Inspiration

[The_PG]

Neal watched with his head slightly cocked to one side as Alexia fell into her trance. He was plainly jealous of her ability to fall so flatly into a story. He could tell by they way her face scrunched in concentration but relaxed in memory that she was not here, but far away living out the scene; trying to find something suitable to fit in what he had struck out or even perhaps to make sure he was right. He envied her ability, for his entire life he had never been able to fit into a story, he could never picture himself in the place of a teacher, well he could do it analytically. He could see all the sides of every issue and from most points of view, but he could not submerse himself in a piece of fiction or other genre and live it in front of his eyes. He was too analytical, perhaps even too smart, perhaps he knew things would come unhinged if he let himself go and found himself lost in a world where his lengthy imagination dominated everything.

Even when writing his book he had never once slipped into the beautiful trance like state most fictional authors fall into as they write their stories; watching as countries, characters, actions, events, drama, life, death, and worlds unfold in front of them. He could not see through his main characters eyes all that went on around them and everything that happened to them from that limited point of view. When he wrote it was omniscient writing and typically third person unless he had something specific he wished to get across by the first person point of view. Here he was watching Alexia fade to nothing as she became her lead, the main characters, the protagonist, the student who had already been seduced by her teacher and was eagerly anticipating the mini-climax she would have when faced with the antagonist. Neal frowned and stood, and then slowly and ever so softly walked around the room; first to a corner of the office where he could see between slats in the blinds. He saw students still wandering his building and smiled, hoping they were enjoying it. Now he was behind Alexia and he honestly did not quite know what he was doing, but he leaned forwards so his ear was very near his students.

It came to him in a flash. Every angle of the story, every small piece of the puzzle, every worried frown and harsh word that crashed on his ear angrily. He went stock still as he breathed in Alexia's scent. It was mostly a mix of the body soap, shampoo, and conditioner she used everyday; probably lavender, some berry, and another fruit of some kind. As rare as it was it felt so easy and so natural to watch his room fade away and the auditorium flash before them. To the right and left other students scribbled notes from the board and a view were still staring over the tests he'd handed back. A strange pulsing through his skull, heart, and dick nearly yanked Neal from the character and sent him careening back into the door to his office. But he held on. Instead he watched as She, that Girl, sitting here in front of him twisted open the first page of the test he was handing back. The words he'd written in blood red stood out boldly on the white and black paper, 'Excellent lines...' The name was blurred, but Neal swore he saw an A at the beginning.

Neal watched as Alexia's trembling hands flipped through the story pages and came to rest on a page that was surprisingly upside down. Yet under her eyelids her optical balls flashed across the page as if reading two words over and over again. Her mouth moved slightly, saying unnoticeable, 'Excellent line...' His hand began to move forwards, but before it could pass in front of either of them where it would become peripherally visible by Alexia, Neal's eyes sharpened as if he'd woke and his whispered in a voice that was full of husky command and completely out of control, "I will explore your lines later. All of them." He backed up quickly and stood smartly, but then walked back around to his desk naturally, "Possessive, out of control, and at the same time intelligent. I think that is what he would say, what do you think?" He had given her what he considered enough time to regain her composure and now he watched her carefully, sure she would like very much to speak.

 

[Britwitch]

"Possessive, out of control, and at the same time intelligent. I think that is what he would say, what do you think?"

It was as if a small eternity had passed before Alexia realised Mr Broderick had spoken to her and was awaiting her response. She was still sat, eyes closed, lips parted and breathing decidedly heavy, opposite him. Alexia’s eyes fluttered open and she blushed, forcing herself to look away from her professor and his curious expression, looking back down at the papers in her lap.
“Wh-what do I…do I think?” She repeating trying to ignore the tingling at the back of her neck where his skin had been minutes before. “I think, I think you’re definitely right…that to be as brazen as I had written would endanger them both and that what…what you’ve just done-said, I mean, said…is much more effective and far safer…for him, as her teacher…” Alexia winced as the words fell without any apparent control from her lips.
She was apparently unable to focus on anything since his whispered words had danced enticingly past her ear.

“Well, thank you, Sir…but I, I really think I’ve taken up far too much of your time today…I’ll make the changes you’ve suggested and, er, bring my new notes to our…our next session…” Alexia smiled the brightest, fakest smile as she shoved her papers haphazardly into her bag and stood with such pace she almost fell back down again. “I’ll see myself out, g’bye Mr Broderick… She called when she was already halfway out of the door.

Once she was halfway back to her apartment Alexia collapsed onto a bench and fought to collect her breath. Embarassment at how she had behaved, swiftly being overwhelmed by confusion.
“…I will explore your lines later. All of them…."
It felt as if Alexia couldn’t help shuddering. It was as if every time she closed her eyes for a second she could hear Mr Broderick’s whispered words in her ear. The words themselves were not the problem, it was the sensations that had accompanied them and the effect that they had had upon her that terrified her as much as it thrilled her. Reliving the feeling of his breath against the back of her neck, the proximity of his body to hers…all of it sending warm flushes to her cheeks and worrying thrills between her legs.

Alexia eventually forced herself to get up and go home, doing her best for the next few days to try and think of anything and everything except what had passed between her and Mr Broderick.
Aside from the unprofessional undertones to what he had said and done, there was the far more worrying element that she had almost found herself wanting him to do…well, anything…something more. Alexia was horrified that she might desire the kinds of attention she was writing about and to even entertain ideas that Mr Broderick might either act in such a way or want to act in such a way with her was beyond the pale.

All too soon it was time for their next appointment. As requested, she had written the opening paragraph of her story, checked and triple checked the spelling and done everything he had asked of her. It had been relatively simple, a case of putting her central character into her setting and putting a few hints as to her personality in along with it. Alexia was happy with it, well, as happy as she could be. But even so, she found herself shaking as she waited outside Mr Broderick’s office, trying desperately not to think of what had happened the last time she had seen him.

At his instruction to enter, she did so, smiling as brightly as she could whilst handing him her latest printouts before moving to take her seat opposite his desk.
As well as her opening paragraph, and editing the classroom scene as he had suggestions, she had also made an attempt at writing some scenes between her student character and the teacher, bridging the gap between that first inkling of interest on the professors part and that scene in his office that had started this whole process off. Some inappropriate contact in the library, in his office, all of it gradually becoming more and more intense until that scene arrived. After all, she wanted their ‘relationship’ to seem at least partly believable. But as usual her print outs were marked with her own pencil scribbles and edits, changing one word for another and then changing it back. Trying to find the right tone for the scenes without making them too dramatic too early on.

