<span style="color: #FF0000">“Maybe on friday we can find a place for me to taste some?” he offered the smile now heavily.  <br/> <br/> <br/>The conversation that continued was friendly and warm, though he knew he still had a lot to make up for. The rest of work went better, mistakes were corrected and he left feeling a bit more upbeat. The days leading to their date were also better, with texts being exchanged and even a few snap chats. When the night approached he called her while on his lunch break, “Hey, what time do you want me to pick you up tonight?”  <br/> <br/>Obviously a bit excited about the officialness of their first date.</span><br/><br/>The turn of events since their talk on that lunch hour was one for the better. They’d resumed talking as they had prior, with a few silly pictures here or there thrown in for good measure. And, even though she still held some reservation about whether or not it was a good idea, she was excited for their date.<br/><br/>Having just gone on lunch, she sat at her desk, waiting for her order to arrive when her phone rang. Answering it without a hesitation, she found herself soon hesitating when he asked about picking her up. Silence then descended on her end of the line, debating whether or not he should pick her up, or be near her apartment at all. It seemed to be that that sent him into a panic, so steering clear of it felt like the better alternative.<br/><br/>“I could meet you at the theatre around…say 5:30? Gives us plenty of time to get our tickets and get situated,” she offered, the excitement inherent in her own voice, hoping it didn’t come off as too much excitement.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Why?” he asked in a casual manner while he nommed on a french fry, “I could pick you up and we can walk there together.”</span><br/><br/>“We could…but wouldn’t it be out of your way to walk this far, and then double back?” she asked back. Then, there was mumbling and a “thank you” as she paid for her takeout, phone still pressed to her ear while she waited for his reply.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> There was logic in her words that he could not refute and so he did not even bother trying, “Alright. Fair enough.” A pause was given and he sipped off of his drink. “So then 5:30 and you can get the snacks, I'll get the tickets?”</span><br/><br/>“Sounds like a plan,” she replied to that with a smile. The conversation continued for a while longer, before having to end the call and get back to work. Some more texts here or there, and then the day was over before she knew it. Rushing home, she changed into her<a class="postlink" href="http://www.venus.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=7~69~&amp;ProductDisplayID=19736&amp;dept=Venus+Clothing-Sweaters&amp;prod=button+detail+sweater">olive sweater</a>finishing off with leggings and a pair of boots.<br/><br/>After that, she ran off to the theatre, waiting for him to appear as she paced back and forth in front of the theatre’s entrance.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Work carried on with a sense of urgency that he could not shake. When a file was late, he was on their asses to get it to him as soon as possible, if someone else made a mistake that he had to correct he was snippy and fairly mean (at least by his standards), because there was a chance it could make him late. In the end he did manage to leave on time and fairly ran home. The shower was fast, his face scrubbed, beard trimmed and care taken to make sure his hair was as perfect as he could get it. The maroon shirt he picked out was a bit on the showy side, but he hoped that it would be nice and flatter him to some degree.  <br/> <br/>From there he made a run to a shop and placed an order to be delivered later and then headed to the theater and as he expected she was there already. <br/> <br/>“You must teleport or something,” he teased before he confidently leaned in to hug her.</span><br/><br/>There was a smile on her lips as he walked up, giving him a soft hug back. It was a hesitant sort of hug, one that was given but ended in the span of a heartbeat as she pulled back. “No, I just like being early,” came her reply with a laugh. “It’s not my fault you walk slow.”<br/><br/>Then, glancing behind her at the listing of movies, she looked over the showings. “Which movie was it you wanted to see?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I hardly walk slow,” he insisted before he looked at the movies that were listed. “I prefer comdies, so something funny I suppose. That ok with you?” <br/> <br/>He noticed how she only let the hug last a moment, but it did not upset his mood in the least. Instead, he took the smallest of chances and tried to slip his arm about her waist, so he could hold her to him a bit while they walked.</span><br/><br/>“…You totally do walk slow…” she slipped in there in a pretend mumble while falling into step beside him. “And comedy’s fine, I suppose…”<br/><br/>This time, her voice faded as his arm slipped about her waist and her body became immediately aware of it. The way the muscles felt at her back, and even the way it felt to be close to him was…nice…but her mind was screaming at her that it was ‘too fast’. Yet, even though she thought to pull away, she didn’t, if only to keep from ruining the good mood he was sporting.<br/><br/>She’d just be more careful about it later.<br/><br/>“So, how was the rest of work?” Chrystal asked with a glance in his direction.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Together they walked to the ticket booth to get the tickets before he got around to answering about work, “Actually really good. I even got a bit mean with people.” At this admission he grinned a bit, as he was a bit proud of this fact. That he had not let someone push him around and get the better of him as he was wont to do from time to time. “Work seemed to just fly by today too,” he remarked after a moment with a glance in her direction. “How about you? How was work?”</span><br/><br/>A brow perked up at his admission of being mean, though she didn’t say anything.<span style="font-style: italic">He got mean?</span>she repeated.<span style="font-style: italic">…He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. Hell, he’s asked each time before giving me a kiss, so being mean probably means something like “Oh, I don’t have any more staples, sorry,” simply because he didn’t feel like stopping what he was doing to dig them out…</span>The thought was filled with humor, but left unvoiced as she focused on his next question.<br/><br/>“Work was work. I got out at five, so I had to rush home and then rush here…Though, according to you, I teleported,” she answered with a grin, maneuvering them toward the snack bar. “Now…the most important question of your life: What snack do you want to go with the movie?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The snack attendant stood there with his fake smile on his face, purposely chipper in the face of two potential customers. A smile quirked at the corners of his mouth, amber eyes perused the snacks and treats on display before the smile turned to a grin. “Besides you?” his voice cracked just a bit at the end, despite the effort he put into it. The effort to try and maintain his composure and reply as “smoothly” as possible.</span><br/><br/>A choked sound of a laugh ensued, followed by a blush as she hastily covered her face under the guise of stifling that laugh. And that blush only got deeper as the attendant’s eyes flicked between them both, the forced smile turning into one of genuine amusement. “…I…meant…an actual snack…” she managed to get out while trying to cut off the remainder of that laugh.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “In that case,” he grinned. “How about we split a large popcorn, a large soda and some bon bons?”  he listed off his favorite snacks and managed to meet the eyes of attendant who continued to grin at the two of them.