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From: owner-arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com (arfic-l-digest) To: arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: arfic-l-digest V1 #63 Reply-To: arfic-l-digest Sender: owner-arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk arfic-l-digest Sunday, December 30 2001 Volume 01 : Number 063 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 17:54:22 +1300 From: "Anne Olsen" <anneo@paradise.net.nz> Subject: (arfic-l) Where The Winds Blow 2a - part one This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_016D_01C19224.2D9C9900 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I tried posting this before but it bounced due to size....trying again = and splitting it....this is part one, part two to follow...and you = should already have 2b/4...sorry bout that folks **** Where The Winds Blow (2a/4) by Anne Olsen Feeback to anneo@paradise.net.nz **** Chapter Two As Kevin walked along the small walkway through the forest, he tried to = block out the vibes he was picking up from his friends. Much as he = enjoyed their company he certainly didn't enjoy them going hammer and = tongs at each other. He squinted, putting his hand up to block the = bright rays of the sun filtering through the canopy of trees. This track = was one he'd walked many times over the last couple of years. It was = quiet here, apart from the song of an occasional Tui and the way the = crackling of the pine needles underneath his feet echoed throughout the = surrounding native bush. If only it was this quiet inside his mind. = Usually when he came here, it was easy just to block out the world = around him, and concentrate on what he wanted to, on what he *needed * = to think about. It was times like these where empathic powers had a real downside. Not = only could he still hear the conversation between Megabyte and Jade, he = could also pick up on the emotions behind the words. He shuddered. Not = pleasant at all.=20 The trouble was he could see both their points of view. Even though Jade = hadn't deliberately meant to upset Megabyte, Kevin knew why his friend = was over reacting. After all he and Megabyte had been friends even = before they had both become Tomorrow People. For all his humour and = nonchalant attitude, Megabyte tended to ignore his feelings and problems = in the hope that they would go away if he didn't acknowledge them. The = 'if I pretend they don't exist, they won't' attitude. Kevin smiled to = himself. It was probably a good thing that the redhead had no idea that = he had any inkling about this, a very good thing. Then of course there was the whole Jade having feelings for Megabyte = complication. One of these days someone was going to have to give his = friend a good kick. Kevin came to the edge of the bush and started walking along the narrow = dirt track which ran around the outside of the grass verge. Maybe the = farther he got away from the telepathic projections, the easier it might = be to block them out. He kicked a couple of pinecones that were lying on = the nearby grass and watched them land close to the small river which = ran through the Forest Park. Maybe if he tried again he might be able to = land one in the water. He smiled again, remembering how he used to enjoy = playing soccer when he was younger. Back in the days when his life = passed for normal, before those other *complications * set in.=20 He brought kicked out feeling the connection between it and the dry = pinecone beneath. As he watched it sail through the air, a white shape = leapt into action, grabbing the cone between its teeth. The large dog = landed gracefully on all fours, then looked around, turning it's head = towards the Tomorrow Person as Kevin let out a small whistle of = appreciation. The animal gave a small whine and trotted over to him, = dropping it's booty at his feet as Kevin ran his hand over the dog's = coat.=20 "Hi boy, I wonder who you belong to." The dog stopped sniffing his = trousers, looked=20 up at him as if in answer and barked.=20 "Ewan," Kevin said out loud, reading the label on the dog's collar. For = some reason it reminded him of Jade's dog, Jessie.=20 "Ewan! Come here, Ewan." As Kevin looked around, trying to see who was = calling out, a boy ran out of the bush, dog lead in hand. "You've found him. Cool. I thought Jamie was going to kill me. Come = here, Ewan." The boy slipped the lead onto the dog and ran his hands = over his pet. As he turned to Kevin, relief showing on his face, the = Tomorrow Person noticed how tall the newcomer was. Kevin had thought *he = * was tall for his eighteen years but this boy had at least two inches = on him. He was well built too in comparison to Kevin's own slight figure = and as he spoke his accent betrayed his New Zealand origins.=20 'Well of course it would. You're in New Zealand aren't you? What were = you expecting? An American?' Kevin felt a large grin spread over his = face as he listened to the boy in front of him. "Ewan slipped his collar when I was taking him for a walk," explained = the boy, relief showing on his rather flushed face. Intense hazel eyes = gazed at Kevin through gold rimmed glasses. "My brother Jamie's out = looking for him now. The whole family is actually." "Glad I could help." Kevin held his hand out to the boy and felt his = grin grow even wider. "I'm Kevin by the way. Kevin Wilson." "Alex," replied the boy, pushing his glasses back up his nose. "Alex = MacDonald. Pleased to meet you." Alex frowned, pushing a lock of light = brown hair out of his eyes and Kevin realised he was quite a lot younger = then he'd first thought. Couldn't be more than about fifteen, if that. "No I'm not from around here," Kevin explained then stopped. Oops. Alex = hadn't asked him that out loud. Stop eavesdropping, he thought, you're = getting as bad as Megabyte. "People usually ask about the accent," he = finished lamely. "Lucky guess," Alex grinned back at him." I tend to notice accents that = aren't Kiwi. from New Zealand, I mean. You're British aren't you? I know = you're not American because I know an American and her accent is quite = different from yours." Kevin nodded, running his hand over the dog's smooth coat. "He's a = beautiful dog," he told Alex. " My aunt's a vet so I know a little bit = about animals." Ewan stared up at him, panting and Kevin could feel the = dog's rough tongue moving over his hand as he tickled him behind the = ears.