Luminescent, the falling light of the moon cast an eerie glow over all left uncovered. Trees took on the iridescent glow, leaves shivering in the breeze that tore through their limbs. Light playing off the water so far below the cliff's edge, everything looked harsher, yet softer all the same. While the moon's glow seemed to show everything for what it was, emanation hitting each jagged edge of the broken cliff side, illuminating each wave as it crashed against the hard wall of rock, it seemed almost delicate. Almost as if falling wouldn't hurt, wouldn't kill any dreaded soul that happened to take a tumble, but rather that the light would envelop them, that each wave would just wrap them in a soft blanket of darkness, and they'd peacefully float off into oblivion.

A poetic way to die.

No sound could be heard above the crashing waves below, reverberating off the trees that scattered the cliff's line, the rustle of leaves and uncut grass waving lazily in the breeze. A light fog drifting through, any movement, apart from the shadows thrown haphazardly by the moon's spectral glow, was dampened, hidden. One didn't have to be seen should they not wish it, their very presence remaining unknown to the eye. Not that they cared if they were seen, but it was always nice to have that air of mystery, the ability to be hidden should they wish it.

Stepping from within the tree line, form staying close to the rough bark of the tree behind her, Chrystal's eyes scanned for her sisters, her coven. Frame standing at no taller than five-foot-six, she was easily concealed by the thick fog, the shadows the trees cast hiding her own easily.

They'd always met here, centuries of history housed within the stretches of the land, the water line hundreds of feet below. Something about a cliff's edge, the beauty of what could easily become impending death added to the sacred air of the place. While she'd never really thought it a big deal, it wasn't her place to comment, so she'd always held her comments within her burdened mind.

It was finally time.

Time for her to meet the rest of the members of the coven.

A mixture of nervous excitement flitted within her, a sort of jitter inhabiting her body as she stood there, arms clasping hold of herself to contain it. Meeting sisters meant she'd have a family to call her own. Granted, it wouldn't be a family by normal standards, but it'd be more than she'd ever had prior to this moment.

Living as a loner for most of her life, it hadn't been by choice, but by necessity. As it was hard to explain away the happenings that surrounded her growing up, she ran away. Better to be alone than to hurt those I care for, she'd always reasoned.

A solitary life with no risk.

Alone from the age of ten, she'd taught herself to hone her skill, her craft. It was a long process, arduous, riddled with errors, but she'd prevailed. Slowly taking a hold on her appearance, what was once a bright-eyed, chubby cheeked, curly-haired brunette, had shifted. No longer did curly locks of the darkest brunette lay claim to her features but instead a resplendent blonde, almost white, now resided. Her once green eyes, full of life and the envy of those who lay their sights upon them, now held the lightest blue, icy in illusion. Even her skin, once sun-kissed and warm, appeared ethereal, alabaster tones.

While Chrystal wasn't sure when all these changes had taken place, most who saw her would chalk it up to puberty, assuming such changes happened as she matured. It was far more...Far more than anyone on the outside would know, would want to know. Using her craft as much as she did, becoming one with her power, it was changing her. Her form was becoming so accustom to the cool, the ice, that the changes were inevitable. She was cooler to the touch, skin smooth...somehow soft yet oddly firm.

The small flickering of a fire appeared a few feet in front of her, small in stature, sprung up in the midst of the cool light. Hood concealing her own looks, she kept her head lowered, eyes watching the display from her perch against the trunk. Flame growing before her eyes, the vibrant red hair of her sister was illuminated, along with her warm skin, her golden eyes. A small smile pulling at her own lips, Chrystal made her way toward her, watching in her usual awe, of the control she had over her flame. Dancing on the tip of her finger, the flame jumped, swaying in the breeze, but didn't flicker out. Not once did the heavy winds coming off the sea snuff out its life.

With a small grin, she pursed her lips, blowing softly at her finger, icy crystals dancing in the air as they wrapped around her sister's finger, choking the life out of the flame until it finally subsided. A light, melodic laugh was loosed, her hood dropping back as a mirth flashed behind her eyes. "It's good to see you, Annelise," came her warm greeting, arms enveloping Annelise in a hug. Arms embracing her, Chrystal felt the usual goosebumps taking hold of her skin, a shiver wracking through her body at the proximity of their bodies. Something about fire and ice together always held such a reaction, from both parties, evoking knowing smiles betwixt the two. Pulling back, her eyes scanned around them, trying to see through the fog. "Where are the rest?"

A small shrug and half-grin later, and Annelise was staring her down, eyes lit from within in a sort of dangerous mischief. "They're here. They're always here." This brought a slight perplexed frown to Chrystal's face, wondering how she could have missed them, but she didn't voice it. "There's been a slight snag..."

Brow furrowing, her eyes turned suspicious. "What do you mean, a snag?" Her tone, turning just as icy as her gaze had, her body went rigid, preparing for the worst.

"Oh relax," Annelise retorted, brushing off her reaction with a flippant wave of her hand. "It's nothing like that. Just some minor details have been shifted is all." Chrys could feel her body relaxing a bit as she heard the words, but something lingered in the back of her mind, urging her to stay alert. "Something simple really. The coven would prefer to stay anonymous...That is, until you've completed your task."

"Task?" she repeated, not understanding. "I've done all they've asked. I've proven my power, proven what I'm capable of. I've passed every test you've ever given me...What else haven't I done?"

"Such a tone...doesn't bode well with us." Something about Annelise was changing, becoming more official, fuller sounding...As if she weren't the only one talking. But just like that, it was gone, and she was back, back to her usual alto, tone light. "That being said, we understand your confusion and welcome it. It's not that you've not done enough, but this final task solidifies your place among us. It's essential to your survival within our coven. Without it, you can never be."

One final task... Chrystal thought to herself fervently. Just one...and I'll have a family....I'll do anything...

"It's simple enough," she continued, eyeing her, gauging her reactions to each piece she said. "You must first find a man, pure in heart and in mind, willing to do anything. You'll know him when you see him, one of the rare few that still survive within this world of, a world that says you can have it all, a world of carnal urges, a world of needs.”

Pausing for almost dramatic effect, Annelise's eyes left Chrystal for the first time since the exchange began, turning to lock with each unseen member. Chrystal's gaze shifted as well, trying to sift through the fog, to see who she was at the mercy of, to see those that did this task before her. To see if it were worth it.

"Seduce him; Once you’ve done so, thoroughly besotted, you must return him here. As the sacrifice, he will remain here for three days, being primped and preened for the final event. As the moon is in its apex, you must stop his heart, feel the dark side's pull in this act, and return from it unscathed. Take his life force into yourself, feel it fill you, feel it drain him.” A light shrug was given as though this was the norm for her, to speak of such acts in casual fashion. “The rest is arbitrary."

Feeling the gaze of a few others boring into her, she tried to process the news as calmly as she could. Sacrifices she'd done, though never of the human variety. A bird here, a frog there...It'd always seemed essential to gain connection for the more draining rituals they'd asked of her. But this? She wasn't sure if she could handle it. To take someone so innocent, so pure, and use them for this? Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, eyes flicking to the ground as her hands played nervously, clasping and unclasping, under her cloak. So loud was her heartbeat, she almost missed the pointed throat-clearing directed at her.

"Do you understand the task set to you?"

Eyes raising to lock with Annelise's, she nodded, lips set in a thin line, all humor her face had once held, fallen away a mere memory.

"Are you able to complete this task? Able to become a member of our coven?"

The pause was a weighted one, one that seemed to drag on as her mind tossed around her options. Inner war was waging, her heart torn, her mind conflicted, until one thought rang through amidst the chaos, so clear and true. I can't say no, not after all that I've done to get here, to this moment...I can do this. I can do anything for my family... Slow to nod this time around, the motion was just as drawn out as her thoughts had been, the weight of the world sitting on her shoulders.

"You've a year t-“

“A year?!” Chrystal repeated, in a harsh whisper. I have to continue this charade for the entirety of a year? As if this wasn’t cruel enough…

“-To find him, seduce him, bring him here and complete the ritual,” came Annelise's rather matter-of-fact tone of voice, continuing on as if the interruption hadn’t happened. "I'll be keeping tabs on your progress. Don't disappoint us."

And just like that, she was gone.

In the blink of an eye, Annelise was gone. The fog had vanished. She was alone with nothing but the beating of her heart and the light of the moon to keep her company as she tried to strengthen her resolve.

I can do this...This is what I want...


Stalling: her new favorite pastime.

The weight of the task set to her was like a stifling blanket, cutting out all remainder of the world she lived in and instead the world she wanted to be a part of. How long had she been alone? How long had she been forced to figure this out on her own? And now, with the chance to gain a family, a coven, she was stilled in her efforts to complete it?

This is what you want, so stop being a ****ing about it, she scolded herself for the millionth time in the mirror, trying to come up with a reason not to leave the house. Every excuse had been used for weeks now.

“I’ve enough food to avoid grocery shopping,” she’d said one day. “I’m too tired to go out and see people,” another. “I’ve already got enough books here to read without stopping off at a book store.”
“I’m one with nature, and don’t need the walk through the park today.”
“I’m sick.”

You need this family as much as they need you! So just do it! You can’t hide out from the world forever, came yet another thought, one filled with annoyance at her lack of ability to get over her own distaste, her own unwillingness. This has been the goal for years…one more year isn’t going to hurt, and what’s one life in the balance? People die every day. Why should this one matter more than you? You’ve paid your dues. Her eyes hardened in the reflection, a spark lighting up behind their depths. It’s time for him to pay his.

A quick glance at the calendar on her phone (still ignoring the texts from Annelise for all she was worth) told her three weeks had passed. Three valuable weeks. She didn’t know when she’d find this person, or where, or how long it’d take to get him to be as pliable as she needed, how much work would be involved. Sitting at home wouldn’t find him, not unless she somehow thought the innocent put up Craigslist ads for her to scour, like every other predator out there.

No, not a predator, she reminded her. A lost soul, a lost sister, searching for the piece of the puzzle she’s missing.

It was only early evening, nothing terribly too late in the day. People were commuting home, going off to dinner, milling about as the late hour had not yet set in. Only then would those she’d often overlooked disappear into their homes, where any sane person would move to, when the darkness set in.

That was one of the reasons she liked the darkness, the late hours so much: the quiet, the peace, the lack of people to run into and potentially hurt. Sure, the years with the sisters had been good, and her control was far better; Damn near perfect. But, everyone always has that off day…it just happened that her off days were harder to explain away when other people were involved.

Being alone didn’t allow for her to find what she needed, who she needed, so that was going to be a sacrifice on her part.

Such a terrible sacrifice… she could almost hear Annelise commenting wryly, causing her to shake her head and exhale deeply, a hand pinching the bridge of her nose. It’s like a band-aid; You just have to rip it off.

Nodding to herself, with a few more affirmations, Chrys slid her arms into her coat, slower than she’d normally have done but the task was accomplished just the same. Feet slipping into shoes, and her purse grabbed, she paused at the door, hand halted on the knob. Frosty crystals began to form across the smooth, chrome surface, spreading across its length and onto the edges of her door, her mind too far away to notice.

It has to be done… was her final thought on it, yanking the door open before she lost the confidence to, closing it hard behind her and practically running out of the building, her steps harried. Despite how fast her body moved, however, her mind was far slower, lacking the gusto her footfalls held, instead of a low, resigned alto.

Day one of the search…Let’s get this over with.

_________________

“Some people are just born nice.”

That was how Elijah's mother often described the sweet boy that was her son. A heart of gold and always interested in helping others, he was the perfect child. Sometimes his mother would joke about that fact when they would sit together on the couch and watch a movie. He was her whole world and she his, since his father left before Elijah was even born. The two of the struggled to make ends meet, his mother working as much as she could without killing herself and little Elijah doing his best to not be a bothersome child.

When he was old enough he collected the cans and bottles on the street on the way to school to turn in for his own lunch money. The money that his mother gave him to buy lunch he would save to use on those few occasions when they just did not have enough for groceries. The smile on her face at those moments was enough to make the young boy know that even with their lives being hard, it was better than most because they had one another.

Then she died.

It hurt Elijah more than words could ever say, to lose the one person in his life that meant the most to him. For a long time he did not speak, lost to the world around him as he internalized his pain. Without a living relative to be found he was placed into Foster care where the nice people there did their best to bring the young boy out of his shell. But with several other children to care for, those that demanded their attention more. It was a silent and sad year for Elijah, until his grandmother was discovered and he was sent to live with her instead.

The kind older woman explained about the falling out she and his mother suffered over his father. Young love and hot tempers left the two of them at odds with pride and shame walls between the two. A bond formed over time and Elijah found his voice once more, together they shared in the memories of his mother and he found an outlet in the desire to help others. Volunteer work became a focal point of his life, that continued through his life. With the help of a life insurance policy his grandmother had on his mother, he was able to attend college where he got a degree in computer engineering.

Life now for him was as simple as it could get. A modest apartment, basic nine to five job and sunday night dinners with his grandmother. On most nights he was either on the computer working, or out on the streets helping those who were on a streak of bad luck. Which is what he was at this evening, on the streets helping those in need.

The strap of the duffle bag cut into his shoulder, weighted down with the blankets and food that he planned to hand out this night. The hood of his jacket was up to brace against the chill of the night air, breath a misty reminder of the temperature that continued to drop as the evening wore on.

“Here you go, Frank” he spoke to one of the regulars. “A thermal space blanket, thermist with some hot soup and a sandwich. Try to find a place that is safe and warm tonight, ok?”

“Thanks, E. I'll try, I promise,” the older gentlemen said as he held the items as if they were gold.

“That's all that I ask. I'll try and be out and again tomorrow night, ok? You have my pager number, right?”

“Um...yeah...I think....”
With only a smirk he reached into his pocket and took out one of his business cards as well as a handful of change, “Here. Page me your location tomorrow and I will swing by to check on you.”

“Alright, E. Thanks again!”

“Have a good night, Frank” he waved and was on his way to continue handing out the items in his bag. At the moment his goal was an overpass he knew held a small tent city. There were whole family under there and he wanted to make sure that the kids had enough food and blankets for the coming cold nights.

_________________

This isn’t so bad, she thought to herself while meandering through the streets in as casual a manner as she could muster. Phone in her pocket, just so that she’d know when she got a text (even if she’d subsequently ignore it), Chrys turned into an unassuming coffee shop. The usual suspects were present, sipping away at their skimmed mocha macchiatos with an extra shot of espresso while reading their laptops, posting on their boards to discuss how terrible life had become; Reflections in their horn-rimmed glasses revealing the facts as plain as day. Hipsters, the lot of them, down to the beanies on their heads, their headphones, flannel shirts and Ked shoes, tuning out the world with their indie music that they’d not yet realized had become mainstream. Music they’d reject the moment it hit them that it was mainstream.

Mainstream like Hipsters were, anyway. But, shhhh…that was the secret. They were so hipster, they were mainstream, too, and that would just crush their hearts.

Sitting at a table by herself for a while, she sipped her iced coffee in silence, appearing to stare out the window for some sign, some glimmer of hope that there was something out there worth watching, someone out there worth watching. In reality, she was using her peripheral for someone inside. Someone worth her time. Someone worth her sacrifice.

She left disappointed.

Coffee paid for, coat once again pulled about her shoulders and bag slung over her shoulder, she headed out into the cold once more. Where she was going to, she was uncertain. Where did an innocent hang out in a world full of wants and temptations? Where was there such a place that existed? Did such a person exist?

Or…was this a task the coven knew she couldn’t complete, thus barring her from ever truly joining them? That thought hadn’t hit her until just then, a cold gust of wind wrapping about her, arms drawing her coat tightly around her as she braced against it, standing stark still as she embraced the cold, her element, her life. That gust blew through her, and instantly she felt at peace, eyes drifting closed as the night’s embrace, its calming, serene, frozen quiet settled in.

But, just as quickly as it’d come, it ceased. A sigh of longing, with a touch of relief, tumbled free of her lips as she lifted her icy gaze toward the darkening sky, a light smile on her lips, offered to gods of nature who’d offered her the comfort. Without it, she’d likely have given up for the night and gone home. The night is young yet, the breeze seemingly whispered amongst its whispered breaths. Just have patience.

Patience was a slow-dying virtue of hers, one she was close to forsaking as the days wore on. Those years spent working toward something that continued to be unattainable were wearing that hold on patience thinner and thinner, until it remained hanging by a thread. A fragile thread that, even the gusts that offered such comfort to her, such silent, welcomed comfort…could easily break should it blow too hard. Just have patience…

So, the new mantra in mind, she kept on, this time stopping into a bookstore to look over those she’d find there. While they, too, were the usual suspects, the ones that were either checking out the people rather than the literature—like she, too, was doing at that moment—or those that were so tuned out of the world, they missed what was directly in front of them, she held out hope. Even those that sought out a book store regular had higher tastes than those who sought out conquests in a local dive bar at one o’clock in the morning. A bookstore would likely have an innocent, in comparison to the alternatives in the area.

Another hour spent, part of it spent on the purchase of a new book, while the other part was spent pretending to read it while scoping out those huddled behind their own hard covers, and stacks of books, cramming for their winter finals, before she left. At least this one wasn’t as lackluster as the other, Chrystal told herself, book tucked into her bag as she left, another cool breeze welcomed with open arms.

This time, rather than fight the breeze, the cold that seemed to continue pushing her further than her usual haunts, she let it guide her. Where it was guiding her, she was uncertain, not trusting the elemental gods to take her where she needed to go; It’d never been necessary, able to find what she needed on her own, and where it was located.

This time, she was flying blind.

A glance about her surroundings as her feet moved of their own volition, the breeze at her back a comforting constant presence, she continued to move toward a more remote area. It was an area she often overlooked, if only for the tent villages she felt intrusive on. She knew of some of the coven, stories recounted by Annelise, that they often moved to the tent cities to practice. No one would believe what a homeless man said, as most assumed that money given to them went to booze or drugs, not the food they actually needed. So, who better to practice their craft on than those who wouldn’t believe what they saw? What they heard?

Glass broke beneath her foot, causing her heart to jump, as well as her body, hastily off to the side from where the shattered remains of a beer bottle remained. Hand clutching at her heart, it took her a moment to calm down, staring down at the remnants glittering in the rising moon’s cold light. A shake of her head, and she pressed on, moving down the alley toward the overpass: home of broken down cars, shopping carts, and cardboard box/tarp hybrid homes that was often overlooked. Trash was tossed from speeding vehicles above, littering the ragged earth it fell on, the earth those there called home, taking what they could to further their home’s ability to keep out the cold and burning the rest.

Out of place, she felt among those who’d lost it all, those who couldn’t find a way out of this hell, as she saw it. But, she was one girl, one girl with her own problems. Yes, she had money, but what good would it do? It wouldn’t be enough to remove every person from their cold boxes and into a new life. It’d never be enough, not with the meager salary she had at her already mostly ignored job.

Another movement caught her attention, causing her to jump again as a man seemingly appeared from nowhere, having been hidden beneath his newspaper bedding, eyes wide and questioning, staring her down as though waiting for something. A donation to his cup, a harsh word. She offered nothing, moving on faster just trying to navigate her way out of wherever she’d wandered into, the wind’s beckoning keeping her moving forward rather than back, though the reason for her wanderings far from obvious.

Why here? she wondered, glancing up at the stars for guidance, frowning in her own dislike, discomfort, upset. More shuffling, piles of dead leaves disturbed by whomever it was milling about, had her moving onward once more, focusing on getting to the other side of the overpass, back to the clarity of the night’s sky, hoping for more of a concrete sign.

...And perhaps a way back home after this excursion was said and done, as she’d wandered further than she’d realized, until that moment, her surroundings and the skyline different than anything she saw from her abode. Settling in on a bench, just outside the far side of the overpass, slouching against the cool wood as an arm rested along the steal rail, she contemplated her next move, the next direction she’d set to, as she’d misjudged the wind’s intent entirely by the looks of things.

Next time…stick to where you know; Nothing out here but those more lost than you are, and that’s even less helpful than holing up in your apartment, she admonished herself with an outward sigh, chin in hand, waiting for some sort of plan to form.

_________________

The cold bit at his exposed face and Elijah made a mental note to try and remember his scarf and gloves next time. Often he was so wrapped up in others that he himself was overlooked. So, even with the mental note there was no guarantee that it would be implemented. A sudden gust of cold wind froze him in his tracks and stole his breath away for a moment.

“I might also want to invest in an actual coat for myself....” he muttered into the night, the strap on his shoulder adjusted one more as he continued his trek to the overpass. Even before he had fully arrived he could smell burnt wood, plastic, basically anything that they could burn in order to stay warm. There were a few of them who were drinking and being loud with one another about a particular sleeping spot. Those were not the ones that he helped, though he wished that he could help them all, there were some that would not use his help for what it was intended and that would limit those whom he could actually help.

It was with heavy heart that he made this decision but there was not much that he could do. If those would not help themselves, there was only so much that he could do for them. The gravel and broken glass crunched beneath his boots as he headed to the larger tents. These were the ones that needed the most help, families who had lost everything and were now on the streets trying to survive. Perhaps, it was because of the fact that he and his own mother had nearly ended up in the same place that he felt such a strong connection?

A less than understanding landlord and Elijah could have ended up like these children. Cold, hungry and scared, unsure of where the next meal will come.

The snap, crack and pop of the fire as it burned in the barrel threw up small embers to the night sky. Smell of smoke now thicker in the air and Elijah wondered how those who crowed around it could stand the sting of the smoke in their eyes, then the cold wind picked up once more and he knew.

“Elijah!” came the small outcry of a child who left the warmth of the barrel to collide with his legs.

“Hey there, Tony!” he knelt down and scoped the small child up into his arms and carried him back to the warmth of the fire.

“Hello, Elijah,” the tired though kind voice of Tony's mother spoke forth, as her arms held out to take back her child.

A slight shake of his head and he just adjusted his hold on the child instead, “Hello, Mrs. Lockermen, Mr. Lockerman.” With some care he extended his hand to the husband, who grasped it in a firm shake. “Where is Emily? I have gifts for the children,” Elijah asked while he looked about the fire for signs of the older girl child.

“She is not feeling too good today and is laying down in the....house...” the woman replied with a soft and embarrassed tone. “Please call us Mary and Anthony,” she said with a bit more of a playful tone.

“Sorry, habits and such of my upbringing,” Elijah responded with a smile before he first set Tony and then his bag on the ground. “Ok, Tony...” he remarked while he dug through the bag. “I need someone who is really strong and smart to help me with something, do you know of anyone like that?”

“Me! Me! ME! I am strong and smart!” the eager voice of the child rung out through the cold night air.

“Then, this is perfect. I need you to take these into your house, ok?” he handed him two of the blankets, sealed and wrapped in tiny packages, plus a thermist of hot chicken soup. “Take these to your sister and make sure she drink two cups from this before you come back out to get the rest of the stuff, ok?”

“That's easy!” the items where gathered up in the little boy's arms and he rushed off to do as he was told.

“Now that little ears are gone,” he stated before he stood and looked back to the parents. “How are things? Did you hear about any job offers?”

Anthony sighed and nodded, “There is one, but there is no way for me to be able to go to it and leave them....” he looked about the area. “Here. Someone tried to attack Emily last night when I had gone for the interview,” the anger and pain in his voice caused Elijah own heart to ache and his blood to boil. “Without a man here to protect them, some think they are fair game. I know I can get the job, but how can I leave them out here?”

This was a common issue with the families that were forced onto the streets and not just from other street residents either. There were those that thought it fun to take advantage of those less fortunate than themselves.

“Alright. This is what we are going to do,” Elijah began as he went into his wallet and took out some cash. “You guys are going to use this to get a hotel room for a couple days, then you are going to give this shelter a call,” money and business card handed over to the very shocked faces. “I did a job for them last month free of charge, but they said they would owe me a favor. I never thought to ever use it, but you guys need a place to stay until you can get a place of your own. So, call them and tell them that you are a friend of Elijah Maddox. Ask them if they can get you and your family into the shelter and help you find a place as a favor to me. Explain how you have a job lined up and just need that little bit more help until you can get back on your feet. Take my card too and let me know if I can do anything for you. I could take the kids for the afternoon or something so that the two of you can do what you need to get a place. Tomorrow use the phone at the hotel to call me and let me know what you want to eat, I'll do a bit of grocery shopping for you guys. My number is on this card,” another card handed over to them with his information on it.

“Elijah...I...we....” the husband was at a lost for words and his wife faired no better. As is stood she was already a mess of tears at the kindness that Elijah showed them. “I don't know when I could pay you back...”

“Don't worry about it,” before he could say more, as Tony came back a big grin on his face.

“I got her to drink three cups!”

“Very good, Tony. Now for your surprise,” again he knelt down to his bag and took out the airplane he had brought. “Here you go, now just make sure you don't get too far from your mother while you play with it and share with the other kids, ok?”

“This is for me? Really?”

“Yep. Really,” he said and watched as the look of complete joy took over the child's face. The hug that was practically thrown at him was strong as the child poured all of his strength into his little body to give Elijah the biggest hug that he could manage. That done he ran back to their “house” to show Emily.

“While at the shelter, you guys should all see a counselor. Trust me, sometimes it helps to talk,” he held his hand out for farewell shakes, only to have it turn instead into hugs and tearful thanks.

When he was finally able to move on he felt good knowing that at least for tonight there would be one less family on the streets. After that it was fairly simple to hand out what was left in his bag and then start the trip home, which now seemed longer than the trip out there.

“Still have that program to work on too for tomorrow,” he said with a yawn to himself and shuffled his way home.

_________________

“Elijah!”

The outcry of an excited child startled her out of her contemplation, heart hammering a mile a minute as flurried breaths escaped her lips and faded into the night’s cool embrace. Chest heaving, eyes wide, she took a moment to calm herself down, remembering exactly why she didn’t go out alone to areas such as these; Child’s cry or not, you never knew what’d happen in places like these. Those who dwelled were desperate, with nothing to lose, leaving them only to gain from their half-planned schemes against those who made their way into their “homes”, their “cities”.

Her perception of them, anyway, a perception born of C.S.I. and Law & Order: SVU marathons.

Another voice rang out, this one deeper, just as happy to see the first voice as the former had been to see him, from the sound of things. Curiosity began to pique as she got up from her bench, and continued to listen, almost unsure of whether or not she should move closer to find the sorce of it, or remain where she was.

More words drifted along the wind to her, words that didn’t sound angry, nor threatening. If anything…they were sweet, kind, especially around the child. Taking a few cautious steps toward the voices, her hands gripped the cool cement of the overpass’s corner, peering about its edge with bright eyes, wanting to find the source of the sound, the source of the contradiction that she heard after what she’d first experienced on her pass through. Blue hues falling on a figure by the fire’s light, a figure that had to have shown up after she’d run through, eager to escape the awkwardness that’d encased her.

The view was obscured, partially by some of the dwellings behind them, partly due to the figures he spoke to, so she focused on the words themselves. And, even if she missed a word here or there, due to sounds from the cars above or others in the lot, what she saw was more than enough to prove he was exactly what she was looking for…regrettably.

It was like…what comfort she’d gotten from the cold wind was gone. It’d led her exactly to what she’d needed to find, to whom she needed to find...and all the breath rushed from her lungs in a flurry of regret. He volunteered at a shelter that owed him favors, he gave money to those that needed it more than he, offered to babysit, grocery shop…

…He’s perfect…

And, when she got a clear shot of him, her heart dropped. …And good looking, too…because, why wouldn’t Mr. Perfect be good looking, too…His life’s likely been so easy, that this little giving back is how he sleeps at night… Chrys tried to justify to herself with a gusto that didn’t fit how she felt. Even as she thought it, the words held no weight, none of the anger she tried to muster toward this man, this… Elijah Maddox… The name was filed away, as she ducked back behind the wall, allowing them their final goodbyes.

Now…how did she come across him? He’d looked tired in the last glimpse she’d caught…should she wait? Should she stalk him? No, “stalk” is an ugly word, came an annoyed thought. “Follow for better understanding”…“Shadow to make sure he makes it home in one piece”…anything but stalk.

Then another thought squeezed its way in, reminding her of her own predicament. …Can’t figure out where you are without his help… she thought with a begrudging annoyance. But how to do this without seeming like it was intentional…or that I was stalking him specifically…?

An idea. Darting over the overpass, clambering over the edge of it, rushing across the slowly dwindling traffic, and down the other side, she slowed, quieting her steps and letting out a breath to make sure she didn’t sound like she ran a marathon. Then, hastening forward, she called out, hoping to catch his attention, a concerned look on her face; A look that was partially exaggerated…partially real, if only because she couldn’t figure out where she was and where she’d turned to get home.

“…Um…Hello?” Chrystal called out, trying to half-jog toward him to close the gap, but still remaining hesitant, coat drawn tightly about her in a "protective" sort of layering, as most who were cold and guarded would have done.

He was a stranger, after all…decent women didn’t run up to the first stranger they saw…by an overpass…alone…to ask directions. “…Sir?”

_________________

Mind was already focused on tomorrow and what he had to do so that he did not hear her call out right away. The second time he did hear and stopped to face the person who had called out to him. Admittedly he was stunned for a couple of reasons, one being the fact that someone would just call out to him at that time of night and in that neighborhood. Second being that the person happened to be a rather attractive woman and he realized that he was not really well versed in this kind of social situation. Sure, to a room full of the homeless and needy he could lead a meeting about what changes they would like to see and what kind of programs that were available to them.

However, put him in a one on one with a woman and he kind of lost his confidence.

“Um...ye...yes?” he practically blurted out in an effort to get it all out. “Can I help you?”

The closer she got, the more attractive he became and the more her inner monologue turned begrudging. There’d been some small part of her, an insanely small part, that’d hoped that the rugged good looks were nothing more than a trick of fire’s light beneath the overpass. But, she should have known better. Hair slightly tousled, amber eyes catching the moon’s light just right, just the right amount of stubble…Had this been another situation, she may have actively pursued him.

Not stal-….Followed with intent to ask for directions…

And then he spoke…and Mister Perfect didn’t seem so perfect anymore. His blurt had her blinking, stopping short, features scrunching a bit in their hesitance, their perplexed confusion at his loud…seemingly difficult outburst. “…I’m lost…” Chrys started, glancing around her, part of her wanting to keep an eye on things while the other part was actually looking for a land marker just in case this guy turned out to be no help at all. “…Could you tell me where I am, and possibly point me in the right direction?”

Alright, this was not his normal thing, but he could do this. It was not hard to talk to people, not hard to talk to her.

“Umm....umm....”

Nope, not hard at all.

It took a moment, but he finally found a thought and the words to go along with it. “Ah, that would kind of explain why you don't look like you belong here,” he stated with a small smile. “Um...I am pretty familiar with the whole area, so um yeah I can help you. Where are you trying to get to?”

Her brow furrowed all the more as she struggled not to physically shake her head, the urge to cover her eyes to shield herself from his embarrassing lack of tact when it came to one-on-ones. Apparently he’s better at talking to people in groups…and not alone…that’s…almost endearing.

The longer that moment lasted however, her head leaning forward in anticipation of something other than “um,” she was almost read to write it off as a lost cause. But then the words began to flow a little freer with a cute sort of smile, her eyes sliding to his lips while she took in the way just that small smile lit up his features, slipping back to his eyes; It took everything she had not to groan at how much like a puppy dog he was, so she let out a small sigh instead.

“…I’m not really sure of the street name, to be honest…” came her reply, a hand rubbing the back of her neck before returning to cross with the other in front of her. “I’m more of a landmark person…but nevermind, you seem…” A pause while she thought of the right word. “…Preoccupied… I’ll…figure it out…” Stepping passed him with a small shake of her head and starting in the direction he’d headed, she glanced back with an apologetic smile. “Thanks, anyway?”

Great...so smooth, now she would rather face the streets alone.

“Wait!” voice pitched a bit too high, but for the moment he ignored that and moved to come abreast of her. “It is not really, well, safe for you to be out here alone. Not to say that you can't take care of yourself, but there is a safety in numbers,” he lowered his hood for a moment and glanced about the area then back to her. “If you can tell me what you saw, I should be able to get us there?”

Even if he had been unable to help her, he would have insisted he walked with her until she got at least closer to her home. Perhaps, he would have also hailed a cab for her, to get home safely. Who knows, she might not be able to tell him anything that helps her get home, but at least he would feel better knowing she was not alone on these streets.

Three…two…one… A mental ding went off as his voice called out for her to wait, though her steps didn’t falter. A predictable puppy dog…

“Is this area…really as bad as you make it out to be?” she asked as he offered her assistance that she didn’t outright accept. “You’ve been fine out here on your own, by the sounds of it, and are out here, alone, tonight as well…” It was merely an observation, but an observation nonetheless. “Why would it be so wrong for me to be out here alone?”