</span><br/><br/>Without being able to voice her agreement, she nodded, face still burning with the blush from his comment as she waited for him to get the snacks. Then paying without much else said, she took the drink and the popcorn, entrusting him with the bonbons and started walking away to get a grip.<br/><br/>That line had been less than expected. Even if it’d been clearly in a joking manner, the fact that there was still even the thought of it had her flush, glad that she had her hair down to at least hide some of her cheek while she regained that sudden loss of composure. When he caught up, she’d stopped the nervous laughter and her blush had mostly subsided. “So…where’d you get that line from?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> At her quick exit all he could do was smile and pick up his bon bons and follow after her. Once he was able to catch up to her, his smile was broad with true merriment and amusement in his eyes.  <br/> <br/>“I read it in a book and thought I would see how effective it is,” he took the time to look over her and take in her general condition. “I think it worked rather well,” he chuckled and then nodded toward their theater. “Shall we?”</span><br/><br/>“You think it worked, huh?” was all she said before pushing the door open with her foot and heading inside the theatre, pausing just inside the door before looking back at him. “…Where do you want to sit?” Normally, she’d stick to the back corner, liking to be surrounded by wall, rather than a sea of bodies in every direction, but she’d go wherever he was more comfortable.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Yep. I do,” he smirked and followed her into theater. “Um...” he looked about then nodded up toward the top. “Back row, kind of in the corner. Don't really care for the whole strangers surrounding me thing,” he explained. For all his charity work and desire to help others, when he was alone he preferred to be alone. Without the pressing force of people around him and the possibility of some awkward social moment.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Thank god!</span>“That works for me,” she replied easily meandering toward the seats and scooting all the way in. Popcorn temporarily in her seat, and cup in the holder, she pulled off her coat, hanging it over the back of her seat before settling in. “I still can’t believe you used that line…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Why is that?” he asked as he mimicked her actions with his own coat, though his eyes were on her form for a bit. The sweater did very well to accentuate her form and Elijah was more than aware of how well her form felt up against his own. A slight blush came to his cheeks while he sat down and, “Was the line that upsetting?” he asked with a smirk.</span><br/><br/>Glancing over as she crossed her legs out of habit, she noted the shirt, the way it hugged each and every muscle. She even began to feel a bit underdressed with the way his shirt looked compared to her sweater. …And then she noticed his smirk and a hand pushed some of her hair behind an ear for something to do. “Just…unexpected is all,” came her reply, looking at him for a brief moment before turning more toward the screen, reading the random trivia that would flip through the pre-movie reel. “About as expected as you being mean to someone at work,” she then added, with a smirk of her own. “How<span style="font-style: italic">exactly</span>were you mean to someone, anyway?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Well, some reports were late and so I called downstairs and told them they had better hurry up with my report or they would find themselves on the business end of my foot,” said with a cocky tone that was far more confident than he truly felt. “Am I really so innocent that you think I could not just say such a line?” he asked before he took one of the bon bons and popped it into his mouth.</span><br/><br/>It took all of her control not to snort at his reply.<span style="font-style: italic">The business end of your foot…right…</span>So, instead, she just smiled and shook her head. “Yes, actually,” Chrystal replied with a coy sort of grin. “You do seem too innocent to just say such a line…Must be the constant blushing, stammering, the cute smile you do when nervous and excited…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I have a cute smile, huh?” he asked, a bon bon took out and offered to her.</span><br/><br/>A roll of her eyes as she accepted the bonbon and another shake of her head. “We’ve already established your attractive points, so I don’t think you need me to rehash it…” With another grin, she took a bite of her bonbon and then added, “…This is me pleading the fifth.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Oh, I see.” He grinned and helped himself to some of the popcorn. “If I may, you are rather cute when you are pleading the fifth,” he whispered over to her, for the lights had dimmed and the opening credits began to roll.</span><br/><br/>Another shake of her head was given as she settled the popcorn at her side, just on her side of the armrest but well within his reach so as not to hoard it all to herself. After that, though, she was more focused on the screen, watching the opening credits and the movie unfolding. She only hoped the movie wasn’t a cheesy comedy. …If it was…whatever comments she had would come out without a second thought and she didn’t think the theatre would appreciate her colorful commentary and dramatized interpretations.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">The movie started and he settled in to enjoy this, or at least understand why other people enjoyed these things so much. When a scene happened that he felt was rather scripted.  <br/> <br/>“So, is it always funny when the obviously attractive, though nerdy girl spills something on the blatantly attractive male?” he asked with confusion.</span><br/><br/>Not far into the movie, she was already holding in groans, propping her chin in her hand and resisting the urge to cover her eyes from distaste. “No…no it’s not,” she whispered back, the whisper’s tones enough to show exactly how unbearable that scene was. “It’s things like this that give people unrealistic views on what will and won’t happen, which then causes people to be disappointed that someone doesn’t laugh it off when things are ruined…”<br/><br/>Unable to hold it off any longer, she facepalmed and leaned back into her seat, wrinkling her nose. “If ever I do something even remotely similar…please…please…commit me.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He laughed and smiled at her, then paused for a moment as an idea started to form. “Want to do something naughty?”</span><br/><br/>She’d just started to get back into the movie (or tried to) after he’d paused when he spoke again, her eyes slowly turning to his with a perked brow, curiosity in her eyes. “…What’d you have in mind?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He grinned and gathered up his clothing his free hand extended to her own. “Come with me!</span><br/><br/>Her eyes widened, gathering up her things without a moment’s hesitation, taking his hand with a nod. “What are we doing??” she asked with a whisper, following his lead.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A single finger was held to his lips, then he lead her out of that theater. Out in the hall he paused, his gaze cast up and down the hall before he led her across and into another movie. This time a horror. Once in there he lead them to the same spot they had been in the last theater, a rather devilish smile stuck on his face.  <br/> <br/>“I think, or at least hope this one is better,” he smirked.