(no subject)

[stilljustandrew]

*He's just woken up, and is sitting on the edge of the bed muzzily contemplating breakfast, when there's a knock at his door.*

mph ... Yeah?

Comments

[balletrat]

*Meg takes this as an invitation and pushes the door just slightly open, letting her slight body slip through.*

Hey.

[stilljustandrew]

Meg. Hey.

*He holds out a hand to her.*

[balletrat]

*Meg takes his hand and squeezes it briefly. Her face is very pale.*

I can't stay long - I have to go out back and practice -

[stilljustandrew]

You can practice in here, I don't m--

*His brain catches up to his mouth, and he stops.*

... you don't mean dance, do you.

[balletrat]

*Meg shakes her head slowly.*

Andrew - I talked with Alex last night.

He set a date.

[stilljustandrew]

*His hand tightens on hers, just a little.*

When?

[balletrat]

*A small snort of a laugh, without humor.*

It's been a few hours, right? It's the morning?

Then. Today.

[stilljustandrew]

*He stares at her.*

Today?

[balletrat]

*Meg shrugs, bleakly.*

He says he wants to get it over with.

[stilljustandrew]

But --

*Andrew closes his mouth, hard, and is silent for a moment.*

Is there anything you want me to do?

[balletrat]

*Another shrug.*

Nothing you can do.

[stilljustandrew]

*He sighs unhappily.*

I know.
I hate that.

*And because there really is nothing else he can do, he gently pulls her closer and wraps her in a hug.*

[balletrat]

I know.

*She clings to him for a moment, and for a second plays with the idea of staying there all day, and pretending there is no duel, and maybe Alex will give up and forget and go away -

But she knows that won't happen.

There are rules.

So after a second, she pulls away.*

I'd - better go.

There isn't much time.

[stilljustandrew]

*He nods.*

Do you want me to be there? For the duel?

[balletrat]

*Again, she's tempted - this time to say no. Meg is as vain as the next person, more vain than some, and she has no desire to have Andrew see her defeated -

but she can't tell him to stay away. That wouldn't be fair.

So she nods, once, her face set, and then slips quickly back out the door before she can change her mind.*

[stilljustandrew]

*She doesn't think she's going to win this time.*

*Meg doesn't think she can win. And that more than anything makes him think he should be there.*

*Just in case.*