“I think we should go back to our Applebus home,” said a tired Elisay. They’d managed, with the help of Sandra and Ananda, to get the Applebus started and they went to the next world. Elisay didn’t feel much like exploring though; she’d rather go home.
          “Yeah, but we have to,” contradicted Daphne. “We have to figure out why we are here so we can go home home.”
          “Not everything has to have a purpose, you know,” pointed out Elisay. Daphne stuck out her tongue jokingly and Elisay did the same. However, Elisay meant it more that Daphne. Daphne and Maik were going exploring.
          “Come on, let's find out what’s out there!” said an eager Naomi, looking at her adoring Blake. They headed for the door, and Elisay collapsed on a seat on the bus. At this rate, she thought, they’ll never get back.
          “Let’s go for a walk, too, Ianthe.” said Aubrey. Ianthe agreed, and they left. At the front of the bus were Daivi and Sandra with Myki and Ananda. The more Elisay stared at Ananda the more she noticed how much she looked like Naomi.
          Piyteur was sitting by Elisay, but every time he tried to get close to her, she slid farther down the seat, and he was beginning to get annoyed. Not too long ago, they'd been wrapped in each other's arms as the bus shifted worlds--usually everyone went out together, and Piyteur had thought they would. However, after realizing that Elisay didn’t want to go anywhere, he sat next to her. All she would do was stare into space and avoid him. Finally, he gave up and walked outside with the others, a little angry.


          As soon as they were outside, Ianthe put her arms around Aubrey’s neck. He picked her up and her feet dangled to the side. There was nothing but a field of tall grass that seemed to stretch for miles. So he wandered to the left, still carrying her. When he figured they’d gone far enough, he set her down in the grass and lay closely beside her.
          Ianthe complained, “Aww… I was having fun. I like it when you carry me.” She giggled.
          “Me, too, and you’re a light as a feather.” replied Aubrey with a warm smile.
          “Well then, why don’t you do it again?” she asked playfully, with a twinkle in her eyes.
          “Maybe I will.” Aubrey stated as he went to pick her up again. But before he could reach her, she sprang up and ran a short distance away. Aubrey was confused.
          If only I had a camera for that face! thought Ianthe, seeing Aubrey’s surprise. She started running a little farther, turned her head over her shoulder, and yelled, “You’ll have to catch me first!” and began laughing.
          “If that’s the way you want it,” said Aubrey, hopping to his feet, “here I come!”


 

          The people in the front of the bus were so wrapped up in their conversations that they didn't notice Elisay slip out the door. Before she left she imagined some out-of-the-way place where she could go and think out her thoughts.
          "Looking for me?" asked a cheerful Piyteur.
              Elisay wasn't in the mood for cheerfulness or Piyteur. She just wanted everone to go away for a while. But if she told him something was wrong, he'd want to know what, and she'd never get rid of him. "Actually, no." she said sourly. She hated every minute of making him sad, and she wouldn't want to see him hurt, but she couldn't think of anything else, and she just wanted to be alone. So she just ran. As fast as she could she just ran. There was nowhere to hide but she could feel the hot tears well up in her eyes, and she knew she was going to start crying any minute. So she ran and ran and ran....


          Piyteur stood shocked and nervous. He had no idea what he had done, but it must have been really bad, 'cause this wasn't like her at all. But she had made it clear that she didn't want to be near him, so he turned the other way and did some thinking. As he was walking he almost tripped over Naomi, as he was looking out in the distance and didn't see her or Blake sitting in the grass talking--if she hadn't said something he would have tripped.
          "Hey, what's wrong with you?" asked Naomi.
          "No, not me--it's her." Piyteur said, sitting down next to them.
          "Who?" Blake looked confused.
          "Elisay." said an exasperated Piyteur.
          "What's wrong with her?" asked Naomi.
          "That's just it--I don't know!" yelled Piyteur, a little too loudly.
          "Now I am totally confused." said Blake, trying to sort it out. "You know what is wrong--but you don't?"
          "No...something is wrong that I did, but I don't know what."
          Piyteur explained, "She keeps avoiding me, and her mood just changed so fast. I know she wanted to go back to the house, but I don't know why, because even when she was at the house, she was daydreamy and in a bad mood until I left. But we were in each other's arms not too long ago. I am so confused and I don't know what to do! I don't know what I did and don't know how to make it better. She never really got mad at me at a certain point--it was sort of gradual--but her moods change so fast! I can't figure women out--it's happ-"
          "It's okay, Piyteur." Naomi comforted, cutting him off. "Sorry 'bout that, but you lost me somewhere in the middle, and I didn't want you to get to worked up. Why don't you calm down and I will talk to her. Don't you worry."
          "Okay. Thanks, Naomi." Piyteur said, getting to his feet. "I will leave you to what you were doing." He didn't want to interrupt, so he walked back to the bus.


