Shiny Love and Skittles (Ros/Russel)

[ROSLYN BARKER]

The good news was the headache was gone now. Having left the dance hall for a while Ros had intended to escape outside so that that cold air would somehow help her headache. It was out there she'd bumped into a rather sweet student who despite his own issues with the dance had offered her some medicine for her headache. At first it really didn't do much, but slowly she just began to feel a little peppier as she came back into the dance, drank a little more of the warm punch before munching on some of the snacks out.

Oh she loved the candy corn...oh! The chocolates were fantastic as well...and this punch! The music as well was just fantastic as she could feel her heart thudding in time with the bass. The decorations, the people in costumes, it was all so great to see and she just felt so giddy and excited, and she just couldn't stop moving. It was just like everything seemed more colorful...then again it was Halloween...and her first dance. Everything was just powerful pulses through her as she looked around, dancing a bit by herself, enjoying how the petticoat of her costume felt brushing against the tops of her legs were her stockings didn't cover as she spun around a bit. It was then she saw Russel making his way out of the hall as she stopped her dancing before making her way through the crowd.

Oh Russel! She was hoping to see him, wanted to apologize for what had happened at the graveyard, and then....he was dressed as Harry Potter! Oh what fun as she watched the bright crimson and gold scarf against the black as she followed nearly entranced by it as she followed him to the vending machines.

She had something to say to him though, breaking her stare and shaking her head. What was it again? The music was still so loud, and she wanted to go dance and...and...

"I like your costume!" She nearly shouted as she moved in close, wrapping her arms around him from behind as she hugged him tightly. That was what she'd wanted to say, right? Ros leaned against Russel nuzzling the scarf, it was soft...and warm.

"This dance is amazing isn't it? Don't you love it?" She asked, smiling brightly, "I'm so glad to see you here!"

Yes the headache was gone and she felt fantastic, she felt she could go all night now as she bounced a little on the chunky heels she wore.

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

Russel had finally managed to put in his coins and get out a pack of skittles, ripping it open and popping a few of the tart candies in his mouth, when he heard someone compliment his costume loudly and felt arms wrap around him from behind. He froze, blinking, chewing slowly, wondering who on earth was hugging him. He looked down at the hands for some clue, but then he realized he couldn't recognize people by their hands. It was a girl, though, he knew that much.

"This dance is amazing isn't it? Don't you love it? I'm so glad to see you here!"

He laughed heartily as he recognized the voice at last. "Ros? Is that you?" he asked, grinning to himself. She was awfully affectionate today. He kind of liked it. He turned his head to look at her over his shoulder and held up the little bag of candy. "Want some skittles?"

Ros was right, the dance was definitely turning out to be fun, more fun than he'd thought it would be, especially as he was supposed to be chaperoning. Of course, part of that was probably due to the alcohol, but he didn't really care. He wasn't going to be a very good chaperone at this point, though, so why worry about that now? Besides, there were plenty of other teachers, right? He would just let loose for a while. Who said teachers couldn't have fun?


x costume x

[ROSLYN BARKER]

He was so warm, and the cloak was soft. She just kept leaning against him, not wanting to let go as she looked up at him as he looked over at her and her gaze met his.

"Hi Russel! You look really good! Harry Potter...love those books." She replied, talking rather quickly as she slowly let him go at the offer of the brightly colored candies. Reaching out she took a few happily munching away on the candies one at a time. First the orange, then the purple, then the green and yellow together as she saved what few red ones she did have...always saved the red. They tasted amazing, she forgot how fantastic they were as she gave a small happy squeak.

"This is fantastic! I'm so happy I got to see you here! God I've never been to a dance...are they always this great?"


Russel laughed as Ros mentioned Harry Potter, her words fast. It was funny how excited she was about something as simple as a dance. He let her take as many skittles as she wanted, then popped a few more in his own mouth.

"What?! You've never been to a dance?!" he repeated rather loudly, shocked, his mouth agape. "Inconceivable! Wait, that's not Harry Potter, that's Princess Bride. Well, whatever." He stuck the little bag of skittles in his robe pocket and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the actual dance hall. "We have to do some dancing, then! Good grief, how have you never been to a dance?"


Russel was laughing, she knew that in the past she'd made him laugh before but it sounded really nice today, seeing him smile with those goofy glasses on. Finishing off with the last of the red skittles she laughs with him.