=20 Alex nodded. "My sister, Andrea, has a thing for that Ewan McGregor guy. = That's who he's named after. We had to sit through Star Wars ten times = just so that she could drool over him." "Ewan the actor or Ewan the dog?" Kevin grinned at his own bad joke. = Another sign he'd been hanging out with Megabyte way too much. Another voice rang through the bush. "Alex, have you found Ewan yet?" An = auburn haired young man, about the same age as Adam approached from the = trees bordering the side of the carpark and headed towards them.=20 "Kevin found him," Alex explained, holding Ewan firmly as the dog began = to bark excitedly. "Jamie, this is Kevin. Kevin, this is my brother = Jamie."=20 "Pleased to meet you, Kevin." As Jamie held out his hand, Kevin noticed = how different he was from his younger brother. Being similar in age = wasn't the only thing the New Zealander had in common with Adam. He was = tall and slim like the Australian and as Kevin watched, Jamie ran his = hands through his hair. Kevin smiled; he wasn't the only one with that = habit.=20 Kevin nodded towards Jamie, noticing how he was watching him intently, = much the same way his brother had a few minutes earlier, as they shook = hands. "Alex has just been telling me about Ewan," he explained. Jamie gave his brother a playful dig in the ribs. "It's not like you to = be so chatty, Alex," he said grinning. Alex poked his tongue out in response, a smirk on his face as he looked = over his brother's shoulder, towards the direction he had come from.=20 Kevin followed his gaze to see what or who he was looking at, and felt a = shiver run up his spine as he recognised the girl who was approaching. = He closed his eyes, and opened them again just to check he wasn't = dreaming. As he caught her eye, he could see her reaction to seeing him = was much the same. "Lisa," he said, almost in a whisper. **** End of part 2a- part one **** "Stop making me repeat myself. It's bad for my health." - Duo Maxwell, = Gundam Wing. ________________________________________ = =20 http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes ________________________________________ - ------=_NextPart_000_016D_01C19224.2D9C9900 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV> I tried posting this before but it bounced due to size....trying = again and=20 splitting it....this is part one, part two to follow...and you should = already=20 have 2b/4...sorry bout that folks **** Where The Winds Blow (2a/4) by Anne Olsen Feeback to <A=20 href=3D"mailto:anneo@paradise.net.nzChapter">anneo@paradise.net.nz</A></P= > **** Chapter Two As Kevin walked along the small walkway through the forest, he tried = to block=20 out the vibes he was picking up from his friends. Much as he enjoyed = their=20 company he certainly didn’t enjoy them going hammer and tongs at = each other. He=20 squinted, putting his hand up to block the bright rays of the sun = filtering=20 through the canopy of trees. This track was one he'd walked many times = over the=20 last couple of years. It was quiet here, apart from the song of an = occasional=20 Tui and the way the crackling of the pine needles underneath his feet = echoed=20 throughout the surrounding native bush. If only it was this quiet inside = his=20 mind. Usually when he came here, it was easy just to block out the world = around=20 him, and concentrate on what he wanted to, on what he *needed * = to think=20 about. It was times like these where empathic powers had a real downside. = Not only=20 could he still hear the conversation between Megabyte and Jade, he could = also=20 pick up on the emotions behind the words. He shuddered. Not pleasant at = all.=20 The trouble was he could see both their points of view. Even though = Jade=20 hadn’t deliberately meant to upset Megabyte, Kevin knew why his = friend was over=20 reacting. After all he and Megabyte had been friends even before they = had both=20 become Tomorrow People. For all his humour and nonchalant attitude, = Megabyte=20 tended to ignore his feelings and problems in the hope that they would = go away=20 if he didn’t acknowledge them. The ‘if I pretend they = don’t exist, they won’t’=20 attitude. Kevin smiled to himself. It was probably a good thing that the = redhead=20 had no idea that he had any inkling about this, a very good thing. Then of course there was the whole Jade having feelings for Megabyte=20 complication. One of these days someone was going to have to give his = friend a=20 good kick… Kevin came to the edge of the bush and started walking along the = narrow dirt=20 track which ran around the outside of the grass verge. Maybe the farther = he got=20 away from the telepathic projections, the easier it might be to block = them out.