You concurred that there might be a healthy middle in all of this madness. Lord knows he owes it to you for raising your heart rate permanently for years at a time. What a deeply evil man he was. To disregard your choices, turning your family and friends against you. Making you into a contrarian when you earnestly weren't. He needed to save all of that effort and squabble for preaching, because this sure wasn't cutting it.

Anyway, back to the healthy middle. Usually you were just pissed at him, refusing to interact besides laying out a sure guideline of 'No's' and 'Leave me alone's' like a sensible person would. However, that was getting you nowhere. In all actuality, the longer it's going on the more the chase worsened. So if you couldn't lose a man by not being interested, you wanted to see if you could lose him by.. shaking his interest. Distorting his perception.

If that didn't work, you'd see what reciprocation would do. Again, Goodness had nothing to do with this and you were fully aware of the moral implications of this decision.

However, he's the same person you wished would perish in war. This really isn't so bad in comparison.

If you turned up to be a total freak, he might swallow his bible and run for the hills. The only thing stopping you from going all out is the social implications. Lee was a mighty talker, and he injected himself into your social circle for an upwards of 5 years. Tammy used to want to date him, as did Shanice long ago. The things they saw in him were somewhat morally presumptive - since he was some hauty christian, there shouldn't be an expectation to 'put out'. It would be a proper young girls dream to be married to Martin's boy. What a dream that was.

You wondered how the girls have reacted to seeing the new him. It was hard to put together each specific personality. They might love it even more - ditching his polite, librarian stature for that of a killing machine. Muscles so defined, that his old clothing now fit like a second skin..

Most of all, old Martins would've deeply condemned someone at the simple mention of getting a small handgun. Now, he had one that he apparently tucked in his slacks like no big deal. On top of that he would never hug you so closely, so much you could feel the hardness of his body and his chin on your head. On the off chance he'd have a hug, it'd be a side one.

This new persona was definitely odd. But maybe you should just get over the change. He was Him now. And you were at his mercy seeing as he really had no problem handling you... like that. As much as it sickened you, he had you beat.

And you have no curiosity for the violence and anger he was capable of. Those didn't need to be experienced first-hand. As per his request, you cut your presence at work off by the second. It was Eight and you thankfully came in your car, so no need for another kidnapping.

Getting home was always not a problem. Getting Inside the home was. As you pulled up the street, a straight-backed figure slowly made view. Your new boyfriend had all the time in the world, it seemed, and had smiled and waved at you from the front doorstep as soon as you got out of the car. Trying to say essentially the opposite of what you would typically say, you painted a bright smile onto your face.

" What're you doing here? " He looked shocked, barely able to form a sentence. " Oh... letter. "

" Letter? What for, I'm right here? "

" Yes.. but.. but.. You usually.. don't have the time..? "

" Don't be silly. What was it? "

" Oh, well. I put it all into writing, see. I didn't expect you to... " It was silent for a long bit, him looking down at you with such a gaze full of love. There was a relaxed, comforted smile on his face. One so strong that it crinkled the eye.

" Well - If it's nothing, I should be going in now! " " Wait, " He held his hand out, blocking your way. Your new attitude was like a breath of fresh air, but this obvious discrepancy hr noticed surely wasn't - " Why haven't they given you a longer skirt? It's the middle of winter, isn't it?. "

" Oh, but no, I asked and they didn't give me another uniform. " A fake giggle wrung through the air as you sorely attempted to plow through him. " Really, I must get inside. "

" Did- " " Lee! " You barked, then tried to compose yourself. Thankfully, the snow muffled any echo. " Lee, I'm trying to get inside. Why, i'm just about to have dinner. "

" Why don't you come over for dinner? I could have my mom make something good for you. "

" I..I'd rather not, really. " Even in it's trial stages, trying the appealing approach was incredibly difficult. He was just So damn annoying. " My mother already made food. I'd much rather prefer that. "

" ..You'll have to have it sometime. Who knows? You really might like it more. "

" Please. " You waved him off with a hand.

He grumbled like a little kid, crossing his arms. " I could even carry you over, so you could relax your feet. "

" Carrying is for crossing thresholds. Don't worry a little thing. " You slipped the note from the mailbox, easily slinking past him. " Good night, my friend. "

He just stared, slightly confused, wholeheartedly elated.

What his bunkmates had said; it was all true. Did he really think to doubt it for a second, though? No, no. That last little push was just necessary. He smiled a genuine smile and admired your home, heart squeezing itself inward with bouts of love and serenity.

~

Now that you thought about it, placating him was simple and surprisingly easy. You can't pretend that you didn't have to hide your face and cringe a few times, but between last night and right now, there was nothing scary or even too creepy.

Sure, he was a bit too excited to knock on your door this morning. But after delivering a rosary his mother made for you, a tiny bible and giving you another hug, it was again, a very manageable amount of weird. Theres a bit of defeat that comes with allowing him to push that idealization closer and closer. But it wasn't like it was demented or anything.

He was just so in love, you supposed. After not listening to him talk at all, you slowly began to close the door until it shut on him mid-sentence. Soldier boy got the hint soon enough. And what did he do? Walked his happy self right back to his side of the street, visibly cheerful. Just because.. he got to talk to and hug you. If it was your first time seeing him, you'd think he won the lottery with that walk.

" Ooooh [Name]! Wait, what's that you got? Very pretty, dear. " You removed your eyes from the window and instead peered at the rosary. Yet another fake smile ripped up your face. " Thanks. Just got it. "

" From where? " She took it inhand and looked it over, scanning it's intricacies with shining eyes. " A friend. " Through gritted teeth, you tossed the mini-bible to the table while she could glimmer all over the stupid thing. The book bounced off and hit the floor with a hearty slap.

