Masquerade

"Attention patrons. We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a grand event this coming weekend. Our first annual Fall Frenzy Masquerade! The event will be held on Saturday. All patrons and members of staff are expected to participate. There will be dancing, socializing, and plenty of entertainment. The dress code is strictly formal."

Ever since the announcement had been made, the bar had been more busy with activity than ever before. The staff members were having a difficult time with balancing two factors that any party planner is faced with; stress and their own silent anticipation that they'd never admit to having. Regulars and new patrons alike seemed much more relaxed, conversation for once wasn't hard to find. Of course, the girls found this to be the perfect excuse to discuss their choice of dresses and fashion. The guys, on the other hand, were focused on their plans to woo the women behind the masks, even if only just for one night. While the males and females seemed to be part of their own separate little worlds, there were still a few stragglers that just couldn't seem to feel the festive spirit.
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"I don't know, Mem. All of this and I still can't shake the feeling that something's... not right."

A human girl with braided blue hair sat across from her friend. For her, she felt nothing but apprehension. Usually, Nevaeh was a generally happy gal. But lately, there seemed to be a little grey cloud hanging above her head. The two were out of earshot from everyone else, taking up their favorite spot to have these little chats. The hidden garden area was a prime location for privacy since not many knew about that particular place. A peaceful aura was nearly always present here. Emerald blades of lush grass surrounded a cemented pool area, while a cute little hammock was neatly docked between two large trees. Mem and Nev came here often to simply vent their feelings at one another.

"What's wrong, Nev? You seemed to be fine a few days ago..."

Mem's voice trailed off, the one dull green eye that was visible enlarging slightly. As always, the other eye was kept covered by her sleek white hair. Fluffy grey fur bristled in a mixture of worry and irritation, tail flicking in an agitated manner to further the scene of a distressed kitty. Despite this, matching ears were perked with interest, a genuine concern painted across her lips.

"I just told you. I don't know. This whole masquerade thing is fine and dandy, but it's sort of cliche. Fall Frenzy? You'd think we were back in Elementary school getting ready for the sock hop."

Just as soon as she had responded, Nev gave a soft frown. Why was she so snappy today? Opening her mouth to apologize, she was stopped short by Mem's familiar (yet very dull) chuckle. So, she hadn't offended her... that was good. Mem wasn't one to pick up on things all that easily anyways. A twinge of guilt tugged at the girl, shaking her head in a silent disappointment at herself. How dare she let this threaten such a bond that had formed over the past few months. What a horrible friend she was. At least, that was her own personal opinion. And on top of it all, Nev was partially not telling the truth. There were other underlying issues that had been bothering her. As much as she trusted Mem, she couldn't face the truth of her own music.

"Oh... Vin's not very excited either. But... he doesn't get excited over much. You know how he is. I love him still though! Nev, don't get so down. It's only--"

"Do you always have to be so happy when you talk about him? I know. You two love each other very much. Good job. I don't care if it's only for one day, or if this stupid celebration goes on for months. I don't want to be involved. At all. In fact, I think I'll hide out tomorrow."

Nev snapped again, this time much more obvious than the last. Mem must have noticed too, because her smile faded completely, a nervous shift given as she fidgeted with her paws. A deep sigh was issued from Nevaeh, those same thoughts of being an unworthy friend resurfacing. And it hadn't been but three minutes. To avoid any other problems, Nev pushed herself up and out of the hammock. Her voice was heard one last time, though carried out by only a mere grumble.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what's going on. I'm going to go be alone and think for a while, maybe take a bath. Forget this conversation ever happened, but remember I'm not going to any stupid masquerades."

With that, she was off, leaving Mem with a quizzical yet humorous look on her face. That look soon changed, the visible eye glazing over as she seemed to withdraw from herself. She no longer seemed to notice her surroundings, talking... to herself. Or, to her invisible friend rather.