=20 He kicked a couple of pinecones that were lying on the nearby grass and = watched=20 them land close to the small river which ran through the Forest Park. = Maybe if=20 he tried again he might be able to land one in the water. He smiled = again,=20 remembering how he used to enjoy playing soccer when he was younger. = Back in the=20 days when his life passed for normal, before those other *complications = * set=20 in. He brought kicked out feeling the connection between it and the dry = pinecone=20 beneath. As he watched it sail through the air, a white shape leapt into = action,=20 grabbing the cone between its teeth. The large dog landed gracefully on = all=20 fours, then looked around, turning it's head towards the Tomorrow Person = as=20 Kevin let out a small whistle of appreciation. The animal gave a small = whine and=20 trotted over to him, dropping it's booty at his feet as Kevin ran his = hand over=20 the dog's coat. "Hi boy, I wonder who you belong to." The dog stopped sniffing his = trousers,=20 looked up at him as if in answer and barked. "Ewan," Kevin said out loud, reading the label on the dog’s = collar. For some=20 reason it reminded him of Jade’s dog, Jessie. "Ewan! Come here, Ewan." As Kevin looked around, trying to see who = was=20 calling out, a boy ran out of the bush, dog lead in hand. "You’ve found him. Cool. I thought Jamie was going to kill me. = Come here,=20 Ewan." The boy slipped the lead onto the dog and ran his hands over his = pet. As=20 he turned to Kevin, relief showing on his face, the Tomorrow Person = noticed how=20 tall the newcomer was. Kevin had thought *he * was tall for his = eighteen=20 years but this boy had at least two inches on him. He was well built too = in=20 comparison to Kevin's own slight figure and as he spoke his accent = betrayed his=20 New Zealand origins. 'Well of course it would. You're in New Zealand aren't you? What were = you=20 expecting? An American?' Kevin felt a large grin spread over his face as = he=20 listened to the boy in front of him. "Ewan slipped his collar when I was taking him for a walk," explained = the=20 boy, relief showing on his rather flushed face. Intense hazel eyes gazed = at=20 Kevin through gold rimmed glasses. "My brother Jamie's out looking for = him now.=20 The whole family is actually." "Glad I could help." Kevin held his hand out to the boy and felt his = grin=20 grow even wider. "I’m Kevin by the way. Kevin Wilson." "Alex," replied the boy, pushing his glasses back up his nose. "Alex=20 MacDonald. Pleased to meet you." Alex frowned, pushing a lock of light = brown=20 hair out of his eyes and Kevin realised he was quite a lot younger then = he'd=20 first thought. Couldn’t be more than about fifteen, if that. "No I’m not from around here," Kevin explained then stopped. = Oops. Alex=20 hadn’t asked him that out loud. Stop eavesdropping, he thought, = you’re getting=20 as bad as Megabyte. "People usually ask about the accent," he finished=20 lamely. "Lucky guess," Alex grinned back at him." I tend to notice accents = that=20 aren’t Kiwi… from New Zealand, I mean. You’re British = aren’t you? I know you’re=20 not American because I know an American and her accent is quite = different from=20 yours." Kevin nodded, running his hand over the dog's smooth coat. "He's a = beautiful=20 dog," he told Alex. " My aunt's a vet so I know a little bit about = animals."=20 Ewan stared up at him, panting and Kevin could feel the dog's rough = tongue=20 moving over his hand as he tickled him behind the ears. Alex nodded. "My sister, Andrea, has a thing for that Ewan McGregor = guy.=20 That's who he's named after. We had to sit through Star Wars ten times = just so=20 that she could drool over him." "Ewan the actor or Ewan the dog?" Kevin grinned at his own bad joke. = Another=20 sign he'd been hanging out with Megabyte way too much. Another voice rang through the bush. "Alex, have you found Ewan yet?" = An=20 auburn haired young man, about the same age as Adam approached from the = trees=20 bordering the side of the carpark and headed towards them. "Kevin found him," Alex explained, holding Ewan firmly as the dog = began to=20 bark excitedly. "Jamie, this is Kevin. Kevin, this is my brother Jamie." = "Pleased to meet you, Kevin." As Jamie held out his hand, Kevin = noticed how=20 different he was from his younger brother. Being similar in age wasn't = the only=20 thing the New Zealander had in common with Adam. He was tall and slim = like the=20 Australian and as Kevin watched, Jamie ran his hands through his hair. = Kevin=20 smiled; he wasn't the only one with that habit. Kevin nodded towards Jamie, noticing how he was watching him = intently, much=20 the same way his brother had a few minutes earlier, as they shook hands. = "Alex=20 has just been telling me about Ewan," he explained. Jamie gave his brother a playful dig in the ribs. "It's not like you = to be so=20 chatty, Alex," he said grinning. Alex poked his tongue out in response, a smirk on his face as he = looked over=20 his brother's shoulder, towards the direction he had come from. Kevin followed his gaze to see what or who he was looking at, and = felt a=20 shiver run up his spine as he recognised the girl who was approaching. = He closed=20 his eyes, and opened them again just to check he wasn’t dreaming. = As he caught=20 her eye, he could see her reaction to seeing him was much the same. = "Lisa," he=20 said, almost in a whisper. **** End of part 2a- part one ****</DIV> <DIV>"Stop making me repeat myself. It's bad = for my=20 health." - Duo Maxwell, Gundam=20 Wing. ________________________________________ = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =20 </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A=20 href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes">http://www.angelfir= e.com/ab7/shadesandechoes</A> ________________________________________= </DIV></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_016D_01C19224.2D9C9900-- - - To unsubscribe to arfic-l, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe arfic-l" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 17:57:23 +1300 From: "Anne Olsen" <anneo@paradise.net.nz> Subject: (arfic-l) Where The Winds Blow -Part 2a- the second bit This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_017A_01C19224.99A52720 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable And here's the second bit........part 2b/4 follows on directly from this = *bangs head against computer ***** Where The Winds Blow (2a/4) - part two by Anne Olsen Disclaimer in Part O Feedback to anneo@paradise.net.nz **** Alex looked from one to the other in surprise. "You two know each = other?" Kevin nodded, unsure of what to say. He stood there staring at her. It = was the Lisa he remembered so well and yet at the same time it wasn't. = Gone was the teenager she'd been the last time he'd seen her. In her = place was a young woman. She'd grown her hair out and it made her seem = different, though he couldn't quite put his finger on how exactly. She = didn't seem as tall as he remembered either. 