Its Amazing... (~gray-/-kitten~)

[Kittenn]

There's no time for us. There's no place for us.
What is this thing that builds our dreams,
Yet slips away from us?​

It happened like clockwork every other Saturday. He'd come home, the condo next to her own, for about five to six hours and then leave again later that evening to get in his car and leave. Sometimes Aine would sit at her window and watch the beautiful creature with the long red hair and those dark, wicked eyes. Something in her chest would constrict and her stomach would get this fluttering sensation like she was nervous or doing something bad. Maybe it was bad sitting here just to watch him come home and then leave. Oh, she never sat there for five or six hours straight. Just... just checked. Pressing a hand against the small of her belly, she gasped softly. The pain, what she thought was pain, always felt so pleasant. Warm, tender... so warm. It was probably the reason why she reduced herself to this lowly stage in her life. Spying, stalking. Watching her neighbor as he went about his life.

She laughed softly at the idea. At one time, she honestly thought he was a woman! And that had bothered her. Was she attracted to women? Oh what a fuss her mother would have thrown. No, he was definitely a man. She caught him washing that car of his bare chested and god, he looked like some sort of, well, god! Maybe she was just being a stupid, over protected teenager. Which was kind of funny. Girls her age already had a job, knew how to drive and went on dates regularly. That's what seventeen year olds did, right? And soon she would be eighteen. Legal. Just a couple of days. Licking her lips, she pressed her forehead against the cool window pane.

What kind of girls did he find attractive? Maybe he preferred men. He certainly was pretty enough and Aine wasn't stupid. Just ignorant. Raking her fingers across the cool glass, she flung herself away. This wasn't puppy love or genuine love. He just represented everything she wanted. Freedom, knowledge and beauty. The ability to go anywhere and do anything. In her mind, she always pictured him as a model or something fascinating. If only she knew... could she know?

She could. Aine just needed the courage to approach him. Just once. Maybe a hi or hello? It was about time for him to leave and the mailbox for the entire complex was just a short walk away. They could bump into each other. She could look at him in person for the first time. She could, she really could! Just... courage.

Biting her plump bottom lip, she dashed off into her room and checked herself in the mirror. Blonde and blue eyed. She was her mother's perfect little girl. Natural hair that had been cut short above her shoulders for summer and wide blue eyes that competed with the seasonal skies. So bright, so beautiful. That's what her mother thought. She felt plain, personally. Tugging on a pink shirt and white shorts, she rushed down the stairs while pulling a brush through her hair and slipped on a pair of sandals. Even her mother picked out her own clothing. Everything was planned in her life. Except for him. He was her secret little fantasy, her guilty pleasure. And she was going to look into those eyes.

Even if it was just for a moment.

"I'm going out, mom!", she shouted before hitting the door. The family dog, really her dog, following close at heel. If she was excited, the dog became excited.

"Where are you going?" An older woman came out of the living room to watch her with narrowed eyes.

"Just to get... ah, stop it, Dakota!" The white husky mix suddenly latched onto her leg and started humping air. That always embarrassed her. When Koti became over excited, she did things like that. She batted the animal away while reaching for the door knob. Her leg, just one, already started showing those red scratches from her dog's claws. Not bleeding. Just irritated. "Just going to get the mail, that's all. We have Netflix coming in, right? Right! So, I'll be right back."

Finally out the door! She stopped. Damn. Biting her lip again, she knocked on her own front door and waited for it to open. That was when her mother cracked it just far enough to thrust the mailbox keys out. In the background, she could hear Dakota terrorizing one of the cats. If it couldn't play with humans then she started nipping and grooming the other animals. One cat liked it... the other, an old male, not so much.

"Forgot the key, yeah. Thanks, mom."

With the key palmed into her hand, she turned to leave. Freedom! It was almost time. Almost... she stopped on the side walk. Gotta be cool. People are friendly here. They always say hello or hi and wave. No big deal. Just... she stopped just in front of his place, her lips parted as those bright blue eyes sought him and his car.

 

[gray]

It was almost time to be heading out.

Sprawled out on his couch, a book in hand, the owner of the loft-like condo glanced over at the large clock over the door frame. Giving a light smile, Morgan slid off the couch, moving a with a sort of sliding grace that only served to further the impression people sometimes took that he was a girl. Not that he really minded though, and sometimes he even purposely led people to think that, finding it fun every now and then.

