Chapter Ten:
The First Date
Dmitri
Later on that morning, I rolled out of bed at nine and dressed in a long sleeve, jacket, and fitted jeans before moving to slide my glasses on in the mirror. The jeans were my only pair since I wasn’t a fan of the fabric, and had been through more than enough in their lifetime, yet still hung on enough to look decent in public. Stefan and Michael, who woke up much earlier to go take a swing at the gym, returned shortly after, laughing about something they had been discussing. “Hey, good morning, sunshine!” Stefan called as I smiled to them.
“Morning, guys. How was the gym?” I asked with as pleasant a tone as I could.
“Great! You should head over with us next time!” Michael chimed, and all of us were glad to see the awkward air from last night had not carried over into today. “Oh, by the way, Stefan and I are probably going to be out most of the night Saturday. We’re going on a double date.” Michael said, blushing as I whistled loudly.
“Look at you! Who’s going with whom?” I cheerfully asked, thankful that Gwenevere had been right so she and I could enjoy one another’s company uninterrupted.
“I'm going with that girl, Aveline, and Mike’s bringing Martha.” Stefan explained.
“Martha? You sly dog!” I cackled as I nudged Michael.
“Hey, she seems pretty into me. Who’s it going to hurt if we share some ice cream on the beach?” He casually teased, swinging his keys shyly as we headed downstairs.
We found the girls in the foyer petting Ramah, and when we called their names, they turned to wave to us. Ramah hopped down to rush over and rub on my legs, which made me chuckle and scratch under his chin. “God damn you, Dmitri!” Gwenevere bawled abruptly, her face contorting from happiness to disbelief.
“What did I do?” I bawled innocently.
“Is there never a time when you don’t look hot!?” She cried, which made the boys chortle like hyenas at the wicked blush that consumed my face.
“What a nonchalant flirt, Gwen,” Martha snorted, though Gwenevere and I giggled to one another as she nudged me. Her boldness was a quirk I found intimidating, but incredibly witty and endearing. I knew she was trying to break the tension with her outburst, and appreciated it highly.
“All right everyone, let’s go, let’s go!” Andrew yelled as he raced downstairs, his eyes full of pure excitement, “I don’t want to waste a single moment of our day!” He bolted outside without stopping to make sure we followed him, as he was too busy fumbling with a set of buttons on his cardigan with a scowl.
“Calm down, Mother Goose.” I teased as he herded us towards one of the trucks we used to get back and forth from the air base.
Andrew paused and whipped around to shoot me a betrayed glare, “Listen here, you little brat; I don’t get out of the house much, so I would appreciate it if you kept the sass to yourself!” He tried to say sternly, but after a moment of silence, he and I both burst into laughter at the ridiculousness. It was good to see that we got along as well as we had when I was younger, and I embraced the fact that, well, he was my uncle after all, so I had the right to relax around him.
After losing the extensive argument over who would drive, I begrudgingly flopped into the front seat and cranked it back so my legs would fit. The girls giggled wildly as they watched me attempt to fix the mirrors, swearing to myself under my breath since the right one didn’t want to cooperate. “Alright everyone, buckle up; I don’t want to be blamed if we lose a Calvary.” I warned, eyeing Stefan especially since he had already tried to crawl out of the sunroof.
“I feel like a soccer Mom!” Andrew sang as I backed the huge truck out of the garage, trying to see around him as he jerked back and forth so I didn’t take out a statue.
“You’re girly enough for it,” I retorted, cutting the wheel as I drove towards the gates.
“That makes you the dad!” He declared playfully, poking my arm repeatedly to drive the point home further.
I turned to The Cavalries, “Kids, I’m divorcing your mother.”
“Excuse me!?” He yelled and smacked my arm, which made the truck swerve and gave the Calvary a mild heart attack.
I cut the wheel straight with a huff, “I’m driving, you idiot! Are you trying to kill us?!” I roared, shoving him away as he obnoxiously laughed at the expressions on The Cavalries faces.
“So, where are we headed?” Michael asked.
“We’re going to the North’s best, and biggest, shopping center!” Andrew called like a show host, throwing his arms into the air happily, “You know, the one I used to bring you to when you were little?” He asked, nudging me sweetly.