'Maybe it's because you've grown up yourself you idiot. It's been seven = years remember?'=20 Lisa Davis looked as shell-shocked as he felt. "Hello Kevin," she said. = "Long time, no see." Jamie looked at Lisa, then at Kevin and back again at Lisa. "You know = this guy, Lisa?" he asked. His tone was that of concern mixed with a = degree of puzzlement.=20 "A long time ago. A *lifetime * ago." Ouch, thought Kevin, getting the = distinct feeling Lisa wanted that particular lifetime to stay in her = memories where it belonged. He was quickly getting the impression that = she wasn't exactly over the moon to see him. Jamie put a supportive arm around her, and Kevin again felt the concern = coming from him. "Lisa," the auburn haired young man said gently. "Are = you okay?" What was the relationship between him and Lisa? Were they = just friends or something more? "Yeah, just peachy." Even though she still sounded brusque Lisa didn't = shift Jamie's arm. She gazed up at him and her eyes softened. "I'm = sorry, Jamie. I've just had a shock that's all. I haven't seen Kevin for = years. In fact he'd be about the last person I'd expect to see." [Lisa, it's okay.] Kevin tried to sound reassuring, just as much for = himself as for her. [You're not the only one feeling shell-shocked = here.] Silence. [Lisa?] Surely after all these years she wasn't just going to brush him = off? Just seeing her again brought back the hurt he'd felt when she had = first left. He'd looked up to her back then. He still remembered = dreaming of her all those years ago and how he'd first thought she was a = figment of his imagination as they'd reached out to each other = telepathically as they'd broken out. Lisa stared at him, a worried expression sweeping over her dark = features. [No telepathy, Kevin. I don't do that anymore.] Kevin resisted the temptation of telling her that she just had. Still = she wasn't exactly going to say that out loud if Jamie and Alex didn't = know about the whole Tomorrow Person gig. He very much doubted they did, = considering the expression on Lisa's face. A *lifetime * ago to Lisa = obviously meant just that. Did she really think it was that bad being a = Tomorrow Person?=20 [Lisa?] Megabyte sounded surprised. [Is that you?] Lisa sighed but ignored him. "What are you doing in New Zealand, Kevin?" "Just here for a short visit," replied Kevin hoping that the MacDonald's = wouldn't ask how short. Most people didn't just visit a country on the = other side of the world for a day and leave. Then again most people = didn't use teleportation for their mode of transportation either. [Kev, that is Lisa isn't it?]=20 [Yes, Megabyte] Kevin tried to listen to the spoken conversation going = on around him as he answered. He knew full well that Megabyte wouldn't = leave this alone. Now he knew Lisa was here, he'd have to see for = himself.=20 "So are you here on your own, Kevin?" Lisa was obviously wondering how = many other 'old friends' she was likely to run into. She must have heard = Megabyte's telepathic query. Maybe this question was for the benefit of = her companions? [You mean as in *the * Lisa?]=20 [What other Lisa is there, Jade?] Megabyte's 'voice' sounded as though = he'd lost some of that anger, Kevin was relieved to hear. "I'm here with a couple of friends." Kevin answered Lisa's question, and = tried to ignore the barrage of telepathic questions running through his = mind from both Megabyte and Jade. "Do you guys want to join us for afternoon tea?" asked Jamie. "After all = it's not as though we've had much chance to meet any of Lisa's friends = from before she moved over here is it?" Kevin's earlier suspicions were = confirmed. The young man had no idea about Lisa's past or her desire to = move on from it. Otherwise there was no way he would have suggested the = invitation in the first place. Lisa looked uncomfortable, her gaze shifting between himself and Jamie. = "Kevin's probably got other things to do, places to be, that sort of = thing. Haven't you, Kevin?" Her eyes widened, almost pleading for him to = agree with what she'd just said. "Ummm." Kevin could take the hint. Of one thing he was sure, no way did = Lisa want her old and new lives to combine. She was freaking at this, = freaking majorly as Megabyte would say. "Kev, there you are." At the sound of Megabyte's voice, Kevin turned and = saw his two friends approaching. Lisa was going to love this. Judging by = the telepathic comments he had been receiving, Megabyte hadn't been too = impressed by Lisa's refusal to acknowledge his presence. Kevin had to = admire her will power, ignoring that loud voice resounding in her mind = for the last few minutes. Megabyte stopped, and Jade nearly ran up the back of him. "Lisa!" he = exclaimed, a lopsided grin on his face. "What are you doing here? What a = pleasant surprise." Kevin groaned inwardly. [Acting isn't one of your strong points, = Megabyte. It really isn't.] Of course losing the sarcastic tone would = have helped.=20 [Well it's Lisa's fault for ignoring me,] protested the redhead. [Would = you prefer I started with 'hi, Lisa, you've been ignoring me = telepathically so I've come to see you in person?'] Lisa glared at Megabyte, giving him a look that would have melted the = iceberg responsible for sinking the Titanic. "I wouldn't put it past = you," she said icily.