Time Warp: Was This Supposed to Happen?

[Aryana Darcy]

February 2012

A brash teenager, Aryana Darcy had spent years attempting to build a persona for herself to deter those around her in the most amusing of ways. While Rya would have never been okay with the idea of blatantly disregarding those around her, she found it to be far too amusing to not attempt now-a-days. 

There were attempts being made to sneak alcohol, cigarettes, and guys into her dorm; women were also beginning to catch her eye as of late, and she was very open to experimenting with such things, so they were making their way onto that list as well. The Hydrokinetic could be found at almost every party her fellow schoolmates were able to throw, so never was there a dull moment in her life. Never was there time to think about anything else, which was something she found the most appealing about the life she was currently living. 

Over the years, the Brit had formed light friendships with a few around her, but none like the one with the player that was Carter Chevalier. Two years older, he always seemed so distant and unreachable, but never did she feel unwanted. He piqued her interest, undeniably so, and because of this, she always found herself taking some time to visit or text even if she didn't have that time. 

He was, in her eyes, a physical trophy; he was a Chevalier, the name itself giving implications of exclusivity, but to be able to formulate a friendship with such a notorious player was an accomplishment on her end. 

No, she hadn't slept with him yet, but there was a definite desire to see what was underneath all of the excessively expensive clothing that he wore. The first year and a half, Rya hadn't even understood the concept of sexuality, but as of late, she found herself very sure of what she was. However, with Carter, she was definitely not going to make any move towards him; she enjoyed the back and forth banter far too much to ruin it with petty desire. 

In the bone-chilling air of February, Rya announced over text that she was going to head over to his dorm since she didn't want to deal with her own roommates. A short, familiar walk to the co-ed dorms, and she found herself standing in front of room 205. 

She knocked. "Hey Blondie," Rya offered, "It's your favorite Brit."

[Carter Chevalier]

Since the time of their tandem arrival, the Chevalier twins wasted no time making a name for themselves. It was odd for the school to receive a pair of twins who weren't a gestalt pair. Even odder for them to manifest with separate abilities on the same day. At the same time. In the same moment. The stories of their physical encounters wasn't the thing that rose them to any time of fame, it was simply the addition to an already swirling world of stories.

Settled in his room after a lengthy conversation with his shy, introverted roommate, Carter received the message from the Brit next door and decided to forgo the idea of leaving if she were to grace him with her presence. It was honestly strange to have a friend at arms length as she was, but he felt it was her choice.

He left the comfort of his bed after choosing not to reply, ensuring that the time it took her to get there would match his movements. So when she knocked, it didn't take him long to answer.

There she was; his favourite Brit.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked, the corner of his mouth dragging into a grin.

[Aryana Darcy]

He offered her a grin, something that she found very charming about the French teen in front of her. There was a thing that she had about making him smile, regardless if it was from sarcasm or her general presence, but she felt like she had accomplished something in doing so. Because while she knew that he gave his smiles freely, only did they sometimes mean something. It was reassuring, really.

“My hatred of the cold,” Rya responded with a slight shrug of her shoulder, acting nonchalant as she always did, trying to subdue the urge to pull her lips up into a grin of her own. It was true Rya hated the cold, but she didn’t necessarily need that excuse to see him. She wanted to see him, and he knew that. However, it made things a lot less personal if she made up the excuse instead.

“That, and my roommates have absolutely nothing to hold my interest.” She slipped past him then into the dorm, since he hadn’t yet actually invited her in. A quick move, and she was behind him; a quick turn on her heel, and she was facing his back, if only for a short time. The Brit crossed her arms across her chest, an amused smile gracing her features.

[Carter Chevalier]

Her hatred of the cold; the answer caused his eyebrows to raise on instinct. "Isn't it colder where you're from?" Carter asked, though truthfully he wasn't entirely sure where that was. After all, he couldn't exactly tell her accent apart from any other British one he'd heard, and it was a sizeable enough country.

Leaning against the door a touch, Carter wavered in the doorway for a few moments before taking a delicate move to the side, as if to let her in. But she bypassed him before he could well and truly offer. Because she simply could.

