Ilissa Chapter 2

Ilissa Chapter 2

Wednesday is ridiculously and painfully slow.  More lectures, more laboratory time, and I’m off to the library to get a lab report under my belt before I have to head to the studio.  Finding a little nook on the quietest floor, I pull out my laptop and iPod, and try to concentrate on microbiology.  Even with the music, my mind starts wandering, and the cursor blinks in mockery at me.  My lab notebook offers little comfort.  The statistical analysis is there, but I don’t have the mental energy to type it.  It’s so much easier to sit here and daydream.  Dad would have full disapproval on display if he saw me mooning into a blank computer screen.

I’m such an idiot.  Really?  Why is this so hard?  There’s no possible future with Will.  I need to let this childish fairytale go.  What could he honestly see in me other than the thrill of getting the silent girl to talk?  I fulfilled my end of his bargain, it’s time to refocus on my actual life.  Solidifying my world has never been more difficult, and I have to hold back from slapping my own face in the middle of the library.

After three songs have played unnoticed by me, I shake back into reality and get everything typed and emailed.  Then I check the time…I’m going to be late for ballet.  The route which seemed so short yesterday now stretches out before me, and I sprint as fast as I can.

Els is shaking her head as I throw everything onto the ground and jump behind her at the bar, ribbons barely tied.  Our instructor is a short Japanese woman, and she ignores me for the next hour as punishment for my tardiness.  It’s not really a punishment to me, but I pretend to be sad and disappointed.  Not surprisingly, Els keeps looking to me with an overly quizzical expression.  No matter how many times I shake my head at her, the look remains until the end of class.

Trying to gather the carnage I deposited all over the floor, Els throws my shirt at me, and kicks the rest of my belongings into a pile.  I sit and begin changing footwear.

Elsbeth’s realization stabs me, “Hey there’s a note poking out of your side pocket.” 

Her finger is pointing at my pack.  She crushes over me, my attempts to stop her from reaching the note unsuccessful. Els could pin an ultimate fighting champion based on wrestling ability alone, but her kicks and punches are also spot on.  As her eyes move rapidly over the writing, my stomach flips and my palms break out in a flood of perspiration as I fight against her foot holding me at bay.

“Jesus, Els.  Can you let me up and enlighten me about the contents of the note that was meant for me?”

“Oh, he’s waiting downstairs.”  She kicks me.  “Get your ass down there.” 

I nearly throw my back out as she manhandles my pack onto my shoulder.  She kicks me again and I’m rushing to the stairs, trying not to fall.  These stairs are brutally long and hell-bent on turning me into a rolling ball of stupidity.

Will’s sitting on the last three steps, watching the other girls leaving through the foyer.  As I slow and sit next to him he smiles.  I’m trying desperately to keep down the orange from break.

That damn brogue is fully in play, “Hope I’m not scaring you, I had some research to finish up, and…” 

He could seriously be telling me aliens were landing, and I would nod in agreement at this moment.  Els has caught up to me, causing the pause in his explanation.

Eyeing him unabashedly, she kicks me as she speaks, “Hey, Ilissa, who’s your friend?” 

Judging by the sly grin on her face, she has just eaten a canary, a bunny, and possibly a kitten.  All that is missing are feathers and fur at the corners of her mouth.

I flush with the introduction, “Will, this is Elsbeth, my roommate.” 

The smile and happiness from him catches me off guard.  “William Reilly, study partner and admirer.” 

He shakes her hand, and she continues with that grin, “Nice to finally meet you, William.  We’re heading home, what’s up?” 

Her inquiry hangs in the air.  Pretty sure my eyes are as wide as saucers.  Why did she say ‘finally’?  My life is hell officially.

Will laughs and grabs my hand, squeezing my fingers gently, his eyes holding my gaze.  “I’ll make sure she makes it home safely.  Up for coffee?” 

I nod, suddenly mute.  Once again, if aliens landed outside and started enslaving the human race, I would be good with it, might actually help round up the likes of Candice for lots of probing.

