Late Nights (Naia)

[Naia]

Darien's clone shot back to him and Naia tried not to laugh. It was sort of funny, watching Darien swish and suck back into Darien. It was pretty amusing, but laughing would only expell the air that he had just given her. She stopped clinging to him, her body once more seperating from his.

Not letting go of eachother's hands, the two of them kept swimming deeper into the lake. Naia wondered where they were going and what was on the bottom of the lake that he wanted to show her. Perhaps a sea of pearls, since he had gotten the clam from the bottom of the lake.

At about 60 feet Naia was once more starting to feel a need for fresh air. As if reading her mind, Darien pulled her to him and pressed his mouth to hers. Naia once more resisted the urge to smile and let water in between their open mouths. She expelled the used air from her nostrils and sucked in, taking the air from his lungs as the clone swished into him.

Reaching the bottom, there was indeed a sea of clams. Darien pulled them to the largest one and released her hand. Struggling to stay at the bottom with him, she became curious as he suddenly beat the thing. Grabbing her hand once more, Darien pulled her through the cave that the escaping smaller clams had made.

Suddenly caught by a current, Naia gripped his hand tightly with both of hers to not be swept away from Darien. Their heads broke free and she gasped in the stale air, with a large smile on her face. What an adventure this was, she felt exhilerated. The air also felt nice, though she had enjoyed Darien's way of helping her breathe.

He pulled her onto the ledge easily and the boy took her hand once more, leading her through the gloom. She tried to peer through it and as her eyes began to acclimate themselves, she felt his hand on her flat stomach, stopping her from any continuing movement. "Wait here" She nodded, though she was unsure if he could see it or not.

Grabbing her thick braid, Naia began to twist the water out of it. Without warning, light shone in the bottom of the lake in front of her, glowing from seemingly nowhere. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened, Naia was in shock. The beauty of what was in front of her glowed against her face, lighting up everything around her. The girl's caramel skin shone in the light as she peered up to see if the ceiling could be glimped. It wasn't there, though, only a faint echo of light.

"Up on the hill theres a giant rock, which has a giant slab of shiny rock attached to it. I assume that rock reflects light straight down a tunnel, because in the spike i blew into there are large pieces of a different material that holds sunlight and moonlight like storage containers.. When i blow into it, it pushes the rocks down and under the clams, which open up to enjoy the warmth they think will accompany the small stones. The light reflects on all the millions of pearls, and thus you have Pearl lake."

She didn't look back as he spoke, the girl figured out that he was behind her and had brought the light. He certainly did seem full of surprises, all of them gorgeous.

"It's so beautiful, Darien. You are so full of surprises." She said softly, though due to the fact that she was standing so close to the water her voice bounced over it and up into the ceiling. "How did you find this place?" The light from the pearls shone in her dark eyes as she looked back to him. The glow also shone off of Darien and reflected in his eyes. They became much more sharp and enticing. Others would probably have found his gaze even more intimidating, but Naia didn't find that to be true.

[Darien]

Darien couldn't help but smile in his mind as she complimented him again for being full of surprises. He supposed he was really showing her these things because he wanted her to see something he found to be majestic, displaying the beauty of the world around them. So many people go they're lives without taking a moment to stop, and take a deep breath. To look up, and notice the birds and the trees. To take time out, and find the heaven in every day life.

Darien wasn't one of those people.

"I suppose my father is the one who helped me find this place. He always taught me to try new things, and to always think for myself, and to try and see and feel what others never will. How i found this place? I couldn't really tell you." He smiled.

"But I'm sure glad i did. It's the one place i can go that nobody else can. Unless you already know of it, There is really no chance of the place being found." He turned to her after he spoke, and noticed her staring into his eyes. He stared back, his piercing blue gaze boring into her soft, dark eyes. He couldn't get the image of Giving her air out of his mind, try as he might. He leaned in slowly, his lips ever so close to hers, he could feel her breath....

