揂re you talking to me or the dog??
She laughed, the sound more solemn than he would have expected from someone with five hairstyles thrown into one. Maybe even a little sad. His desperation to catalogue her features shot up into the stratosphere. They would provide some type of answer to the riddle of her梐nd, honestly, why was he even confused? Even his confusion was confusing.
揥hat were you doing inside the school??The question came out harsher than intended and he watched as her hand stilled on Old Man抯 head. A movement that increase his suspicion, even though he kind of wanted to go on ignoring the elephant in the forest.
揥hat do you think I was doing??
Her throaty answer caught him below the belt, thickening the flesh inside his briefs. Ten seconds earlier, they were just two people crossing paths in the woods, but with the issuance of those two questions, they were challengers. It didn抰 help that the girl was still on her knees while Aaron stood at full height. The symbolic positions caused awareness to descend where it hadn抰 been before. 揧ou抮e not a student inside that school, are you??he asked because it seemed relevant, now that his cock had exhibited a hearty appreciation for her voice, her presence. 揧ou抮e not a high school student.?
揘o, I went to private school.?A pause. 揂nd I graduated.?
Aaron cleared the relief from his throat. 揑n my experience, students sneak into their own high school at night to set up pranks or make out. So if you抮e not a student, we can rule that out.?He held up his fingers and began ticking them off. 揂re you a journalist? Maybe setting up a hidden microphone to catch a politician off guard at tomorrow抯 event??
揧es. That抯 what I was doing.?
揂h,?Aaron said, shaking his head. 揝ee, your agreement was too quick.?
A long sigh came from the shadows. 揂re you a lawyer??
Aaron reached for the knot of his tie to adjust it before remembering he wore only a T-shirt. 揑 went to law school棓
揚olitician??
揙f a sort,?Aaron hedged. 揃ut you抮e changing the subject.?
揧ou must know all about that.?
Old Man growled at Aaron again, but the girl reached over and placed a hand on the dog抯 head, quieting him. Aaron curled his lip at his pet, wondering when the hell his famous canine loyalty was supposed to kick in. 揕isten, I really don抰 want to report you.?
揃ut you will??
Would he? The high school gymnasium would be filled with politicians, voters, and media tomorrow. Despite his gut feeling to the contrary, she could very well have an agenda that included setting the place on fire. Stranger things had happened than someone using a political event to make a statement for their cause. Still, he couldn抰 connect that particular dot to this girl. Even without having gotten a decent look at her face. 揑 don抰 know.?
She was silent for long moments. 揜eally??Her tone was laced with surprise. 揥hen was the last time you said those words??
揑 don抰 know??He searched his brain. 揑 don抰 know.?
Her laughter almost pulled him headfirst into the darkness. It hadn抰 sounded sad or solemn that time. And he liked it better the second way. 揑 can厰 Now she sounded almost shy. How often were they going to switch gears here? 揑 can owe you a favor. If you just pretend we didn抰 meet.?
Fuck that. The words very nearly left his mouth on a shout. He couldn抰 find a way for his unspoken denial to make sense, but he really didn抰 feel like pretending this encounter hadn抰 happened. Another hour or so in the forest and he would have the frostbite to prove it. Maybe he抎 already succumbed to the initial stages of delirium, because he was placing way too much importance on this interaction. He needed to get out of there and gear up for tomorrow. Tomorrow was what mattered. 揕ook, forget it.?He signaled to Old Man, as if that was going to work. 揟here抯 nothing you can offer that would help me. Just厰 Discomfort invaded his throat. 揟his never happened.?
Walking away felt distinctly shitty, but what else could he do? Stand in the freezing-cold woods in a T-shirt with a spiteful dog and a probable anarchist for another hour?
揥ait.?
Aaron turned at the sound of footsteps jogging up behind him. And then he just stared. Her face fully exposed now in the moonlight, the girl blinked up at him with vivid green eyes, that wild hair blowing around her shoulders. His stomach dipped like a ladle into a boiling pot of soup and hung there, the forest feeling stiller than death around him. Anything would feel still, so close to so much條ife. Go back to the cabin. Or wake up from this bizarre dream. Just do something before you go completely insane. 揥hat am I waiting for??
揗e,?she whispered, before squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head. 揑 mean, I asked you to wait. I can help you.?
揌ow do you know I need help??
She looked almost perplexed by his question. 揥e all need help.?
Why couldn抰 he get his stomach to stop twisting and diving? 揘ot me.?
揘o??She broke his stare to gaze out at their surroundings. 揧ou were out here for a reason, too. What was it??
揑 don抰 know anymore,?he murmured.
揟hat抯 the fourth time you抳e said it now.?Her smile revealed her teeth, the two overlapping ones up top, dead center. 揑sn抰 it wonderful??
Jesus, he almost said I don抰 know a fifth time. 揑 need to get into that pancake event tomorrow morning. I doubt you can help me with that, so棓
揑 can, actually,?she said, arching a cocky eyebrow.
揜eally.?He doused the flicker of hope. 揟hrough a window, I assume??
When she shook her head, braids and curls and ribbons rioted everywhere. 揑抣l walk you right past security through the back door.?
揘ot the front one??
Another flash of those imperfect teeth. 揃eggars can抰 be choosers.?
That husky tone of voice was back, and it flexed his abdomen muscles, compelling him forward a step, where he could look down into her uniquely pretty face. 揗y name is Aaron. And I never beg.?
揗y name is Grace.?A deep breath, a step back. Away from him. 揂nd I know better than to ever say never.?
Aaron stood at the edge of the woods, watching as Grace slipped around the building outcropping and into the darkness, still convinced he was dreaming. Until he felt a warm, liquid sensation on his right foot, and found Old Man pissing on his favorite pair of loafers.
揜eally??He removed his foot from the line of fire and shook it. 揥e抮e literally surrounded by trees.?
He cast one final glance in the direction Grace had disappeared, dismissing with some effort the urge to follow, and went back to the cabin, somehow knowing that tomorrow wouldn抰 be any less confusing than tonight.