The clatter of the mail falling thru the letterbox brought Tara sharply out of her trance that she was in on the sofa where she was neatly curled up in a ball. Sniffing she pulled the oversized sweater close to her skin and shuffled towards the door. Her slipper feet moved soundless across the wooden floor while her ashen face that was marred with the remnants of tears looked upon the pile of letters on the floor. Crouching down she gathered them up and clutched them to her chest. Steadily she made her way back to the safely of the sofa where she plopped down. Tucking her feet up beneath her she started to go thru the mail. One bill after another was tossed randomly upon the smooth surface of the coffee table. The junk mail was tipped immediately into the waste bin at the side of the sofa and suddenly she was left with one envelope. The scrawl was familiar; she turned the rough linen envelope over in her hands. She slipped a nail under the seal and prised it open. She gently tugged at the fancy folded paper inside and extracted it from its safety. She could feel it soft weight in her hands and she could smell the woody scent wafting from it. With curious eyes she unfolded it and laid it onto her lap where she began to digest it’s contents.

Is it me? Or can you feel the angst already?

Sounds intriguing what does the letter say?

Amazing writing as always. As Mentor mentions I can also feel the angst coming already. What does the letter say? Can't wait to read more.

Earlier on that week..

Mentally slapping himself he slammed the palm of his hand hard again the wall where it came to rest. His body soon followed. Anger raged within himself. Anger that boiled like hot milk on the stove and was threatening to explode like a volcano. Running his white knuckled hands thru his hair he felt the old feelings of failing overwhelm him. White-hot tears rolled down his scarlet face. Harshly he wiped his cheeks with his rough hands. His head fell down as memories assaulted him and shame seeped back into him.


Flashback….

His hands trailed along the length of the bare arms of the woman who stood in front of him. She was beautiful and intelligent. She made him feel so inadequate with the words that would fall from her mouth compared to the ones that tumbled from his. He allowed his eyes to linger on her. His mind was telling him one thing but his heart was singing a different tune. He did not know which one to pay heed too. All he knew that here he was standing in front of an amazing woman and not knowing what to do. Should he cave in and kiss her like he knew that is what she wanted and expected from him or leave and seek the out the answer to his dreams. He felt her hands move up from his waist and cover his chest. Her fingers played teasingly with his buttons before moving on and reaching his neck. Those same fingers now moved in defined circles along the curve of his neck, making him gulp with the sensations coursing thru him. He felt them move round to the back where they found the hair resting there. With soft tugs and gentle rubs those fingers played mercilessly. He could feel her eyes burn into him pleading him for some action. Confusion parted his brain. A noise from behind him made him push the woman away. Spinning to see what caused the noise he came face to face with his dream. He saw the shock and horror in her eyes when they fell on the woman who had walked around him and placed her hand on his chest in a possessive manner. He could clearly see the build up off tears in her now dull eyes.

“Excuse us,” said the woman at his side. “ We would like some privacy.” She said saucily turning back to face his broad chest.

He watched her spin on her heels and before he could blink she was out of the room. Fear of never rose within him as he felt the surge of energy and desire move within him. He pushed the leech off his toned body and rushed after her but it was too late she was gone and so was his chance.



Walking over to his couch he flopped down and allowed his heavy heart sink him into the soft cushions.

“What am I going to do?” he asked the air. “I have so messed up”

I'm glad you are joining the challenge, Ails!! The angst is definitely here!! I am strapped in and ready for whatever you have planned!!!

Joy

Ails...it's going to have a happy ending, isn't it? Kav asks from :hide:

I'm loving it already!

Please tell me this is going to be a happy one. Does anyone remember when we had angst free ails days? NO?

*AH heads off to find Wild Wedding again*


AH

Another wonderful post. Is this a B/T story? I just LOVE B/T stories (I'm a Treenie clone).

cath

I'm so glad you're writing this! Continue SVP!

Jill

LOL you poor thing, lol a treenie clone lol )

I'm not a Treenie clone, but I'm a Treenie twin... I sure hope this one is full of fuzzies, but since it's Ails, I guess I should tighten up my seatbelt again, huh?

Chocolate anyone???

- Okay. Ready whenever you are, Ails!

