One Step Closer (Venn)

[Venn Hensley]

Venn felt so bad.. But she was coping well with it, and she had enough courage and strength to not yell at him for what he did. Even though he had an accurate answer, he was still quite shocked she was okay with it, he understood that they were best friends for years, but if that happened to him, he wouldn't be able to control himself. But he was more lenient towards the fact that he was the one with the feelings, not her.

He didn't want her to move on so quickly, he wasn't even sure if he wanted them to break up. He didn't want to be the reason why, that would just be horrible. He wasn't sure of what Lani was capable of, but if Venn wanted to, he'd use his body size as an advantage. He knew Lani had telekinesis, and telekinesis was sometimes a hostile and dangerous power. He hated the fact that Lani and Adri argued .. He didn't want to know that Adrianna got into a few quarrels with him.

He didn't want her to be upset in a relationship.

"I'm sorry, I don't want you to do that .. -- I'm such a fuck up!" He let go of her, and looked away, about to lose his temper, he didn't want to turn into that steel-like form.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrian wasn’t really all that upset about Venn expressing his feelings. Of course she often took everything in stride, but had things been reversed, she’d have acted the same way as him. Funny how they were so very similar, it was what made them so compatible. When one was down or upset, the other was able and ready to cheer them up. It was a cycle, one they’d been perfecting for years. A very thorough system.

When he turned away from her, she frowned. She couldn’t understand why he was so upset. It wasn’t as if she had gotten angry at him. How could she? It wasn’t like he’d kissed her without consent. They were just talking about feelings, not acting on them. It would be different if she’d been actually cheating on Lani with Venn, but she wasn’t nor did she plan to. Adrian was above cheating and she would end things with Lani if there was ever a close call. This didn’t count as a close call, not yet at least.

Adri scooted off the stage, and stepped to where she was in front of him. Folding her arms across her chest, she sighed. “Venn, you’re not a screw up. I hate when you say stuff like that.” She nudged his leg and reached up to touch his cheek, making him look at her. “Everyone has feelings that they can’t control. It’s not like you’re forcing me to choose and you aren’t the reason Lani and I are drifting away. It’s been happening for weeks. Don’t you see that I’m happy you told me?” She asked quietly with a slight frown, her eyebrows pulling together.

[Venn Hensley]

He sort of blushed when she stood up in front of him and nudged him. He didn't know why, but it was a warm feeling. It was nice knowing that she'd always be there to understand him, and not just jump straight to horrible conclusions. Whenever it came to Venn, it seemed like she went to the bright side of the problem. He stood up, and towered over her, he put an arm around her, pulling her closer towards him. He smiled, and finally embraced her in a hug.

"Thank you."

When he was hugging her, he had the frustrating urge to kiss her romantically. Names and titles ruined everything, but Venn was a respectable person, and he respected Lani. Even if they were going through trouble or not.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

As he towered over her, she looked up at him waiting for him to push her away again. There were times that it took more than just a few coaxing words for him to cheer up. But his arm wrapped around her and she threw her arms around him happily. Adrian was glad that he was smiling now. His smile was always just so pretty and nice to look at. He had such a great smile, yet hardly anyone ever really got to see it aside from her.

She buried her face in his chest and snuggled against him, “You know I’ll always be here for you. No matter what we’re in this together. You and me against the world.” It was their motto. It had been since they first realized how similar they were and how well they got along. Adrian could see this friendship lasting far into the future. Possibly with a relationship in the near future, but only if she got things cleared up with Lani first. That was all she wanted to do.

Honestly, Adrianna did really like Venn. His personality was so amazing once you got past the temper and walls that he put up around himself. Very few people ever saw him the way she did, and she was glad that she was special enough to have a chance to see him like that. “I’m really glad you’re back Venny,” She said quietly as she looked up at him and smiled wider.

[Venn Hensley]

Adrianna was always a strong girl, her mother suffers from lung cancer, and Adri is strong enough to keep a smile on her face. Venn couldn't help but adore that about her. He wished he had something other than temper to cover up his sensitive feelings, however, he loved how Adrian got through it. He loved having a close friend like her. He started believing Adrianna now .. She was his other half, and he was hers.

