."

Sarah smirks at the 'dangerous' comment. 

"I'd like to come with you.  It doesn't take a demon to hurt you.  A scared kid with a knife can bring all your mystical help to a sudden stop.  Besides I'm supposed to be with you.".
She gives Colin a kiss on the cheek and leans back with a more serious expression. 
She says, "I don't mean because I'm your girlfriend or anything.  Your girlfriend goes to watch sunsets with you.  I want to be there to make sure that no one screws up your work.  I mean my staff is a great weapon for that.  If I clobber them they collapse but they aren't all blood and broken bones and the cops can drag them off or whatever.  If Kel or Donnie get involved someone is going to end up in the hospital."

"Pip was quite effective against that bat-wielding brute... but you're right. Donnie needs some time to figure out what's happening to him anyway. Ok, then."

He breaks in a joking smile. "My girlfriend kicks ass."

He wonders if telling her that thing. But it's not the moment yet. It's a right he has yet to earn.

"Dinner is over. Movie is over. Your parents would like me go home now, I guess? They'll have comments to do?"

"Oh they don't want you to go home now but if you want to keep making a good impression you should probably clear out before too much longer."  Sarah smiles.  She says, "We can go for a walk around the block if you like and then I can drag Mart in."

"I never refuse an offer for a walk around here. Last time was... memorable." he says with a slight grin. There is just a little cloud in his eyes and in his cheerful expression, coming and going, until it finally dissolves.

I trust you. I can have your secrets. You're strong enough for them. And from now on, I'll be strong too. So you'll be able to trust me as well.

He shakes warmly Sarah's parents hands, thanking them for the lovely dinner.

When he's finally outside with Sarah, he watches worriedly the cloudy sky, as the few chilly drops of rain starts falling down.

"So much for our walk. It looks like I'll have to let you go."

Sarah looks up into the night sky, glowing clouds with shining cold sparks falling.  "A little rain never hurt anyone but if you're worried I guess I should let you go."

In a louder voice she calls out to her brother, "Mart, time to head in!" 

A rope drops from the side of the house and Mart follows sliding upside down.  He stops at head height.  "Aww... stupid rain."  He drops, twisting, and lands on his feet and runs towards the door.  He calls back, "Nice meeting you Colin."

"Nice to meet you too, Mart."

He looks at the rope again, then at the boy disappearing through the door.

"That's a trick I never tried...." he mumbles.

Then he turns to Sarah again.

"Actually, I love cycling in the rain. I wasn't sure you liked rain."

He gets the camera out of of his pocket, and as if on cue, he takes a photo of her lit by a flash of lightning.

Sarah grins, "Mart will try just about anything.  I think if he had a super power it would be luck.  I'd say you better hurry home but you already got hit by lightning once so the odds are in your favor."   

She rubs her shoulders and looks around as a car cruises by heading down to the corner and turning.  "I'm okay with rain though I like it a lot warmer.  I think when I get older I'm going to move somewhere with less of a winter.  Does San Diego need any heroes?"

Colin takes off his rain coat and drapes it over the shoulders of them both, staying very close to Sarah.

"Why not Honolulu?"

"Maybe someday.  Seems like not a lot of villains head to Hawaii.  Or they do but no one knows about them.  I'd feel a little isolated off the mainland," says Sarah.  She puts her head against his chest and lets the rain fall. 

"Sorry I can't tell you everything.  Would it help to know that it's nothing to do with you or any of the gang?  Probably not huh?" 

She shrugs against him.  Looking up she smiles, happy to be with him, despite everything, and kisses his cheek. 

"You're my wondergirl. Maybe one day it'll feel right to tell me, maybe not. It doesn't changes anything. I'll be still here."

He returns a kiss on her cheek. Then he looks in her eyes, and, tentatively, as if it was the first time all over again, her lips too, softly, slowly. And the rain just feels perfect.

Crazy Crow... Doesn't know enough to get out of the rain.  Probably why I.... why I care about him so much.

Sarah returns the kiss and forgets about the cold rain for a little while. 

----- fade to black -----