          Elisay didn't know what was wrong with her. She just wanted to get away. Their last adventure really shook her. But it took this time for her to realize that that's what it had been that had made her so distant. She thought that maybe she was just scared of what Piyteur might think of her after that. Or perhaps she was worried he might do something like that to her. Taking a walk and realizing what was bothering her was what she needed to make her feel better. Also, she now felt so horrible about what she said to Piyteur that she had to find him.


          Sandra, Myki, Daivi, and Ananda were laughing hysterically at one of Daivi’s stories when Piyteur walked onto the bus. He was feeling kind of down, but he couldn’t help but overhear the matter that Daivi was discussing--how the four of them had met. Daivi and Myki had already known each other, being neighbors, and Piyteur and Maik had already met, having just gotten finished going on a skiing trip in Colorado and being on their way to California. Piyteur and Maik were hungry and decided to stop just inside Nevada to get something to eat. They stopped at a pub in a small town. Daivi and Myki were already there and were seated at the table beside Piyteur and Maik. At that point Daivi had recently moved from England. Daivi and Myki had both ordered salad, while Piyteur and Maik each had club sandwiches. Piyteur and Maik practically stuffed the sandwiches down their throats. When Daivi caught sight of the two of them he said, “Doesn’t anyone teach you Americans how to eat?” They both felt guilty as they watched Daivi cut his salad. What they didn’t expect was when Daivi picked up the salad with both his hands and stuffed it into his mouth. They all laughed, and the friendship was immediate and permanent, at least so far. Piyteur couldn’t help but laugh at that with them--it was a pretty strange way to meet. [Hehe! The salad incident!!! *G* ..we all know how *that* went, eh guys?]
          He thought a little more about the past and, taking his place on the bus, decided to write. He knew the letter might never reach its destination, especially considering where they were currently, but he felt like writing a letter to his mother.


          Aubrey carried a gleeful Ianthe all the way to the bus, where he let her down, and they had a lingering kiss before climbing on. Daivi was entertaining and telling jokes while Piyteur was writing something. No sooner had the two of them walked on the bus than Blake and Naomi came up behind them. They both had brilliant smiles on their faces. No one could guess why for sure, but Ianthe hoped it had something to do with their relationship. [*really big grin*] As Blake and Naomi were taking their place on the bus, Daphne and Maik walked in. They too looked like they had a nice walk. Everyone was cheerful, it seemed.


          Everyone except Elisay--she awoke with a start. That same dream that she hated so had happened again. She wanted to go to Piyteur for comfort, but she thought he would think that she was silly. After all, it was silly, and there was nothing scary about it. Maybe it was a vibe she had, she didn’t know. But it made her question their relationship, and that was why she was being so distant. That, and the fact that Piyteur didn’t seem to care that she wanted to go back to the house. But that was silly--perhaps he just didn’t want to. After looking over some of the stuff that he had said to her, she was worried, though. It corresponded with her dreams exactly, but not in a good way. She was feeling better by the time she got to the bus, but DID NOT want to go on their next adventure. All she wanted to do was to go home, or to the Applebus home. She had come across something very interesting while she was there. She climbed on the bus with a bright smile. So everyone was happy.


 