He picked her up playfully, and swung her around in a three hundred sixty degree angle easily. His strength was enhanced, too, but that was a normal thing for them. He was able to control his strength, and he chuckled as he swung her around, as he swung her around, he spun, too, getting dizzy, he fell down onto the floor.

There was a somewhat loud thud, but he was able to break Adrian's fall.

"Ow!" He chuckled, blushing.

"You okay, Adri?"

[Adrianna Carstyn]

If he’d ever voiced his opinions on how strong she was, Adrian would outright laugh. She wasn’t strong. She was dependent on so many people and she couldn’t fend for herself. Of course whenever she was angry (a rare thing that happened) she would threaten people if they deserved it, but honestly she would never go through with it. She was a pushover, always wanting everyone else to be happy before she could worry about her own happiness.

As he picked her up, she giggled and clung to him. This was just a disaster waiting to happen because neither of them was all that graceful (well unless she was dancing). And in no time they both ended up on the floor. She fell on top of him and just started laughing harder. Along with her giggle, she snorted and buried her face in his shoulder, her body shaking with ever laugh. This was what happened when they were together. Always.

In between her fit of giggles she pulled back and looked at him, “Well that was smooth Venny. You’re so clumsy!” She kissed his cheek and hopped up offering him a hand, “I’m fine. Are you okay? Seriously, you took that harder than I did.” It was nice to laugh, all previous tension gone. As she stood up, she brushed off her yoga pants.

“Dude, we totally need to plan out our costumes soon! And before you say anything, you are definitely going to the dance. I won’t take no for an answer.”

[Venn Hensley]

Even though it was a usual thing when she kissed his cheek, this time, his heart went crazy. He felt it beating on his throat, and he got all jittery inside, and nervous, he looked around shyly, and he took her hand. In attempt to get up, he ended up pulling her back into him accidentally, but he caught balance, and stood up straight.

"Okay, okay, fine. What were you planning to be?"

She meant it.

He knew she would definitely not take no for an answer, he knew everything about her, well mostly. But what he did all summer, was boring, he wanted to know more about what she did. He didn't know why, but he wanted to know everything, he felt the disconnection of her mood whenever she mentioned her summer. Did something bad happen? Did her mother die, and was she afraid to tell Venn?

"So nothing bad happened all summer?"

[Adrianna Carstyn]

It was barely even something she thought about anymore. A kiss on the cheek was the usual between them. It was just normal. Of course every time she did it, she felt the flutters of butterflies in her tummy. When he took her hand, she pulled, but stumbled and fell into him. Giggling, she shook her head. They were such a clumsy duet. It was entertaining though.

At his question she held her hands up to brace him for what she was about to say. She’d already cleared it with the school office to make sure it wasn’t too revealing and honestly the only things that showed were her legs. With a bright smile, she answered. “Just call me the adorable Willy Wonka. I bought all the stuff for my costume yesterday! I’ve even got the coolest top hat ever!” She did a little dance and laughed at her weirdness. He’d be used to it. She was always acting like this around him.

It was true, Adrianna had no desire to discuss her summer any further with Venn. She’d much rather hear about his boring summer than get into the mess of drama that had made up hers. The very thought of telling him about the second half of the summer had her frowning. There was just no way he’d be able to take it without telling someone. And she couldn’t afford having him tell someone about Lani. Not now. Not ever.

“What? Oh uhm, no. Why? I mean…ugh okay so something did happen. Just drama though, it’s no biggie really,” She shrugged trying to play it off and again hoping for him to just leave it be. Honestly, she didn’t know what part she was talking about. Rhett, or Lani’s secret.

[Venn Hensley]

He heard the doubt and hesitation in her voice, as stated before, he was able to see right through her. For a couple of years now, he had no problem detecting lies off of her, he didn't need a lie detection for her, he just knew. He decided to be witty, and he added a little humor towards it, he jumped onto the stage, and laid down on his stomach, holding his head up with his hands, and he supported that with his elbows. Like how those girls lay down on the bed when they gossip at slumber parties.

