A smirk. “He's gotten out before. He usually hides in the maintenance room

where the heaters are.”

They'd reached one of the hallways that led out into the main rotunda. The

crowd noise was louder, echoing off the marble walls.

“Ah, the joys of teaching,” she said, forcing a cheerful tone. “I'm glad it's not

serious.”

His expression hadn't changed. “No, it's just…I need to head back.”

“Oh. Of course.” They'd been having such a good time, joking, laughing.

Flirting. She hadn't thought about the end. But here it was. Again.

“Look, Kate, I'm sorry. Even if I leave now, I won't be back in Golden Grove

before eight. Between a lizard hunt and the water it might be a long night. I can't let Lucius deal with this alone.”

She was waving her hands. “No, no, that's all right. You need to be there.”

And he did, because he was Peter, and that's where he belonged. Her heart felt

dim and far away. It had been going so well. But what had she expected? He had

to go back sometime.

“Where can I drop you off?” he was asking as they stopped under the planes

hanging in the aviation section.

“Oh, no problem. I can catch the electric train to Millennium Station. It'll be

easy to get home from there.”

“You sure?”

“Hey, I'm a city girl these days.” It was supposed to be a joke, but it felt flat.

He smiled anyway, crooked but sad.

And then he kissed her.

He reached out with his arm, pulled her close in one smooth motion, leaned

down, and kissed her.

It wasn't really sparks that were flying behind her eyes, but there were fireworks going on somewhere. The room was reverberating. He released her but

kept a strong grip on her arms. She could smell him, like fresh air and peppermint, and her heart tried to recover its balance.

She could feel the stares of people around her, but she didn't care.

“What was that for?” she said finally.

“They say that if you kiss someone under the wing of the airplane, it's good

luck.”

She looked up, past his head. Sure enough, they were standing under the wing of the huge 727 suspended above them.

She squinted at him. “They do not.”

His eyes glinted. “Well, they will now.”

She might have melted, she wasn't sure.

She was here, in his arms, safe. Please, world, just go away for a few more

seconds.

But, as she knew it would, it all sank. And now he had to go.

“I'll be back in Golden Grove on Sunday night,” she offered.

“What a coincidence,” he said. “So will I.”

* * *

He was gone.

The city was big, cold, and grey. She made her way down the steps. It was a

little farther to the train station than she thought but she hadn't wanted Peter to feel obligated to take her anywhere. It would be a long ride home, but she had

time.

All the time in the world.

She should have been happy, right? Elated, maybe? Things were finally

coming together with Nitrovex. Moving on an up.

It would have helped if she knew what she was feeling about Peter. Could have categorized her feelings, labeled them like colors on a palette. But they were too jumbled, smeared across the page in a muddy mix. Except for maybe

one. The deep red of fear.