"Well, here we are. Ready to fight a lake." Irma grinned as they stood, staring at the bulk of still water. What were they gonna do? Who made the first move? Was it going to punch them? Or did they have to punch it? This was ridiculous. Caleb had just sent them on a goose chase so that he could make out with Will for six hours.

It had taken them two and a half just to find the stupid lake. "It looks pretty normal.. Throw a stone in."

"Nnn.. You throw a stone in!" Taranee made a face, and Irma rolled her eyes at her and the blonde, who was obviously too dainty to throw a stone in. She trudged over to a pile of rocks, and picked up a hefty one before she dropped it, because Hay Lin - thank God someone wasn't afraid of either the water or the crabs in the water (bunch of sissies) - had already flown to investigate the water's surface.

"Hey," Irma looked up to Cornelia who smiled deviously, and she knew what was- Oh no.. Not with Tarane- "Do you think that Will and Caleb will-"

"No! No, I don't think that they will need our help, which is obviously what you were going to ask, right? Right?"

"Don't you think he's a bit.." Irma gaped at Taranee.. Please don't know. Please don't know. It was bad enough that she had told Cornelia, but the smart one? Taranee would probably tell everyone to talk it out! That Caleb and Will needed time, and space, and that both were equally able to make the necessary moves so we shouldn't butt in and- "Iffy? I mean, he's a bit too.. Secretive."

Taranee Cook. Gossiping? And calling Caleb iffy! Her friend Caleb! Irma Lair's friend Caleb! "He's fine! So what if he's secretive! He tells Will secrets!"

"WOW!" Irma's eyes nearly blew out of her head as Hay Lin screamed and the water seemed to.. Move? It was like when she manipulated it.. Without her manipulating it.. And it was chasing Hay Lin.. In the closest way to that in which water would chase someone..

"Water!"

Nothing happened. It ignored her completely. "See, that's why I drink bottled water!"

"No.. You listen to me.." Irma scowled, pulling up imaginary sleeves - her guardian ones being stuck tight against her too fitted to go up past her elbows anyway - and throwing her hands out in front of her. "WATER!"

...

He was.. He had fastened himself to her lips, and Will found herself stunned into stillness as his closeness to her became apparent. He was right next to her now, and pre- He was simply pressing her lips to his. Simple. She wasn't mad. Insane. He was just.. Kissing her. A peck that seemed glued in place; lasting far too long, though if he stopped she'd probably only wish he'd stayed there.. And she willed her eyes to close, though they didn't seem to listen; clearly wanting to keep an eye on him in case he disappeared, but.. He pulled back. Looked at her.. "C-Caleb.. Y-you.."

A strong blush crept over her cheeks, and he seemed just as uncomfortable as he shifted uneasily where he sat. Her lips tingled furiously, and she timidly brought a hand up to it.. Fingers reaching.. Don't touch. She dropped her hand, as the words seemed to echo around her conscience. Because she didn't want the tingling to go away, so instead pressed her hand onto the ground.. No..

"Oh.." She jerked it away from his hand as he seemed to do the same.. Just kiss me again. "Caleb.. Y-you.. You kinda.."

"I'm sorr-"

"Surprised me." She refused to wince away as his eyes shot to her own, and she wished he didn't look so ashamed of himself.. Bashful.. It was always so easy with Caleb.. Why today, did it have to be so incredibly awkward? She bit her lip and smiled playfully, hoping he wouldn't see through it.. "I hadn't been expecting you to jum-"

"Why are you afraid?" Will seized, where she sat, staring at his features and recognizing shame as more.. Concern.. He looked hurt. Scalded. Had she hurt him? Could he.. Could he feel what she felt..? No. That was her trick. She had felt his nerves and his anxiety when his lips had met hers; she would've felt it before that but she was..

"Caleb, I'm not afraid of you!" Will laughed uneasily, but swallowed as he stared at her.. Those eyes. He really did have eyes for staring. "You think I'm afraid of you? That's just-"

"Will.." Will felt suddenly hot.. Very warm, as in one movement he'd hooked his further hand to her further elbow, and she hadn't even caught the movement, but she had most definitely been pulled very close to him.. Very close.

He'd pulled her so that she doubted anything was keeping her from collapsing - half next to, half on top of him - other than that further hand holding her up by her hip.. When had that happened? He was so fast. She couldn't remember feeling his hand as it pulled her forward, and dug into her side.. All in one second. But it was hot. Very hot; what, with his breathing so heavily; pushing warm air over her face and her collar as she forced out her own.. Careful; stilted; wavering breath.. Silent, as far as she could tell. Not surprising: if he had startled her anymore, she'd have lost the ability to breathe entirely - she was certainly glad they were on the ground, because her knees would've buckled again. "C-Caleb.."

"Will.. Why are you afraid? ..Why were you afraid..?" He grinned at that. So he could feel her.. Warmth.. And he was making fun of no less; she pouted as he carefully put her down. "Tell me."

...

Through doors and windows, the Infinite City had more escape routes than Aketon had ever thought necessary. People had rumored Caleb only wanted to sneak up and kill them in the night; as if he wasn't good enough to do that without a burrow-hole.

Caleb would've been insulted by the ease.

But through windows and doors, hundreds upon hundreds: thousands of men carried weapons in silence.

...

"I'm not afraid. I wasn't." Caleb grinned as Will scowled. So she'd found out his secret - or maybe it was hers. It'd be her power, if he could feel what she felt. Maybe she did it by accident.. Pushed her feelings out.. She certainly hadn't wanted him to know, he could tell from the dark flush of her cheeks. "You have me wrong, Caleb. You have me all wrong."

"Okay.. If you say so.." Caleb smirked, and picked up his binoculars: he'd only stop himself, because she wanted him not to stop. His lips were aggressively throbbing, but he smirked, knowing. As much as he wanted it, she had wanted it more. "So.. It looks like two hours with a slight overlap right? About five minutes..?"

He grinned as she frowned at him. Still pouting. He wish she wouldn't pout. She was gorgeous when she looked sulky like this.. "Three."

Caleb raised his eyebrows at that. Wicked minx. She had been listening when he spoke to her. He was sure that she'd stopped listening when most of what he said was in Meridian.. And he didn't plan to tell her he'd been arguing with himself to kiss her.

She'd think he was crazy.