        “Where to, everyone?” asked Myki.
          “Can we go to the Applebus house this time?” asked Elisay. “I feel tired.” Which was true--the last journey before this one must have tired her out. She was hungry, too, and hoped that, like last time, there would be some yummy food in the refrigerator.
          “What does everyone think?” asked Maik. Mostly everyone else wanted to go on another adventure--this one wasn’t very exciting--and Daphne still wanted to find out what their purpose was for being there. Piyteur also thought it would be fun to go someplace where he and Elisay could cuddle up. Even though she wasn’t as cuddly as usual, he thought, she looked happier since they went out for a walk.
          “Then can you just drop me off first--I just want to do something really quick.” But everyone eventually agreed that they would stay for a day.
          Elisay was so excited--she could hardly wait. As the colors swirled, she couldn’t believe they were actually going. Piyteur could tell that Elisay was excited as she rested on him. Elisay figured she could debate about their relationship later--she had work to do! When they got to the Applebus home, Elisay ran up to her room and pulled out the shirt. It was unlike any shirt anyone in the Applebus would wear, or had worn. She hadn't had much time to get a good look at it before they left the last time, but she wasn’t scared, even though she didn't know whose it was. It looked innocent enough; that didn’t mean it was, but it looked it. She promised herself she would be cautious, but for some reason she wanted to find out who it belonged to--and alone. She then began to see if there was any identification on it.
          As she was looking through the pockets, there was a knock at her door. “Just a minute!” she exclaimed. Elisay quickly threw the jacket [Thought you just said it was a shirt...?] under the bed and made sure that the dolphin comforter covered it. This time the knock was louder. “I said I am coming!” she said. When she opened the door a sweet face stared at her.
          “Hello, honey-doo!” It was Piyteur.
          “Hey, you!” She stood on her tiptoes as he leaned down, and they shared a hello kiss. “Come on in.” she invited him. “I have some movies here if you would like to watch one.” she said. When she got back from their last adventure, some of her movies from home were there. It freaked her out because she didn’t know how it happened. Then again, she didn’t know how the Applebus worked, either. More so was the fact that the Applebus was more like home. But as much as she liked the adventures, she still wished she could go home--real home--sometimes.
          “Sure.” he answered.
          Elisay said, “You pick one--I have seen ‘em all before.” Piyteur leaned over the shelf and began to strum through the various movies. When he picked one up, Elisay leaned over his shoulder to see which one he had picked. Before she could see it, he quickly covered it with his hands and then tucked it into his jacket.
          “Hey!” she exclaimed. “Why can’t I see it?”
          “It’s a surprise!” he said with a twinkle in his eye. She kept trying to see it and he had to take his jacket off, keep it enclosed in the jacket, and put it in the player that way. He kept the case in his jacket and set it on the floor next to the TV and VCR. He pulled Elisay away from the TV and pinned her on the bed. “Curiosity killed the cat, you know.”
          They both smiled. “I’m not a cat.” They laughed, and Elisay finally promised she wouldn’t look before it started. When it came up, she recognized it right away. It was Show Boat. She laughed, “I didn’t know you like musicals!” He smiled at her.
          Halfway through the movie she looked up at Piyteur and said, “Know what? You are my first love. In fact, I have never even had a crush on anyone before.”
          “Then we must be very similar.” he answered.
          “Oh yeah? Why is that?” Elisay wanted to know.
          “It’s the same way for me. You’re my first, too.” They both snuggled up for the rest of the movie.
          When it was over, they kissed, and Piyteur went back to his own room. Shortly after he left, Elisay realized he’d forgotten his jacket. So she took the case out of it, took the movie out of the player, and put them away on the shelf. She then picked up his jacket and began walking to his room. As she was walking there, she heard Maik’s voice. “Do you miss your old girl?”
          Then it was Piyteur: “Yeah, I do, but I love Elisay. However it is comforting to know that when I get back, I will have Anita to go to.”
          She couldn’t believe what he’d just said! She wasn’t spying on them; she had just overheard. She knocked on Piyteur's door and said, “Piyteur, I just brought you back your jacket. You might need it on your next adventure--especially since I won’t be there to keep you warm!"
          She knew she would cry in front of him if she didn't leave right then. She tried to turn it into anger, but it was hard--she was angry, but she needed a good cry, too. She started to run back to her room. She could hear Piyteur calling her, but she didn’t care anymore--she just wanted to get away. He lied to me! How could he do that? Why? she thought.
          She got to her room and lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. There was a knock at the door. She knew who it was, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t even cry. She was so mad and scared and alone. She felt so used. Twice--first with their recent adventure where Ràspia and Reûic had tried to seduce them, and now this.
          “Why are you mad at me?” asked Piyteur meekly.
          Now Elisay was really, truly mad, and couldn’t control herself. “You know damn well why.” It just came out--she didn’t mean to say it and she regretted it as soon as it had been said.
          “Can I explain?” he asked.
          “Why?” asked Elisay. “So I can hear more of your lies?” she continued. “I’m not something you have fun with and kiss and hug and quote-unquote 'go out with', and then shove aside. I am not here to fill you with fun times, only so you can go back to Anita. You aren’t being very faithful to her, are you? My word, Piyteur! What if I went back with you? What would you tell Anita, that you just fell in love with someone else? Because I am sure if you could be there, you would be with her, and even if you met me when you were living with her--say that she was on vacation--you wouldn’t drop everything. You are committed. But that isn’t what is so bad. You lied to me! Before when we were watching a movie, I was your first, and now there’s Anita? I can’t trust you anymore!! Go away and leave me alone!”
          “Elisay can I-”
          Elisay cut Piyteur off. "I said to leave. Me. Alone!” She said it more harshly than she had intended. He left, and Elisay had a sleepless night. [Yiesh. Zinni, you're so mean to yerself!] (I guess I am afraid of getting hurt and therefore say what i probably would say in real life, besides it makes for a good story. :) )
          The next morning, all were ready to leave on their trip. Elisay told them all to go--she would stay. Daphne, Naomi and Ianthe didn’t want her to stay, and Maik was worried that if they didn’t get back, Elisay would be all alone forever. It was a scary thing to think of, but she refused to go. ANd for some reason she had the feeling that something was going to happen and they would definately be together again. Piyteur wanted to stay, but she basically pushed him on the bus. She needed time to herself snd besides she didn't want anyone there when she found out who the jacket belonged to. She couldn't wait to get started, but she missed everyone all ready! So she ran to her room and found the Diamond Rio CD and put it on number two. A song called "One More Day" Meanwhile, the bus was swirling in colors of red, white, and blue.


