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“Look be honest, can you still see the bruising?”

“Can’t see a thing.”

“I don’t know. I am going, to be honest with you. Aaron says he likes me and we went out on one date – and it was fun. You know people actually go on various dates and actually wine and dine people? How amazing is that? To just sit down and have deep conversations.” She shared not sure if she was right or wrong about that. “Well, you can decide what we should talk about. I could – think you could live with me and my random dating style now? Hey now! There is nothing wrong with that. I am actually getting people to be physical which is a huge thing.”

“So you went on a date and you had fun,” he said, “and with Aaron--maybe that’s why things were so strained between the two of you before. Are they better now that you’re dating?” Now he just felt stupid for that kiss, something he had been trying very hard not to overthink. But if she had feelings for Aaron then it made sense why she pulled away. “if you’re implying I should keep future dates away from bourbon, pizza and the porch--point taken,” he said. “what? Of course I could,” he said, “you could even put a coat hanger on the door if you brought a date home, like we were in college,” he joked, “though if we discuss which rooms you can and cannot have sex in, we could probably avoid that.” He gave her a distinctly unimpressed look, “are you? Or are the kids getting physical and you’re cheering them on?”

“I would say you’re blind but that seems to be an ill joke to say right now. But no one is – wow you’re right we should never say honesty again. Just saying dating just isn’t that important right now. Just going with the flow is the perfect thing to do.” she kept a steady pace with him and kept her hands to herself as she crossed them, “Ah well look at that a random guy was able to voice Natalie’s hurt – maybe one day you two can actually have a real conversation and put the demons to rest. I am doing just fine in my studio apartment that has a broken shower and a terrible sink. – you really should not listen to me that much. Dear lord, you wanna hear that list? I am not good with kids – I almost let these kids knock out a couple of tables at the restaurant I took them to.”

“Well, not unless you want to date,” he said, “if that’s the case then you should. Going with the flow is probably the best thing either way,” he shrugged. He knew Sage sympathized with Natalie. He was trying to be careful when he chose his words. “you know, I’m fresh out of sympathy when it comes to my ex,” he said, “so how about we talk about literally anything else? You know I can fix those things, right? Or you can move back in? We can be room mates, see each other all the time? You won’t wind up in jail for the child fight club you’re apparently starting--”

“Now that is where I would say bullshit.” she teased as her hands with inside her front pockets, “That you are. I mean then you have me whose poor, a wolf, and heartbroken – doubt I will be catching any bees with my honey but life is more than romantic relationships so I think I will be just fine.” She mused as a smile hung on her lips, “Ah yes – can I say that re-starting my life has been a pain in the ass? I have been babysitting, dog sitting, house sitting – I have done all kinds of sitting. – then answering phone calls and you know what I have learned? I have no idea what I want

“Please, I don’t even need my eyes to know you’ve got half this town tripping over their feet to--” he snorted a laugh, “I can’t say ‘your honey’ with a straight face. Besides I had a completely random guy come up and try to blame me for Natalie’s relationship problems, so, don’t force it. And hey, I said you could keep crashing with me, Miss Independence.” He sighed and turned his head towards her. “in the immortal words of Miss Sage Calloway, not knowing what you want isn’t a bad thing, it means there’s lots of possibilities--I’m paraphrasing of course. Do you want me to tell you to make a list of what you did and didn't like about that? Please tell me I get to tell you to make a list.”

“Yeah I did-and it’s not because of the cold, I wanted to start my life over again because something bad happened.” Or someone, in her case.

“Well then, you picked a good spot. At least you won’t be alone in that.”

“That is just – so uncalled for Lucas. I am a fucking ray of sunshine without any burn. That’s just my lve. You really should try to get tougher skin, you might not make it in the world like this.” She teased him with a light smile linger on her lips, “Now who’s the one that is being rude? Honestly – I have missed you. Haven’t seen you in a while. It is not like us to go like this – kinda aching bro.”

“What can I say? I’m a delicate flower,” he said with a grin, “I know, it’s lucky I have my magic and my money and my reportedly devastating good looks to make up for my delicate skin,” he continued, “missed me? Come on, I’m right where I’ve always been. You’re the one whose running around re-starting your life. In your oh so wise words, that takes focus, time and effort.”

“Nope-born and raised in New Orleans, near the French Quarter.”

“And you came up here? Where it’s cold?”

“Slowly but surely I am-it’s a small town and it feels like home to me now instead of where I live years ago.”

“Are you from small towns like this?” he inquired.

“I did, though. You are the biggest nerd that I know my friend, and that says a lot. Hey now there is nothing wrong with saving the world – and we all know in order for I to do that, I am going to need you by my side. Pencils are better, Lucas, you just have to see the light and make life easier. I am thinking more evening, that way I can match your eyesight — burnnnnn, I know. I have my moments, what can I say?”

“You know, when people call you a sunshine I don’t think they’re giving you enough credit for your burns,” he said. “please, I think you could save the world with anyone there.” He chuckled, “think if we wanted that we’d have to put you in a blindfold--though anyway I’m seeing it I have a clear advantage.”

“Mm,” she agreed after a moment’s silence. “A mild distaste for authority and everything that’s supposedly bad for me. Guess you might have me pegged with that one.” Lenny couldn’t recall a time she ever held a middle schooler’s mindset, having been a witness to unscrupulous activity from birth. Still, if coming of age films were anything to go by, she could paint a very accurate picture. “You’d really go for an arranged marriage? Don’t quote me as being a romantic or anything, but that seems like a cold union.” A shake of her head came at the horrific joke and the macabre sense of humor which appealed to the witch on all levels, though she did her best not to laugh at it for fear of offending him. “That’s awful. Are you always this self-deprecating?”

