Time.

Time

The haunting music faded slowly. The soft strains of a guitar turned to whispers and then disappeared completely. I roused myself and hit the Rewind button for the eleventh time.

< Nine more times and then I'll be able to fall asleep. >

My name came over the waves of the radio, sung by none other than Lucky Spencer. His voice was soothing and rich, perfectly on pitch. I could almost see his fingers strumming the guitar strings, see his eyes closed as he concentrated on the words he sang.

The tape stopped playing with a click and my fingers went to the Rewind button again.

< I still can't believe this. >

A yawn interrupted my thoughts of Lucky. Perhaps now wasn't the best time to be thinking those things.

Again I found myself rewinding.

< Just one more time. >

My bedside lamp was turned to its lowest setting. I was propped against my pillows and headboard. My stereo was resting happily on my bedside table.

The tape clicked off.

< I missed it. One more time...again... >

I played the tape. A soft "Ahem" made me jump. I looked over to the rumpled form now sitting on my floor, half wrapped in a sleeping bag.

< !!!! >

"How many more times are you going to play that?" Lucky asked, rubbing his eyes tiredly. His t-shirt and pajama pants left much to the imagination, but what an imagination I seemed to have lately!

I shrugged, barely controlling my impulse to blush. "I'm sorry, do you want me to turn it off?" My hand still rested on the tape player.

"Every time you play that, I want to make a face," Lucky said. He winced.

"Uh, Lucky, you *are* making a face."

< Not that that's a bad thing. >

I consciously pulled my hand away from the stereo. I was about to flip off my lamp, when Lucky said:

"Wait!" The urgency in his voice stilled my hand in mid-air.

< What? >

"Hmm?" I murmured, sneaking a look at him. He was almost fully out of the bag now, one hand resting on the floor and the other on his bent knee.

< Yummy. >

I fought off another blush.

< Where did that come from? >

"I didn't mean to keep you awake," I said softly, realizing Lucky hadn't said anything yet. I reached for the lamp again.

"You weren't," Lucky sighed softly, leaning back on his hands. "I really don't think I'll be sleeping much tonight anyway."

< Aww. >

"You sound like you need a hug."

"Are you volunteering?"

< What do I look like, stupid? >

"Maybe I am."

Lucky didn't get all the way up, just to his knees. He crawled across the floor toward my bed. I did the same, only from on top of my bed. We met at the corner. He offered his arms to me and I leaned precariously outward to hug him. His arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders, mine went around his waist.

< I don't want to let go. >

"What?"

My mortification when I realized I had said that aloud was as muffled in his shoulder as my words had been. Thank God.

"Nothing," I said clearly, leaning back a little.

We were off balance before we knew what had happened, and though Lucky tried his best to right us, we tumbled to the floor, getting tangled in each other in the process.

< Ow. >

"I second that."

< What is *with* me and speaking my thoughts aloud tonight?! >

I tried for a smile from my position halfway pinned under Lucky. He seemed to realize my predicament.

"I'm sorry," he whispered furiously fast, scrambling to get away from me.

He hit his elbow on my bedpost, first of all. And stifled the yelp that went with it. Then he slipped on the floor and came tumbling back down on top of me. He grunted.

< Ok, didn't we just do this? >

"Uh, yeah, I'm sorry!"

< Aauugh! This is going to drive me crazy. >

Lucky was sitting up again.

"Elizabeth, I'm sorry, I know how much-"

"Will you stop with that already? I know you know..." A fit of giggles interrupted me this time. I broke off when Lucky frowned, and didn't laugh with me.

"Lucky, it's not your fault, already!"

"But-"

"I don't want to hear any buts, I'm fine!"

"But I thought-"

"I said..."

"But, what about-"

"Lucky, are you even listening to me?"

"Yeah." I sighed in short-lived relief. "But-"

I nearly screamed. Instead, I kissed his cheek softly, then got up and into bed.

"No *more* buts."

Thankfully, he complied. He rolled back into his sleeping bag.

"'Night."

"Goodnight, Elizabeth."

I smiled in the darkness.

< Give it time... >

"What was that?"

Time, you left me standing there

Like a tree growing all alone

The wind just stripped me bare, stripped me bare

Time, the past has come and gone

The future's far away

Now only lasts for one second, one second

Can you teach me about tomorrow

And all the pain and sorrow

Running free

'Cause tomorrow's just another day

And I don't believe in time

(Hootie, "Time")

Another turning point;

a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;

directs you where to go.

For what it's worth,

it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredicatable

but in the end it's right.

I hope you had the time of your life.

(Green Day "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" [I snipped a lot])

But there never seems to be enough time

To do the things you want to do

Once you find them

I've looked around enough to know

That you're the one I want to go

Through time with

(Jim Croce, "Time in a Bottle")

if you're lost you can look--and you will find me

time after time

if you fall I will catch you--I'll be waiting

time after time

(Cindy Lauper [sp?], "Time After Time")

What good are words I say to you?

They can't convey to you what's in my heart

If you could hear instead

The things I've left unsaid

Time after time

I tell myself that I'm

So lucky to be loving you

So lucky to be

The one you run to see

In the evening, when the day is through

I only know what I know

The passing years will show

You've kept my love so young, so new

And time after time

You'll hear me say that I'm

So lucky to be loving you

(Frank Sinatra, "Time After Time")