The beach, Wednesday morning

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

The weather was perhaps not the best for going swimming, but since the dinosaurs had made a visit to the beach a little hazardous this weekend River decided to make up for that. Besides, she had no classes today. Leaving a blanket and a bag with a packed lunch at a safe distance from the waves, she headed out into the water, stopping for a while when the water reached to her thighs and dug her toes into the sand. Smiling at the sensation she made a sudden dive into an oncoming wave.

[It's an open beach. Talk to River if you want.]

Comments

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

Troy had decided to take a different route for his run that morning, going by the beach. He found himself coming across River, and slowed down, waving and calling out for her. "Hey!"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River was standing with the water up to her waist. She waved and grinned when she noticed Troy. "No dinosaurs!"

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

"No dinosaurs!" he called, agreeing. But then his mood feel slightly, as he remembered the other major event of the weekend, and his confusion fell about him like a shroud, as much as he tried to cover it.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Which was about as successful as could be expected. River frowned, tilting her head. Then she waded to the shore, close enough so that she wouldn't have to raise her voice. "That was beautiful. Should make you happy, not worried." Yes, he did remind her of Simon, in more ways than one.

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

And that was a little freaky. "... What should?" Troy said, after a long moment. Surely she couldn't know about he and A.J.?

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

She should probably have asked him, but sometimes she just had no patience. "A.J. You should be happy," River repeated. "Why aren't you?"

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

Troy stared at her for a moment, and then blurted out, "Because I don't know what I'm doing!" He plopped down onto the sand, and continued, "I... This is new to me. I don't really understand it."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River sat down next to him. "Need to be more specific," she said. Yes, she could read his mind, but it was often helpful for a person to know what they really meant themselves.

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

Troy shrugged. "I... I thought I liked girls. I mean, I do like girls. It's just... A.J.'s cool, y'know?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River hadn't been in that situation herself, but she'd always thought that Jack's opinion that the need for categorising was unnecessary seemed quite sensible. "Mutually exclusive?" she asked.

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

Troy took a moment to consider that; he had, after all, been considering that same idea, really. "I guess not?" he said, finally. "I just... I've never been attracted to a guy before."

And there. He'd said it. It seemed to make it more true, more real.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

See? Simple! River wanted to say, but she didn't. "But you are now. Should make you happy." She smiled a little, and there was a hint of sadness in her expression. "Never take those feelings for granted. Meeting someone who makes you feel that way. Should treasure it."

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

Troy smiled weakly. "I wish it were that simple," he said. "But it's..."

What? It's not? It can't be? It's ridiculously complicated? Troy wasn't quite sure how to finish that sentence.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"It's what?" River raised an eyebrow. "Have to put it into words."

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

"... It's a little scary." Oddly, that made it seem less real. Like calling it scary just showed how stupid it was to think of it that way.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River thought for a moment. "It's the nature of the unknown and unexpected."

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

Troy couldn't help but think back to earlier in the year, how nervous he'd been about auditioning for the show, and about being in the show, and how that made it all the better when he'd finally gone for it, like he'd really conquered something within himself and that made the whole thing so much more worth it.

"So I should go for it?" he asked.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River looked at him. "What do you want?" she asked.

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

"To understand this," Troy said, without thinking. "To have this, whatever it is.

"I guess... I guess I want A.J."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River smiled a little. "Simple," she said.

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

Troy nodded. "Yeah... I guess it is."

There wasn't much more to say to that.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River gave a small nod in reply. There really wasn't much else to say.