Release Me (Ethan)

[Deleted]

Dom was waiting out by the Black Lake for Ethan to show up. Cordie broke up with him a few days ago and Dom hadn't been able to see him since. At least, not really. She wasn't quite sure if he was avoiding her or just avoiding people in general or if she was just making the whole thing up. She just ... couldn't remember the last time they hadn't talked for days. She was nervous, but didn't exactly know why. Especially since today they were supposed to be doing something together. Granted, they planned it before Cordie broke up with him, so maybe he would back out. No, Dom wasn't going to think like that. But she also couldn't help herself. So she stood there, staring off across the Lake as her fingers played with a stick she picked up a few minutes ago. She didn't want to watch the castle, so she'd just watch the lake.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

Ethan was... not the happiest camper. Still. He was doing better, sure, but break ups didn't have a good affect on anyone. At least, not most of the time. But Cordie had dumped him, and hadn't told him why. She just said that they needed to be apart. That she didn't deserve him, and that she wasn't sure what she was feeling anymore. After years of having a crush on her, that was a harsh blow after only four months of dating.

He hadn't really talked to many people since then, even his best friends Liam and Dom. Finally, though, he remembered he had agreed to spend some time with Dominique and they made plans before the break up. She was waiting for him now, and he was late... partly on purpose.

Because a strong part of him guessed why Cordie had left him. He guessed it was because she saw the way he looked at Dom, and that he'd never realized how he felt about the younger girl until that break up happened. Cordie dumped him so he could be with the person who meant the most to him. At least, this was his guess. Now that he realized... this. That. Dom.

He approached the lake and saw her up ahead and his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately felt guilty for letting it. He approached her slowly, speaking when he was close enough to be head. "You going to throw that stick and make me fetch it, Dommy?"

@dominique

[Deleted]

He wasn't coming. He was way late and Dom was convinced that he wasn't going to come. Still, she couldn't move. She didn't know where else she'd go. Her plans today were entirely focused on her best friend, on whatever he would need to cheer up and he hadn't shown. She was disappointed, that was undeniable, but more important than her disappointment was her worry for her best friend. If he wasn't even going to come meet her, how was she supposed to try and help? 

She took a deep breath, about to leave to go ... somewhere, when she heard his voice behind her. Dom spun around, a grin taking over as she finally saw him. She laughed, hoping he couldn't see her surprise that he actually came. He was here. "Like I could make you fetch anything," she responded easily, then pretended to think for a second, "unless it was a Quaffle ..." she teased with a laugh, shrugging her shoulders at him. Then she moved towards him, giving him a hug before he could escape. Maybe he didn't want it, but she missed him these past few days. He owed her a hug. "I'm glad you came," she muttered as she hugged him.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

She spun to face him, rather quickly, and a smile grew on his lips. Then she laughed, and he was glad she got the joke, since he wasn't sure if he had delivered it well with his melancholy attitude. But... his sadness was gone at the sight of her, and at the sound of her life, the way she smiled. He shrugged, "quaffle or not, you could probably get me to do anything you wanted to," he admitted. She laughed again and he chuckled, taking a few steps forward to get closer to her. Just then, she moved to him as well and wrapped her arms around him. He felt something catch in his throat, and placed on hand on her back, lightly at first, before wrapping both arms around her and pressing her close to him. "Me too," he muttered back. He turned his face into her hair and held on tight, "I'd probably let you suffocate me if you wanted to, actually. Depending how mad you are at me for being a bum these last few days," he mumbled against her hair.

@dominique

[Deleted]

He was smiling. That one fact made all the waiting worth it. Dom loved making Ethan smile and laugh. She always had, ever since they became friends the first year she came to school. He said she could probably get him to do anything she wanted and Dom quirked an eyebrow at him, "Are you sure you should have told me that, Ethan? I might take advantage," she teased. The truth was, she already knew that. Ethan almost always was willing to do whatever she wanted, but it was still nice to have him say it. She tossed her hair back and shrugged, "then again, you already know that." Dom didn't know what to expect when she hugged him, but she was glad when she felt him hug back. As his arms tightened around her, a shiver ran up Dom's spine and she hoped he wouldn't notice the goosebumps that covered her arms when he whispered into her hair. It was getting harder and harder for Dom to hide her feelings for him ... the feelings that had always been there, even though she didn't recognize them from the start. She smiled and tightened her grip on him. "I don't want to suffocate you, I just need a good hug and you owe it to me after avoiding me the last few days," she muttered, her annoyance shining through though she was trying to hold it back. She wanted to ask him questions, but not until their hug was over. 

After a time that seemed like ages and only moments to her, Dom pulled away, looking up at Ethan and searching his eyes, her expression serious. "How are you?" she asked simply. 

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

He held his arms out to either side when she said she may take advantage and raised an eyebrow, "you can take advantage of me any way you want," then he paused, realizing how that sounded, and his cheeks started flushing like mad. Thankfully, she was in his arms soon after and his embarrassment didn't last that long. As they hugged, he had one hand on her back and the other somehow moved up to find it's way to clasp the back of her neck lightly, over her red hair. It just felt more sturdy that way, knowing she was right there.

