Wiping the loveliest lip gloss known to hit the market, I twisted back my torso to our gritty out-lined bodies, to find him not even revolted from my apparent weak stomach.

His eyes - god his eyes - in the moonlight, they calmed every inch of anxiety that claimed my nerves. Except for the taste that stuck at the back of my tongue; that was still an ongoing issue. But, for me to feel completely fine as I stayed in league with his stare was funny, considering two minutes ago I was unaware of how to act close to him at all - if ever with the 'stunning' sentiment.

"It doesn't matter..." He assured, relaxing the horrific resolve splashed on my face. "...All that matters right now, is that you're okay..." His warm hand cupping my jawline.

"...Are you okay?"

Preoccupied by how the dismantled body slathered on the ground didn't seem to upheave any, if at all, emotion from him.

I found that strangely comforting; yet, simultaneously alarming with how you know - a flesh and bone body in several torn segments were displayed along the grassy lawn; with not just a day ago, had been a lounging area for myself, since it had been decided such an exquisite day to enjoy some sun as I studied. Suddenly, the thought of this little bit of peaceful green had been transformed from traced tranquility to defaced morbidity – how appalling for me to think about at this time.

His words echoed again. This time wrapping hold of my concentration.

"Umm... yea..." feeling over my body for a quick check.

"...Besides you partially draped across of me, I'm good." A smile snuck onto my face.

By the forming smirk, he knew that it wasn't a problem at all.

"What about you... those bricks had to pound down on you?" I asked briskly rubbing the side of him that I could manage to reach, as well as whipping along a bit of his back.

He looked intrigued from my conduct.

"No, I'm quite alright..." He said with a gleaming grin.

"...Unless, you wanna continue downward with your hands, then we might have a problem." A snickering titter erupting from him.

My cheeks burned with natural flush; retracting all fingers in a quick drawback.

I was dismayed, and somewhat tempted all in the same thought.

I resisted hitting him, as he got up. What good would that do anyways? Just me with a possible sore hand, on top of more body aches surely to come in the morning.

Helping me to my feet, he began wiping brown and red bits of brick; along with gooey drenched human chunks from me.

I reciprocated unconsciously the same to him.

As my actions bombarded me; realizing my exploits, I laughably forced myself to ban from any more of that.

Looking from him, to the deceased 'Rick', conflicted in what action I should take a stance on. He immediately took hold of me – wrapping an arm around my back and coercing me back towards the apartment doors.

"You shouldn't be here... when security comes to investigate the scene." He softly informed.

Being in a slightly stale state of shock, I conformed to his recommendation.

It would be wise to keep from becoming a part of any kind of potential eyewitness. Could you imagine what they'd find if they initiated my inclusion and came to snoop around an apartment, I share with her? Catastrophe times a million.

"What about Rick?" I asked, hesitating to take another step away.

Hands sturdier than they had been before, ensuing my wary body to follow his lead, and let go of the stubbornness that I subsequently had been plagued with.

"I'll get it done." His whisper winding a tingling surge into my right ear.

My body responded with goosebumps frolicking upon my arms, shaking from the intensity of his breath so near to seemingly nerve endings, which – I never knew had been there before.

And with those nerves being prodded in such sensual sensations; instantly growing hungry to experience that stimulation again. I begrudgingly complied non-verbally; taking the step that I was so adamant of taking before.

I took into consideration the tension that could be born from a first-time disagreement; and as much as I hate to admit the truth right now, I dared not to make a wrong move in such a short amount of time with knowing him.

Yet, as that thought wrestled me, another inkling ticked on, and crept along the back of my head until reaching its desired location within my turbo running brain: he shouldn't have this much of an effect on me – I know better!

These recognitions would have to stay a tumbling reflection for now as I followed his lead back up the less bloody area of grass.

The whole entrance to the apartment building was all but in perfect form. Apparently, the parts of the building that had been mortared just below the scaffolding, had broken off as well, and came splashing down as like a raging wave breaking upon a sandy shoreline.

I didn't understand as I strained towards the scene.

"How did the damn thing come timbering away so drastically on me, when it's been like this for at least two weeks?" My Nancy Drew sounding self.

