"I still believe in your eyes

I just don't care what

You have done in your life

Baby I'll always be here by your side

Don't leave me waiting too long

Please come by

I still believe in your eyes;

There is no choice,

I belong to your life"

-Gigi D'agostino


Charles had picked her up at ten, not a minute later, just as she had told him to.

He had been waiting for her in a very expensive sports car, which immediately annoyed her, for she had hoped for a walk, nothing else. But how could have she refused, when he had offered to drive her home so she could change?

It was true, that her working clothes were sweaty and wrinkled, and she desperately needed to at least wash her face and neck as well as change to something more comfortable - or prettier.

And so now she was standing in front of the mirror in her bedroom, painfully aware of the fact that she had agreed to go on a date with a very handsome man, and she had absolutely nothing to wear.

When did this kind of problems enter my world? she thought annoyed, staring unhappily on the mirror. Why cannot I have anything appropriate to wear for a first date, that's also going to be the last date?

She had undressed to her underwear, and the mirror was ruthless. It was one thing to be thin, but another thing to look like a 14-year-old boy. Her ribs were visible through her pale skin, she barely had breasts at all, and even if her waist was small compared to her hips, she felt about as curvy as a schoolboy.

Why do I even care? The thought flashed her mind. It should be all the same to me how I look. It's not like anyone's ever going to see me naked.

She shrugged the thought off, and chose a simple sleeveless dress, light blue, with a hem down to her knees. After checking the mirror, she added a belt to her waist to make it visible. You have to work with what you've got, had Mama taught her. If you don't have any curves, invent them. The memory stung like a dagger, and she quickly buried it. It wasn't like she had time to dwell in self pity right now. She had a heart to break, waiting for her in the car, right outside her home.

She let her hair fall free to her shoulders and back, put on a pair of big, wooden earrings, stepped on a pair of high sandalettes and grabbed her purse.

Let's get this over and done with, she thought to herself, walking back to the car.

She took a deep breath to calm herself as she felt Charles' feelings moving in the air as he watched her approaching.

There was curiosity there, and happiness, a little anxiety, some admiration (for what, she wandered), and of course the obvious, sexual tension that was almost like little electric shocks in the air.

I wonder if he even knows he's such a strong sender, Alice thought. His feelings were so easy to read, it was like they were spelled out loud. But his thoughts, they were more concealed. Good, she thought. I want to know as little as possible about him. It's not like this is going to lead anywhere.

- You look beautiful, Charles said

- Thank you. But let's get to the point will we?

He seemed confused. It must be annoying for him that he couldn't read her mind, she thought.

- There is a point to us being here? We are on a date, Alice.

- I would not call this a date.

- Then what would you call this? Two people dressed in their best, driving in the car on beautiful summer night, looking absolutely gorgeous.

He had started the car and took off, so probably they were not going to walk after all. She did not like it. It was more intimate like this, him sitting too close to her. So close, that she could feel the warmth of his body, the aroma of his aftershave in the air. And his emotions, they surrounded her like small winds, making it hard for her to stay calm.

- You are avoiding the subject, she noted, not looking at him.

- That is the unfortunate consequence of me not knowing what the subject is.

- The fact that you have been 'courting' me for a month now, or so you call it. I would call it stalking. So, here I am now. Ask me. Ask me what do you want to know. The type of my mutation? Am I dangerous to humans? Should I be trained to control my powers? Am I a terrosrist?

- Alice, stop, he said sharply, almost annoyed. - Just, don't. Those are not the things I want to know.

- Then why do I feel this way? she pleaded, looking sideways at him.

His beautiful, soft lips were pressed tightly together, and a sudden need to touch those lips filled her from head to toe. She had to look away to get over it.

- Why do I feel this… this intense curiosity coming from you? This urge to get into my head? Why do you keep trying to read my mind? Just tell me, what is it that you want to know.

- I simply want to get to know you, he said, silently, looking at her so intensely she had to look up and meet his gaze.

- Why would you want that?

- Because I like you, Alice, though you have not made it easy for me, he said. - I like you, and I just can't get you out of my head.

- But I have been nothing but rude to you, Charles. I have done everything I can to make you not to like me. I have told you a dozen times never to come back. I called you names! How can you say that you like me?

He made a small laugh and looked at her under his brows.

- Perhaps I just like the chase?