Els laughs, and begins backing to the door, her voice bell-like, “See ya’, Liss.”  Her focus changes to Will, “I’m holding you to returning her safely, William Reilly, study partner and admirer.”

“Her safety is tantamount.  Ilissa will be returned unharmed, I promise.” 

His smile is disarming, and as he turns to Els, she backs into a locked door, the glass trembling in protest.  She rights herself and then successfully exits the adjacent door.

I find my voice again with the comic relief of Elsbeth’s door conundrum, “You wouldn’t know it, but she’s quite graceful.  Far more coordinated than I am.”  We are both focused on her retreating shape.

Will looks bemused at his encounter with my best friend.  “I’ll have to take your word for it.” 

Returning my attention to him, I hope my heart doesn’t suddenly burst out of my chest, “Research?  On what?  Another espionage subject, or are we called targets?” 

The brogue thickens with the teasing, “I would call you a subject.  Target is too…violent.  But it’s top secret research.  Heavy stuff, I’d tell you but…”  Those green eyes just suck me right in.

“Got it.”  My head nods with a furrowing of my brow and chewing of my lip.  “Bit clichéd though.  Where’s your stuff?  If I’m going to die, might as well know what it is.”  The presentation of a flash drive from his hand answers my question.  “Oh, you’re a modern day spy then.  No microfilm?”

He fakes like he’s checking his pockets, “Left it in my other pair of pants.  Let’s get you caffeinated shall we?”

Will takes my hand as he transfers my pack to his shoulder.  I follow, intoxicated in this alternate reality I’ve suddenly been thrust into.  The coffee shop is fairly close, so we are seated with our orders minutes after leaving the studio building.

Sitting at the tiny table, he muddles over my drink selection.  Soy lattes are not something he orders.  While I explain the whole earth mother vegan childhood he nods.  His is simple black coffee, but he’s not touching it.  I’m too nervous to approach mine.

“So, is your mom health conscious or into animal rights?  Vegan is pretty strict, especially with a kid.”  He leans onto the table and his eyes start their search of my face. 

I instinctively look down, not quite able to meet his intense gaze.  “Really paranoid about hormones and stuff.  She thought she was saving me from a life of cancer and organ failure.  May have been part of a power issue with my father.  They divorced when I was little and dad is a staunch carnivore, pretty much eating entire muscle groups at a sitting when he’s alone.  Now I can’t digest it, and the smell kind of makes me sick to my stomach.”  Judging by the sun-burnt feel to my skin, I must be so deeply red that I’m spilling into the purple section of the Crayola box.

“Good to know I can’t take you to a steak house.  Parents then?  Living, dead, married, Russian spies?”

“Dad alive, mom died when I was in high school.  They weren’t spies, at least not that I know of.  Then again, they may have actually been really good spies.  As you so duly noted yesterday, I’m not really that observant.  Dad is a cardiac surgeon and Mom was an art teacher, elementary school kids, finger paints and such.”  As I sneak a look at his face his smile flashes. 

“Ok, career-minded family, possibly spies.  Any siblings, or are you an only child?”

My coloring begins to return to normal as the question answer session continues, but my voice is high-pitched with the rapid fire, “Nope, only child.  My parents didn’t stay together long enough to give me someone to torment.  No half-siblings or even step siblings.  Kind of a shame, my mom wanted to have a big family. You?”  I have yet to touch my latte, my hands firmly sequestered between my knees to keep from nervous shaking.

“One…a brother.  Sebastian and I were adopted by the same father back in the UK.  Kind of long story, but he’s from the Congo, and I’m from Ireland.  Somehow I think a smart girl like you already figured out my homeland, even your powers of observation could pick up the accent.  Odd pairing of offspring I know.  Julius, our dad, traveled all over and he was a sucker for lost causes like us.”  He keeps trying to get into my line of sight, almost amused at my inability to look at him.  “Ok, next question to you, what do you want to be when you grow up?” 

Despite my best efforts at containment, my knee is bouncing now.  “In case the pre-med major escaped your keen Interpol eyes, I lean scientifically.  I don’t know, kind of torn between medicine, research, or both.  Always been fascinated with diseases, especially the hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola and Marburg.”  Now safely into my turf, I bring my hands to my cup, but I’m still too jumpy to drink.

