Chapter Theme Music: Roaring Tides II ~ Clannald OST152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kt8vg4oq2
<10/30/2011 - 01:04 | 77 Cloverleaf Trail, Dahlonega, GA, USA>
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Using the external bathroom in sight-range of the cabin, I changed my clothes back after bringing my backpack in with me. It would have been too weird for me to strip with anyone from the men's cabin watching, particularly since I had to swap the panties for the boxers. Lumina only made mild jokes about it on my way back, and she also suggested that I would have trouble getting to sleep tonight.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5fXcmT8ux
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As much energy as I knew I had, I figured there was little choice in what was left for the two of us to do. Chaperones were strangely strict about us not being outdoors after midnight for any reason. My plan was, spend time with Lumina despite being confined to a cold cabin full of idiots. I'd still have my privacy with her thanks to the telepathy.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCOLwQVjEf
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Of course, the moment I opened that front cabin door again, any plan I had to relax or to get a moment to myself was long lost to the chaos of a scene I could only describe out of a zoo. Soft objects flew from one bed to the next; some of the boys were laughing at memes or cracking jokes, while plenty more mixed rowdy noise with annoying horseplay. It was the scene I could only imagine when the entire population in a small room were entirely heathens, but their loudness was all I currently focused on. "You have got to be kidding me."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxYDJbonYt
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"Come on everyone! It's time to get in bed and stay in bed." The male chaperone assigned to this cabin, whose name I couldn't be bothered to remember, attempted to calm a wild stampede of idiots. His warning naturally fell on deaf ears, because despite many trying to get to their beds, the horseplay and volume level didn't die down even a decibel. "It's bed time, so nobody leaves the cabin anymore."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGubl1D7Gi
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"Hold on!" I wasn't happy to hear that given the invalid results to his claim, so I turned to the chaperone, questioning his authority when he had not the power. "How can you declare it bedtime when everybody is still wild?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2FLtLcjyK
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Then, to further my amazement, I got this response from the chaperone. "Ah, don't worry about it. In about one more hour, they'll run out of energy for tonight. Hope you brought a book." The chaperone then took his seat, realizing his earlier warning was made in futility. Instead of getting firm with the others, he pulled out a book of his own, and started reading some random pages in the middle of all this flak.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2FX6jG5KO
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You have got to be kidding me! I couldn't take my confused eyes off him for a few seconds. The nerve of the guy threw my mood into a small spiral of fury. I had every right to be upset! He just sits down and reads a book, an activity that can only be done with the lights to the cabin still on, and wants to wait on the others to shut up and sleep for up to an hour? By that very admission, it means he's not requiring anybody fall asleep for such an amount of time. This then begs the question; why in the hell can't we spend that hour outdoors on our own side of the field until such a time has passed? I'll be damned if I'm going to be cooped up in here with all these idiots while they get to behave like this!152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpYi2KFg2K
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"Make that double, on the count of you not sleeping tonight."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dd1h0ytUx
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"This is insanity!" I revealed the horror of my eyes to Lumina, the same scene as before, just with almost everyone in their beds. I felt like I was in some kind of large cage full of stupid animals. "Just look at everyone! They're all so destructive! And loud!" I have eardrums you know!152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKpcLOwPqG
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"At least you're not tired. But this is worse than a zoo. I can't even fully hear your thoughts, it's so loud."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvcs6jxY1p
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I considered exactly how doomed I really was for a few seconds, which only raised my blood pressure until I was about to turn red in the face. I had nothing else to do. I planned for the rest of the night to talk to Lumina under the guise of pretending to be asleep. If I simply do nothing for that full hour, especially since I'm still wide awake, I also risk a UAD attack. But if I can't hear a single thought of her or of myself, on count of these people wanting to act like total morons, then I have no choice but to take matters into my own hands. "Screw this!" Fed up, I marched over to my bed, not to lie down, but to rummage through all of my belongings. "I'm not staying here. I'll just pretend to get ready for bed, and then—"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnelwWw5d2B
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"And then what? You're just going to sneak outside, right past the fully alert guard?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUuv7M4LJJ
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"Watch and learn Lumina." Sometimes, rules are just meant to be broken. I grabbed all I would need, my water, phone, and earphones, and started heading for the door.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UTLDI4RYv
