Wide Awake

December

(Phone call)

"Hi."

"Hi."

"I read this book."

"Fascinating. Tell me more."

"It reminded me of you."

"Why's that?"

"It talked about astronomy."

"I do love astronomy."

"Yeah. That's why I read it."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"I learned a lot. So yeah, it was pretty interesting."

"We can discuss what you learned over coffee."

"I'd like that."

----

Elijah traced the inside of Lindy's palm, following the creases with so much concentration. It was as if her hand was a map and he was a lost traveler.

It made Lindy feel nice.

Kiss me, her mind pleaded.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle softly. She hummed in appreciation and decided it was just as nice.

"Tell me something," Elijah said softly.

"Like what?"

"Anything."

Lindy thought for a moment. "In 2004, a French author wrote a book without using a single verb."

She was pleased when she saw Elijah's eyes fill with shock. "That's impossible."

"No, it's not, actually. Le Train de Nulle Part, which means The Train From Nowhere, uses prose and narrator description."

"Let's not use verbs," Elijah grinned. He picked up his tv remote and turned the television off.

"Fine," Lindy smirked.

"Okay."

"Alright."

Elijah's demeanor changed and he suddenly became serious. He placed a hand on her cheek. "How beautiful."

----

"Can I take you out tomorrow night?"

"Like...on a date?" Lindy's cheeks flushed.

"Yeah," Elijah's eyes twinkled with delight. "A date."

Lindy's heart soared higher than the stars.

----

"You look very nice," Elijah said as they walked down the bustling street.

"Thank you," Lindy replied softly, still getting used to compliments. She hadn't received them very often growing up.

She looked over at him, then, and her stomach filled with butterflies. How, she wondered, had he ever found an interest in her? Elijah was beautiful himself; he spoke only words of kindness, he was intelligent, but he was also funny. And, she admitted to herself, he was absolutely gorgeous.

She eyed the beanie on his head. It had some college initials on it and the little pom-Pom was royal blue. He had a pair of nice jeans and tennis shoes on, and his gray eyes lit up as they took in everything around him. The lights above them gave off a bluish glow and tinted his skin.

Suddenly, he turned to look at her. He didn't say anything about her staring. He just stared back with a slight smile on his face.

"Do you like ice skating?" He asked.

She blushed.

"I don't really know how," she mumbled.

Elijah stopped walking and pointed. They were at the Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink. Snow fell from the sky, lightly landing on their coats. There was a snowflake in his eye lashes. Lindy giggled.

"Do you want to try?" He grabbed her hand. There was no way she could, or would, say no.

Lindy nodded.

Once they had their ice skates and were laced up, they made their way onto the ice. Lindy was embarrassed when she first wobbled, but then Elijah grabbed her hand again and she didn't care if she could or couldn't skate.

He didn't let go.

They took off together, gliding along the ice. Just when Lindy thought she had the hang of it, her feet slipped out from underneath her and she braced herself to collide with the solid ice. It never happened.

Elijah grabbed her waist and gently steadied her. He grinned slightly and lifted one hand to run it through her hair.

Lindy couldn't take it any longer. She put her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. For a moment, he did nothing, before getting over his shock and kissing her back.

She melted into the kiss. After two months of exploring Elijah's mind through conversation, she was finally experiencing a new part of him.

They pulled apart, their hot breath sending small clouds into the air.

"You're beautiful," Elijah muttered, leaning his forehead against hers. His eyes were still closed. "I don't have to see you to know that." He opened his eyes and smiled slightly when he saw her rosy cheeks. A dimple decorated his cheek as he looked at her.

Suddenly, a rush of cold hit them. Snow showered onto their skates and they both looked up. A small boy stared at them, another snowball already made in his hand.

"Gross!" He said, before skating off.

Lindy's cheeks grew warm and she looked away. Elijah's low, throaty laugh filled her ears and soon she found herself laughing as well.

He made her so happy.

----

They stood hand in hand in front of the large Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. It was so gorgeous and captivating.

They had been quiet for a while, but around them, life continued to go on; people chatted and moved about. Elijah was the one to break their silence.

"They were close to the end of the beginning," he said, looking at the tree.

Lindy stared at him in confusion.

"Stephen King," he mumbled, as if that explained it. When she didn't reply, he continued, "We're near the end of our beginning. But it's okay, because it's just the beginning. We have a lot of time, Lindy."

Tears filled her eyes. She had never had the confirmation of someone being there for her. When he saw her tears, he became concerned.

Lindy wasn't good with words. So instead, she wrapped her arms around him tightly and pulled him as close to her as she could.

"Thank you," she whispered.