Can't stop the rain (open)

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna leaned against him, resting her forehead against his chest after melting in his arms. It didn't occur to her that his body was still rigid against her. She had no words to describe her thoughts and feelings. Her whole world seemed different in that moment. She couldn't explain how, or even why she would think so, but something had changed within her. However, she wouldn't dwell on it now. Instead she took the opportunity to memorize the experience Chase had offered her and sighed with contentment.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's eyes closed, and he took deep, bracing breaths, working himself slowly back from the brink of insanity. The desire was still there, the need to throw out every rational thought and simply take her. Or take something. But he'd promised her no regrets, and more importantly, he'd promised Dru. He knew what had happened here tonight was far more than a kiss, but he refused to acknowledge it. "Do you regret it?" Chase asked, his voice tense despite his best efforts. But he needed to know; had he kept at least one of his promises?

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna abruptly looked up to Chase's eyes at the question, wanting to search for his reaction. Unable to use them as a guide, she bit her lip in thought. Do I regret it? It didn't take her more then a few moments to be able to answer knowing the truth. "No. I didn't think it was possible what you'd said before, but knowing there is nothing between us, I'm okay with it."

[Chase Firebrand]

Nothing. Chase opened his eyes, still blazing around the edges, to look at Anna, or the girl who he'd thought was Anna. It wasn't that Chase wanted anything more than what was between them, but he'd come here tonight to make sure she was all right. Nothing seemed cold, even to him. "There's something," Chase said, fighting the continued pulse of his blood to speak. "If there was nothing, we wouldn't be having this conversation." Or the ones we had before, he added silently. "That is what I meant before. There are things between strangers and lovers, and things parallel that have nothing to do with either." And that, it seemed, was where they were right now.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"I just meant I'm okay with not having a relationship like I did with Michael." She paused, realizing that she'd completely forgot about her recent ex for a while. Anna took a deep breath, letting the thoughts of him pass before bringing herself back to the present. "I had no idea so much passion could exist without emotional attachment that an exclusive relationship brings. And I don't want a relationship, and you've said you don't either, so it's a mutual non-relationship. I can deal with that." She realized that she was blabbering and shut her mouth. What she said was true, but it sounded so cold to her when put in words.

[Chase Firebrand]

Chase's lips quirked, despite his best efforts. A mutual non-relationship. Wasn't that what he'd been looking for almost from the beginning? It just figured that when he'd given up on that front, he found what he'd been looking for. Her explanation, rather than sounding as cold to him as that first declaration of nothing, sounded like an objective assessment. An analysis. It was pure Annabelle.

Chase tipped her chin up with one finger. "I can deal with that too," he said, though his conscience was screaming. He should be walking away, not making tentative verbal arrangements for another test of his control. Chase lowered his hand and eased himself away from Annabelle only when he had himself calmed enough to not be blatantly visible. "I should be going," he said, flicking a pointed glance at the clock. "But I'll see you around."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle didn't like the loss of contact when he stepped away. She had felt so alone and broken before Chase had stepped into the shop, and hoped her feelings didn't revert back upon his departure. He had a way of making her forget everything but the moment, almost like he put a spell on her. "It is late." She commented, looking through the window to the darkened sky. "I'll see you later then, I have some cleaning up to do before I close for the night." She wondered if the easy friendship they'd found would remain next time they saw each other.

[Chase Firebrand]

"Yeah, see you later," Chase said. He made his retreat before any of his impulses to do otherwise kicked in, heading out the door back toward Hogwarts. As much as had happened here tonight, Chase didn't want to think about it right now, didn't want to let himself brood on it. He needed to find Dru.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna watched him leave, her eyes remaining on the door a bit longer. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts of Chase and turned her attention to the papers still strewn across the floor. She made quick work of the mess and looked around one last time before locking up. She quickly headed back to Ravenclaw tower and hoped she'd be able to fall asleep without dissecting the day.