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"Oh crap, you are! You never do anything like this." In Lumina's perspective, I'm not known as an avid rule breaker. Is she in for a surprise!152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsawgpsfcV
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"Things change..." Before the guy could look up and try to stop me, I launched my new plan first."Hey." I didn't walk out the door yet. I stopped right in front of the guy looking a little tense, making it obvious I had to ask him about something.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZBSzwxJO9
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"Yeah?" The chaperone brought his full attention onto me, waiting eagerly to what I had to say.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2jklS9lYC
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"So I just realized, I have to use the bathroom." I need him to know where I will be, so that he doesn't come looking for me later.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cyFM0w3BI
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"All you had to do was ask. You know where it is." He tried to buzz me off with a weak wave of his hand, returning his gaze back to the book.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25bV04RaWy
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"Alright, but I might not be back for an hour."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mmtMTQAmE
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"An hour?!" At last, I had his attention.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboiR0VNse5
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Though this was also part of my improvised plan. All guys know, that if one is not back from the bathroom in five minutes, it can only mean one thing. "The timing might suck, but I have to take a dump. I always seem to take long when I do." It's the dumbest human action ever, but one any would want to stay away from, in fear of the potential odors.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL3g76DzZb
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Annoyed, the man only considered the thought for a moment before rolling his eyes back onto the pages. "Oh fine. But you better be back in one hour. If you try any funny business, the other chaperones patrolling the fields will wring your neck."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWop3wdsP5p
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I lifted my left hand to my forehead to give the guy an army salute on my way out. "I'll be back." Then, I left. Like a good soldier about to cross into enemy territory to wrestle a bear to the ground, I marched over to the bathroom building. I had to ensure my escape route would be covered, and as expected, I heard the door open and close a second time once I was near the entrance, explained by the chaperone trying to make sure I was true to my word. Afterwards, I turned around, spotting nobody on the porch. I took that chance to make a swift U-turn, before passing the cabin in the other direction until I was far out of sight, into the fading darkness of the forest edge.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJvfg0cm3s
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"I'm impressed! You actually did it."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYWdmt4zDj
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"Of course I did it! That was easy. And I'm not going back in there until I say so." I knew how to deal with people like that. All I have to do is lie about the most innocent sounding excuse to go somewhere, and I was clear to go. I wasn't taking no for an answer this time, considering what was at stake. If everybody in the cabins are allowed to stay up late and talk after hours, then I should be allowed the same authority between myself and Lumina.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisB5P4jyIv
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"I know it was easy, but you're usually such a goodie goodie. Sneaking out like that isn't something I expected from you, not that I'm complaining."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzjriMLdMz
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"Me, a goodie goodie?" I resented the label. I'm not so much of a bad boy that I'll pull off elaborate pranks only to cheese it after, but when it comes to these power hungry custodians and hall monitor freaks, I have no more patience left to give. "You actually expected me to just hide in there, a house full of disgusting monsters? Those heathens, those murderers to be...? Perish the thought! I'm not stepping foot in there right now." My hatred for heathens kept me angrier than I meant to be, and I only hoped Lumina could calm me down again so that we could resume our fun from before.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ499BVRQXXU
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"Well, I wouldn't mind spending more time with you Reed... I'm proud of you! You're finally learning how to take charge for yourself."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRQMnnfsBv
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"Oh, you just now noticed?" I found a perfect, comfortable spot in the open field of short cut grass, and laid my body to rest in the shadows. I positioned myself perfectly in a night shade, cast by the corner stone of the forest edge under part of a tree, behind where a distant lamp light could not reach. I knew that anybody walking outside in this general vicinity would never spot me with their bare eyes, unless I were to move around or stand straight up. At the same time, I had very limited vantage view of the other side of the camp, through all the mixed foliage of bushes, grass, rocks, and tree branches. "Look, my motivations are simple. I just want to spend as much time with you as I can, Lumina. Girlfriend, fiancée, whatever. What matters is that we're here, now, together. For now, that's enough."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8XeShff4f
