[OPEN] I Remember This Place [OPEN]

[caine johnson]

Surprised, Caine let Dallas pull his hand on to her lap. He let her play with his fingers and listened as she told her story. Not wanting to push further into details, he mulled the story over in his head. "I'm sorry.. " He slid his fingers into the spaces between hers, giving it a small squeeze, before letting her continue to play with his fingers. "Is it terrible feeling to remember that? I mean is it terrible to remember how you died?"

Caine paused and looked up at Dallas. "It's terrible not being able to remember.. anything.. I can tell you that." He gave a half smile, trying to lighten the mood, wishing he hadn't asked now. His eyes shifted, then fell back to watching her play with his head. His mouth opened, like he was going to say something, but he only sighed, trying to think of something to say only to come up with nothing.

[dallas emery atkins]

"Sometimes.. It's kind of like.. remembering falling off a swing and scaping your knee or something.. I think what hurts the worst is having to hide the burns.. They're not really noticeable but it's kind of like.. you can feel people's eyes on you.. The flames crawling across your skin.." She stopped playing with his fingers, content to just hold his hand in hers.

"So, you don't remember anything at all? Well, I don't think I remembered much when I first came back to Earth either.. It was kind of like a puzzle with missing pieces. You could only remember this and that. Kind of like when you used to record movies on the VCR and the tape would get old and skip.. But the longer I'm here, the more I remember. I'm kind of scared of remembering any more than hearing my mom screaming.." She trailed off, looking down at their hands.

[caine johnson]

Her voice crept into his ears, lingering in his mind like a song that played over and over again. "There are more interesting things to look at than the scars from a burn." Caine let a moment of silence past, "And by interesting things I mean your eyes or smile." He added, realizing how what he said could be taken a different way. His cheeks flushed red, and he shook his head trying to make it less noticeable.

"I wish my memory was like a movie that skipped over parts. It's more of blurred pictures that weren't developed all the way. I remember being in a car though.." He stopped for a second, "I just want the mystery to end.. Either remember it all or none.." He decided to leave it at that, trying to think of something else to talk about. "Do you remember anything else about being.. alive? I remember having a mom, a dad, and a brother.."

[dallas emery atkins]

She blushed at his compliment, her innocent mind not able to take it any further than he liked to see her eyes and her smile. She yawned, and moved a little closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder.

"I remember.. our house was really big. It sat in the middle of a large plot of land. And we had a few horses. And a swing outside in the tree that daddy made out of a pipe and some rope. And Duskin would put me and Dru on it, and push us. I remember my moma was blind.. Daddy would always have to help her do everything. He wasn't very smart because they only let really rich people go to school back then. But he knew how to be nice to moma and take care of us and he always had a job." She closed her eyes, wishing she could go back and hug them one more time.

[caine johnson]

As her head fell to his shoulders, he smiled and let his hand slide from the back of the couch to play with her hair. He listened quietly, wishing she would just keep talking. It was easier for him to listen, he didn't ask or say anything stupid. His other hand covered hers and his breathing slowed. Caine's head rested above her head on the back of the couch. It was quiet as she spoke, nothing else was making a sound. It was as if time had slowed to let him enjoy the moment.

"It's weird how memories seem to pick and chose which will last the longest. Bad memories.. good memories.. Some slip away to the back of our mind, while others stay at the front like a reoccurring dream." His voice was low as he spoke, almost in a whisper like he was talking to himself. He hoped this memory would last awhile. It was peaceful, almost like a moment of clarity when someone finds out they aren't alone. "When I was in heaven.. I didn't want to come back to Earth. I'm not sure why.. but it felt almost like relief that I wasn't here anymore. I came back for the first time a couple of months ago. It felt like years to me though, with no memory. I didn't stay long, being alone and all I didn't have a reason to stay.." He watched his fingers play with the little curls left in Dallas's hair.

[dallas emery atkins]

She was only vaugely aware of his actions, and even less aware that it was putting her to sleep. She yawned and moved closer to him. She knew she couldn't stay, that Devon and Chris needed her to go home, but she was just too content to move.

"It's very weird.." She said quietly, looking up at him in the dark. Her eyes traced the lines his jaw made, the way his nose was simply perfect. She yawned again, closing her eyes as she continued to let him play with her hair.

