#mythicalhaven

Chapter Six :

A few days have passed and Rhys has just left the dance studio. And for the next hour, he goes out to eat with Jasper, meets up with Milo real quick until he ends up walking him to his next studio. It's a thirty minute walk from where they are now to where they're going. Not from studio to studio.

"Alright, so I guess I'll see you later?" Milo finally speaks up after the past few minutes of silence.

"Yeah, okay. I'll see you later, Milo." Rhys goes to wave him off when the door to the studio opens, making them both pause. A girl around their age looks between the two boys, and with a lifted brow, she finally talks.

"Who's your friend?"

Rhys glances at Milo for a moment, then back to her. "This..this is Milo." He waves his hand between him and the girl. "Milo, Vi. Vi, Milo."

"Milo, huh. Nice to meet you."

Despite the brief tension between everybody, Milo smiles, holding his hand out politely, and she takes it, greeting him. "Nice to meet you too, Vi. How…do you know Rhys?"

"Mm..well, you can probably tell we work together." She eyes Rhys, which he looks away, almost nervous. Milo notices this. "We're partners."

"Partners?"

Rhys shakes his head, turning to Milo. "Dance partners. Vi, um, Milo is a barista. He works at the little coffee shop in front of my other studio."

"Ohh, you're a coffee maker, huh? I like that. Maybe I'll come visit you sometime."

"I'd like that! I'm sure you guys have some warming up to do though, so I'll uh, I'll let you go. It was nice meeting you, Vi." Milo turns on his heel and begins to wave at the two, eventually leaving. "Bye!" And then he's gone.

"Soo, Rhys, got yourself a little friend?"

"Let's just go warm up."

Vi smirks and opens the door to the studio again, letting Rhys go on ahead before following.

Chapter 5 :

Rhys gets home about another half hour later, walking in through the doorway and shuffling his feet over his doormat, which, is on the inside. He collapses onto his couch, tilting onto one side to reach his phone in his back pocket before settling further into the seat. He clicks his contacts’ app, mind going blank almost immediately once he sees Milo’s name. His eyes linger on the name for a while, time passing before he can even realize it. Then, he snaps out of it, and clicks the phone next to Jasper’s name.

It rings once.

Twice.

Click.

"Hey, you make it home yet?"

"Yeah, just did a, uh..oh. Twenty minutes ago. Didn’t realize it’s been that long already."

"Doesn’t sound like you’ve been there for very long. How’d your thing with Milo go?"

The line goes quiet for a moment before Jasper speaks up again.

"Rhys?"

He snaps out of it again. "Yeah, sorry. It went…alright. I guess."

Jasper waits for a moment and responds. "Just alright? Rhys, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think I just..need some rest."

"You sure?"

Rhys doesn't speak for a moment, but Jasper doesn't push, his sigh crackling from the other side of the phone. "Alright, well.. I'll let you go now. Let me know if you need anything, okay?"

"..Okay. Yeah. I'll- ..I'll talk to you here in a bit. Bye."

"Bye.." Jasper stares down at his phone, a frown on his face. Something is definitely wrong. But if Rhys isn't telling him, he most likely won't for a while. He's always known Rhys to be stubborn, especially with his feelings. His gaze lingers on his contact for a few extra seconds before turning his phone into his palm and clicking the power button, tossing it to the side.

Chapter Four :

The smell of coffee fills the boys’ senses as they walk into the cafe, Rhys’s shoulders already relaxing again. Milo takes notice, smiling, feeling proud that he was the reason he could relax.

"Would you like something? I’ll buy." He asks, almost too eager. Neither of them had reached their seat yet, and he’s already asking about buying. Milo has always been like this, and Rhys knows exactly why. Milo isn’t exactly..discreet about it either.

"I can buy, Milo. I’ve told you this." Rhys finally sinks down into the cushion of the chair, grabbing the paper menu and never looking up.

"Well- I know. You just never let me. And I have an employee discount, so I can-"

"Milo." His voice cuts through Milo’s easily, rough and direct. It almost spooks the boy. He shakes his head with a sigh, the energy between the two now uncomfortable and draining. "Listen, I know you’re just trying to be nice. I don’t mean to sound rude, I just don’t want you constantly asking questions you already know the answer to."

Milo freezes, completely still for a brief moment before eventually nodding slowly and shrinking into the seat beside him, in front of Rhys. "Right. You’re right. I,” He pauses, finding the words. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t keep asking. I’m just..so excited to see you sometimes. I don’t know what to say."

Rhys sits there for a moment, they both do in complete, awkward silence. "I get it." He finally speaks up, looking into Milo’s eyes to make sure his point is getting across. "Really, I do." It’s not working. Not quite.

"I know you do, Rhys.."

"Look, um..here, I’ll- I’ll let you buy me something this one time. Anything you like-"

"Rhys, it..it’s okay, really. You don’t have to-"

"No, no no no, I mean it, seriously."

The space between them feels vast, and a mile wide. This situation isn’t getting any better at all. But Milo nods, still disappointed, and stands up. "Alright." He slowly moves to the counter, ordering a chocolate éclair and coming back. Rhys looks up at him, noticing he bought only one. "..You’re not going to eat?" Milo just shakes his head and sits down again.

Rhys looks up at him, concerned now. He knows he’s hurt him and he doesn’t like it. And for a moment, he just sits there, unsure of what to do. He doesn’t want him to starve for crying out loud! So he grabs a napkin from the dispenser, lays it out in front of Milo, and cuts the éclair in half, putting one on the napkin. "Here. I don’t..want you to feel left out in this, okay? Eat with me."