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"Yeah. I bet it's really cold out here though. You didn't bring your jacket."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQT2rQYBZV
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In hindsight, I could have. It's too late to get it now, so I'll make do without it. "It's chilly for sure, but I'm kind of used to this by now. I only have goose bumps is all; nothing to worry about." Judging by ambient air temperature, it's barely above freezing. It's so cold that I can see partly through Lumina's eyes too, though it requires some effort.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbFtHg6vMS
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"The air and grass feels so nice in your world." Lumina sounded as if she were trying to nuzzle her skin against the cold frozen grass beneath me.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgQ0n3Ehq5
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I wasn't sure what air is supposed to feel like to an Altiri, but I assumed she must have meant the air temperature. Once it's this cold, an Altiri can survive and thrive in this environment in the flesh. "What the? Do you hear that?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHCR8Q46yD
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"What? The heathens again?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz6ISt6AWs
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What I was hearing didn't sound like mindless horseplay. I was certainly hearing distant voices, but they were different somehow. "No..." I flipped aside until I was on my stomach, raising myself ever so slightly to peek all around me for signs of activity. Somebody somewhere was outside, and it sounded like it was more than one person. "It's coming from over there."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJGcgu5NC1
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"The other field? The girl's side of the camp?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTTQdTx2kX
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That's where I pointed my eyes to. "Wait, I can see silhouettes of... They're out in the open!" Now I was certain of my hearing, mixed with the distant sight of it. Just faint enough, I could make out distant lights on the girl's side of the field, combined with the unmistakable noise of joyous play and silhouettes to match; one of them was doing a cartwheel.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeBhcIVhxk
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"So they're playing outside then. Does that surprise you?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZfwwZSeRy
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"Damn right it does! I'm expected to be crammed in that den of idiots, and the girls just get to hang outside, having all that fun?" I was more than just upset about the revelation, since this proves I would have had to break a few rules just to learn of this in the first place. Most importantly, it's a double standard of inequity. I certainly wasn't going to defend the rights for heathens to have the same pleasures, but how could the same rules be applied to one group if they're not applied to the other?152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnVW2D4VWp
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"Maybe they're sneaking out too?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51hRaDnwwg
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"Not a chance, not with how loud they're being now." I could literally hear their laughter from all the way over here, some of them shrieking a little. There's no mistaking it. "They've been given permission to stay up and outside longer."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinFoVqjdRw
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"I won't lie about this. Sometimes, larger groups of female students get different treatment than men. By treatment, I'm talking about the specific chaperone assigned to their cabin."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwF4ym6XBy
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You mean Ms. Ray Ray and Ms. Dang, the same people who nearly got me in galactic trouble to begin with? "Well then, that being the case, I have every right to be out here with you right now. I shouldn't even have to worry about hiding, though I won't break cover." I felt pretty calm after reminding myself that I already granted myself the expressed permission to be out here longer. I had to lie to get this far, which didn't seem fair, but given what I've learned, I don't have to feel a shred of guilt over it. If I were to get busted right now, I could just point over to the other field and label the hypocrisy.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2HJT55vLL
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I didn't want to think about it anymore, since it would sour my mood. I thought back to the fun dance Lumina and I had instead, rejuvenating my spirits on the spot. "Whatever. I'm just glad I got out here with you."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8BUJiDFEd
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"Well we're here. Now what?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadwSYu9lpU
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"Hm..." I stood up a little taller, trying to increase my vantage point of sight to other areas of the camp. "I see some shadows in the center field. Looks like they really do patrol the grounds at night, but none of them are remotely close to this side."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIE0tStJ6r
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"I don't think they can see you. You are kind of close to the forest."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwnGIeeafU
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"Right... Okay then. Problem solved." I returned to my previous stance, laying on my back in that delicious field in the night, while having a perfect view of the maze of stars in the clear night sky. Finding something to do with Lumina won't be hard anymore. "I'll just camp out here instead, under the stars."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoTrVaM3MM
