[FallingStar]

D & D

She grabbed the handle and slowly pulled the door open. Her shoulders were slightly bent forward as she looked around hesitantly while taking quiet steps across the foyer and towards the room bustling with people. Men and women stood around with glasses in their hands chit chatting about the weather and sports and other nonsensical things. Their words created a low hum to the room. She continued past these people heading for the shiny, metallic elevator doors.
Stopping in front of their large presence she pushes the button with the arrow pointing up. It glows a faint orange and the hum of the elevator can start to be heard as it moves slowly between floors. She turns halfway so that her shoulder is towards the doors and she can take a safe look at the milling people. They are all swept up in their own conversations and care nothing for the woman by the elevator. It's just the way she likes it: able to watch everyone while being unnoticed herself.
She folds her arms under her chest, slightly hugging herself. Her brown eyes survey the women in dresses giving off the light sound of fake laughter. Her fingers drum lightly on the bare skin of her arm. She moves her weight from one foot caged in a black high heel to the other relieving some of the pressure. Her dress makes a slight swishing noise as she moves. She takes her eyes away from the crowd and looks down, her brown hair falling in soft waves creating a slight protection from the glares should they happen to look in her direction. She notices that the way she is hugging herself has made her cleavage more obvious. She lets her arms fall to her sides and looks up hearing the elevator doors begin to open.
Soft yellow light pours from the doors as they open and low instruemental music competes with the hum of conversations. She steps into the elevator turns around and pushes the button for the 16th floor. The button stays a cold grey so she pushes it again. Still no illumination. The light must be out. She leans back against the wall of the elevator and lets her right arm cross under her chest to clasp her left arm right above the elbow.
The doors begin to close. The sight of all the superficial people gets narrower and narrower. A breath escapes her lips that she didn't know she was holding. The sight of so many people always makes her feel on edge and the dress and heels always make her feel fake. Painting the make up on to try and create a picture of someone who is not who she really is.
Right before the door closes all the way a hand grabs in between the doors, stopping them from closing. She stands up from the slump she had already started against the wall. The doors begin to open again as a figure slides in and pushes the button for them to close. Before the doors can even open again fully, they start to close shut again.
The man, for that is who the figure was, looks at the wall of buttons then looks at the woman. He runs his right hand absently through his hair. "Are you actually going anywhere? You haven't seemed to have pushed a button". His voice is a deep, yet gentle timbre.
The elevator begins to rise and he pushes the button for the sixteenth floor as the woman responds: "The 16th floor... the light seems to be out."
He looks from the button where his thumb is pushing repeatedly to the woman, "So it seems." He lets a friendly smile glide across his face as his thumb stops pushing the button. He walks slowly from the wall of buttons to the other corner letting his back lean against the wall while he looks at her.
She takes her eyes off of him and looks at the doors, waiting for them to open. She clutches her purse tighter as she feels his eyes still upon her. The elevator seems to be moving at an extremely slow pace. She looks back at the man. He's slumped against the wall, he takes his eyes off of her when she lifts her head and looks around non-challantly. His eyes seem to be many different colors. I suppose one would call the hazel if they had to. A bit of brown with a tint of green, or if hit with a certain light they start to look blue. He absently runs his fingers through his dark brown hair again. He seems to be full of nervous habits.
"So what are you heading up to this floor for?" His words make the woman perk up.
"Hmmm? Oh. I'm going to make a quick appearance at a friends party. She'll kill me if I'm not there."
"You too, huh? Wouldn't happen to be Jasmine Fisher would it?"
"Actually it is. Looks like were headed to the same party. Oh... and please don't mention that I said I had to be going. She doesn't approve of my... nonsocial ways.
So how do you know her?" The woman's voice is confident yet gentle. Not quite what the man would have guessed by the way she had been waiting there a moment ago. Before she looked like she was trying to be camoflauged with the wall. Now she stood in front of him self-assured and poised.
"Well... She's my cousin. I just moved into town a little while back and she wants to try and get me on the right social track. So I, like you, don't have much of a choice on being here."
The woman gives a small smile and nods. The brown waves of her hair brush against her shoulders. The doors slowly open to the sixteenth floor.The harsh light of the hallway assaults their eyes, as does the muted noise of music and talking coming from the only suite on the floor. The man gestures for the woman to exit first. She walks through the doors into the hallway and looks over her shoulder to see him following her. The elevator doors close slowly and silently.
The man quickens his pace to walk next to her. He gives a big grin. "May I escort you to the party? Maybe we can even be excuses for each other to get out of here quickly. What do you think?"


She looks to the side and stares the man in the eyes. "Sure. We can be each other's excuses... but I think we have to know each other's names first." She gives him a sarcastic little smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
He gives a sheepish grin and runs his fingers through his short, dark brown hair again. "I suppose that would be helpful, wouldn't it?" He stops his walking and holds out a hand. She stops beside him. "I'm Derek. Originally from New Mexico, but recently moved here. I have two brothers, one older and one younger, and a little sister who we all spoil rotten. I went to school, got my degree, then decided that a cubicle wasn't for me, so I decided to become a fireman. I guess the whole hero thing never went away as I grew up. That enough information that we can fake that we know each other?" The smile only grew larger once he finished his little monologue.
She shakes his hand. "Hmm. Wow. Quick synopsis of your life in" she looks down at her watch then back up, "about sixty seconds." A smile begins to form at the corners of her mouth. "Well, let's see. To respond to that. My name is Dani..." He breaks into her speech, "Dani? Kind of masculine for you." He raises his eyebrows in surprise and looks her up and down in the little black dress and black high heels.
She tilts her head to the side slightly with a smile, "Well, my full name is Danielle, but everyone I like calls me Dani. I grew up moving around a lot, so no one place is home, unless you count being outdoors. I moved here after finishing school with a degree in forestry, and met Jasmine... I believe it was in a coffee shop... about the first week I got here. She's one of the closest friends I have here, even though we have few things in common. Oh.. and I had three older brothers who treated me just like one of the boys."
Derek nods his head. "Hmm. I guess that's how the forestry came about. Haven't met anyone before with a degree in that." He extends his elbow. "Since you have agreed to be my excuse for leaving this evening, would you mind also agreeing to be my date?"
Dani lets her eyes rove from his shoes up to the top of his hair then comes back down to look him in the eyes. She takes a hold of his elbow. "Sure, why not?"
They pick up where they had left off and walk down the hall towards the door to the apartment. Derek leans into her slightly, bending so that his lips are closer to her ear. In a soft voice he asks, "So, what's the signal going to be and what's the excuse for leaving?"
She looks at him as he stands back up straight. "How about we stick by each other's sides, find Jasmine first, make sure she sees us, then walk around for just a little bit. Then one of us can claim to not be feeling well and the other can offer to take the sick one home."
"Sounds like you've done this before." He gives her a knowing grin.
"Maybe once or twice." She smiles back with the distinct feeling that he knows from experience.
"Well, it sounds like a plan. So, who wants to be the sick one and what precise illness? Headache? Stomach ache? Back pain? Oh. And if you should happen to want to back out because you find someone interesting to talk to, just tell me that you can't believe how quickly the headache you had earlier in the day went away. I'll understand and come up with a reason to leave on my own."
She looks at him now knowing for certain that he's done this before. A fellow non-party person. "I say you should be the sick one. You can pick the illness. Jasmine knows me too well and will think I'm lieing. And as for wanting to get out of it... I'm only hoping that I don't hear that line from you."
They reach the door and Derek pushes the doorbell. "Don't worry. I won't back out on you."
The door opens and it's someone that Dani doesn't recognize, one of the many guests. "Come in, come in... the party's just started."
Both Dani and Derek give plastic smiles to the man who opened the door. He turns around without really even noticing them and walks back into the crowd. They follow in after him, Derek closing the door behind them. He leans down into her again and whispers in her ear:
"May it be as painless as possible." He stands up straight while she giggles lightly to herself.


