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Post by moo on Mar 22, 2011 13:38:39 GMT 10
it was surprisingly nice out -- harley had always loved march and april. no, they weren't his birthday month or anything like that, that was clear back in january. he fucking hated january, it was so bitter cold out and there seemed to be no end in sight to winter. march was when hope began to shine through the clouds of snow, and when everything started to melt away... that was his favorite part. and then, even better, was when the flowers began to poke out of the ground, playing peekaboo with the sun rays... it always made his day whenever he saw the first bud that signaled spring's arrival on a tree or bush. he wasn't quite sure why, but he figured it had something to do with... new beginnings... ugh. his mind floated back to tempest as he was walking along the strip, his hands situated gently in the pockets of his tight leather pants.
he had changed a lot since he had first met her... he supposed she's probably changed, too, what with having been eloped or whatever the fuck she had planned with that asshole of a guy. harley had seen what he would do, how he would flirt with other girls behind her back... it made him sick. she acted like she hated him a lot of the time, too... perhaps it really had been true, all of those times when she told him to fuck off. maybe she really did mean it. sure, it was a very insecure thought, but harley had been feeling almost nothing but insecurity nowadays. he had a stable job, though, and that was the best part. he would never have to worry about finding a place to work when he owned the damn building to begin with. he loved his job... a lot of people took it as a surprise, but he couldn't help himself. he was obsessive over bikes and cars, bikes especially, and working with them was such a thrill.
today was a day off, though, so he was merely wandering around the town aimlessly, wondering what he could do for the day. at night, of course, was when he came alive, thriving and ready to hit a bar or party. but during the day... he sort of felt pathetically lost. sighing a little, he ran a hand through his spiked hair, his blue eyes drifting to his right. he smirked appreciatively at a woman that was walking by who had quite the figure, and he couldn't help but stare. then... he stared a little more, and that figure became familiar. so did that curly brown head of hair, and the way she was carrying herself like she was ready to kill someone... oh, he wasn't. he was just imagining it. ugh, he was going nuts... but he walked over to the woman anyway. "hey, hold up!" he barked at her and caught her by the arm, his heart stopping when he was able to see her face.
he recognized her right away, of course... oh, but did she recognize him? he really had changed so much... his jaw suddenly set and he let her arm go, his eyes boring sudden daggers into her. "... welcome back," he said, his voice wooden.
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Post by tempest on Mar 23, 2011 1:59:10 GMT 10
Tempest``YOUR FAITH WALKS ON BROKEN GLASSand the hangover doesn't pass
nothing's ever built to last, you're in ruins``
Spending the night doing lab work.... Was not her most brilliant plan ever. Tempest was physically and mentally drained now... but at least she had the next several days off to rest and do whatever the hell else she wanted what with her observations finished. Still, that didn't make her life any easier right now, having not slept in about... thirty hours or so. A yawn escaped her as she walked down the sidewalks towards home. Honestly, if there was one thing she didn't like more than anything else right now... it was sunlight. Tempest had always been more of a winter person after all. This heat and bright light... goddamn, it just gave her more reasons to be irritated... as if she needed more.
"Fucking springtime. New beginnings my ass," she growled lowly, weaving in between people as she walked familiar streets. It was a disappointment coming back to Capeside... so far, she hadn't seen any of her old friends. Well, okay, she hadn't seen her one old friend yet. He couldn't have moved away, could he? Ah, but there she went, thinking about Harley again. It was stupid, she knew. He'd probably changed quite a bit, found himself a boy, and was living his own life. Why would he want to remember her anyway, what with how they'd left each other. The argument they'd had... well, looking back on it, she wished she had listened to him. Of course, he had to be right about David....
And we were about to rip out each others' eyes in that last fight, she thought solemnly. What was she doing, traveling all the way back to Massachusetts to find an old friend that probably wouldn't forgive her for the things she'd said that day. Something between a groan of frustration and a sigh worked its way out of her at that thought. No! She couldn't let herself fall back into some horrible slump. Who cared if Harley was still here or not? The reason she'd come back to Capeside was the job offer... not anything else.