“Oh, that’s good to know. I was wondering where I was driving too.” I sarcastically scoffed. He rolled his eyes at me, which caused an uproar in the back, though it was fun to loosen up admittedly. I fell silent as commotion erupted in the backseat, a combination of glee filled chatters from the excited Calvary and their idiotic king. The buzz of conversation was somewhat distracting, yet brought a sense of calm over me. Their voices, layered with laughter and stupid side jokes I was yet to understand, felt oddly warm.
“How are you wearing a t-shirt; it’s freezing!” Andrew complained to Michael.
“It’s seventy degrees and June?” Michael scoffed in disbelief, “How do you live in England if you hate the cold?” He accused, pulling on Andrew’s cardigan.
“Because I can’t quit my job?” Andrew snorted with a playful hair flip.
“For the love of God…” I snorted, rolling my eyes with a happy sigh, “Can you put on something I can listen to?” I spat, flicking through stations annoyedly.
“All you listen to is heavy metal!” Andrew roared as he tried to keep me from touching the dial, which resulted in more swerving, but The Cavalry had become used to it by now.
“Woohoo!” A voice squeaked from behind us.
I whipped around fast to Gwenevere, who giggled loudly at my smile. “That’s my girl!” I cried, high fiving her excitedly, “Best friends forever!”
After an hour and a half car ride of singing, screaming, and Andrew throat punching me when I cut across two lanes illegally, we arrived. I parked as close as I could get to the entrance, which was difficult in a military truck, but I managed to make it work. Andrew explained the layout of the place as we got out and walked to the main gates, which glistened due to the morning sun. The famous pier, which overlooked the ocean beautifully, wasn’t too packed, and the store lights glistened against the water. The Cavalries were astonished by the breathtaking views, and unanimously praised the strip.
I remembered vividly the times Andrew had taken me here as a very small child, where we spent hours shopping for dumb trinkets before sitting on the pier with ice cream cones that always melted before we got to finish them. We would talk for hours on end, about anything and everything. It was one of the few times I had felt truly safe, truly at peace, and were memories I was sure would never betray me. Andrew could see my silent reminiscing, and his eyes glowed with joy when he realized I was recalling the fond memories. “Everyone find a partner so you don’t get lost!” He said, pouncing on Stefan like a lion would its prey.
The two argued loudly about the fact Andrew wanted to pick him, and with Michael and Martha already holding hands sweetly, that left Gwenevere and I standing to the side awkwardly. I summoned my courage and turned to her, “Want to be my mall buddy for the day?” I stammered nervously. She agreed with a hesitant nod to my request. I held my hand out to her and winked to help her ease up a little.
“And, off we go!” Andrew disappeared instantly into the crowd, dragging a sobbing Stefan behind him. Really, someone had to stay close to him anyway, as Andrew was never allowed out without a slew of guards surrounding him, and I was surprised he had won the argument to go free today. Michael and Martha duct out of Andrew’s warpath to make their way towards a consignment shop; Gwenevere and I followed Andrew for a while, but our pace slowed every now and again when we had the chance. As we walked I continued holding her hand, though I could feel my heart pulsing in my ears. She hadn’t tried to pull away, and while it felt incredibly foreign to hold a girl’s hand in public, I found I was rather comfortable walking with her like this.
We melded together nicely; no one was particularly staring at us, and as we weaved in and out of the groups of shoppers, we began to become one with the crowd ourselves. “I hope me holding your hand doesn’t bother you,” I said to finally break the silence, glancing down to her.
She was a ball of red fire, which was so cute I had to giggle. She gave me a slight shake of the head, unblinking, and that made me laugh harder. “Don’t laugh at me!” She hiccuped, letting go of my hand to hide her face in her own.
“I'm sorry, truly,” she turned redder to my delight, “I won’t tease you, don’t worry.”
“Ok,” she whispered as she took my hand once more, but a smile was playing on her lips.
I turned from her flushed cheeks to glance over the walkway, which now was close to empty before us, “Hey, where the heck did everyone go?” I snapped.
“Wait, we already lost them!? I saw Andrew go left, but…Yeah, I don’t see them…”
“Well, good riddance... we’ll have a much better time on our own. Let’s go somewhere fun!” I stood her before me, pursing my lips, “Hmm, yes, I see, I see…?”
“What do you see, oh wise one?” She asked exasperatedly.
“You like art; I can tell.” I declared with a coy grin.
“Oh? How?” She taunted, her hands on her hips as she stuck her tongue out.