"No..." Her eyes went wide as if suddenly he was going to tell her some amazing secret about dances only to laugh loudly as he devolved into figuring out quotes to show his surprise.

"You are just too much Russel." She started before he grabbed her and started leading her along back to the dance floor. His hand was so warm as she looked at it. The giddiness washing over her again as she started following him quickly, "Dad never let me really go to them. I wanted to though." She pouted gently, leaning in closer to him, though as the music got louder she began to bounce to the beat.


As they entered the dance hall, the warmer air from the room filled with people washed over them and the bass from the music seemed to reverberate through the floor. "That sucks!" he said in response to the reason for her not going to a dance before now. Actually, he didn't much care for dances himself, but he thought everybody should go to at least one in their lives, just to try it. And this dance was a lot more fun than the others he'd been to. "Well, you're at one now, so now you can see what it's like!"

He let go of her hand as a new song came on, a mix between Thriller and some song he hadn't heard before that went 'Off with your head, dance til you're dead.' He grinned when it came to the Thriller part, realizing he knew a bit of the dance to this one. He laughed and made zombie claws, turning from side to side, as that was pretty much all he knew of it.


Ros held tightly to Russel's hand as they kept moving into the dance hall. Students were crowded in there. She loved it, the warmth not bothering her anymore as she just couldn't really feel anything but everything all at once. It was pure sensation just washing over her body. The music, the feel of Russel so close even as he let go.

She watched him dance a bit to the music, her own body unable to keep still as the high chunky heels tapped as laughter once again bubbled up from her.

After another few seconds of watching him she finally hurried out to the dance floor as she moved closer to Russel attempting her best to mimic him, stumbling a little bit in her shoes.


While he was dancing, Russel realized he hadn't even really noticed Ros's costume; when she said she hadn't been to a dance, he'd just dragged her in here and started rocking out. But now he did notice, and he laughed. "You're Alice!" he exclaimed, remembering their conversation in the rare book store. "You look cute," he blurted out, then felt the color rising to his face. Well, hey, she was cute. He had to say it.

When she stumbled, he laughed and reached out a hand to steady her. "Don't fall!" he said with a grin, now turning the Thriller dance into The Twist somehow.


She just moved...there was no real fight to stay on rhythm as she just had the urge to move. Over the noise of the music she heard him talking as she shook her head, "I'm Ros...but I play Alice right now." She joked, as he reached out and helped her regain her balance. Crimson painting her cheeks as he called her cute. Something about his words just made her happy as she pulled in closer.

"I won't!" She replied as she moved, holding onto him as she danced closer. She could do this all night, spend it just listening, watching, and moving with just Russel.

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

He snort-laughed when she said she was playing Alice, then laughed even more because he'd snorted. Goodness, had he ever had so much fun at a dance before? He didn't think he had. And if it was because of the alcohol that he was letting loose like this, well, he couldn't care less.

"Okay," he said, bobbing to the music. He smiled as she came closer, his hand still on her arm not to steady her now but just because he felt like having it there. "Honestly, I don't know how you girls wear shoes like that."


He didn't move away. It was nice actually just to be doing this. She enjoyed the coffee, and the sharing of knowledge of different books. To be like this...the overload of sensation just feeling his touch...

When had he been so soft and gentle?

"I really don't wear them that often, but I guess...it's balance." She replied, her voice dropping in volume as the music slowly cut out and began another song. This was slower, heavier beat...she could feel in through her ribs as hazel eyes went around watching the paired up student take their partners closer to dance.

Slowly she moved in, her own hand going to mirror Russel's as she closed more of the distance between them, "I really like this dance. I love it! All the people, the music! God I could do this forever!"


"Well, I wouldn't be able to walk in them, that's all I know," he said with a chuckle. He let out a disappointed groan when the song changed. He'd been getting so into that dance, too. And now it was a slow song. He'd never been fond of slow songs.

But then Ros was even closer, her hand on his arm, and he just grinned at her in spite of himself. Her enthusiasm was infectious. This was like how she was around books, only more so. Had she been into the punch, too? He laughed at that idea. Whoever had spiked that stuff had certainly gotten their money's worth. He wondered who else had been affected. "You're funny, you know that?"