Sorry I'm a bit late! Great start. It said romantic tale, I wasn't prepared and so forgot my seatbelt! * Jenny goes off and finds a seatbelt* Got one! I'm all strapped in but the question is: can I undo the seatbelt quick enough to go hide behind the :hide: ??????? Very interesting! As I said on mallory's fic in the challenge: Is it possible to be scared out of your brain whilst eating Cheerios? I'm not scared yet but I think I will be! From Jenny

Wow, Ails, I'm definitely excited that you started a new story in the challenge and I just know it's going to be so angst. But it says romantic tale in the subtitle so I'm going to hold you to that, ya?

(chanting to the computer screen) Ails will give us a happy ending...Ails will give us a happy ending...Ails will give us a happy ending...Ails will give us a happy ending...Ails will give us a happy ending...Ails will give us a happy ending...
Did it work??

See its not hte ending i am worried about *pauses to think about missing scene ails wrote* ok yes i am worried about the ending. But its the begining and middle i worry about. ANd planes . . . ails and planes not a good mixture there.

I'm with you Treenie! What ever you do don't let ails ANYWHERE near a plane ok?!



I'm ready for some more now sweetie! :hide:



AH

Waiting to watch your story unravel

Well, as usual, you don't take too long to get the angst going huh Ails?! But I love your stuff so I'll handle it. Glad to see you taking up the challenge!

Yeah, I'm holding you to the 'romantic tale' bit. I trust you. I have no reason not to, right? You'll make it J/S eventually, won't you???? from Jenny

I'm not a seer or something but I know I'm going to love this story. B/T tale always pins me to my chair.

:hide:

Will someone let me know when the angst is over please.....

so I can come out of hiding!

Going on holiday tomorrow, so no posts for a while.....


A torrential downpour of tears ran down her blazing cheeks, her feet pounded against the ground as she stumbled out of the building and into the painfully sunny day. Her breaths came in sharp short bursts, her lungs burned with the exertion of keeping her weeping heart together. Her calf’s muscles ached as she pushed past the people and disappeared into the crowd. Feeling the cramps attacking her muscles she allowed herself to slow down as she approached the park. Entering the lush green place, she wrapped her arms around her chilled body and shivered despite the scorching rays of heat from the sun. Finally her body gave up the fight and she slumped down onto a park bench situated beneath an aged oak tree. The shade that it swallowed her in, allowed her to fade from life around her. The tears dried on her rough skin as she ran out of a fresh supply of teardrops. Her hands felt shaky as she clasped them tightly in her lap. Her body and mind felt numb, she couldn’t comprehend what she just witnessed. She knew that Bobby was nothing more than a colleague and friend to her. That if anything he saw her as nothing more than a little sister someone for him to protect and to annoy. However her heart felt something very different.

Every waking thought was filled with Bobby and her dreams at night were doused in his amazing spirit. The urge to be with him sometimes would whip her breath away from her, while at the same time the fear of being a part of something so awesome would also whip that same breath away. She knew that she was not his type. She was not tall and confident in her appearance. She was small and somewhat of a geek, not the typical traits that the average man seeks in a woman.

Leaning back on the cold metal of the bench she looked up to the sky. She could feel the heat rise again on her cheeks. Heat generated from the memories of her earlier actions made her cringe and moan silently.

‘How can I face him?’ she asked herself, shaking her head and hanging it low into her hands. She could feel the heat burn against the palms of her hands. As the sun started to dip low behind the clouds, she clambered to her feet and slowly trudged her way back home. The entire time her mind was racing at coming up with a way to face Bobby the next day, when all she wanted to do was to run, hide and change her name. Trying to stay positive she felt exhausted, her mind and body was in agreement, she was done in and with the hope that a good night sleep would clear the fog within her she arrived home and headed straight for bed.

I really feel for Tara!! It's too bad that both she and Bobby don't know that they are both miserable!!!

Have a happy holiday!! We'll be here waiting for your return!!!

Joy

Oh geez Ails surely you're not going to go off on holiday and leave Tara like this!

HEe hee is that my present hun? A present of Angst. Hmm my favorite gift to give and recieve ) Have a great trip.

have a great holiday

looking forward to reading loads when you return

cath

Have a great trip so you're all refreshed and ready to get us out of this angst! *grins stupidly* the reason i'm babbling is that I haven't been at th is website for 2 entire days! How awful! From Jenny More soon please!

