Chapter Nine

The fourth night Amber was serious. "We've had a pretty good time over the past four days," she said. "Would you agree?"

"Absolutely! We've been to movies, played games, eaten loads of food and even been for a swim at the beach. It's been awesome. We've done everything I always wanted to do!"

"That's great Rocky," she answered, "because there's something I need to tell you and I don't think you're going to like it."

Rocky hung his head. "I think I know what's coming" he said. "We've talked enough about the physical implications and everything.

Amber covered her damp eyes with her hands. "We're going home back to Australia in two days. And you can't come."

Her shoulders shook and her breath shuddered. This time Rocky put his arms around her shoulders and held her gently against himself.

But it wasn't long before Amber collected herself. She blew her nose and brushed the tears off her face. "No use crying about it."

"What am I going to do?" asked Rocky.

"There's nothing else for it. You'll have to hand yourself in to higher authorities."

"Why can't you just turn me back into a statue?"

Amber looked at him, startled. "You know I don't know how to do that!" 

"Damn. I didn't really think you could but it was my last hope. I was really, really hoping" his voice cracked with emotion.

Amber wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged her back tightly but she could still feel him shaking. And they stayed that way all night. Locked in embrace, each making an ever widening damp patch on the others shoulder.

 

*****

Reviews

[alifeacoustic]

Aw, poor guys. Girl meets statue, statue comes alive, girl kisses statue, girl leaves statue. How many times has this happened? :-)