She tightened her grip on him and he chuckled. Then she said she didn't want to suffocate him and he sighed, "thank goodness! I was afraid I was facing my demise," he teased. They were silent for another few moment then, when finally she pulled away from him and he let her, though it was reluctantly. She asked how he was and his heart seemed to leap into his throat as his eyes met her serious ones. "Oddly... okay, actually," he admitted. It was true, being with Dom was really all he needed to snap out of it all. "You know, hanging out with the coolest Weasley and all."

@dominique

[Deleted]

It was too perfect, his response! When Ethan started blushing, Dom couldn't help but laugh. "I won't forget that," she said, before letting it go as she moved into the hug. She merely shook her head and gave a soft laugh when he teased her about being nervous that she actually would suffocate him. They both knew that she wouldn't do anything that drastic, no matter what he did to upset her. 

When she pulled away, she was glad that he met her eyes. That was the first sign that he was going to be alright. If he started avoiding her again, even though he actually came here, Dom wouldn't know what to do. He said he was okay and Dom's eyes narrowed as she studied him, trying to decide if he was just saying that to make her happy or not. She bit her lip nervously. "You're not just saying that, right?" If he didn't want to talk about it that was fine, but Dom wanted to be sure he wasn't saying things to try and make her happy. Her serious expression melted away at his next comment and her eyes sparkled with pleasure. She tossed her hair over her right shoulder and shrugged, "Just don't tell the others that you figured it out. That's a closely guarded secret, you know." This was more the way things used to be and Dom was hoping that it was real and that Ethan wasn't just putting on a show for her.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

She said she wouldn't forget what he said, and he was slightly concerned by that. Not necessarily in a bad way, though. In an... exciting way. It was kind of fun to know that Dom would use that against him later, probably by making him do some stupid stunt on his broomstick or play a prank on someone. Either way, he knew he was in for it. And he loved it.

She bit her lip, which made him lean forward a little. Just a little. She asked if he was 'just saying that', and he shook his head. "No, really... I mean. I'm just glad to see you, Dom," he admitted. Then she smiled, shrugging and tossing her hair over his shoulder and playing along with the big secret that Dom was the coolest Weasley. "Well, you are. How are you, anyway? How has the last few days been? Did you go and find your one true love in that time? Tell me all about it," he was messing with her, of course, but a small part of him was horrified at the idea that she actually had met someone in the past four days. Was that even possible? Who was he?

Relax, Ethan. Relax.

@dominique

[Deleted]

He moved slightly closer to her, shaking his head and saying that he really meant it and Dom felt relief engulf her. If he was alright ... then she was too. Dom always had a hard time when the people closest to her struggled and with Ethan being one of her very closest friends, she'd had a hard time with him being upset. "Good," she said with a sharp nod. "You should be glad to see me, since I'm so great and all," she said, with a roll of her eyes.

Then he started questioning her and Dom's head cocked to the side as she listened to all of the questions, making a list of them in her head so she could answer them all in turn. Her eyebrow lifted once more, a teasing gesture that he would certainly recognize. It was saying oh really? Why so many questions? She gave a short laugh. "I'm doing great, as always!" She answered. "I mean, other than worrying about you the last few days." Why not tell him the truth? She was always honest with Ethan. Normally she told him more than she should. This would probably end up being one of those times. "I mean, classes are fine and homework is simple enough. Everyone else seems to be good, but you just dropped off the face of the earth and I couldn't find you anywhere," she paused, blushing when she realized she did it. Said too much. She laughed and then continued, remembering his questions. "No I didn't find him in the last few days," That was true. She already knew who she wanted to be her love ... and she definitely didn't "find" him at all the last few days. He was hiding from her. "You're such a tease," she added with a roll of her eyes. "Don't you know you'd be the first person I'd tell?" Dom winked at him. If she ever did find someone else, Ethan would be the first to know, but it wasn't going to happen.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

He laughed at her joke about that he should be glad to see her, since she was so great. Her eye roll just added to the comedy of it all, which made him chuckle. Then she said that she was doing great, as always, and he raised an eyebrow at her as well, since she started it. "Awee, you worried about me?" he cooed, another chuckle accompanying. Then she told him of classes and went back to talking about him again... which made him happier than it should have. It was kind of nice to know someone was worrying about you.

So, she didn't find a lover. Awesome. Well, yeah... awesome. Then she said he was a tease and that he would be the first person he told, which he nodded at understandingly. "I would assume so," she gave him a wink and he chuckled, shaking his head. "Dom, really..." he paused, "I'm really sorry I was just... being lame," he admitted, furrowing his brows together. "Let's just pretend that never happened and don't worry about me anymore, kid," his lip lifted into a little half smile, but his brow was still furrowed. "I've... been upset. And... there's nothing I can do to change what happened so I just need to move on. I mean," he took in a breath and shrugged, his hands somehow finding his pockets and burrowing in them, "I think I know why she broke up with me."