She said as much to Mr Broderick once he had glanced through the pages in his hand and then laid them on the desktop. Alexia fought to control herself as her eyes met his for the first time since their last meeting, trying to keep the flush on her cheeks to a minimum as the ghostly sensation of his breath against her skin once more tormented her imagination.

 

[The_PG]

Neal really didn't need to read the final scene she had drawn, but he'd wanted to, again, for clarity's sake he told himself. That was why it took him just a little longer to look through her new work and the editing she had done, "You've done a fine job Alexia, coming up with all this material, I have to say I believe the only thing you are lacking is an overall progression of the storyline to get your opening scene," Neal touched it with his hand, and then dramatically arched his hand over her various fillers to the final scene, "To here, the climax."

Unable to sit for too long he stood up and took the middle pile of papers, randomly selected a scene, and sat down on the edge of his desk. "This... This is good, but where to place it? You say that his touches grow in 'power' and in 'deliberation' sure, but you don't really show it either. Now, a touch, such as this," Neal reached out and gently tapped her on the shoulder, "Would seem to signify good job, keep up the good work, and a whole class of generic positive things, yes? Even if I do the same thing harder, and more... deliberately, it still means the same thing only you're doing an even better job, yes?"

Without really looking at Alexia to ask her approval Neal thought of an idea, "To get the kind of effect I believe you are looking for, perhaps showing would be better then telling, and to do it effectively you have to find the right kind of words. Now, in the context the reader will obviously go searching whenever you give them any clues, but why not make it easier? Describe something like this, say," Carefully Neal touched her shoulder as before, but his fingers drifted toward her neckline, and then down her chest before rapidly pulling away. "What did my hand do, just then? It wasn't very deliberate, or powerful, was it?" He smirked a little, watching the wheels turn in her head.

 

[Britwitch]

"You've done a fine job Alexia, coming up with all this material, I have to say I believe the only thing you are lacking is an overall progression of the storyline to get your opening scene...to here, the climax."
Alexia allowed herself a shy smile of pride that he appreciated her work. Troubles with the context aside, she wanted to impress her tutor and was glad her hard work seemed to be paying off.
"This... This is good, but where to place it? You say that his touches grow in 'power' and in 'deliberation' sure, but you don't really show it either. Now, a touch, such as this,"
Alexia tensed ever so slightly at his touch but fought to conceal the small reaction.
"Would seem to signify good job, keep up the good work, and a whole class of generic positive things, yes? Even if I do the same thing harder, and more... deliberately, it still means the same thing only you're doing an even better job, yes?"
"I guess..." She replied tentatively, her mind already trying to think of where the conversation might be going, trying to think of intelligent answers to his as yet unasked questions.

"To get the kind of effect I believe you are looking for, perhaps showing would be better then telling, and to do it effectively you have to find the right kind of words. Now, in the context the reader will obviously go searching whenever you give them any clues, but why not make it easier? Describe something like this, say,"
Before Alexia could ask what he meant, she was halted by the vision of his hand reaching towards her. Part of her wanted to pull away but another part, a quieter but more insistent part, kept her where she was.
His fingers arrived against her shoulder and then moved across her front and down before swiftly retreating, his fingertips leaving tingling flesh in their wake.

"What did my hand do, just then? It wasn't very deliberate, or powerful, was it?"
"No, no it wasn't but...it, it was confident..." Alexia began, determined to focus on the task he had set her, of describing his action, rather than on the action itself. On the action and her body's reaction.
"I want to say it was teasing but that isn't right either." Alexia frowned, trying to think of how exactly she would write his movements down. "Y-your hand moved across my front, almost as if exploring, moving smoothly and without hesitation. Your fingers not seeking anything in particular but still taking an almost passing interest in what they found, the confidence behind the gesture making it...well...It could almost have been described as a posessive gesture..." Alexia blushed and looked shyly at the floor. "At least, I think that's how you could describe it...without knowing your real motivation anyway..."

 

[The_PG]

Neal's face virtually lit up when he heard the word 'possessive' come from her lips, "You remember the other day in my office, how I described your character? Possessive was the very first word I used. I think you got it quite right. There is no immediate need or even reason behind the gesture except to show a sort of possessiveness over the student. Now..." Neal frowned for a moment and glanced toward her final scene, where it lay on the desk anyways, and then looked back to Alexia, "The way your final scene is written, this, possessiveness seems to be directed right at her body. The immense physicality which you use to describe the scene is both breathtaking and very defining of the character. It does not seem to be a... Mutual lusting like those that are shown on television, but ones man immense... Possessiveness igniting sparks within the student that bring this desire up to the surface. Expressing this in the words or thoughts of the character will be hard to do, that is why i believe using these scenes, and laying them out in a clear path of increasing... Possessiveness will tell the story more aptly."

Pausing to catch his breath Neal gave a small, friendly smile, "I'm sorry if this sounds like a lecture, I generally try to steer away from these sorts of things." Again he stood up from the desk where he had just sat done moments ago, "But I believe your onto something very real here, something that not many of the other students have caught on to. These words that I've given you happen quite often, and are very real." Almost immediately there was a quick change on his face, "Now, this touch, the one I just showed seems to me, the safest before it would be likely that someone would catch on to the two of them so we need to find a few more daring, and a few less thrilling ones. You'll need to think of how they make you feel, how your character would feel from these physical... Assaults, almost, that she could tell no one about because a) she is unsure they are real and b) she is unsure whether or not she wants them to stop in the first place."

Neal stood up and moved behind her with the papers in his hand, "This scene, where it is rainy and the two of them are the last to the leave the building has excellent possibilities for one of the final meetings before the professors lust breaks loose. I can almost hear the raindrops and see the look of dread in the students face, she must not only walk across campus, but into the city to her apartment in the horrible wind. The professor probably knows this, and it's his chance to slowly chip away at her barrier. Perhaps... These looks and clues that are given, are nice and sweet. Like two high school sweet hearts but your professor is a different man then this, I think. Possessively, he would perhaps not even ask. Maybe, he would take her coat off the rack," Which Neal did with his own coat, "And drape it over her shoulders," Which he did to Alexia, "But it would end there. His fingers would stay here, like this, you see," His fingers dug in slightly, massaging gently, "And he would lean very close in. So she could feel his warm breath on her neck and ear," Again Neal leaned over, "Like this. He might say... I am giving you a ride... Are you ready to go?"

