With one light on in one room
I know you’re up when I get home
With one small step upon the stair
I know your look when I get there
There was a light in the window when she approached the apartment building. Dammit, she thought. She’d hoped he would have given up and gone to bed. But of course not. The night had been perfect, so it had to be ruined by a fight.
The club she’d gone to earlier had been loud and packed, just the way she liked them. You couldn’t dance without bumping into someone else, so the dancers didn’t worry about that. They just moved to the music. She headed into that mass of humanity, pausing to bump and grind with a few guys until she found one she liked. He was a good dancer, sensual without trying to grope her...too much. She was sure that a couple of those "accidental" touches had been anything but, but she didn’t mind. She enjoyed her body and liked it when others enjoyed it, too. She’d developed late, but the results had been worth it. Gracefully rounded hips and thighs, a small waist, and high, firm breasts that were proportionate to the rest of her body. She could almost go without a bra, if she was daring.
When the music and the crowd got to be an overload on her senses, she left the club and prowled the streets for the next few hours. They were silent and dark, and she reveled in it. Her "territory" wasn’t the greatest neighborhood in the city, but she knew self-defense techniques, including the use of the shiv she carried in a boot sheath. She wasn’t afraid of the dark or anyone she might meet there. Most of the resident "bad-asses" had tried for a piece of her and gone away empty-handed, anyway, so they didn’t bother her anymore.
But now she was home, and he was up, and that wasn’t good. She sighed and started up the stairs to the second floor apartments. She knew what was coming. She knew that look he was going to give her, angry and reproving and yet relieved for some stupid reason she had yet to figure out.
If you were a king up there on your throne
Would you be wise enough to let me go
For this queen you think you own
Wants to be a hunter again
Wants to see the world alone again
To take a chance on life again
So let me go
Fact was, she was tired of him. When she’d first met him, he’d been a partier. He’d wanted to go out and do things. She’d even taken him on a couple of her late night jaunts. But more and more often he wanted to stay home, or do tame things like going out to dinner or to a movie. She’d humored him for a while, believing she loved him. Believing she could lock the wanderlust away in a dark corner of her soul and give the rest to him.
It didn’t last. At first it was only once in a while that she had to get away, but soon she was back to the way she had been before, going out nightly. The only difference was that he sat at home and waited for her. Stayed awake and stared at her with reproachful eyes when she returned home at three or four in the morning.
Fuck him, she thought, and laughed to herself. He didn’t even like her occasional use of four-letter words, so recently she’d been using as many as possible in a single sentence, to the point of sounding ridiculous. It was childish, yes, but she couldn’t think of any other way to push him away from her than to continue acting as she was. She wanted him to say the words, the ones that would break them up. If she did it, she knew he’d act all wounded and tragic and would be insufferable. This might be the end, though, she thought as she walked up the stairs. This could be the fight that starts a new chapter in my life.
* * * * *
He’d seen her outside the club and followed her through the streets, admiring her easy walk. Clearly, she knew the area and was confident in her abilities to deal with any dangers she might encounter. Now he stood outside and watched her climb the stairs and head down the walkway. She stopped at a door and let herself into the apartment. There was a light on, and he could see two shadows in the window. She was living with someone? The thought startled him. For some reason he’d always seen her as the solo type. Who was it? Why hadn’t the person been out with her? He leaned against a streetlamp, continuing to watch the lighted window. Maybe it was just a roommate. Or maybe things were going bad between her and her lover...
* * * * *
The unread book and painful look
The TV’s on, the sound is down
One long pause, then you begin
Oh look what the cat’s brought in
"Well, look what the cat’s brought in," he said as she entered the apartment.
"Fuck off, Craig," Jack replied. She almost snickered when she saw him wince. She glanced at the TV, which was on as usual, even though it was muted. Some late night talk show. There was a book in Craig’s hands, also usual. Moby Dick this time. Last night it had been Crime and Punishment. She laughed aloud. "At least try to pick the same book two nights in a row. Nobody can read Crime and Punishment in one day." The classics were actually hers, a taste she’d acquired from her previous boyfriend and hadn’t been able to shake. She even had a complete set of Shakespeare’s plays. But at least she’d read them. She doubted Craig had read more than three pages of any of the books she’d come home to find him holding.
He sighed and stood up, putting the book down on the chair. "I wish you wouldn’t go out so much. I worry about you."
She leaned against the wall and raised an eyebrow. "Worry about me?"
"This isn’t the best neighborhood for a young lady. Someone could hurt you."
Young lady...riiiight, Jack thought, and laughed. "I’ve thrown down with the worst this area has to offer and won. They don’t bother me anymore." She changed the subject. "Why don’t you party anymore?"
"Why are you still partying? We’re not getting any younger, you know. You should be thinking about settling down with a good man and starting a family."
She snorted. "Right. Settling down and starting a family. With who? You?"
"Isn’t that what you started living with me for?"
"I started dating you because you knew how to party and I thought you’d be good in bed. (Which turned out to be a complete mistake, she thought wryly.) I started living with you because my landlord wouldn’t renew my contract. Craig, I’m twenty-two. I’ve got, oh, twenty-plus years before I go into menopause. I think that’s plenty of time to ‘settle down’ and whelp the next generation."
He only sighed and shook his head, a pained look on his face. "I love you, you know that, right? I want what’s best for you, and I don’t think this wild life is it. If you just tried to settle down, I’m sure you’d like it." He smiled. "I bet you would make a good mother, and I bet you’d find me to be the perfect husband. I’d be devoted to you and our family."