He laughs, “That’s a little on the gruesome side.  So you can’t handle the smell of cooked muscle tissue, but you’re kosher with someone bleeding from the ears and eyes?  Blood spatter in the final throws of death?  Liquefaction of internal organs?” 

Laughing nervously I lean over the table, searching my drink.  “Smell of blood doesn’t bother me, or the bleeding itself.  I’m kind of intrigued by it.  Broken bones and anything to do with finger nails, then I have issues.  Not looking forward to cadaver labs.”  I search my coffee for the next question, “So, traveled all over when you were a kid, when did you move to the US?” 

He’s looking into my coffee with me, long black lashes framing those insanely green eyes.  “Shortly after the terrible teens began.  Lived in New York for awhile, but when our father died, Baz and I moved here with his girlfriend, Niree.”

“Sorry about your dad.”  There is a noticeable wince when I mention his father, so I don’t push for further information.  “Niree?  What nationality is she?” 

“She’s from Sri Lanka, super nice, you’d like her.  Ran away from a prearranged marriage and has been tormenting my brother for years now with refusal of his countless proposals.” 

I can feel the heat crawling back into my cheeks.  “So you guys are like your own little melting pot.  Sebastian older or younger?”

“Technically he’s older, but we’re not sure about his exact birth date.  His village didn’t keep birth records.” 

Sneaking a peek at him, I note the grin, and subconsciously tug my shirt to cover the scars on my collarbone and arm.  His eyes follow the movement and I blush further.

“Same issue with Els.  She was born in China.  Adopted by a couple of nice teachers from Saint Charles.  They had been happily married for ten years, but unable to have kids, so they rescued Els from a little orphanage.  Her mom is kind of my adopted mom.  I pretty much spend the major holidays there.”

“So did your dad remarry? Any evil step mothers?  What’s keeping you away from home for the holidays?”

“No evil step mothers.  In fact I don’t think he has even dated since the divorce.  He’s been married to his job most of my life…kind of lead to the split.  I was seven when it was final, but the whole thing started well before I was born.  Mom may have had me to save the marriage.  Didn’t work, just gave him another item to focus on instead of her.”

His eyebrows arch.  “Well I’m glad she did.”  I flush from my toes to my ears.  This highlights the jagged white scar tissue peeking out from my shirt, with a matching one running the length of my forearm.  “When did you get those?”  He gestures to my neck line.

I back away from the table slightly and curl my hands around the cup I’m now more intently studying, my response stilted, “Accident when I was a kid.” 

He doesn’t press further, and I fail to mention the coordinating wounds in my stomach.  His head inches closer as his hands wrap around mine.  We are both holding my coffee.

“Back to hemorrhagic fevers then.  Would you be CDC or university?”

“Those viruses are level four containment, not many places to choose from in the United States which aren’t governmental in some fashion.  I would prefer the CDC or the NIH.  There are university labs with Biosafety Level 4, but they would be pretty much just laboratory, no field work.  Not all of them study the viruses I’m interested in, and the field is pretty tough, so we’ll see.”

“Field work, lab research, spacesuits and everything?”  His eyebrow is raised as I ease again.

“Yep.” 

I can’t for the life of me stop blushing or stop the flow of information I’m spilling out, I never talk to anyone like this.  The only people who know any of my plans are Elsbeth and my dad, and I don’t even discuss it that much with them.  Then again, no one has ever asked until now.  And no one has ever looked at me like this, so intently, actually at me.

“Dangerous work.”  His finger strokes my knuckles, triggering goose bumps up my arm.

“Everything can be dangerous.”  I can’t meet those eyes.

“No ballet career?  You seemed pretty committed to the dance thing.  Four days a week right?”

“Another residual effect of my mother’s hopes and dreams, she loved me in those costumes.  I just like practice mostly. my stage fright is pretty consuming.” 

Will laughs while standing up, offering his hand to help me.  “I should get you home before Elsbeth sends the hounds.”