“Oh, well, I have a penis....that kind of prevents me from general harassment from people,” he said without a second thought as to how that might not have been appropriate. “And I do look like I can handle myself rather well, even if that might not be entirely true,” he laughed at himself and looked about the area a bit. “Not to mention, there is an overpass over there,” he turned to point. “Where there are some people pretty desperate for any little bit of anything. A young girl was attacked their recently, though luckily her parents were able to fight them off,” he felt like he rambled a bit as he stood there with this desire to help but not feeling comfortable on how to press the issue properly without giving the impression he was some creeper himself.

Her eyes widened only a hair when he was so blunt with her, initially. …So you’ve a penis…and can admit in in that fashion…but couldn’t come up with something more than a stammered ‘uhm’….interesting. It was odd, to say the least, but she kept her facial expression as it’d been moments before his explanation. “But, how do you know that I am, in fact, a woman?” she asked wryly, head tilting to the side a bit as she continued to walk, her pace slowing as she didn’t want to stray without his guidance. “I could be pre-op for all you know…besides, what interest is it to you whether a stranger makes it home safe or not?” The tone was inquisitive, in a light, offhand fashion; Not accusatory or suspicious as she sought to flush out how he thought, how he ticked, to gauge how he worked.

“Huh?” it took him a moment to get what she insinuated. When it did finally register, he blushed a bit to only once again rush to catch up to her. “Oh...um...no you don't look like that to me, at all. But even then, you would have to deal with the other kinds of harassment and that just does not sit well with me,” he tried to explain. “I just would feel bad if something happened to you, when it would be just a matter of me walking you home,” then after a moment. “Or at least out of this neighborhood and then a point in the right direction,” another pause, which to him just made him feel like even more the rambling fool. “Oh....my name is Elijah Maddox, so now at least we are less strange to one another?” he offered a shy and uncertain smile a hand held out to shake her own in introduction.

His confusion made her actually put a palm to her face. Dear mother of god, don’t make me expl-THANK GOD, she thought as he caught on, the blush not unnoticed. Instead, it became a prominent feature, even if slight, and it was an endearing feature that made her have to stifle a groan in the form of a throaty cough.

Then came his hand shake, and the offered smile, which left her with a dilemma. If I touch him…he could think something’s off…or he could think that I’m merely in need of more help than I spoke of, that I’ve been out for longer in the cold than he may have thought… The decision weighed on her as she eyed his hand briefly before shaking it. “Well then, Elijah Maddox,” Chrystal repeated, as though to remember the name with the face, “Can you point me in the direction of the park with the statue of that man…I think there’s a pizzeria and maybe a Chinese restaurant near it? And a lake…there’s a lake. Any of that ring a bell?”

No name given back, that threw him off just a bit. Normally people gave their name in answer back when you volunteered your own. Add to that the extra chill to her hand, which made him think that she had been lost for a while and finally decided to take a chance and ask someone.

A brief pause, his hand still held her own, as he looked about the area for a second and then smirked, “This way!” Excitement in his voice as he lead her in the direction of those landmarks, “So, Lost Girl, did you come to the city for business or pleasure?”

Another pause. He’s not well versed in this…confident discussion thing… she thought, the overtone wry, though with an inward smile. She’d have thought more on it had he not suddenly yanked her along with a child-like excitement, nor called her ‘Lost Girl’ and inquire more about her. Picking up pace to fall into step with him, she glanced down at her hand, and back up with him with a perked brow, her hand then dropped so that it could re-cross her chest with its fellow arm. However, all she did was look forward, remaining silent, not divulging any information as it wasn’t his place to know, nor her place to give it.

Wait for it… she thought to herself, the silence becoming deafening by the minute, and, if he was true to form, he’d fill it.

“Ok, so maybe a bit of both?” he offered into the silence that he was compelled to fill. “I myself am not native here. I grew up a bit further south,” he explained. “Lived with just my mom for a bit and then…,” there was a bit of a pause while he tried to not dwell on his mother. “Then I lived with my grandmother, who lives outside the city. About 30 minutes or so to the north, so I tend to go there on the weekends for dinner and to help out about the house with her,” he continued.

Steps slowed for a moment as he thought about where to go next, before they resumed their pace once again as he took a different turn. “What do you like to do in your free time?” he asked, though he had a feeling that he would not get any information from her, he still tried.

A southern gentleman, Chrys thought, looking at him through her peripheral, not willing to make full eye contact. But that pause…his mother died…she had to have…and he sees his grandmother on weekends to help her out? Dear god, could you get any more bleeding heart?! A mental kick later, and she was tuning back into the conversation, following his lead without much pause.

And, rather than answer his question, she turned it back on him. “What do you do when you’re not helping the christened ‘lost girl’ strangers of the city find their way back to a known area?”

Again, she does not answer but instead turned the question back on himself, which he was more than happy to fill. “I volunteer that various shelters, both of the human and animal kind,” he offered with a small laugh. “On most of my nights I am out here, on the streets handing out food, blankets and on the rare occasion money as well,” he answered without hesitation.

Another pause and he took another block, “So, do you have any siblings? Or are you the only lost girl?”

AREYOU SERIOUS?! she thought with exasperation, mentally throwing up her hands in annoyed disgust. What’s next?! Helping the elderly with their groceries on their way home, handing out condoms and childsupport to hapless hookers, sporting a cape and running around the city as the unofficial Batman?!

“Do you always question strangers while helping them figure out where they’re going?” she asked instead, slanting a sidelong glance at him.

“No, but most people I help at least exchange their names with me,” he said with a grin. “Because, once we exchange names, we won’t be strangers anymore, right?” he asked in an effort to prove his point before he stopped suddenly. “Alright. We are here,” he said and nodded toward the statue, then the park with a lake. “Think you can find your way home from here?”

“A rose by any other name,” she replied to that before glancing around. Lo and behold, she was back in familiar territory, nodding with a small smile. “Think I can, indeed; Thank you, Elijah, for your help,” she added taking a few steps away from him to start off on her walk home.

“You’re welcome, Lost Girl,” he called out and waved to her. “If you are in need of further direction just try to bump into me again…”

With that done, Elijah kind of just stood there for a moment before he finally just turned and headed back home once again. The glance to his watch told him he was going to have a rough time getting up for work, but he would admit the night certainly did turn out much better than he thought that it would.

“I’ll be sure to do that,” she called back to him over her shoulder, the slightest of smiles on her lips, though she didn’t look back.

Just remember…it’s not stalking. It’s following…in the shadows…He asked for it, anyway, telling me to bump into him… Chrys justified to herself. It’s completely justified…

_________________

That night Elijah showered and got ready for bed as usual, unable to not go over the night in his head. “If you are in need of further direction, just try and bump into me…” he mimicked himself while he brushed his teeth. “Really? That is what you say to a woman who is attractive and obviously out of your league and that is how you wow them for the last time? Try and bump into me….way to go Elijah….”

A spit and rinse later and he was off to bed for the night. “Try and bump into me…” he mumbled a final time before he focused on the sleep he needed for work the following day.


Beep! Beep! Beep!

A grumble, an arm tossed to the side as he practically slammed his arm down on the side table in an effort to silence his alarm. When he was finally successful, he rolled onto his back and stared up at his ceiling.

“Try and bump into me…” he shook his head and pushed up out of bed. This was something that would likely haunt him all day, as he truly did not expect to see her again. A chance he obviously ruined, one that he never thought he would get again. With how much he worked and all of the time he spent volunteering, not to mention his lack of social graces, opportunities rarely ever came up for him.

Despite his appearance.

Even with his social issues, Elijah knew he was an attractive man, at least by the normal standards. A decent diet and a regular workout routine left him with a body that most men envied and women should find appealing. At five feet, eleven inches, weighing in at 206 pounds, he was not a small guy. The whole idea to work out actually came from his grandmother, when he had spent too much time inside as a child.

“Why don’t you go out for a run? Get some fresh air and exercise?”

The running led to track, the track led to other sport like football and rugby. Which in turn led to him working out to stay in shape, it was part of his routine and it helped him to stay focus, helped him to forget at times about his mother. It was an effort to get him out more and to get him more social. Though that made him more comfortable with people in large groups, it did not really get over his own social issues when it came to one on one interaction.

Out in the livingroom he stopped at the doorway that lead to the kitchen, his arms raised to take hold of the pull up bar he had placed there. Three sets of thirty later and he was back in the shower so that he could get ready for work

Amber colored eyes greeted him as the condensation was wiped from the mirror’s surface, “Bump into me…’ he said again with a shake of his head before he set to work on trimming his facial hair and style his hair to some degree.

Dressed and with his bag on across his shoulder he headed out to work, a short walk to the bus stop and it was another day at the office for him where the zeroes and ones made the most sense.

Bump into me…

_________________

The moment she got into the door to her apartment, the door closed tightly behind her and the lock secured, she slouched against its hard, cool, surface and slid down it. “…He’s perfect…” she mumbled beneath her breath. There was no happiness in her voice, nothing that she thought she’d feel, or that she should be feeling, by the serendipitous circumstances that led her there to meet him.

If anything, she felt…nothing. Nothing but terrible, came a begrudging thought, pushing herself back up from the floor and dropping her bag onto the counter, forgoing her usual take-out routine and going straight for the shower. Water on cold, barely above the point of freezing, she stepped in, the water offering a small bit of comfort, but nothing like it used to as nothing could rinse away the intentions she held for the man she’d met. For Elijah Maddox, philanthropist, awkward speaker with a good heart. For Elijah Maddox…Innocent. Back to the water, her forehead rested against the wall while she tried to think of something to justify what she was going to do, the nefarious plot she’d been given.

“It’ll give you the family you’ve always wanted,” Chrystal assured herself, pushing off of the wall again to start washing her hair in robotic, subconscious fashion. “You’ll have someone to lean on, ten someones, twenty someones! The numbers of the coven are always growing, their connections extensive! You’ll have a true family! You’ll finally belong to something!”

But, no matter how many times she repeated that, what she’d gain, there was always the niggling feeling that it’d not be equal, worth it. What had Elijah done to deserve being a sacrifice? To be led on and killed? He’d be leaving behind a family, those lost that he helped daily? What was it that he’d done to deserve her ends?

Nothing, but you’re going to do it, anyway, because it’s what you need, came a stricter voice, something resembling Annelise, but not quite. A hybrid her mind had come up with, it’d seem, between Annelise’s alto tones and her own, the sound stricter, harsher, causing her to pause in her movements, eyes unfocused as they stared at the condensation-covered walls about her; The spray off of her hair, off of her body from the shower's head, scattering onto the walls and glass surrounding her, remaining little droplets until her body's temperature caught up to it, causing it to freeze into perfect crystalized patterns around her. Not like he has anything to fear in death. He’ll be fine. You need to cover your own ass; He’ll be fine in the end. You just do what you have to do.

Nodding to herself, affirming her own thoughts, she turned off the water and stepped out, feet leaving icy crystaled foot prints in their wake, the trail leading to her bedroom. Before getting dressed for the night, she sat on the edge of her bed, staring off into space for a good long while as she kept reiterating her justification in her head over and over.

He’ll be fine in the end…He’ll be fine in the end…He’ll be fine…

At some point, she was uncertain of when exactly, her nightgown had found its way onto her body and the covers were pulled over her, head resting on the pillow as she prepared for a long, sleepless night. Just as she felt sleep begin to take her, an incessant beeping started, eyes finding her phone lit up with a text. Lazily, a hand grabbed for it off of her nightstand, opening the text, eyes widening at what it read, Annelise. She should have expected it, braced for it, but it still shocked her nonetheless…Or maybe shock wasn’t the right word.



BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Bleary eyes, transfixed on the ceiling above her, slowly turned their dry depths toward her alarm clock, taking their sweet time to focus on the time the clock read out, the delay in which her brain registered it far more than usual.

He’s perfect… her mind repeated, mind tiredly running over the night’s progression and wondering what she’d missed, wondering where they’d been lurking to see her, to see him, to see their interaction and know she’d found the one. No one had followed her, she didn’t think. No one had made themselves known…yet they knew. They knew where she’d gone, and they knew who she met.

They had to; No one would send a text like that without cause.

Unnerved, she set to getting ready for work, a new job that Annelise had lined up for her. To help my search along, no doubt, she thought wryly as she got dressed and ready to go. It was a menial job at best, managing for the book store down the way, within walking distance so she’d have no excuse to not show up, and she could better scope out those that may serve the purpose. Granted, she’d found him now, so the job wasn’t necessary in that regard, and was now merely a means to finance her apartment and takeout habit…but she still had to go.

Damn it.

Skirt pulled on, the usual nylons already in place as was her shirt, and heels easily slipped into, the only thing left was her coat. Sliding her arms into it and buttoning it tightly out of habit more than ned, Chrys grabbed up the discarded bag from the night before, this time putting a book of her own in it, along with a pencil and notebook, before leaving for her day. Her mind was further away than her body, the walk taking her down a similar route he’d have left on to venture home, but she’d not noticed, leading her to the neighborhood she’d yet to explore.

A fact she planned to rectify after work.

Right after I get passed all the bar codes, scanning in of new books, cataloging the batches and getting the clerks to put them where they belong. Another day, living the dream, she thought with disdain, brow quirking as her hand pulled out the keys to unlock the door and begin opening shop.

Five o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.

_________________

Elijah leaned back in his seat while he read over his work before he hit save and began to shut down his computer for the day. Bag packed and headed for the elevator there was the hope that his night would be better than last night, at least to the extent of not making a fool of himself again. The bus ride home was short, or it seemed to be so and he was in his apartment and changed for his jog in no time.

A few stretches in the hall, then he ran down the steps of his apartment, all five floors where he continued out into the city.

The rhythmic steps of his sneakers on pavement soon droned out the world around him and Elijah felt his mind zone out. Thoughts about last night occasionally pushed into the forefront of his mind, but for his sake the thoughts did not last long. Instead they faded into the background, as he ran. Steps carried him through familiar grounds, toward the very park he had guided his lost girl the night before.

_________________

Come on…come on… she thought, pen tapping on the desk as she waited for the clock to finally shift to five o’clock, the “hour of freedom” as she’d come to call it.

The day had dragged on, longer than it normally did. Why? More than likely because she was constantly dwelling on Elijah…and not entirely in a manner that was wholly focused on her objective, either. Part of her mind simply continued to run over how the moonlight had hit his eyes, at how he had the perfect amount of stubble, at how muscular he looked…at how all of that made up for his complete lack of social skills.

At how the lack of social skills made him endearing…and made her feel all the guiltier, because he was so damn innocent.

…Then she thought of all that he did. He volun-fucking-teers. He is a regular Joe Schmoe with a heart of ****ing heart of gold that I’m going to stab, and rip out of his damn ****ing chest! The anger and resentment toward her sisters then was sudden, volatile, the glass on her desk shattering at the sudden drop in temperature in her office. Pieces of its broken remains tinkling into her desk, along with the water scattering over the contents of her desk before subsequently freezing caught her attention and threw her into a quick panic.

Shutting the door of her office, she picked up the glass, and pulled the unopened space heater box from beneath her desk, taking it out and turning it on to melt the water, making it easy for wiping up. Paper towels and glass in her small trash can, she decided it wasn’t good to stay the rest of the day, not with her current lack of control. She couldn’t risk it.

Hands grabbing for her coat and bag, she left with barely a word, only making brief mention of it to the associates she passed before fairly running from the establishment. Then came the brisk walk to the park while simultaneously pulling her coat on, making a beeline for her favorite bench, wanting peace. To reconnect with nature, with the mindset needed, to figure out what to do. Only once did she have to stop, because her bag fell free of her grasp and she had to double back for it, and only once did she have to slow her pace as the ground was far slicker than she'd anticipated and her heels made for a harder time gripping the pavement (or lack thereof). The one time I resent my element, she thought, glaring at the ground beneath her feet for the briefest of moments.

The plan? To get her mind clear, and, her mind was clear, figure out how to find "Mr. Perfect" again.

After that, as Annelise had said, "the rest is arbitrary."

_________________

Now in the park, the pace picked up slightly; time to get the heart rate up.

Of course now would be the time for his mind to bring back the events of last night, which reminded him of few pressing matters. One, he had not heard from the Lockermans at all today, which had him worried. They should have called, paged or something by now and after what happened to Emily he was not about to sleep on the safety of the family. After his run he would maybe take a detour to the overpass just to see if they were still there.

Then there was still the matter of his abysmal display of social skills last night. All he had to do was ask her for maybe her number or to try and arrange a date with her. Something anything to at least improve his chance to see her again, it was not like he would just round a corner and run into her ag….

Trail of thought completely halted in its tracks as he practically ran over the infamous Lost Girl when he turned a corner on the trail. Slick floor now an issue due to impact and he struggled to keep his footing while also to help the woman he had practically barreled over.

“I am so sorry…” he stammered once the struggling and flailing had ceased and both appeared to be on firmer ground.

_________________

Another slip on a patch of ice and she was actively stomping on the ground in an effort to break the ice, though she only seemed to reaffirm its hold to the earth. “Can’t a girl just ****ing walk?!” she shouted to no one in particular before loosing a sound of frustration and continuing on, yanking her bag tighter onto her shoulder in an angry motion. An “ugh” was loosed as she noted a few joggers, hoping she seemed angry enough to get them to veer off path and go in another direction while her mind continued to wander.

How many of them have completed this task? she wondered. How many have had to die for them to join the coven? Or…was this just some cruel joke that they’ve yet to cop to? Her eyes narrowed as her steps turned slightly more aggressive, her motions jerkier as she sought to keep her footing while continuing on to her bench.

Why now? came another thought, this one angrier, more vehement. I’ve done everything they asked! I’ve done everything that they wanted me to! Why do I have to do this to a man wh-

The thought cut off abruptly as her form was collided with and her footing was lost. Hands grasping at whoever it was in front of her to steady herself, her bag went flying, feet slipping in all directions, flailing in an entirely ungraceful manner as her anger—anger and that had been directed at the sisterhood she desperately wanted to be a part of—turned to whomever lacked eyes enough to see her before charging into her…

…Only to be at a loss for words.

Eyes widening as the anger drained from her face and instead was replaced with shock; Inwardly, however, she was dreading whatever awkward conversation was to be had. …Mr. Perfect…****.

The stammered apology was met with her straightening herself out, and lowered to get her bag, along with the notebook that’d fallen free. “Do you…always make it a habit of taking sayings like ‘bump into me’ in a literal sense?” she asked, tone not angry, but more distracted as she made sure everything was where it belonged, and made sure there was no more icy patches to watch out for in her coming departure.

The luck that he had….

There should be a book written about just how bad his luck could possibly be with this whole thing. First, he spent the rest of his evening berating himself for how he acted on their parting. Then the better part of his morning at work was spent doing that as well, as he constantly played over that last moment with her while he tried to work. Now here he was on his jog, his mind had again been on her and what does he do? Nearly kill her as he barrels into her.

The remark she made caused him to blush and stammer an excuse, “Umm….umm..no….I was um…just jogging and thinking about you....” Sentence trailed off, his mind raced to think of something else to say, anything else to say. “I really have bad luck today running into you and almost killing you…” he sighed and went to try and help her to the bench. “I’m really sorry…”

Book…check. Notebook…check. Wallet….check. His dignity… Her thoughts paused as she glanced over at him for the first time since he’d started stammering, noting the blush and the way he trailed off as he mentioned her and her eyes widened. …Intact if only because of that…cute…puppy dog thing he’s got going…

A mental groan later, and she was shaking her head, offering up a small smile in return, along with a shrug. “Don’t worry about it,” she offered, pulling her coat tightly around her once more. “I’m fine…you seem fine, for the most part, so I’ll just let you get back to your jog?” Without really waiting, she offered up another smile and stepped around him, hitting more ice and slipping a bit, but haphazardly catching herself and trying to carry on with what little dignity she had left with her…lack of grace.

A sense of being a mistake and a failure were on his mind, as he watched her walk away. “Um…um…” he stammered and then acted. Traction on his running shoes afforded him the grip that she lacked and without any real thought he scoped her up into his arms and carried her over to the bench.

“There you go,” he said as he set her down on the bench. “Least I could do right, seeing as how I almost killed you…” a nervous smile and chuckle left his lips. “Umm…..so….were you on your way home?” he asked again the desire to fill that void and not just leave her there.

That…she’d not expected, by any means. One minute her feet were on the ground and she was on her way to the bench, and the next he’d…scooped her up without so much as a warning, carrying her over to the bench. Her eyes were wide, shocked at his sudden act though she’d done nothing to stop it.

…And more awkward conversation…and “um” ensued. “I was out for a walk,” she replied to that. “Just…getting fresh air and all.” Then a pause. “So, do you run poor Lost Girls over a lot, while thinking of them, and then pick them up often? Or am I just the lucky one?” The lightest of smiles touched down on her lips, but it was nothing more than a glimmer, her tone hinting at the humor her features otherwise lacked.

“Umm…um…”he stammered and laughed nervously while he gave a shrug. “No…no, but I don’t run into women that often and none that are as…” he let the sentence fall off again the blush that crept onto his cheeks something he could not avoid. “I guess….lucky? If by lucky you mean we get to spend more time together…” he managed to get out.

“I really am sorry,” he said yet again. “I just was not paying attention like I should have been…” he apologized yet again.

He really is a puppy dog…sweet…innocent…He can barely get out what he’d been hoping, with all of the blood rushing from his heart and into his cheeks… she thought, resisting the urge to groan aloud as she felt it welling up in her throat. It was almost too easy, that he seemingly found her attractive enough to get flustered and find himself at that bad of a loss for words.

Maybe if I were homeless, he could talk to me easier… Chrystal thought wryly, though her outer demeanor didn’t show it. If anything, her smile softened, growing a touch larger, the corners of her lips quirking up a bit more. “You don’t need to apologize so much,” she replied to that. “I could have been paying more attention, too, but I wasn’t, and here we are.” Another shrug moved through her shoulders. “But, you seem to be in one piece, and I seem to be in one piece, so I don’t think any harm was done, do you?”

_________________

The smile, it made him smile and relax a bit more, given the situation and everything from the previous night. “Right, no harm done,” his voice for the moment at least a bit confident in its tone. “So, um, do you think I could maybe know the name of the woman that I nearly killed? Or, do you prefer to be called Lost Girl?” an attempt at a joke that he hoped did not backfire on him.

There was that glimmer of confidence she’d seen with others. Maybe it doesn’t take being homeless after all… she mused as he continued. “I don’t know…” she joked in turn, brow quirking a bit. “Lost girl has a pretty good ring to it. I mean, what’s better than being named after a television show?”

“I would not know, as I kind of don’t do the television thing,” he smirked. “I am more of a reader and I thought of you are more of the lost children in peter pan. I would have called you Wendy, but to me that name does not really suit you. You definitely do not look like a Wendy and I guess the image of you being the only lost girl among the boys made more sense to me,” he gave a shrug. “I get the idea you would be trying to take over the whole operation and remove Peter Pan for being the highly ineffective leader he clearly was,” a low laugh at his own words ended his statement, while his eyes held her own for the very first time since they had met for more than a few seconds.

Of course he doesn’t watch television…why would he? He’s too busy saving kittens from trees and helping old ladies cross the street. But, once that thought was aside and his explanation given, she noticed his eyes held hers, actually held hers, for more than a few seconds. There was no blush accompanying, there was no “um” or mumbling; Just straight conversation, and even a laugh.

“Sounds about right…” Chrys admitted. “Can’t have him running things willy nilly. So, obviously I’d have to show him how things should be done.” She paused, eyes turning thoughtful as she debated giving him an actual name to go by. He’d given her his within moments of meeting her and she’d yet to even give him anything. Not a name, nothing more than a general vicinity in which to drop her off at. But, she didn’t give it to him. Not yet. “So, what else is on the agenda for you tonight, other than running me over, of course?”

Again she dodge the question, which he just brushed off and continued on, it was like their thing now.

“Well, after the jog, I generally shower and then order something for take-out. I’m not much of a cook, so the local restaurants love me,” he said with a shrug. “What about you? Have any pressing and exciting plans for the evening?” tone perhaps a bit hopeful.

The tone didn’t go unnoticed, as it played well into the puppy dog thing, but she didn’t pay it much mind right then. “Takeout, as well,” she replied with a shrug. “So…the excitement consists of figuring out whether I’d prefer Italian or Thai. Otherwise, my night’s just relaxing.”

There was his chance, to at least make an attempt at something with her. “Well, we could kind of spare the poor legs of an already exhausted delivery guy and order something together?” he offered, his eyes still on her own, tone still the hopeful lot that it was. “I was actually thinking of having either Italian or Thai tonight, myself….”

This was a chance, something that was not likely to come up again and he wanted to make up for the debacle of last night. It might lead to him knowing her name, which she appeared the expert at avoiding in volunteering.

He’d actually asked. Elijah Maddox had gotten out of his own way, and asked her outright. Half of her had thought he was going to make a comment like he had when he left her the night before, with some corny line of bumping into each other again, only in a not literal sense the next time around. But…he’d actually asked her, and held her gaze when he did it.

She had to give him his dues for that. “Even though my evening was…so packed with excitement before…I suppose it couldn’t hurt to save the delivery guy a trip if we’re both getting the same thing,” came her answer, tone light, casual, a small part of her actually excited by the prospect, though she pushed it to the back of her mind and focused instead. “That is, if it doesn’t interrupt your schedule too much, of course.”

A response he had not planned for, left him momentarily stunned and dazed. It only last but a moment, the span of a heart beat and no less, but then became the worry of her place, or his?

“Oh, no. Not at all,” he was quick to answer though he tried to not sound as eager as he thought he did. “Only thing to figure out is whose place to host this impromptu dinner?” he asked.

Silently he wished for her to offer her place save for the fact that he knew his place was not fit to host company. Already in his mind he flashbacked to his morning and how he had been so caught up in his failure the night before. There were clothes he had yet to put away to be washed, empty food containers to be thrown away and who knows what else. Though he would hate for her to see his place in such a state, at the same time he did not want to blow what could be seen as his second chance.

The question he posed was the only thing that kept her from dwelling on how fast he’d jumped on assuring her his schedule wasn’t too packed. If she brought him to her house, that was…far sooner than she’d expected. Her home was generally cold, kept cold for a reason, but she didn’t think anything was out of place. Her mind wandered back to its state and figured everything else about it would be normal. Nothing out of place, nothing overly embarrassing anywhere.

But to have him over to her place after only meeting him the night before felt…odd. The timeline for this felt rushed, and, where he didn’t even know her name yet, to have him over to her place felt weird. Then again, to go to his, too, felt odd.

“Hmm…” was all she said aloud as she continued contemplating. “I’ve a counter offer.” Her brow lifted a bit, though her eyes remained light. “Where I’m not sure the state of my own apartment, and this is so impromptu, why don’t we change up the plan a bit? You’d mentioned wanting a shower. Why not go home, shower, do whatever you’d have needed to do, and then we’ll meet up for dinner at a restaurant of your recommendation? Is that agreeable to you? Or would you rather dine in?”

Perfect!

The word shouted in his mind as he smiled and reached for the armband that held a couple of his business cards and some pocket cash, “That is just perfect. Here is my number and you can call me I guess when you are ready and I can give you the address to the restaurant?”

This was perfect, just perfect. He could get his shower and even pick up a bit. Not that he expected for anything to happen, or for them to end up in his apartment, but for perhaps another date? If it was straightened up now he would have less to work on later.

A light laugh tumbled free of her lips as she took his card. She was going to suggest a time, rather than playing phone tag, and get the address beforehand, as he was the one showering and getting ready, she wasn’t going to have to do much prior. But, because she found him adorable, she accepted it with a nod. “I’ll give you a call, and we can go from there,” Chrys agreed with a nod.

“Ok,” he could not stop the grin that was on his face before he gave a somewhat awkward wave and jogged off to his apartment.

“I have a date…a date…an actual date,” he said to himself over and over again as he made his way home. Once there it was a rather tornado effect with him tearing through the apartment, gathering the mess as he went until he made it to the bathroom. From there he removed the dirty clothing from his body and hopped into the shower.

“Have a date…got an actual date! No bump into you later! None of that other lameness, but an actual date!” he could not stop himself from the excitement he felt at the prospect of what was to come. Though, as the shower wore on his thoughts turned more to just what he would do and what he would say. Sure, if he had been a long with a group that would have been one thing, but instead he was to be alone with a woman, whose name he still did not know. To try and not sound like a complete idiot.

“I can do this…I can do this…right?” he asked himself when the water was shut off and he climbed out of the shower to get dressed.

“I can do this…I can do…this…..I hope…”

After the awkward wave and watching him jog off…actively watching him jog off, she made the trek home, a bit more upbeat than she’d admit to herself. There was still that niggling thought of the underlying reasoning for even continuing to talk to him; That, if she’d met him under better circumstances, it’d be different, but…she could humor a date with him. Not like it’d kill her, good conversation (unless he started “um”-ing again) and likely a few laughs, while being able to eat with someone for a change.

Someone not Annelise.

So, she changed out of her skirt, and into jeans, topping it off with a simple sweater, pulling on boots (with better traction) and then just…sat on her couch. Where he’d mentioned needing a shower, and her home was in fine order, she just waited. She didn’t want to wait too long so that he’d think she’d changed her mind, but then didn’t want to seem like she was rushing him.

Finally caving, Chrys pulled out her cellphone, and dialed the number on his card. “So, where should I be meeting you?” she greeted him, her tone light, a smile in her voice.

_________________

It was just as he looked over himself for what must have been the hundredth time that his phone went off. In the haste to answer it he nearly dropped it in the sink, for a brief moment the phone danced in the air before his hands were finally able to get a grip. After that, he took a moment to calm himself, deep breath in and then slowly out.

“Hello?” the greeting given as calm and “cool” as possible. At her question he flaked for a second, because in the haste to pick up and get ready he forgot to pick out a place. Fortunately for him the “Ums” were kept to himself and with his vast knowledge of take-out was able to come up with a place.

“Have you ever eaten at Golden Palace? Over on orchard street, across from the super market?” he asked.

The phone just continued to ring and she almost thought he’d changed his mind, which would have shocked her considering how eager he was for her to accept his offer for dinner. If only to keep the poor delivery guy from making two stops, she reminded herself with an eye roll and a light grin. But, he picked up, and sounded somehow…breathless which had her eyes narrowing a bit in curiosity.

“The Golden Palace…” Chrys repeated. “No…but that’s the place right by the stereotypically-placed Laundromat and pharmacy?”

“That would be the one,” he answered with a chuckle. “So, meet you there?” he asked already out of the bathroom and heading to snatch up the rest of the items he would need for the evening. “Say in about ten minutes?” keys were in the tumbler for the lock even as he spoke, the locks engaged before he started down the stairs.

“Ten minutes it is,” she said with a smile, hanging up and heading out the door for the short walk to the oddly Asian part of their neighborhood. Coat on, wallet and phone in her pocket, she meandered over with, admittedly, a little pep in her step (now confident she wouldn’t eat it like she’d almost done earlier). Then, so as not to seem overly eager, she slowed her pace, still coming up on it before he did, so she perched against the wall and waited, eyes glancing in both directions occasionally to see which direction he’d appear from.

Hopefully not hopping about like the puppy she envisioned; More confident…less bumbling, possibly not blushing?

By the time he arrived he did feel better about the whole thing. She had called as planned, he had managed to not destroy his phone in the process and he thought that he looked at least marginally presentable now. The restaurant came into sight and it did not surprise him that she was already there, something about her told him that she liked to be early.

“Hey,” he said as he approached an easy smile on his lips. “Glad to see that my directions to the stereotypical location were adequate,” he teased and gestured to the door. “Shall we?” he moved to open the door for her prepared to follow in after her once she entered.

So far, so not puppy dog, came a wry thought as the smile returned to her lips. “What can I say?” she asked, smile becoming a grin. “Finding stereotypical locations is my thing.” Then, as he opened the door, she thought about forcing him to go in first, but changed her mind, instead tipping her head and dipping into a short, mock curtsy. “Why, thank you!” A light laugh, and a small skip later, and she was entering the establishment, greeted by a short woman at the desk with an overly eager smile on her face, quickly ushered to a table, menus thrust at her; So quick, in fact, she had to make sure Elijah had followed her with no issue.

“So, are you sure I didn’t interrupt some big night’s plan?” she teased. “I mean, if you need to get back to your reading and extensive workout routine, then I’m happy to let you get back to that.”

The mock curtsy brought a bigger smile to his lips and though she was ushered into the establishment faster than what should have been possible he was still able to follow along. At the table he thanked the woman before she departed then focused on the woman across from him. A smirk given and he shrugged, “Is that a fact? Now why would you be happy to let me get back to that?”

Now he leaned forward slightly, “Were you checking me out at the park?” tone a teasing one, though through some magic of will he managed to meet her gaze and hold it.

