" "Ken, please." "Ken, please. At least tell me..." She stopped, turned away and walked to the couch where I'd been sitting. She sat down, and I scowled at the gesture; we'd basically reversed positions. "Kris, please. Don't make this any harder for me than it already is. I'm leaving behind friends that mean a lot to me." "Yes, I know," she said. "I know. And I know how much you mean to me. Ken, there was a time, way back in August, where my roommates were telling me that you were just consoling a widow and not considering the risk, to quote one of your favorite expressions. But it wasn't that, was it? How could you know? I mean, remember how we met?" I smiled. "Our chance meeting was something out of a sitcom, and you and I both know it." I was close to laughing, and close to tears. "Remember how you kicked Voll and then jumped ten feet when you realized that was a dog under the table?" "How was I supposed to know?" she replied. "I'm sorry I embarrassed you." "I couldn't see it, thank God. You were the embarrassed one. Besides, I still find it funny how horrified you were when I started opening Voll up." She blushed. "How was I supposed to know your Seeing Eye dog was a robot?" "Because I'm such an irresponsible bastard that they wouldn't let me have a real one?" We both chuckled at that one, and then she repeated herself. "You're really going, aren't you?" I nodded. "I might be back." "When?" she asked, jumping at the idea that I would be back. "If I am, it'll be in a year or two. A lot will have changed in the time in between, though." "Like?" I paused for a second, and then said, "Oh, I don't know. Take it on faith, Kris. I'll have something new; I'll be something new. No, that's not right. I'll be... older, probably. More mature? Maybe, but I'll fight that every step of the way." She smiled, and we both laughed quietly. |