Silently disappointed, I smile nervously.  “Ok.  But to be fair, I don’t think she knows of any canines.”

“And I don’t want to take you home just yet, but I think getting on the good side of your best friend is tantamount to me being able to see you again.”

“Oh.”  The butterflies appear suddenly, fluttering through my whole body.  “You want to see me again?”

“Of course.  Planning to invade as much of your time as possible.”

I can’t address this, the lump in my throat is barely allowing me to breathe.  Instead I smile and flush brutally, stumbling against him as my legs weaken.  This leads to his Cheshire grin as he wraps my hand around his arm, a small chuckle escaping his lips.

Walking down the street after the coffee shop, the night is much more peaceful with the din of traffic gone.  His hand holds mine against his arm for the entire trip to my apartment.  The air is chilled, and I fight the need to pull my arms around my chest for warmth, afraid to break the physical connection.

The brogue thickens for his next question, “Anything on the menu for Friday night?” 

I grimace slightly.  I’ve been nauseous just hoping he would ask me out officially, and now I have to turn him down.  This is the worst practical joke ever.  Thanks universe.

“Els’s birthday, and I must designate her walking and train riding for the evening.  Possibly have a date with holding her hair in the bathroom after the bars.  Hopefully not during, those stalls are small.”

“So you get the honor of staying sober the whole night?”  He transfers his arm to my shoulders as we walk.

“It’s ok, I don’t drink.  Don’t like the out of control feeling.”

“How about Saturday then?  Or will you be on hangover duty?”  The eyes and the grin are in full force, and completely overpowering.

My voice fractures slightly, “No plans.” 

“Would you like to join me for the afternoon?  Hit a museum or maybe a movie.”

“Yes.”  Not even sure I spoke the word.

“I can call you not too early in the morning and check to see how birthday girl is doing.  We can make plans from there.”

I trip on the sidewalk.  Catching me mid-fall he guides me onto my front stoop.  At the door to my building, he kisses me on the cheek, lingering, inhaling deeply, breathing in the air around me.  Nervousness runs through me, preventing me from speaking or otherwise responding.  Then he presses into my lips, soft and sweet.  My breath leaves me altogether, and I become light-headed.

His words are warm against my ear, “See you tomorrow in class.  Save my seat.”

“Ok.”

As I watch him walk towards the ‘L’ station, my knees recover, and I find the strength to walk up the stairs.  Once my key hits the lock, Els is attacking me for details.

“You are going nowhere until you tell me what happened.” 

Her arm is blocking my path to the bathroom.  “Seriously?  Let me pee and then I will catch you up on everything.  My bladder has suffered enough.”  Being too anxious to try and walk to and from the bathroom at the coffee shop, my urinary system has undergone a test of endurance usually reserved for Navy seal training. 

She is waiting immediately outside the door when I’m done with my three minute potty break.  “Let’s go, spill it.  Every detail, no matter how small.  It’s deposition time, sweetheart.”

I’m dragged to the couch for my second interrogation of the night.  At least I can eat without puking during this one.

“Well, first, he’s an international spy who needs me to get some…ouch.”  The punch isn’t pulled.  “Fine, he’s from Ireland…obviously.  He was adopted as a kid after his parents died and moved all over Europe growing up.  He has a brother, who, wait for it…is practically married.  So you can relax.”  Glaring has become second nature for Els.  “He’s amused by the whole vegan upbringing, and asked a bunch of questions about my family.  Hey, what did you make for dinner?”

Her finger pokes my chest, dark brown eyes steeled against my pout.  “No food until you’re done.  You’re more motivated that way.”

“He asked me a lot about the whole virus thing you hate so much.”  She cringes with superb exaggeration and then feigns snoring.  “Hey, you wanted details.  There really aren’t any.  He did ask me out for Friday night.” 

I watch her reaction, this could cause her to stroke out.  Her squirming is full body.  “And you said…”

“I said I was babysitting your drunken high-jinks.” 

Being patient with her struggling expressions is hard.  “Liss, if you really want to go out with him I would be totally cool with that.”