I poked her stomach, where a dried splotch of purple was noticeable on her pale blue t-shirt, “You have paint on your shirt?”
“Ah! Not again!” She cried, racking at the acrylic rapidly. I let out a delighted laugh at how aggressively she was trying to purge the stain, and studied her face a bit more now that she wouldn’t catch me doing so. Abruptly, I leaned in and tucked her bangs behind her ear, which made her pause and look up curiously. “Why’d you do that?”
“It’d be a shame if you hid such a beautiful face the entire day.” I smoothly said, astonished at my sudden burst of confidence, but riding the wave as long as it would take me. She squeaked as I took her hand again, eyeing a big art store, “Ah ha! Let’s go there.”
“O-Ok…!” She stuttered drunkenly as I whisked her back into the crowd.
╬
We ended up spending three hours in the art store alone. As soon as we walked in, her beautiful blue/green eyes widened with excitement, and she began darting down the aisles to investigate every inch. I followed behind her like a lost puppy, though seeing her so happy made every minute we were here worth it. We found ourselves towards the back aisles, where Gwenevere had an array of solid black brushes clasped in her hands. She was rummaging through her collected pile at a rapid pace so she could procure certain ones, and held them out to me while still hanging out of the vast bin. “These brushes are super special because they’re great for defining eyes! I use a two, but I really should use a one, zero, or double zero. But…! Oh no!” She gasped at herself, turning to me in horror.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my face in my hand as I watched her in awe.
She slid out of the bin, her boot heels hitting the tile with a light thud. Her shoulders slacked in defeat, and she tossed a brush back into the bin, “I’m totally geeking out… I’m so sorry…”
I shook my head in disbelief, “For what? Being passionate about something? You don’t need to apologize. Tell me more, I’m really interested in what you were saying.”
She hesitantly sat beside me to show me the brushes in her hand. “A brush size four and up is way too big for eyes in my opinion. One’s, zeroes and double zeroes are great for tiny, delicate details. I use them for freckles and such, and eyelashes occasionally.”
“Do you paint a lot of faces?” I pressed curiously.
“I paint everything,” she said with a shrug.
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“Then maybe you should get them, give them a shot.”
“Hmm, maybe…” she sighed as she spun the brushes between her fingertips.
I plucked one from her and tapped my temple with it, “Come on, I’ll pay for it?”
“You do not have to do that!” She snapped in disgust, an abrupt reaction, but I could tell the disgust was not directed towards me, only towards my offer taking her off guard.
A smile pulled the corner of my lips, “Then let me pay for us to get something to eat? It’s getting close to two, anyway.”
She pushed her bottom lip out in a pout, but caved when I bugged my eyes pleadingly at her. “Fine, fine, I suppose… Let’s go check out, then.”
“First, I want you to show me more brushes, and what paints you like to use. We have the whole afternoon ahead of us, after all.” I insisted.
She smiled a full, loving smile, and took my arm to lead me down the next aisle, “Well, paint wise, I use this brand. Their artist grade, but cheap, and their heavy so they mix well. Heavier paints tend to hold color and mix better; a thin paint is like, watercolors.”
“Oh, ok, I see. What do you think you tend to excel in painting the most of?” I asked, chuckling at how fast she pulled me along after her.
“Hmm, to be honest, cats! Who doesn’t like cats?” She called over her shoulder before picking up a set of canvases, “Want to know about canvas sizes?”
╬
By the time we left the store I was practically an expert on the world of painting, and had conned Gwenevere into getting some more canvases, paints, and brushes. Granted, I won the battle on who would pay for it, (by jamming my card in the reader) but she demanded to pay for our food, which I begrudgingly allowed her to do. It wasn’t that I was opposed to doing things equally, but that I was having so much fun that all I wanted to do was spoil her. She wasn’t having it, though, and her independence was endearing.
We dropped her things off at the truck before whisking back into the now crowded plaza, where a pub caught our eye. Gwenevere had taken it upon herself to take my hand this time, and proudly paraded us down the winding pathway. The hostess was a bit taken back by us when we entered the pub, for an unknown reason, but guided us to a booth towards the back regardless. Gwenevere laughed hysterically when I smacked my head on the low hanging chandelier, and the sound was music to my ears regardless of how embarrassing it was. “So, want to play the question game?” I asked as she and I popped our straws out of the wrapper and stuck them into our glasses.