" I was supposed to tell you, Lorelei called. Invited you to skake, says she'd like to catch up. "

Catch up, she says. " We just talked two days ago. - Oh, she is a card. "

" It might feel like forever for her. After all you do work like a dog. " Here it was. Lecture of the evening, thankfully she hadn't unraveled into a full, 'Women should never work unless it's in the house, let me teach you how to make bread, how come you aren't pregnant blah blah blah'. You'd rather do hard, long hours at the tuna cannery than listen to another one of those. " All work, no play. "

" I like working. You wouldn't want a man arranging your new measurements and tailoring your undergarments, would you? "

" Well no. Unless it was your father, that is. "

The weirdness of that comment made you frown. " Hm. I suppose I'll go with Lorelei. When did she say it was, then? "

" Noon. But you should dress warm, honey. That ice skating arena is plenty cold in addition to the natural chill. Personally, I think they keep it that way to keep the turnover high. "

" Uh-huh. " Really, another 50 years could be lived without a rant. But doing something like that sounded fun. Once you got upstairs, you retired your sleepwear for something warm. You opened Lee's letter while you went to the bathroom to brush your teeth, so you could throw it in the trash when you're finished.

Same old same old, him lamenting about himself and then picking apart his favorite things - Your hair this and your skin is so soft that. The notepaper floated wistfully down into the trash can, and you bent over the sink to spit. Lorelei could be the one for your army man. You wondered if she was willing and able, but why wouldn't she be?

She would just spring at this attention, bending at his word. And he'd marvel at her beauty, being beckoned in at all hours of the day. They'd be perfect for eachother. And she was growing tired of her old sweetheart. Usually she'd have her fill of a man within a few months. It was a miracle Marshall even lasted that long.

You fastened the last little bits of your outfit, going as far as to add a coat with a hood. This was one of those places one shouldn't worry about being 'too warm' at. It also surprisingly granted a bit of anonymity; not recognizing yourself in the mirror was a real surprise.

It was always more polite to be a bit more early, or at-least you thought so, so you walked over and arrived at the Powers household by 11:55. They had installed a new, bronze door-knocker. It was very curious -- instead of raising your fist against the wood, you grabbed ahold of it and thunked it three times.

The first thing that came into view was her fathers particularly loud cashmere sweater, very bright and decorative. " Oh. Hello, Mr. Powers is Lorelei ready? "

" She should be. But you know, you girls could spend a whole day getting ready. Would you like to come in? "

You thought he'd never ask; " Yes, please. " Shaking the frost from your shoes, a sudden wave of relief washed over you the second you were no longer outside.

" How has your day been? "

" Hmm. " He hummed, grasping at the little facial hair he possessed. " Between Lori and her mother, I might need to start seeing a psychiatrist. "

You both laughed a bit, until the hustle and bustle of footsteps alerted you of a rushing young woman. Lori was all decked out in a nice, long blue winter coat. You couldn't help but marvel at it as she finally made her way into the living room.

" Here she is. " Her father introduced, then retired to entertaining his tobacco pipe.

" It's like I haven't seen you in forever! " She sighed, slinging her purse over her shoulder.

" I've been busy with work -- Goodbye, Mr. " " Bye, Dad. "

" Be good, you two. " He waved just as you stepped through the door.

" -- And have they been working me. I've done 11 returns for the same woman, for a week and a half now! That's nearly one a day! "

" Is there anything wrong with the product? "

" No, it's all clothes, see. I earnestly think she complains to receive free tailoring -- That's what my boss gives her each time.

Broken stitch? Free embroider, free zipper reinstallation, free mending, free patching.. Oh! It's madness. "

" I suppose if she was still the one in charge of handling the machine, things would be different. "

" Very different. " You concluded. " What's going on between you and Marshall? "

Lore slipped you a very sly smirk, peeking at you from the sliver of her light eyes, " Nothing to write home about. So I may have to be finished with it all soon. "

Blushing and ultimately laughing at her gall, you shook your head in an effort to chastise her. " I don't know how you do it. "

" It's so easy. Don't you know a young woman shouldn't buy the first outfit she sees? You have to try them on first. Wear them out on the town. "

With the both if you talking up such a storm, it was no wonder you were halfway there already. However, it was dreadfully chill out with no signs of slowing.

" Once you've uhh.. Filled a certain outfit out enough, then you'll think about buying it, Yes? "

" Ooh, Don't ask me that. I must be a hand-me-down girl. I don't get into any of that. "

" I don't see why not. After all these years, [Name], you haven't even let one guy take you out. "

" None of the ones here interest me. " You lied, opening the door to the rink for her. " Besides, you suck them dry before I can even out a foot out. "

" Oh, Don't be like that. You know if you'd tell me who you like, I'd let you go for them. " You shook your head, pursing your lips.

" I just won't ever compare to you, my friend. You leave them breathless. " Even as you were walking in, there were men even 10, 20 years her senior ogling her. From your perspective that was just sloppy, but that's just how things went here. They greeted you both even when it was obvious you were here together, and wished to be kept to your devices. Really, it felt like the men in this small town were also stuck in the deep 40's like your parents.

" Do you know how to skate? " You had a bit of trouble coming to terms with your shoes being connected to an incredibly long, sharp blade, but alas.

" Yes, I do. I've been doing it for quite some time. "

" Be my teacher, then. Otherwise this will get very ugly. "

~

Hours after your sweet little day out with your good friend, you sat in your bedroom. In your pajamas, wrapped in a blanket. All you could think about is why you might be broken, not preferring to date at all. Then again, was it a deficiency to not date? Or an advantage? You wish that the future would bring explicitness.