DICLAIMER: Well, 'Spooky' is certainly not mine, it's David Ash's. And I don't

own Lucia... Well, not in a financial way, anyway. ^__^

A response to 'Lie In Our Graves', told in the same style.

~*~*~*~*~

He couldn't help but feel old around her, today. When they'd first met, she'd been

an eager, talented young authoress, filled with innocence and wonder. She had

fascinated him from the start: Her spirit shone brightly, through every word she

wrote down.

The moment he read her first stories, he knew, she had a true gift. And he was

content to be her friend.

"Jikei? What's up?" Talon looked up from his latest invention, his eyebrow raised

slightly.

"Nothing much... Just adjusting my boson tracker."

"Boson-what?"

"It's supposed to track bosons, a special kind of sub-atmoic particle that skips in

and out of reality. I figure out how they do it, I might be able to invent an FTL

drive! Isn't that awesome?" Lucia rolled her eyes, a profound sigh leaving her

mouth.

"Yes... Still, know what'd be more awesome?"

"What?"

"Seeing a movie with me."

"Well, this is kind of time consuming, and I'm really close to..."

"Please, jikei? Honestly, you need some fresh air..."

"... All right."

He'd known on some level that she'd always had more intense feelings for him than

simple friendship. An instinct that he'd ignored, and told that he could prepare for.

That he could handle.

His break-up with his old "girlfriend" hadn't exactly been graceful. As it was, he'd

felt broken down inside. His friends had offered sympathy and support, all of

them... But she... Her support felt different. It seemed more...

"Oh my God, Julia Roberts is sooooo hot!" Squealed Lucia, bouncing in her

movie seat. Talon sat next to her, holding his head in his hand.

"Lucia, are you sure you need to bounce up and down so much?"

"What? Are you getting... Hot? From my 'bouncing'?" Lucia asked, an evil grin on

her face. Talon blushed brightly.

"Lucia!"

"You know, I could leave you and Julia alone together..."

"Oh can it, mi amore," Lucia growled, grabbing his hand and sitting closer. "She's

just a screen." Talon blinked at the Italian girl, before sighing and letting her rest

her head on his shoulder.

"Wasn't that great?"

"Until you threatened the projector guy with a handgun to get the movie film fixed

or else when it cut out halfway through? Yes."

"Oh c'mon... Who wants to shell out an extra twenty bucks anyway?"

"Apparently, not you."

"Ai... Andrew, you are simply no fun..."

"You're just TOO much fun, you know..."

"You're just too nervous, Andrew! Lighten up!"

"We've been over this before..."

"And I won last time! (cough)LoserSayswhat(cough)"

"What?!"

"Ha!"

“Grrr…”

And through it all, he knew... She would never betray him. Even with all her

pranks, and jokes, and asides, he knew she was true. And though their paths might

not take them to the final step of a romance, he knew she would be there for him.

And he for her.

~*~*~*~*~