She took a swig of light cola and nodded eagerly, “Sure; you start!”
“All right, but whatever we ask, we have to answer with our next question. What’s your favorite hobby?” I began, smiling as I cupped my face.
“I mean, I think I made that obvious with that paint store fiasco,” she joked as she perused the menu, “What’s your favorite color?”
“Teal, and hobby, well, your gonna laugh at me…” I gnawed my lip hesitantly before answering, “I like to read and write.” She blinked before giggling softly into her hand to try and muffle the sound. “I knew it!” I bawled, blushing wildly as she threw her arms up.
“I didn’t mean it like that! I saw that suitcase with all the books and journals beside your bed, so it was obvious you’re a fan of literature. I envy you for it, as intellectuals are hard to find nowadays; you’ve met Stefan and Michael,” she cackled.
“Thanks…” I sighed, stirring the lemon in my cup, “Typical way an evening is spent?”
“Hmm, that’s a good one. I usually try and paint something to keep in practice, even if it’s just an eye, and then I listen to music. How are you adjusting to being a Cavalry?”
“That’s a really good one. Well, to start, I usually just read, or sometimes I’ll pen down some random thoughts. And adjustment wise…” I ran my hands along the placemat before me, “I haven’t really been around this many people until recently, and it’s a lot to adjust to. I was pretty isolated as a kid to be honest, so I feel like I'm extremely awkward. That’s what makes me so happy to be here, I think; I enjoy the company of our team immensely. Other than that, its, been kind of lonely since I left the West…” Gwenevere crossed her arms, concentrating on what I was mumbling about intently. I was doing what I had done in our office all over again, but this time, I didn’t try so hard to hold back. “It’s hard to be surrounded by people who see through you like glass. But… am I really as transparent as everyone thinks?” I mumbled mostly to myself.
She peered up at me with eyes full of empathy, and whispered under her breath, “How many people have you said that to?”
“One, now…” I admitted as she reached over the placemats.
Her fingers were smooth as velvet as she tenderly locked them around my own, in such a gentle way that it was almost off putting, and I wasn’t sure how to react. “Why is that?” She continued the conversation, her usually dangerous eyes softer than I’d ever believe they could be.
“I keep quiet about a lot, I guess. I don’t even know why I let that spill…” I nervously croaked, scratching the back of my neck.
“How much are you really keeping quiet about, Dmitri?” She seriously asked.
“I'm not really allowed to have a voice, so it doesn’t matter…” the moment the words left my mouth, the world itself seemed to shatter around me. I swallowed, my chest tightening at my carelessness, and scurried to bounce back from the abhorrent comment. “Let’s forget I ever said anything, ok!” I laughed, smiling bright to hide how horrified I was at the thought I may have just blown this whole thing.
“Stop doing that,” she snapped abruptly, the danger returning to her eyes immediately, “That is the third time I’ve seen you do that, and it’s annoying the hell out of me.”
I swallowed loudly, “What do you…?”
“Every time you try and express yourself, you pull back and act like it’s a crime to admit you have emotions and opinions. You smack on this fake smile to pretend like you’re fine, just to make everyone happy. Stop that, because it’s entirely uncalled for.”
I stared blankly at her, my heart pounding, “Um, I…?”
She shook her head with a soft sigh, “Sorry if that was rude, but I really don’t like you thinking you don’t have any worth as a person. I get you’re trying to be compliant, but you’re not a damn robot. You’re allowed to be sad, angry, and above all else, happy.”
I was quiet for a long time. She kept her gaze locked on me, trying to read my face for some kind of reaction, but she came up emptyhanded. I let her words replay in my mind over and over, as if I were trying to pull out some mystery way to counteract what she had said, but even I knew she was right. “Ok.” I finally whispered.
She frowned slightly, “I know we still have to get to know each other more, but this kingdom is, different. Whatever Alexei and Joshua have drilled into your head doesn’t apply here. I can only speak for Stefan, Michael, and I, but where we’re from, everyone is a friend. Andrew instilled a lot of beliefs in us, but the most important was respect. The ‘treat others the way you want to be treated’ rule. Everyone deserves to be happy, and as The Five Calvary, it is our job to provide that happiness, inside and outside of the castle.”
“Yeah, you guys truly are different…” I scoffed, sipping my drink to distract myself.