“Nope, you come first.  Besides, he wants to spend Saturday with me instead, so you will have to fetch your own aspirin and cold compresses.”  My hand catches hers in mid-flight.  “You punch me again and I’m calling DCFS.  Oh, and when I wake up tomorrow and this was all some crazy dream, please bring me back to reality gently.  Hey!”  The pinch was faster and sneakier than the punch.

I’m pulled into a hug as she kisses my head.  “There’s you’re gentle wakeup call.  You’re not dreaming, Liss.  Welcome to the rest of the world.  We’re glad you could finally join us.”

Chewing my lip, I blush and she pulls back to study me.  My confession is meek, “He kissed me.”

“On the lips?”

“Yes.  Very gentle and sweet.”

“Oh, Liss, are you ok?”  Her fingers gingerly push my flyaways behind my ear, her eyes warming back to maternal.

“Yes.  Perfectly ok, but now extremely freaking out.”

“You kissed him back?”

“I don’t know…my brain shut down and all I could do was focus on standing.  I’m not equipped for this.”

“Well he obviously is.  No one has ever dived into you like this, sweetie.  How many weeks of study group until this romantic pursuit?”

“Four.”

“And how many barriers did he gently push through to get you to talk?”

“Countless.”  Focused on the patterns of the couch fabric, my confession is quiet.  “I’m scared.”

“I know.  It’s ok to be scared.  I’m right here, Liss.  I will be holding your hand and hugging you through the whole thing.  I’ve got you, baby sister.”  Her hug is soothing as she strokes my back and kisses my head.

“Thank you.  I love you, Els.”

“Love you too, sweetie.  Always here for you.”
**

Listening to the professor is nearly impossible with Will next to me.  Luckily I took notes from the textbook while trying to fall asleep last night, or my pages would be completely blank. 

It feels like I’m back in grade school, full on first crush.  I can’t remember the kid’s name now, but I remember hoping we would have to sit next to each other during all school mass.  It made it easier to daydream and get through the excruciatingly long ceremony.  The tingling sensation when he would accidentally touch my arm as we maneuvered from sitting, to standing, to kneeling, and back to standing.  There was so much shifting around, it made me wonder if it was to keep us awake.  I would just have hour long adventures in my head, the ceremony was so automatic I never needed to be mentally present.

At this moment, no matter how hard I try, I can’t concentrate on the monotonous lecture, and Will is purposely brushing against me, leaning over to whisper in my ear, and wearing the grin that is so irresistible.  When his lips brush my ear, I shiver and he chuckles as he kisses my temple and ear.  Why is he kissing me?

If he was to ask me to go sky diving, I would actually overcome my acrophobia for him.  Those eyes could get me to jump out of a perfectly good plane and I can barely climb a ladder.

As lecture wraps up, I spy Candice eyeing us from a couple of rows back.  Her lips are pursed with the exertion of thinking.  Will wraps his arm around my shoulders, and steers me out of class and eventually out of the building.

He kisses my ear as he walks with me, the skin tingling where he pressed his lips.  “So lab work for you, library for me.  Can you keep yourself out of trouble for a few hours?” 

“Not sure, autoclaving is extremely dangerous, all the pressurized steam sanitizing the Petri dishes.  I may also have to prepare agar, and my cooking skills are subpar as is.  Last time I boiled it all over the hotplate.  Whole lab smelled for days.”

At the door, he turns to me and kisses my cheek.  “Try not to injure yourself or anyone else then.  Don’t be late.”  I get hit by the door as someone exits in a hurry, and Will hugs me to him to keep me from falling.  My gasp is loud, causing him to laugh.  “You seem so graceful usually.  Is this a recent phenomenon?”

“Pretty much, I think you’re short-circuiting something.”  The blush starts at my ears and spreads across my face and neck.

“Hmm.”  He scans over my face and then smiles.  “Your blushing really is cute.  See you soon.” 

I must be purple by now, and before leaving me he kisses my forehead and then lingers on my lips.  His hands cradle my face as he commits to a more thorough kiss, his tongue pressing softly into my mouth.  I wrap around him, letting my tongue answer his, leading to an awkward break, Will shuddering with a jerky exhale.

