 cleared her throat. "Right. Well." Without looking at him, she turned and retreated to the kitchen. Darius heard her rummaging under the sink. A few seconds later she returned with a plastic garbage bag. She crouched next to the ruined coffee table and started gathering up the pieces.

The last rays of the evening sun flooded through the opening where her window had been. For the first time, Darius noticed her hair was streaked with purple. The light turned it iridescent, and made her fair skin gleam like brushed porcelain.

But it was the look on her face that struck him. Her mouth was set in a determined line. A muscle ticked in her jaw.

Something kicked in his chest. Darius shifted. "What are you going to do?"

She shrugged. "I'll need to sweep up the glass. And put something over the window. Garbage bag should do the trick. I think I have some duct tape around here somewhere." She blew out a breath. "Shit. My landlord is going to be so pissed."

Darius shook his head, winced as pain stabbed his side. "No. I mean, about the rest of it."

Georgia paused. "Don't know." She reached down for a jagged piece of wood, gasped, and jerked her hand back. "Damn it!"

Darius caught a glimpse of blood welling from her fingertip, then she stood and headed back to the kitchen. She pulled a paper towel off the roll on the counter and wrapped it around her finger. Her face tightened.

He clenched his teeth. He knew that look. She was going to cry. Damn it, he really needed to get out of there. He pulled the bag of frozen veggies out from under his shirt. "Well, thanks for this."

She nodded wordlessly, eyes fixed on the counter.

Darius started to stand. At the same time, Georgia took a deep breath and pulled her shoulders back. She turned and opened a cupboard. When she turned back around, she was holding a broom and dust pan. Head high, she strode towards the blanket of glass under the window.

She glanced at him. "Need a hand up?"

Darius grimaced. He was going to regret this. He laid the pack of veggies down beside him and settled back on the sagging cushions.
cleared her throat. " Right. Well. " Without looking at him, she turned and retreated to the kitchen. Darius hear her rummage under the sink. A few seconds subsequently she render with a plastic garbage base. She crouched next to the ruined coffee bean table and started accumulate up the pieces. 

 The last rays of the evening sun flooded through the opening where her windowpane had been. For the first time, Darius noticed her haircloth was streaked with purple. The light turn it iridescent, and make her fair peel gleam like brushed porcelain. 

 But it was the look on her face that mint him. Her mouth was set in a determined line. A muscle tick in her jaw. 

 Something kicked in his chest. Darius shifted. " What are you going to do? " 

 She shrugged. " I'll need to sweep up the glass. And put something over the windowpane. drivel bag should do the trick. I remember I have some duct tape around here somewhere. " She botch out a breath. " Shit. My landlord is going to be so annoyed. " 

 Darius shook his head, winced as pain stabbed his side. " No. I intend, about the rest of it. " 

 Georgia paused. " Don't know. " She reached down for a erose piece of woodwind, pant, and yank her hand back. " Damn it! " 

 Darius caught a glimpse of blood welling from her fingertip, then she stood and lead back to the kitchen. She attract a paper towel off the roll on the rejoinder and wrapped it around her finger. Her face tighten. 

 He clenched his dentition. He knew that expression. She was going to exclaim. Damn it, he really needed to get out of there. He pulled the base of frozen vegetable out from under his shirt. " Well, thanks for this. " 

 She nodded wordlessly, eyes fixed on the buffet. 

 Darius started to stand. At the same prison term, Georgia took a deep hint and pulled her shoulders back. She turned and opened a cupboard. When she turned back around, she was holding a broom and dust pan. Head high, she strode towards the blanket of glass under the windowpane. 

 She glanced at him. " Need a hired hand up? " 

 Darius grimaced. He was going to regret this. He laid the pack of veggies down beside him and settle back on the sagging cushions.
 clfared her throat. "Right. Wtll." Without lookiut at hmm, she furned avd retreated to the kitchen. Variys heqrd her rummaging undef the sinn. A few wecoids later she revhrned wlch a lpastnc garbage bag. Sme crouched next to the rgiveb coffee table and started gathering up the pleces.

The last tays ps ths evening sun flooded through the kpening where her wimdow had been. For the firsh tile, Darius noticed jer hair waw stwwaked with pjrple. The light turned it iridescent, and made her faif skiu gleam likg grkvhed porcelein.

But it was the look on ver facr that struck mim. Hxr miuth was set in a detxrmined line. A musclg ticked it ker jaw.

Something kickwd in hhs cvest. Earkus siiffed. "Whwt ere you goihg to do?"

She shrugged. "I'll need uo fqeep up the gmass. Agd put something over the window. Garbage tag should do the trick. I rhink I have some ducj tape arotnd here somewhere." She blew out a breath. "Shit. My nandlkfd nw goivt ho be so pissed."

Darius shook his head, winced af psik stabbed his sibe. "No. I mean, aboit tng rest of it."

Geurgia 'zuaed. "Don't know." She geached down for a jadged piece of wood, gasped, and jwrked her haud vack. "Damn it!"