</span><br/><br/>Following without another word after shushed, she felt nervous, anxious; A good anxious, but anxious. Her eyes were wide as he was glancing around, doing the same until he stealthily dragged her into another movie, a horror movie.<br/><br/>Settling into her seat again, her jacket was (like the last time) hung over the back of her chair, though this time it was with apprehension that she focused on the movie. “Do you know which one you picked?” she whispered, already able to tell it’d be a jumpy thriller, filled with slashing and likely gore, from the way they set the tone.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Nope. Just saw the bloody movie poster and figured this one would be the best bet for at least some entertainment,” he answered while he dove back into the popcorn. “How do you feel about horrors?” he asked, pleased they got in the beginning of the movie at least.</span><br/><br/>“To be perfectly honest, it depends on the horror movie…Some of them, I laugh at…Others…” A pause, as she lowered in her seat a bit. “…Others, I have to peek between my fingers, hide under blankets, and then run through my apartment because I’m alone and swear something’s going to pop out from behind me in some dark corner…” Laughter, quiet, fell from her lips as she glanced in his direction. “…May be safer for you to hold the popcorn…it might get tossed, depending how scary this movie is…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “That is the most adorable thing I have ever heard,” he said with smile and held out his hand. “Here, you can take it and hold it if you want. That way you can squeeze it if you get scared,” his voice held no mocking or tease, but a genuine offer. “I am not sure how I will handle this, so I am sure that I could use the extra comfort as well,” he added.</span><br/><br/>“That’s not even remotely ado-AH!” It was a cheap jump, but it jumped her nonetheless, her hand suddenly in his and squeezing tightly while she physically lifted a bit out of her seat. Face turning a deep red as her mind caught up with itself, she used her other hand to push her hair back behind her ear. It was then she realized how tightly she held his hand; Relinquishing her hold a bit, she slouched down in her seat more. “…Sorry…you can probably expect a lot of that.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The squeeze was rather tight, but he barely registered the pain. Instead he just enjoyed the contact with her hand in his own. At her apology he only smiled, “No worries, I don't mind. Not at all...” he said with a tone pitched a bit low and it took him a moment to focus back on the movie and not her.</span><br/><br/>Her eyes found his for a moment, noting the change in his pitch, momentarily tuning the movie out while her entire focus turned to him. It took her a bit to get back into the movie, but she eventually did, even if not entirely focused. Subconsciously, she leaned more toward him, resting just that small fraction more onto her arm rest while keeping hold of his hand.<br/><br/>And, the further into the movie they got, the more she seemed to curl into herself. Each time she jumped, her grip on his hand tightened, her legs were pulled up to her chest, her other hand was covering her eyes. When suspense would build, she’d be peeking through her fingers, bracing for what she thought was coming. Some of the time, she’d be spot on; Others, she was far off and it ended up scaring her worse than she thought it would.<br/><br/>By the time things were getting worse for the heroins, she’d already curled into her seat, hardly stopping to uncover her eyes, the hand in hers a small help though the person it was attached to was mostly forgotten; Had she not been so into the horror film unfolding, she’d have tried to be cooler when it came to her reactions…but, the damage was done and she was completely sucked in. The popcorn even had to be placed on the far side of her seat as she tried to get a little closer instinctively, turning her face into his shoulder at one point because she couldn’t even stand to peek through her fingers anymore.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Elijah would have lied if he said he truly focused on the movie, instead he felt himself watch Chrystal from the corner of his eye. How she tensed, how she drew closer to him, the way she would squeeze his hand and then peek through her fingers. Every now and again he would find himself caught up in the suspense with her and jump when she jumped. Never had he enjoyed a movie so much before and he still had no idea what the movie was about.  <br/> <br/>When it finally ended and the lights came back up in the theater he was all smiles, with a heart that raced a mile a minute.  <br/> <br/>“Quite the thriller, huh?” he asked, hand still held her own.</span><br/><br/>Initially, when the lights came back up, she was still huddled into him, hardly paying attention to the fact that it was over. But, when he called her attention to it, and she opened her eyes again, she realized she was clinging to him, and clinging hard. Releasing hold of his hand completely, she worked at pulling on her coat, and picking up the stray pieces of popcorn that had escaped in her jumping.<br/><br/>“…Definitely a thriller…” Chrystal replied with a nod, cheeks red that she’d freaked as much as she had. “Better than whatever that comedy was supposed to be, even if I watched most of it through my fingers; A fact, you’ll not repeat to anybody. Ever.” Shaking her head, standing as she stretched and finished pulling on the coat completely, “How could you watch that without jumping as badly as I? You hardly flinched by comparison! And I didn’t see you once huddling unable to watch…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He shrugged, “Don't think I really paid that much attention to the movie.” He answered honestly while he held her gaze for a bit, then stood and offered his hand to her once again. “Shall we continue on to our dinner?”</span><br/><br/>…The blush got worse then, though she couldn’t say she was surprised. Had he been the one jumping and clambering onto her shoulder, she’d likely have been more into what he was doing, and not the movie. But, the dinner was a welcomed change of pace, nodding and taking hold of his hand with a far gentler grip than she’d been using previously. “Dinner would be wonderful,” came her reply, allowing her hair to fall a bit to forward. “Where are we going?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The simple embrace between their hands was kept and so they walked hand in hand together out of the theater. “I happened to find a nice Italian place not too far from here,” he explained. “I did a bit of research and they apparently have some of the best tiramisu in the city,” he grinned and her hand a gentle squeeze. “I mean you already said that you enjoyed the one that they delivered to you, so I am sure that we will enjoy this one as well,” voice relaxed and casual as he enjoyed the simple contact of her hand in his own hand.</span><br/><br/>His hand holding hers, squeezing hers, gave her some comfort as the movie became backburner in her thoughts. Instead, she focused on him; A welcomed change. “And then you’ll be able to try it firsthand,” she remarked with a smile over in his direction. “How far away is it? I’m still of the mind something is going to pop up and try to slaughter us on this walk…” Of course, she was joking, for the most part.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Only a few blocks,” his hand slipped from her own to wrap about her waist and hug her a little closer. “Besides, I will make sure that at the very least they slaughter me first so that you can get away,” he joked, but gave her waist a small squeeze. “Or, you could do that teleport trick that you have and get us both to safety,” he smirked.