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"Yeah, but you can't actually sleep out here, Reed."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzrbw5DK62
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"Why not?" If I did ease my way to sleep under these beautiful stars, it would be so dreamy and amazing. I'd get caught later on, but who cares about that now?152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1arK1o7JYF
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"Right now, staying out here is no problem for you... But if you stay outside for too long, the cold air will make you sick."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW8secMO16
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"Bah! A cold never bothered me."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBVRREtkYo
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"It will when the drain to your stamina stops you from contacting me for weeks at a time."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXFRRZQwDP
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I found it impossible to argue with her on that basis. I'm unfortunately prone to colds and sinus infections. I learned the hard way not too long ago that the level of energy they drain from me is physically enough to thwart connection attempts, so, getting sick is a big no-no. "Fine. I won't sleep out here... But just let me stargaze with you for a while."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepnxjF6r0W
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"Of course you can do that." After patching up that tiny miscommunication, Lumina decided to just let the stars do that talking for us. The cluster of deep lights twinkled every so often, stealing our gaze to the mystic wonders of the universe. "Wow! There's actually a lot of stars out tonight."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZJw9m0QWH
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"Stars here, stars there, and stars forever. Every time I look at this sky, it reminds me more of you, and the fact that the universe is far bigger than I used to think."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g7h5kpnME
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"I can feel what that's like." Lumina tried to lay on her back now, mimicking my body so that she could allow her senses to synchronize better with mine, as her voice became so relaxed and serene. "I know what it's like to see through yours into that beautiful world. I never knew how that felt until I met you."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcMSrTZV7X
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"All of that void would be so sad, if we never had each other to share it with."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOkyHBfntT
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"True, but we do have each other."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzGtv5gSSB
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"Yeah..." I turned slightly, unable to hide the lurching discomfort from my soft whispered voice.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSOsajeZDK
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"What is it?" Taking notice that something bothered me, Lumina kept her eyes wide open, though she didn't stand up.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3fJNAFNCP
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"It's nothing. It's just..." I have no choice but to tell her now. Lumina and I already know this, but as the topic comes up every now and then, I wish I could have more. "I wish there was some way for me to be closer to you, physically I mean."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTTSVadhEY
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"You and me both have that problem." It was a sad fact that Lumina had to put up with as well. In our most amazing relationship, this one constraint of distance prevents us from enjoying each other to the fullest.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5Sl0JTmrz
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"If only I could kiss you somehow..." After many vectors of simulated ideas, I came up with nothing. It takes two people to kiss, just as it takes too hands to clap. There isn't a way for me to even simulate the effect of kissing where it would transfer over somehow. I wish it would. I wish I had the chance to make out and hold Lumina in my arms now.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4yFVFmY5C
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"Remind me, this would still be your first kiss, wouldn't it?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VjBCLm7jm
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"Yeah. With you, I would do anything, learn everything, go anywhere."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPIBnmWq2Q
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"Well, I wouldn't know of a way to send a kiss across the universe." Lumina sounded fairly bummed out by the realization as well, our concerns becoming unified despite never being solvable. It was all kind of sad. "But... I do know some things."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eV51LzZJ2
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I repositioned myself to sit up despite not needing to. I was suddenly curious what she meant by some things. I didn't have to wait long for an unexpected demonstration. Lumina gently grabbed hold of her right hand using her left, concentrating on something I could not see. After just two seconds, my right hand felt the pressure of her hold with a slight tingling sensation, along with a freezing chill. "Hey, I feel that!" I kept my voice to a total whisper so that nobody would suspect I was outside.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdAkusky03
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"Does it feel nice?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXWbpuKRTZ
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"How are you able to do that? I thought this kind of thing was impossible."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKZ9ZNxalK
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"Maybe for you. The connection has to be strong to allow it anyway, but consider this our special way of holding hands for now."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCtx8ZT9FX
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I thought back once again to the idea of kissing Lumina, enough to make me blush in the darkness, though I didn't regret the thought. I should want to feel this way for her. I should want to do anything and everything with her, go all the way, for whatever was possible. "What else can we do?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGqtwQJCQ6
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"Well, we could also draw on each other's skin, like so."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHhVDcxpAD
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I could now see faintly through Lumina's eyes as she took her left index finger, and started gently stroking and tickling the bottom side of her other arm. Instantly, that same gentle touch traced in the same spots to my right arm. The process was quite surreal; I've known something like this might have been possible, but it's been too long since I've had the time to think about it in depth. Lumina continued to trace her finger until she slowly went up the side of her chest, under her arm. I felt the rushing, freezing chill of pressure slide up my arm in a curving line. The strangeness made my body shutter a little, but I enjoyed that random stimulation more than I expected to.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQaJ5CdFpQ
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"That's so amazing!" Realizing that I had the same superpower, I used my free hand to trace on my skin too. A momentary touch made Lumina gasp, our senses heightened from the connection. I then did the same as she did to me, until we were both simultaneously tracing our skin with our index fingers. I tried to drag my finger all over my body, enough to make Lumina giggle a little. My temptation to draw my finger down lower did me no good however. As I sank that part of my hand further down my pants, I noticed zero reaction from her. Then, I remembered that which she told me long ago; that physical sensations involving mismatched body parts for both nodes would never transfer.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIZvkPawxk
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Disinterested, I took my hands off myself, letting Lumina know it was only interesting for a brief period of time. I only hope she doesn't use that trick at random while I'm around others just to get at me. "Oh, I got one." With another similar idea in mind, I started to twirl around the back of my own hair, testing to see if she would feel anything from it. My hair was put back to normal hours ago, but hair is something we both have, so she should feel something.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYOR0e9LX4
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"It's like a gentle hair massage."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehf2kqDdfK
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It wasn't entirely indicative of what I was doing, but I assumed some details might shed off, since our hair styles and length do not match. As I thought about it some more, I reminded myself all that I found so wonderful about her. "You're so amazing Lumina. I love everything about you... Ohg!"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva1X594lUT
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"What?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqCbl29Rxz
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While Lumina reacted to that weird noise I made, I was left trying to figure out what was happening. It seemed like I was peering through Lumina's eyes again, but this time, the angle and perspective of the view wasn't from Lumina. I saw her body and her face up close, but not from the result of having her stare into another mirror. It was if I were on the outside looking in, seeing Lumina from a third person angle. I just as quickly got lost in the beauty before me. Her eyes, her hair, her face, and that scrumptious mind of hers. "You're so pretty."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA28Au5Hdv
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"Wha— You can see me now?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSL60alwWB
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I didn't care that Lumina was surprised by it. I didn't even think about how abnormal it was since she had no mirror in front of her. All I could focus on now was how amazing I saw her. "I can. I can see your face from a different perspective this time... You're so amazing Lumina."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHt8vr29Tv
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"Oh... Thanks." My flattery finally managed to embarrass her, so I felt even better for saying something.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHP8ZEl2jR
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"I guess I can see differently into your world sometimes." Surely there's some special explanation or that too, right?152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HuPWH2Qew
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"The connection must be getting strong enough to support different view states. Still, you're not seeing directly through my eyes anymore."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hC3gLjdlU
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"Is that a problem?" Through Lumina, around Lumina, aside from Lumina, any angle works for me.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cYNUcp7lw
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"No, it's not a problem... But using second-hand clairvoyance through telepathy must prove you are really getting better at this, more than I thought you would."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFyPA3fR4i