Dropping the book onto the couch, he moved towards the door, hardly moving a sound on the wooden floor of the entryway. Truthfully, he was a rather feminine one, long dark red hair, cut to around the shoulders everywhere save for the back, where he let it small down to the small of his back. Dark deep hazel eyes peered out from that thrush of dark hair, one having an almost blue tint to it that always served to fascinate under close inspection. Even his frame was slight, lean muscles built around a delicate looking frame. Had he been anyone other than who he was, Morgan might have been seen as a weak sort of person, feeble. However, even as a child, he'd known how to carry himself, walking as an easy and relaxed gait, head held in just the right position, and his reputation didn't hurt either. It was part of the charm that many said he held, a graceful sort of strength. Still though, he didn't think to much about those things, never really having a taste for trying to act greater then others.

Checking himself before he opened the door, he had to smile, slipping a tighter fitting white button up over his white t-shirt, dark blue jeans completing his attire for the day. Letting his gaze fall out the window before he left, he took a moment to simply wonder how he had been so lucky as to manage this lifestyle. During the day, Morgan had possibly, in his mind at least, one of the best jobs in the world. Having traveled quite a lot before settling in here in his condo, he's held a vast number of jobs. Photography, writing for papers, even a brief stint in a modeling agency. During that time, he'd racked up a fair bit of interest, becoming a sort of micro-celebrity on the small scale. Now, he enjoyed running business he'd coined. Quite simply, he was a universal adviser, weather it be photography, writing, event planning even some modeling agencies had recruited him, Morgan job was simply passion on what he knew, using his small underground celebrity to make connections for people, networking. It was a bit more complicated then that, but it was interesting, and he liked doing it.

However, he also liked doing his second, more secret job, where he was headed tonight, as per usual. Leaving and locking his door behind him, he descended the stairs, exiting and taking a brief moment to stretch his arms, taking in the warm sunlight of the evening summer.

 

[Kittenn]

There he was! Aine's first instinct was to hide behind a row of hedges and just watch as he moved in that graceful gait across the lawn to the car. He could have been prince charming for all she cared. In fact, she had spent many days and nights envisioning him in different roles. The prince, the rogue and the... well, the lover. Something about his animal grace caught her attention. She almost wished someone like him might notice someone like her, but she knew that wasn't possible. He was far too unearthly to bother himself with a simple girl. Still, she had to try! Walking out into the evening light, she stopped for a moment. Should she advance and wave to him? It would be quick a random action. No one thought anything of it, right? Why was she putting so much thought into this!

With a small laugh, she started forward until...

Aine's ill worn sandal caught an uneven edge of the side walk and suddenly she was free falling into the pavement. Face first. Shrieking, she braced herself and ended up on her hands and knees. Not the best of first impressions she wanted to make. In fact, the string of slurs that spilled from her full, pouty lips were anything, but innocent for a girl like herself. They were enough to burn the ears of any saint. Whimpering, she rolled onto her bottom to check her knees which were both skinned and her palms which were rubbed raw from her tumble.

Tears prickled at the corner of her eyes, but Aine refused to cry in front of him. She didn't want to be remembered as a cry baby. Was her worship of him so deep that she could actually stop the flow of her tears? Probably not, but she manage to whimper rather then whine and hold her knee while blood welled around the ragged areas.

"Stupid, stupid...", she taunted herself. "Should have worn my sneakers instead. Ah god. Ow..."

She blinked and started picking a piece of rock or glass from the torn flesh. "Ow, ow, ow..."

 

[gray]

Given the small fame Morgan had drummed up over the years, he'd had his share of interest from various groups. And, as seems happened to most people who had ever been involved in modeling, he'd once been privy to his vary own stalker. This girl however, was no stalker, or at least, thats what he believed.

It had been about a month or two ago, at about this same time, when he'd had the odd sensation of being observed. Not about to let own his suspicion, he'd taken an extra careful look through his rear view mirror, in loo of pretending to straighten out his hair. By chance he'd seen her. Looking through what he assumed was her bedroom window. Since then he'd noticed she kept the rather vigilant watch over him, and had come to accept, even appreciate her presence. And he'd waited, patiently, never letting her know he knew of her, much more interested in seeing what she would do on her own. Therefore, when Morgan saw her approaching the sidewalk, he felt as though he were finally having his long expected encounter.

The fall however, was unexpected.

