02-02-2010, 02:26 PM
Imogen tightened her grip on her control and prepared to respond to the cat when Casey ushered them out of the cafeteria. That was a good thing. She was only barely maintaining her own self-control and a noticable lapse would draw every eye in the room. She couldn't afford that. If she broke down then a crowed would form and rumors would start flying. Before she knew it she'd be the tabloid spectacle of every student in the school from now until they lost interest in the topic. She followed him quietly, and obediently if for no other reason then to get out of the public. She hated being as public as she was more than ever. She was already a stew of self-contempt and embarrassment for the lapse that she had shown earlier. Why couldn't she control herself? It was a relief when the young man she thought so much of left the competing female outside of the class but another emotion burned inside of her. She didn't need their help, or pity and in fact that really made things worse. Not so much as his description of her, which threatened to drive everything else into pure rage. She could control herself, she said in her mind, she could handle this. Regardless, her outrage showed clearly in her face and her fists were clenched so tightly her claws threatened to cut her.
She ignored his apology at first. It wasn't necessary anyway. What difference did it really make what she thought of their activities? However, the thought went way as rage burned into her again. How could he dare ask that of her? She couldn't stop being who she was, even if it wasn't really her. She had responsibilities. There were expectations and she had the weight of them on her shoulders whether she liked it or not. How could he not understand? However, it went out of her in a hot wave of confusion as he pulled her into a tight embrace.
She stood rigidly in his arms wishing that he cared for her the way that she cared for him, but happy to enjoy even this amount of tenderness. All of the hate and anger went out of her and she wondered if she was a different person if things could be more like this more often. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing would come out and she felt his lips on her cheek. The warmth of his lips seared on her cheek in a pleasant shape and the crack in her shell shattered outwardly. She tried to speak again, but all she could let out was a tight, squeaked breath. Tears streamed down her eyes and her own arms reached out and grasped around the bat's torso. She lost herself completely in him, and began sobbing without control into his chest.
"I can't" she sobbed out, almost unintelligibly. She tried to say more but it was lost. She squeezed him tighter and cried genuinely against his body.
She ignored his apology at first. It wasn't necessary anyway. What difference did it really make what she thought of their activities? However, the thought went way as rage burned into her again. How could he dare ask that of her? She couldn't stop being who she was, even if it wasn't really her. She had responsibilities. There were expectations and she had the weight of them on her shoulders whether she liked it or not. How could he not understand? However, it went out of her in a hot wave of confusion as he pulled her into a tight embrace.
She stood rigidly in his arms wishing that he cared for her the way that she cared for him, but happy to enjoy even this amount of tenderness. All of the hate and anger went out of her and she wondered if she was a different person if things could be more like this more often. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing would come out and she felt his lips on her cheek. The warmth of his lips seared on her cheek in a pleasant shape and the crack in her shell shattered outwardly. She tried to speak again, but all she could let out was a tight, squeaked breath. Tears streamed down her eyes and her own arms reached out and grasped around the bat's torso. She lost herself completely in him, and began sobbing without control into his chest.
"I can't" she sobbed out, almost unintelligibly. She tried to say more but it was lost. She squeezed him tighter and cried genuinely against his body.
Fhtagn!