wally's lament.

[ 29 ]

⫸——⫷

After what felt like a millennium, the song that began your second dance with Wally ended.

You stared at Wally, your feet slowing, then halting completely, leaving you standing still in your position. People began to switch dance partners around you once more, but Wally was not moving, and his eyes were locked with yours. It felt like you were under a spell; doing anything, even blinking, would break the spell. So you did not move, drawing out the moment.

"You stare too much, my love," Wally said quietly.

He had to stop with the pet names. Damned murderer. "You stare a lot more than I," you replied.

"I cannot help it."

"Neither can I."

The second that statement fled your mouth, you realized that it was probably much too blunt. Wally's cheeks flushed; he looked like he was about to collapse. But instead of collapsing, he gave you a sticky sweet smile and said, "Should we go get that drink I was talking about earlier?"

"Yes."

Despite your response, Wally did not move, he simply stared into your soul. You sighed. Looked like you were going to have to be the one to break the spell. You blinked and let the hand that was on Wally's shoulder drop from his figure, but you kept your other hand linked in his. Using his hand to keep the two of you connected, you led Wally off the dance floor and to the drink table. Another song was beginning, a faster paced one, allowing the dancers to sway quicker. The dance floor was full of chatter and giggles as you and Wally walked away.

At the drink table, you debated what you should drink next. Dancing had been nice with the slight buzz in your veins, but again, you did not want to get drunk, especially not with how incessant Wally's flirting had been so far tonight. Plus, the buzz and fun was keeping your mind off your anxieties, which was the goal. Getting too drunk might just make you sad.

"I think I like the spiked cider the most," Wally said from beside you. "It tastes like a whiskey-flavored apple."

You recalled Howdy's comment earlier, about Wally stealing apples from the grocery store. Whenever you had run into Wally at Howdy's Place, it seemed like he was always eating (A.K.A.: glaring at) or stealing an apple. You looked over at him pouring his drink and smiled. "It seems like you really like apples," you said.

"Keen observation." Wally grinned at you, then took a sip of his drink with his eyes. He then reached over and touched the small of your back with his free hand, looking over the drink table once again. "What are you going to have?"

One thing was for certain: no matter what happened between you and Wally, it seemed as though his flirting would never cease.

He really was in love with you.

The thought made you flush. Never in a million years would you have guessed that coming to this small town to escape your past would put you in such a situation — that was, the "situation" between you and Wally. You never thought you would meet someone who understood you, and not only that, but someone who had even more to hide than you. The extent of his relationship with Home was yet to be uncovered; he never even told you who he had killed the night Home tried to trap you.

Yet you found yourself enjoying his flirty remarks more and more with each passing day.

"I think I'm going to have the witch's spritzer," you said. The witch's spritzer was a green foamy drink in a clear glass punch bowl, probably the most halloween-themed drink on the table. Using the drink ladle, you poured yourself a cup and tasted it.