=20 "Nice to see you too, Lisa," Megabyte replied, a look of annoyance = crossing his features at that last comment. Jamie looked between the two obviously wondering if he'd missed = something. He frowned, a small crease forming across his brow. Poor guy. = He didn't know the half of it. "I thought that comment was totally uncalled for," piped up Jade, coming = to Megabyte's defence. "Serves you right for ignoring." [Jade.] 'pathed Kevin warningly. He changed the subject hurriedly before = Jade said something they wouldn't be able to explain without giving away = their 'secret.' "Lisa, this is Jade. She's." Not a good idea continuing = that sentence.=20 "I'm Megabyte's girlfriend," chimed in Jade sweetly, an evil gleam in = her eye. This was obviously Jade's idea of payback for those comments = the American had made earlier. Part of Kevin had to smile though. He had = to admit, Megabyte deserved it.=20 "Don't mind Jade," said Megabyte hurriedly. "This is just her idea of a = joke."=20 [Then why are you blushing?] asked Jade, the saccharine tone still in = her 'voice'. She glanced innocently around and smiled at Megabyte = broadly. "Oh, Megabyte, don't be silly." She lowered her voice as she = continued, and fluttered her eyelashes. "It's just that we haven't been = *together * that long. If you know what I *mean *." Megabyte shot her a filthy look as his face turned even redder. It was = probably lucky for Jade at this point that Tomorrow People couldn't = kill. Kevin stifled a grin as he entered the conversation quickly, = trying to steer it onto a safer topic before Jade said anything else she = would regret later. "Megabyte, Jade, this is Alex and Jamie MacDonald. = They're friends of Lisa's." "Megabyte?" Alex asked, a look of disbelief on his face. "Is that really = your name?" Kevin noticed that although the boy had been watching his = brother and Lisa closely, he'd kept out of the conversation until now. = Even though he'd been concentrating on Ewan while they'd been talking, = the concern he'd felt for both of them had been obvious.=20 "It's what my friends call me." Megabyte spoke quickly, glaring at Jade = who sensibly said nothing. Judging from that smug expression on her face = she'd already got the reaction from Megabyte she had been after. Alex nodded, suddenly very quiet in comparison to the way he'd been when = he and Kevin had first met. Poor guy was obviously wondering what was = going on, much the same way his brother was. "So how do you guys know Lisa?" Jamie asked, shooting a quick glance in = her direction. Kevin wondered again what exactly their relationship was. = They were more than just friends. That much was becoming clearer with = each passing minute. "I met them a long time ago," said Lisa in way of explanation. "Things = happened and we lost touch. I haven't seen them in years." [You mean you left and didn't bother telling us where you were,] pointed = out Megabyte. [Isn't that what you really meant?] At least he had the = sense to use telepathy and for that Kevin was glad.=20 "So this is quite the reunion then." Jamie gestured back towards the = carpark, completely oblivious as to the conversation going on around = him. "You guys have got to tell us all about it over afternoon tea. Lisa = doesn't speak much about her past." He smiled, but Kevin could see an = expression of pain cross his face very briefly. He's not happy with Lisa = keeping secrets. If only he knew what that secret was. [Poor guy, he = hasn't a clue has he?] Oops. He hadn't meant to broadcast that last = thought. [And it's going to stay that way. Promise me that please, guys?] Lisa's = telepathic voice sounded desperate, in comparison to the forced smile on = her face. She must be desperate if she was resorting to telepathy. = [Look, Megabyte, I'm sorry, okay? I was scared after what happened, = surely you can see that?] "Yeah afternoon tea sounds great," Megabyte replied. "I'm never one to = turn down free food. Lisa can tell us everything she's been up to." He = started to follow Jamie, glancing back at them as he added = telepathically, [We were all scared, Lisa, but some of us didn't run = away. We've been worried about you. Did you ever stop to think about how = we would feel when you disappeared? Adam beat himself up about it for = months.] [Masters threatened my mother, Megabyte. I couldn't run the risk of it = happening again.] Lisa sounded defensive, but her reply came out almost = sounding rehearsed. Was that what she'd been telling herself all these = years? Is that how she'd justified her decision?=20 Megabyte snorted as he stopped briefly to pick up a stray piece of fern = at his feet, throwing it back into the bush. [My dad offered to help. He = would have helped you set up a new life. You didn't have to take off and = do it on your own.] It was going to take a lot to convince Megabyte, = Kevin knew. He'd been hurt by what had happened and true to form had = just ignored it, hoping it would go away. The trouble with burying = things was that they had a habit of being dug up again when you least = expected them.=20 [Can we continue this later?] Lisa gave Jamie a shaky smile as he waited = at the end of the bush track for them to catch up. "You're very quiet there, Lisa. Is everything okay?" Jamie sounded = concerned and again a slight frown crossed his features. He knew = something was going on but couldn't work out what, and from what Kevin = was picking up from him, it was starting to get to him, though he was = trying hard to cover up those feelings. The poor guy didn't realise that = the way he was broadcasting those thoughts, the only person who wouldn't = be picking up on them would be Alex.=20 "Yeah, Jamie, I'm fine. It's been a shock seeing Kevin and Megabyte = again, that's all." 'That's all?'