The hallway is short. Honey colored hard wood floors keep the room light, as do the off-white walls. There are a bunch of purses sitting on the entryway table scattered underneath a large bouquet of flowers, as if it were wilting purses. Above the table is a large framed mirror. Dani looks at it as they pass. She almost doesn't recognize the figures she finds in the mirror. A woman stares back from brown eyes, face framed with soft brown waves of hair falling about halfway to her elbows. A black dress with a deep V-deck makes her soft skin look extra pale, especially in the harsh artificial lighting. On her arm is a man in a black jacket with a pale green dress shirt peeking out over the collar. He wears the shirt with the top two buttons undone as if he isn't used to having things tight around his neck. The black jacket makes you realize his hair isn't actually black, but comes close with the dark brown. The green shirt make his eyes look more green as he turns and she gets a glimpse of them as they walk past the mirror.
"Going to put your purse down with the rest?" His voice brings her out of her reverie. She shakes her head just a smidge to clear the confusion from it. She never comes to these parties with a man.
Dani looks at him and smiles as an accomplice would, "If I put it down it means that we have to stay longer and I have to go searching for it when we want to leave. It's a liability." She cocks her head when she says the last line, making her tone of voice sound professional.
"Ahh. You're right. Keep it clutched by you tight. We don't want any liabilities." He smiles and his eyes light up. They continue into the main room filled with people dressed in suits and dresses. They seemed to be clumped in little groups having found different aquantances that could tell them new juicy gossip about the group standing only feet away."So... You see anyone you recognise?" His voice was quiet and seemed a bit uncertain. He scanned over the crowd looking for something. Probably Jasmine.
"There are some familiar faces. Not really anyone I want to talk to though. Their talk only bores me. I really don't care who got the new designer fashion or who thinks that their maid doesn't know how to set a table properly. Ppersonally, If you got a fork and a knife, I think you're fine."
Derek looks at her incredulously. "Is that what they really talk about?"
Dani looks around the groups of people and spots Jasmine. She starts to pull him in that direction while answering him. "Actually, yes. Some of Jaz's friends are very superficial and vain. I'm glad she's not like that, At least most of the time." She looks to the side to see if her whispered remark brought any kind of a reaction to Derek.
He looks back at her. "Ya... she does have her moments sometimes. But they're only moments. That's what you get when your parents have money I guess. I'm just glad she wasn't an only child. It probably would have made it much worse."
"You said you were cousins, right? Which side of the family?"
"Her mom and my mom are sisters. My aunt married Jaz's dad who was a bit more well off than my parents. We never really got to see them much growing up since we lived in different states and all. After I went through the fireman training, I got a job out here. Pay is better, and more benefits. When mom found out, she said I should contact Jaz so then I'd know at least one person. It's been nice getting to catch up with her."
Dani nods her head. They had somehow made it through the room and were almost up to Jasmine. She spotted them with her hazel eyes and turned to the people she had been talking to. It must have been asking them for her leave because she moved the last few steps to join them. Jasmine was wearing a deep forest green dress that went down to the floor and had a scooped out back. Her brown hair was tied back in a french knot accentuating her cheekbones.
"Derek! Dani! It's so good to see both of you. Did you come in together?" Her voice was low and cheery, as it always was.
Derek let go of Dani's arm and placed an arm behind Jasmine giving her a half hug. "Actually we did. We met in the elevator. Seems you have some nice friends."
Jasmine smiled warmly at him as he hugged her then looked to Dani and gave her a half hug as well. "She's one of my best friends. Not a nicer one in the bunch. Might be some a bit more refined, but no one with a bigger heart." She gave Dani a look of disapproval when talking about the refinement, but went back to her warm comforting smile as she talked about how nice she was. Jaz had always seemed to disapprove how Dani preffered jeans and old hiking boots or sneakers to dresses and high heels. She thought women should only be outside to lounge by a pool and work on their tan. Dani thought people should only be inside when they didn't have the right clothing to stay outside. Being in a blizzard without polypropelene or in a downpour without goretex was not comfortable.
Jamine stepped back from the two of them. "Well, I hope the two of you enjoy yourselves. I have to go and make rounds. There ended up being more people than I thought there would be."
"No one ever says no to one of your parties Jaz. They all love you." It sounded cheezey even to Dani, but it was the truth. Something about her made everyone feel welcome and cozy.
As Jasmine began to walk away Derek called back to her. "If I don't see you before I leave, it is a great party." Jaz looks over her shoulder. "You expect to be leaving soon?" She looks at him with her brow furrowed.
"Well, I'm not sure how long I can stay here. One of the guys at the house isn't much of a cook and we all got some food poisoning last night. Didn't get much sleep and the stomach's been acting a little funny. But I couldn't not come. I had been looking forward to the party." He gave a soft grin that kind of gave away the lie but made you want to believe him.
"Oh. Well if you need to leave early I'll understand. I'm glad you could make it for a little bit at least." She turned back around and went towards another group of people.
"You make your lies sound realistic but that smile... I'm not sure if it helps you or hinders you."
Derek looked at her. "Oh really? Why do you say that?" He looked a bit puzzled.
"Becasue it looks like your lieing, but it also gives something similar to the puppy dog face so people want to believe you. It worked, but I'm not sure that it would work on everybody. It might backfire one of these days." They traveled through the room trying to bypass the lumps of people.
"Well... I'll have to remember that. And never use that smile when I lie to you."
She looks at him a little surprised. He gives a knowing smile back and places a hand on her back between her shoulder blades guiding her around a few people moving past in a hurry. His hand is warm against her back.
"Is that look becuase you are surprised that I might lie to you or because I implied that I wanted to see you again?"
She looks down trying to hide the blush that had crept into her cheeks. Once she feels her face has cooled down enough she looks back up at him. "Perhaps a bit of both."
They had somehow managed to reach a quiet corner that was somewhat near the entryway. The people milling around tended to stay away from the corners in case they should get bogged down and stuck there unable to contiue their meandering flow to new people.
"Well, I would like to see you again perhaps, but I don't think I'd want to lie to you."
Dani gave s soft smile to acknowledge his words. "Well, that could probably be arranged. And you better not lie because if I find oout... you should know that I have a pretty mean right punch."
He gave a laugh to that comment. A deep rolling laugh that felt like it wanted to wrap around her and make her join in. She almost did, but instead just let the smile continue to grow on her face. "You laugh, but I'm not joking."
"I'm sure you're not. I can see why Jaz thinks you need a bit of refinement. Me, I like things a bit rough around the edges. Dull can be so boring."
She couldn't help but let out a small laugh to that remark. She couldn't remember when was the last time she had smiled so much at a function with so many people around. And it wasn't one of her plaster smiles; those didn't count. These were the real-deal smiles that were starting to make her jaw hurt.


The buzz of the room had quieted while the two talked in the corner. They had begun to ignore the others as they looked in each others eyes and told stories of how they hated large parties where all of the guests were no one they knew. Keeping her back to the wall gave her peeks of the people as they walked around the expensive furniture and the huge, fluffy white couch. Dani never understood why anyone would buy a white couch. They just seemed like they screamed "spill on me" or "dirt come hither".
She was listening to Derek talk about how he felt odd when he had to first move into the firehouse and didn't know any of his fellow fireman. "I mean, living with a bunch of guys is bad enough... but ones you don't even know? And then there were the initiation pranks."
She smiled knowing he was about to tell her about the pranks when a figure by the white couch caught her attention. The noise that had seemed to fade while they were talking came back up to a crashing level.
She looked at Derek in the face. "You think you could tell me about the pranks as we leave? Isn't your stomach not feeling well?" She said it while trying to put a smile on her face. It only ended up in a small smile that looked remarkably more like a pout.
He looked at her and noticed that something had just changed dramatically. Her face that had seemed to be lighting up the room for him had dimmed and paled making her lipstick seem unnaturally bright on her face. He could see that there was something disturbing her or worrying her by the look in her eyes. He wasn't sure that it was just her issues with hating these parties. If she hadn't have said that she wanted him to go with her he would have assumed it was something he said. He looked down at her with worry and confusion in his eyes, but a good humored smile on his lips.
"Sure. Still got your purse so nothing to look for." He gave her his elbow. "Shall we go then?"
She took his arm gently and nodded to him with a more realistic smile on her face. She seemed more clam already. The color returning to her cheeks and her walk as confident as she had been before. Perhaps the crowd of people just got to her, Derek thought to himself. Then he saw her look over her shoulder back at the group of milling people and could have sworn he felt her shutter before turning back around and looking at the door.
They reached the door quick enough. He grabbed at the handle and let her go out first. He closed the door behind them and as they walked quietly back towards the metalic doors of the elevator they heard the loud roar of the party fade into a dull hum of whispers.
Dani had walked quickly through the door and reached the elevator a few steps in front of Derek. As he pulled up she pressed the buttom with the arrow pointing down. It lit up the bright orange that made her think of a muted California poppy.
He looked to his side at the woman standing next to him. She seemed to be quite an intriguing creature, turning from one opposite to the next with the blink of an eye. He knew that he definitely wanted to keep talking to her, and he wanted to know why she had wanted to leave when he was in the middle of one of his stories. Most people always wanted to hear about the pranks at the firehouse. She seemed as if she wanted to hear them too, until she saw something in the crowd. He wanted to know what. And he wanted to know who would hurt or frighten such a beautiful creature.
The doors slid open and he pulled back from his questions that were swirling in his head. She walked into the elevator and he followed. The doors closed behind them.