 

[Britwitch]

"Now, this touch, the one I just showed seems to me, the safest before it would be likely that someone would catch on to the two of them so we need to find a few more daring, and a few less thrilling ones. You'll need to think of how they make you feel, how your character would feel from these physical... Assaults, almost, that she could tell no one about because a) she is unsure they are real and b) she is unsure whether or not she wants them to stop in the first place."
Alexia nodded, scarely trusting her voice to allow her a verbal answer that would not betray just how bemused and excited and nervous she felt. In a way, she had hoped Mr Broderick would help her write the scenes that were causing her the most difficulty but she hadn't imagined he would want to analyse them in such detail and discuss, or even demonstrate, actions that would or wouldn't fit in. For a few seconds the ever diminishing line between fact and fiction seemed to blur once more and Alexia fought to remember that she was not the 'love-struck', naive and overwhelmed student and neither was Mr Broderick was the teacher at the root of her fantasies.

"This scene, where it is rainy and the two of them are the last to the leave the building has excellent possibilities for one of the final meetings before the professors lust breaks loose. I can almost hear the raindrops and see the look of dread in the students face, she must not only walk across campus, but into the city to her apartment in the horrible wind. The professor probably knows this, and it's his chance to slowly chip away at her barrier. Perhaps... These looks and clues that are given, are nice and sweet. Like two high school sweet hearts but your professor is a different man then this, I think. Possessively, he would perhaps not even ask. Maybe, he would take her coat off the rack...And drape it over her shoulders,"
To her surprise the coat seemed bigger than she had expected when he draped it around her shoulders, then again, up close Mr Broderick seemed more...'solid' that he did at the front of the class. In lectures he had seemed almost stereotypically slim, the image of literary genius, more focus on finishing a chapter rather than cooking and eating a good meal. But now...now while his frame could be considered slight, Alexia kept noticing his height, the breadth of his shoulders, the dexterity in his fingers and hands.

"But it would end there. His fingers would stay here, like this, you see,"
Alexia didn't completely manage to surpress her gasped sigh as his fingers began to massage her shoulders. Sending a steady pulse of heat down her spine and making her simultaneously bit her lower lip and close her eyes.

"And he would lean very close in. So she could feel his warm breath on her neck and ear,"
By now Alexia was finding it hard to maintain control over her breathing. The feeling of his breath against her skin was a constant tingling, almost burning sensation, making her want to draw away and move closer at the same time. She could feel her head starting to lean back, seeking his shoulder.
"...He might say... I am giving you a ride... Are you ready to go?"

"...Yes..." Alexia breathed before realising she was answering a question that had not really been asked of her. Her eyes shot open and she hastily swallowed. "I mean, yes, I...I see what you mean...in an instant like that, with her own feelings so confused, his taking the lead would allow her to simply follow her mind's and heart's desire without having to question the sensibilities of it...a fact I think he is all too aware of..." Alexia moved slightly so she could look back over her shoulder at him.

"I think it likely she is not the first student he has...has done this to and so his confidence and sense of self assurance that he will ultimately get what he wants allows him to act in a bolder way than if this was his first...I don't know, infatuation...or interest, interest I think is better...his first interest in a student...And the fact that he acts in such a confident, posessive way, will help cloud her mind about the rights and wrongs. He is still her tutor after all and on some level she may well simply trust him as he is in a position of authority. Her natural reaction would be to question and avoid such a...a situation...but his confidence helps erode those doubts. I think the combination of the coat, and the slight massage and the question that isn't really a question would help her feel somehow safe with this man who makes her feel so unsure...more trusting..." She finished quietly, realising how close they were standing and how she could see the brilliance of his green eyes just behind his glasses, seeing them clearly for the first time.

 

[The_PG]

Neal paused for a moment as if to say, 'I meant to make you feel that way.' Before giving a small smile and quick nod of his head, "Yes, exactly. I think you are right. Teachers generally are given the benefit of the doubt in all they do, and your teacher has learned how to manipulate his feelings and demeanor to maximize the leeway he is already given. Innately, a student trusts the teacher, or at least in general, there are always a few..." He gave a slight laugh as he returned to his desk, sitting on the edge, and absentmindedly leaving his jacket perched on Alexia's shoulders, "Headcases, but for the most part they trust us since we are the ones teaching them everything they need to know... Alexia, I'm very proud of you, you've really thrown yourself into this project, most students enjoy this course, but few seem to be enjoying it as much as yourself." Another friendly smile passed through his face and his keen eyes glimmered slightly before returning to their normal, mysterious state; somewhat between laughter and a strange foreboding of sorts.

"I think some of these could actually work for your... Beginning scenes, where things start to become more affectionate and the teacher becomes more demanding. Like..." Licking his finger, Neal quickly flipped through the stack in his hand until he found what he was looking for. Then he licked his lip and pulled out the scene that was covered in markups and edits, "You couldn't quite decide on this one could you... It's almost like a tipping point, towards the beginning. As your student enters his office, it's almost immediately apparent that something is different to her. He is friendly, charming even, he doesn't just shake her hand, but he kisses it. It's a romantic gesture, but at the same time proper enough to be overlooked. Not the issue, I think having him sit in the chair next to her, close enough to touch, which he does several times. Is an excellent choice, perhaps by this point she considers him overly friendly, or just lacking in personal boundaries."

Neal turned the page and smiled, "But immediately after, as his secretary enters it's becomes quite clear that he knows personal boundaries. He moves away, leans back in the chair, does all the subtle actions that lead both of the women to believe he is acting as a normal professor would. Then, the moment the secretary is gone, he is back to touching and 'putting their heads together' but more then in a figurative sense. I-" The phone rang suddenly and Neal frowned before answering it, he did not like to be interrupted when he had an appointment and his secretary knew this, "Yes? Oh? I see... I see... Well, there is nothing for it then, I'll be down in a moment." He hung the phone up, "I'm afraid one of the professors has fallen ill and I am to be his substitute for a class in thirty minutes. Just enough time to prepare really, but I will have to cut our meeting short. I hope I've helped you enough," Neal returned to Alexia's side and placed a hand on either shoulder, "I've really enjoyed it." He purposefully said the words differently, emphasizing the fact in the whisper with which he spoke, his fingers naturally began to massage her shoulders through the jacket before he pulled it off her back. "I will see you in class Alexia," As he bent into a small bow he quickly took her hand and kissed it, before giving her a wink. "You see the difference, don't you?" He laughed, but it was not an altogether simple laugh, there was much more bubbling under the surface.

There was no time to explain it though, Mr. Broderick's secretary entered and motioned for a stunned Alexia to follow her out the door. Neal watched her walk away, his green eyes noting the blush on her cheek and neck rather easily, he smiled to himself before sitting behind his desk with a delighted sigh.