"I'm....funny?" She asked softly, unsure if it was a bad thing or a good thing, but soon she broke into a grin. Funny was good wasn't it? She slung one arm over his shoulder, her other hand resting on his arm as she could feel the edge of his robes brush against her legs. She could feel it all through her body as she shivered, her hand slipping up to join her other arm around his shoulders as fingers brush into his curls.

"Ah..." Letting fingers fiddle with the curls as they wrapped around her fingers a bit and curled away as she played, pressing closer as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Soft...so soft." She murmured, "You're soft...and warm..." A small sigh leaving her as she just began to lean against him again.


"Yeah, you're funny. You make me laugh." He couldn't have made the grin leave his face if he'd wanted to. He was just having too much fun. As she draped her arms over his shoulders, he blushed, realizing how close she was. He looked down at her and put his arms around her waist automatically. That was how you slow-danced, after all, right?

And then her fingers were in his hair and her head was against his shoulder. She was so close he could feel the puffy skirt pressing against him. Was it suddenly really hot in the room, or was that just him and his warm costume again? Maybe he should take off the scarf after all. But this was so nice, dancing with Ros. He didn't want to move just yet. Not just yet.


"I'm glad I amuse you." Ros smirked before feeling the arms move around her waist. Feel them there she found herself a little startled by it, first dance, first time being held like this...why did it all feel so good? Fingers trailed up to tangle in his hair more.

Warm lights, bright flashing lights, people and noise all around. It was a wash of chaos, but it fed into her energy, her excitement. "Russel..." She murmured as she tugged on him a little. Why not one more first? A little more sensation, a little more fun?

Using the height her heels provided she pushed herself up on her toes before she smashed her lips against his.


He chuckled at her words. She was so playful right now. It was unusual but... he kind of liked it. And gosh, with those fingers in his hair he could hardly think straight. Not that he was really thinking straight anyway. The colored lights flashing through the darkness of the dance hall sporadically lit up Ros's face as she looked up and said his name.

"Hmm?" he responded, before she raised up on her tip-toes and kissed him. At first he was too surprised to react, his eyes widening, but then he closed them and gave himself up to the kiss, pulling her even closer to him. He'd wanted to do this, hadn't he? He'd thought about it before, way in the back of his mind. What had been stopping him then? He couldn't remember.

[ROSLYN BARKER]

The dancing stopped, at least for Ros as she pressed up against Russel, arms around him as her lips pressed to his. She could still taste the weird spicy, warm flavor of the punch, still feel the throbbing of the music reverberating through her. It was all flashes of colors even as she closed her eyes.

Her legs shook from the strain of staying up on her toes as she pushed forward against him, bodies flushed. Were things going faster now or slower? There really didn't seem to be a time to measure this, just that it was happening and she wanted more as she broke the kiss...legs unable to hold herself up. Hands slipped back down to touch his chest, grabbing his cloak as she started to pull at him leaving the dance floor. "I like you." She murmured, stopping as she leaned back up to kiss him again, "You're smart, and you've always been so sweet. I like you Russel." Her words barely getting out in her rush, kissing him once more.


'She tastes like skittles,' he thought, slightly amused. All the sensation of things around them was beginning to disappear as she pressed against his body. He was losing even the sense of time. Only the beat of the music reached his mind, vibrating through both of them, it seemed. And he usually didn't even like loud music.

When she broke the kiss, he had to take a moment to catch his breath, following her as she pulled him along by his robe to a corner of the room where there was no one nearby. Her words to him, so quiet, so quick, surprised him. "I--" he started, but then she was kissing him again, and he forgot what he was going to say.

He leaned down so she wouldn't have to raise up on her toes so much, pushing her gently against the wall as he deepened the kiss. He didn't know where this was going, wasn't even entirely sure how it had happened in the first place, but god, he wasn't going to stop, not yet.


It was hard to walk backwards in heels, however as she felt the wall press into her back as Russel pressed into her she wasn't worried any longer about trying to balance. She was fairly secured between the English teacher and the wall, the sudden pressure making her whimper softly into the kiss. Now it was getting very warm as she began to fidget.

"God..." She murmured, breaking off the kiss, nuzzling against Russel as she smiled happily, hands running back up to tangle in his hair once more. "I think I really like dances now."