“Uh, that was phenomenal, but if…I should let you get to lab.  I really don’t want to…please, don’t be late to study group.”

His swift kiss almost knocks me over, which is the origin of my confused expression as I enter the lab.  I’ve never really been pursued by a guy before, so I have no reference point, but this seems highly out of the ordinary.

Everyone is busy with their own projects, so I don’t have to interact and can just focus on getting through these next few hours. I need to grab lunch before study group, but I’m not sure I can hold anything down.  As I shake out my hands, I inhale and exhale slowly, but the rapid pulse rushing in my ears doesn’t subside.  This is going to be a long few hours, if only I had a Catholic mass to distract me.

**
Study group is priceless.  I continue to sit and doodle silently, but now Will is so close next to me, we are practically conjoined.  Candice could shoot lasers from her eyes and turn me into a gem stone at this moment.  Sarah is a no show, and Besra is so uncomfortable he may sweat blood.

Candice actually snorts as Will leans into me.  Her arms are folded across her chest as she leans on the hard-backed wooden chair.  This is all noted from peripheral vision, as I refuse to look at her.  Will also doodles on my notes, joining spirals and oddly shaped geometric figures to mine.  His in black ink, mine in blue.

This shoves her over the edge, Will paying attention to me and ignoring her.  She pushes away from the table, rams her books and notes into her pack and storms out.  I notice she is dressed up for today’s session as she departs.  Blouse, plaid skirt, black tights with matching leather boots, every bouncy bleached curl perfectly in place.

My sarcasm allows me to speak out loud, “Wow, she even got all spiffed up.  Plaid?  She must really like you.”           

Will puzzles at her retreating form, his brogue thickening with his teasing, “Yea, but that one is from a rival clan.  I think.  I’m not quite up to date with the tartans these days.”

“Ahh, then you two could truly be Romeo and Juliet.” 

He pinches my arm as he kisses my earlobe and turns his attention to our uncomfortable studymate,  “Hey Besra, ready to tackle some more vertebrate trivia?”  Will asks as he flips through his own notes. 

Besra relaxes slightly and eyes Will.  Bantering eventually begins regarding the body systems of the animal kingdom.  I continue to doodle, taking in the conversation.  Occasionally I chime in when they are both wrong.  This startles Besra.

“She’s smarter than both of us you know.”  I shoot Will a look as he provokes, “What?  I’m guessing high 140’s.” 

I shift uncomfortably as Besra offers his IQ score, an impressive 138.  Will pokes me in the forehead, that grin coaxing out the information.  “167,” I mumble and rub the spot like it is a stain. 

Besra drops his highlighter, jaw hanging open ever so slightly.

Will laughs and kisses my forehead.  “I think we will do just fine without Candice.  How about you Besra?”

“Uhhh…yea?”

Besra’s unasked questions hang in the air, but I’m back to my doodles and Will is asking him about circulatory systems in reptiles versus birds.  Just before the end of session, they make a game out of speed quizzing me.  After about five minutes I answer one incorrectly in hopes they will stop.  They don’t.

I spot the time on my phone, “Well, hate to leave this game show, but I have to get to class.” 

Tonight is modern, and our instructor torments anyone who is remotely late by making them demonstrate routines.  Will scoops up my stuff before I can, and says his goodbyes to Besra, who is almost giddy.  The exit from the library is a whirlwind, which carries out onto the street.

Rushing through the foot traffic, we arrive just as Elsbeth hits the building entrance.  She rolls her eyes with her exaggerated holding of the door for me.  Will cups my face as he kisses my forehead and nose, followed by a deep exploration of my mouth.  When my roommate coughs he delicately transfers my pack to my shoulder, his eyes searching me.

With a shy smile I blush and follow Els into the building, glancing back at the siren song on the sidewalk.  He watches until we are out of sight up the stairs.