     Daphne sat on the Applebus, pensively looking out the window at the slow swirls. This trip was taking longer than most--they were probably going a long way from the Applebus home, she thought. She had enjoyed her last trip back to the house: a shower had done much to cleanse not only her hair, which had grown a bit less wild since her time there had begun, but also her guilty feelings that lingered from the dwelling of Ràspia and Reûic. She and Reûic hadn't really been touchy-romantic, although there had been many of the long kisses that she used to wish she could get from Bryan, and had since gotten one or two of from Maik. Still, she felt bad. The experience had scared her[as it did Naomi, as it was intended to do]--instant gratification, after all, shows you your true wants, and though Daphne's were mostly innocent, being able to make anything happen, at virtually the instant she dreamed it, gave her an uneasy feeling of having, in a way, tried to play God. It also made her wonder where her newly-acquired power would have led her if Naomi hadn't broken through when she did. She was glad it was over. [Yer welcome. :) ]
     Her pigtails were braided today, and she fingered the ends as she thought about Elisay. She and Piyteur had obviously had a fight--Maik was over there now, comforting and apologizing. Daphne wondered what had happened. She looked around the Applebus and realized that all but one of the members of the happy crew was part of a couple now--not counting the woeful Piyteur.
     Myki and Daivi were completely lost in love--it was as though they were epoxy-glued to Sandra and Ananda, much like Ianthe and Aubrey had been ever since their first kiss. (Myki, by the way, felt fine for once during this "flight", having found a bottle marked "Motion Sickness Antidote" in the Applebus home, and taking part of it.) Blake and Naomi--well, they didn't always show it publicly, like the others, but they had a very nice relationship in their own way. [Yep! :) ]
     Daphne glanced at Blake, who seemed rather uneasy trying to work up the nerve to kiss Naomi in full sight of everyone--something they hadn't really done yet. [Well, okay, they did when everyone met up when they got out of Ràspia and Reûic's mountain-cave there--but that was rather a heat-of-the-moment thing.] Daphne could imagine the battle between his emotions and self-consciousness--she'd had a bit of experience with that herself--and couldn't help wondering, noticing his reddening cheeks, what form Ràspia had taken with him, as cautious and shy as he often was in matters of love. Then again, she thought a few seconds later, as his lips finally met Naomi's, maybe Ràspia, for all her evilness, brought Blake a bit farther out of his shell, romance-wise. [Yeah, that'd be nice, I think...] She averted her eyes, not wanting Blake to find her staring (she knew Naomi wouldn't care), and tried to hide her smile. He was starting to be very different--how would he go about this back in the real world? It was going to be interesting to watch.
     And then there was Gavin, the only loveless member of the crew. The boy had hung back for so much of their stay in the Applebus home that Daphne hardly knew a thing about him. Naomi, partly in sympathy for his previous torture, partly in thanks for jogging her memory, had paid the most attention to him, talking to him quite a bit. Though he seemed to trust her the most, he still seemed very shy and awkward around all of them. [Thanks, Laurel - I really do love Gavin, I've become quite attatched to him... *g*]
     Suddenly, Daphne was tapped on the shoulder. She looked up to see Naomi herself, standing above where Daphne was seated. "Hey, we're stopped." she said. "Getting out?"
     Daphne left her reverie. "Yeah." She stood and looked out the window. "Looks fairly normal." she said.
     "Yeah. Pretty, though." said Naomi.
