Oh no. Oh no. That had been the WORST THING EVER he could have done.

Jake.

Wuz.

A.

FAILURE.

His face absolutely FELL, but he didn't even think for very long because Neptune was CRYING and Jake didn't want to SEE her cry. It broke his heart.

SO.

He leaned forwards and, even though she'd probably push him away, he put his arms around her and hugged her close. "I'm sorry, Tune," he said in a choked voice. "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you... I want you to be happy-" and I don't know how to DO that "-I just wanted us how we were..."

Jake clung to Neptune, holding back his own tears, wincing at the sound of hers. He was willing to do anything to make Neptune happy... but he didn't know WHAT that would be.

"Everything... everything will be okay, Tune." You know... eventually... with or without him.

"Oh cool. I never really get to travel. Actually other than England I've only been here. But I'm going to go to America during the holiday with my friends! And I'm really excited because I get to see somewhere new." Nika rubbed her eyes. She was slowly recovering from her sleepiness, but she was still tired. "A flying car? Where I live people on drive them on the ground. But I'm sure with wizards anything is possible."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Oh no. Oh no. That had been the WORST THING EVER he could have done.

Jake.

Wuz.

A.

FAILURE.

His face absolutely FELL, but he didn't even think for very long because Neptune was CRYING and Jake didn't want to SEE her cry. It broke his heart.

SO.

He leaned forwards and, even though she'd probably push him away, he put his arms around her and hugged her close. "I'm sorry, Tune," he said in a choked voice. "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you... I want you to be happy-" and I don't know how to DO that "-I just wanted us how we were..."

Jake clung to Neptune, holding back his own tears, wincing at the sound of hers. He was willing to do anything to make Neptune happy... but he didn't know WHAT that would be.

"Everything... everything will be okay, Tune." You know... eventually... with or without him.

Neptune didn't fight the hugging. In fact, she encouraged it. No, she didn't hug him back, but it took both hands to cling properly to the front of his robes and keep her face properly buried in the fabric. BOTH hands. Necessary.

"You're making me f-f-feel so bad. And I just totally stunned that Josh g-g-guy." SNIIIIIIIIIFFFFF. "You weren't THERE."

He wasn't, in case he wasn't aware.

Not that she was making much sense.

"Ididn'tgotoyourgameandyougothurt."

More true facts.

Oh wow really if you want you can vist me this summer in a same village in the uk.We live around muggles so there is not much magic at my house.I know your going to us for the summer but still my mom and sister is a good cook.

"I am?" Jake responded weakly, feeling like the worst person in the world. He decided to try not to do that anymore... but he was honestly unaware of how he could do that.

...

And then he heard her next point.

"You did?"

Jake had to FIGHT to keep the smile out of his voice and he rubbed Neptune's back to try and comfort her.

But then...

"You d...idn't."

So many emotions in a few moments... it was insane. Jake shook his head clear and rubbed Neptune's back again to try and console her, over and over. "Shhhh... just try and calm down before we get into all that... but I have to say... I really don't mean to make you feel bad. Not my intention at all. You don't have anything to feel like this about."

Not at ALL. This was... extreme.

Jake only continued to just TRY and calm Neptune. No use having this discussion when she was soooooo upset.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

"I am?" Jake responded weakly, feeling like the worst person in the world. He decided to try not to do that anymore... but he was honestly unaware of how he could do that.

...

And then he heard her next point.

"You did?"

Jake had to FIGHT to keep the smile out of his voice and he rubbed Neptune's back to try and comfort her.

But then...

"You d...idn't."

So many emotions in a few moments... it was insane. Jake shook his head clear and rubbed Neptune's back again to try and console her, over and over. "Shhhh... just try and calm down before we get into all that... but I have to say... I really don't mean to make you feel bad. Not my intention at all. You don't have anything to feel like this about."

Not at ALL. This was... extreme.

Jake only continued to just TRY and calm Neptune. No use having this discussion when she was soooooo upset.

Jake WAS. Neptune rubbed her face (and makeup and tears and snot..) onto his robes, over and over. Very messy.

"He... I hope he's hurt." She really did. "He was... yelling. And he ch-choked you. And I was going to k-kill him." Except, you know, with a stunner.

Neptune pulled back ever so slightly, AWARE that she was UGLY for crying, but well. Didn't really matter right now. She FELT ugly to go along with it, so it seemed appropriate.