"Schmitty...? Are you awake?"
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Back inside the bar, things still hadn't settled down. Just as the two females had been speaking in private, Vin and Vango had taken the opportunity to sneak away to one of the rooms in order to have their own conversation. Of course, their conversation still revolved around the masquerade. It seemed to be an unavoidable topic. A glass table was set up neatly between two similar looking beings with an old wooden chess set on top. By the looks of it, neither from the pair were what you'd call... focused. Still, Vin held a rather large lead, his pointed tail wagging proudly from upon a pale skinned body. They were so much alike, it was uncanny. Both had the same dark purple hair, the same demonic tail, and the same slightly feminine frame despite identifying as male for the most part. Each wore an eye patch on the opposite eye; Vango's on the right and Vin's on the left. The reasons were unknown to most. Even though the 'doppelganger duo' looked alike, they were still different in many ways. Just a small example of this was the expressions on their faces. Vango held a disinterested scowl, while Vin... was far too distracted by oogling over the black chess pieces to really care about the game. Absent mindedly, he began to tap a black knight on the corner of the table. Tap... tap... taptaptap!

"Would you stop that?!"

Vango, the one in the read sweater asked in an irritated tone, pulling his hood up over his head to hide his face. The sudden words had broken an unbearable silence, causing Vin to jerk from his seat barely. Vin snorted, shrugging his shoulders as his amused look faded, setting down the knight. Even though it was a small incident, Vin wasn't called emo for no reason. He even wore the clothing to back it up, if stereotypes matter here. Not to mention, Vin and Vango argued constantly, which only provoked his foul attitude even more.

"Just because your life is less perfect than mine for once doesn't mean you have to bitch at me for everything."

"Well what am I supposed to do? This masquerade is going to be horrible. It's not like I have a choice, being a teacher here. Incase you didn't get the memo, all staff is required to make an appearance."

It was true. Vango was thought to be everything that Vin was not. He had the confidence, charm, talents and praise that Vin never did have. And need we speak of the wallet? It was only natural for the emo boy to feel jealous! Finding humor in Vango's obvious pain concerning the manner, he spoke with a smirk. Maybe Vin was attempting to provoke something.

"Yep. While you're out helping serve food and being the entertainment puppet, I'll be sitting back at home watching television and doing whatever I want. Wherever I want."

Vin raised his eyebrow at that, his comment meant to be subtly suggestive. But both knew he was too good to do anything behind Mem's back.

"Keep talking, and we'll see just where you end up."

The room went back to silence, though Vin's expression didn't change. The tension was thick enough to slice with a knife. Van refused to let his hood drop, giving an occasional glare at Vin. The game continued, allowing the argument to end without much more than that. At least, for a while. Vin had been staring at Vango, waiting for the perfect opportunity to instigate once more. Vango had actually begun to catch up, which warranted the second acrimony. Just as Van seemed to be breathing a bit easier... tap tap... taptaptaptap! That annoying sound broke the silence yet again.

Lowering his hood finally, the demon glared at his mirror image. His irritated look was now one of pure anger. Standing up, a pair of clutched fists were revealed which abruptly moved to swing sharply upwards beneath the table and towards Vin. This was no light effort, either. Ironically, the same corner that Vin had been tapping away at managed to hit him square in the chin. As a natural reflex, Vin let his hand rub the spot that the table had hit, despite the fact that it didn't hurt nearly as much as it seemed.

"What the fuck was that for?"

Vin waited for a reply. Vango simply mumbled something before walking away, fighting back the urge to let his hand move to the holster which held his gun. There was no way he would be seen at the masquerade. He'd find a way out of it... no matter what that meant. No matter what Nevaeh said. It's not like they were on good enough terms to enjoy anything together at that point in time anyways...
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The following day, everyone was hard at work before the break of dawn. A rather stunning blue dragoness held a wide grin, eyes full of excitement. She was standing on the bar top, hanging blue and white streamers from the ceiling. The doorways had all ready been nicely touched up with matching white roses. Nothing looked the same at all, seeing as how compromises and adjustments had to be met to ensure a proper dancing area. A lovely fountain sat prettily as a centerpiece, while refreshments of all sorts were placed on long wooden tables along the back wall. The tables and chairs were all set up outside rather than inside, which had undergone a transformation as well. Little tea lights were placed in the water, while candles were set up on each table, along with old fashioned quills and parchment. They had even rented a beautiful gazebo for the band to play under, red roses strung through the woodwork.