 

[Britwitch]

"Yes, exactly. I think you are right. Teachers generally are given the benefit of the doubt in all they do, and your teacher has learned how to manipulate his feelings and demeanour to maximize the leeway he is already given. Innately, a student trusts the teacher, or at least in general, there are always a few…head cases, but for the most part they trust us since we are the ones teaching them everything they need to know... Alexia, I'm very proud of you, you've really thrown yourself into this project, most students enjoy this course, but few seem to be enjoying it as much as yourself."
Alexia barely noticed the slight weight of his jacket remaining around her shoulders, she was too busy smiling shyly, a sense of pride and achievement flooding her insides. Had she been younger she might even have found herself swaying from side to side and biting her lip, avoiding eye contact such was the effect his few words of praise had upon her. What niggled in the back of her mind was that his words were hardly the first of their kind she had received, having always been a diligent student, yet why was she reacting as if she was somehow starved of recognition and the words still echoing in her ears were somehow more important than any others?

"I think some of these could actually work for your... beginning scenes, where things start to become more affectionate and the teacher becomes more demanding...You couldn't quite decide on this one could you... It's almost like a tipping point, towards the beginning. As your student enters his office, it's almost immediately apparent that something is different to her. He is friendly, charming even, he doesn't just shake her hand, but he kisses it. It's a romantic gesture, but at the same time proper enough to be overlooked. Not the issue, I think having him sit in the chair next to her, close enough to touch, which he does several times. Is an excellent choice, perhaps by this point she considers him overly friendly, or just lacking in personal boundaries."
Alexia kept her responses minimal, refraining from little more than nodded her head or making quiet noises to ensure he knew she was listening, not wanting to interrupt him as part of her brain almost kept minutes of his words that she could reference later when editing her work.

"But immediately after, as his secretary enters it becomes quite clear that he knows personal boundaries. He moves away, leans back in the chair, does all the subtle actions that lead both of the women to believe he is acting as a normal professor would. Then, the moment the secretary is gone, he is back to touching and 'putting their heads together' but more then in a figurative sense. I-"
The sound of the phone ringing made Alexia jump, such was the focus she had apparently developed upon Mr Broderick’s words. She fiddled with the hem of her top while he answered the call.

"I'm afraid one of the professors has fallen ill and I am to be his substitute for a class in thirty minutes. Just enough time to prepare really, but I will have to cut our meeting short. I hope I've helped you enough…” Alexia’s eyes fluttered as his fingers massaged her shoulders for a few moments, blushing as she heard herself take a sudden and slightly shaking breath.
“I will see you in class Alexia," The touch of his lips against the back of her hair drew a gasp from hers, forcing her to bite her lip to prevent any other embarrassing noises leaving her mouth.
"You see the difference, don't you?"
Alexia had barely gotten her pages from his outstretched hand and just opened her mouth to try and respond when the secretary seemed to appear from almost nowhere and steered her out of the room, her cheeks and neck still warm and, she didn’t doubt, pink.

The back of her hand felt as if it was tingling all the way home, despite her trying to tell herself it was all in her head. When she got home, she put the kettle on to make some tea, switched on the computer to check her emails, rang home but no one it seemed was in, cooked something light to eat…and all the while all she could think of was the feeling of his fingers on her shoulders, the warmth of his breath against her skin, the surprising smoothness of his lips as they pressed to her hand…
She kept catching herself staring into space, reliving moments from their meeting again…and again…
In the end, she forced herself to shower, scrubbing her hand as if trying to remove an elusive stain, as if simply by cleaning away any traces of his kiss would erase that instant from her memory.
It didn’t work.

She spent a couple of hours going over the scenes he had handed back, trying to make slight adjustments to her choice of vocabulary, changing the more vague descriptions to more specific ones. Helping define the moments in her story when the relationship between her student and professor changed. But even in the moments when she was entirely focused upon her work, her fingers flying across the keyboard with excited accuracy, she would find that her mind was putting herself into the place of the student in her story, and increasingly the face of the professor she was writing about would morph into that of Mr Broderick. It was all very perplexing. So much so, that after Alexia had had to walk away from the computer in something of a huff after she had typed Mr Broderick’s name rather than that of the character she had created for the tenth time, Alexia decided she had to do something about it. She rapidly printed off the new copies of the altered scenes and, after glancing at the clock and decided 7 o’clock wasn’t too late to stop by his office in the hope of catching him before he went home, Alexia pulled a hooded sweat shirt over the vest she had thrown on after her shower and twisted her hair up with a clip before grabbing her papers and keys and setting off for campus.

Campus was a decidedly strange place to be after ‘normal’ hours. The buildings were mostly dark and the common areas were almost completely deserted. Not that she was scared as such, Alexia still broke into a gentle but determined jog as she wove her way through the buildings towards the house that housed Mr Broderick’s office. There were a few lights burning beyond the curtains, keeping her hope alive that she might catch her tutor and at least leave him her reworked scenes to read between now and their next scheduled appointment. However, after entering and knocking on his office door a few times to no answer, she sighed and turned to leave. At least the jog might have tired her out enough that she might fall asleep when she got home. She didn’t get far.
“Hey…Alex, isn’t it?” A voice called from the shadows at the end of the corridor, the owner of the voice soon appeared in the dull light. He was tall, broad shouldered and, sadly, slightly vacant of expression.
“Alexia… She corrected painfully. “Yeah, that’s me…you’re John, aren’t you?” She hesitated over his name. To be honest she paid little attention to her fellow students and they all seemed to melt into one another in her subconscious, but from his physique and almost innate sense of confidence let her to believe he was one of the footballing members of her class.
“Johnny, yeah that’s me…what you doing here so late?” He asked, moving closer and causing Alexia to subconsciously step back.
“Oh me? Well, er, Mr Broderick asked me to drop some pages off tonight but I guess I missed him…” Alexia shrugged and made an attempt at smiling before adding. “Anyway, g’night…guess I’ll see you in class…”
“Wait…wait a minute…” A large hand moved before her and stopped her. “I…er…I was kinda hoping to bump into you actually…”
“You were…?” Alexia couldn’t help but wince awkwardly, praying inside this wasn’t going to turn out to be some clumsy attempt at telling her he thought she was cute or some such nonsense.
“Well, yeah…” Johnny smiled and ran a hand through his hair, closing the last of the space between them and all but pinning her to the wall next to the door to Mr Broderick’s office. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about the course…well, not the course so much as…well…your story…”
“My story?” Alexia repeated, shifting her weight from foot to foot, brow creased in confusion.
“Yeah, I really like it…I think you’ve got a real talent…” Johnny said slightly bluntly, to which Alexia thought it best to just say a quiet ‘thank you’ and smile, hoping that would be the end of it. “Yeah, ever since Mr Broderick shared your work with us, it’s all I can think about…” Alexia wasn’t sure, but later she could have sworn there was a wink at the end of his sentence.
“Well that’s…that’s good to know, I guess…” Alexia smiled, although a little less brightly this time. “I…I’ve enjoyed yours too…” She added quickly, in case he was simply fishing for compliments. “But I should…I should really be-”
“Definitely been thinking about you and your story a lot…” Johnny continued, cutting her off, leaning his broad frame even closer. “I know a lot of the guys have…”
This time Alexia didn’t want to reply, in any way, didn’t want to do anything to prompt him to continue with wherever this was going. But he carried on anyway.
“It’s…er…” Johnny glanced around almost conspiratorially before lowering his face closer to hers and whispering. “It’s pretty dirty stuff…”
“To some people maybe but-”
“And well, the guys and me…but more me…we’ve wondered where a nice girl like you gets such dirty ideas…”
It wasn’t a question she wanted to answer and Alexia felt her stomach tightening as his eyes caught hers, feeling the weight of his frame beginning to press into her.
“I think you perhaps not as nice a girl as you make out…”
“That’s very interesting, Johnny, but sadly I really have to go…” Alexia made to step around him but his hand grabbed her arm and pulled her, none too gently, back against the wall.
“I think this dirty story of yours is closer to fact than fiction, hey Alex? That why you’re here so late? You and the professor got a ‘late’ appointment…?”Johnny leered.
“Let go of my arm please…” Alexia asked quietly, trying to remove his iron like grip from her upper arm.
“Oh don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone baby…” Johnny assured her, leaning all of his weight against her and making her gasp as she felt the growing bulge between his legs pressing against her hip. “But how about we find a nice quiet room and I can give you some ideas for your story…” He punctuated this sentence with a not very subtle thrust of his hips against her body.
“How about you let me go and I don’t report you…?” Alexia said tightly, through gritted teeth. Trying to hide the terrified trembling in her voice.
“Oh, I get it…” Johnny’s smile grew so wide it threatened to split his face in two. “You like to play the damsel in distress, huh? That’s fine with me baby, I like it when they fight it. In fact, I kinda hoped you’d want it this way…”
Before Alexia could cry out for help or ask him to stop, his mouth was crushing hers and muffling her cries. She struggled against the wall while one hand on his hands held her in place and the other groped at her chest through her sweatshirt. She was trying, in vain, to knee him in the groin when suddenly the weight of him disappeared and she found herself leaning against the wall, shaking and gasping for breath, looking at the shocked face of Johnny and Mr Broderick standing beside him.

