Nice Weather... (Michael/Dare)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael opened his lips to speak, but quickly shut his mouth as he realized that it probably wouldn't go over too well to say I'm only picking on you because I love you in present company. He spent a few seconds going over what would work better in his mind. "I'm sure you could carry either one," he assured, "Though it would be funny if you dropped one, after I made sure you were alright."

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna looked at Michael with her mouth open in protest. He sounded serious, but wasn't sure if this was just part of the game between them. "It would NOT be funny if he dropped me!" She exclaimed. She pretended to be mad, crossing her arms and trying to glare at them both. She wasn't really though, and her mouth gave her away, twitching at the corners as she forced it not to smile.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare was trying not to smile too broadly at all the teasing. "Well then I just won't drop you," he told Anna, purposefully switching from the hypothetical wouldn't to the more realistic won't. He still didn't intend to pick her up, but if she was going to take the game a step further, he'd take it a step further than that. Dare pushed to his feet and extended a hand to Anna. "Would you like to test our theories?" he asked.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael didn't think that Dare would actually do it, so the potential jealousy of the thought didn't come clear in his mind, instead he was able to smile up at Dare as he watched him. He still wasn't really able to look at Anna without a feeling of guilt and awkwardness, but the way Dare was acting was enough to keep Michael out of a more negative mood. "As long as he drops you on the grass you'll be fine," he reasoned, flicking a quick glance towards Anna before focusing his eyes on Dare again.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle shook her head as if to say boys. She didn't answer Dare's question except for a smile, it wasn't a real question in her eyes. She didn't think that He would pick her up anyways. She accepted his outstretched hand and rose from her rock. "Thanks, I guess we should get going anyways." She looked up the path to the school; at least they were nearly halfway there.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare had been propelling himself on nerves, the way he had the day he'd taken Michael to meet Silver, and the more he repressed those nerves, the more extroverted he appeared. He'd gotten himself in trouble on more than one occasion that way, but could never seem to stop until it was over.

Either way, Anna hadn't said no; she'd said thanks. To his current state of mind, that was the same as a yes. Dare scooped Anna up without any real thought, inclined his head toward the castle, then started back up the path.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's eyebrows rose as his eyes widened, then narrowed at Dare's actions. He knew that it was nothing, but that didn't keep part of his mind from going wild as he sat, momentarily stunned as he watched Dare's progress. After a few seconds he pushed himself to his feet and picked up Anna's bundle and the sketchbook and rose to follow. He told himself to focus on the rose, that it was concrete proof that Dare picking her up didn't mean anything. But his shot mind couldn't stop trying to link the action to their words by the lake.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna let out a small shriek and reflexively grasped his shoulders when Dare physically lifted her off her feet. She had expected him to resume their previous position and let their joking dissipate. Her natural reaction was a spout of nervous laughter, in-between which she got out the words, "You can't be serious!" She wanted nothing more than to wiggle and squirm her way free, to stand on her own feet. However, she knew such reactions could only have the consequences of Michael's theory coming true. Instead, she froze, not moving a muscle, trying to sit as still as possible and pray for the trip to the hospital wing to be over.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Going with his impulse hadn't done anything to calm Dare's nerves this time. Nor had the sudden pressure of Anna's arms or the realization of what a dangerous position he was in. Dare flicked a glance back at Michael and nearly grimaced at the look on his face, but he couldn't stop now, it was too late. The damage was done. Dare was going to hate himself later, but for now, all he could do was pretend this wasn't as miserable as it was. "You're right, I can't be serious; I'm nonstop fun, every time I carry someone to the hospital wing." He was really going to hate himself later.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael clenched his jaw and stayed a few steps behind them, trying to keep from torturing himself by watching and stared at the ground. He didn't know why Dare had felt the need to pick her up, his eyes darted up, then immediately fell back to the ground at the sight of her holding Dare's shoulders. But Michael did know that he didn't like it at all. He remained silent and tried to block out the ghosts of their voices by the lake.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna felt no need to reply, and the awkward silence returned for the rest of the trip. Their pace was a lot faster now that she wasn't slowing the progress, but she spent the entirety of it looking ahead and avoiding both of the boys. Especially Michael. She didn't want to know what he thought of the turn of events - whether he found it amusing or strange, she didn't even want to know. Her natural curiosity wanted to turn her head and sneak a peak, but luckily her common sense won the battle. When at last the trio reached the stone steps of the school, Anna let out a small sigh of relief.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare took as straight a path to the hospital wing as he knew. He managed to keep his mouth shut the rest of the trip somehow, but with the silence, the uncomfortable tension had grown until he felt near exploding. Perhaps because of his discomfort, Dare took great care setting Anna on one of the hospital beds as the nurse came bustling over. Then he stepped back, letting out a heavy breath as his hand rose to the back of his neck, rubbing absently.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael had clenched the edge of the sketchpad without realizing it, only noticing when he glanced down as he sat everything on Anna's bed and saw one edge slightly wrinkled from his grip. He then stepped back, crossing his arms tightly over his chest in discomfort, but remained silent, shaking his head slightly to bring his hair down over his eyes. He stared blankly at the corner of the bed, purposefully avoiding looking at both Dare and Anna.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna had never looked forward to seeing a hospital bed even half as much as when Dare set her down. She was surprised when they had stayed, and silently wondered if they were leaving soon. The healer began looking at her ankle, and when asked to, Anna scooted back on the bed so her legs were completely on it as instructed by the healer. She glanced back when her hand bumped into something, then realized it was just her bundled up towel. As she started to turn back to her ankle, she caught something red out of the corner of her eye. Turning back to the pile of things, she saw nearly hidden, a single rose. Knowing Michael had just set everything down, it didn't take any work for her mind to figure out that it belonged to one of them. She stared at it, hating what it represented. Had Michael given it to Dare? He'd never given HER any flowers or anything.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Anna seemed pretty well taken care of, so that meant he and Michael should be free to go. As Dare moved forward to get his things, his gaze flickered reflexively up to Anna's face and paused. The look in her eyes sent a wave of guilt through him, but what could he do? Even if he had a time-turner, he wouldn't go back and keep from getting with Michael.

Gaze averted, Dare scooped up his slightly damaged sketchbook and the rose, then murmured an absent goodbye to Anna. He flicked the briefest glance up at Michael, then inclined his head lightly to the door and headed out.