05-20-2014, 01:02 PM
Ayden had laughed at his stupid quips. She had a sweet laugh, carefree and pure. He wanted to hear it again. And to see those bright brown eyes light up, to see her cute nose crinkle in mock-offense, to dive into her inviting smile. And when he had worked on the steaks, he was aware of her just watching him and it had felt exhilarating. It was like he was 16 again, that first time you flirt with a girl and she flirts back at you. When it looks like she really likes you as much as you her. That you might actually get to kiss her. To be able to feel that again, at his age and after all that had happened, was thrilling. He felt a kid again. Slow down buddy, he thought. Relax. I know it's been awhile since you met someone nice. But keep it together. This is a quality girl. She's not just some woman you met in a bar at last call. The thoughts relaxed him. There was no hurry.
And then-then- a simple question, asking her where she had come from, and her face fell, her answer evasive. It felt as if the sun had gone behind a cloud. He didn't know what passed through her mind. People had lots of reasons to not say where they were from. And none of them where his business. But for the first time, he felt there was more to this woman and their playful flirting. Stupid, he thought. Of course there is more to her. But for that brief period, from the time he had seen her in the lobby, to just now, nothing else existed- no past and no future. He felt like they were in their own universe, set adrift from everything else. Only that moment and that world was real.
Her look and reaction was an anchor that pulled their drifting island universe back into the real world, at least for the moment. And then, the clouds parted and once more a friendly smile appeared. She prepared a pot of water and came over next to him and playfully bumped him out of the way with her hip, smiling as before. He stood next to her, facing her, feeling how close she was, measuring her size in relation to him, how easy it would be to enfold her in his arms and feel the her heartbeat against his chest, fiery hair against his chin and neck. The feeling had changed. He was still physically attracted to her. But now, he wanted to hold her because....he didn't know why exactly. Maybe it was the way her face had fallen. He wasn't sure. Just that a part of him wanted to be there for her now. He smiled at her softly and just watched her.
And then it was his turn. "What bring's a good ol' American boy like yourself to Moscow, the land of the rich and greedy?"
It seemed their island had run aground for good. He really wasn't sure how to answer. He frowned, thinking. It had been over 3 months since he had finally found peace that fateful night, since he had accepted Hayden's death. Since he had forgiven himself. He missed his son all the time. But he knew life had to go on and he tried to live in a way that would make his son proud.
In the weeks since then, he'd had more proof that much more was going on in the world than he had a clue about. He thought back to that encounter of the Ijiraq and Tehya and Elias. He briefly tamped down a feeling of irritation at that punk kid. It wasn't worth the aggravation. But there was something about Moscow, something that kept him there. Things were happening. Things he wanted to be a part of, things that seemed to matter.
But what did he tell her? Not the whole story, surely. But he decided. He could tell a little. Not the whole thing. He was sure that she would think him crazy if he told her of the things he'd seen- as well as the stupid things he'd done. But maybe a little. Open a little to her at least.
Deciding was one thing. Talking another. And he didn't want to bring her down. They were having a good time after all. But she had asked. He decided to be brief. "My son died of the sickness about 9 months ago. After I watched him die I was in a bad place and needed answers. So I came here, for the CCD research facility studying the disease. And....I ended up staying. Got a job at a network security firm 3 months ago. And then met you, today."
He added, "It's not a bad place to be, really. Different. Interesting."
It was quiet for a moment. Maybe that was a mistake. He realized he hadn't asked her how she liked her steak. He nodded to the stove. "Rare? Medium?"
He grimaced. "Well done?"
"Medium rare will do."
He used the towel hanging off the stove to pull the skillet out. The steaks were sizzling and looked perfect, seared meat giving off a delicious aroma. He guessed at a cupboard and was lucky to find plates on the first try. He pulled two out and gently lifted the steaks onto the plates with a knife and fork, careful not to pierce the skin. They needed to cool down and rest so the juices stayed in the meat and not on the plate.
He looked at her. "These will be ready in maybe 5 minutes, I think."
Edited by Connor Kent, May 20 2014, 01:02 PM.
And then-then- a simple question, asking her where she had come from, and her face fell, her answer evasive. It felt as if the sun had gone behind a cloud. He didn't know what passed through her mind. People had lots of reasons to not say where they were from. And none of them where his business. But for the first time, he felt there was more to this woman and their playful flirting. Stupid, he thought. Of course there is more to her. But for that brief period, from the time he had seen her in the lobby, to just now, nothing else existed- no past and no future. He felt like they were in their own universe, set adrift from everything else. Only that moment and that world was real.
Her look and reaction was an anchor that pulled their drifting island universe back into the real world, at least for the moment. And then, the clouds parted and once more a friendly smile appeared. She prepared a pot of water and came over next to him and playfully bumped him out of the way with her hip, smiling as before. He stood next to her, facing her, feeling how close she was, measuring her size in relation to him, how easy it would be to enfold her in his arms and feel the her heartbeat against his chest, fiery hair against his chin and neck. The feeling had changed. He was still physically attracted to her. But now, he wanted to hold her because....he didn't know why exactly. Maybe it was the way her face had fallen. He wasn't sure. Just that a part of him wanted to be there for her now. He smiled at her softly and just watched her.
And then it was his turn. "What bring's a good ol' American boy like yourself to Moscow, the land of the rich and greedy?"
It seemed their island had run aground for good. He really wasn't sure how to answer. He frowned, thinking. It had been over 3 months since he had finally found peace that fateful night, since he had accepted Hayden's death. Since he had forgiven himself. He missed his son all the time. But he knew life had to go on and he tried to live in a way that would make his son proud.
In the weeks since then, he'd had more proof that much more was going on in the world than he had a clue about. He thought back to that encounter of the Ijiraq and Tehya and Elias. He briefly tamped down a feeling of irritation at that punk kid. It wasn't worth the aggravation. But there was something about Moscow, something that kept him there. Things were happening. Things he wanted to be a part of, things that seemed to matter.
But what did he tell her? Not the whole story, surely. But he decided. He could tell a little. Not the whole thing. He was sure that she would think him crazy if he told her of the things he'd seen- as well as the stupid things he'd done. But maybe a little. Open a little to her at least.
Deciding was one thing. Talking another. And he didn't want to bring her down. They were having a good time after all. But she had asked. He decided to be brief. "My son died of the sickness about 9 months ago. After I watched him die I was in a bad place and needed answers. So I came here, for the CCD research facility studying the disease. And....I ended up staying. Got a job at a network security firm 3 months ago. And then met you, today."
He added, "It's not a bad place to be, really. Different. Interesting."
It was quiet for a moment. Maybe that was a mistake. He realized he hadn't asked her how she liked her steak. He nodded to the stove. "Rare? Medium?"
He grimaced. "Well done?"
"Medium rare will do."
He used the towel hanging off the stove to pull the skillet out. The steaks were sizzling and looked perfect, seared meat giving off a delicious aroma. He guessed at a cupboard and was lucky to find plates on the first try. He pulled two out and gently lifted the steaks onto the plates with a knife and fork, careful not to pierce the skin. They needed to cool down and rest so the juices stayed in the meat and not on the plate.
He looked at her. "These will be ready in maybe 5 minutes, I think."
Edited by Connor Kent, May 20 2014, 01:02 PM.