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"Second-hand clairvoyance?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pV0W9VHK2
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"It means that you're using a form of clairvoyance that's assisted in energy by our current and existing psionic connection. First-hand would imply the energy is only coming from you."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobkmGyNSwK
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See? I knew there would be some explanation. Lumina is smart. "Right... You're so pretty Lumina." I can't help but say it over and over. I want to be with her, beside her, part of her, entirely in her life.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXI0vCv3BX
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"You are too ya know. If you get to call me beautiful, I get to call you beaut— er, I mean, handsome."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MlmEdQzvH
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Switching to my physical voice, I started laughing too loudly for comfort, catching the silly mistake she just made. "I'm not a girl anymore Lumina."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT5Iaez2S1
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"I know... Shut up."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGtJCfcg9X
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"Haha. Still, do you really think I'm handsome?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuT38wNgQt
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"Why? You don't think so?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThy4uH6CW6
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"I always kind of saw myself as, average looking." It's okay if people are honest with me. I'm certain I'm no ugly monster, but I'm no Brad Pitt either.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IwlVZl3nA
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"Well you're not average to me. You're much more than that. You're everything to me. You are my little hot stuff."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEOVcH2jp3
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"Little hot stuff?" I laughed in question... Actually, that one's not bad. Now I'm jealous for not having thought of a sexy name for Lumina sooner. "Now I have to think of one for you... But you took the best one!"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVaIhepGql
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"Hah! That's what you get, you slacker. You're my little hot stuff, and nothing you say or do can change that."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec9i1jGEiy
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I couldn't speak for a few seconds. The personal nickname Lumina gave me was more perfect than I realized. It perfectly described how she felt about me in just three simple yet strange little words. I was also quite embarrassed to be called that by anybody, but okay since Lumina was the one telling me this. "I love you Lumina."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0My2bFVAu6
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"I love you too Reed. I hope this moment lasts forever."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNrx08CabB
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"Yeah..." Even I know that at some point, this magical moment will have to end, so that I can put myself to sleep and wake up again tomorrow. "But we'll always be together, so we'll always have the opportunity to make new moments."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44xU3mlCvy
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"Yeah... Reed? I just want to remind you about something. I'm not deterring you from what you want, but..."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzUGvBOKEl
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"But what? Out with it." I know already it must be something important or difficult to talk about. Lumina should know she can discuss anything with me, just as I know I can discuss anything with her, no matter how crazy.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI6JiWZKtd
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"It's just that, us being together like this, at least while you're on Earth won't be the same as other couples have it. If you're exclusive with me, you'll never really hold hands with another girl, or ever get to kiss anyone. You can throw out sex too for that matter. Once you're transperated up here with me, all of that changes. But before that happens... I would never let you kill yourself in that world just to speed that process up."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWdE7SUO9B
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"Lumina, it's fine."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZR6WvTmVY
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"R— Really?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRZigqTUvs
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"Yeah. You must be wondering if this commitment is all for the best. I told you before that I don't want anyone else. I don't want what other couples have; I want what we have right now. That's what I really feel in my heart. My love for you us ultimate; I could never feel that way about any other woman, I'm too sure of it. The fact that you are over a trillion light years away from me, something that will not change for the entire duration I'm to live out my life on Earth, it won't change how I feel about you, no matter how much times passes. So yeah, you don't have to tell me what I'll be giving up for that; I know already. Even so, I'll never change my mind now. That's why I asked to marry you Lumina."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabEaz3mWvR
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"Reed." Lumina's eyes were glimmering, unable to express entirely how love was building between us.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM5OscdVK9