</span><br/><br/>Suddenly, her body was more than a little aware of his hold about her waist, of the way he squeezed her to his form, of just how perfectly they seemed to fit together. Thankfully, he seemed far more into the conversation and missed the way her eyes dropped for that brief second to his torso, and then to his face, his eyes, for just the span of a heartbeat. Then her eyes were back forward. “I’ve already told you I can’t teleport, so we’d be screwed,” she replied with a laugh. “The most I could do is beat them down with my wallet…Damn me for not having an insanely heavy, stereotypical women’s purse!”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Oh? So, you would at least help me and not run to leave me to face the danger on my own?” a light chuckle tumbled free from his lips while they continued to walk toward their destination. “How heavy is that thing? Never did lift it up or anything.”</span><br/><br/>“Mmmmm not too heavy…we’d be better off to try and break for it instead of using that as our main weapon,” she commented, only giving a look in response to his first question. “You’d probably think it weighed nothing, but it’s got…maybe…half a pound to it, with all the change accumulated.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Are you saying that because I work out?” the amusement twinkled in his eyes just as they turned a corner to go down a side street.</span><br/><br/>“You seem to lift me with no issue so I’d assume you’d have no issue with my wallet, either,” she replied to that, neither confirming nor denying his obvious workout routine; The muscles spoke for themselves.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He said nothing in that regard and instead just continued to walk in comfortable silence with her, his eyes on occasion being drawn to his watch. The restaurant came into view and he broke away from her to open the door for her. “After you,” he replied with the smallest of bows and a smile on his face. Once they were both inside he went to the host, “Reservation for two, under Maddox.” <br/> <br/>A brief moment was taken as the book was consulted before he nodded and smiled, “Oh of course sir.” Menus were retrieved and he bowed slightly to them and gestured with his arm, “This way, sir.” The trip was a short one, that ended with Elijah at the back of her chair, so that he could pull it out her before she sat.  <br/> <br/>“Would you like an appetizer? While you look over the menu?” the host asked.  <br/> <br/>“Actually,” and he waved him over. Once there, they whispered softly and there was a bit of extra cash exchanged. After that Elijah checked his watch and then focused solely on her.  <br/> <br/>“So, anything you see that has caught your eye?” he asked, while he took a gander at his own menu.</span><br/><br/>She noticed him checking his watch and didn’t think much of it, thinking it was more to do with the reservation time than anything else. A small curtsy later and she was entering ahead of him, stepping to the side so he could speak to the host. Then, she followed after the gentleman, hesitating only a moment as Elijah pulled out her chair and helped her to the table.<br/><br/>It wasn’t until the whispering started that she got suspicious. Eyes narrowing as she sought to try and catch what was being exchanged between the two, eyeing the cash and then continuing to look at him (rather than the menu) after his attention shifted.<br/><br/>“…What was that?” she asked, curiosity getting the better of her while her menu went ignored. “And don’t try to say nothing; If I didn’t know you, I’d assume some weird, pre-dinner drug deal.” Her tone was a joking one, but the curiosity was genuine. “What are you trying to pull, Elijah?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Elijah smirked and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders, “Pre-dinner drug deal, huh?” he asked. Though there was little time for her to respond as his surprise arrived, right on time.  <br/> <br/>A smartly dressed man held within is arms a <a class="postlink" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DLBs0kZVpUc/Tgd1uWFU2II/AAAAAAAAB5I/PKeiJkds04c/s1600/flowers%2Bbouquets.%2B%25281%2529.jpg">bouquet of flowers</a>, “For the lady.” Flowers were presented with a small bow and a smile before he left just as quickly he arrived. “As you can see,” he said with a purely genuine smile. “Not a drug deal, but I did not think you would want to carry them around during the movie, so I arranged to have them delivered here for when we had dinner.” <br/> <br/>All around them, those closest to their table would have seen the exchange and many of the faces held smiles at the couple and the romantic public gesture.</span><br/><br/>“Yes,” she started to reply. “Pre-din-…” Her eyes widened as the man came up with a bouquet of beautiful flowers, words fading into nothingness as she accepted them, at a loss for words. Gaze going back and forth between the flowers and his eyes, she started to try to say thank you, but nothing came out.<br/><br/>Cheeks flushing, the smiles from the surrounding tables and the occasional “aww” had her feeling embarrassed; Happy, to be sure, but completely taken aback by the kind gesture. “I don’t even…this is…” Another pause as she gathered her vocational facets. “…Thank you, Elijah…Really, this is…They’re beautiful…” Her eyes found his, the blush still there though fading as a smile, genuine if a bit shy, pulled at the corners of her lips. “I…Thank you.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> All he could do was smile, “You are most welcome, Chrystal.”  <br/> <br/>His menu was picked up once again and he took some time to appraise it before he looked back to her, “Hmm...I am thinking a fresh italian salad with some lasagna. What about you?”  <br/> <br/>The blush that was on her cheeks, cause his own to heat slightly. This was an interesting side of her, this shy side that blushed and smiled. He liked it, like he liked everything else about her.</span><br/><br/>For a while after that, she kept looking at him. Not staring, but just…appreciating. The lighting in the restaurant was softer, adding to the overall romantic overtones of the moment, and adding to his already attractive demeanor. And, the moment he called attention to the menu, she shook herself out of it, reading the menu intently to try and pick something. “A salad and perhaps a small portion of manicotti,” she finally chose as she looked back at her flowers, fingers tracing over their delicate petals.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Is the small portion so that you have room for desert?” he teased.  </span><br/><br/>A laugh fell free, shaking her head. “No, it’s not for that! It’s because Italian is insanely filling, and manicotti, I wouldn’t be able to eat their normal portion. Though…the dessert is awfully tempting…Let’s just hope I still have room for it, otherwise you’ll have to enjoy it all by your lonesome.”<br/><br/>Their waiter came over, ready to take their order with a smile. She placed her own, and, after he placed his, he left with a small bow, going to put their order in.<br/><br/>“So…what shall we talk about? I’d offer to talk about the movie, but I’m not sure that’d help appetites.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I was only really focused on you and not the movie anyway,” he smiled. “We could exchange embarrassing childhood stories? You know to do that whole making ourselves vulnerable and of course for blackmail later,” he chuckled, eyes on her own. There was something with the current lighting that added to the way her eyes stood out. How they sparkled when she smiled and just....there were no words to how beautiful she looked. “I lost my clothes in gym once and had to walk through the school naked all the way to the office so that I could call home to get some new clothes brought to me,” he volunteered first.