It was hot in his robe and scarf but he didn't care, ignoring it for the moment while he lost himself in Ros's lips and the feel of her body pressed against his. She broke off again and he smiled at her words and her hands in his hair. Funny that something so simple could be so... tantalizing.

He kissed her neck, threading his fingers into her long hair, bumping into the hairband and pulling it gently from her head. He stuck it in his robe pocket before returning his fingers to her hair, twisting them in the softness of it as he brought his lips to meet hers again.


Once again it was just a pure overdose of sensation. Being warm in her costume was different from feeling the warmth of another body right there against her. There was little pulses of warmth that jolted through her, wanting to just touch and keep feeling whatever all of this was. Russel...he was...

"Oh!" Her thoughts detracted from whatever line they were on as she felt lips against her throat. She felt a little pressure move off of her head, but didn't really register the loss of one of her accessories as curls fell around her face no longer held back. She didn't care, it felt nice, everything was nice and perfect. She just kept trying to get closer as the young librarian turned her head, lips pressed to his ear, "Don't stop, please Russel..." Ros breathed eagerly holding him tighter.


Her breathless words startled him ever so slightly, just enough that a little voice in the back of his mind chimed in, asking questions about what he was doing. Ros wasn't normally like this, was she? Had she had some of the punch, after all? And if she had, if this was the product of intoxication, wasn't he taking advantage of her? He pulled back, looking down into her eyes as if there would be some clue there to tell him what to do.

"I..." he started, not sure what to say. Oh, he didn't want to stop, no, but he couldn't do this. Not when she wasn't herself. It wasn't right. "I think maybe you should go back to the hotel and get some sleep," he said with a sigh.


When he started to pull away her grasp on him became a little tighter as she lost the sensation of warm lips and breath across her throat and collar. "No...no..." She whined softly, looking up at him, fidgeting as she tried to pull him back to her. What was he looking for, she wondered though her mind went to how vibrant his eyes were as she started once more to lean in close for another kiss.

His voice cut through her frantic thoughts, fueled right now by the drug in her system and the really nice feeling she was already getting from being this close to her colleague. Curiously she listened to him speak before lips formed into a pout like a child caught doing something they should fee guilty about. "No, no, no Russel! I don't want to...I like it here...with you." She whispered leaning up now to try to restart their kiss. "You like me too right? Why do we have to go back?"

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

Oh god, she wasn't making this easy, with her irresistible pouty lips and her pleading. As she leaned up again, part of him hesitated, saying 'She wants to kiss you, go for it!' but after a moment of internal warring he shook his head to clear his thoughts. It wasn't easy, as he was still rather drunk. Oh, this was not going to be easy at all. Not at all.

"O-of course I like you, but..." He didn't know whether he was saying that to keep her calm or because he meant it. If he were sober, he might not have said it at all. But what was he supposed to say here? He couldn't tell her he thought she was drunk. With the state she was in, she probably wouldn't believe it. Heck, he hadn't even realized it himself since he hadn't thought the punch was spiked. And now that it was gone, if Josh had taken it away like he'd said he would, there was no way to prove it. Well, maybe he could try a different tact.

"How about we go back to your room and hang out, okay? Watch tv or something? That'd be fun, right?" Maybe once they were there he could get her to fall asleep by tiring her out somehow. ...Oh god, mind in gutter! He blushed. It was hard to think straight when you were drunk. It had been so long since he'd been drunk he'd nearly forgotten. In any case, he had to get her safely back to her hotel room and into bed, so she could sleep this off and not get into trouble. He worried what might happen to her if he left her alone like this. He took her hand and tried to lead her outside.


The pout on her lips changed the instant that Russel told her that he liked her. A smile tugged on rosy painted lips as she drew back just a little bit, "I really like you too...I just...for a while since we met up Downtown. You were so nice, and it's been a long time since I had fun with someone...and...and you're cute and I think I like you a lot." She blushed, fingers moving to grasp at the apron of her costume as fingers busied themselves with tracing the lace.

At the mention of going to hang out she bounced a little moving back in very close. "The girls...the students I'm rooming with are here still...we can hangout just the two of us!" She gave a sharp nod, the world moving fast in blurs of colors and bodies, "That would be so much fun. Get to spend some more time with just you." A giggle rose up from her as she swayed a little more with the music, resisting at first the hand that pulled her away before looking up at Russel, bouncing along obediently humming the repetitive chorus of the last song once the music began to fade.