Then he pulled back, shocked at himself. He wasn't ashamed of it, but he was afraid of the closeness that might become of it. He was fun loving, and caring, and sensitive, and loved life, but there were others...students who knew people he had made enemies with, teachers who watched him constantly. He couldn't be close to her, not in the way he wanted. He knew that, should he continue tonight, she might take a mental leap that he didn't want her to take. Not yet, not now.

He was suddenly terrified of what she might think after that.

Then again, it might be better that they just stay friends....He couldn't tell her why, he wouldn't. He backed away a couple of steps, then turned around, twisting his head so as to smile back over his shoulder at her.

He dove in the water.

Bubbles shot out everywhere, clams shooting out of the water, a rain of pearls coming down on her like a silver shower. He smiled as he swam, coming around the bank where she wasn't looking and silently getting out of the water to come in behind her.

"We should go" He said, the smile still on his face.

[Naia]

"I suppose my father is the one who helped me find this place. He always taught me to try new things, and to always think for myself, and to try and see and feel what others never will. How i found this place? I couldn't really tell you." Naia smiled. It was always nice to hear people talk well of their parents, she wished she could remember her own. The old couple who had found her didn't count, they had never really been kind, only old and withering in her eyes.

"But I'm sure glad i did. It's the one place i can go that nobody else can. Unless you already know of it, There is really no chance of the place being found." The girl laughed, still staring into Darien's eyes. He seemed to notice her staring for the first time and looked back. The glow became even more intense and she couldn't help but smile coyly. He moved closer and it was as if Naia could feel his breath entering her body once more, her torso expanding with his air only to be pressed against his muscled frame.

Darien moved closer and Naia tilted her chin up slightly, for he was quite a bit taller than she. She got the full effect of his gaze, then, and it only made her want to stare harder, while others would have turned their own eyes away. She put her hand on his elbow and held his gaze. Naia could feel his breath against her mouth and new that it would be far different since she was not taking his air.

Then, he pulled back. Snapping back into reality, she saw the turmoil painted on his face. Something was holding him back and Naia knew that he had done the right thing. She was not ready for anything more than a friendship, and she didn't know if Darien was the type of boy to get a strong impression from a kiss. The girl had a lot of things to learn about herself before she could allow herself to care deeply for another. Naia knew that if she allowed it, she would easily care deeply for Darien, he was unlike any boy she could remember, although that wasn't saying much as she could only remember a few months prior.

Opening her mouth, Naia suddenly had the urge to tell him it was ok, to reassure him. She wanted to tell him that it was better they stay friends for now, that she couldn't remember as far back as the previous christmas. Darien was backing away, though, and she caught the mischevious glint in his blue eyes. Turning away, the boy dove into the water and a shower of bubbles and pearls fell onto the girl's dark hair and face. She laughed joyously, catching a few of them with a happy smile.

"We should go" She hadn't heard him approach, but for some reason she wasn't startled. It took a lot to make Naia jump, so she simply turned and beamed up at him. "This is a lovely place, thankyou for bringing me here, Darien." Her smile turned from beaming to coy, "You'll have to bring me here again sometime."

Facing way they had come, Naia looked down into the water, the glow was waning. "Will we be going out the same way we came in? The current that pushed us into the cave was quite strong." The idea of losing all of her strength fighting the water only to be slammed against the landing again was not a pleasant one and she hoped that Darien had another surprise up his sleeve. So far, he did not seem lacking in them.

[Darien]

Darien grinned, then walked over to the way they came in and split in two. He jumped into the water, arms pumping furiously against the current. He reached the opening, grabbing hold and pushing himself out. He let himself float to the top, his body gathering speed and the air in his lungs acted like a flotation device. He broke the surface, Taking in a deep breath as he did so, and began swimming toward the beach, heading for the little hole his twin and Naia would soon pop out of.

Back under the lake, his twin stepped toward Naia, his arms wrapping tenderly around her frame as he spoke the thoughts the real Darien Transmitted to him.

