Bobby slipped out of the house early the next morning unnoticed. Mark was sitting at his computer playing an Internet game while Loor lay silently asleep in bed. Courtney hadn't come back yesterday evening, so Bobby assumed she was home.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Bobby asked himself, his feet carrying him to the park nearest to Mark's house.
"I have no idea," said a feminine voice from the grass by the sidewalk Bobby was walking on.
There sat Aja Killian, her legs crossed in front of her as she sat on the snow-covered grass. Her hair was full of curls held back by a white band, her outfit containing leather pants, high-heeled boots, and a tight purple shirt.
Bobby smiled slowly as a fresh patch of snow began to fall lightly on her hair.
"Have a seat," Aja said, patting the grass beside her with her black glove, "and tell me what exactly you've gotten into."
Bobby hesitated but eventually sat down beside the Traveler. As he looked at her awe struck she giggled slyly, her cheeks turning red due to the harsh temperatures.
"Well," Bobby began, "Here's what's going on. Courtney loves me. I've grown up. She hasn't. Courtney thinks I love Loor. Loor is trying to hit on me but I still see her as a fighting partner. I've had someone else on my mind for a long time now. I think I'm in love with her. And then there's the whole thing about how I'm afraid of failure. And I'm afraid of dying. And I'm afraid of…my love for this certain person…"
Aja got where Bobby was going. She was dumbstruck. There was no way to respond to such a statement… So she threw a handful of snow at his chest.
Bobby was not pleased.
"Aja, I'm being serious…" he said softly as Aja reached down and formed another snowball in her hand.
"Don't you dare," Bobby hissed.
"Or else what?" she taunted. But not waiting for an answer another snowball hit him in the shoulder.
Bobby tackled her.
He sat on top of her, forcefully forcing his fingers over her stomach, tickling her through her sweater. Aja laughed and giggled madly, squealing in surprise.
"S-S-S-STOP!" Aja shouted at him, forcing the words through her laugh.
"No," Bobby said continuing the torture.
"S-S-S-STOP!"
"I will…if you tell me you love me."
Aja stopped laughing.
"W-w-w-what?" she stuttered, forcing the word through her lips.
"Tell me you love me," Bobby demanded. Aja pulled herself out from under him, her body shaking in shock.
"I-I-I…" she couldn't say it. She wouldn't mean it.
"You what?" Bobby insisted.
"I can't," Aja whispered quietly.
"WHY NOT!" Bobby hissed harshly.
"I- I just can't," Aja whispered, a tear coming to her eye. She slowly turned around and walked away from him, proceeding down the sidewalk.
As she walked away Bobby heard a rustle behind him. As he turned around he saw Courtney watching him from a distance, tears streaming from her eyes.
