Dancing class lasted until the bell rang. The sounds of students grumbling at having to leave from the class was becoming a usual thing, now. Almost expected. They were having just too much fun. Especially with the salsa.
Logan waited for Ramira to finish packing her things up. Jose was helping two partners get their form right before they headed to dinner. The partners were Rogue and Bobby. Logan had noticed that the two had picked up the dance quite well. Almost as if they'd been dancing for years.
Ramira had danced with Logan only once, having been called away every other time he'd wanted to dance with her. She was right in his arms. As sappy as that may have sounded in his head, he knew it rang true. Of course, he'd never admit it in a million years. It was already embarrassing enough to have students know what he looked like when he danced.
Ramira finished packing up, motioned something to Jose, and hurried over to Logan with a bag slung across her chest. She had a coat in one hand and a small white board in the other. She lifted it up and showed Logan what it said. "Get your coat." She then tucked it under her arm and motioned with her hands. She pulled both of her fists toward her, pushed her hand palm out toward Logan, then used both of her fists to motion putting on a coat. Ramira pointed to the white board and then repeated the motions.
Logan nodded in understanding, then copied her, saying "Get your coat." Ramira shook her hands, fingertips up and palms open. Logan had learned that this was the sign of applause. He smiled and reached behind him on the table that had been pushed out of the 'dancing area', as it had been dubbed by the students. The moment he pulled his jacket on, Ramira grabbed his hand and raced out of the room.
Logan followed but, instead of heading toward the dining room, Ramira was taking him to the front doors. She pushed the door open and raced out, pulling Logan along with her. He stared at the car waiting in the drive way. A silver Mercedes Benz CLK. He whistled low at the sight. Ramira laughed at his expression.
He stared at her, then. Her laugh. It was familiar...and it was beautiful. Clear and combined of multiple musical notes. She motioned to the passenger door as she went around the other side. She slid behind the wheel as Logan opened the door and sank into the leather seat. He waited for a moment while Ramira searched her coat's pockets for the keys. After a few minutes, she raised her hips and searched her skirt pockets.
Logan's eyes traced the outline of her legs and abdomen. He instantly became hard with the explicit thoughts running through his head. Those thoughts came to an end when she pulled the keys out of her pocket, sat back down in the seat, and started the engine. She made a sign with her hands, but, before Logan could ask, she shifted the car into drive and zoomed out of the school's drive way, scattering stones and gravel everywhere.
Logan put a hand on the dash to steady himself as Ramira drove like hell. She took sharp turns, squealed tires, and just down right enjoyed herself, if her smile was anything to go on. She looked over at him and smiled. He'd put his hand down after the initial lurch, but was now smiling wide, flashing his teeth. She drove like him; crazy, wild, and loud. God, this woman was amazing.
Ramira finally slid to a halt and turned the engine off. Logan looked out the window and stared at the trees. They'd arrived in the forest, a couple of miles away from the school. Logan had come to run here sometimes. He looked over at Ramira, but she had gotten out of the car, coat, board, and bag in hand.
Logan opened the car door and climbed out, as well. Ramira wrote something on the board and tossed it to him. He caught it and saw her put her thumbs together, curl her last three fingers under her palms, and flex her pointer fingers. Confused, he looked at the board and the one word written there. "Run".
He looked up and saw Ramira's hair wave goodbye to him as she vanished into the brush. Logan slid the board under his jacket and ran after her. She darted through the trees. Her feet never missed a step as she jumped, dodged, and wove through the forest. She didn't make a sound. Logan chased after her, growing excited with each second that passed. He felt his animal side jump at the feel of the chase. She was good. But he was the best.
Logan drew closer to Ramira, the longer they ran. He was almost within grabbing distance; striking distance, if he pulled out his claws. Ramira looked over her shoulder. Logan expected to see shock or surprise. Instead, he saw a knowing smirk. It confused him a bit. What did she have to smirk about?
Suddenly, she winked and switched directions, going left. Logan extended his claws and dug them into a tree. Using his momentum, he launched himself toward Ramira, leaving deep claw marks in the bark. Ramira laughed after catching sight of him still on her tail. The playful laughter made Logan chuckle himself. It had been a while since he'd had this good of a chase.
Ramira waved her arm toward him and jumped through a wall of leaves, branches, and bramble, vanishing from his sight. Logan's heart paused for a moment in it's beating. He picked up speed and rushed the barricade. He jumped and used his claws to slash through the green. He landed on his feet and looked around, ready to fight as his instincts kicked into overdrive.
He was slightly winded at the sight before him. In a clear and brightly lit grove, Ramira sat on a spread out plaid flannel blanket. The skirt of her red dress was spread out around her, her legs tucked underneath the fabric. The spaghetti straps that Logan had come accustomed to seeing her in, fell off her shoulders, exposing her shoulders and neck far more than before. A few twigs were stuck in her messed up hair, along with a few leaves, but she didn't seem to mind that. Nor did she seem to mind the small scratches that lined her arms and her cheek from where she had burst through the brush.
Sitting next to her was a wicker picnic basket. Even from here, Logan could smell the medium rare steaks, beer, and mashed potatoes coming from the basket. His mouth began to water. Ramira smiled and waved him over. As he came close, she opened the basket and pulled out a bottle of beer. It was cold to the touch as Logan took it and sat beside her. He took a swallow and sighed.
When he looked over at her, she had pulled out the rest of the food and was working on a beer of her own. An electric lantern had been turned on and was sitting next to the blanket, bright enough to chase away the coming dark. Logan stared at her for a while as she fixed him a plate. The way she did it spoke of familiarity and comfort. As if she'd done this action a million times.
She caught him looking and signed. Logan didn't know what it meant. She signed again, but this time, he knew the motion. Board. She wanted the board. Logan opened his jacket and pulled it out, handing it to her. She unstrapped the marker and wrote something down. Logan looked at it. "What?" it read.
Logan looked back at her, staring into her yellow eyes. "I'm just thinking about how you knew I liked to run here, what I like to eat, and why you seem so familiar."
Ramira smiled softly. He loved her when she smiled. She seemed to brighten everything with that single action. He didn't understand why, though. It was just a smile. Nothing special about it. But something was nagging at him in the back of his mind. It's the thoughts and reasons behind the smile, the nagging feeling said. You know what it is.
Ramira took the board and began to write. Logan took the time to lean down on the blanket. He sipped his beer and watched as she subconsciously tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The black and white strands mingled together under her fingers. He wondered what it would feel like under his fingers. You know, the voice said.
Finally, Ramira turned to board to him. "I just know things. You seem like the kind of guy who would enjoy the same things I do." Logan chuckled and took another swig. "You are one interesting woman."
She smiled and cut off a piece of steak, popping it into her mouth. Logan started in on his own steak. He paused in his chewing as the flavors exploded in his mouth. He groaned and laid back on the blanket. "This is some damn good steak, darlin'." His eyes closed as he let the flavor settle on his tongue.
Ramira laughed. "I'm glad you think so, Logan."
Logan froze and opened his eyes. They darted to Ramira, who was happily sipping her beer. "Did you just hear something?" he asked.
Ramira swallowed her beverage. "No," she said, her musical voice filled with amusement. "But I did say something."