"Hold on tight. I promise, i wont let go."

After she did so, he would jump into the lake, the pearls and bubbles flying anew as he hit the depths. Strong current hit them, sucking them through a small hole that shone with encrusted diamonds and clams. Fish poked there heads out of the cubbyholes, they're multicolors glittering under the shine from the priceless stones around them. They would break the surface moments later, and the clone would be pulled back to Darien as he extended his hand down to help her up and out of the water.

As he did so, her body would be pulled against his yet again, and he would pause, mouth open a little at the feel of it. He stared at her, letting go of her hand, though he didn't make a movement to push her body away, or to move away himself.

He wouldn't deny it.

It felt good.

He would continue staring until she did something.

[Naia]

Darien split into two and one of them left, she couldn't decide if it was the real him or the clone him. She looked at him curiously and peeped over the edge of the water. Had he just swum out? Well, Naia knew he was a good swimmer but she would never be able to get through that current, and was afraid of dragging him through it with her.

Looking back to Darien, he was moving towards her. Straigtening up, he took her in his arms. Naia had thought he would have a tight grip, due to the fact that they were about to leap into a strong current, but instead it was soft and gentle. "Hold on tight. I promise, i wont let go." Naia wrapped her arms around him and nodded, her head moving against his firm chest. "I'm ready." She said softly.

With that, they leapt into the water and Naia let out a shriek of exhileration. She couldn't remember ever having felt as liberated as she did on this night.

The cold water hit their bodies and swept them away. Her eyes caught sight of glittering diamonds and rare fish peeking out at them. The sight was astounding, better yet than any she had seen so far, due to the fact that she was rushing by it all in a tube of water.

Breaking the surface, the Darien she clung to held onto her as it was sucked back into the other Darien. At the same time, the other Darien reach down to help her up. The mixture sent her colliding with the tall boy, her supple body pressed against his with more intensity than when the current had caught them.

His mouth was open slightly and she smiled, trying her best to seem shy yet failing as she held his sharp gaze. Naia longed to reach out and take his hand, but she held herself back. She did, though, allow herself to stay pressed up against him for a moment longer than she felt was truly needed. Moving back a step, she was still close enough to feel his breath on her face but not so close that they were still pressed together.

"So, Darien," The girl's words were still soft and her smile even softer, "do you have any more surprises left in you?" In truth, Naia wasn't sure she could take any more without bursting, but she didn't want this night to end.

[Darien]

Darien grinned.

"You have no idea. This place is just one of many i could show you in these woods." He looked up at the stars as he spoke. "Tonight has been a wonderful night..."His eyes came back down. "Ill leave it up to you. I can show you more, and we can continue this night in heaven, or we can go back and see each other tomorrow." He shrugged. "I've also got some movies in my dorm if your interested, i dont think Matt's there right now." He liked this girl, though he had only met her a few hours ago. It wasn't like him, to trust so easily, especially since he didn't know how she would act with other men; whether she would be attracted to them, flirt, or even sleep with them. She didn't seem the type, but that was his problem, he really didn't know.

He wondered what would happen if she decided to head to bed, and while part of him wanted her to say no to his offers and slap sense into him, another part wanted more than anything for her to ask for the nights continuation. He scanned over her face, keeping his eyes on her head alone, not wanting her to think it was just her body he was attracted to. Sure, he WAS attracted to it, but it was the way she stared into his gaze while others looked away, and how she laughs and smiles, and really enjoys life that set the fire under his skin.

He stood there in front of her, waiting on her decision.

[Naia]

"You have no idea. This place is just one of many i could show you in these woods. Tonight has been a wonderful night..." Naia followed his gaze to the sky. She had never had such a wonderful night in her rememberance, and she doubted anythin so glamorous had happened to her before the loss of her memory.