"Why now?"

"Guess it was just your lucky night to be in my arms." He chuckled in amusement.

"Well, aren't you just full of funny." I unsuccessfully diverted from acknowledging that last statement. Trotting vastly to cover up of how much I did like that Idea.

"Do you want me to walk you the rest of the way, Danni?" The velvet voice (of...err...the devil) worked too much on me. How could I resist that?

"I actually would appreciate that." I played it off well, I suppose.

We got through the door, this time, with no bricks plotting my death.

Taking the elevator to the third floor all along standing in awkward suspension. Finally, the metal doors methodically opened.

I walked as he followed down the hall. "Here's my door." I said stopping in front of 1114, as I tapped on it. I blushed at the ludicrous statement; why would he not know that? He only partly grimaced at the remark.

A few more moments, of what could've passed as an infinity of pure uneasiness; I found myself trying to find any good or meaning behind the gawd awfulness artwork this side of Picasso, displayed onto the wall in front of me; that's what you get with hanging creations from the freshman 'Art 101' class.

I finally caved, as my eyes grew tired of trying to decipher one piece with what I hoped to be a mis-shaped woman surrounded in glowing amber colored rue. "Look I'm not sure what to say..."

"How about, 'thank you." he chuckled.

"No, I mean... err... yes, of course... thank you for saving me back there. I'm pretty much in your debt for a life-time, but I was talking about poor ole dead Rick." He nervously looked down, as if something amazing was at his feet.

"How long do you think he had been there.?"

"I have no idea, Danni." His half smirk was slowly fading.

"Are you ok?" Reaching to grab his limp hand.

"Uh, yea... I'm good." Seemingly shaking off any problem that had been plaguing him.

I knew better though. Whatever was ailing him had washed all over him and no number of white lies could change that. But, if I had learned anything, is that you never push to ask, the truth will eventually come to light.

Seeing how his aura had drastically shifted, I wanted to let him have his space. Besides, I still had that Nikki situation still lingering around; along with this new situation dropping on the scene.

"So, I'll see you in class tomorrow?" I asked in my most sincerity of tone.

A little smirk made a brief appearance. "Of course." He said.

I pondered what happens in all those ridiculous princess stories ever uttered, when the damsel is saved but they do give some insight to what may lead to happy endings; once you've leaped over constantly and incredibly mountain sized hurdles (whether that had been ill-fated boyfriends; a fiasco of a family; the eternal struggle of battling depression, and severe anxiety) you can make it out alive even with the combat earned of internal scars.

The reward for another day does give breath to the stagnant and musty built-in four walls. So, apparently, you can take something away from those tales – who would've thunk it.

Suddenly, I remembered the prize most hero's in any practical story valued above any money value: the love of the unseen from society, yet, unknowingly beautiful and delectable woman (or man – let's be mindful here – a hero can easily have affections for another of the same sex; and I for one, encourage the effort).

With a gentle kiss to the cheek in cementing those said affections;

my heart raced to a thousand as that sentiment flashed over me.

I can do that.

I can do this!

Can I?

I began to slowly lean in towards my own version of a hero, to send my own affections upon his cheek.

My shaking limps grew impatient with my own deviating ways. I could see my lips upon his cheek at any second, yet I hadn't exactly moved an inch.

Incredibly, his hazel eyes flitted up, and gazed straight into my brown.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked. No uncertainty; no invisible wall holding him back.

My heart fluttered with a tickle in the back of my throat, which couldn't wait to answer back.

"Yes." Is what muttered under surprised breath.

I still was flabbergasted at the incredible request.

Who asks to kiss someone? A hero saving his true love.

That made me beam which gave him all the acknowledgment he needed to cement his affections upon my lips.

A kiss, to which the gods should be insanely jealous of; a kiss to render all kisses obsolete.

Parted lips, soft and tender; a private firework show under eyelids closed. I swear, I was floating.

My eyes sneakily peered open; curious as to his reaction towards our first kiss. Yet, the kiss had taken less appeal as my right eye caught the 'bloody girl' painting well below appropriate height.

Ohmygawd! I really am floating!