Scented Air [Open]

[Everett King]

Everett rocked back as Erika flinched at his very presence. He scowled and stepped away, fingers twitching in their desire to clench into a fist. How did he almost manage to screw everything up?

He kept away as she rushed about, absently picking up the recipe book she had left and staring at it blankly. Nothing seemed to register as Erika collected her belongings and made to leave. Honestly he barely even heard her words, but he could sense the meaning behind them.

Well damn that, he was allowed to be selfish sometimes too. Dropping the recipe book he turned and strode after Erika, reaching for her angrily. Grabbing her arm he powerplayedand whirled her smaller form around with a growl. Stooping he grinned, and unknowingly repeated her own thoughts in a whisper, "Too late."

With another grin, Everett turned his head and kissed her hungrily.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

A few more steps and she'd be out of there. She'd be able to relax and regain herself. She'd be able to breathe. She hadn't meant to rush off like she had, heck, she hadn't meant for anything to happen the way it had. It had just gotten so way out of hand and she had been rendered so easily unable to keep her own silly emotions in check, and in turn probably ruined everything.

If only she had been better at acting cool. Pretending like nothing. Pretending like he didn't have any effect on her. Pretending that his very presence had her heart skipping a beat.

The sudden hold on her arm had her surprised, and she mentally prepared herself for another round of getting scolded. Her eyes lifted from where he was holding her arm, to his face. She glared at him, ready to add fuel to the already torching fire. This was not the time for him to go all overprotective teacher on her, like he had earlier. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to keep the venom back if he did. However, his words had her glare changing into something more confused. Something more astonished, rather than annoyed.

''What?'' was all she managed to press forth before suddenly his lips were pressed against hers. In a second of confusion, she blinked before slowly closing her eyes, feeling as if her entire body melted and all the previous anger washed away like it had never been there to begin with. Kissing him back, her belongings fell to the ground as her hands rose to his waist, her fingers clutching onto the fabric of his shirt.

Pulling slightly away to catch her breath, Erika opened her eyes again, her lower lip vibrating. Her cheeks were once again flushed over into a dark shade of red and she blinked confusedly, narrow her eyes before parting her lips, ''What are you doing?'' she whispered softly.

[Everett King]

He was going to get fired for sure. It was going to be a complete pain in the ass. Really. He really knew how to pick 'em. He'd passed the point of caring though. How he'd feel tomorrow was definitely another story. It was about time for some self-control. He clearly had none, which was just pitiful. Wasn't this illegal in some states?

Slowly he brought his arms around her waist, leaving them there gingerly, afraid to hold her too hard. When she pulled away he almost let her go, but changed his mind and left his hands where they were. His eyes were wide, and he blinked in surprise. She had kissed him back?

Lifting one hand, he placed it gently against her cheek, absently noting such a contrast in their skin tones. Slowly he placed his forehead against hers, gently breathing out.

Wait, what was she asking? Hell, as if he knew.

"I'm an idiot, remember?" he whispered huskily. "It can't be anything smart." Everett smiled.

"What do you want me to do?"

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Erika closed her eyes as his forehead met hers, feeling her skin tremble under his touch. She was unable to keep the soundless chuckle from escaping her lips, ''You are,'' she agreed with a smile, moving her hand from where it was still clutching onto his shirt, to his where he was cupping her cheek. With that, she opened her eyes again and traced the lines of his fingers, his knuckles and his wrist with her fingertips, before her hand finally dropped back to his waist.

This was going to give him a lot of trouble if anyone found out. Hell, even she knew what happened to members of the staff who got involved with students. Sure, she was about to turn eighteen and graduation was only a few months away, but that wouldn't make a difference. At all.

Crap. She had really screwed the poor guy over. Though, he had been the one to kiss her. Surprisingly enough.

''I don't know,'' she whispered, the corner of her lip tugged upwards as she sighed. As much as she was enjoying this, she knew it was doomed to begin with. And the longer she lingered, and the more he looked at her like that, the harder it was for her to move. Her facial expression turned a little more serious as she bit her lower lip, ''Though, what I want, and what you should do is two entirely different things,''

She didn't want to say it, but someone had to.

[Everett King]

He was absolutely, positively not going to be able to do this. Any of this. And he shouldn't. That was the logical thing to do, was it not?

He dipped his head slowly, too slowly, and kissed her again, long and gentle. When he pulled away again he sighed and let his hand dropped, backing away. Everett rubbed his face stressfully, massaging his eyes. Finally he looked at Erika and smiled sadly. "Go back to your dorm, dove." he asked, almost begged softly.

He didn't know what he was going to do about any of this. He wasn't a likely or even remotely positive aspect of any future for Erika, he deserved no place in it. She would certainly have brighter prospects without a peasant looming over her head. Besides, if they were found out he;d most certainly get her into trouble. He wasn't worth that much.

He never had been.

Turning away, he crossed his arms and looked to the ground.

"Please. Just go home Erika."

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Maybe the moment would have been carved into her mind as something happier if she hadn't known that the kiss didn't mean a bright future. If anything, even she could tell a goodbye kiss apart from a 'It was great hooking up, I'll see you soon'-kind of deal. Maybe that was why the moment didn't appear to her as happy at all. It was rather painful to have gotten to this point, only to let it slip through her fingers so easily, so quickly.

But she didn't want to have someone's ruined career on her consciousness. He didn't deserve that. He deserved so much more. If she had had any idea just how lowly he thought of himself and how little he thought he deserved, she wouldn't have walked away. Because to her, he did deserve all those things, and more. He wasn't nearly as bad as he made himself out to be, and everyone came with flaws, both rich and poor, kind and unkind.

Gathering up her stuff in silence, Erika nodded as a response, but before leaving, she walked over, leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek, before once again, heading towards the door. But before leaving, she stopped and tapped her fingertips against the doorframe, letting out a sigh, ''You know, the only reason I was late tonight was because I had to drive my drunk ass friends home safely, so if that makes me a airhead, I'll happily take the name,'' she said with a quick smile and left.

It was probably for the best, her leaving like this. If she had stayed much longer, she wouldn't know if she'd been able to keep the tears threatening to fall from her already burning eyes.