Dani walked into the elevator and leaned into the corner as Derek walked in behind her and pushed the button for the lobby floor. It glowed a dull orange.
"Looks like we're actually going somewhere now." He gave an unsure smile in her direction. She had her arms crossed under her chest and her head was down letting her hair mask her face. He stood in the opposite corner unsure of what else to say to lighten the dark mood that had fallen around them, just like the monotone instrumental music that played through the speakers.
A moment after he had made the comment she slowly picked her head up and tried to brave a smile at him. "I guess we are." She slowly stood up straighter. As she did so he could almost see her physically change. The darkness slowly seeped out of her eyes and her muscles began to relax. She was turning back into the woman he had been talking to, the woman who had walked into the elevator. Whoever the person was who had been standing in the corner of the elevator a minute ago had disappeared. He shook his head slightly to make sure that his eyes weren't playing tricks.
"I'm sorry about the quick exit. I'd love to hear the story you were about to tell. I just... I just started to feel claustrophobic in there. I needed to get out." Her voice was quiet yet strong.
Derek leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest staring at her. He slowly shook his head just centimeters in each direction. He pushed off the wall with his body and stepped up closer to her.
"Forgive me for being rude... but... I know someone in there was bothering you. All the sudden you froze up. What did that person do to you? I mean.... you totally changed personalities after a glimpse of them. I know you don't really know me, or I you, but I'd like to be friends. I would like to know what could cause a person so much pain."
She looked up into his eyes which were close to a shining green, his face set in a serious expression, as if her pain had actually hurt him. She parted her lips slightly, not sure of if she should explain, just as the elevator doors opened and the noise of the lobby and the bar it held poured into the small compartment. Two couples stood at the doors and made to come inside.
Dani closed her mouth and broke the stare she had been holding with Derek. She let her eyes fall to the floor as her hands dropped to her sides and she walked out of the elevator into the loud entryway. Derek followed her a half step behind. Dani lifted her head and confidently walked straight towards the doors that led outside. She grabbed for the handle before Derek could open it for her and held it open behind her so that he could follow her out. Neither said a word until they reached the fresh air of the night. A cool breeze blew across their faces. Dani let out a low sigh with the breeze. He could see what was left off her tenseness fly away on the wind. She turned to look at him.
"I'm sorry. Really I am. I'm not much of a date." She was quiet for a moment before she continued. "I just saw someone that I wasn't expecting. Someone that I don't get along with. It just caught me off guard."
He looked at her and knew that it was more than that, but she had no reason to tell him more. He nodded, accepting the answer she gave him.
"So did you drive yourself?" She looked at him with nothing but mild curiousity on her face.
"Actually I took a cab. Haven't gotten a car yet. Just have one of the guys take me with them or call a cab if I need to get somewhere not in a gov't. vehicle." He gave a smirk. "Want to share a cab with me?" He wasn't sure if her question had been in order to lengthen their time together, but he had no remorse in trying to prolong it.
She smiled at him. "I drove myself. How about I give you a ride instead of you taking a taxi?"
"Let the woman know where I live after just meeting her?" He lifted an eyebrow and gave a playful smile. "Sure. Why not?"
"Come on. I'm parked in the parking structure." She turned to her left and began walking at a slow pace down the sidewalk. He fell into step next to her.
"Ugh... I can't wait to get these shoes off. Sorry. That's probably me being unrefined again."
Derek slowed his pace down a little bit more so that she could take as much time with the heels as she wanted. "I don't blame you. I'm glad they didn't come up with high heels for guys. I think I would have fallen flat on my face at least five times just from walking from the door to here."
She let out a small laugh that made his heart lighten. It was good to see her smiling again. He wasn't sure why, but he was definitely drawn to her.
She went through her purse as they were walking through the covered parking lot, looking for her keys. She pulled out a set with just a few keys and a State Park key chain. Dani stopped next to a dark green suburban that had a good sheen of dirt on it. "The car kind of needs a bath." She looked at him and smiled through the windows, while she turned the key and opened the door. She pressed the unlock button and reached behind her seat as he opened his own door and slid onto his seat. He saw her pull out a pair of sandals and place them on the floor of the driver's chair. She stood on one foot while removing a high heel and replacing it with the sandal. She looked at him while she did the same to the other foot.
"I might be able to walk in them, but I still hate to drive in them."
She threw the black shoes in the back seat and stepped up into the car. She stuck the key in the ignition and backed out of the spot. As they were exiting the parking structure she asked:
"So where to?"


She turned her head and looked at him, not wanting to turn right or left out of the parking lot until she knew which way she was headed. He looked back at her, right into her eyes. It was somewhat alarming the way he kept staring right into her eyes. It was as if he was trying to see into her soul. When most people looked her in the eye for more than a second she felt her defenses go up. It was a natural reflex. Most would look away shortly after, surrendering their gaze because hers had grown too aggressive. Derek seemed to be able to handle her hostilities. And for some reason, she didn't seem to get on edge quite as quickly as she would with other people. For some reason it was okay for him to try and glimpse her soul.
Afer a moment his gaze lightened and his eyes sparkled.
"You hungry? Want to go for a bite to eat or some coffee or something?" He said it a bit uncertainly, not knowing how she would take it since she was already giving him a ride.
"You're stomach up for food? I mean... have you fully recovered from the bad cook?" She gave him a playful smile.
"Ha... Actually the guy who can't cook was on dinner duty today, which means I stuck with just the salad and a dinner roll. I was not going to try Tony's mystery meat casserole. That would have been like signing my own execution statement."
"Well then, we can stop at Alice's Coffee Shop. It's right around the corner, and pretty good too. I'd much rather go to some little mom and pop shop than Dennys or IHOP. That okay?" She said it as she made a left turn onto the street.
"Sounds good to me." Derek relaxed into the worn tan leather and rested his elbow on the armrest of the car door. He looked out of the window then around at the dash of the car and down at his feet. There was a bit of dirt and sand on the floor, but no trash. The whole car was pretty clean except for the marks of being used for years and dirt. Very few stains or holes.
He let his attention rove back to Dani. Her silouhette against the lights from outside the car brought attention to the curve of her neck and cheeks. Her lips looked soft as they were not set in a frown or a smile, just the comforting ease of not paying attention to anything but the road. She handled the large car easily, her hands holding lightly onto the wheel. She made a right turn using only one hand to turn the steering wheel.
She looked to her side after feeling as though he was watching her, to notice that he was. He gave a meek smile. She decided to smile back. Looking wasn't illegal.
"Nice sheen of dirt. Is that a free perk of the job?"
She looked at him again before pulling into a driveway. "Yeah. I work at the state park. Our base is at the foothills and on many occasions my job includes taking people on guided hikes or checking the back trails to see if they need upkeep. You spend all day in the dirt or taking the car up and down dirt roads... you tend to end up with dirt." She gave him a big smile after pulling into the parking space and shifting the car to park. "Here we are. A bit dressed up for Alice's, but I don't think they'll mind. They have the best mocha around. And the foods pretty decent too." Dani opened her car door and slid off the seat, almost jumping to the ground. She waited for Derek to close his door before she pushed the lock button and slammed her own shut. She walked around the front of the car, putting her keys into her purse.
Derek opened the door and waved a hand to let her go first. She walked through the door while nodding to him. They walked up to the waitress at the counter. She was a woman in her forties with the first strands of grey coming to her temples. She looked up at the two customers and grabbed two menus.
"Just the two of you?" The waitress stepped from behind the counter and started walking into the dining room. Dani and Derek both said yes at the same time, ending up saying it to the waitress's back. She stopped in front of a booth against the wall and put a menu down on each side of the table.
"Here you go. Your waitress will be by in a second to take your order." The older lady turned and walked back to her position at the door and the book they had glimpsed her reading.


