The Arsonist

Six

AN: Picture rights go to Burge-bug

To say that Gray was electric, would have been an understatement. The last thing she wanted to do after her visit with Lyle was leave him. Was to go home to her drab old apartment. To be away from his embrace.

He had kissed her. Actually kissed her. Not once, not a slip, but three times. The way he felt, the heat of his persona, had dragged her in from the beginning, but now she wanted more. More of him. More of his touch and embrace and blissful kisses.

The only thing she wanted to do was dance. Spin in circles around her living room. She was the happiest she'd been in months. So blissfully in love.

Gray sang all the way to her apartment. She didn't even care about the odd looks people gave her at red lights. One person even asked for her Sound-Cloud which made Gray laugh.

Once she actually got to her apartment, she was so exhausted and amazed to see it was 11:30. She spun onto her bed, still in her clothes, and covered up, pretending Lyle, her Lyle, was there to hold her again. Dreaming of the way he smelled and the security he provided her. Dreaming of him.
*
Words danced around in her head as she drove to work the next morning. Morally wrong. You shouldn't be doing this. He doesn't really love you. He's lonely , it's an act, it's your fault, you played his game. Your fault.

These thoughts followed her down the highway, through the parking garage, and into the offical looking building that occupied her Mondays through Fridays. She forced herself not to think about him. Not until she had to.

Walking through the main office, the past evening replayed before her eyes. Gray slowed her steps, her head wanted to stall her arrival to floor 14, but her heart longed to bust down all the doors, run into Lyle's arms, and let him hold her forever.

Unfortunately for her head, Gray eventually had to go to Lyle. Lover or not, he was her job. Her heart had won. It fluttered like a butterfly, living for the short summer days of bliss, unaware of the inevitable death to come.

The elevator doors dinged and Lyle was standing in front of it, wearing the smirk on his face that drove Gray mad.

He was wearing another sweater, each one less fashionable than the next. He looked like he had tried to do something with the mess of brown curls atop his head, but ot no avail. He stood with his hands in his back pockets waiting for her.

Before Gray could say anything, He had reached out, wrapped his hands around her waist, and pulled her into him, engrossing her in a kiss. One that was different than the night before. His tongue danced around , reminding her for her love. With a deep breath, he pulled away and whispered, sending chills down her spine.

"I thought about you, all" he kissed her neck. "night."

"Me too." Gray said and he straightened.

"May I invite you to sit on the couch?" He said, bowing and gesturing toward the brown sofa that once held Gray's now, nonexistent tears.

"You look different," she said. "Younger, brighter."

"It's because I'm happy," he replied, grabbing her hand.

"We're you unhappy before?" she smirked.

"I became unhappy the moment I met you and realized you weren't mine," he cooed. Grays cheeks got redder and redder as he continued to talk.

"I've never seen this side of you," she whispered into his ear.

"I only show it to the people I care about," he whispered back, kissing her cheek right afterwards.

Each kiss they shared was desperate. As if it were their last time they would see each other. They knew they couldn't truly have each other and that every time they saw each other needed to be treasured.

"I still have to ask you questions, you know?" She asked as she broke away from his lips.

"Okay Doc, let's get this over quick because I'm not sure how long I can go without kissing you," he chuckled.

"I guess we can practice self control today too," she joked. He stuck his tongue at her and released her hand. "Okay, did you have many friends when you were younger?"

"No, not too many people like arsonists," he said sarcastically.

"No gangs or anything?" She asked.

"There were a few, but I don't remember what they were called," Lyle explained.

"While you were in those gangs there was no one who helped you out or that you were close with?"

"Not that I can think of," he told her.

"That's strange. Usually gang members befriend one another within the gang. It helps the gang grow in a way," Gray told him.

"That's probably why I didn't last long in them," he laughed, outing his hands behind his head.

"Probably," she smiled.

"How do you know so much about gangs anyway?" He asked her.

"I just do," she said quietly.

"You're keeping secrets," he smirked.

"No I'm not," she argued. He picked her up an sat her on his lap.

"Let me guess, you were in one?"

"Never!" She said, her eyes wide at such an accusation.

"I'm just kidding," he told her, grabbing her hands again. "I know my angel would never do something as horrendous like join a gang or dog ear a book or anything crazy like that."

"Oh shut up," she smiled, leaning in for a kiss.

"I'm still curious about all this gang knowledge. I didn't even know all that," he said.

"If I tell you, you'll look at me completely different," she confessed.

"Baby girl, just tell me," he sighed.

"Okay. My brother was in one. They killed him though when they found out that he was helping an outsider, someone who used to be the gang, but left. He use to tell me all about it," she told him. A single tear fell from her eye. He brushed it away with his thumb and looked her in the eyes.

"Guess what. I still see you the same. I still see you as my beautiful baby" he assured her.

She hugged him and he held her until they heard someone try to open the door. Immediately, she climbed off of his lap and sat in the chair away from the couch. He was laughing at her and she was doing the same thing. The found that it was Jean once she got the door open.

"Lyle," she said. "It's time for lunch."

"I'll be right down," he told her.

"Okay," she smiled. She close the door behind her and clicked away.

"I swear that bitch needs to get laid," he sighed. Gray couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she told him. She got up and gave him a long kiss.

"Till tomorrow my love," he said walking to the door with her.

He held it open for her and she smiled. They turned their opposite ways an she felt the same butterflies that she did when she first met Lyle.

As Lyle walked away his smile faded. He started to put the pieces together. Gray wasn't a stranger to him. She was Gordon's, his best friends, little the sister. The girl they spent years protecting. Now, he was in love with her. It all seemed too real.