"Tell me more, I'm all ears."

He wanted to know what these girls did when they got into drama, he wanted to know if she got into any catfights, which would be totally funny. He would try to shrug it off as a funny thing, and cheer her mood up right after she shared these adventurous stories with him.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

All Adrian could do as he imitated a typical girl at any gossiping sleepover, was laugh. He looked ridiculous, but completely adorable at the same time. It honestly wasn’t fair that he was so good-looking. It made this whole trying to be a good girlfriend thing difficult. What if her and Lani really did breakup? How long would she be able to keep her blossoming feelings for Venn at bay? She wasn’t a whore by any means, but she fell hard for people, and Venn did like her. The only thing she wanted was someone who would love her they way she loved them. And Lani had shown to her that he didn’t love her, not yet.

Trying to find a way to start, Adrianna paced back and forth with her hands folded behind her back. It wasn’t easy figuring out how to begin. She’d chosen to start with the Rhett business because that just seemed easier to tell. Of course it would make her want to cry again, but this was Venn, he’d witnessed her crying multiple times. Even more than Lani. He usually seemed to handle it well and he always made her feel better. If tears were going to come, she wouldn’t mind them showing in front of her best friend.

Letting out a sigh, she bit on her lip, “Okay, so you remember that Rhett guy I’ve told you about? The one that kissed Tal and was partially the reason I dumped him?” Of course he’d remember, she’d mentioned how much of a jerk he’d been then and she’d also mentioned how at one point he had actually been nice to her. “Well, he left for a couple months and then decides to come back. I really didn’t miss this guy at all and when I found out he was back, I figured I’d just ignore him or whatever.” She shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair, “Well he came to find me and my dumb ass self decided to mouth off to him thinking it would help.” Now for the hard part, Adri looked down. “He told me that I needed to keep a better watch on Lani and his best friend Odion because apparently Odion wad mad at Rhett and wanted to get back at him. I told him that there was no way Lani would do anything, right? And then he brings Talen up saying that it was funny because Tal wasn’t even into guys when he kissed Rhett. And I mean you know what that implies! I just I got so freaked out and…and I told Lani what happened.”

Tears stung the back of her eyes and she looked down, “I called him once I got back to the dorm, thinking that if I told him he’d be able to reassure me. But…he got so mad at me. He was so upset because I doubted him. You know me Venny, you know how I am when it comes to trusting guys….It wasn’t that I wanted to doubt him, I just couldn’t help it because I’ve had so many guys screw me over in the past. I got scared and I mean we fixed it or whatever, but I don’t think either of us fully recovered from it.”

[Venn Hensley]

Venn kind of got angry when she brought up Talen, a boy who he thought looked better than him, which was possibly true to some people, and a boy who cheated on his best friend. He wouldn't have been angry if Adri told him what Rhett said, in that situation, he'd be totally fine with it. He would be proud that Adri came and told him, other than keep it hidden from him. It would've let him known that she had a problem with trusting guys, so he would've made a better effort into being a more faithful boyfriend.

He got up and sat against the ledge of the stage, and he looked at her sternly now. All jokes aside. He wanted to hug her, he heard the pain in her voice, just by her explaining everything. He nodded as she was speaking, and he bit his lip, just like she did.

"Go on .."

He twiddled his thumbs, and looked at his bitten nails. He somehow made sure he was paying much attention, after all, the brute didn't want her to feel like she was being neglected. He loved listening to her.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Honestly, Adrianna wasn’t sure what the difference in reaction would be between Venn and Lani. And honestly, she hadn’t expected such a negative reaction from her boyfriend. Maybe it had come off more accusatory than a question, but anyone who knew her knew it wasn’t meant to be an accusation. She had only wanted to tell Lani what happened because she was being honest. Honesty was so important to her and she felt that if she hadn’t told him it would only have made things worse. But after she told him, she sort of regretted it.