=20 Jamie leant and kissed her on the cheek very gently as though to = reassure her. "Hey it's okay, I understand. It's not everyday your past = catches up with you is it? A hot cup of tea and one of Mum's kiwifruit = muffins will make you feel better." Jade looked up from where she'd been bringing up the rear with Alex and = Ewan, quite oblivious as to why both Lisa and Megabyte were reacting the = way they were. [Maybe we should meet at the spaceship later and then you = can talk to the others too.] Jade knew about Lisa, but only that she'd = been one of them and had left without telling them why or where'd she = gone. By the time Jade had become a Tomorrow Person, they'd all buried = the hurt under layers of pretending it didn't matter and tried to move = on. [Okay,] Lisa sounded hesitant as she glanced at Jamie, obviously trying = to gauge his reaction to her excuse. He squeezed her hand, in response = to the unsure look she gave him, and Kevin could again feel the concern = radiating from the New Zealander, though the annoyance he'd felt earlier = was beginning to subside. [Just keep the conversation to everyday things = for now. I'll explain everything later if you do, I promise.]=20 Kevin wanted to believe that, he really did but a part of him knew it = wouldn't happen. He knew she would come to the spaceship but he had a = feeling that it wasn't going to change what had happened, wasn't going = to just magically put things right. Magic was for children, and those = who believed that everything always turned out right. He knew from = experience that life wasn't like that. At least not *his * experience of = life. [And if we don't?] As he realised Megabyte's question and the tone in = which it was asked weren't going to help Lisa's current state of mind, = Kevin felt guilty about his last few thoughts. Maybe they should give = Lisa the benefit of the doubt first? At least listen to her explanation. = He gave Megabyte the telepathic equivalent of a sharp kick. [Try and see = this from Lisa's point of view. Just concentrate on those muffins Jamie = mentioned for now, and you can save the third degree till later. Okay?] "Did someone mention muffins?" Megabyte asked Jamie brightly as they = crossed the carpark heading towards the other main picnic area, his = characteristic grin lighting up his face. "Your mom bakes? I think I = like her already." **** End of part 2a **** "Stop making me repeat myself. It's bad for my health." - Duo Maxwell, = Gundam Wing. ________________________________________ = =20 http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes ________________________________________ - ------=_NextPart_000_017A_01C19224.99A52720 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV>And here's the second bit........part = 2b/4 follows=20 on directly from this *bangs head against computer</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>*****</DIV> <DIV> Where The Winds Blow (2a/4) - part two by Anne Olsen Disclaimer in Part O Feedback to <A=20 href=3D"mailto:anneo@paradise.net.nzAlex">anneo@paradise.net.nz</A> **** Alex looked from one to the other in surprise. "You two know each = other?" Kevin nodded, unsure of what to say. He stood there staring at her. = It was=20 the Lisa he remembered so well and yet at the same time it wasn't. Gone = was the=20 teenager she'd been the last time he'd seen her. In her place was a = young woman.=20 She'd grown her hair out and it made her seem different, though he = couldn't=20 quite put his finger on how exactly. She didn't seem as tall as he = remembered=20 either. 'Maybe it's because you've grown up yourself you idiot. It's been = seven years=20 remember?' Lisa Davis looked as shell-shocked as he felt. "Hello Kevin," she = said. "Long=20 time, no see." Jamie looked at Lisa, then at Kevin and back again at Lisa. "You know = this=20 guy, Lisa?" he asked. His tone was that of concern mixed with a degree = of=20 puzzlement. "A long time ago. A *lifetime * ago." Ouch, thought Kevin, getting = the=20 distinct feeling Lisa wanted that particular lifetime to stay in her = memories=20 where it belonged. He was quickly getting the impression that she = wasn’t exactly=20 over the moon to see him. Jamie put a supportive arm around her, and Kevin again felt the = concern=20 coming from him. "Lisa," the auburn haired young man said gently. "Are = you=20 okay?" What was the relationship between him and Lisa? Were they just = friends or=20 something more? "Yeah, just peachy." Even though she still sounded brusque Lisa = didn’t shift=20 Jamie’s arm. She gazed up at him and her eyes softened. "I’m = sorry, Jamie. I’ve=20 just had a shock that’s all. I haven’t seen Kevin for years. = In fact he’d be=20 about the last person I’d expect to see." [Lisa, it’s okay.] Kevin tried to sound reassuring, just as = much for himself=20 as for her. [You’re not the only one feeling shell-shocked = here.] Silence. [Lisa?] Surely after all these years she wasn't just going to brush = him off?=20 Just seeing her again brought back the hurt he'd felt when she had first = left.=20 He'd looked up to her back then. He still remembered dreaming of her all = those=20 years ago and how he'd first thought she was a figment of his = imagination as=20 they'd reached out to each other telepathically as they'd broken = out. Lisa stared at him, a worried expression sweeping over her dark = features. [No=20 telepathy, Kevin. I don’t do that anymore.] Kevin resisted the temptation of telling her that she just had. Still = she=20 wasn’t exactly going to say that out loud if Jamie and Alex = didn’t know about=20 the whole Tomorrow Person gig. He very much doubted they did, = considering the=20 expression on Lisa’s face. A *lifetime * ago to Lisa obviously = meant just that.