 

[The_PG]

"Johnny," Neal spoke calmly though his eyes betrayed the anger inside him, "Calm down. Now," There was an iron toughness in the teachers eyes that neither student had ever before witnessed, and combined with the glimmer of anger shining in his eyes made him an altogether impressive figure. Of course Johnny was much bigger then Neal, but Neal had correctly assumed that the boy was already far in over his head. Now he really didn't know what to do, "Go stand by the house."

Neal watched Johnny slowly walk over towards the door.

His focus immediately returned to Alexia and softened a great deal, "Are you okay luv?" He asked gently as he helped her off the wall and brushed a strand of stray hair from her face. He didn't touch her, but he was close and he hoped the presence was enough. This sort of situation was not something he dealt with everyday and he wasn't entirely sure of what to do next.

But he at least had an idea. "Let's go inside, I've already called security," He carefully whispered the words with a friendly smile, he didn't want to give Johnny a chance to overhear and make this any harder then it had to be. "Follow me," He called to Johnny after they passed him, and he pointed to a chair outside of his office as he led Alexia into the office. He made sure to close the door and get Alexia a drink before sitting down and speaking again, "Alexia... Are you sure you are okay?" She nodded, Neal was quite glad that he'd arrived when he had. "He has no excuses, even the alcohol on his breath won't be enough to keep him from being sent home, for good. I don't know what is wrong with him, the security personnel will need to speak with you, can you do that?" Neal at the moment was wondering why Alexia wouldn't look him in the eyes, nothing had actually happened so he was quite sure it wasn't her feeling like less of a women, or anything of this nature, "Did he... Say anything to you?" He asked before suddenly wishing he hadn't, the look she gave him was both frightened and almost... Eager, like she really wished to tell him something but she was afraid if she did he would... Laugh, "What is it Alexia?"

 

[Britwitch]

Alexia's wide eyes had been so focused on watching Johnny moving away that the touch of Mr Broderick's hands helping her away from the wall against which she had been all but cowering made her jump. She was still trying to control her breathing and reduce her heart rate which had leapt up thanks to the adrenalin her body had released due to her panic when Mr Broderick steered her into his office and into a seat.
She accepted the glass of water he offered with a muted thank you.

"Alexia... Are you sure you are okay?"
Her nod was an instinctive reaction rather than an honest response to his question, keeping her eyes fixed upon the glass of water.
"He has no excuses, even the alcohol on his breath won't be enough to keep him from being sent home, for good. I don't know what is wrong with him, the security personnel will need to speak with you, can you do that?"
"I...I don't know...yes, I think so..."
"Did he... Say anything to you?"
Alexia's chin shot up and her eyes, wide and bright, fixed upon his face. Had he heard something? Had he heard Johnny's ridiculous acusations? Would he believe them if he had...? Did she believe them...?
"What is it Alexia?"

"He...I...I don't know..." She murmured haltingly, pausing her lick her lips. "He said that I...that you..."
Alexia frowned, reliving Johnny's taunting words, trying to remember why she was in fact at his office in the first place.
"I came to...to bring you some of my pages, so you could see them...before our next meeting. But then he, then Johnny, he said...he was talking about my story, saying things about it, about me...about you..." She added quietly.
"He was saying my story wasn't...wasn't just a story...that I'd come here to see you...and I, I know I didn't...I know I came to bring you my pages but then...when he was speaking I got...I got confused..." The crease between Alexia's eyebrows deepened for a moment.
"He made me think about where this story has come from, where inside me it's come from and I...I don't know"
The look Alexia now gave her professor could only be explained as pleading.
"I...I don't know why I came here..."

 

[The_PG]

"You came to give me some of your refurbished chapters, like I asked," Neal raised an eyebrow to make sure she understood that this was what she was supposed to say, "That's what you'll tell security. Any... Deeper meaning, we can figure out on our own, mkay? First we have to deal with that punk. This is why I never played team sports you know," Neal chuckled, "All that testosterone... Half of them are gay anyways you know, don't ya luv?" He chuckled and lightly touched her chin, "Hey, why don't you get the scenes out on my desk and we can go over them as soon as we've cleared up this situation. Okay?" Giving her something to do, and little to think about was Neal's plan, at least until security had come and gone.

