Lionel was not sure how she felt about walking through the forest with the grubby stranger-- who was now not as grubby as the last two times she ran into her. She actually smelled like soap which was a marked improvement and her hair was also brushed up into a small shiny wave cresting on her head.

She was wearing an unstained downy vest and nice pressed jeans. Lionel had previously assumed didn’t own anything not covered in dirt.

She studied the back of the other woman’s neck and her thoughts wondered. Lionel would probably need to start setting traps for herself. Locking her doors better or strapping herself down at night, this was getting ridiculous after all.

“When did it start?”

Lionel blinked a couple times. “What?” She asked as they walked through the dense underbrush and the birds twittered up above.

“When did the sleepwalking start?”

Lionel sighed. “Oh I dunno, I’ve always been restless . . .” She said lightly, “But maybe a few months ago?”

Mia gave a deep thinking noise in the back of her throat.

Lionel narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“Just curious.” Mia said lightly. “Maybe you should get that checked out.”

Lionel rolled her eyes and took a few hurried steps to walk next to Mia instead. “What about you?” She cocked her head to the side. “When did you start wandering the woods at dawn?”

Mia gave a sideways grin and cocked her head to the side. “I’m afraid I’ve always enjoyed baffling the locals and wandering where I shouldn’t.”

“I see.” Lionel processed that for a moment. “And where is it that you wander from?”

“The north.” Was all Mia said and didn’t meet her eye. “And where are you from?”

“Here, here, and more here.” Lionel grumbled. “I’ve barely even left the state.”

Mia raised an eyebrow, “Do you not own a car?”

“I share one with my mom.” She shrugged. “I’m saving for a trip, a big one. It’ll happen.”

“Where to?”

“Anywhere,” Lionel said with a huff. She gave a shallow smile, “I don’t suppose you have any traveling tips?”

Mia hummed, “Don’t eat gas station sushi.”

“Come on, something real?” Lionel pushed.

“That is real,” Mia winked. “I almost gave a marriage proposal to a passing truck driver in feverish delirium and puked on a family of five after eating some.”

“Well that sounds like a you problem.” Lionel sniffed. “I have an iron stomach. Maybe we should switch occupations?”

“I don’t think so.” Mia chuckled. “I wouldn’t look half as cute in that waitress apron.”

Lionel opened her mouth. She closed her mouth. She bit her bottom lip and her gaze flashed up before looking down again. Were they . . . flirting? Is this what that felt like?

“Don’t underestimate yourself.” She mumbled. “It’s all about batting your eyes and saying yes sir, yes ma’am, your double grand slam egg waffle cream bacon disaster sandwich is ready.”

Mia laughed again. “Batting my eyes?” A rumble came from her chest. “I’m not sure we’ve met yet. I’m Mia Kotsiopoulos and I do not bat my eyes.”

Lionel bit her lip again and their eyes met. “Shame.” She said in a low voice and they both stumbled forward and looked away again. This felt like dangerous territory, but Lionel had no way of stopping herself.

Her heart was racing. She swallowed thickly, “There must be some real traveling tips you’ve got. Like, how to get started maybe?”

Mia was silent for a long minute. “Appreciate where you are.” She finally said and her amber brown eyes focused heavily on Lionel. “Because the world is more similar than you might imagine.”

Lionel made a face at her. “Did you read that out of a fortune cookie? 'Sides, it’s easy for travelers to tell us homebodies that the grass is greener on the other side.”

Mia shrugged and pointed. “True enough. I’ll be headed out soon again anyway.”

“Huh.” Lionel hunched over slightly. “You’re leaving?”

“Maybe.” Mia stopped in place and seemed to sniff the air.

Lionel gave a half-hearted smile. “But then who will lead me out of the woods when my sleeping brain tries to track down monsters?” She tried to joke but Mia’s mouth became a hard line on her face.

“Monsters . . .” She murmured. “Did you really not see anything in the bushes?”

Lionel squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists. “I don’t know.” She said again. “I keep . . . hearing something. Like music in my dreams. I don’t know.”

“Music.” Mia’s frown grew deeper. She shook her head. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Not a music lover?” Lionel could hear cars again as they traveled to the outer limits of the woods.

“Not when it leads you here.” She murmured. “You watch out for yourself, alright?”

“I’ll try.” Lionel gave a bitter smile. I can’t believe she’s leaving. She thought and some part of Lionel was strangely sad to see the backside of her again. She was so . . . unusual. “It’s sad to see you go.” She admitted just as some buildings came into view ahead and the town appeared.

“Well,” Mia put her hands in her pocket. “I might stay another month.” She gave that same uneven grin and Lionel’s chest seized up for a moment.

Don’t she warned herself, but it was too late.

Lionel tossed her tangled hair over her shoulder and said the most romantic words she could think of. “You should come around again sometime.”

Mia blinked rapidly and then turned away. “I have to get back to the motel.” She glanced over her shoulder. “But, um, I’ll keep that in mind. Get home safe, okay?”

Lionel smiled sadly. Her heart sank and feet ached from walking barefoot all morning. She was once again wishing she was in any other city with any other chance of changing things. She watched Mia go and thought of all the changes she would make if she could.