Of course, life had a strange way of sneaking up on her. Almost as soon as she'd convinced herself that it didn't matter if Harley was still here or not, she felt someone grab her arm. Eyes widening, she turned around, hand balled into a fist, ready to punch the shit out of whoever thought it was just randomly "okay" to grab her and not expect any repercussion, "What the fuck do you think you're doing!?" she practically roared. However, what the man said next caught her off guard:
"... welcome back,"
Tempest blinked, letting her arm fall limp when he let her go. Who was this guy? Obviously, he knew who she was, but she didn't know him... though, there was some air of familiarity to him. But who the hell could it be? She stared up at the man, eyes narrowed to slits, "Thanks... but who the hell are you? Depending on your answer you might be spared a vicious beating...."
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Post by moo on Mar 23, 2011 2:25:07 GMT 10
what was he doing? what was he doing?! oh, the rage that bubbled up inside of him looked about ready to spill over, his shoulders hunching and face turning a bright scarlet. he stared at her coldly, about to retort before her gaze softened a little. she got that he wasn't some random crazy motherfucker walking around the street and grabbing women, at least. wasn't that delightful. but the next statement she made only angered him more. his fingers tightened to a painful grip around her arm, a bitter part of him hoping that the bruises would stay on her perfect skin forever. maybe then she would understand his need to cover up every freckle he had. grinding his teeth together and setting his jaw, he took a few deep and shaky breaths through his nose before snarling at her. "you don't have any fucking right to beat me up... don't you think you've done enough damage to me already for the past eight years?"
he promptly let her go, as if her skin was burning him. behind his eyes of fury, his sorrow was starting to stir as well. he couldn't help it... he had missed her so much, but he couldn't just up and forgive her. "sorry you don't recognize me, i thought a change of appearance was necessary after you left..." he took off his fingerless glove and rolled up part of his shirtsleeve, his freckly arms that he could never hide no matter how much makeup he put on it showing easily. she had to recognize him with that, he hoped... "surprised? i took the things you said to heart. i changed my image, i lost weight, now people actually look at me. now..." he smirked, "now i'm out of their league." this wasn't the harley tempest had used to know -- he was far more bitter, but what could he help it? he was still in love with the woman in front of him.
"so now i have a life, and i've actually had sex, and -- " and i'm happy without you was what he had wanted to say, but his face suddenly contorted as he took a few steps away from her. "god..." he whispered, running a hand through his hair. "tempe... i've been fucking miserable. why are you even here? right when i start to get over the fact that you left me for that son of a bitch, you have to come sauntering back... why now?"
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Post by tempest on Mar 23, 2011 2:46:43 GMT 10
Tempest``YOUR FAITH WALKS ON BROKEN GLASSand the hangover doesn't pass
nothing's ever built to last, you're in ruins``
No... just no way. It couldn't be true, could it? How in the hell had he shown up just after she'd finally stopped thinking about him? Tempest winced visibly at his words, though other than that, said nothing for a long while after he'd finished. What was she supposed to say after all? The things she'd said to him the day she'd left were horrible... and apparently, he took them to heart. And yet, at the same time... aside from the sadness she was feeling right now, her own anger bubbled up. Who the fuck did he think he was now then? Criticizing her for coming back to her home? If only he knew that he was the main reason she'd even returned in the first place.
"No fucking way," she finally responded, her voice barely even audible. "Harley Dawson... you...." but she trailed off. There were no words she could think of to describe him right now. He had changed... a lot, and he was right; he looked... well pretty damn good to her. But those thoughts were hardly what mattered. Had she really effected him that much by leaving? The guilt outweighed any anger she was ready to spill out onto her old friend right then and there. How could she have even clung to the hope that he'd have forgiven her?
"Tch," she spat, finding the floor a much easier target to look at. Fists tightening at her sides, Tempest still couldn't finish what she'd wanted to say. She could, she supposed, spill everything to him right now, say that he'd been right all along, that she should have stayed, that she was sorry for all she'd put him through... but what would that do? He'd probably laugh at her and bitterly walk away after that. Then again, Tempest supposed she deserved that for all she'd made him suffer.