"I do though, Jake. I didn't GO to your game because I was..." waiiit...." D-Did you break up with me?" Which of course didn't make any sense in the context of the ntoe and what he was doing and saying, but Neptune had sort of convinced herself that he HAD...

Oh.

Ew.

Jake was half glad he wouldn't need these robes for very long. Despite everything throughout his changing Hogwarts life, he was still a bit of a CLEAN freak. Which was VERY different from a NEAT freak.

BUTANYWAY.

"I hope he is too. He deserves much more... you did good in my opinion," he smiled carefully. Shame she didn't kill him. Whut?

Why did she stop? She didn't come to the game becauuusssse...?

Wait, whut?

"Break up with you? What?" Jake repeated, looking slightly lost. "Of... of course I didn't." Had she not read the note? "We had a disagreement, Tune. The first time we've ever disagreed. I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner... I couldn't. I didn't break up with you..."

Plus if he HAD it would have been much more obvious.

"You're worth far too much to me."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Oh.

Ew.

Jake was half glad he wouldn't need these robes for very long. Despite everything throughout his changing Hogwarts life, he was still a bit of a CLEAN freak. Which was VERY different from a NEAT freak.

BUTANYWAY.

"I hope he is too. He deserves much more... you did good in my opinion," he smiled carefully. Shame she didn't kill him. Whut?

Why did she stop? She didn't come to the game becauuusssse...?

Wait, whut?

"Break up with you? What?" Jake repeated, looking slightly lost. "Of... of course I didn't." Had she not read the note? "We had a disagreement, Tune. The first time we've ever disagreed. I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner... I couldn't. I didn't break up with you..."

Plus if he HAD it would have been much more obvious.

"You're worth far too much to me."

Neptune didn't FEEL good about stunning that..... thing. She hadn't EVER cast on ANYONE ever, not ever ever ever, not ever. Not like that. She'd just reacted though. She'd Gryffindor'd.

"But you said maybe. You said... you said maybe, like y-you didn't know and I thought.... I TOLD you I wasn't good at this! I told you!"

....more tears. Lots and lots and there a mumble in there about how she'd not known with Jim either and she was bad bad bad and he was soooooo nice.

MumblegarbleSNOTgulp.

"I'm a kn-knut. Just a kn-knut." WAAAHHHHH. That was ALL she was WORTH. A knut.

"Yeah, 'cause I was thinking about going home... not because of that. I wanted to get leaving this place over with, but I overreacted. I don't know what I was thinking, and it was stupid of me to say it like that..." Jake trailed off, looking straight at Neptune with a slightly pained expression. "And I told you I wasn't good at all this either."

Jake took Neptune's hand tentatively. "I'm sorry I confused you. But... I do love you Neptune." And it was SO hard for him to say that... because the last time he'd said it, he thought it would be reciprocated forever. "You are worth the entire universe to me..." And that was possibly infinite.

Looking ashamed with himself, Jake looked down. GUH. So many thoughts had been rushing through his head for so long and he was... just confused. And ashamed with what he thought. Mainly about Jimmy.

But he didn't bring that up, because he seemed to be wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

"Yeah, 'cause I was thinking about going home... not because of that. I wanted to get leaving this place over with, but I overreacted. I don't know what I was thinking, and it was stupid of me to say it like that..." Jake trailed off, looking straight at Neptune with a slightly pained expression. "And I told you I wasn't good at all this either."

Jake took Neptune's hand tentatively. "I'm sorry I confused you. But... I do love you Neptune." And it was SO hard for him to say that... because the last time he'd said it, he thought it would be reciprocated forever. "You are worth the entire universe to me..." And that was possibly infinite.

Looking ashamed with himself, Jake looked down. GUH. So many thoughts had been rushing through his head for so long and he was... just confused. And ashamed with what he thought. Mainly about Jimmy.

But he didn't bring that up, because he seemed to be wrong.

Overreaction was something Neptune understood and accepted. She could and did easily forgive that.

What she couldn't forgive was him continuously apologizing to her. Or... the L word. Or him comparing the knut she was to the universe.

"But... but I didn't come to your game because I was MAD at you. And... and I didn't LOOK for you. And when you got hurt.... I didn't..."

HOW on EARTH could he use the L word on HER? "I wish you wouldn't..."

Ughhh.