They each slid onto a side of the booth. Derek picked up his menu and began looking through it. He noticed that Dani had left hers folded. She sat there with her arms folded over the menu on the table. She was looking around the restaurant surveying the other people at the tables. He looked over the top of his menu at her then let it fall down to the table.
"You aren't going to get anything?" He looked kind of disappointed and embarrassed.
"I already know what I'm getting. I come here often enough I know the whole menu. Let me know if you want opinions." She smiled at him, letting her gaze stay at the table she was sitting at instead of the other customers.
Derek ran his fingers through his hair. It was the nervous habit again, or maybe he did it when he felt uncertain or foolish. Something Dani thought to put in the back of her mind: Try and figure out the reason for why he always ran his hand through his hair.
"Oh... Well. What do you reccomend?"
"What do you feel like? They make an excellent burger and fries. The tuna isn't bad, there's only one good salad on the menu... and if you want comfort food, the macarooni and cheese tastes just like kraft."
"Hmmm. I think I'll go with a classic burger and fries then."
A younger waitress, looked like she was a college student trying to make money to pay for books, stepped up to the table Paper and pen in hand. "So... what can I get for ya tonight?"
Derek gestured for Dani to go first. "I'll have a slice of the cheesecake and a mocha please."
"You want whipped cream on that?" The waitress spoke while jotting down the order.
"Of course. Do you really have to ask?"
"We're supposed to ask all the customers now. Seems a number of people don't like whipped cream."
"Now that is a shame." Dani shook her head a sad expression on her face as she turned from the waitress to looking at Derek.
"Extremely sad. Whipped cream is just as important as a cherry on a sundae."
The waitress looked at him. "Is that what you want, a sundae?"
"Uh... no. Actually can I get a Cheeseburger and fries.... and a diet coke."
"Sure. I'll be right back with the drinks." She put the pad of paper in her apron and grabbed the menus from them. Then she went off to place the order in the kitchen.
"Already ate dinner?" Derek placed his arms on the table and crossed them just as Dani had.
"Yeah. I don't get desert here often, but the cheesecake is delicious." She leaned back into the cushioning of the booth. "So... tell me, have you saved anyone's life lately? ran into any burning buildings?"
"Well, I've only been on the job for three weeks. So far, it's been preety quiet. A couple of emergency calls we had to go to while the ambulence was on the way. A couple of small kitchen fires, a car fire or two. Not a whole lot of action lately. They say it isn't really the saeson though. That starts in about another month or two when the summer rolls around.
I would assume summer would be your busy time too, huh?"
"Usually we're busy in the summer. But there's usually quite a number in winter too. That's because people don't always want to go hiking when it's really hot, so they figure the cool months would be better. The slowest time is whenever it's raining."
"Do you like your job?"
"Don't think there is one I'd rather do. Well... I'd rather do it without some of the visitors. Some people think that the world is theirs to step on and destroy at their whim, and believe that everyone is there to fill their every whim. And then there are the others who don't understand what the word strenuous means. It does not mean that if you can walk around your mall all day long that you will do fine climbing up switchbacks with a steep elevation increase."
The waitress came back to their table with the drinks.
"Here you go. The food will be out in a couple of minutes."
They both smiled and thanked the waitress before she went off to check on some other customers.
"Mocha, huh? You don't like coffee or hot chocolate?"
"I'm not a big coffee drinker. I can't drink it straight, but for some reason it enhances the chocolate. Caffeine a la liquid." She smiled at him while using her index finger to whipe the whipped cream off the rim of the mug. She stuck it in her mouth and sucked it off. "They always stick a huge pile of whipped cream and are always getting it all over the place. But hey, I'm not complaining."
His lips spread into a smile as he sucked on his straw.
The food arrived shortly after and they talked about random places about the town and favorite items. As they ate their food they devoured the conversation finding a number of items they had in common. The night moved by quickly and without them realizing it a few hours had passed.
The waitress came by to check on things and left them the check. Derek reached for it and grabbed it before Dani could look. He pulled it into his lap, placed it on the table and got his wallet out from his back pocket.
"How much do I owe?" Dani furrowed her brow trying to do the math in her head. "Five bucks?"
"Nothing. Think of it as repayment for being my excuse to leave the party earlier tonight and driving me home." He smiled at her while he put cash into the bill holder.
"You sure?" Dani sat there looking at him with her wallet in her hands.
"Positive. My treat." He slid out form the booth and stood up. Dani followed him up. They walked towards the door and waved to the waitress as they left. The older woman barely looked up from the book she was reading.
The air outside still had a bit of chill in the air as summer had not fully fallen yet. The moon shone three-quarters full ina dark sky speckled with stars. Dani stared up at the sky while she took a few steps towards the car. Derek watched the way she moved with such natural grace and childish abandon staring at the night sky. He raised his head and stared at the sky. He could understand why. The air was crisp and clean tonight. The rain from the day before had cleared and it seemd that everything shone more brightly than usual. He let his face fall down from the sky slowly and saw that she was still admiring the dark beauty. She had stopped next to her car door with the keys in her hand. He could see her tingle as a shiver ran down her spine. He came up behind her and rubbed his hands down her bare arms. She jumped at his touch, her muscles growing tight. She looked over her shoulder as her muscles ever so slightly began to relax.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. You just looked cold. Not sure if you even noticed, you were so caught up with the sky."
She let out a breath and looked back up at the moon. She moved back against him slightly, feeling the warmth of his body seep into her. "It's a beautiful night. The full moon will be in five days. I think it's going to be an especially bright one. It already shines as it usually does when totally full. This would be a good month for a night hike."
"He tried to keep his lips from growing into a huge silly grin on his face as she didn't say to take his hands off of her. Instead she had leaned in even closer. He could smell the light flowery scent that must have been from her shampoo, and the softness of her skin was just what he had imagined it to feel like.
Dani turned around and lightly push on his arm. "Get on your side of the car so we can get going." He gave a slight nod and walked around the front. They both opened their doors and climbed in. Dani turned the key and switched the heater on. Warm air started to blow at them as the radio began to talk quietly.
"Ready to give me diresctions to your place?"
"Sure. It's firehouse 916. Make a right out of the lot."
Dani began to pull out and turned right on the street.
"It sure will be nice once I find a place besides the firehouse. I can't wait to have a little bit more privacy. Make a right at the next signal."
"Well... good luck with the roommate and house hunting."
"I think I got two roommates, guys from the station that for various reasons need a new place. Now we just have to find the living arrangements. You're going to make a left in about three signals."
They drove on with only the radio talking and a few directions from Derek. Dani pulled up in front of a fire station after only a few minutes. She put the car in park by the curb. Derek opened the door and was about to hop out when he turned to Dani. "Can I call you sometime?"
"Sure. I'd like that." He pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and punched in her number. She pulled out her own and saved his in her phone book.
"Thanks for the ride."
"Thanks for desert."
He baegan to walk backwards towards the station and gave a wave. "Expect to hear from me soon." He gave her a big smile then turned around and walked up and through the open door.
Dani let out a sigh and shook her head. "One of the strangest evenings in a long time. But surprisingly.... quite enjoyable." She shifted the car back into drive and headed for home.


Loud voices came to her ears. She slowly opened her eyes while turning from her stomach to her side and switched the alarm off. The bright red numbers said 7:17am. Dani let out a groan as she threw the sheets and blankets off her. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat there for a moment. She rubbed her eyes whiping away the vestiges of sleep and let out a yawn. Sliding off the bed she found her slippers and absently walked to the bathroom.
The sound of the toilet flushing seemed to be unnecessarily loud as she walked to the sink. After washing her hands she splashed some water on her face. The cold liquid helped her eyes to open and woke her up even more. She went back into her room and flicked the light switch. As the bright light flooded the room she felt the last of sleep leaving her only slightly tired.
"God I hate mornings." She got out one of her many pairs of green khaki pants and a beige polo shirt that had the park logo on it. After getting dressed she walked into the kitchen and stuck a bagel in the toaster oven and poured herself a glass of orange juice. She turned on the t.v. so the sound would keep her awake and she could listen to the weather. She stood leaning against the counter waiting for the toaster to ding.
"What a weird night, last night. I can't believe I actually hung out with a complete stranger for... god... it was probably four hours." She took a sip of her OJ. She looked over her shoulder... seeing the bagel still wasn't ready and opened the fridge to take out the cream cheese.
"He sure was cute though. And fun to talk to." She closed the fridge with a bump from her hip. "Look at me... I'm talking like a high schooler with a secret crush. Ugh."
The bell rang on the toaster oven and she took the bagel out. She walked over to the kitchen counter, sat down and started to eat her breakfast. "Things like that don't happen to me often. I'll probably be obsessed with it for the whole day. Wonderful. Of course, Jenny will get a kick out of it." She smiled to herself as one of the few other women she worked with popped into her head; a picture of Jenny with her mouth hung open, and the words coming from her mouth as she would ask Dani for all the details. Jenny was a little on the tall side with red hair and green eyes. Her face was covered with the freckles that almost all red-heads have. She was only a year younger than Dani at 24, but when it came to guys she acted like a sixteen year old, obsessed with knowing all of the details. Normally she was bugging Dani about why she wouldn't let her fix her up with one of her friends. Jenny never had a problem finding a guy, and switched who she was dating about every other week or so.
Dani finished her breakfast and stuck the dishes in the dishwasher. After turning off the tv she went to finish off her normal routine. She brushed her teeth, put her hair back in a ponytail, stuck on her hiing boots, dabbed on a bit of sunscreen and walked back into the living room.
She grabbed her purse and keys and the hat that was sitting on the table right by the door.
It was 8:05am when she turned the keys into the ignition of the old suburban. "Right on time... as long as there's no traffic."
The way to work was blessed with no traffic, just boring talk radio and a nice clear sky out the window. As she pulled passed the park gates and into the main parking lot of the ranger station, Dani still had thoughts of the man from last night running through her head. She opened her door and walked into the station. Andy was standing behind the front desk reading some memos. Andy was in his late 30s, of average build, with a dark tan and slightly wrinkled skin from all the time he'd spent out in the sun. He was somehow always able to keep his cool with the visitors, and was liked by all of the staff.
Rick and James were another story. Rick was the man in charge of their station and had gotten there by writing grants and sucking up to donors. He hated the outdoors and spent as much time as possible in the office. He wanted to blacktop all of the roads and add cement trails to the park. It would all be better for business and make them more money. The only one of her colleagues who agreed with Rick was James. He hated the outdoors almost as much as Rick, and somehow had ended up working for the park services. He stayed in the station behind the desk if at all possible. He ran the safety video and sold stuff in the small "gift shop", or rather gift side, of the station.
Andy looked up from the papers and smiled. "Hey Dani. Have fun last yesterday? Actually go out on a friday night?"
"Actually I did." She raised her eyebrows and gave him a smug smile while she walked into the back room. Andy stared at her in what looked like disbelief for a moment then called as she walked through the door that said "staff only", "Glad to hear it. Hope you had fun. You deserve it."
"Thanks," she called from the hallway. It seemed no one else was here yet as she stuck her stuff into her locker and pulled out her jacket she had left the day before. She swung it on and grabbed her nalgene bottle before shutting her locker. She filled the bottle up from the water cooler in the corner and walked back into the visitor center. She walked up next to Andy and peered over her shoulders at the papers. "Anything I need to know?"
"Nah. Just a reminder that the heat's coming, along with fire season and visitor season. Nothing we didn't know already.
"You have the trails today. No guided ones set up, but Rick wanted you to walk them and check that there isn't anything blocking them. He said to start with the ones on the north side of the park."
"Got it. I think I want to wait a little longer till the chill has worn off and I don't have to drag a jacket back with me."
"Whenever you want. There's no hurry. Jenny, Kevin and Larry should be in soon. You can take one of them with you."
Dani smiled. It was always fun when it was the slow season. No set guided trails to take people on, no annoying questions, and even a bit of company on occasion when hiking through beautiful territory. She sat back in one of the desk chairs and enjoyed the sound of birds chirping out the door.