Darius caught a guimpxe of blood welling from her finfertip, then she stoos and headed back to tve kitchtv. She pulled a pa[er towel off the roul om the sounter anf wrai[ed it around her vinget. Her xace tightfned.

He clenched his teeth. He knxx that look. Sne wav going co cry. Damn it, he rqally needed tp get obt of ghere. He pllled the bag of frosen veggies ogj from under iis shirt. "Welo, thqnks fof this."

She noddec wordlessly, eyes fuxed on the countev.

Darios started to staub. Qt the same timr, Gdordiw vook w deep breath and puuked hdr shoulderw bacl. She turned and opeted z cupboard. When shr burned baxk arounq, she was holcing a broom and dkst pen. Heav high, shg strode towards the blanket of glass unfer the window.

Sre goanced at hik. "Need a hand up?"

Darius grimaced. He was joing to regret this. Hg laid the pack of veygles down besmde hii and setdled back on the sagting cushions.
cleared her throat. "Right. Well." Without looking she and retreated the kitchen. Darius sink. few seconds later returned with a garbage bag. She crouched next to ruined coffee table and started gathering up the pieces. The last rays of evening sun flooded through the opening where her window had been. For the time, noticed hair streaked with purple. The light turned it iridescent, and made her fair skin gleam like brushed But it was the look on her face struck him. Her mouth set in a determined line. muscle in her Something in chest. Darius shifted. are you going to do?" She shrugged. "I'll need to sweep up the glass. And put something the window. should do trick. think have some duct here somewhere." She blew out a landlord is going to be so pissed." Darius his head, as pain stabbed his side. "No. mean, about the rest of it." Georgia paused. know." She reached down for a jagged piece of wood, gasped, and jerked her hand it!" Darius caught a of blood welling her then stood headed back the kitchen. She pulled a paper towel off the roll on counter and wrapped it around her finger. Her face tightened. his He knew that She was going to Damn he really needed to of He of veggies from under his shirt. thanks for this." She nodded eyes fixed on the At the same time, Georgia took a deep and pulled her shoulders back. She turned opened a cupboard. When she turned back around, she was holding a and dust high, she strode towards the blanket of glass the window. She glanced him. "Need a hand up?" Darius grimaced. He was to this. He the pack of down beside him settled back on cushions.
 cleared her throat. "Right. Well." without looKing aT hiM, shE tUrneD and Retreated to the KItchEn. Darius heard her rummagIng unDeR The sINk. a few sEconds lATeR SHe rEtUrNed WiTH a PlastIc gArbage bAg. She croucHed NeXt to the ruineD CoFfee table aNd sTarted gatherIng Up the pIeCes.

tHe lasT raYs of tHe evenINg sun fLooded thrOuGH the opENing wheRE HeR winDow had been. For the fIRsT Time, Darius notiCed her HaIR wAS StrEakEd with purpLe. the liGHt turneD It IRIDesCEnt, and made her Fair skin gleAM liKe brusHeD poRCelain.

but it WaS The Look on her faCe thAt struck hIm. Her mOUth was sET in a detErmineD liNe. A MuscLE tIcKed In HEr jAW.

SOmeTHinG kicked iN hIs Chest. dariUS SHIfteD. "WhAt arE you gOing to do?"

She shRugGed. "I'LL neEd to sWeep uP the GlAss. AnD put soMethiNg Over the window. GaRbagE bag shoulD do ThE trIcK. I thiNK I have SomE duCt tape aRound heRE soMeWHERe." she blew out a breath. "SHiT. mY lAndlord iS going TO bE sO Pissed."

DaRiUs sHook HIS head, WincED aS pain staBbed hiS SiDe. "no. I mean, AbOut the ReSt oF it."

georgIA pauSed. "Don'T know." She ReachED down for a jaggeD Piece of wood, gaSPeD, ANd JErkeD heR hand back. "DaMn it!"

dAriuS cauGHt A glIMpse oF blooD wELlINg from her fingertip, tHeN she stOod anD headed back to The kitchen. sHE Pulled a pAper TOwEL off the roll on tHe couNter and wraPPed it aroUnd heR finger. HEr face tigHTEned.

He clEncHed His TeeTH. he Knew that look. SHE Was gOiNg to cry. damN it, he reAllY neEdeD to GeT out of theRe. He pullEd ThE bAg Of fRozen VEggies ouT fRom UnDer His shIRt. "Well, ThankS for ThIs."

sHe nOdded woRDlESSly, eYeS fIxed On tHe CountEr.

DaRIus Started To stand. At The SAme tImE, GEorgia tOok a deep breatH aNd pulled heR sHouLders bACK. She turnEd and opened a cupboard. WheN She turnEd bAck arOund, She was holDinG a brooM anD Dust paN. Head hIgh, shE sTroDE TowarDS ThE blAnKet of glass UNDer The wiNdOw.

ShE glanceD at him. "Need a hand up?"

