Danger Town

•5•

Alice' POV

I had kept my curtains closed despite the heat in my room for fear of the new boy. I got so jittery when I thought about him. I couldn't fight the heat anymore so I checked to see if he was in his room. When I didn't see him I figured it was okay to sit on my ledge and draw. I was drawing a picture of a couple sitting on a bench until the scream of his window caused me to drop my pencil. I avoided his eyes as he brought his laptop onto his ledge with him. I wanted to speak but I could hardly bring myself to form sounds into coherent words. Fighting my nerves, I said the only thing that came to mind.

"It's not really safe out here." He looked up at me with a startled expression. I was starting to wonder if he had any other emotion. The look faded and a harder, more reserved look took over his features.

"Then why are you out here, knocking on dangers doorstep?"

"It's different. I live on the edge. Or in this case, on the ledge." A smile tugged on his cheek sending my heart jumping in it's cavity. Another smile like that and it may burst through my chest onto the ground below us.

"Well then consider me another member of danger town. Population two."

"Welcome. Um, my name's Alice."

"Roman. Nice to meet you." His bad-boy status officially just spiked. With a name like Roman he could have my heart any time. Shut up Alice. Don't let your mind wander.

"Likewise. So what brings you to this corner of the world?" My attempt as small talk had me cringing. Likewise? Who even says that anymore?

"You know. The usual." Ooh the plot thickens. Evading my question? Okay. I'll get it out of you eventually.

"Alright. Trying to be mysterious? I'll bite."

"Only if it doesn't hurt."

"No promises." It was my turn to smile and I let the small smirk take over.

"Seems dangerous."

"Well, you see, you're living in danger town now. There's no escape from it."

"Now I guess I just need to play my cards right."

"It's all about the hand you've been dealt in danger town." We laughed for a second and his tense shoulders relaxed. His smile was slowly killing my inside.

"So what exactly are we talking about?"

"I don't really know anymore. Um, where did you move from?"

"Nowhere important. But it wasn't as warm as it is here."

"Oh come on. Just a little bit of mystery is always good but are you really not going to give me anything?"

"Nope. Anyways, I have to head off to work. See ya later Alice..."

"Lansdale, Alice Lansdale."

"Alright Alice Lansdale, be careful."

"Never." I shot him a wink surprised by my outburst in confidence. He crawled back into his room and shut his window behind him. Once he closed his blind I couldn't see anymore, obviously, so I got back to my drawing.