Dani put her keys in the door and walked into her small house. It lay towards the outskirts of town, halfway beteen downtown and the beginning of the state park. The town wasn't large to begin with, just a suburb of the enourmous city 45 miles away that had grown its own downtown and was being built up with Starbucks, Walmarts, McDonalds, and the rest of all the big chains.
The house was old, but redone before Dani moved in to give her all the modern day convienences. It wasn't really built for a whole family, seeing as it was only one bedroom, one bath, a kitchen and living room, but it fit Dani just fine. Not much space meant not a lot to have to clean.
Dani walked into the kitchen and to the back door. She opened it and sat on the doorstoop while taking off her boots which were covered in dirt from the long day. She had taken a group of visitors on one of the long hikes that took all day and covered 12 miles. The hike hadn't been too bad since the visitors were actually in shape. As she beat the boots together to try and knock off as much dirt as possible she wiggled her toes and felt the cool air blowing against her dirty socks. She put the shoes on the floor by the door and pulled off her dirty socks and threw them on top of the washing machine. she sat back with her arms propping her up and stretched her legs out in front of her. The cool breeze blowing over her freed feet gave her a relaxing feel. After sitting watching the last rays of the sun hide behind the mountains she stood up and figured she should make some dinner.
Dani walked back inside, shut the door and walked through her kitchen. She washed her hands in the sink then opened the fridge to stare for a bit. It was full of food, but Dani couldn't seem to find anything she wanted to eat. As she stood there standing she thought of maybe going to get a burger. That's when he popped back into her head. She couldn't seem to get Derek off her brain. It had been three days and she still hadn't heard from him. The pit in her stomach seemed to grow slightly and her appetite waned. Why was she feeling like this. She had only spent one night with him. He said he would call, but how many times do you hear that line. She let out a long sigh and decided to just make some pasta. She grabbed the big pot out of the cuppboard and filled it with water before putting it on the stove.
Dani headed out of the kitchen and into her bedroom for a quick change before starting her meal. She threw on an old pair of jeans and a pale blue t-shirt that she didn't care about getting dirty since she still needed to shower. As she walked through the living room she took her cell phone out of her purse to put it on the charger. As she hooked it up she noticed it said she had a message. Her hopes went flying for a moment before she got them in check. "It's not Derek... I probably just left something at work and Andy is calling to tell me." She mumbled to herself. She checked the number. It wasn't the ranger station; it was one she didn't recognize.
She pressed the button to listen to her messages. As it was going through the long menu she was trying to figure out when she missed the call. She didn't remember seeing a missed call when she got in the car. It must have still been on silent from the day. Rick said everyone had to keep their phones on silent or vibrate as part of the company policy. Cell phone rings detracted fromt he "nature feel" of the park. She cursed Rick under her breath as she punched in her password.
Finally the automated voice said, "Message One..." Then Dani heard a deep but gentle voice that made her knees melt so she sat down in one of the chairs in the living room.
"Hey Dani... Hope you didn't forget me. It's Derek. We met at Jaz's party the other day. You drove me home." There was a short pause. "Umm so ya... not sure how many strangers you pick up, okay I know it isn't many, god I hope it isn't many... Anyway... this one called you back. I would have called sooner but I don't know when the proper time frame is anymore. That and well... we've been pretty busy around the station. I guess the season hit in full swing all at once. Anyway... I'm babbling... Want to get together sometime? Hopefully soon. Umm... Sorry I missed actually talking to you, but give me a call when you get this." She sank back into the chair as she listened to him recite his phone number. When it was done she played it one more time just to let the message sink in. She hung up the phone and just held it in her hand for a moment. I guess he wasn't just being polite when he said he'd call back. Dani felt slightly giddy and all of her energy that had been sapped on the drive home came back to her. She sat up and went into the kitchen to finish making her dinner. The water was boiling so she dropped the pasta in and opend a jar of sauce and started to heat it. She made a quick salad and sat down at the kitchen table debating on if she should call right now or wait a little since she had to wait so long to hear from him. She didn't want him to think she was desperate, or had been obsessing over him. Although in truth, she felt she kind of had been. She had told Jenny all about her date with him the other day at work and was actually fine with giving her all the details rather than trying to use any excuse to get Jenny to shut up about guys. She put the phone down on the table and kept moving around the kitchen getting her dinner ready.
When everything was done and on the table she sat down in front of her food with the radio on in the other room to give her some background noise. She stared at the phone while she popped open a can of Diet Dr Pepper. She took a slow sip from the can and wouldn't let her eyes off the phone. She knew her whole night would be filled with anticipation if she didn't just call him back and get it over with. She put the can down and picked up the phone. She went through the stored numbers and pressed the one for Derek. She sat back against the chair and listened to the rings.
One ring... two rings... three rings... Dani let out a breath and tried to think of what to say on his voicemail when all of the sudden she heard a "Hello?"
Her throat closed up for a moment before she took a long, deep breath and replied "Hi." She paused for a second then continued, "This is Dani. From the other night. I got your message."
"Hey! It's good to hear from you. Glad you got my message. I was wondering if you wanted to do something." He was smooth and confident as he talked to her. No hesitation, just an honest lightness, as if the thing he wanted to do most right now was to hang out with her.
"Umm. When were you thinking?" Dani sounded a little uncertain to her own ears, but his straight-forwardness had caught her off-guard. She was telling herself it shouldn't, that was the way he had been the other night. He wasn't afraid to tell you about himself, to give you details, or to ask for what he wanted. It was part of what she liked about him. She sat up straighter in her chair feeling her own confidence growing back up to full strength.
"Well. Do you work tomorrow? I have the day off. Maybe you could show me some other places to go around town."
"Sorry. I have work tomorrow; it is a wednesday. My weekends are friday and saturday... at least most of the time. You free either of those days?"
"Didn't you say something about it beeing a full moon in a couple of days?" Derek said in a questioning voice.
"Ya, why?"
"And you said it would be an exceptionally bright night."
"Yeah..." Her voice trailed off wondering what he was getting at.
"Well you had said it would be excellent to go on a night hike. Am I right?"
Dani smiled to herself. "I did say that. The full moon is on thursday night."
"Well then. How about we pack a dinner with us and go for a hike? What do you think?"
Dani pondered for a moment. "Okay."
"I'll pack the dinner if you can pick me up. Still don't have a car." Dani could hear the smile in his voice.
"Sounds like a plan. What time do you want to meet?"
"Is six okay or would six thirty be better?"
"How about six fifteen. That gives me enough time to go home and change out of my ranger uniform before I pick you up."
"Alright. I'll see you at six fifteen then on thursday night. I can't wait."
"Well you're just gonna have to." Dani gave a small laugh. "Bye."
"Good night."
The phone clicked and she placed it down on the table. She took a swallow from her can and looked at the food that was going to be getting cold pretty quick.
"Wow. I have a date. And I'm excited. Hmmm." Dani picked up her fork and started to eat her dinner while her mind kept drifting back to the voice she'd just heard and the image of Derek she couldn't get out of her mind.

[FallingStar]

This is a different short story than the above. It doesn't continue... this is the entire piece.

FallingStar, on Jan 4 2006, 06:41 PM, said:

He stood there waiting just off the road for her. She said she'd meet him here once she was done with work. It was their place, the place where they first met. The place where they talked for hours and got to know all of the little secrets that allowed them to know how the other's mind worked.
He kicked at a pebble and continued to pace in the dirt. His shoes were covered in a layer of brown. The winter sun beat down upon him, the clouds all but gone. It was warm for winter and reminded him of days in the past under different suns and different moons. He kept playing with a stick between his fingers. Anything to try and keep his mind from the one question that played through his thoughts.
He stopped and looked up at what he thought were footsteps. His nerves were pulled too tight, it had simply been the wind. Back to pacing and twirling his stick. He leans back against a large boulder and wonders what he is doing here. What possessed him to agree to meet her here? He had been waiting for a while. Perhaps he should just go. If she did happen to show she wouldn't have to see him in the mess of a state that he was in.
He stood up and turned to head back towards the road. When he looked up there she was, silhoutted in the shadows from the setting sun. She was as beautiful as an angel, though she never would have agreed with his opinion. Now he stood watching her, his mouth as dry as the brittle winter leaves blowing past in the cool wind. Their eyes met and she walked the last few steps down the path from the road. He looked in her eyes and felt his stomach attempt a backflip that ended in a bellyflop. He opend his mouth and...

[Pinup Kitten]

Too much suspense Falling! Gah I hate cliffhangers =P



Kat <3

[FallingStar]

