Chapter 2 and Still No Title

The walk to the kitchen seemed to do us both some good. By the time I entered the kitchen, I had won my inner battle to regain my composure. I noticed the brown had returned to Ivy’s eyes as she reached into the cupboard for a glass. I sat down in my chair at the table and folded my arms, resting my head on them as Ivy went to the fridge and poured herself some orange juice.

I raised my head and watched Ivy settle down at her computer, clicking away as I mulled over everything in my mind.

“So how did the run go? Find the girl?” I sat up as I asked , resting my elbows on the table and settling my chin in my hands. I couldn’t help but run my eyes over Ivy’s back. Maybe I should wait before I say anything to Ivy, I thought, hating myself for having already aborted my plan to open up to Ivy. But with these new thoughts I was having, I couldn’t jump into anything. What me and Ivy had right now may not be perfect, but it worked for us. My biggest worry was what if I screwed it up. I couldn’t lose Ivy now. Especially not now.

“Wait, what?” I had been so deep within my own thoughts, I failed to hear anything Ivy had said. She swiveled in her chair toward me, a questioning look on her face.

“Are you alright Rachel? Maybe you should try to go back to sleep.” For the second time tonight, I could see her worry for me clouding her face. I hated making her disrupt the perfect beauty of her face with lines of concern for me.

“No, I’ll be fine. I think I just need some coffee.” I started to rise from my chair, but Ivy placed a hand on my shoulder, already having stood. I sat there and basked in the warmth emanating from her hand. I swear I could feel her aura brushing against mine as she let her hand slowly slide off. It seemed I was so much more aware of her aura since it had protected me while I had so little of my own. Damn banshees, remind me never to mess with one again. Ever.

“I’ll get it, I want to take some with me anyway.” Her voiced raised so I could hear her over the sound of the water running as she rinsed out the carafe.

“Oh, you’re going out again?“ I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice, but I’m sure she could pick up on it. She could probably taste it in the air. Creepy vamps. I feigned nonchalance, poorly, and raised my arms over my head in a stretch. I felt Ivy’s eyes on me, my scar giving out a small tingle. My eyes slid shut and I let a small sound escape my lips as I arched back in my chair. Then I heard the sharp snap of dragonfly wings.

“Tink’s Tampons, save some water for the fish Ivy.” Jenks flew over to the windowsill as Ivy dumped the water from the overflowing carafe. I could feel the slight blush on my cheeks as I set my hands on the table and all of a sudden found my fingernails very interesting. Ivy stoically continued to make the coffee.

“Did I interrupt something?”

“No.” Ivy and I both jumped to answer him at the same time. Jenks left the windowsill to zip back and forth between us before he settled down on the napkin holder. I looked at him a moment before returning to my most fascinating fingernails.

“Well you two better not do anything stupid. Things are finally stable around here. Well as stable as they get with you two. I don’t want to have to find new tenants.” I swatted at him, knowing there was no way I would ever connect and he shot up into the air in a fit of giggles, pixie dust falling lightly to land on the table.

“How was the run Ivy?” Jenks flew around Ivy’s head before landing on her shoulder, only to take off and return to the air when she shot him a narrow eyed look.

“It could have gone better. My lead didn’t pan out, but I have a new lead. I actually wanted to know if you would go with me tomorrow night. I could use the extra set of eyes.” Ivy finished pouring the coffee into the machine and the sounds of it brewing filled the kitchen as she leaned against the counter with her arms crossed under her breasts.

“No problem, Ivy. Just let me know when you want to go. Well, I better go tell Bis I’m awake and taking over.” With that he buzzed out of the room only to return a second later.

“Oh and Rachel, don’t forget rent is due on the first next month. The First! Not late like this month..” And with that, he was gone. Neither of us spoke. I sat there continuing to look at my nails and Ivy stood there by the coffee pot just waiting. The tension was palpable and growing by the second until finally I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t have any idea what I would say, but I had to say something.

“Ivy…”

“Please don’t Rachel. I can’t do this right now. “ Ivy interrupted. She took the pot of coffee and replaced it with a mug as she poured what was in the carafe into her thermos.

“If not now, then when? We need to talk Ivy. I don’t like things the way they are now. I thought it was working but there’s this….space, growing between us.” I turned to look at her, but didn’t get up. I knew I was pushing her and I didn’t want her instincts to come into play by advancing on her.

“Something has to change.”

“You promised you wouldn’t leave.” Ivy didn’t meet my eyes as she set the mug of coffee down in front of me, but I could see the fear in her eyes. Before I knew what I was doing, I reached for her wrist and held it.

“I don’t want to leave. I just want to spend more time with you. I want to talk about what is going on.” Absent-mindedly, I ran my thumb back and forth on her wrist as I spoke to her. I looked up into her face until she met my eyes. Our eyes locked and her pupils dilated slightly.

“It’s just too hard for me right now Rachel.” She pulled out of my grip gently. “I have to go. I am meeting Rynn Cormel and then I have to see an informant about my run. I won’t be back until close to sunrise. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ivy grabbed her thermos and walked toward the hall.

“Why does it have to be like this?” I whispered not even aware I had spoken it aloud.

“I’m just trying not to do anything stupid.“ She hesitated for a moment before leaving the kitchen and heading toward the sanctuary. I sat, sipping slowly on my coffee until I heard the sound of the door closing quietly.