For a moment, he simply stood, dark eyes watching her as she rolled to her bottom. Only for an instant though, a momentary break in his steady step. Then he was moving again, not any faster or slower then before. Reaching where she sat, he took a moment to stand there, expression mostly blank, though his 'blank' expression always seemed to have the faintest hint of a curious smile to it. Finally, tilting his head, he spoke, revealing that even his voice was a bit feminine, smooth and light, seeming all one tone. "It's rather a shame. You have very pretty legs."

Letting the corners of his mouth move ever so slightly upward in a welcoming smile, he knelt down next to her, reaching out a hand and resting it on the skin above her skinned knee, leaning in closer and tilting his head, examining the wounds. Biting his lip, he gave out a light breath and spoke again, looking at her other knee as he did. "Try not to move them to much, you skinned it fairly thin, and bending it might break whats left." Pausing, he look up finally, meeting her gaze, dark eyes almost seeming to smolder, a trait they took on when a particularly interesting idea came to him.

"Would you like to come inside? It was my sidewalk you tripped on so the least I can do is offer to fix you up." Smiling a little wider, he paused, and then added. "I'll carry you, keep you from having to move your knees?" As cruel as it might have sounded, he was almost glad she'd fallen. For there couldn't possibly have been a more interesting way to meet then with that little bit of temptation.

 

[Kittenn]

It took more then just a moment to register the words spoken to her or even that shadow falling across the pavement. So surreal could reality get as she slowly peered up at the object of her fascination. That beautiful figure which could pass for male or female depending on his mood was commenting on her legs. A new wave of shame stole Aine's breath away even as he started scooping her from the sidewalk and took her away. And they lived happily ever after, her mind supplied.

No, wait, back up!

Shaking her head, she sat there for a second while he examined her knee and comment on how it was barely skinned. At least, that's how she translated it when he spoke calmly to her. His fingers lightly ghosting across the little tears and causing her to whimper in feigned pain. so close to stinging. It would start to sharply ache one he got her moving, but wait! He was soon offering to bandage her knee at his place. This must be another one of her famous daydreams. No way would her neighbor even take the time out of his schedule to look after a bumbling fool like herself. Would he? The low throbbing pain in her knees told her that this was quite real. Which meant that the entire time he had been speaking... Aine just started up at him in silent surprise. Her wide green eyes blinking fast, her lips parting and closing as though she wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. Maybe he had that effect on a lot of people. He certain did on her.

I, I don't know, she felt the instinct to say. Her mom would definitely not like her spending time in a stranger's house. Even if that person lived next door to them. Still, she couldn't stop the rush of words that came next.

"Yes, please", she said all too quickly. Blushing, she lowered her eyes and gave a nervous laugh. "I mean... if it's alright. I don't know if I should move them or not. And I might get an infection. Or, uhm... something."

 

[gray]

The whole time the girl was looking at him, Morgan just looked right back, holding a sort of half amused smile on his face the entire time.Waiting patiently for her to speak, he realized he should probably phone in about work today, smiling as he realized that this would perhaps be a bit more interesting then simply his usual schedule.

Finally, listening to her words as she spoke, he had to admit to himself that he liked her voice, so shy and innocent, the antithesis of what he was not, and rather intriguing. Letting his smile grow ever so noticeably at her words he merely gave a casual nod, suppressing a larger grin as he let one arm move beneath her bent knees, the other winding around her back. "Well, we'd better get you inside then, no?" His words in a relaxed tone as though the world moved through time at his pace rather then the other way around. Flexing his arms to keep his hold on her, he slowly stood, lifting her from the ground as he came to a full stand, his soft skin against hers. Truthfully, there wasn't much merit behind him carrying her other then to reduce the pain, yet he'd done it anyway, enjoying the girls flustered response. She'd watched him for so long now, it was Morgans turn to watch her, albeit from a much closer distance.

Sauntering slowly up the stairs and into his loft-like condo, he brought her promptly to the sofa, laying her down with her legs over the cushioned armrest, keeping them bent as he back away. "Right back." He commented as he left briefly for the bathroom, returning half a minute later with a small tin box.

"Well then... lets see what we can do for you hm?" Noticing as well that her hands were scratched, he noted to check that as well. For all the amusement he may be drawing from this, he was still genuinely concerned, sorry they'd had to meet under such.. painful circumstances, for her at least. Therefore, taking a seat on the edge of the couch, he went to work examining her knee's a bit closer, hands rest on her legs lightly as he bent down close, taking a moment to gently pull any remaining pieces of glass and debris from the wound. "So tell me.. It's not often I have a guest whose name I don't know.. Who are you then?"

 

[gray]

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