"I will be right outside with Johnny, I want to talk to him first, and you don't need to hear any of it." It wasn't a suggestion, or a question, Neal moved out the door and closed it firmly behind him in case Alexia did understand him. "Just what is wrong with you Johnny?"

The boy tried to give him a sly grin but the look on Neal's faced stopped him cold. "Nothing," He said defensively.
"Nothing?" Neal scoffed and squeezed his fingers together in front of him. "That's a poor answer," He pointed out while narrowing his eyes.
"Nothing you wouldn't do," Finally the boy had found his footing, "I'm just like you. I know what I want in my bitches and I'll take it, whenever the fuck i want."
"You're nothing like me Johnny, you haven't the common sense to know you can't go about raping women when you please," Neal shook his head and gave a laugh, "This isn't grade school, hurting girls isn't a show of affection. It shows a distinct mental incapability on your part to comprehend anything of human nature."
"What the... fuck?"
Neal chortled, "Nothing the 'fuck' just shut up and sit down."
This at least, Johnny did without protest.

Security came and took down the stories carefully, along with one of the two police officers assigned to campus by the local station. Neal watched as Johnny was led away with handcuffs on his wrist, he said only, "Frankly I'm ashamed to have him as a student." With that and a few more thank you's it was over. Neal promised to escort Alexia home, and then he returned to his office to sit on the other side of the desk. "He's gone," He said simply before reaching for her writing and scanning it quickly, "Better... Much better, excellent. This is slowly turning into what I think you want it to be Alexia... I will look over it more closely tomorrow, for now... I think, we should talk." He gave a small smile, "First, do you live far from my office? Yes, well we should start walking then, we can talk on the way."

Neal pulled a hat and trench coat on before leaving, "Shall I pull up the collar?" He asked with a small wink, "I'll look like one of those characters out of the New York mafia." He was obviously trying to lighten the situation, but comedy was not his profession, "I think..." He said quietly as they walked, "We do need to figure out why this, your story, has come out. The word I gave you cannot be blamed, it is only a word. You, your mind, your essence. That is where the story came from. Now unless I'm completely mistaken you imagine the teacher in your story to be one of those hulking fellows, the ones who do not have necks, yet he still has a brain on his head like all teachers. He is physical, raw, dominant. He oozes it... Did you... Ever have a teacher like this?" Although Neal had not noticed, they had begun walking progressively closer and he was in the process of moving even closer, and perhaps even with intention of wrapping his arm around her.

 

[Britwitch]

"You came to give me some of your refurbished chapters, like I asked...that's what you'll tell security."
Amelia nodded quickly.
"Any... Deeper meaning, we can figure out on our own, mkay? First we have to deal with that punk. This is why I never played team sports you know...all that testosterone... Half of them are gay anyways you know, don't ya luv?"
Amelia had just begun to feel the knot of tension relaxing in her stomach when his fingers connected with her chin and sent a surge of...something racing up her spine.

"Hey, why don't you get the scenes out on my desk and we can go over them as soon as we've cleared up this situation. Okay?"
"Okay..." Amelia repeated, a weak smile curving her lips.
"I will be right outside with Johnny, I want to talk to him first, and you don't need to hear any of it."
Before Amelia could voice her agreement Mr Broderick had gone and the door closed behind him. She wet her lips and focused on sorting through her print outs, forcing herself not to try and figure out what was being discussed outside.
Soon enough, after hearing the arrival of others and assuming them to be security, Mr Broderick re-entered the office.

"He's gone,"
Amelia sighed with obvious relief as he began to read through her work.
"Better... Much better, excellent. This is slowly turning into what I think you want it to be Alexia... I will look over it more closely tomorrow, for now... I think, we should talk...First, do you live far from my office? Yes, well we should start walking then, we can talk on the way."
As much as Amelia was glad to have an escort on her way home, the fact that it was Mr Broderick and that they would be discussing some rather delicate subjects did cause her cheeks to pink slightly as she watched him get ready to leave.

"Shall I pull up the collar?...I'll look like one of those characters out of the New York mafia."
She laughed a little awkwardly at his joke, following him out into the hall and watching as he locked his office door before leading the way outside.

"I think...We do need to figure out why this, your story, has come out. The word I gave you cannot be blamed, it is only a word. You, your mind, your essence. That is where the story came from."
Amelia felt her cheeks pink a little more. Was he blaming her, surely he didn't believe Johnny's accusations? Then again, she had admitted her own judgement of the situation was confused. She refrained from comment as he continued.
"Now unless I'm completely mistaken you imagine the teacher in your story to be one of those hulking fellows, the ones who do not have necks, yet he still has a brain on his head like all teachers. He is physical, raw, dominant. He oozes it... Did you... Ever have a teacher like this?"

Amelia thought for a moment, trying to picture in her mind the character she had created. Elements of Mr Broderick's description were accurate. She did imagine her 'teacher' to be tall and broad shouldered, definitely powerful in prescence as well as stature.
"I did, once...he was our gym teacher in high school. Rumour had it he'd been on an olympic wrestling team and only entered teaching after an injury. He was so forceful. He could control an entire class with a look...he hardly ever had to raise his voice. Everyone respected him, although it's probably truer to say they were a little afraid of him..."

Amelia's hand brushed Mr Broderick's coat as they walked, making her realise how closely they were walking alongside one another. But even so, she didn't move away.

"But I think the character comes with a little more brain and a little less brawn. I didn't want to create a 'caveman'...he uses psychology rather his physical dominance to control the student...at least in the beginning. Obviously when it comes to that climactic scene it is his physical strength that ensures he...well, he gets what he wants..." She wet her lips as she glanced up in Mr Broderick's face.

"But even if, in some bizarre way, I have unconsciously based my character on that gym teacher...it wasn't as if I had any interest of that nature in him myself, nor did anyone else I know..."

"Where...where do you think these ideas have come from? Please, please help me understand all of this..." Amelia and Mr Broderick had slowed their pace somewhat, almost bringing them to a standstill. "I am starting to feel like things are starting to get out of my control..."

 

[The_PG]

"But even if, in some bizarre way, I have unconsciously based my character on that gym teacher...it wasn't as if I had any interest of that nature in him myself, nor did anyone else I know..."

Neal didn't show it but he was slightly surprised by this, most girls would willingly admit to crushes on high school teachers like this, and that would be the most logical point for this idea to spawn from. But after her admissions about her character being slightly less brawn and more brain, he was realized that perhaps he hadn't even thought she had that crush. Perhaps he was only solidifying the idea in his mind, that she was interested in him. Her description surely fit, but how could she have developed this so quickly, it wasn't rational, for she had only known him for a handful of days before she had begun work on this story. Perhaps this was one area where for all his own understanding of the world Neal could not grasp how quickly human emotion and feeling could work on someone. Especially a young student who still had not solidified their ideals, emotions, or ability to control themselves.

