Chapter 3 A Thing Called A "Crush"

Arista Aconite

The night that I was caught by Loki was the first time in days that I was able to sleep. He must have put some kind of spell on me, to help me relax. What if he could do who knows what while I was asleep? I was caught between trust, and the edge of distrust. I had a small fluttering in my heart when he touched me, and I had very uncomfortable visions floating around in my head. I took it to be his doing, or just female hormones working over time. But I knew that it was neither of these. I think I may be having a crush on this guy.

When I woke up, I found myself lying in someone's arms that held me around the middle. I could feel a steady heartbeat that almost seemed to dance with my own. I knew one thing; I wasn't the least bit chilled. I opened my eyes, and turned so that I found Loki and I facing each other. He opened his eyes and smiled. I spoke first, and surprised even myself with my words.

"Thank you for holding me, I wanted someone to do that so bad," I said, and then pulled away gently.

"I wouldn't," Loki started, and then I shivered and sank back into his arms.

"I see. How did you? -" I started, but he interrupted me before I could finish.

"I just know. You looked so cold that not even my jacket did anything to dull the cold. You know, I don't understand why someone would hurt you, you are smart," He smiled, then continued, " sophisticated, and," He pulled me so close that his breath fell on my shoulders "and sexy."

My heart was pounding, but I managed to speak.

"I'm glad you noticed three of my defining qualities. But lets hope you will see more as you will see more of me, as a friend." I said, and pulled away. We rose, and then he stopped me a minute. Then he pulled my head to his, and our lips connected. He apparently had been awaiting this since he first stared at me, because he kissed me full and hard. I kissed him back, and quickly broke away the kiss before it went any farther.

"What exactly was that for?" I asked curiously.

"For existing, and for making me chase you." He said, and climbed into the driver's seat. He helped me into the seat beside him, and started the car. All the while, I stared at a lever that had "Lose'm for good" written on it.

"Loki, dearest, what is that for?" I asked. He looked down and then up at me.

" You can pull it back if you want your insides shaken like a milkshake," He said smiling.

"I can deal with that."

"Just don't pull it, ok?"

"Drat, now I am defiantly going to…"

"Don't."

"Still going to…"

"I'll trade you. If you don't pull that switch, I'll take you out to dinner…"

"Hmmm…Where?"

"How is Red Lobster?"

"I can deal with that…"

"And another kiss?"

"Two more if you wait, Loki. But dinner sounds delicious right now," I said. Then, there was a pleasant silence.

"Arista?"

"Yes?"

"I have a huge… Oh what do you call it when someone thinks that they're falling in love with a person?"

"A crush?"

"Yes. I have a crush on you."

"There is a big difference between a crush and real love. Often, people can have crushes that may lead to love between two people."

"I know… but I am falling for you…"

"Just please… watch the way you enter me into this thing. As I told you, I'm wary of the events of the past."

"Arista, trust me, I want to be around you, I want you to be near me. You are too good for me to hurt you, I love you too much."

That caught my interest. He loves me? How could that be, since we had formerly met less than three hours ago. I had to admit, he was very attractive, and from the tales of Norse mythology, a dark, funny person (funny as in "Ha! Ha!"). He was also kind of looked down upon in the family, as the "Bratty" little brother. He was clever too, and I couldn't imagine why he was still alone. Of course he was probably thinking the same thing about me. Then, I got the most wonderful idea, and then looked over at Loki. His right eye looked over to me.

"Yes?" He asked with another of his wonderful smiles.

"How would you like to stay at my house for a while?" I asked.

"Really, I'd love to. Why exactly?" he replied.

I let him take my hand, and said, " Because I'm going to trust you, and I have some things to show you. Plus I'd like to have a little fun."

He got a devilish grin on his face, and pulled the car over. Then, he reached over, and I gave him a long passionate kiss.

"There, I hope that suffices, I will go no farther than that, understand Mr. High-and-Mighty/Whoever-You-Are-Supposed-To-Be? I will take you no farther than a kiss, until I know you better. Is that understood?" I asked.

"Clear as the most sparkling crystal. But…" He started, and I cut him off.

"Odin, you're so argumentive! I have never met a woman as frisky and stubborn as you are," He said jokingly. Then, I took out a black silk bandana, and snickered. Loki glanced over at me, and asked, "What is that for?"

"Pull over, and we will find out, won't we? Of course, you might not trust the argumentive, stubborn, frisky woman…" I said looking abused. I toyed with the bandana a bit, while he clearly fought over the idea of whether to trust me with my bandana, or to keep things in his control.

"Ok, but please don't crush my car. I don't want to see it in the junkyard…" Loki said uneasily, and pulled over.

"You will see it in the junkyard when the mirror on the wall says that I am the fairest in all the land, which is highly unlikely. Plus I've been driving since I was 15." I replied smiling.

"How old are you now?" He asked.

"29 years old, as of October 31st ," I said smiling.

"Really? You don't look a bit over than 18…" He said scooting over to the navigator seat while I climbed over him into the driver's seat.

"Flatterer…" I said, pulling the makeshift blindfold over his eyes. He caught my hand a minute, and smiled.

"I am not a flatterer, only a speaker of the truth. You are beautiful despite what you say behind closed doors to yourself. You are also a very witty person, since you have managed to think of some clever comments to say to me." He snickered at me.

"Just hold on tight, ok? I need to get home fast so I can concentrate on something else, and I am really going to need to really kick it up a notch…" I said, and put my foot hard on the gas pedal. I smiled, thoroughly enjoying myself, when I watched him scream, as he really didn't really expect me to do that.

"YYYIIIIIIIPPPPPPEEEE! SLOW DOWN, ARISTA!" He screamed, holding on to the seat like he was in danger for his life. I laughed maniacally with his pain. 'Ah, such a sadist I am,' I thought to myself, and I pushed the gas with all the more force.