Sorry Kat... I guess you will just have to let your imagination fill in the suspense.

~~~~~~~~~~

She lay on her bed in the dark room, her eyes red and sore from finally releasing all of the tears she had been holding back. No longer could she hold her head up and keep the sraight face. No longer would her heart stay frozen as she walked through the days of bright sunshine. Finally the walls protecting her had cracked and the ideas of herself had come crashing down forming piles of rubble at her feet.
She wiped at her cheek then lay her head to the side on her pillow feeling the moist cloth press into her fevered skin. She puller her knees up to her stomach, curling into as tight of a ball as she could manage. No matter how hard she grasped the pillow, it still collapsed within her arms leaving little to cling to. Alone with only her arms to hold her. Her breathing had slowed back to a normal pace and the wimpering was now just a gentle hum with an occasional sniffle. Thinking about how she had cracked almost made the tears form again at the corners of her eyes.
The phone rang and she burried her face into the pillow. She did not want to talk to anyone. She didn't want her voice to crack or for them to hear the rasp to her voice. She wouldn't show them her weak side. She wouldn't be the one that they pitied. She listened as it continued to ring and echo through the quiet house. After four long mournful shrill cries it finally stopped. The answer machine clicked on, but when her voice stopped speaking and the machine clicked, there was no other voice.
She rolled over onto her back, stretching her arms out to each side, one leg dangling off the bed. She could feel herself vulnerable in this position and didn't care. She was offering up what little she had. There was only her. Only her and the loneliness that beat at her door. That laughed in the middle of the night. That caressed her cheek when she looked at the crowds of people as she passed them by. Only her and her loneliness. He had become a very attentive lover lately. Wanting only to make her miserable. He toyed with her senses and brought up painful memories of what might have been. Of what she had lost.
As she blinked her eyes, she could barely tell the difference between when they were open and when they were closed. The strength to keep them open fled her. Her long lashes closed on her moist cheeks. The red rims barely noticable in the dark. As she let out a long exhale she could almost feel sleep tasting that breath and coming in to kiss her lips. She parted her lips and whispered yes to his embrace. Let sleep come to lie beside her instead of loneliness. Yet she new that both would come. Brothers were they, and they shared everything. Yet at the moment, the sweet oblivion of sleep was intoxicating enough to not care if loneliness would be there when she awoke staring into her tearstained eyes.
Lying half on the bed she closed her eyes and felt the weight of her body disappear, until the phone began to ring again.
One... two... three... four loud screaming rings of the phone. She thought about disconnceting it but that meant she would have to get up. Her voice echoed again repeating the same old message that she had recorded the day she had gotten the machine. It droned until finally the machine beeped. Again there was no reply. The only people who seemed to ever call were wrong numbers. She flopped over again and lay on her stomach, arm holding the pillow. She snuggled her head into the soft pillowcase and took a deep breath wanting to get some scent, some memory from it's presence, but nothing came. Here eyes closed and she waited to hear the phone ringing again. No one really wanting to talk. No one really wanting to know how she was. No one really caring. Just the ring of the phone and the person on the other line realizing that they didn't really care enough to leave a message. They had just thought that maybe she would talk. Maybe she would be home to waste away their own time and boredom. She didn't care for idle courtesies or meaningless chat. She wanted to lie here until the urge to cry finally went away. She wanted someone to actually say something after the shrill beep. But the phone stayed silent. Her tired eyes finally gave way and her mind finally stilled as sleep laid his arms around her.
She didn't hear the phone ring again. She didn't hear her own voice repeat the same old message. She didn't hear the shrill mechanical beep. And she didn't hear when the voice finally spoke into dead air pleading for her to finally pick up.

[FallingStar]

Okay.... I haven't worked on a story in a while... but a friend wanted me to write one so here is the very beginning. Hopefully I will come back and add to it. I think it might be a fun attempt to keep working on.

~~~~~~~~~~

She stood in the middle of all the hustle and bustle leaning against a pillar, arms crossed under her chest. People moved quickly around the area gathering luggage, grumbling about the disgusting airplane food or lack thereof, hugging friends and relatives they hadn’t seen in years or perhaps just days. She watched them pass, eyes sometimes following an individual across her line of vision, sometimes just staring in one direction. She glanced at the screen again. The plane had landed just a little while ago. They should be exiting soon.
The double doors opened and a stream of people all ages and sizes began to trickle through. She watched each face trying to read their entire life in an instant. It was a somewhat useless attempt, but you could tell something about a person and the way they looked at life by the way they could enjoy, despise or simply accept a five hour flight across country stuffed in rows too small smelling strangers and waiting ridiculously long for a single glass of soda while your ears wanted to pop.
It seemed at least half of the people must have already passed through the doors when she saw him. A smile started to spread across her lips, a glint grew in her eye. She readjusted against the now warm plaster of the pillar, still leaning but now standing up straighter, arms still wrapped around her, trying to keep the smile from turning into a grin. There he was with a backpack slung over one shoulder. That was the one she was waiting for. She watched as he scanned the crowd and the tens of milling people. He had a worried wrinkle across his brow as if he wasn’t sure that he would actually find her in this sterile environment.
Laughter was ringing in her ears but never poured from her mouth as the frown continued to deepen on his face. All until he finally looked in her direction. She could see the tension flow out of his entire body as he took a step towards her. He walked right up to her until he stood only a couple of feet away.
“Hey you.” The smile finally spread across his face as he tried to stay nonchalant. The giddiness and joy that emanated from him was almost palpable.
“Hey back.” She let the smile widen as she let her arms drop to her sides and she pushed off the pillar. She stole herself a brush of her fingers across his cheek before she turned on her heel and tilted her head towards the long corridor. “Let’s go get you stuff and get out of here.”
She began walking before he could even respond, but she could feel him stagger only a step before he followed her. They made their way to the baggage claim and watched the mainly black suitcases travel around with a dash of color or floral print moving by at odd intervals. She looked to the side and drunk in the image of him in 3-D. Noticing every detail of his face, the way his hair lay, a bit disheveled from the flight, the way he simply stood there watching her.
“So how was the flight?”
“Not bad.”
She could tell he wanted something. More words or more touch or more of everything. She made him ache just a bit longer while the strangers moved around them caught in their own little worlds. She still was the tease she always warned him about. She enjoyed watching him yearn for more in person. Soon he would have to yearn no more. Soon he’d get just about everything he had imagined… and even some things that had never crossed his mind.

[FallingStar]