What she said made him blush darkly. She had to be drunk, or she wouldn't say that... would she? He didn't know what to say back, either, but it got his mind turning in circles he had previously denied. Maybe he did like her. After all, he certainly had liked kissing her. And he still wanted to, but... no, no, he couldn't. She wasn't in her right mind.

"Right, just the two of us," he agreed a little nervously, just trying to appease her at the moment. He tried not to let his imagination run wild with ideas about that, but the alcohol was not helping his case any. It was all he could do to keep a straight face as they made their way outside and into the cool night air. Fortunately, they didn't have far to go, as the hotel was just up the street from the dance hall.


The cool air hit her as they got outside. It felt refreshing, she never realized how hot she'd been in the dance, constantly moving about, all jittery. The air made her shiver as they started to walk. Oh, she was excited to get back to the hotel with Russel. She didn't know what they would do, but she wanted to just be around him now. Though she'd never really been with anyone Ros had read enough to know what they could do and she felt another rush run through her as her fingers tangled around Russel's.

Moving in closer to him she let her side press right up against him. "Russel..." She murmured, turning her head in as she kissed his arm, nuzzling up closer to him. "Are you going to stay with me tonight?"


He resisted the urge to power-walk along the sidewalk, as he was still quite drunk and would probably trip if he went too fast. He tried to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, instead of Ros's fingers twined in his, or how she said his name, or...

Jesus, what was she doing to him?! At this rate he would be left dizzy with all the blood rushing to his face and another part of his body; there'd be none left for his brain. He nearly tripped over his own feet, but he managed to catch himself and turn it into just a wonky step. "I-I'll, uh, I'll stay until you fall asleep." Oh god, he wished he could walk faster without potentially face-planting himself. They were coming upon the hotel quickly, but not quickly enough for him. He didn't trust himself like this.


"Oh...okay. You know you can sleep as well if you want. I don't mind really." She murmured as the hotel came into sight, stumbling as well as she felt Russel almost trip. Heels really were not the best to do this in. Getting closer to the hotel she started to pick up her own pace a little, slipping through the rotating doors as she pulled him towards the elevators. "I'm not sleepy yet. God I could just stay up all night!" She giggled before the doors opened as she stepped in.


"Th-that's nice of you," he said. What was he even saying? He didn't know anymore. It was taking all his concentration just to keep walking, to maneuver the revolving doors, to keep up with Ros as she started pulling him along instead now. He tried to keep from cringing when she mentioned staying up all night. Could he keep his hands off her for that long? Well, eventually the alcohol would have to wear off, right? Then maybe things would calm down.

They were still holding hands when they got in the elevator, but that was all right. He paused with his hand outstretched to press a button; he didn't know what floor her room was on. Were the girls' rooms on the same floor as the guys'? He hadn't even thought about that before. "Which floor are you on, Ros? Do you remember?"

[ROSLYN BARKER]

The hotel was nice, lush carpet everywhere. It just felt so great, smelling like history....wait was that an actual smell or just a mix of dust with old wood, or maybe it was just history. She didn't care as she looked around before going into the elevator, it was all just bright lights, sounds (or rather lack there of at this time of night), and Russel's hand in her own as she kicked off her shoes when they were in. Black and white striped stockings stretched as she curled her toes in the carpet as she wiggled around waiting for the doors to close.

Russel's question made her look up confused for a moment before it dawned on her what he was asking. "Oh! Oh! Wait, I have that!" She exclaimed patting her body before she suddenly lifted up the side of her skirt, the keycard and it's envelope tucked in the top of her stockings held up by a garter. Pulling it out she squinted at the card a bit, it seemed so hard to focus as she read the numbers. "Five, one, zero..." she repeated before showing the card to Russel moving to hit the button for him as the doors slid shut. Grabbing his scarf she gave it a playful tug to pull him back down for another kiss as she rose up to meet him.


