Sobering

Eric was glad Stacy still thought it was okay if he gave Ashlee riding lessons. He really was looking forward to it, and was hoping he hadn't messed things up too badly. 

Realizing he was still looking down at his work, he feels a might stupid. For this whole thing. For the things he'd just said. For pulling away from her. He didn't even know why he felt any kind of nervous at all. He trusted Stacy, for sure. What was it she did to him every time she was near? It was almost... scary. And yet... it felt good. He was too afraid to acknowledge what he thought it might be. It couldn't be that. He wasn't ready for that. He might never be again. Surely it was just some fleeting feelings that would fade quickly... right? His heart reminds him what he'd felt the evenings in the hayloft. And yesterday when she'd gone missing. And when he'd had his arms around her on the ride home. Curse his heart for deceiving him. That's all this was. Some silly deception of emotions. 

Forcing himself to look up at Stacy, he catches her eye. Deception? As an involuntary smile spreads on his lips, he wonders. "I enjoy it, you know that. And I'll do my best to live up to your trust." 

Pausing, he knew she needed to go. And for a moment, he's almost disappointed that he would be alone again. But... he'd come here to be alone in the first place, right? There he went again in circles. If she hadn't been standing there, he would have rolled his eyes. Instead, though, he bites his lip. He usually either skipped lunch or ate alone in his usual corner. But today.... 

"See you at lunch?"

Hit with the piece of ice, Hunter gains a silly grin and shakes his head. He'd continue the little war, but he gives her a chance to speak instead.

No emotions? What was she talking about? He tries to remember all the things Kyle had told him. He knew she dated some guy named Jason and they were both Elite agents. Kyle had mentioned they had some telepathic connection and while Hunter had found it hard to swallow, he'd believed his friend. 

Still listening, Hunter's eyebrows rise slightly. The connection was gone? How? Why? Did it just go poof, or had they done something? Kyle had said that it had caused some problems... had they been able to, like, not be connected on purpose? It was too strange of a question to ask.

And then... to have Katie tell him that making her laugh had been an accomplishment... it was... strangely sobering. Hunter didn't feel proud of it in the least - not when he saw the dim look in Katie's eye. It was like all of a sudden she was hallow... dark, almost. And so sad. 

His smile had faded. Sitting up straight, he leans his elbows on the table and looks across at Katie, his expression softer than it had been all evening. "I'm sorry I was so flippant. I didn't realize." Still studying her eyes, he tries to figure her out without asking all the questions on his mind. "You okay? I mean... is there something I can do?"