The same dragoness finished her task, returning to sit behind the bar. Turning, she faced a white furred feline with bright pink hair. He seemed to be excited as well, having all ready changed into his masquerade costume. Tightly fit along his body was dark green material. He also carried a rather feminine mask, green and blue peacock feathers surrounding the eye holes. To further this illusion, the same feathers were used to create an artificial peacock tail just above his own natural tail that was true to his species. He looked like a court jester, but played the part well.

"Aren't you going to change into your costume, Blue?"

The feline asked with perked ears. Bluefire gave an airy laugh, waving her hand into the air.

"The Masquerade doesn't start for hours. I don't want to get my dress messed up, silly."

The male shrugged, gaze being pulled off of his Mistress and directed towards the entry to the private rooms. Two voices grew increasingly louder, one male and one female. Neither seemed happy with the other, argumentative tones held behind fiery tempers.

"The ONLY reason why I was even considering going to the Masquerade was because you HAVE to be there. If you want to sulk around and swim in your pity, then go ahead. I'm not going now anyways, even if you do."

It was easy to tell who this particular voice belonged to by the persistent nagging. Nevaeh seemed to have a hobby of lecturing others, and more often the victim of such was her husband, Vango. Things had not been going well between the couple. Neither wanted to simply give up on their relationship though. Everyone could see that there was something between them, and it was worth fighting for. Nev still loved Vango despite everything they had gone through. He was her first real love. And Van still loved Nev in his own respects. Sometimes he just had trouble showing it. This was one of the worst bumps in the road yet, however.

Following close behind the couple was a grey squirrel. She watched and listened carefully, shaking her head with a sigh. She was collared by Nevaeh and Vango, and she knew more than anyone just how much the two did care for one another. Silently, the squirrel turned to hide behind a wall, peeking out occasionally as a watch dog of the sorts.

"Jeez, Nev. This is why I didn't want to go with you in the first place. You lecture too damn much. I'm sick and tired of it!"

The two stopped in the doorway, taking a look at the newly decorated bar. It was enough to calm them both, Nev's jaw dropping as she took a step into the room, Van lingering behind and taking it all in. The girl turned to look at her husband, two silver eyes softening upon his one uncovered grey eye. Though just as quickly, her gaze was returned back to the fountain. Both chose to ignore any affection that may have actually been found had they stopped being so stubborn and decided to go to the Masquerade together. Though secretly... they were having second thoughts about hiding away for the event. It looked too good to be true. They'd be fools to pass up this opportunity.
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Wow. I really... don't look like Nevaeh any more. Who is that?

Nevaeh stared at the mirror, shocked at what she had become. Everything about her that could possibly be disguised had been changed. Her braided blue hair was tucked beneath a fancy wig; dark brown curls sat upon her head in a glamorous up-do accompanied with a delicate white lily. Her feminine features were more accentuated than ever, being dolled up with makeup and jewelry. A silver bracelet shimmered against the light. Anyone who knew Nev well also knew that her ears were not pierced. Taking extra precautions, she decided to wear realistic looking diamond clip on's. This was not all that she did to protect her identity. Instead of allowing her familiar silver eyes to be a dead giveaway, she had purchased a pair of blue colored contacts made for looks rather than the purpose of sight. And what did the dress look like that was deserving of such a false image? It was elegant beyond words, designed with an antique grace. Grey lace and white pearls were placed amongst the pale satin, many layers used to create the desired look of a lush, billowing ball gown. Even the dress had been chosen in hopes to be a stranger to wandering eyes that night, much too large to determine how big or small the human's body actually was. Placed between slender fingers was held a feathery mask with an imitation beak that covered her nose and part of her mouth. To finish off the look, she wore two strands of pearls around her neck. She was the swan princess tonight, and no one other than this. Tonight, she had no real name. Nev swore to deny even being at the Masquerade if she was ever asked, having plenty of confidence with her disguise.

"Well. Here you go. Tonight you are the silent enchantress. I'm just sorry your husband couldn't see you as stunning as you are right now..."

The thought made a frown cross her lips. Playing dress up was always fun, but to pull something like this off... it was rare. She wondered what Vango would think... would he even care? It was doubtful in her mind.

Before she left the room, one more thing had to be done...

Her wedding ring was placed within the pocket of her skirt which was currently in the closet, grimacing as she instantly felt naked even behind all the layers of makeup and fabric.
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Nervous hands clung tightly to the bottom of a brand new tuxedo. A slightly long tail hung from the back of the tux, matching the theme for the Masquerade flawlessly. The smell of plastic from the bag that covered it was still fresh. Vango splashed on some cologne to cover up the scent, staring at the clock on the wall. He couldn't believe what he was doing.

