[event] Damage Control

Lochlann had been testing himself.

Since coming to the island, he only went near the ocean if he knew there wouldn't be other people around. All he needed was a surprise wave or too much sea spray to hit him and send him careening into a monstrous water horse that would drag the nearest woman into the ocean.

But he was hungry, the day was hot, and the ocean seemed calm. He strode the docks in jeans and a loose, unbuttoned flannel that showed off his swimmer's body. He didn't intend to put on a show--it was just hot outside.

So far, so good. He'd been walking and hadn't immedietly dived into the ocean, but damn was it hot.

Then he saw her.

And he forgot how hot it was.

Long legs, tight body, blond hair, leaning against the car fanning her face in the sun's heat. She was like pure cocaine for an addict and now that Lochlann had laid eyes on her, he absolutely knew with complete certainty that he had to talk to her. It was a sudden, swift need that overtook him like a wave and crashed into him, leaving him defenseless.

He walked towards her slowly, a predator examining a target and then said, "Hey. You look hot."

Lochlann was referring to the weather's effect on her, but left the words vague enough to be a compliment. "Are you doing okay? This weather can take catch you offguard sometimes if you're not careful."

"Nice haircut. I didn't realize people with MySpace profiles still exist. 2007 much?"

Lochlann laughed. The myspace comment went right over his head--he hadn't ever had much access to a computer--but he knew an insult when he heard one. He really wanted to kiss the sneer off that face of hers. Agh.

"You'd be surprised what nostalgia can do for a guy though," Lochlann said, his smile never faltering.

She was smiling now, a little sheepishly, and offering an apology for her comments. He was already in too deep to be worried about any sudden shifts in personality, and besides, it was hot out.

"I'm sorry. I've been moving boxes all day, I'm not exactly in the best mood but you don't have to suffer for that. I'm Marina."

"Marina," he said, "Lovely name. Fits with your beautiful eyes."

He dropped the flirting, though, because he knew never to lay it on too think in the beginning unless alcohol was involved. "Still have boxes to carry? I'd be happy to help, provided you can prove you're not a smuggler."

This was the most exciting part of the hunt, seeing if he'd fail or not.

Really? You will? Oh my gosh, you're an absolutely life saver! I mean, possibly literally at this point, I'm going to die of heatstroke if I stay under this heat."

Normally, Loch would have been worried about thinking about dying and girls in the same sentence, so close to the ocean, but he was doing good. really good, and she seemed to be responsive to him. so far, so good. As long as he didn't look at this as a hunt this might turn out okay.

She touched his arm and Lochlann might have gotten goosebumps if it wasn't so hot out. She started to walk and he followed her obediently, his hands tucked inside his pockets. He snuck glances at her butt, though when she looked back his eyes were straight ahead of him.

"Do you go to Starlight Academy or do you just live here?"

"I'm a student," he said, and he'd been doing pretty good at attending classes lately, too, so it didn't really feel like a lie. Loch had been doing a pretty good job of cleaning up his act, although he was still drinking. Right now he had just enough alcohol in him to stop his hands from shaking and his head from pounding, but not nearly enough to be drunk. But it wasn't a problem, so he wasn't worried about it.

"I'm making the assumption that you're a student as well?" he continued the small talk, awaiting an order. It was good to let her think she was in control of the situation, because he'd want to change that later.

High School. I'm the Captain of the Cheerleading team. I'm surprised you didn't know that?"

Lochlann let out a short, dry laugh. "Yeah, it's not that surprising if you knew me. I'm not really one for the whole school function thing."

Really, he wasn't one for watching girls in short skirts jump around. It made him hungry.

Had he eaten a cheer leader before? He had a feeling he had, at one of the early schools.

She handed him a button and he raised a hand to block the sun to reduce the glare on the shiny surface. Vote Bellamy 2015, it said. Interesting.

"I'm also running for Student Council President! Vote Bellamy 2015."

"What happens if you win?" he asked.

Lochlann had never participated in any kind of politic things. He'd never really understood it, if he was being honest, although he did get nominated by a group of girls for something once. Might have had something to do with prom. He couldn't remember. He'd gotten expelled from that school before he found out what the nomination was for.

They reached the boat and he took whatever boxes she gave him, holding them with ease. Lochlann wasn't by any means super strong, but he was able to hold his own. Besides, water horses had a reputation for being good at lugging things....although usually it referred to farm work, and he'd be wearing a saddle and not a flannel shirt.

This girl had a cute smile and asked him, "Shall we go?"

"Lead the way," he said, flashing a smile back. He'd follow, both to keep an eye on her butt again, and also because it gave him the opportunity to ask her more questions.

"So what's your campaign spheal?" he asked, pulling a phrase he'd overhead someone say in the lunch room. It sounded genuine, mostly because he was serious about wanting to know more.

Ooh, a rebel, huh? Well, if you bother to even look at the posters around the school, you'll see my face everywhere.""

She blew on his hangs and her breath was cool against his face, like a welcome burst of ocean breeze on a hot afternoon.

Wonder what it would feel like if she was blowing other things...

He shook his head, under the guise of fixing his hair, but really it was to keep his mind out of the gutter. It wasn't working. He was thinking about how soft her skin must be and what it'd feel like to run his fingers down her back--nope, nope, nope, don't go there.

"I'll be president. And my campaign to take over the school will be complete."

I'd like to make a campaign to take you over....

Gods dammit.

Lochlann shook his head again, his face thoughtful, but they were at her car now. She leaned against the hood of the car after she fished her keys from her pocket, and Lochlann just said, "You look hot" with the slightest tinge of worry in his voice.

"What do you mean? Like, my platforms?"

"Uh..yeah. Like why are you the best candidate, I suppose. what are you offering that the others aren't?"

"Are you doing anything today? Because I need to get these to my room and I'm really not up for running back and forth from my car to my room in the third floor dormitory, you know? There are just some things girls aren't supposed to do."

She batted those god damn eyelashes of hers and Lochlann picked up her box along with his, leaning against the car with one hand, closing the distance between them. He said, "I don't think there's anything girls aren't supposed to do, but..."

He leaned in closer, one arm going behind her, his face poised like he'd try to kiss her.

Instead, he set the boxes on the seat behind her carefully and leaned back out, distancing himself again. "...I'm happy to help if you need me to. That does sound like quite a hike for one person."

He was calculating now, leaning against her car, his hip cocked out. "Where do you dorm at? I can meet you there."