Shrugging off her coat, she’d been more focused on it than his direct eye contact right then, but when it hit…Well well well… came an amused thought, as she hung her coat behind her. Someone’s found some confidence. “Me…check you out?” she asked, a hand pressing into her chest as surprise took hold of her features. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

Elijah shrugged and moved to remove his own coat, “Perhaps I was mistaken.” Is all that is said as he moved his coat and hung it along the back of his chair, “Are you sure I am not keeping you from something more important? Even though I don’t know what you do, it is probably more important than spending the evening with me.”

Though he managed to remain cool and calm on the outside (or at least he hoped so) inside he was on the verge of complete panic. Every tiny action, every gesture and nuance he went over in his mind as he tried to think about what to do next. All he wanted to make as good impression as possible.

That brought a coy smile to her lips. “Something important…” she repeated, looking thoughtful as she shifted, resting her chin in the palm of her hand and regarding him with a light gaze. “If by important, you mean a rerun of some crime show while I wait for the takeout guy to get to my apartment, making a wonderful dent into my couch…yes, I’m missing out on something of the utmost importance and you need to let me go immediately.”

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, scrutinizing him before she leaned back, hand falling into her lap with the other. “Relax…” Chrys said with a smile. “I can see it in your eyes; You’re thinking. A lot.” A brow quirked. “Are you always this…overly cautious?”

He sighed and gave a shrug, “I guess. I…” he began to go into some explanation from his childhood, but then changed his mind as he did not want to bore her with that stuff. “I am just nervous, I want to not mess up and make a fool of myself. I have a habit of doing that, but I will try to relax more, sorry…” he offered with a shy smile

“Stop apologizing,” she said, voice a touch harsher, but only just, the tone still keeping its pleasant quality as the rest of her remained relaxed. “You’ve nothing to apologize for, and I’m sensing that’s a habit that’s in need of breaking…” Her brow quirked up higher, as she continued to look at him a moment longer before her gaze dropped to the menu. “So, anything you’d recommend here?”

“Sound like my mother,” he said with a smirk and picked up his menu to look it over. “No, but figure we can’t really go wrong with the menu, unless you are not the adventurous type?” he asked with a glance across the top of the menu at her before he looked back down at what was offered. “As for this breaking habit thing, who is going to be the one to do that? You?”

Though her brow lifted again, and a “hmmm” resounded, she didn’t outwardly reply to his question. Was she going to be the one breaking him of that habit? If she was going to lessen any of her guilt, that constantly apologizing was going to have to go. So, yes, yes she would. But, the day was young. Why show her hand so soon. “The Chicken Pad Thai sounds pretty good, I think. What looks good to you?”

“The ribs and lo mien look good to me,” he said. “Also some of the crab rangoon, ever have that?” he asked without looking up at her while he looked over the drink menu though he would likely just settle for water as per the usual. “So, are you on first name basis with the delivery guys, yet? Or are you still working up to that level of the relationship?” the tone teasing and friendly as he attempted to try this whole relax thing.

“Crab Rangoons are amazing,” she replied, with a nod, already set on what she was going to drink, not bothering to look: ice water. Safe. Cold. Perfect. His quip was met with another light laugh, head tilting to the side a bit. “Now now, do you really think I’d allow them to know my first name? You don’t know who could be coming up to your door. They get the first letter, though they spell it like a full name, so it works out. Now…Are you on a first name basis with all Lost Girls or are you simply speeding up the relationship leveling?”

“I usually give everyone my name, I have nothing to hide and like for people to feel comfortable around me,” he explained with a shrug. “With the work that I do, I have found that people relax and are more open and honest when you shake their hand and give your name. We are still strangers, but we are less strange?” he gave another shrug as he paused for a moment. “Do I at least get the first letter of your name too? Or, am I going to have to continue to call you Lost Girl, which happens to also be the name of some television show that I was not aware of?” he asked with a small playful smirk.

“Not giving out a name doesn’t mean you’ve something to hide, however,” she easily reasoned. “It means that you like to keep that air of mystery a little longer; Names give away more than some realize, and just that little bit held back keeps things interesting.” At his question, her lips pulled into their own smirk. “That depends…” A pause, just long enough to make him think she’d leave it at that, before continuing on. “…What’s the magic word?"

Just as he thought that he had pushed too far and would have to spend, who knows how long trying to get her to reveal any part of her name, she responded with a question that made him smile. A genuine and pure smile that reached his eyes which sought her own before he replied with a single word, “Please.”

Her smirk turned more into a grin, before she relaxed into her chair again. “Where I’m not inclined to stop making you work for the entirety of my name…I’ll give you the first letter; You’ve at least reached the same ‘relationship status’ as my delivery guys.” A laugh ensued, light from her lips, melodic. “A ‘c’. It starts with a ‘C’.”

“A “C”, huh?” he repeated while he mulled over the various names that could be her own, but held his tongue for the moment. “So, I will call you C for the moment. I think that is better than Lost Girl, right?” the tone remained light and playful. The waitress arrived then to take their orders and he was a bit amused to hear her order some water as well. While they waited for their meals to arrive he pressed on with the conversation. “So, C, what do you do for work? Or, perhaps the field you are in if you do not want to volunteer too much just yet…”

A laugh was all she answered for his summation of her first letter versus his nickname for her, ordering her water and focusing intently on him. “Guess,” she returned. “I’d much rather hear your perception of me and possible career choices.”

“Oh…ok,” he said a bit taken a back. “Well, I have to say that you probably do something where you are in charge of a group of people. You have to keep everything organized and running smoothly and…” he smirked a bit. “You expect the absolute best out of everyone because you dedicate yourself completely to whatever task you are performing. A hundred percent each and every time you give, so you expect absolutely nothing less from people. How am I doing so far?”

As he recovered from his initial shock and answered, she found herself leaning forward, a curious twinkle in the icy blue depths; Blue depths that softened as he continued, a brow lifting just a fraction as a hint of amusement made itself at home in her gaze. “Curiously accurate…” she admitted with a half-smile. “I’m almost scared to ask you to continue… But, since you were so dead on, I manage a book store. How close was that to your inner vision?”

“Pretty far off, if only because I pictured you as some executive to some huge cooperation where you managed people and made huge business deals,” he smirked. “Though with you working at a bookstore...I could see you being annoyed with me bugging you all the time, you know for the books…of course…

“Bugging me all the time, huh?” she repeated, easing back into her chair, casually giving him the once over. “And, how often would you be bugging me? Can’t very well need that many books that frequently, can you?”

“Maybe?” he said with a shrug. “I read fairly fast and like to stay on top of things, so I suppose you could expect to see a lot of me….”

Their food came and it gave him a brief break in the conversation, which was good because he was not sure if he was able to continue the current topic without blushing.

Had the food not arrived, she would have commented to that effect right off, but she gave him a reprieve, instead tasting her Pad Thai and finding it satisfactory. Just the right amount of peanut sauce, came a content thought, remaining silent as she enjoyed her meal, observing him with her peripheral for the time being.

Then, when he had a good mouthful, she decided to ask, poignantly, “How are you going to come see me so much for these books if I’ve not said which one I work at? Or…are you going to sporadically pop into bookstores on days I may, or may not, be working, and try to ‘bump’ into me again?”

Knife and fork in hand, he sought to try and not look like a total savage to…C, while he ate. The question, which he was certain was intentionally timed, nearly choked him. A finger was held up to indicate he needed a moment while he chewed and then swallowed; to which he felt exceptionally self-conscious.

“Um…well…I do like to read…so, I suppose that I can just… do that. You know until I “bump” into you again...” he smiled eyes on her own as he thought about how funny that would be, but how it would be a viable option. As it was he already frequented all of the local stores, his tastes for reading fluctuated, so he had to check several shops to keep his hands on something that interested him.

It was hard to suppress the grin that threatened to show when she saw the self-consciousness set in, watching him think through his answer…and then even harder when the “um” resurfaced, as well as the pauses. “But, what if you always ended up missing me? What then?”

“Then I would have to try a bit harder and perhaps stake out a few places,” he said before he took a sip of his water. “There is always bribing people at the bookstores to call me if they see you, then I can just happen to show up and “bump” into you,” the smile on his face was not hard to miss as he thought himself rather clever.

That answer amused her, the image of him borderline stalking her when the roles were as they were adding a humorous if a bit ironic overtone to her thoughts. Her head tilted, a hand resting on the table as a finger tapped idly for a moment. “…Elijah, what’s your stance on fate?” she asked out of the blue, filling the void she’d created after a few, drawn-out breaths, face contemplative.

“Everything happens for a reason,” he answered without missing a beat. “Whether or not we understand it at the time is really not what is important. But, what happens must happen and we are to accept it because that would make it easier in the long run. I suppose we have to have faith that what is supposed to happen, happens for a good reason,” another shrug, his fork used to push the food about a bit on his plate.

It was always for the good. He had to think that, had to believe it. If not, then his mother would have died without a reason and no good at all would have come from it.

Without missing a beat herself, she countered again. “So what if it were fated you’d never know the rest of my name, or find out which bookstore I worked at to see me again? What if it were fated this would be the last time you were supposed to see me?” Her eyes were intent on his, food in front of her forgotten while she waited for his answer, head declining just a touch as her eyes narrowed with a scrutinizing intensity. “What then?”

“I would continue,” he said again without hesitation. “While, it might be my fate to never know more about you or see you again I would not know this and would merely act on what I wanted. Even if my attempts became less frequent, on some level I would always be looking and I would never stop. My fate may be never to see you again, but that does not mean I would give up,” he said with more confidence than he realized he had.

Now there was something she’d not really expected to hear. He seemed suddenly…overly confident. Something in him about fate struck a chord, which had her fascinated. To someone else, it may have seemed like something out “The Police” would sing about, except the lead up to “I’ll be Watching You”. But, to her? It was interesting, to say the very least. And, since he seems so confident… “And, what exactly do you want?” she asked them, head tilting to the other side.

“A name and maybe another dinner,” he said with a smirk.

“Well, we’ll see how fate pans out,” Chrys replied, finally turning her attention back to her food. “Is your dinner good? You seem to be pushing it around more than anything else.”

Still no name, he thought though his attention was back on his food, “It is good. Yours?” he asked. A strange line of questions and then to just change the subject back to their meal, Elijah almost felt like a criminal. The questions meant to keep him off balance so that she could gleam some unknown or hidden truth that he kept to himself.

“What’s your favorite book?”

“The Picture of Dorian Gray,” she answered easily. “Frankenstein and The Woman in White are close seconds.” A pause while she sipped her water and went back to her dinner. “And yours?”

“Interesting choice,” he said. “I did not think many cared for the story of Dorian Grey, but my favorite is Don Quixote followed by a smattering of other random things,” he said while he twirled some of his noodles up onto his fork. “So, is managing a bookstore what you always wanted to do, or was it something that you kind of just fell into?”

“Don Quixote...” she repeated. “That fits you. I’ve read it, and enjoyed it, but it’s not one I pick up often.” Then a pause, another sip of her water, nibbling on a piece of chicken. “And it wasn’t something I fell into; More that I needed a job, and it was offered to me. I much prefer it to some of the other jobs, so it suits for the time being. What about you? Did you fall into…What is it that you do when not volunteering?”

“Kind of?” he said with a bit of a shrug. “I had some social issues and turned to computers to reach out into the world and socialize to some degree. Turns out I am pretty good with them and went to school for it. Afterward I found a job at some software firm and well, the work is simple enough that it does not stress me out, but challenging enough to keep me interested. That probably does not sound logical, but I like my job and don’t really see myself ready to change fields in the future.”

There was a bit of a pause while they ate for a bit then he continued with the line of questions, “Did you go to school for anything in particular?”

Social issues…that makes sense, based on what he’s eluded to… she thought as the knife twisted in a bit deeper. Pushing that to the back of her mind, her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Eh. ‘Psychology: the Major no one will hire you with’,” Chrys joked. At the time, she’d taken it as an opportunity to figure out her own emotions to better figure out how they worked, her triggers, so that her craft would always be under control; It was merely a bonus that she’d have a degree and could later use it for a job.

…Or so she thought. They don’t tell you upfront that it’s one of the more useless degrees.

“So, you’re a computer software programmer who wanders parks in fast pace to bowl people over, an avid reader who’ll wander to all the bookstores in the area to find one girl, not books. And, you volunteer. A lot. What’s one thing you don’t do, other than watching TV?”

He smiled and looked down at his plate for a bit, “Cry.” The word simple and yet not as he looked back up to her, “I have not cried for a….well a long time now.” The smile he gave was somewhat sad, but it faded just as quickly as it had come, “And also I try and stay away from junk food. Got to keep my girlish figure and all.”

He’s so…open, she mused ignoring the “girlish figure” for the time being. He’s told me about his grandmother, about his life, his job, his volunteering, and now about his lack of crying…and that smile was… A frown flickered across her features, but vanished, eyes dropping to his form with an nod. “Yeah, that…’girlish figure’ must take some upkeep. I’ll eat the junk food you don’t, though, you know…to keep order and balance in the world.”

“So, then that is kind of a hint that if I asked you to the movies, you will be the one to eat the popcorn and other snacks that we get. That should work out nicely,” he said with a grin and just went back to eating as if he had not tried to sneak in a second outing with her.

“So, the man who doesn’t watch TV goes to the movies?” she countered, grinning at his not so subtle hint to another get-together. “Why movies and not TV?”

“I enjoy the atmosphere of a movie theater and well…not really sure where else to take someone to hang out,” he answered honestly with some embarrassment. “What kind of movies do you like?”

And there resurfaces the puppy… “I like anything without a cheesy ending,” she replied. “Planning on asking me to the movies, or was all of this just fun conversation?” The last she asked with a more mischievous grin, eyes alight with humor.

“Thus far, the whole evening has been fun. But, would you like to go to the movies with me at some point? Say….next Saturday good for you?” he asked with a bit more confidence than he had ended the last bit of the conversation.

“Hmmmmm….” For a while, she merely looked at him, debating. “I suppose I may…have room in my busy schedule of work and take out to possibly squeeze in a trip to the movies…Possibly.” Lips turning into a genuine smile, she nodded. “So long as it’s not a corny movie, otherwise, I may be liable to heckle.”

“I think the whole heckle thing might be funny,” he said with a smirk. “We can just figure out what to watch when we get there,” he smiled. “I mean I have moved up to the first letter of your name, I may be able to earn the second come the end of the movie,” he grinned.

“Who knows? Could learn the second before the night’s end,” she replied with a grin of her own before pushing her dinner back, unable to finish. “Besides…you may think the heckling could be funny, but I doubt those around us would find it half as funny; Something about talking during movies doesn’t sit well with others…especially when I do my voice overs in the cliché moments…May not make it through to the end of the movie.”

“Then we can just continue the night with a walk through the park,” he said, a hand in the air to wave over the waitress.

“Done?” her voice cheery and upbeat.

“Yes. Could we have these boxed and bagged up, please?” the request given while he fished his wallet out from his back pocket.

“Oh, of course,” she smiled and removed their plates the check left on the table.

He looked over the amount and removed his bank card to place atop the check, “Want to go somewhere for icecream?” he asked.

She had fished out her own wallet, ready to put the card down when he beat her to the punch. Part of her wanted to ask him about it, but the other part thought to just leave it be, instead turning her attention to the offer. “Ice cream? Is that going to help your girlish figure?” Chrys joked, smile clearly still on her lips. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to put your figure in jeopardy with some Pistachio and sprinkles.”

“I don’t really consider that junk food,” he said after the waitress returned with their boxes and took the check to be paid. “It is a delicious cold treat that can be enjoyed whenever no matter the weather or the temperature,” his card was returned and his wallet and he stood to put on his coat. “Besides,” he lifted his shirt just a bit so that she could see his stomach. “I think my figure is in ok for the moment,” he smirked. “I mean…unless you have some awesome plans now?”

Eyes widening as he lifted his shirt a touch, she felt off center for the first time that date. “…Yeah, I think you can…handle an ice cream or several.” Getting up from her own chair, she pulled her jacket on and shook her head. “Mmmno…no plans now, unless you mean catching the tail end of some show…so…I think ice cream would be fine. Which place did you have in mind?”

“There is a small shop a couple of blocks from here,” he said, while he took up her bag to hand to her before he took his own. “Several, huh?” he teased then led the way out, with him of course opening the door for her. “Pistachio? Really?” he asked when they walked side by side. “That cannot be the flavor you think that I would choose when there are such things as Chocolate, strawberry, cookie dough, etc.”

His teasing was met with nothing more than another shake of her head, following after him before falling into natural sync next to him. “Yes, Pistachio. I mean, if you don’t want it, then there’s more for me,” she answered matter-of-factly, with a smile. “It’s perfectly sweet with just that touch of salt, like you’d get in a sundae. Then the sprinkles are just…a colorful touch. I happen to like that combo, thanks very much.”

“Then you can have all of that and I can enjoy all of the other flavors,” he gave her a playful bump. “Though I can give it another try…if maybe someone were to share with me the second letter of their name?”

Mulling it over, playfully bumping him back, she nodded. “Fine. If you give it another try…I’ll give you the second letter of my name. I think that’s a fair agreement.”

In answer all he did was smile, the rest of the walk was in silence though he did not feel the need to fill it. At the icecream shop he opened the door for her again, and joined her at the counter to order.

“One triple scoop of pistachio and then a triple scoop of chocolate chip, both with rainbow sprinkles,” again his card was produced to pay for the desert before he joined her at a booth. “Alright…” he extended his spoon, “Let’s try this pistachio…”

Walking in ahead of him, after the amiable silence that neither sought to fill (a permanent smile on her face that she sought to hide by keeping her eyes on the area next to her), she almost stopped him from ordering a triple scoop, not thinking she’d be able to finish it. Again, he paid and she didn’t say anything, squelching the urge to put her own card up because she wasn’t sure how he’d handle her need to pay for things.

Instead, she took her ice cream and headed for a booth, settling in as he did. “And you better not spit it out or…gag or something,” she cautioned with narrowed eyes, pushing her ice cream his way so that he could try a bit. “You’ll get the letter after I hear your verdict.”

“After?” he asked while he took a spoonful and tasted it without awaiting the answer. As he allowed the icecream to melt on his tongue he looked thoughtful. The flavor was different with the sprinkles, a bit sweeter perhaps. Not bad, not his favorite but not bad either.

“Not bad,” he said to her once he was done. “So, the letter?”

Watching him as he tasted it, taking a bite of her own, she waited for his verdict. “Not bad? That’s all you have to say is ‘not bad’? It’s perfect,” Chrystal replied, taking another bite of her own for emphasis and then feeling self-conscious that she’d taken a bite and had to chew through a nut; the sound, alone, sounded like gunshots to her and she prayed it wasn’t as loud on his end.

“‘H’,” she finally gave. “The second letter is ‘H’.”

“ “C” and “H”,” he said aloud to himself. “I have no idea what that could possibly be,” he laughed. “I can’t even think about what that could be, but I suppose I can call you “CH” or something,” another laugh. “Want some of mine?” he offered.

“Sure,” she answered, stealing a bit with her spoon. “Hope you don’t mind my cooties,” she added as she took the bite, grinning at him as she suckled on a chocolate chip. “You know…if you guessed it, you might find it out faster. Otherwise…may have to wait until…gosh, even after our movie date next Saturday…You’ll forever know me as ‘Ch’.”

“Think I am up to date on my cootie shots,” he teased. “Hmm…a guess…” the spoon rested in his mouth while he thought about what her name could be. The “H” threw off what he had originally thought her name to be, so now he had to think about it. “Charlotte?”

Shaking her head, she took another bite of her ice cream. “Nope,” she answered simply. “Not sure I look much like a ‘Charlotte’, either…Try again?”

“Charlene?” he guessed again.

“Wrong again,” she replied, a smirk on her lips. “For someone who read me so well for occupation and general personality…you’re terrible with the name.”

“Hey…the “H” threw me off. I originally thought your name was something else, but with the “H” now, I have to try and think of other things…” he ate a bit more icecream. “Chanel?”

Her brow quirked, resisting the urge to bring up a racist comment about the name. Don’t know him well enough for that, she thought wryly, shaking her head again. “What’d you think it was originally?”

“Crystal…” he said with a shrug a few more spoonfulls while he thought about what could be her name. “Chantal?”

He’d have guessed that the first time? she thought, surprised though her exterior didn’t reflect it. If anything, she just remained silent, eating her own ice cream and waiting for his next guess. Only after he guessed “Chantal” and another racist thought came to mind. “I’ll take pity on you…It’s Chrystal. You’d have gotten it the first time…” she finally conceded. “What made you think of that one first?”

“Chrystal blue,” he said with shrug. “Your eyes are a Chrystal blue and well you just seemed like a Chrystal to me,” he said with another shrug. “Pity on me, really? I did not think I was doing that bad of a job with what I was given,” given with a mock tone of insult.

She rolled her eyes, and shook her head, stealing another bite of his ice cream while he was over there being “offended”. “What you were given? Not to break out the stereotypes again, but half of those names were of the not-so-Caucasian variety, Elijah,” she replied, with mock annoyance.

“Hey, you never know what was person is now a days,” he returned the favor and took some of her icecream. “I mean come on everyone is marrying everyone else. So, you could have been any number of those names easily,” he said with some confidence though he did stick his tongue out at her.

Rolling her eyes again, she stole another bite out of spite. “Fine. Your new nameis ‘Jerome’,” she said with mock indignance. “Because ‘everyone is marrying everyone else; you could have been that name easily.’” The last, she tried her best to lower her voice and sound like him, though it definitely didn’t get deep enough.

“Jerome, kind of suits me, no?” he said with a wink and stole more of her icecream. “So, Chrystal, what made you ask me for help that night? I don’t look completely harmless do I?” For all his worry and fear, the night had progressed to something of a relaxed atmosphere and he felt far more confident than he normally would.

She shielded her ice cream this time around, blocking him with her spoon before tsking. “You most certainly do,” came her reply. “Compared to other types, you looked less likely to throw me in a van and chop me up later…so I took a chance.” After a pause, she perked a brow and made for more of his ice cream again. “What made you decide to help me? Do I look all that harmless?”

Though she had blocked him, he allowed her to have some of his icecream. “No, but I like to help people and well I did not want you wandering off to ask another person for help. Not in that neighborhood anyway, so for your safety and my conscience I helped you,” a smile given, followed by another attempt at her icecream.

“Ah yes…my safety…because I lack a penis,” she pointed out ruefully with a grin, this time allowing him a bite. “You know, for someone who claimed Pistachio with sprinkles was merely ‘not bad’, you seem to be eating a lot of it…” Pushing the bowl a little more his way, “You sure it’s not better than ‘not bad’?”

“Maybe,” he shrugged. “Besides, you said something about being post op? Or was it pre-op? So, you could have a penis…maybe….” He arched a brow while he looked her over. “Though I do hope that to not be the case,” he placed his bowl beside her own so that she could share from his while he snagged another spoon of icecream.

She put on a mock pout, sitting back in her chair in a slump. “So…you won’t want to hang out with me anymore because of my post-op status?! …This is terrible…whatever shall I do?”

“Oh no,” he said with a grin. “I would still hang out with you, but I would be a bit disheartened that we would end up only being friends…” he admitted with his grin that turned into a shy smile.

His smile turned shy, which was met with the smallest of blushes on her part, eyes dropping, though her smile didn’t falter. “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing I’m no-op, huh?” she commented to that quietly, taking a bite of her own this time. “So, guess we luck out there…”

“That we are…” he said and fell silent for a bit while they continued to eat their icecream. When they both appeared to be done he stood, “May I walk you home, or am I not allowed to know where you live, yet?” the tone teasing and friendly.

Eventually, she stopped herself from eating, solely because she’d felt full prior to the ice cream, and now she’d fairly gorged herself. The last thing I need to look like is a compulsive eater… came a thought, settling back in her chair while nerves set in. Where he’d been the nervous one, now he was confident and she was the one in the self-christened hot seat as she considered the question.

Was he allowed to know? It wasn’t as though everything would remain a secret too much longer…he’d gotten her name, major, job. All that he needed now was address, and everything was solidified. “I don’t know…” she started to answer, voice thoughtful, with just a touch of playfulness to it. “If you know where I live, the last bit of mystery’s gone. What’s to keep you interested?”

“I still have to find your bookstore,” he volunteered easily. “Not to mention there is your smile,” he answered honestly. “That is something that could keep me interested for many nights to come,” his voice soft with just the smallest hint of a shy smile given.

Another smile was given, shyer than the first, as she nodded. “So long I don’t lose all your interest at once,” she answered. “…Then I suppose you could walk me home…shouldn’t hurt, right?” Her eyes reconnected with his, the confidence still there, though the shyness never fully dwindled. “It’s not too far out of your way, is it? To walk in my direction versus your apartment?”

“No real way to know until we start walking,” he opened the door for her. “Besides, even so walking you home is not too much trouble at all,” he continued with a smile and somewhat excited skip in his step.

This was exciting, it was invigorating and he feared that it might be some dream where he woke up and she would be gone. None of this would have happened he would continue on his life of solitude as a civil servant. Nothing wrong with that, but he would like to have some company from time to time.

Another nod, and she tried to keep from overthinking, falling into step beside him and thinking a mantra of ”don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip”. For a while, silence was fine, allowing her to get her bearings again, her confidence back. The surroundings were familiar enough, so she didn’t have to focus too much on where she was going, and instead stole glances to her side at Elijah.

“So…do you treat all girls like this?” Chrys asked with a bit of a grin. “Run them over, and charm yourself into their graces so you learn their name after helping them feed their habit of Thai and Pistachio?”

“Honestly,” he began after a moment of thought. “You were special, so you got the star treatment,” the smile more than enough to show that he was being playful. “This is superstar treatment from Mr. Maddox’s Dinner and Icecream, tour. I do hope you have enjoyed the evening and that the complimentary physical crash was not too jarring for your person?”

“The superstar treatment, huh?” she joked back. “So the superstar treatment included a realignment of my spine, and some slipping and sliding…I’m almost scared to ask what the standard package is…Though, now that you mention it…it was pretty jarring. I hope there’s no permanent damage…”

“If such a thing a permanent damage has occurred then you will be compensated with another dinner of your choosing,” he continued with the joke. “Perhaps with the inclusion of icecream or some other kind of dessert, but that is all dependent on how much pain you actually are in,” he explained in a matter of fact tone.

“It’s so much pain, I’m not sure I can go on much longer…” she continued, a hand feeling at her forehead as her voice went quiet. “I just…I hurt so much…so much…and I’m not sure I’ll make it…”

Not a word was given, instead he merely scooped her up into his arms, and “There is also a chauffeur service.” The playful wink was given while he continued to walk without any show of strain or difficulty. “This is going to cost the company a huge and expensive dessert, huh?”

Her eyes widened as he scooped her up, but she didn’t fight it. Instead, she watched his face as…nonchalantly as possible, looking for something to show a strain…of which she found none. “Most definitely...Something along the lines of…Tiramisu…” A pause, as her brow lifted. “Directly from Italy. It’s a high order, but you’ll have to fill it if you don’t want a lawsuit…”

“I don’t want that,” he said a smirk now almost permanently plastered on his face. “This is a new company and I can’t afford to pay out to a lawsuit,” the remark given as he continued to walk with her in his arms, despite the looks that he got from the various people who walked the streets.

The looks had her semi self-conscious, but not enough for her to ask him to put her down. If anything, the way his muscles moved beneath his coat as he held her was…appealing. Occasionally, she’d give a direction, noting the park, the lake, and that they were getting closer and closer to her abode, half wishing he’d slow his long strides down a touch. “Then you’ll have to make sure I’m kept thoroughly happy; Otherwise, you company will be over before it even got off the ground,” she admonished. “Whatever shall you do?”

“I guess we are going to have several dates just to make sure you are thoroughly happy,” he slipped in essentially taking a step forward in their relationship. “My evenings are free save for the nights that I go to help the homeless,” he volunteered and came to a stop outside her building. “Think you can make it up on your own? Or would you like for me to carry you?”

Fast mover, she thought as he brought up the several date aspect, rather than just working up from Saturday. Slipping that in there all…smooth… “I’m not sure I can…not up four flights of stairs…” Looking at him with her best puppy dog eyes, she pouted her lip. “Mind chauffeuring me to my door? I mean, that is part of what your business covers, isn’t it?”

“Hmm…I think we just added a clause about a door to door service,” he said and managed to open the door of the building. With her still cradled in his arms he began to ascend the stairs, “Four flights, huh? How many bedrooms?” the decision to make idle chit chat while he carried her.

“Always a good clause to have,” she replied to that, half-expecting him to put her down instead. But, since he was walking her up… “Two bedrooms, though the other is small and more of a makeshift closet or office hybrid. What’s your apartment like, setup-wise?”

“A studio library?” he said with a chuckle. “Nah, it has one bedroom, a livingroom/office/library space and then you know a kitchen area and a bathroom,” he explained. “What size bed do you have? Not that I am overly interested but mostly just curious,” he tried to explain himself without seeming too eager or focused on the whole bedroom thing.

That earned him a look, a cross between amusement and surprise that he’d asked, his efforts not making him seem any less eager. “I have a California King; Not that I have much need for such a big bed, but I always wanted one, so…I got one. What about you? What’s going on in the bedroom? What size bed do you have?”

"Can only fit a full into there," he said. "Kind of jealous of your bed now," he laughed and made it to the last flight of stairs. "What’s the style of the place? Like are you a goodwill shopper or an Ikea enthusiast?"

“Yeah, I definitely don’t envy you with the full-sized bed…Big man in a little bed…” Having to hold in a laugh from the image she had, she instead answered his question. “I’m a ‘whatever people have donated to the cause’ person, mostly. Or, when I see freebies on Craigslist…I generally grab those up. When I do have to buy something, I’m more Goodwill, but it all has to match to some degree and look intentional.”

“I barely fit on the thing and often feel like I am trapped in some kind of box or something,” he joked. “Ok…what’s the apartment number?” he asked while he stood in the hall.

“Guess it’s a good thing that, you know…we’re not that far into the relationship and don’t have to worry about…bed size, huh?” she teased, giving him a knowing look before looking down the hall. “Four-E,” Chrys added. “So only a few doors down on the right side.”

“Mhhmmm,” is all he said to the comment about the bed while he followed her directions to her apartment door. It was there that for the first time since they began this whole, carrying thing, he set her down. “Your apartment,” he gave a have bow and a flourished hand gesture to the door. “Will the lady be requiring anything else?”

He had no issue at all, she mused as he set her down. No issue carrying me in the slightest… Her mind wandered over his muscles for a moment, almost missing his question. “The lady would be, yes,” came her reply, standing a little taller, being all lady-like. “The lady requires your phone for but a moment.”

With a questioning look he produced his phone to her.

Taking it from him with a straight face, she pulled up the recently called, noting he’d not saved her number. So, she went about saving it for him, with her name, “Chrystal Jenkins.” Then, she took her own phone out, and sent it a message with her photo in it, a simple picture that she happened to like and set it as her contact picture. “There…now you’ve my name, and face tied to the mysterious number; Just in case you decide to forget my name or what I look like.” Handing it back with a smile, she shrugged. “Other than that, I don’t think I need anything else…Does the gentleman need anything?”

For a moment he looked at the newly added contact before he pocketed his phone once more and shook his head with a smile, “No. I believe that the lady has given the gentleman all that he needs….for now.” He gave another slight bow of his head, “Until Saturday, then?”

…God, he’s adorable with that…smile and the bowing…ugh… she thought, inner monologue as excited as her exterior, though she downplayed it outwardly. “Until then…” Before he could move, she pressed a kiss into his cheek with a last smile, unlocked her door, peeking at him over her shoulder, and then slipped into her apartment.

To say he was walking on air would have been an understatement, to the point that by the time he got home he was not even sure how he made it there. Instead he just played over that last scene again and again in his mind. The way she felt as she leaned into him slightly, the cool caress of her lips on his cheek. It was all perfect in his mind and he could not have been happier.

That night he had no trouble finding sleep and could not wait for the coming weekend. Finally he had met someone….finally his life seemed to be working on this whole loneliness he had felt for some time.

Fate.

Everything happened for a reason.

After entering, she’d leaned against the door, much like she had the night before. Only this time, instead of dreading the thoughts…she spent time reliving their last moments, their night overall. The way his arms felt while they held her, his smile, the way his eyes lit up when he was excited, how he looked when he was shy.

I could find someone else… she thought absentmindedly as she drifted off to bed, hardly noticing her steps carrying her to get ready, and then eventually to her bed, sprawling out. Then she thought of him being crammed into bed, and felt bad that she could sprawl out, but then thought she was doing it for him to live vicariously through.

And, that night, she slept soundly, dreaming of their future date. Saturday. Even if she wouldn’t outwardly say how excited she was…

…The very word “excited” didn’t really cover it.

_________________

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!

With a slow roll in its direction, a hand reached out and turned off her alarm. Where the day before, she’d been drained, exhausted both mentally and physically, today was different. A smile still lingered on her lips from the memory of the night before, from the thought of his smile, of his eyes, of his sense of humor when he got out of his own head. Sliding her feet out of bed, she didn’t dread the coming day, if only because it brought her one day closer to their date.