I am subjected to the duel punishment of her kicks and scolding, “You are a crack addict, sweetheart.  I give you half an hour until you’re in full blown sweats and shakes.  If you have a seizure, Jonathan will totally put that into the choreography, and I will never forgive you.  His stuff is weird enough.”

“What?  Sorry, couldn’t hear you through the bitterness.” 

She pinches me in response, but then spies the insecurities as they rise.  “Liss, don’t.  Don’t tear into yourself.  Sweetie…shit.  Liss…”

“I’m fine.  Right at this moment I’m fine.  Don’t mother me right now.”

“Oh…you’re mother was a psychotic bitch, don’t you dare compare me to her.”

Drawing back my arms wrap around me stomach protectively.  “Jesus…why are you suddenly so mean?”

“Sorry.  No, Liss, I’m sorry.”  Her hands tentatively unwind my protective stance.  “I tend to think of myself as the champion of your heart, not the cause of your downfall.  I like being the protective older sister.”

“Then be the older sister.  I didn’t mean to compare you to her.  You’re far more loving.”

“Sorry, come here.”  There is an affectionate hug.  “Much better.  Now let me get back to making fun of you.”

My eyes narrow as I smile.  “You suck, and I hate you.”

“Good.  Back to normal.”

Class is brutal, and I’ve torn open a blister on my big toe.  The burning causes a grimace with every step and turn.  Elsbeth’s grace is unmatched, and dancing next to her, I tend to feel like an uncoordinated baby giraffe.  Now I’m an injured one.  If only the lions will just take me out already.

When class ends, she is all giggles, “I think I see the sweats starting.  Oh wait, that’s just your usual perspiration level.  Linebackers are drier than you after an afternoon practice in July…in Arizona.  You are so washing your stuff all by itself.”

Limping home, I unload on her. She laughs until she cries, pauses, and then cracks up all over again.  After showering and pouring myself into my pajamas, I soak my pitiful feet while Elsbeth has a change of heart and makes me pasta.  This is the extent of her cooking ability, boiling and straining.  I’m not much better, my upbringing has hampered any possible gift I may have had at cooking items beyond grains and legumes.  We usually just heat things in the microwave, and as I eye Elsbeth’s pan usage for making two plates of spaghetti, I start to calculate how long it will take to do dishes.

As I finish a lab report, Will calls.  With a nod of approval from Els which borders on a spasm, I agree to a movie night.  She jumps in the shower while I try to tackle the tornado that went through the kitchen.  He arrives in what must be record speed, I’ve barely finished washing the dishes Elsbeth left all over the counter and stove. 

She greets him at our door, and when I meet his gaze I stutter to a stop.  How embarrassing is it to be standing here in my pajamas with a wet head of hair holding a pot and dish towel?  There is a soft kiss delivered to my cheek as he finishes entering our apartment.  Els settles comfortably on the chair waiting for Will to pop the DVD in the player.

She is studying him as he puts his coat on the chair, her curiosity piqued.  “What’s showing tonight?”           

“Alien.  Testing some theories as to what does and does not gross out Lissa.”

“Awesome, looks like I’m sleeping with you tonight, Liss.”  The canary eating smile has sprung again. 

I finish putting away the last dish and head into the living room.  “Awesome Els.  Like I don’t have problems sleeping as it is.  You snore like a lumberjack and toss like you’re at sea.”  With slow deliberate movements she sticks her tongue out as she rolls her eyes, a two-for-one annoyance indicator.  “Fine, but no spooning.”  Her pout intensifies.

Els gives up at John Hurt’s death scene, disappearing into her room.  I fall asleep against Will’s shoulder, my feet pulled up onto the couch.  As he shifts I wake up, and trying to sit slam my head into his.  I suck in my breath and rub the throbbing area intensely.  He seems unfazed, and chuckles as he checks my forehead.

Trying to keep my voice under control is difficult as painful tears burn behind my eyes, “What is your skull composed of exactly?  Granite?”

“Yep, solid.  Genetic abnormality in my family.  You ok?”  I nod as I wince.  “I should get going, let you get some actual sleep.  Still being designated public transportation rider tomorrow?”  He stands and ejects the movie which seems to have time warped all the way back to the main menu.  How long was I asleep?

