Laughing Fate by Roxy Emilia Means Page A

Puck.
    "Well, I was headed home. I just got off work. I had the funnest day, the licorice store almost got robbed and at the diner I kicked out three customers and threw away at least twenty cookies that Sandy was trying to give away for free. Oh and some guy was yelling insults at me from his table, so Sandy threw her coffee on him! It was great. So how was your day?"
    Potter took a moment to absorb all of that information.  He had never been in the habit of eating at the Diner, but maybe he should start going there. Puck seemed to have the most action packed days. It was eerie, if there was any sort of chaos to be found; Puck had the knack for stumbling right into it. He had never met someone with such a disregard for her own safety.
    "You were almost robbed? Did they have a gun? What happened? And WHY are you walking alone in the dark? You shouldn’t be walking so far in the dark! Anything could happen to you! Why don’t you just drive? AND WHO YELLED AT YOU?"
    Puck glared at him and put a hand on her hip. "Right now, it’s you! I am twenty-two years old! If I want to go walking at night I will! I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do! I have two older brothers and parents and a meddling younger sister, not to mention cousins, all trying to tell me how to live my life! I don’t need my friends trying to tell me what to do also!"
    "Is that what I am? You’re friend?" Potter asked quietly when Puck had finished yelling. She had looked kind of cute like that. Kind of like an irate pixie. The important thing was that she hadn’t gone into seagull mode, she seemed more indignant than angry.
    Puck blushed lightly and looked away from his eyes. “Yeah, I guess you are. Not because I like you or anything. It’s an honorary title for running me over and then saving my life. I give it to everyone who almost kills me, so don’t go getting a fat head over it Mr. Macho."
    Potter smiled wide, showing all of his teeth and pulled Puck on to his lap. Puck screamed and tried to get off, but he held her there. Couldn’t Puck just be a girl for once, and let him touch her?
    "Shhh....don’t scream, people will call the police! Just sit still and look up into the skies. I think I saw a meteor."
    Puck stopped struggling and stared up into the skies, her mouth opening a little in awe. Sure enough, one by one she saw the stars start to fall. She stared up in wonder as shooting stars shot across the heavens. The awkwardness of being held in his arms was replaced by comfort. She laid her head back against his chest and let him hold her. She breathed deep, trying to catch his smell and smiled when she caught the scent of surf wax. Puck relished being in her angel’s arms once again.
    They sat like that for the entire meteor shower. They were both quiet, and for once Puck wasn’t fidgeting or trying to stir chaos. She was relaxed and enjoying the show that the heavens had put on. Puck felt her eye lids grow heavy and soon she was lulled into sleep by the steady rhythm of the beat of his heart.
     
    ****
     
    Potter stared down at Puck, who was sleeping against his chest. It felt right to have her in his arms. He was surprised that she had stayed in them, at first she had looked ready to fight her way out of his arms, if necessary. She had settled down, though, and soon had completely relaxed in his arms, her head resting on his chest with his arms hugging her loosely.
    He found his thoughts wandering to when she’d called him her friend. It made his heart trip to hear it from her voice. He knew that just that little acknowledgment was a sign that she was starting to trust him. He smiled as he watched her shift to a more comfortable position and thought that he could get used to having her in his arms. He wondered what made her so standoffish to strangers. Holding her right now, it was hard to image that she could channel the fighting soul of a sea gull. She was more like a kitten, harmless and cute.
    He was reminded of that old