A date she’d happily admit to being excited about.

Taking a shower, there were no pauses, no moments of thinking frustrated thoughts as she had the day before. Instead, she kept replaying their night over and over, right up until she pressed the kiss into his cheek. She thought about how the stubble felt against her lips, at how his body had felt for that brief moment she’d leaned into it, at the way he felt when carrying her. She thought about how cute it’d been that he tried to slip in other dates without asking for them, at how he had his moments of confidence, only to become shy again a moment later.

She thought about him, and how he’d kept her interested.

The last date she’d been on hadn’t been so good. Not because of him, but because she’d not cared to put in any effort to focus. Her mind had been entirely on controlling her ability, on making sure everything went right. Part of the time, her mind was far enough away that she was thinking about whatever future tasks she’d have to endure to be with the sisterhood, Annelise giving her a taste here or there to keep her interested.

Something this poor bloke couldn’t have done even if he’d set himself on fire and danced naked through the streets.

But Elijah…something about him was so different, so incomprehensible to her, that it made her want to know more. It made her want to hang out with him, be around him, not just for the task she’d been given, but because she actually wanted to be. The fact he’d asked her out to the movies made it better; She’d have asked otherwise, and she wasn’t sure how much he’d like someone so forward.

Out of the shower now, one she’d not even realized she finished, Chrystal dried off and did her hair, her makeup, spending a little more time to make sure she looked presentable. Just in case he manages to find out which shop I work at, she told herself. Then, noting the weather outside and how snowy it was, she put on pants this time, putting her work shoes in her bag and sliding her feet into boots. A light sweater, and a coat were pulled on, followed by a scarf about her neck.

Then she was off.

The walk was faster than usual, her steps lighter, the smile still on her lips even if a bit smaller but in a good mood. Because of her good mood, her feet carried her to the store earlier than she normally arrived, allowing her to go in, put the music on what she liked to listen to and get to setting up shop in peace, dancing a little as she worked. And, as the first customers started arriving, along with co-workers that normally rubbed her the wrong way, she was content. Nothing able to get her down.

Not even the text she received (but didn’t open) from Annelise, figuring she already knew its contents.

Now, the only thing that’d make her happier was if he texted her, or stopped in. She didn’t want to seem the clingy sort and reach out to him first, but she certainly wouldn’t say no to him initiating conversation.

Nope.

_________________

There was no self loathing from Elijah that night. Instead he practically skipped all the way home and went to bed with a smile on his face that could not be removed even if he wanted it gone, which of course he did not. The next morning he was up before his alarm, mood light and excited for the start of what felt like the first day of his whole life.

In the shower he actually put music on and opted to sing and dance a little while he got ready for work. “Last night, I had a dream about you,” tone slightly off as he basically belted out some Daft Punk. Out of the shower the music continued, though the dance halted a bit if only for the safety of it. Teeth brushed in between lyrics, hair and beard trimmed in record time. Then it was just a matter of getting dressed and off to work.

At the office his smile was still there and people noticed, especially with the unusual social behavior of random high fives and fist bumps.

“So, what's her name?” Tim from the cubicle beside him asked while Elijah got settled in for work.

“Hmm?” snapped from his musing about her smile and the way her lips felt against his cheek.

“Come on now, don't play coy with me. The way you walked into here, the high fives and that smile that just won't quit,” Elijah's hand reached up to touch his own smiling face, which somehow made him smile all the more. “What's her name?” Tim asked again and took a sip from the mug he held in his hands.

“Chrystal, with an “h”” Elijah finally admitted and the look that came to his face only made Tim grin all the more.

“Chrystal, huh?” another sip of his coffee. “How did we meet this Chrystal, with an “h”?”

“The other night she was lost and I helped her find her way home and then, well I ran into her last night....” now there was a bit of a blush to his face that he could not help or hide.

“Where did this run in happen?”

“Um...well...I kind of nearly ran her over while I was jogging....yesterday...” the blush only got worst the more he spoke, which only made Tim smirk all the more.

“Elijah you are so helplessly adorable. If only you played for the other team,” Tim spoke with mock disappointment. “So, you had a date with her last night?”

“Not exactly an official date, just the two of us hanging out and talking over dinner,” he said with a smile.

“Was there a kiss at the end?”

“Well...she um...kissed my cheek...” if possible the blush deepened.

“Oooo....you sly dog you,” the tease had Elijah roll his eyes . “So, when is the next date?”

“Next Saturday,” the grin returned to his face. “But...do you think it is ok if I like....text her before then?”

“I am sure she would hate to hear from you before then,” Tim teased again before he waved and disappeared back behind his wall.

Elijah just shook his head and sat there at his desk for a moment more before he fished his phone out of his pocket and sent her a text. * Hey *

After he hit the send button he belittled himself for not saying something more than just Hey, but unfortunately there was no taking back what was sent. He could just hope he had not undone the work he did with the previous night.

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The day wore on and nothing dampened her mood. Not the woman who screamed at her over a book that she’d pre-ordered and she’d yet to receive. Not the man who let his child tear down several displays. Not the three employees who called out within moments of each other because they were “sick” (when in actuality, they’d been partying too hard and the evidence was clear on their facebooks).

Smile still on her face, she hummed along to nothing in particular while she went about her day, checking her phone sporadically since she’d gotten to work. Stop doing that, she scolded herself. That’s not going to make a text come any fa-

Vibrations caught her attention as the phone danced across her desk, eyes dropping to it and staring at it. The name was clear as day and her hand went for it, only to pause mid-air. You don’t want to seem over eager…Wait a moment. Letting out a breath, she continued to stare at the phone as though it’d jump up at her at any time, finally breaking down and opening the text, the simple “hey” bringing a larger smile to her face.

…And then the dilemma. …How do I respond to that? she thought, eyeing it. I don’t want to send “Hey” back…that’s unoriginal…but I can’t be all “hey! I was hoping you’d text,” either…hmmmmm…” Staring at her phone a little longer, the cursor blinking at her, she let her fingers type and hit “send” before she could overthink and stop it. The text was simple, all the while hoping it wasn’t too little, or too much. That she didn’t seem over excited by how fast she’d replied, nor unenthused simultaneously.

*Hey, yourself*

As a response did not come right away Elijah set to work. Zeros, ones and various other computer codes moved across the screen. Eventually, as was he wont to do at work, he began to zone in so that when his phone went off he practically jumped in his seat.

After a moment to calm himself he read over the message, a smile unnoticed on his lips while he thought about what to so say back.

*How is work? * Send button pressed, phone set back down as he felt himself very cool and collected.

Another message received, another jump, and her phone ended up out of her hands and spinning on the desk, completely dropped from her grasp in the excitement of it all. Glancing around to ensure no one had witnessed her little moment, she picked it up gingerly and opened the text, smiling from ear to ear, despite how calm the message read.

*Work is work. How is it on your end?*

His fingers had barely touched the keys of his computer again when his phone went off with another message. This time he only jumped a little and his phone in his hand before he could even think about it, *It goes. Same stuff different day. Though people keep making a comment about how much I am smiling today....* again the send button pressed without a thought and this time he waited a bit before he would get back to work.

That comment alone had her eyes widening, as did her smile, nibbling on the inner of her lip while rereading the message to make sure she hadn’t misread it. He’s been smiling a lot today? she thought to herself, head tilting to the side while her mind drifted. He’s got a good smile… *Oh are they? Whatever would you have to be smiling about today?*

The choice to wait had been the right one, as she replied back nearly instantly. A physical shrug was given even as he typed out his response to her. * The only thing that has changed in my life would be meeting you....so one can say that I am smiling about that.... * send button pressed without any hesitation.

Her head felt light when she read his reply, beginning to type back to him only to be needed with a customer. Begrudgingly leaving her phone on the desk, she went off to assist them, all the while willing them to be done with it and not need her any longer. By the time she got back, she was afraid the pause would read too long. *Meeting me is something to smile about? Are you sure you met me? Or…does running a girl down count as meeting these days?* she sent back with a grin.

No instant reply came and he thought that he might have said too much too soon. The curse of him being forward and forthcoming about everything might have just seriously bit him in the ass. He had begun to work again when his phone went off and he picked it up as fast as he could without dropping it. The words only continued to make him smile and his thumbs moved over the screen without much thought now, just answering honestly.

* Yes. You are definitely something to smile about and well the whole running into you thing was fate giving us an extra hand lol *

He really is adorable…and far more confident when talking via text… Chrys mused while figuring out her reply. *If you’re so smiley, you should send me a picture. I need one for your contact listing, so this would be a good time, no?*

The thought about whether or not to take the picture was a short one. Before he knew it he had the camera positioned and snapped the picture. It was sent right after and he just sat there waiting for her response back. Yeah...work was not going to get done today.

As soon as the picture opened, her eyes widened with appreciation, taking a moment to appreciate it before saving it and setting it as his contact list; A nice…long moment to appreciate. *Well well well, you take a good picture. Can’t say I’ll ever be sad to see you call, with that picture popping up.* she sent back.

The comment made him blush. * Oh? Is it just the picture or would you be looking forward to my awesome comments and jokes? *

*Oh, you know…I’m just a shallow girl with simple wants…Of course I’d be looking forward to your awesome comments and jokes* she sent back with a laugh. *So…did you blush like I imagine you did?*

And the blush got worst, *No.....>.>* He looked about the office for a second to make sure he did not get caught not working. * So, what were your plans for lunch? *

*I knew it! :D Don’t worry, though…it’s kind of adorable.* Sending that off, she thought about her lunch plans. *I don’t have any really. Eating…breathing…blinking…*

She thought he was adorable. That thought made him smile and even caused his blush to deepen if that was possible. * What a coincidence, those are my plans too. We should do that together, you know for efficiency sake. :) *

*Oh should we? And, did you have a place specific in mind to meet at? Or are you planning to try and run me over again? ;)* she sent back. *I’m not sure I can handle another day of that.*

*Even with the personal chauffeur treatment? * he sent with a smirk.

*Oh, you mean you’ll carry me from place to place all over again?* she sent back with a grin.

*Should the lady wish * work was completely forgotten at this point.

*Be careful what you allow the lady to wish for…*

* Oh? Why is that? *

*You never know what she may wish for. It’s a dangerous thing, the female mind.*

* I think I can handle it * he sent back without a care. * So, how about some pizza for lunch? *

*I don’t know…You had a hard time with me speaking my mind and not blushing. Who’s to say you can handle it now?* she replied with a grin on her face. *Pizza works. Which place?* sent off shortly after.

* I can so handle you * he took another picture and sent it with him grimacing and flexing. *There is a place called Nick's, down on 8th. Heard of it?*

*Oh yeah...definitely can handle it...I think I have a menu of theirs; Been meaning to stop in. Nick's is perfect.* she sent back, saving the picture (after ogling it for a good bit).

* Ok then we can meet there at noon? *

*See you then, barring no one else bowls me over on the walk that way,* she sent back with a smile.

*If they do then they have to answer to me * another picture snapped of him brandishing a fist. *See you later*

*Oh, well now…now why would they have to answer to you?* she sent back, unable to hold in the giggle that tumbled freely from her lips, causing a few of the employees to look at her in an odd fashion. Glowering at them with a lack of real force behind it, she put the phone down and pretended to be doing something important.

* Part of that business package we talked about last night. Until such a time as you fire me, your safety, wellbeing and happiness are my concern. So, if someone were to bowl you over, then they would have to answer to me * all very matter of fact.

*But then comes the question…mixing business with pleasure is a very risky thing to do, is it not? What happens if there’s a conflict of interest? How can you guarantee my happiness, safety and wellbeing if your services are called elsewhere?* she sent back.

* You are my one and only client, so no worries there * reply sent quickly.

*We’ll see if it lasts. With how…inclusive your package is, I’m sure you’ll have other clients chomping at the bit ;)* came another reply.

* Not as many as one would think. The current tally is one.... lol *

Her brow rose, narrowing her eyes at the screen while she mulled that over. *Really only one? This isn’t one of those games were you divide the number by five and square root it before subtracting one, is it?*

* I work with numbers for a living, I would never joke about their true value*

Visibly facepalming, she let out a sigh. He really is just as….innocent as I thought he was…but how the hell did he manage that?! He’s…him! came an exasperated thought before sending off a reply. *So lucky number one then…lol looks like I get to break in that package deal, eh? You’ll get to carry me around often…to ensure my happiness and safety, and wellbeing…yes…*

Unfortunately, or fortunately for Elijah, certain words stuck out in the message. The context of which caused him to blush and feel very self-conscious of how tight his pants were that day. * If that is what the lady wishes...*

*Quite the “As you wish” moment we’ve got going here…So if I wished to jump off of a bridge, would you jump with me?* she sent back.

*Never been a fan of bungee jumping, but I suppose for you I would give it a go lol *

*Who said anything about a bungee…? ;)*

* hmm...well in that case, that would be something I would have to refuse because it would put not only myself in danger, but you as well. So, no jumping off of a bridge*

A frown played out on her lips. *Even if it wasn’t high enough for a bungee, you’d still say no? Well…we’ll just have to warm you up to the idea, somehow.*

The idea of anything that involved her and getting warm made him smile, * If you say so. Lol *

*I most definitely say so. But, don’t worry, there’s a ways to go before any bridge jumping happens…It is cold, after all. Can’t have you catching the flu because of my negligence* she sent again, work hopelessly forgotten as the checklist in front of her went ignored.

* Well, if you promise to take care of me, it can't be all bad. Right? * Work was the furthest thing from his mind at that moment.

*I don’t know…Even if I took care of you—and I’m an expert at making Chicken Noodle Soup—I’m not sure it’d be worth it. Snot, stomach aches and shivers aren’t really the most fun, regardless of who’s taking care of you.* she sent back, though the thought of taking care of him didn’t seem too terrible.

*We would just have to wait and see, no?* he sent back. * I would take care of you if you were sick *

*That’s sweet :)* she sent back. *Though, I’m not sure I’d let you; I’d likely quarantine myself off and not see the light of day for a week or so. Whatever would you do without me for an entire week?*

* I'd still come and visit you every day and if you forced me to be away from you, I would just sit by your door and read to you * The smile that he had was whimsical, and distant as if he pictured it at that moment. *Flowers would be brought to, so that on the day that you felt better, you would have fresh flowers there to greet you outside your front door. *

Reading the message, it gave her pause, eyes widening, the smile on her lips growing tenfold. The visual the text gave her was a sweet one, something seen in a chick flick or daytime television. *Are you sure you don’t belong on some Lifetime movie set somewhere? Lol* she asked with a laugh. *These answers are too good to be true.*

* I don't think I could be in movies...get all shy in front of a camera. And well....you see how I blush....* he sent back. * But, I think it is because I just speak from the heart *

*You’re fine in front of the camera when taking pictures for me…* she replied with a grin. *And that blush only makes you more appealing. Sidenote, you should get snapchat.*

* Taking a picture is one thing, trying to act is another. Think I am too honest for that. * he sent and then right after. *What is snapchat? *

*Snapchat, an app that allows us to send pictures back and forth, captioned, doodled on, and they vanish so the embarrassment doesn’t follow us for the rest of our lives What do you say?*

* I was not sure until you said that the embarrassment would vanish. So, I just do a search for it? * the app store already pulled up and the name typed in after he sent the text.

*Good. Now I can thoroughly embarrass myself and not worry about the picture lingering long after I’ve sent it!* she sent back. *So…getting as much work done as I am?* she sent after, noting the clipboard in front of her, neglected.

* What is this thing called work? Lol * he sent while the app installed. A ping from his phone and he found her contact information in the app. A request sent to be on her contact list, * We should just blow off work and go to lunch early. Cause it is not like we are doing anything for work at the moment lol *

Getting his request, she accepted it. *Oh should we? But…what would you say to leave? I’m sure your boss wouldn’t want you skipping out for an early lunch with little ol’ me.*

* something important came up * He sent and then took the time to take a picture and send it. Caption read “Sooo hungry!” which accompanied him with a frowny face.

Laughing at his picture, a hand having to come up to quickly stifle the sound, she sent back her own snapchat, this one a short video of an eye roll (though still stifling the laugh simultaneously) captioned, *If you insist*

The eye roll had him laugh aloud, which caused Tim to rise from his seat and look down at Elijah with an amused face. * I do. Meet you at Nick's in....30? * message sent and already out of his chair to let his boss know he was taking an early lunch.

*Meet you in thirty* she sent back. Then it was a matter of doing some last minute work so that they wouldn’t be lost. After that, all she did was pull on her coat, write a message so they’d know she was leaving early for lunch, and start walking. Though the walk was a longer one, having to change her shoes again (because she didn’t want to fall on the walk over, nor did she want to jinx her luck by trying the walk sans boots), her mood was light, happy. Humming the last song she’d heard on the radio at the shop before leaving, Chrys made pretty good time, arriving to Nick’s just shy of the thirty-minute mark and rushing inside, hastily brushing the snow out of her hair to try and salvage her appearance.

“Again,” he said from behind her. “You beat me. I swear you made up the whole being new to the city thing and know of short cuts that I am not even aware of,” he laughed. “ Shall we?” he asked while he grabbed the door handle to open it for her.

She jumped, having not expected him to pop up directly behind her, so completely intent on getting the snow out of her hair that she hadn’t heard him pop up. A laugh loosed, followed by a nod. “I believe we shall,” she answered, doing the curtsy again and stepping through. “Thank you.” Shrugging her coat off as she found a booth, she replied to the other part. “Not that I was making it up; More that…once I figure my way around, I get there no issue. You caught me on an…off night.”

Despite the weather, he wore no jacket or even sweater. For him to sit it was mostly just a matter of shrugging off his backpack and placing it into the booth that they claimed as their own. “Oh? Is that what it is? Well, then if I am not to be your guide, what purpose does the lady have for me?” he asked with a grin just as the waitress walked up to take their drink order. “Water for me please,” he said with a glance in his direction.

“Oh, no, no I still need directions, don’t worry,” she assured him with a wave of her hand, ordering a water for herself, as well. “Besides, there’s plenty the lady still needs…General company would suffice, or maybe directions to the movie theatre on Saturday? I’ll be needing help with those…and, you know…the pain is just so much, I’ll need you to carry me around to make sure my wellbeing lasts as long as possible…Might even need someone to keep me warm with the big storm blowing in later this week. Lots of things the lady would have you do; Just a matter of you being available for it.”

He cleared his throat to try and cover up his blushing about the keeping her warm comment, though he was pretty sure that she noticed anyway. “Oh, well good. I would hate to have no purpose in life,” he joked and looked over the menu. “Ever have a calzone?” he asked to try and get some not so awkward conversation going. Mostly he sought to have anything that did not make him blush.

The blush was noticed, causing her eyes to drop as a knowing smile slid over her features. “A calzone?” she repeated. “Aren’t those just pizzas folded over on themselves and sealed?” Her head tilted to the side, eyes sliding back up to his. “So…that blush…is that saying you’d rather not help me stay warm? I could always just…layer up, snuggled up on my couch alone with blankets and some movies, watch the snow fall, that sort of thing…”

“What! No.no...no....” he stammered to answer, the question about the Calzone ignored in light of the more pressing comment. “No. The thought of keeping you warm in the cold is actually something that sounds very nice and desirable....I just....” he shrugged and felt his face heat from the blush that would not leave him be. “I am just not...very experienced with that....kind of....thing...” he managed to get out, though it followed another throat clear.

“As for the calzone,” quick to try and change the subject. “Yes essentially, though for some reason, at least to me, they taste better,” he explained while he looked up from his menu to meet her gaze.

Adorable… That’s the only word that came to her mind consistently when thinking about Elijah, in regards to his general demeanor. Sometimes, he was confident, and others he’d blush vibrant red. A man that muscular, that large, blushing like a school girl…was adorable. “You’re not experienced at sitting near to someone, sharing warmth?” she continued, head tilting a little further, before scooting further into her booth. “Perhaps we should practice then…Right now.”

“Umm....um....well...” he stammered for a bit, though he did rise from his side of the table to join her. The blush was bright on his face and he could not help it, for it only got worse as he slid into the seat beside her. “So...um...how about a Calzone and we split it?” he offered with only a bit of stammer in his voice at the beginning.

For a moment, she didn’t think he’d come to her side of the table, his stammering and hesitance worse than she’d seem from him previously. But, he did rise, and he came over to her side, though his face was brighter than most fire trucks she’d seen. Adorable… “Sounds fine to me,” she replied with a smile and a nod. “…But you know, you don’t have to sit over here if you’re uncomfortable,” she added. “I promise I won’t beat you if you’d rather sit over there.”

“No, I just....I am nervous...” he shrugged and tried to relax. “I really am more confident behind a screen of some kind,” he teased himself with a side glance in her direction.

His teasing was met with another smile, but she didn’t press the issue, instead glancing around Nick’s, not surprised to see it so empty given the weather and time. “So, got comments on your smile at work, huh?” Chrys asked, changing the subject. “Did anyone decide to comment when you left for lunch early?”

“Yes, Tim commented on my smile, then said something about me playing for the other team,” he chuckled. “And nothing really, since I never take an early lunch or anything, think he more surprised that I had something other than work to do,” another laugh at himself. “What about you? Anyone say anything to you?”

She shook her head with a laugh. “I think a few were more surprised that I wasn’t keeping them on target today…I was far less focused than I normally am, so a few of the not-so-early birds got passes. Then there was the time I laughed and a few of the people milling about looked at me funny…Otherwise? Nothing.”

The waitress came up, pad in hand, ready to take their orders. “Have you two decided? Or should I come back later?” she asked, smile given and pen at the ready.

“Well I know we’re doing a calzone of some kind, but I’m not sure if we ever decided on a specific kind,” Chrystal replied with a laugh. “Did you have a preference, Elijah?”

“Oh, well I am sure that they enjoyed the bit of a reprieve,” he joked. When the waitress approached he looked up from the menu and smiled, not even noticing the way she smiled back at him. “Yes. A beef and ricotta cheese calzone. Can we have it cut in half please so that we can share?” he asked.

“Of course, deary. It will just be a few, ok?” another smile thrown his way but he had already turned his full attention back to Chrystal. “This should be something that you really enjoy,” enthusiasm in his voice.

“I can’t say I’ve ever had it,” she replied with a light laugh, his enthusiasm infectious. “But, I like the two on their separately so I’d imagine it’d be just as good in a calzone.”

Picking up her water, she took a sip, analyzing him in a sidelong glance. He looked cute in a sweater vest, with the tie, button-up shirt…She was surprised he’d not bothered with a coat despite the weather. Though, he had felt hot, at least to her, but that didn’t say much. “Now….what do you want to talk about? We’ve covered…work…usual nightly schedule… ‘business arrangements’…”

Elijah mused for a moment then gave a shrug, “Do you have any siblings?”

That was the first time that she faltered, eyes dropping while she thought of how to answer it. “One,” she finally answered. It wasn’t a lie, she really did have one…Whether or not she was even still alive after what happened, she wasn’t sure. It’d been ages since she saw her last. And you’ve got Annelise and the others, she reminded herself. Or will…and I can’t ask him if he has his as I already know the answer to that…So what to talk about now… “Favorite memory?”

It was the first time since they had met that he saw her falter. And the way she did not elaborate told him he had hit a sore spot with her and thought to say something on it, but then she changed the subject and asked him a question instead. Now it was his time to falter as his favorite memory had his mother in it.

“When I was little my mother picked me up from school early and we drove around for a long time, just taking in the sights and enjoying one another's company,” a smile came to his lips about the same time as the faraway look in his eyes. “Then we went for Ice cream and watched the sun set,” he looked over at her then and her smile got a little sad. “We had been evicted and she did not want me worrying, so she treated me to the best day ever, so that I could be a brave and happy boy.”

The memory was a sweet one, one that had her completely focused on him, resting her chin on her hand, a light smile on her lips until he mentioned the eviction. She’d never been evicted. She didn’t know how her family was, but the memory she had was of a family that didn’t wont for money.

As her mind wandered, no longer was she thinking about his story, but about her own. About her life, her family, how long it’d been since she’d seen them…since the incident happened. To think she ran away from her family, when Elijah had lost his own…it made her feel worse. The smile melted from her lips completely, shaking her head to get her mind focused again, sipping off of her water so that she had something to do. But, even that was short-lived as she hastily replaced it on the table, needing to keep her hands in her lap until her emotions resettled.

“Now…”

The waitress appeared again with their calzone, far sooner than Chrystal had expected. She set it down, smile broad, putting the plate before her and another in front of Elijah, her attention and smile lingering on him. “Is there anything else I can get you? Anything at all?” she asked, overly friendly. A mild look of amusement came across Chrystal’s eyes as she watched the near desperate attempt made to stay longer than needed.

“No, thank you.” Elijah said without more than a simple glance in her direction.

“Now....we eat and enjoy this food and then we talk about what super power we would have if we could have only one,” he said with the biggest grin in the world, then proceeded to cut into his food.

She didn’t cut into hers. Not right away. Instead, she watched his complete obliviousness as the woman continued to stand there a little longer, waiting for him to change his mind. Pushing a stray hair behind her ear, she looked a little let down. “Well, if you…if you change your mind, don’t hesitate to ask for anything. Really…anything…”

And then she was gone, leaving Chrystal to watch him idly for a while until eventually dropping her eyes to the plate. “So…you really didn’t notice that?” she asked casually, cutting into her food finally.

A long string of cheese had been left in a trail from his mouth to the plate and he had a very confused look on his face. “Hmm?”

A grin pulled at the corners of her lips, eyes glancing up at him for a brief moment, gesturing at the cheese with a nod. “You’ve…got a little something hanging from your mouth…” she commented, before answering his question.

“I meant the waitress. You know…lingering…smiling at you, hoping you’ll ask for something from her, anything to give her an excuse to hang around…possibly even a phone number…How could you not notice that? I mean, an attractive guy like you is bound to be used to this attention, right?”

Still confused he wrangled the wayward cheese string, “Not sure what you are talking about...” he looked over his shoulder at waitress then back to Chrystal. “She was checking me out?” voice full of unbelieving and confusion.

“Noo....I mean at least I don't think that I get that kind of attention?” he began to blush from the line of questioning. “I don't think I am attractive or anything...”

“Oh, she was more than checking you out…” Chrystal assured him. “Besides, with the way that you’ve talked about that co-worker of yours, you can’t tell me it’s a shock that people find you attractive…Your smile…eyes…muscles…personality on top of that? People would be crazy not to find you attractive…I’m willing to bet that she’d have sat right down with us and shared your calzone if you’d asked, without question.”

“Tim is hardly a woman to be used as a comparison,” he said with another shrug. “I mean he is gay and all, trying to convert me to his “team”. So, him noticing my smile is entirely different then if a woman were to notice and say something....right?” he asked confused and embarrassed.

“…..Does he only notice your smile?” she asked. “…Or does he notice when you dress a little nicer? When you get a haircut? Him noticing your smile isn’t so different as he notices it for the same reason I do and the waitress did…Otherwise, he’d not try to convert you…”

“Well...I...um...sometimes do make some effort in my....um...appearance. To see if he says anything...and um...well he did hook me up with his tailor....” he stammered out.

That earned him a smile. “So you share a tailor…with the man who’s trying to convert you to his team…and you didn’t think that…after the comments he makes…that it was for the same reason any woman would? I mean, you share a tailor with him…you don’t think they might…talk? Make him all the more eager to turn you?”

“Noooo! Not until now!” Elijah could feel his face red with embarrassment and uncertainty. “Man....now I need to get a new tailor. I thought that he might have been measuring my inseam....” he buried his face in his hands and sighed.

A hand reached up and rubbed his shoulder, trying to hold back her own laughter at the situation as a whole, at his reaction to the realization. “Relax……” she started, the humor evident in her voice. “Take it as a compliment and move on! Really, it’s not as bad as you think…Just means you’re desirable, right?”

“I guess....but...I mean...my inseam. I know that I have more than average and he had to like...work around it but still.....” he sighed and shook his head. “And I have to go back to work to see him again....”

A shake of her head before pulling him into a hug, she let out her own sigh, still trying not to find the whole thing funny. “I promise, I’m probably making it out to be worse than it actually is…” Chrystal tried to assure him, a hand smoothing over his back out of habit, mind still going over the ‘more than average’ comment. “I doubt they gossip like Valley Girls and Tim likely doesn’t know the…extent of your inseam…”

“But they do gossip! I just tend to ignore it, because I sit at my desk and eat lunch most days,” his complete focus on this whole conspiracy to convert him to the gay side had him not noticing the hug.

Pulling back enough to look at him, forcing his eyes to connect, she just met his gaze for a moment. “Please…relax, Elijah…I didn’t mean to freak you out like that, really…I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think it is…” she tried, her voice losing all humor, and actually concerned that he was so panicked.

“Sorry....” he sighed and composed himself. “Geez, I sound like some panicking coward or something...”another sigh and a half smirk. “So...um...you think that I am attractive?” he asked as he tried to change the subject just a bit.

A light laugh as she relinquished hold on him completely, going back to her food with a light shrug. “Do you really have to ask?”

“I think so...” he grinned already on the verge of relaxing, though he might still look at Tim differently. “What does hopelessly adorable mean to you?”

“The same thing it means to me when I think it about: you’re hopelessly adorable…inconceivably adorable…simply put, the epitome of adorable,” she answered without hesitation before taking a bite of her food for the first time since they’d gotten it. “This is really good…I’ll have to remember it for the next time I’m craving pizza.” The last she added with a glance in his direction and a smile.

“Tim called me hopelessly adorable and now you are saying I basically embody adorable...” he scratched his head and shrugged. “I am not sure how I should take that, but don't most men want to be not adorable?”

“Well, it’s not that it’s a bad thing; Means Tim thinks you’re cute…but I could call you something else, if you’d prefer? How about ‘Ruggedly Handsome’? Would that better suit your manly side?” she asked, a bit of a teasing air to her words while maintaining a serious edge. “But…the blushes…and that shy smile you do…it is kind of adorable. Can’t really be helped to get such a name when you give smiles like that…or that stammering thing…I quite like it, but ‘Ruggedly Handsome’ it is!”

“I think you are enjoying this conversation quite a bit,” he laughed and went back to eating, truth of the matter was that he too enjoyed the conversation; a lot. “So, what are your plans after work?” new topic thrown in before he focused more on eating.

“That is part of your business package, isn’t it?” she replied in kind, with a grin. “Part of my wellbeing is making sure I’m happy and enjoy myself and this conversation did that.”

Nothing more was said for a while, merely enjoying her food, and his company. Did she have any plans after work? The usual: takeout and television. Quite the social schedule you have going, she thought wryly before shrugging. “My plans are the usual. I know, I know…I’m terribly busy and you’ve no idea how I can handle such a schedule…But it takes dedication and attention to detail. An art learned through years of menu-perusing and remote controlling,” came her joke with a shrug. “You?”

“Oh yes, so busy,” he chuckled. “I am going to probably work out and then make my nightly rounds on the streets,” he took a bite and chewed it before he spoke again. “What do you think about maybe, joining me? We can do dinner again afterwards, this time you can pick the place. What do you say?”

“I don’t know…” she started, picking up another bite and chewing on it thoughtfully, drawing out the pause while she “thought” it over. “If you continue to spend a good portion of your time with me, won’t you grow bored, sick of me, far sooner than not? Besides…You nearly had a panic attack on me a short while ago. Perhaps you need a break to recover.”

“Hey, I mostly panicked as most of my shirts are very form fitting and now I wonder if he is going to be checking me out...or not....” he pouted slightly then shrugged. “Besides, I am sure that you want to like...make sure...I am...safe at night? Yeah that's a reason!” he grinned then went back to eating.

“But…you have the penis…the…apparently more than average…inseam…You should be safe, shouldn’t you?” she questioned, while taking another bite. “That is, of course, the reason you gave for me to not be out alone, despite you being alone and safe.”

“Fair enough,” he said as he tried to think of another reason to speed up their second official date. “How about, just because it would be nice to have someone to talk to on my usually lonely walks through the city?” he offered with what he thought was his best smile. “Company is always welcomed on cold nights,” another smile given.

Debating, she wasn’t sure she wanted to see him doing his good deeds…not yet. She already had to fight off fits of guilt enough without watching him firsthand. On the other hand…she liked spending time with him. He made her smile, whether it was with his stammering and blushes, or with his moments of confident banter. “…What time?” Chrystal asked, considering going against her better judgment and accepting his offer.

The smile at her answer could not have been smaller even if he had wanted it be, which of course he did not. Instead, “About seven? That should give me enough time to get home workout and shower then meet you at...a...place of your choosing?” he offered with a huge grin already too excited for his own good.