"- remember one day.. It was raining.. And the yard was soaked.. And me and Duskin and Dru went outside, and played in the rain.." She squeezed his hand gently, pulling it closer to her. "We got all covered in mud.. Daddy had to hose us off before we went inside.." She smiled, about to say something else, but she just held his hand close, drifting off into sleep.

[caine johnson]

Caine laughed as she yawned. He moved, sinking further into the cushions, hoping to give her room to be comfortable. He twisted his fingers around in her hair, and as he let go the strands of hair fell perfectly back into place. Caine listened as Dallas spoke of another memory. He closed his eyes and tried to picture it, but Dallas didn't look like the girl who would play in mud. "You don't seem like the type who goes out an plays in mud." He chuckled and played with her hair again. His muscles relaxed, he wanted to lay back, but being close to Dallas was warm. So instead of laying back, he moved his legs, and scooted closer to her, leaning back on the couch. Her head still rested on his shoulder, and now Caine's head rested only a few inches away from hers.

He watched as her eye lids fought to stay open, and he couldn't help but smile. "Your family seems wonderful." He looked down at the hand he still had on her lap, and moved it over to hers. Lightly, he took her hand and interlaced their fingers. "You know most people change when they go through a dramatic event.. mostly for the worse... but you're different. Your an angel." He laughed, "Even if you weren't an actual angel, you'd still be an angel." Caine was rambling, his mind twisted in different words and memories and the moment that was happening. "I guess I'm just trying to say, If you were the first person I met when I first came to Earth, I probably would have stayed longer. But at least I've met you now."

[dallas emery atkins]

Dallas didn't realize where she was when she woke up, only that she was in a room with some guy's arms around her. She pushed him off gently, wondering if it was Devon before realizing it was Caine. "Darnit.." She mumbled, crawling off the couch, careful not to wake him up. She knew she was going to get hurt for sure when she got home. She could almost hear Dru now. 'You left us here with that brat and that freak while you were off doing God knows what! Finally fucked somebody, did you?'

She looked out the back door and realized where she was, just by Christy's pool toys thrown across the yard. She walked out to her car, calling Duskin, who told her it was okay, that Christy and Devon were fine and Dru hadn't even been home since after dinner. She walked back inside, putting her phone on the table. She saw Caine looking at her and blushed, realizing she probably looked terrible.

"Uh.. Morning.." She said quietly, biting her lip.

[caine johnson]

As if he was falling, Caine jumped, waking up from a dream. His hands rubbed his eyes and his head turned this way and that way, looking for Dallas. He slouched back down on the couch and a long yawn rumbled from his chest. His head turned to look at Dallas as she spoke. "Good morning. I shouldn't have kept you over all night.. I'm sorry." He sighed and looked down towards the ground, before pulling himself from the couch. He stood and stretched.

"Hm.. I guess you should get back to your family and well I'll get to wondering the streets." His voice was gravely from being asleep. Caine walked over to Dallas and smiled, pushing her bangs from out in front of her face once again. He smiled and locked eyes with her for a moment. He walked over to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. "Wanna grab a coffee before you head off? Then I'll go shop for some new clothes." He looked down at the ones he was wearing, he hadn't brought much stuff with him this time since he didn't plan on staying, but now he was at least considering staying.

[dallas emery atkins]

"You're not gonna wander the streets. Not when you have a place to stay now.." She felt butterflies in her stomach at his rough voice. She bit her lip, nodding slowly. She wandered off, changing into a pair of clothes she had brought over when her, Christy and Connor has come swimming. She adjusted her skirt, the walked back into the kitchen, her hands in her now naturally wavy hair. She braided it slowly, then used the ponytail holder around her wrist to keep it in place.

She smiled at him, then grabbed her keys and phone. She walked out, holding the door for him before walking over to her car. She slid into the drivers seat, and started the car. She remembered the entire way here, he had held her hand and she wondered if he would do it again. She waited for him to buckle his seat before pulling out of the parking space, making her way to the coffee shop.

"You're.. gonna stay?" She asked, looking over at him once they were stopped at a light. "I mean.. stay here with me. So I can have another friend besides Devon.."