Surprise: Maric and Lilli

[Maric du Verais]

I had not sent word to Lilli to let her know I was back in the city and I made sure that Azriel had not said anything either. I wanted to surprise her. To be honest I was nervous about seeing her again. I thought about her often when I was back home in Kusheth. I thought about what she was doing or thinking and whether or not she thought about me; I had missed her that was for sure. Next to Sophine, Lilli had been my only true friend in the city.

I dressed in a brown tunic and dark green doublet with black breeches and boots. I also went into the city and picked up a bouqet of red roses before heading to her town house. Hoping to the gods that she was home I walked to door and knocked before taking a deep breath and exhaled waiting for some one to answer.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I was passing through the front hall on my way up to my room when a knock sounded against the door. I didn't bother calling for a servant, but opened it myself. And stopped breathing.

Maric.

We hadn't exactly parted on good terms. In fact, there had been a lot of shouting and tears and accusations. He had tried to tell me that he would come back, but I hadn't believed him. I made myself not believe him. It was the only way I could get over him. But he was here, standing on my front steps. Six months was not long enough for my heart to heal from the barbs he had thrown.

"Hello," I managed, still stunned.

[Maric du Verais]

The door swung open and it was Lilli herself that stood there looking back at me. I couldn't stop the smile that bloomed on my face though some where it registered that she didn't seem as happy to see me. But I didn't care at the moment I was just happy to see her even if she wanted nothing to do with me... Which was a distinct possibility.

"Hello." I answered softly. For a moment all I could do was stare at her and take in her beauty.
"You... You haven't changed. Still beautiful." I stretched out my arms holding the bouquet toward her.
"These are for you."

[Lillianne Prévost]

The way he smiled at me with those bright eager eyes... It was almost as if our last argument hadn't happened, like he had forgotten about it. Instinctively I took the flowers. A thought floated across my mind wondering where he found roses at this time of the year, but it was quickly pushed aside by the face that he was here. Standing in front of me.

"Thank you. I... I never thought you'd actually come back," I whispered, looking down at the red petals. "At least, not to see me."

[Maric du Verais]

Her statement surprised me but then again considering how things were left between us I was also not surprised.
"Of course I came back." I said softly. Then took a breath and exhale as I collected my thoughts.
"Look I know that we left things on a... sour note. You were right when you said I was immature but I've changed and I want to fix things between us... At least I want us to be friends again. I... I really care for you Lilli. I thought about you often when I was in Kusheth. I thought about fixing things between us. I've come to the city to pursue a military career and I think it will do me some good. But I really have changed. I'm not the mooning romantic boy that I was half a year ago." With that I kept my mouth shut and hoped that she would see I was really trying to make things right with my life.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I looked at him as he spoke, though I kept glancing down at the flowers too. I didn't know how to feel. He had promised to not leave me, and yet had gone running back to Kusheth when things weren't looking good for him. He believed that he had changed, but...

"If you're not that boy, then who are you Maric?" I whispered. I wanted to believe him, I wanted to throw myself into his arms. But he had hurt me at a time when I was very vulnerable.

[Maric du Verais]

I shrugged a little at her question.
"I'm not entirely sure I know yet. I'm still changing and growing. You can't tell me you're absolutely sure who you are can you? We're still young and we're still learning ourselves. All I want is an opportunity... To at least gain your trust as a friend and nothing more."

[Lillianne Prévost]

I would have been happy with 'I don't know yet' but he over-answered, trying to turn the question back around at me. I held my lips tight together so that they wouldn't tremble.

I made myself think about his words, about what he was actually trying to say, before answering. "Alright. Alright, but not today," I said, coming to a decision to give him the chance he asked for as I clutched to the roses. "Where are you staying?"

[Maric du Verais]

"With Azriel." I replied simply. "And don't be upset with him for not telling you. I asked him not to so that I might have a chance to come surprise you. To be honest I wasn't sure if you would see me if you knew I was staying in the City again." I took a breath a waited for her reply, unsure as to where her emotions would lead her.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Well, we aren't really speaking right now, so..." My voice trailed off as I realized that I couldn't summarize my last conversation with my uncle easily, and I really didn't want to get into detail right then.

I looked down again at the roses. "These really are beautiful," I said in a soft voice. "Thank you Maric."

[Maric du Verais]

"Oh I'm so sorry." I said softly as I reached out and touched her shoulder sympathetically.
"He never said anything. But then again I'm not sure why he would say anything." I let my hand fall from her shoulder.
"Did you want to tall about it?"

[Lillianne Prévost]

I shook my head. "I've already beaten it to death in my own mind," I said. It was hard not to fall into his arms sobbing. His touch was the first truly comforting thing I had felt in too long. I needed to control myself though. "Are you free tomorrow?"

[Maric du Verais]

I smiled gently and nodded.
"I am absolutely free." I replied as I looked at her. She looked sad and it made my stomach all knotted, there was just something about seeing the fairer sex upset that made me want to punch some one's face in.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I nodded, trying to keep myself steady. "Will you come back tomorrow morning then? About ten o'clock?"

[Maric du Verais]

"Absolutely." I replied with a smile hoping to reassure her. She seemed mighty unhappy and it most definitely made my heart hurt.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Thank you. I have appointments today so..." My voice trailed away, and impulsively I leaned in to kiss his cheek. By Anael my heart hurt. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

[Maric du Verais]

She kissed me and I could feel the burn of her lips to my skin, it surprised me actually and I stood there slack jawed for a moment as my hand reached up and touched the place where her lips had left their imprint. For a moment I just stared at her till I realized she had asked me a question; my hand fell away and my mouth clicked closed as my cheeks burned with embarassment from being caught out.
"Yes, tomorrow." I replied softly then bowed before standing up right, smiling gently and nodding then turned on my heel and headed away from her. I tried to make a clean get away but I tripped a little and stumbled then looked over my shoulder and chuckled nervously as I looked at her with a smile before turning to look a head and continue on my way.

[Lillianne Prévost]

The touch of my lips against his skin seemed to shock him, and my stomach dropped as I realized my impulsive move might not have been the best idea. But I could only follow Elua's teachings.

I held the roses a little tighter as I watched him stumble away. Naamah he was adorable, he always had been. I went inside before I could shed any tears over what had transpired between us, that had made his arrival on my front step such a shock. I could only conclude that there was something wrong with me, for all this misery and grief to pile up on me to the point where I couldn't even enjoy the initial return of my best friend.