"What's gotten into you? Just go find Nev and convince her to go to the Masquerade. You'll end up much more dignified that way at least..."

He spoke to himself, moving to grab a white mask from the old oak dresser. It was hard to deny that Van looked ravishing in a tuxedo, which was purposely bought slightly larger than was needed in order to hide his breasts. A bottle of used hair dye would be enough for anyone to guess that Van was attempting to sneak away to the ball unnoticed. This was confirmed only by the temporary black coloring of his hair instead of the usual dark purple. No one would notice the eye patch that went untouched, the mask being fit with see through black cloth. To the outside world, the costume was made eyeless. To Vango, his vision was as perfect as ever. Wearing his tail inside of his trousers wasn't too comfortable, but it was necessary to pull the charade off. Taking a few extra moments to shine his shoes, he began to wonder again just what he was doing. It didn't stop him from continuing though, looking in the mirror with an unsatisfied snort. He looked sharp. But it wasn't enough.

"Ah ha! I got it..."

He moved to the doorway, where another table sat with a vase of fresh red roses. Breaking one at the stem, he tucked it inside his pocket. Of course, this entire charade would be incomplete without the tall black tophat and cane. Returning back over to the mirror, Van shook his head in annoyance.

"Something's still missing. I just can't put my finger--"

Hesitantly, his eye wandered down to his ring finger which held the band that had been there for the past month. Sliding it off with a sigh, he then grabbed a pair of white gloves. The band was put in an ashtray which was a makeshift container for several other items; watches, brooches, safety pens, loose coins, you name it.

A sigh was given, feeling as if part of him were missing now that the wedding band was gone...
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The guests had barely begun to arrive, and the band was just striking up beneath the gazebo in the garden. Candle lights lined the way to lover's lane; more commonly known as the labyrinth, but we won't go there in this story. The night was perfect, cloudless, and still for the most part, a gentle breeze being a comfort to all who had expected more harsh weather. A vibrant full moon casted a glow upon the ground, stars sparkling against the obsidian backdrop. Nothing could have made the setting any more beautiful.

The swan princess waltzed carefully across the grass, making her way to one of the tables. She had skipped the whole meet and greet inside. There was really no point since no one was supposed to know who she was. If she wanted to make conversation, she'd pretend to be mute and use the quills to her advantage. This could get very difficult for one who loved to talk as much as Nev did. But again... this wasn't Nevaeh, it was the Swan. Her appearance was almost illusive, a ghostly glow seeming to emulate from her dress and sparkly jewelry reflecting off of the moonlight. She held her mask in place, looking for no one in particular. Curiosity was the only reason for her presence.

A little while later, more people had migrated outside to the garden. Some of the couples made Nev want to hurl. A heavy jealousy tugged at her heart, thinking it was a mistake to sneak here without Vango. Everyone looked so beautiful. Kyo was dressed in a grey dress with a purple boa and dark colored gloves. Her dance partner, PunX, was still wearing that ridiculously adorable jester outfit. Only now, he also wore a green and blue hat with bells hanging off the ends. And Bluefire looked even more stunning than earlier, dolled up in a heavy sapphire dress decorated in black frilly lace. She held a mask to her face, feathers spreading most elegantly. Of course, Blue's date was also her one love; Chey. Even he had gotten into the swing of things and was handsomly dressed in a tuxedo and tie. Then, there was her best friend Mem. That particular female wore a black dress, flowy and floor length. Perhaps she chose this to match Vin who was also there. Strangely, Mem was dancing with another grey feline with hazel eyes while Vin was at the punch bowl. Her partner looked almost imaginary though. There were others that she didn't recognize as well, some more deserving of mention than others.

A short mousey looking girl brought a bit of color to the scene, wearing a red and gold gown with a sash across the front. Her blonde hair was held in a pony tail. Nev had a breif run in with her in the infirmary, and since then had recognized her barely by the name of Syd. Maybe she'd make the time to properly introduce herself some day.

But then...

