She covers her mouth as she worries about what to do, and for a moment she considers running. Just jumping out the window, stealing the corvette and riding off into the sunset... But Ryder has the stone, right? And... And she couldn't do that to him, could she?
Summoning up her courage, she walked back into the main room, where she caught Ryder's gaze, he seemed distant, but as his eyes met hers a smile slowly grew on his face. "Hey babe." Smoothly, confidently, he approached her and brushed her hair back. As he pulled her close, she was once again reminded of just how much taller he is than her. She stiffly rests her cheek on his chest. She could feel every curve of his pecks and abs as he pulled their bodies together. She could feel her own squished breast and belly as well. Being so close, it simply felt natural for her to brush her fingers through his hair, then wrap her arms around his neck. Swiftly, unexpectedly, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips, slowly, passionately. Her heart leapt in unmistakable joy, and a glow came over her body. She let herself enjoy the kiss, but as his hands traced down her body for more her logical mind screamed out in protest. Her eyes went wide, and for a moment she was frozen in ambivalence. In that split moment she compromised and acted. She found it easy to divert his affections with a swift pinch of his ass and a surprisingly natural giggle.
"Not now... I haven't had breakfast." She pats him on the pecks, and sighs in relief as he lets her go, and she turns to the kitchen. For a moment she's worried her temporary stiffness gave her away, but his response dispels her concerns.
"Hey angel, make me something too." He simply leers as she turns and walks away, then hops back into the couch and flips on the TV, seemingly revitalized by the brief encounter.
She opened the massive door, and as the fridge light pops on Allison slowly realized she was less relieved, and more disappointed than she expected. Even if her mind knew she should be freaked out, her emotions were at complete ease their intimacy... In a way, she even longed for it.
Shaking her head she glanced around and realized there was nothing was in the fridge but a six pack of beer.
"Ryder?" she crossed her arms. "What did you even go out driving for? The only thing in here's beer."
"Oh!" He sit up and laughed nervously, "I uhh. I guess I left everything else in the car?"
Allison just puts her hands on her hips. "Uhhh, huh. So all you remembered to bring in was the beer?"
He just shrugs, "I got it I got it." He chuckles as he strolls back to the door. His hand slips in his pocket as he goes, then he trots down the stairs to the corvette. Allison watches him go, then turns around back to the kitchen. She doesn't hear the wish to fill the trunk with groceries.
Her hands go to her temples and she sighs. "If I'm going to do this, I need to totally do it. I can't tip him off until I have the stone in my hands. If he starts making wishes, I'm soo~ done for." She takes another deep breath and closes her eyes. "This is easier than I thought though. If I just, like, let my emotions carry me through this, it shouldn't be hard. It might even be easy" Her voice becomes more severe. "I just can't get swept away... I can't lose myself." She nods as she sees her reflection in the stainless steel of the refrigerator above the ice dispenser. "I'm still me." She gazes into her reflection, finding the familiar curve of her eyes, and smirk of her lips. The thickness of her brow. Some of the common features she had when she was still Jon begin to reveal themselves to her and she nods. "I'm still me."
Ryder comes staggering back into the kitchen, leaving the door wide open as he hefts dozens of bags of groceries in his arms. Allison just shakes her head and closes the door behind him. "You know you can make more than one trip, right?" Still, even as she speaks, she appreciates the modest show of his body it provides her, and even wraps her arm around his and gives his biceps a quick squeeze before slipping free. Ryder beams with a dopey sort of pride, and she even finds herself glad in response.
He puts away the obvious things, then leaves the rest to Allison, who finds herself floating about the kitchen with an unexpected skill and familiarity. Her hands go about making pancakes from scratch, dicing vegetables and ham for omelets, and even tossing together two fresh squeezed sangria's with vodka and wine. As she works, she realizes that it's almost like he managed to pick up every possible ingredient she may need. She has no doubt that this, as well as her own skill is another wish of his, but can't deny that she does have fun drifting around the kitchen with such comfort and familiarity making such delicious food.
They eat in relative silence, sitting catty corner to one another at the breakfast bar, making a few passing comments about the beach. As they begin to sip their drinks, Ryder becomes more excited, sharing his scholarship opportunities, and recruitment letters from Ivy League football teams. He explains that more than a few universities have offered him a full ride, but that he really only wants to go to school long enough to get scouted for a professional team. As he speaks, Allison can't help but feel vindictive for her own stolen future, but still finds it surprisingly easy to give gentle occasional words of encouragement, and affirmation. She asks honest questions, and expresses excitement for him, and in a way, she is vicariously excited for his success.
As he talks, her hand drifts to her belly, feeling that gentle curve where the baby grows. Maybe, even if she can't find the stone, there is still a good future in this life? She shakes the thought from her head, and enough clarity comes to her to realize something else.
"Shit!" She interrupts Ryder as he talks about the finer points of a certain football play she couldn't care less for. He looks at her curiously.
"What is it?"
Allison dumps her drink out into the sink. "That has alcohol in. Ughhh. I'm so stupid. I even mixed that drink myself."
He snorts and shrugs. "So what?"
She gazes at him for a second brow furrowed, and uncertainty begins to set in. Does he really not know? Her mouth opens but no words come out, and she can tell he's growing concerned. Finding her resolve, she plays out the charade as if everything is normal. "So, I'm pregnant, you lug head."
He shakes his head and responds a little too loudly. "Oh! Oh yeah... Yeah. I didn't think about that." He starts looking around nervously. "Still not used to thinking about that." he corrects himself. His eyes glance down to her belly. His hand goes to feel the small swell developing there, and his eyes become distance. "I never thought about that..."
Allison stares at his eyes, while his gaze is locked on her belly. He really didn't know, and now he's playing it off... She thought to herself. Allison from before must have never told him, and since they leapt through the past two months, he never found out the normal way... She touches his hand resting on her belly. "Yep... can't forget about that..."
