ι'м ησт qυιтє нυмαη, вυт ι'м ησт qυιтє α мα¢нιηє {Rue}

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron glanced his head slightly and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Do you... do you have to go home tonight?" he asked. "To Isaiah."

[assassinrue]

Valerie sighed heavily. "I ought to but I don't want to."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Maybe you should." Aron hated the way the words sounded--bitter--and he hated himself for wanting her to stay. It was selfish. "He'll be worried about you."

[assassinrue]

Valerie shrugged. "I feel like it's time he got a new dog anyway."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron frowned, his brow creasing. "You're going to leave him?" Because of me? he added in his head.

[assassinrue]

Valerie shrugged again. "I can't stay somebody's pet forever."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron searched her face, looking for a shred of remorse. She cleared cared about the old man; he had seen it in her eyes. Now she was acting so nonchalant, though, like it wasn't a big deal. "You can stay here, if you want," he said. "I'm not going to make you leave."

[assassinrue]

"I can stay?" She asked quietly, timidly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I just said that, didn't I?" Aron said, then hated how harsh it sounded.

[assassinrue]

Valerie flinched. "You don't have to get snappy about it. Tell me what you'd prefer that I do and stick with it."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I do want you to stay. I just..."

[assassinrue]

"You just what?" She said softly, reaching over to rest her hand on his thigh.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron let out a shuddering breath. "I don't really trust myself."

[assassinrue]

Valerie cocked her eye brow. "Not to touch me?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"That... among other things," Aron said uncomfortably. Even if she didn't sleep with him again, he wasn't sure he wouldn't be tempted to go to her and kiss her. All night. And then where would that lead? Bad places.

[assassinrue]

"A trial run wouldn't hurt." Valerie leaned back against the couch. "I stay here, you stay in your room."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"No. I'm not making you sleep on the couch," Aron said. "You take the bed. I'll sleep here."

[assassinrue]

Valerie rolled her eyes. "A night on a couch won't kill me."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron scowled and crossed his arms. "You're sleeping in the bed," he said adamantly. "Either that, or I'm going to kick you out on the street. Which would you prefer?"

[assassinrue]

"Ugg. You're such a pain." She stood up, kicked off her shoes and pulled off her jacket and walked back to the bedroom.