- Or maybe you just aren't that bright.

Her remark made him burst to laughter, so that his white, almost canine like teeth showed. The husky sound of his laughter made her shiver deep inside.

- I have doctorates in genetics, biophysics, psychology and anthropology, and a dozen published books, and you are telling me that I am not smart enough for you?

- You must not get that much, do you, she mused. But to be serious, Charles. I'm telling you it would've been wise for you to not take any notice of me.

She looked down, to her hands that were resting on her lap. They were visibly shaking. She was nervous, no she was scared, more than she remembered being in a very long time. Charles must have caught a glimpse of her thoughts, for he became serious again, and the tone of his voice was the one you use, when trying to sooth down a scared child or a bird that has flown inside the house.

- Let's just talk, no hidden agendas, no dark fears. Let's just drive around and chat for a while, that's all I'm asking. Like two ordinary people on a date, on a beautiful summer night.

She nodded, still not looking at him. The night outside was dark and warm, the wind moved her hair and felt nice on her sweaty skin. She looked up to see the stars, but the lights of the city made them almost disappear - a thing she hated the most.

- I don't know what ordinary people talk about, Charles. I have forgotten.

- About books, or movies. Or what did you do yesterday, or where did you grow up. What things you like, or dislike. How your day was at work. What do you like to do when you're not working.

She gulped. She should've just told him to take her home, right now. There was no way she could lead him on any more, to start chatting with him like it was no big deal. But he was so nice. He was so easy to be with, like a person who is totally comfortable with who he is and knows where he comes from. He was so polite, his manners so elegant and upper class, that it was obvious he came from a background of money and power, which made her feel safe, almost cozy. It also made her miss home so much it ached.

She looked into his eyes, and even in the darkness of night they were blue, blue like the sky on a sunniest of days, and she wanted to tell him everything.

- I like to read, she almost whispered. I read a lot, actually. That's pretty much all I do outside of work.

- So do I, you see - we have something in common.

We have a lot more in common, than that, Charles, she thought, but out loud she said,

- So what is your favorite book?

- The once and Future King, I suppose. And yours?

- There are so many… Sense and sensibility by Austen, Shakespeare's Othello, Anna Karenina of Tolstoy.

- Not any light readings.

- I read all kinds of books, but you asked for my favorites.

- I did, he said and smiled to her, and she felt his smile like a tingling in her nervous system. - So, Othello?

- Because of the characters. And I love the way he describes the feelings of jealousy and betrayal.

- As do I. But don't you think Shakespeare had a bit too grim vision about human nature?

- Not at all! Haven't you read his other plays?

- I have actually, all of them.

And without noticing, Alice was swept into the conversation. All she had to do, was let go. To let go of her fear, of her suspicion, of her habit to not let anyone near. And it was so easy that she couldn't believe it. Within a few minutes he had made her put down her guard she had kept on for more than ten years.

They kept talking about books, and of movies too. She confessed to him, that she didn't like going to movies, because "It is too noisy there", and he immediately understood that she didn't mean the sound system. And he told her about his favourite movies, his favourite restaurants and all other small, seemingly small and unimportant issues, that made her relax, even smile and laugh.

Charles drove the car to a small hill outside the city, where the air was clear and they could almost see the stars, and stopped there. It was almost midnight by then. They had been talking for two hours, and not any of the questions she had feared had been opened.

- It's such a beautiful night, she whispered.

- You are beautiful, Charles answered.

She turned to look at him. His eyes were bluest of the blues, and they were full of yearning, and she felt the tension in the air. The wind moved his hair, and she wanted so bad to run her fingers through it, to pull him near and kiss those beautiful lips. She had never wanted to kiss anyone this bad, and she had to bite her lip to stop herself from doing it.

- Alice, he whispered, and his voice was slightly out of breath.

It was a little husky, and it felt like he was already touching her, like she could feel his voice moving on her skin, his thoughts wrapping around her.

She knew she should stop it right there and right now, but unable to do so, she watched as he raised his hand, carefully, to gently place it on her cheek.

- No, Charles! the command left her lips and her mind like a shriek.

His hand stopped midair, as if it there was a invisible glass shield protecting her.

- Do not touch me! You never should try to touch me!

And suddenly all the peace, all the happiness she had felt, was gone. She was back at the darkest of dark places, and there was no way out.