     They were looking out upon rolling hills and meadows, blue sky with cottony clouds, and tall deciduous trees (no pines and such, that is). Daphne smiled. "I bet there's a nice breeze out there."
     "Me, too. C'mon, Blake!" said Naomi, reaching over a short distance to take Blake by the arm. They left the bus together.
     Maik came back over to Daphne. "Is Piyteur any better?" Daphne asked him.
     "Some." said Maik. "He's still hurtin', though, and Ah'm sure Elisay is, too. Ah feel bad for mentioning--hmm, no, Ah better leave that to Piyteur if he wants to go into it. Ah hope that's okay--Ah know you're curious 'bout Elisay..."
     Daphne smiled. "It's fine." she said, jumping out of the Applebus, rather than stepping.
     They wandered about a bit as a group. There was a nice breeze blowing, and everything was very peaceful. "Any idea what's up with us being here?" asked Myki.
     "Haven't the foggiest," replied Daivi, "but it's breezy and warm and bright, and..."
     "...And everything Ràspia and Reûic's wasn't." finished Sandra. "Let's stay a while. Anyone know what to eat?"
     "Not really. I don't see much of anything around here that's edible. And if you say 'fried dandelions', or some freaky vegetarian thing like that, Ianthe," warned Naomi, gesturing to the yellow flowering weeds that speckled the grass, "I will personally make sure that there is nothing for you to eat but meat the next time we go to the Applebus home!"
     Ianthe was about to reply--and Aubrey and Piyteur, her fellow vegetarians, looked like they had replies of their own--when Gavin suddenly let out a piercing cry and put both hands to the temples of his forehead. His face twisted in pain, and he fell to his knees on the grass, moaning, eyes wrenched shut.[*gasp!* Oh no!!! Gavin!! What'd you *do* t'the poor boy, hasn't he been thru *enough* already?!]
     "Gavin!" Naomi cried in panic, leaving Blake for the moment and falling to her knees beside the boy. "What's happening? What's wrong?"
     Her only answer was more moaning, although he was obviously struggling to form words between breaths. The others surrounded him, too, all frightened. Couples clung to one another for support as Gavin's face worked in agony, his teeth clenched like a vise, as his pain increased. No one dared touch him, for fear of what might happen. Ianthe, seeing Piyteur without company, released the grip of one of her hands from one of Aubrey's and took his hand in her free one. Piyteur flashed her a shaky smile, but returned his eyes to Gavin.
     Almost as suddenly as it had begun, Gavin's spasm left him. His face relaxed, and his eyes opened--but he began to shiver uncontrollably, part from fear, part as involuntary bodily reaction to what had just occurred. Naomi and Blake lifted and supported him, as he was also weak. "Let's get you back to the Applebus." Naomi said.
     As they walked back, Maik brought up what had already crossed everyone's mind. "Guys, Ah think we should go back to the Applebus home. It's got beds and ever'thin' else, and Gavin oughta lah down a while."
     The others began to murmur their assent. But Gavin managed to stammer in the midst of his shaking, "N-no!"
     Everyone stopped. "You don't want to go, Gav?" asked Naomi.
     "N-no--we--I--I saw--we--we can't--can't go..." Gavin tried desperately to speak clearly despite his shaking and anxious state, but he was still barely coherent.
     Maik stepped forward and put his hand gently on Gavin's shoulder. "It's okay, man. Don't try. We'll stay. You can tell us when you're ready. All right?" Gavin nodded.
     "But until then," continued Maik, "you really oughta lah down. Is doin' that in the Applebus all right with you?"
     Gavin nodded again, and they resumed their course. Soon Gavin was lying down on the Applebus seats, wrapped in blankets. His shivering gradually subsided, after which, out of exhaustion, he almost instantly fell asleep.