There was a handsome male that seemed to be off on his own. The first thing that she noticed was the cane in one hand. Allowing her eyes to roam from head to toe, she was certain that this male was someone she had never met before. A lump formed at the back of her throat, gulping as she stared at him from across the garden. They both seemed very out of place. Even the Syd girl was being paid more attention to than the Swan and the 'Magician.' It was almost as if there was no more music, no more people. She saw only him.

Now, if this were Nevaeh, she'd probably do everything in her power to be noticed by Mr. Magician. But this was Swan, the sweet and innocent mute sworn to sway with simple body language and flirtatious eyelashes. This feeling was not new to her. In fact, she had felt the exact same need to be noticed when she saw Vango for the first time. It was a more compelling attraction than it was now though. Not that it mattered. Van seemed to hate her. Why shouldn't she make the best of the night and the fact that she was a different person until the Masquerade was over?

It seemed like forever that she was staring at that man. She took careful note to see if anyone she knew may have invited him here. No one really took notice of him still as the night drew on. The music playing became more intense, signaling that the party had really begun now. A heavy doubt entered her mind, thinking that he'd never notice her. Sighing in silent defeat, she turned to grab a small slip of parchment and a quill. She began to write a random note to herself as a memory of the night, even though this wasn't her idea of fun.

Hello. My name is Swan. I am 20 years old, and I was born in England. I am a mute, which means I can not talk.
If you wish to speak to me, I am more than happy to communicate like this.
Have a wonderful night...

She almost laughed aloud at the words she had written. None of it was true, but simply the story she would go by. It didn't seem like anyone cared to approach her at all though. Being too interested in perfecting her 'character's' handwriting, Swan didn't notice the masked magician standing right beside her seat. A gentle tap on her shoulder made the girl turn. He was even more handsome close up. Good thing their disguises were both very well thought out. She gave a curt nod to him, a hand motioning in an invitation for him to sit in the seat next to her. Slender fingers picked up the parchment and scooted it across the table to the magician. Surprisingly, he had also brought his own note.

I couldn't help but notice you staring at me. Not that it's a bad thing. I have a cold and can not speak, but if you are so inclined to pass notes for a while, maybe we can learn of one another. I am 22 years old, and my name is Matthew.

His handwritting wasn't exactly elegant. Though it looked like he had tried. Sweeping her hand across her lips to signify a girly giggle, she picked up the quill and another sheet of parchment. The timing of her previous note was ironic, since she had written it to no one in particular. Butterflies filled her stomach, a schoolgirl blush hiding behind that feathery mask of hers.

Or we could skip the small talk and go right on to the dancing. A lot can be learned about a person by the way they move.

Well, the idea must have been okay with 'Matthew' too. Reaching out a hand, he offered to lead the way to the garden. Swan made sure the mask was kept over her face, the pair moving with an elegance that made eyes turn. Without warning, Matthew placed one hand on the girl's waist, the other raised to lace his fingers within her own in the classical ballroom style. Something felt so familiar... it was almost scary. Each were very cautious and careful to not allow the other to get too close, an awkward distance being kept between them. Nothing felt wrong with the mysterious nature of the scene. Masks tend to create that illusion without trying.
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"Psst. I know that's you, Nev."

Kyo moved to take a seat next to Swan. Matthew had gone to use the bathroom, and it was a nice little break. They had been dancing with one another for the majority of the night, using only gestures to communicate rather than words. Things were going well. First opinions about the Masquerade being dull were changed now. And, it seemed as if it were about to get interesting. In a weak attempt to continue her act, Swan pulled out the quill and parchment again...

I don't know what you're talking about. I'm Swan.

"I've been watching you all night. Your act was good... until your blue hair slipped from the wig."

Instantly, Swan let her hand move to the back of the wig. Low and behold, Kyo was right. A gasp was given as she pulled Kyo close, speaking rapidly in her ear while she secured the hair beneath the wig again.

"Kyo. Please don't let Vango know I was here! Or anyone else for that matter..."

The squirrel gave a knowing nod, causing Nev's curiosity to perk. No questions were asked, waiting for an agreement from Kyokyo.

"No one else knows it's you, don't worry. I've had my suspicions all along, so I've kept my eye out for any tragedies such as loose blue hair."

