escaped from my dreams

excerpt // Louise

     It's late. Maybe two in the morning. She walks home quickly, not sure why she didn't leave earlier. She strolls down the sidewalk, longing to lay her head on her pillow and fall asleep.
     A shadow moves up ahead, and in the blue-tinted haze, she almost thinks she dreamed it. But she doesn't make mistakes of that sort. She walks by a lamppost as the fog settles on the street, her breath coming out in puffs. 

     "Fancy seeing you here," a voice drawls, stopping her.

     Her head snaps to where a thin, teenage boy leans against the window of a jewelry shop. 

     "Did I scare you?" he raises his eyebrows, ever so slightly, "You know, you promised me you wouldn't walk around alone. Especially at this hour."

     "Yet you promised me you wouldn't step foot in this city again."

     He shrugs, unaffected. "Thought you'd like to see me."

     She starts walking again, seemingly unaffected. He steps in line beside her, matching her pace. He can't possibly be alone. There must be some kind of vehicle around here, waiting for his call.

     "So. Tell me. Why are you here?" she says, looking ahead. She can feel his eyes scouring into her. Soaking up anything new or different. 

     "Oh, you know." 

     She swallows. "I do not."

     "Well, see, my brother's getting married. Not sure why, but he is." He shakes his head, and laughs, "He's pretty stoked about it."

     "I'm happy for him." They round a corner, a few apartments away from hers.

     "So... they're having this wedding thing, and well, long story short," he pauses, "I wanted to ask you to accompany me. You know, be my date."

     She stops, taking him by surprise. He stops in front of her, and swivels to face her. 

     "You mean- you're here, all of a sudden, in this city, to ask me to be your date to your brother's wedding?"

     "Mmhm," he hums. "That's right." 

     "Why, Xander?" she crosses her arms, skeptical. 

     "What do you mean, why?" he mirrors her skepticism. "Why does anyone ask anyone to be their date?" He takes a step closer, her heart beating faster.

     "Because I like you, Louise," he says quietly. "And, maybe- you should get out of here for a little while." 

     Her words catch in her throat.
     "Maybe," she barely makes out. This time she takes a step closer. She can smell his shampoo. Eucalyptus. He always did use the heavily scented one. Said that then he didn't have to bother with cologne. 

     He looks at her. Then he lifts his hand, drawing his fingers through her hair. "I really miss you," he leans in, kissing her long and slow. The taste is so familiar, she practically sinks into his arms. 

     He pulls away, a smile in his eyes. "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, then."

     She looks at him for a few long seconds, and sighs, "If you want." She kisses him again, feeling him smile. This time, when he pulls away, he walks into the middle of the street. He stands there, watching her walk down to her apartment. She walks up the steps to her door, twists the key in the lock, and turns around, looking at him one more time. 

     He smirks and looks to the sky. A slick and silent transport-jet lowers down next to him, a door sliding open. He blows her a kiss before stepping in, flying up, and away. She shakes her head, typical, and walks through her own door, locking it behind her.