Gulping fresh air, Rachael looked around the courtyard and tried to figure out what to do next. She was glad to get away from Jared McCall’s penetrating gaze, but had no idea where to go or how she was going to handle the situation. Whether he actually knew something or was just suspicious, she wasn’t sure. Either way, she wanted to put some space between the two of them until she had a better plan in place so that she could show Dr. McCall she wasn’t so bad… for a murderer.

Realizing she hadn’t spent much time outside looking around, Rachael decided to take advantage of the relatively cool evening. A light breeze was blowing, and the sky was lit by a thousand stars she hadn’t ever seen while living in the big city. The grounds were expansive, with wooded areas and gardens in the back. She headed off of the main path down a row of pavers toward the scent of roses and a view of petals illuminated by the full moon beyond a brick garden wall.

The flowers smelled wonderful, and she remembered how she’d added this area not only to beautify the campus but to give Chell a place to come and sit and think about life. So she shouldn’t have been too surprised when she rounded a row of hedges to see the bench Chell used to sit on was occupied.

Graham had his head in his hands and was staring at the space between his feet. His tie was on the bench next to him, his white shirt undone at least three buttons down as if the silver tie had been a noose. His breathing was steady, but she imagined he’d come here to cry, to think about Chell, to curse the one who’d cost his beloved her life.

Rachael wanted to tear herself away and give him some privacy, but with the moonlight glistening in his hair, his muscular form straining against his suit jacket, that vulnerable position she’d found him in, the temptation to reach out, to provide any sort of comfort she could, was overwhelming, and she couldn’t seem to pull herself away, no matter how hard she tried.

He must’ve felt the heaviness in her gaze because he glanced up and saw her standing there. Rachael still didn’t move. One hand on the hedge, her feet split in a frozen step, she looked into his eyes and waited for him to tell her to go away.

Graham didn’t do that, though. He wiped a hand down his face and quietly asked, “How long have you been standing there?”

It wasn’t what she’d expected. “Not long. A few seconds. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just needed some air.”

“No, it’s okay.” He found a smile and pressed his palm to the back of his neck. Rachael found herself able to move again and took a step back, folding her hands in front of her. “You don’t have to go.”

“Are you sure? It looks like you want to be alone.”

His smile became more genuine, and she saw a spark in his eyes. “No, it’s fine. I wouldn’t mind the company. Your company anyway.”

Trying not to read more into that than was necessary, Rachael stepped over and took a seat on the side away from where he’d slung his tie. They sat in silence for several minutes, gazing up at the sky. “I can’t get over how beautiful it is out here.” She’d written it that way, of course. The idea had slipped her mind until that moment, that she’d written the sky over Silverwood Academy to be mesmerizingly beautiful. The thought that she could somehow control the heavens seemed absurd, and yet she was seeing it above her in all of its splendor now. A shooting star flashed by, and she had to wonder, if she’d written aliens, would those somehow exist, too?

“It’s gorgeous,” Graham agreed. “Chell used to come here a lot. I kind of thought it was a waste of time in a way, just sitting, looking at the sky, smelling the flowers. But… now that she’s gone, when I’m here, I feel closer to her.” The glistening of tears were evident in his eyes as he dropped them level with the horizon.

Rachael put her hand on his arm, ignoring the tingle touching him sent down her spine. “I can’t imagine how difficult this is for you, Graham. I’m so very sorry that Chell is gone.”

He turned his face to look at her, a crooked grin pulling at one side of his mouth. “It’s not your fault.”

She swallowed hard. If he only knew the truth…. “Still, no one should have to go through that. From what I’ve heard, she was a remarkable person, not someone who can just be replaced.” Rachael hoped to make it clear that wasn’t what she was trying to do either--even if it was exactly what she was trying to do.

Unexpectedly, Graham slid closer to her. His strong arm draped over her shoulders, and she found her head cradled in the crook of his neck. He tipped his head down so that his forehead was resting on her crown, and took a few slow, deep breaths while she tried not to breathe--tried not to relish in that scent that was so completely intoxicating, so completely Graham Halloway.

He held her for several moments. The awkwardness seeped away eventually, and Rachael relaxed into his arms, wrapping hers around his waist. It was a dangerous game she was playing, attempting to pass her longing off as comfort, but she couldn’t help herself. It felt so right, being there in his arms, the skin of her cheek pressed against his neck, his face in her hair. The temptation to lift her face and find his lips was overwhelming, but she resisted, reminding herself that his feelings for her were not the same, that he hardly knew her.

Graham pulled his arm away slowly and lifted his head. Reluctantly, Rachael let him go, keeping space between them. “Thank you, Rachael.”

“You’re welcome, Graham.” She smiled at him, fighting her fingers that wanted nothing more than to trace the strands of his hair where they peaked above those inquisitive eyes. “I should probably go.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll walk you back.”

“You don’t have to.” As much as she would’ve continued to enjoy his company, she didn’t want to have him at her door again, have to fight the urge to press her lips to his.

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She smiled and slid off of the bench, pausing to look at him over her shoulder as she followed the meandering path back toward the dorm building.

Once she was out of the garden, Rachael ran a hand through her hair and blew out a hot breath. Did Graham have any idea what effect he had on her, and if he did, would he continue to instigate these encounters--or was he completely innocent? She wasn’t sure, but part of her was ready to find out. The other part just wanted to appreciate it for what it was and give the man some time. In the end, she figured she’d do something to rush it and end up ruining any possibility of Graham ever truly liking her. Patience was a virtue Rachael Barnes was unfamiliar with.