@dominique

[Deleted]

Dom mock-glared at Ethan when he teased her about worrying about him. "Of course I worried about you. That's what best friends do, don't they? Maybe I should just disappear for days and see how you respond to it." Hmm ... that actually did seem like an appealing idea, as long as she knew he wasn't still upset over Cordelia. She might actually do that, just to teach him a lesson. Though, it would definitely work better if something happened to upset her first. She'd have to think about that for a bit. Dom stashed the thought away for later. Apparently she had some planning to do.

She smiled when he said he assumed she'd tell him first about any love interests she had, but there was nothing else to say about it. Then he seemed to get serious and started apologizing again. He asked her to pretend it didn't happen and to not worry. She wrinkled her nose when he called her kid. "Don't call me that," she started and then grew more serious as she went along, "and I'll forget about it if you promise to not do that again. I can't help but worry when I know you're upset and I can't find you. If you don't want to talk, that's fine, but don't- don't disappear on me again ... please." She bit her lip again, noticing how even though he was smiling now, his expression was still serious. She nodded when he said he couldn't change what happened, saying he needed to move on. The corner of her lips turned up as he dug his hands into his pockets, a habit of his that she always thought was cute. Then he spoke and a small gasp escaped her. She looked into his eyes, searching. "Do you ... want to talk about it?" Dom asked, desperately hoping he'd say yes. She wanted him to talk to her and trust her, even with things like this.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

She reassured him that she was indeed worried about him, and said that's what best friends do. Then, at her next words, his eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly. "No, no, no, don't do that," he begged. "I said I was sorry, please, I'll do anything," he was sort of mock begging, but he really didn't want her to do that!

She didn't like being called kid, he knew, but he still thought it was fun. She said she would forget if he promised no to disappear again... which was a fair bargain. He bit his lip too, at the same time she did, feeling bad about how he had made his best friend feel. "I promise, I promise I won't leave you," he said firmly, nodding his head once as if to punctuate the promise, making it more serious. More sure. A promise. A pact.

His hands were still deep in his pockets, even though he jumped a little, startled, when she gasped. She asked if he wanted to talk about it and... he took in a deep breath and nodded once. "Yeah... guess I do. With you," he said slowly. But then he didn't go on yet.

@dominique
(the real reason cordie broke up with him was because she was in love with HIS best friend Liam XDDD and he has no idea LOLOLOL)

[Deleted]

Hmm ... so Ethan didn't like the idea of her disappearing on him. Like, at all. Dom was still considering the idea, but she laughed at his reaction. "You'll do anything?" She asked, cocking her head to the side curiously. "Like what?" She wasn't saying she wasn't going to do it, because she still might, but he could try and convince her. 

Dom waited for him to promise, but he didn't right away. He bit his lip too, which made her smile just a little bit before forcing her serious face back on so he'd know she was serious about this. Then he promised, nodding as he told her that he wouldn't leave her. Dom grinned at him, but she was so relieved by his promise that a smile didn't cut it. She moved forward and gave him a quick, tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered before pulling away again. She did not want to live the last few days again.

She was surprised when he nodded. She expected him to say no or change the subject, but he didn't. Instead, he said that he did want to talk about it. With her. "Okay then. Let's sit down first so we can be more comfortable," she said with a smile, jumping up and then landing with her legs crossed on the ground. "Come on Ethan," she encouraged.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

She questioned his claim that he would do anything, and he nodded. Then she asked like what, and he swallowed hard and then shrugged. "Um... like make you cookies?" he said, his eyes all wide and innocent. His lips were still a little smirk, though, showing he was messing with her.

She thanked him for promising never to leave, and he sighed contentedly. She moved in to give another quick hug, too fast for him to be able to hug back. Then, she suggested that they sit down and he nodded, moving to join her on the ground, smiling a little at that sweet way she jumped to cross her legs and sit down. He bent his knees, pulling them up close to his chest with his arms around them, sitting by her, looking out at the lake.

"Well..." he swallowed. Was he really about to say this to her? After everything? "I think she thought I was too close to someone else. That I... wanted to be with someone else," he said slowly.

@dominique

[Deleted]

He nodded to confirm that he would do anything, then hesitantly said he would make her cookies. At first Dom thought he was serious about that, but then she noticed the smirk. Her eyes narrowed and she gave him a look. "Alright, now you're just asking me to disappear on you," she said, shaking her head at him in warning. "You've got some pretty serious convincing to do, Mr. Johnson." 

Dom was glad that Ethan joined her on the ground, but his position- his knees up by his chest, hugging them- concerned her. That wasn't really the position of someone that was alright. Which meant she was not planning on letting him leave her sight any time soon.

He seemed nervous as he started in a hesitant way. Dom almost reached over to touch his shoulder, but then he started talking and she didn't want to distract him. Her eyebrows furrowed at his answer. Cordie thought he wanted to be with someone else? Her heart started beating rapidly, but she also felt the color drain away from her face. She looked out to the lake, hoping he wouldn't notice. He didn't like someone else, did he? He would've told Dom! She was almost positive about it, but the way he was talking ... could it be true? "Did you- I mean, do you?" She asked, fighting to hide her anxiety but failing. She didn't notice that her hands were pulling out grass around her and then playing with it nervously.

@ghostethan
(All the angst)