Ineffable Plan

We walked in silence for a few minutes before he spoke.

"Do you really think its safe letting a complete stranger walk you home? Especially considering the fact that you’re obviously drunk, it’s very dark, and I doubt that anyone back at that party was sober enough to remember that I left with you."

I turned my head slowly to look up at him. What the hell was he talking about?

"I guess I should be worried," I mumbled quietly.

"You’re not?"

I kept my gaze on the ground but knitted my eyebrows. I knew I didn’t have to be afraid of him. If he was dangerous I would know. The feeling would be there. But I couldn’t tell him that, could I?

Once again I was pulled out of my thoughts by his voice. "What? Are you not getting a feeling about me? Is that why you’re not scared?"

His voice still seemed genuine. He wasn’t mocking me. He was interested. He probably thinks I’m some kind of freak.

"I…" He started to say something but thought better of it.

"Should I be scared of you?" I asked.

He thought about it for a second. "You? No."

I nodded. I was slightly confused by his words. So I had nothing to worry about. Great. Now he sounds like Mary.

"I have a feeling you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself."

I stopped walking. It took him a couple of seconds before he realized that I wasn’t next to him anymore. He spun around and stared at me.

"What?"

I didn’t answer and he started walking back towards me.

"What’s wrong?" He was looking around and he seemed nervous.

"Relax. Nothing’s wrong. What’s with you?" I said incredulously.

This time he frowned. He looked a little upset, like he was mad at me.

"Don’t do that," he said sternly. "I thought something was wrong. I thought you had a feeling or something."

I didn’t like him saying that. I didn’t like him referring to it.

"What do you know?" I said rudely and began walking again. "You don’t know anything about that or me!"

I could have sworn I heard him mumble under his breath. It sounded a lot like, "I know more than you can imagine."

Soon he was at my side again. It was quiet for a moment.

"Can I ask you a question?"

I rolled my eyes. "What?"

"Don’t get mad," he said cautiously. "It’s about the feelings you get."

I sighed loudly, but nodded anyway. "Go ahead."

"What do you think it is?" His tone caught me a little off guard. It sounded as though he knew something but didn’t want to say too much. It felt like he was gauging how much I knew.

"It’s like women’s intuition to the extreme," I answered as truthfully and simply as I could.

He nodded. “So you can’t tell the future?"

At this I laughed loudly. What was with this guy? He did think I was freak. He thought I was some kind of gypsy fortune teller. He believed in that kind of stuff.

"Did you want your palms read?"

"No. I thought you might have been capable of precognition," he answered mostly to himself. He was very serious and I could tell he didn’t appreciate me laughing.

I didn’t respond.

"So you really can’t see the future? How did you know about the thing at the bank? What happened?"

"Like I said before, it’s like intuition. I don’t get images of the future flashing in my head. I just get a feeling that something bad is going to happen. That’s all. I think all women have it. Maybe mine is just a little more sensitive. You’re being ridiculous," I said and then mumbled mimicking him," 'So you can’t see the future?' Of course I can’t see the future!"

"You’re not being fair. I didn’t do that to you, did I?"

"No. You’re right. I’m sorry. Look, can we just stop talking about this? Can we just forget I said anything back there, please?" I pleaded.

He stared at me, considering. After a moment he slowly nodded.

"If that’s what you want."

I nodded.

A moment later we were in front of my building.

"Thanks for walking me," I said quietly. "I can make it up to my suite ok."

He nodded. "I’m Aaron, by the way."

"Justine."

There was a short silence.

"So, I’ll just go in now. See you around," I said quietly and turned around.

"Wait!"

I spun around and was met by Aaron’s lips crashing into mine. Suddenly it was hard to think of anything. My mind was completely blank and I wasn’t breathing. I felt Aaron’s lips curve into a smile and I heard a soft voice say ‘breathe.’ It was barely a whisper and I wasn’t entirely sure if Aaron had said it. I mean, how could he?

Soon I was able to focus again but it was only on Aaron’s lips moving slowly and rhythmically against mine. I gasped slightly when I felt his tongue brush against my lips and it gave him the perfect opportunity. His tongue moved between my lips and brushed against my own. Wave after wave of shivers rushed down my spine and it felt as though my skin were tingling.

A moment later, Aaron broke the kiss and he looked as bewildered as I did. My breathing was jagged and I could barely stay up. I was suddenly exhausted.

"You better get inside," he said quietly.

I didn’t realize his hands were on the small of back until he removed them and I suddenly felt cold.

"You’re right," I said and made my way into the building.