Romance
--DRAGON HEART--
After getting home from the shooting range with Jake, Jade went to her room and sat before her computer for about half an hour, trying to think of what to say to the girl with the teal text who she had long nursed affection for.
Eventually, she came up with an idea.
-gardenGnostic began pestering gallowsCalibrator-
GG: Hi Terezi :)
GC: H3LLO J4D3 >:]
GC: HOW C4N 1 H3LP YOU? >:?
GG: I was hoping you might do me a favour? It would mean a lot.
GC: 4NYTH1NG. N4M3 1T.
GG: Are you planning on coming to watch our team's basketball match against Derse Academy?
GC: 1 WOULDN'T M1SS 1T FOR TH3 WORLD. SOM3ON3 N33DS TO B3 TH3R3 TO CH33R YOU ON.
GC: UH, 4ND VR1SK4 4ND F3F3R1 TOO. DUH.
GC: OH MY GOG PL34S3 SHUT M3 UP 1M R4MBL1NG! >:[
GG: Hehe :D
GG: So you're coming?
GC: Y3S!
GG: Good. After the game, I'd like you to meet me in the changing rooms, alone. I need to talk to you about someone very important.
GC: WH4T 1S 1T? 1M CUR1OUS NOW H4RL3Y.
GG: You'll find out then :)
GC: 4LR1GHT, 1 GU3SS 1 C4N W41T. >:]
GG: :)
GG: See you tomorrow!
GC: OF COURS3 >:]
-gardenGnostic ceased pestering gallowsCalibrator-
Jade leant back in her chair, a smile on her face. She had promised Jake to talk to Terezi tonight, but he never said she had to tell Terezi about her feelings over pesterchum.
~
After the game, Jade was alone in the changing rooms, having changed out of her kit. She was waiting for Terezi to show up, her heart aflutter. She was actually going to do this, going to confess to Terezi how she felt about her! And, if all went well...
Jade slipped a slim black case out of her bag and opened the clasp. Inside were two identical silver dragon figures, holding their arms out as if to hug one another. They were suspended on silver chains so they could be worn around one's neck.
"SORRY 1 TOOK SO LONG." Jade gasped and quickly shut the case, hiding it behind her back as she turned to face Terezi, who was standing in the doorway.
"No problem. I'm glad you came." Jade smiled.
Terezi smiled too, then frowned and sniffed the air "WH4T 4R3 YOU H1D1NG?" she asked.
"Hiding? I'm not hiding anything." Jade said in what she hoped was an innocent tone.
"Y34H YOU 4R3, B3H1ND YOUR B4CK." Terezi smiled slightly, taking a step towards Jade.
"I don't know what you mean." lied Jade.
"R1GHT." Terezi grinned "1NT3RROG4T1ON T1M3 1T 1S TH3N."
"What-" Jade began.
Terezi laughed and lunged for Jade, putting her arms around her and tickling her, trying to get hold of the case. Jade was a lot more sensitive to tickling than Terezi had suspected and was giggling and struggling to get away while at the same time keeping a tight hold of the case.
However, as was perhaps inevitable, the pair of them got carried away and ended up tripping over one of Jade's stray trainers, falling onto the floor of the changing rooms. The case slipped out of Jade's hand and something fell out of Terezi's pocket and cracked in two.
Both girls immediately went to their own items, Jade opened the case and found the necklaces to be intact and let out a sigh of relief.
"NO...D4MM1T!" snarled Terezi, catching Jade's attention.
"What is it?" asked Jade, coming over to her.
"1T W4SN'T SUPPOS3D GO L1K3 TH1S..." Terezi growled, clenching her fists.
Jade knelt down and saw what Terezi was so sad about. On the floor lay a heart made of mottled teal and lime green crystal, and it was split perfectly in two.
"Hey, what's this?" Jade said softly, picking up one half of it.
"H3H...W3LL MY PL4N'S RU1N3D NOW SO 1 GU3SS 1 C4N T3LL YOU..." Terezi said bitterly "1 W4NT3D TO G1V3 1T TO YOU...WH3N 1 4SK3D YOU TO B3 MY M4T3SPR1T3."
Jade's breathing hitched and pressed a hand over her heart.
"YOU PROB4BLY WOULD'V3 S41D NO ANYWAY...SO 1T H4RDLY M4TT3RS, DO3S 1T-"
Terezi was cut off and Jade hugged her tightly.
Then Jade started giggling again.
"WH4T'S SO FUNNY?" huffed Terezi.
"I just find it amusing...that we both had the same plan today." laughed Jade, pulling away.
"WH4T?" frowned Terezi.
"Wait just one more moment, then everything will be explained, I promise." Jade picked up both halves of the crystal heart.
She opened the case containing the necklaces. Picking one of them up, Jade fitted one half of the crystal heart into the dragon's embrace until there was a soft click. Then she held the necklace out to Terezi.
"Now we get to the important thing I wanted to discuss with you. You see, I like to think that I love all of my friends very much, although I can't explain why. But with you...the love I feel is entirely different. It's much more stronger, complex...and wonderful. Just like you." Jade smiled as Terezi's eyes widened.
"1S TH1S...1S TH1S 4 Y3S?" breathed Terezi.
"That depends on the question." Jade said gently.