I shake off my fatigue and rub my eyes, stretching my sore muscles.  “Yea.  Someone has to get Her Drunkness home.”

“Alrighty then.”   

Will kisses my sore forehead at the door, his thumb stroking my jaw.  When his lips meet mine, a prolonged kiss and embrace ensue, his arms enclosing my body, drawing me close, promising so much more.  When the kiss breaks I falter with my ability to stand, bringing out that damned Cheshire of his.

“Sweet dreams, Lissa.”

“Uh, definitely.”

“I’ll call you first thing Saturday.”

His thumb continues its trail along my jaw to my ear, those emeralds searching my eyes.  It’s so tempting to grab him and pull him back from the door, back into my apartment.  How I’m supposed to get to sleep now, I have no idea.  I end up on the couch with my microbiology textbook until I fall into dreams, wrapped around the throw pillow that now smells like him.

**

Will stares at the window for over an hour noting the lamp was turned off, but the TV is still illuminating the curtains.  David had explained during his interview that Liss had been sleeping on the couch to infomercial white noise since she came home from the hospital, rarely making it to her bed.  Her fears of complete silence never went away, prompting the obsession with her iPod and earphones.  Will also suspects Liss was never comfortable with her own thoughts.  She would spend every waking minute with them, but not completely alone with them.

As Will stands across the street and imagines her curled up on the couch in her pajamas, part of him secretly hopes she would spy him out the window and invite him back up.  For Liss this may all be moving astronomically fast, but for him it is agonizingly slow.  It has taken so long to finally work up to asking her out, the frustration over her plans with Elsbeth prickle under his skin.  Baz thought it was sweet that she was loyal to her friendship.  Told him it bode well for his possible relationship with her if she wasn’t a fickle-brainless-twit.  Will reluctantly concurred, but became immediately nervous over Liss going to a dance club.

After an hour of pleading and throwing Lissa’s writ of protection in Sebastian’s face, his brother agreed to help him follow her for the night.  Niree saw an opening and attached herself to the evening like a tick, desperate for relief from Sebastian’s constant complaints over her movie choices.  This did not improve Baz’s mood.

With the prospect of her peeking her head out the window and putting forth an invitation dwindling, Will turns dejectedly and heads for the ‘L’.  If he wants to survive tomorrow night, he’s going to need to be somewhat rested, and he has the ride to the downtown transfer station and then on to Wrigleyville before he can collapse onto his bed and into his fantasy-driven dreams.

When he reaches his darkened home, the key seems loud, the door excruciatingly so.  Entering the foyer he senses his brother, and cringes with the fight that will ensue.

“Will?”

“Yes, Sebastian.”

His brother is standing in the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest.  Will sizes up the taller Congolese man, his shaven head reflecting the streetlights.

“I understand what you’ve chosen and why, but you need to talk to David.  He needs to know why.  It’s the only hope you have of this succeeding.”  He sighs and rubs his head, his dark brown eyes filled with empathy.  “She will listen to him above all else, and if he suspects you of anything other than…He can call it off, Will.  He can have you sanctioned.”

“I know.  But I also know she…she’s falling in love with me, Baz.  David will honor that, and it will be easier to explain.”

“How do you know she’s falling in love with you?”

Will smiles and shrugs.  “Everything she’s told me, just the fact she actually talks to me.  It’s the same look she has with Els and David…she has it with me.  Liss never lets anyone touch her, and she’s let me kiss her…more than once, and she kissed me back every time.  She fell asleep against me tonight…it was the best feeling.”

Baz laughs, “You sound like a high school girl.”

“So be it.  I can’t let this go, Baz.”

“I know.  But I still don’t approve.  I love you, you’re always my brother, but there needs to be honesty in a relationship for it to truly grow and thrive.  You’re growing this in sand, Will, not soil.”

“Some of the most beautiful flowers grow in the desert.  They just need the proper amount of rain.”

“Yep, you’re a fucking high school girl.  Get some sleep, tomorrow may be painful for you.”