=20 Did she really think it was that bad being a Tomorrow Person? [Lisa?] Megabyte sounded surprised. [Is that you?] Lisa sighed but ignored him. "What are you doing in New Zealand, = Kevin?" "Just here for a short visit," replied Kevin hoping that the = MacDonald’s=20 wouldn’t ask how short. Most people didn’t just visit a = country on the other=20 side of the world for a day and leave. Then again most people = didn’t use=20 teleportation for their mode of transportation either. [Kev, that is Lisa isn’t it?] [Yes, Megabyte] Kevin tried to listen to the spoken conversation = going on=20 around him as he answered. He knew full well that Megabyte wouldn't = leave this=20 alone. Now he knew Lisa was here, he'd have to see for himself. "So are you here on your own, Kevin?" Lisa was obviously wondering = how many=20 other ‘old friends’ she was likely to run into. She must = have heard Megabyte’s=20 telepathic query. Maybe this question was for the benefit of her = companions? [You mean as in *the * Lisa?] [What other Lisa is there, Jade?] Megabyte’s = ‘voice’ sounded as though he’d=20 lost some of that anger, Kevin was relieved to hear. "I’m here with a couple of friends." Kevin answered = Lisa’s question, and=20 tried to ignore the barrage of telepathic questions running through his = mind=20 from both Megabyte and Jade. "Do you guys want to join us for afternoon tea?" asked Jamie. "After = all it’s=20 not as though we’ve had much chance to meet any of Lisa’s = friends from before=20 she moved over here is it?" Kevin's earlier suspicions were confirmed. = The young=20 man had no idea about Lisa's past or her desire to move on from it. = Otherwise=20 there was no way he would have suggested the invitation in the first = place. Lisa looked uncomfortable, her gaze shifting between himself and = Jamie.=20 "Kevin’s probably got other things to do, places to be, that sort = of thing.=20 Haven’t you, Kevin?" Her eyes widened, almost pleading for him to = agree with=20 what she'd just said. "Ummm…" Kevin could take the hint. Of one thing he was sure, no = way did Lisa=20 want her old and new lives to combine. She was freaking at this, = freaking=20 majorly as Megabyte would say. "Kev, there you are." At the sound of Megabyte’s voice, Kevin = turned and saw=20 his two friends approaching. Lisa was going to love this. Judging by the = telepathic comments he had been receiving, Megabyte hadn’t been = too impressed by=20 Lisa’s refusal to acknowledge his presence. Kevin had to admire = her will power,=20 ignoring that loud voice resounding in her mind for the last few = minutes. Megabyte stopped, and Jade nearly ran up the back of him. "Lisa!" he=20 exclaimed, a lopsided grin on his face. "What are you doing here? What a = pleasant surprise." Kevin groaned inwardly. [Acting isn’t one of your strong = points, Megabyte. It=20 really isn’t.] Of course losing the sarcastic tone would have = helped. [Well it’s Lisa’s fault for ignoring me,] protested the = redhead. [Would you=20 prefer I started with 'hi, Lisa, you’ve been ignoring me = telepathically so I’ve=20 come to see you in person?'] Lisa glared at Megabyte, giving him a look that would have melted the = iceberg=20 responsible for sinking the Titanic. "I wouldn’t put it past you," = she said=20 icily. "Nice to see you too, Lisa," Megabyte replied, a look of annoyance = crossing=20 his features at that last comment. Jamie looked between the two obviously wondering if he’d missed = something. He=20 frowned, a small crease forming across his brow. Poor guy. He = didn’t know the=20 half of it. "I thought that comment was totally uncalled for," piped up Jade, = coming to=20 Megabyte’s defence. "Serves you right for ignoring…" [Jade…] ‘pathed Kevin warningly. He changed the subject = hurriedly before Jade=20 said something they wouldn't be able to explain without giving away = their=20 'secret.' "Lisa, this is Jade. She’s…" Not a good idea = continuing that sentence.=20 "I’m Megabyte’s girlfriend," chimed in Jade sweetly, an = evil gleam in her=20 eye. This was obviously Jade’s idea of payback for those comments = the American=20 had made earlier. Part of Kevin had to smile though. He had to admit, = Megabyte=20 deserved it. "Don’t mind Jade," said Megabyte hurriedly. "This is just her = idea of a=20 joke." [Then why are you blushing?] asked Jade, the saccharine tone still in = her=20 ‘voice’. She glanced innocently around and smiled at = Megabyte broadly. "Oh,=20 Megabyte, don’t be silly." She lowered her voice as she continued, = and fluttered=20 her eyelashes. "It's just that we haven’t been *together * that = long… If you=20 know what I *mean *." Megabyte shot her a filthy look as his face turned even redder. It = was=20 probably lucky for Jade at this point that Tomorrow People = couldn’t kill. Kevin=20 stifled a grin as he entered the conversation quickly, trying to steer = it onto a=20 safer topic before Jade said anything else she would regret later. = "Megabyte,=20 Jade, this is Alex and Jamie MacDonald. They’re friends of = Lisa’s." "Megabyte?" Alex asked, a look of disbelief on his face. "Is that = really your=20 name?" Kevin noticed that although the boy had been watching his brother = and=20 Lisa closely, he'd kept out of the conversation until now. Even though = he'd been=20 concentrating on Ewan while they'd been talking, the concern he'd felt = for both=20 of them had been obvious. "It’s what my friends call me." Megabyte spoke quickly, glaring = at Jade who=20 sensibly said nothing. Judging from that smug expression on her face = she’d=20 already got the reaction from Megabyte she had been after. Alex nodded, suddenly very quiet in comparison to the way he'd been = when he=20 and Kevin had first met. Poor guy was obviously wondering what was going = on,=20 much the same way his brother was. "So how do you guys know Lisa?" Jamie asked, shooting a quick glance = in her=20 direction. Kevin wondered again what exactly their relationship was. = They were=20 more than just friends. That much was becoming clearer with each passing = minute. "I met them a long time ago," said Lisa in way of explanation. = "Things=20 happened and we lost touch. I haven’t seen them in years." [You mean you left and didn’t bother telling us where you = were,] pointed out=20 Megabyte. [Isn’t that what you really meant?] At least he had the = sense to use=20 telepathy and for that Kevin was glad. "So this is quite the reunion then." Jamie gestured back towards the = carpark,=20 completely oblivious as to the conversation going on around him. "You = guys have=20 got to tell us all about it over afternoon tea. Lisa doesn’t speak = much about=20 her past." He smiled, but Kevin could see an expression of pain cross = his face=20 very briefly. He’s not happy with Lisa keeping secrets. If only he = knew what=20 that secret was. [Poor guy, he hasn’t a clue has he?] Oops. He = hadn’t meant to=20 broadcast that last thought. [And it’s going to stay that way. Promise me that please, = guys?] Lisa’s=20 telepathic voice sounded desperate, in comparison to the forced smile on = her=20 face. She must be desperate if she was resorting to telepathy. [Look, = Megabyte,=20 I’m sorry, okay? I was scared after what happened, surely you can = see that?] "Yeah afternoon tea sounds great," Megabyte replied. "I’m never = one to turn=20 down free food. Lisa can tell us everything she’s been up to." He = started to=20 follow Jamie, glancing back at them as he added telepathically, [We were = all=20 scared, Lisa, but some of us didn’t run away. We’ve been = worried about you. Did=20 you ever stop to think about how we would feel when you disappeared? = Adam beat=20 himself up about it for months.] [Masters threatened my mother, Megabyte. I couldn’t run the = risk of it=20 happening again.] Lisa sounded defensive, but her reply came out almost = sounding=20 rehearsed. Was that what she'd been telling herself all these years? Is = that how=20 she'd justified her decision? Megabyte snorted as he stopped briefly to pick up a stray piece of = fern at=20 his feet, throwing it back into the bush. [My dad offered to help. He = would have=20 helped you set up a new life. You didn’t have to take off and do = it on your=20 own.] It was going to take a lot to convince Megabyte, Kevin knew. He'd = been=20 hurt by what had happened and true to form had just ignored it, hoping = it would=20 go away. The trouble with burying things was that they had a habit of = being dug=20 up again when you least expected them. [Can we continue this later?] Lisa gave Jamie a shaky smile as he = waited at=20 the end of the bush track for them to catch up. "You’re very quiet there, Lisa. Is everything okay?" Jamie = sounded concerned=20 and again a slight frown crossed his features. He knew something was = going on=20 but couldn't work out what, and from what Kevin was picking up from him, = it was=20 starting to get to him, though he was trying hard to cover up those = feelings.=20 The poor guy didn't realise that the way he was broadcasting those = thoughts, the=20 only person who wouldn't be picking up on them would be Alex. "Yeah, Jamie, I’m fine. It’s been a shock seeing Kevin = and Megabyte again,=20 that’s all." 'That's all?' Jamie leant and kissed her on the cheek very gently as though to = reassure=20 her. "Hey it’s okay, I understand. It’s not everyday your = past catches up with=20 you is it? A hot cup of tea and one of Mum’s kiwifruit muffins = will make you=20 feel better." Jade looked up from where she'd been bringing up the rear with Alex = and Ewan,=20 quite oblivious as to why both Lisa and Megabyte were reacting the way = they=20 were. [Maybe we should meet at the spaceship later and then you can talk = to the=20 others too.] Jade knew about Lisa, but only that she'd been one of them = and had=20 left without telling them why or where'd she gone. By the time Jade had = become a=20 Tomorrow Person, they'd all buried the hurt under layers of pretending = it didn't=20 matter and tried to move on. [Okay,] Lisa sounded hesitant as she glanced at Jamie, obviously = trying to=20 gauge his reaction to her excuse. He squeezed her hand, in response to = the=20 unsure look she gave him, and Kevin could again feel the concern = radiating from=20 the New Zealander, though the annoyance he'd felt earlier was beginning = to=20 subside. [Just keep the conversation to everyday things for now. = I’ll explain=20 everything later if you do, I promise.] Kevin wanted to believe that, he really did but a part of him knew it = wouldn't happen. He knew she would come to the spaceship but he had a = feeling=20 that it wasn't going to change what had happened, wasn't going to just = magically=20 put things right. Magic was for children, and those who believed that = everything=20 always turned out right. He knew from experience that life wasn't like = that. At=20 least not *his * experience of life. [And if we don’t?] As he realised Megabyte's question and the = tone in which=20 it was asked weren't going to help Lisa's current state of mind, Kevin = felt=20 guilty about his last few thoughts. Maybe they should give Lisa the = benefit of=20 the doubt first? At least listen to her explanation. He gave Megabyte the telepathic equivalent of a sharp kick. [Try and = see this=20 from Lisa’s point of view. Just concentrate on those muffins Jamie = mentioned for=20 now, and you can save the third degree till later. Okay?] "Did someone mention muffins?" Megabyte asked Jamie brightly as they = crossed=20 the carpark heading towards the other main picnic area, his = characteristic grin=20 lighting up his face. "Your mom bakes? I think I like her already." **** <DIV>End of part 2a</DIV> <DIV>****</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV> <DIV>"Stop making me repeat myself. It's bad = for my=20 health." - Duo Maxwell, Gundam=20 Wing. ________________________________________ = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =20 </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A=20 href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes">http://www.angelfir= e.com/ab7/shadesandechoes</A> ________________________________________= </DIV></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_017A_01C19224.99A52720-- - - To unsubscribe to arfic-l, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe arfic-l" in the body of the message. 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