Terezi grinned and stood up "J4D3 H4RL3Y. W1LL YOU B3 MY M4T3SPR1T3?"
Jade stood up and fastened the chain around Terezi's neck, before looping her arms around Terezi's neck and kissing her softly.
Terezi smiled against her lips and put her arms around Jade's waist, kissing back.
"What does this tell you?" whispered Jade, her face dusted with a rosy blush.
"OH MY GOG...1 H4V3 4 M4T3SPR1T3." Terezi smiled. And it wasn't her usual shit-eating grin. This was a smile of complete adoration and joy.
"Yes you do." nodded Jade, nudging Terezi's nose with her own.
"J4D3?" whispered Terezi.
"Mhm?"
"...YOU'R3 R34LLY B34UT1FUL. 1 HOP3 YOU KNOW TH4T." mumbled Terezi.
Jade's blushed darkened to scarlet and she kissed Terezi again.
"1 LOV3 YOU." Terezi said against Jade's lips.
"I love you too." replied Jade.
Terezi suddenly seemed to remember something and pulled away from Jade, much to Jade's disappointment. The tealblood retrieved the other half of the crystal heart and the second dragon pendant. She fitted them together and put the pendant around Jade's neck, kissing her matesprite's cheek.
"SO YOU KNOW 1M 4LW4YS W1TH YOU." Terezi smiled, blushing a vibrant shade of teal.
"The same applies with your own pendant." nodded Jade.
Terezi took both of Jade's hands in her own "VR1SK4 TOLD M3 TH3R3 W4S 4 P4RTY TO C3L3BR4T3 W1NN1NG 4G41NST D3RS3. 4R3 YOU GO1NG?"
"No." Jade shook her head "We're going. Together."
Jade collected her bag, then ran with Terezi hand in hand towards the gym. Neither of them had ever felt so complete.
~
--SERENADE--
Eridan was in the music rooms of Sburb Academy while everyone else was off at a party celebrating the victory of the Sburb female basketball team.
He had finished tuning up his viola before taking his phone from his pocket and sending a text.
TO: Rose
Wwould you come to the music rooms please? I'm wwaitin for you wwith a surprise.
He pressed send then waited, setting up his music on a stand and drinking some water to clear his dry throat. Cod, why was confessing your feelings for someone so difficult?
Rose arrive soon after, smiling as she shut the door behind her.
"I believe you wanted to see me?"
"I did. I wwanted you to hear a piece of music I'vve been practicin but I'm not sure if it sounds right." Eridan told her.
"I'm happy to be of assistance." Rose took a seat by the piano.
Eridan took a deep breath. This was finally it. The moment he'd been preparing for. He closed his eyes and not only began to play, but sing as well.
Be thou my vvision,
O one wwith my heart;
Naught be all else to me,
Savve that thou art;
Thou my best thought,
By day or by night;
Wwakin or sleepin,
Thy presence my light.
Be thou my wwisdom
And thou my true wword;
I evver wwith thee
And thou wwith my lovve.
Thou my great joy,
And I thy true friend.
Thou in my heart dwwellin
And I wwith thee one.
Riches I heed not,
Nor others' empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance,
Noww and alwways;
Thou and Thou only,
First in my heart;
Seer of light,
My treasure thou art.
His voice was fair and so passionate about the words he sang. Rose also could help but smile at the language of the song: Eridan was exactly the kind of person to use 'thou', 'thee' and 'thy'.
When he finished, Rose noticed that he had been looking directly at her the whole time, and that his high cheekbones had become dusted with violet.
The sea troll lowered his instrument.
"So, wwhat do you think?"
"It was beautiful..." whispered Rose, her eyes wide and sparkling with unshed tears.
"I'm glad you thought so." Eridan took the music from the stand and rolled it up like a scroll before handing it to Rose.
Rose unrolled the scroll and her heart nearly stopped. In truth, it wasn't actually a sheet of music that Eridan had given to her, but a message.
Dearest Rose,
I hope you enjoyed my song. The 'seer of light' refers to you and your ability to see good in evveryone. Evven sea dwwellin idiots like me.
Nevver in all of the sevven seas could I hope to find a treasure as divvine as you. Nor could anyfin make me happier than you sayin yes to bein my matesprite.
So, wwill you please end my quest for you?
Lovve E.A.
On the note there was also a ring with an amethyst stone engraved with a rose taped to it.
Rose looked up at Eridan again, tears now trickling down her face.
"All along I thought you were playing from sheet music..."
"Nope. I learnt the piece by heart especially for you-"
Whatever sentiment was going to leave Eridan's lips never did as Rose got to her feet and threw her arms around Eridan's neck, kissing him softly.
"Your quest is over." whispered Rose as she pulled away.
"...Wwhat?" Eridan couldn't think straight for the fact Rose had just kissed him.
Rose simple smiled and detached the ring from the note, sliding it onto her finger before taking Eridan's hands in her own.
"Your quest is over." she repeated "I want to be your matesprite. And I want you to be mine."
Eridan's jaw dropped, but then he closed the space between him and Rose and put one arm around her waist. He cupped her cheek with his other hand and placed his lips on hers again.
In hindsight, it was a good thing that the rest of the school as pretty much deserted apart from the gym. For Eridan didn't Rose leave the practice room for a long while.