"Get those thoughts out of your damned head, Parker!" She tells herself, not realizing she was speaking out loud as she throws down his sweatshirt and dresses back into her tee-shirt.

"You said something, Parker?" Jarod yelled out from the living room.

"Nothing!" She hollered. "Thanks for your hospitality, but, gotta go!"

"Are you mad about something?"

"Why?"

"The sound in your voice. You can't leave now, look outside." Jarod pointed out to the window. It looked more like nine in the evening instead of six-thirty. Heavy raindrops began to fall which could be heard as it banged loudly onto the rooftop.

"Hey, don't worry about me, I can make it home. It's just up the hill," she answered cockily.

"What would I tell "daddy" if you caught pneumonia? So, Miss Parker, you have no choice but to be stuck here with me. Let's make the most of it, alright?"

She stood in the middle of his living room pondering on her decision.

Jarod let's out a sigh. "I won't bite, Parker. I'll be a gentleman. I'll behave. I promise I won't do anything irrational. I'll keep my hands to myself." He laughs. "I won't jump on you, if that's what you're thinking."

"Yeah, but, I might." Her voice in her head told her.

"Look, sit down, relax and I'll make us some hot chocolate, okay?"

She nodded and sat down tucking her feet under her.

Grabbing her mug, Miss Parker took a sip, closed her eyes and smiled.

"What are you smiling about?"

"It just reminded me of my mother. She used to make me hot chocolate on cold nights like this. Then she'd cuddle in bed with me." She opened her eyes and immediately lashed out at him.

"Don't get any ideas!"

"I didn't say a thing." Jarod took his cup and raised it to his lips all the while his eyes was focused on her. "You know me well, don't you, Parker?" He told himself.

"Okay, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."

"What line of work are you into this time?"

"I'm a college professor."

"So, my great pretender. What do you teach?"

"Anthropology. You know, the biological aspects of the human species from comparative and evolutionary perspectives."

"Uh-huh. You teach night classes?"

"No. Why? You need lessons?"

She laughs. "Then how come you're home every night at eight?"

"I stay back late grading papers. Miss Parker, are you one of those nosey neighbors looking out the window watching the going ons of the neighborhood?"

"Your bloody car makes a lot of noise when you come home, I can hear it all the way up to the hill."

"And you run to the window rushing to take a glimpse of me. Like waiting for the mailman all day. Has life gotten that boring for you?"

"You make my life boring. Run, run, run, chase, chase, chase."

"And look at us now. In the very same room and you weren't even looking for me. It must be fate, Miss Parker."

"Thought you had paperwork to do."

"Music? Look through my CDs and pick one." She sat back relaxing to the sound of her choice of song.

Jarod sat at his desk, shuffling through his papers getting ready for Monday's assignments, every now and then he'd look up at Miss Parker. She eventually stretched herself on his sofa and fell asleep.

He heard her whimper. "No." Looking up, Jarod watched her as she turned to her side. "No." Turning once more onto her back, he could hear her cries. "No!"

He dashed to her side and laid a gentle hand on her. "Parker?"

She quieted down and he returned to his paperwork. Jarod jumped when he heard her scream. "Noooooo!" There was terror in her voice, she laid in a fetal position crying.

"Parker. Wake up. Parker." She woke up to the sound of his soothing voice and the feel of his gently touch on her face.

She was panting as if someone had been chasing her. Hot swept ran down her forehead. Half awake she was not sure of her whereabouts until she saw Jarod's face a few inches away from her.

Miss Parker wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, that he felt like he was nearly being choked.

She spoke out of breath. "I-I thought you were dead. It felt so-so real. That bastard Lyle killed you. Thought you were dead!" She began to cry.

"Okay, okay." He embraced her tightly. "I'm here. Look, I'm here. You were just dreaming."

"I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

"It's okay. Nothing's going to happen to me." He held on to her, feeling the tremor in her body. Miss Parker laid her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around her kissing the top of her head. "Oh, Parker, it's alright."

She suddenly pulled away. "Sorry," she said softly, wiping her tears away. "Sorry."

"It's okay, Parker. It's okay." Jarod did not know what else to say.

"Just a stupid nightmare." Her voice quivered as she spoke.

"Yeah." Jarod ran his hair through his hair. "Parker, I..."

"I-I'd better go. The weather's clearing up."

"Yeah, you'd better go. (Before I lose control, he told himself.) Come on. I'll drive you up."

He stopped his car fronting her house. He opened his side of the door when she grabbed his hand, interlocking it with hers. "No need to. I can find my way to the front door."

He cleared his throat. "Okay," he whispered, but, she made no attempt to move and still hung on to his hand. Jarod squeezed it lightly. He turned his head and slowly moved his face towards her. Miss Parker quickly released his hand.

"Thanks for the ride, Jarod." Quickly, she ran into her house.

He waited until she turned on her lights before he left.

Her phone rang an hour later.

"Hello."

"No what, Miss Parker?"

There was silence on the other end of the line. "Parker?"

"Yes."

"I see you turned your phone back on. Just checking. You alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Although he could tell by the sound of her trembling voice that she was not.

"Well, I'd better let you rest now."

"Jarod?"

"What?"

"About earlier tonight, it-it was just a moment of weakness, what I said. That's all."

"You know, I don't even know what you were babbling about, since you were slobbering all over me." He tried to make light of what she had just said. "Goodnight, Parker." Jarod clicked her off without waiting for a response.

"Goodnight." She pressed her lips on her phone and closed her eyes. Tears rolled down her face. It was just a dream, but, it seemed so real. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him.