Stoker and Stalkers: Perfect Bliss?

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

It may be more than just a couple nights of poor sleep...



Jamie swished the last bite of his dinner around in the leftover sauce, trying to pin down exactly why the night felt so weird. He'd suggested dinner out as a break from the midterms Kitty kept insisting were what was making her so worn out, but it didn't seem to be helping . . .

"Do you want to dance?" he offered tentatively. Dancing usually put her in a better mood.

Kitty sighed softly, not really sure what was wrong herself. All she knew was that there didn't seem to be much she did want to do. But Jamie was trying... It was really kind of obvious, actually. "Yeah, sure," she said after a second's thought. "Why not."

"It's a nice night, at least?" he said, leading her out onto the dance floor. Maybe she'd relax a little when they got going. "Not gonna be too many more clear nights like this, huh?"

"Mmmm," Kitty said noncommitally, feeling somewhat dissatisfied with all of it. Well, not with the music. The music was good, with a fast beat and a lot of energy. Once they got out on the floor she couldn't help from throwing herself into the dance.

Jamie grinned. This was going better. He threw a little extra flourish into his steps, which . . . okay, didn't quite work out as intended, but at least he didn't step on Kitty's feet. His grin turned sheepish. "Not for amateurs, huh? Sorry about that."

But, rather than smiling at him, or taking more care of her own steps, Kitty frowned. It was a little frown, but it was definitely there. And, if anything, she was being more flashy now, showing off just a little. She wasn't really meaning to emphasize the fact that he couldn't keep up, but it was happening anyway.

"Hey, slow down," Jamie protested. He wanted to laugh it off, but . . . there was a look in her eye that said maybe she wasn't kidding around, and he didn't understand. And this uneasy feeling wasn't doing his dancing any good.

"Right. Sorry." She didn't really sound that contrite, but she did cool her heels a bit> In fact, she may have gone a bit too far the other way, sticking to very simple steps and telegraphing everything. Rather as though she were babying him along.

"Gee, thanks, Overkill Girl," Jamie said dryly. "What's going on here, Kitty? I thoguht you liked dancing with me."

"I do," Kitty said. And she did. She knew that. She wasn't entirely sure why she was so displeased. Normally the fact that he just was not as good a dancer as she was wasn't a problem. "I'm just... oh, I don't know. Whatever. I guess I'm just in a mood."

"You think maybe," Jamie said delicately, "you might wanna ease off on the work next semester? I mean, if this is what midterms are doing to you now?"

Kitty's frown got a little deeper as she tried to decide if it would be better or worse if he'd suggested she was PMSing. "I can handle the work," she said.

"No, no, I'm not saying you can't," Jamie said hastily. "I'm just . . . well, you haven't seemed very happy for a while. Just because you can handle it doesn't mean it's necessarily a good idea, you know? I mean . . . look at this, usually dinner and dancing is, well, more fun than this."

Sighing, Kitty turned and lead Jamie off the dance floor. Or possible left the dance floor and expected him to follow. "Maybe," she said. "I don't know. I think I just want to go home, now."

"We can do that," Jamie sighed, following her. "Kitty, if there's something wrong, more than just the midterm stuff . . . if I did anything . . ."

"Nothing's wrong, Jamie," Kitty said, sounding exhasperated. "Jeez, everybody's so fussed. Midterms will be over soon and it will be fine."

"It's just I've never seen you stressed enough to take it out on me before." Jamie paid the check and left a tip. "And, okay, better me than somebody else, but do you at least see why I'm concerned?"

"I'm not tak..." Kitty started, but she cut herself off and thought it over for a moment. Had she been? "All right," she finally said. "You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been... snapping at you."

"Hey, like I said, better me than somebody else. I'm harder to get rid of." Jamie smiled, relaxing a little. "Christmas isn't that far away, huh? We'll make it."

Kitty nodded. "And midterms will be over way before then, and I can, I don't know, take some time off work for finals, so I don't end up doing this again."

"Sounds like a plan. And if there's anything I can do, let me know?" Jamie quirked an eyebrow. "Other than, y'know, work on my dancing. You wanna drive home?"

"Nah, you can drive. I'm getting kind of tired."