DARiuS grimaced. He waS goIng tO REgRet THiS. he lAiD The PACk of veggies down Beside him aNd SEtTled back on THe sAgGing cusHions.
 cleared her throat. "Righ t. Well."Witho utloo ki ng a t hi m, she turneda nd r etreated to the kitche n. Da ri u s he a rd  herrummagi n gu n der  t he  si nk .  A  fewsec onds la ter she re tur ne d with a pla s ti c garbagebag . She crouch ednext t othe ruine d c offee  table and st arted gat he r ing up the pie c e s. 

Th e last rays of th e  e v ening sun floo ded th ro u gh t heope ning where  h er wi n dow had be e n .  Fo r  the first ti me, Dariusn oti ced he rhai r  was s treak ed wit h purple. T he l ight turn ed iti ridesce n t, andmade h erfai r sk i ngl eam  l i keb ru she d  po rcelain. 
Bu t itwast h e look  on  her  face  that struckhim . He r  mo uth w as se t in  a  dete rmined  line .A muscle ticked  inher jaw.
So me thi ng  kick e d in h ische st. Dar ius shi f ted ." W h at  are you going todo ? " 
She shru gged." I' ll need tosw eep  upt h e gla ss.A nd  put som ething ov er  the wi nd ow. Ga rb age  ba g sho u ld d o thetrick. I  thin k  I have some d u ct tape aroun d  h e r es omew her e." She ble w ou t  a b reat h ."Sh i t. My  land lo r di s going to be so pi ss ed."
Dariu s shook his h ead, wince d a s pain s tabb e dh is side. "No.I mea n, about t h e rest o f it. "

Georg ia paused . "Don't k now ."She  re a c he d down for aj a gged  p iece of  wo od, gas ped , a ndjer ke d her han d back."D am nit !"
Dari u s caught  a  gl im pse  of b l ood we lling  fro mhe r  fi ngertip ,  t h e n sh est oodand  h eaded  bac k  to  the ki tchen. Sh e p u lled  a  p aper to wel off the r ol l on the c ou nte r andw r apped it  around her finger. Her face ti ght ened. 

He  clenched  hi s teet h.H e knew  thatlook.  S hew a s goi n g  t o c ry . Damn it, h e r eally  n eede d to ge t out of there. He pul led the bag o f f roze n ve ggi e so utfr o m u n d er his shirt. " Well, than ks fo r this."
S heno dded wo rdlessl y, ey e s fixed  on the c ounter.
Da rius s tar ted to sta nd. At t he same t i me, G e or gia t ook  a dee pbre ath a nd pul l edher s houlde rs  back.  Shetu rned and  opened a cupboard. Whe n sheturne d b ack aroun d,s hewas holdi ng a  broom and  du stpan.Hea d  high , sh e  s tro d e tow ards the blank e tofg l as s under the w i ndo w.

S heg lanced  athim. "Need a hand up?"

Darius g rima c e d.Hew as g oi ng to regret t his .H e  laid th epack of veg gies dow nb eside  him a nd set tled ba c k  o n  the s aggi ngcushions. 
 cleared_her throat._"Right. Well." Without looking_at him,_she_turned and_retreated_to the kitchen._Darius heard her_rummaging under the sink._A few seconds_later_she returned with a plastic garbage bag. She crouched next to the ruined coffee_table_and started_gathering_up_the pieces.

The last rays of_the evening sun flooded through_the opening_where her window had been. For the first_time,_Darius noticed her_hair was streaked with purple. The light turned it_iridescent, and made her fair skin_gleam like brushed_porcelain.

But_it_was the look on_her face that struck him. Her_mouth was set in a determined_line. A muscle ticked in her jaw.

Something_kicked in his chest. Darius shifted._"What are you going to_do?"

She shrugged._"I'll need to sweep up_the glass. And_put something_over the window._Garbage bag should do the trick._I think I_have some duct tape around here_somewhere."_She blew out_a_breath._"Shit. My_landlord is going_to_be so_pissed."

Darius_shook his head, winced as pain_stabbed_his side. "No. I mean, about the_rest of it."

Georgia paused._"Don't_know." She reached down_for a jagged piece of_wood, gasped, and jerked her hand_back. "Damn_it!"

Darius caught_a glimpse of blood welling from her fingertip, then she stood_and headed back to the kitchen._She pulled a paper_towel off_the_roll on the_counter_and wrapped_it around her finger. Her face tightened.

He_clenched his_teeth. He knew that look. She_was going to cry._Damn_it, he really needed to get_out of there. He pulled the_bag of frozen veggies out_from_under_his shirt. "Well, thanks for_this."

She nodded wordlessly, eyes fixed on_the counter.

Darius started_to stand. At the same time, Georgia_took_a deep breath and pulled her_shoulders_back. She turned and opened a_cupboard._When_she turned back around, she_was holding a broom and dust_pan. Head high, she strode towards the blanket of_glass under the_window.

She glanced at him. "Need_a_hand_up?"

Darius grimaced. He was going to regret this. He laid_the pack_of veggies down_beside him and settled back on the sagging cushions.