Daria froze, and her breath caught in her throat.  She hadn't heard anyone approach, focused as she was, and the sudden voice made her heart skip a beat, then begin a rapid patter.<br/><br/>All she could see was the flower in her hand, too late to pretend she had just come to look.  And the voice was rough, and that other sound...<br/><br/>Slowly she rose.<strong>"I'm sorry!  I'm sorry... I was just..."</strong>She thought of hiding the flower behind her back as she turned, but no... that would be stupid.  If this guy was crazy, or... drunk... she had to be really careful.  Very slowly she raised both hands so he could see them, one holding the flower, the other empty... then she began a slow pivot, overshirt falling wide open to reveal the white halter-top, black jeans, and obviously no weapons underneath!<br/><br/>She was a little afraid to look, so kept her head down until she finished her turn, then tilted it up to mostly meet his eyes as she answered him.<strong>"I'm Daria; I was just next door, and... and I saw this..."</strong>she gave a slight shake of the hand holding the flower.<strong>"I'm so-o sorry!  I know I should have asked, but ..."</strong>She was understandably scared... of the stranger, and also of the possibility he might actually call the police over something so silly.  So petty... but if her mom found out she'd been in trouble, again....<br/>