by Christy Shorey and you

ARCHIVE: NOV. 8 edited for spelling and grammar

1620 words

When Margot woke up, she realized it had been a sound that had stirred her from her dreams. She tried to place the sound in her memory, what sound hadn't belonged in the dream of her past, fighting an annoying human while in dragon form, dodging swords of the man and his squire, and finally wresting the sword from the knight and challenging his weak-kneed servant with it.

The sound issued again, and Margot placed it as the doorbell. *Kyle* she thought in the direction of his room, though truly, if he were anywhere in the house or yard he could hear her thought voice *Answer the door - I still have to change*

She heard her modern-day servant pass her room and head to the front door. She concentrated on hearing what he heard. If she chose to, she could also see what Kyle saw, since she had bound him to her, but doing so drained her more. She did have her first day at work, and she doubted she could reasonably call in because she wasn't quite human.

The voice seemed to be that of a woman, a courier from the context. "Please sign here," she was saying, though she did sound a bit shy about it.

Margot sighed. She knew girls found Kyle attractive, and it was a trait that had served well in the past, but it sometimes lead to ... situations, that she'd rather not have to try to handle.

"I've seen you before, Kyle," she said, sounding as if she read the last from where he had signed the paperwork. "You walk a golden retriever around the neighborhood sometimes?"

There was a pause, and Margot quickly thought at Kyle *Say yes*.

Kyle did as he was told, and Margot settled back in to listening.

"My route takes me around here a lot, delivering stuff to people. So I see you walking her. She's a beautiful dog, can I see her?"

Once again Kyle faltered, "I, um, I..."

*Say you'll go get her, and come open my door*

"I'll go get her," Kyle said, sounding relieved.

Margot concentrated and put on the illusion of the golden retriever. When Kyle opened the door, she romped out and skidded down the hall toward the courier, sizing the small redhead up as she approached.

From the look in her eyes, Margot could tell that she had only asked to see the dog as a stalling tactic, and she was positively besotted with Kyle. Margot gave a small growl at that, and the girl quickly pulled her hand away.

"Beautiful dog," she murmured, taking a step back. "Let me just go get your package," the girl said, and headed back to the truck.

When she returned, Margot tried to tip her head to see what the package was, but the girl was steering clear of her. She instructed Kyle to open the package, and he did so with gusto.

"Oh," the girl exclaimed when she saw that the packaged had revealed a set of books on dragon lore.

Kyle looked up, alarmed. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I, um, Do you like dragons?" she said.

Kyle looked down at the books, then to Margot, then back to the courier girl. He nodded.

"Oh," said the girl again. "They terrify me," she said, keeping her eyes locked on Kyle's face so she didn't have to see the illustration of a giant green dragon on the cover of one of the books. "My brothers told me they were real, and that they were going to come an steal me away if I ever did anything wrong. I realize they were really only concerned about me not tattling on them, but then they, they-"

The courier broke down in tears, and Kyle looked at her incredulous. "Dragon's aren't scary at all, they're beautiful," he said.

The courier shook her head, and looked up at the sky. "It was really nice to finally meet you, Kyle, but um. I don't know that it would work out."

Kyle was holding up the cover of the book looking at the dragon on it, asking the courier just what was scary about them, but she shrieked and yelled "Put it away, please!"

Margot smiled to herself, and sat down next to Kyle's feet. *Put them down, you're upsetting her, somehow* Margot thought at him. Kyle looked down at her, then obeyed.

When the courier saw the books were put down, she gave a smile. "I don't suppose it would work out anyway. The box said it was for Margot. Is that your girlfriend?"

Kyle shook his head. "No, she's my -"

*Roommate* Margot thought at him, and he looked around, confused. She knew that if left unchecked he would say "master" and that wasn't any fun at all.

"Yes, she's my roommate. That is true."

  "Oh," said the redhead. "I see. Maybe, could I see you sometime?" she said all rushed.

Margot realized this had gone on quite enough, and worried that having her around would slow down her research, especially if Kyle became equally besotted with her. She couldn't have him falling in love.

Kyle had already started to answer, "Yes," he said, "I walk around the neighborhood a lot. I'm sure you'll see me there again."

The courier gave him a confused smile, unsure if she had been rejected or if Kyle had misunderstood the question. Before she could clarify, Margot dropped the illusion of the golden retriever, and saw the courier's eyes go wide, and her face pale. The girl screamed and ran off.

*Close the door, Kyle* Margot said, and started back to her room.

Kyle shut the door. "I wonder what scared her?"

*Who knows, and thanks for the compliment*

Margot went back to her room, leaving Kyle in the hall looking utterly confused.

***

Lacey looked at her closet again in frustration. She didn't know what to wear, she knew she would be speaking to Logan again today, and probably meeting him, but after he had eluded her in her dreams, she wasn't sure how she should present herself. She finally settled on a red skirt and white top, with black sandals to compliment it. She rushed to catch the early bus, not wanting to get caught in conversation with the elder woman who believed she was a veterinarian.

Lional was on the early bus, and as he was wont to do, he had saved her a seat. Lacey gave a sigh, and sat down next to him. "So, what are you doing today?" he asked, not even turning to look at her.

"I've decided to spend some of my time at a home for old folks - tell them stories, and listen to theirs. It makes the feel better."

Lional nodded. "You look nice today," he said, "So I figured it was another good deeds day."

"Yeah. Depending on how they are treated there, I may decide to give some of my money for better facilities. I heard that usually elder care homes are neglected by our generation."

Lional nodded. "Yeah, respect for elders is falling, there is no doubt."

Lacey watched the streets pass by, and wondered what stop she should get off at on her way to the tattoo parlor. She tried to think if there were any old folks homes on the route beyond the point where Lional usually got off.

Suddenly her stomach grumbled. Lacey got up from her seat in surprise. She had not heard her stomach complain in years. She realized that in her nervous state the night before, she had neglected to eat. "Excuse me," she said, stepping past Lional, who had stood up when she did. "I've got to eat before I go, I remembered they don't feed you there unless you're family. Have a great day, Lional,"

"You too, Miss Lacey," he said, tipping an imaginary hat. Lacey got off at the next stop, and looked around. She quickly realized that in her haste she had gotten off in a residential neighborhood. But it was only a few blocks to the down town area. She picked up her pace, and finally found a newspaper stand that had chips, cookies and other assortments of snack foods. She bought a package of cookies and had eaten half of it before the new stand attendant had given her the change.

"Thanks" she said, and headed towards the tattoo parlor. She stopped in a coffee shop along the way, and bought a croissant and a hot chocolate. The girl behind the counter looked at her as if she wanted to ask something, but didn't know how to say it, and Lacey realized that in her haste she had wandered into the same shop where she had found Logan.

When she had been given her order, Lacey put on a professional smile, grateful that her outfit was more on the professional side. "Thank you for your help yesterday," she said. "My client was most grateful for the chance to make the formal apology."

The girl gave a smile, and Lacey made her most efficient turn, and headed out. As she walked to work she mentally cursed herself for letting her obsession with Logan ruin her carefully laid plans. In trying to impress him, when she wasn't even sure she would see him, she had nearly tangled the lines she had so carefully laid.

She got to the store, and let her self in the back, rehearsing what she would tell Rocky, that Logan had gone to their parent's place for the night, but might call if he needed to take a break from the overbearing nature of their mom, and the quiet expectations of their dad.