He just blinked as Ros kicked off her shoes. Yep, if he wasn't already sure she was drunk, he definitely was now. He'd have to remember to pick those up before they left the elevator... if he could remember. It was hard to say what thoughts his brain was capable of holding onto at this point. When Ros happily mentioned knowing her floor number, he did not expect her to lift up her skirt and have her keycard tucked into her stocking. Leg! He'd seen bare leg! And nearly butt! Oh god, what was he going to do with himself?! It took a minute for the room number to make its way into his brain as he stared wide-eyed at Ros's skirt, and by that time she'd already pressed the button. And then suddenly she was pulling him down by his scarf and kissing him again, and he couldn't find the willpower to do anything about it. Almost of its own accord, he found his hand going to Ros's hip, smoothing down the skirt and playing along the top of her stocking.


This late in the evening there weren't a lot of people riding the elevators, which was nice as the chances of someone walking in on the two inside this one were fairly low. Fingers tangled in the tight weave of the scarf as she pulled him down closer, once more lips finding each other in the kisses she was coming to enjoy more and more. How was he this soft and warm to touch?

Once the doors were shut she stumbled back a little bit, bumping into the wall of the elevator as her back pressed the buttons for several floors below and above her own. It would seem that others would have to wait as the elevator rumbled softly up the shaft as she felt his fingers slip under her skirt a little. She giggled, the touch tickling as she pressed closer giving a soft little whimper as she broke the kiss, burying her head against his shoulder.


All rational thought was abandoned for the time being as the spiked punch and the heat of the moment once again took its toll on Russel. He let go of her hand and put his arm out to the elevator wall to keep from falling against her as she stumbled back into the panel of buttons. He nearly made a sound of disappointment when she broke the kiss, but her giggle and whimper were as intoxicating as the alcohol that coursed through him. "Ros..." He nuzzled and kissed her neck, one hand brushing the soft skin of her thigh.


When the elevator reached the second floor it buzzed open to an empty hall before closing again, only to open once more as Ros ran into the buttons again. It wasn't moving fast enough, the press of buttons making the machine buzz angrily as she finally pulled away long enough to let them close. It It didn't last long as she rested back once more against the smooth metal doors as the lift began to rise up once more.

His lips were soft as she felt them against her throat, lips parting in a soft, "Ah." As she felt her knees once again trembling to keep her body up, the hand touching the flesh between stocking and petticoat making her squirm.

Once more the lift gave a jerk before dinging softly to signal it's stop. However she was too wrapped up in clinging to Russel, fingers tangling back up in his hair before the world suddenly decided to move. Gravity took over rather quickly as Ros found her last bit of support gone as she was deposited onto the carpet of her floor's lobby with a sharp cry.


He only paused briefly when the doors opened, something in the back of his mind saying he should, because there might be people, but as soon as the doors closed again he forgot all about that. He was too busy losing himself in the feel of Ros's skin against his lips, his hand. He pressed his body to hers as she leaned back against the doors, the hand that had been steadying him against the wall now going to cup her cheek, before--

Ding!

The doors slid open and suddenly they were thrown onto the floor, Russel landing on top of Ros, though he managed to not actually slam into her. Hmm, this position seemed familiar... Suddenly his good sense returned to him, and he blushed, scrambling backwards onto his knees. "Uh, we're here, then," he said, looking up at the number on the wall. Yep, this was the right floor. Then just as the doors started to close behind them again, he remembered something. "Shoes!" he shouted, and nearly dove back into the elevator, slamming into the door with his shoulder. He grabbed her shoes, turned, and came back out, rolling his shoulder as he winced a little.


This fall was a lot better then the first one they'd ever had between each other. No concrete this time, but rather old musty carpet to break their fall. Still, it hurt a little as she lay there just looking up at Russel a little stunned, however the pain didn't last long, at least not in her head. The carpet scratched against her arms as he pulled away and got up. She didn't want him to leave, but the lights above them distracted her enough as he left her there.

He said something about shoes as she sat up a little pushing herself to her elbows as she watched him make a dash into and back out of the elevator. "Oh no..." she murmured, giggling a little bit as she stumbled to her feet, still jittery as she moved closer to him, "Are you okay? You saved my shoes..." She grinned moving to take her shoes only to change her mind and grab his wrist as she turned and started down the hall.

"This way."

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

Russel grinned in spite of himself when Ros asked if he was okay. "Yeah, I'm fine. What about you?" He held the shoes out to her, but she grabbed his wrist instead and started pulling him along. Did she really know where she was going? He glanced at the numbers on the doors. It took him a moment to remember whether the numbers were supposed to ascend or descend according to the direction they were going, but he figured it out. Apparently she did know where she was going. Well, all right then. He loosened his scarf a little, as he was a little hot after that bit in the elevator, though it was not as warm in the hotel as it had been in the dance hall amongst all those people.