</span><br/><br/>The mention of childhood stories had her smile flickering for a bit, eyes dropping. But, to hold out as long as possible, she was happy to listen to his embarrassing stories. “Wait…” she leaned forward, trying to suppress a laugh. “You…walked through the school naked…to make a call for new clothes…because no one…would help you…” The snickers started as she envisioned a pasty, less-bulky Elijah trying to be modest while rushing through the halls. “I…that tops anything I could have come up with. Can’t say anyone wanted to steal my clothes…” Another laugh and she was shaking her head leaning back and settling into her chair. “What other embarrassing stories do you have, Elijah? After all…sharing is caring, and I’d love to hear all about your younger self.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Elijah shook his head, but grinned. “Hmm....well I got stuck in a tree once when I tried to rescue a kitten,” he offered for her amusement. “Climbed up there with the intent to save it, but then...well....I kind of got scared and could not make it down myself,” he admitted with a bit of a blush.</span><br/><br/>“I knew you saved kittens from trees…” she commented while stifling the laughter behind one of her hands. “Don’t tell me it wasn’t high up, either…or I may not be able to stop laughing…Was it a single branch up? How young were you? If it was at the top of the tree, I<span style="font-style: italic">may</span>be able to let it slide…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “How did you just know that, huh? Do I look like the type that just saves kittens all the time?” he asked with a smirk. “As for the height of the tree it was a good ten feet tall, so pretty damn tall, especially to a young kid. Thank you very much,” he added in a tone that was full of humor and good nature.  <br/> <br/>“Now, to be fair, you should share something from your childhood,” he said with certainty and social awkwardness that had been there earlier.</span><br/><br/>“You seem the type to go out of your way to help anyone and anything, fuzzy kittens in trees included,” she replied to that with a grin before it faltered a touch.<br/><br/>“I, um…I don’t really have anything to share about my childhood…” There was a pause as her eyes dropped and her brow furrowed a bit, one of her hands pushing back the hair that had fallen forward in her usual nervous tick. “Besides…” Another smile appeared as she looked back up at him, though smaller than the first had been. “I’d much rather hear about you. You look like you’ve got a few stories to tell.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I do, but if I tell you all of my stories, then what will we do on our next date?” Again he stated that they would be having another date, not asking her about when or if they would get together again, but essentially he took charge and made the date for the both of them.</span><br/><br/>“Oh, there will be another date?” she then asked, the comment not missed. “What makes you so sure?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “If you want to hear my other stories, then there will be a second date. Simple as that,” he smirked at his own cleverness.</span><br/><br/>“And, if I wanted to hear them now instead?” she pressed. “If we don’t talk about that, what will we discuss? Politics? The weather? The price of tea in China?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “What is the going rate of tea now?” he asked as if he did not hear her first question.</span><br/><br/>“You’d really deny me the pleasure of more of your stories?” she countered.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “If only so that I can wow you with them later, then yes,” another instant response in turn.</span><br/><br/>For a moment, she just stared at him, brow slightly raised but nothing more was said. “I didn’t stay at any school long enough to have a funny story…” she finally admitted, eyes intently on the candle between them. “…I moved from place to place and stayed for only a few months at any given time…I guess the closest thing I have to a funny story would be the time I ran into someone, and their tray spilled all over the front of me…” A shrug moved through her shoulders and she pushed her hair back once more. “Otherwise, I don’t have anything, really.”<br/><br/>Falling silent again, she just stared at the fire, willing it to die down just a touch before it went out completely, even the smoke disappearing within the blink of an eye. “So, anyway, what’s one thing you can’t live without?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> There was a sadness to her, or at least a hesitation in sharing her past with him. Why? He was not sure, but he knew better than to press the issue with her, at least tonight. No, tonight was to be a fun night, a night for redemption and a night for them both to just enjoy themselves and one another's company.  <br/> <br/>“Hmm...my contacts and by default my glasses,” a small chuckle. “I am rather blind without either of those. Same question to you.”</span><br/><br/>“I don’t have anything I can’t live without,” she replied simply. “Not in a tangible sense, anyway. I’ve always been one for a simpler, pick-up-at-any-time existence. Mentally….control. I don’t like not being in control of things, emotions…circumstance…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “So, then I take it the whole concept to move here was not really upsetting? Is it that you don't like to or don't want to settle in one place?” he asked. Though there was a pause in the conversation as their plates arrived and Elijah was pleased with his order. When asked if he wanted more cheese he nodded and waited for the waiter to give Chrystal the same offer and then leave before he looked to her for an answer to his question.</span><br/><br/>The waiter came back with their food and it gave her a reprieve from his questions. Thanking him for the food, and declining the extra cheese, she tasted her food with a smile, focusing on it for a moment, rather than the question. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to settle…but that she didn’t trust herself<span style="font-style: italic">to</span>settle, to get complacent somewhere and then cause something to happen she’d later regret.<br/><br/>“It wasn’t upsetting, no…Moving’s my thing, apparently. If I choose to, the day that I decide to move, I’m already packed up and heading to a new place before nightfall…” A shrug ensued as she took a sip of her water. “Whether I don’t like or don’t want to, I don’t know. I never really had a reason to, I guess is how I’d describe it. Apart from my close friendship with delivery services at various restaurants, I didn’t have too many connections.” Another shrug. “That probably sounds weird…but I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m not too…open.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “You? Not open?” he teased before he took a bite of his food and indulged in that for a bit before he looked back at to her. “It's not weird. Not everyone is supposed to be the same, because if that was the case we would all be very very boring. Right?” he chuckled and took another bite of his food, to ponder over a few thoughts before he asked her the question on his mind. “What are the chances of you sticking around here? You know for a possible long term thing?”</span><br/><br/>Another bite of her own food and it took a minute to for his next question to register.<span style="font-style: italic">The chances of sticking around…</span>she repeated.<span style="font-style: italic">Depends on how my guilty conscience holds out…</span>“I don’t know…” she started to answer, eyes dropping to her plate rather than maintaining any form of eye contact. “If I have a reason to stay…it could be a long-term thing. Only time will tell on that front.”<br/><br/>Falling silent for just a moment longer, she changed the subject. “How’s your dinner?