The waitress dropped off our orders, and for a moment, we busied ourselves with assembling our sandwiches to our liking. Finally, Gwenevere pointed at me with a toothpick from her sandwich, “It’ll take some getting used to, but we all want you to feel comfortable. There’s no point in you fighting for a kingdom where you feel alienated every day…” she paused, then sadly poked her sandwich with the same toothpick, “I think I may be one of few at the castle who hasn’t forgotten something very important.”
“Which is?” I hesitantly retorted.
Her tone lowered dramatically, so I could barely hear her as well. “The fact that you are here. There’s no way you just waltzed out of The West with no repercussions; your alias made that quite obvious. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, leaving behind everything you know to not only start a new life, but to work towards killing your brother. I could never do it; I'm not saying I'm not brave, but there is a thick line between brave and courageous.”
“What’s the difference?” I asked warmly.
She looked up slowly, her eyes twinkling with passion, “People are brave; heroes are courageous.” Her words hung in the air for a moment before she cleared her throat, “Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be in the history books for helping save England from its own demise, hmm?” She held her glass up to toast the idea.
“Here’s hoping,” I replied, clinking our cups with a hesitant sigh.
╬
The ocean shimmered as if it were made of crystals, and small fish swam by underneath the water to our delight. Gwenevere and I held hands as we walked, both of us pretty comfortable with the action after the day we had shared. Her long hair had fallen out of it’s braid at this point, and each time it brushed against my hand, a spark of electrifying butterflies swirled within me. I kept glancing down at her periodically just to take in her mesmerizing beauty, enamored to a point that it was impossible to deny. She would match my gaze once in a while, and instead of blushing and ducking away, her eyes lingered longer and longer each time she caught me; I now wanted her to catch me.
At the edge of the dock she wrapped her arms around herself as she smiled down at the water, and flinched a little when the breeze came from the waves to brush her bare shoulders. “Are you cold?” I asked, which made her look up at me.
“Hmm? Oh, not really,” she lied. I slid my jacket off and set it around her shoulders carefully, then combed her long hair out from under the jacket so I could lay it against her back. Her waves felt like silk in my fingertips, and I wanted nothing more than to wrap a few strands around my hand and continue to let them pass through my fingertips. She wore a content smile as I finished freeing her hair, as if she, too, was enjoying the feeling. “Thanks,” she whispered, pressing her cheek to the fabric lovingly. I wrapped an arm around her, then leaned down and set my chin onto her hair. She closed her eyes and nestled closer into me; the warmth of her body made my nerves tingle like live wires. “Dmitri?” She beckoned, breaking the blissful silence. The way she spoke my name was as beautiful as the waves we were watching, “Do you think, maybe, there’s a reason we were all supposed to meet?”
I paused and looked down to her quizzically, “Hmm, I never thought about it.” I tilted my head slightly so that when I spoke, my lips brushed her hair slightly. “Do you believe in things like destiny?” I asked hesitantly.
“No reason not to,” she suggested, “Then again, I am a bit superstitious.” She eyed me curiously, “What do you believe in?”
My shoulders rose and fell dejectedly, “I’m not entirely sure. I don’t really know what my connection with higher beings and philosophies is. I'm not close-minded whatsoever, and I am envious of people who have spiritual connection, but it wasn’t ever instilled in me. Religion wasn’t a huge thing in my house, obviously,” I joked, which made her giggle at my dark humor. I sighed deeply and turned to the darkening evening sky, which was a beautiful array of pinks, purples, and an encroaching dark blue. “I guess I have to give some credit to the universe, whoever it is that runs it. If it hadn’t been for them giving me the strength to move forward I wouldn’t be standing on this pier with you right now, and this is a moment I would trade the entire world for.” I breathed unashamedly against her hair.
My words momentarily took her breath away. Her eyes turned glossy, and she had to hide her face in the coat to compose herself. “I can’t say I disagree,” she finally replied.
I delicately let my fingers trail through her hair to smooth it down after I had lifted my face from it. She felt so fragile to me in this state; the gorgeous and deadly woman she was at the castle was truly left behind, and this intimate petal she had become was just as gorgeous. I touched her like I was afraid she would shatter, and could tell that my gestures were not only pleasing to her, but something she was not used to receiving. “Looks like there’s a big dance; would you like to go?” I offered, gesturing to the sign across the water.