Oh sure. You're gonna start a story and get us all worked up and strapped in, then take off on a vacation??? AILS! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO US!!!

Please hurry back soon...

My opinion is that Bobby and Tara has to know somehow both are miserable. Can't wait for a continuation.

Ails, I just love your descriptions...I feel so for Bobby and Tara, I hope you'll have a wonderful holiday that will encourage you to give us a fluffy romance!

Hmmm, anyone know when the lovely Ails is due back from holiday?

Two weeks from the 18th

Thanks Treenie!



BUT that still means there's a week left... JK I hope she's having a great time!

They have internet cafes everywhere you know!

kav

Good point Kav! Ails, where did your holiday take you?

The whole point of having a holiday is to get away from stress and quite frankly, pestering readers!!!! But I think in this case, the rule will have to be demolished as I for one would like more!!!!

Jenny

, , and again.....

okiefoster - do you mean the whole holiday means a break from pestering readers or 'we want more'? Just asking. Interesting to see who wants more and who is letting ickleails have a well deserved break. Have faith, she will post soon.
*starts chanting quietly she will post soon she will post soon*

Jenny

Hmmm, interesting dilemma here. Ails most certainly deserves a long and relaxing holiday. But we also want more. Which one is more important? *sigh* Okay, fine. I vote that Ails' break outweighs our fanfic needs.

JesusFreak718, you might have a lot of fans disagreeing with you on that one!!!

Gee, I know vacations are supposed to be relaxing, but that's from work. What could be more relaxing than reading and writing fanfics??? And then reading all the wonderful replies from her stupendous readers??? And we know internet cafes are just about everywhere, and most hotels have internet connections and all that. We need more!!!


Sorry. Lost my head there for a second....

I'M BACK..... You guys are nuts.... So glad to be back...


Bobby allowed his head to slump into his large hands as his mind ticked over the last few hours. Tears sprung up deep within the wells of his eyes as he recalled the sheer agony reflected in the pools of Tara’s eyes. Guilt racked his body making him physically tremble with the mass of emotion running thru him. He wanted to turn back time, to do the afternoon all over again. Instead of Darcy in his aching arms he wanted Tara to be the one to fill him. He wanted to be overwhelmed by the sensation of her, to touch her milky skin, to inhale her fruity scent and to bathe in her amazing presence. He wanted to tingle all over just by being in her presence and knowing that she was his. However now he was overcome with the notion that his dreams where just going to stay that- a dream.

Dragging his fingers back through his unruly mop of hair. He turned his stare to take in his living room. Without realising his eyes sought out a pure source of comfort as well as pain. Sitting on a small oak sideboard that was situated on the far away wall was a collection of framed photos. Among the collection was the one of his parents, was one of his baby sister, another one of him and Jack on the ice a couple of winters ago, a team photo and the ultimate one. There in the centre wrapped in a beautifully craved wooden frame was one of Tara. It was clear that she was not aware of it being taken. She was sitting behind the desk and staring out into space. A purple feathery pen was idly tapping her chin, while her rosy lips formed a studious look and her eyes were glazed over with deep thought. To him she had never looked so beautiful and so natural. He had managed to capture it on his digital one day when no one was looking.

No one but he knew the truth of his heart and to whom it belonged.

You can change that you know, Bobby
kav

YOU'RE BACK!!! WE MISSED YOU!!! DID YOU HAVE FUN??? DID YOU MISS US??? DID YOU GET RESTED??? DID I MENTION WE MISSED YOU???

Ails, now that you're back, we must get these two people together - they are making each other miserable!!!

Joy

Welcome back, Ails I hope you had fun.

Please post more of this story, once you've unpacked and are settled.

Hmmm, I didn't think we were expecting you back until Thursday - not that I'm complaining or anything! It's good to see you back although that post was heart-breaking. Bobby, you don't have to bottle up the truth ya know! Tell her for crying out loud!!!

Oops, got carried away there. Please forgive my outburst.

Welcome back...hoped you enjoyed your vacation. We have desperately awaited your return. Love the story.

AILS!! OMG!!! YOU'RE BACK! WE MISSED YOU!! HAVE I SAID WE MISSED YOU?! OKAY, NEVER MIND, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. WE MISSED YOU!!!!!!


The story's going great, well except for the fact that both Bobby and Tara are miserable. But they can make each other happy, right, Ails??