Didn't come to see him? If that was it, he'd got that part.

"I know... I know... and I'm not exactly happy about all that, but I guess I understand," he said. "... kinda? Anyway..."

Whatever. He didn't want to talk about that yet... fehhhh.

"Wish I wouldn't what?" Jake asked, fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, curl up in a ball or whatever. He had done something wrong again, and it seemed he was destined to keep doing that.

He didn't know what he was doing and Jake was certain he was going to lose Neptune.

"Neptune... do you want to be with me? Because I'm not perfect... and... I want to be with you, but I don't know what you want me to do right now, and... well..." He didn't think she would want to be with someone so clueless.

They'd only had one disagreement... Jake was so confused as to how they were HERE.

The young man trailed off and looked at Neptune, conjuring up a handkerchief and holding it out to her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Didn't come to see him? If that was it, he'd got that part.

"I know... I know... and I'm not exactly happy about all that, but I guess I understand," he said. "... kinda? Anyway..."

Whatever. He didn't want to talk about that yet... fehhhh.

"Wish I wouldn't what?" Jake asked, fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, curl up in a ball or whatever. He had done something wrong again, and it seemed he was destined to keep doing that.

He didn't know what he was doing and Jake was certain he was going to lose Neptune.

"Neptune... do you want to be with me? Because I'm not perfect... and... I want to be with you, but I don't know what you want me to do right now, and... well..." He didn't think she would want to be with someone so clueless.

They'd only had one disagreement... Jake was so confused as to how they were HERE.

The young man trailed off and looked at Neptune, conjuring up a handkerchief and holding it out to her.

Neptune took the handkerchief and blew her nose unashamedly. If someone ELSE had done that at the table, she'd have given them dirty-life-threatening looks. But, since it was her, and necessary, she gave herself a pass. It also gave her time to gather herself before answering all .... that.

DEEP breath. "I just... I wouldn't be happy either. If I were you. If I was hurt and YOU didn't come see me, I WOULD break up with you." She would. "And... and I know that game was important to you, and then you didn't win and I'm sure you were sad and could probably use some hugs or something and I'm so selfish. I'm SO selfish. I was ... and I felt ... GUILTY." SOOOO Guilty.

Was this making sense? "It just doesn't make sense for you to... with me... you're you and I'm... not good."

Ah. The game.

That nearly pushed him over the edge, but it didn't, because that was completely separate.

"People... people do things that make other people unhappy. That's life, Neptune. I'm pretty sure I can get over it. I don't think you have much reason to feel guilty but if there is one thing I know, it's that emotions can't be helped."

He shook his head and looked down, and that was when he felt his emotional wall begin to crack. His eyes teared up and he felt like hugging Neptune again for his OWN benefit.

"You are good, Neptune," he said quietly, his voice starting to crack slightly. "You are worth all this to me... you're so much better than so many girls." Jake ran the back of his hand over his eyes. "If I'm going to make you so upset like this... I'm no good for you. I just want to make you happy... again."

Jake gave one soft sob and wiped his eyes again before leaning back against the table, taking a deep breath.

He could put his own troubles aside for now, so the young man looked at Neptune, slightly seriously and quite concerned. "What has you so upset, Neptune? You're so sad..." It was heartbreaking. "Is it because of me?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Ah. The game.

That nearly pushed him over the edge, but it didn't, because that was completely separate.

"People... people do things that make other people unhappy. That's life, Neptune. I'm pretty sure I can get over it. I don't think you have much reason to feel guilty but if there is one thing I know, it's that emotions can't be helped."

He shook his head and looked down, and that was when he felt his emotional wall begin to crack. His eyes teared up and he felt like hugging Neptune again for his OWN benefit.

"You are good, Neptune," he said quietly, his voice starting to crack slightly. "You are worth all this to me... you're so much better than so many girls." Jake ran the back of his hand over his eyes. "If I'm going to make you so upset like this... I'm no good for you. I just want to make you happy... again."

Jake gave one soft sob and wiped his eyes again before leaning back against the table, taking a deep breath.

He could put his own troubles aside for now, so the young man looked at Neptune, slightly seriously and quite concerned. "What has you so upset, Neptune? You're so sad..." It was heartbreaking. "Is it because of me?"

Ughhhhh. Neptune whined, "Jaaaake..... why is it you got so mad at me for giving you a present, but when I REALLY do something heinous and awful, you tell me... it's okay? You should HATE me. I would!"

