Stop looking for answers in everyone's face

 To walk the streets after mid-night on such a warm moment, even with a chill at their feet, Hope felt a certain freedom she thought she might never find again. She couldn't help but laugh and to have Kyle laugh with her.

"It was something, wasn't it?" She grinned as if she'd conquered some unknown fear. 

"Yeah, a little horrifying at first, but it did feel good," he nodded back with his hands in the tips of his jeans front pockets. Somehow, it felt natural to loop her arm around his. "Award-winning, in fact." His sigh said what she felt.

"Isn't it good to be someone else for a change?" She asked and Kyle shook with laughter.

"You're not at all what I thought," He told her it was hard to imagine.

"Well, how am I?" She wanted to know, possibly pulling on his arm now.

"Um, distant." He nodded, but couldn't look her in the eye. He told her he was just like that, too.

She felt hurt to think they were so much alike. And suddenly the happiness she held inside for the last twenty minutes or so grew cold and the thought of crying consumed her. 

Hope reached out and touched his face. When she kissed him...it was longing with purpose. It felt like a moment frozen in time. She wanted to believe it was actually true.

But Kyle shed no emotion. Not even a kiss back. After all, they'd arrived at the entrance of their building. He pressed his lips tight as if it was best they go their separate ways even if they lived in the same apartment.

Of course, not a light was on when they got home. Both so quiet as if it was all just a dream. Damn, how she hated her rampant hormones sometimes. But she didn't apologize. Perhaps she was no better than his friend Roman. She turned to go to her room. When she turned on her light, she felt his arms come around her, hugging her close. When his lips touched her neck, it really felt much more than method acting.