After Today (Dare/Ariel)

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare nodded. "Yeah, owl me," he said. "Catch me in a corridor or something, I won't blow you off." If only for morbid curiosity. All this had just made him want things he couldn't have all over again. He didn't want Markise to be his ex-best-friend, and he missed the things they used to do together, no matter how his mind told him they couldn't do any of that anyway. They couldn't lay together and talk, couldn't tease the way they used to, couldn't talk about everything, couldn't hug goodbye no matter how innocent it was. Nothing that had made their friendship unique was acceptable anymore and hadn't been since he and Michael had gotten serious. He shouldn't even be thinking about all this, but it was impossible not to when Ariel's questions had dredged it all up.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel nodded, though it was strange to think of just stopping Dare again. It shouldn't be strange, and maybe in time it would even turn into something normal. "I'll let you know what happens," he said before turning to head off. He would talk to Markise whenever he had a chance, though he hoped he would have a little bit of time to think it out, first.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare watched Ariel for several moments before turning his gaze away and his thoughts inward. He'd have to tell Michael about this. He didn't even understand what had happened, but he'd tell Michael. It was another few minutes before he remembered where he'd been going. He needed to talk to the nurse. It was going to be a long day.