Charles look at her, silently for a while, and slowly let his hand fall back to his lap.

- Why can't I touch you, Alice?

- Nobody can.

She hid her face in shame, looking down, tears burning in her eyes.

- What happens if someone does touch you?

- They get hurt, she whispered.

- How?

She really didn't want to talk about it, but his question was fair. She had lead him on, and now she had to tell him, but it was so difficult. The words stuck in her dry throat.

- If someone just bumps onto me, like passing me on the street, nothing serious, she managed to start. They get a bit nauseous, get a migraine or they might get dizzy. And if they touch me a bit longer, like say shaking a hand or something like that, they might faint.

- And if they touch you a bit longer than that?

She looked up to his eyes. There was no judgement there, no fear.

- Someone got hurt once, she said silently. I don't want to talk about it.

- All right, he said. You don't have to.

- I am sorry Charles, she said, tears suddenly filling her eyes.

- Do not be sorry, he said and looked deep into her. - Your touch will not hurt me.

- How can you say that?

- You are a telepath, no? And an empath. It might well be as you say, that you cannot touch humans. But I am not a human, Alice. I am like you. We are the same. I am sure, that your touch will not hurt me.

- You don't know what you're talking about.

- Trust me.

He raised his hand, palm up, waiting for her to place her hand on his. Something like an anger, a rage long bottled up, woke up inside of her. Alice looked back at him, a storm in her voice.

- How could I trust you on this one? You do not understand! You are out of your mind to think that it could be safe! You would not try to caress a cobra, would you? Nobody wants to touch me! People keep their distance on instinct, they are that much smarter than you are! I am that cobra, and people know better than try to come near me.

He didn't look startled that she had raised her voice. He still looked at her, stern and severe, a gentle promise in his eyes. His hand was waiting for hers.

- I'm not other people, Alice. I know there'll be no harm. I feel it and I know you can feel it too. Trust me. My mind is strong enough to meet yours.

She was silent for a few heartbeats, just staring at him. He was crazy! How come he wasn't afraid? And that stupid, ignorant bravery made her heart pump a little faster, and a forgotten, long lost hope rose in her soul.

Charles was still waiting for her hand, just looking deep into her eye, and everything about him said: "It's alright, Alice. It is safe. Nothing bad will happen when I am with you."

She shivered as an almost violent mix of fear and hope shook her body. She bit her lip and pressed her hands tightly to her lap, her knuckles gone white.

- Just give me your hand, Alice.

And she obeyed his command. A giant leap of faith, she raised her hand and placed it on Charles', palm against his palm.

Their minds met instantly. She yelped as his thoughts surrounded hers, and then she was falling, falling so fast in an abyss, his hand still in hers, their minds together as they were one.

And then the bubble burst in a flash of golden light and spit them out of the tunnel onto a strange silent field. The light surrounded them from all directions and they were standing on a wide field of green grass and flowers, unlike nothing she had seen before. A gentle warm wind moved around them, made their hair fly in the air. Or was it only movement of their thoughts, she could not say.

For their minds were together, as if two halves had been made whole again. His thoughts were hers as hers were his. She felt all he felt, and likewise.

- Alice, what is this place?

Charles spoke, but she heard his sentence before it even left his lips. She laughed, just because she could, because everything was amazing and beautiful and because she felt his laughter bubbling inside of her mind.

- This is my mind! Or is it yours, Charles?

- It's both, he said. Both of ours.

- Yes! She laughed again, still holding his hand, for they knew that it was the fact that kept this place together.

- I am not hurt, Charles almost shouted. You see? I am alright. And I am walking, Alice, walking!

- Yes, you are, she smiled like a madman.

His happiness filled her mind so that tears came to her eyes, and suddenly she felt the overcoming joy, of him being able to stand up, to meet her eyes on his feet, to be able to take her hand and walk with her. His fingers softly brushed hers, his palm was warm on hers and she felt the tingling, like electric current on her skin where they touched.

And then, just like that he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

His soft, dry lips pressed carefully onto hers, his breath tasted like mint and it was so warm, so sweet, that her mouth watered. It was like a spark was lit inside of her, and his kiss breath air into it. And before she knew how, she was burning, from this weird desire, a passion that pulsed in her veins as Charles moaned and pulled her even closer.