"I'd like to think I could hold your interest." He finally replied, turning back and allowing the door to shut behind him. "I'm flattered you'd find me so enthralling."

[Aryana Darcy]

A shake of her head and a scoff came from the girl, “It’s cold, yeah, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it.” Rya had been in America for about three years by that time, and she had become accustomed to the weather that the Vermont seasons provided her, including the cold. Her accent had even slightly changed - it was slightly muted by the influence of the local accents. A lot has changed since she had come, but one thing remained the same; she hated the winter.

“Oh don’t flatter yourself. I have plenty of people I could go to, you just happened to be the closest.” Her hands clasped behind her back, and her eyes offered him a glimpse of excitement that, with her sarcastic tone, made it clear that she was simply joking. Looking at him in the doorway, everything about him caught her attention- his words and his action, his physique and his posture. He was an interesting person to look at and speak to, Rya found over the past few years, and the banter they volleyed back and forth was priceless.

“You’re alright, Carter,” She spoke up then, taking a few steps towards him. “You know, with you being French and all.”

[Carter Chevalier]

Despite the way she spoke, Carter and his well nourished ego opted not to believe her. He might have been closer, but he was also aware that he was sparklingly great company few got to indulge in as often as she did when sex wasn't involved. Physicality was a base line for most of his friendships when he wanted it. This wasn't the first female friend he'd taken in such a way, but it was definitely different.

"Is there something wrong with being French?" Carter asked her, knowing he was likely taking the bait for a much larger issue. But his curiosity grabbed him nonetheless, "I already know the answer, I'm sure. But please, enlighten me on the faults of such a heritage."

[Aryana Darcy]

"Nothing more wrong than me being English.” The tension between the English and French had always been prominent, and she didn’t think that would ever change, but it was an empty comment that she didn’t really think much of. She sometimes said random words that really had no significance, but she wouldn’t truly admit such a thing. She made her way towards the common’s room couch, her legs crossing as she breathed into her hands.

“Well, there are the times that I can’t understand a word you’re saying,” She teased lightly, her words ironically muffled from her position of her hands. He had a very prominent accent, as did his brother, and there were times that she struggled because of that. But it was the same for her at times, especially with those who weren’t native to America or Britain. Most Americans had no problems with understanding her words, unless of course she slipped out some unnecessary slang, but there were a few people from other countries that had asked her to repeat her words more than once.

“Baguette, Oui.” Rya offered with an awful interpretation of his accent, but quickly lost her composure and let out a quick laugh. She returned to her normal speech, “Or if we're going to make fun of me, tea and scones.” God, she was an idiot.

[Carter Chevalier]

Carter had to admit, he found her answer strangely peculiar. Perhaps he'd simply been wrong, or perhaps he read too much into the fact that she brought up his cultural background. The cold, he found no issue with. He stayed where he was for a time as she continued.

"That's a language barrier, not an accent issue." He replied, his tone relatively light hearted. At least, he believed that's what they were talking about, especially when she went on to interpret both the accent and the language in question. Crossing the room finally, he pressed his hands to the back of the couch and looked down at her. "Parlez-vous français?"

Even the most uncultured individual knew exactly what he was asking, so he leaned in closer and dropped his voice low. "J'en doute, chère."

[Aryana Darcy]

She was finding it hard to maintain a straight face as she spoke, but when he offered words in his natural tongue, she quieted. It was strange how at one point his words, despite practice, seemed to be so forced when speaking in English, but when he reverted back to his native tongue, it went so smoothly. Granted, she only knew one of the phrases he spoke, so she narrowed her eyes when he lowered his tone.

“I don’t know what you’re saying, so I’m going to take it as a sign of disrespect,” The Hydrokinetic rolled her eyes, giving him complete eye contact as she said this. It was something she was used to offering him, her complete attention, because he seemed to gain it so easily. He was beautiful with his blue eyes, porcelain skin tone, and a gorgeously fit body. His close proximity wasn’t helping with that realization, but she tried to focus on other things.. After all, it wasn’t worth going any farther than that, just looking, because she didn’t want to screw things up.

“This is the point in time where I wished I spoke some obscure language because I’d be able to one up you,” She said, “But I can’t. And I refuse to say you win.”

