I'm Done Holding Back

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Hatch

     "Stalyan? That's a weird name for a girl," Opal laughs.

     "Tell me about it..." Rapunzel mutters.

     "I'm sure Aunt Raps has a lot she could say on the matter," Cassandra says. "But we're gonna continue with the story."

     "I'm excited to hear where she'll take you!" Opal says.

     "Where she led us was exciting," Varian says. "But at the time, it was difficult for me to focus on the task at hand...

As the gang follow Stalyan through the countryside of Pincosta, Varian has to force himself to remain focused on the mission. Because all his brain wants to do is think about Cassandra. All his eyes want to do is stare at her. All his heart wants to do is hold her in his arms.

     But she made it abundantly clear that she doesn't want any of those things, so he must retrain everything within himself to think and act completely opposite to how he wants to think and act around her. How does one teach himself to not be in love?

"You're lagging, Freckles."

"Huh?" Hugo's grating voice pulls Varian from his thoughts.

"You're falling behind," Hugo says. "You stopping to study every bit of the flora and fauna along the way?"

Varian now realizes how far ahead Stalyan, Abhu, and Cassandra are. "I'm just... thinking."

"'Bout what?" Hugo asks.

Varian scoffs. "Like I would tell you." But his eyes involuntarily scan ahead and fall upon Cassandra.

To Varian's horror, Hugo follows his gaze. "Ahh, you don't have to tell me, Freckles."

"Shut up. You don't know anything."

"I know a certain feisty Warrior Angel's rejection has got you down in the dumps."

Hugo's statement both disheartens and infuriates Varian, but instead of the snapping quip he wants to make he simply sighs dismally.

"Don't be so glum, chum!" Hugo says, placing his arm around Varian's shoulders. But Varian promptly shoves it off.

"How can I not be?!" Varian remarks. "The woman I've been in love with for years wants nothing to do with me..."

"I wouldn't say nothing," Hugo says.

Varian hates to admit it, but he knows Hugo is right. He still means something to Cassandra. Why else would she have kept the Cassandrium necklace for all this time? "I... I wish she felt the same about me as I do about her."

"Don't give up all hope yet," Hugo tells him. "You should've seen her when you were trapped in that tunnel." He shudders.

"Wait... What do you mean?" Varian asks.

"I mean, no woman is that scary and determined for just a friend," Hugo replies.

Varian ponders this. Could there still be hope for him and Cass? "Why are you telling me this?"

Hugo shrugs. "I guess you could call it remorse? I'm sorry for what I did to ya, Freckles."

Varian raises a skeptical eyebrow. "Uh-huh, I totally believe you."

"It was worth a shot," Hugo laughs. "Despite what you may believe, though, I do view you as a... sort of entertaining acquaintance."

"Thanks," Varian says flatly, as Hugo gives him an enthusiastic thumbs up.