Nouveau

Chapter 72: Dialogue

Today...

A conversation is less taxing than giving or listening to a monologue. 

You're in your head while others need practical results.  

Intuitive understanding of others psyche is a gift. Share your 

secret thoughts right now. Have the conversation. 

Talk...come up with a strategy together. 

Laive

Intrusive thoughts stole words L wanted to cry out amongst the chilly air. Laive moved forward in silence trying to find her way in the mild darkness amongst acres of relatives. Blinded by forever being in her own head, L bumped into an unsuspecting body. Ran face forward into a hard chest and tried to hold in whimpers to apologize for stumbling into them and not paying attention to where she was going.

The almost trampled stood upright and rigid. Providing confirmation that a member of Laive's family stopped in their tracks waiting on L to proceed with the southern thing to do. Solemnly shaking her head from side to side, Laive tried to speak while containing her emotions. A pair of arms pulled L into their chest, held her quietly, and used their body to shield Laive away from the illumination of the fire pit and eye's of the people who covered the yard.

Trace scents of freshly singed wood from the on going fire covered the air and complimented the warm spices and subtle notes of citrus and lavender wafting from their skin. The stranger's chest swelled with air from inhaling and exhaling in a repetitive rhythm forcing Laive's anxiety to subside while her spastic breathing slowed to match the pace of their breaths. Inhaling once more, Laive immediately recognized her person. Safe enough to place her forehead in the bed of their sternum and exhaled into her own personal place of safety.

Tremaine.

Maintaining the grip on his red cup, Tremaine's left arm held L around the waist while his right hand pulled Laive's chin up. She assumed he was examining her for fresh tears. Checking each side of her face, Tremaine angled his attention towards the back porch where L had just come from. She looked into his eyes and sadly nodded. Laive instantly saw a blaze set in his eyes and his nostrils flare. She repetitively stroked both hands down his back to soothe Tremaine's budding anger. A gesture Laive hoped would assure him that she was still whole and intact even though internally L felt like shattering to pieces.

Whole.

Even if it seemed temporary, she was whole.

Laive kept her head high, holding herself together in front of everyone. Not giving in to the sweet surrender of crumbling into his arms like she wanted. Her demeanor took up its shield in arms. Preparing L to protect herself from any more external attacks and internal battles. To shut down feelings, tears, opinions, thoughts...any and everything...like it had always been programmed to do so well. Programmed so well in order for L to continue to move forward in whatever she needed to accomplish, leaving those meddlesome worries behind her in a dusty trail.

Empty.

Her mother had officially made Laive's overflowing cup empty, while Tremaine's embrace replenished her fullness. She'd left her mother's presence depleted and some how Tremaine didn't hesitate to give her solace and safety. He probably didn't even realize that his hold on her waist was the only reason she was standing. 

Laive wished on the peeking night stars that Tremaine wouldn't ask if she was ok. That his constant concern of her well being wouldn't show itself in that moment. If he even insinuated anything of the sort, L would turn into a puddle of pathetic tears and wallow at his feet.