[Carter Chevalier]

Carter offered a low chuckle close to her ear as she responded. That was, until she turned around, and he made little attempt to move away with the sudden shift. Resting his forearms against the back of the couch, he raised his eyebrows once as his grin reappeared. Just for her.

It would have been easy to explain that she was, in part, right. He was being a tad disrespectful in his more native tongue, but she hardly needed to know that. It wasn't what was said, but how was said, that made it all the more interesting. Her refusal to admit he won simply meant he couldn't stop. Not until it was so.

"Vous l'aimez," The older twin replied, nodding his head once at the fact as he leaned in a touch more, "Amour."

[Aryana Darcy]

Stubborn. Rya Darcy was very much a stubborn teenage girl, never wanting to give into anyone or anything, no matter how attractive or enticing. There was a challenge in his tone, and she most definitely could infer that his words also held a similar challenge because this was Carter Chevalier. She knew him well enough to know that he had his own stubborn nature.

How he handled his, though, was far different than she was handling hers.

What had just originally started as another day with the eldest Chevalier was quickly turning into something of a battle of self-control. He was testing his limits, he really was, but wasn't that why she found him so entertaining in the first place? However, she had never had him this close before, and never had she wished so much that he was closer. But she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her falter.

"What was that, love?" Rya tilted her head, her lips remaining parted in almost a challenge. She wouldn't be the first one to give - the Hydro was sure of it.

[Carter Chevalier]

Stubborn was a trait they both shared. Carter knew this already, and really, it was what made her so interesting in the first place. Few ever lingered so close to him in such a way and challenged him so intently. Even fewer won.

So she parted her lips, and he didn't look. He didn't need to look; it was a universal sign he wasn't about to falter to. Fortunately for him, he had what he assumed was higher resolve. Better willpower. He'd been playing this game for years.

"Vous l'aimez." He repeated. Slowly, as he breached the distance further by way of leaning in. He left little distance between them; an inch, at the most. Where he could feel her breath on his skin, and she could drink in the sensation of his; "Oui?"

[Aryana Darcy]

Rya had thought she would win this; she was the dominant one in any situation, always taking two steps forward before the opponent realized he had taken one step back. It was how she managed to keep herself moving forward and was able to handle the lifestyle she was living. But Carter always seemed to be three steps in front when she had only just picked up her feet. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat.

Fuck.

He was sure to hear -to feel- the falter in her even breathing, which meant that he would be as smug as could be. Her eyes remained locked on his, rather than flicking down to his own lips. She wouldn't be the one to initiate, oh no, because that would be giving up. And she never did.

[Carter Chevalier]

In that proximity, Carter had remained calm despite the closeness. Despite the way he felt about her. There was no denying that she was attractive, and he'd been lying if he said he'd never thought about sleeping with her. But he was sure he wasn't about to give up. That he didn't need to.

Because she did give up. At least, that's how Carter saw it. For someone so composed and relatively contrived, the single way her breath hitched was everything. She who gave no indications just gave an indication.

So he breached the distance, despite the back of the couch between them, and he leaned in to kiss her.

Nothing about that struck him as weak.

[Aryana Darcy]

It was quiet in the last moments, either of them waiting for the other to give; Rya was waiting for him to lean in, and she was sure he was waiting for her to do the same. Never had it occurred to her that he already took the falter in her breathing as a clear indication that he had won. So when he leaned in first, there was a sense of satisfaction that she was the one to win this entire ordeal. Rya had never been too skilled in interpreting nonverbal cues, something she apparently needed work in.

Her hands gripped the edge of the couch for the first few moments, trying to determine whether or not to pull away; after all, this was what she had been avoiding for such a long time. But she found that the longer she waited to make the decision, the more she was beginning to fall into a daze where all she wanted to do was touch him, to take off his clothes and fall into bed with him. The Brit removed her hands from the couch and reached up to rest her hand on the back of his neck, her fingers curling slightly in response to the heating kiss.

Rya had gotten her wish, she supposed. The only things that were separating them were a layer of clothing and a common room couch, which at the moment, was far too much.