The hall was dim as Ros hunted for her room as she counted the numbers out loud to herself. Stocking covered feet padded softly down the floor as her free hand reached out to brush over the walls.

Reaching her room she looked at the door for a long moment as if double checking before she got her key card out to swipe it. The door beeped as the lock clicked to signal the card had worked as she pushed open the door letting herself and Russel in. Scurrying in she jumped on to her bed, the plush comforter wrinkling as she lolled around a little before sitting up smiling at Russel. "So what are we going to do?" She asked, getting to her knees on the bed as she inched towards the edge.


It took her a minute to open the door, but they were finally in the room now. Russel put the shoes down near the door and watched as Ros went straight to the bed and asked what they were going to do. ...No no, not that, couldn't do that! Even if she was cute and he liked her and they'd just been making out in the elevator and--gah, stop thinking about that! He stood there, staring at her, struggling internally and silently, before he finally thought of something. Taking the bag of skittles from his robe pocket, he held them out towards Ros. "Skittles?" It was the best he could do at the moment, while his brain wound down from what had just taken place in the elevator.


On the edge of the bed Ros watched Russel, her head tilting to the side sending the thick curls she'd made earlier spilling over her shoulders. Slowly she sat down on the corner of her bed, one hand tugging at the top of one of her stockings before pushing it down. She was warm, however she got it just about to her knee when Russel held up the bag of candy she'd first encountered him buying.

Hopping off of the bed she moved closer to him before taking the bag. "Thank you!" She cooed, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek before scurrying back to her spot on the bed as if someone would take it before dumping out the colorful candies to once more sort them into their respectful groups to be eaten as she laid on her stomach feet kicking back and forth in the air.

"That dance was amazing...I can't wait for the next one, or the next! I could still just dance all night." She burst into giggles, burying her face into the comforter before rolling back over onto the back messing up the neat groups she'd already made as she sighed, letting her head hang off the edge of the bed as she once more looked to him, "I'm glad I got to talk to you most of all."


He was still having a hard time keeping his thoughts under control, especially as she started taking her stockings off. He was glad she'd been distracted by the skittles. He watched her with amusement, chuckling, as she dumped out the bag and started sorting the candies by color. Ah, she was so cute! If only she wasn't drunk...

"It was fun," he agreed with a smile, going to turn on the little tv. How long would it take until she started getting tired? What time was it, anyway? He looked at his wrist but he wasn't wearing his watch. That's right, the robe kept getting snagged on it. Oh well. He found the tv remote and sat down on the bed next to Ros, looking down at her hanging off the edge. Her words made him smile. "I'm glad, too. I like you, Ros." Ack, he was saying things without thinking again! He scratched his nose and held out the remote to her. "So uh, what'cha wanna watch?"

[ROSLYN BARKER]

Grabbing a few pieces of candy she popped them into her mouth, for now forgetting about the colors as she just chewed and enjoyed the sugary flavor on her tongue. She blushed as he told her once again he liked her as she broke into giggling once more. She was getting a little sleepy, just now cuddle up in the soft comforter even as the bed shifted as Russel sat down.

"I never watch TV...not a lot anymore anyways. I don't have...I can't afford it." She murmured as she rolled closer to him, laying her head on his lap. "I'm happy I found you though.Happy to find Cinders and Lux, but you make me very happy." She murmured as fingers traced up his leg a bit as she popped another few candies before holding one up to him.


"I just watch it when I don't have anything else to do. And when they've got reruns of Star Trek on. Or when I'm hanging out with Cage. Or--" he stopped himself, then started flipping through channels, trying to find something that might catch her interest. "Let's just waaaaatch..." He dragged the word out until he came across something he recognized. "Clue!" It was kind of old, but he liked it, and it looked like it hadn't been on for that long yet.

He looked down as she lay her head on his lap, blushing at that and her words and the fingers trailing along his leg. 'Ros is in my lap, Ros is in my lap,' was all he could think. 'Oh god, she should not be in my lap; she's going to notice!' He took the skittle from her and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly as he tried to will his body to stop responding so eagerly.