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The prolonged pause had him concerned, a knot of worry twisted up in the pit of his stomach as he worried that he had crossed some unspoken line once again between the two of them. A line that he had already crossed and nearly messed up. Then she finally spoke and he smiled, the blush came to him without notice though he did clear his voice just a bit before he answered her. <br/> <br/>“Um, it is very good. How about yours?”</span><br/><br/>The blush was met with a smile, finally looking up at him but not pointing it out if only because it’d likely lead to her own and it wasn’t something she wanted. Instead, she nodded while replying, “Very good, thank you. You picked a wonderful place for dinner, I have to admit.” A slight pause to get a sip of her water again, and then she added, “Let’s just hope you think the tiramisu is as good as the main course.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The heat upon his cheeks slowly faded and he was able to just smile, “Well, the reviews say and I quote “It is to die for!”, so I think we are going to be safe. At least I am anyway since you have already had a sneak peek on how it tastes.”  <br/> <br/>More time was passed in what he felt like comfortable silence while they both ate and enjoyed their meal. “Was there ever a place or a time when you felt settled and content?” he asked, eyes cast up to find her own.</span><br/><br/>The silence was welcomed, if only so she wouldn’t have to answer any other questions. It gave her time to get back into the right mindset for a date rather than evasive maneuvers in conversation etiquette. It lasted a while, but, it came to an end. She felt his eyes, but didn’t look up, instead giving what had to be the millionth shrug of that evening.<br/><br/>Pushing her plate back, she leaned back a bit in her chair, crossing her legs again. A finger rimmed her glass, she smiled again. “How are you even going to have room for the Tiramisu? Bonbons, popcorn, dinner…I’m not sure I’ll have any room to have any, but watching you try it may prove to be amusing.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The question was dodged again and he just made a mental note to stop with the questions and instead focus on just the simple chit chat. A smirk showed on his face and he leaned back to lift his shirt just a bit, “I don't know....does it look like I am getting full yet?”</span><br/><br/>This time, it was her turn to blush, the sudden hint of ab overshadowing her gratefulness that he didn’t push the issue. “If that was an indication of how full we are…I’d never look full. Granted, I can’t show you my nonexistent six pack, but I’d like to think I can hold my own,” she joked back with a shake of her head. “Must be all that working out, working up an appetite.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “You would think, but I just eat and only work out when I am bored....” he paused to mull that over. “Hmm....maybe I do work out too much....” he joked and went back to finishing his meal and then waved over the waiter. “One order of the tiramisu, we plan on sharing it,” he winked to Chrystal and the waiter left with a knowing smile on his face. “You share it with me and that way we are not both trying to stuff ourselves like pigs,” he joked.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Working out too much…no such thing…</span>she thought with the fond memory of his abs, biceps, legs…the whole package. And, as the waiter came and gone, she shook her head, smiling. “Still not sure I’ll pull my weight on this eating thing, but we can try it. Not like you’ll be losing anything with eating a few extra bites, with all that ‘working out too much’.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No worries,” he said just as the waiter returned. “I will eat what you don't and guess just work extra hard to work it all off later,” he gave a wink and then handed her a fork. “Who shall have the first bite?”</span><br/><br/>“You, of course,” she replied gesturing at the Tiramisu. “It’s you who’s not yet tried this, so you get the pleasure of the first bite and telling me how it wonderful it is.” With a grin, she glanced up again, teasing. “Want me to feed it to you, or do you think you can handle it?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Eyes on her own now, he held the gaze for a bit before he looked to her fork, his tongue slid slowly across his lips in thought before he looked back to her eyes. “You should feed it to me, you know just to make sure I don't drop some on my shirt and make a mess. Unless you want me removing my shirt again, but only in this place?”</span><br/><br/>Her brow perked up, waiting for him to respond, painfully aware of his tongue slipping across his lips. “Hmm…to have you remove it or not…” she thought aloud, grin growing, even if her mind was already screaming at her,<span style="font-style: italic">“KEEP THE SHIRT ON!”</span>“Guess I’ll have to feed you to make sure you don’t make a mess; I doubt they’ll look too kindly on you stripping.”<br/><br/>Picking up her fork, she took off a bite, and held it over to him. “Would you like choo-choo sounds with that, too? No extra charge, I promise.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> All he did was smile and sat a bit more forward in his seat, “No need.” The only words that he uttered before he took the offered piece from the fork. Eyes fluttered closed and a soft moan left his lips, before his eyes opened slowly to find her own. “Delicious,” he whispered. Now sat back in his seat he proceeded to do the same for her. A piece on his fork was held out for her to take, “Do you want some cooing sounds as well?”</span><br/><br/>Without realizing it, she’d held her breath as he took his bite, and that breath didn’t get released. If anything, another breath was taken in as he moaned, and it, too, was held. His whisper, the way he’d connected with her eyes, part of her mind wanted to hear the moans he had to offer in another situation.<br/><br/>And that wasn’t a good mindset for her to be in.<br/><br/>Her cheeks went flushed a bit as he got her a piece, nibbling on her lower lip as she focused on him intently.<span style="font-style: italic">Breathe!</span>her mind screamed at her.<span style="font-style: italic">You need to breathe!</span>Letting out the breath as quietly as she could, she offered up a small smile, and shook her head, leaning forward like he had to meet his offering. This time her own eyes fluttered closed and a moan, though quiet, did manage to escape if only because her mind was so far…elsewhere right then. Cheeks flushing a little more as her eyes opened again, lower until they rose to meet his, the smile flickering until she whispered back, “Told you so…”<br/><br/>Leaning back, she regarded him for a moment longer before adding, voice more to its normal volume, “New favorite dessert, perhaps?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The way she held her breath and how she moaned ever so softly was not lost on him, but he made it a point to not comment. Instead he sat back in his seat and took another bite for himself. At her question he gave the smallest shrug, “Maybe...”  A pause and his eyes looked up to find her own once again, “Perhaps if we were to share it each time together, then I could see it being a favorite dessert.”</span><br/><br/>Taking a small bite for herself, she listened to his reply.<span style="font-style: italic">Not as though that’d be a bad set up…</span>came an unbidden thought. “Perhaps that can be arranged. Otherwise, we’ll have to find something else to eat…Maybe that’s for the better; Wouldn’t want you to get sick of it, after all,” she replied.