"Where...where do you think these ideas have come from? Please, please help me understand all of this... I am starting to feel like things are starting to get out of my control..."

"Out of control?" Neal was shocked at how suddenly and easily their train of thought had crossed paths. "Alexia I know something like what Johnny did is striking and sudden, but you must remember that it is only a story you are writing. I don't know much about the rest of your life, but it seems you are very collected and on top of things, I've talked to a few of your other professors and they would all agree. So this story may be having an impact on you, internally... Just remember, you have all the control over this story. Everything." What Neal was essentially hoping for was just a clear definition for Alexia, because while he was very interested in her story and where it had come from, he was not blinded by being so close to the story or so interested that he could not see how the rest of her life could go on smoothly. "Just remember that... Because what I'm about to do is going to surprise you."

They had stopped by now and as Alexia swung to look at him and fight out what he was doing he leaned forwards and pecked her right on the lips. His head and body quickly jerked backwards and the rest of his body avoided an contact with hers. So soon after the attempted rape, it seemed almost stupid, but Neal could see that she was becoming utterly consumed by this story and what Johnny had done seemed to do nothing but plunge her deeper into the story. The kiss was a test, not only for Alexia, but for Neal. He smiled gently, "I think I know where your story has come from Alexia. You've recognized something in me that even I hide, but I'm not going to tell it to you. You'll have to figure it out... I don't wish to confuse you, but this is something you are going to have to figure out on your own. I cannot give you the answer... That... Would be... Worse then what Johnny did."

Neal could see that Alexia was at a loss, he touched her chin again gently, "Think about it luv. You will understand, here, one more for good luck." This time Neal pressed their lips together gently, and kept his there for three blissful seconds before retreating. "I will see you tomorrow, stop by whenever you'd like." He walked to the apartment door and opened it for Alexia, "In you go." He said with a friendly smile and last glowing glance.

 

[Britwitch]

"Out of control?...Alexia I know something like what Johnny did is striking and sudden, but you must remember that it is only a story you are writing. I don't know much about the rest of your life, but it seems you are very collected and on top of things, I've talked to a few of your other professors and they would all agree. So this story may be having an impact on you, internally... Just remember, you have all the control over this story. Everything."

Alexia nodded, it was all true. Until she had started writing this story her life had been ordered and organised, she had always prepared her assignments in plenty of time and had yet to be late for a class, but it was because of just how drastic an effect the story was having upon her that Alexia found herself struggling for an explanation.
It was just a story, a story she was writing…
She could stop if she wanted, hell she could even change it all if she wanted…
But that was the problem, part of her didn’t want to…part of her wanted to know whether these desires she was writing of were really just fantastic creations of her imagination or deep rooted wishes of her own…was her character just a character or was it some strange depiction of herself…?

"Just remember that... Because what I'm about to do is going to surprise you."
“Huh…?” Alexia had been a little lost in her own musings and had only just tuned into Mr Broderick’s voice when it happened.
He kissed her.
It was hardly a ‘Gone with the wind’ style, breath stealing kiss but it was a kiss nonetheless and it left her open mouthed and wide eyed. Her mind racing at a million miles an hour.

"I think I know where your story has come from Alexia. You've recognized something in me that even I hide, but I'm not going to tell it to you.”
“I…I did…?”
“You'll have to figure it out... I don't wish to confuse you, but this is something you are going to have to figure out on your own. I cannot give you the answer...that...would be...worse than what Johnny did."
Alexia’s brow creased, lips moving but no words coming forth.
“Think about it luv. You will understand, here, one more for good luck."
Her attempt at responding was briefly muffled by his lips once more planting themselves upon hers. She noticed his lips seemed even warmer and softer than when they had brushed her hand and she had almost begun to respond when he pulled back.
"I will see you tomorrow, stop by whenever you'd like...In you go."
Alexia walked through the door he was holding open for her in something of a daze, by the time she had turned around, Mr Broderick was already walking away from her building.

Somehow she managed to get upstairs and into her apartment, although she was barely aware of anything that was happening. She made a cup of tea, which she didn’t drink, put the TV on and looked at it, although the images and the sounds passed through her mind like wind through tall grass.
His words, however, repeated and repeated inside her head.
"I think I know where your story has come from Alexia. You've recognized something in me that even I hide, but I'm not going to tell it to you.”
She was clinging desperately to the idea that there was some clear, somehow rational explanation for her work, for her imagination...and that he had identified it.

"I think I know where your story has come from Alexia. You've recognized something in me that even I hide, but I'm not going to tell it to you.”
But the glimmer of hope in thinking he had unlocked the mystery of this infernal story was cloaked with new concerns, only now filtering into her thinking.
He said she had recognised something in him, even now she wasn’t entirely sure what he had meant but the first thoughts that had come into her head were…had his own imagination travelled the rocky path hers was currently taking? Were her desires, if indeed they were desires at all, were her desires…the same as his own? Was that what he was trying to tell her?

Alexia forced herself to bed, having already delivered her latest revisions to Mr Broderick there was nothing else for her to work upon, trying to put everything out of her head but of course, sleep was slow in coming and when it did welcome her into its embrace her dreams danced around the darkness, full of strange images.

In one moment Mr Broderick was chiding her for fantasising about him, even though she insisted she had not…
Then in another moment, or was it the same, he was professing his own desires for her…his hands taking her body, claiming it as his own...
Then again the image changed and she was undeniably his.
Upon her knees in the middle of his office, then all of a sudden beneath his desk, pleasuring and satisfying him while he graded papers and stroked her hair like a well behaved pet…

Morning came and Alexia could barely bring herself to look in the mirror, such awfully lewd dreams had plagued her that she knew she would blush if she caught her own eyes. While the imagery itself was fairly worrying she could easily have reasoned it away as a by product of watching a late movie or over hearing a random conversation, it was her body’s and her mind’s reaction to the dreams that made her feel so wretched and caused her to avoid all the reflective surfaces in the apartment.

She knew she had to go and talk to him, if nothing else to ask why he had said what he had. The kiss, while probably the thing she should be most concerned about, she had almost forgotten in her yearning to know what he believed he had discovered about her, what he seemed to know about her.

Alexia waited as long as she could, heading to the campus and the house around lunchtime. The house seemed empty, most of the students having abandoned it in search of pre-prepared lunches in the cafeteria. Biting her lower lip anxiously, she climbed the stairs to his office and tentatively knocked on the door, not sure if she secretly wanted him to be there or not.