A sigh of reliefe was given, crumbling up the parchment and tossing it to the ground. No one would be interested enough to read a crumbled paper. Giving Kyo a quick hug, Swan returned in all her grace. Now... where was her mystery date?
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"You're so obvious, Vango. I can't believe you've fooled everyone with that lame disguise."

It was that pink haired feline from earlier. PunX stared at Van, talking in the hallway. Van shook his head, hands moving abruptly as if to defend himself from the accusation. PunX simply chuckled.

"Maybe you should be the jester. You're a better fool than me. Van, your mask is coming off and I see your eye patch."

"Fine. Just... don't say anything. Does anyone else seem to know?"

He quickly adjusted the mask back over the eye patch, giving his pink haired friend a slight glare at his discovery. PunX shook his head, arms crossing in front of his chest.

"Nah. Just caught it myself, and I've been watching for the most part. I won't say anything."

Van nodded, kicking the end of the cane as he prepared for round two. Swan was probably waiting for him still.
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The bar had been clearing out, guests either leaving for home or joining outside for some of the activites. A raffle was going on, as well as silly little games. Very few girls participated in bobbing for apples, too scared to mess up their makeup and dresses.

"So... did you catch the new girl? She says her name's Swan..."

Kyo and PunX sat at the bar. They had decided to take a break from the dancing to just talk. An odd little smirk formed on the squirrel's lips, a tension within her aura. PunX was the same way, holding a secretive smirk.

"Yeah. There's also a guy... didn't catch his name. I think he's new too."

Kyo laughed, shrugging a bit.

"You didn't hear it from me. But Swan is Nev. And she was doing so good with keeping herself hidden."

PunX's jaw dropped before a loud round of laughter was heard from himself now. The jester slapped his knee, shaking his head in astonishment. He pulled Kyo into his arm, speaking lowly to avoid any roaming ears.

"And... mystery man. Is actually. Vango."

Kyo smirked, a paw moving to tug at her fluffy tail in amusment. She wasn't as discreet with keeping her voice low, nor did she really care to hide it any more. Hardly anyone was left in the bar, and no one was listening to them.

"They can't stay apart from one another. Nev and Van belong together, and this just proves it..."

Exactly at that moment, Swan and Matthew entered the bar hand in hand. Hearing Kyo speak, both froze in the middle of the floor. Oh how strange it felt to know that the exact thing they had wanted to avoid had happened anyways. Even though the room was empty, both could feel a million pairs of eyes upon them. Van turned Nev around angrily and threw off his mask. The game was over.

"How dare you lie to me!"

Nev, in turn, dropped her own mask and took off the wig. Yep. It was them all right. She bit her bottom lip nervously before coming to the realization that Van had done the exact same thing.

"Me? What about you?! It's not like I meant for you to be here. As far as I'm concerned, you are Matthew. Vango was never here. Nevaeh was never here. It was Swan and--"

"Nev. Van. Stop this."

Kyo had stood up, actually raising her voice at her two owners. PunX backed up to take his place behind the bar, slowly escaping back to one of the staff rooms. Typical. Van and Nev turned to look at the squirrel. They cared about her. Unlike many others, they also cared about her opinions.

"You two love--"

Van was the one to interrupt this time, crossing his arms with a huff.

"Love? I don't love her."

Nev grumbled, turning to glare at Vango now. That hurt to hear, but she knew it was said out of anger. Still, it didn't stop her from snapping back.

"Good. I don't love you either."

A long pause was given, allowing each other to gather their thoughts. Kyo watched with a worried look on her face, knowing the truth. But it seemed so bad this time. Finally, Nev's eyes softened as she gave a sigh. Van moved closer, reaching to pull her close. It was obvious that they had fallen in love all over again, even with lack of words. Nev gave him a hopeful look, her own arms wrapping around his waist. This time, the distance wasn't a concern, and both knew why each other had felt so strangely familiar this entire time.

Not another word was spoken that night between the two. Instead, it ended with a firm kiss, their true feelings resurfacing once more. It was stupid to pretend that they weren't in love with one another. They were both content with the silence, not daring to ruin the perfect moment that Swan and Matthew had been waiting to share. It felt so much better as Nevaeh and Vango though. Silence wasn't such a bad thing after all...

A single gesture can speak more than the loudest voice on the planet.

Note: All characters are copyrighted to their respectful owners.