A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps by Kit Bryan
Rule 78- If you're going to wear your heart on your sleeve, make sure it's stylish and matches your outfit.

Ashton is quiet on the drive home. I make a couple half hearted attempts at conversation but honestly, I don't feel much like talking either. When we get back the house is eerily quiet and completely empty. I guess Lucy and Fin are still out. Marcus has woken at some point and made his way home. The mattresses have all been returned to their proper places too. Dad's car is gone so I guess he really did only sleep for a few hours before heading back to work. I make a mental note to check in on him at some point. Ashton still seems kind of withdrawn and I'm not sure why. He was totally fine earlier this morning.

"Why don't you relax on the couch for a while, I'll throw together some sandwiches or something." I suggest. Maybe he's tired, we did all have a long and emotional night. Ashton frowns but doesn't say anything, he DOES sit down though. I give him a weak smile and turn to walk away but Ashton catches me by the wrist and pulls me back with one strong tug that has me tumbling back and falling onto the couch. Scratch that, it has me falling directly into his lap. I scramble to move, but Ashton wraps his arms around my waist, pinning me in place. He rests his head on my shoulder. I blush red but I can't bring myself to push his hands off and move away. I am so screwed. He's going to leave soon and I'm going to regret liking him as much as I do. I've been sitting here worrying about Lucy and Fin spending so much time together but I've been a hypocrite and I know it because I can't seem to stop spending time with Ashton even though there are realistically even more reasons why things won't work out with him given his position.

"You do not object to me holding you like this?" Ashton asks, although his tone is a little smug so I guess he already knows the answer. The question feels moot at this point, but I guess if he's asking he wants to be sure, the fae are very hung up on personal space so I can see why he might need a bit of reassurance.

"I don't mind it." I answer, mentally berating myself. 'Don't mind it?' This is heaven and I wish we could stay like this forever. Then again, that answer would probably freak him out, it freaks me out and I'm the one thinking it. "Good. You... You would not allow others to hold you like this... correct? This is different?" My eyebrows fly up. Where did THAT question come from?

"Uh, why are you asking?" I avoid answering, mostly because my face is already so warm it might catch fire. I'm glad I can't see his face, or rather I'm glad that he can't see my face.

"You hugged that man this morning, and you hug your friend Marcus often. You humans are very open and physically affectionate with each other, but at the same time it is very unclear to me what that affection means. I do not know what you think of me." His last few words are nearly a whisper and I suspect that if I were to look back, he would be as red as I am".

"Oh. I suppose I haven't really explained much about the meaning behind different interactions between people, I sort of thought you knew, or that you would ask if you didn't. Sorry, I should have been paying more attention, I just-" I'm cut off by Ashton giving a soft laugh by my ear.

"Katerina... You are observant, and as you said, I did not ask. But I am asking now." He says gently, cutting off my rambling.

"Okay. Well... Physical affection can mean different things depending on the situation or your relationship with a person. With Marcus, hugging him is no different than hugging Lucy. They're my best friends. I hug them to show that I care, to give reassurance or to take comfort from them. Do fae not hug their friends?" I ask.

"Rarely." He answers vaguely. Okay then...

"As for hugging Graham, he's... I don't know, a bit like a brother, or an uncle. Everyone down at the station has been there for me most of my life and I've known them since I was very young. Everyone there treats each other like family. Hugging him this morning... I was comforting him. I was close with Lara, but so was he. It would embarrass him if I tried to say all that, so I hugged him." I answer.

"Hmm. You humans are not always truthful with your words, but your actions express your honesty in a different way. Us fae are the opposite. Perhaps because our words are always honest, actions are the easiest way to deceive others." He contemplates.

"I guess that makes sense." I agree curiously.

"So if you hug your friends to express your friendship, and Graham to show your concern and affection for someone you consider to be family, why do you hug me? I am not your family and... This does not feel the same as how you hug your friends." He pulls me impossibly closer and my brain stalls a little. I can't believe he just asked that. He wants me to just... I don't know... Come up with a label for whatever this is between us. But HE hasn't said anything. If fae are honest with their words, and he hasn't really SAID that he cares about me as anything other than a friend, then doesn't that mean that he only considers me a friend? Then again he also said that fae don't hug their friends, or rarely hug their friends at least. So maybe this is more? In the end, I say nothing. Ashton waits and when I don't answer, he uses his hands on my waist to lift me causing me to let out an undignified squeak. He repositions me so that I'm still on his lap but sideways with my feet up on the couch. The biggest difference between this positon and how we were sitting, is that now I can see his face, and he can see mine. There's no hiding how embarrassed I am. He's staring at me earnestly and I can feel one of his hands is creeping up my spine. He reaches my hair and tugs at it gently.

"Katerina?" He prompts me again. I take a deep breath but I only manage to force out two words.

"It's different." I murmur, flushing impossibly more red. I can't hold his gaze any longer and without thinking I hide my face against his chest. Ashton is quiet as he strokes his hand over my back in a soothing motion. After a minute he speaks again and I can feel the rumbling of his voice in his chest as I lean against it.

"It occurs to me that humans are not good at being honest with their words, I should not have asked such a question with words if I wanted a true answer..." He trails off and his right hand slips to my shoulder. He gently pushes me back, off his chest. I search around for something to stare at. My hands are awkward and I have no idea where to put them.

"Katerina, look at me." He insists. I reluctantly look at his face. Ashton's gorgeous green eyes are so close to mine and he is looking at me intently with a funny look on his face. He smiles when I finally make eye contact.

"I would be in a world of trouble if I did this back home. It is something that should be discussed, but you do not seem comfortable talking, and if I asked I think you might run away. So I will have to ask my question a different way." Ashton leans in even closer and my eyes widen. What question is he asking and how? My questions are erased from my mind when he closes the distance between us and presses his lips gently against mine.