That smile had her melting, almost jumping at the offer too eagerly. Instead, she nodded, keeping her demeanor calm, cool, and collected. “Alright, seven o’clock it is,” she replied. “We’ll meet by the…old movie store? The one that shut down by the grocery store? We could meet there and then wander around while I keep you safe from any predators…and warm from the cold. Sound good?”

“Sounds perfect,” the smile seemed to now be a permanent fixture on his face. “Until then, expect to be molested via Snap Chat,” he said without thinking then took a bite of his food. “Or....did I mean harass?” a shrug given before he went back to his food.

It took every ounce of will she had not to burst out laughing at the sudden mention of molestation via SnapChat. This meant she focused on her food and her water for a good bit, pushing it around as she kept her breathing even so as not to burst out laughing…And then she commented, as casually as she could, “So….I’ve now learned you plan on molesting me…via SnapChat…Didn’t realize that my wellbeing included molestation.”

Once again, the waitress came up, Chrys catching Elijah’s eyes knowingly and glancing up at her with an amused smile. “So, how is everything here? Do either of you need anything?” the woman asked, clearly only speaking to him, eager eyes waiting for anything he may need.

“Um...nope. Honey,” his use of the word intentional while he draped his arm over Chrystal's shoulders. “Do you need anything else?”

If she hadn’t already been trying her hardest not to laugh before she popped up, she might have laughed at the sudden use of “honey”. Then, there was the option that she could play dumb, watch him flush and try to recover while she became almost desperate to land him after Chrystal denied what he’d said. But…as much as she liked seeing him embarrassed and off his game, she felt like playing along.

Her hand crept up his thigh, coming to rest on the upper of it, leaning more into him as she glanced from her to him. “Mmmmmno, I think I’m good,” she replied.

The look the waitress had was priceless. It was so crestfallen, so let down that she barely mumbled anything, her attempt at saving face failing miserably before hastening away in the blink of an eye. “…And you think people aren’t attracted to you…she nearly died when you dropped the ‘honey’,” came her remark, not moving away just yet, far too amused by the situation to think about it.

“Yeah, that was pretty fun and obvious. Is it wrong that I enjoyed that quite a bit?” he asked with a smirk that was perhaps the first devilish one he had ever shown. “Because, I really did,” he chuckled and then took complete note of their closeness. “Was this the whole keeping you warm that you had in mind?” he asked somewhat coyly.

“Possibly…though I don’t know…” she started to answer, hand remaining on his thigh though her thumb slid over it in a repetitive, subconscious motion. “You said you didn’t have experience with this sort of thing, so I’m expecting you to somehow trip, despite sitting down and manage to run me over again…since you’re just so…inexperienced at sharing warmth and all…”

The hand on his thigh was not missed and he felt his heart rate pick up just a bit, “Really? You don't have that much faith in me, huh?” he asked. The hand he had on her arm mimicked the actions of her thumb on his thigh. Fingers soft, hesitant almost as they were moved up and down along her arm, “I know I am clumsy, but I am not that bad. Am I?”

It was nice to be this close to her, to share in the...warmth of the moment with her. Sure, he himself thought that he would ruin this moment somehow. That he could indeed trip and fall into her, or knock something off the table onto her. All he could do was hope that he did not do this and their lunch continued to be pleasant.

His fingers started moving along her arm, and the sensation was nice. Light, and causing tingles to follow the trail of his touch, it had her heart jump, though she outwardly remained the same. “No, you’re not that bad. If you were, I doubt we’d still be this close. But it was you who said you had no experience in this area…” she pointed out, with the lightest of smiles on her lips. “From where I’m sitting, though, you seem to be doing just fine.”

“Am I?” he asked with a coy smile. “Perhaps, it is because I have you to guide my actions?” he offered with a slight shrug. He did not say much else, instead he just sat there and enjoyed her company, for how long he was not sure, but eventually the check was brought and he was forced to remove his arm while he fished his wallet out from his pocket. “So, snap chat for the rest of the day and then dinner later?” he said as if to just confirm their plans.

“Of course,” she said. “Whatever would you do without me?”

When the silence descended again, it was a nice silence, a comfortable silence, one that she could enjoy easily as she relished in his company. What she enjoyed even more was the look on the waitress’s face as she brought the check over and hastened away with little more than a mumbled remark about the check. And then his arm was removed and she almost thought about telling him to put it back, that she wasn’t through yet, but she held her tongue, gathering up her things instead. “Sounds almost perfect,” Chrystal confirmed with a nod, fishing through her own purse for her wallet, taking out her card and putting it on the check before he could manage it.

“Forget my own head if it were not attached to me?” he joked and stopped the awkward fumble for his wallet that was stuck in his pocket, at least until he stood up. “This impromptu lunch was nice,” he said out of the blue, along with a smile that was genuine and honest. “I doubt that I will get much work done at the office, but I expect to have fun regardless,” emphasis added to the end as he gave her what would come to be known as his signature coy smile.

His sudden comment was met with a smile of her own; Where it’d been small, a flicker of a smile, it grew into a larger smile, with just a hint of shyness. Standing herself, and slowly shrugging on her coat, she nodded with a light laugh. “I didn’t get much work done before lunch, and I’m guaranteed to get even less done now…But this was nice; I had a good time,” came her reply. “If I didn’t need to make sure others did their work, I’d just call and say I wasn’t coming back so that I could make sure you got no work done with hilarious snapchats to distract you while you tried to work.”

“Oh, really?” he asked. Now he stood and shouldered his bag, “You would make sure that I got no work done, huh? What if....I....turned off my phone, then what?” He would never do this of course, but he was interested to see what she said about it.

Her face took on a crestfallen look, lip going slightly pouty as her eyes dropped for a moment, arms wrapping about herself. “…You’d…” she started, glancing up at him before looking away again. “…You’d turn your phone off and…ignore me?” Her voice got quiet, stepping around him as the dejection continued. “…I guess there’s nothing left to say except…I’ll leave you to your work…”

Just like that he began to panic, “Wait! What? NO...no...no...no... I was only playing! Please, no I did not mean for you...or that I would really....” he stammered and went to grab her arm, so as to halt her exit.

The stammering was adorable, almost making her break character, but instead she kept up the rouse, letting him grab her arm, but not bothering to look back. “No…really…it’s fine, I understand…So, I’ll let you get back to work…and sorry I bothered you…”

“No....” he practically pleaded. “I really was just joking, Chrystal. Please don't go. I am so so sorry...” he was about beg fully if need be, as he saw himself about to lose someone who had the potential to be more than just a friend.

The waitress had heard the commotion (as they were the only ones in the restaurant at the time), and was practically hanging on every word, leaning on her station with rapt attention. Chrystal eyed her, dropping the façade and turning around to throw her arms around him in a tight hug. “Elijah, Elijah, breathe…” she started, holding him tightly. “I’m not leaving; I was teasing, and apparently my acting was far better than I expected…” Pulling back just enough to look at him, she gave him an apologetic smile. “Really, if I were leaving over you turning off your phone to do work, then I’m not worth your time.”

The sigh and smile of relief that he had was nearly palpable, before he scoop her up in his arms, “You are starting to be a difficult client.” He leaned over so that she could grab their boxes before he headed to the door, “You think she is dying from jealousy, yet?” he asked when they exited the store and he carried her a bit more before he set her down.

A laugh tumbled free as he scooped her up, clinging about his neck with one hand while grabbing the boxes with the other and situating them on her chest. “Oh, she’s definitely dying from jealousy…” she commented, having caught sight of her face as they left, feeling the daggers thrown her way as they left. Once her feet were on the ground, she pouted again, this time making sure to be comical with it. “And I’m being difficult? Would you rather I be easy?”

That easy comment and how it was said was not lost on him, which made him blush something aweful. “N..noo...” he said then cleared his throat and looked away. “Easy would be that waitress, right?” he asked just to confirm his first attempt at social understanding.

This time, she laughed more freely, uninhibited. “Exactly, she would be what is considered easy,” she replied, a hand reaching up to caress his blush. “You really are ruggedly handsome. you know that?” Though she used his new “nickname”, it was said with the same tone as when she’d previously called him “adorable”. “…Blushing again and all…”

The new nickname, said in the same tone as his previous one, did nothing to help the situation. If anything, it only made it worst for him. Now, with what he could swear was a beet red face he could only cough, clear his throat and attempt to change the subject. “So...um...how do you feel about animals?” he asked at random, eyes cast mostly to the light traffic as it passed by in the street.

When the nerve would return he would meet her own gaze once again. It would be these moments, that the confident male would be present. The one who was sure of his actions, who would not slip and fall, or do anything that would be considered embarrassing or clumsy.

The subject change wasn’t missed, earning him a coy smile before a light shrug moved through her shoulders. “Depends on the animal, really,” she answered. Something in his eyes had changed. One minute, he was blushing, shy and stammering, and the next the confidence was back. Interesting how he flips like that… came an intrigued thought. “Why do you ask?”

“I've always wanted a pet, but never had the time for one. Or, at least the time that I felt they deserved to get from me,” he further explained. As of yet he had not noticed what direction they had started to walk in. Whether they headed to his work, her's or neither was yet to be discovered. Hard to pay attention to where a person goes when so focused on just one particular thing...or...person.

“Whereas I never stayed in one place long enough to have a pet. Made no sense to get one, and then move around with it. I’d have felt guilty dragging them around whenever I left for a new place,” she answered, not really paying attention to where they were going, and not really caring. If she got back to work late, the other employees wouldn’t mind; It’d mean they had a break. If she didn’t go back that day, they’d be all the more happy.

“If you could get a pet, what would you get?” she asked then, curious if he were more of a cat or dog person.

“I was just about to ask you that,” he laughed. “A dog. They just would suit my whole active lifestyle, you know?” he asked but then went on to further explain. “Probably one of those active breeds. Like a Husky or something. That way when I go on runs I can take him with me and even on my nightly rounds through the city to help people. I am sure that would even help the people, you know because of that whole thing about therapy with a dog,” the excitement in his voice clear as day, as if it was something that he thought about it often.

And, just like that, she was reminded of how good of a person he was. Her steps slowed a touch, if only so that her mind could catch up with what he’d said, and focus on not giving away her sudden influx of guilt. A therapy dog… she thought. Of course. Not because you want a companion, but because you want a therapy dog for other people…For the love of all that is ****ing holy. The excitement was reciprocated with a smile, one that reached her eyes with a fair amount of effort, but it was there, nodding in response and checking the time before checking her surroundings.

“I’m not even sure which direction we wandered in…Where’s your job from here?”

There was something about her, though what that was he was not sure. He got this, well feeling, that his lifestyle for some reason upset her. How that could be he was not sure, then again he more than likely read more into the odd feeling that he felt. A mental shrug and he focused on her question instead, which caused him to glance about the area for a landmark or two.

“Hmm....I think that it is....that way?” he pointed off in the opposite direction. “Which way to your job?” he asked.

“If I told you which direction, you wouldn’t have to wander around aimlessly to find me later,” she answered with a quick smile. “Suppose I should let you get back to work, huh?”

“Here I thought that I was being clever, “ he grinned. “Um, well I suppose, though are you sure you remember which way is back to work? I mean I am at your disposal after all.”

A laugh. “I can find my way back, though your attempt to figure it out through direction and offer to help me find my way is duly noted,” she answered. “Can you find your way back to work? I can’t have the insurer of my happiness and wellbeing getting lost.”

“I may get lost, so maybe you should walk me just to be sure?”

If anyone at the office saw them together there would be **** and a lot of it, if only so that they could tease him and give him flack for not introducing her to the rest of them. Especially Tim, whom he was a bit unsure of his actual motives when it came to Elijah as it was.

“Hmmm…walking you to work?” she repeated. “That sounds like a tall order…but I guess I can help you with that this time. That means that I can ‘not stalk’ you, should the urge to visit you at work with takeout happen.”

Another smile, hand held out for his. “So, lead the way?”

“Not sure if that is able to be considered stalking when I would welcome the company and the attention,” he chuckled. “I am sure my co-workers would enjoy that too much,” another chuckle while he walked. “You know, for someone who was so difficult in the beginning with me even learning her name, you have really opened up to this whole spending time with me thing.”

The tease was harmless in its intention, just more of his attempts at playful banter and fun with her. Perhaps, if his confidence built, he would try this out with a few others. Even Tim.

It was that alone that made her rethinking how much time they were spending. They should be taking it slower, but he was always so…adorable, and eager, and it felt good to have someone want to spend time with her that didn’t want her abilities. “Perhaps I should pullback a bit then…clearly I’ve become too easy…”

“Oh no,” he stated and grabbed her arm as if to keep her physically there at his side. “That line has been crossed and we are now friends so you have to hangout with me. It is in the fine print of our contract,” matter of fact tone emphasized with a firm nod. “No pulling back now,” he stated then blushed. “And...I just realized how bad that kind of sounds....”

His hand grabbing her arm she hadn’t expected, but now it had and she was stuck walking insanely close to him…while he continued to talk in what could be misconstrued as something far worse than it actually was. “So…this is the line that was crossed? I’m surprised I haven’t crossed any others as I clearly can’t be bothered to read fine print on documents I don’t remember signing…Hmmmmm…” A pause. “You drugged my thai food, didn’t you? To make sure I’d sign without issue!”

That earned her a fairly hearty and deep laugh from Elijah as he felt that he knew she was joking, or at least he hoped that she was joking. “Oh, yeah. While you were looking right at me the whole time, I used my mental powers of awesome to hypnotize you while I drugged your food. Yep, so simple it was.”

“But, on a serious note, do you think this is too fast? I honestly, never had to think about whether something was too fast or not....” tone more curious than concerned.

A shrug moved through her shoulders while she glanced up at him and then back ahead at their walk. “Well, we haven’t defined what ‘this’ is, so it’s hard to say if it’s too fast or not. You’re trying to get to know me, and I you. It just happens that we talk frequently. Do you think whatever this is is too fast? Or normal for friends getting to know each other?”

It was a question that he took some time to answer, “Well, if this was an online thing, we would have shared every bit of traumatic life experience we could think about and then we would fangasim over some piece of nerdom history, followed by being BFFs forever.”

“So...according to that, we are not going too fast. I don't think so, which means we are good,” voice confident as he explained his train of thought and hoped he did not sound as nerdy as he probably did sound.

“But this also isn’t the internet,” she reasoned with a perked brow, looking in his direction again. “We met…two days ago? And we’ve already had dinner together, lunch, planning on dinner again, have a date planned for Saturday, and are texting nonstop. Is that how it’s been with you and other friends?” Her tone wasn’t anything bad, no ill intentions in her words, but instead just curious if that was the norm for him.

“I don't have many friends...” he said with a shrug. “I mean I have online people that I talk to on occasion but it is never as frequent as what we have been doing. Hmmm....” he paused in thought once again. “Maybe...we are going too fast....”

What was too fast and too slow he could not be whole sure, but he worried that there was the chance that he could somehow ruin it with them talking too much and being too involved with one another.

That had her stopping, to look up at him, giving him her full, undivided attention. “Do you think we’re going too fast? In your honest opinion…no maybes, no ‘possibly’…Do you think we’re going to fast?”

Now he felt like he was under a hot lamp, being interrogated about some crime that happened and they wanted to know where he was on Friday night. “It does not feel like we are...” he answered after a moment, though his hand came up to scratch the back of his head. “I like this, whatever it is and don't want it to suddenly stop. Rather just see where it goes, you know?” he finished at last.

His answer was…sweet. Though she was worried it might be a little too fast, she couldn’t deny that she liked whatever it was that was going on. “Well…then we can continue to see where it goes…” she answered quietly. “How else are we going to figure out whatever this is and where it could go if we don’t see it through?”

“Right!” his demeanor chipper and relaxed once more. “I mean, nothing says that we can't slow down later if we have to, right?”

“Well, it’s not like we’re really moving fast,” she reasoned. “We’ve not kissed, we’re not all over each other; We’re merely enjoying one another’s company, even if on a nearly constant basis. So, shall we continue our walk or do we have anything else we need discussed? I wouldn’t want to make you late for work, after all.”

Kissing!

The concept alone had crossed his mind, but he had not thought that it was something she had thought about as well.

“Um...Kiss?” he asked. “Um...you think that is a possibility?” he managed to not stammer as much as he thought he would given the content of the question. A small victory for himself.

His reaction, the small pauses, the “um”, though the lack of stammering was an accomplishment in her mind, an adorable accomplishment. “Is kissing a possibility?” she repeated. “Well, that depends…can you handle kissing? You blush at a moment’s notice, and sometimes you’re confident while others you’re shy. The question really becomes do you want it to be a possibility.”

“Well....” he began and gave a shrug while he looked away for a moment. “I had thought about it...once...or twice. So, then...it would be something that I would want to happen...” it took just about all that he had to not stammer all to hell. It felt like he had to think out each and every single syllable before he spoke. When they parted ways he would likely hide out in the men’s room for a brief moment and just have a mini freak out.

She let the answer sink in, drag out the silence that settled in after he admitted he’d want to kiss her. But, rather than verbally reply right off, she gave him another hug and backed up a few steps, as though to leave him to his walk and start the trek to her own work. “The day you get comfortable enough to try kissing me…I may just let you; I’ve already kissed you on the cheek, so it’s up to you to up the ante.” With a grin, she took a few more steps back. “I trust you can find your way back to work from here?”

The hug was returned though he was still in a state of shock and uncertainty, “Yeah....I'm good from here.” A more confident smile finally given, “With some luck and a hope that day should not be too far off. Text me?”

“What’s luck got to do with it?” she called over her shoulder, having turned on heel to walk back work, grinning all the way. “And maybe I’ll text you. We’ll see.” That was her last remark before turning down an alleyway and disappearing, forcing herself to keep her steps light despite the overwhelming urge to skip and hum the entire way back.

_________________

At the office again, it was obvious that something was up. A light skip in his step, practically whistling as he made his way back to his desk. Backpack tossed under the desk, fingers drummed happily on the top while he looked over some paperwork.

“So...” Tim began as soon as he popped his head up over the wall. “Was it lunch with Chrystal, with an h?”

“Yes, it actually was,” mood so upbeat that for the moment he forgot about the teasing he suffered at her hand about Tim's true intentions.

“I would ask if it went well, but from how you practically floated on air when you strolled in, I will just go out on a limb and say it did,” he chuckled.

“It did and it looks like it is going to continue going well,” a smile that reached nearly from ear to ear seemed a permanent fixture on his face now.

“Good for you, Elijah. Nice to see you happy,” Tim's final remark before he disappears back behind the wall.

Alone with his thoughts, he tried to get back to work, though he did check his phone relentlessly just encase she sent something that he might have missed.

Back at work, her phone remained untouched next to the computer as she banged out some of the work that she’d been leaving be for the entire morning. A few of the employees watched her curiously, walking by her desk one too many times to see if they could catch site of what she was doing, only to be disappointed that she wasn’t doing anything of consequence in their mind. Just work, a shocking concept at work.

“Excuse me, Miss?” she heard, finishing what she was typing while glancing up at the gentleman that’d asked her attention.

“Can I help you?”

He smiled and nodded. “I was looking for a book in th-“

“I’m sure one of our associates would be more than willing to help you out,” she answered without thinking, going back to her work before he cleared his throat again. Another glance up and her head tilted a bit. “Yes?”

“I’m sure one of them could help, but, truth be told it was just an excuse,” he replied, a hand rubbing the back of his neck as his smile turned slightly shyer.

“An excuse…” she repeated.

“Yes, to talk to you,” he finished, as though it weren’t obvious.

Getting up from her desk, she smiled her usual smile when dealing with a customer, and gently took his arm to guide him toward another of the associates. “Amanda would be more than happy to assist you in anything you may need. Right, Amanda?” Chrystal asked without waiting for confirmation, wandering back to her desk and settling in. Then, even though a few hours had gone by, she decided to text him.

*Getting anything done? Or were you checking your phone for my text like I envisioned?*

Hope had just about been given up when his phone went off and Elijah once again had to play a game of Catch that phone!. Lucky for him he seemed to be on his way to the pros. The message was read, a smile brought to his lips while he looked at the stack of reports he had yet to go through. *I got a bit done.....and there was some phone checking. *

*How about you? Were you actually working? Or were you like trying to resist the urge to contact me?*

*Some phone checking? If it was only some phone checking…maybe I’m not as wanted as I thought I was…* she sent back, resisting the urge to put a smiley at the end of it and neglecting to answer his own questions.

* FINEEEEEE....I checked it like a thousand times....* he sent back, though the smile never did leave his face. * I swear you can read my mind or something. *

*;) That’s what I thought. Don’t downplay it; Honesty is always the best policy* she sent back with a grin, hiding behind her computer’s monitor. Then, as an afterthought, *So, how much work have you neglected? If you want, I could let you get back to it. Wouldn’t want to distract you too terribly much.*

* Work is already pretty much shot to hell for me today and I am not even remotely mad about it lol* now fully kicked back in his chair he gave up on work and focused more Chrystal, which is where his mind had been for the bulk of the day anyway. * Anything interesting happen since our parting? Perhaps the pope came into the store to buy a Karma Sutra? Lol *

*The Pope coming for the Kama Sutra…no, but I think some of the priests did. Or was that too far?* she sent before following it up. *Only thing even remotely interesting is someone trying to chat me up. Apparently you and I are on the desirables list today. You had a waitress, and I had a man come up to me with the excuse of needing help for a book he couldn’t even name, just to talk to me. Lol.*

An emotion, a feeling he had not felt before came forth at the thought of someone else trying to pick her up. There was no reason to feel this and no real right for him to feel that way, not like she belonged to him or anything. * That makes sense as to why we are together. You know two desirable people should be together. It is the logic of it all *

That had her brow raising a touch, glancing around for a moment even if no one there would have any idea what she was reading or discussing.*Together? But we aren’t together, are we?*

* Not at this very given moment...but we will be later. Right? *

*I don’t know…will we?* she sent back.

*Yes....unless the Pope comes in to hit on you too *

She paused this time, before taking a picture of the man who was still lingering in the store, sending it with the caption: *Still have some competition, it’d seem, since this guy hasn’t left yet. Could go for a round two.*

Again that feeling and his thumbs moved before he even thought about it, * Maybe I should just...you know...show up...Chase the creeper guy away... *

*How can you show up at a place you don’t know? Someone feeling a little…jealous?* she sent back, highly amused he was already feeling the need to chase people away.

* Me Jealous? Not even sure what that words means....* he lied of course.

*Well…if that’s the case…Guess you wouldn’t mind if I spoke to him?* Getting up from her seat, she took a video snapchat of herself walking up to him and reaching to tap him on the shoulder, the video cutting off.

Unsure of what to do, but knowing he had to stop her somehow he hit call on his phone. What he would say when she answered that was a horse of a different color, but he just could not let her go and talk to some guy who had tried to pick her up.

Right?

The phone startled her, nearly dropping it as it caught her off guard enough to have her darting behind another book display before nonchalantly making her way back to her desk. “You rang?” she answered.

“Um...yeah....” he managed to stumble out. “Just wanted to hear your voice and stuff....” another fumbled lie or more half truth.

“Well, I am at work…and trying to help a ‘customer’ find that book… but I’m flattered you wanted to hear my voice,” she commented casually. “Is there anything that I can help you with? Shouldn’t you be working, anyway?”

"I was actually wondering if you had a book there," he began. "A first edition copy of Knights of the Round table, I forget the author. But, could you look for me?" ignoring the question about work for the moment.

“Perhaps you should have called on the landline then…but then, that’d mean you had to know where I work, like the gentleman I was about to talk to before you called. This wouldn’t have anything to do with that…would it?” she asked instead, ignoring his question completely.

“I am not going to lie,” he stated then paused for a moment. “It does. I just did not want you to talk to him,” voice confident and sure of himself. “At least not without me being there to...well properly plead my case.”

“Properly plead your case?” she repeated, perking her brow as she settled back into her seat. “What case?”

"My case to be the one....seeing you? I guess would be how you phrase it."

A smile pulled at her lips, lower being nibbled on thoughtfully. He wants to plead his case to be the one seeing me…even if we’ve only met a few days prior and nothing’s even remotely official… “So, you want me to wait until you’re off work, and hope that he’s still here…so you can plead your case for something we’ve not even begun to talk about?” she asked, a light bit of humor in her voice, the smile clearly evident.

"Yes. I think that is only fair, I mean you were there to well stake a claim with the waitress. I want that chance as well," he said in a matter of fact tone.

“I’d like to point out it was you that initiated the claim-staking. Your arm was draped over me long before I played along with it. You broke out the ‘honey’ and paying attention so intently, not I,” she replied, the tone of her voice turning into more of a grin.

“I was not there to see her, I was there to have lunch with and talk to you. I wanted her to understand that very clearly. That I was not interested in the slightest with her,” tone calm even and still confident.

Leaning back in her chair, the man still in her sights (even if she’d not intended to actually talk to him), she pretended to mull it over. “Hmm….Admit it one more time that you were calling solely to keep me from talking to him…and I won’t.”

"I panicked at the thought of you talking to another man and instantly dialed you to prevent that from happening."

The smile that’d been on her lips grew all the more, heart rate rising a touch as her mind wandered. “You really panicked?” she repeated, voice on the quieter side. “…Well, if it makes you feel any better, I wasn’t actually going to talk to him; Just wanted to see what you’d do if I mentioned it. Nothing about him appealed to me. At all. You’re safe.”

"So, there are things about me that appeal to you?" he asked. "Like what?"

“That’s for me to know,” she answered easily, glancing around to see if anyone was paying attention to her. “Shouldn’t you be working? Not talking to me?”

"Eh, work is boring and you are not. Plus, long as you are talking to me creeper guys should leave you alone. Since you could be on an important business call, right?" he asked.

“Not necessarily. Being on a personal phone doesn’t look too professional when in a bookstore. It’s not as though I’m some head exec that has her own direct line to things,” she reasoned. “But, if you’re not going to work…what’s the point of staying there?” Her tone was more curious than anything; Playing a sort of devil’s advocate, as it were.

"Long as I am here I can pretend to work and well, what am I to do in the middle of the day if I am not at work?"

“I don’t know…” she replied. “Come to stake your claim on me in a shop you don’t know the location of? Whisking me away for something more fun to do? Go save a cat that’s stuck in a tree? Loads of things you could be doing.”

A soft laugh, smile clear as day in his voice. "Hmm...well, then you should give me that address so that I can come and do all of those things. Well, most of them, I can't control the actions of cats."

“What’s the fun of telling you where I am? Wouldn’t that take away from the thrill of the hunt? Or…did you rethink wanting things to be easy?” came her reply, a subtle laugh in her tone as she reclined all the more, keeping the customers in her sights, just in case (the man in question, included, as he’d yet to leave).

"True, but there is something about at least giving me some clues and allowing me to find my way to you? That would be fun and not too easy either. What do you say?" he offered a compromise.

“Hmmm…” She went silent for a while, trying to figure what she could say without giving too much away. “I could say it’s not too far from my apartment…within walking distance that I don’t bother with public transport during my ‘commute’? But not close enough that I can see it from my place.”

"Landmarks, perchance?" he asked.

“There’s a florist en route…and one of the many stereotypical Asian seamstress shops. Does that narrow your search?” she asked, tone thoughtful.

"Hmm...a bit. Any parks nearby?" he asked.

“A small one. I’d barely consider it a park, more of a small spot to sit in with a few flowers and a bench or two,” she answered. “That’s all I can say. If you can find me, wonderful. If not…I may just have to help out this customer in the interim…” And with that, she hung up.

The hunt was on, it would seem. An excuse given to his boss, wave to Tim who gave him a look that only made him roll his eyes somewhat. Already his phone was out and he began to pull up the various businesses and locations in the area. Cross reference that with the local bookshops and soon he had a general area to look in.

Robotic directions given through the headphones, a store here and a store there, but he at last came to the one he thought was her's. All of this was tucked away while he entered, eyes glancing about the general consumers before he stopped someone whom he thought worked there.

“Excuse me?”

“Yes,” the young woman smiled at him.

“I am looking for Chrystal Jenkins? Does she work here?”

“You would be?” now curious of this man asking for her boss.

“Elijah Maddox,” his hand extended to take her own in a formal introduction.

“Oh, um. Just wait here a second, ok?”

“Sure thing.”

Amber eyes followed the woman as she walked off until he was unable to see where she disappeared to, which left him with a chance to check out the store more closely.

Focusing on her work for (what she hoped) would be a brief interval, she halfheartedly listened to the rest of what was going on around her. The rest seemed to have it sorted: the little old lady who wanted a self-help book, the kid who couldn’t reach the books on a taller shelf, the gentleman still waiting for a legitimate excuse to talk to her or for her to come out from behind her desk. Fingers gliding across the keys, she actually got some work done, occasionally glancing up to see if she caught sight of anyone resembling Elijah.

“Chrystal!”

Eyes snapping up at the girl who seemed to be impatient for her attention, as she assumed the poor girl had been trying for her attention for a good few minutes, she shook her head. “What is it?”

“There’s an…Elijah Maddox to see you?” Her voice turned curious, a giddy sort of curiosity that came with women who had the equivalent of a high-school crush. “Is he a…boyfriend of yours?”

That earned her a look, as she got up from her desk, walking around her without glancing back. “Tell him to meet me by the rare books section? I think that I found his inquiry.”

The other man, too, caught sight of her darting down the many aisles and followed suit, this time with a book in hand and a prepared excuse to talk to her about it, completely unnoticed by Chrystal. Her focus was on finding the book he’d mentioned as his first excuse to talk to her, knowing they had a copy somewhere that he may, at least, appreciate seeing even if not serious about buying it.

The woman returned and instructed him where he could find Chrystal. A glance up at the signs and he found the section along with Chrystal.

“Found you,” he said with a smile while he came up beside her. “Your directions were actually very good and it was rather fun to do the whole, hunting you down thing,” he smirked. “So, shall I whisk you away now or later?”

Just as her hand touched the binding of the first edition, a voice caught her attention and pulled her attention, the man who’d only just come up on her other side completely forgotten as Elijah spoke. Her lips parted to reply, ready to say what she thought would be witty, only to be interrupted.

“Whisk her away?” the man repeated, weaseling his way in between the pair as best he could, book in hand, eyes confused and still clinging to hope. “But…she was helping me with this, and I needed her to finish helping me find the rest of what I need. Right?” His eyes sought hers, and she glanced around him to Elijah to see if he’d do anything to dissuade him. After all, he’d wanted his shot to lay claim.

There was a small moment of confusion and even hesitation in his eyes, before the confident side reared its head once more and Elijah smiled. “Ah, yes. We were due for a late staff lunch and I joking refer to it as whisking her away,” hand extended and quick to grab the other man's. “The name is Elijah and you would be?”

“M...Mark,” the stunned customer stammered.

“Mark, let me see here...” book taken from his grasp and the title reviewed. “Oh? This series! It happens to be one of my favorites and is in the section over there,” hand gestured to some aisles away. “Let me help you,” he started to lead the man off to one of the other section.

Her eyes would have widened then, if it’d not have given him away. Instead, she nodded and allowed Elijah to lead him away while disappearing to another section entirely, waiting for him to come back around.

“So, who’s that?” the girl asked her again, seeing him leading the customer away and jabbering at the poor guy.

“That would be a friend,” was all she said, pretending to be enthralled with work.

“A friend who suddenly works here?” Her brow rose.

“He was helping me out,” Chrystal said in a dismissive way as the other shrugged.

“Helping you…right…more like helping himself out,” was the last she said as she left to go to other work, leaving Chrys to keep peering around the corner at Elijah while halfheartedly fingering the bindings of books, pretending to care what was on them.

After a few moments and a lot of random comments, Elijah finally left the confused man in some section of the store. That done he returned to last place he saw Chrystal, “Chrystal?”

"You sure you don't want to work here?" she joked, peeking around the corner, before motioning him over. "You seemed to handle that customer...interestingly."

“Maybe,” he stated then grinned. “That would probably though be moving forward too fast,” he laughed and smiled. “So, where would you like to be whisked away?”

“Well, you put all that effort to scare this guy away with whatever mumbo jumbo you threw at him, so…now, unless you want him to take another shot at the claim you’re trying to stake?” she replied with her own grin, walking away to her desk to get her things. “Where are we whisking away to, anyway?”

“Not sure. I do not generally do much or take many days off, so how about we just walk and wing it?” he asked.

Grabbing up her coat and slipping her arms into the sleeves, bag slung over her shoulder and shoes replaced for boots, she shrugged. “I suppose walking and winging it is good,” Chrys started. “So long as I don’t freeze since we’ve established that you’re…not up to keeping me warm yet.” A glance at him with a rueful wink before leading him out of the store, she held her coat in tightly against the cold; Not out of necessity, but solely for the normalcy of it. “Which direction would you like to start in?”

“Hey now,” he began while he followed after her. “I am working on that whole...warming you up thing...” he blushed just a bit before he looked about the place. “This way,” and walked in a direction that was opposite his work and different than the direction they went for lunch. “That guy was actually worse than me when it comes to the whole awkward situation thing,” conversation started at random while they walked.

