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HE'S THE ONE who is following her this time. if she's aware of it, she doesn't let it show. it's not like he's attempting to hide it, he's not sneaking up on rooftops or following her from the sides of buildings. he wants her to realize what's happening.
eli picks up the pace at a crossroads, and peter does the same. his sneakers splash against a puddle. she's almost doing a light sprint. but peter has more practice at this, so it's not hard for him to grab her elbow and pull her into an alley mid–flight.
he doesn't mean to actually push her up against the grimy wall, but he once again misjudges his strength.
eli's eyes go wide. "i've got pepper spray, asshole."
they're both panting like crazy and peter's a bit too close for comfort, but he won't remove his hand from her arm because she'll probably try to get away.
"no, you don't, or you would've used it by now."
eli looks sideways, her lithe body knocking into his. "true, but i can inflict a heavy blow."
"why don't we talk instead, huh?"
"in this dark alley?" she raises an eyebrow. "do you have some kind of fetish?"
"you obviously think you know something. so tell me, i'm all ears," he instigates, hoping that he's better at intimidation now than he was with aaron davis.
eli blows air in his face. "if you're trying to do good cop/bad cop, you suck at it."
"i'm trying to find out what you know."
"about?"
"don't play dumb. it really doesn't suit you. you've read, what, the whole school library by now?"
against her better judgment, she seems pleased with the compliment. "it's not that hard. we don't have a wide selection."
"eli—" and almost unconsciously he pulls her towards him.
"yeah, okay, i know your secret! happy?"
peter's mouth is trying to work up a reply, but he just stares helplessly at her for a few seconds.
"you ain't slick, parker. you're obviously a drug peddler," she mutters obliquely. "i mean the late nights, the skipping, the weak excuses. . . the blank stares. look, you're doing one right now."
peter doesn't know if he should laugh or scowl. he settles for the former. "seriously, a drug peddler? i look that streetwise to you?"
