far from over

It was well into the day, almost noon before Ellie awoke. The whole house was quiet. It seemed odd. She guessed.

The doorbell rang. It was Eric with fast food from Taco Johns. "You up for some lunch?"

She guessed. A part of her wanted him to come on up, but then it might have turned into something else. She left him in the livingroom and ran back upstairs to get dressed.

She came back in her cutoff sand an old t-shirt. Although, she thought he'd prefer her in a dress, but really she didn't feel like dressing up today. She hadn't looked in her closet yet. Hopefully, all her clothes were there. Ellie sort of missed the smock apron. Really, she wanted one. She'd have to make herself one. Maybe she'd even wear it to school.

"We don't have to eat here," Eric said.

She looked around. She didn't even have a key to the place.

"Better leave the door unlocked."

They went outside then and started to walk back to her house.

"You really are OK with everything, aren't you?"

"I guess." She wasn't sure. "What are you getting at?"

"I know its a lot to....get used to with that?" He pointed with his head where they had walked from, "But I mean, us."

"Yeah." She bit her bottom lip. "About that." What could she say?

"It was exciting." His smile started small but then fully emerged. "It wasn't God awful or anything, was it? You know, like I need to go to school to learn to, you know-"

"NO!"What was he trying to ask? She held his hand then, dragged him along. "You were just what I needed. Really, you are-" She sighed. "I'm not going to have to tell you this every time, now am I?"

"No." He sighed. "Maybe. I don't know. It was just a little strange, you deciding, 'let's do it in the hayloft'. And the only thing on my mind other than being there with you were creepy things crawling around. It really wasn't all that traditional, you know. And then you get hurt when I banged you into the wall. You didn't even tell me."

"I'm OK. We've talked about this enough already." It just seemed funny now instead of romantic.

"But I want you. I can't get you out of my head, and I know where I've always wanted to be with you. And-"

"Don't tell, not the carriage?" She shook her head, no.

"Nothing that risky. Just at home, in my bed." He looked at her.

"All right." She shook her head, yes. She knew he was right as she held on to his hand. It was the likely place to go, especially, when there was nothing else to figure out.