His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but he smiles nonetheless. "Thank you.." He says, words drawn out and tired, but no less appreciative. The time passes quickly as they begin to feel a little more comfortable again. They both stand to leave, stopping by the door. Rhys speaks up.

"Hey, let me make it up to you. My competition is next week, you should come watch." He watches as Milo’s eyes begin to sparkle, even just the faintest glimmer.

"I..think I'd like that." But the color fades as he realizes. "No..nonono, ughh!!"

"What, what is it?"

"I can't come. I- ..I’m sorry, I have work. I can't call off, my schedules’ already made. I would, god, I really would.."

"Milo, it’s okay." Rhys starts, and it’s almost like he doesn’t even care until he continues. "It’s gonna be recorded. So you can watch it whenever. And it’s live, so you might be able to have it on the tv here?"

Chapter Three :

The cool air whips around Jasper and Rhys as they step outside. Rhys sighs, closing his eyes, but he can feel Jasper's gaze linger on him.

"See something you like, Jas?" He questions, lip quirking up as he waits for his response, eyes still closed.

"How couldn't I?" He turns to face the white haired boy, fingers twitching at his side as he shrugs his coat on. He finally gives in and lets his hand come up to tug a strand of hair behind Rhys’s ear. He opens his eyes, but he doesn't speak. Just silently acknowledges the movement.

"So. Where to, Rhys?"

He looks up, but not at Jasper, seeing the door to the cafe in front of the studio open. His eyes follow the movement, noticing someone familiar leave. Before he can respond, the boy from the cafe quickly crosses the street, calling out to him.

"Hey Rhys!" He smiles, but the way he briefly glances at Jasper with that slight annoyance in his eyes and then back to him speaks volumes. "Jasper.."

"Hello to you too, Milo." Jasper crosses his arms before eyeing Rhys again.

"I'm on break right now. You?" Milo’s voice carries in the wind, soft enough that you can barely hear it.

"Yeah." Rhys responds, but not as eagerly as Milo likes. He doesn't mind it though. They're not exactly..friends. They just know each other well. "We were gonna eat lunch."

"Oh! Would..um.." He looks at Jasper, who just shakes his head, already knowing the question before Milo can say it.

"I'll be on my way then." He looks to Rhys. "Hey, uh, text me when you get back later, okay? I'm just gonna head on home."

"..Right. Okay, yeah, I will."

"So..would you like to grab lunch with me?" Milo starts again, but Rhys is still watching Jasper walk away.

"Sure,” He looks back to Milo with a small smile. He wants to try to look friendly at least. "How's your mom? She doing alright?"

Just as the music ends, his knees buckle, but Jasper, his partner, catches him. Doesn’t let him fall too far. It's a practice they've been rehearsing for three weeks now, and will be for another one and a half.

“You alright?” He asks, briefly letting Rhys go but when he nods and still wobbles, he places his hand on his shoulder to keep him steady. “You’re pushing yourself too hard again.”

“I’m alright, Jas. Just been working hard these past few days.”

“Yeah, overworking.”

“Jasper.” Rhys whines, but Jasper doesn’t smile this time. He always smiles.

“Rhys.” He counters, his voice reproachful. “Take a break.” Rhys rolls his eyes but carefully nods in choice of words. Jasper lets his hand slip from his shoulder before stepping back to create space.

“Alright.” He moves to sit down, but before he gets the chance, Jasper speaks up again.

“Help me stretch?”

“Thought you said not to push myself..?”

“Yes, I did. But you'll be pushing me.” He says, matter of factly, like his usual self. Rhys is glad to hear it.

“I see, I see.” He moves back to Jasper, who sits in the floor with his legs drawn out in front of him, his hands below the bend of his knees. As Rhys pushes him further down, Jasper grunts as his hands slide further down his legs and closer to his ankles.

A few minutes later, Jasper shrugs Rhys’s hands off of his back carefully. He quickly drops his hands and switches their positions to rest on his hips. “Giving up so soon?”

Jasper snickers, leaning back on his palms to stare up at Rhys, his green eyes crinkling at the corners as he smirks up at him. “Right.” He mocks, voice drawling as he grabs the bar and pulls himself up. “We're going to lunch.”

“You can eat after that?”

“You couldn't?” He says, quick witted. Rhys just sighs and nudges his shoulder to follow by his side.

Sweat dripped off his chin. Music pounding, echoing through the room. It's stressful, one might say. But to him, this isn't anything at all. The rhythmic tapping of everyone's feet against the cold tile synchronized with his just enlightened him. Made him work harder. Dance freer. Rhys had always been this way. Expressive, dedicated.. he was so many things.

The music was loud in his ears, but it's quiet for everyone else. It always played louder to him. He made it clear to himself and to all of the other dancers that he remained dedicated to his work. And if he fell, he would get back up and continue the dance like nothing ever happened.

I don't know how much interaction this gets, but I just want somewhere to post my story where people are going to see it, and I don't do whatsapp or wattpad.

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Hi! My name is Ellis, I also go by Elias. I go by any pronouns, but typically prefer he/him or they/them. I am 18 and a Hellenic (Greek) Pagan, and a witch. I am also polytheistic, meaning I believe in any and all gods, but I personally only worship the Greek gods. I will not judge you for your beliefs and religions unless they are disrespectful and promote harm upon me or my communities.

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Memories in Motion is a story about a dancer who loses his memory and has help from his ex-lover and one-sided friend to assist him in recovering. It has six characters, but only five are more apparent in the story.

I will be doing regular updates for the first few weeks, but once what I have is completely updated, the updates may be inconsistent to a point because I have underlying health issues that will keep me from working on Memories in Motion. But this story is way too important to me to completely drop.

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