"Oh! Cage! Don't talk to him about this...me...about this and me." Ros suddenly babbled out lifting her head a little bit as if trying to think of why she hadn't wanted him to talk about. Cage, she knew he would say something to Russel, though...she'd already said it already hadn't she? "Nevermind...just don't talk to him about me. He teases..."

The TV was a good distraction as she looked over watching the movie playing, so close to Russel as she nuzzled in closer. Her eyes were feeling heavy now...how long had it been since the dance started? She didn't want Russel to leave yet, but he said he would once she fell asleep which now she could feel her body slowly crashing. Slowly she wrapped her arms around him, "I know I'm going to sleep sooner or later...please don't leave me." She asked gently.


Russel wasn't sure what she was trying to say about Cage. He wasn't supposed to talk to him about her? Why not? He hadn't even realized they'd met. Although, now that he thought about it, they were both English teachers and of course they'd both met the librarian, duh. "All right," he said a little uncertainly, shrugging. His head still wasn't working correctly, though he was sobering up slowly.

He'd managed to calm down by the time she snuggled in close with her arms around him, asking him not to leave. He looked down at her with an awkward smile. She was just so darn cute, it was hard to refuse her. But he knew he would have to leave eventually. "I'll stay til you're asleep but... I have to go back to my room. I'm supposed to look after the boys." He realized he was doing a crap job of that right now, but he couldn't leave just yet. He smoothed some of her curls back from her face. "Just go on to sleep."


Why did he have to be so soft spoken and gentle, Ros wondered, struggling now as she felt his hand in her hair as she turned her head to kiss the palm of his hand. "I guess...it's alright if you leave then, but just wait." Her embrace around him tightened just a bit as she sighed softly. This scent, this warmth, she knew it would be bad if the students walk in on them like this...but still she wanted to just stay like this till morning now.

It felt like all the wonderful energy she'd had before was now wearing off as the drug finished its run through her system.

"I really don't want to...I don't want to think this is all just some dream. I do like you a lot Russel." The yawn cut into her words, the lightness and giddiness she'd felt suddenly becoming so heavy. Every second becoming harder to keep her eyes open as she finally let them close. "Just stay...stay with me..." She murmured as her breathing began to even out as darkness washed over her mind.

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

Everything she did was so cute and sweet. "I'll wait, I promise." He felt protective of her and... maybe he did really like her, he realized. He wasn't even watching the movie now, he was just watching her face as she fought off sleep.

He smiled at her. "It would be sad if this were a dream," he said quietly. He was a little surprised at how much he meant those words. It had all been so much fun, even if it wasn't the way a teacher was supposed to behave, even if they had both had too much to drink and would never have done this otherwise. As her eyes closed and she pleaded for him to stay, finally falling asleep, he brushed his hand against her cheek. He stayed there and watched until the end of the movie, then turned off the tv and gently stood up so as not to wake her up. Then he pulled the covers up over her as best he could (she was facing the wrong way on the bed, but he didn't want to risk trying to turn her around) and left quietly.

He made his way to his room in a bit of a daze, the alcohol almost gone from his system and leaving him rather sleepy himself. When he got in, he pulled off his scarf, tossing it on the nightstand, took off his shoes, and didn't even bother taking off his robe before flinging himself on the bed and falling asleep on top of the covers.


**********


The next morning, he woke up with a headache and a bruised shoulder, but otherwise he was not much worse for wear. But boy, had he had a weird dream. A good dream, in a way, but weird, because it would never happen in real life. He turned over, not yet ready to get up, and felt something against his leg. Realizing he was still wearing his robe, he put his hand into the pocket and pulled out... a headband. His eyes widened. Shit, that couldn't be hers, could it? Well maybe he had just combined his dream with what had happened last night. That's right, he must have just gotten drunk, discovered Ros, and taken her up to her room. The rest of it, the stuff that couldn't have happened, he must have just added that on in his dream. Right? Right. He had to believe that, because... because the rest just wasn't possible. He refused to think it was possible.

He sat up and put the headband back in his robe pocket, then stood up, took off the robe and folded it up, and put it in his suitcase quietly. The boys were still asleep, as it was rather early yet. He tried to go back to sleep, but it was no use, so he sat reading until it was time to get up. It had been such a vivid dream, but... it couldn't be true. And as he read his book, the details of it began to slip away like a dream should.