Chapter 4

Jim's POV

I can be a tough guy to impress sometimes, but most of the stuff she had here impressed me. I hadn't noticed the pictures on her wall before. They were pictures of the Harry Potter bad guys. Most of the things in this place gave me a hint that she was a loner. Another thing I hadn't noticed before was a silver tabby cat in the corner. It was the most beautiful cat I had seen. Next thing I knew it came over to us. It jumped up and sat next to Staci.

"This is Georgette," she tells me. I reached over and petted it and in response it sniffed me. "I think she likes you." I think she noticed me staring at her because she smiled. The cat then jumped off the couch. I turned back to look at Staci and moved a strand of brown hair out of her face and took off her glasses to get a better look at her eyes. There was something different in them that I didn't see when I kidnapped her the night before. She was very fragile. I then put the glasses back on her face.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"Wow, you are just full of questions aren't you, my dear?"

"I guess I'm just a really curious person."

"I wanted to get a closer look at your eyes. They're really pretty." We both stared at each other for a few minutes. Not saying anything before we got a little closer and before I knew it, we were kissing. Neither one of us knew what we were doing at that moment. I didn't feel like a criminal mastermind, but like a normal person. We pulled apart. We were both breathless.

"I think I just had my question answered," she said.

I would say yes, but I couldn't believe it. Jim Moriarty feeling like a normal person.

"So, can I ask you something else?"

I had to laugh at this point. "Alright."

"Why did you leave London, apart from wanting to meet me?"

"I wanted to experience some time of freedom away from my job and from chasing my archenemy and his pet. I mean, what does he see in Johnny? Even if they aren't a thing, can't he see that we belong together?" She lay her hand on my shoulder.

"I know what it is like to be rejected by someone you love, I've had it done to me lots of times."

"How have you survived all this time?"

"Because I can always find other things to pride myself on. Plus, I have a lot of help from country music. Oh course, that is just me."

I actually started to laugh and said, "so shall we continue to watch Scream again? If you're going to do a story."

"You're right," and we both sat back down.

"Listen, um, Staci?"

"Yes?"

"The kiss...maybe we should pretend like it didn't happen."

"Gotcha," and we went back to watching the movie.

"Well, this just feels awkward."

"What feels awkward?"

"I can't stop thinking about the kiss. I know...but it was my first kiss," she tells me.

"Oh, my gosh, now I just feel really stupid. I didn't know, I couldn't read that on you. I'm not supposed to miss anything." I put my hand over my forehead in frustration.

"It's ok, Jim, I forgive you."

"Well, I think maybe I should leave now, I will see you again tomorrow and we will begin the teaching." I start to head for the door.

But she then tells me, "Please, don't go. The movie isn't over yet."

"Oh, you can fill me in when I see you tomorrow."

"No, I mean, don't go yet because I'm scared," she said.

"Oh, alright, I can spare a lot of time," I tell her and sit back down.