She looked away from the sky and saw his eyes on her. "Ill leave it up to you. I can show you more, and we can continue this night in heaven, or we can go back and see each other tomorrow." Naia smiled at him once more, though it lessened a bit at his words. She trully did not want to leave him, though she thought it would be the wisest of the options. He had more to say, though, so she stayed her tongue.

"I've also got some movies in my dorm if your interested, i dont think Matt's there right now." Movie? What was that? Who was Matt? Naia smiled, this would be her decision. She would get to spend more time with him and hopefully not explode from any more surprises. "I think that option sounds the best." Naia smiled and looked into his eyes. She hoped he wasn't offering to spend more time with her out of curtesy. Perhaps he could tell that she was foreign and so was simply being kind. No, Naia didn't think that was the case. No one would press up to her the way he did out of mere kindness.

"I do not think I could take many more surprises tonight, Darien." Naia hoped he didn't think she sounded silly. Did most girls enjoy loads of surprises all at once? She surely didn't know, she hadn't made any girl friends since the loss of her memory. "Besides, I am very curious to learn what a 'movie' is."

Naia looked up at him with a mix of excitement and seriousness. She loved to learn, and also enjoyed spending time with him. Even though the old woman would burn to see her now, standing in the night with a boy while showing skin, she felt comfortable with him. It didn't matter than Naia had only met him a few hours before, she wanted to spend more time with him.

[Darien]

Darien smiled

"Fair enough. Come on, ill show you-" He stopped. Did she just insinuate that she didn't know what a movie was? He kept walking, wondering exactly what she meant by that. He thought at first that she might be joking, but it didn't sound or look like someone who was joking. They walked for a bit, when his hand found hers. He didn't register it at first, but then he pulled it away, blushing a little at he did so without looking down at her. About half an hour later they walked out of the woods, right at the place they entered. He walked back with her, coming up to the dorms and heading up the stairs.

He walked down the hall toward his and Matt's dorm, then peeked his head inside.

"Matt, you here?" No answer, so he headed inside and flicked on the light. He was right, Matt wasn't here. He was still bare chested, but wasn't really cold, so he almost thought to leave his shirt off when he realized it might make her a little uncomfortable. He also thought about how she was almost half naked, dripping wet. He reached into his drawer and pulled out some sweatpants with a drawstring, and a white t-shirt.

He held them out to her, along with a pair of clean boxers.

"Here, you can put these on if you want" He said as he threw on a white T-shirt of his own.

[Naia]

Naia missed the fact that he was confused by her lack of knowledge about what a movie was. She was too busy looking around for her silk clothing, which had disappeared. Probably a wind had knocked it into some bushes, she would have to return during the day to find them.

Following Darien, they walked barefoot through the forest in a comfortable silence. She alternated from looking at him to the dark trees to the gorgeous sky when it was viewable. The night was lovely, though the wind made her shiver.

Feeling his hand brush against hers, Naia's heart leapt to her throat. Darien pulled it away, though, a blushed at her. She gave him a gentle smile and wished he hadn't pulled away. She had to remind herself that he probably wouldn't want a girl with no memory anyway, and she had to tell him sometime.

Reaching the campus, Naia suddenly became painfully aware of the fact that she was wet and showing a lot of skin. Though it didn't bother her nearly as much as she thought it would, she was still a little uncomfortable about walking in the open like this, let alone the possiblity of Darien's roomate being there, a boy she didn't know seeing her like this.

They reached his building and slipped inside. It seemed that this 'Matt' wasn't there. "Here, you can put these on if you want" Having been busy peering around his room, Naia hadn't heard Darien getting her some dry clothing. "Oh! Thankyou very much." She added a beaming smile and slipped into his bathroom, she had spotted it upon entering the room. Peeling off her wet, cold undergarments, the girl put on his clothing and took out her braid. Her hair fell in damp waves and she tossed them so that they were a bit more dry.

