Crossover Crossroads (The Kell and Maille Story)

All Good Girls can Cha-Cha

Several days were spent arranging for the funeral. At the funeral Myndee's mother and little brother turned up. Maille 's reaction was one so full of rage and hurt that Kell had to physically restrain her from saying something very rude, or doing something very brash. As they drove back onto the crowded freeway at four PM heading back toward Park City she vented her anger, and Kell listened, not making any comments at all. Knowing this was a part of it. This anger, that focused at once on one thing, and then again, on something else.

He turned into an Olive Garden restaurant and opened her door for her. She was silent and fuming by now. They were seated and he ordered for them as he always did.

Maille swallowed. "I'm done." she said finally.

Kell, seated beside her took her hand and laced his fingers with hers. It was the first time he'd done it for days. Maille felt her eyes opening as if a dark misty cloud that had covered her for a week was lifting and the rain was cleansing her soul. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel a frantic urge to be with Myndee.

 Around her were people, some laughing, others talking to each other, eyes riveted on each other. She felt like she hadn't seen anyone's eyes but Myndee's for days. The booth was red leather, and nice and smooth, and cool. She hadn't felt cool either. She'd felt sweaty hot for days as well. Like as if she had a fever, or too much hot emotion that bad to be released.

Patiently, Kell waited. His angel was floating on silent wings back to earth. He rubbed her knuckles gently.

"It's your last night in Salt Lake." she finally whispered, and then cleared her throat and said it again. He nodded.

"What do you feel like doing?" he asked.

Maille took a deep, shaky breath. "We can do something." she nodded, and not listlessly as he might have expected, but with a wonder that she could do something. That her heart was still beating and she could go on. It would be better if she didn't just go home and eat and sleep and wake up for more.

"I will think of it." Kell agreed, keeping eye contact now that she was able to.

"Okay." she turned to look at him, feeling like it was the first time she'd actually looked at him since before she hurt herself. 

Kell kept their hands together while they ate, which was funny for her, as he had her right hand and she was right handed. She giggled a little at trying to feed herself awkwardly, and let him give her bites a lot. The food never tasted better, as if suddenly food had a taste where before it hadn't. She savored every bite, and ate until she was full, which wasn't like her at all.

Kell was dismayed that she didn't eat more, knowing she had been skipping meals for days and had become even slimmer in the weeks since she'd known him. But he promised to keep track of her.

He would be gone for only four days this time, and then home for two.

After they ate, he drove to the kiddie carnival place where they'd ridden the bumper boats.

Maille's eyes had a look that said, oh no not again, but he didn't take her on the boats. He bought several tickets to the giant slide. There were many stairs to climb, and he judged her energy as they hiked it. She was good, full of energy if not sparkle.