The blush didn’t go unnoticed, a knowing gleam in her eye as she glanced at him for a brief moment before focusing more on where they were walking. “And he was?” A gasp was given. “I didn’t think that was possible! I feel…faint!” Holding that for only a moment longer, she burst out laughing. “In all seriousness, he seemed rather…certain of himself talking to me. Maybe it’s just you that he’s awkward around.”

“Really? So, either I like infect people with awkwardness,” he smirked. “Or, I am intimidating?” he shrugged. “Which one do you think?”

“Your presence can be…intimidating, if carried correctly,” she mused, another shrug moving through her shoulders. “Perhaps that’s what keeps you from getting mugged while out and about, not the penis part. I just have to be more intimidating.” Then, giving him a look, brow perked, she tilted her head. “I can be intimidating, right?”

“Oh yeah, the most intimidating,” he smirked. “I mean you are able to make me beg and plead with nothing but a look, so that would mean you are pretty intimidating, right?”

“So, I could scare anyone off with a look? Or, I can get what I want with a look?” she pressed, a light grin of her own, because either way…it could work to my advantage…but you didn’t seem to have such faith in me the night we met…”

"Ah, well that was my mistake with the whole thinking that because of your appearance and me thinking that someone would want to hurt you because of it," he smiled. "So, more that you can get what you want with a look. Yep, that one."

Her look turned into a more…intense curiosity. “And…if I wanted someone, not a something, do you think it’d work the same?” she asked, tone casual despite the intense curiosity in her icy depths.

"Yes," answered without hesitation. "I do."

“And, it would work on any someone I wanted?” she pressed, her steps slowing just a touch so as to give him more of her attention, devoting less of it to the snowy and icy ground beneath her feet.

"Yes," again answer given freely. "Why is that surprising?"

"For the same reason that it was surprising to you the waitress wanted you," she answered easily, resuming her pace and letting the silence lapse once more.

For some reason that was far more curious than he thought he would feel about it. The fact that she did not understand, or did not see the potential and power that she had over people... Even if she wanted to argue the point that it was only him and no one else, the guy in the bookstore would have been more than enough proof of her effect on people.

“Ever been iceskating?” he asked suddenly.

The subject change was noticed, but she didn’t say much on it; At least, not on the literal change of it, but she did answer his question. “You could say that,” Chrys replied. It’s true, she’d been sort or ice skating. Translation: She’d tested out powers, found her ability to create ice and used to run and slide across it, while pretending to actually skate. But, ice was her element, her power. How hard could actual ice skating be? “Why? Are you any good?”

"Somewhat. There is a place in the park we can skate and then maybe go for some hot chocolate?"

The idea of having hot chocolate was less than desirable, given she’d never quite mastered the ability to keep drinks hot. In fact, the idea of being hot for any given amount of time was always taxing, so she’d never opted to drink anything hot, not even for show…but after a long day of skating, normal people got cold, so hot chocolate would make sense. “Sounds perfect…except I don’t own any skates,” she replied. “Is there at least a place to rent some?”

“All of that is taken care of there,” he smiled and with a bold thought, extended his arm for her to take while they walked to the park.

“Taken care of, huh?” she repeated, eyeing the arm, considering it, but instead taking a few steps ahead so she could walk backward and talk with him simultaneously. “And just how is it taken care of, good sir? A client needs to know what she’s getting into, does she not?”

A bit put off that she turned down his offered arm, it took him a moment to recover before he merely continued on with the walk. “Well, there is the place to rent skates. The place to sit while we put on the skates that we have rented and then there is even a place to sit and drink hot chocolate when we are done with falling on our butts in front of complete strangers,” he explained, hands now tucked in the pockets of his jacket.

She could tell he was put off, but it was how she worked. Get close, dance around the subject, and then dance away from it just as fast. It was what she did. If he were the man she thought him, he’d recover. “Hey, who said I’d be the one doing the falling?” Chrystal countered, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I may flail ‘gracefully’ and take you out, but I’ll keep standing! I don’t fall on my butt; I glide to the ground in style.”

A chuckle or more like a snicker, he just shook his head. “You say this, but then again you are also the girl with no experience. Plus, in case you have forgotten, I have a great center of gravity. So, you will be the one to fall. Unless of course I go out of my way to catch you and make sure that does not happen,” the grin playful and confident, already over her dismissal of his gentleman like behavior.

“I never said I had no experience,” she countered, raising a brow and taking on an exceptionally confident look. “Besides, as you said, I’m your only client. My wellbeing and happiness are in your hand, I don’t think breaking my backside on the ice is good for my wellbeing, do you?”

“True, but then I get to take care of you which would mean some serious overtime. That is something that I can live with and maybe even enjoy,” he grinned and continued to follow her. “So, how much experience have you had?”

Overtime he’d enjoy…Wonder if that would include warming up, or if he’s still thinking on that, came an idle thought. “I didn’t say I had experience, either…” she commented offhand. “Just that I didn’t have no experience...Why? Were you a figure skater in another life? Will you be doing loops around me, spinning all graceful while I just try to stay up?”

“Why do I feel like I am talking to someone who is like, the glass is half empty, but also half full? You say something but then you don't say something,” he chuckled. “And no, but I have been skating for a bit. I enjoy the exercise and the fun. I have taken a few of the foster kids to skate a few times, you know just to give them that moment of normalcy that they are lacking in their current lives,” he explained.

And, just like that, she was reminded of Elijah’s status, of how good he was, and the feeling of guilt was all the worse. Taking foster kids skating so that they could have normalcy in their lives…Is there anything he doesn’t do? “Like I said: I have to keep the mystery up. I can’t have you knowing how I think and how I view things or the air of mystery diminishes and the woman behind the fog is revealed.” A waggle of her brows later, and she slowed down, falling into step beside him. “So, how much further?”

“Ah, right. The whole thing of mystery thing that you continue to keep up. To try and keep me interested?” he asked though he choose to answer her question before she could answer the one he gave to her. “Not much. Tired of walking already?”

“Of course not; If I were tired, I’d make you carry me again. Or, is that off the table?” she countered with a laugh. “I was merely curious, but, where curiosity killed the cat, I’ll have to watch what I’m so curious about.”

“I would carry you and protect you from whatever may happen to you,” he assured her. “After all it is my job and you did sign that contract, right?”

The steps carried them into the park and only after but a few more steps they were at the location Elijah had in mind. Before them stood a pond frozen completely over, the surface perfect from afar though one could guess it held its own bumps and imperfections. Couples of various, skill and relationships skated about seemingly oblivious to the rest of the world around them. Old couples who had been together for year and years. Young newlyweds perhaps, who still enjoyed that fresh newness that came from a new relationship. Those who were now on a first, maybe even second date with a keen desire to not mess up and embarrass themselves to the point of friend-zone. Then of course there were those who were just friends, trying to help one another but at the same time sought to make their companion fall for the sake of a video to blast all over social media.

For all of his social awkwardness, Elijah seemed to have picked a place that was the epicenter for close social interactions.

“This way,” he said with a gesture to the small shack by the pond that housed those who sold the skates. Some bit from there was a small outdoor cafe' where the patrons of the pond could go for a hot beverage to warm up. Especially if they suffered a fall or two upon their backsides.

“I need a size 12 in men and she will have....” his voice trailed off as he waited for her to tell the booth attendant her show size.

All she did was grin at that, continuing to walk beside him in comfortable silence until she spotted the pond, a sense of relief filling her. She’d envisioned a stuffy, overly perfect rink in the middle of the park, kept smooth by a Zamboni. But no, to her pleasant surprise it was a pond that had its imperfections, had the ripples solidified in ice from the water’s edge as ice took its hold. It had bits of what lay floating on its surface as everything became frozen in time.

It made her feel all the more at peace.

Breathing in deeply and letting out a sigh of contentment, she followed him easily, though her eyes remained transfixed on the pond. Only when it hit her that they were waiting for a response did she turn back with a smile. “A size eight, please,” she asked, a hand making its way about his arm without even much thought, focus back on the pond.

What little worry she had about falling slipped away. Even if she wasn’t the best skater (and she was, by no means, even remotely close to the best skater), she could even things out a touch…flex her powers a bit; That always kept her calm, and it’d give her an outlet for all the nervous excitement she seemed to be harboring.

The hand about his arm was not missed and he hoped that no one noticed the blush he felt creep up upon his cheeks. The clerk cleared his throat and Elijah paid the rental fee, then took the ticket they would use to check their own shoes and went to find a bench to change.

“Ok, so....I might have lied a bit about my skating skills....” he began while he swapped a shoe for a skate and then did the same to the other. When she looked up, he explained further, “I won a gold medal in the winter Olympics....”

“Oh, did you?” she replied to that, after getting a seat next to him and switching her shoes for skates. What little “skating” she’d done was shoe to ice, practicing her control, but to have actual blades would be interesting. Halting her actions she gave him her full attention for that brief moment. “And, did you know that I lied as well? My name’s not Chrystal…” Dramatic pause. “It’s the Queen of Sheba.”

He grinned, “Well then your highness, we shall enjoy ourselves quite a bit today, no?”

With that he stood and took their shoes over to the shack to be stored until they were done skating. A graceful bow at the waist from Elijah, before he stepped onto the ice promptly slipped and fell right on his ass.

It was a slow to grow laugh, starting silently as her shoulders moved with the motion of what could be presumed laughter, though no sound came. Then, it was quiet, the laughter so much that she could barely breathe and, because of this, hardly any sound escaped. And then it became uproarious, doubling over as she laughed, entire body into it, pointing even if her eyes were closed as she just continued to laugh at him.

Even when she started to recover, she continued to laugh, standing and offering a hand to help him up. “Serves you right, Mr. Olympian!” she managed to squeak out between laughs.

All he could do was laugh along with her at his own fault and failure. “I meant to do that,” he proclaimed proudly while he struggled to get to his feet. “There was a stick in the ice and I tripped over it and....” he began to stumble through a half ass excuse, though he merely joked. “Can you do any better, my Queen?”

Taking hold of his hand, she tried to pull him to his feet, but the stumbling was too much. Had she let go soon enough, he’d have fallen by himself, but…His weight was too much, off-setting her own too much to keep standing, causing her to fall along with him in a fit of laughter, hardly able to breathe while she just stayed there. “Apparently not!”

There was not much else to say and he was so caught up in the fit of laughter that he could not even begin to think of anything else but how silly they both looked. She atop him a mess of laughter and he just there on the cold ice, not a care in the world as he laughed his ass off. The other patrons of the pond looked on for a moment, then just shook their heads and left the two where they lay.

“Ok, so want to try that again?” he asked.

Nodding once she had the ability to breathe again, she braced on the ice and tried to get up. “Alright, let’s try this again,” was all she said as she pushed herself up, using the picks on the front to get a steady enough grip on the ice that she managed to stand, holding her hand out to him for the second time. “I can’t guarantee we’ll stay up long, but I’ll try to pull you up again…If you don’t wobble too terribly much, we should be good!” came her chipper remark, the remnants of her laughter still in her voice, smile broad on her lips.

“I make no promises in regard to my fat ass,” he chuckled and took her hand to try this standing thing once again. It took a bit of effort, mostly on his part as he did not want to pull her down with him, but eventually he was on his feet once more.

“Ok, so would this be a take three?” he asked, a smile now firmly frozen on his face from the sheer amount of fun that he had with her; even if most of it had recently just been on the cold ice.

“For you, it’d be take three,” she replied matter-of-fact. “For me, since I only fell the one time trying to pick you up, it’s my second, and that’s me being generous.” With a wink, she mentally braced, eyes looking at him, but mind focused on the ice.

It was so rough, so bumpy. Though the seasoned skaters were managing well enough, they’d already proven to fall more than skate, so she started smoothing it out. Nothing would be noticed, not to him initially, anyway. But, in reality, from her feet outward, the ice began to glisten just that little bit more. A trick of light, perhaps? Something of a glint from the shack selling the skates, or a shimmer from a passing skater?

To the untrained eye, it’d almost be akin to a frosting, to too many skaters passing over its harsh surface and shaving layer by layer off.

Her hand leaving his—partly to try skating on her own and partly to keep from feeling too cold to him while she worked—she moved just that little bit away. Occasionally, she’d glance back while gliding across the slowly evening pond, arms wobbling to keep balance when she did so. Not falling yet! she thought to herself with relief. Good start!

“How’re you doing back there?” Chrys asked with a grin over her shoulder.

Now back on his feet he stood there and watched her for a moment. This would be his third, as she generously put it. So, there was time for him to just stand there and watch her. It was weird that he found her actions to be...well...cute. As she moved and kept her arms out to the side for balance, the slight wobble in her arm and the uncertainty he sees in her actions. All of them were cute to him, endearing really and he wondered more and more just what it was about her, about the two of them that had caused this odd spark of a relationship to start.

At her question he began to skate, this time with a bit more skill than before. Especially over the place where she had been. It seemed to be smoother, at least to him or maybe it was just a matter of him being more comfortable on the ice.

“I am actually not doing so bad now, I think your comments and assistance earlier have paid off,” amusement in his voice while skated a bit ahead of her.

Watching him skate passed, she had to shake her head. My assistance…you have no idea… came a humorous thought. “Don’t get too cocky now…never know if you’ll hit a bump!” Pushing herself to skate a little faster, she tried not to flail so much, forcing herself to push the ice a little more, to make it smoother. Just that little bit to help so he wouldn’t be too bruised by the time they were done.

However, trying to keep up with him while doing that was proving more difficult than she realized, so she let herself glide, giving herself a push here or there to keep moving while she focused on smoothing out the ice. But that focus proved to be faulty, missing a bump that her skate hit, catching her off guard, and causing her to fall. Another fit of laughs consumed her as she just lay on the ice, not even bothering to attempt to get back up yet.

The fun that came with skating with her could not even begin to be measured. A glance over his shoulder and he was able to see her as she fell. By the grace of some god he was able to keep himself from laughing, at least a lot. A chuckle still escaped as he made his way back over to her, “Had a nice trip?” he asked with a smile.

“Oh, it was lovely!” she replied amid the mirthful laughter. Reaching a hand up, “Mind helping me up?”

His hand extended for her to take hold, but then paused “Did you bring me back something?”

“I did, yes…” Grabbing his hand and using all of her weight, she yanked him down into the pile. “A trip for one!”

As he was so far bent over there was little that he could do to save himself, except to at least attempt to catch himself so that he did not crush her completely. The laughter started before he even made contact with her body and once down there is only got louder. “We are certainly a sight, huh?”

She just laughed for a good while, lying beneath him on the ice, not even caring what the others would think of her right then. For once, she was having fun without thinking about how things looked to others, and was glad for it. Only when he brought it up did she nod, still laughing though fighting it a bit more and hazarding a look around to the other skaters. Most just smirked and shook their heads, while the others ignored them completely, lost in their own conversations.

“Definitely,” Chrys agreed with a nod, keeping relatively still despite the laughter. “But that’s fine. I’m having loads of fun, even if I’ll be bruised later for it. What’s your policy on bruises?”

“Hmm...” he mused, his hands used to push himself up while he pondered her question. “I think we have a booboo clause that allows you to have kisses and of course being carried while they heal. Not to mention the complementary hot chocolate,” he grinned and began the task to get to his feet.

That had her grinning, brow quirking as she watched him struggling to get back to his feet, making the task more difficult by keeping hold about his shoulders. “Oh, the booboo clause…so that means you want to kiss my ass where all the bruising will be?” she asked mischievously.

A smirk he gave, though the blush still crept up on his cheeks, “Perhaps...” He grabbed her about the waist and lifted her as he stood. “Is that what the lady wishes?'

One arm remained about his neck while the other helped to push off of the ice and assist him in standing. “I don’t know…I may just take you sharing your warmth with me when this is through; Maybe I’ll have you kiss a bruise or two. We’ll see if you can handle the heat-sharing first, and work our way up?” A light laugh as she pressed a light kiss to his blush. “You’re lucky it’s cold…otherwise, most would know you’re blushing at our conversation…or is it the proximity…or both?”

The kiss only fueled the blush and caused it to burn hotter upon his cheeks, “I think that it is a bit of both.” He finally managed to get out just as he stood, with her in his arms held somewhat against his own body for stability. “So, how about that hot chocolate and we can give our asses a break for a bit?” he asked with a smile.

Grin on her lips growing at his reply, at the reddening of his cheeks even deeper, she pressed another kiss into his cheek, and nodded. “I think our asses could use a break…so hot chocolate sounds good…If we can get off of the ice in one piece. I can’t guarantee I won’t drag you down again in the process,” she cautioned, glancing over his shoulder toward the hot chocolate shack.

Another kiss and he felt himself blush even more, “Well...if you trust me....I am sure that we can make it back there without too much trouble.” That said he turned her about on the ice, his hands still there on her waist, “Alright, now just....well hold still...” he said then pushed off with one foot and began to skate them back toward the edge of the pond.

“I dunno…I’ll try and trust you and hold as still as possible…”

With that, she kept still, but eased his travel just that little bit more. This time, since he was holding her, she’d have felt cold, colder than she was prior, but possibly explained away by the ice they’d just lain on. Ice smoothing, her body remaining still as her arms held him to keep with him without pulling him down, she continued her efforts until they finally left the ice, thankful for solid, smooth, not slippery ground beneath her feet. Even if it was awkward walking with skates, it was better than trying to skate on the pond.

“So, how’s your ass doing? Do you need some of the booboo clause, or is it relatively unscathed?” she asked coyly, mirth in her eyes.

The trip back was better than the trip out. Whatever had been wrong with the ice seemed to have corrected itself and Elijah actually felt rather accomplished with the fact that he had been able to help her get back without either of them falling.

“It is pretty sore, but I think I will live without the booboo clause,” he said with a chuckle. “But, I am not opposed to this whole warmth thing we keep discussing,” he grinned and gave a wink before he left her at a small table to go and get them each a hot chocolate.

Settling into the table, she relaxed a bit more, ankles given a rest now that she wasn’t trying to stand on a thin blade. But, just as she thought she was going to relax even further, her phone buzzed. Glancing down at her pocket, narrowing her eyes at it, she slowly removed it from her pocket.

“Looks like you two are getting cozy. Seems like you got over your aversion to this pretty quick. Drink some ‘hot’ chocolate for me?” it read, causing her to tense and glance up at their surroundings. She’d not seen Aerilynne, not once, since they’d gotten there, but she continued to know what they were doing and when. Craning her neck, and spinning in her seat to try and see where she was, a light frown on her features, as she quickly sent off a text back.

“Stalking doesn’t suit you…Why not come out?”

The next text she got back was quick, accompanied by a breath of hot air on her neck that had her jump, but when she turned there was no one there. “Not stalking when we both have an invested interest. I’ll see you around. Count on it.”

“And two hot chocolates, with extra marshmallows and whip cream,” completely oblivious to what had transpired. “I figured we deserved the whip cream for all the hard work we put in on the ice,” he joked, his seat reclaimed while he passed her the cup that contained her beverage.

Taking the beverage with what she hoped was the same smile she’d had before he left, she just held it. “Why thank you,” came her reply to that, brow quirking a bit. “I take it you make your way over there alright? No falling along the way or getting lost? Did any other people hit on you like the waitress?”

"Nope. No issues, I made it there without tripping even once," voice rather proud of himself while he removed the lid to his cup to aid in it cooling faster.

She didn’t even bother removing the lid, instead holding it as though using it for warmth. “Better than I would have done!” Chrys replied with a laugh. “Which is why I left it in your capable hands; You managed to get me back to the bank alright, so I figured the hot chocolate would be safe.” With a wink, she took her first sip and had to keep from curling her lip in distaste at it. It was just so…hot. And Hot Chocolate cold tasted disgusting in her experience. So, taking her lid off, she took a little of the whipped cream off the top with her finger.

“Alright, so, you take kids ice skating, volunteer, help those less fortunate…and you have a booboo clause…What else do you do, or have, that I might want to know about? Any other guys that hit on you that I may have to nonchalantly ‘stake a claim’ over?”

He blushed at her words and gave a small shrug, “Hmmm...not that I can think of, though I am happy that you feel you have to “stake a claim” on me. Makes me feel important.” A pause while he drank more of his own, “What about you? Anything else about you that you wish to share?”

“I didn’t say I needed to…just that you seemed to enjoy it the first time, and it may just get Tim off of your back,” she replied with a grin. “As for me, there’s nothing to share. You know what there is to know; My life is far less interesting.”

The longer she held the cup, the more she began to loathe that cup, the heat of it making her hands hurt, her arms hurt, so it was released, left to sit alone on the table’s top. “Anything you want to know? Or did you ask enough the last time we played the question game?”

“Did you really just come to the city to manage a book store? Or, was there another reason?” he asked somewhat boldly while he took another drink from his cup.

Oh, there’s another reason. I’m actually part of this coven that needs me to complete them, but before that could happen, I needed to be tested and you happen to be a part of that, only I didn’t know that initially; I was just meant to be closer to them, she rattled off in her mind. “I tend to float from place to place. My resume was up, I got called, and relocated.” A shrug. “What about you? If not for your grandmother, would you have moved elsewhere? Or stayed?”

“I might have moved elsewhere. I have always wanted to travel the world, to see the different cultures and I guess be part of those whole groups that help people rebuild from a disaster and stuff,” he gave a shrug and took another sip. “I just feel like I should help more people, do more for others and such,” he said in an effort to try and further explain himself.

She wasn’t sure why she was surprised by the answer, but she was. Perhaps it was due to the selfless nature of everything he said and did that shocked her, that everything he did was for someone else. Maybe that’s why she asked, rather simply, “What about you?” as though he’d know exactly what she were talking about.

“You mean stuff for myself?”

“I mean, you’re constantly taking care of other people, doing things for them…what about you? Who takes care of you?” she asked plainly, head tilting to the side as her hand went back to the cup for something to do, even if it was uncomfortable.

This he pondered for a long moment his mind focused on just who it was that took care of him, before he finally shrugged. “I don't know....I guess no one...” he said after a moment, his gaze left her own to stare down at the cup in his hands.

“When was the last time you did something for yourself?” she pressed, tone quiet, the smallest of frowns on her face.

"When...I....bought a book...." he answered slowly.

“…How long ago was that?” she asked again, voice even quieter.

"Been....a while...." he said carefully. "I think a few months...."

That didn’t surprise her…not that it’d been a few months, nor that he seemed to lack the thought about it before she brought it up. He was just so…singularly focused on everyone else. “…If you could do anything, anything at all right now…what would you do?”

This caused him some paused as he thought it over and then with his gaze back on her once again, “Kiss you.” Simple statement given only after a brief moment of hesitation on his part.

…And just as the other answers hadn’t surprised her, his sudden turn for the bold did. In the blink of an eye the tables were turned, her heart’s beat picking up just that little bit more. “…So why don’t you?” she asked then, eyes remaining on his, voice barely above a whisper.

The smile that crept onto his lips was a small one, shy at first but it shifted along with the look in his eyes. Carefully he pushed up from the table, leaned forward his lips paused just before he connected with her own and then with care he closed the distance between them.

It lasted but the span of a heartbeat and when it ended he slowly withdrew and sat back down. Nothing else was said, instead he just sat there and smiled.

The look in his eyes was something she hadn’t expected. Shyness, yes, an inherent quality of his, but an adorable one. When it shifted, though…she found her breath hitching just that fraction more, her lips parting while she watched him come closer, pause just before their lips touched, and then her head went light.

His lips were softer than she thought they’d be, and when the kiss was done, she almost wished it’d lasted that little bit more. But, he’d already sat back down, smile on his face, and it left her looking at him for that breath longer, teeth embedding in her lower lip. “So…anything else you wanted to do?”

“Hmm...not embarrass myself for a change in front of people?” he said with a small chuckle and a shrug. “But....I don't know. If I am not helping people I think about maybe having my own family someday. Once my grandmother passes on it will just be me and I don't want to be alone for the rest of my life,” another shrug and he picked at the rim of his cup slightly.

And, with that, her heart broke a little more and the guilt became almost unbearable. “You won’t be alone for the rest of your life…” came a quiet comment before she shook her head. I can’t do this…I’ll look for someone else. “I, um…I need the ticket to get our shoes…”

_________________

His face fell, as he felt like he ruined whatever moment they had shared with one another. “Um...yeah...sure...” he said and fished the ticket out of his pocket to hand over to her. When she left he stared after her and felt like he again embarrassed himself or did something wrong. All he wanted was to share with her and express how he felt. But...apparently he had been wrong....

The hot chocolate before him became bitter and so he left it there to cool.

“Thank you…” came her mumbled reply, taking the ticket silently and walking carefully over to the booth to get their shoes. She dragged it out a bit, trying to come up with some excuse to leave. And, had it not been for his shoes, too, she would have just left right then, but she couldn’t leave his shoes there, either.

Walking back up, she put his down by him and sat down on her side of the table, taking her skates off and putting the boots on. “I guess I’ll…” Then, with a shake of her head, knowing she wouldn't see him around (couldn't see him around), she left. Slow, but left, forcing herself to not even look in his direction, unable to.

Something had happened. He had said something and ruined it all.

Worst of all he was not even sure what it had been.

Hastily he went to put on his shoes, the skates thrown into the table caused the still mostly hot chocolate to spill. Some of it got on him and produced a hiss of pain, though the moment of brief while he rushed off to try and catch her.

“Chrystal! Wait!” he called out to her. “Please...don't go....”

For the smallest moment, she thought he wouldn’t follow after her, and there was a brief sigh of relief. Even if she wanted to continue anything with him, she couldn’t. It needed to end. …And then his voice reached her and she continued walking, not looking back, refusing to look back. “I have to,” was all she offered him, voice sounding pathetic even to her. Please please please, just let him take this and that’ll be that…

“Why?” he asked the pain and confusion in his voice. “What did I do? I'm sorry...”

Her steps faltered, slowing to a halt and looking down at the ground at her feet. “You…you didn’t do anything,” came her reply, shaking her head. “I just need to go. I just…” Needing to look back, against her better judgment, she stole a glance. “I don’t feel well and…I don’t want to get you…sick…”

“Let me walk you home at least....please?” his voice full of unspoken emotion. “I just want to make sure you are ok...”

“Really…I’m…I’m fine…I’ll just get myself home and…you can…” A pause, glancing back at him again with a look that was pained, sad. “I’m sorry, Elijah…”

“Chrystal...” he began then stopped as he thought about just what to say. “I don't know what changed between us, but I don't like it. I want us to be friends and perhaps....well who knows. Let me walk you home at least, ok? We can all off the plans we had for tonight and just see each other again on Saturday like planned....ok?”

He wanted that to be ok, he wanted her to agree to that at the very least. It would give him some time to figure out what happened. To try and fix whatever he broke.

A hand rubbed up and down her arm. That’s not a good idea… she thought, shaking her head. Him walking you home will be awkward, will lead to you changing your mind…but the way he’s reacting… Her mind quieted, looking back at him again, with some hesitance. “…You can walk me home…” This is a bad idea; Such a bad idea… but she was going to do it anyway. If only so he’d feel whatever semblance of comfort afforded in at least walking her home. She didn’t touch Saturday’s plans, not even wanting to think about breaking him any further telling him those would be off. That could wait just a little bit longer.

Though he smiled in relief he still felt like things had changed. For the worst.

He fell into step beside her, silent but there and walked with her home. All the while his mind was full of thoughts, as he ran over every detail of the conversation to figure out where it had all gone wrong.

Maybe it was my kiss? I could have done it wrong...

She was silent for the duration of their walk, not sure what to say or how to say it. If there was a way to tell him that it wasn’t not wanting to be around him, but not being able to be…she would. But, that’s the “It’s not you, it’s me” talk that no one wants to get and refuses to believe so that wouldn’t work… This must be what kicking a puppy feels like, came an annoyed, guilt-ridden thought.

And, despite his occasional comment, with some sort of confirmation she heard whether an “oh?” or “nice”, she didn’t add to anything he said. As the apartment building loomed, the dread in her stomach built. “If you want, I can…take it from here…”

All too soon, the apartment building came into view and he sighed. The way she seemed to want to get rid of him only further confirmed his suspicions about their relationship being over. “No. It would go against our contract....remember?” his best attempt at a happy comment. As per usual he opened the door for and waited for her to enter before he followed her up to her apartment door.

Once there, the tension there was awkward and he felt like he should just cut his losses and crawl under some rock and die.

Instead, whatever bit of bravery and confidence that he had kicked in. And he spoke before she had a chance to say anything. “I don't know what is wrong, but I can feel it and I don't want to feel like this. Not with you. I want to feel the way that it felt when we had fun together and when we kissed. I want that with you and whatever I did to upset you I am truly sorry. If we could get past this and if you could please forgive me I promise to do my best to not mess up again....”

Heart poured out and on his sleeve he just stood there and waited for what she had to say. Waited for whether or not he needed to go and crawl under that rock.

His comment, even at his attempt to be happy, spoke volumes. Her eyes couldn’t even meet his as she walked passed him slowly to get into the apartment building, and then continued silently up the stairs to her floor. She’d fished her keys out, had them in hand, and was ready to get it all over with as she turned to speak to him, lips already parted…

But no sound came out. Instead, he poured his heart out, which only tore hers out all the more. Eyes dropping again, a hand pushing away a stray hair while she struggled with what course of action to take. She liked hanging out with him, liked seeing him, couldn’t put her finger on what it was but was happy whenever he was around.

…It just wasn’t safe around her, and to know that people were watching, taking stock this early on…proved that. And to know she’d be taking away his future, his ability to have a family, to find the person he could spend the rest of his life with so he wouldn’t be alone and have that dream finally happen…

“…Lets…talk inside?” she asked quietly, not wanting to have this talk out here in the hallway.

This did not feel good. Instead, it felt like he was about to get some talk about how it was not him, but her, etc, etc. A small nod and a silent sigh, he followed her into the apartment. He waited until she gave instruction to head to the livingroom. After that he just stood there, hands tucked into his pants pockets while he waited for this...talk to happen.

The way he was reacting told her he knew what was coming, but she needed to talk to him and doing it in the hallway wasn’t wise. Anyone could overhear, and she’d rather it be done privately…try to reach some sort of understanding with him.

Unlocking her door and letting him in, locking it behind him, she gestured toward the living room. “Do you…want anything to drink or something?” she asked, trying to prolong it as long as possible while he stood awkwardly just within her view. “You can sit if you want…”

“No thank you, I am fine and would rather stand. Besides, I still have like hot chocolate on myself and would rather not ruin your furniture,” he explained.

Her eyes widened as she noticed the hot chocolate, and winced at not having noticed sooner. “Here, we can clean you up…I have some baggy sweats, men’s sweats, that could do if you want to get out of the hot chocolate-covered pants? I’m sorry, I…didn’t even realize…Do you need ice? Are you burnt?” The concern was evident in her voice, the talk the last thing in her mind right then.

“No...I mean....don't trouble yourself...” he sighed as he looked down at himself. “It did hurt and honestly I am a bit afraid to look at just how bad it was...” he explained. “I don't want to be a bother...” he finally said.

Shaking her head instantly, her hand took his, leading him to the bathroom. “You need to look at how bad it was…” Opening the door to the bathroom, she gestured for him to go inside, closing it behind him. “I’ve got a first aid kit that I can grab, and I’ll get the pants for you. But you’ll have to tell me what you need.”

There was no talking her out of it,instead he just stood in the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror before he removed his jacket and then his pants. There was a bit of blistering, but nothing too bad, mostly on his knees and inner thigh (thank god).

“I have some blistering...do you have like an ointment and some bandaging I could use?” he called through the door. “I might need your help in putting the bandage on,” he said after a moment.

Nodding, even if he couldn’t see the gesture, she was back at the door with the first aid kit and pants. “I’ve got both, along with a new pair of pants…Is it safe to come in or do you need a moment?”

“No you are fine,” he said while he stood by the sink.

Still careful to keep her eyes averted, she entered the bathroom, closing the door out of habit, handing the ointment forward. “Just tell me what you need and I’ll do it,” she remarked quietly, hoping it wasn’t as bad as she was envisioning.

“I will put the ointment on and then you can help me with the bandage,” he said. Carefully, he applied the ointment, it stung at first but then it cooled and helped with the burn. “Alright, now just wrap and tape my legs and we should be fine.”

She nodded, again careful to keep her eyes averted while she waited for him to apply the ointment. Then, kneeling down, she put on the bandage on the first leg, wrapping it and taping it in place with just a little extra cooling added to try and help with the blistering she was almost certain she’d caused in her sudden wish to leave. As she was setting the second, she spoke.

“It’s…nothing that you did, Elijah,” came her voice, barely a breath above a whisper. “Really, you’ve been…wonderful since we met.”

A deep sigh came from a mixture of her words and the cooling sensation on his burns. “Let me guess...then it has to do with you?”