<br/><br/>And they continued, enjoying the tiramisu in silence as they had their meal, with her calling it quits about when she’d expected to, so she sat there, looking around the restaurant to keep from staring him down. “So, if we have another date sometime…what other desserts would you want to try?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The silence was warm, comfortable even. Each ate the dessert and when she called it quits he without shame brought to plate closer to himself so that he could finish it. At the mention of another date he smiled and only managed to blush slightly, before he focused on her question instead. “Hmm, not sure honestly,” he mused for a bit while he enjoyed another piece of the dessert. “I don't have a lot of experience in this department so...I guess I would have to give in to your more refined tastes? And go with whatever you might wish to suggest to me.”</span><br/><br/>“Isn’t that a little dangerous?” she asked coyly, regarding him across the table. “Trusting the ‘tastes’ of someone you hardly know? I could be into such tastes as snake venom laced with bat guano in a white wine reduction over vanilla ice cream.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> An arched brow was the first to answer her statement, soon to be accompanied by a smirk. “I would have to say that you have some adventurous tastes there and I would hope that you at least swish a bit of mouth wash after every meal,” a small chuckle exited his mouth. “However, that aside, I do trust you to not lead me astray,” a now genuine smile played on his lips, his eyes once again on her own.</span><br/><br/>“And if I didn’t rinse after every meal?” she then added, brow quirking as a playful gleam took hold of her eyes. “For all you know, you could have kissed bat guano second-hand already.” And, at the mention of the kiss, her mind wandered and her eyes dropped, cheeks flushing.<br/><br/>Clearing her throat, she changed the subject. “I’m glad the tiramisu was to your satisfaction, though. Too bad you finished it already.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I certainly had not noticed anything when we kissed the other night, but then again we only kissed the one time so I really only have that experience to go off of,” he explained. A glance to his now empty plate and he shrugged, “I more than enjoy the conversation that has taken place since I finished. So, when would this second date be?'</span><br/><br/>“But now that the conversation’s over, the date’s coming to a natural close,” she replied. Glancing up at him when the mention of another date came up, she tilted her head. “I don’t know. May not even be a second date…” Her eyes, still holding that playful gleam looked away again. “If there were to be a second…it would depend on your schedule, I expect.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “My schedule, huh?” he nodded and leaned forward to take his phone from his back pocket. “Let's see....tomorrow night, I have working out and eating take out....” a couple of presses on his phone's screen. “The following night I have some work with the homeless, followed by working out and then take out,” more presses on his phone. “The next night....just working out and then the night after that it is helping out with the homeless. So, I say our second date can be on any of those days as long as you wear that smile I do love to see,” he grinned, phone put away as he awaited her response.</span><br/><br/>“That’s<span style="font-style: italic">if</span>we have another date,” she replied again, coy grin on her lips. “What makes you think I want to go on another with you?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I make you smile, laugh and even relax a bit,” he paused and looked down for a moment then back up to her. “You get to tease me and get carried about the city like the important person you are,” statement made, he folded his hands before him. “So, what do you think now?”</span><br/><br/>His points were valid, met with a steady gaze as her own hands folded, finding a new home atop the table as she leaned forward. “All well and good, but I thought that was merely part of your client package. What would I have to look forward to on another date when you’re merely obligated to show me a good time? What would be any different than making me smile via text?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “In person,” he began the blush slowly crept back into his cheeks. “I get to see the way the emotion touches your eyes, how there is a light there that shines when you are happy and amused only to darken just the slightest bit when you are having a go at me,” there he paused to look down at his hands when he continued to speak. “I suppose the second date then is mostly for my benefit. To get to see you again and enjoy your company more each and every time that we are together,” a shrug and he just managed to steal a glance in her direction before his eyes found their way back to his hands.</span><br/><br/>She’d blushed earlier that night. She’d blushed only moments before this talk even started. But the blush she now sported was deeper than that, as her own eyes dropped and her teeth became embedded in her lower lip, deep in thought. Was another date wise? He was just so…innocent, and every action or topic she discussed with him was run over several times before she did anything he may end up regretting later. After that talk in her apartment, she almost wondered if even allowing this date to happen was too fast, even with him assuring her he was fine.<br/><br/>“Well…we probably shouldn’t have another date too soon, I wouldn’t think,” Chrystal started. “But…perhaps…Monday? We could do something Monday night, if you’d like? What we do, I don’t know…Anything I don’t end up embarrassing myself on would be wonderful, but I’m fairly open if you are?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The confirmation for their second date made him grin from ear to ear, “That sounds perfect.”  <br/> <br/>Then as if perfectly timed the waiter arrived to see if they needed anything else, given they had reached an end, he just requested the check. “Can I walk you home? Or would you rather teleport on your own?” he asked the tease heavy in his tone while he dug his wallet out from his pocket.</span><br/><br/>“I don’t teleport, otherwise I wouldn’t have to worry about slipping or falling in the winter time,” she replied with a laugh, buying herself time to think it over. “As for walking me home…isn’t that a bit out of the way for you? We’ll be in an endless loop of ‘here, let me walk you home’.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "No, because I will just walk you home and then that would be the end of it," matter of fact tone while he placed his card on the check for the waiter to retrieve. "How would it be a loop?"</span><br/><br/>“Because, if you went out of your way to walk me home, I’d have to do the same for you to make sure that you’re home safe and sound,” she pointed out. “Only fair if you’re doing it for me, to do it for you.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "That defeats the purpose of me walking you home..." he stated with a slight shake of his head. "How about we compromise? We can part halfway one another's home and then just call to let the other know we are there safe. How does that sound?"</span><br/><br/>“Defeats the purpose for you, but not for me, as it’d allow me to make sure<span style="font-style: italic">you</span>made it. Never know what’s lurking in the dark alleyways…And, since you’re the innocent one, I have to make sure you make it in one piece…” she replied. “But…if you’re really against me doing that, then parting half-way is the best compromise.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Wait wait wait...." he signed for the check, thanked the man and stood. "I'm the innocent one? How so?" he asked while he stepped around to pull out her chair for her.