Airel - Aaron Patterson [61]
He studied the smoke from his cigarette, watching it wind around his hand. He really enjoyed smoking. He couldn’t understand why so many people these days were scared of their own shadows. It was too bad, he decided, and flicked the cigarette out onto the pavement.
He ran a hand through his hair. It had to be now. After all, he wasn’t the only one pursuing the girl, and he had done so much to get to this point by himself. Nowadays they called it "situational ethics," but in days gone by, it was understood that killing a man wasn’t always a sin. He checked the revolver on the seat beside him. It had two rounds—at this he smiled, because it was poetic. Symmetrical. Two would be enough. If it wasn’t, he didn’t deserve her.
Chapter V
I sat back in my chair and watched Michael eat the last of his steak, studying his face. I hoped he would understand whatever was going on with me, with my sudden sickness and freakish healing ability. They were the only words I could think of—ability, power. I tried not to think about it too much, because it was making me insane. I just wanted some answers and for some reason, out of all the people I knew, he was the one I trusted the most.
Maybe it was just that I wanted to trust him with it. I laughed out loud, thinking how absurd the word "absurd" sounded in my head. He looked at me quizzically. “Something funny?”
“Oh no,” I laughed. “I was just thinking. Sometimes my thoughts are just funny to me.” I twisted a strand of my hair and he watched my fingers as if it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen.
“You are just gorgeous.” He smiled with the corner of his mouth and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Shut up, Romeo.” I kicked him lightly under the table and then looked around, signaling my desire to get going. I wanted to sit here forever but the time did not allow us to dillydally around. If we wanted to do anything more than eat, we had to get moving or my dad would have the police out after us.
He flagged the waitress and she told us that she’d bring the check. Michael looked at me. “Do you like surprises? I have one in mind but you’ll have to be open to the extraordinary and the extreme.” Michael pushed his plate toward the center of the table.
“I’m all about the extreme—where were you wanting to go, Borders?” I thought he was going to spit his water all over me, I made him laugh so unexpectedly. “Anyway, you want extreme? Just look at these babies.” I flexed my arm for him, tapping my bicep like a weight-room thug, making a grimace. If there’s anything I could do, it was sell the joke in a way that always got a laugh.
“Du-hude! Nice guns, Airel.” He was still slightly wheezing with laughter. “I guess you know how to handle yourself.”
“You have no idea.” He really didn’t. He just sat and smiled at me. “Well, Michael?” His name was delicious on my lips. “How about that surprise?” He slid some cash in with the check and took one last swig of water. I stood up and he took my arm as our waitress thanked us. We left the restaurant like a fairy tale pair, nothing but blue skies from now on. I hummed a tune from another old favorite of mine, White Christmas. I loved those old movies.
The sky was now dark, but the air was warm and hinted of sage and juniper. Floating from all the surrounding restaurants was the scent of garlic and butter.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.” He grinned and leaned over and whispered in my ear. “I think you are going to love it though.” His breath in my ear gave me goosebumps.
I was hyper-aware of Michael's arm on mine. I was in heaven being next to him. I just wanted