A Chase pt. 2

Julian didn't want to move. Mike had moved back into the guy's arms as if Julian was an annoying stranger. He felt empty. He wanted her to dance with him again, to smile. He wanted to see her concentration as she worked to make all her dance steps perfect.
But instead he watched her dance with a guy that had no idea he even had two feet. The guy had very short brown hair, and blue eyes. It was obvious that he loved her- in everything he did. He tried hard to keep up with her, but she was always the one that ended up slowing down. Julian didn't think that was fair; if the guy couldn't match her, he shouldn't be trying.
They were still near him, but they didn't even know he was there. He watched as the guy slipped out of his jacket and handed it to Mike. She smiled at him and put it on, then looked around with a worried expression. Julian met her eyes with a small wave. She smiled at him around the guy's upper arm- he was at least a foot taller- and he smiled back. Then she looked away. And didn't look back.

When we got home that night, Dusty had been a very good dog. As I walked in, I was almost tackled by the red doberman sitting right in front of the door. I sat down on the couch and grinned as he licked me and pawed to be petted.
Raylan sat down beside me after looking around the house and smiled. "Well, Dusty didn't destroy the place. This calls for a celebration."
After Dusty was happy with his petting, he layed down with his head on my shoe. "Yeah, it really does," I said, smiled. I reached down and rubbed him tummy. Then I leaned back onto Raylan.
"I'm sorry we didn't leave when you said you felt weird," he said, shocking me.
I just shrugged against his shoulder. "It's cool. I got to see Julian agian," I said without thinking.
"Julian?"
"They guy that grabbed me in front of Lotus. He and I were dancing when you asked to cut in."
Raylan nodded, and hugged me to him. "Well, do you accept my apology?"
I moved to look him in the eye. "Yes, I do."

The next morning, Raylan was woken by music downstairs. He pulled on a pair of jeans and headed down to see what was going on.
Mike was in the middle of the living room, wearing a long shirt, with the music blasting. Eyes closed and hands above her head, she looked totally content. This was the way Mike liked to dance, Raylan knew. He also knew she didn't dance like this often- and even rarer did he get to see it. The drums gave her a rhythm. The steps came as if she'd known them her whole life.
The she turned and opened her eyes.
She froze. Her face went bright red and she ran to turn the music off. "Sorry," she said, not looking at him. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Raylan grinned. "No worries. I'd loose sleep anytime to see that again."
Somehow that seemed to make her even more embarrassed. She looked down at her bare feet.
Raylan knew better than to ask for her to start dancing again. She was embarrassed. Even though she had no reason to be; he loved her, and he loved to watch her dance. She changed when she danced- she lost all walls and shyness- well, until she saw people watching. When she saw them watching, she would run away, face hidden, as fast as she could.
When Mike danced in public, Raylan was jealous that he didn't have her all to himself. When they were alone, she was too embarrassed to dance.
Dusty slunk down the stairs and sat on his hunches between Mike and Raylan.
Raylan stepped around the dog and pulled Mike to him. "Don't be shy," he said smiling.
She shook her head and hid against his chest. He couldn't help but laugh; she was cute. "You shouldn't watch," she continued to shake her head.
"Really? Well, I like watching you. Now all we need is to put me in a chair and I'd be set."
Mike stopped shaking her head, but she didn't look up at him either. He started to worry that she had taken his joke wrong. He put his hand under her chin and she looked up- anywhere but at his face. She moved so that his hand was cupping her face, and not holding her chin, then she looked down again.

Julian may not have been able to make his own worlds or case runes, but he could still watch an amazing woman through a window. The dancing yesterday had been nothing compared to what she had been doing before that guy had ruined it. She moved with a rare grace, but with passion that was even rarer.
The strange feeling he had had when they had first met was back. It was so strange that he didn't know what to do. He felt it in various places on his body, and that made him even more conflicted.
Mike said something and then she pulled away from the guy's embrace to go back up the stairs. The way she moved told Julian that she was uncomfortable, embarrassed. Julian knew he would never make her feel that way; he would be right there with her, matching her step for step.

I sat on the porch with my legs hanging off the side. Dusty sat in my lap, getting my stomache dirty- I was wearing a crop top. We were waiting for Raylan. I had work, and I needed to go soon. But Raylan had insisted on driving me today.
As we walked into Lotus, I smiled as the usuals waved and asked to be rung up. Raylan sat in a recliner in the back. Everytime I went back to get something for a costomer, he would grab me, and try his best to destract me. I'd just laugh and get the item they had requested, then blow a kiss over my shoulder. Sometimes being a tease was fun.
I smiled as Julian walked in. "This is a woman's botique, my fine fellow. You are in the wrong place," I informed him, faking formality. He looked at me blankly for a moment, then understanding flashed in his eyes.
"Really? Too bad. May I just stay and sit for a while then?"