Bounty Hunter [REWRITTEN VERSION]

Chapter 20: Dense Sometimes

MAIZE

She was relieved to be out of those clothes. More suitably comfortable in the loose black pants and the same colour tank top that let her feel the air on her shoulders. The skin of her forearms prickled with the cold touch of the metal banister she leaned forward on as she stared out over the balcony. The cool night air blew the strands of hair that had fallen untied from her ponytail, now resting loosely at either side of her face. She found it calming.

The view of the colourful lights—though different from that of Brooklyn—was soothing to look. It was calm, easing, a steady to hold onto as she relaxed her mind. Maize had always loved to watch the city at night. No matter where she was.

The balcony was just another attachment to the suite, and it was the one thing Maize didn't mind taking advantage of. Especially tonight.

The sound of the sliding screen door behind her as it was slowly pulled open brought her to attention as she heard the person turn and close it shut again, softly as though not to disturb the peace. In a flash, the dark sweater that had been hanging over the banister beside her elbow was retrieved and her arms swiftly threaded through the sleeves.

Standing in the dark, alone, it hadn't mattered much, but now, her shoulders were covered—as was the scar that marked her left. She was just glad the balcony was too poorly lit for the sudden action to have drawn any attention as the footsteps behind her closed the distance.

"Can I join you?" Alec's voice asked gently from behind her.

Maize didn't trust herself to speak at that moment, so she gave an absent nod of her head instead. It wasn't surprising that he had come to find her. A part of her had been expecting it. Yet she didn't know if that meant she had wanted him to come or not.

Alec wordlessly moved at her side, leaning forward on the banister as she was so that they were practically elbow to elbow. But their skin didn't meet. He didn't speak. Though Maize could feel his eyes shifting over to glance at her more than a few times in the minutes they spent standing in easing silence. It wasn't awkward, necessarily, but there was a sense of tension in the air that the silence would have to be broken at some point.

Alec was the one to do it.

"Was it the asking you to dance?" He asked quietly, staring ahead at the view.

"Excuse me?"

"Or was it because of what I did before?"

Maize watched him, studying his solemn expression. "What are you going on about, West?" she murmured, though her tone lacked its normal bite.

"I'm asking what I did to make you leave," Alec said. His tone held no anger, confusion, or bitterness. His voice lacked any emotion at all—save for a hint of regret. "I know we have our playfully bantering moments, but it's all in good fun. I realize your feelings don't go past that, and that's fine...I guess I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for trying to push it."

Maize was quiet for a moment, taking in the meaning of his words. "West...you have nothing to apologize for...I don't know why you..."

He looked up to meet her eye. "That's not why you left?"

Maize blinked once, before she suddenly shook her head and let out a small laugh. "You know, for such a great detective, you're pretty dense," she told him. "You give yourself too much credit—the reason I left had nothing to do with you."

Alec straightened. "Really?"

"Really."

Alec paused and studied her face again. "What was it then?" He asked a little more cautiously before he smiled teasingly, "Don't tell me it's because you felt inferior to my outstanding performance as your dance partner."