Title: Incompleteness Chp. 3: Waiting
Author: Augustana Rae
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own them nor am I making any moolah.
AN: Sorry it took me so dang long. I'm working on more! Feedback is always appreciated! J
Watching the embarrassment steal across his face I could only imagine what he was dreaming about. Part of me hoped it was about me and then that was violently thrown out as I refused to think of the implications of that. The silence hung awkwardly for a minute and then I pulled myself together enough to mumble something incoherent and slam the adjoining door.
I sat on my bed trying to ignore my jumping nerves and the fact that my blood was pulsing through me. I shut my eyes and tried to squeeze out the stimulating picture of him running a hand over his stubble, sweat pronounced on his brow, and the shock on his face as he pulled the sheets closer. It didn't work very well. Maybe this was going to be harder than I thought.
Finally, I calmed down enough to breathe correctly again and began to laugh at myself. What had I done? A boy in his boxers could unnerve me? I really was getting soft. I thought again of the moment when his eyes flashed into mine and the laughter died in my throat. I swallowed with difficulty and got up, somberly straightening the room. I really had to get a hold of myself.
Presentley, I heard a knock on the door and mentally braced myself. Logan looked sublime as usual and I felt that odd feeling flash through me again as our eyes met.
"I thought the party wasn't till later," I remarked offhandedly, poking fun at his dressy attire and trying to avoid the scene from earlier.
He made a face at me. "What, you're not going like that?" He waved at my clothes: black leggings and a t-shirt.
"You don't like?" I tried to pull off a puppy dog look, but the look that crept into his eyes immediately stopped me. I couldn't quite discern what was there but it was more than a little unnerving. I turned around quickly to grab my bag and then strode purposefully toward the door.
"Shall we?" I said, tilting my head. He smiled briefly at me and we left. As I shut the door behind him I breathed in deeply, trying to calm myself. I hoped I knew what I was doing.
* * * *
After an unfruitful day looking for Logan's contact, we finally retreated to the hotel to get ready for the party. I was bored and spending all day talking to snooty English people had been getting on my nerves. It was so annoying when people kept on asking if we're married. Did we look like we were married?
I threw the dress Logan had bought me unceremoniously on the bed and jumped in the shower. The hot water felt great and it was pleasant to be someplace where there weren't mice ripping into the walls or neighbors screaming. The water ran over me and when I closed my eyes it was Logan's hands. It felt comforting to be wrapped in the heat and his embrace. The water ran over my body and encompassed me, and I imagined him pressed against me, his hands- My eyes snapped open as I realized what I was doing. I blinked a couple more times and finished the shower quickly. I shook the pleasant picture out of my head. Must focus on the present.
Enormous anxiety hung over my head as I wrapped myself in a towel. Of course I'd been to that wedding with Logan before, but this was like I'd been asked on a second date. I'd never dressed up much before, and donning the designer dress I felt as if I was becoming someone else. Reality suspended for the time being and I allowed myself to be swept up into the little girl's fantasy of dress up. I applied much more makeup than I normally do, and I pushed my hair up, letting some of the curls fall down softly. Looking into the mirror I allowed myself a faint smile and I scarcely recognized myself. I was no longer a machine or a monster but a princess. Or at least a woman. I shook my head. I couldn't think like that.
I looked back up in the mirror and was caught off guard as I saw Logan wheeling up behind me looking striking in a tux. I grinned involuntarily and turned around.
"You clean up well." He only laughed.
"You do too." I returned his smile and felt genuine fear well up in me. It was like when things are going so good that you know you aren't in the real world. I turned around and began playing with my hair again. I felt the unmistakable urge to run but swallowed it down. I had to think of the mission.
Frustrated with my hair I finally left it down and went to put on my shoes. Logan smiled at me again as we walked out the door and the fear magnified by one hundred.
"Thanks for helping me out with this, Max."
"Sure." I had to put conscious effort into each footstep. I had a feeling it would be a long night.