Adri leaned against the stage beside him and the tears started to fill her eyes again. It wasn’t the same as it had been when she’d gotten into the fight with Lani, but the pain was still there. Lani had thought she didn’t trust him. It hadn’t been that though, she was more worried about him leaving her. No, he wasn’t Talen and Odion wasn’t Rhett, but the similarities had spooked her and it created the first fissure in their crumbling relationship.

“Nothing’s been the same between me and him. I found out that he was lying about something rather major, don’t ask because I can’t tell. It pretty much resulted in….” She cut off and pushed away from the stage, needing the distance. “I-I got taken, Venn. By really scary guys and…and I mean Lani didn’t know at first, but they took me because of him and…” She stopped again, tears slipping down her cheeks as the kidnapping replayed itself over and over in her mind. “It freaked us both out, and I mean it revealed so many secrets that he’d been keeping from me. We haven’t been the same since.”

[Venn Hensley]

His feeling of curiosity faded away when she kept on speaking. Once the tears started projecting out of her eyes, he moved closer towards her and wrapped his arms around her. But he was prepared for her to tell him that she was kidnapped. Why did they do this to her? Why would Lani bring that sort of trouble towards Adrianna? Hate for Lani rushed through his mind, as he thought of Adrianna getting kidnapped.

He moved off of her, and headed towards the door, he cracked the tendons in his neck, and flexed his muscles a bit. "Did you get raped?! Did they hurt you?!" He pondered as his skin started shelling a layer of hard steel over it. He didn't want to do this, but he was somehow uncontrollable when he was angry. Which was rare. He wasn't an angry person, even if he had temper issues, Adri found a way for his temper to die.

He busted through the doors, nearly breaking it down, and whenever he took a step, there were large thuds. His steel glistened in the sun as he moved out angrily towards the courtyard. How could Lani allow this? Why did it have to be Adrianna?!

He moved towards the center of the courtyard, where students were frolicking, minding their own business and having fun. "Lani, where the fuck are you?! I'M GONNA' KILL YOUR ASS."

He didn't want to do this, but his temper took control of him, and frankly, there was nothing he could do about it.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

There was a reason Adrianna had been so hesitant in telling Venn about what had happened that last part of the summer. He was so painfully protective of her that she knew even if he promised not to do anything, his anger would get the best of him. It didn’t bother her, she had grown so used to it, but at times she was worried he’d do something he’d regret later. His arms wrapped around her and at first she thought maybe things would be okay. Maybe he would just hold her and make her feel better.

But as she continued, all hope for that disappeared and his anger began to take hold of him. He started for the door and she reached for him, his hand slipping from her grip. “Venn, wait…” He started asking questions and she had to jog in order to keep up with him. “Venny stop! Please, it’s okay. They didn’t do anything…” except put a gun to her head but she couldn’t tell him that. Not now. Maybe not ever with the way he was acting now. Venn wasn’t an angry guy, he was so sweet and gentle that when he did get angry, it scared people.

Now Adrian was good at calming people down, but she was worried that this time she wouldn’t be able to. The jog turned into an all out sprint as he stepped out into the courtyard. People were everywhere and she tried to get to him before he set off any teachers or anything. No one needed to know what was going on. It was between her and Lani and Venn. Regret filled her as she watched him. She never should have told him.

Finally pushing herself fast enough, she caught up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, the cold metal freezing against her burning cheeks. “Venny please, please just calm down. I didn’t tell you this to make you angry. I’m okay, just please stop.” Tears were flowing down her cheeks at this point and she didn’t know what else to do.

[Venn Hensley]

He didn't feel her hugging him, but he saw her arms wrapped around his waist. What was he doing? How could he? She trusted him not to do anything, and he blew it. He turned around and picked her up, and he headed back into the auditorium. "I-I'm sorry .." He sat back onto the stage - still holding her. The steel retracted itself to his skin, and he brushed his thumb over her tears, just to wipe them away.

"Something's wrong with me."

He stroked her hair whilst he was sitting down, it was funny how bipolar he was when it came to Adrianna. She had the key to his emotions, she just had to put the key into the lock, and twist it. She basically controlled him, but she didn't take advantage of him. That's one of the things he loved about her.