╬
The sun had just set when we whisked into the crowd of dancers, all of them laughing as they glided about. Gwenevere gripped my hand tight as we found a place for ourselves as well, moving her other up to hold my shoulder. I held her waist gently, letting my fingers follow the curvature of her body until they found the perfect spot to nestle into. We moved in a small two-step dance, just the right speed for us; she laid her cheek against my chest and closed her eyes with a tender smile. “This has been the most incredible day of my life…” she said alongside the music.
I laid a soft kiss on her temple, and kept my lips there as I spoke, “I can’t say I disagree.”
The stage lights around us began to twinkle as if fairies were flying around us; Gwenevere tilted her head up so she could comb locks of my hair back, “It’s been amazing, seeing this hidden side of you. Is it selfish to say I want to see him more often?”
I pressed my forehead to hers, “You can be as selfish as you want, Gwenevere…”
“Call me Gwen, Pretty Boy,” she whispered, hesitantly leaning up. We both closed our eyes, and slowly brought our lips towards one another. The lights twinkled so romantically that it was as if they were pushing us closer to one another, and the other dances bumping into us were doing nothing but helping us along as well.
We were just about to touch lips when a horrified gasp echoed through the clearing, and an angry scream traveled through the air. “ALL RIGHT, BREAK IT UP, BREAK IT UP!” We both winced as Andrew stormed through the crowd, shoving his paws in between our dance with a betrayed scowl. Gwen backed up automatically, giggling in shame that we had been caught, as Andrew grabbed my shirt and shook me. “Where the hell have you two been all day!?”
“We were looking for you guys!?” I tried, with a wink that made Gwen giggle harder.
“Yes, I’m sure we were hiding in Gwen’s pants!” He sniffed as he nudged me, “Let’s go home, the kids are beat.” We followed Andrew to the parking lot, where Stefan scolded us for making him deal with Andrew on his own. Michael and Martha looked as if they had had their own blissful and unforgettable day, and that made Gwen and I smile for them.
The ride home was quiet since everyone was asleep in the back seat, including Andrew, who was passed out against the glass. I rolled my eyes at that, but his innocence was endearing. I drove at a steady speed, listening to music absent-mindedly. Gwen kept herself busy by playing with my jacket, clasping the buttons over and over. She would peer at me once in a while then turn back to the buttons, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the right words. At a red light, I reached over to wrap my fingers around hers, and tugged her hand over so I could kiss the back of it. “We’re still technically on our fake date,” I whispered.
“Well then...” she leaned onto my shoulder and wrapped her arms around mine, “I’ll be cuddling with my fake boyfriend for the remainder of the ride.”
“Make yourself at home.” I coaxed with another kiss to her forehead.
The castle was dark when we got back, which I was grateful for. Most of our sleepy passengers opted to go right to bed, and sluggishly made their way upstairs. We did make sure to thank Andrew for such a wonderful day; he replied with a simple smile, a smile that showed he had just as much fun, and that warmed our hearts. Gwen and I stayed behind to share a more intimate farewell; our roommates luckily didn’t have the patience to wait up, and once their doors shut, I turned to her with a hesitant smile. “Did you have fun today?” I whispered, swinging our intertwined hands gently.
She giggled softly with a nod, “Too much fun...” she paused and started to take my jacket off, “I should probably give this back…?”
I shrugged and tugged it back over her shoulders, “Eh, it’s fine. I want you to keep it, as a memory of today.” I said casually.
Her eyes twinkled in awe as she hugged the jacket tightly to herself. “Well, I’ll have to give you something to remember then, too…” she slyly coaxed before pulling me down to her. She paused slightly before leaning in to tenderly kiss me, her hands sliding through my hair so they could wrap around my neck gently. I melted into the kiss, holding her face delicately as if she were porcelain. I ran my thumb over her cheek as we kissed, truly enjoying every inch of her that I could in this small yet intimate moment we were sharing. It was a bit funny how far I had to bend to meet her halfway, but it was well worth the sacrifice. We slowly parted, only to kiss one more time before opening our eyes to gaze at one another in awe. “Think that’ll do?” She teased against the corner of my mouth.
“I think so…” I breathed, still flushed from the experience, “Promise me we can go on another fake date soon?”
“I was hoping you’d ask. Don’t stay up too late; you and your monkey roommates make too much noise.” I watched her slowly walk up the steps, my heart fluttering a million miles a minute as she disappeared into her room.