“Sounds like we might have something in common besides our curiosity after all,” he said. Though he supposed by now he should have learned his lesson on things that were bad for him and pushing back against authority. “yes,” Lucas replied instantly, “it’s much cleaner.” That was the one thing Lucas hadn’t admitted to anyone. Not to his parents or to Sage or anyone. Love had been his motivation for the spell, which was why his parents were convinced he still had some shred of a soul. But he had loved Natalie in a way that someone experiencing the world for the first time loved. Innocent, reckless, no comprehension of just how high you really were. His unrequited crush on Sage had him airlifting her and trying to save villages. The twisted thing where his and Natalie’s feelings used to be had him pushing into people’s minds. If he fell again, really loved someone, what the hell was he going to do? Not loving his spouse would protect him from that. “well, yes,” he said, “I have a dark sense of humor--pun intended.”

wordsnquotes

I may think of you softly from time to time. But I’ll cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again.

Arthur Miller, The Crucible (via wordsnquotes)

#natalie #&n

“It’s a hard job-someone has to do it.” she commented with another little laugh. “Nice to meet you, Lucas, I’m Mercedes, but you can call me Mercy for short.”

“Well you have my full admiration,” he drawled, “the pleasure’s all mine. Are you enjoying Red Creek?”

Mercedes shook her head at his little joke. “Oh no, you’re not sir, don’t worry-you weren’t that loud. It’s just been a little bit hard since I started working here and trying to put everything back in place while also barking at some kids to keep the noise down.”

“A cliche defying librarian,” he mused, “this might be the most pleasant surprise in Red Creek--and please, call me Lucas,” he added, “sir sounds a little formal, all things considered.”

Mercedes was just putting up the last book on her ‘return’ cart when she heard him, nodding her head. “I do, a little bit, but I don’t know how to read it. I’m sorry, sir.” she told him. She has seen him working at the library, always giving him a cheerful hello when he comes it.

Lucas smiled at the sound of the librarian’s voice, “I hope I’m not about to get yelled at for talking in the library,” he said, only half joking about the matter.

“Are you calling me a preteen girl?” Lenny laughed in spite of herself. “Probably from all those pencil shavings; looks like someone emptied their dust bin into it.” It made for a curiosity as to why Lucas found such importance in the seemingly dirty trinket, though the young witch refrained from asking. “Well thank you,” she blinked, somewhat surprised by the compliment. “And that’s a relief. Can I ask what you would have done if they were expecting it?”

“Well, pardon the assumption, but I’m guessing you have more in common with them than I do. And like most preteen guys, I was far too self involved to bother with finding out what they liked,” he said, “though that probably would have made being a teenage boy a little easier.” Her voice wasn’t high and given how she carried herself, he was willing to bet she was not a preteen anymore. There was a weight to her voice though, one that led him to bet in a lot of ways she probably never had been. At least, not in that innocent way people thought of. “what? The grandkids thing?” he asked, “probably let them find someone they liked who was equally interested in me for my genes,” he said, “this isn’t hereditary,” he added motioning to his dark sunglasses. “so kind of the standard thing--or standard in my family anyway. Romance tends to--” he couldn’t help but chuckle at his own joke, “blow up in our faces.”

“It’s definitely pretty for a pencil sharpener masquerading as jewelry,” she quipped in return, a tease echoing in her words. “Or maybe it’s just valuable because it has a lot of popularity with preteen girls.” Lenny was prepared for another round of banter when her fellow witch diverted the conversation into something vastly more serious, the bemused smile quickly fading from her features. “That just means you would love them even more, which is better in my opinion. There’s an appreciation many people don’t have.” Unsure if her words even helped –the living were always more difficult to speak with, she found gratitude in his playful distraction. “Their loss, honestly.”

“You’d know better than I,” he said, “haven’t really kept up on what preteen girls are wearing,” he explained, “though it does feel rather heavy, but maybe that’s just me.”Like most covens his had their talismans and jewels, so he probably knew more than most. But teenagers weren’t his area of expertise. “your faith is refreshing--I mean that honestly,” he said, “I was joking about my parents,” he added, “they’re not really expecting me to do either of those things, thank the Gods.”

“How could someone be put off by that?” she teased enthusiastically as she watched him for a brief moment as she sort of realized that not everyone was like her, freely kissing because it felt nice or going with whatever instincts seemed to drive her in funny moments — everyone around her seemed to have last kissing memories of loved one’s or people that didn’t love them back; relationship hurts. “At least I didn’t send you running for the hills. I just wanted too and thought that maybe you’d want to back. It’s how I am. You kiss good, for someone who hasn’t done it in a while.

“Guess they’re not all as stubborn as you,” he teased back. Heat crept up his cheeks. “believe it or not,” he said, “before the accident I did it a lot more,” he laughed. The smile didn’t slip from his lips. He also hadn’t thought of any of it as a big deal. And maybe it wasn’t, but it felt good to do it. “no, it was fun,” he assured her, “way more fun that boxing that’s for sure,” he couldn’t help but groan at his own rambling. How had the shifter managed to catch him completely off guard like that? “I used to talk a lot less afterwards too,” he added.

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