#anywhere

She can't help but snort. "Right now? It looks like I fell asleep in the 70's halfway through a perm, and woke up in the bad half of a Madonna video." Her hair IS rather mussed, but it kinda has a... sexy bedhead look to it, maybe.

"Nah, you look great." He smiles and takes her hand.

She laces her fingers through his. "Is there a good place to talk? Or just want to take a walk?" Not seeming interested in heading up to his room, their usual hangout, for once.

"Yeah, we can talk inside or take a walk. You wanted to walk last night, we can go do that. Want to walk?"

"Yeah? Is that okay? I mean, if you rather go inside... but wasn't sure if the fam was all home." A curious expression, as she thinks of Brenda wearing the same outfit Nab had on the night before...

"Yeah, they're here, but we don't have to go inside."

"What do you want?" She asks, suddenly.

"I want to talk with you. I want -us- to be ok. I'm sorry if I didn't treat you right, Piper. You can -tell- me these things." Earnestly.

"You said that I'm special... but I don't -feel- special. I feel like... I'm not your girlfriend, I'm your girl that's got your attention at the moment. And maybe it's my fault for saying we shouldn't be exclusive... but I didn't mean that It would... like, it doesn't hurt when you're looking at another girl, or touching her, or reaching for her, when I'm by your side." Hurt evident in her tone.

"Then I won't do that any more, Piper. I just didn't understand. I'm sorry, Piper, I really am." Contritely.

"Do you.. but, do you really.. understand why I'm upset?" She asks, quietly. "Or are you just... going to do as I ask, and not get why?"

"And I'm not blaming you. -I- didn't understand why I was upset either, not until I talked with a few friends.. I just need to know..."

"Yeah, no, I can understand that. You're upset because you want to be special to me, like no one could replace you, and no one -could-. And maybe because you didn't realize it was bothering you exactly?"

A nod, biting her lip a little. "Did it really not bother you at all to see me off talking to other guys?"

"At Beltaine, or when I said I was looking around for Sadie Hawkins..."

"It doesn't bother me. I mean.... half the world is the other gender, right? You're going to have to talk to guys some, and I'm going to have to talk to girls some. We did say we weren't exclusive but I guess if I ask if you want to go somewhere solo I should also ask if you want to go paired up." He thinks. "I mean.... we share, sometimes. On Beltaine, and with Nab and all. That doesn't seem to bother you? But if you want to be paired up, I'd like that too."

"Even if it's occasionally paired up and not, like, a regular thing."

"Look, I might not be putting this right but it makes me feel great when I see you having a good time and enjoying the party and I know that I'm part of that happiness and I'm special to you in a way no one else is."

"I guess, I didn't mean talking. I mean talking - flirting... paying attention to... touching... noticing, in that way. You... don't feel at all jealous? If I'm gonna go wander off with some other dude, and not you?"

"I don't mean like, we're at a coffee shop and I say hi to a friend, or order from the cute barista. I mean, if I go get the barista's number and then have a quick snog on his 15 minute break, and you're left sitting at the table?" Peering up at him curiously.