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from the hook after they're
caught, don't you?"
    William
scowled.  When had they started talking about fish?  Instead of
getting angry, he tried to keep up.  He grinned down at Beth and said,
"It doesn't matter how much the fish flops around gasping for air. 
It's still a fish on a hook."
    He was
rewarded by the indignant flush that crept down from Beth's hairline.  He
didn't think her eyes could burn any brighter, but they were on fire.  The
emotion that filled him at the sight was almost enough to compensate for the
shame he felt.
    Hurriedly
he added, "You don't need to do the man-hater thing to get attention, you
know."
    Beth's
mouth popped open, and William knew he had finally shattered her façade - and
cooked his own goose in the process.
    "I
don't hate men.  It's you I can't stand!"  She stopped swaying
and stepped out of his arms.
    "Hey
now, darlin.' "
    Beth
actually hissed.  "Don't call me that!"
    "Oh,
sorry, that's Texas Twister's pet name for you, isn't it?  How about
'sweetheart?'"
    Beth
folded her arms stubbornly, looking like a pouting doll.  "That only
works if you're Han Solo."
    "Who
does that make you?" William coaxed, enjoying himself.  "Princess
Leia?"
    Beth
made a frustrated noise and actually stomped her foot.  "I'm not
Leia, and you're not Han.  You're…..you're……Chewie!"
    William's
grin widened into a full-blown smile.  "Tall and furry?"
    "Don't
forget smelly."
    William
raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.  They stood staring at each other
for a moment, and then Beth broke eye contact and announced, "Think I'll
call it a night."  Without giving him a chance to respond, she
brushed past him and scaled the stairs.
    William
wanted to turn and watch her go.  But he knew there was a distinct
possibility that he would either pull her back or follow her.  Neither
would be a wise course of action.  Instead, he made for the refreshment
table, pleased that he had accomplished the task of getting under her skin.
    That
was something, at least.  And something was better than nothing.
    ~:~
    Beth
fumed all the way up to her room.  She could still see William standing in
front of her, smirking with his hands in his pockets, his eyes digging into
hers.  All at once, Beth had felt like they weren't standing in a room
full of swaying bodies anymore.  It had felt like they were alone - and it
had been too intimate for her.  It didn't matter that he was pleasantly
taller than she remembered, that he had an infuriatingly gorgeous smile, or
that his eyes were the color of dark chocolate.  She had a whole bag of
chocolate chips in her stash upstairs - and besides, she'd always preferred
milk chocolate.

 
     
     
     
    OUTINGS
     
    "Adieu
to disappointment and spleen.  What are men to rocks and mountains?"
    ~Elizabeth
Bennet, Pride & Prejudice
     
    Beth
had never been so anxious for Friday in all her twenty years.  It had been
a grueling week of classes, which had overflowed into nasty homework.  And
then there was guitar.  Dallan had given her three new songs to work on,
in addition to her scales, chords, and the song she had chosen on her
own.  She was exhausted and drained, but brightened somewhat at the
prospect of the coming weekend.  What was more, she would have Jenna to herself
for once, as William had apparently prevailed on Les to take a guys-only
camping trip this weekend.  Beth had gathered that it was no small victory
for William, as Les had thought camping was a great idea, as long as Jenna
could come along.
    Though
Beth detested the idea of agreeing with William on anything, she missed her
friend just as much as he missed his, and for that she was grateful to him.
    It
wasn't in Jenna's disposition to be depressed.  But Beth perceived that
she was a little more subdued today than she had seen her since Les had come
sweeping into the picture.  Undiluted girl time would be the cure.
    Beth
had suggested a picnic up the canyon, and Jenna, anxious to be doing something
other