05.21.1966: Springtime {jon}

[missjuspeczyk]

My heart is beating a million miles a minute.  My hands are shaking as I brush my hair, not quite satisfied with my reflection.  It'll have to do.  It's too late to take a shower and start over fresh

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[gila_flats]

I take myself to the moment Laurie runs out of the house, and in the centre of the resultant shockwave I stand, merely three metres from her. I offer her a smile, remembering how the muscles of Osterman's face shifted.

"Good evening."

[missjuspeczyk]

I'm running, sprinting, calling for Mom to not wait up, and almost tripping over myself in my haste. It's ok. I breathe. I turn to lock the door. I won't be late...not more than a minute or so anyways...

Something isn't right...the ground is shaking! An earthquake? No, can't be. I don't have time to think any further. The blue is blinding.

"Jesus Christ!"

I'm sure I jumped six feet into the air. I blink, hard, several times, trying to detirmine whether or not I am hallunciating. I'm not. He's still there. And he's smiling.

Damn he's gorgeous.

"D-doctor Manhattan," I feel suddenly quite shy. "I'm sorry, you scared me. I mean, um, hello."

[gila_flats]

I am unsure whether she would prefer me to use her name or the one her mother chose for her. I will avoid the use of either, for now.

"I didn't mean to startle you. Were you not told of my abilities?"

[missjuspeczyk]

"It's not that, I--" I feel like such a baby. I feel like such an idiot. He must think I'm an idiot baby. "I knew, I mean, I just wasn't expecting you to appear like that...on my doorstep..."

God if he only knew how fast my heart is racing. My stomach is doing cartwheels. I need to move, or I'm sure he'll see me quivering.

"Um, well, where shall we go patrol first?" What the hell is wrong with me? I sound like a lost puppy! I bite my lower lip nervously and gaze at him sideways, hoping he doesn't notice that my eyes linger longer than they should.

[missjuspeczyk]

It's unreal, it's like nothing I've ever felt before. My back is to the chimney, and I am safe in his arms, wanting him, needing him. Each kiss is electric, little shivers pulse through me.

God, I could stay like this forever!

But I stop. It's the school girl in me I guess. Fear sets in. What if someone sees us? What if my mother finds out? Oh, she'd kill me!

I pull back, "I'm sorry...I..."

[gila_flats]

I move back, fix my gaze on hers. Is she afraid? I have forgotten how it feels to be anxious, but there is something in the back of my mind, an echo of something lost.

"Laurie? Have I frightened you?"

[missjuspeczyk]

"No, I..." His eyes and mine are locked. I search for something in his eyes, anything to tell me what to do or say. "I'm not frightened, I just..."

I squirm a little, feeling rather self-conscious. My cheeks flush. Damn me and my stupid nerves. I feel like such a baby. I mean, here I am, on a rooftop in the middle of the city, in the arms of Doctor Manhattan, and I'm letting my virginal embarrassment ruin everything.

"I just, um, well, I don't do this sort of thing very often...or at all..."

[gila_flats]

"Please don't feel uncomfortable," I say, letting my hands fall from her body. I want to tell her that I see everything. I see us moving in to our apartment on Laurie's 20th birthday, I see us making love, I see us arguing, I see her leaving... all layered like a jumble of slides on a projector.

I want her to smile. I take her hand in mine.

[missjuspeczyk]

I giggle, still tugging him down the steps. "Of course I'm not afraid of you. You're the sweetest, most amazing person I've ever met."

We climb downward before something else comes to mind...

"Should I be afraid of you, Jon?"

[gila_flats]

I'm sweet. Interesting.
"No. I'm not going to hurt you, Laurie. Please don't be afraid."

[missjuspeczyk]

"Good! Because I'm not!" I laugh. We are finally at the bottom floor. The building's exit is before us, and the city's late night dance is waiting. I pause before we meet the sidewalk. I reach to his shoulder, the strength of his body impresses me. "Walk me home?"

[gila_flats]

I almost laugh. Why do humans laugh in situations like these? I have forgotten, perhaps even how to regret having forgotten.

"Of course," I reply in full accordance to social expectations.