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"Besides, you shouldn't sell this so short. Yeah, we won't be able to physically touch each other, or kiss each other, or have sex with each other. That just isn't an option while I'm here on Earth. However, you and I still have something that nobody else has. I don't have to sneak around the fields at night to be with you; I can simply share all I have with you this way. My senses are your senses now. My mind, thoughts, and heart are also for you to experience. I will never hide anything from you. I will never lie to you about anything, okay?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaBqBtOSsN
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"Psionic connections do tend to change the playing field a little."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvzwo4XK70
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"It's not even that." My reminder silenced Lumina quickly, so I elaborated to show her what she hasn't yet realized. "What you and I feel for each other, I'm positive could never exist between one of us and any other person." What Lumina and I have might have been assisted and born from telepathy, but the way I feel for her now isn't from some special ability or our emotional sharing network. It's from all that time we spent together, all that time getting attached to each other, crying together, laughing together, and even losing our minds because of each other. "The amount of fun we had tonight and every other day of our lives, telepathy may have opened the door, but we made that magic happen ourselves. I love you, Lumina, only you. And in the future years to come, however long it takes, I'm going to set up a savings fund, make sure I have whatever college degree I need to do well for myself, and move up north where it's actually cold like this all the time, away from Georgia." The more I say it, the more I know that is my destiny.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRE1itA2Hi
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Though she was fighting back tears of ultimate happiness, Lumina still spoke to me. "I love you Reed. I don't know how I ever got so lucky falling in love with you."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELkQ0sfXj6
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"I guess that's just how things turned out. But trust me on this. I'll move to a state that's so cold, we'll always have a connection to each other. That will be my reason to keep driving this relationship forward. We do have a future together Lumina, one full of happiness. I want to keep making these magical moments with you, and keep spending as much time with you as possible, even when we're bored. So what do you say? Are we going to be partners for life?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR26opX7Gpr
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"For all the lives that we will both live, Reed. I'll always be by your side."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhxGjYAe3M
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"And I'll always be here for you too, no matter what." There's no more room for any doubts now. Now that Lumina knows all that I feel, she knows every part of who I am. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with her, even if I live multiple lives, even if I live forever without end. It's a promise, Lumina. Promises to her are something I can never-ever break.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIS20Z4NUW
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Those were the notes we sang to each other, the truth we agreed now engraved on our very souls. No amount of words could ever make our desires more pure than they were now. Because of this, Lumina and I had an easy time enjoying the next couple of hours passing in the night of our passive stargazing. We caught up on little things we might have missed over the years, including our time apart and our time back together again, and we enjoyed talking about the future most.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoE2zO8sBH
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After two long hours, it was eventually three in the morning before I finally had to tell Lumina good night, since my exhaustion finally caught up with me, but we didn't leave like we ever did before. Both of us were smiling; both of us were as happy as we could possibly be, knowing we would see each other again very soon. The whole moment, the entire day felt enchanted and special, an experience I could never replicate to such perfection of bliss.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD57ZgQHbg0
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Ignoring all the trouble I was expected to be in when I got back into the cabin, I was met with a different sight entirely. The cabin overhead lamp powered by battery was shut off, so the room was nearly pitch black. After having been out in the dark for hours, my eyes were still well-adjusted, enough to notice that everybody in the room, including the chaperone was fast asleep. It was warmer in here too, a comfort I only enjoyed since the connection was voluntarily shut down. I seemed to awaken nobody on my entry to the cabin when I shut the door gently behind me, now with a clear shot path to my bed.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6yk3EUgNv
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Huh. Guess he just couldn't be bothered to wait on my official return. Everyone else is asleep now too... Good. That means I can finally rest. With a room this silent, I could hear a pin drop. Instead, I used this silence to my advantage in sleeping. We were supposed to wake fairly early in the morning tomorrow, but I didn't care how much sleep I lost. I wanted to give every second of every minute to Lumina, and so I did. I stayed awake for as long as I could last with a stable connection, and I'm most glad I made that choice. Not only did I not get caught, I got to spend the entire remaining night with the woman I love most. No bedtime story or daydream would ever match how amazing I feel right now; our hearts and mind intertwined at last.
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