At last, she took a breath and got the confidence to meet his icy glare with one of her own. Some things would never change, and one of them was that she wasn't going to back down so easily, "I'd like to say nice to see you, but clearly the feeling isn't mutual. I was wondering if you were still around Capeside. As for why I'm here... why should that even matter? It's my hometown too you know...." she trailed off, her voice low, venomous. She didn't want him to know how much of what he'd said had torn her up on the inside... and so she completely avoided the subject of David for now. If she started on him, she knew she would break down.... and that was the last thing she wanted Harley to see. "But if you have to know, I found a job here. I got my degree in Research. I work at a lab."
She just stared at him for a few moments after that, eyes betraying nothing but conflict. More than anything else, she wanted him to forgive her. Honestly, if he didn't, Tempest wasn't sure what she'd do. No denying it... he was the reason she came back to Capeside... the job was a bonus offer. After a few more moments of staring at the taller man, she felt herself start to crack, and her eyes welled up a bit in response. Quickly, Tempest looked away, wiping the tears building up with the back of her arm. "You asshole.... I can't believe this is actually you...."
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Post by moo on Mar 23, 2011 3:03:23 GMT 10
as soon as she finally spoke, with such a soft voice, harley's gaze softened a little. "yeah..." he mumbled, looking away. "it's me." it was always me. it should have been me. i could have loved her -- i did love her -- more than anyone else could... he wet his lips and sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, the one freckle on the skin that he couldn't cover up no matter how hard he tried finally being hidden, if only for a moment. it was a sign, he supposed: no matter how much he tried to change his appearance and make himself into a different person, he would always be the same harley deep down. he chewed on his lip and waited for a response, and all he got was a scoff. he, too, looked down -- it wasn't like tempest was the only one at fault here. it takes two to tango, and two to tangle. he had fought just as bitterly as she had, but he figured that his cause was a little more noble. he had fought to keep her. no, fuck that, that wasn't noble, that was selfish. he knew that he had done something wrong with those words he had thrown at her...
she stared at him icily -- oh, no. she couldn't be mad, she didn't have any right to be mad because he was mad. his eyes flashed a little again as he set his jaw. "well, your hometown didn't seem all that important to you when you ran off with david, did it?" he retorted blankly, having no idea that his words were actually affecting her. how could he know? she looked so sullen and stony that he'd never know if she was feeling seriously or not. he wouldn't mention how mutual it really was... he was happy inside to see her, but it was also bringing him so much pain that he couldn't see straight. "oh." he wasn't surprised that she had gotten a prestigious job, but it was strange that it was in such a town as capeside. it didn't seem like the center of research facilities.
she stared at him for a few long moments, and harley stared back. his gaze wasn't venomous anymore -- he really couldn't stay mad at her, and it was driving him insane. he should be mad! he had a right to be pissed off, she had left him and taken his heart with her. suddenly, though, he saw the glittering in her eyes, and he shattered as well. he sighed and immediately strode to her, gently lowering her arm and staring down at her. "tempe... i -- i'm sorry for what i said to you... before you left... it was wrong and i shouldn't have. i should've just... let you go. but i couldn't, cuz i was --" oh, no, he wasn't gonna go there. "stupid. i missed you..." and there was his own cracking voice, and he had to look away as well, his fingers lightly grazing her arm, as if in apology to the firm grip he had put on her a few moments ago. damn it, why couldn't he stay mad? he didn't forgive her... no... but he wasn't mad anymore, he just couldn't be, not with the way she looked and just... ugh...
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Post by tempest on Mar 23, 2011 3:26:20 GMT 10
Tempest``YOUR FAITH WALKS ON BROKEN GLASSand the hangover doesn't pass
nothing's ever built to last, you're in ruins``
Tempest couldn't help it. She was choking up pretty bad now... especially when he mentioned David with enough bitterness in his voice to match her own feelings for the man. But what surprised her even more was that right after... he was apologizing... to her? Wait, back up a few moments. What the fuck was he sorry for? He'd been right! Every single damn thing he said was correct, and she should have been smart enough to listen to him! Fucking hell, if anyone had to apologize profusely, it was her, and she'd say the words again and again if she had to. Anything to make him forgive her at this point....
"Harley... d-don't be sorry," she winced, wondering if she should include if he had been right all this time. But she held her tongue on the topic of her ex, instead looking up at him with a small smile, "I missed you too. More than you probably would care to know... But hey, it's okay, I was stupid too. I... shouldn't have said those things to you either...."