     "Poor Gavin." said Naomi, from where she, Ianthe, and Daphne were gathered, acting as nurses. Apart from Gavin, they were alone in the Applebus. "He said he saw something--was it more than just pain?"
     "I don't know." said Daphne. After a pause, she said, "What if something like that happened to Elisay while we were gone? I mean, I know that sounds paranoid, but..."
     "That would be really bad." said Ianthe. "But we can't go to her until Gavin wants to leave. If he did see something, maybe he wants to--or has to--stay here for some reason because of it."
     The other two nodded, and all three looked at Gavin, who had been sleeping for just over an hour.
     Myki, Daivi, Sandra, and Ananda entered the Applebus and came over to where the boy was asleep. "We brought Gavin something for when he wakes up." said Ananda. From behind her back she pulled out a handkerchief-type cloth square with wild raspberries carefully wrapped inside, still warm from the sun.
     "And this--only we'll have to figure out where to put it." said Sandra. She displayed a small plastic cup (the three nurses later learned that she, by a stroke of good sense, had found it at the Applebus home and taken it with her, because "you never know when you'll want something to keep something in", as she explained) filled with water.
     "We went exploring." explained Myki. "We found some raspberry bushes, and an apple tree, and a stream--only we didn't bring back an apple..."
     "Well, we were planning to," said Daivi, rolling his eyes skyward, "but somebody ate it on the way..."
     "I was starving!" Myki protested. "I hadn't eaten anything all day!"
     "That's all right." said Naomi, grinning. "This should be fine. Thanks, you guys."
The four explorers left, talking amongst themselves.
     "He's awake." said Ianthe a few seconds later. She had been watching Gavin all through the conversation, and was the only one to see him open his eyes.
     Gavin sat up and slowly took in the food and drink offered him. When he was finished eating, he said softly, abruptly, "I saw something out there--in my head."
     "We thought maybe you had." answered Naomi. "Do you want to say what?"
     Gavin swallowed his water, inhaled, then exhaled. "Yeah." he said. The girls waited expectantly.
     "I have a sister, back where I'm from." he said, speaking slowly and shyly. "When my head started to hurt so much, I heard her voice. She was calling for help, telling me she needed me, that she and my father needed me home, and that she was scared. Then there was a voice I've never heard before, telling me that my sister's cries were really his own, but that I have to go back to my real home where I'm needed, and that my way home lies in the cave." He looked at the faces around him in worry. "I don't know what cave it means, and my sister is in trouble."
     Suddenly his eyes widened, and he threw off the blanket in a panic. "I've been sleeping, and they're in trouble! My sister could have died! It could have happened already, and I'd be too late! And I don't know where the cave even is! What if I can't get back soon? She'll die--it'll happen, and I'll be too late! I want to go home!" He began to cry, and sank back down into the Applebus seat.
     Without realizing that she was paralleling what Maik had once done for her, Daphne picked up the blanket from off the Applebus floor and wrapped it back around Gavin, who was sobbing. "Oh, Gavin--shh, it's okay." she said gently. "Nothing's happened, not yet, and it won't before you're back to help. I promise it won't--it'll be all right."
     Gavin stared at Daphne and swiped at his eyes. "Do you really know it won't?"
     "I do."
     "How?" asked Gavin. Naomi and Ianthe looked at Daphne, wondering the same thing.
     Daphne met their stares and half-smiled. "Bryan." she said.
     "Bryan." echoed Ianthe. "You didn't tell us what happened when he disappeared."
     Gavin looked bewildered. "Bryan is a...a friend of mine." Daphne explained. "I--well, we, 'cause I wasn't that much help--rescued him from an evil professor not long ago. He was in one of these worlds, but he was pulled back home soon after."
     "By what?" asked Gavin.
     "I don't know." said Daphne. "But..." She stopped. "I guess I'll have to tell Elisay all this later. I want Gavin to hear what Bryan said, and you guys might as well, too." She took a breath and began her narrative.
     "We were out looking for food and stuff, like you two"--she motioned to Naomi and Ianthe--"already know. Well, we hadn't said much of--well, we hadn't really said anything to each other yet. I mean, I know we hadn't had much of a chance in the castle and stuff, but, like--you know. I kind of expected more than that. And it got me thinking about how I hardly got anything but silence out of him anymore. Which is when I sort of decided that--well, that--"
     "That it was Maik and not Bryan." supplied Ianthe.
     Gavin's eyes widened. "You mean he wasn't just a friend before!"