"I left my wet things in the sink, I hope you don't mind." She smiled at him coyly as she walked towards him in his own clothing, which hung on her. She had had trouble getting the sweatpants to stay up, so the boxers peeked out though the loose t-shirt covered most of them. "This is much warmer, I appreciate it." Pressing herself against him, Naia gave Darien a hug in thanks. Of course, she had other motives for the hug, but she told herself it was only to thank him for the dry clothing.

Walking over to him, she rubbed her hands together and said, "So, what's a movie?"

[Darien]

After she left the bathroom, she came over, looking absolutely adorable in the clothes he had given her. She gave him hug, which he returned gently but firmly, wrapping his arms around her smaller frame. He let her go when she relaxed, and turned around, sighing as she asked what a movie was. He laughed a little.

"Okay, we need to talk before we continue." he said, sitting down on his bed.

"Why is it that you don't know all these things? Things that normally would be common knowledge?" His voice was gentle, and he wasn't sounding upset in the least, more curious. He wanted to get to know her better, and if he was to do that he had to know the reason behind it, if it was just a joke, or if she really didn't know these things. He couldn't imagine not knowing what a movie was, or who Hitler was for that matter, so he assumed she was either very,very sheltered, or just honestly didn't know.

He would take her hands and pull over over in front of him, so his head would be right around her chest area as he looked up from the bed he rested on.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but if you want there to be more......i need to know." He said softly, trying to sound reassuring. He didn't want to pressure her, so he wouldn't, but he could tell that she at least had some feeling for him, and was probably just as confused about them as he was. If there was ever to be more, he NEEDED to know more.

He looked up into her eyes, trying not to get distracted by the luscious curve of her body, or the thought of her soft and gentle lips.

[Naia]

"Okay, we need to talk before we continue." Uh oh. Naia had been afraid of this. She was sure that once Darien found out she had no memory he would reject her as a friend. If he rejected her as a friend, then that meant she could no longer stare into his intense eyes or share his breath or allow the water to press them together. No more surprises.

"Why is it that you don't know all these things? Things that normally would be common knowledge?"

Realizing that she was overreacting, the girl walked over to Darien and allowed him to take her hands in his own as he sat on his bed. She had to look down at him now and it brought a smile to her full lips. It was easier to see how his dark hair framed his face and easier for her to gaze into his dark blue eyes which seemed to catch and hold her own brown eyes so well.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but if you want there to be more......I need to know."

Naia looked at him seriously, the laughter gone from her lovely face. She hoped and prayed that he would not reject her. She had never expected to trust someone this fast, and to lose him would be. . . she pushed that thought from her mind.

"I will tell you, but you mustn't think any differently of me." Her dark eyes studied his handsome face and a hint of her soft smile returned. Her soft, pink tongue wet her bottom lip as she began to speak, "I was found on a street in India, about six months ago. An old couple found me and took me in, sending me to the school where I eventually allowed the boy to die. I have no memory of who I am or where I truly come from."

Naia paused, trying to gauge his reaction, "So when I ask about things that may seem painfully obvious, it is because I truly do not know." She smiled, trying to find the humor in the situaiton, "That is why I was in the library, reading the history and myths of India. I was hoping that something I read might trigger some memory of my past."

Looking into Darien's eyes, the girl searched for some reaction. She only hoped it wasn't a bad one.

[Darien]

Darien furrowed his brow as she spoke, thinking. When she was done, he stared into her eyes for a long time, then smiled as he looked down.

"Thats all?" He chuckled a little. "You really think i would sacrifice who you are and what Ive seen and what Ive shown you and the bond we share because you don't have a memory?" He stood "Why, thats hardly a reason at all" he spoke in hardly more than a whisper. He looked into her eyes, and smiled again. She was so beautiful. He turned, changing the subject abruptly. Walking over to his TV, he flipped it on, reaching down and grabbing a DVD and holding it up."This is called a DVD, or a movie. You take it and place it in here-" He put it in the machine, closing it afterward "-and press play, then you can watch a bunch of people called actors pretend to do things that develop into a story."