Oh he didn't know the half of how stupid she was with this whole ordeal. But Tempest knew better than to dump the whole story on him now. She didn't want to ruin their reunion... well, more than it already might be ruined at this point. Still... Tempest couldn't help doing one thing... for old times sake if anything else. With a smirk, she gave him a rather rough punch on the arm, "That's for sneaking up behind me."
But she wasn't done yet. Nope, she felt like there was more to be said, but she didn't exactly have the words to speak. It was important to Tempest for Harley to know that he still meant something to her. Smirk softening into an actual smile, Tempest wrapped her arms around her old friend in a tight hug. She didn't really think she needed to explain herself, though, she was slightly embarrassed, so she managed to spurt out something "I'm so glad you're still here Harley."
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Post by moo on Mar 23, 2011 4:49:43 GMT 10
harley could feel her pain as if it were a disease; he wasn't sure why she was so upset, but he'd do anything to keep her from crying again. he hoped his anger hadn't spurred this on, or he'd never forgive himself. goddamnit, he wanted to have at least a slight amount of self-control around her, but he couldn't help but touch her, try to comfort her for whatever reason that she was sad. he sighed and bit his lip again, his eyebrows knit into another frown. she finally spoke, and harley shook his head immediately. "no, i should. that probably wasn't the best welcome." he sighed a little and looked down. "i just can't... i'm frustrated. i'm angry, but that doesn't excuse... hurting you at all." perhaps it was narcissistic of him to think that he was the cause of her sorrow, but he couldn't really help but think it.
the "more than you would ever care to know" caught him off guard for a moment. he blinked at her in confusion, his brow knitting again. "i... it's fine..." he said hesitantly, his eyes narrowing a little. what was she on about? he seemed a bit dazed before she gave him a good blow to the arm. "oww, hey!" he whined, rubbing at the spot and frowning... no, pouting was a better term. oh yeah, this was tempest all right. he smiled weakly at her, looking down a bit shyly. "yeah, yeah, whatever," he mumbled, smirking a bit himself and looking at her shiftily.
his face turned a lovely shade of scarlet as soon as her arms wrapped around him. the smile she had given him seconds before made his heartbeat quicken, and just inhaling her scent again made his breath catch in his throat. he stood there, motionless, his arms at his sides from the hug. he swallowed thickly and gently pressed his nose against her temple, finally giving her a slightly awkward hug back -- it was just a bit hard to move when his arms were pinned to his sides like this. "hey what -- " she spoke, and he sighed a little. "i would've been here waiting for you even if you never showed up," he grumbled, sounding slightly apologetic, but mostly just disappointed in himself. he wanted to halt his life for her, for the woman that had ruined him so easily... who could easily do it again. what was scary was that harley knew he'd always be running back to her. he'd never stop running back to her.
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Post by tempest on Mar 23, 2011 12:20:15 GMT 10
Tempest``YOUR FAITH WALKS ON BROKEN GLASSand the hangover doesn't pass
nothing's ever built to last, you're in ruins``
When he continued to apologize, Tempest felt herself lose some patience. If only he knew the half of what he'd said was completely on target that last day they'd seen each other... and yet, "Would you shut the fuck up with this guilt act Harley? We were both hurt. Not just me..."
She trailed off though when Harley spoke up again, face heating up in embarrassment. Waiting for her? He had been waiting for her? She was extremely relieved that her face was out of his sight right now, considering she was pretty much wrapped around him tightly. Then again, that realization just made her feel even more nervous. And while she'd never been good with moments like these, Harley was the last person she'd expect to feel flustered from.
Oh... fuck, this is awkward, her mind screamed. Immediately, she let him go, hoping to god her face wasn't as red as she thought it was. Of course, it probably was... but maybe Harley wouldn't notice or comment on it. Besides, her focus was on the ground below her feet now, though she knew that if she didn't talk, that'd just make things ten billion times more awkward than before. "Harley..." she trailed off, lifting her head to eye him suspiciously. "You would have wasted your whole life here waiting for me to come back? You're a fucking moron!"
She facepalmed after that, letting out an exaggerated sigh, "You're exactly the same as I left you, change in appearance or not...." Tempest rolled her eyes after that, grinning up at Harley rather goofily, "So, since you aren't doing anything, walk with me. Oh, that's not a request!" Nope, not a request at all, but an order. She didn't want to up and leave just yet. But she had still been up for over twenty-four hours. I need some coffee.