 

[The_PG]

Neal had just begun making a cup of tea when the light knock on his door called for his attention. He opened it, and immediately smile, "Alexia, come in!" She did, and he closed the door behind her fully as they exchanged pleasantries. "How are you feeling, no nightmares I hope? I'm just making some tea, do you want any?" She nodded, so he retrieved yet another of his large collection of mugs and finished making the tea. He exchanged some light banter, but really focused on the job at hand for the moment, once he was finished and had handed the cup of steaming liquid over did he say anything. "Now... I know why you're here, what I said last night... First, before I do any talking, I was wondering if you have anything you'd like to share?"

Mr. Broderick knew the question could make Alexia feel uncomfortable, but that was his intent for this one time only. He didn't think she was someone who couldn't handle it, and if she did have something to say that some form of decency or embarrassment kept her from saying he thought hearing it would be a very good idea. In fact Neal had spent most of the night, and earlier today, thinking about what exactly was going through her mind. He was a man, not above his own trips into fantasy land. He could see Alexia in several different forms of dress, ones he truthfully wished he could by for her now and have her try out for him, but it was fantasy and easily brushed aside. Still... Knowing that there was something there, a lewd fascination of sorts, was good for Neal. It gave him a confident ground to stand on while he helped her figure out his confusing statements from the night before. He couldn't just give her the simple answer that he'd deduced last night.

That simple answer being, he wanted to take her, carnally, and make her body his. Like he mentioned, that would be worse then what Johnny had done the night before, because while there was no immediate physical or legal ramifications, there soon would be. The reasoning for this was simple, after admitting how he felt, what she 'saw in him' only two things could really happen. Either she would transfer out of his class, and their friendship would be cordial at best... For every time she saw or thought of him, her stomach would turn and she would think straight to what that little mongrel Johnny had tried to do to her. Or, she would feel so much guilt about Neal admitting his feelings she would accept it. That was dangerous too, especially if she really didn't want it. Things could turn out horribly, both legally and emotionally for them there. So... That was why he asked, and why he intended to help her work through it, rather then whisper in her ear fiercely, "I want you."

 

[Britwitch]

Alexia entered, almost constantly keeping her eyes pointing downwards, not quite sure what she would do, how she would react, if her eyes met his. She answered his questions about her night with short, non-detailed responses, accepting the mug of tea and a seat politely.
“Now... I know why you're here, what I said last night... First, before I do any talking, I was wondering if you have anything you'd like to share?"
Alexia took a tiny sip of the almost scalding tea before resting the mug upon her knees.

“Well, I…” She began before realising she had no idea what she was going to say. After all, what could she say…?
That her dreams had been full of worrying, almost frightening images…of him and her…
That she’d dreamt of the pair of them, in this very room, doing things that were certainly not permitted within the student/teacher relationship…some of which were not probably permitted within the local laws.
Although what had worried her the most about her dreams was that, to her ultimate confusion, she had seemed to enjoy everything that had occurred.
Her cheeks pinked and she took another sip of the tea.

“I didn’t sleep well, I think things were playing on my mind a little…” She finally admitted. Taking a long, steadying breath before continuing, figuring she might as well be honest and tell him the truth before she chickened out and ran from the office.

“I thought a lot, a lot about what you said…about my having recognised something in you…?” Alexia wet her lips, daring for the first time to glance across to his face.
“I still don’t really know what you meant…what you mean, but I have a feeling…a feeling that whatever it is, it relates closely to my story somehow and, even though I have no clear idea of what it is exactly…I think that it means you are definitely the person to help me with all of this…” Alexia paused, a slight frown creasing her brow, not even sure if she was making sense. She wet her lips again before continuing, knowing that what she said next would either solve her problems or create a whole new batch for her.

“I…I keep going over the scenes that I’ve written, the storyline itself, trying to understand where it’s all come from inside me…and I admit, parts of it are…I don’t know, exciting almost…at least to write but…but…but what worries me is not so much that I find some of the ideas exciting…it’s that I came up with them in the first place…had they been someone else’s suggestion it might be different but it’s as if…as if there’s a part of me that’s somehow lain dormant and now it’s rising up and I…I don’t genuinely know what it wants…and the fact that you think I’ve recognised something in you makes me…makes me wonder if you’ve…written stories like this too…”

Her cheeks were burning, her voice faltering, her own expression one of disbelief that she was letting these thoughts leave her mouth unchecked but knowing she had to ask, she had to know, if for no other reason than to confirm her hopes that she wasn’t the only person that thought such things as she had written about.
“I guess I’m just clutching at straws really…” Alexia sighed, taking another mouthful of tea before suddenly looking back into his face and adding fervently. “I hope I haven’t caused offence…”

 

[The_PG]

"None at all." Mr. Broderick replied coolly as he remained in the same position which he had listened to her throughout her explication, her stuttering explanation. She was very cute when she stuttered, but that was inconsequential at this moment, "In fact you're right. I have written stories like this, well, not just like this. From other points of view... To be quite honest, also... None of my writing has been as... Real as this, either. That is because I tend to see through things, rather then what others perceive..." Neal trailed off and frowned, wondering if he might just be a narcissist after that short little tidbit. He disliked talking about himself, and wished he could have kept the focus much more on Alexia. Still, perhaps it had been worth saying since she was nodding her head ever so slightly.

"That's besides the point, but it should give you a very good clue to what you have seen... I've written this several times before, but not very often paper. My imagination... Things like what you have written it enter a great, great deal." Neal gave a small, almost shy smile, "I suppose it might be some what embarrassing to speak about fantasies. Maybe if I was easily embarrassed it would be, but there is no shame in imagining something especially... When it might become reality." The words seemed to drop like lead, Neal even felt them coming up out of his lungs slowly, and then rushing down into the air and into Alexia's ears.

"What you saw in me... Alexia... Is something I control very carefully, in fact I can't really control it, I can only direct it. Towards writing, or my... Imagination." Neal suddenly locked eyes with Alexia, not allowing her to look away, or giving her the chance to be looking away himself. Now he moved, crossing the distance between them slowly, almost ominously, he laid a hand on her shoulder. "Your imagination, your fantasies, should not frighten you... Not even if they become reality, because..." He smiled now, cryptically, "You'll always know what is going to happen, or at least have some notion of what happens next... Never be afraid, maybe nervous, or excited, never afraid." Neal let go, and stepped back slightly, his eyes searching Alexia for any sign of understanding.

"So... Do you know now what you've seen? What reality you have uncovered from both of our imaginations?" Neal immediately saw her mind racing, she knew exactly what was behind her answer. She had a choice to make, she knew what could happen depending on what, and how she replied. The answer couldn't be any clearer, unless he'd told her straight out. She really did look cute, blushing, twitching, smiling nervously. Did she want to play?