Think Fast.

Copperhead Hall.

~

That’s what it said on the note Dr. Quin had left for him, so Matt folded up the paper and left for the Hall.

~

Nicole had been leaning on the railing for over an hour already, and she was just about to leave when she saw Matt heading her way.

“Did the Quin send you here?” he called out, walking faster now.

“Why are you late?” she called back by way of reply, getting up and moving towards him.

“Sorry,” he said breathlessly when they were finally in front of each other. “I only got the note now.”

“So I’m your girlfriend for the hour?” she asked quietly, suddenly fascinated with her cuffed grey laces.

“I.. guess so. And I’m yours. Boyfriend, I mean,” he ran a hand through his hair.

“So how do we do this?” she looked up at him, and the sheepish look on his face made her laugh. “I mean, do we have mushy pet names for each other, or hold hands or what?”

“You wanna wait for the sunset?” he suggested, shoving his hands in his back pockets. His fingertips felt awkward.

“It’s three in the afternoon!” she said, but her eyes were bright.

“Yeah. We can figure this out while we wait,” he laid a hand on the back of his neck. “Unless you wanna find some candles and have dinner right now.”

“Sunset it is,” she decided, and moved towards the railings again. She turned around, placed her hands on the banister and pushed, trying to get herself up on it, but her feet hit the floor with a carpeted fwup.

“Here, let me,” he offered, and before she could say anything he’d put his hands at her waist and lifted her. She gasped slightly and reached for his shoulders to balance her, but this time she didn’t wobble like she used to.

“Um, thanks,” she said quietly, and she could feel the tips of her ears burning. She swiveled around so her back was to him, and bit her lip as the heat rose in her cheeks.

“So.. do I hug you from behind, or..?” and he tried to hold her, but she’d turned around as he spoke again, and before he could think he’d grabbed her by the arms as she shrieked, her legs flailing.

He pulled her back on the railing as she breathed deeply, clutching at his arms. Her nails dug into his skin.

“Sorry,” they both said, and she giggled.

“We’re very bad at this, aren’t we?” she said, and he laughed.

“Yes, yes we are,” he laced his arms under hers and around her waist, pulling her firmly next to him. “Here’s to hoping I don’t push you off again.”

Her cheeks were on fire as she chewed on her tongue, and she leaned into him hesitantly, breathing in his familiar scent.

“So… what are we looking at?” he asked at length, and everything felt awkward all over again.

“The parking lot!” she proclaimed, and she could feel him laughing silently. It felt too right to be with him. She took a breath.

“Think fast!” And before he could blink she’d pressed her lips to his and got her fingers tangled up in his hair.

It ended before he could realize it, and he was left blinking rapidly as she whipped her head around, her neck turning several shades of red at once.

“Erm. That was..”

“I’m sorry. I guess, well. I guess I, uh. I tried,” she said so quietly, he had to strain himself to hear her.

“It’s.. it’s fine. I.. just didn’t expect it,” he tried to reassure her, but he was pretty sure she couldn’t hear him well past his heart pounding in his throat. “We’re okay now?”

“I suppose,” she replied, even quieter than before. He only realized she was clutching at his hands when he couldn’t feel his fingertips anymore.

She could feel his heart pounding against her, and she wondered if he could feel hers, too. She loosened her grip on his fingers and threaded hers through them.

“Is the hour almost over?” she asked, and immediately regretted it. She sounded impatient.

“It’s been twenty minutes,” he said, pulling away. “You wanna just say we’re done after an hour?” She could hear the disappointment in his voice.

“No,” she said, pulling his arms back around her. “We’ll wait for the sunset.”