He tried to sort out the things she told him, which were a little confusing. She had to have parents somewhere, but why would they leave a grown amnesiac daughter in the street, and what had caused her to lose her memory? He would have to try and help her remember things, since to him, it didn't really matter what she had done in India, or before she had been found. He knew her now, and that was all that mattered.

Oh how badly he wanted that kiss.

[Naia]

Darien chuckled and Naia's heart rose. "Thats all? You really think i would sacrifice who you are and what Ive seen and what Ive shown you and the bond we share because you don't have a memory? Why, thats hardly a reason at all" She looked at him with a huge smile on her face as he rose and walked to the box thing, lifting a circle thing out of another box thing.

This is called a DVD, or a movie. You take it and place it in here and press play, then you can watch a bunch of people called actors pretend to do things that develop into a story."
He had slipped the 'DVD' into the main box thing, which she dubbed a 'movie emitter' and had hit a button while talking.

She sat down on the bed and watched the larger box thing, a screen of sorts, as it suddenly glowed to life. It began to show images that moved and spoke. So, she was witenessing her first movie. "Fascinating," she said, staring at the box. Taking Darien's hand in her own, the girl pulled him back to sit on the bed beside her.

Naia's long hair rested in dark waves over his white t-shirt, creating a stark contrast. So far it seemed only to be advertisements for other 'movies', but the girl was completely caught up in them. She realized how much there was she didn't know and decided that when the 'movie' was over, to ask Darien for his help in learning as much as she could. Her dark eyes danced as she stared at the moving pictures inside the box's screen.

"This is so amazing." Turning a warm smile at him, she hadn't realized how close she was to him, her face only a few inches away from his. Naia suddenly became very aware of the fact that she hadn't let go of his hand.

[Darien]

Darien smiled as she pulled him back onto the bed. The movie was "The Italian Job" and was actually a really decent film. He realized she was holding his hand, and that, coupled with the fact that her head was resting against his chest, he figured she would definitely hear the heart that threatened to burst from his ribcage. Then, she did the worst thing possible, the worst thing you could possibly do to a guy who wanted nothing so much as a kiss.

She looked up at him, staring into his eyes, her face flushing, not from embarrassment but from feelings she must be feeling. His own face was red for the same reasons, his mind trying to counteract the the feelings he was getting from her body so firmly planted against his. He tried his best to push it from his thoughts, but he might as well been trying to get rid of his own sexuality. He was definitely attracted to this girl, and he could tell, plain as day, that she had feelings too, though maybe a little less mixed up. Darien sighed.

Mentally, he flipped off the future, opting for fate instead.

He leaned in, pressing his soft lips to hers, his blood boiling as he felt the connection the contact had made.

[Naia]

Naia had felt Darien's heart beating. It was racing, as she could feel her own was doing. She wondered if anything like this had happened to her before her memory loss, and she decided that it hadn't. She had been found in India after all, and the boys in India were different than Darien. She liked Darien much better.

After having looked up, the boy's dark blue eyes met hers. She had smiled at him and he looked to be having some inner turmoil due to the fact that his cheeks were pink. She wondered if hers were, too, or if her darker skin let her hide the fact that she felt as if her face were on fire.

As if he had read her heart's desire and what her mind had been chanting for her not to do, Darien kissed her. It was like they were back in the water, sharing breath, only much much better.

All thoughts of the movie and the incredible sound that came from nowhere were forgotten and Naia melted into his kiss. His lips were soft yet firm, as she felt a man's lips should be. Naia pulled his arms around her and wrapped her own around him. Her mind yelled at her, she had to figure out who she was before kissing this boy, but her heart silenced it. This was what she wanted, and Darien had not shied away when she had admited to having no memory.

Pulling away from him, Naia looked into Darien's deep eyes. She saw that he was as unsure as she was, so she pressed her lips to his. The movie was forgotten in the background.