* * * * *
He stood in the pool of light from the streetlamp and watched the shadows on the curtains. They stood apart from each other, occasionally moving around, but they didn’t approach each other, didn’t touch one another. Something was definitely wrong, and he was filled with anticipation.
* * * * *
If you were a king up there on your throne
Would you be wise enough to let me go
For this queen you think you own
Wants to be a hunter again
Wants to see the world alone again
To take a chance on life again
So let me go, let me leave
Shit, Jack thought. He wants to fucking redeem me or something. Like I’m some sort of heathen who just needs to be shown the "light". Like all of a sudden I’m supposed to want to be tied to one man and one place and a bunch of whiny brats. Yeah, right! I want out of here, I want out, I want out RIGHT NOW!!
She didn’t say anything and walked by him, picking up her book on the way to her bedroom. Once there, she pulled a bunch of collapsible plastic boxes out of the closet and set them up. Then she began throwing things into them. "What are you doing?" Craig asked, watching from the doorway.
"Leaving," she replied.
"Why?" he asked in his most hurt tone of voice.
She looked at him and almost laughed. "Isn’t it obvious?"
For the crown you’ve placed upon my head
Feels too heavy now
And I don’t know what to say to you
But I’ll smile anyhow
And all the time I’m thinking, thinking
He only stared at her. She sighed. "I can’t be what you want me to be, Craig. I don’t even know what you want me to be. Your perfect little girlfriend, then your perfect little fiancee, and eventually your perfect little wife? That’s not me, and if you think it should be, then you don’t understand me at all."
"Then tell me. Help me to understand."
"I..." She sighed. "I can’t stay in one place. I need to move, to see new people and have new experiences. If I stay in one place for too long, I get bored. I have to move on. It’s wanderlust. I’ve had it since I was a kid and I doubt it’ll go away any time soon."
He opened his mouth, shut it, and then sighed. "I don’t understand. Why do you need to keep moving around? We have everything we need to be happy right here. And you’re just going to leave? Where are you going to go? What will you do for shelter?"
"I don’t know. That’s the whole point. You don’t know what’ll happen. It makes life an adventure."
Craig’s voice took on a woeful tone. "What about me? What am I supposed to do without you?"
"Look for someone more suitable for your plans." A wicked thought flashed through Jack’s mind, and she grinned. "Maybe instead of a dance club, you should try a library next time, get yourself someone nice, quiet, and willing to do whatever you say."
He looked appropriately offended.
I want to be a hunter again
Want to see the world alone again
To take a chance on life again
So let me go
Jack stacked the last box by the door. "I’ll be by in the morning to get my stuff."
Craig looked startled. "You’re not even staying overnight?"
"Nah, I’ll find someplace else." Truth is, I wouldn’t be able to stand being in the same room with you for another minute, she thought but didn’t say.
"But it’s late. There won’t be any place open."
"Motels and hotels don’t close for the night, Craig. Somebody’ll be there to check me in. Don’t worry."
"But...it’s so dangerous."
She laughed. "I’m dangerous," she said, letting her voice slide into its lower register. In a more normal voice, she continued, "Like I said, don’t worry."
Over Craig’s continued protests, she left the apartment and walked down the stairs. "Call me if you need any help," he called after her.
Yeah, right, she thought. "Whatever," she called back, hoping to shut him up. Apparently he accepted her response, because she heard the door close and when she glanced back, he wasn’t hurrying down the stairs to catch up with her.
I want to be a hunter again
Want to see the world alone again
To take a chance on life again
So let me go, let me leave, let me go...
She was halfway across the street before she noticed the man leaning against the streetlamp on the corner. She stopped, crossing her arms and looking down the street, trying to decide what to do. Ah hell, she thought, and continued over to him.
He made a show of looking her up and down as she approached, and grinned when she met his eyes. "Didn’t think you’d grow up to be so damn sexy, Jack."
"Hello, Riddick," she said, arms still crossed.
The grin stayed on his face. "You and your lover have a fight?"
"Ex-lover, and yes."
"About what?"
Jack laughed softly and let her arms drop to her sides. It had been years since she’d last seen Riddick, but his deep, quiet voice still relaxed her. "He didn’t like my habit of wandering the streets at night. He also thinks I should settle down and start a family."
Riddick laughed. "You? A mother?"
"Don’t get me wrong," Jack said. "I intend to get married and have kids someday, but not just yet. I haven’t seen everything I’ve wanted to see."
He straightened up and walked over to her. "You planning on doing all that sight-seeing alone?"
His scent washed over Jack and she was hard-pressed to keep from leaning against him and just breathing him in. She thought she’d gotten over her juvenile crush on Riddick, but it was still hanging around, as strong as ever. When she looked up at him, there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, and she realized that he knew exactly what was going through her mind. "Yeah, I am," she said.
"You sure about that?" he asked, putting a hand under her chin and tilting it up. When she didn’t pull away, he lowered his head and kissed her.
She leaned against him, returning the kiss. His lips were soft and tasted wonderful. Yummy, she thought, trying hard not to wiggle in delight.
I thought you were going to travel alone, an accusing voice said somewhere in her head.
That was true, but traveling with Riddick? The idea was too exciting to resist. Well, she answered herself, maybe not completely alone...
When he broke the kiss, she grinned up at him. "Plans can change," she said.
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