Into The Night

[McFly 0]

The hour had become late and grew into the early morning. The air was becoming crisp as the landscape cooled. Matt was on the roof of the ridiculously high hotel preparing an extravagant gesture for Kansas. Matt realized he probably sounded like a crackhead earlier when they were talking. All he wanted was for her to start opening up to him, to trust him but that’s probably not how it sounded. Kansas had wandered off and he was afraid he pushed her too hard and then pushed her away.

 

Two backpacks had been brought up. What they were for only Matt knew. He lit some candles to make it look at least semi-romantic. He looked around and everything seemed perfect until he realized one simple flaw… It might be best to make the hotel privy to his plan just in case someone would want to ruin the moment by alerting security. Being a security officer himself he knew how eager those people are to do their jobs, especially in a place where they’re probably not needed all too much.

 

In the distance through the glass doors of the lobby he could see the group of people at the fire. Matt hoped Kansas was out there enjoying herself and he hadn’t ruined her vacation. He turned his attention back to his pursuits and found the hotel manager to discussing his arrangements.

 

 

Little did Matt know, Kansas was not out with everyone else but by herself walking along a strip of stores as they were closing. Shopping usually makes her feel better but this isn’t the kind of place to sell too much assorted weaponry so it wasn’t working as well as she had hoped. The large departing crowds weren’t helping either it almost made thing worse. Droves of people were being ushered out of closing stores and packed into the street. The exiting tourists trying to leave at the same time didn’t exactly make for the best situation to clear ones mind and Kansas just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.

 

Eventually Kansas squeezed her way through popping out the nearest exit. She found herself on the beach not far from the rest of the crew. She got closer walking along the shore. Kansas looked on the group at the fire considering joining them. More people is not what she needed right now. She was enjoying the solitude she found in such an open atmosphere.

 

The water looked so inviting right now. She dropped her things on the sand and walked in just enough to get her feet wet. The water was cold but it felt good. She took a deep breath filling her lungs with the cool, crisp air. It truly was nice to be away from the ship, to have something different from the norm. She looked up at the sky. The stars twinkled displaying an amazing show of light. Even though Kansas lived in that empty sea above it still made for a beautiful sight.

 

Finally Kansas was able to clear her mind. She thought about life, the universe and everything. She tried to figure out what the hell Matt was talking about and why he keeps seeing the need to change her. She changes for no one he should know that by now.

 

Thinking about it was just going to make her crazy. She took another deep breath and just focused on the wind spilling across her face. She could hear someone getting closer and looked back to see it was Sovak…

 

 

Matt was pleased with himself. He had gotten the hotel manager on board with his plan, after a bribe of course, and he and Kansas were to have no interference by the hotel staff. He walked out the door towards the fire hoping to find Kansas there. As he got closer he saw her talking with Sovak. He was eager to get his plan in motion but thought it best to wait for her. Instead, he watched and locked away in memory what would be the greatest scene of public debauchery he would ever witness… Faldek drunk in front of the entire crew.

 

Matt noticed Kansas walking over. She felt somber like she wasn’t sure about anything anymore. She really envied Vulcans and their control over their emotions. She walked up to Matt and put a happy face on for him.

 

He wrapped his arm around her feeling a bit better that she actually came over to him. “You alright?”

 

She nodded with an “Mhmm..”

 

Matt tried not to look too much into her response. “You sure?”

 

“I’m Fine.” She said assertively.

 

“Okay… Hey you wanna talk for a minute?”

 

“Actually I don’t really want to talk anymore. Let’s just go to bed.”

 

Matt’s excitement becomes deflated, “Okay we don’t have to talk but I got something I really want to show you.”

 

“Can it wait till morning I’m pretty tired.”

 

“Well technically it is morning.”

 

She pauses for a moment, “…Fine.”

 

“Excellent!” He says dragging her off to the hotel.

 

“…But it better be good.”

 

 

They exit the elevator to their room at the top floor. They start up the stairs to the roof. Matt stops half way up.

 

“Wait!” He blurts out. “Alright look, I know you don’t want to talk but I just want to say I’m sorry for sounding like a fool earlier.”

 

Kansas looks down at him standing a couple of steps above.

 

“I didn’t mean it the way it sounded I just… I’m doing everything I can to prove myself to you, to prove that I’m not going to run off the first chance I get. I’m just looking for you to open up to me more, to trust me you know.”

 

She looks at him discerning the sincerity in his eyes, and felt guilty. She walks down a couple of steps to his level and wraps her arms around him embracing him. “I care about you, more than I thought I would.” She looks up at him gathering her words. “I am doing the best I know how. My Dad showed me how to get by on my own, not to count on anyone. You are the first I let myself care about. It's not easy for me, it chills me to the bone.”

 

Matt looks into her eyes, for the first time truly feeling so close to her than he has their entire time together. He brings her in tenderly kissing her on the lips.. “Come on, still got my surprise for you.”

 

He takes Kansas by the hand and they continue up the stairs. On the roof she looks around to see many unlit candles. “You know, fire works best when either it can’t be blown out or in less windy conditions.”

 

“Yeah, that’s not what I wanted to show you.” He points over to the two backpacks.

 

Kansas walks over and looks down at them. “We’re taking a trip?”

 

“Oh yeah.” He says looking over the wall of the roof. “Down there.”

 

She becomes confused and excited at the same time.

 

“You said when we got here you wanted to jump off the top of this very, very high building. I pulled some strings and they’re letting us."

 

She stands there looking between Matt and the packs. She can’t believe he actually got permission to jump off the roof. A tear almost wells up but is quickly sucked back down. She kisses him, more passionately than she ever had before.

 

They both strap on the parachute packs and stand on top the ledge of the roof. Matt looks down now reconsidering his decision. “You know, maybe I should leave you another pack in case you want to jump again.”

 

Kansas looks at him smiling with almost an evil hint to it. “There is no way you’re getting out of this. On the count of three, jump.”

 

“You know I don’t think I really want to. I keep forgetting I’ve been wanting to live lately.”

 

“Oh but you don’t mind me plunging to my death?”

 

“What? No I didn’t mean that.” He says stammering.

 

“Uh huh. One… two… three!”

 

Kansas jumps off and pulls Matt down with her just in case he was going to chicken out last minute. They free fall from the skyscraper like building. The wind rushes past so quickly but it feels like floating in nothing. The fall down feels like forever but within seconds they both throw their chute. The heavy wind carries them around the beach before setting them down in the sand.

 

Matt lays on the ground for a moment so thankful his parachute opened. Kansas jumps to her feet completely exhilarated. She throws off her pack and tackles Matt who had just gotten up himself.

 

“Oh my god that was incredible!” She says screaming loud enough for the entire beach to hear.

 

Matt slowly gets to his feet. “Yeah I’m not forgetting that one for a while.” He looks over at Kansas, “Did you pull me off the ledge?”

 

She giggles excitedly, “Yeah I did.”

 

All he can do at this point is laugh.

 

The tip of the sun peaks out over the horizon. Matt looks at Kansas in the dim light realizing he’s in love with a complete psychopath and has never been happier. “You know at this rate we’re going to be sleeping well into the afternoon.”

 

She looks back smiling mischievously, “No no, we’re not sleeping at all.”