He squinted at her. "Lucy's not cool." * * * She backed away from him, her hand on the cane. "Okay! So, I'll... I'll see you in a bit! Love you!"
"You don't know if they have middle names. Plus, they're not cool either." * * * She frowned, looking at him warily. "You're gonna trick me."
She frowned. "Well.. Who is cool that doesn't have a middle name?" *** He raised an eyebrow. "Why would I trick you?"
"That's not fair." *** He frowned. "I obviously can't make you do that. I was just going to help you around."
"Why not?" he asked, taking her hand and standing up. "Because I'm right?" * * * "That's what they all say," she said accusatorily. However, despite her tone, he would know her well enough that she was joking; he would have gotten quite good at reading her face and he could sense the ghost of a smile at her lips.
He rolled his eyes playfully. "Ass." * * * She frowned before taking it. "I really don't trust this."
Aisling had been avoiding Dion lately. After her recovery, he would find that she would often leave in the early mornings and wouldn't return until nightfall, and when he greeted her upon her arrival, she was awkward and quick to hurry off to her home. She would sometimes come to find him and sleep next to him, but when he would awaken the next morning, she'd be gone. * * * Lucy approached Jaz one day, her braids pulled back in a large bun. "Hey, J," she greeted him warmly. "Want to go on a trip with me?" * * * One afternoon, Emerson came into the greenhouses, looking for Rory. * * * There came a knock on the door of Blaise's house.
He wasn't sure what was going on, or why she was doing this, but he had yet to comment on it. *** He looked up at her curiously, tilting his head. "A trip? Where to?" *** She was inside, kneeling next to a planter as she squinted at a sprout. *** She got up from her desk, stretching as she crossed to the door, opening it.
Aisling returned late that evening, yawning tiredly as she headed into the camp. Her hair was wet and her bag was sling over her shoulder slovenly. *** “I heard through some radio transmissions of a drop of supplies a ways south,” she said. “It’s a junk pile. No one else should be interested.” *** He approached her slowly. “What is it?” *** Ellis was there, beaming at her. “Hi.”
He looked up, approaching her. "Hey, Aisling." *** He grinned, brightening. "That sounds like fun. I'd like that." *** "The watermelon seed is growing," she said, standing up and brushing herself off. *** She smiled, opening the door wider. "Hello."
She looked up at him and her expression changed slightly. "Oh, hey, Di," she said awkwardly. "What's up?" * * * She brightened, tucking a lock of his hair behind his ear. "Really?" * * * "You're a genius," he said smoothly, kissing her temple. * * * "So... you know how I love you very, very much?"
"Nothing really," he said, noticing her change of expression. "Uh.. What about you?" *** He nodded excitedly. "How far is it?" *** She put an arm around his waist. "How are you?" *** She looked confused, but happy, nonetheless. "Yes..? And I love you too."
"Nothing much," she said, her poker face perfectly intact. "I'm going to go wash up." * * * "It's a day's journey by car." * * * "I'm alright," he said easily. "Are you busy tonight?" * * * "And you also," he continued, not acknowledging her love, "know that I'm the best boyfriend in the city and probably the entire world, right?"
