Bound by Duty

Chapter Nine

I should have had happy and restful sleep after the amazing day I had, instead I tossed and turned all night. I still don't know exactly what it was that I was dreaming, but I heard that same melody as I got ready this morning. It haunted me. I found myself humming it, though the lyrics floated just outside my reach. I couldn't pin them down and the haze I felt was hard to shake no matter how much coffee I mainlined. It was just another night where it felt like I had been up all night watching movies instead of sleeping.

Knowing I had lunch with Aidan, I put a little extra effort in; pulling on my favorite dark skinny jeans, zipping up my brown ankle boots, and loving the flowing peasant top Bethany had talked me into during our last shopping trip. I left my hair down and a little wild.

Classes went by quickly and all too soon I stood in the commons, wondering where it was I was meeting him. I sent a few different texts and even called him once and had yet to receive a response. His phone had gone straight to voice mail, so I assumed it might be off, which was strange.

I stood off to the side tapping my foot and found myself getting irritated. Really irritated. Before I could pick up my bag and walk away, I saw him running across the grass. He scanned the crowds and finally landed on me. I jutted one hip out, balled my fist on it, and tossed the other hand in the air — making it clear from one-hundred feet that I wasn't impressed. As he finally skidded to a stop in front of me, actually huffing a bit — which I secretly appreciated since I hadn't worked out in forever — he tried to explain.

"Amelia, I am so sorry. I overslept, I missed all of my classes this morning and got here as soon as I could. Am I too late?" He looked around as if to make sure people were indeed still eating lunch. He was rubbing his hand through his hair as he scanned the crowd, looking like he hadn't fully woken up yet and too adorable for how irritated I wanted to be.

His clothes were a mess — wrinkled with a few visible stains. I would bet he either slept in them or dove straight into the laundry basket, not caring if they were clean or dirty. His hair went in all directions with a clear cowlick from where his head had been on the pillow. As I really looked at him, I laughed when I saw a sleep line on his right cheek. I could only shake my head and ask how soon we could eat.

With a bashful smile, he grabbed my hand and led me toward the outdoor food vendors, telling me to make my pick. As we stood in line at the Greek stand — gyros were my absolute favorite — neither of us said much. I couldn't think past the fact that he still hadn't let go of my hand and, instead, had interlaced his fingers with my own. His hand was warm and strong. As I stood enjoying the moment, I found myself people-watching and humming that same tune from my dream absentmindedly, not realizing I was doing it out loud. Before I could react, Aidan yanked me out of the line and pushed me backwards away from the crowd.

"Hey! Aidan! What the hell?" I tried to drop his hand but all that warmth and strength had turned to solid rock. The look in eyes was a little scary — he definitely wasn't sleepy anymore. Aidan finally stopped as he pulled me into an alcove.

"Where did you hear that song? How do you know that song?" His face was just inches from mine, his voice was menacing, and his eyes were so dark they looked black in the shadows of where we stood.

"Aidan, I...I don't even know. I woke up this morning and it was just there. I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I don't even know the words, I just keep hearing the music." I was talking fast, his reactions making me uncomfortable.

He brought his hand up and pointed his finger in my face, "Amelia, I need the truth. Where did you hear that song?"

I tried to calm the building hysterics in my own voice as I put my hand on his chest, both my eyes and my words pleading my ignorance. "Aidan, I'm really sorry, but I truly don't know how I know. I wish I could tell you, but it was just there. Sometimes I dream about things and I have no idea where they come from."