     "Well--you're partly right." replied Daphne. "That was the way I wanted it--and the way it might have been once--long story--but I never knew if he ever liked me, too. I thought for a long time as we were looking for food--in silence--and realized that we didn't know each other much anymore, and it was hard to know what you thought of someone who hardly spoke to you. And now here was Maik, and he seemed to like me, and I had begun to like him--and now that I'd thought about Bryan, I didn't feel bad about liking Maik instead. Suddenly, behind me, I heard Bryan speak. He called out, 'Daphne!' I turned around, and Bryan was fading away."
     "He was going home." said Gavin.
     "Yeah, but I didn't know that at the time. I mean, he could've been going anywhere, for all I knew. I mean, we didn't really know that Zerubbabel--another guy from before, Gavin--had gone home, either. And though I'd decided that--well, that it was Maik and not Bryan--I still cared about what happened to him. So I reached forward really quickly and grabbed him by the wrists, and somehow I managed to catch him between worlds. I don't know why I didn't go with him, because when we held on to you in Comolrin's castle," --here she pointed to Ianthe-- "when you faded, we went with you to the other corridor. But anyway, I had him. It felt like I was holding a hologram--that's how faded he was--but I asked him, 'What do you see?'
     "He said, 'I see the world where you are, and the one we left, both kind of faded. It's like they're superimposed on top of each other. Hey...'
     "'What?' I asked him."
     "He said, 'When I got taken away, I was watching TV--that's why maybe I thought I got to Comolrin's through it--but it's the exact same picture as it was when I left, frozen on the TV...I must be coming back to the same moment I left. Time hasn't passed at all, Daphne.'
     "Suddenly his eyes got really wide, and he seemed to jerk a bit. 'What's happening?' I asked him.
     "'A--a sort of power hit me. Just now.' he said.
     "'What do you mean?' I asked.
     "And he went, 'Well...do you remember Deanna Troi from Next Generation--that's a show we used to have in our world, Gavin; he and I talked about it a few times--and how she had empathic sense and could feel other people's emotions?'
     "I started to wonder if I could guess what he was getting at, but all I said was, 'Yeah.'
     "And he said, 'When I jerked, just now, I got that. I don't know how it happened, but suddenly it's like I'm me...but I'm also partly you.'
     "Ohhh..." Naomi broke in. "So he could tell that...?"
     Daphne nodded. "Yeah. That was my first thought, too, and I could feel myself tense...and it was awful, because I knew he could feel me tense, and he knew why. That was what I'd guessed, when he mentioned Deanna, but...my word, I can't describe it. I mean, you can hide feelings from showing on your face, but if they're there, they're there, and to know that Bryan could sense every emotion I had...yikes."
     "So what did you say?" asked Gavin.
     Daphne smiled at that. "Not much, let me tell you! There were about five seconds of complete silence on my part, and then I said, quote: 'Okay.'" The three listeners smiled. "And he said, sort of quietly, 'We'll see what happens. I need to think, and so do you. But I'll see you--I'll talk to you--when you get back.' He started to try to move the wrist I was holding, so I said, 'Okay. I'll be waiting...goodbye.' And I let go, and he faded completely away."
     "Wow." said Ianthe softly. "So...have you thought?"
     "I have." she said. "And it blows my mind, because I realized later just how deep he'd read me. 'Cause if he'd just read the surface, he'd have just seen that I was turning to Maik, and that'dve been it. But not only did he see that there was a reason for that--our not seeing each other, and our not talking to each other that much--but he also caught onto something that is really much more present than I thought--the feelings I still had, even after I'd decided on Maik, of possibility. For something between us, that is. I mean, the possibility has always been there on my part, but I thought that any on his part was long since gone--but maybe it isn't after all. I mean, don't get me wrong--I'm here now, and here's Maik, and I'm really happy having him to be with. But this is this world, and that's that one. Like Bryan went back to his own place, so will Maik. Like it or not, he and I are from very different worlds, and sooner or later, we're going to have to say goodbye. So maybe when we get back, something'll happen with Bryan--or maybe not. I don't know. But it's closure...when we get back, Bryan will be there, and--finally--he knows what I really think, and not just what I said." [Awww... that's so nice. :) ..I think it just about makes up for all the self-torture Zinni inflicted upon herself..! *g*]

Chapter Notes

Ianthe's idea that night, and what came of it...