Conversation x2

After a brief wait, Hanna knocks on my door. "Mr. Longwood, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes I did, Hanna. Please, come in." I sit as the brunette finds the chair and takes a seat across from me. I note how her eyes look me up and down before returning to my face. A light blush forms when she sees that I'm watching her size me up.

"Ah, um, can I help you, sir?"

"Maybe. And, again, Jack is fine," I relax in my seat. "Hanna, you seem like a nice girl, but having a stranger over, especially a young woman that I don't know, yet now find myself... responsible for... It's quite the conundrum, you realize."

"Mr. Lon-er, Jack... I promise that everything will be fine. I'll follow all your rules and do whatever you say, just... I apologize for the inconvenience."

"Inconvenience... A suitable word. Hanna, do you know how long it's been since I've last seen my daughter?" I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

"No, but I know it's been a while..." Hanna responds, looking more timid by the second.

"Do you know how much effort I put into that dinner? How excited I was to share a meal with Amber again?" The girl is squirming, poor thing.

"Please... Jack, I-"

"I like hearing you say my name. It sounds right, coming from you." Hearing the tone of my voice, Hanna looks up. I'm sitting straight, with a pleasant, almost lackadaisical, look on my face. The sudden change in atmosphere, I can tell, has her reeling. Was she imagining the hostility? Was it real? Is her mind playing tricks on her? I can practically read every thought on her face.

"Oh, uh... It's... nice saying your name," She's caught off guard, slightly spooked, and looking to make me happy. Perfect. "It's a great name."

"Why thank you, Hanna. You have a beautiful name as well." Her smile tells me all I need to know. She's pleased to be complimented, the fear, stress, worry, relief and happiness are all mixed up in her head.

"Oh uh, th-thank you very much Jack. I uh... heh... I-"

"Well, it's getting late. From what I hear you'll be staying with us for some time." I stand and can see her body briefly war with itself. Part of her goes to stand, part shrinks back away from me. It passes without her looking away from me. I turn my back on her, as if saying "you're dismissed" and start to take my shirt off. I toss it across the room, into a hamper, and go for my belt. I unbuckle it before turning back to her. Her vision is locked onto my undone belt, she's biting her lip, and she's gripping her knees. I hold still, watching her face. In what seems like hours, but in reality is probably no more than a second or two, her eyes reach back up to mine. She practically jumps to her feet.

"OH! Yes, right! I'm- I'll be here for Summer break, yeah." She starts to make her way towards my bedroom door.

'Take a risk, or leave it here?' "Well then, Hanna, I hope you have a good night." 'No risk, no reward' I open my arms wide. Before she can think about it she envelops me in a hug. It only lasts a second before she steps back, face red, and leaves my room. Smiling at the positive sign, I finish undressing and head to bed.