And kind of did a little bit in that moment. "PEOPLE may be mean to each other, but your girlfriend shouldn't..." Shouldn't. "And and... I don't feel sorry. Guilty, but not sorry. You KEEP saying YOU'RE sorry." Neptune couldn't even get ONE out.

Though, she did pause consider how she held up to other girls. He DID have a point there: comparatively speaking, she was fantastic. Other girls were even worse than Neptune was. They were EVIL. At least Neptune had a conscience and guilt and a heart.

"Oh..." he was crying? It was one thing for Neptune to cry - she cried all the time. But JAKE. Ugh. She snuggled up to his side and offered him her slightly used handkerchief. "It's never you. Except when you hated my gift. That was you. But all the rest... all the rest... you're LEAVING here, Jake. And you're the ONLY person..." that ... bothered showing her the attention she craved and caring she NEEDED.

"Because I'm a bloody idiot, Tune," Jake smiled lightly. "I think I was just sensitive that day. I wouldn't have been so ungrateful if I hadn't been having such a low time. As for hating you..." he shook his head in utter disbelief. "I could never do that. I only 'hate' very few people." Marie Salazar and Josh Carter being high on that particular list. "And I think that's just a strong dislike."

VERY strong.

Anyway, yes... he didn't really expect Neptune to feel sorry, so he hadn't even brought that up. The guilt he knew about, because she'd SAID it and all. "Well... I will apologise if I feel like I should, Neptune. I felt I had to... but I'll stop if, you know... you understand that it's true."

Frequently apologising when he felt he'd done something wrong was something Jake always did and apparently couldn't help. Sometimes he even apologised for apologising. Nightmare.

Jake snuggled slightly up to Neptune and held his hand up to the handkerchief. Erm. No. He had enough snot over him. "I won't be gone all the time. I can be down at the village for Hogsmeade weekends if you want. Believe me, leaving here isn't something I'm looking forward to myself. You have other friends here, surely. I refuse to believe you don't. Plus, you get Dale next year, and he's like a hundred friends." The thickness of Jake's voice kind of went away as he composed himself. "I might even get a set of those two way mirrors this summer."

He gave a little sigh and wrapped an arm around Neptune's shoulder. "I just want you to be happy, whatever the situation. Can't bear to see you so sad."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

"Because I'm a bloody idiot, Tune," Jake smiled lightly. "I think I was just sensitive that day. I wouldn't have been so ungrateful if I hadn't been having such a low time. As for hating you..." he shook his head in utter disbelief. "I could never do that. I only 'hate' very few people." Marie Salazar and Josh Carter being high on that particular list. "And I think that's just a strong dislike."

VERY strong.

Anyway, yes... he didn't really expect Neptune to feel sorry, so he hadn't even brought that up. The guilt he knew about, because she'd SAID it and all. "Well... I will apologise if I feel like I should, Neptune. I felt I had to... but I'll stop if, you know... you understand that it's true."

Frequently apologising when he felt he'd done something wrong was something Jake always did and apparently couldn't help. Sometimes he even apologised for apologising. Nightmare.

Jake snuggled slightly up to Neptune and held his hand up to the handkerchief. Erm. No. He had enough snot over him. "I won't be gone all the time. I can be down at the village for Hogsmeade weekends if you want. Believe me, leaving here isn't something I'm looking forward to myself. You have other friends here, surely. I refuse to believe you don't. Plus, you get Dale next year, and he's like a hundred friends." The thickness of Jake's voice kind of went away as he composed himself. "I might even get a set of those two way mirrors this summer."

He gave a little sigh and wrapped an arm around Neptune's shoulder. "I just want you to be happy, whatever the situation. Can't bear to see you so sad."

"You're not... Remember you told me how people underestimate how smart you are? You can't be one of those people." Neptune nuzzled his shoulder with her nose affectionately.

"That's sort of the point, you know. You didn't do anything wrong and you're apologizing. I did TONS wrong and I'm not." She sighed and pulled back from Jake so he could SEE how properly of a mess she was. MESS. AWFUL.

"Can't you just... just ... tell me I'm fascinating like you used to? And pretty?" Obviously not at this moment, but in general, "and... and not... NOT love me? You used to flirt with me." And now he LOVED her....? Ugh WHY.