</span><br/><br/>As he stepped around, and pulled out her chair, she stood, shrugging her coat on before grabbing her flowers. Smelling them for a moment, eyes on his, she drew out the silence, and walked out ahead of him without so much as word said until they were outside of the establishment. “Yes, you’re the innocent one…I would have thought the reasons were obvious,” she finally replied in a thoughtful, though teasing, tone.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Tip left, his own coat shrugged and he followed after his silent date. When he caught up to her he fell in line beside, just as she felt the desire to explain herself with the innocent comment. “I still do not see what you mean by my innocence,” he protested. “I mean I was the one who had to protect you from the big bad city and such.”</span><br/><br/>“Protect me?” she repeated. “I was lost. What would the big, bad city have done to me? The worst case would have been ending up on the wrong side of town yet again and backtracking.” A glance up at him. “You need the protecting from those that’d take advantage of your good intentions, which is why I’m here, and making sure that, on your way home, you’re not swindled<span style="font-style: italic">out</span>of that home.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "How exactly would that happen?" he pressed as he refused to let it go.</span><br/><br/>“Oh…I don’t know…” she started, letting out a breath while she thought over details. “Some poor girl, like me, comes up to you. Maybe she claims to have an abusive boyfriend she ran away from, she’s clinging to you with tears streaming down her face and ‘unable’ to get a clear sentence out. You offer to call someone for her, perhaps bring her to a shelter, but she panics and clings harder. You don’t want to leave her alone for the night, so you offer her money, which she gladly accepts…only to need more. Maybe, in the process of giving her that money, they ‘abuser’ comes out and attacks you, taking you for everything you’re worth. Keys, identification, cell, money or cards you had on you at the time…Granted, that’s a quick mockup, but that could go a plethora of different ways.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> For a long while he merely walked with her and said nothing, because there was nothing that could be said. She was right. Simple as that. If that scenario actually happened it would have likely gone down like that. “Ok, so maybe you should walk me home?” he finally said with an overly dramatized nervous laugh. “I swear you have some magical powers or something when it comes to living in this city and not dying!” he laughed and just continued to walk at her side.</span><br/><br/>Mentally, she stiffened at the mention of powers, though she remained the same in outward appearance. All she did was offer a laugh, and a shake of her head, for another moment, before replying, “Don’t worry, though. I promise I’ll be the utmost respectful walking you home, making sure to see you to your door and then be on my merry way! Can’t have my date dying prior, right?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Oh would you be ever so kind?” he asked before he took hold of her arm and rested his head on her shoulder. “My hero! Protecting little old me from the big bad world, I do declare that this must be my lucky night.” The voice and mannerisms far too dramatic than they should have been, his posture now awkward and odd, while he tried to maintain his hold on her and continue to walk.</span><br/><br/>The laughter grew louder as he grabbed a hold of her arm, nearly stumbling as they continued to walk at their awkward angles: he, holding tightly to her arm, and she…trying not to fall over laughing. “This is the part where you give me a kerchief, right?” she asked, having to slow her pace to account for the sudden mass of muscle now attached. “A kerchief and continue with your adoration for your rescuer? I think I’m alright with this development! You may continue.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Would the napkin I accidentally stole from the restaurant count?” he asked in a brief moment of pause.</span><br/><br/>That had her actually stopping, to look at him and perking a brow. “…How did you accidentally steal this…napkin?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “When I tucked the napkin into my lap...it kind of got stuck in my belt....and I did not notice till I had my coat on and did not want to seem like I was....playing with myself when we left,” he managed to stammer out. “So, I kind of just kept it....”</span><br/><br/>Standing there, she tried to keep a straight face…and managed for a few solid moments. However…the idea that someone would assume him playing with himself in such an upstanding establishment, especially after the romantic gesture he made earlier that night…was ridiculous. “Why…” she started, choking on a laugh, before cutting it off again, hiding her smile behind her flowers. “…Why would anyone think…you were…playing with yourself, might I ask?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Now a bright red he just shrugged and looked way. “I..I don't know. I mean I am a bit clumsy and people could get the wrong idea when a man is fiddling with anything beneath their coats...” his voice trailed off and he just continued to walk with her in silence.</span><br/><br/>As they came up to the area where they were to part ways, their steps slowed, and she felt slightly awkward. If only because they’d been talking about his plight with the napkin moments before, so the idea of him playing with himself in public was still…laughable. But, while they gave their awkward goodnight, she sobered up, and her breath even hitched as he leaned in, glad that he’d gone for her cheek for the kiss and not her lips otherwise she’d have stopped it.<br/><br/>Kiss received, and blush painting her cheeks, she told him he needed to, at least, text to tell her that he was safe and that they’d talk further tomorrow before making her slow exit. Occasionally peeking over her shoulder until he was out of sight and then making her way back to the apartment relatively quickly, glancing over her shoulder the entirety of the way; this time to make sure there was no unexpected surprise from Annelise waiting for her.<br/><br/>Instead…that surprise came in the form of a note. It wasn’t attached to her door, left anywhere she could have reasoned…<br/><br/>Instead…it was left on her pillow, noticed after she’d already laid down for the night, rolling over to find it staring her in the face.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic">“Not even a proper kiss goodnight? After your fight the last time, and that sweet gesture of flowers—beautiful, by the way—he should have been given at least that. <br/><br/>Don’t mess this up.”</span></div><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The laughter at his expense left an overall feeling of happiness and contentment, at least until they came to where they would part ways for the night. Hands now in his pockets, fingers busy with the unconscious habit to count all of the keys on his key ring. “Good night,” he whispered and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. A nod was given to her request for a text and then he turned to head on his way home. However, he felt the request lacked a certain something, so he spent the walk home taking snapchats of him with various faces of fright and despair. Until the last one which was of him in front of his door, the words “good night” again sent in the text.  <br/> <br/>That night he climbed into bed and felt that he had at least managed to repair the damage he had done to the start of their relationship. He looked forward to their next date, though he had to figure out what they would do on this one. Regardless he was happy and had not trouble with sleep that night.</span>