Reaper's Girl

In the saety of the haven?..(edited)

                - Welcome to my humble little domain, - she said turning on the lights. She entered and felt him hesitate at the door. - You can come in you know. I know it's not a palace, but it's not a dump either...

                Daren nodded saying nothing and came in after her, looking around himself to get the feel of the place. It was spartan. No decorations or plants you'd expect when coming in a girl's place. It was equipped to a bare minimum. Small kitchen contained the fridge, the oven and a table with a chair. All in all Alice's apartment was small and furnished for one person only. A small couch and no TV, showing that the only thing she did on her free-time was read and listen to the music, as he spotted a small sound system near the only window of her living-room. That was approved by a huge book-case covering entirety of one wall of her room, filled with books to the breaking point. There were large tomes of modern and classical philosophy, science fiction and thrillers. Daren smiled to himself. Alice was probably the only person he could imagine, to be able to stay hours and hours on some sort of book. She was the most interesting person he had ever met. Not to mention her harsh and rough-edged personality.

                - It's...- he hesitated. - It's very you. Though I'd still would suggest you a painting or two...- Alice raised her eyebrow at the remark, as the silence dragged she shrugged and went to the kitchen.

                - You're hungry?- she asked opening the fridge.- Have some leftovers off a pizza and a ready-to-cook lasagne if it's OK with your expensive tastes.

                - I don't really have expensive tastes for food you know...- he felt the pointedness of her remark, but decided against answering such a poor provocation. - Lasagna sounds good to me.

                Alice just nodded and took out a cooking plate out of her freezer. Daren raised an eyebrow, remarking that it was a home-made dish rather than a fast-cook plates you can find in a supermarket. Meaning she made it herself. He smiled at the image rose in his mind, that of Alice listening to whatever music she listened and cooking in her small kitchen.

                - What's so funny? - Her voice woke him from a dreamy daze he got himself in. He looked up at her still smiling and faced those piercing honey-gold eyes.

                - Nothing, - he said lightly, his deep-blue eyes sparkled with youthful naughtiness. - Just hope you're better at cooking than you are in socialization.

                - Ha, ha, - she pierced him with a sardonic gaze, - very funny.

                He just smiled at her with that childlike look in his eyes. “Just ignore his stupid childless” she thought to herself, turning her back on him and getting around to prepare the lasagna. 

                While she was busy in her small kitchen Daren decided to check out what was up in her CD's collection. To his surprise there were many different styles of music from rap to classical music, though most of the library was taken up with rather depressing rock and metal groups. He still remembered his psychology tutor telling him that most of the time people who listen to this stuff has some serious anger management problems, often caused by traumatising childhood or hard teenage hood.

                - Having good time at spying out my musical tastes?- Alice's not at all happy voice came from behind him, making him jump slightly.- If you'll excuse me,- she grabbed one of the CD's and launched a song, that she apparently needed at the moment. He smiled recognising old rock group that fell off before either of them were born.

                - Need some fight in the bones? - He asked smiling with not completely fake sweetness.

                - Nope just some boost after a fucked up day of trying not to kill my stupid-ass, boss, - she hissed as the music escalated and turning her back on him. - We're eating in around 20 minutes, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to change myself,- at that she closed her bedroom's door and left him still trying to figure out was she joking or not.