Jake probably would have shrugged if Neptune hadn't been on his shoulder. She made a point... but... "I'm an idiot in a different way than is expected," he remarked, smirking slightly. OH YES. He was like... a social idiot, rather than a chain-idiot.

He shook his head slightly. "I did do something wrong. A big something. If I hadn't been avoiding the entire world in the first place, I wouldn't have been all sensitive, and then we wouldn't have argued, and I wouldn't have been all ungrateful and wouldn't have got hurt and the situation would just be different... because I'm a coward. And that is why I apologised."

And he was not taking it back.

Jake looked at Neptune and actually did take the handkerchief this time, only to use it to gently dab at Neptune's face.

He listened to her and nodded. In truth, he never stopped telling her she was fascinating or pretty or any of that, and he'd never known how to flirt in the first place. So none of that would be hard to do... apart from... the love thing.

Jake stalled and felt himself deflate a little, emotionally and physically. He'd thrown that 'love' word at her and, once again, it had been wrong. Jake couldn't even put into words how much he wished he didn't understand what love was, like when he'd been in first year.

"I can do that," he said quietly, dropping his hand with the handkerchief down again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Jake probably would have shrugged if Neptune hadn't been on his shoulder. She made a point... but... "I'm an idiot in a different way than is expected," he remarked, smirking slightly. OH YES. He was like... a social idiot, rather than a chain-idiot.

He shook his head slightly. "I did do something wrong. A big something. If I hadn't been avoiding the entire world in the first place, I wouldn't have been all sensitive, and then we wouldn't have argued, and I wouldn't have been all ungrateful and wouldn't have got hurt and the situation would just be different... because I'm a coward. And that is why I apologised."

And he was not taking it back.

Jake looked at Neptune and actually did take the handkerchief this time, only to use it to gently dab at Neptune's face.

He listened to her and nodded. In truth, he never stopped telling her she was fascinating or pretty or any of that, and he'd never known how to flirt in the first place. So none of that would be hard to do... apart from... the love thing.

Jake stalled and felt himself deflate a little, emotionally and physically. He'd thrown that 'love' word at her and, once again, it had been wrong. Jake couldn't even put into words how much he wished he didn't understand what love was, like when he'd been in first year.

"I can do that," he said quietly, dropping his hand with the handkerchief down again.

Well.... maybe. Maybe he HAD been wrong to be hiding out and neglecting to give Neptune the necessary attention. Maybe. "It's okay. I don't get it, but it's okay. I wish YOU wouldn't feel bad. I actually think I would feel better if you were being haughty and indignant and blaming me for everything."

That was sort of how other fights went. But whatever. She closed her eyes and let him clean her up, or whatever he wanted to do to her really. Even though...

"This is messed up. You're the one that was in the hospital wing. I should be... you know... taking care of you?" Right? No? She sort of wanted to, and sort of didn't. On some level, she was still pretty mad that he had gone and got HURT after ALL that.

"Good. Because... because... the other is impossible. And everyone has that L word all wrong and I don't want it. And it scares me."

Ha. Haughty with Neptune. Jake reckoned he had some kind of dampner in his brain that wouldn't let him be haughty with anyone other than his parents. Baha.

But he was getting sidetracked. Jake shrugged one shoulder... there was kind of no answer to that, other than establishing again that he didn't feel like doing being a jerk.

"It's okay. I'm okay," Jake shrugged, at the suggestion of being looked after. How else would he have been released from the Hospital Wing... he decided not to mention how he'd begged for Neptune to be there because he thought she WAS there. "It was only a concussion."

Could have been MUCH worse.

He smiled at Neptune again and brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable at all. We'll be like we were, I promise." Jake felt a LOT better now, actually. Of course, still disappointed... but that would pass.

Glancing out of the window, Jake noticed how nice the day really was, for the first time ever. "Fancy heading out to the lake or something soon? It'll be deserted with everyone at the Quidditch celebration."

Those words made him feel a little disappointed after he'd said them... but he pushed that feeling away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Ha. Haughty with Neptune. Jake reckoned he had some kind of dampner in his brain that wouldn't let him be haughty with anyone other than his parents. Baha.

But he was getting sidetracked. Jake shrugged one shoulder... there was kind of no answer to that, other than establishing again that he didn't feel like doing being a jerk.

