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Though Ara knew she hadn't blinked, he was gone. That crazy feeling began to surface as she looked around a little too frantically, convinced he was going to just reappear. Had she hallucinated again? Then thinking to check her phone's text messages to confirm she had at least gotten that. But it was gone as well. So. What? Her hallucinations were supporting each other? Or was he just fucking with her? She felt her anger rise, the heat, as if her blood was boiling, move up through her face. She paused and took a deep breath feeling it simmer. No need to get angry if it was her own imagination.
She shoved the last bite of glorious muffin in her mouth, grabbed the bread for Jasper and threw her messenger bag over her head, shoving the phone in the front pocket. Stalking off down the sidewalk, walking straight through the space her Luca apparition had been standing.
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When Luca had seen the look on Ara's face the second he'd dropped his glamour, the panic was back. Within seconds, before he knew what was happening, his appearance had changed to a portly balding man. Quickly stepping in the line for the bakery, he'd clicked his phone awake and hit the 'rescind' button on the text screen. He watched the emotions play out on her face and in her reactions, feeling the sickness in his own stomach, the overwhelming anxiety - hoped she wouldn't figure out what happened. Catching glimpses of her thoughts: hallucinations vs. him being an asshole. Great. Neither of those were the case.
What had happened? He just now paused to think. It hadn't been a conscious change. The chameleon like reflexes were often triggered by strong emotion, but he'd learned to control that years ago. He'd Seen that she would be here. Knew the bakery from his walks - it was conveniently between his apartment and The Cafe. His mind was prepared, but his body rejected and acted on it's own, making him feel vulnerable and out of control.
She stalked by him and he felt the waves of confusion. He forced his mind back in control, turned and jogged several steps following her as he released the glamour, appearing again as Luca.
"Ara!"
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She heard her name, knew it was him and took another step or two before stopping. Her heart beating so fast and her emotions entirely uncontrolled. She took a deep breath feeling everything start to come back in to balance. Her initial reaction was to turn around, defensive and angry and spout off some clever remark. It made her think of the first time they met - her tiny indignity stomping her foot and stalking away. The thought made her smile. Amazing how childish behavior surfaces regardless of age. In the brief moments she stood there, he didn't say anything. So she walked a couple more steps, testing her sanity but also being a bit playful now. She knew he was there, could feel him radiating behind her, the attraction already building - like two magnets being pulled together regardless of what lay between them.
"Ara...?" he spoke more softly and with a slightly humored questioning tone.
"Yes God? It's me, Ara. You're coming through loud and clear." She had a tiny smirk on her face, glad her humor had taken over instead of turning around and yelling at him. She could feel him now, closer behind her, almost touching maybe or so it felt. She wanted to glance behind her and see how close he was, but also wanted to keep this up a bit more and see if he would play along.
"hmmmm... god now am I?" Luca whispered in her ear, she could feel the warmth of his breath and of his body standing behind her, his hands lightly on her arms.
"Oh hi Luca," she said casually, "I thought you were someone else" Her voice trying to play off her inner excitement while her body acted of it's own accord and she wrapped her arms around his neck, snuggling in her cheek, she could feel the strong pulse of his carotid artery. It felt like home. As much as she wanted to indulge though, she had to get to work. She released her arms and took a step back, relishing as his hand lingered.
"Well, considering you seem to be following me, I'm sure you know I'm headed to work. Do you want to walk with me, or do you have some other stalking to do?"
"Oh hush. You're the only one I'm stalking". He took the bread bag from her hand and wrapped his other arm around her shoulders as the started down the sidewalk together, like they did this every day.
She threaded her arm around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder, hoping he wouldn't look down and see the giant grin on her face. She was supposed to be mad at him wasn't she? They walked in silence for awhile. For Ara, just absorbing his energy, his closeness... and not really knowing what to say in the few minute trek to work. Not really the time for any discussion. Hi. How are you? What have you been up to the last 9 years. Quick, the 5 minute version, I have to go make sandwiches and serve coffee. The mental conversations were all jockeying to be winner, but she kept her mouth shut. He was no doubt trying to get a read on her. Well, let him. Maybe he could pick out something coherent in that chaos.
They were nearly at The Cafe now. "Do you want some coffee or tea or anything?"
"No, not now, I'll come surprise you later." He brushed the little strand of hair off to the side of her face.
Ara relished the romantic cheesiness of the gesture, the gaze of his amazing eyes were a little too much to handle right before work though. "Okay, well, I'll see you later then!" and she turned and went in to work. The quick getaway. Except he was standing outside with her bread. Classic! Back out the door and he held the bag out to her. "See... I told you I'd see you later," grabbed the bag and went back in again.
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til next time,
xoxo
