“So here we are,” I agreed, sighing contently when I felt his arm behind me. I knew he wasn’t making a ‘pass’ at me, just…doing what felt right to him. It felt right to me too. We were quickly becoming close friends, probably because I knew he was leaving soon. It was easier for me to get close to someone and speak freely when I saw no possible consequences. “I don’t think it’s sad, though. As long as we’re doing what makes us happy. Besides, I don’t think [i]determined[/i] is quite how you feel. Being determined means you’d fight it even if a lovely opportunity came along.” I smirked, my fearless and naive personality shining through once more.

“You just haven’t had someone make you happier than you are out taking pictures. But one day someone might.” Perhaps someone just needed to show him what he was missing out on. Not everyone needed a [i]lover[/i] to be happy, but I have always been big on family. Blood related or not, you need it close.

“Picture this.” With one slow movement I slid down in the bench just enough to lay my head on his shoulder, fitting there comfortably with his arm out like it was. I then tucked my feet up to the side on the bench, leaving the swinging to him and held my mug with one hand rested on my thigh. It was so quiet both outside and inside I was sure everyone had gone to bed by now, leaving no prying eyes to get the wrong idea. “Sitting out on your porch every night finding shapes in the stars above. No matter how crappy or great the day was…you’ll always have somebody to tell it to. A woman that very much wants to listen.” Were men into that sort of thing like women were? I wasn’t sure, but hopefully it sounded somewhat appealing. “You go on your trips with little more than your camera bag always knowing somebody is patiently waiting to see you again, taking care of things at home. She’s loyal, of course, and knows you are as well. Never a doubt. If she knows where you’ll be she sends letters every day. And one day you come home a week early to surprise her…she’s so happy she jumps into your arms before you’re even though the door.”

It was a wonderful imaginary story, and even I was lost in it by then. “You can’t tell me [i]that[/i], if it existed, wouldn’t change your mind even a little,” I added with a smile, tilting my head up just enough to speak softly into his ear. I was oblivious of his ‘personal space’, just doing what felt right. Being close to him like that didn’t bother me a bit, as it didn’t with most. If he didn’t know I was eccentric and unafraid by then, he was certainly going to figure it out quickly. I was the type to say and do things that could seem like flirting without meaning to since I had little experience with how men thought, especially those different from Peter. It was a pretend story about someone else afterall, that’s it.