"It's okay. I'm okay," Jake shrugged, at the suggestion of being looked after. How else would he have been released from the Hospital Wing... he decided not to mention how he'd begged for Neptune to be there because he thought she WAS there. "It was only a concussion."

Could have been MUCH worse.

He smiled at Neptune again and brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable at all. We'll be like we were, I promise." Jake felt a LOT better now, actually. Of course, still disappointed... but that would pass.

Glancing out of the window, Jake noticed how nice the day really was, for the first time ever. "Fancy heading out to the lake or something soon? It'll be deserted with everyone at the Quidditch celebration."

Those words made him feel a little disappointed after he'd said them... but he pushed that feeling away.

"Sometimes you're more ridiculous than me," she replied to the ONLY a concussion. But her eyes closed at his touch and she once again soaked up his attentions like the greedy grinch she was.

"It's Marie. And Lexi. And... Finny. And my sister. It DOES make me uncomfortable. I AM sorry that you... or that..." EEeep. Confusing.

Neptune wiggled around and used Jake's shoulder to get her knees under her, where she stood on them to hover over Jake's head. She was... looking for the concussion? Sort of. And trying to run away from that love conversation. Neptune prodded his hairline and looked in his ear.

"If we go outside, will you tell me what happened?"

"Yeah, I know," Jake grinned at Neptune. It was true... it really was. Hurrhurr.

He shrugged at that apology. If Jake was honest, he had no idea what Neptune was saying, but left it, because it was a topic he himself wasn't fond of.

"Tell you what happened?" the young man repeated. "Like... in the game?"

And what WAS she doing. Crazy gurrl was lookin' in his earlug. "Either way, sure."

He needed the sun. He wanted to SUNBATHE. Yup. Sun equalled happyrays.

"You're SUPPOSED to say that you don't ever think I'm ridiculous," Neptune poked her finger right into his ear hole. Because she could and she was speaking the truth.

She raised her arms up and out, the universal sign from toddlers around the world that they needed to be picked up. It was Neptune's sign for...wanting to be picked up. SWOOPED up and carried away. Please?

"....if you want to tell me. You can say you should have came if you wanted to know. You can. I'll just ask someone else, but .... I can't say I wouldn't say the same to you."

Truth.

"Really?" Nika was surprised by the offer. She didn't think the girl liked her very much. She took another sip of the sugery coffee and smiled. "I would love that." Nika gave her a genuine smile. "So your cousins with Rex right? Does that mean I will be seeing you at his wedding?"

"Oh. Right... well..." he stalled slightly and grinned. "I don't ever think you're ridiculous." Just sometimes a leeeeeeettle over sensitive.

Jake carried on smiling, feeling infinitely better. Wait wut? What did that mean. "Can't say you wouldn't..." he frowned, trying to work it out. No. Didn't work. "I think my brain just exploded."

He stood up and did exactly what he figured (and hoped) Neptune wanted him to do, scooping her up in his arms like Prince Charming carrying off a Princess... which was exactly what was happening. "I'll tell you what I can remember," Jake nodded, and leaned in to nuzzzzzle Neptune's ear/neck for a moment. "To the lake."

Le rawrr.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

"Oh. Right... well..." he stalled slightly and grinned. "I don't ever think you're ridiculous." Just sometimes a leeeeeeettle over sensitive.

Jake carried on smiling, feeling infinitely better. Wait wut? What did that mean. "Can't say you wouldn't..." he frowned, trying to work it out. No. Didn't work. "I think my brain just exploded."

He stood up and did exactly what he figured (and hoped) Neptune wanted him to do, scooping her up in his arms like Prince Charming carrying off a Princess... which was exactly what was happening. "I'll tell you what I can remember," Jake nodded, and leaned in to nuzzzzzle Neptune's ear/neck for a moment. "To the lake."

Le rawrr.

"Yes you do. Now you're telling me lies." So Neptune bopped him one. Gently, but .... see how he'd never win?

She sort of kind of pretended not to hear the part about his brain exploding. There were probably things she needed to tell him, what Lexi had said, what Marie had done, how she... sometimes ... felt.... But she just couldn't right then.

Neptune GIGGLED, though it was a little nasal-ish from all the crying, and went along for the ride. "Carrying people isn't bad for concussions, right? Just sleeping? You're not asleep are you?" Neptune pinched him, just for good measure. "You think you'll snog me out by the lake? Even if I'm a bit of a mess?"

Questions questions questions. They were off!