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Post by moo on Mar 23, 2011 16:44:37 GMT 10
harley sighed and winced a little as she berated him. he scratched at the back of his neck and once again began to chew on his bottom lip. "yeah, takes two to tangle, hm?" he said, somewhat expecting an apology at this point... but knowing her, tempest might just be too stubborn to give one out. she was talking to him, and that was enough. it was a miracle, honestly, after the things he had said, the names he had called her... heartless bitch. well, perhaps she was back then, but he had hope that she'd regained it again. he still didn't understand why she was back, though... and without a certain someone on her arm.
harley blinked down at her in slight curiosity as she went silent. he could feel her heart beating a bit more quickly than normal, and when she suddenly ripped herself away, he began to wonder what the hell he had said that was so strange. her face was a very bright shade of red, and he furrowed his brow in total confusion. "what happened to you? you look like you turned into a tomato." he blinked again and watched her gaze lift from the floor almost in hesitation, and at the insult, he snorted. yep, tempe hadn't changed a bit. "yeah, good to see you, too." he grinned at her for the first time since she had left.
"look, it wouldn't be a waste here. i love it here. i wouldn't trade this town for the world. i have my own bike shop now, i feel successful here. so yes, i'd wait for you." he flashed her another grin before snorting again. "oh, my apologies for still being a hopeless romantic." he blinked at her grin, his heart giving a painful throb. how many times had he seen that smile when she talked about david? far too many... one time was too many, though. he was selfish, he wanted that smile to himself -- "woah, hey, what -- i have work in twenty minutes -- " he shut his mouth and rubbed his eyes a little, smearing his makeup. "ugh, fine. not like i don't deserve a day off for myself, anyway."
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Post by tempest on Mar 24, 2011 6:56:00 GMT 10
Tempest``YOUR FAITH WALKS ON BROKEN GLASSand the hangover doesn't pass
nothing's ever built to last, you're in ruins``
Tempest lifted an eyebrow at him before shrugging and turning around to walk, grabbing Harley by the wrist to drag along with her. She just snorted at the fact that he had work in twenty minutes, though she figured since he owned the shop he worked at, he probably didn't need to be there. His grudging acceptance of her... uh, "offer" only confirmed that, and with a smirk, she turned back to him for only a moment, still walking backwards, "Good! Glad to know you have your priorities straight!"
She let go of him after that, slowing her pace to walk next to her longtime friend and feeling strangely elated... and yet... still awkward. There was so much she wanted to say but felt like she couldn't... and besides that, this whole... new look he was wearing... well she couldn't deny it. He was attractive. The transformation had in some ways done wonders, but in other ways, made Tempest feel as though she might be talking to a totally different Harley. She'd spat out insults at him that he hadn't deserved after all, and he'd already said it was her hurtful words that had made him change.
"So hold up... you said you've been miserable, yet you love it here? So which is it? You contradicted yourself, genius," she spoke in her usual sarcastic tone. But of course, she couldn't help but continue her little mess of questions and follow up with a rather embarrassing one, "And how's that being a hopeless romantic worked out for ya anyway? Er... wait."
Smooth, Tempest... she scolded. Way to let him know how awkward you feel right now by blowing it at the very end of that question. Ugh... But she tried extremely hard to keep her composure. By some miracle, it seemed for once her body and mind were in sync, and her face didn't heat up... or maybe she'd just never stopped being a "tomato" since that hug of theirs. Either way, she was pretty sure she managed to keep stoic this time, which was a major relief on her part.
The coffee shop came into view a few moments later, and she pulled off to the side, gesturing for Harley to follow. Caffeine is man's best friend.... forget about all that bullshit with dogs or whatever. It's definitely caffeine.
After ordering, Tempest grabbed a seat at the corner of the shop and plopped down into it with a sigh. Mentally, her mind was buzzing, and that was only because Harley had randomly appeared, but physically, she was exhausted beyond belief. Groaning, she put her head down on the table, the cold wood bringing relief to her aching body, "Of all the days to find each other, why was it the one after my most hellish all-nighter at work ever?"
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