There was another wince, this one at his remark. “This isn’t supposed to be a ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ talk…but what you want, what you need, you won’t get with me…” Her eyes cautiously glanced up while she worked at cooling the next leg. “It’s just…I don’t want to hurt you…You’re so nice and…perfect, if I’m honest…and I don’t want to be the one to-” …intentionally… “-hurt you…”

“Why do you think that you are going to hurt me? Whats wrong with us just being friends? We don't even know what this is between us and you want to just end it before it has even had a chance to be anything...” he said with some frustration.

“You don’t even know me,” came a frustrated remark, getting up and handing over the pants. “You don’t know anything about me. I’m trying to do the right thing, to stop it before it gets to the point that I hurt you. What is so wrong with me trying to be the friend that won’t let another friend get hurt?”

“Because, you don't know” he stated with equal frustration as he pulled on the offered pants. “I don't know you, but I want to change that and get to know you. I just don't think it is right or fair for you to decide what is best for me. I'm not some child and can handle being hurt, IF it comes to that.”

“I’m not saying you can’t hand-” She cut herself off, letting out a breath. The talk was going exactly the way she thought it would: Terribly. “I just…I’m not going to lie and say I don’t like spending time with you because I do,” Chrystal started again. “I do…a lot. But you’ve been through enough without adding my **** on top of it. And you may think I’m being unfair by trying to decide that for you, but you’re trying to decide for me that this risk should be a conti-…”

Again, she cut herself off. “…You’re making this so difficult, Elijah…” came her whisper, her eyes pleading with him. No frustration, nothing else. Just a plea to make this easier on her. Her teeth bit into her lip again, eyes dropping which made her feel like more of a coward. Can’t even look him in the eyes and tell him this. Lie to him, tell him something so he’ll understand… “I want to hang out with you, Elijah. As frustrated as you may be with me, and as angry, I’m sorry…I’m just scared that I’ll do something and hurt you…”

The anger and frustration he had begun to feel dissipated and he sighed, “I am not trying to be difficult...” he began then stopped himself. His hand lifted, hesitation in his actions at first, before his finger touched the bottom of her chin and tilted her face up so that their eyes met. “This whole thing is a bit...different and at times scary, but I would rather see where this goes and end up with at least an experience I can say I did. Rather than look back on this and think about what could have been....”

When his voice stopped, she was almost afraid of what he’d say then. But then she saw his hand reaching for her chin. At first, she resisted…and then she allowed it to happen. Her eyes were slower to rise, looking anywhere but at his gaze for as long as she could until they eventually met. There was nothing to be found there, nothing except confliction and pain. He wanted an experience he could say he did…

…He wouldn’t survive to say that if she stayed.

“I don’t want to hurt you…” she whispered again, barely able to get it out. “…But I can’t keep trying to push you away, for both our sakes, when you do that…”A long pause. “…So…all I’ll do is…apologize now for what future me might…” Will. “…Do…and ask, instead, what else you need?” Switching topics to something that made more sense. “Do you want anything to take? Something for the pain? Something to drink?”

The relief that washed over him was enough to make him think that he would just about pass out. All he could do was smile for a bit and then, just hug her. It was impulsive but it felt right and well it was what he wanted right then. When he finally did release her, “Um...some water would be nice.”

The hug was unexpected, her eyes widening briefly as her body stiffened at the hug…but, she melted into it, even returning it before he released her. “Water, it is,” she repeated with a smile, even as the guilt welled up again at his response. “…Now, will you sit down on the couch, or do I have to find you something to lean against?” This she asked over her shoulder, walking on ahead to get the water set up.

“I think I can sit down,” he stated while he followed her from the bathroom to the livingroom. “Think I am going to have to cancel tonight's outing, as I would rather not deal with this while trying to walk around and hand out supplies. I think it will be better by tomorrow though, so that is good,” he said this mostly to himself while he waited for her to return with the water.

“Well, if you want I could hand them out for you?” she offered. It’s the least I can do, anyway… “I could walk you home and do a route that you normally would, handing out what you need and checking in with people?” Coming back with water, chilled despite the lack of ice, she handed it over and taking up a seat in one of her arm chairs across from him.

“Thank you,” he said as he half rose from his seat to take the glass from her. “I don't think that would work. They are rather suspicious of new people and might think you were there to try and hurt them or take their possessions. Besides, it is not safe and you are under contract with me for protection,” he smirked. “I can't have my one and only client getting hurt, right?”

That got him an eyebrow raise. “Ah, but what’s one to do when the contractor is injured? Who’s to keep me safe then? Who knows? I could go out to get you food or something, since you can’t really walk anywhere like that…and get hurt while out. I could get hurt falling in the shower. I could get hurt dropping a pot on my foot. The list goes on.” Of course, she was being a bit of a smart ass, but he was injured. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you right now, otherwise you can’t hold up your end. And, taking care of you includes taking care of things when you can’t, doesn’t it? I mean…do I look threatening to you?”

Everything she said had a point and made sense, but that still did not mean he wanted her wandering about looking for stuff for him, or helping him with his duties. “What if I said I just wanted to spend some time with just you? Would that change your mind on this whole venturing out into the city thing?”

Her eyes narrowed in thought, dropping as she considered it. “…What would you want to do instead?” she asked, still hesitant.

"Maybe watch some television? Since you know that is a foreign concept to me, I can see what all the talk is about," he smiled.

The smile was infectious, and against her better judgment, she found herself saying, “…Alright. But, on one condition.”

"What's that?"

“If I stay here tonight with you to watch television, instead of picking up where you’re leaving off with your route…” A pause as her eyes lifted. “You have to call out of work due to the burns, and stay here tonight. Otherwise, we’ll end up with a repetitive cycle of ‘let me walk you home’, which would be counterproductive. Then, and only then, will I agree to staying in.” She was serious, eyes saying as much, before they lowered again. “…Time someone took care of you for a change…” came her added remark, quiet and barely audible, but just as serious as what came before it.

What could he do or say in this matter? It was not every day that an attractive woman asked him to spend the night, even if it would just be sleeping and nothing else. Not to mention the fact that he had never called out of work before, so he would really not have an issue there. It was the last remark that sealed the deal and made up his mind.

“Alright, it's a deal.”

His hand patted the seat beside him, “Now, what do you usually watch on this thing?”

Nodding, a smile pulling at her lips, she got up and sat beside him, settling in to her usual spot on the couch. Though the guilt was there, it was put on the backburner; Taking care of him, even if she didn’t have to do much, left her feeling batter (at that moment, at least).

A hand took up the remote and turned on the television, a shrug moving through her shoulders. “Anything really; Crime dramas, comedies, the show you named me after without knowing…Whatever’s on at the time that I make my dinner and reinforce the dent I’ve made into my couch cushion.”

Gesturing just below where the TV sat to the case below it, she added, “When nothing else is on, I watch a movie. So, it’s really all in what you want to watch. You are the deprived one, after all.” And, as an afterthought, “Do you want me to order anything for dinner? Since that was part of the plan that we won’t be doing, takeout would be the next best.”

“That would be fine,” he said a smile on his lips while he looked over at her. “Not sure what you want to eat, but I am not too picky so whatever you want is fine with me,” his tone easy and relaxed. “So, is this like a sleep over?” he asked with a smirk.

“A sleepover…sans pillow fight, girltalk, crying over tubs of ice cream, or ‘truth or dare’,” she replied with a laugh. Not that I’ve ever been to one, but the movies are probably accurate, right? Leaning away to get the stack of takeout in the table’s sidebar, she started reading things off. “Pizza…Italian…French…Asian…American…Thai…Take your pick and we’ll go from there?”

“No pillow fight?” he half pouted. “Fine, but I want some icecream to sooth my blistered legs,” he smirked. “Um...I guess French,” he said when he looked over the menus. “Geez, you don't have to even get up do you?” he asked in reference to how she just had to lean away to get the menus.

She glanced at him over her shoulder at him with a grin. “I wasn’t exaggerating about my routine. At least you got beyond first letter basis; The delivery guys haven’t yet.” A wink before looking back at the menu. “I think I have ice cream in the freezer if you really want some.” And then, since the awkward moment had passed for the time, she added, “So…Captain America, huh?”

At first he was not paying attention his focus more on the television and what there was on at the time, which happened to just be some random drama. “Hmm?” he asked and then when it set in he blushed a bright red, “Umm...well..they were on sale and there was a like a pack of them....” he stammered.

Waiting for it to sink in, she got her phone out, and ready to dial, looking over the menu for something she’d like. …And then it hit him and she couldn’t hide the smirk. “Who wouldn’t like a pair of those?” she asked. “Though…hard not to notice the um…shield to….you ratio…” Throwing a look his way before handing him the menu, “Anything that’s standing out to you that you’d want?”

“The um...shield to me...ratio....” he stammered and felt his face get even hotter. “Well....I um...said that I was not average and um....well.....yeah.....” he blundered through. “And...um...whatever you recommend is fine,” he managed.

This is more fun than I thought it’d be…causing his blush… “You did…I didn’t think it was quite so…” Her eyes widened with a glance down at his crotch for a brief moment before focusing back on the menu. “Are you sure? I mean, I’m not sure what you’d like, and may pick the wrong thing. Friends at sleepovers don’t order the other one bad food…” Her grin grew a bit as she looked back up at him. “Can’t wait to spend the entire night with this, huh?”

“What do you mean by...not that...” he blushed more and covered his face. “I trust you...” he said from the confines of his hands.

“If you trust me…will you stop hiding your face?” she asked. “I promise, I won’t laugh at your blush…or poke fun at it…Can you just look at me?” Another pause, as she watched his hands. “Please?”

It took some effort, but he managed to look at her. "Better?" he asked with a small smile.

He was met with a smile, a genuine smile and nod. “Much…” A hand reached up to touch his blush, smoothing over it before dropping again to pick up the phone to place the order. She figured she’d give him a break so he could focus on the television and not blush for at least a moment. Once the order was placed, Chrystal put the phone down and settled back into the couch. “We’ve got forty minutes.”

The touch made his eyes closed and he relaxed. When she stopped he looked at the television and focused on the show for a bit, “So...this whole Criminal Minds thing, it's about a team of people who hunt bad guys?”

“Yep,” she confirmed. “They’re like you, Captain America, except that they’re FBI, and deal with serial killers, rapists, those that escalate passed what local authorities can handle. Hell, I’d even say you’re like Spencer: Know about a lot of things, and have that…boyish charm, even when not meaning to. I’d say you’re adorable like he is, but we all know how you feel about the word ‘adorable’.”

A brow was arched at the comments about him being adorable and would have blushed more if a part of him did not like her calling him that. “Is Captain America going to be my new Nickname or something?”

“Would you prefer I call you ‘adorable’?” she asked with a grin. “Because I can…Adorable Elijah…It has a nice ring. I could also use ‘cute’…Cute Adorable Elijah…Yes…that will be your new nickname.”

“No no no....Captain America is fine,” he laughed. “Is my name going to change with every pair of underwear that I wear?” he asked with a grin.

“That depends…” Another pause as she glanced down at his lap again and then back up. “Will I be seeing your underwear that frequently?”

And the blush returned along with a shrug of his shoulders, “Um....I....um....um....maybe?” he stammered.

That blush… she thought again, as her lips curled back into a grin. “You sound very unconvincing…I think I may have to stick with my first nickname for you, if talk of your varying underwear-based nicknames is going to cause such a reaction…”

“Um...well....I just had not thought that far ahead....” he tried to explain himself though he thought that it was somehow too late to plead his case.

“That’s fine. I think ‘Adorably Cute Elijah’ has a great ring to it, so I’ll go with that for your name,” she brushed off with a light smile, taking out her phone. “In fact, I’ll change it to that in my phone now!”

"NOOOO!" he made a grab for her phone to try and stop her. "Please no!"

Yanking her phone back and jumping off the couch with it, she shook her head. “Nope! It’s happening! Don’t fight the inevitable!”

"Oh come on!! I'm injured and can't chase you!" he protested.

"Exactly the point," she replied easily before showing him the newly changed name. "It's already been done! Now...to get an even more adorable picture..."

"Really?" he partially pouted while he sat there on the couch. Effort made to not smile.

Her own laughter ensued as he tried not to laugh, and failed miserably, capturing the smile and using it as the new picture for him. “There,” she showed him again. “Signed, sealed, delivered.” Putting the phone back in her pocket after checking the time, she settled in. “Only a few more minutes, I expect.”

“Are you going to like send that or show that to people?” he asked, with a smile that he gave up on trying to hide.

“Possibly…” came her reply with an even larger grin. “Why? What are you gonna do about it?”

"Nothing....or....maybe something...." he said with as much confidence he could muster.

“Oooooo, I’m shaking in my boots,” she replied to that with a shake of her head. “You need to work on that…convincing thing.”

"Yeah yeah,"he said with a roll of his eyes.

That had her brow perking up. “In that case, I’m going to start with the delivery guy. You don’t mind right?” she asked, while waiting for the knock on the door.

“What! No!” At this he lurched from the chair and regretted it nearly instantly. “Ow!” he grumbled and sat back down. “This is so not fair....” he pouted.

At his exclamation of pain, she was instantly concerned, looking him over and trying to figure a reason to put her hand on his thigh to try and numb him again. “What do you mean, it’s not fair?” she asked, going for it and putting a hand there anyway, trying to keep the cooling as subtle as possible. “You said you wouldn’t do anything! I don’t think the picture’s a bad one, do you?”

The hand on his thigh was not unnoticed, though what was came the sensation of cool relief. I would have thought that would cause an increase in body temperature... Came the thought, though he made no move to voice it or remove her hand.

“I don't know, you just took it without you know letting me know or giving me a chance to at least smile and stuff....” he pouted some more. “I barely got to see it, so I am not really sure how bad it is.”

“You were smiling plenty, believe me,” she replied, withdrawing her hand to pull out the phone and show him again. “See? Your smile is clearly evident.”

"Hmm....I suppose that is not too bad...." he mumbled after a moment.

“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you,” she prodded, putting the phone away.

“You really are enjoying my company tonight, huh?” he asked with a smirk.

The knock at the door caught her attention, causing her to get up with just one more look over her shoulder at him. “I think the question would be whether or not you’re enjoying mine. With all of that blushing, I’m beginning to think you’re too embarrassed to be around me…” Stopping at her purse, she took out some money, and went to the door with a smile, whispering something to the delivery guy with her phone pulled out, which caused him to laugh, giving her the food and leaving.

She made her way back, stopping at the kitchen to grab some plates and silverware, and started setting up shop on her table. “Do you want some more water? Or anything else to drink?” Chrystal asked while unpacking the food. “Foie Gras Au Torchon, Recette Maison”, for their appetizer, and “Magret De Canard Gras (Moulard) Sauce Montmorency” for herself. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though…” she commented. “I picked Onglet Poêlé À La Facon Luchonaise for you, thinking it’d be safe.”

The exchange between herself and the delivery man was not lost on him and he thought he would just burn from how bright red he was now as he blushed. It was not that he was embarrassed, just unsure of what to do at times with her, given his lack of experience in such areas. When she returned and began to list off what she got, he could merely just smile and nod as his command of French was definitely limited to the point of being none existent.

“Yes, water please and well, I will have to trust your judgment,” the smile on his lips hid the confusion, but regardless he was rather enthused to try whatever it was that she got for them. “What did you show to that delivery guy?” he asked as nonchalantly as he could.

“Yours is a hanger steak; I thought it’d be safe enough,” she replied with a laugh, going to get the water for him, along with some for herself. “And the delivery guy?” A pause as the sound of cabinets being opened and closed filled the room, padding back with his glass and her own. “I didn’t show him anything.”

“Then what was all the laughter about?”he asked while he placed his stuff on a plate. “Thank you,” he said when he received his water. “I mean it seemed that the two of you were talking about something that you showed him on your phone...”

She let him think on it for a bit, sampling the hors d'oeuvre she’d picked. “Actually…” Another pause while she savored its flavor. “I told him to laugh for me, while I handed him the money and had my phone, still in sleep mode, just in my hand.” A grin flashed across her features. “You really should relax, Elijah.”

A sigh, smile and chuckle were all that she got from him before he tried some of what she just ate, “Mmmm, this is good.” Subject change in effect, as he focused on the meal before him, “Never had French before, unless you count French bread pizza?”

“Guess I’m broadening your horizons all over! You get to get in touch with your adorable side while expanding your culinary palette,” she said with another grin. “Do you really like it? I mean, I guessed about what to order you, and stuck with my general favorites.”

“It would appear that your taste is good,” the smile on his face reached his eyes. “So, tell me is this better than eating alone? Or, am I too imposing on your personal space?”

A light shrug. “Dunno…Do you think it’s better than eating alone? Or am I too imposing on yours? After all, it is me that keeps causing you to react the way you do, despite the smiles. All blushes and foreign food.”

“This is definitely much better than eating alone,” then with a small bump of his shoulder against her own. “With the blushes and everything,” he said without hesitation.

“I guess this isn’t so bad…” she admitted after he nudged her. “To have actual conversation rather than the recorded drone of a television show…Now, to figure out what to do for the rest of the night. Have to keep you entertained, of course!”

"Lucky for you I am easily entertained and well, if I get bored I could always just....do what I do at home," he shrugged and focused on his food for a bit.

"...What do you do at home?" she asked them, curious.

"Work out...." he said rather slow and just a hint of embarrassment.

"So..." she started, and paused again. "You're going to workout...sounds more like entertainment for my benefit than anything else."

"Oh? How so?" genuinely confused.

That earned him a perked brow, head tilting to the side. “Rippling muscles…fine sheen of sweat highlighting said muscles…I mean, you’re already attractive, so for you to start working out and seeing the muscles I’ve felt once or twice in action…” Her eyes let his, traipsing over him for a brief moment, making their way back to his with a shrug before going back to her food.

Flustered. If one were to use just a single word to describe how Elijah felt at that moment that would be it. Oddly he did not blush, instead he just gave a shy smile and became rather aware of his own body. Sure, Tim had made a comment or two, then there was the waitress the other day, but still he was not completely aware of how others perceived him.

“You would really like to see that?” he asked, food now ignored while he waited for her to answer.

His reaction wasn’t one that she’d expected, her head tilting a bit more as her eyes stayed on his and tried to gauge him. Everything else was ignored, it seemed, as he focused on what she’d said. After she let his question sink in, she continued eating, and answered simply, “Any woman—and man for that matter—would want to see that.”

“Hmm,” is all he said before he went back to his food. A bit into eating he paused, sat back for a moment and the removed the sweater vest he wore (as if he were hot), then went back to eating.

She didn’t think much of is lacking reply, instead savoring her meal and occasionally checking that he liked his food…only to turn one time to make sure everything was alright and watch him pull the sweater vest over his head. Her eyes widened just that little bit more, before going back to her plate. “Everything alright? Do you need some more water or anything?”

Top two buttons of his shirt undone, “Actually, if you would not mind, could I get more water please?” he asked.

“Sure thing,” she replied with a light smile, taking his cup with her into the kitchen with her. Taking a little longer than needed just to catch her breath, she let out a quiet sigh and filled his glass. “Do you need anything else while I’m out here?”

“Hmmm...is it wrong that I want that icecream now?” he asked with a small chuckle.

“Not wrong at all,” she replied with a laugh. “I’ll bring you your water and then get some ice cream for you.” Walking back into the room, his glass was replaced on the table, and his plate was picked up, along with her own and the appetizer. “I’ve got vanilla, black raspberry, and chocolate. Which would you like?”

The water was taken with a smile, “Thank you. Um...I guess the black raspberry.” This sudden bout of confidence felt really good and oddly had him relax for a change.

Two scoops of Black Raspberry for him, and one for her later, and she was back on the couch, handing him his bowl and mulling over his sudden confidence boost. During these rare bouts, he relaxed. There was no blushing, no hesitations. It almost had her off balance, but she managed to not think on it too much. Taking up the remote, she pulled her feet up onto the couch next to her, curling one ankle under the other and flipping through channels. “Alright, we got your crime drama fix, unless you want more comparisons to Spenser, and/or Morgan, which I would happily oblige with. So, what to watch now…”

Bowl taken he focused back on the television, “Not sure. This show is pretty interesting, I mean they figure out how their minds work and use their own habits to track them down and stop them.” He took a spoonful and finished it before he continued to speak, “I wonder what you have to do in order to learn how to do that?” he mused, for the moment he ignored her teasing remarks. On the next spoonful, for whatever reason, he missed his mouth and instead dropped the icecream on himself.

“O...man....” he said with a sigh, bowl now set down before him he undid the buttons of his shirt and removed it while he stood. “Um...can you put this with my pants....I guess?” he asked. Now he was left in the tank he had under his button up shirt. “Did I get any on the couch?” he asked suddenly, back now to her as he inspected the cushion to make sure it was still clean.

“Probably extensive training, I’d imagine, to learn patterns and human behavior well enough,” she answered, deciding to leave it on that station since he’d expressed interested. Just as she’d settled back into the couch, barely a spoonful into hers, he’d dropped some on himself. Eyes widening and her bowl replaced on the table, she was instantly looking for any on the couch, oblivious to him stripping his shirt off.

“I don’t see…any…” Blinking, her words drifted off as she turned and saw him in the tank top, mind going blank for a moment as she was intent on the muscles beneath that tank. “I, erm…have to start the laundry anyway, so I’ll just throw that in with your pants then?” Without another moment spared, the shirt was taken and she departed the room back down the hallway toward the bathroom, opening up the “closet” to the laundry and put them both in.

Then she just braced on the washer, taking a moment. Yep…who wouldn’t want to see that? came a thought, partly begrudging, and partly happy that she’d asked him to stay if only so she could watch the muscles. Look, but don’t touch.

Making her way back, she had a paper towel, slightly damp ready. “Did you find any elsewhere?”

“No, I think we are ok.” Gaze cast down to himself, just encase some of the icecream had managed to make it onto his last piece of clothing. “I need to be more careful or I am not going to have anything left to wear. And we both know that would be a shame....right?”

Question posed with a smirk and a glimmer of something unfamiliar in his eyes. Confident, dominant and predatory. If she liked what she saw, then that would mean he had that information as a means of an extra boost to his confidence. “Do you see any on me?” he asked, arms slightly raised and a slow spin for her to “check”.

Her mind had been so stuck on “no touching, no touching,” that she almost missed his comment, which, in turn, caught her off guard, tongue darting out over her lips at the thought of that shame.

And then her eyes caught his, and something was there. Something she wasn’t used to. Whatever hesitant and overcompensating puppy had been there was suddenly gone, and in its stead was something she refused to let herself think about. When he started to spin, asking her to check, her lip found its way into her mouth and she gawked, openly so as all her thought was now focused on him and his form and not on what she’d just been chanting to herself.

Maybe you can pretend something’s there just so you can “clean” it, came an unbidden thought that had her snapping out of it, a hand rubbing the back of her neck while she left to throw away the paper towel. “No, no, there’s nothing else there,” she answered over her shoulder. While in there, she collected her thoughts, letting out more calming breaths before returning to the living room. “Think you can manage to eat the rest without incident?”

“You sure?” he asked her again, hand at the hem of his shirt which he lifted ever so slowly. “Nothing anywhere?”

At the question she gave him, he shrugged. “All I can say is that I will try my best, but if I do make a mess I may need your help in cleaning up....” another smirk and he resumed his seat on the couch. Sure he was burned and on the way over he had been near desperate to keep her as a friend. Now...well he had the upper hand and he felt like exploiting it a bit.

“Can I trust you to not be clumsy and “accidentally” pour icecream on me?”

Then the image of him taking that tank top off was dangling over her head. Sure, she could “accidentally” pour her ice cream on him, and sure, she could “help him clean up”, but that would be in direct violation with her own rules! He needed to keep that tank top on as long as possible.

“I dunno…maybe…” she answered back, trying to focus more on the ice cream bowl she picked up, while sitting on the opposite end of the couch. “We’ll see.”

All he did was smirk and sit back down on his end of the couch, “Now....” he waited till he had her full attention. “How am I like Morghan?”

Sure he knew the answer to the question, but he wanted to hear it from her.

She didn’t even glance in his direction, instead keeping her eyes on the television. Talking was far easier when he was out of her sightline. “Strong, intelligent…confident when you want to be…Muscular, if you really want to throw in the obvious…I’m sure you’ve already gathered that from the show itself to not need it reaffirmed by me,” she answered casually, no longer interested in her ice cream. At all.

"And," he asked now half turned to face her. "You find these all attractive qualities that I possess?'

“Once again, stating the obvious, but yes,” she answered, once again not looking in his direction. Tongue darting out over her lips again to pull the lower in for a moment, she shook her head, trying to keep the smile from her face. “You seem to be taking far too great a joy in this question and answer portion of our sleepover.”

"You seem to be enjoying it as well," he said, then added. "Or at least the notion of me losing more of my clothing...."

…This time it was her turn to blush, though she didn’t say anything right off. “So you think.”

"I think..." his hand went to the bottom of his shirt again and he slowly lifted it up over his head. "Because I know...." the top was purposely thrown where she could see it.

She was doing so well; So damn well ignoring him as she tuned him out and her eyes honed in on the television. Anything, it could have been a Shamwow commercial, so long as it wasn’t him and his muscles and that smile, and the sudden confidence that he seemed to exude. …But that last bit of clothing between her view and his abs…

Her chest rose a little as a shallow, rushed breath was taken and she leaned even further away, resting her chin on her hand and becoming really intent on the television. All the while, she chewed on the inner of her lip and tried to think about something else, anything else. “Think I’m done my ice cream…” was all she said before picking up her bowl and walking from the room.

Eyes, still held that predatory glare, watched her as she left. A smirk crept to the corners of his mouth before he stood and grabbed his own bowl to dispose of as well. "You ok?" he asked softly. "You seem...agitated. Did I...do something?" he asked again while he closed some of the distance between the two of them just a bit more.

Bowl placed safely in the sink (a small fact she’d be thankful for in just a moment), she turned around to meet Elijah, eyes widening as her chest rose a bit higher, breath hitching as her heart tripped. But, those eyes didn’t remain on his…no, they took the route south like she’d been trying to avoid, wandering over the muscular contours that were his washboard abs. ****… came a mental groan before shaking her head again and meeting his gaze with a smile, albeit a flustered one. “Nope, you didn’t do anything,” she replied, once her verbal capacities had returned. “You can just…put your bowl in the sink, and I’m going to go check on your…laundry…”

But then came the time that she had to scoot by him. Skirting as much as she could all the way around him, pressing against the wall to make her exit, she hastened to the bathroom, and started fiddling with things that didn’t need fiddling.

This was interesting, fascinating and if he were to ever admit to himself definitely arousing. Since they had met, she had been the one in control, or at least the one to have all the fun. The jabs, the teasing comments and even an occasional touch or two that would cause him to melt into a pile embarrassment. Now, the show was on the other foot and Elijah had the upper hand, had her feeling the way he had felt more than once. And all he had to do was remove a little bit of clothing, who would have thought that?

A brief moment was spared to wash the bowls in the sink, then he followed her to where the washer and dryer were. “Are my clothes ruined or will I be able to walk out of here in more than what I currently have to work with?” he asked, eyes on her form a smile on his lips and a casual lean against the wall.

It hadn’t been nearly long enough. Her small reprieve was barely enough to catch her breath, and refocus a little bit…when he was suddenly in there with her, leaning against the wall. That, of course, had her having to open the washer and start switching it over.

“I don’t think they’re ruined, so you should be good once they’re dry,” she replied to that. “Though, if I remember correctly, there’s a tank top you threw that you could…put back on…” It was casually said, refusing to look back at him while she got the dryer situated. A dryer sheet in, the temperature up, and the timer set. “Now…going to go back and watch television. You’re welcome to join me unless you…think that you need to walk around shirtless some more?”

"What do you think? I mean if I am making you uncomfortable I can cover back up? I generally sleep shirtless and don't care to remain in my work clothes once I get home. But, I mean if you don't like this...I can just cover back up..." tone pitched just a bit lower.

“No…no, I didn’t say I didn’t…like that…” she said with a gesture to all of that. “I just…think you look cold…yeah, cold, so I thought you might want to warm up with fresh clothes from the dryer or something…” Even to her, that excuse sounded weak, but she continued to look the other way, and shifted her weight from foot to foot before skirting around him. “You coming?”

"Cold? I don't feel cold...maybe you should feel me and see for me?" he asked while he followed her to the livingroom.

Begrudgingly, she put a wrist to his forehead, refusing to feel anywhere else. “Yep. Cold. I’ll toss you the blanket from over the back of the other chair…” So, with that, she overshot the couch to the chair she’d sat in earlier, taking the blanket from its back, and unfolding it, handing it over.

He smirked and just followed her to the livingroom, once he got the blanket he covered up and snuggled back on the couch. “Want to cuddle under here with me? Help me warm up?”

“I’ll likely just make you colder,” she replied with a shake of her head, returning to her…far…side of the couch. “So, we’ll let you warm up and I’ll keep to myself. Over here.”

All he did was smile and get more comfortable on the couch, when he ended up drifting off he was not sure. It was an interesting sensation to no longer be alone and be in the company of someone other than he grandmother at night. Even then, the woman was so old often when he visited she would drift off before him and he would be left up and alone.

Always alone.

Now, there was Chrystal and for whatever it was worth and for however long, it was better than nothing. A lot better. With her he felt a different side of himself, a confidence he never had with anyone else and nor was he sure he could ever have it anyone else either. The way she smiled, the way she touched him and even the way she teased him, it was a comfort to him. Filled a void in his life, in his soul that had been empty since the death of his mother.

Long nights spent in foster care where he wished that someone would be his friend, someone would just be there for him.

Finally, he found it. Found a friend and he hoped it would turn into more....as long as the future permits it.

_________________

Even though she had to keep resisting the urge to look over, just the company was a nice change. A nice change that was already making tings far more difficult than she’d have expected. She’d been trying to do the right thing, and now he was spending the night (albeit just sleeping, but still), and shirtless… She’d have been fine, no issue at all, had he not started removing layers…

At some point, he nodded off, as did she, but she woke up and removed herself from the room. Quickly grabbing another blanket, she threw it over him, as well, and carefully put a pillow under his head. Then, she took his clothing out of the laundry, and left it folded on the table in front of him. After that it was a matter of going to her room and getting ready for bed, slipping into it and waiting for sleep to take her. A slow process as her mind kept wandering over things, and it left her far less inclined to sleep as she kept thinking about the…abs.

But, like it usually did, sleep took her, too. It was a peaceful sleep, surprisingly not filled with guilt. Just happy recounts of the previous day, omitting the burn he received and even replaying the tables being turned on her; a welcomed change, even if one she’d lament later.

Waking up the next day, she felt refreshed, not tired, but happily refreshed. In her usual tired state, she padded out of the room, instantly heading for the coffee maker to start up a pot out of habit before getting in the shower. Solely out of habit did she do this, as she usually did before work, completely forgetting the prior arrangement with him the night before.

A fact she wouldn’t remember until…she woke up more.

Morning came and for a moment, Elijah was not sure where he was and panic set in. As it waned and memories of the previous night returned to the forefront of his mind he merely smiled and stood. Phone fished out of his pocket to call out of work for the day.

Once this was done, he went into the kitchen a poured himself a cup of the coffee that was made and then waited for Chrystal to exit the shower. Though he would regret the coffee if she did not finish up in the near foreseeable future.

Her shower took a bit, though none of the steam that would normally be acquainted with a shower billowed from the bathroom when she opened it. If anything, the room was chilled, cold, even with the lack of window to explain it. But, she was out, padding her way tiredly to kitchen, wrapped in a towel…

Only to freeze, jumping as she rounded the corner and found Elijah, shirtless, drinking the coffee she’d made. A hand clutched her chest while another hand held the towel tighter, a hurried, stammered apology slipping free of her lips before hastily retreating to her bedroom to lock herself in in embarrassment. How she’d managed to forget he was there was beyond her, but she had, cheeks burning so she was sure he’d seen it prior to her exit.

“Uh…Sorry!” she called again through the door while she caught her breath. “I uh…went with my usual routine…and uh…forgot you were there…”

The look on her face was enough to make it worth a snicker or two, “No worries. Um...is there a towel that I could use?” he called out.

“Oh!” The sound of rummaging and a closet door closing was heard, before her hand poked out of the door with a towel. “If you come over here, I have one; Didn’t have enough room for a separate linen closet, so it’s in…uh…here…” Wonderful. You ramble now. What is this? “Reverse Roles with Elijah” time? “Need anything else or are you good?” Her face was pressed against the door while her other hand held it almost fully closed, praying he didn’t need anything else so she could continue to salvage her dignity.

This was just too amusing. It was as if their roles had truly reversed and she was the socially awkward one, with no sense of how to carry herself now in this situation. He was not sure how long this would last, but he would enjoy it while it did.

Slow and measured steps carried him to just shy of her door and the thought to sit there and draw it out was a strong one. To what must have felt like forever for her, he took the towel.