So the friend has kept up his end and is keeping the story in mind. So.... here is a short addition. I have a feeling that it is going to be in small sections that things will be added.

~~~~~~~~~~

He stepped forwards and grabbed a large black suitcase as it tried to run from his grasp. He pulled the handle up and held it in his damp palm.
“That was it. Just the one.” He turned to her waiting patiently. Trying as much as he could to be nonchalant, yet precise. He had followed her thousands of miles. Now he would follow her wherever and however she wished.
“Well then… Off we go.” She let a fingernail glide down his cheekbone before turning on her heel and walking towards the exit. They walked out into the warm spring air. She took her keys out of her pocket while they headed through the multitude of cars. Barely any words were spoken except for a “This way” and “Over here”. She could hear the air around her crackle with the desire for more to be said. Words, even meaningless ones, wanting to break the silence. He wanted to hear her voice; he never thought he would ever be sick of it. She could purr out any desire and he would willingly oblige.
The headlights blinked as they heard the car unlock. She moved to the trunk and opened it, moving aside so he could put his things in the car. He looked at her silently as she did so. It was an excuse to let his eyes drink her in once again. Her hair was down, the brown soft waves coming a third down her back, yet tucked behind her ears. Her skin was light compared to the black shirt she wore, it’s low V accentuating her large chest. His eyes traveled lower as he put the suitcase in, watching the curves of her hips encased in the blue jean material. It was such a simple ensemble, yet highly alluring.
She noticed him admiring her as he placed the suitcase in the car and decided to do the same. She could detect the muscles moving under the loose button down shirt as he bent over; a few strands of his dark hair falling forwards. The curve of his hip and buttocks as he bent over was too tempting to not do anything about. As his eyes were upon her legs, she slapped his ass. In the shock he jumped and bumped his head on the trunk door, trying to stand up too quickly.
She tried to bite back the laughter as a pout spread across her lips. A hand was already up against his head where there was likely to be a bump forming. She could see the pain welling behind his eyes but a smile of jubilation spread across his mouth.
“Poor baby. Come here.” She took his head in her hands and leaned it forwards, kissing the injured spot. “I didn’t mean to cause you that much pain.”
“A little pain can be worth it.” She knew that he meant it. She could see the relief in his eyes when he knew that all he had hoped would happen on his visit wasn’t some silly little fantasy. The bump on his head was like the pinch-mark proving that this wasn’t a dream. He was awake, and in a very happy state.

[FallingStar]

“A little pain can be worth it.” She knew that he meant it. She could see the relief in his eyes when he knew that all he had hoped would happen on his visit wasn’t some silly little fantasy. The bump on his head was like the pinch-mark proving that this wasn’t a dream. He was awake, and in a very happy state.
She reluctantly let her hands fall from his face as her fingers brushed by his cheeks. Turning on her heel she got into the car and watched as he opened the door and slid in beside her. She turned the key in the ignition and the radio came blaring on to one of her favorite songs. She smiled as she pulled out of the space and began to move through the crowded parking lot and out into the wide open world.

“We’re only stopping at my place for a short bit.” She turned to look at him with a big smile on her face. “I’ve got a surprise.” She turned her head to keep watching the road. It was a short drive from the airport to her apartment; they were already halfway there. “We’ll drop your stuff off, repack a few things, grab some food,” she turned to look at him quickly, “since I know the airplane didn’t have much of anything edible, and then we have a short drive. Promise it won’t be too bad since you’ve already been stuck on your butt all day long.”
He could hear the laughter in her voice, touched by the kindness that she would care whether or not his buttocks was sore from sitting on a plane. It was almost like the intonation a captor would use when making sure his bounty was healthy enough to be tortured or killed. The thought made him chuckle to himself.
“Do I get to know where we are headed? Or what this trip will entail?”
“No. That would ruin the surprise. But you’re going to like it. If you get to come all the way out here on vacation, I want to have a bit of a vacation from the norm too.” She pulled into the alley way and into her parking spot in front of her complex. The keys jingled as she turned the engine off and the silence engulfed them. “Here we are.”
She slid out of the car with more grace than one really needed or expected for exiting a car. Slamming the door shut with her fingertips as she walked around and opened the trunk. He got out from his side, grabbed his stuff and followed her around the corner to her front door. The place was clean, lots of pictures on the walls. The leopard print chaise lounge was one of the more obvious pieces that stood out as he looked around. One could definitely tell that females lived in the space.
“So, I’ll give you the grand tour. This is the living room…” She waved her hand towards the couches and television in the corner as she walked further into the apartment. “This is the dining room…” gesturing as she walked past the small table with four chairs and into the kitchen. “Our lovely kitchen… Would you like something to drink?” She opened the fridge and pulled out a two liter of diet dr pepper. Turned around and grabbed a glass from one of the cupboards then grabbed a handful of ice from the freezer. She poured the glass full then put the 2 liter on the counter. She looked back in the fridge. “We have water, OJ, lemonade, diet dr pepper, and Pepsi.” She looked over her shoulder at him.
“Pepsi would be good.” He stood there leaning against her kitchen counter, eyes still glued to her.
“Grab a glass from that cabinet,” she said as she pulled a can of Pepsi out of the fridge and then opened the freezer. He held out the glass as she dropped a handful of ice cubes into it and handed him the can. She picked up her own glass and took another sip. “So that is our backyard…” She hooker her thumb at the sliding glass doors as she walked back through the dining room and through the living room. He followed her as she continued on the tour. She grabbed his backpack as they past the stuff he had deposited at the base of the stairs. He followed suit and grabbed his suitcase. “That’s the second bath… in case the other one is being used and you really have to go.” She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him as she began the climb up the steps. “That’s the big bathroom with the shower. That door is to my roommates bedroom, and this would be mine.” A large four poster was nestled in the far corner. A bookcase was against the wall below it, two dressers and a desk filled up the rest of the room with the closet against the closest wall. There was a pile of stuff already sitting by the closed closet doors.
“What’s all that for?”
“It’s part of the surprise.” She still had a large smile plastered across her face as she took a sip from the glass in her hand.

[FallingStar]

“I’m not always good with surprises.” He had a tinge of worry along the edges of his features, but by no means had the euphoria disappeared.
She placed his backpack on the floor and then her glass on the top of the desk. She sauntered her way over to him, accentuating the move of her hips as she placed the fingertips of her right hand onto the fabric on his chest. “You don’t trust me?” She leaned her chest towards his, as she looked up into his face, the smile of a minx on her pink lips.
“I trust you. But I also know that gleam in your eye.”
“Then you should know that it can only mean good things for you.”
He looked down at the pile of bags again. There was two large round drawstring bags, a large duffle, and what looked like a backpacking bag. His eyes moved from the gear to her a few times. She could see the possible recognition on his face. “Are we going camping?” There was a slight bit of incredulity in his voice.
“I knew I liked you for a reason. You’re a smart one.” She grabbed her glass, took a sip, and sat down on the edge of her bed. “It will be nice and quiet and relaxing… and private. We’ll get to enjoy all that nature can offer the senses.” His eyes grew wide for just a moment before he caught his composure. He walked towards her boldly, carefully placed a hand on the side of her thigh, “Sounds perfect”.
“I told you, you were going to like it,” she purred up into his ear before letting her lips brush his earlobe and give a small tug. She turned her face to look into his eyes and gave him a whisper of a kiss. His hand rested slightly firmer on her thigh as if he needed something to balance as his knees grew momentarily weak.
“I think I’m going to like a lot of things on this trip,” he said, his voice a bit thick.

[reprobate]

Dani and Derek need another chance to visit this world! Though I think they could easily be integrated into the next without too much difficulty. Nevertheless, all great stuff here but I expected that. So, my compliments to the author and my thanks for the sharing...
Keep smiling!

[FallingStar]

Dani and Derek were started then put on the back burner for so long I'm not sure they can be resurrected. Perhaps at some point. For now I am working on the above... which I'm not sure if I should keep posting because I believe it is going to become explicit. I can post a warning... adult content... but still debating. (Though nothing more to be posted at the moment.)
Thank you for the compliments... and for reading as always.
~M*

[FallingStar]

They had gone through the bags, double checked that everything they needed or wanted was indeed packed, grabbed a quick lunch from a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant and were now driving up the windy road towards the Los Angeles Mountains. The sky gleamed blue as they passed above the stretch of haze lying at the bottom of the mountain. A few wisps of white stretched on forever along the blue, softening the sight on the eyes. The trees were blooming green in the early yet already warm spring air, their branches reaching out from the sides of the road trying to beckon visitors into their warm embraces. The road turned from well-worn, but paved into a smaller, dirt-packed version. They continued passed a sign that stated camping grounds and trails up ahead. As they wound their way deeper into the mountains one could forget that this was still Los Angeles county. This was the home of Hollywood and movie stars; millionaires and health crazes. One could almost forget what time they still lived in. A red-tailed hawk flew in their line of vision from the front windshield. It glided along the wind currents, lazy in its meanderings to somewhere. Their time spent up among these trees and the clean air would hopefully be the same for them. Let all the stresses of the city be blown away and leave them with only themselves.
The road finally ended in a long loop with a dilapidated bathroom at the front of it and a sign that was so old that the name of the campgrounds couldn’t be read. She pulled into a parking spot at the point in the loop. No other cars were parked in the dirt lot, in fact, they had seen a total of maybe two once they hit the dirt road some miles back.
She opened her door and stretched out her back while taking a deep breath of the thinner air. The sun beat down in warm rays upon her skin. She turned and looked at him over the car. He was looking around at the view of where they had stopped. The parking lot wasn’t really that impressive. A few scraggly bushes and oak trees surrounding a large expansive of brown dirt. A few large boulders here and there. Until one looked straight ahead at the side of the mountain right before them, or looked behind them out over the cliff and down towards a city that was not that many miles away, but still an eternity from where they had stopped.
He was turned towards the open view and the peak of city one could see through the gnarled branches reaching towards the sky as they clung for dear life to the crumbling side of cliff. “There’s another surprise in the other direction we’ll have to go check out later. The trails are pretty easy going and not too long. We’ll make a day trip out of the longest tomorrow.”
He let his gaze move from the view and land upon her. He walked over to her and stood a foot away staring into her brown, chocolaty eyes. “This is amazing.” It was a simple statement, but she had always been one for simple pleasures.
“Well let’s get everything unpacked and set up the tent.” She let her eyes pry away from his and started to grab things from the trunk of the car.
As he grabbed the cooler and pulled it out he asked, “So are we going to run into anyone up here?” He held it between his arms and was walking towards a splintering picnic table.
“We shouldn’t. It’s not spring break for any of the schools around here, and this isn’t the most popular of camping spots. It should be all ours.” She dumped the tent on the floor and smiled up at him.

[reprobate]

Well, I guess a warning about adult content (on a supposedly 'adult' site) would be appropiate but hey, I don't need one. I try not project my values onto other people and I am quite fine with diverting my attention if something doesn't agree with me. Sorry that doesn't seem to be the case with a majority of folks. Their holier than thou values and train-wreck attitudes(they know there's going to be something distasteful yet they get offended because somebody didn't cover their eyes for them!) just makes daily life that much more restrictive...land of the free, my a**!!! Oh well, sorry to say that maybe an explicit content advisory would probably go a long way in placating the judgemental creatures.
But, I'll be here waiting. And if I don't like something, I'll look away. But only after telling you if the material was well written or not.
I mean, here or elsewhere, I had to look to see if it was offensive, therefore I should know if it was a work of literature or just some tripe being tossed out to satisfy an unknown urge. Though, I very seriously doubt that I would find anything remotely like that here with your offerings or with quite a few others on DDC.
Well, enough whining...on with the waiting...
Thanks as always!!!

[fae]

I really like the new story you have going. . . I'd like to know more about the characters past. . . at least a little more. Some holes in the past are nice, but I'm left wondering too much for my small brain. hehe
keep up the great work, if you really buckled yourself down to finish a story you would easily be published and I'd buy your fiction for sure.

Chels.

[fae]

I really like the new story you have going. . . I'd like to know more about the characters past. . . at least a little more. Some holes in the past are nice, but I'm left wondering too much for my small brain. hehe
keep up the great work, if you really buckled yourself down to finish a story you would easily be published and I'd buy your fiction for sure.

Chels.

[FallingStar]

Reprobate~
Well the warning was made for those who need it. And a gain it will be stated:

Might Contain Adult Content;
Reader Discretion Is Advised

I hope you do not see it as simple rude and crude work... and so far it is rather clean. But it is working towards the dirtier side. That was what this story was started for to be honest. Someone asked for it... and so I thought I would try it.

Chelsea~
I thank you for the comment. I don't really see myself as being published in the story sense. But thnk you for thinking that I could be.
As for the characters... they have no names and there is very little background to them. In truth... they are based somewhat on myself and a friend of mine. He posed the question of what would happen if he did come out and visit. It is not based on truth or fact... simply on fantasy.

For the purpose of the reading... the background can be this... they have known each other for a very long time. This is the first time they have met in person. The time they have is only a week or two and they want to make the most out of what they have.

I hope that will suffice. And now... a bit more of the story.

