I'm Done Holding Back

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Misty's Admission

     "She's a mermaid, not a siren," Varian says. "Besides, you trusted Stalyan enough to let her help us. You really think Misty is worse than her?"

     "I think I know the real reason why little Sandra, here, dislikes our ocean friend so much," Hugo says, leaning closer to join the whispered conversation. He smirks at Cassandra, who turns away with a frustrated growl.

     "Wait, am I missing something?" Varian asks. "Why does she—"

"Why do you guys keep whispering?" Abhu asks.

     "You know, I'm sensing a bit of hesitation here," Misty says. "We can always do this later."

     "No need," Varian says. He places a reassuring hand on Cassandra's shoulder, only briefly. Then he walks to the edge of the lagoon. "Show me your trick!"

     Misty giggles, and then dives under the water. Varian takes in a deep breath, and holds it as he follows after her.

     Misty doesn't swim too deep. She turns to face Varian, and spins her hands around in a small circle. Within the circle she creates a bubble, and then she places the bubble over Varian's head. "You can breathe now."

     Varian lets out the breath he was holding, and inhales another one. To his surprise, he is able to breathe as easily as if he was on land! "This—This is amazing!" He says, genuinely astounded. He pokes his finger into the bubble, tapping himself on the forehead. When the bubble doesn't pop, he laughs with amusement.

"I figured you might like it," Misty says, swimming closer to Varian. "I thought maybe we could somehow use my air bubbles to bring fire down here, to get that orb." She points to the nearby wall of rock, where the familiar infinity symbol is etched into the stone. Just as Abhu described, an image of fire is also etched into it.

"I believe it's something we can brainstorm," Varian says. He begins to swim to the surface eagerly, but Misty grabs his arm.

"Wait, I... I have a question." She blushes slightly as she asks, "You and, uh, the dark-haired lady with an attitude. Cass, is it?"

"Yeah, what about her?" Varian says.

"Are you two, um..." She touches the ends of her index fingers to each other. "...Is there something between you?"

Varian is surprised by this question. "W-Well, I mean... I don't know if I would say, um..." Despite Eugene, Hugo, Abhu, and even Cassandra herself knowing about his feelings for Cass, he finds it slightly awkward to talk about them with someone he barely knows. "I-I am in love with her, but..."

"Oh," Misty says, sounding disappointed. "You are in love with her." A small, polite smile appears on her face, but Varian can tell that it is forced. "I thought there might be something between you two, but I guess I still hoped not..."

"Well, it's not like she has feelings for me. She—" But he stops himself as he realizes what Misty has just admitted. "Wait, you hoped not?"

Misty blushes again. "There's something special about you, Varian. You're unlike anyone I've ever met, on the land or in the sea." She instinctively reaches her hand out towards him, but holds herself back. "But, it's evident you truly love Cass. I won't try to get in the way of that. Just know that if it ever doesn't work out between you two..." Her voice trails off, and she gazes down sadly.

Varian feels bad for rejecting Misty's affections, but it wouldn't be the first time he has turned someone down. He thinks back to all the dates Rapunzel set up for him back in Corona, and how he now realizes that the reason none of them worked out is because he was still in love with Cassandra, even back then. None of them could measure up to her.

     "I'm sorry Misty, I really am," Varian says. "I know I'm probably crazy to be in love with Cassandra. But I can't help it. We've both been through a lot, and I see so much in her that she doesn't see in herself. She's headstrong and proud, but also passionate and resilient. I don't know if she'll ever love me back, but I still hold out hope. Maybe someday, she'll let me show her all the things I see in her."

Misty smiles again, but it still doesn't reach her eyes. "That is so beautiful, Varian. I... I hope things work out for you. Truly."

Varian smiles sympathetically. He knows how ridiculous his love for Cassandra must seem from the standpoint of others: She knew him as a kid. She is eight years older than him. He nearly killed her when he was blinded by rage. She kidnapped him and attempted to take over the entire kingdom, not letting anything or anyone get in her way... including him. She currently shows zero interest in being anything more than a friend to him.

But somehow, all of these things only make him love her more. The fact that they have gone through so much together, even being at odds with each other, and can still remain friends proves to him that what they have is unique and valuable. Nothing worth having is ever easy to attain, and he has no plans of giving up now. And even if he never achieves his dream of having a romantic relationship with Cass, well, at least he still has her in his life. That is something he will always treasure, no matter where their paths may lead.

"We, uh, should probably head back up," Varian says. "This orb isn't gonna find itself."

Misty nods, and the two of them return to the surface to discuss a plan with the others.