“Thank you,” then he was gone to gather his clothing and commandeer the bathroom for his shower. It was hot and felt rather good, especially after the fact that the room itself had been strangely cold when he entered. He took his time, to lather his body and cleanse it from the previous day's activities. The burn on his lap actually looked better than it had last night, but he was sure he would have to wrap it again as a precaution. The water was finally shut off, towel grabbed to do a bit of drying before he wrapped it about his waist.

Before the mirror now he looked over his sparse beard that, for the moment, could be left as it was. A check on his hair and then he slipped his underwear back on, before he gave a call for Chrystal.

“Chrystal? Would you mind helping me with my burn?”

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GRAB A ****ing TOWEL?! came a frustrated thought, hand holding it out for an ungodly amount of time before it was finally pulled from her finger tips and his presence was gone.

Only when she heard the sound of the bathroom door close did she let out a sigh of relief and could actually breathe. For a while, she just stood there, relishing in the break from his sudden turn of personality and was able to clear her head. Yes, he’s quite…muscular… came a thought. But that doesn’t mean you have to lose your cool around him. You’re more collected than that. Nodding, as though that would somehow reaffirm the thought, she started to get dressed.

…Which became a debate in and of itself. It’d taken her the length of his shower to figure out what to wear, feeling too under-dressed or over-dressed, every time she put something on. After the worst debate of the century, she decided on a simple grey sweater and jeans, thinking that it’d cover majority of the bases. Her hair was towel-dried and brushed out, left to hang about her shoulders to finish drying.

And, just as he called out to her, she’d been debating on putting makeup on. Just so I don’t look tired, she’d reasoned, but that debate was cut short when the need for bandage help was requested. Grabbing the kit again, she knocked on the door, waiting for him to say he was decent and went in, careful to keep her focus on the burns. Once inside, she opened the kit and handed over the cream. “How is it today?”

Note was taken on how she avoided a look right at him, that amused him further.

“I think it looks better. What do you think?” he asked as he took the offered tube of medical ointment.

A glance in his direction proved what he said, though her mind took a bit to process that fact. The muscles were noticed first, the way the light hit the water droplets hugging him skin catching her full attention. But, then she forced herself to look at his burn and then pulled her eyes away. “Looks almost good as new,” she replied, fiddling in the kit to get the bandages ready. “Almost wonder if you even need anything except the ointment.”

“I don't want to get my pants messed up again, but I could just keep them off while I let the ointment set I suppose. What do you think?”

Sure the question was a low hit, but he was more interested in her reaction than anything else.

“You could leave them off, or put on the sweatpants…” she answered as casually as she could muster, still not looking back. “It’s your choice, really…Whatever you want to do, whether it’s walk around basically naked, or…in clothes.”

“You really don't have a preference?” he asked and began to apply the ointment.

The movement caught her eye and she naturally looked over, cheeks flushing before she averted her eyes again. “Whatever you want to walk around in, I guess…Just know I’ll be less likely to make eye contact while talking to you if you’re virtually naked.”

"Does it bother you? Me being like this?"

That had her glancing over in his direction, if only out of sheer stubbornness. “Bother me?” she repeated. “Why would it bother me?”

"You had been flustered all day and have had trouble making eye contact or even looking in my direction since last night," he said while he cleaned his hands on a the towel. "It would seem that you are repulsed by me..."

“Bullshit.”

The word was quietly spoken initially, her brow raising before taking just that smallest step closer, eyes narrowing in their signature thoughtful way. “Bullshit. You know as well as I do that I’m not repulsed, otherwise you wouldn’t have had the sudden confidence to start stripping after I told you I found you attractive…”A pause as she went back to fiddling with the kit. “This…coy thing you’re doing doesn’t work nearly as well as when I do it.”

He smirked and closed what bit of distance there had been between them, “Then, why don't you look me in the eyes more?”

So close was he now that with each inhale of breath his chest would brush up against her. “I'm glad you noticed this sudden round of confidence and you are right, it was definitely your influence that made it happen. So, maybe I should thank you?”

His closeness was nearly too much, her breath becoming dangerously scant. His chest brushed against her with each inhale, and she tried to keep the distance there, too stubborn to back off to move away from it herself. “I’m looking you fine in the eyes right now, aren’t I?” she asked, brow perking up more. “And perhaps you should…though this is a turn of the tables I’m not used to.” She paused then, as curiosity got the better of her. “…What exactly did I do to make that switch flip?”

"You said that you liked what you saw...."he whispered. "No one else has said that to me before and not been mocking me in some fashion. Not to mention I value you your opinion and what you think of me..."

“But you barely know me…” she replied back, her voice exceedingly lower than it’d been, softer. “Why do you value my opinion so highly?”

"You are my friend and I like you..."his own voice softer. "I want you to be happy while you are around me..." he explained.

A small smile pulled at her lips, a glimmer of one, but still present. “I am happy while you’re around…Why wouldn’t I be?”

A slight shrug, "I aim to please is all..."

Her eyes dropped then, a light shrug moving through her shoulders. “Despite what I tried to do…I like being around you, Elijah…You wouldn’t still be here if I didn’t…”

A paused filled the space between the two of them, before he finally said. “Is it too forward to ask for another kiss?”

The silence was deafening, the only sounds heard being their breathing and her heart beating. When she thought it was going to be too much, his voice broke that silence, her eyes widening, gaze remaining averted while she thought it out.

Kissing him would be…bad. Very bad. It was bad enough he was practically naked, and so close, calling extreme restraint to follow her “no touch” self-ordinance. Now he was asking for a kiss? Her fingers were fiddling with the hem of her shirt while she continued to mull it over, annoyed at herself for even considering the notion instead of vetoing it right away.

But, rather than decline, she found herself saying, “No…it’s not too forward…”

Like last time, he took his time, his form loomed a bit closer as his eyes held contact with her own until the last minute. Then they fluttered closed and his lips pressed against her own. As with the last time it started slow, sweet and tender. It was as if he sought to savor the moment and draw it out a bit, for as long as he could. However, unlike last time, the longer it lasted the more he poured into it. A slow heat that built with each moment that passed until he felt himself naturally lean into her for a bit more.

It was at that point that he stopped and broke the kiss, though he lingered close for a few more moments.

And because he felt like something had to be said at that moment, “Hi...” with a small smile on his lips.

Unable to look away, she watched as he grew closer, and closer, eyes flitting between both of his until they dropped to his lips, eyes closing at the last possible second. His lips against hers, her breath caught, chest rising as she held that breath, mind going blissfully blank. Where she’d been overthinking only a moment before, everything was focused on him; On how his lips felt, on how this entire moment felt.

And the longer it lasted, just like he poured more into it, so did she, her body leaning into his as a hand tentatively slid up his arm to rest on his shoulder. Had he not pulled back, her hand would have made its way up to his neck, holding him in the moment she was happy lost to. But…like all things, this kiss, too, came to an end, though her eyes didn’t open right off. Instead, they remained closed, mind happily lingering in what kiss they’d just shared.

“…Hi,” she finally said back, once she’d caught her breath, and her heartbeat was evening out. Her hand lowered back to her side while the inner of her lower lip became embedded between her teeth. “So…did you decide on your…clothing arrangements?”

He nodded without saying anything at first, “Yeah. I think pants and my shirt would be a good idea...”

There was more that he wanted to say and even do, but this seemed to go too fast. Even if it felt good, it was too fast and they might want to take some time. That is not saying that his time would not be spent thinking about the kiss that they just shared.

A nod of her own and she licked her lips without thinking about it. But, it caught up to her, and she blushed. “I’ll leave you to get dressed then…” Without moving right off, she stood there, looking up at him a while longer, finally forcing herself to take that first step back, and then another, turning and leaving the bathroom so he could get dressed.

Once outside with the door closed quietly behind her, a hand reached up to touch her lips, fingers barely grazing over them as her smile pulled a bit broader. A deep breath was released, and she continued to the kitchen, looking through what little she had for breakfast-type items. Calling out to him as he got dressed, she asked, “Anything you’re craving for breakfast?”

When she left, a breath he had not even realized he held was released, along with his form as it relaxed and slumped against the door. That was....there were no words and he would likely find himself writing about this later. In his journal, which he hoped she would never find or ever read.

Slowly he dressed, mind a flutter with all of the thoughts, while his heart raced with all the new and somewhat scary feelings.

The question was heard as he exited the bathroom, his tank top pulled slowly down over his head. “Hmmm...um...how about some eggs and toast?”

When she finally got an answer, it sounded fine to her…but now it was a matter of figuring out if she had enough, or any. She hadn’t made eggs in a while, opting for cold breakfast meals. Opening the fridge, she pulled out the carton of eggs, a small one at that, and found she had a couple of eggs left. The bread loaves she’d bought earlier that week, though, were dicier. One had to be thrown out, but the other looked fine, so she put some pieces in the toaster, waiting to be pushed down.

Actions finally halting, she looked up and over at the entrance of the kitchen, noticing Elijah in his pants and…tank top. A brief moment and her mind went blank again, before coming back out of it. “…How do you like your eggs?” came her question, mind having caught up enough to ask.

“Scrambled is fine,” he said, now paused in the doorway to allow her enough time to work. “Do you need any help?” the question asked mostly as he did not want her to feel like he was lazy or that she was obligated to cook for him.

“Scrambled eggs…alright,” she replied, eyeing the pan she’d taken out, and then pausing. “…How do you make scrambled eggs?” That was the only admittance of help needed he’d likely get from her, but it was one nonetheless. “Can’t say I’ve ever made them.”

For some reason that made him smile, "My grandmother generally cracks the eggs into a bowl, beats them, adds a bit of salt, pepper and cheese. Then she just pours into the pan to cook, with some butter to help it not stick." The smile still there all the while the explanation was given.

Without another thought, she nodded, following his instructions as he said them. A bowl was grabbed, three eggs cracked and whisked, the salt, pepper and what cheese she had added in. Then she poured it into the pan after some butter melted, and watched it, occasionally poking at it to make sure it didn’t overcook.

“Guess the only other help I need is gauging when these are ready,” she commented with a light laugh. “And to know when they’re nearly done, so that I can get your toast going. I’ve some jellies in the fridge if you want it, too, if you want to look.”

They should just take like four minutes or so, nothing much really,” he said as he checked the fridge and took out a strawberry jelly to use on the toast. “Don't cook often at all, huh?” he teased her.

Another laugh and a shake of her head later, “That obvious, huh?” Pushing more of the egg around, making sure it wasn’t sticking, she set a timer with her other hand, so that she wouldn’t have to watch it so closely. “I’m just more for…cold, simple foods, or takeout,” she amended. “Easier that way, though I suppose that makes me sound lazy.

“What about you?” she then added, glancing over in his direction. “Do you cook a lot?”

“I'm no better, actually” he readily admitted. “I mean I know I have a fridge, you know for keeping drinks cold and for storing my leftovers when I order out,” he grinned and shook his head. “Other than that, well, it could just as soon as hold books with how little I use it.”

“Sounds like we’ve got that in common, then!” she replied with a relieved laugh. “You should have seen my face when you mentioned what you wanted for breakfast; I didn’t know if I had it, and, if I did…if it was still good!” Checking the timer, she worked the eggs a bit more, lowering the heat and eventually turning it off, soon after popping the toast down. “The one thing you can count on for me to have is milk. I need it for my cereal. Or bread, but even that one’s pushing it a bit if I go on a takeout binger…”

“I love cereal too,” he volunteered. “Just so easy and simple, not to mention the crap ton of flavors that it comes in,” the excitement clear in his voice.

“Exactly! Simple and a lot to choose from! It’s the reason I like takeout so much,” Chrys echoed. “Variety and it’s simple.”

Plating it up for him was easy, leaving him to butter and jelly his own toast while she got a bowl out for her cereal: Cheerios. “What would you like to drink, anyway? I’ve got…milk and water.”

“You aren't having any?”he asked in confusion. “I thought we were doing the whole breakfast thing together? I feel like you went out of your way for me....” he mumbled slightly, while he looked at his meal compared to her own.

His reaction had her frowning, turning away to hide her wrinkled nose. “Oh, um…” She didn’t have a good answer for him. That the eggs lost their heat far faster than other breakfast foods, and it’d lose all sense of appeal the moment they went below room temperature? She couldn’t say that she didn’t have enough eggs as she was almost certain he’d seen her set up and saw she had a few left. “I’ll make myself some, too,” she finally added, putting the bowl back. “Not used to cooking for more than one person at a time…” A laugh ensued, small, the excuse pathetic to her ears. “You don’t have to wait for me, though. Don’t want them to get cold, right?”

There was something about this that had him feeling like he messed up or caused him some drama or difficulty. The laugh sounded a bit forced, a slight frown formed on his lips while he looked down at the plate of eggs. “I would rather eat with you, so how about you have your cereal and I will eat these delicious eggs and next time we go out for breakfast?” he offered with a smile.

“Really, it’s fine,” she said with her own smile. “I can whip these up in a matter of minutes, remember?” The smile was more genuine as she tried to alleviate whatever he’d frowned about. “Can you, at least, taste them to make sure that I did it right before I make another batch?”

“Sit down with your cereal and I will taste the eggs,” he counter offered and waited with a grin. “Better hurry before they do get cold,” his toast taken up and buttered, then jellied while he waited for her to join him.

She looked at him for a brief moment, considering whether or not he’d still feel bad with her eating cereal while he ate his breakfast, but she didn’t fight it. Instead, she just nodded with another smile, pouring her cereal and the milk, and grabbing a spoon before heading out into the living room, plopping down on the couch in her usual spot. “Alright…let’s see what’s on for morning television; that thing I never watch, but know exists.”

Turning it on, she let it become more of a white noise in the background while she paid more attention to him in her peripheral vision. “How’s it taste?”

Plate gathered, he went and joined her at the table in the livingroom. The first taste placed into his mouth as she asked about the flavor, so the Mmmm, was perfectly timed. “Good,” he managed to get out without much effort. “Very good,” he managed before the next bite, which was chased by a bite of toast as well. “How's the cereal?”

“Very…cereal-y,” she answered back with a smile. “I’m glad I didn’t ruin them!” And, she genuinely was excited she didn’t ruin them, as she had to trust a timer and her eyes, not having experience in it. At all. It was when she settled in that she remembered what she’d forgotten. “Did you need a drink? I know I asked, but then I got a little sidetracked…”

“Nope not ruined at all, they taste really good.” The smile stayed on his lips while he ate, “Um...some water would be just fine.”

When she left to get the drink he continued to eat, content for the moment though a part of him felt like this was a bit fast. He dreaded that there was a chance he could ruin all that he had to gain from being in a relationship with her. When she returned with the drink he sipped it for a moment before he decided to bite the bullet and speak on the subject that was on his mind.

“You know, this is the first time I ever spent the night in someone else's place....”

The smile on her lips grew, as she heard they were good, feeling accomplished in another’s element. Even if it’s only making eggs, I think that’s damn good for me… And, that smile remained when he said what he’d like, walking over to the kitchen, she got him a glass of water, bringing it back in no time at all, before settling back into her seat and bowl of cereal. Then, after the companionable silence ended, and he made his comment, her eyes wandered in his direction.

“First time…ever?”

“Yep. I just never....well you know....” he half explained, a light blush touched his cheeks. “Never really been with people or had friends like this....” he continued to ramble a bit. “Chrystal...” he began after a moment. “Can I ask you something?”

The rambling had the smile on her lips growing at his adorable rambling, at the blush painting his cheeks. And then he wanted to ask a question? Putting her bowl down and shifting to give him more of her attention she nodded. “Shoot.”

“Where do you see this going? I mean our relationship?”

…Just like that, it was her turn to have a blush, a deep blush, on her own features. Eyes widening, she was suddenly self-conscious and lamenting the way she’d shifted to give him her full attention. “Uh…” A hand reached up to push her hair out of her face, dropping her gaze to her lap while thinking it over. “That’s…uh…I’m not sure. I’m just sorta…going with the flow, I guess…?” A pause as she lifted her gaze back to his, brows pulled together just a touch. “…Why?”

“Because, if I can be a bit forward....I want to have this lead to something more. Like...I really do want this to be more in the future, which has me a bit worried about some things....” he stated and was forced to look away due to his slight embarrassment.

It took all she had in her not to facepalm at the sudden seriousness of this situation…that he wanted it to lead to more, and had cause to worry. Which, in turn, had her worrying. “…What things?”

“I've never done...anything like this before....” he stammered. “And I am worried I will mess it up and I will push things a bit too fast....” he looked away for a moment and then back to her. “I mean like when we kissed in the bathroom....I....I...well...I wanted more....I wanted to continue the kiss and press for some more....” he barely managed to get out.

Her cheeks could have reddened any more; She’d likely have died from lack of blood flow to the heart. She couldn’t have held eye contact, even if she wanted to, her gaze dropping the moment he brought up the bathroom.

It wasn’t as though she was any more experienced than he was, having spent the night with one person in that way (a night she’d rather forget) and only spending nights over with Annelise. But he didn’t have…any friend he’d ever spent the night with, and to know that he’d wanted to press for more… It had her heart jumping.

“So…what are you saying…exactly…?” she finally asked after another silence—this one, less than comfortable—descended. “What do you want?”

“I want you....but....maybe we are going too fast?'

That one statement hit her like a ton of bricks. He thought they were going too fast…because they shared a kiss in her bathroom? Because he spent the night while injured by something she’d caused?

“…You want time then?”

“I want time to...well...I guess...woo...you. To sweep you off your feet....and I worry that I’ll say or do the wrong thing....”again it was nearly painful for him to get out.

“Then…you do want time…”

Her voice was quiet, but she nodded. “…Alright, then time is what you’ll get…” Standing up from her seat, she took her bowl of cereal back into the kitchen, dumping the remains in her disposal and washing out her bowl before putting it up for something to do; Anything that wasn’t the awkward moment happening in the other room for whatever her considered ‘too fast’.

He had messed it up that much he knew without any saying to him. The conversation that followed did not help at all either and ended with just confusion and him of the mind set that he had ruined everything.

Work the following day he was miserable and it showed. Where people had smiled and waved at him the day prior, today they avoided him like the plague, everyone except Tim.

“What's got you down?”

“I'm stupid,” Elijah responded with a grunt, the pen in his hand was thrown down on his desk with a frustrated huff.

“There are several words I would use to describe you, but stupid is not one of them,” the other man said before he drank a sip of his coffee. “So, what happened?”

“We kissed....”

“That is nothing to be sad about,” he scoffed at him.

“Then I said we were moving too fast...”

At this Tim paused and just leveled a gaze at him. “Let me get this straight,” throat cleared. “You two kissed and then you told her it was going too fast. “Really?”

“See...stupid,” he grumbled.

“Now now, you are not stupid. Just you should back off, take a deep breath and just chill. You have not ruined it, but you do need to give her some time....ok?”

“Yes,” he mumbled from where his head laid on his own arms.

“Good. Why not try and send her a text or something?”

“Yeah, ok.” And with that Elijah was left to wallow in his own self-doubt and hatred.

Confusion. A lot of confusion and a bit of hurt was all she was left with after their conversation.

Had he not been so innocent, she’d have thought it was all a ploy, something to get her to justify for him that what he wanted was fine; That wanting her was fine. It was something she’d often heard of, but never seen firsthand. But, she knew better, knowing that it wasn’t something he’d do, that he genuinely thought they were moving too fast.

And that’s what she didn’t understand.

They hadn’t done anything wrong. They’d kissed, yes, but there was no touching, there was nothing forward. He’d been in his underwear, sure, and she’d been close to that region, but that was solely for medicinal purposes! He’d burned himself, and she’d helped bandage it.

So where was the speed that he thought they were moving at?

As expected, she got a text that night from Annelise that was ignored. Along with another text the following morning when she got up for work. And again while she was at work. Each text went ignored, unread, dreading each time her phone went off and leaving her to her thoughts for the majority of the day. Her colleagues steered clear of her as she was back to her usual cool demeanor. No more giggling or being on her phone. No more hiding with customers.

Just work. A lot of work.

What part of what we did was too fast…? Chrystal asked herself for what felt like the millionth time as she worked on cataloging the new shipment of books they’d gotten in. What had I done to ruin that? I thought he was comfortable…he’d been the one to push the lack of clothing in the first place! To ask for that kiss! …But then thought we were moving too fast?

A frustrated sigh fell free of her lips as she angrily checked off a book on her list. It was a bad idea, anyway. This whole thing is a bad idea. Guess I should be happy he called timeout… Another sigh, another angry check, and a not-so-subtle kick of the box later, and she was back at her desk. Where the angry checks left off, angry typing then took up, followed by an annoyed shove of her keyboard away from her fingers, leaving her to rest her chin on her hand. Her mind was busy running over the night before until she couldn’t do it anymore.

Work. I need to focus on work.

With that, she let her mind go blank, and just focused on the mindless work that was inputting books and delegating others to put them up on display.

Though he did not expect anything from it, he pulled out his phone. *Hey * Message simple and with some hope that she would respond.

The day had been moving along just fine, work getting done in quick, efficient order now that there were no distractions. There’d occasionally be a message from Annelise, but she had yet to open a one, only checking her phone out of habit. Sitting at her desk with her salad, she continued to work through her lunch and into the afternoon when her phone went off again. She checked it, not expecting anything more than another Annelise message to go with the others piling up in her messages…

…When she saw it was from Elijah. Her eyes narrowed at the phone, as though to read it without opening it and assess the damage. When they’d parted ways, she’d tried to appear amicable, but she’d secretly wanted to scream at him to stop overthinking, that overthinking was her job.

For a while longer, she stared at that alert, debating on whether or not to open it…only to cave about fifteen minutes later after eyeing her phone. “Hey”…she read, putting the phone down again, though her eyes remained transfixed on it. Continuing to ignore it for a few more hours, she tried to focus on work again, but to no avail. Why would you send me a message after what we talked about…? God, you’re confusing.

*Hi*

Time ticked away and with it his hope that she would ever answer him back. Ruined. I ruined it. He thought while he forced himself to muddle through some work. When his phone went off, it caused him to jump as he was not expecting a response at that point. For a moment he took the time to calm himself then sent off a message.

* How's work? *

His reply was far faster than her own had been, her attention having turned back to the work set before her when her phone went off again. Eyes turning toward it with a furrowed brow, she saw it was from him, opening it and continuing to eye it longer. “How’s work?”…We talk about you needing time, and then you want to have a regular conversation?

*It’s work. You?* was sent back after she thought it over, the hesitation causing her to wait about a half an hour before hitting the “send” button.

Again the time ticked away and again, he thought that she would not respond. *Boring and I am having trouble focusing.... * he sent.

…He’s having trouble focusing…just like he thought we were moving too fast… came a thought, before sending a text off.

*Sorry to distract you*

A sigh as he read the message. * It's not you. If anything talking to you I actually feel focused.... * sent then another sigh. * I am distracting myself with how foolish I have been and how much I overthink things....I'm sorry....*

The first message she received, she read and frowned at. Elijah was terrible at sending mixed signals, one minute needing space and the next wanting to talk. Then, another message came through and her frown set in deeper.

*Stop apologizing. You need time and space. You need to think. You said so yourself.*

*This is why I am no good at these relationship things... * he sent without a thought. * I was scared and did not think it out clearly and then also over thought it....I am sorry....I well....miss you already and it has only been a few hours...*

Again, the message came in two parts, the first received with another frown from her while the second was conflicted. He missed her…but had gotten scared with just a kiss. A simple kiss.

*Now you have time to think things over…to think it out.*

* I have and I want to start over. Or try and erase my mistake....* he sent back. * My name is Elijah Maddox and I shove my foot in my mouth when I overthink things and ruin a good thing. *

Shaking her head, the message went ignored for a while. Finally, she read it, and shook her head. *I need to get back to work… Ttyasp.*

With that, the phone was shut off and shoved in her drawer, ready to be ignored for the rest of the day from the safety of a locked space.

The response back was less than hopeful and when his message about the date later that week went unanswered he just shut his phone off and tried to focus on work. By the end of the day, he got called into the office by his boss for some mistakes on a few files. It was uncharacteristic of him so it was more of a concerned talk rather than anything severe. A wave to Tim, his bag grabbed up and he headed home for the night.

His usual routine felt disconnected and lack luster as he worked out, it was not until after his shower that he remembered to turn on his phone, before he settled up with a book in bed.

Her phone remained off for the duration of her shift, and wasn’t turned back on until she got home and settled in for a night of takeout and television. It wasn’t until she had to place her order that her phone went off with another text, among the ones from Annelise. Hesitating, she finally opened it to see what Elijah had sent.

Are we still on for our date…? she repeated. A frown set in while she continued to consider it. *I’m not sure. I guess we’ll see the day of?*

Phone went off and he glanced at the message. A deep sigh before he responded, * Alright. I'll message you the day before and the day of. At least to try and figure out what movie we will go and see.... *

The message read as she expected it would, sigh heavily implied by the use of ellipsis. *Alright. Have a good night.*

The urge to throw his phone was a great one, but instead he threw the book he had. Face now buried in his hands he was not sure what he would do now if he should even bother to do anything at all. Sure, he did not blame her at all for how she reacted and continued to act. If the roles had been reversed he is sure that he would have done the same. With that being the case, he would have to do what he thought would make the situation better, or at least what he hoped would make the situation better.

A grunt left his lips, his form was pushed up from the bed and made his way to his computer in the living room. Glasses pulled on from beside the keyboard, he slipped them on and set to work. Fingers seemed to move of their own accord, as he worked in silence. When it was all said and done he sat back for a moment to survey his work. It should at least break the ice with her once again. That was the hope anyway, but he could not be sure until it all went into effect. Back to bed he went, though sleep was slow to take him. Instead, his mind felt it worthwhile to make him remember the kiss they shared over and over.

How sweet she smelled, how soft her lips were against his own. The way his body shivered at the feel her tongue and how he wanted to do more...so much more. Perfectly, her body fit against his own and he wanted to feel that now and everyday....

“Let's hope this works,” his whispered somewhat breathlessly into the night, eyes now closed and waited for sleep to finally take him.


The next day while at work, Chrystal would receive a delivery, the sender was unknown but it would be a single blue rose atop a box. When she opened the box she would find a dessert. No note on who sent it to her, but it would not be hard for her to know.

Sleep didn’t come easily to her that night, tossing and turning in bed until the wee hours of the morning. Just as her eyes closed, her alarm began to ring in its usual obnoxious fashion, met with a slam of her hand down (harder than necessary) on the button to turn it off. Her routine that day was the same as it always was: shower, dressed, and out the door, grabbing a bagel on the way to eat.

And, when she got to work, her phone was automatically turned off and locked in her desk, focusing completely on her work and what was needed. The employees were kept busy, whether handling the shipment of books she didn’t finish the day before, or rearranging the displays for the new promotional books. Posters were put up for a signing due in a few weeks, so those, too, were put up in the storefront windows and they were all given the pamphlets to familiarize themselves with the woman’s work, should customers have questions.

Just as she was getting ready to go off to lunch, she was trying to rush through the last of her check list, checking in with each of the people on the floor so everyone was on the same page…when a delivery came for her. Frowning in confusion, she accepted it, going to her office to see what it was. The rose atop it had her puzzled….but what was inside that box…had her stopping completely.

The door closed behind her, she stared at it, not sure what to even think. Tiramisu… her mind continued to repeat. He got me…Tiramisu… Dropping into her chair unceremoniously, she stared at it a little longer, before her phone was dug out of the desk drawer, turned on, and his number dialed. What she was going to say, she wasn’t sure, but she’d figure that out after he answered.

“Yes sir...I know sir....I'll fix those reports now sir....won't happen again...” the phone was hung up and he reclined back in the chair, hands quick to cover his face as he sighed.

“Another ass chewing, no pun intended,” Tim asked from his usual perch.

“Yes. Apparently,” he paused to remove his glasses so that he could pinch the bridge of his nose. This morning his eyes hurt too much to bother with his contacts and he was forced to bring his glasses to work. “The reports that I did this morning were wrong again and he said he expected more from me and would hate to take administration action against me for all the work that I have put into the company,” he sighed and looked over at Tim.

“Everyone has their rough times, you just need to shake it off and get back on that horse or whatever,” Tim tried to sound optimistic, but it was obvious that Elijah did not care or at least did not hear. Instead, he had replaced his glasses and began to work on the reports he messed up this morning. Not another word was said and Tim left him to his work.

The code began to run together and he felt his eyes strain and his vision blur when his phone went off. Without looking at it he picked it up and answered it, “Hello?”

The way he answered the phone, it sounded like he was either stressed or just feeling very run down, which had her frowning a little more. “…Bad time?” she asked, ready to just hang up and try to thank him later. “I can call back later, if that’s easier?”

It took him just a moment for the voice to register and when it did he sat up a bit straighter. “What? Oh um...no and yes?” he sighed. “I just got a bit of a chewing out by my boss, but I'm good. Um...so...hi,” his voice cracked just a bit at the end, which prompted him to clear it. “Um..everything ok?”

At the mention of his boss chewing him out, she winced, that wince amplified by the way his voice cracked. No doubt my fault… came a thought, as her fingers rubbed at her temple. “You don’t sound good,” Chrystal replied to that, ignoring his question. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not much to talk about,” he began and relaxed back into his chair some. “I did not sleep too well last night and this morning I did some reports wrong,” he sighed. “Would not be an issue, but I did the same thing yesterday. He just felt the urge to remind me that another mistake and I would get written up,” another sigh, this time followed by a brief pause before he sought to change the subject. “How is work going for you?”

Yep…my fault… she replied with a mental sigh. But, now wasn’t the time. “Work is work…However, work isn’t why I called.” A brief pause as a hand idly toyed with the rose that’d been atop her box. “I actually called to say thank you, for the tiramisu. It was an…unexpected surprise, to say the least…You caught me off guard with that…Just makes me have to ask ‘why’, though. Why go through the trouble of sending me this?”

A small smile came to his lips and he smiled, “I owed you one and wanted to make sure that you got it is all.” Explanation given in a simple and matter of fact tone.

“You’re a confusing man, Elijah…” Her reply wasn’t said like a bad thing, not in a negative tone. It was more of a comment with just a hint of a smile. “I’m not sure what to make of you, and whether or not I should be trying to understand it…One minute you tell me we’re moving too fast, and then the next you’re trying to pick back up…And, not to sound conceited…but your lack of sleep and focus is related to all of that…isn’t it?”

“I am just as confused as you are,” he replied honestly. “All I know is that I want to spend time with you,” he said into the phone and then there was a pause as he thought over her last question. “Yes....yes it is....” he said slowly, as he did not want her to feel sorry or guilty in anyway.

The guilt was there, whether he wanted it to be or not. She knew the moment he mentioned getting chewed out, then there was the lack of sleep, the way he’d been responding to messages the night before. Anyone would have to be an idiot to not realize it.

“But is more time wise?” she asked, honestly not sure, ulterior motives aside. “I don’t want to put you under any pressure or make you think things have to be done that don’t, that we’re moving too fast. Is more time really what we should be doing?”

“More time together?” he asked just to clarify.

“Yes,” she replied. “More time together. Is that really wise?”

“Let me ask you this,” he paused to give himself time to gather his thoughts and essentially center his feelings. “How did you sleep since this happened?”

Bracing for the question, she’d thought of a million other things he might ask. How she slept, though…was not one of the questions she’d considered. Another pause of her own while she considered lying and saying she’d slept fine, rather than the truth. “Not the best,” was all she said on the matter. “Why?”

“The night that I met you I slept, for lack of a better term, like a baby,” he paused then steeled himself and pressed on. “And then we take time off and it feels wrong and I can't sleep,” he finished. “I guess I got scared and spoke without a thought and I do regret it....deeply....”

A pause was given as he just sat there and waited for her to respond.

Her smile grew as she sat there, taking in what he’d said. But, even if the sentiment had her smiling and had her wanting to try it again…she still held reservations. “…What’s to say you won’t get scared and want me to back off again?”

“I give you my word as your protector and hopeful prospective courter,” he said into the phone, he smile hinted in the tone of his voice.

For a long while, the other end of the line was silent. Not a breath was heard, not a thing. All her movement ceased, her mind fully considering this, thinking of all the outcomes, apart from the obvious. And, as the pause continued, she wasn’t sure she’d even reached a real agreement with herself, still going back and forth on what was the right thing to do.

“…Then…I’ll see you at the movies for our date?” Her voice was quiet, but definitely there, saying it before she changed her mind.

“It's a date,” he replied and did not even attempt to conceal his pleasure at her words. “Now, tell me about how the thing tasted? The picture looked so good when I ordered it, I thought about getting myself some,” he joked.

A light laugh fell free of her lips. “I haven’t tasted it yet,” she replied to that. “I was more focused on calling and talking to you when I opened it that it’s…still looking at me, waiting to be tasted. I think you’d like it, though. Maybe I’ll order you some, so you can taste it firsthand rather than ask me how it is.”

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