~~~~~~~~~~

The tent was put up in less than five minutes, the duffle bags thrown inside. There was no need to stick around and watch their things, the threat of anything being stolen was next to nothing. They decided to go hiking up one of the small, overgrown trails to pass their afternoon. As the twill of birds and the rustle of leaves were the backdrop they let their voices break up the silence. They talked on numerous different topics. The words were comforting and the silences that were held were anything but awkward as they would stop at lookouts and let their breath be caught in their throat as only the beauty of nature could do.
The spring air was warm, even at the high elevation. Jackets came off quickly enough as their muscles strained while taking the switchbacks up the mountain. He tended to fall behind her when the trail narrowed and they climbed up the stones as if they were steps. She could feel his eyes watching the roll of her muscles under her skin as he enjoyed the view of her backside. She had taken enough glimpses of him as he pulled himself up behind her. She always enjoyed watching the muscles of a man move under a tight t-shirt. The thought of what he would look like without the shirt would pass through her mind and spread a sly smile across her lips.
The trail finally peaked at a flat look out and she grabbed his hand and drew him towards an old railing. His hand was slightly damp, just as his forehead was from the trek to the top. She laced her fingers in between his and gave them a squeeze. A light breeze whipped a few loose strands of her hair around her face from the ponytail she had tied at the nape of her neck. The wind felt good against the heat from the exertion, but then caught on the droplets of sweat, causing a shiver to run down her spine. He moved his hand from hers and replaced it with his other hand as he moved behind her and wrapped his arms over hers in a hug. She leaned back into the warmth of him and nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder. He bent over and kissed the pale expanse of her neck that she had exposed. Her eyes closed as she drank in all the sensations; the sun beating against her upturned face, the wind caressing her skin, the warmth of another pressed against her and the feel of his lips playing lightly along her neck. There was nothing she could find at the moment that wasn’t just as she desired.
His lips traveled up the side of her neck to her ear. He nibbled lightly on the bottom of her earlobe. “This was quite the surprise… but quite worth it.”
She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. “I’m glad you approve.” The glitter was back in her eyes as she turned in his arms and wrapped her own around the small of his back. She kissed his lips then let her own travel down his jaw line to his neck. They found a soft succulent spot and pressed firmly as she parted them and sucked on his skin. The faint taste of salt and aftershave lingered. Her teeth found their mark and sank into his flesh. She could feel him melting in her arms as her teeth kept a firm grip. She let them scrape closed in a small pinch then she let go of his neck. Her tongue flicked out like a cat lapping up a spot of spilled milk before she leaned back from his chest, arms still grasped behind him and looked into his eyes. The scenery was a marvelous sight, but so was the one right before her.

This post has been edited by FallingStar: 27 November 2006 - 07:05 PM

[fae]

Bravo!!!! excellent and that was plenty background for me. . . I think I was wondering if they had met before and what the circumstances had been and that they had not, got me much more involved in the story line. I'm not sure why I didn't catch it in the initial reading. . . I figured it was either that or perhaps that they had not seen each other in a long time. I love it. . . and I thought that what was written this far is very tasteful. keep up the great work. . .

chels.

[FallingStar]

Thanks Chelsea. To make some people happy, and to make it a bit easier or perhaps harder to write... not sure which yet... I have given the two characters names. Morgan and Scott.

Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~

A gust of wind blew down the side of the mountain and whipped Morgan’s hair out in front of her lapping at Scott’s cheeks. Her hair was a warmer shade of brown then his, yet his skin looked pale compared to both. The sight of his blue eyes vanished as his long eyelashes closed to keep the tangles of her hair from assaulting his vision. Morgan leaned in and placed her lips against his own remarkably dark pink mouth. She felt him inhale deeply as his eyes remained shut. Scott loved to drink in the sensations; feel them down to his bones. Every sense, whether it be of pain or pleasure, was a cause for deep exploration. She lifted her hand and brushed a lock of his dark hair from his temple, her nails whispering with the wind across his skin. He shivered, but she could not tell if it was from the wind drying the cool sweat that had gathered along his flesh or if it was from her own ministrations.
Morgan let her hands pull out from behind his back, dragging just above his hips. Scott opened his eyes as she grasped his hand in hers and lead him a bit farther along the trail. His hand was warm and pliable as she interlaced her fingers with his and gave a strong squeeze. He responded with a light squeeze back. There was little else at the end of the trail, just more oak trees. A few boulders lay against the dirt of the mountain, their bases half covered in old leaves and debris that had accumulated over the seasons. Morgan sat down on one of the larger ones, the warmth of the sun that had been captured in the gray stone seeping into the backs of her legs and buttocks. Scott sat on a smaller rock at her feet, his chin just about at her knee. He let his hand glide up the bottom of her jeans and cup the swell of her calf. His fingers moving in a rubbing motion as he leaned his chin in to rub like a cat against her kneecap.
Morgan ran her fingers through his hair as if petting the large male cat that he was acting like as he caressed her leg. She could hear a low purr come from deep in his throat as she scratched lightly behind his ear.
“So what else did you have planned for us tonight? Besides sit here and enjoy the view.” His eyes were staring only at her.
“I packed a few surprises. By the time we make it back down the trail we should probably start cooking dinner while there is still sunlight to use. And for dessert… well there is something special for dessert.” Morgan ran her fingers firmly through his hair, his neck arching back with her fingers before snapping back in place atop his shoulders.
Scott let his fingers travel back down her calf. He cupped her ankle at the top of her hiking boot for an instant before taking his hand completely away from her. He sank from the rock he had been sitting on to his knees in front of her, placing his hands on her knees. “Can we head back then? The sooner we have dinner the soon I get to see what this surprise for dessert is… and if it is anything like this first big surprise, then I know I am going to like it.” He had the smile of a kid in a candy store plastered across his face. She thought to herself, why shouldn’t he? He’ll be getting all the treats he could imagine.
Morgan stood up and Scott’s hands slowly moved down her legs. He craned his neck to look at her from the floor as he slowly stood up to his 5’8 frame and being able to look down into her eyes instead of up. She was 5’1, short by almost everyone’s standards, but no one would ever really call her petite. There was too much curve to call her that. The height difference left a nice gap between them, not too much and not too little; just right as Goldilocks would have said.

[fae]

*giggles* what a teasing tale. . . your fiction is always amazing. . . I've never been able to make much of a story that captures, but yours do. . . your characters are so real they are almost tangible.

*sits back and takes a nap waiting for the next installment*

[FallingStar]

Okay... I know it has been a while... Sorry. I think I need more encouragement... I also have been busy with the season and all. Sorry your nap was for so long Chelsea. I hope you enjoy this next piece. It's short but it is something.

~~~~~~~~~~

Morgan moved her flat hand over the expanse of his abdomen and chest, feeling his presence behind the thin t-shirt material. She rolled her lips between her teeth as she stared at his chest before finally letting her hand drop to her side. She smiled up into his face and saw him smiling back at her. They sat there a moment in a comfortable silence before heading back down the trail, their pace bringing them back down to the campsite in about half the time it took to climb up it. Going downhill was always easier than up. The momentum once one started always building up to more than what one would have originally anticipated.
The sun was at the tops of the hills when they arrived back by the car and the tent. They shuffled around the picnic table preparing to cook their meal, Morgan was putting the small Coleman stove together while Scott was rifling through the cooler he had set on the edge of the table.
“So what precisely are we making?” He held up a head of romaine lettuce in one hand. “Salad?”
“Along with some pasta. You can start cutting up the veggies.” The gas tank was hooked up and she now left it in place as she grabbed a large pot and headed towards the one structure.
He turned to call after her, “You trust me with a knife?” She turned around to see that Scott had said it with a huge grin on his face.
“I trust you with numerous things. Just don’t cut yourself up while I’m gone.” She turned back around and continued over towards the water faucet to fill up the pot. When she made her way back without sloshing too much water she found that he had already managed to peel and slice up a cucumber and was working on tomatoes.
“Quick with a blade.” Morgan placed the pot on the stove and turned the flimsy knob hearing the gas leak out. It sparked to life a moment later, orange and blue flames licking at the bottom of the metal. She put the lid on and walked over to sit beside Scott, one leg on each side of the bench straddling the old wood. He had finished the tomato and scooped it into a large bowl he had found. The bright red stood out amongst the dark green of the lettuce and the pale green of the cucumber. She watched his hands as he placed the knife down on the cutting board. “Anything else need to be done?”
She turned her face up to look at him, “At the moment we get to just sit back and wait for the water to boil. Hmmm… Now how should we waste the time?”

[FallingStar]

He shivered as her voice curled around him and the wind brushed along their skin. Morgan couldn’t tell if it was the cold that was just now growing as darkness approached or if it was the tone in her voice that had sent chills down his spine. Most likely a combination of the two. She crept closer to him on the bench, her shoulders rolling as she used her hands to crawl forward like a panther, her feet gently pushing against the dirt floor as needed. Scott sat there as still as a rabbit caught in the glare of a fox; trying to stay utterly still waiting to see what happened. The only movement was the rapid rise and fall of his chest as his heart fluttered and breathing quickened. Her right hand brushed along the outer edge of his thigh. Morgan moved it slowly down his thigh towards his knee in a light brush then let it roll over the top of his leg. Her hand stayed on the rough blue jeans right above his knee. As she leaned forward she put more weight in her hand, keeping him pinned to the spot. Her face leaned towards his but her lips did not come to rest upon his own, instead they brushed along his jaw line, the bottom lip dragging over his skin. Her lips found the soft spot right below and behind his ear. She kissed him gently, leaving her lips just above his skin, her breath coming in warm puffs to dance with the dried sweat that head beaded at the back of his neck.
Scott sat there, his back straight, muscles tightened, waiting in anticipation. As her lip dragged over his skin he couldn’t control the shudder that passed over him. Morgan’s warm breath playing along the back of his neck finally started to melt all the tension that had somehow appeared as she was crawling towards him. Scott’s hands were clenching the wood of the bench beside him so hard his knuckles were turning white. Morgan’s eyes flicked to his hands as she let her tongue dart out and give a slow lingering lick with the tip of her tongue.
Slowly she dragged her chin over his shoulder as she sat up beside him, hand still placed atop his leg. She could feel Scott’s whole body strumming with an energy waiting to be released, but as she looked in his eyes she could tell he was afraid to completely let go of his control. She sat there with her head cocked to the side watching his face try to stay neutral as thoughts flitted through his mind. The one thing he could not control was the desire that caused his blue eyes to shimmer.