Alice felt her knees go weak. She had not been kissed like this, well not ever, and she hadn't even realized how much she had longed for it.

His hands moved to her face, to her hair and then down to her shoulders. She sighed as she felt his fingers caressing her bare skin, and then under the straps of her dress.

Charles' lips were hard on hers now, demanding. Alice moved her shaking hands to his chest, but felt only bare skin under her fingers. The fabric of his shirt was disappearing under her touch, like it was body paint under a waterfall.

She inhaled sharply - she had almost forgotten this was their mind place. Their thoughts and desires came to life here.

The thought shook her.

Did she really want this?

But his mouth was so sweet, so gentle and so rough. And she longed to press herself against his bare chest, to arch her back and open herself to his kiss. As he was now undressing her shoulders with his mind, she felt the agonizing need to continue. Gently he swept his fingers down by the straps of her dress, and they vanished. She gasped as his fingers teasingly moved down, washed away the soft fabric of her sky blue dress.

- Oh, Alice, he moaned into the kiss, and Alice felt her body responding, like it was hot, molten lava.

Suddenly she felt nervous.

This was going too fast.

- Charles, wait. She managed to breath into the kiss.

Reluctantly he stepped back and withdrew himself from the kiss. His hands moved to her shoulders.

- I'm sorry, I can't, she whispered, and stepped back, out of his reach.

Their mental contact disconnected instantly, and she was wiped back to the abyss, falling, falling and this time with no one to hold on to. She screamed, and the shriek died only after she realized she was sitting on Charles' car again. Her dress was back on, and the car's clock showed exactly 1 minute more than it had the last time she had checked it.

How was it possible that almost no time had passed?

Alice looked at Charles, her heart still beating like the wings of a hummingbird.

Charles was breathing heavily. He looked at her with dark eyes, full of longing.

- I'm sorry, Alice, he breathed. I was moving on too fast.

- Don't be sorry. I wanted it too. I just… It's been so long…

- Shh, it's alright. He raised his hand as if trying to touch her again, but let it fall back down. You don't have to explain.

- It's just… It has been ten years since someone touched me last time. Ten years, five months and fifteen days exactly.

- And someone got hurt.

- Yes.

The memory was still so painful, it stinged her soul and brought bitter taste to her mouth. She had to look away. A silence lasted a few heartbeats before he said,

- Tell me what happened, Alice.

- Some other time, maybe, she tried to smile. - I am feeling very tired now. It's been a long day. Would you take me home, please?

- Of course.

They drove back to her place in silence. She felt tired, more so than in a long time. Charles seemed unaffected by their contact, but Alice felt drained, exhausted. Or perhaps it wasn't their contact that had took her strength. Perhaps it was simply the fact that she had been on a date. That had not happened in ten years either, and she hadn't remembered how it felt to talk so much about herself.

Charles parked the car in front of her home, and stopped the engine.

- Are you alright, Alice? I am truly sorry if I was inappropriate.

He looked concerned and Alice felt his mixed feelings in the air. Worry (for her, obviously), sexual yearning, some sweet, deep happiness, but also anxiety.

- It's not that, really. I'm fine. It's just been a long day and I need a good night's sleep.

She opened the door to step out, but Charles reached for her, almost taking her hand again. Alice stopped to look back at him. His narrow lips looked like they wanted to be kissed, and she hoped to God she could do it, but there was no strength in her left for another trip to their mind place. She breathed out a sigh, brought her face closer to his to taste the air he was breathing. She could feel the heat radiating from him, hear the sound of his beating heart, and the desire to touch him was like lava inside of her abdomen.

- I have to go, she whispered reluctantly. - I really do.

He was sending very clearly now, a desire to come up to her apartment. He was too polite to say it out loud, but she picked it up anyways.

- Charles. You cannot come up with me. Alice opened the door again, and this time she really stepped out of the car. Firstly, because it's our first date and I am not that kind of a girl. And secondly, I live on the fourth floor.

- And there is no lift, he added, breaking their eye contact. - First date? That means' there will be a second one?

She smiled, a small shy smile, and his eyes light up.

- Thank you Charles, she said after a short silence. For the nice evening.

- It was my pleasure, Alice, he smiled, and her heart skipped a beat. I will call you. Will you please this time answer my call?

- I promise, she smiled. For how could she not?